Chapter 123: King of the Dead (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 123: King of the Dead (2)
Out of the blue, I asked Abel.
"By the way, when you were taking down those undead earlier, did you say 'I'm sorry'?"
"...What? You heard that from that distance?"
Abel's eyes went wide. I replied nonchalantly.
"My hearing is pretty sharp."
"Hearing someone muttering to themselves from twenty meters away is practically a superpower, isn't it?"
In reality, I had obtained near-superhuman senses thanks to the buff from the [Blessing of the Sword God], but whatever.
Besides, this was a world overflowing with blessings and magic.
It was a bit funny that Abel was so surprised and called it a "superpower."
From my perspective as someone from Earth, the sword strikes she pulled off were far closer to being unrealistic.
Abel let out a short sigh and said,
"It's an old habit. My father used to say that even a single blade of grass has life dwelling within it, and the same goes for magical beasts."
"But those things earlier were undead. They're already corpses."
"Which is exactly why we should show them respect. Do you know why heroes are reluctant to subjugate the undead?"
"Isn't it because they're humanoid magical beasts? It feels like committing murder."
"Like committing murder... That's half right and half wrong."
I didn't know the detailed lore behind every magical beast. It wasn't particularly important information for subjugation anyway.
I just knew it vaguely as them being humanoid magical beasts. That was what the Monster Dictionary said, too.
Abel said,
"The undead were originally human, too. They didn't look like that from the start."
"...They were human? Then why are they like that now?"
"I don't know the exact details either. But as you know, Geomma, the undead only appear here."
Abel tapped the ground with the toe of her boot. Then she continued her explanation.
"Which means—it's a matter of location. People who wander in somehow end up as walking corpses. Whatever the reason, there's definitely something here."
Abel's hypothesis was quite sharp.
If what she said was true, there was definitely a mastermind behind it, and in all likelihood, it was 'Draugr'. It aligned roughly with his demonic barrier effect.
I listened closely to Abel's words. Sometimes, minor remarks like this could turn into meaningful clues later on.
Suddenly, Abel snorted.
"And besides, isn't it ridiculous to call the undead 'magical beasts'? Just because they aren't human anymore, they're labeled 'evil beasts'? Furthermore, have you ever seen an article about the undead leaving a dungeon to attack people like other magical beasts do?"
I certainly hadn't heard of or seen any such articles.
Despite their hideous appearance, the undead were magical beasts whose harmfulness was never mentioned.
Even those famously docile Buffaloes occasionally made the news for injuring humans.
Abel frowned. She spoke in a highly displeased tone.
"In the end, the living—or rather, the Hero Association—just arbitrarily assigned a danger rating to them. That's why heroes who know the truth are reluctant to subjugate them. Calling a dead person a magical beast is a complete desecration of the deceased."
Her words made me wonder. Regardless of her feelings, hadn't Abel been slashing them down? And five at a time in a single exchange, no less.
Just as I was thinking that,
"...Still, since we've entered this place, subjugating the undead is unavoidable. We came here with a purpose, after all. It's unfortunate, but we can't just spend all our time avoiding them."
Abel murmured as if she had read my mind. At this point, I had to seriously wonder if she possessed mind-reading abilities.
For a split second, a look of dismay crossed her face. But she shook her head and quickly regained her composure.
"Anyway, praying for their souls is the least I can do. A swordsman's job is to cut down the enemies blocking their path, after all."
Having finished her piece, Abel looked forward. She calmly walked ahead.
"......"
I stared blankly at her retreating back for a moment.
A personality where thoughtfulness and violence coexist...
They say children grow up watching their parents' backs.
Abel was growing to look terrifyingly like her grandfather.
* * *
I had guessed as much from looking at it from the outside, but this dungeon was massive beyond imagination.
"Groooooaaaargh."
The undead appeared, forming a chaotic battle line (?). They were so clumsy and slow that it was embarrassing to even call it an ambush.
Slash—
Abel's shoulders shifted. A flash of light severed the vocal cords of six undead. The heads that fell to the ground crumbled powerlessly.
Watching the scene unfold, I tilted my head.
I felt a strange sensation.
How should I put it... were they really rushing at us with hostile intent?
The way they approached with their arms outstretched felt almost as if they were welcoming us.
Perhaps Abel felt the same way, as her expression grew darker with every slash of her sword. Her silent prayers for the corpses grew longer than they had been at first.
This is a strange dungeon in many ways.
It wasn't just about whether Draugr was here or not; I felt a fundamental difference. A sense of incongruity washed over me.
...Since we seem to have gotten somewhat close to the depths of the dungeon, I should check things out as a mid-way assessment.
I closed my eyes. It was the meditation I used to practice while sitting cross-legged with the Sword Emperor.
I cleared my mind and began shutting down my senses one by one.
Condensing my sensory sphere before expanding it. Concentrating my nerves to project a clearer image in my mind.
The process was swift and precise. It was the moment the fruits of my meditation training showed themselves.
Back then, I thought it was a useless exercise that only wore down my joints, but...
I felt my five senses sharpen like an awl. But stopping here wasn't enough. I had to radiate my senses even wider.
I gathered my senses to the limit with the [Blessing of the Sword God]. Then, I immediately scattered my perception in all directions using the [Blessing of Transfer].
Hummmmm.
My eyes were closed. Yet, I was observing the entire area. My infinitely expanded vision swept through every nook and cranny of the dungeon.
How many undead lurked ahead, which way to turn at the fork, where Draugr lay sleeping.
All that information was vividly projected into my mind.
Like a bat using echolocation to find its way in a cave. The waves bounced off the walls and ceiling, returning to serve as my compass.
Using the [Blessing of the Sword God] as a catalyst, I surveyed about thirty percent of the dungeon's geography.
At this point, I wondered if we even needed a map. I was basically a human GPS.
Of course, because of the physical toll, I couldn't use it limitlessly. By my calculations, the maximum would be about twice a day.
It was then.
...What is that?
One of my closed eyebrows twitched. Fifty meters ahead, a human figure was waving its hand toward us.
At first, I thought it was an undead. There was no way another living person besides us would be in this lifeless place. Even bandits wouldn't dream of setting up camp in a dump like this.
I drew my Sashimi. Then, I spoke to Abel and Shail.
"I think there's something like a person up ahead."
"...A person in a place like this?"
I nodded silently. The presence was drawing closer. This wasn't a situation to waste time explaining.
The two of them shut their mouths as if they understood. They also drew their armaments in silence.
Step, st... ep.
The footsteps were unsteady. It was a cold sound, devoid of any flow of life. However, it was completely different from the other undead.
I didn't rush forward blindly. We were relying on a small flashlight, after all. I couldn't just charge like a moth to a flame toward an unidentified opponent.
St... ep.
Eventually, the creaking sound stopped ten meters ahead.
As if she had been waiting for this, Shail shone her flashlight forward. Instantly, our field of vision was brightly illuminated.
"Gasp—?!"
"W-What... is that?"
Our pupils, which had contracted to adjust to the dark, dilated in an instant. Confusion flashed across our faces.
"Urgh... argh..."
Some kind of undead (?) was blocking the light, covering its face with both hands.
It stared back at us, its legs trembling like a terrified human.
Abel hesitated to swing her sword. She muttered in response,
"It's... an undead, right?"
"It seems a bit different, Milady."
Just as Shail said, there was a difference from the ones we had seen so far. Its condition was... better, so to speak.
For an undead, its joints were in relatively normal positions. There was still a decent amount of flesh clinging to its bones, making it look almost human at a glance.
However, the lower half of its face was exceptionally decayed. Its tongue hung limp like a purple dishcloth, and its jawbone dangled precariously, barely holding on.
Well, compared to the other undead that were practically skeletons, that's nothing...
While the three of us exchanged glances, the undead groaned again.
"Urrgh... aargh..."
I scratched my head with the pommel of my sword. The undead flinched, its shoulders jerking violently.
It was a gesture of sheer terror. Whenever I so much as moved my hand, it quickly stretched its arms out further. It was clearly signaling its surrender.
I asked Abel and Shail,
"It seems to still have its consciousness. What do you two think?"
"...Yeah, looking at its reaction."
Abel looked utterly bewildered. Up until now, she had been slashing down every single one that popped up.
But now, an undead acting like a human had suddenly appeared. Abel's mind was likely in complete disarray.
Shail spoke up on behalf of the hesitating Abel.
"It might be an intelligent magical beast masquerading as an undead. I believe it is best to subjugate it here."
"Urrgh... aargh...!"
The undead waved its hands frantically. It seemed to have something to say, but its jaw was completely shattered, preventing it from speaking.
I stared at the undead for a moment, lost in thought.
Looking at the guy in front of us, he didn't seem dangerous at all.
Of course, as Shail said, there was a possibility he was hiding a dagger up his sleeve.
However, if that wasn't the case, the story would be different.
An undead with its intelligence intact. If we played our cards right, couldn't he act as a guide for this ridiculously massive undead dungeon?
If so, he was absolutely necessary to me. Even though I had surveyed the area with my blessing, having a guide would save us a lot of wasted time.
And with any luck, we might even get information on 'Draugr'.
...But with his jaw in that state, I wonder if he can even guide us properly.
After staring at the undead for a long while, I spoke.
"Let's spare him."
"...But he could still pose a threat."
"You have a point, Shail. But honestly, he doesn't look like he's in any position to harm us. And I'm not suggesting we just spare him for nothing."
At my words, both Abel's and the undead's eyes widened. Abel looked beautiful, but the undead just looked gross.
Anyway—
"Since he seems to have intelligence, I thought he might guide us. I'm getting tired of walking, and it felt like we were just circling the same spot."
"...If that's possible, it would certainly save time. But still..."
Shail glanced at the undead. He was still shivering coldly, looking like a puppy drenched in the rain.
His grayish pupils were fixed intently on Shail's rapier.
"......"
Shail let out a sigh and said,
"Very well, then. What about you, Milady? Do you agree with Geomma? If you don't like it, just say the word. I will dispose of him immediately."
"N-No, it's not that. I was just taken aback because I've never seen an intelligent undead before."
Abel composed her breathing. Then, with a bitter expression, she shook her head.
"He must have been human once, too. I want to avoid unnecessary violence."
"Understood, if that is your wish, Milady."
Having finished her conversation with Abel, Shail carefully observed the undead before turning to me.
"However, Geomma. That undead doesn't look like he's in any state to speak... Communication is key for a guide, after all..."
"Ah, don't worry about that."
"...Pardon?"
Turning my back on the two, I stepped closer to the undead. The rattling of his trembling bones was loud.
The undead only dared to peek up at me. I spoke to him calmly.
"Bear with me, even if it stings a bit."
"?"
I flicked my hand, removing the scabbard.
Just as the blade flashed with light,
[By demonstrating Chivalry, your Mental Rank increases.]
Crack!
"Argh!"
The hilt of my sword slammed directly into his dangling jaw.
[The Blessing of Regeneration is activated.]