◈ 121. [Free Exploration] Encounter (2)
When you first enter the loser’s path, all skills are sealed.
In other words, there is no threat except for the first Curse Zone.
However, when returning after conquering the Colosseum, the restriction on one-way passage is removed, and restrictions such as skill sealing are also canceled.
In other words… This means that battles can occur inside the aisles.
‘No, it can happen.’
Looking around at the unconscious party members, I broke out in a cold sweat.
‘But it’s a bit too much for a monarch-class monster to come out of hiding, damn it!’
The culprit of this situation stands still in front of me.
The vampire lord and the next stage’s boss monster, No Life King Celendion.
Judging from his appearance, he looks like a child in his early to mid-teens, but don’t be fooled by his outward appearance. In fact, it’s because he’s a monster old man who’s been around for hundreds of years.
《… .]
Selendion is still observing me with bright red eyes.
His gaze gave me goosebumps, like a child observing the insects he collected.
“Are you willing to talk to me, player?”
I spat out a barbed reply at the boy’s voice.
“Ash.”
《Um?》
“My name is Ash. ash. Ash ‘Bonehater’ Everblack.”
These idiots keep calling people names and calling them players.
Do you think I won’t tell you if I ask for your name? Kim Ash This guy’s name is very cheap. Are you just spraying it?
Hearing my name, Celendion blinked for a moment, then clapped his hands.
“Aha, indeed. yes. You also have a name.》
“What?”
“You also call ants ants when you see them, don’t you ask them by name?”
Celendion bowed her head very slightly.
“Anyway, I apologize. I was not considerate.”
“… .”
“I repeat, I didn’t mean to offend you. I had no intention of harming you.”
“Have you not? Then what is it?”
Pointing to the fallen party members nearby, Celendion lowered his eyes toward the party members.
“Understand, human. For me, subduing you without killing you is quite a hassle.》
“… .”
《I just want to have a conversation.》
Looking at the guy who apologized and asked for understanding, I was convinced.
‘This bastard didn’t come to kill us.’
If we had made up our minds, we would all be dead already.
But it’s not just about subduing it, it’s about trying to start a conversation.
Selendion’s purpose is not to kill us. that was sure.
Just
‘why?’
As the guy said, who can kill with just a snap of his finger, we are like ants… … Why do you want to keep alive?
“… .”
but what good
If you come out with such a low (?) attitude, there’s no reason you can’t talk to me.
dump!
I sat with my butt on the floor in the hallway. The way Celendion looked at me made me wonder.
《What are you doing?》
“Sit down. sit down too.”
《Um?》
“Sit here. I don’t know what to talk about, but isn’t it a little awkward standing there?”
《… .]
Selendion seemed confused (it seems that he has never experienced a sedentary culture), but quietly sat down in front of me.
We sat across from each other and looked at each other for a while.
I openly glared at him, but Celendion had a calm face.
I want to slap you in the face with my fist, but if I do, my life will end there… … .
Anyway, I caught my breath and asked.
“So what do you want to talk to me about? What are you worried about? study? Course? puberty? which?”
《… ? I don’t know what that means.]
Celendion cautiously opened his mouth.
《There is one thing I want to ask you.》
“Tell me comfortably. If I can answer you, I will.”
If you don’t answer, your throat will fly off.
I wondered what kind of question he was going to ask himself, but the next question was completely unexpected.
《How did you kill Orlob?》
“… what?”
I asked, frowning.
“Olop?”
《The commander of the Black Spider Corps. mother of all spiders. Queen of Tarantula- Orlop.”
“What is that, you fucking… no wait.”
If it is the commander of the black spider corps… … .
‘You mean the Black Spider Queen you killed in the Battle of the Outpost?’
The Black Spider Queen that you defeated in the stage 0 tutorial.
The object’s name must have been Orlob.
‘At that time, it wasn’t marked as a named object… … That guy is the Queen of Tarantula?’
Queen of Tarantulas.
It is a title that refers to the biological mother of all the spider monsters in < Protect the Empire >.
I thought it was an object that only existed in the setting because it was only in the setting book and did not appear in the in-game.
Was that bastard in the tutorial really that big?
‘How did you not look dirty? It must have been at the level of a corps commander.’
As I nodded, Celendion nodded.
《Looks like he remembered.》
“Of course I remember. Because of that bastard, I had a hard time dying.”
I literally almost died. It was game over there.
《Orlops do not go directly to the front by nature. But at that time, it was the spawning season, and it seems that it needed to consume human flesh and despair.
”
I put on a disgusted expression. You don’t have to tell me all those terrible stories.
《But he died.》
Celendion stared at me intently.
“It is you. He said he shot him dead with a cannon.》
“What’s wrong.”
To be precise, it was Damian, not me. anyway.
“So what? You’re right I killed that spider. Are you here to seek revenge?”
[Revenge?]
Fisik.
A sneer formed on Celendion’s lips.
It was the first expression the vampire showed on his own face.
“For that spider bitch? It can’t be.”
“… .”
“I told the king that I would go out for revenge. But that’s just a superficial reason… … I’ve never had any sympathy for such a messy Spider-Bitch.》
“Then why?”
Between the time I killed the Black Spider Queen and this bastard came looking for me. What kind of correlation do you mean?
The answer soon became clear.
《I am.》
Because Celendion uttered it clearly through his own mouth.
《I want to die》
“… ?”
I didn’t understand for a moment and the accident hardened.
“what?”
“The human who said he wanted to die. I am… I want to die.”
Selendion slowly looked into her palm.
《It’s been 500 years since he was revived here… … I am searching for someone who can kill me again.”
Resurrected?
want to die again
What nonsense are you talking about? I couldn’t understand, so I only blinked my eyes, and Celendion kept muttering to myself.
“But no one… … Let alone kill me, he couldn’t even inflict me with a slight wound.》
“… .”
《By the way, Orlop.》
Selendion looked at me again.
This time, it was a gaze that seemed to scan something inside me, not my outside.
“I heard that Orlop, a corps commander like me, died in an unexpected accident. Because it was only hit by human cannons.》
“… .”
“I felt it then. Whoever killed Orlop could kill me too. Saying that.]
Desperation swelled in Selendion’s red eyes.
“you… Can you kill me?”
“… .”
《From this never-ending dream… … can you set me free Can you bring me back to the darkness of eternal sleep
?
” … .”
I opened my mouth and started growling.
“Can I kill you? Do you call that a question now, monster?”
《What?》
“From the beginning, I came here to kill you guys.”
I slowly got up from my seat.
“To decapitate you monsters and cut their bodies into pieces and burn them to ashes. It is here.”
I remember.
People who fell, dripping blood from the nails and teeth of monsters.
“Of course I will kill you! And not only you, but your subordinates! your family! And even the bastard who asks if he’s your king or something!”
I remember.
The Marquis, who was dying in my arms after being destroyed by monsters all his life.
“entire! tighten! hit it to death! all! Cool! I will exterminate them without leaving a single one!”
I remember.
More than 3,000 corpses lying in the field.
The blue torch that burned between them.
“That’s what I do here on the front lines, and it’s the only goal I have to achieve, even while risking my life!”
the funeral roar. the sound of the choir. The silence that followed silence.
Ken, Tane, Ron, Jiya, Peke… … And the innumerable dead who couldn’t even leave their names behind.
remember
don’t remember
That is why it is my duty as commander of the front here to hate you bitterly.
“Even if it’s not your request, I’ll definitely kill you, so don’t worry, Vampire King! You’d better think of the screams you’ll make when you’re slashed by my sword sooner or later!”
Celendion, who had been quietly listening to my loud shouts,
«… Is that so?”
He smiled vaguely.
It was different from the previous mockery. It was a small, quiet, even shy smile.
“Even if your attitude is bravado, I am happy. It seems that only your hostility is real.”
Celendion slowly rose from his seat.
“But I really don’t know. What kind of means would you, mere insignificant creatures, use to kill me? Does the method exist?》
“Of course it exists.”
How many times do you think I knocked off your head in the game, you vampire?
I cried confidently.
“Wipe your neck clean and crawl to my castle wall. Then I will take responsibility and put an end to your miserable life!”
《… .》
Freshly.
The smile on Celendion’s lips grew thicker.
At one point, he didn’t look like a teenage boy, but an old man of eighty or ninety.
But the next moment he was expressionless again and had the face of a teenage boy.
“I’ll see you soon. Please, I hope what you just said is not a lie
. that buck
The tip of Selendion’s body that passed me began to turn into mist.
“and. It looks like your subordinates came to their senses a little while ago and tried to ambush me.》
“Huh?”
“It would be better to let him stop. I want you all to be in perfect condition on the day of the decisive battle.”
I was surprised to see the party members lying on the floor.
When did they wake up, everyone with their sidearms out, holding their breath, preparing to ambush Selendion.
I quickly waved my hand. Arthur Arthur! I can’t deal the damage right now anyway!
“Then player… … No, ash.”
Selendion whispered softly as it completely turned into a black mist and disappeared.
“Don’t expect it.
I hope you can really kill me that day. ”
A mist like a swarm of bats rolled in and he completely disappeared.
I murmured softly as I glared at the place where the Vampire King had left.
“If you want to die like that, just kill yourself gracefully. … .”
Please come and go and kill me in the hassle.
just kill yourself! Write my name on the will! Then we are happy with each other!
‘Because that doesn’t work, he’ll ask someone else to kill him.’
You don’t need to understand the circumstances of the monster.
I grumbled and looked down at the party members. Everyone was getting up one by one with painful faces.
“There is no need to be frustrated by the difference in strength. Our fangs will definitely reach his neck.”
I helped the groaning party members one by one and raised them up.
“I will make it and you will make it.”
I quietly nodded my head to the party members who looked at me with faces that had a lot to say.
“Let’s go back.”
There is a lot of work to be done.
