Episode 125: The King of the Dead (4)
“…What is that?”
Shock and bewilderment filled the faces of those who heard what I had to say. Abel, Shail, and even Michelan, the lord of the Undead Dungeon.
The three of them spoke the same words as if they had made a promise.
I opened my mouth heavily.
“It’s exactly as you said. There’s a S-class demon sealed under that hole. And Abel, your parents were probably trying to subdue that demon.”
“… … .”
I didn’t beat around the bush. I originally planned to go and subdue it myself, but I secured evidence that Abel’s parents were headed there.
So, rather than trying to persuade with lies, I just told some shocking facts.
However, I also deeply sympathize with their bewildered reaction. It was a bolt from the blue for an S-class beast to suddenly be sleeping in a D-class dungeon.
If I were them, I would have reacted the same way.
The three people looked at me with expressions of utter disbelief. I met their gazes and continued speaking slowly.
“That mastermind is a guy called ‘Draug’, and he’s a tricky guy who treats the undead like an army.”
“… … .”
The whole area was silent. The dungeon was already extremely quiet, but the silence was made even more intense.
Each of us must be having various thoughts and ideas in our minds.
From here on out, you need to apply continuous shocks. That way, the attention will naturally be drawn to ‘Draug’.
“For your information, as a demon, I can’t use ‘magic’, but I can use the ‘Staff of the God of Death’, which is a magical ability. Its effect is a very tricky ability that increases in power over time.”
“… If that is true, how do you know, Master Geomma?”
As expected, Shail asked. My pupils were dilated violently with confusion. I answered briefly.
“Through research.”
“… … .”
I explained it a bit more when Shayle wiggled his eyebrows.
“Before I conquer a dungeon, I usually look through all the books related to it.”
Shayle stared at her with eyes that said, ‘You mean that…?’, but he had no intention of resolving her curiosity.
At this point, we need to talk about ‘what to do’ rather than ‘why we know’.
Of course, unless they are idiots, they will feel uncomfortable with me. But what can I do?
It is not something that can be declared as ‘Actually, this world is a game, and I am a human who fell into another world.’
Rather, it would be a bombshell declaration that would reduce the feeling they feel to something like ‘something like that’.
“I understand how you feel, Mr. Shail. But right now, what’s more important than the source of the information is ‘how’ to deal with the guy.”
I quickly changed the subject. Shail, who had been staring at me for a while, nodded.
It doesn’t seem like the doubt has disappeared from his eyes. However, it must mean that he agrees with what I said.
I called Michelangelo with a blank expression.
“mister.”
“Oh, yes, your majesty.”
“… Just call me Ganggeomma. Anyway, do you know anything about the demon I mentioned earlier? That’s all I know.”
“Huh… … . I’ve been here for 700 years, but I didn’t even know that such a beast existed. Well, it’s a huge shock even for me. However… … .”
Michelan trailed off. He furrowed his brows, looked absorbed, and continued speaking cautiously.
“Suddenly, the tombstone at the entrance flashed through my mind.”
“Are you talking about those rune-written texts?”
Shail asked back. Michelan stroked his chin with a look of surprise on his face.
“Do people these days know the Runes?”
“I just learned a little bit of it out of personal interest. The runes have been dead for hundreds of years.”
“… Haha, I see. Well, even during my lifetime, the number of speakers was gradually decreasing. It was a difficult language in every way.”
Michelan smiled bitterly. It was a regretful smile. After a while, his words returned.
“As you can see from the stone tablet, its contents do not deal with any ‘object’.”
“That… Only the tip was intact, and the upper part was too damaged to decipher. It looked like someone had intentionally damaged it.”
“Hmm. I don’t know who did it, but it’s not surprising since it’s a tombstone that’s been around for centuries.”
Michelan shrugged as if he had expected that. Then he tapped my temple with his finger.
“But don’t worry, it’s all in Michelangelo’s head.”
“…You remember all of that?”
Abel’s eyes widened. Michelan laughed heartily, showing his teeth.
“I have a bad memory. Of course, I’ve been forgetting things more frequently lately.”
As he spoke, Michelangelo coughed. The muffled cough of the dead leaked out.
“Anyway, let me tell you about what the stone tablet says.”
* * *
== ==
This place was a resting place for the dead and a palace of peace.
One, ■harm (■害) has a way of coming unexpectedly.
The curse that binds and entangles death has come here.
It was a curse that made them live and rot under the pretext of immortality.
Can you hear me?
The screams of the suffering dead.
A struggle for liberation.
A cry for death.
Oh, living beings, please break our curses and our chains.
Don’t be fooled by what you see, listen to the whispers of the dead.
The essence of the curse will be in the devil, not in humans.
The dead wish.
I hope a human will appear who can break this curse.
The adult who will break the bonds of immortality has descended.
He will receive our infinite blessings and be enthroned as our ■.
On the other hand, the dull and foolish will suffer forever in the immortal shackles.
That’s why I warn you.
One who disturbs the rest of the dead.
He too will be the same.
He who brings peace to the dead.
He is the king of the dead.
== ==
* * *
As Michelan finished speaking, Shayle faintly frowned.
“The latter part of the story was a bit creepy, but the first part was even more gloomy.”
“That’s right. When you said that earlier, Shail, I thought it was purely a warning. But after hearing the rest of the story… … .”
Abel’s face, who was standing next to him, also darkened.
She could feel the desperation radiating from those words.
‘… The undead I had defeated were looking for a savior.’
Abel put his arm around my shoulder. She bowed her head deeply like a sinner with her eyes shaking.
Although he had tried to erase his guilt with a sense of duty and calling, Abel felt it crumble in an instant.
While Michelan and Shail were talking, Abel stood there blankly with a gloomy face.
I felt suffocated. I felt like I had committed an unforgivable sin.
Abel was determined to prioritize only his purpose. He wanted to emulate the honesty of the inspector.
‘… My grandfather never regretted anything he did.’
But she was blaming herself. She was regretting it. She felt a dull pain, like a bruise in her chest.
At that moment, a dark shadow fell over Abel’s face.
Thud.
A firm hand gently grabbed her shoulder.
“… … ?”
It was Kang Geum-ma. He smiled gently and opened his mouth.
“You worry too much.”
Abel blinked at those words.
Worried? Her expression was far from worried. And Kang Geum-ma’s keen eyes could not have failed to discern this.
Then why? Abel and Kanggeomma’s eyes met.
His eyes looking at her were calm and gentle.
A gentle gaze that chases away all the negative emotions that are filled up.
It was a strong swordsman who occasionally threw out pointless jokes. Every time, Abel felt absurd, but now he could understand his vague intentions.
Rather than casually throwing out frivolous words, I find comfort in such weightiness.
Kanggeomma confirmed that Abel had calmed down. He smiled faintly and took his hand off his shoulder. Then he joined the conversation between Shail and Michelan.
“… … .”
Abel looked at his profile without saying anything. Then, suddenly, he brushed his right shoulder.
The warm heat lingered.
* * *
… After a while, the discussion about the inscription on the tombstone ended.
I didn’t have high expectations, but thanks to Michelangelo, I was able to obtain some pretty important clues.
He had lived for centuries. But his memory and brain were extremely sharp.
He immediately recited the epitaph he had seen once, and did not spare any detailed comments about it.
I suddenly wondered what Michelan did while he was alive.
However, the answer he got back was that he had no clear memories.
I couldn’t even remember why I entered this dungeon or how I became an undead.
Michelangelo seemed to recall only that he was associated with the first swordsman, Aaron Nibelung.
Well, I let it slide for now since his past wasn’t that important.
He didn’t seem to be lying, and more than anything, he actively volunteered to be my assistant.
“I have always wondered about the inscription on the tombstone. However, thanks to the information provided by Kanggeomma, I think I have a clearer idea.”
Michelangelo emphasized, raising his index finger.
“Of course, this is my personal opinion, but I suspect that the ‘curse’ mentioned here is the evil spirit called ‘Draug’.”
“I think so too. At first, I thought it might be the ‘King of the Dead’, but the characteristics of the horse that Master Geomma explained and the content of the ‘curse’ seem to match up.”
Shail nodded in agreement with his words.
Michelangelo took over as if passing the baton.
“If the inference is correct, the phrase we should pay most attention to is ‘The essence of the curse lies in the devil, not in the human.’ This part seems to be a hint provided by whoever engraved the text.”
“It’s a devil… … .”
Shail, who had been muttering like that, suddenly turned his head towards me.
She stared at me with bleary eyes for a while, then shook her head.
The complicated feelings of a person caught in a dilemma were reflected on Shail’s face.
In the midst of this, Abel, who had been silent, carefully opened his mouth.
“But isn’t it too dangerous for us to directly subdue it…? It’s an S-class demon. Even if we have you, the swordsman, and Shaile, who is a senior, it’s too risky.”
Of course, I knew this question would be raised. The stakes were certainly high.
Draugr unleashes a barrage of attacks on S-class creatures that are considered natural disasters.
Even with these members, I couldn’t guarantee that they would be able to defeat them unconditionally.
As Abel said, it would be normal to report it to the association.
However, I have completely ruled that out.
If you notify the association, they will definitely launch a full-scale investigation.
If so, then of course there will be a delay in time, and they may even notice the magic stone.
I heard that the association’s research institute is looking for the magic stone with bated breath.
In this world, magic stones were rare and precious items.
That’s also why I’ve kept my mouth shut and tried to fight it alone.
There is a saying that even a single bean should be shared, but this does not apply to Maseok.
Because, if you try to artificially process magic stones, they tend to explode like a bomb.
However, there was an exception when it was used for reinforcement and ‘crafted’. It’s a vague difference. But that’s the system, you know.
In any case, in addition to that, there is a high probability that Abel’s parents are also there. For this reason, outside intervention must be prevented.
And above all, I had a strategy in mind.
“I disagree with that opinion.”
“So, are you saying that the three of us should subdue the S-class demons like this!?”
I briefly explained the above reason to Abel and Shail, who were confused. I left the story about the magic stone on hold.
And I expressed my intention to go alone if it was burdensome for the two of them.
That was the plan from the beginning, and there was no need to share the risk.
… After about 30 minutes, they nodded.
I guess Abel’s purpose was to check on his parents’ income.
“… Let’s try. It’s an S-class demonic beast, but you’re here too, Shail, and you’re here with the swordsman. It’s not completely impossible.”
Shail hesitates slightly. But the master nods quickly, saying that there are no maids.
“I understand, but please promise me that you will run away immediately if you decide it is too dangerous.”
“Of course.”
Finally, I got everyone’s approval.
“Mr. Michelan, please guide me to the hole I mentioned earlier.”
“Oh, I understand. I, Michelangelo, will not forget your kindness. I will guide you clearly.”
So, guided by Michelan, we headed to our destination.
After walking for about ten minutes, Michelangelo pointed to a place surrounded by a pile of rocks.
In its center was a hole leading into the underworld, secured with a black door and six locks.
However, the hinges were a little loose, and it seemed to have opened before.
Not many times, maybe twice at most. But judging from the fact that it was still closed, it seemed like the subjugation was never successful.
‘Originally, you had to find those six keys to get in.’
I already have the master key.
“Everyone stand back for a moment.”
After saying that, he immediately took out the sashimi.
Kiririn―
[The protection of the Sword God is manifested.]
