Chapter 404 – The Lord of the Undead and the Holy Hero

This surprisingly pleasant head of the undead looked at me as I asked,

「I know it wouldn’t be good for humans, but why would it be good for you?」

「I understand the distrust, Magic Lord. Perhaps I could strengthen my undead powers even further!」

「Sounds like a cheap reason to me.」

「Yes, even if I did, the Demon Immortal would never think of it as a favor.」

「You’re right. They’re not an admirable race.」

「Yes, perhaps I would be immediately destroyed.」

Cruz looked confused,

「So, why?」

「Holy Hero…my life is too long. I’ve no magic left to study.」

「So…then what’s the problem?」

「It’s the same as being dead. Perhaps being truly dead would be better.」

He was tired with living; had lost interest in it.

If you used the Immortal Demon Lord, he might gain access to higher knowledge.

And if not and his life ended, that would be well with him too.

I guess that’s what he was thinking.

And that might be why he didn’t seem so upset about losing.

Cruz thought about his story a bit and asked,

「That so-called Demon Lord said that there was something in that dungeon useful for attacking the capital, right?」

「Heh heh, how would he be useful? He would just destroy Elkay and all that were in it first.」

「So why did the so-called Demon Lord think he could use the demon?」

「I think the demon that was with him was there to raise the Immortal Demon Lord himself.」

「And the Demons outside of Elkay?」

「Yes…all of the demons see this Immortal Lord as special.」

Then the head cheerfully said,

「I think it’s perfect timing now that the fake Demon Lord and his follower have been dispatched.」

「Then why didn’t you move as soon as we defeated him?」

「You need the blood of royalty to remove the seal.」

「Ah…Belda!」

「Exactly. Once both were in place, I moved. But I had no idea the Magic and Holy Lords were here.」

Cruz asked,

「So why are you telling us all this?」

「I told you…because I respect you.」

「Oh?」

Cruz still had a question mark on her face and he continued,

「I have lived a long, long life. I have respect for anyone that would put and end to it.」

「Is that all?」

「Being killed by an unformidable foe would make the life that I’ve lived so far seem purposeless.」

「I don’t think that’s true.」

「No, it is.」

It might be the machinations of a Lord of the Undead that had worked centuries to improve his ability to fight someone greater than him.

The head looked at Cruz, a bit wistful,

「You, as the current Holy Hero, are much stronger than the last.」

「You mean the one that lived 300 years ago?」

「Yes.」

「You know about the previous hero?」

「Yes…my friend.」

「Wha?」

Cruz looked shocked…surprised even.

The previous hero had built Mulg.

「You fought the Demon Lord together?」

「Yes. That as well. Magic Wolf Lord…I was friends with your predecessor as well.」

『You met my grandfather?』

「I see…not the child…but the grandchild.」

『What kind of wolf was he like?』

「A magical wolf without peer.」

「Wuff」

Femm barked and was silent. Maybe thinking about the situation.

「…why were you friends with the previous hero and then became the Lord of the Undead?」

「…」

Cruz asked, and at first the head was silent, then,

「…I have said too much. Maybe back then I was too wild…」

「You won’t tell us why you chose to become a Lord of the Undead?」

「Perhaps I thought it was my duty to protect my life at all costs.」

「I don’t get it.」

「You might understand if you investigate the dungeon of Elkay. And that is not just me saying so.」

「Hm…」

Cruz finally sounded satisfied though.

He laughed at her again and said,

「I regret that is my time to go. No need to stretch my days longer. Finish this.」

「You want me to finish you off?」

「Yes, please. The Death Lord…I plead to you.」

「Chel…will you?」

『Sure.』

「Thank you.」

Chel had the ability to send the undead to the other world.

If Chel finished the head off, then his spirit would cross over to the death god.

At least people thought so.

I never talked to Chel about what happened after death.

But with Chel’s ability to Turn Undead, it doesn’t seem like a bad thing.

At least I felt so.

「Goodbye, Holy Hero, Magic Lord, Magical Wolf…and Death Lord.」

「Yeah, see you on the other side.」

「Tell the previous Hero hello.」

And as soon as Cruz said that, the head gave us a complex look, and then giggled.

And before we could ask him why he laughed,

「PIGIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!」

Chel jumped on the Lord of the Undead’s head and began shimmering and jiggling.

And where his spirit really went is still a mystery.