Ch.5959. The Boy King (5)

“It worked!”

Elia exclaimed, clenching her fist.

Anyone could see that a surprise attack had landed successfully.

“…”

Instead of responding to her, I silently prepare for what comes next.

-!

The alchemical formations writhe nearby.

Valkarsus’s body remains standing, not collapsing.

“…!”

And then.

Seeing the ominous light erupting from the formations—no less intense than before—Yuria’s eyes widened as she stepped back.

Both Elia and Lucien stare in that direction with dumbfounded expressions.

“Not yet…”

A quiet voice echoed through the ruined top floor of the clock tower.

“…far from it. This isn’t enough.”

I agree.

The shackles binding you won’t be broken just by having a sword thrust into your heart.

From the beginning, the restriction placed on him was “to die in one-on-one combat.”

Beating him up three against one won’t kill him.

And even if he could die, he would refuse it.

If his life ends before satisfying the restriction, the alchemy would be eternally bound to that body.

“I can’t go… alone. My kingdom is… still…!”

That’s why, despite the fatal wound to his heart.

He’s desperately holding on.

The formations surrounding him explode with light. Yuria’s body flies backward with a short scream.

“…He still won’t die? What is this really…!”

“Hey.”

I cut off Elia’s words with a sigh as she was about to speak.

“Go down the clock tower. Take the Holy Maiden with you. If you don’t leave now, you’ll get caught up in this.”

“…What?”

“From here on, I’ll handle this alone.”

Both Elia and even Lucien open their eyes wide.

Valkarsus’s condition is clearly worse than before. You could say he’s going berserk.

If someone told me they’d face that alone, I’d react the same way.

“Please stop with this nonsense…! How do you expect to handle that alone, Professor…!”

“I’m not being crazy.”

But.

You’ve all done as much as you could.

Just driving that person to this point and landing a hit on his “heart” is already a tremendous accomplishment.

I could never have done it alone.

“…”

Nevertheless.

From here on, I need to do this by myself.

[Activating Skill: Dominion of Evil.]

[Exercising command authority over targets ‘Elia’ and ‘Lucien’!]

[The targets will absolutely obey your words!]

“Go. It’s better if I do this alone. Holy Maiden. Take Yuria with you too.”

“…”

“…”

I probably needed to use something like this because neither of them would listen otherwise.

Lucien seems to have understood better, nodding after a brief moment of consideration.

But Elia.

She stares at me as if she’s been hit on the back of the head with a hammer.

Her eyes tremble. As if deeply shocked.

<System Message>

[Target ‘Elia’ has received an extremely severe shock from your statement!]

[Self-confidence is rapidly decreasing!]

[Negative influence is imprinted!]

[Negative imprint stacked 3 times!]

[A significant change occurs in personality.]

[Change occurs in behavior patterns!]

[Dominance over the target increases!]

[A reward is available!]

[Skill: Dominion of Evil activates. You gain 1 command authority to use on the target!]

“…”

I don’t understand why she always replenishes command authority whenever I use it.

No, more importantly.

The message that appears is quite concerning.

Self-confidence decreasing rapidly?

Dominance increasing?

“Professor.”

“Go.”

I just say that to her as she speaks with a slightly tearful voice.

I’ll worry about this later. Right now, Valkarsus is the priority.

Only after Lucien, Yuria, and the hesitant Elia finally disappear down the stairs toward the lower part of the clock tower.

“…Well then.”

I look at Valkarsus, whose heart is gushing with darkness.

I take out the Essence of Evil from my pocket and bring it to the Soul Linker.

From Calivan’s perspective, as someone who served as Guardian, the highest rank among holy knights, this must be absolutely horrifying.

[…Hmm.]

Only the sound of a snort comes from inside the amulet.

[What are you plotting now?]

“Why are you talking as if you’ve seen this before? You’re always sleeping.”

[Even when I seem to be sleeping, I see everything, kid. Including the fact that everything you do has a reason.]

Right. Then you’ve seen correctly.

[Do you want to combine ‘Essence of Evil’ with ‘Soul Linker’?] [Y/N]

I immediately touch Y.

[Soul Linker] [Exclusive Equipment]

[Enchant: Epic]

[Hero Fragment Fusion] [Essence of Evil Fusion]

#1

[Spirit: Calivan – Guardian, Knight of Dawn]

[Current Charged Magic Rate: 0%]

[Current Synchronization Rate: 12%]

< Additional Function >

[■ Skill: Mental World]

Such messages appear, followed by:

< System Message >

[By combining ‘Essence of Evil’, a new function is added!]

[An evil spirit slot is opened in the Soul Linker!]

[Only souls with evil alignment can be added to the slot!]

I nod as I see that window.

Yes.

This is the only way to bring down Valkarsus in “combat.”

“Get ready to welcome a neighbor, Calivan.”

[…You’re truly insane.]

Calivan said with a hollow laugh.

[You’re planning to bind THAT thing’s soul?]

The sentence uttered with a feeling that even a Guardian would find horrifying obviously refers to Valkarsus before me.

Monstrous energy was pouring out of the hole in his chest.

Hundreds of thousands of alchemical marks are embedded throughout his body, but what controls them is ultimately the heart, the primary medium of alchemy.

What Yuria did was open a path for me to reach that far.

“…No.”

It’s not about binding him.

“I’m trying to save him.”

If that wasn’t the case, I wouldn’t have gone this far.

I check the time.

2 minutes left.

“Calivan.”

[Hmm?]

“Since you were one of the top-tier personnel in your empire, I thought you might know.”

[Know what?]

“How do you endure pain?”

His answer came with a chuckle.

[Grit.]

“…I’m never asking you for advice again.”

With those words.

[Activating Skill: Proof of Faith.]

[All additional stats are converted to ‘Endurance’ and ‘Holy Power’.]

[Activating Skill: Sacred Stigmata.]

I launch myself toward Valkarsus.

-!

-!!!!

Countless vicious spells rain down on me simultaneously.

Before, we shared this burden among four people, but now I’m taking it all on myself.

Even with my EX-level enhanced Desperate Situation skill converting everything to endurance and holy power, plus the shield affected by it.

My entire body rots and festers. Skin necroses, blood vessels rupture, muscle fibers dissolve and tear.

“…F-fuck…!”

Pain like sparks shooting across my vision courses through my entire body. Yet I ignore it and push forward. I only have 2 minutes left. No time to waste.

Even through pain that feels like my entire body is being torn apart. I keep moving.

Pain like being burned alive engulfs me. Even my internal organs feel like they’re on fire.

Still, one step.

It’s like having my lungs squeezed while trying to exhale. My mouth is open but my breathing is hollow. I can’t inhale.

Still, one step.

A terrible pressure crushes my chest. The muscles in my arms and legs won’t listen.

Still, one step.

“…”

Beyond the pain that makes my consciousness fade in and out.

Finally.

My hand touches this person’s chest.

The Soul Linker, which can “contain souls,” makes contact with the heart—the core part that forms this person’s soul.

If Yuria hadn’t stabbed him beforehand, I wouldn’t have been able to insert my hand.

“…”

At this point, the boss fight is essentially over.

I could win just by forcibly “binding” this person to the Soul Linker using the Essence of Evil.

It’s an Epic item, after all. Even against a boss, it’s possible once I’ve made contact with the core of his soul. I could forcibly shatter his consciousness and imprison it in the item.

But I don’t want to do that.

At least for someone I don’t consider cheap, I don’t want to do such a thing.

That’s why I specifically told Calivan I was going to “save” him.

“…”

So.

I prepare for what comes next.

As evident from all the restrictions attached to this person’s “death” conditions, Valkarsus wasn’t designed to be defeated in combat from the beginning.

Even the battle I’ve fought so far doesn’t come close to this person’s “full power.”

Nevertheless, there’s one trick that only I, who first broke through the combat route with this person, know.

The “curse” placed on this person was cast by the strongest “word mage” in this game, as far as I know.

However, despite that.

Due to the nature of word magic, there are limitations.

For example.

If you just match the “form,” you can somehow fit sentences into the situation.

If the curse condition is that he can only die in a fair one-on-one duel with full power.

“This is a fair one-on-one duel, Boy King.”

It can be satisfied this way.

The only method of “salvation” for this person that I came up with, which was absolutely impossible in the game.

“I’m as injured as you are. I feel the same pain you’re feeling. The conditions are equal.”

My completely hoarse voice flowed out.

By matching my “injuries” with his, I’ve made the conditions equal.

That alone breaks through the first restriction of the word magic.

“In this situation.”

And the second restriction.

“If I ‘subjugate’ your soul to me, I win. Defeat means failing to do so. I stake my life as the price.”

A full-power one-on-one duel.

However.

The “method” and “place” are determined by me.

Valkarsus’s heart emitted a black light.

It means the word mage’s restriction within has judged my words as “valid.”

A duel, conceptually, isn’t much.

You just need to designate “victory and defeat” in some way.

The alchemical marks that were melting even Valkarsus’s outline all burrowed into my body through my hand touching his heart.

“So, it’s a duel.”

My vision went dark.

●

I walk through a space of darkness.

It’s a familiar feeling. The sensation I experienced when I entered a certain space with that clumsy Fallen Angel.

This is inside Valkarsus’s mind.

What I’m seeing now isn’t my memory.

“…”

It seems his first kill in his first battle remains most deeply in his memory. It was the clearest.

He was a fighter rumored to be the strongest in the area. He was also human trash who would beat up anyone he made eye contact with, creating reasons if necessary.

Hearing that rumor.

To die in a “duel,” Valkarsus deliberately provoked him. That man who boldly charged couldn’t withstand even three alchemical spells and died.

However, what wasn’t included in the rumors was:

That he was a man raising a three-year-old daughter and an infant son alone. They clearly couldn’t even understand their father’s death.

That day, Valkarsus vomited for the first time in his life.

Because through his first kill, he instinctively knew what path he would have to walk from then on.

“…”

The memories continued.

His journey to free the people embedded in his body through alchemy, due to the calamity caused by the word mage, unfolds.

He seeks out more powerful opponents. He goes through more battlefields and piles up more corpses.

Countless memories of killing stretched endlessly along the space.

He wears down. His humanity is chipped away.

“…”

Nevertheless, the boy walks on.

He passes through much time. He hopes countless times but loses countless times. Even when all that comes into his hands are crumbled ashes, he stands up again.

Even in moments when everything fades in the passionless and heartless time, he doesn’t give up.

In a distant journey where he might lose his very existence. Like finding an ember in an extinguished flame, when he looks back at his withered mind, even the certainty of his own existence becomes dim.

The sense of loss sprouting between broken bodies can break even an iron will.

Feeling all those emotions accumulated over thousands of years, every thought that touches the skin, I move forward.

Beyond the endless stream of memories.

Finally.

I face a boy sitting alone in the dark space.

“Valkarsus.”

“…”

“Valkarsus.”

“You truly are out of your mind.”

I hear that a lot.

As I give a bitter smile, he runs his hand through his hair and continues.

“…The mental space is known to be the most complex and dangerous of all spaces accessible through abilities. To enter such a place voluntarily. It might have been better to have a life-or-death battle in the material world.”

“Is that so.”

“You could have been swept away in my memories and drifted here forever. Did you know that when you came in?”

I knew that setting.

Still.

“…I just thought it might work, from a recent experience.”

This is a plan I created after grasping the general “feeling” when I entered the mental space with the Fallen Angel.

Although I didn’t do much inside, by looking into my mental space, I could understand how it works.

So, I was confident I wouldn’t be swept away in here.

“Because I understand you.”

That’s the thought I had from the first time I saw this person in the scenario.

This person is quite similar to me.

“…What?”

“Being forced to take on a shitty job for the sake of important people. I know what that feels like.”

“…”

“Of course, in terms of duration, you’ve been at it much longer than I have.”

Valkarsus stared at me with a blank expression, but instead of explaining, I just gave a bitter smile.

I just want him to know that I’ve had some pretty rough times too.

“And.”

Above all.

“You were lonely. You.”

Being left alone.

Having all your loved ones leave, being abandoned in a world full of only pain.

I know what that feels like. At least I do.

With no one for me to cry for, and no one to cry for me.

I remember those evenings when I just stared blankly at walls where even the wallpaper had been torn off in an empty house.

I remember days when I looked up at the sky for hours, trying to find a destination to escape reality.

Just like how this person always watches the sunset to escape from pain.

Just like how he reminisces about the last time he was surrounded by his only precious ones.

“So, there was something I wanted to do for you.”

You could call it vicarious satisfaction.

There were things I wanted to give to this person, since I couldn’t have them myself.

“…I want to return your revenge to you.”

What I gave up on in the past.

What this person had also postponed to a distant future, prioritizing the liberation of the kingdom’s people bound to his body.

When I existed outside the game as a player, I only thought about it.

But now this is my reality. It’s not impossible if the person actually exists.

“Return my revenge.”

“You must have something that was unfairly taken from you.”

Mother. Father. Family. Brothers. Acquaintances. Friends. People.

The entire kingdom.

Everything precious that this person swore to protect.

“He’s still alive. The word mage who stuffed your kingdom into your body.”

“…”

I know the pain of loss too.

So at the very least, I can return this rightful privilege to this person.

The opportunity to punish those who took everything away.

The word mage who cursed Valkarsus appears as a boss in the later part of the scenario.

At that time.

I will smash that bastard’s head together with this person.

“I will give you the right to take revenge on that man. I swear.”

“And in return, you want my soul to be subjugated to you?”

“It’s a fair deal, isn’t it? I also promised to be your subordinate at the beginning.”

Valkarsus smiled wryly.

“…It’s far more than a fair deal.”

Saying that, he stands up.

Placing his hand over where his heart is located, he kneels.

Even someone like me, ignorant of etiquette, can understand.

“Just by accepting this, the alchemical marks bound to my body will be immediately released and return to the cycle of reincarnation. Since you’ve broken through all the restrictions of the word magic.”

“…”

“Darwood Campbell. I swear on the blood of Armada.”

This is the highest honor this Boy King can show.

“My heart, my pride, my soul are all yours.”

“…”

I awkwardly scratch my cheek at his straightforward declaration.

“…I’m just a commoner from a barony, so I don’t know how to respond in situations like this.”

“There’s no need. You’re now in a position where you could command me with a mere gesture.”

“…”

Is this person also like Calivan?

He adapts too easily to becoming someone else’s subordinate.

“…By the way, may I ask one thing?”

“What is it?”

Valkarsus silently ran his hand through his hair.

After a moment of silence, he finally spoke again.

“You seem to know a great deal. It feels like there’s nothing you don’t know.”

“Huh?”

“Then let me ask. Knowing what hardships await in confronting that person, do you still intend to take me to him?”

“…”

I’m going to face that word mage anyway, so I’m just setting up insurance.

Valkarsus will be an extremely useful ally.

Subjugating his soul to the Soul Linker will provide all kinds of utilities.

Again, this person is among the strongest bosses in the entire game. Just having his soul subjugated to me will clearly be a tremendous help for clearing.

“…Well, like the opportunist, petty citizen, and egoist that I am, it’s a decision based on calculations that benefit me.”

“No.”

Valkarsus smiled slightly.

“The option to ignore and move on is always open.”

His voice continued meaningfully.

“If you know so much, you could have chosen a way to survive alone, ignoring what happens to others. You gave that up and chose the difficult path. That was your choice. Just look at what you’ve done for me.”

“…”

“Darwood Campbell. You simply cannot bear to see someone suffering before your eyes. You’re neither an opportunist, nor a petty citizen, nor an egoist.”

You’re just so good that it’s beyond what an ordinary person’s mind can comprehend.

Such words echoed through the dark space.

“…Compliments won’t get you anything. Are you flattering me now that we’re in a hierarchical relationship?”

“Oh, was I found out?”

“…”

I feel it again.

This person is just like Calivan.

He adapts too quickly.

●