Chapter 46 The Devil Kings Name (3)

4.

Fear.

An emotion that was more human than any other.

Hee..

Anxiety of the future. Horrified that it, the Fallen Constellation, could die like this.

It was scared of me. As I took another step forward, it gave a fearful moan. But a moan never stopped anyone.

Im really glad youre human.

I spoke.

Think about it. If you were a monster, you wouldnt qualify to be summoned for the [Hundred Ghosts Summons], right? No, I guess its now [Hundred Ghosts Reincarnation]. Although the name of the skill doesnt

Ahhhhhhh!

Waver.

It fought back its fear for the last time. The red sword of the Devil King. It wasnt even able to properly lift it anymore. It barely swung the sword at me.

Mm.

There was no way I would fall to that. I lightly avoided it. Once, twice, thrice, it trembled as it swung the sword.

Bae Hu-ryeong muttered.

-Its nothing.

He eyebrows were furrowed.

-Its stance is unsteady. Its feet arent properly stepping on the ground either. Its not even looking in front of it. Theres no certainty in the path of its sword, geez. Whats it trying to do after it swings that sword? Whats it doing?

Bae Hu-ryeong grumbled.

-Tsk. Ita sword user that just relies on Aura and its skills. No, its not even a sword user.

After I cleared the 19th floor, he had been silent, but the Sword Emperor seemed extremely displeased looking at the actions of the creature.

-Look. Zombie. Look at that. This is why I keep on telling you the importance of the basics. At the end of the end, all humans have to rely on is their hands and feet.

Bae Hu-ryeong spoke.

-Close the curtains.

I did.

With just one swing, I broke its sword. As blade clashed against blade, the sounds rang out. The Fallen Constellations eyes widened.

Ah,

The red sword in front split into half.

Ahh, ueh.ahhhh

The last resolve of the Fallen Constellation also fell with the sword. The lithe beast collapsed on the floor. The Acacia flowers were crushed under its bottom.

Is it like the Devil King said?

I calmly looked at its despairing appearance.

Something that collects death

I suddenly thought of what the tower said as it gave me my nickname. Respects to the king who harvests death. That was what the tower said. It was strange, because it seemed to fit exactly with this situation.

Yeah. I guess its not wrong.

I slowly put more force on my sword.

It was the moment I was about to bring my sword down upon the Fallen Constellation.

-Uh. Zombie? Wait a minute.

.

-Sorry Im b.u.t.ting in when you were getting ready to show off what you dont have. Actually, Im not that sorry. I just said it because I was bored. Anyway, wait a minute.

And like always, the Sword Emperor inspected. [TN: Inspected and Sword Emperor are the same words in Korean.]

Ugh. What?

Feeling annoyed, I just spoke out loud instead of inside of my head. The Sword Saint and the Witch werent here anyway. There werent any hunters around to think I was crazy.

-No. Just because you seem to be really sure.

So.about what?

-Youre sure that isnt a monster anymore. But does that make it a human? What Im saying is, are you treating that as a human, just like yourself. It could just be a normal NPC.

So what.

-Are you sure even NPCs can be summoned through [Hundred Ghosts Reincarnation]?

I stopped my sword.

Uh.cant that be the case?

-Youre a f.u.c.king loser so you havent killed an NPC yet. Its definite that [Hundred Ghosts Reincarnation] doesnt apply to monsters. But we dont know if thats also the case for NPCs.

.

-What if you just did as you liked and it said [Sorry! The skill cannot be applied to NPCs!]? Hm? Are you going to take care of the atmosphere suddenly becoming chilly?

No, but

-Hey. Kim Zombie. Pay attention! I know because I experienced it, but the tower is really harsh when it comes to things like this.

f.u.c.k this.

The Fallen Constellation was already looking at me with fear.

Its eyes were filled with the horror of death.

Cursing, I checked the skill card again.

+

[Hundred Ghosts Reincarnation]

Rank: SSS

Effects: What you killed will be summoned as monsters. The dead cannot use their abilities from when they were living. But if you want, the dead will be able to keep their memories and their looks from when they were alive. If you dont want to, theyll just be summoned as monsters.

However, you can only summon them once a week.

-See? It says what you killed.

Bae Hu-ryeong pointed at the card.

-How do you know if NPCs are included in the what? Hm? Can you be sure?

N, NPCs are humans too. Humans.

-Oho. Thats just what you think. Mr.Kim Zombie.

Bae Hu-ryeong spoke with a serious face.

-Before you kill that guy, make a deal with the tower first.

A deal with the tower

-Why? So what? You were doing it fine earlier. You already did it once, you can do it again.

Mm

That was true.

I looked up at the sky with a slightly awkward face.

Um. Mr.Tower?

[The tower is listening to what youre saying.]

Fortunately, I was ignored.

Earlier, I heard that I was being given the power of an apostle. Was it thanks to that? It seemed like for the time being at least, I could communicate freely with the tower.

Theres something I want to ask please.

-Hey. Earlier you spoke informally to the tower, so whats with all the respect now? What a funny guy?

I accidentally spoke informally because I was so caught up in the moment andgeez, never mind. Be quiet!

Even while we were fighting, the tower answered calmly.

[The tower is checking what your question is.]

Lets see. Mm. So, does the Hundred Ghosts Reincarnation skill acknowledge an NPC? Or does that just apply to hunters like me?

And I received an unexpected answer in response.

[The tower is judging.]

[The question surpa.s.ses the authority of the tower.]

Pardon?

And that wasnt the end.

The voices that followed went way past my expectations even more.

[The tower is confirming the authority of the questioner.]

[Pa.s.s. The Death King currently has the temporary qualification of an apostle.]

[The tower acknowledges the Death Kings question as an official agenda item.]

And.

[The tower requests a majority conference to the Six Constellations of Ten Thousand Lives.]

Paaaat!

White light covered my eyes.

-Huh?

When I blinked my eyes after some time had pa.s.sed, I was already in a strange place. It wasnt an unfamiliar place. I was taken even more aback because it was unfamiliar.

The nether world. My dark prison.

It was the starting point that I returned to when I died.

In other words, this was somewhere that I didnt have to come unless I was dead.

Why am I?

Then, a voice rang out.

[Confirming partic.i.p.ants.]

No.

It wasnt just a voice.

[The 6th Constellation. The Author of All Operas is partic.i.p.ating.]

[The 5th Constellation. The Lady Who Walks the Mirage is partic.i.p.ating.]

[The 4th Constellation. The Moon That Observes Blindness is partic.i.p.ating.]

[The 3rd Constellation. One Who Created Bonsan is partic.i.p.ating.]

[The 2nd Constellation. The G.o.d Who Dances in Emptiness is partic.i.p.ating.]

.

No matter how much I looked around, there was only darkness, so I couldnt see anything. But even if I couldnt see, I could feel.

Presences.

[Confirming that the Six Constellations of Ten Thousand Lives are partic.i.p.ating.]

[The temporary apostle of the tower, Death Kings problem is being shared.]

I could feel presences all around me.

They were too powerful to say they were just presences.

They were looking at me through the darkness.

[Sharing complete.]

Voices flowed where the gazes were.

[A majority conference is starting about the agenda item.]

[Does the skill Hundred Ghosts Reincarnation apply to NPCs?]

[If you agree that NPCs are included, please a.s.sent]

[If you do not agree that NPCs are included, please dissent.]

Quietly.

The figureless presences opened their mouths.

-Gesh la ZaquA cho Deo.

It was a language unknown to me.

-Sato, yovela? Weloyo-na Sh! Deo phenta.

-kunto, nyola Gesh-ve-Nail na? Nai-Gesh-Nail na?

It seemed to be a language that formed a connection between all the shadows.

This place was filled with snakes I couldnt see. From the left, the right, from below and above, and right in front of me. Hisshisstheir voices were similar to the hissing tongues of snakes. Their tongues were red and long, and it entered my brain. It licked it.

-Gesh Mula-Gagamia cho Gretehen Weloyo.

-Nail.

It was dizzying.

I was feeling faint.

I was definitely just a consciousness without a mind, but I felt like barking. Anything was fine. I wanted to spit something out. The oil in my stomachno, oil infiltrated my brain.

It was a feeling like my soul was being sucked to the bottom.

-Layo na.

Then, the voices all stopped as one.

-Gesh. Nail. Nai-Gesh-Nail.

-.

-.

-Deo zakun.

Silence.