Chapter 30
Chapter 30
The true nature of the plague was the death poison of the undead.
Undead bodies carried the energy of death, which was harmful to all living beings.
For example, if someone bit into a zombie’s body, they would become infected and slowly die.
Fortunately, undead death poison could be purified with divine power, but—
‘The poison in Bardel is different.’
A demi-lich hiding in Bardel Village.
Half demon, half undead.
He had infused his own demonic energy into the death poison, mutating it.
If divine power was applied, it would violently react and accelerate the infection instead.
Having perfectly countered divine power, the demi-lich released the mutated poison into the wells.
And Bardel Village fell into despair.
‘Up to that point, his plan was perfect.’
But even the demi-lich overlooked one weakness.
Sarrak grass.
A weed growing near Bardel Village.
The villagers had uprooted it, thinking it useless.
But it had a special property.
It fed only on corpses and bones—
and could break down undead poison.
That’s why it grew near graves.
Originally, this would only be discovered a year later.
But I already knew.
So I made a cure.
“300…! 301…!”
“Leg day!”
The elves happily gathered the grass while doing squats.
We collected more than enough.
Ruen and I fetched water.
Rene and Rin crushed the grass.
“This is the cure?”
“Yes. It cures the plague. And gives 24-hour immunity.”
“Will you distribute it for free?”
“I could… but then what?”
“They would praise you!”
“That’s the problem.”
“Eh?”
“I don’t want fame.”
“Ah…!”
Rin froze.
Everyone looked at her.
“…I have something to confess.”
She admitted she had credited my name for defeating Belmond at the academy.
“…So now I’m known for killing a demon too?”
“Yes…”
My head spun.
That meant the princess knight’s interest in me had increased.
Terrifying.
“I’m sorry!”
Rin bowed repeatedly.
Rene was holding back laughter.
I flicked her forehead.
“Ow! Why?!”
“Because mocking is worse than scolding.”
“That’s not how it goes!”
“Still annoying.”
She pouted and punched my chest lightly.
“Any other false credits?”
“No… not anymore.”
“Good.”
I needed to stay low.
So—
“I’ll sell the cure.”
Money was all I needed.
I became a wraith of money.
Day 1.
People doubted the cure.
But Maybel’s testimony and recovered patients changed that.
Day 2.
More people came.
Even though it cost 1 gold, installments helped.
The temple officially purchased it.
Day 3.
No more doubt.
People praised Bern.
The temple wanted to name him a saint candidate.
He refused.
Day 4.
90% of patients recovered.
Bern purified the water with Sarrak grass.
People complained about the taste.
He didn’t care.
Day 5.
No more infected.
The dead were cremated.
Day 6.
Nearby villages requested the cure.
Bern made more.
His money pouch became too heavy.
Day 7.
“Cheers!”
A celebration.
Bern, the hero, quietly left.
Rene and Ruen enjoyed the party instead.
[The village is lively again.]
‘You wanted to join?’
[No. I prefer being with you.]
‘Why does everyone sound so sweet lately?’
[It’s the truth.]
‘That won’t change the contract.’
[…Stingy.]
Bern went to the river to make more cure.
If supplies ran out, the plague could return.
‘Getting used to this.’
[You’ve been doing it all week.]
‘True.’
[But why is there so much grass?]
‘Because there are many corpses underground.’
Bardel buried bodies in mass graves.
Thousands of corpses.
Perfect for Sarrak grass.
Also why the demi-lich chose this place.
But his plan—
was ruined by one man.
“You’re the one who made the cure.”
A skull with glowing red eyes appeared.
Horns. Bone wings.
The demi-lich.
“Finally showed up.”
I stood up calmly.
“You’re not afraid?”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
“You knew about me.”
“Of course.”
“…Interesting.”
“I won’t tell you how.”
“I’ll just take your soul.”
His killing intent surged.
But I remained calm.
“Can you even kill me?”
“Maybe not alone. But what about my army?”
Dark mist parted.
Hundreds of undead appeared.
Zombies. Skeletons. Golems. Death knights.
An overwhelming army.
“For one human, that’s excessive.”
“Submit, and I’ll grant you death.”
“Yeah, no.”
I drew Prah.
The runes glowed red.
“That sword…!”
“You recognize it?”
“Why does a human have a demonic sword?!”
“Kill me and find out.”
The demi-lich was shaken.
But recovered.
“Even with that, you’re nothing before this army!”
“Oh, forgot to mention—your army is mine now.”
“…What?”
The undead moved.
Not toward me—
but behind me.
“What?!”
“They follow the stronger master.”
“You stole control?!”
“Looks like it.”
Every undead switched sides.
The demi-lich stared in disbelief.
“Well, I’ll give you a chance.”
“…What?”
I tapped a skeleton’s skull.
“Skeletons and zombies: 1 gold each. Golems: 5 gold. Death knights: 10 gold. Horse sold separately!”
At that moment—
the demi-lich realized
he had provoked the wrong person.