Ch.239That Day and a Different NPC. (4)

After enjoying a pleasant time with Attorney Ju in a courtroom physics trial where the statute of limitations hadn’t expired, the moment the fucking nun’s voice echoed through the fog once more, the scene that unfolded before my eyes portrayed the most horrific situation I’d ever experienced.

[Hiiiiiiing!!!!]

[Translating the undead Heavenly Demon Horse’s words.]

[I didn’t commit suicide, you piece of trash human. That’s what it says.]

[…You’ve grown a lot.]

[Undead – Setan.]

“…Father. And, the victim of the sui… accident, Heavenly Demon Horse.”

“Uh, huh? F-Father?! Don’t tell me that undead is Jack’s father?!!”

Though his face was completely crushed and his body had holes everywhere with bones exposed, making him look like a corpse, I became certain from his voice and presence. That is my father.

[…I wonder why I’ve opened my eyes like this. You seem to know.]

[Hiiiiiiing!!!]

[I’ve been resurrected to take revenge on you. That’s what it says.]

All around us were indistinguishable figures—some looking like soldiers, some like knights, and others like unknown civilians—along with monster corpses swarming everywhere. Of all things, my father and the Heavenly Demon Horse who was “suicided” in the accident appeared at the very front. My God, where else could you find such an unfair situation?

“…Father. Um, I don’t know if this is the right thing to say, but have you been well?”

[…What health could a dead person have? I was just resting peacefully in the afterlife until now, and I’m curious about why this has happened. Son.]

[Hiiiiiiing!!!!]

[How could I be well? You piece of trash human, I’ll kill you right now. That’s what it says.]

Holy shit. Who would have thought I’d experience the “I’ll resurrect your parents” threat?!!! And worse, while I’m reuniting with my parents, the Heavenly Demon Horse next to them is snorting and stomping its hooves, looking ready to charge at any moment. Oh my. Mr. Heavenly Demon Horse. I understand you’re angry, but please give me a moment!!

[…Son.]

“Yes.”

[…This horse seems very angry with you?]

“…Can you understand what it’s saying?”

[Hiiiiiiing!!!]

[I haven’t forgotten the day I died for a single day. I swore I would kill you even if I had to sell my soul to the devil, and finally that wish is coming true. That’s what it says.]

[…What exactly did you do wrong?]

You can hear it!! You understand it?! I can understand because my status window translates for me, but does my father understand because they’re the “same kind”?! This is bullshit!!!

[Hiiiiiiiiiiing!!!]

[Your son killed me and claimed it was suicide, then abandoned my corpse and ran away. He said I committed suicide while I was dying under the cold pile of stones he knocked down. That’s what it says.]

[…Son, I didn’t raise you that way.]

“…I’m sorry. Mr. Heavenly Demon Horse! Father!!”

Damn it. Suddenly I’m in a three-way confrontation with my parents! What I did to the Heavenly Demon Horse was definitely a little bit my fault, so I immediately bowed my head and apologized. My father placed his hand on the rotting neck of the Heavenly Demon Horse, which looked ready to attack at any moment, and continued speaking.

[You, horse? Sir.]

[Hiiiiiiiiiiiiing!!]

[I am the proud Heavenly Demon Horse, ruler of the sky. That’s what it says.]

[Ah, yes. Mr. Heavenly Demon Horse. I’m this child’s father, and I’m sure my child didn’t act with bad intentions. Please, if not forgiveness, would you at least have a conversation with us? I’ll apologize as well.]

[Prrrrr.]

[A child’s mistake is the parent’s mistake. You seem to be a human with some sense of responsibility and manners. That makes me even angrier. You should have raised your son better. That’s what it says.]

…What kind of chaotic mess is this? They say that when children do wrong, their parents and ancestors get cursed, but my deceased father is actually apologizing to and getting scolded by a horse!! Damn it. Father, I’m sorry!! I’m truly sorry that your son recalled his past life and became a fire attribute!!!

[…So, son?]

“Yes.”

[Setting aside me and this Heavenly Demon Horse, it seems these undead in the black fog are targeting you and that demon girl beside you.]

“That’s right, isn’t it?”

“J-Jack…”

While I was struggling with the three-way confrontation, the undead (former) humans and monsters that had completely surrounded us were already waiting with murderous intent, ready to pounce. In this situation, the weakened Luxuria was just clinging to my arm, her eyes welling up with tears as she trembled.

Sigh, really. These bastards have no sense of timing. Can’t I have a quiet conversation with my father whom I haven’t seen in ages?

“Father, Mr. Heavenly Demon Horse. Could you give me five minutes?”

[…Five minutes? This number?]

[Hiiiiing!!]

[What shameless human bravado. If you can defeat this ridiculous army, I’ll wait not just 5 minutes but even 5 years. That’s what it says.]

Haha. Well, how kind of Mr. Heavenly Demon Horse to be so generous. I don’t know how to react.

“Both of you, please stay back. They’re all undead and it’s hard to distinguish in this fog.”

[…Be careful.]

[Prrrrr!!]

[Hmph! Just die already. That’s what it says.]

That was the end of our conversation. The undead, apparently deciding our talk was over, surrounded us from all directions and charged at Luxuria and me simultaneously. I grabbed the trembling Luxuria by the waist and jumped off the ground, avoiding their attack.

“…Well. The fact that they waited this long shows they have some manners, I suppose.”

“Eeeek?! J-Jack?!! Below!! Below us!!!”

Like the Jerusalem wall scene from the movie World War Z, the undead bastards are trampling each other to form a tower to chase us—a sight that, from the perspective of the one being chased, is not particularly pleasant. At the very least, Luxuria has started crying and screaming that she doesn’t want to be monster fodder, so I guess it’s not abnormal for me to find this quite horrifying.

“Girl. Stop! If you keep crying, I’ll drop you, okay?”

“Waaaaaah!!! Don’t drop me!! Save me!!! I don’t want to die!!!”

As our jumping momentum decreases and we start falling back to the ground, Luxuria continues to shed tears like horse dung despite my warning to stop crying. Still, the fact that she’s covering her mouth with one hand to avoid screaming is quite admirable.

“Yes, yes. That’s how you should behave to make me like you.”

That way I can at least introduce you to my father as a decent demon. As we begin to fall, a level 290 undead troll that has climbed to the top swings its decayed arm with full force to attack us head-on.

“But there’s a level difference, right?”

-Thud.

-⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯!!!!

When my kick connects with its decayed arm, the undead that had formed the tower explode in all directions, all flying away at once. Thanks to them gathering in a crowd, a single attack reduced their numbers significantly. As I land lightly on the ground, I hear my father’s “Oh…” of admiration from a distance. Well, who would have thought I’d be showing off my strength in front of my deceased father one day.

“Luxuria.”

“U-uh?”

“Can you hang onto my back?”

I set the sniffling demon down on the ground and ask if she can manage it. She nods vigorously while still sniffling, immediately climbing onto my back and wrapping her arms around my neck. Her legs are still dangling, unable to move yet, but well, she’s a demon, so she should be able to endure this much.

“I told my father five minutes, but if I make him wait the full five minutes, only my filial piety level for the fire attribute will increase.”

“Huh? F-fire attribute?”

Ignoring the demon’s question about my muttering, I throw punches and kicks with full force at the approaching enemies, and the undead explode spectacularly like in a Japanese warrior game. I don’t even need to use the martial arts I learned from Elder Ferna against these guys. I’ll just strike each one with full power and clear them out as quickly as possible!!

And so, after about 2 minutes rather than 5…

-Boom boom boom boom!!!

“Done.”

“…I thawt I waz gonna die…”

After making undead rain fall from the sky, Luxuria, who had been clinging to me, slumps down completely exhausted from my intense movements, her tongue hanging out as she speaks. Hmm, was that the enemy’s last struggle? It really wasn’t much.

“Father! I’ve finished clearing the undea… Huh?”

“…Huh?”

During my battle, the Heavenly Demon Horse and my father had retreated to the back. I had been checking on them visually several times. But now…

“…Father? Mr. Heavenly Demon Horse?”

“Ahahaha!!! This is fun!!! Who would have thought your father was buried on this mountain!!!”

“N-no way…”

The fucking nun’s voice echoed loudly again through the dark fog, and standing on top of the undead corpses were only the Heavenly Demon Horse and my unresponsive father sitting on its back. Shit, don’t tell me…

[…Jack, I don’t know what’s going on here.]

[Prrrrr!!]

[I’ve completely lost control of my body. That’s what it says.]

“…That fucking bitch.”

“Ahahaha!!! Even that insult proves my superiority!!! It was so nice to see you having a heartfelt conversation with your resurrected father, but how about it? Can you crush your own father’s limbs and stomp his head to pieces with those hands? Just like those undead lying there!!!”

-Crack!

While I was busy dealing with the other undead, the fucking tentacle nun must have done something to my father and the Heavenly Demon Horse, but it’s obviously a ploy to mess with me. And the opponent is my father who still has his reason intact. Wow. This is really maddening.

[Jack. I’ve seen how much you’ve grown. So…]

[Hiiiiiiiiing!!!]

[I said I would sell my soul to a demon to kill you, but I never actually intended to do so. That’s what it says.]

Before they could finish speaking, the Heavenly Demon Horse charged like an enraged bull. And my father, with his crushed body riding on its back, moved his lips and said:

[…Won’t you let us rest again like this?]

-Clop clop clop clop clop!!!!

As the Heavenly Demon Horse and my father charged at incredible speed, I lightly raised my fist toward them both.

“Yes.”

-Boom!!!

[Puhiiing?!!!!]

I precisely struck only the undead Heavenly Demon Horse’s face, completely pulverizing it.

“Um… I was trying to talk with my father. Mr. Heavenly Demon Horse, you rest first.”

[Hiiiiiiing!!!!]

[This trash human, seriously. It expresses rage.]

Needless to say, the Heavenly Demon Horse’s anger did not subside until the very end.