Chapter 118
Chapter 118. Regret and Reflection
Well, it’s me, Zilbagias, and my butt is really sore.
Why, you ask? Because I’m sitting on the self-reflection seat—the small, terribly uncomfortable bone chair.
I think the more I grow taller and heavier, the more my butt will hurt.
It’s quite humiliating and punishing to be made to sit in this thing as an adult. I can only hope that when I get bigger, I won’t have to endure this again…
“Now then,”
In front of me, Antendeixis opens his mouth.
In my soundproofed room, there’s only Liliana with a worried expression and a grim-faced Antendeixis standing imposingly.
Since Antendeixis exists as an illusion that only I can perceive, Liliana probably thinks I’m sitting here voluntarily for self-reflection.
Is that worried look on her face because she thinks I’ve developed a masochistic tendency…?
“You know, you have something to say, right?”
With Antendeixis’s stern voice, I pull my wandering thoughts back.
“I was reckless. I’m sorry.”
I bow my head.
Yes, I was being lectured by Antendeixis.
On a whim, I had impulsively asked Claire, “Don’t you feel anything?”
“What on earth—what are you thinking, you idiot!”
And just like that, I received a swift reprimand from Antendeixis.
“That’s not a question you should be throwing around! Remember your position!!”
Foolishly, in that moment, I had forgotten that I was a prince of the demon race—felt as if I were human too.
Claire had erased all expression, but afterward—she had looked at me with eyes that seemed to say, “You say that now?”
Her gaze was as if to ask what I knew about her.
I must not forget. Claire did take Enma’s hand. And she chose to become the Undead King—
But unlike Enma, who had apparently been persecuted and died in the past, she had become a victim of the Demon Lord’s army.
The Claire I know wouldn’t just quietly accept this.
It’s not that her personality changes upon becoming undead; it’s a matter of her essence and soul.
“—I’m glad the suffering was lessened, weren’t you?”
Claire answered my question in a playful manner.
“Anyway, it was bound to happen sooner or later.”
That statement—well, to me, it just sounded like she’s trying to convince herself.
Almost immediately after, Enma returned with tea, and the awkward atmosphere lingered until then.
Something inside me continued to insist on a strong sense of discomfort… I thought I might have caught a glimpse of Claire’s true feelings, and I felt somewhat lingering—
“—Do you know why I am angry?”
Antendeixis, with arms crossed, tapped his elbow with his index finger in annoyance, sounding like a bothersome lover.
…No, let’s not joke around.
Antendeixis is serious.
“I don’t understand.”
“It’s because I don’t see any signs of reflection in you.”
…….
“You’ve been thinking about that childhood friend the whole time. You’re being too soft.”
He leaned in closer to scrutinize my face.
“Who are you? A prince of the demon race? Or just a villager from the outskirts?”
His glaring, vividly colored eyes.
“You’re neither, brave hero.”
Antendeixis spoke solemnly.
—Remember your purpose.
“I understand you’re concerned about that childhood friend.”
Antendeixis, with his hands behind his back, walked back and forth like a teacher in front of me.
“She represents the very foundation that shapes you. It was her that pushed you to decide to confront the Demon Lord’s Kingdom, even at the cost of your own sacrifice.”
However.
“In your current objective—her priority is low! Is that not so?”
……I had no words in reply.
“If you continue to speak recklessly like that, your actions would definitely raise suspicion. That would be fine, but what if your true identity was at risk of being exposed—could you dispose of her immediately?”
While I was prepared for that,
“No, that’s insufficient. Because she’s a necromancer. You need to ensure her soul is completely destroyed after her body is broken. And you must do it before Enma catches on.”
……I must admit, doing that in that moment would have been exceedingly difficult.
Claire had been training as a necromancer for nearly thirty years. She likely knows spells to protect her soul from magical attacks and the techniques to maintain her self-awareness in the spirit realm… I don’t know if she can even switch bodies like Enma can.
“Indeed. I am frustrated with you for not fully grasping that risk.”
……I apologize.
I got so caught up in Claire’s behavior that I let that aspect slip. If I were to do so, I would need the resolve to exterminate even Enma if it came down to it, the methodology to execute that plan, and above all, the power necessary to do it.
And right now, it’s hard to say that I possess those things.
Regardless of resolve, power is the issue.
“Yes.”
Nodding, Antendeixis placed his hands firmly on my shoulders.
Even as an illusion, his touch felt real—and even heavier than that.
“I am your absolute ally.”
With a powerful tone, Antendeixis declared.
“…Lately, it’s nice yet a bit lonely that more companions have joined me, and I can no longer claim to be the one and only.”
He cracked a stern expression into a slight smile and glanced quickly at Liliana.
Right. I have Liliana, and Leila…
I am no longer alone.
“I don’t want you to fall before you accomplish your goal. You’re going to make me commit the ultimate taboo—right?”
…Ah.
That’s the deal.
“Then, you’ll need to fulfill that.”
While tickling my chin with his fingertips, Antendeixis whispered in my ear.
“—It would spoil the fun to tease you and then make a sudden exit.”
I understood.
I brought you all the way down to the mortal realm. I will take responsibility for that.
“That’s good. …Then, what do you want to do about that childhood friend?”
Antendeixis asked, as she sat on my lap.
“…Could you please stop recreating even her weight? My butt hurts even more now…”
“I’m currently manifesting.”
“This is manifest? No wonder it’s so heavy!”
“It’s not heavy! For those who say that, here you go! Come here!”
Gaaah! Don’t grind my waist like that!
My butt…!!
“Please stop! It’s light! It feels as light as a feather!”
“Hm… That’ll do.”
Wrapping her arms around my neck, Antendeixis wiped the smile off her face and urged me to continue the conversation.
“…My intuition tells me.”
As I met her gaze, I opened my mouth.
“I don’t think Claire is a complete ally of Enma.”
From those lines, I sensed something somewhat passive.
There wasn’t that burning desire to exterminate the human race. I sensed a fleeting hate toward the demon race, but it was hard to think she had a passionate zeal for the extinction of humanity.
It can’t be helped since she has become undead—
If I were to forcibly articulate it, that’s a rough feeling.
“Anyway, considering her position, there’s no way she could oppose Enma.”
While I can have an easygoing relationship with her, that’s because of my status as the Demon Lord’s Prince.
If I were to offend her while being in a lower position, I wouldn’t know what kind of hell I’d have to face.
“I believe Claire can be turned to our side, in that regard.”
“…Is there even a reason to turn her into an ally?”
“It’d be a big deal to lure in anyone close to Enma. She might know where Enma’s true body is located.”
That would indeed be a very significant clue—
“…However, this is just my intuition, and I can’t deny it may be mixed with optimistic speculation. It’s a deduction based on my memories of Claire as she was. Moreover, she’s no longer the Claire I knew, and I can’t trust my memories outright—”
I can say that confidently without any real evidence.
“So… if we’re going to confirm that, we need some insurance in case things go awry. We need an environment and power to ensure we can take down Claire for sure—”
I wish it wouldn’t have to come to that.
“Right now, I must endure. The time isn’t right yet. I promise you that. If I seem set to make another mistake, don’t hesitate to slap me across the face.”
“Ha! As if I wouldn’t do that.”
Antendeixis grinned.
She’s reliable.
Thank you, as always.
…Claire had said.
That anyway, humanity would perish.
It was just a difference of whether it would be sooner or later.
But that is not the case.
I will save humanity.
I will stop the Demon Lord’s army.
And I will likely become adversarial to Enma and the undead as well.
So—by that time.
By that time, I will come to get you, Claire.
If you have completely ceased to exist as the Claire I believe you to be—
I will end you.
At least, let it be without suffering in the end.
