Ch.134Undead King Elder Lich – 2

‘I wonder if he made it himself, or if he found a replica lying around somewhere and picked it up.’

Either way, it makes sense. If it’s the former, then he’s actively deceiving us, and if it’s the latter, then he’s being deceived too. That’s the difference.

Of course, even if he was being deceived, I didn’t feel sorry for him. If anything, I’d mock him for not being able to tell the real from the fake.

“That’s a lie! There’s no way the Master could have died!”

“Even when presented with evidence right before your eyes, you deny reality… How pathetic and weak…”

The 1st Legion Commander was having his sanity chipped away in real-time. It seemed like I should step in before it was too late. I walked forward a few steps. The hollow eye sockets turned toward me.

“Do not forcefully interfere in demon affairs… human… If you wish to be ruled, I can always use you as a subordinate…”

“I stepped in because I couldn’t stand watching you spout nonsense anymore. Aren’t you embarrassed, waving around a fake and claiming to be the Demon King? Before that, shouldn’t you prove that’s the real demon sword? Don’t you think?”

“The real demon sword… You’re desperately trying to deny the reality before your eyes… Are you suggesting there are two demon swords in the world…?”

“Then prove it. You know that the demon sword has special abilities that only its owner can use, like the hero’s holy sword, right? If that’s real, you could show us?”

I learned about the demon sword’s unique ability from Elisier. The bloodlust that was released when we encountered the hero, the one that instilled fear, was precisely that ability.

If that thing is fake, he wouldn’t be able to answer because he wouldn’t even know what ability I’m talking about, let alone release any bloodlust.

“You, a mere human, dare to command me… How unpleasant…”

“Well. Isn’t it more unpleasant to have the authenticity of your demon sword questioned? I would feel that way. You should have received instructions on how to use it the moment you grasped the demon sword. Is there any reason not to show us?”

After my rapid-fire questions, he seemed to hesitate a bit. He could have dismissed my words as lies, but the fact that he didn’t suggested he knew it was fake.

He couldn’t offer a proper rebuttal and kept changing the subject, which meant he probably hadn’t anticipated being doubted like this. The aura itself felt almost indistinguishable from the real thing.

In fact, if it weren’t for me, Durahan would have been broken right there.

“What? Can’t use it?”

And the Elder Lich was still doing nothing. The hollow eye sockets were still directed at me, but he seemed to realize that continuing the conversation would only amplify the distrust, so he had fallen silent.

Silence doesn’t make distrust disappear. Rather, it amplifies it. The proof was Durahan drawing his sword again when he looked like he was about to mentally collapse.

“Then there’s only one answer. I’ll treat you as a fake from now on, unless you prove otherwise.”

I drew my Dragon Fang Sword and pointed it at him. Even in this situation, he remained silent, and Durahan finally seemed convinced, shouting in an extremely angry voice.

“You disloyal wretch! Not content with impersonating the Demon King, you dare to falsify his symbol as well! I will never forgive you!”

Judging by how the ground around him cracked like a spider web from the sound waves erupting from his throat, he seemed genuinely furious. Nevertheless, the Elder Lich sat on his bone throne without showing any reaction.

“Did the demon sword have such an ability… I should have been more thorough…”

Then, he clicked his nonexistent tongue with a tsk. It was essentially an admission that he had been lying.

“What, admitting it so quickly?”

“A small crack can bring down a mighty castle… Once distrust forms, it never disappears but only grows… What’s the point in dragging this out… Yes, this is indeed a fake I created…”

The creature laughed, rattling his bones. The demon sword in his hand gradually lost its vitality and transformed into mere bone.

“But human… You know one thing but not the other… If I can create a replica detailed enough to deceive even a demon legion commander, would I truly make just one…?”

“Ah, I get what you’re trying to say. So? What did you do with the multiple copies you made?”

“I gave them to undead disguised as living beings and scattered them across the frontlines… The one I crafted with the most care died at the hero’s hands… But the others are still following my orders, slaughtering humans…”

The Elder Lich threw away the bone replica of the demon sword like trash and spread his arms wide.

“I want to see if you still have compassion for your own kind… Will you help your fellow humans, or will you not…? Well… I’ve said all I needed to say, so kill me… I shall return from the source of life and come back again…”

Upon hearing those words, as I was massaging my throbbing left hand and about to draw out my spear—

“YOU WRETCH!”

Durahan rushed forward with wind-like speed and slashed the Elder Lich along with his throne. The creature disappeared into bone dust without even leaving behind a laugh.

Evil spirits spread out following the slash, devouring reality and rampaging. Durahan ground away two-thirds of the room where the throne had been, along with the evil spirits, and still seemed unsatisfied as his shoulders trembled.

“…”

Only then did he slowly put his sword back into his body, remove his helmet to tuck it under his arm, and return to me in his headless state.

“I showed an unseemly display. I apologize.”

“It’s fine. More importantly, we need to think about what to do next. You heard it too, right? About the demon sword replicas scattered across the frontlines.”

“Of course I heard it! How dare he defile and insult the Master’s symbol…! Even tearing him apart a thousand times wouldn’t be enough!”

His clenched fist trembled.

“You go find and destroy those replicas. While you’re at it, kill those specially made undead too. But absolutely do not kill any humans.”

“Absolutely do not kill humans? Hmm, I understand. Is it because you’re human?”

Looking at Durahan, who seemed to be asking why he should do that while pretending to understand, I was reminded that he too was a demon legion commander. Still, judging by his reaction, he didn’t seem like he would outright refuse.

“Why do you think he replicated the demon sword and scattered them across the human frontlines?”

“Obviously to kill humans, isn’t it?”

“You know well. Then if you go around killing humans, wouldn’t you be fulfilling his purpose? Don’t you think? Are you planning to act the same as someone who knows neither honor nor loyalty?”

“Absolutely not!”

Durahan jumped up. Not metaphorically, but literally.

“That’s why I’m saying don’t kill humans. Not for my sake, but for yours. Understand?”

“I understand! I will absolutely not kill any humans! Thank you for preserving my honor, my friend!”

The helmet tucked under his arm nodded up and down several times. Wait, can he control that remotely?

“If you understand, go ahead and start destroying those replicas. I’ll inform the humans not to attack you either.”

“Not attacking each other? Strange feeling. It’s almost as if we’ve formed an alliance. Why should I do that with a race full of scum who know no honor, unlike honorable ones like you?”

“Think of it as dishonor for the sake of honor. Imagine standing by your lord who has been falsely accused. The situation itself may be shameful, but could you really call that dishonorable?”

“Ohhh! I see!”

I was glad he was an easy one to understand.

Really.

“I see. So the order is not to attack the 1st Legion Commander and his Ghost Cavalry even if they appear on the battlefield…”

“Currently, the entire demon realm is being infiltrated by the Elder Lich. However, the 1st Legion Commander is almost uniquely prioritizing killing undead over humans. So we have no reason to attack him either.”

“I’ve heard the reports. He eliminated only the entities carrying demon swords and the surrounding undead, then disappeared without laying a finger on any humans.”

The Emperor, seemingly intimidated by the Director, glanced at the ghost horse that was clinging to my right side and licking my hand, then asked another question.

“Let me ask one thing. When you say the Elder Lich has infiltrated the demon realm, can I take that to mean the Demon King who should be controlling his legion commanders has disappeared?”

“You’ve probably already drawn your own conclusion, haven’t you?”

“…I understand. I’ll take that as a yes. What do you think, Director Erestica?”

“…”

“Director Erestica?”

“Hm? Ah, my apologies. I was lost in thought. What did you say?”

“I asked what you think of this human’s proposal.”

“I… ahem. I believe there’s no harm in accepting what this human says. As long as there’s no concern about the 1st Legion Commander stabbing us in the back first.”

“There won’t be any such thing until I declare our alliance terminated. I guarantee it.”

“He doesn’t appear to be lying.”

Since the Director was actively supporting my words, the Emperor said he would consider it for a while and dismissed us.

I left first, and the Director followed behind me. Several Royal Guards escorted us to the outside of the palace with uncomfortable looks. As soon as the Royal Guards left, the Director cast a sound-blocking spell and asked with a smile.

“How did it feel to speak informally to the Emperor, child?”

“…Well. It doesn’t feel particularly real. Since meeting Laura, he’s seemed more like a doting father than an emperor in front of me.”

I put my mask in my pocket and removed my hood. The ghost horse, which had fully accepted me as its master, melted away into the shadows. The Director’s beaming smile deepened.

“When I asked why you came in that form and why I should grant you an audience with the Emperor… There was a reason. Are you alright? If you get hurt, it absolutely, absolutely cannot happen.”

The Director bent down to examine my body from various angles. Her enormous breasts swayed busily right before my eyes.

“I’m fine. I haven’t been hurt once while traveling through the demon realm.”

“That’s right, that’s right. Well done, well done.”

With a bright smile, her large hand vigorously patted my head. I didn’t mention that even if I got hurt, I could just heal. The result was predictable.

The Director stroked me here and there, hugged me several times, and only then stepped back, seemingly satisfied. I still felt the soft sensation all over my body.

“Do you perhaps have a next plan in mind, child?”

“I’m thinking about how to find the Life Vessel. Once that’s resolved, I don’t think the rest will be much of a problem.”

It’s a shame I revealed the location of the Life Vessel back then, but it was the best choice at the time.

The fact that his life line’s location was exposed played a significant part in his certainty about Astaroth’s betrayal. If not for that, he might have stubbornly insisted on checking later.

“Life Vessel… That’s right. I have a good method for you.”

“What method are you referring to?”

The Director smiled slightly seductively and pulled me into another embrace.

“Wouldn’t you like to ride me, child?”