Past Life Returner

By the time I had finished instructing Seong-Il and Joshua, Yeon-Hee looked more emotional than usual. Her swordsmanship was usually simple and spotless, but it was somewhat messy now. She was blaming herself, unable to erase her guilt toward me.

Perhaps that was why. When the negative effects randomly burst out from the Clown’s Dagger, she actually seemed to have turned into an actual bitch.

By the time we reached the period of her previous death, several orc tribes had been slaughtered. I was hiding my presence. In fact, I was using my Sense in the overlord section to conceal myself instead of using an actual skill to hide. The bastard would never dream that I was lying in an ambush here.

Woooong-

The sound came from the sky. The flow of space started to distort rapidly. In an instant, the bastard squeezed its small body out of the gate. The spot had changed compared to the original place. However, in terms of time, not a single second had changed from the predetermined future. It was the same as I had seen in the bastard’s memory.

Originally, Yeon-Hee turned towards the opened gate at this moment, and the two entered into a mental battle immediately. However, Yeon-Hee stopped moving now. Her eyes, which had been forced to look up at the opening gate before, were now fixed on the orcs rushing towards her.

An orc warrior suddenly struck its own fellow’s head with a large ax as it had missed Yeon-Hee’s head, and Yeon-Hee didn’t react to the appearance of the gate. The bastard tilted its head, wondering why she didn’t care about it. Then, it twisted its body and started to charge toward Yeon-Hee. That was also the moment I hit the ground.

Shhhhhk-!

Odin’s Ethereal Animal was too luxurious for this bastard. I caught it in the air.

[Doom Man…?]

Its surprised face only turned toward me then.

[What are you doing here?]

Lightning bolts began to torment it, and the pressure coming from all directions crushed the bastard’s face. It screamed recklessly in the message.

Yeon-Hee then moved to the relocated place. Even then, the bastard was too busy squirming to realize what was happening.

Of course, killing it was easy as I just needed to increase the pressure. Then, I could give death to the bastard, similar to how Entegasto killed Doom Insectum. However, killing it now would not benefit me.

I quickly retrieved the lightning bolts, but the bastard’s airway was still blocked even though I absorbed the last lightning tendril.

In the sensory web, the bastard felt like a physical material. Its wings were fluttering, tickling my hand, but no matter what, it couldn’t escape from me. When I released the pressure on my hand a little, the bastard was finally able to speak.

[What the heck is going on! Ugh-]

[I thought you were nicer than this… Did you really not learn anything from Doom Insectum’s death? Doom Man will end up dying after our Almighty Master…! Doom Arukuda himself will act as the executioner next time, you understand? So please let me go…]

[Or tell me why you are doing this! ٩(๑`ȏ´๑)۶ ]

[We need to talk to clear up misunderstandings. First…let me go…please.]

I snarled, “There is only one way for you to survive. Confess the sins of Entegasto. I know all of your plans.”

[Sins? Plans? I, Lu-neah, don’t understand anything.]

[Yes, I, Lu-neah, am aware that Doom Man and Doom Entegasto do not have a good relationship. However, that is your problem, so please don’t put me in between you guys.]

[Please don’t do this. An innocent Lu-neah will get hurt in a fight.]

The bastard simply responded shamelessly.

I said grimly, “Then, I have no choice but to go to the mainland.”

For the full version, visit pawread dot com.

[What are you going to do by taking Lu-neah to your mainland? I have waited to see a powerful human corps’s mainland with my own eyes, but not in this way!]

“I am talking about your mainland.”

[...That is weird. Why would you want to go to my home?]

Let’s see how long you can act so shamelessly.

I added, “I will head to your warehouse. The memory warehouse.”

The bastard’s face stiffened noticeably at that moment, probably because the pain it had just experienced had not yet subsided. Of course, the spirits were skilled at hiding their true intentions.

The expression the bastard showed disappeared quickly, and the mask it wore was utterly wacky. I was impressed.

[Hehe. I guess no one would want to show their shabby homes. I, Lu-neah, have roughly figured out why you are doing this.]

The fact that it could maintain such a face while suppressing pain was…

[Do you know how deep Lu-neah’s loyalty towards Doom Man is? Please listen. Originally… I, Lu-neah, was supposed to handle it. But since you seem to know everything, I can’t hide it anymore. This was all for the coexistence of Doom Man and our lords.]

[I understand. You completely misunderstood the situation, but it’s okay.]

[I, Lu-neah, am here to warn Doom Man’s priestess. But you knew everything. As expected! You, Doom Man, are amazing. You should have given me a hint!]

“Warning…” I muttered in disbelief.

[This is Lu-neah’s humble opinion, but I think Doom Man has misunderstood the power of Doom Entegasto and the Great Black.]

[The Great Black has been active lately!]

[From what I, Lu-neah, have found out, the Great Black plans to kill Doom Man’s subordinates. That is why Lu-neah rushed to see Doom Man’s priestess like this. I hope this clears up some misunderstandings.]

[I know. It would be hard. So if you can’t believe what I, Lu-neah, said, I will guide you to where the Great Black is now. You can check it yourself!]

The bastard’s eyes moved quickly. It first looked at me, then at Yeon-Hee over my shoulder. It suddenly fell silent and spoke again. Its expression was very familiar to me as it was a unique look that always appeared when it was contemplating its own survival. I had witnessed it several times in the mental world.

[( ･᷄д･᷅ ) The despicable Entegasto will be judged today.]

***

[I, Lu-neah, also feel relieved now. I have been worried… Thank you so much. I, Lu-neah, can finally reveal every sin of Entegasto to our master and Doom Man.]

[However, there is one thing you have to promise me. Please protect Lu-neah from Entegasto. I, Lu-neah, am under Entegasto’s watch.]

[As Doom Man cares for your mainland, I, Lu-neah, will remain loyal to Doom Man forever. You will be surprised to know what else Lu-neah can offer besides loyalty.]

[Oh, right!]

[Don’t worry. Doom Kaos cannot hear what Lu-neah is saying right now.]

“I forgot that you flies talk a lot…”

However, my time in having to deal with such an impertinent being would soon be over.

[I have reduced and simplified it as much as possible. The situation is urgent. I, Lu-neah, have made a once-in-a-lifetime decision. Look. I, Lu-neah, will also find it hard to escape punishment when I stand trial. It is not over yet.]

[The Book of Death!]

The bastard blinked its eyes quickly as I didn’t show the reaction that it expected.

[Ehem… The last volume of the Book of Death! Do you not know what it is?]

[I will explain briefly since we don’t have much time. If all three volumes of the Book of Death are gathered, you can resurrect the ancient Undead Emperor.]

[I, Lu-neah, even know where it is. Here is the important part. If Doom Man advocates for Lu-neah, I will offer it to you. You will naturally figure out by which method.]

[As I have said before, Entegasto is watching Lu-neah. Entegasto is undoubtedly…]

The gaze of the bastard that never moved elsewhere except for me and Yeon-Hee suddenly went up. Its message had also been abruptly cut off. The gate was opening, but the speed wasn’t very fast.

However, the speed at which a massive arm pierced through at the moment that space was ripped apart was insurmountable for anyone but me. The muscles were visible through the broken parts and seams of the black armor. It was still uncovered by skin, and it was oozing red energy like blood.

Entegasto’s arm!

It appeared, filling the ceiling as if to crush us all at once. I soared up to the sky while still holding the bastard with my one hand. The force of Entegasto coming down from above and the force I exuded surging from below collided, then I fell towards the ground.

The first thing I confirmed in my reversed vision was Yeon-Hee’s status. Thankfully, as we had planned, she was nowhere to be found. She promised that she would use the returning stone immediately in case of sudden unexpected situations that didn’t exist in the original future.

[Warning: You lack Power Resistance.]

[Aaaaargh- Please, please let Lu-neah go! Right now! Lu-neah needs to be able to testify, right?]

[I, Lu-neah, am not immortal like you, Doom Man!]

My view was hazy with dust. Was Doom Kaos’s vision also obstructed like this?

I ordered, “Call Doom Kaos.”

[Ah, right… I, Lu-neah, have lost my mind. You promised, okay? You have to advocate for Lu-neah to other lords. Besides the last volume of the Book of Death, Lu-neah is a storehouse of top-grade information, superior to the human army…]

“Hurry up!” I shouted.

[Fine. I told Doom Kaos. Entegasto is in big trouble now!]

Red Power was burning like fire beyond the black helmet. Entegasto’s gigantic body stood tall, connecting the ground and the sky. I was able to clearly see its face as it was looking down at us. Although its intent to kill me and the bastard all at once was strong, it seemed to be more confused now.

If it hadn’t been covered by the red energy, then its eyeballs would have been shaking. It appeared like it was asking me this.

How did you know about my plan…

That was when the long-awaited message popped up. A hurried movement was detected from Entegasto, but Doom Kaos’s message was clearer than ever.

[Your Almighty Master Doom Kaos has gathered a meeting with Dooms.]

Perfect. It was now time to proceed to the court.