Chapter 8
Chapter 8 - The Immortal Demon Lord and the Zombie Hero
The special benefits were as follows:
[1. Unique Skill: Mimir's Eye - Displays status and abilities of specific objects or creatures as data. Ability strengthens as level increases.]
[2. Legendary Skill: Divine Favor - 20% experience boost applied upon battle victory. Efficiency increases as level rises.]
[3. Relic Skill: Prometheus - Easier skill acquisition. Efficiency increases as level rises.]
[4. Unique Skill: Ether Collection - Generates 'Ether' that provides various effects during non-combat time. Efficiency increases as level rises.]
"Hmm."
After reading that far, I let out a light exclamation. Having several questions, I took my eyes off the panel and looked at Minerva.
"What's all this about levels and skills? Should I interpret it like in games?"
"Yes. That's correct. The hero development system referenced many aspects of what you call 'games'."
"Oh."
I exclaimed at Minerva's affirmation.
Referenced, huh. Then this wasn't just coincidentally similar, but deliberately copied from game systems.
Though I was slightly curious about why they made it that way, checking the remaining benefits was the priority now. We hadn't even gone through half the list of benefits yet.
Next came item benefits rather than skills.
[1. Unique Item: Ether Condensation Bottle - A special bottle that can store ether. This item cannot be damaged.]
[2. Relic Item: Demon Sword Bestak - A jet-black double-edged sword said to have been used by 'Han', the Witch's Knight. Being very old, its durability cannot be guaranteed.]
[3. Relic Item: Saint's Crest - An emblem blessed by the ancient saint Luna. Stores lunar power, increasing combat ability at night. Ability greatly increases under a full moon.]
"... Is it okay to give me this much?"
Whether it's good or not, I'm just amazed at the sheer quantity. I muttered in pure amazement.
But Minerva snickered at my words. It was a scoff, as if finding it ridiculous.
"You haven't read it all yet, have you? Read it to the end first."
That was an ominous statement.
I suddenly felt very reluctant to read the remaining lines. But what could I do? I steadied my anxious heart and continued reading the benefits.
And from the very first line, I understood.
What followed was benefits... or rather, what should be read as penalties.
[Unique Effect: Immortal Bond - Forms a contract between the Immortal Demon King and guardian. Upon contract, the Immortal Demon King becomes one with the guardian, and as long as the Immortal Demon King doesn't die, the guardian transcends time and becomes immortal.]
"Huh?"
I fell into a daze for a while after reading. Minerva, who had been quite enjoying watching my facial expressions change, spoke up casually.
"Do you like it?"
"Like it or not... Did I understand this content correctly?"
"If you accept the guardian's contract, unless the Immortal Demon King dies first and breaks the contract, you'll come back to life even if you die. If that's how you understood it, then you got it right."
"This is insane..."
Minerva nodded with a smile at my dumbfounded question. She seems to be really enjoying my stunned appearance. My mind started spinning faster than ever before.
Not dying.
Not... dying?
Does this mean regenerating on the spot no matter what injuries are sustained? Or does it mean reviving anew after all life activity has completely ceased?
Or maybe, as written on the panel, it means returning to a point in time before death occurred.
"What kind of drugs were you on when you added this?"
My eyes looking at Minerva contained emotions that could well be described as hatred.
Coming back to life after death.
It sounds nice. As long as this egg is properly protected, it means becoming immortal. To others, this would surely be seen as the ultimate blessing among special benefits.
But to me, the person involved, this is absolutely not a blessing.
Rather, it was closer to a horrifying curse.
"You're saying I have to experience that terrible thing... again in the future?"
This was something I could be certain about because I had already experienced death.
Death is despair. Overwhelming despair where you can't move a finger when it comes before you.
All thoughts become limited except for the desire to live, and even an atheist like me instinctively searches for God in that experience.
Even now, just thinking about that time makes me want to vomit.
It was the worst experience that I never want to go through again, even in dreams.
"What, are you putting down stakes so I can't run away?"
Minerva, who had been quietly observing my murderous gaze, soon shrugged her shoulders.
"Don't misunderstand. We can't interfere with the First Plane enough to make summoned ones immortal."
Minerva firmly denied it, shaking her head as if rather wronged. I slightly raised my eyebrows and pondered those words.
"Meaning?"
"That benefit... no, curse isn't cast by us."
"Then who?"
"Who else? It's the Demon King's egg's own will."
"The egg? To me?"
"Yes. The immortal Demon King who refuses death is making a guardian contract with you. We, who have restrictions on interfering with reality, can't go against that will."
At those words, I stared at the egg clutched in my hand with fresh eyes. The periodically pulsating egg. A warm sensation spread through my hand as it throbbed.
So this egg's will to live is that curse, huh. Looking at it that way, the warm sensation felt from the egg suddenly seemed particularly eerie.
Looking at me, Minerva smirked and pointed her finger at the panel.
"That's why we prepared special privileges below to cover that curse."
"Ah... where?"
Come to think of it, there are still three special privileges left. That's what Minerva was referring to.
I immediately looked down and scanned the remaining privileges.
[1. Unique Item: Box of the Dead - Items stored in the previous life carry over to the current life. Cannot store unique items, and items exceeding the box's size cannot be stored. This item cannot be destroyed and is invisible to others.]
[2. Unique Skill: Death God's Favor - Upon death, 20% of current life's total experience is inherited to the next life. Efficiency increases as level rises.]
[3. Unique Item: Izanami's Heart - A lantern that recovers 'residual thoughts' that occur in the previous life's corpse upon death. When used, spirits of regret guide to the location of thoughts. This item cannot be damaged and is invisible to others.]
'... Is my internal translator broken?'
I roughly understand 'Box of the Dead' and 'Death God's Favor' just by reading the descriptions.
However, I can't really understand what 'Izanami's Heart' means even after reading it.
I immediately threw a questioning look at Minerva. Reading my intention, Minerva nodded and opened her mouth.
"First, you should know. The way the Immortal Demon King revives you is simply put, 'spacetime regression.'"
"What's spacetime regression?"
"The entire world, including you, returns to a specific point in the past. We don't know when that point will be. Only the Immortal Demon King would know."
"Ah...."
In other words, it's like save and load in games. I understand.
This is exactly like that game 'D*rk Souls' which is known for being difficult. If the fire keeper is this woman in front of me, I might not want to do this.
While shaking my head in disgust, I suddenly realized something crucial and felt a chill down my neck.
"D-don't tell me... even if I become super skilled at level 10... if there's no save point when I die...."
"You go back to the very beginning. An experienced rookie?"
"This is crazy...."
I muttered in shock. Thud. My legs gave out and I sat back down in the chair.
Minerva clapped her hands energetically in front of me and pressed the panel while grinning.
"Calm down. That's why we prepared those item and skill privileges for you."
"Ah...."
Come to think of it, that's exactly what I was asking about.
What exactly is this 'Izanami's Heart'?
"Izanami's Heart is an item that recovers memories, skills, and some abilities lost from your previous life."
This sounds like good news.
I lifted my back from the chair and brought my face closer.
"How specifically?"
"With that item's effect, your corpse remains where you died in your previous life. And that corpse generates 'residual thoughts' from your previous life."
"That's kind of... creepy."
I tried to imagine it. Current life me looking at previous life me lying dead on the ground.
It would probably be a spine-chilling experience.
"If you go to where that corpse was in your current life and absorb the thoughts with Izanami's Heart, you can recover memories and abilities from your previous life. The location of the thoughts will be guided when you activate the item."
"What? That's simpler than I thought?"
I swallowed a hollow laugh out of disappointment. But Minerva, who was staring at me blankly, smiled faintly.
It seemed both mocking and pitying at once.
"Well. We'll see."
At her meaningful smile, I closed my mouth.
That kind of expression means there must be hidden difficulties I haven't anticipated. I considered asking but gave up. Given the atmosphere, it didn't seem like she would answer even if I asked.
"Let's leave that as something for you to discover yourself."
As expected, Minerva immediately stood up.
When she waved her hand, the scenery of my studio apartment scattered like a mirage. It happened in an instant. I could only stand there with my mouth open in a daze.
Back in the pure white space, a gate had somehow appeared towering above.
I shifted my gaze to the map above the gate. A red dot was clearly marked at the northernmost part of the continent.
—Mittelland, Fallen Fortress Halcenberg.
That seemed to be the name of where I would be summoned.
"I've explained everything I needed to. It's been about an hour now."
"......"
"Time to go to work. Hero #163,417,413, Park Jeong-yong."
She finished speaking and bowed quite elegantly. Then she raised her hand to guide me toward the gate.
It was a polite way of asking me to leave.
"Well, alright. I've been waiting three months for this day anyway."
After giving a playful bow, I immediately walked briskly toward the gate. I stood in front of the gate and took a deep breath. As my heart was pounding and tension was gripping my body tightly, I swallowed dry saliva.
"... More than expected."
Minerva muttered quietly behind me. I turned my head to look at her.
Minerva was staring at me blankly as if puzzled.
"You're resisting less than I expected."
"What resistance?"
"I naturally thought you would refuse more violently. From what I observed of your life, you extremely hate troublesome things, don't you?"
"That's right."
By the way, that's still the same now. So I'm thinking how unfortunate it is to have taken on such a troublesome burden.
Minerva tilted her head, seemingly more confused by my attitude.
"But you're accepting your fate more quietly than I expected. Why is that?"
"You would have forced me even if I refused."
"......"
Minerva fell silent. It was essentially an affirmation.
Well, obviously. Did she think I wouldn't figure that out after 24 years of being a pushover?
I gave her a bitter smile and said,
"Like you said, I hate troublesome things. That's why I didn't refuse."
"What do you mean...?"
"If you're going to force me anyway even if I refuse, then the act of refusing itself is troublesome."
Minerva closed her mouth again at my response.
"... That's right. That's the kind of person you are. Hehe."
A weary smile formed on Minerva's lips, as if she couldn't handle it. Her narrowed eyes formed a beautiful arc.
It was the most sincere smile I'd seen from her so far.
Soon after her laughter faded, Minerva's expression turned slightly serious.
"Let me give you one special piece of advice."
"Go ahead."
Minerva looked at me intently and said,
"You're just one of nearly 170 million heroes who have been summoned to this world. And among them, the Demon King you need to manage is only the one in that egg you're holding. If you just do that well, you're more than earning your keep. Understand?"
It was a meaningful statement. The intention was hard to discern.
I unconsciously looked at the egg in my hand. Meanwhile, Minerva's voice continued.
It was a voice full of concern, like a parent warning a mischievous child before they go out to play.
"Abandon any unnecessary sense of justice. Value your life above all else. Especially because you have an immortal body."
It was almost a plea. I quickly looked up at Minerva.
Why? A lonely, self-reproaching smile lingered on her lips.
"I don't want to have bad dreams, so please live long without breaking. That's my request."
"... You're jinxing it before I even start."
I smiled dismissively and immediately stepped into the gate.
The same alien sensation I felt an hour ago crept up from my toes. My vision flickered.
In the distant feeling of my body being helplessly sucked in, Minerva's voice echoed one last time.
"... See? You're already so worn out."
It was a voice filled with regret.