The Body of the Undying King (2)

Truthfully, even Isaac had no idea.

Who cares why my body ended up here.

And why would he? The last memory Isaac had of the Skeleton Demon King's body was of it blowing itself to smithereens in the God Realm, purely out of spite.

Granted, he had slammed into them with every intention of screwing them over, so there was no way the body had come out of it unscathed. Either way, the Skeleton Demon King had put a magnificent bow on his final act with one grand fireworks display — his body was something he'd never lay eyes on again. Even if by some miracle a few scraps of it survived, all those years of neglect meant it could never yield the power of its prime.

That was exactly what he'd been thinking when he walked into the treasure vault.

Those bastards. They kept it in absolutely pristine condition!

Isaac couldn't hold back his laughter.

Good. Too good — the corners of his mouth simply would not come down!

"Daddaddlang-hyaapyaak!! (There's almost no mana loss at all!!)"

That purity! That mana!

Of course, once he grew up, his current body would surpass that old skeleton by miles. But when a treasure this good was sitting right in front of him?

This wasn't some simple delicacy or a common vitamin supplement. This was a supreme-grade treasure that could turn even the lowliest slime into a high-tier monster in a single gulp!

So what would happen if he got his hands on it?

Perfection!

Goddammit, this is so damn goo—

But at that very moment, Isaac — still grinning ear to ear — met the children's eyes.

"......"

The children's gazes were trembling like they'd witnessed an earthquake. Their blood-drained, white faces looked at Isaac as though he were some kind of monster. A demon.

Under all those stares, Isaac coughed and wiped his mouth.

Crap. I showed way too much of how happy I am.

Ever since he'd acquired a human body, this had become a problem.

My expression control is completely shot.

After living for centuries as a skeleton with no nerves and no muscles, he kept making mistakes with his face. After all, back when he was bones, he couldn't even feel emotions.

If he didn't practice, he might end up smiling at moments where smiling was the last thing he should do.

That could get dangerous in front of the Pope.

The dragon, however, looked thoroughly satisfied.

The children's eyes were still shaking.

...A warrior?

He didn't accidentally say that instead of "pervert," right?

Trying to suppress his laughter, Isaac rolled head over heels across the floor in delight.

"Puhehe-tta-yaya!"

...Isn't he just a deranged child?

But the dragon's voice now carried the tone of a teacher deciding its students had finally learned their place.

The children's faces lit up at once.

Compared to the Third Vault, where death was all but guaranteed, picking a treasure from the Second was a far better deal for anyone hoping to become the Saint.

Look how overflowing with demonic energy that thing is — did you really think anyone could bring something back from the Third Vault?

If we take the best thing in the Second Vault, we'll be evaluated as the leading Saint candidates.

Then, riding that treasure all the way to glory, the seat of Saint would be theirs...

"No. We have no need of the treasures."

"?!"

What the hell, kid?!

The children stared at Kina Berith as if he'd lost his mind.

But Kina Berith simply smiled.

"All of us will proceed to the Third Vault. And please activate every single trap in the Third Vault."

"Hey?!"

Has he completely lost it?!

Is he actually planning to walk out of this treasure vault empty-handed?!

But Kina held his chin high, as if his scheme were plain for all to see.

The entire reason I came here is to prove that I am the Saint.

Hadn't his father told him to go find out who the real Saint was, once and for all?

"The Skeleton Demon King's body is a treasure that not a single Saint in history has ever managed to claim. Even the legendary Saintess Melissa couldn't do it."

Isaac, who had been rolling around in glee, froze mid-tumble.

Huh? Why couldn't she take it?

Even for her, a Saintess should've been able to grab it, no?

Was there some other reason?

"In any case — release all of the Third Vault's safety measures."

What is WRONG with him?!

The children's expressions were contorting by the second.

"It's obvious if you think about it for even a moment. There's no way that fearsome Saintess Melissa would slaughter children. Which means the safety measures exist as insurance — because of you. You were the one who let even that suckling infant in, after all."

Fearsome? Who, me?

The guy who tried to grind the Demon King's skull into chalk dust over a measly stolen wallet?

Well... I suppose it doesn't matter.

Having a crowd go in together beat sneaking into the Third Vault alone, which had been the original plan anyway.

Well, I'll only know once I'm in there, but it seems the Third Vault does have its own traps.

In that sense, Kina was actually being helpful — though wasn't he being a little too confident?

"I refuse to hear it said later that we only retrieved the treasures easily because the safety measures were lifted. Leave everything in its original state. That is the only way I can be judged as surpassing the Saintess herself."

The dragon's voice laughed, sounding repulsed yet amused.

"Because I can."

Kina Berith glanced sidelong at Isaac.

He intended to demonstrate the gulf between them through overwhelming conquest. And for that, he needed witnesses to behold that gulf.

"We proceed to the Third Vault. All of us."

The children went white as corpses.

NO!

If anyone's going, YOU go alone! We're fine with whatever treasures are left over!

But the instant they tried to scream it, the vision of everyone — Isaac included — blurred and shifted.

FLASH!

With a sensation of weightlessness, they dropped into a vast hall.

Scattered throughout were treasures that no amount of money could ever buy.

The children's eyes naturally went wide with greed — but they couldn't get anywhere near them.

"Uuurgh...!"

So the demonic energy I felt through the gaps was nothing — just a taste of this?

"Th-that's...!"

Every gaze in the hall converged on a single spot.

Yeah, yeah. I see it just fine.

Isaac looked at the low pillar standing at the very center of the vault. Of all the treasures here, it was the only thing that still pulsed with vitality.

A hand bone, huh.

A hand spread wide toward the heavens, as if to strangle a god by the throat. At a glance, it looked like an entire forearm, severed at the wrist and driven into the pillar — but Isaac knew better.

The rest is just a shell. The real part is the thumb.

And of course — that's my body for you! Never mind the preservation; the thing had been quietly siphoning power out of this entire Third Vault like a leech!

Man, am I glad I came!

It made locking away the Elder and the High Elders who'd been tailing him inside the Shadow Lich all the more worthwhile.

The only minor disappointment was that it was a smaller piece than he'd expected. The bigger the body part, the denser the mana, after all.

Then again... maybe this size is actually just right for eating now?

Too much of a good thing. Even the finest medicine could kill an untrained body — and the Skeleton Demon King's flesh had originally been potent enough that even a 9th-Tier being risked severe backlash from consuming it.

This much should be plenty for now.

The children, however, were trembling — struck by shock of an entirely different kind.

"...That's not even the whole thing? Something THAT small is putting off THIS much demonic energy?"

From a single finger bone?

So it was true — the Skeleton Demon King really was called the strongest of all Demon Kings for a reason. It didn't even compare to the high-tier demon totems they'd seen in the Holy See's possession.

Frankly, it was hard to believe anyone could lay so much as a finger on that thing.

Which was exactly why the next sight shocked them all the more.

How is that kid not scared of it?

So THIS is what they mean by "exceptional"?

Soon, the children began biting their lips.

Right. Even a kid that young is walking right up to it...!

And in the very moment they steeled themselves and started forward—

WHAM!

"AAAGH!"

A black aura erupted without warning near the body. And every one of these children was an elite, raised from birth to become Saints.

There wasn't a single one who couldn't recognize that living, breathing aura for what it was.

"A demon!"

There was no mistake. The black aura was gradually twisting into the shape of a living creature.

Isaac squinted at it, feeling an odd flicker of familiarity.

...Wait. That guy?

The children burst into terrified sobs.

"I thought the demons were done with by the First and Second Vaults!"

And then, laughter rang through the Third Vault.

NO!

We never said THAT!

Wait, hold on — before that — those 'safety measures'... don't tell us they were the restraints binding the demon?!

A high-tier demon was GUARDING the Skeleton Demon King's body this whole time?!

Right on cue, the chains binding the demon's arms and legs came clattering undone.

A rattling wheeze from its throat. A voice saturated with hatred and malice threatened the children.

We weren't coveting anything! The one coveting it is KINA!

At the same moment, the Third Vault's voice rang out, positively gleeful.

You lunatic!

Tear-streaked faces all turned to glare at Kina Berith.

"This is entirely YOUR fault!"

"How are we supposed to take THAT?!"

But Kina Berith simply smiled.

"It's fine. Just trust me. I will get every one of you out of here with a treasure in hand."

"!"

Kina Berith looked at Isaac with utter confidence.

He already knew of that demon's existence. Naturally — that demon had been captured by House Berith itself!

The Fourteen Six Demons. The closest, most trusted retainers the Skeleton Demon King ever raised.

Granted the duty of guarding the Skeleton Demon King's body — and in exchange, turned into a lapdog of the divine faction.

But famous as it was, one of the Fourteen Six Demons was currently nothing more than a bound, spectral husk. There was nothing to fear.

And above all — the Holy See had caught it and buried it in the Saintess's treasure vault in place of a prison. Which made this thing a creature bound under the Holy See's authority.

Of course the Saintess, wielder of the opposing faith, could never claim it. But Kina, of House Berith, had come prepared with the holy art needed to subdue it.

I will subjugate the demon magnificently, protect the children, and claim the treasure besides.

He was the grandson of the Pope, heir to everything this nation had to offer. What finer proving ground could there be for a Saint?

So he shot Isaac a sidelong, warning glance.

Watch closely, witnesses. I'm about to show you everything.

Kina Berith glared at the demon.

With his golden eyes blazing, packed to the brim with powerful holy energy.

"Kneel!"

CLAAANG!

A thunderous crash, like steel striking steel, filled the hall. The demon, meeting Kina Berith's eyes, flinched.

It was said that the highest-ranking clerics could subdue demons with a mere gaze.

The Pope himself could send demons fleeing with a single glance.

It was the bare minimum a Saint was expected to accomplish.

And sure enough — when the demon froze mid-motion, Kina smiled.

There it is. The proof is complete—

But the instant their eyes truly met, Kina's breath caught in his throat.

"?!"

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠demon's rattling eyes were vicious.

As if to say that a trifling bit of holy energy was nothing at all.

Kina Berith shuddered, goosebumps rising against his will.

What...?

Why isn't the Gold art working?

What IS this thing...? No — wait. Am I actually scared right now?

Of some ghostly remnant?

Was one of the Fourteen Six Demons raised by the Skeleton Demon King really this strong?

No. Now is not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the time to be wondering that.

It's broken free of my control!

Provoked, the demon unleashed its demonic energy in full.

It intended to slaughter every single child who had entered the treasure vault.

"Aaagh! Spare m—"

Even as the scream tore through the air, walls of solid light bloomed into existence on every side of the children.

CRASH!

A defensive holy art. It was like a prison of light.

And just as everyone turned to see who had cast it—

"Th-that kid!"

Isaac, the caster, was charging full tilt toward the Skeleton Demon King's body, going rat-a-tat-tat on his tiny legs.

"Don't tell me he cast the barrier on US alone?!"

"Is he planning to use himself as bait?"

No. I sealed it in to keep you filthy brats from laying a finger on what's MINE.

Isaac's eyes were practically rolling in his skull.

It wasn't identical, but thank the gods he remembered the defensive barrier the Knight Commander of House Eshua had cast for him once before.

"Tta-tta-tta-tta-tta! (Move it, you brat! That's MINE)!"

The moment Isaac began barreling toward the Skeleton Demon King's body, the demon's eyes flashed wide.

How dare some pathetic cleric covet the body of the great Skeleton Demon King.

Savage demonic energy lanced toward Isaac's throat.

But—

PANG!

Isaac batted the demonic energy aside.

When the energy ricocheted away, the demon looked absolutely livid.

Its reaction screamed one thing: why won't it stick?!

But Isaac bristled right back, as if to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ask where the hell it had ever learned such insolence.

"Ddu-dda-yaak!! (You can't even recognize your own master now, you brat?!)!!"

Isaac's hand flew out and smacked his underling across the cheek.

In the same instant, a flash of light erupted.

KRA-BOOM!!

Outside the treasure vault, the shock had already thrown everything into chaos.

"Did you say the demon's seal in the Third Vault has been broken?"

Frankly, the adults had assumed the vast majority of candidates would stop at the Second Vault.

They'd hoped for a miracle in the Third, of course — but even during the Saintesses' own Doljabi ceremonies, the children who entered the Third Vault had been few and far between.

Yet not only had they gone into the Third Vault, the restraints on the demon guarding the Skeleton Demon King's body had been undone as well?

Why on earth did it come undone?

As he listened to the reports, Rillai felt dizzy.

The demon in the Second Vault is fine. It's a puppet.

Whatever happened there, the ring's power could resolve it — but the demon in the Third Vault was another matter entirely.

Isaac! Shuri!

Both of them were in danger.

No — if this kept up, everyone inside the treasure vault was in danger. A demon freed from its chains would hunt down every cleric in the vault without mercy.

"Where are the Elder and the High Elder who went in to supervise?"

At Rillai's question, the Eshua knights broke into a cold sweat.

"That's the thing — we don't know why it triggered, but... one of the vault's traps activated, and they went to shut it down. By the time it was done, they'd apparently vanished without a trace."

"It is a place that excludes anyone who isn't a child, after all..."

All the adults began murmuring in alarm.

"Then aren't the children being left exposed to danger?"

"There's no way those children can handle that thing...!"

"We have to halt the trial and bring them out NOW!"

But that was the moment it happened.

FLASH!

As if the Saint had been chosen at last, a brilliant light burst outward.

The treasure vault's exit began to open.