Chapter 124. A New Body.
Chapter 124. A New Body.
Outside, we'd gone at it like absolute madmen. An ordinary person would probably have caught a cold and come down with a high fever. When the sun started to rise, we walked back to the beach where the others were staying. Some were already up, smoking or stretching.
The group spotted us from a distance and waved.
"Boss, where have you been?"
Something jabbed at my conscience, but I lied with a straight face.
"Woke up a bit early, so I went for a walk with Chaeyeon and Jia."
"Ah... is that so?"
Maybe because of what we'd done, the two of them hung their heads low, unable to lift them. Seeing us talking, the others came over too.
"Son-in-law, you were up early, I see?"
"Yes, well, an unfamiliar place and all..."
"Hoo hoo hoo..."
"...?"
My sharp-eyed mothers-in-law had probably already guessed we'd been on a date. Surely they couldn't imagine we'd been having sex outside. From a distance, Mr. Chu and my father-in-law, who'd been boiling ramyeon, called out that everything was ready.
"Slurp... You could open a ramyeon shop."
"Ha ha ha! We made plenty, so eat up."
"By the way, did you talk to the dwarves?"
"I did. They told me my crafting skills are utterly wretched!!"
"..."
"Don't give me that look. They're a race that excels at making things, aren't they? If that's true, then naturally that's the kind of evaluation I'd get!"
"Well, if you say so..."
"So they said they'd teach me, starting from the basics and all that."
"That's good. Dwarves fundamentally don't trust humans... Not just dwarves, but the other races are the same."
They'd heard the story about the elves, so they'd understand why. The nobles and royals of Titan considered it only natural to despise and exploit other races.
"Whew, still, it looks like they had a great time thanks to you, Boss."
"Let's come again sometime when we get the chance."
"Heh heh, understood."
We cleaned up our trash for the next people who would find this place, but left the equipment and tents as they were. Then, we boarded the helicopter and moved back to our village. The vacation relief squad was already waiting, having been contacted in advance.
'Everyone's all grins at the thought of going on vacation...'
"Boss, we'll be off then!"
"Yes. Radio in right away if anything happens."
The moment we arrived at the village, I checked the backlog of work. But 'work' basically meant things like complaints, suggestions, and lists of needed supplies. As for food, we already had fish in overflowing abundance, and farming and livestock provided plenty to consume.
I dealt with the backlog in broad strokes and was lounging around the house with the girls, resting, when an unexpected guest arrived.
"Terion, what brings you here?"
"I came because I have something to discuss. How was your vacation, by the way?"
"It was good. But you should have come along. You must have been bored here alone."
"Not at all. I was so absorbed in my research, I lost track of time."
"Huh? Then don't tell me, the thing you wanted to discuss is..."
"Correct. I've finally completed my body."
"But, why?"
"Shameless as it is, it's because there's another favor I need to ask of you..."
"Is that really something to..."
"I'm sorry..."
Honestly, if it hadn't been for the artifact Terion made, who knows what that returnee we met back then would have done to the village. Of course, I would have returned quickly, but once an accident has already happened, it's meaningless. What would be the point if I came back to find the village in ruins and the people violated and murdered by that trash?
"It's fine. Speak freely."
"Hm... In that case, could you come with me to my lab?"
"Sure."
Chaeyeon and Jia also showed interest and wanted to follow, but people who delve into demonic arts are usually very reluctant to show their laboratories to others. So, I glanced sideways at Terion.
"It's fine. I'm the one receiving help from you in the first place, and there's nothing particularly secret about it."
"Thank you, sir Terion."
"Thank you..."
They followed carefully behind me. The place Terion led us to was in a corner of the research building built for the research staff. And it seemed he'd set up various defenses using magic.
"Defense magic, intrusion detection, cleaning magic... That's quite a lot..."
"Heh heh, since I was fusing your Origin Essence and the divine body to create my new flesh, I strengthened the defenses considerably."
Terion fiddled with the magic circle engraved on the door and opened it. Inside, there were many complex devices and chemicals.
'What is this, a hospital operating room...?'
"Heh heh, Earth's science is certainly remarkable. I created this while receiving various advice from doctors and researchers."
When Terion pulled back the cloth covering the bed, the corpse of the returnee we'd seen before was submerged in a blue liquid. No, to be precise, its appearance had changed slightly. Naturally, the girls were curious about this sight.
"Sir Terion, the appearance has changed a bit...?"
"I had no desire to use the appearance of the vile bastard who harmed the village. So, since I was changing it anyway, I made it as close to my former self as possible."
The returnee's corpse lying there looked like a man in his fifties with blond hair and blue eyes.
"Terion, while you're at it, it wouldn't have mattered if you made yourself young."
"Hoo hoo, I don't make a living off my looks, and I like this appearance with a certain degree of dignity. It was the age I looked when I actually died, after all."
"So, what's this favor you need my help with?"
"I'm going to implant my Life Vessel into the body. Could you contain the mana that will burst out from that spot? It's just that it's too much for me to do both tasks alone."
"Is that all I need to do?"
"Yes. During the fusion of the Life Vessel, the divine body, and your Origin Essence, a tremendous mana storm is likely to occur. I asked you in case the body can't withstand that process."
I nodded in understanding, and Terion returned to his main body. He submerged my Origin Essence into the liquid containing the corpse and began drawing a magic circle. Then, for the final step, he began slowly embedding his own Life Vessel into the area near the body's solar plexus.
ㅡ Crackle...!
The sound of the Life Vessel splitting echoed as it seeped into the body.
'Fascinating...'
The liquid rippled wildly as mana spread in all directions. It was so powerful that the surrounding equipment began to shake. I immediately stood behind Terion and focused the mana spreading everywhere into a single point.
Once the mana stabilized, all the Origin Essence was then extracted from Terion's original body and began to take root in the new flesh.
When the work of several hours was finished, Terion's original body crumbled and collapsed to the floor. A jewel glowing with a shimmering light was embedded near the solar plexus of the new body. Shortly after, in the previously still scene, the new body's eyes opened and he awoke.
"Cough...!"
"Oh? How's the new body?"
"K-huff... It feels like it's been a very long time since I last experienced this kind of pain..."
Terion coughed, roughly wiping the liquid from his mouth with the back of his hand, and stared at me for a moment.
"Why?"
"Ahem... I can't very well walk out naked in front of ladies, can I... I'm sorry, but could you give me something to cover up with?"
Looking at the girls standing behind me, I understood. I quickly brought a large blanket that could cover his body. The sight of him stepping out of the vat of liquid, draped in a blanket that covered his whole body...
'That thing on his chest... it's just like Iron M—...'
I decided not to say it.
I draped the blanket over him properly. When I brought him clothes, he said he'd go change in the next room and stepped out for a moment.
ㅡ Crunch!
"My apologies, my strength control is still..."
He'd crushed the doorknob with his grip strength. Of course, since the body was made by combining a Lich's Life Vessel, my Origin Essence, and a divine body, I thought it was only natural.
"For additional clothes, I'll have someone bring them to you. We'll be off for now. See you at dinner later."
"Alright. Thank you very much for today."
We said our goodbyes and went outside. Then, Chaeyeon asked me,
"So, can he perform bodily functions now, like an ordinary person?"
It was a fascinating thought I'd never once considered. Jia seemed to feel the same way, staring blankly at Chaeyeon.
"What? Am I the only one curious about it!? Why are you looking at me like that...!"
"Unnie, I'm curious too, but I don't say it out loud..."
I glanced at my watch and asked them,
"If we go now, it'll be time for everyone to gather."
"That's right."
The evening meeting was going to be of grave importance to our village. We had to go and clean up North Korea. Our country and others had judged that North Korea had effectively lost its meaning as a nation. Even if the command had survived, they'd barely be clinging to life.
Some might think, 'They're still alive and well, isn't it too much to forcibly take it?'
'If they've been running things that way until now, isn't it about time they let it go?'
I even intended to eliminate the entire command and erase the slightest possibility. If the villagers had any misconception, it was that I was a saint. Of course, I'm not some lunatic who kills innocent people just because they annoy me.
'Considering how they used to shoot at our country at the drop of a hat...'
At the assembly hall, we saw Terion, dressed impeccably.
"What the? Why are you dressed like that?"
"Hmm? I was told this is the attire worn to show courtesy on Earth. Am I mistaken?"
"No, you're right, but..."
It seemed there had been a suit among the clothes he received. A blond middle-aged man in his fifties wearing a suit gave off a certain dignified handsomeness.
'If Mr. Chu has a handsomeness brimming with wildness, Terion has the dignified handsomeness of a company CEO...'
"Looks like everyone is already gathered. Let's go in."
"Right."
He seemed a bit more buoyant than usual, as if he was mindful of showing off his human form. We went inside, and sure enough, everyone was assembled.
"Boss, you're here? But, the person next to you is...?"
"You'll be surprised, but it's Terion."
The people, who had expected a skeleton draped in a robe, tilted their heads in confusion at the completely mismatched appearance.
"Don't be surprised. This is how I looked when I was human."