Chapter 68: Soul and Hope
Three days have passed.
Sion does not open his eyes.
He’s such a heavy sleeper. Really, I wish he would stop.
...
No, I understand.
I now understand why he doesn’t open his eyes.
Still, I don’t want to accept it.
He used to act foolishly and make terribly bland food.
But, that’s just a wish that can’t come true.
Because the dead don’t come back to life...
《Report. The analysis of the barrier surrounding the area has been completed.
It can be deactivated. Would you like to execute it? YES/NO》
No, it’s fine if you don’t execute it yet.
It seems the barrier analysis entrusted to the ‘Great Sage’ has been completed.
It took longer than I thought, but considering it’s a barrier covering a village, it’s understandable. Since I consumed part of it, I should think it was analyzed in this amount of time.
Whatever, it doesn’t matter.
The barrier or whatever, it doesn’t matter.
How is the investigation on the other side going?
《Report. Search results: None. No magic related to the resurrection of the dead was found.》
Is that so...
No, that’s to be expected.
A convenient magic like that wouldn’t be found easily. It’s only natural.
Still, there might be a chance.
Even if I think it’s useless and just flail around, who’s to say it’s impossible?
Sion doesn’t open his eyes.
Of course, he’s not sleeping, right...
But, I’m using all my abilities to find some means.
Not only Sion, but the bodies of those who are sleeping here are protected by my mucus.
To prevent them from decaying.
To prevent them from disappearing by reverting to mucus.
It’s probably useless, but I’m holding onto a glimmer of hope.
However, the result is still nothing.
There was no resurrection magic in the grimoires I obtained from the school.
Is that so, I see.
While praying for the day he opens his eyes, I’ll put him to sleep within me.
Thinking this, I tried to absorb everyone,
“Young Master, I’m sorry... I’m late.”
“Lord Rimuru, I don’t know what to say...”
Someone approached and spoke to me.
Just wait a little longer. I’ll wake up soon.
Thinking this,
“Mr. Rimuru, you know...
The possibility is low, but... well, I think it’s almost non-existent...
There are a few old tales about the resurrection of the dead.”
At these words, I felt a click in my mind, a sense of alignment between my heart and body.
“Tell me the details, Eren.”
I turned to face the three adventurers.
If there’s a possibility, I won’t hesitate to rely on it.
Eren nodded and began to tell the story.
………
……
…
I listened to Eren’s story.
It was an old tale, but strangely specific.
The content was about a girl and her pet dragon.
After an incident, the girl, who lost her only friend, the pet dragon, lamented its death and, in her anger, destroyed the country that caused it.
Including the tens of thousands of citizens living there.
Then, the girl evolved into a Demon Lord. At that moment, a miracle occurred.
The dragon, which had a connection with the girl, evolved even though it had died.
However, the miracle ended there.
The dragon, whose soul had vanished upon death, was reborn as a soulless, evil Chaos Dragon.
It was obedient to the girl’s commands but brought destruction to everyone else.
Awakening from her anger and becoming a Demon Lord, the girl, despite her lament, sealed the Chaos Dragon, who was both her pet and friend.
The story ended with the girl sealing the dragon.
In other tales, a vampire girl was said to have been resurrected by drinking blood, or a necromancer brought someone back, but in all cases, the personality changed drastically, making them seem like a different person.
It’s said to be written in forbidden grimoires.
There is only one copy in the hidden library of the Magic Kingdom Sariom...
Still, it doesn’t matter.
The issue is...
Evolution, right.
Clearly, monsters evolve in mysterious ways. Just giving them a name can cause a big commotion.
Is there a possibility? If I become a Demon Lord...
But, becoming a soulless monster would be meaningless...
No, wait? This place is currently surrounded by a barrier that monsters cannot pass.
Thinking in reverse, could it be that the soul doesn’t spread?
《Answer. The probability of the existence of the souls of Sion and the other monsters is 3.14%.》
Pi! No, that’s not it.
It feels low, but it’s actually high.
There’s a 3% or more chance of resurrection from death.
Moreover, the stubborn Sion wouldn’t die from something like this.
Finally, I see a glimmer of hope. The rest is just execution.
How do I become a Demon Lord?
《Answer. Master already meets the conditions to become a Demon Lord.
To evolve into a Demon Lord, 10,000 human souls are required as sacrifices.》
Is that all? It’s simple.
A Demon Lord? I’ll become one. It’s simple.
Killing 10,000 trash is a simple task.
If it’s not enough, I can add more.
Fortunately, it seems the prey is coming from over there. It feels like luck is on my side.
Suddenly,
“Eren, thank you for telling me. But...
Is it okay? You’re practically telling me to become a Demon Lord?”
I looked at Eren.
Eren bowed his head for a moment and then, as if making up his mind, raised his head,
“I am from the Magic Kingdom Sariom.
To be honest, I always admired the free adventurers.
But now, I want to help Sion-chan.
I can’t forgive the Holy Church.
The idea that monsters are evil just because they are monsters, I don’t like it.
I understand that what I’ve told you can’t be undone.
If I continue as an adventurer, I’ll surely cause trouble for the free guild.
So, you see...
I’ve decided to join this country.
I want to spend my remaining free time here.
Is that okay, Rimuru-chan...”
Kabu shook his head silently, and Gide closed his eyes and looked up at the sky.
When I asked with my eyes,
“It can’t be helped. If the lady says so, I have no complaints as a bodyguard.”
“Miss... No, Eren-sama. Are you okay?”
The two seemed to have made up their minds as they looked at Eren.
It seems they weren’t just simple adventurers...
Eren, whose real name is Eryun, was a noble from the Magic Kingdom Sariom.
He studied at the royal academy and left the country, aspiring to be an adventurer, with two bodyguards.
“Probably, if Rimuru becomes a Demon Lord, my involvement will be exposed.
The information has already leaked to the intelligence department, and it will surely be discovered.
I will undoubtedly be taken back to the country.
So, yes. I want to help here with all my might.
I want to see the conclusion until the end.”
He looked at me with a serious expression.
I already have the information.
The reaction of the Magic Kingdom Sariom and its impact on this country are unknown, but Eren’s arrest cannot be ignored.
Most importantly, it doesn’t seem to put her in danger...
This matter is on hold.
“Whatever, let’s put that on hold.
I don’t want to increase the number of enemies any further...”
“Got it? Can’t be helped.
Still, can you confirm until the end whether Sion-chan can be saved?”
“Understood. The information you gave me.
I don’t mind if you confirm until the end.
But, if I become a Demon Lord and my personality changes, I won’t take responsibility, okay?”
“Huh? I don’t like it, but I have no choice.
I trust Rimuru-chan!”
“Hey, lady... Are you involving us too?
Really, we have no choice, you know.”
“I have no choice, sir. Eren-sama is always like this...”
The two sighed but didn’t object.
It seems they are loyal to Eren.
But, thanks to this, I can decide on the future plan.
To save Sion!
If becoming a Demon Lord is necessary, I will make it happen.
In about three days, the enemy’s main force will invade.
I understand the situation.
The rest is just execution.
Once decided, things move quickly.
I decided to gather everyone to discuss the future.
If the barrier that was suddenly deployed is lifted, Sion and the others’ souls might dissipate and vanish.
Worried about this, I enveloped the village with the maximum barrier using my mucus.
It consumes a lot of energy, but it’s not a big deal for me now.
On the contrary, compared to the despair I felt until yesterday, I feel joy.
Even though I thought it was useless, it was a good thing I had the barrier analyzed. Thanks to this, everything is connected, and the possibility of Sion and the others’ resurrection remains.
Hearing the report that the officers had gathered quickly, I headed to the meeting room.
There, three people who were not called were standing.
The officers seemed at a loss about how to approach them, showing clear signs of confusion.
“Young Master, I’m sorry... I never thought our country would take such drastic action.”
Yoim said, bowing his head.
Guris and Myuran, standing beside him, also bowed.
For some reason, Myuran kept her head down and wouldn’t raise it.
Feeling puzzled,
“Guris, thank you for telling me. I’m glad we could save Yoim.
But, I have an important question.
There was a barrier in this village that prevented monsters from entering. How did you get in?”
“What do you mean? I’m human...”
“Sorry, but we don’t have time for that. I know you and Myuran are maids.”
This seemed to make Guris resolve himself, and he stopped pretending.
Yoim didn’t look surprised. He must have already known.
“I was found out... I thought I had perfectly humanized myself...
The barrier was simultaneously nullified by Myuran and me.
Mostly, I just lent my power, but in reality, it was as if Myuran had nullified it alone.”
“Yes. My specialty is not just incantations or magic, but also barrier techniques.
I could enter quickly without disrupting the flow of power, but it was restored the moment we entered...
But, I have something I need to apologize for.”
Myuran raised her head for the first time and met my eyes.
Something she needs to apologize for? I can’t think of anything.
While drinking the tea Shuna gave me, I listened to the three.
“I am a subordinate of Demon Lord克莱曼.....
克莱曼被称为人形傀儡师(Marionette Master)的 Demon Lord.
My mission was to spy on this village.
I reported the information I gathered from this village, and at some point, I said it felt good.
‘I will free you with the next command!’
My heart was taken by克莱曼, so my life was in his hands.
Because of this, I couldn’t disobey his commands, and I was happy to finally be freed...
But, the final command...”
Yoim and the border guards were suddenly called to assemble.
They were puzzled but had to enter the Barums Kingdom’s baron’s territory due to the order for all to appear.
Once they entered the baron’s territory, they noticed there were strangely many soldiers.
The report from the scout was that they were planning to invade the monster’s country.
Realizing it was Rimuru’s country, Yoim immediately asked Guris and Myuran to send a message.
As new hires, the two didn’t report to the baron and their faces weren’t known.
They were not part of the assembly.
Upon receiving the order, Guris was to report to me, and Myuran was to report to the village.
If the message had been quickly sent to Tempest, this tragedy could have been avoided.
But, the tragedy happened.
The reason was that Myuran didn’t report. This is also the reason for her apology