41st Episode But of course not
Woooom. Wooom.
The Demon King’s egg, emitting its unique resonant sound while dispersing dark energy, was being observed by Eldritch, whose eyes began to wildly shift.
“—…This energy… This sensation…!”
“Understand this? This is your CEO.”
“—Ohh… Our sovereign. The exalted and noble existence! Eternal Demon King!”
Eldritch bowed his head in a tone that seemed like it could burst into tears.
The other Liches, initially startled, each bowed their heads one by one. They’re good at corporate life. Better than me.
I gave a cold sneer and said to the Liches who were now overly dramatic.
“Listen. I am the person protecting the eternal Demon King who you all revere so much. The CEO and I are bound by a contract. Want to confirm it?”
Hearing this, Eldritch raised his head and gave me an up-and-down glance.
I flinched slightly every time his unsettling gaze touched me, but I tried not to show it.
“—Hmm… Surprisingly, it’s the truth. The noble one’s scent is strongly emanating from you, you celestial lackey.”
“That’s right. Therefore, you have an obligation to answer my questions.”
“—…….”
“Speak. Where is your Life Force Vessel?”
The moment of decision.
I locked eyes with him, strengthening my focus.
This ambush plan?
Yeah. From the beginning to the end, it was all a lie.
Thoughts of escape? Never. My goal in this life was not even to kill Eldritch in the first place.
In simple terms,
“Whether this experiment fails or succeeds, I am going to die.”
So I deliberately chose the attack at 7 a.m.
“Get this one answer from you, and that will be the end of what I set out to do in this life!”
I thought of the pen and paper in my pocket while nervously staring at Eldritch.
“—… Hmm…”
Eldritch remained silent for a long time.
Then, slowly, he nodded.
My face lit up,
“—So, you’re attempting to trick me in this way, you audacious flesh lump.”
As soon as Eldritch’s words ended, he turned ashen.
Ping! Ping! Without any warning, beams of darkness emitted from him. Instinctively, I twisted my body.
I evaded some of them. Others pierced my side and thigh.
“Aaaaagh!”
“—Pitiable. I take orders only from the noble sovereign. To think you dare scheme to uncover my weakness… Your insides are transparent to me, lump of flesh.”
“Ughh… Damn it!”
“—If you thought you’d be able to act high and mighty on the grace of the noble one, it was a shallow notion.”
Eldritch mocked me like this as I screamed in pain.
I clenched my teeth and absorbed some ether. A bright blue light emerged, healing the wounds on my body.
After a bit of waiting, my legs started moving again. I barely managed to rise to my feet.
…
……
…… Damn.
The result is out.
The experiment failed. He does not follow my words.
“Hmph.”
I gritted my teeth. At the same time, an empty laugh escaped my lips. It was clear by now that there was only one option left for me.
Death. Time to close this failed play.
I stared defiantly at Eldritch and said.
“Hey, Skeleton.”
“—What is it, audacious lump of flesh?”
“Well then, if the Demon King himself asked you, would you tell him where your Vessel is?”
The skeleton seemed puzzled, his eye lights flickering continuously, probably because he didn’t understand my intentions.
He took a step toward me and spoke.
“—I exist only under the guidance of that Great One, created solely for his purpose. If commanded by him to relinquish my life-force, I shall gladly present my life-sustaining gem.”
Exactly.
So, it means if I hatch the Demon King and bring him here, you’ll tell him willingly.
“Okay. Got it.”
I grinned, then adjusted my grip on Vestark.
I stared at its chilling blade and swallowed hard.
“You better not say something different later.”
Then bring it on.
You obnoxious customer, wishing for the boss to be summoned? If you’re wishing for it, I’ll bring him.
Let’s see if even then, you will treat me the same.
“Wash your head and wait; I’ll bring the Eternal Demon King.”
To this remark, he gave a low, derisive laugh for the first time in front of me.
—”Kkhehheh. That won’t happen, lump of flesh.”
“What?”
—”From now on, I will personally oversee the Great One’s body. I will witness His glorious resurrection firsthand. You… are no longer necessary.”
“Hooh. Is that so?”
—”I commend your service until now. Bold lump of flesh.”
Eldritch finished speaking and signaled the other Liches around him with a nod.
Then he slowly approached the egg lying before me.
Wooom.
A resonant sound fills the air. Immediately afterward, the tattered zombie giants moved uniformly to encircle me.
Also, black orbs of energy used by the Death Bishops surged in the hands of the Liches.
—”Gooohh…”
—”El… Diablo…”
It’s over. I sighed in resignation.
“But it wasn’t without gain.”
As my last act, I rummaged through my pocket and pulled out a pen and paper.
I gradually etched letters on it and placed it inside the Box of the Dead.
Quietly observing my state, Eldritch suddenly asked.
“—Why are you smiling? Have you gone mad at the face of death?”
Oops, didn’t realize I was grinning uncontrollably.
I hastily composed my expression and raised my sword.
“This suicide method… was something I loathed the most from Earth.”
While thinking such irrelevant thoughts, I forcefully drove Vestark into my own neck.
“—What…?”
For a moment, the world seemed to slow down.
I caught sight of Eldritch’s eyes radiating unusually as they failed to understand my irrational action.
“See you again. You pain-in-the-ass skull.”
Please. I’ve done all I can.
Next life’s me, I hope you can finish it in your generation.
Puujik.
With that sound, the world went dark instantly.
*
[The point of eternal return has been updated.]
[Date – Mittelrand Kingdom Calendar/Year 547, December 21st, 7:00 AM]
[Location – Northern border of Halsenberg Territory, Plains of Snow]
[Notice – The Eternal Demon King’s hatching is imminent.]
[Notice – Until the Eternal Demon King fully revives, the point of return will be updated every 12 hours.]
Time has come. It’s time to begin the final preparation.
“I hope there won’t be any need to use this, though…”
Saying that, I still rummaged through my backpack and took out the Box of the Dead. I then opened it cautiously.
[Item Information]
[Name: Box of the Dead]
[Notice: Item Update – Item from the previous life’s Box of the Dead has been updated.]
“…Damn.”
After being lost in thought for a while, I opened the glowing ominously Box of the Dead.
Inside was the note I was about to put in just moments ago, and on top of it, another hastily scrawled note.
—”Don’t do it. Don’t ask why, just don’t do it. It’s utterly useless.”
That was the note I just intended to put in.
In case this experiment failed and I died, it was for the next life’s me to prevent meaningless repeated attempts.
—”A.b.s.o.l.u.t.e.l.y… Hatch… it.”
And the next one, probably the testament of my failure at the last moment.
It said to hatch the egg.
To absolutely hatch the egg.
Each letter was deliberately spaced out.
“Um… Jung Yong sir?”
“Hey there, Jung Yong.”
As I was lost in thought, other people called out to me with curious looks. Only then did I come back to my senses and look at them.
The three were ready, nodding their heads earnestly.
“Once you give the order, we’re ready to move whenever!”
The landowner smiled confidently and said that.
I thought for a long while and finally managed a nod.
“Yes. Then—”
The three, full of tension, watched my lips closely, and as I clapped my hands and spoke.
“Let’s go home and rest.”
The three simultaneously dropped their jaws wide open.
