EP.110 Beast, King of Beasts, Human - 6
“But! There is something I am curious about!”
For a very brief moment, the Lieutenant General couldn’t hide his anxiety and looked up at the Abyss. Like someone waiting for something to fall.
Perhaps it wasn’t time yet, the endless darkness given by the distant space remained intact. Ebon looked down at the Undying.
‘Undying Rashi, he said he tore apart and killed those who insulted his tribe. I thought he was a typical barbarian who only cared about honor and grudges, unbound by laws and rules, making him easy to exploit... But he is a completely different person from my expectations. Still, he can be used.’
Ebon spoke again, feigning composure.
“What is it?”
The Undying spoke with a slight awkwardness and great curiosity.
“The Lieutenant Colonel who was your subordinate. She must have come here following your orders, so why did you try to kill her?”
Smirking, Ebon replied.
“Easy to answer. Because she betrayed us.”
“Is that a reason to die?”
“On top of that, her life was the most suitable to achieve the goal. She happened to be there, and was connected by a chain to the King of Dogs. Besides that, well, there are this and that, various reasons. For me, there was no reason not to use it.”
“I see.”
“Why, were you curious about that reason? That’s unexpected. Aren’t you an Undying whose concept of death is faint? Yet, was the Lieutenant Colonel’s death that impressive?”
“It was a bit more impressive than usual. But it’s not just her death that was impressive.”
The Undying nodded heavily.
“Death is rare for us. Even if we are stabbed by a sword, scorched by fire, or torn to pieces and scattered on the ground, we eventually return. We do not catch ordinary diseases that are not curses. Even the occasional death is considered returning to the embrace of the Earth Mother before it becomes more miserable, so at someone’s funeral, instead of grieving, everyone gathers to laugh and make noise.”
His words contained traces of deep contemplation. In response to that seriousness, Ebon also answered with sufficient respect.
“A paradise, indeed. For us, death comes suddenly. Moreover, there are far too many such deaths. Unprepared death is an everyday occurrence, and eternal loss can easily be found around us. It is common to get promoted because a superior died while just staying still, and it is not uncommon for a Colonel who drank coffee with me last week to suddenly be replaced by someone else. Unlike you, when our bodies are torn apart, that is the end.”
It was an answer containing his own reflection. However, the Undying did not understand even after hearing it.
“I know that too. That is why I say I understand even less. People who die easily like the Lieutenant General, knowing that life is that fragile and precious, instead die or kill easily. As if they do not know the value of life.”
“It is not that we do not know the value of life. It is just that we strive to find something more precious than that. A life that will be lost anyway, shouldn’t it be used for a more valuable place?”
Crossed answers. However, realizing that this was a difference in perspective, the Undying shook his head.
“Our perspectives are different. I believe the easier something is to lose, the more valuable it is.”
“Because lives are easily lost, we tend to be more obsessed with things that last forever. We wish to use the life we will eventually lose to seek immutable value.”
“The Lieutenant Colonel yearned for life.”
“That is why we felt betrayed. The Lieutenant Colonel’s actions broke our promise. I believe you would understand the value of a promise as much as the value of life.”
The Q&A ended. With a serious expression, the Undying was reflecting on the conversation they just had.
Ebon, who had been observing the Undying for a moment, asked to confirm.
“Then, you will not stop me. My life must be precious too.”
The Undying opened his mouth with difficulty.
“...The Lieutenant General stabbed my friend in the back, but that must have been a problem between the Lieutenant Colonel and the Lieutenant General. It seems I have no right to intervene.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“I will not blame the Lieutenant General. However, I just hope that the Lieutenant Colonel or others do not become endangered because of my judgment.”
“Do not worry. I have already suffered a terrible failure, and lost my right arm too. Now I have no other way to use my tricks. There will not be anything that endangers the Lieutenant Colonel.”
Ebon casually spewed lies. It was a skillful lie worthy of a secret organization executive.
The Undying closed his eyes. It was a silent signal that he would pretend not to see him. Ebon, who noticed that, smiled with satisfaction. A natural movement, unimaginable for someone whose right arm was severed and dripping blood.
But, indeed.
“Lieutenant General, wait a minute!”
“Ah, the penal laborer, you were here too.”
As I stepped forward, Ebon naturally turned his gaze to me. He replied with an outwardly friendly smile.
“Your ability shown at the end was impressive. Haha. I was really appalled then. I never expected you to dismantle the Claw instead of the chain. It was beyond my expectations too.”
‘Damn it, the final plan was ruined by that. It was a hastily made plan, but because of that, there was no way it would be interrupted! If it weren’t for the Ancestor, I would have killed him from the start!!’
Lieutenant General Ebon, skillfully replying while hiding his inner thoughts. From a mind reader’s perspective, it was quite a chilling sight. It is rare to find someone with such a huge disparity between their inside and outside.
I shrugged and replied.
“Don’t you need the dog tags? The Colonel is dead. Since they are KIA, you need to take the dog tags to confirm!”
Dog tags. Something the Military Nation prepared to honor the fallen.
For soldiers who have not reached Level 4, the compensation paid to their families upon death is their only and true legacy. What is needed then is the dog tag, and soldiers cherish their dog tags as much as their lives.
Why else would there be a saying, ‘If you cannot leave a whole body, at least leave a whole dog tag.’
Therefore, taking care of a fallen soldier’s dog tag is a courtesy, a virtue, and a duty as a fellow soldier.
However, this was unacceptable to Ebon, who was waiting for the door to open to escape. It would also be troublesome if he went down and encountered a dangerous existence like a Regressor.
Ebon smiled and said.
“Why would I need dog tags. I am a general, so my testimony is enough.”
“Uh, but you need the dog tags to.... And honestly, Lieutenant Colonel Kalpatz Kuris, I saved her reflexively, but she is in critical condition. What if she stays here and dies?”
My words feigning worry.
As the time for escape approached, Ebon, who had been anxious, replied whatever to shake me off, as I kept talking to him.
“Do not worry. I will tell them about Lieutenant Colonel Kalpatz. I will report that she is focusing on her recovery...”
And then, he took the bait.
The Lords of All Things, organized in a cell structure, delivering information through metaphors to prepare for any eventuality, and secretly referring to each other so their identities are not revealed.
Even if they are ‘sponsors’, they do not know the face or name of the person they sponsor.
Kalris was surprised to know the identity of her sponsor, and the Lieutenant General did not recognize Kalris immediately even after seeing her face.
So Ebon took my mention of Kalpatz at face value.
Thanks to that, the Undying opened his eyes.
“Hold on.”
The Undying’s voice was a tone lower than before. The refreshing smile that willingly let go of the fact that he was stabbed had also disappeared.
“Say it again. What was the Lieutenant Colonel’s name?”
All that remained was the anger of one who had found the lie.
“Isn’t it Lieutenant Colonel Kalpatz. The surname is, um. I don’t remember. The Military Nation doesn’t value surnames that much...”
“You are wrong. Her name is Kalris. Kalris Kritz.”
For a moment, a look of dismay flashed in Ebon’s eyes. At the same time, his hostility towards me swelled. Along with the displeasure of falling into a trap, he even sent killing intent towards me, the one who dug it.
You thought wrong, Lieutenant General Ebon. It is fine to be flustered.
But if you harbor killing intent like that, what judgment do you think the Undying will make?
Ebon quickly scrambled to gather his words to salvage the situation.
“Ah, I must have been mistaken. Because that penal laborer misspoke just now...”
“She was a great warrior. She fought fiercely for life to survive, and was a warrior who faced death until the end. I respect her.”
“I feel the same way.”
After saying ‘death to the betrayer’? Haha. Words even the Undying wouldn’t believe.
“I thought what you were looking for was truly something precious. Something like honor, like pride, something that must be obtained even while enduring pain.”
“That is correct. For the great aspiration of humanity...”
“However, if it is so important that you ordered someone to die.”
The Undying repeated, taking a step closer.
“At the very least, you should honor that name. That should be a virtue to be kept before any promise. Even we, who have no solemnity in death, do so, yet the Lieutenant General has no respect for the one who died for him.”
“I am sorry. I...”
“Do not apologize. There is no one here to receive that apology. Anyway, with this, I know the Lieutenant General has no right to condemn the Lieutenant Colonel. If so.”
His left hand powerfully grasped the empty air. Even so, a sound like rocks being compacted was heard.
Crack. Rashi raised his tightly closed fist like a rock and spoke expressionlessly.
“Just take three hits. You tore my body, hurt my friend, and even disgraced her honor. That should be enough, shouldn’t it?”
It was an offer Ebon, who had to prepare to escape soon, could never accept. Ebon contorted his face and took out a military gear packet with his intact left hand.
The military gear packet he had taken out to lighten his body after being defeated in the fight against the Regressor. Putting it in his mouth, he inserted it directly into the biometric terminal on his left arm. Flashes of alchemical light covered his upper body.
“...My condition is not perfect.”
The parts damaged or broken in the previous fight remained as they were. Since it was a damaged military gear that was unequipped and then restructured, the seams were not smooth, and residual magical power leaked out in streams from the damaged areas.
Moreover, from the missing right arm, directionless alchemical steel flowed and dripped down. Because of that, the right shoulder guard and chest plate couldn’t even take shape.
But anyway.
To Ebon, who had no weapon, even a single Claw generated on his left hand was precious.
“The Undying rely on their regenerative abilities and fight a war of attrition. But in this Abyss, which isn’t even the surface, do you think you can beat me?”
“Well.”
In contrast, the Undying still only had his undying body and two fists. However, if there was a difference from usual, it was that his fists contained clear hostility.
The Undying clenched his fists and replied.
“Even so, I can at least hit you three times.”
The will to crush the enemy, which was rarely seen from the Undying. It was directed at Ebon before his eyes.
“Do not blame me even if your body gets torn apart this time!”
Ebon rushed at the Undying first.
‘I shouldn’t underestimate him. I am injured. I have one arm left. I don’t have much stamina, so I must end the battle as short as possible.’
He had no right arm and his whole body was a mess, but Ebon still maintained a taut tension. Ebon slid towards the Undying and thrust out his Claw.
Instead of avoiding or observing the opponent, the Undying spread his right hand towards the Claw.
‘Is he planning to put his fingers between the Claw to grab it, how foolish!’
The Undying didn’t even raise his other hand. If he were aiming for an attack, it would be wise to target Ebon’s right side, which had nothing below the elbow, but he deliberately faced it head-on. The Undying’s arrogance, or complacency.
If they fought fair and square, Ebon, who had a weapon, would have the advantage. Ebon overlaid Qi onto his Claw and thrust it out.
‘I’ll cut off those fingers first! From the fingertips to the whole body in that state, I’ll slice you apart!’
Like that, Ebon twisted the blade to aim for the Undying’s fingers. The blade containing bluish Qi tried to cut the Undying’s fingers.
With a thud, it got caught on the bone.
‘What?!’
It was an absurd story. If it weren’t enveloped in Qi, that would be one thing, but there was no reason for the Claw, which had preemptive aura and repulsive force, to get caught on mere bone. Even if it got caught, if it cut through or pushed forward, that would be one thing.
The fact that the Claw got caught now could only be explained by the Undying’s bones having become harder.
Ebon, who was appalled, heard a crunching sound, like something being chewed.
Inside the Undying’s mouth was a ginkgo leaf.
“Earth Mother.”
The Undying muttered low and put strong force into his right hand. The miraculous ginkgo leaf. From the leaf that settled on the Undying’s body, leaf veins stretched out.
This place is the Abyss, a land abandoned by the Earth Mother. However, the Undying’s body, dedicated to the Earth Mother, resembled the soil.
Leaves born in spring serve the tree, and when their usefulness is over, they settle to the ground and rot. The small circulation surrounding a single tree continues until its life runs out.
The ginkgo leaf, finally about to be buried in the ground, rotted away with peace of mind. To return the abundant spiritual energy it held as a leaf of the World Tree to the Earth Mother.
Screech. The blade of the Claw was caught in the flesh and vibrated. Ebon hastily tried to pull the Claw out, but the firmly fixed Claw didn’t budge.
Ebon, who finally realized the identity of that power, gritted his teeth.
‘Qi...! This is also a type of Qi! One that strengthens the body itself!’
“You, have you grasped Kan...!”
The Undying, gripping the Claw, answered indifferently.
“I don’t really care what the Military Nation calls it. I just made my body hard.”
Ebon struggled to pull the Claw out. He twisted the Claw, shook it, pushed and pulled.
However, the Claw didn’t move at all.
It wasn’t wrongly embedded in the bone, nor was it caught in the muscle. Because the Qi wrapped around the blade could shake off most of that.
It was just that the reason the Claw wasn’t moving now was because the Undying was gripping it.
‘This barbarian’s Qi...! It’s comparable to mine!’
Because of the overwhelming difference in Qi, he couldn’t shake it off.
Because he had no right arm, he couldn’t let go of the Claw either.
Just like that, Ebon, struggling with his left arm caught, had to clearly see up close the sight of the Undying clenching his left fist and raising it. It was a sight that would chill anyone’s heart, even his.
Ebon shouted.
“You... shouldn’t be able to exert power in the Abyss!”
“Indeed, that is true. But I have the miraculous ginkgo leaf.”
The leaf of the World Tree, so precious that he hoarded and cherished it. The Undying originally intended to offer that leaf to the Earth Mother as soon as he went up to the surface.
That is, until he decided to hit Ebon.
‘Why is that still there...! Wasn’t it used when waking him up!’
Ebon noticed that and shouted desperately.
“I was the one who gave that to Lieutenant Colonel Kalpatz! It was me!! Not Kalpatz, I woke you up! You have to help me!”
He shouted with a ray of hope, but what returned was a cold reaction.
“You are wrong. The leaf of the World Tree belongs to the Earth Mother. Only the keeper’s name is different, but in the end, it is the grace of the Earth Mother. There is no need to express gratitude to everyone who temporarily kept this leaf. It is enough to just accept the heart contained in the leaf.”
And the Undying Rashi pulled his left fist back greatly and added a word.
“Also, the Lieutenant General’s subordinate’s name is Kalris. Remember that.”
Crack.
Into Ebon’s face, where the helmet was half-formed, the Undying’s straight punch was deeply embedded.