Episode 48: Betrayal
“G-g-gooohh…”
The golem pressed its rotting flesh against me and then abruptly stopped moving.
Despite being momentarily taken aback by its terrifying appearance, Luci and I quickly regained our composure and looked at each other.
“…It’s stopped.”
“It’s stopped.”
“Why has it stopped?”
“Weren’t you the one who did something?”
“Are you accusing me, you foolish hero?”
We both tilted our heads in confusion, then turned our gaze back to the Flesh Golem.
The golem had stepped back a pace, bowing its head toward us as if in reverence. More precisely, toward Luci.
I stared blankly at the scene, and then turned to Luci.
“Isn’t it supposed to not be your puppet?”
“That, that’s right. No, it’s not. That means…”
Luci turned her head toward the group of liches. I belatedly followed her gaze.
So that’s how it is.
It appears that the necromancer controlling this corpse golem has detected Luci and stopped the golem accordingly.
“Oooh… My liege, the eternally blazing dark sun! The humble Eldritch pays homage to the immortal Demon King!”
As expected, Eldritch was already standing near us by now.
Eldritch bowed deeply to Luci. The surrounding liches followed their leader, offering instant reverence.
Not bad at socializing. Better than me.
“Hero! Hero! The time has finally come!”
“Huh? Oh, uh-huh.”
Suddenly, Luci grabbed my collar, signaling for me to lower her.
I obliged, lowering the Demon King, and she began walking confidently toward them.
“Oooh. Your majestic presence. This power! There’s no mistaking it—it’s the reborn liege!”
The Demon King stood there, her white hair billowing in a chilling breeze, commanding undead reverence.
Contrary to the bumbling figure she’d shown earlier, her posture was surprisingly impressive.
Eldritch must have noticed the same, as he repeatedly let out gasps of awe.
Of course, considering what the Immortal Demon King Ruthika is about to unleash henceforth, the expectation they hold will be betrayed entirely.
“Your Majesty’s faithful servant, Eldritch, humbly awaits your command.”
The Demon King lowered her characteristic crimson eyes and spoke. Her domineering and proud gaze shone even more brightly.
Eldritch bowed his head so low that it seemed ready to pierce the ground as he responded.
“Oooh… What command do you require of me? Speak your will.”
“Where is your Life Force Vessel?”
“… Pardon?”
Taken aback by the Demon King’s forthright question, Eldritch suddenly raised his skull and asked.
His reaction was akin to something you’d only hear in a South Korean military unit.
Nevertheless, Ruthika’s words were repeated word for word.
“Tell me the location of your Life Force Vessel. It would be better if you bring it to me directly.”
“… Bu… B-but, Your Majesty… may I inquire about the purpose for which you intend to use it?”
“I will destroy it.”
“… C-can it…”
Eldritch’s eyes flared with sudden shock. His jaw clenched repeatedly as his bony teeth clicked together.
Confusion and sadness were evident in his wandering gaze. Even someone with limited knowledge of undead physiology like myself could tell that this was quite a shock for him.
Of course. It’s akin to suddenly hearing your unreservedly trusted master say, “I want to kill you, so kindly bring me your weakness.”
The fact that the words ‘You’ve gone mad, Your Majesty?’ did not escape Eldritch’s lips is testament to his loyalty.
Sympathy seemed to stir in Luci as well at Eldritch’s expression, and she scratched her head, adding,
“I apologize for not being able to reciprocate your loyalty. Let me assure you, you’ve been my most faithful and trustworthy servant. For your efforts during my lengthy rest, I express my heartfelt gratitude.”
“Oooh… That need not be said. It’s but a duty I have fulfilled… My liege, my great sun…”
After hearing those honeyed words from Luci, Eldritch immediately succumbed to rapture.
Well, it looks like ruthlessly manipulating one’s underlings is an art in itself. Not everyone can be a Demon King.
“With the great black sun’s legacy reaching its end, I have felt honored to walk alongside it.”
With a final nod of resignation, Eldritch waved his staff through the air. A green magic circle rose and from it emerged a bright red gemstone.
Eldritch carefully handed it over to the Demon King.
“Here, My liege. This is one of my vessels.”
“… Thank you. Then…”
Luci passed the red gemstone to me. The moment I took it, she suddenly paused mid-action and turned back to Eldritch.
“One of the vessels? I see. Come to think of it, weren’t you said to have two Life Force Vessels?”
“That is true, My liege. In case of emergencies, I’ve hidden the other in a place where no enemy could touch it.”
“Interesting. Where might that be?”
“I’ve concealed it within something my greatest nemesis treasures the most.”
Hearing Eldritch’s words, my eyes widened.
The most cherished thing of Lord Halsenberg.
Eldritch said that was the hiding place for his second Life Force Vessel?
“So the remaining one must be…”
While I was lost in thought, Eldritch emitted a sinister gleam from his eyes.
This time, his eyes were locked on me. Keeping his gaze firmly on my rigid form, he spoke.
“May I inquire about the identity of this piece of flesh?”
“Oh. That person is my… no, not a servant but a Guardian. Yes, a Guardian bound to me by contract.”
Eldritch’s gaze slightly lowered.
“Guardian… Even though they’re a hero, I sense the blessing of the sovereign.”
“Hm, yes… There are some complicated circumstances involved. Don’t worry about it.”
“I understand.”
Despite his words, his gaze was firmly fixed on the red gemstone in my hand. When I tried to conceal it by moving it behind my back, Eldritch spoke again.
“Is the intention to destroy my vessel that of the Demon King or the Guardian’s?”
“Frankly speaking… it’s the Guardian’s.”
Luci answered honestly.
Eldritch’s eyes suddenly flared with light.
This isn’t good.
It feels like the conversation might be moving in a dangerous direction. This ominous foreboding is persistently pressing against my senses.
“I, the Demon King, will not question the reason behind the decision to annihilate me. However…”
Sure enough, Eldritch began inching closer to the Demon King.
With his distinct, low voice, he started to persuade her.
“That ‘guardian’ is a hero. Vermin used and exploited by the wretched dogs of the Celestial Realm. They will surely wield a blade against Your Majesty someday.”
“No. That is not true. I have personally received their word. From this day forth, he will be the most loyal servant in my great work…”
“Does the Demon King still trust the deceptive tongues of those beings?”
“…”
The Demon King fell silent as her crimson eyes began to waver. Her heart was faltering.
No way. Why falter now? Am I so unreliable?
Let’s break down this distrust and build a righteous society, Immortal Demon King!
“Hey, this isn’t going to work. Don’t listen to that kid. We’ve already secured one vessel; let’s withdraw for today…”
“Just a moment. Let’s wait and see.”
As I hurriedly tried to end the conversation, the Demon King declined with an unusually cold expression. From her gaze, I sensed an ominous intuition.
I already had a vague idea of how this conversation was going to end.
‘This is dangerous!’
There was no more time to hesitate. I immediately rummaged through my backpack in secret, pulling out the Box of the Dead.
I then aligned the red gemstone I was holding with it.
‘… Great. It worked!’
Fortunately, Eldritch’s vessel was smaller than the Box of the Dead.
I sighed internally in relief and carefully placed it inside.
Meanwhile, the conversation between Eldritch and the Demon King continued.
“Continue.”
“Yes. If perhaps, the Demon King is forced to listen to his words because of the Guardian’s contract, it is not necessary.”
“Not necessary?”
“Break the contract with your power. Then choose me as the new guardian. Although with your current magic power, it may not be enough to shoulder the great cost of such a guardian contract… My liege, if you desire it, I will pour out my own magic power to you. Dissolve this contract.”
“Hmm.”
The Demon King turned toward me suddenly. Both Eldritch’s and her icy crimson eyes pierced through me.
The unnerving gaze made my spine shiver, leading me to make a decision.
And it seemed the Demon King had reached the same conclusion.
“Indeed. Such a method exists.”
With that, she promptly joined Eldritch and gestured with her chin.
Eldritch nodded once, clicked his teeth, and immediately shot a beam of light at me.
There was no moment of hesitation. It was as if he had been waiting just for this command.
“Damn it!”
Ping! Ping! Ping! Three beams.
Although I had anticipated an attack, I could only fend off two of the three. The third shot pierced my left arm, causing an intense, searing pain.
“Urgh!”
“You contemptible hero! Your clever tongue has not managed to split my devoted loyalty to the Demon King!”
As Eldritch slowly approached, he chanted a spell, causing numerous glowing orbs to float around him. There must have been a hundred of them.
It’s over. With a defeated expression, I looked toward the Demon King’s direction.
