Reincarnated to Bonk in Another World

"Huft." Albert was sighing. After returning from the meeting, he could only sit down helplessly, wondering what he should do next. "I am now getting mixed into this power struggle…"

[Even if you try to avoid something like this, it's impossible for you not to get mixed in.]

'What do you mean, Bonkey?' Albert furrowed his eyebrows, feeling something weird in Bonkey's words. He felt as if Bonkey had actually foreseen such a situation.

[The greater your power, the bigger your responsibility.]

'Why tell me about that idiom? Are you telling me that I need to ascend as a Demon Lord?'

[No. I just want to say it's bullshit. After all, the greater the light, the darker the shadow. It means if you have too much talent, the number of people that envy your talent will increase.]

[Those people come from mixed backgrounds, from commoners to royalty. You'll either get used or eliminated by them. Pick your poison.]

'So, it's useless to even fight them? I just want to be free and go around the world.'

[Only when you have an absolute power that no one can use or stop you anymore. It's just, you will be lonely at the top because no one can follow you. That's why I'm allowed to share this bonk power after getting your permission. I don't want you to be alone… Whether it's because you have no friends like in the past or because your friends can't keep up with you, I don't want you to be alone anymore.]

Albert fell silent before pinching the bridge of his nose, feeling moved by Bonkey's words. 'Why do I feel like you act like a human?'

[I can imitate a human, but it's impossible for me to become a human. And I become like this to fulfill your wish.]

"!!!" Albert widened his eyes in amusement. He almost forgot his previous wish because he felt it had been achieved.

The memory of him dying alone flashed in his mind and his wish of not being alone anymore replaced that memory. It was Bonkey who became his first friend in this world.

So, Albert couldn't help but smile when he saw those words. 'Even if I'm alone, you are still with me, right?'

[Of course.]

'Thanks, Bonkey.'

[You're welcome.]

To think Bonkey even considered his wish in this matter. Even if he attained the strongest strength, Bonkey tried his best to keep fulfilling his dearest wish by granting that power. In other words, Albert wasn't supposed to be able to share this power. It was Bonkey who did all that.

'After hearing what you said earlier, I know something. This war will start because I become stronger too fast, the same applies to Yale. If we don't become too strong, we won't be targeted like this.

'That's why… in a sense, I'm the one at fault here. Even though Lilith doesn't know about you, she's still trying to protect me. I know that a part of her is considering her country and the benefit of saving me, but another part of her is the resolve of our relationship.'

Albert couldn't help but smile, feeling blessed that now he wasn't alone anymore. There were people that gladly stepped forward for him.

Hence, he also swore in his heart that it was time for him to do the same.

'I know what I want to do now. I'm not going to be some sort of ruler like the Demon Lord… I just want to protect the life I have right now. If it means I need to spill blood, I won't hesitate anymore.' Albert clenched his hands and finally stood up, proceeding to find Bepe to gather the others.

They gathered in Albert's study room because this was the most important decision they had to make.

Without wasting their time, Albert immediately stated, "I'm going to fight anyone that wants to destroy this life. Because Yale has shown his power, we've become the target of many people.

"That's why I'm going to ally myself with the Lust Kingdom and fight to protect this life. As much as I want you to fight with me, I can't force myself to order you to fight." Albert closed his eyes, having a pained expression. He didn't want to take advantage of their status as his slaves to force them to fight for him.

After all, this might be the hardest battle so far.

"So, I want to say this to all of you. If you wish to leave, I will relinquish your status as my slave. If you think you can't repay me, just earn money as whatever and pay back the cost of saving you.

"But despite knowing the danger and my selfish decision that you still want to follow me, I won't hesitate to protect you if you are in danger as well." Albert made a sad smile and said, "Please tell me your answer within a day. You're free to go."

Even though Albert had told them to leave, Shella still remained by his side.

"Shella? You're not going to think about it?" Albert squinted his eyes, confused by Shella's action.

"Research is the core of my existence right now and I'm sure that Master hasn't forgotten the promise we have made back then. Master will lead me to solve the curse of the succubus while I shall protect Master.

"After that, I officially became your subordinate. However, I, Shella, had decided to dedicate my whole life for you in that forest.

"That's why as long as I still remain in this world, I will stand by your side and fight for you." Shella kneeled on one knee, showing her resolve to Albert.

"I promise you that even if it's the last thing I do, I'll solve the succubus curse." Albert nodded with a serious expression. "And thank you, Shella… for believing me, for choosing me…"

"No. It's me who needs to thank you, Master."

Even though Shella didn't smile, Albert could clearly feel the happiness in that word. It was her genuine feeling to serve him.

"Shella…" Albert closed his eyes for a moment, making a decision. "I want to remove the slave mark."

"Master?" Shella tilted her head in confusion. She suspected Albert thinking about releasing her because he couldn't afford to send his loyal subordinate to death.

However, Albert also lowered his body and looked at Shella from the same eye level. He held her skeletal hands and smiled. "I wish to remove the slave mark because I want you to be my partner… Someone I can trust my back to. You're not my slave, you're my partner."

"Master…" Shella felt moved. But Shella still shook her head, rejecting his wish. "I'm sorry, Master. It's not that I don't want to, but this slave mark is my resolve to follow you. I feel like I will lose my identity if I don't have this.

"I'm grateful for Master to grant me this opportunity, but I am satisfied with the current arrangement. It's the prove that you are my master."

There was a wry smile on Albert's face, but he couldn't reject her either. "I understand. Even if there's a slave mark on your body, I will always consider you as my partner."

"Yes, Master. I'm extremely honored."

Albert helped her up and let her go because Shella wanted to make some preparations about what was going to happen.

Not long after Shella left, Bepe and Jessie entered the room as if they didn't take too much time deciding the rest of their lives.

Both of them fell to their knees.

Bepe was the first one to open his mouth. "You once told me that you wanted me to become your butler… the butler that could do anything from serving you to protecting you. And I haven't done all of them yet, especially protecting you.

"That's why I will follow you until I have completed all my objectives and become the best butler in the world. The best master needs the best butler. Please let me continue learning from you." Bepe lowered his head.

Before Albert replied to him, Jessie started speaking. "Me too. Master told me that I have the biggest potential to use this power.

"I was timid, shy and weak in the past. But Master granted me the opportunity to become stronger, allowed me to overcome my shyness, and gave me confidence.

"Even if I use my life, it won't be enough to repay Master… You have granted me a new life, so I wish to dedicate this life for you."

Albert felt blessed to have these people. He thought they would leave him since he broke their comfort zone. After all, unlike the past missions, Albert couldn't guarantee their lives in this war.

He hugged both of them with a smile on his face. "Thank you, both of you."

"No. It's us who needs to thank you." Bepe and Jessie replied in unison, knowing that everything they had now came from him.

However, Albert faced another problem. After waiting for the whole day, Irena had yet to come out of her room.

It was soon midnight and Albert thought about going to sleep soon. But that was the time, he heard a knock on the door.

Without hesitation, he reached the door and opened it, expecting Irena to come. But bad premonition started creeping in his heart when he saw Irena's expression.

Unlike her usual calm and collected face, Irena had a grim and serene expression. There was a sense of loss just by staring at her.

The memory of her rejecting to fight for the Lust Kingdom appeared in his mind, making Albert think this might be the last time he talked with Irena.