Chapter 41
Chapter 41 - But it’s impossible
Woong. Woong.
The Demon King's egg dispersed dark energy while emitting its unique resonating sound. Upon seeing it, Eldritch's eye-lights flickered ominously.
―... This energy... this feeling...!
"Get it? This is your boss."
―Ooh... Our King. The most supreme being! The immortal Demon King!!
Eldritch bowed his head, speaking as if about to burst into tears.
The other liches were surprised at first, but they all bowed their heads too. They're good at social etiquette. Better than me.
I coldly sneered at the liches who were turning this into a melodrama and said:
"Listen. I am the person who protects the immortal Demon King whom you revere so much. Your boss and I are bound by contract. Check if you want."
At those words, Eldritch raised his head and looked me up and down.
Honestly, I flinched every time his eerie eye-lights touched me, but I tried my best not to show it.
―Ho... Surprisingly true. I can strongly smell the presence of the venerable one on you, a mere pawn of the Heavens.
"Right. So you have an obligation to answer my questions."
―.....
"Tell me. Where is your lifeforce vessel?"
Finally, I played my trump card.
I stared at him intently.
This attack plan?
Yeah. Actually, it was all a lie from start to finish.
Planning to escape? Never had such thoughts. My goal in this life was never to kill Eldritch in the first place.
Simply put.
'Whether this experiment fails or succeeds, I die.'
That's why I deliberately targeted 7 AM for the attack.
'Just one thing. Once I get this answer from you, my task in this life is complete!'
I stared at Eldritch with a tense expression while feeling the pen and paper in my pocket.
―... Hmm....
Eldritch remained silent for a while.
Then slowly, he nodded.
My face lit up, and.
―... I see. So you're trying to mock me like this. What an audacious piece of flesh.
As soon as Eldritch finished speaking, my face turned ashen.
Zap! Without any warning, jets of pitch-black light poured from Eldritch. I instinctively twisted my body.
I dodged some shots, but others pierced through my side and thigh.
"Arghhhh!"
―How pitiful. I take orders from no one but our supreme King. Moreover, trying to uncover my weakness... I see right through you, flesh.
"Ugh... damn it!"
―If you thought you could act high and mighty because you received their blessing... that was shallow thinking.
Eldritch spoke mockingly in front of me as I screamed.
I grit my teeth and swallowed an ether. Blue light burst forth as my wounds began to heal.
After waiting a moment, my legs could move again. I barely managed to stand up.
....
......
...... Damn.
The results are in.
The experiment failed. He won't listen to me.
"Ha."
I grit my teeth. At the same time, I let out a hollow laugh. Because now I clearly had only one choice left.
Death. Time to close the curtain on this completely failed play.
I looked at Eldritch with a challenging gaze and said:
"Hey skeleton."
―What is it, audacious flesh?
"Then. If the Demon King asks you directly, will you tell them? Where your vessel is?"
At my question, the skeleton's eye-lights flickered questioningly. Probably because he couldn't understand the intent behind my question.
He approached me step by step while speaking.
―I exist only under them, a creation born for them. If they command to take my life, I will gladly offer the orb containing my life's essence.
I see.
So you're saying you'll tell if I bring the Demon King after they hatch?
"Okay. Noted."
I grinned before gripping Bestak tighter.
I looked at that cold blade once and gulped.
"If you say something different later, you're dead."
I'll bring them.
This troublesome bastard. Seems he wants me to bring the boss, so I'll bring them.
Let's see if you can treat me this way then.
"Clean your neck well and wait. I'm bringing the immortal Demon King."
At my words, he let out a low laugh as if finding it ridiculous. It was the first laugh he showed in front of me.
―Khuhu. That won't happen, flesh.
"What did you just say, punk?"
―From now on, I will personally assist their sacred body. I will witness the glorious revival with my own eyes. You... are no longer needed.
"Huh. Is that so?"
―I commend your efforts until now, audacious flesh.
As Eldritch finished speaking, he signaled to the other liches around him.
Then he slowly approached the egg in front of me.
Woong.
The resonating sound is heard. Right after, the giant corpse undead began approaching me all at once.
Also, pitch-black spheres like those used by death bishops began gathering darkly from the liches' hands.
―Groooo....
―El... Diablo....
This is the end. I let out a sigh of resignation.
'But there was some harvest.'
Finally, I searched my pocket and took out pen and paper.
I wrote each letter clearly there and put it in the box of the dead.
Eldritch, who had been quietly watching my behavior, suddenly asked.
―Why are you smiling? Have you lost your mind in the face of death?
Oh. I must have been grinning without realizing.
I hurriedly controlled my expression and raised my sword.
'This way of suicide... was what I hated most on Earth.'
With such an idle thought, I pushed Bestak hard into my neck.
―... What?
For a moment, it felt like the world was moving slowly.
In response to my incomprehensible action, I noticed Eldritch's eyes becoming particularly intense in my field of vision.
"See you again. You thick-skulled bastard."
Please. I've done everything I could.
Next life me, I hope you can end it in your generation.
Squelch.
With that sound, everything went dark instantly.
* * *
[The immortal's checkpoint has been updated.]
[Time - Mittelland Kingdom Calendar/Year 547, December 21st, 7 AM]
[Location - Northern Border of Halcenberg Territory, Snow Plains]
[Notice - The Immortal Demon King is about to hatch.]
[Notice - Until the Immortal Demon King fully resurrects, the checkpoint will update every 12 hours.]
It was time. I immediately began the final preparations.
"I hope there won't be any need to see this..."
Even as I said that, I searched through my backpack and took out the Box of the Dead. Then my eyes widened.
[Item Information]
[Name: Box of the Dead]
[Notice: Item Update - The stored items in the Box of the Dead from the previous life have been updated.]
"...Well, well."
After being dazed for a while, I opened the Box of the Dead that was emitting an ominous light.
Inside was the note I was about to put in, and above it was another hastily scrawled note.
With trembling hands, I unfolded both notes. This is what they said:
—Don't do it. Don't ask questions, just don't do it. It won't work at all.
That was the note I was about to put in.
In case this experiment failed and I died, I had intended to put it in to prevent my next life from repeating meaningless attempts.
—AB.SO.LUTE.LY. HATCH. IT.
And the next one was probably the last testament left by my failed self.
Telling me to hatch the egg.
And to absolutely hatch it.
Written with each character deliberately spaced out.
"Jeong-yong nim?"
"Sir Jeong-yong."
When I remained dazed, others called out to me with puzzled looks. Only then did I snap back to reality and look at them.
The three people nodded with fully prepared expressions.
"Just give us your orders. We're ready to move at any time!"
The Border Duke says with a reliable smile.
After thinking for a long while, I barely managed to nod.
"Yes. Well then."
The three people watched my mouth with tense expressions, and I clapped my hands and said:
"Let's go home, wash our feet, and take a breather."
All three people's jaws dropped simultaneously.