Ch.53Chapter 53. I Became an Evolving Otherworld Monster (3)

53. I Became an Evolving Otherworld Monster (3)

I am on the side of justice, but it seems justice is not on my side.

No.

The premise itself was wrong.

I was never on the side of justice.

Right.

From the beginning, in the “New Content Proposal” email I sent, Roa’s role was that of an expansion pack boss.

In other words, I’m the villain threatening the world.

So that’s why the paladins don’t bring me points.

What if the reason I was reluctant to reveal my identity to the community was because the command “don’t let your identity be discovered” was imprinted on me without my knowledge?

I’m confused.

So confused that the world seems to be spinning.

Am I… am I really moving according to my own will?

Is it really my own thoughts that make the barbarians seem lovable to me?

Why does Lakye follow me?

Even with a sad past, does it make sense to follow someone she barely knows so blindly?

She hates Lakan, who is also a Roa and her father, but follows me? Because I came to save the earth?

Could Lakye also be part of the Roas’ scheme? She might be in on it.

“Lord Malak?”

Lakye was staring at me intently from beside me. How long had she been there?

“What’s wrong?”

Can she see that I’m troubled?

Lakye tilts her head. Then she reaches out toward the totem, toward me.

I didn’t want to accept her touch.

– It’s nothing.

My words come out cold, perhaps because I’m suspicious.

Lakye’s pupils trembled for a moment.

“L-Lord Malak?”

She steps back slightly.

– …

I didn’t answer.

Lakye blinked a few times and carefully opened her mouth.

“Great one. I’m too dull to grasp what mistake I’ve made. It’s a shameless request, but please tell me. I’ll fix it.”

– I want to be alone.

Lakye froze like a stone on the spot. Though it was brief, she didn’t move at all.

“…I understand.”

With slumped shoulders, Lakye moves away, almost creaking.

I fell into deep thought.

***

A day has passed.

I’m much calmer now.

After sleeping and waking up, my mind became clear again.

Because of this personality, my friends often told me I have strong mental fortitude.

In truth, it’s not that my mental fortitude is strong. It’s more that my recovery speed is much faster than others.

Anyway, I was overly sensitive yesterday.

Lakye… I’ve never seen her look so flustered before. Never seen her look so dejected either.

I’ve only ever seen her calm and confident.

I feel sorry for hurting her. She’s always worked so hard.

I caught Paya who was hovering around the altar, perhaps having some business there.

The mansion that once belonged to the gorilla demon has now become the altar where my Totem #1 is installed.

The outdoor altar has essentially been changed to an indoor altar.

– How is Lakye?

“She’s been holed up in her house all day. She doesn’t answer when called, and she’s not eating.”

When deliberation drags on too long, courage disappears.

Let’s go apologize.

After exchanging a few words with Paya, I descended upon Lakye.

“…Ah.”

Lakye was in her dark lodging, wrapped in blankets.

Her eyes are moist. Her emotions are a mess.

I can feel it because I’m in divine descent state.

– Lakye.

I want to apologize person to person, but it would be too strange for a Roa to act that way.

“…Lord Malak.”

– I heard you skipped meals.

“…I wasn’t hungry today.”

That’s not convincing. You always exercise and eat three meals a day without fail.

– It’s a misunderstanding. You did nothing wrong.

“Is… that so?”

Lakye asks cautiously.

– Yesterday I just needed time to think. This is also because I’m still in an immature state, so don’t worry.

I used another cheat key. The excuse that I’m immature because I was forcibly summoned to earth.

“I see…! And I didn’t even realize…”

Vitality returns to Lakye’s body.

She believes me right away. Without even thinking it might be a lie.

How could I think that someone like this would be plotting against me?

That she’s working with whoever brought me here?

What a pathetic fanboy I am.

– Lakye, my guardian. I was worried when I heard you were depressed.

“Lord Malak…!”

– I hope you regain your spirits.

Hmm. This next part might sound a bit perverted, but I’ll say it anyway.

– I want to see you full of energy.

“…!”

Lakye throws off the blanket and gets up. She says she’ll wash up and change.

I returned to Totem #1.

To change the mood a bit, I accessed the community.

[AtomicRex: Delicious delicious

Human meat tastes best

Ate five more today

Sad they don’t give passive skills]

– Comments –

[MeleeSpy: Where are you?]

AtomicRex, you can’t even use proper spacing anymore.

Does eating people make you closer to becoming a beast?

So much for changing the mood.

– …

After realizing the truth of the status window, I’ve thought about this to some extent.

The Roas must have conspired with whoever sent me here.

For now, I’ll call this being “Istania.”

Given the circumstances, it was clear this entity was involved.

The email from Istania also mentioned discussing with the Roas.

Then is this being called Roa Malak a new god created by Istania?

Would Istania go through such trouble? To save the world?

Would someone so kind, emotional, and humane keep sending new users as paladins continue to die?

It makes more sense to think I was possessed into an existing Roa.

If not that, then I might actually not be a Roa but some other entity (like just a damn totem), but this is unlikely.

Harry judged me to be a god through his spinning glasses, and Charon also called me a Roa.

I am indeed a Roa.

Then what happened to that Roa, the one I possessed, Malak?

Did his soul disappear or get banished because I possessed him?

Like how Rinojohnnson took Charon’s soul?

That’s nonsense. Someone of god-level wouldn’t be defeated so easily.

I opened the message window and sent a message to myself.

[Hey]

[You’re watching, aren’t you?]

In my view, this Malak guy is 100% here with me.

[Answer me, you bastard]

He must have entrusted his body to me and been watching all along.

Not like Charon whose soul was taken, but given.

[Answer!]

After a long silence, a message appeared that I didn’t write.

[Conversation is dangerous. If it goes on too long, your mind won’t be able to handle it.]

[Whether you want it or not, control will return to me.]

[If you really want, I’ll answer briefly. Just this once.]

Fuck. My theory was right. Caught red-handed!

I’ll call this one “True” Malak.

[Why me specifically?]

[True Malak: Because only you cared about the barbarians.]

So he read my email too.

[How should I understand this situation?]

[True Malak: I entrusted all my divinity and power to you. I put your soul into my soul and gave you control.]

Hard to understand, but let’s move on.

[Why did you do this?]

[True Malak: If I directly descended to the material world, terrible things would happen on earth. I had no choice but to use this workaround of borrowing your soul.]

[Why go to such lengths?]

This is what I most want to ask.

[True Malak: Those who serve me.]

[True Malak: I wanted to save the earth.]

[True Malak: So I sold myself as a chess piece.]

– …

[What’s the ultimate goal? Did you write that?]

[True Malak: No. Other Roas must have been up to something.]

Could it be that bastard Lakan? That perverted wolf might be capable of it.

[True Malak: You are my proxy, my last bastion, and my hope. I’ve bet everything on you.]

[True Malak: All your actions stem from your own will.]

[True Malak: Remember. You are now Roa Malak.]

With those words, the messages stopped.

Damn. This is even more confusing.

It would have been better if True Malak was just a really bad guy who spewed curses.

“Lord Malak.”

– Lakye.

Lakye, who had finished dolling up, stood before Totem #1.

“Dolling up” might not be the right word—”fully armed” might be more appropriate.

– Could you stay by my side?

I’m a bit tired. I need human warmth.

She’s the only one who can share warmth with me.

“Yes!”

Lakye embraced Totem #1 with a moved expression.

I didn’t ask her to hug me.

Well, it’s fine. It does heal my heart.

The ultimate goal, huh? He said the Roas plotted it.

Fuck them all. Idiots. I won’t do what you tell me to.

If you’re upset, come find me on earth.

I’ll save everyone I can, whether they’re civilized people or paladins.

Because that’s who Malak is—”UltraSansMadWithMoonlightMassacreMode” and a fanboy.

***

[AtomicRex: Killed by two humans delicious

They were paladins wearing armor

They hid in a cave where autumn leaves fell

Boramimeolli is at the big rocky mountain

Pull out legs eat them two bodies so four legs

Eat them trim them crush them small

Intestines all curly soft flesh

Bitter skin turn inside out to lure me]

– Comments –

[MeleeSpy: That’s Skeleton Mountain]

[MeleeSpy: Just wait a little longer]

AtomicRex never posted again.