Chapter 32
Chapter 32
After successfully subduing the demi-lich, I quickly cleaned up the scene.
Even though we were quite far from the village, if any villager happened to see the undead army, it would cause chaos.
So I ordered the undead to dig into the ground themselves.
The corpses would be taken care of by the Sarrak grass anyway. As long as they stayed hidden, that was enough.
[Don’t you feel any regret?]
‘Not at all. I have no intention of starting a war. Dragging an undead army around would just make me a target.’
More than anything, I preferred a peaceful life.
An undead army was nothing but unnecessary baggage to me.
[We might be able to preserve the Death Knight’s soul. What will you do?]
‘I’ll leave that to you.’
The image of the Death Knight was still vivid in my mind.
Using its lance to draw lightning like a conductor.
That kind of resilience was impressive.
One of them had already been destroyed by the demi-lich.
At least I wanted to keep the remaining one as a trump card.
“Now then… the only thing left is…”
I looked at the demi-lich.
He trembled and bowed instinctively.
The rune of subjugation had taken firm root.
[Are you worried?]
‘A little.’
Even if he regained his strength, he couldn’t break the rune on his own.
Prah assured me of that.
“Now, what should I do with you…”
“Shall I slice him into dust?”
“No point. He’ll just regenerate.”
Unless his soul vessel was destroyed, he wouldn’t die.
[You want to keep him, don’t you?]
‘Honestly, he’s better than me at magic. Killing him would be a waste.’
If I absorbed his knowledge, I could advance further.
But I didn’t have the time.
Cure production, traveling, taking Rene home—
too much to do.
“Master…!”
The demi-lich spoke desperately.
The once arrogant being now called me master.
“Please spare me! I will do anything!”
“Why should I?”
“I’ll obey anything! Even offer my ribs—”
“Enough!”
Crack!
I smashed his skull with my sword hilt.
It split.
Of course, it would regenerate.
“Listen carefully. I have completely normal tastes. I’m not interested in your bones. Don’t ever say that again.”
“Y-yes!”
How dare he suggest that.
Just as I was about to scold him further—
“T-then… I will create a female body to your liking!”
“…What?”
“There is a trend among liches—‘beautiful flesh.’ Creating an ideal female body through magic and—”
“Stop.”
I had heard enough.
This was knowledge I didn’t want.
Why was he harder to deal with after the fight?
“I’ll spare you. But you’ll repay your sins.”
“How?”
“I’ll return the money I earned. You’ll earn the same amount.”
“Earn money?”
“Yes. Legally. If you cheat, I destroy your life vessel.”
“I understand!”
He bowed deeply and disappeared.
With the rune, I could summon him anytime.
And I had ordered him to keep silent about me.
“That settles it. Let’s head back.”
[Contractor.]
‘What?’
[You weren’t tempted earlier… were you?]
‘Of course not!’
[…You were.]
‘I wasn’t!’
On the way back, I had to firmly explain my preferences to Prah.
But for some reason, the misunderstanding remained.
It was frustrating.
Three days later.
No more plague.
Anywhere.
“It’s thanks to you! You are the savior of the world!”
“That’s too much.”
“No! Your deeds will be remembered!”
“…Please don’t report me to the kingdom.”
At the word “kingdom,” I flinched.
If the princess knight heard about this—
I was doomed.
So I kept my mask on.
“You donated half your earnings?”
“I can’t carry that much. And too much money attracts trouble.”
“You are truly noble.”
The priests and nuns looked at me like I was a god.
Good thing I sold the cure.
Otherwise, they might’ve worshipped me.
“Anyway, I’ll be leaving now.”
“May blessings follow you!”
We left the temple.
Just then—
“Wait!”
The young nun, Maybel, ran over.
“You forgot your handkerchief!”
“Oh. Thanks. But you can keep it.”
“Really?”
“Yes. A gift.”
She smiled.
[Are you sure?]
‘About what?’
[That handkerchief contains your—never mind.]
‘Say it properly.’
[It’s nothing. Let’s go see the demi-lich.]
‘Oh right.’
I hadn’t checked on him.
[Shall I summon him?]
‘No. Tell me where he is.’
[Understood.]
He was in an abandoned house outside the village.
Suspicious.
‘Of course he is…’
I kicked the door open—
“Hello everyone! Your necromancer king, DesuDesu Hades!”
“…What?”
A girl sat before a crystal orb, posing cutely.
But I immediately knew—
it was the demi-lich.
“…What are you doing?”
“M-master! This is a misunderstanding! I’m just earning money—!”
At that moment—
a gold coin dropped from a distorted space beside the orb.
And a voice echoed:
“Caught, didn’t you?”
A high-level mage…
using spatial magic…
to livestream.
I covered my face.
[…What a mess.]
Ah.
Madness had won.