Chapter 26

Chapter 26: The Ancient Desert (6)

“Yes.”

I looked at the child in front of me, who was in deep conflict.

“It’s not about right or wrong. I’m not saying that the humans who ruined your past life were right, nor that you, who slaughtered countless humans, were right.”

“...”

The child growled softly. It flinched resentfully like a red disinfectant was poured into an open wound.

It must be angry.

It could not understand, for a lump of anger and resentment was still in its heart, yet it was all in the past—it was all already history gone by.

“No, I can’t do that.” The child shook its head roughly. “I can’t shake off those terrible memories. That’s the life I lived. Are you telling me to deny myself now? Even if I forget and brush it off as you say, do you think that would lead to true happiness?”

To a child who has lived cursing humans for centuries, my words must have felt like denying its existence.

Its lips were tightly closed. It was the stubbornness and determination of someone who had lived with a single goal for a long time.

“I’m not telling you to deny yourself.”

I approached the child. It raised its spear warily, but I didn’t stop walking.

“I’m telling you to enjoy the things you wanted to do, the things you couldn’t do.”

“The things I wanted to do?”

“Yes, what you wanted to do.”

Before it realized it, I was within its attack range. The tip of its spear was pointed at me, but I gently reached out and pushed it aside.

It moved without resistance.

“Though only for a moment, I could clearly feel your past. I could feel what hurt you, what emotions you felt, and what you wanted.”

It was the effect of the skill ‘Memory Recreation’ (S-Rank).

“...”

“And in those memories, you wanted to see the world.”

“The world...?”

The child flinched. Its hollow, dark eyes wavered.

“You were curious. You were curious about the soft sand under your feet and the camels roaming the desert. But all you remember is the sun, and you don’t even know what you look like.”

“That’s right.” For the first time, the child acknowledged what I said. “I was curious about the world. Regardless of the good and evil of all humans, that fact can’t be denied.”

“Isn’t that enough?”

“That’s enough, you say?” The child frowned.

It seemed to think I was playing with words.

—Step.

Before I knew it, I was right in front of it.

“To be honest, I can’t fully empathize with your pain. I felt it for a brief moment, but that’s it. Because your situation is different from mine.”

“...”

“So I don’t want to hastily comfort your emotions. I shouldn’t do that either. I just...”

“...”

A strange silence flowed.

I swallowed and continued. “I’m just saying, can’t you be honest with your desires? No matter what resentment you have toward humans, whatever bitterness remains, just think about the fact that you can go see the world.”

The child’s shoulders trembled. Its emotions seemed to be swirling and mixing. It must have been curious, and it must have wanted to see.

Finally, the child asked, “Are you saying that you can show me the world?”

“Of course.” My lips curled into a smile.

Skeletons were the lowest of the undead. No matter if they were beheaded or their eyes were gouged out, they appeared as complete skeletons.

Come to think of it, skeletons don’t have eyes, do they?

They didn’t have eyes, but they could see. That much was for sure because I could feel it as a necromancer.

Anyway.

—Swoosh!

I reached out into the air. As I was inside my own imagination, a splendid staff appeared in my hand.

Now, let’s make the offer.

“I am a necromancer. Although cursed, I am a mage who can wield death.”

—Thud!

I struck the staff into the ground.

“The world I live in is completely different from the one you lived in, but if you want to see such a world...”

I extended my left hand.

—Flinch.

The child’s body trembled.

“Take my hand and serve under me.”

[Stage: Resentment of the Sun Spear]

[Difficulty: Immeasurable]

[The Sun Spear’s resentment toward humans .]

Sorry to say, but I didn’t have the time to agree with the old man’s words. Every ray of sunlight from the spear was a critical hit.

[‘Sun Spear’ used the skill ‘Solar Strike’ (Lv. Max).]

[‘Sun Spear’ used the skill ‘Raging Desert’ (Lv. Max).]

[‘Sun Spear’ used the skill ‘Soulflare’ (Lv. Max).]

...

I groaned in pain from the continuous attacks from the skills with splendid names I had never seen before.

I gritted my teeth.

But the child didn’t stop attacking.

“My disciple, there’s no need to counterattack. Well, I guess there’s no need to worry since you can’t do that anyway.”

Are you adding fuel to the fire right now? I asked sharply, and the old man laughed.

“I’m just telling you to endure. You’re practically invincible here anyway, no?”

But it hurts like hell.

“Come now. You’ve been enduring my secret technique, the ‘Great Technique of the Celestial Artisan.’ I’m sure you can endure it!”

“...”

Damn it. It hurt like hell, but he kept saying those things, which made me burn even more inside. I felt like I was burning both inside and out.

“I’m sure you know it too,” the old man continued. “That child is not testing your skills. It’s testing your will.”

My will...

“Yes, your tenacity and your character. Usually, the more tenacious one is, the more upright they are. If you want to control it, you must endure this much.”

The child didn’t serve just anyone, it only served special individuals.

There is the old saying, “Look before you leap.” Especially since humans had hurt it many times, it wanted to judge me. It wanted confirmation.

Honestly...

This meant something special. Since it didn’t serve just anyone, that suggested it would staunchly pledge its loyalty.

“Fine.”

What does it matter? Let it all out. I’ll endure it to the end.

It was painful enough to die, but I was willing to face even death to become a ranker.

And the Sun Spear...

Was a huge stepping stone to becoming a ranker.

“If there’s anything you need to judge me, do it all you want.”

The child continued its barrage of attacks with the spear. The spear that swallowed the sun was now the spear that emitted the sun.

[Skill ‘Pain Resistance’ (B-rank) has been upgraded.]

[You have acquired the skill ‘Pain Resistance’ (A-rank)!]

[This skill has the potential for further growth.]

Ah... My profession was going to change to a masochist at this rate.

The terrible pain gradually decreased. It became bearable to the extent that it was now even acceptable.

“Haha, good,” the elder muttered. “As expected of my disciple. You are the best in the world when it comes to enduring.”

All thanks to you, elder.

I could finally gather enough composure to walk forward while taking the child’s attacks. I approached the child while receiving its dazzling spear strikes.

I walked up and calmly looked at it.

“...You,” the Sun Spear muttered as if surprised. “You are indeed different.”

The child’s momentum waned.

Along with the momentum, it let go of its accumulated resentment.

Come to think of it, there was nothing wrong with that. It was already all over. Its life had already become a thing of the past.

It didn’t want to suffer anymore.

“I... want to be reborn.”

It wanted to leave behind its previous life and live a life serving someone loyally. To live under a steadfast necromancer, seeing the world with its own eyes.

—Thud!

The child knelt.

—Drip!

At the same time, tears fell. Tears it had never shed since becoming the ruler of the ancient desert empire.

The child washed away its resentment with these tears.

And then...

“My lord.” It called out to the ‘human’ it had decided to serve. “I acknowledge you as my lord.”

[Congratulations!]

[You have fulfilled the hidden condition.]

[You have cleared the stage: ‘Ancient Desert Scorpion King’!]

[Receiving clear rewards!]

At that moment, I gained an absolute being from another world as my subordinate.

____