Chapter 50: Conversation (2)

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System Notification

[ Using 'Scan'. ]

[ Gathering information on the target. ]

[ A 24-hour cooldown applies before reuse is available on the same target. ]

With a heavy sigh, I activated the skill.

[ Valkasus Alan Armada: Status Info ]

[ General ]

Strength: CAgility: CEndurance: CLuck: FPower: F

[ Special ]

Magic Power: FLaw Power: FDivine Power: F

Valkasus was a key figure in Chapter 2. Seeing his stats alone, you'd wonder why they named the chapter's title after him.

Considering that the average stat of a person was around C grade, it seemed like he was only a little stronger than me, whose stats were all in F grade except for my Divinity, which had barely crossed into D grade.

However, this being's true value lay elsewhere.

[ Valkasus Alan Armada: Status Info ]

[ Misc. ]

Current Number of Forbidden Jutsu Engraved: 2,134,423

"..."

Looking at the numbers on the window made my head spin due to shock.

Although it was a characteristic not displayed in a typical stat window, this was the driving force that made Valkasus an unstoppable monster.

Forbidden Jutsu was one of the forgotten ancient Jutsu. It was a concept similar to engraving 'techniques' on the body in advance to use when truly needed.

However, the upper limit of power that could be exerted with a single Forbidden Jutsu was overwhelmingly strong, even if you were to compare it with the three major powers; magic, law and divinity.

But, here's food for thought…

The number of people who were obsessed with gaining as much power as possible, regardless of the strength they already had, weren't small.

But, even those guys couldn't handle the drawback the Forbidden Jutsu had. This was the reason why the Jutsu had been lost in time.

What exactly was the drawback?

It was a simple one; using it required you to lose your own life. Straight up. No way around it, if you were to use it, you'd die. End of story. GG.

"..."

And now, in front of me…

There was a being who had embedded over two fucking million of such Forbidden Jutsus into his own body.

Perhaps, it would be enough to amount for an entire 'kingdom'.

The Boy King who bore the weight of a fallen kingdom.

The last ruler of the Kingdom of Armada.

The person who sealed his own subjects with Forbidden Jutsu.

The being who 'collected' them into his own body.

"Are you done examining me?"

Valkasus, who was still gazing at the sky, spoke in an unchanging calm voice.

His words made me let out a bitter smile.

It seemed as if he was already aware of everything I would do.

"It would be difficult to use it during battle. I doubt there would be anyone like me who would just sit down and let you calmly inspect them while in the midst of combat."

"...Normally, when I use it, most people wouldn't notice."

"The Prophet seemed to be quite concerned about you, you know? In the future, you may have to face all the 'Chosen Ones' because of this."

"..."

While I had prepared myself already for that event, hearing it directly from another person made it all the more hellish.

As Valkasus had stated, the 'Chosen Ones' were individuals who could scan information even from a distance, a skill that could be evaluated as 'impractical'.

However, from my perspective, these same individuals could kill me dozens of times after just a few seconds of observation.

It was also why they were often the ones who took on the role of the Final Boss in most chapters.

"...I doubt there will be many at your level of prowess anyway."

Even though there were plenty of monsters among them, when it came to pure combat power, there weren't many who could surpass Valkasus. There might be quite a few who could come close though.

This man had the power to single-handedly destroy a small nation if he so desired, after all.

"..."

After hearing my words, Valkasus scrutinized me up and down with his discerning eyes.

"You… Do you really know everything?"

"What?"

"The Prophet has already tipped me off. Apparently you've gained understanding about all of our plans and information."

"..."

Now, that was quite unexpected…

To what extent had this bastard known about me?

When I began racking my brain over this newfound information, Valkasus let out a chuckle as he continued.

"But, if you've really known who I truly am, isn't it a little strange for you to come all this way to have a conversation with me?"

He had a point.

Not only was he an existence who could annihilate an entire country alone, he also nonchalantly stated earlier that he would kill everyone in the academy in three days.

Only a crazy motherfucker would approach him after knowing all this information.

And I was one of those crazy motherfuckers. But, as he had said…

"…I mean, I already know everything."

I flopped onto the seat next to Valkasus, who was staring at the now setting sun, as I continued.

"Including why you are trying to go through with this in the first place."

At this point, a logical person would probably ask a very obvious question.

Why was such a terrifying person introduced so early? During Chapter 2, practically the very start of the game?

The answer to this question was much more simple than you might think.

This person lacked the most important aspect that generally defined an 'enemy' of humanity.

Evil Intent.

Valkasus was not an evil person.

Even if you were to consider his declaration to commit a massacre in three days.

You only needed to closely look into his true intentions to know what I was talking about.

"..."

I gazed towards a part of his body that was 'flowing down' as it was exposed to the darkness.

If someone were to possess the lives of over two million individuals in the form of Forbidden Jutsus, that person was pretty much an immortal already.

Of course, as a consequence of accepting such immense power, his body would decay and rot, and his mind would be burdened by the unfathomable number of subordinates that had placed their faith in him. It would not be unusual if he were to perish in a matter of seconds if he were an ordinary person.

However…

This guy had endured all of this for ages. Without even showing a hint of the pain that he had to suffer through.

All for one single goal.

And that goal was…

As far as I understood, exceedingly 'human'.

It was to the point where you could call it humble.

"Would you like to make a bet?"

"A bet? What kind of bet?"

Seeing Valkasus smile in response to my words, I inwardly let out a sigh.

"As someone who supposedly knows everything, this is my proposal."

Within my mind, I decided to flip a coin.

Valkasus' 'goal' was ultimately to save himself and his kingdom.

All that bullshit about turning the people of the academy into the Ruined was just a very rough summary of that.

As such…

I was planning to propose something that he could not possibly refuse.

"Please go ahead with what you're already planning. Your attack on the academy in three days, I won't dissuade you from doing it."

"...What?"

"You have no choice but to do so after all. The whole reason why you cooperated with the Prophet was because you had a purpose that you must fulfill no matter what."

Yeah, really.

Even though he would attempt to commit such terrible deeds, the fact that I did not call him a villain would surely hold significant weight.

"Go ahead and do what you must for now. I will make sure to stop you by then."

After hearing my declaration, Valkasus' smile changed to one of bewilderment.

"Are you saying that, despite knowing who I am, you will not avoid confronting me?"

"That's right, but I won't confront you in the way you think I will."

I did not have the means or the reason to fight him with my life on the line.

Instead, what I would try to do was…

An action that was a bit more tailored to this person.

"I will save you, Valkasus. Both you and your kingdom. In three days."

What I had always done until now.

Something that a sane person could not even fathom.

However, judging solely from the Prophet's actions, it was clear that things have already gone beyond my predictions. To adapt to that, I needed to become a little unpredictable as well.

"And so, if I managed to keep my word…"

How to Survive in a Transmigrated World: Chapter 1

'Always act in unpredictable ways'

"Please become my subordinate. For life."

To do that, I'll start by capturing someone whose very existence was a cheat code.

"...Mmm."

Lucia Greyhounder opened her eyes as a moan escaped her lips.

The scent of medicine. The bandages wrapped around her body. The soft, plush bed.

As these pieces of information registered in her mind one after another, a new thought formed in her mind.

'...Is this convenience provided by the Empire?'

The Holy Land would never treat her like this.

Given that she was already born with a significant amount of divine power, they would've probably mocked her, telling her to just recover on her own.

"..."

To be more precise though, she was 'engineered' from birth to have such power.

A Homunculus. An artificial life form.

She wasn't born with a normal human body; instead, her body was created by combining an amalgamation of ingredients.

Instead of being born naturally into the position of 'God's Chosen', she was created for it.

Lucia Greyhounder was a girl nurtured from birth for this very 'purpose'.

The only one she could truly call as family was her younger sister, who was born around the same time.

A homunculus who was created as a 'charm' that would assist and protect the Saintess.

As a result…

Those two sisters were treated as 'inhuman' from the very beginning.

'...Yuria was…'

Lucia gripped the blanket with her hand, involuntarily squeezing it hard because of the thoughts filling her mind.

Originally, she was supposed to 'synthesize' with the Holy Land's national treasure to increase her divine power even further. However, her younger sister stole this treasure and ran away.

The last known location of her was right here: Elfante Imperial Academy.

As she recalled her memories, Lucia thought she might have seen her sister briefly before she lost consciousness.

She couldn't react properly due to the excruciating pain that made her feel like her entire body was being shredded though…

'I think she…seemed okay…?'

Lucia desperately tried to remember.

In the first place, since she arrived at the academy, she was only thinking about Yuria.

'...By now, the curse should have spread considerably.'

Lucia and her sister were created to be a pair. If one did not have a 'defect', the other would undoubtedly have one.

At least for her, the defect ended with her not being able to fully exert her 'original power', but her sister had been left alone with a cursed object for a considerable amount of time. If she wasn't able to resist it properly…

"..."

As her uneasy gaze darted around her surroundings…

Her eyes caught the figure of Yuria, who was lying near the bed.

"Ah."

An involuntary sigh escaped her.

She couldn't understand why she was here, and there would surely be a mountain of explanations to listen to but…

For now, her sister was right there, within arm's reach.

As Lucia was about to rise and approach her sister, she suddenly noticed something and froze in place.

Yuria was cradling a sword even while asleep, its blade wrapped in chains.

The Holy Land's national treasure. A sword capable of creating the Curse of Severance.

Severer.

"..."

As long as Yuria held that sword, anyone who approached her would be struck down, including Lucia. Even if she was the Saintess, there were no exceptions.

Her eyes were momentarily filled with contempt and revulsion. Given the circumstances surrounding how that sword became a national treasure, such a reaction from her was perfectly justified.

'...But for now…'

She pushed her feelings aside. There were more important matters at hand.

Instead, she scrutinized her sister intensely.

She checked for any signs of 'deterioration' from the curse and the smallest changes that might have occurred since their last encounter.

Although the traces of her arduous life on the run were evident everywhere, luckily, there did not seem to be any parts of her that deteriorated significantly.

'...Thank goodness.'

Lucia wiped away a tear that had welled up in her eyes and murmured softly to herself.

She had hoped that, despite the mistreatment in the Holy Land, Yuria would be better cared for in the Empire. However, there was obviously no clear guarantee that that would be the case.

Thankfully, besides the fact that she lost a bit of weight, she seemed to be in good health. There were also no visible signs of harsh treatment.

'I'm so glad you didn't seem to have suffered too much here, Yuria.'

As she was thinking this, Lucia's gaze locked onto something.

She found a 'collar' around Yuria's neck.

"..."

Her expression instantly froze.

A collar?

Why on earth would a human be wearing something like this?

Yuria…

What kind of treatment was she being subjected to in the Empire?

"...Lord Dowd, please…"

In front of Lucia, who was starting to have murderous thoughts, Yuria began to mumble in a pleading tone.

"I'll serve you as my master, so please, don't do something so cruel…"

Perhaps, if Dowd had been present currently, he could have explained the significance and circumstances behind Yuria wearing this collar and assured Lucia that the 'cruel' things Yuria was murmuring was just a plea to not leave her behind.

Unfortunately, the man in question was not here.

"..."

Lucia's face morphed into a twisted expression of shock and dismay.

'Who on earth is this Dowd…!'

How beastly and monstrous of a person was he to make her adorable little sister utter such words even in her sleep…!?

'...I will make you regret this. I swear it…!'

Anger flared up in her mind, as it raged like a fire.

The next morning.

I stretched and got up, preparing for the day ahead. The bold move I made yesterday was still playing in my mind.

Valkasus didn't give me any notable response.

He just smiled at me, as if to say, 'Do as you please'.

'...Yeah, well…'

'I'm gonna do whatever the fuck I want then.'

Did you think I wouldn't? I mean, it wasn't like he said he wouldn't take the bet anyway. So, I'd just continue as planned.

To stop Valkasus, save him, and make him my slave… No, I meant 'subordinate' LOL oops.

'And…'

This was the first step.

When I woke up in the morning, I checked the letter that was placed next to my bed.

[ The Saintess has regained her consciousness. She also wants to talk to you, so it would be best to find her as soon as possible. - Headmistress ]

Okay. For once, the timing was great.

It aligned perfectly with my plan.

In just two days, Chapter 2 would begin with an assault on the academy. At that time, my aim would be to lift the curse that was on Yuria's sword, the 'Severer'.

'Originally, that would only happen at the end of Chapter 2.'

Normally, you'd have to suppress Yuria, who appears as the Final Boss at the end of the chapter, and then recruit her as a comrade. Sad to say, but I wouldn't have enough time to do all that. Luckily, I could still make it work somehow. There were always ways to bend the rules after all.

Additionally, if I could release the curse on the sword…

Yuria would become a crucial element of my strategy for Chapter 2.

'...It does come with certain conditions though.'

Once the curse was lifted from the Severer, its wielder, Yuria, would become a powerhouse of close combat, even surpassing Eleanor and Iliya in 'specific situations'. She could handle both of them even if they were to attack simultaneously.

And in Chapter 2, there were plenty of conditions that could be met to definitively create at least one of these 'special situations'.

'If I think about how to trigger it…'

For the 'cheat' I was thinking of, I would need the cooperation of the Saintess no matter what.

Besides, I needed to recruit her assistance anyway, so it was far more favorable that she asked to meet me first.

At least, that was what I was thinking…

System Message

[ The target 'Lucia's' anger has crossed the threshold! ]

[ Currently kindling the will to take vengeance on you! ]

[ Marked with Negative Tendency! ]

[ Rewards Available! ]

[ Skill: Evil Ruler has been activated! Obtained 1 command right over the target! ]

Until I saw this window that had appeared while I was asleep.

"..."

How strange.

Didn't I save this person by fucking over the Pope?

Why was something like this taking a massive shit all over my plans…?

You can read 255 chapters for $20. p.atreon.com/casca02