CH 402

“[Transcender] …… What’s that all about? So you’re not an immortal with the Wise Man’s Soul?”

“Yes, I think my skills are generally things that humans want. Immortality is one of them. The scene I just showed you is one of my foresights, but it doesn’t always end that way.”

“What else can it do ……?”

“I have not used it since I started working with Irumi and the others, but–“

Retzel said that he can easily use his knowledge of doctors, forging, casting, sword fighting, and at least ancient magic. He can do almost anything if he wants to because he can accumulate knowledge and skills and ‘can’t forget’.

“That sounds like [Jack-of-all-Trades] ……”

“That’s a good point. I think that’s what my lower compatibility skill is. But it doesn’t take much effort, and I can probably use the skills of every person in this world, including the young lady’s [Kaiser Knuckle].”

“Then why didn’t you use it when you fought me? All you did was provoke me.”

When I said that, Retzel narrowed his eyes and, like Dibit-san, took a cigarette from somewhere and lit it.

“…… That was something I was asked to do by the Gospel’s Descent. The plan was simple, but I was wondering what I should do since Brao was not very useful. So I was planning to get rid of Brao when as Lars-kun found out about it, and if necessary, kill the king of Reflexion and go wandering again.”

“He’s saying scary things, you know, Big brother!?”

“This is the kind of guy he is, he tried to kill my brother when he was only two years old without a second thought. But I stopped him.”

Sephiro was scared and hid behind me.

“Yes, that was a surprise. The ‘War Demon’ is also there, but to see you have the potential to surpass even that was impressive! You can kill me, you have the potential to do so!”

“Why do you want …… to die so badly? Most people don’t want to die ……”

Makina also leaned towards me and asked a question after hearing his crazy words. This is something I’m curious about too, so I wait to see how he responds. He exhaled his cigarette smoke, looked at me and Makina with a sad face, and then opened his mouth.

“You can’t die, it’s more painful than you think it is. Think about it, for example, if one of you two doesn’t die, how will the one left behind feel? Do you think you’re lucky not to die?”

“……”

“That’s …….”

“No, that was mean of me. It’s impossible for you two to feel lucky. But that’s the way it is. I was given this skill when I was five years old. At first, I could really do anything, save people, uses my ability to not die to make myself as the shield from monsters, enrich and protect my town and country, and I was good at it. But as time went on, my parents died, my friends grew old, and I began to grow impatient. I wondered how much longer I would be able to live. And I started to feel like everyone was leaving me behind.”

“Even we don’t have that problem ……”

Sephiro, the treant also have a life span.

It is said that the reason why people leave children is to keep their blood and proof of their existence, and the reason why people get sexually aroused when they are about to die is to keep their offspring.

However, if you don’t die, you don’t need to do that, and it is inevitable that your classmates will grow old. I shudder to think if I were in the same position. When I think of how I’m going to live on while Makina grows old and dies ……

“I accepted everyone’s death and lived. For the first fifty years or so, I was able to relax because I still knew people, but as I watched the children become parents, and the parents have grandchildren …… but I felt like I was going crazy, and people started to get creeped out by me, so I went on a wandering journey. But–“

–But,

No matter where I went, no matter how many acquaintances and friends I made, they would always die without me. Finally, broken-hearted, Retzel tried to kill himself.

“But I couldn’t die ……! Even if I deliberately throw myself into a crowd of wild thieves and died a cruel death, even if I jump from a high place to die, even if I took drugs! …… I guess it was after a hundred years that I realized that I couldn’t die by suicide …… Then I chose to become a doctor as a profession where I could help people, and I made a living from medicine and magic. Well, money is meaningless to me because I don’t need to eat to die.”

He smiled to himself.

But how did Retzel, who seems to have lived for others, become such a odd person ……?　

“I’ve saved people’s lives many, many times. But I can’t help do anything against old age. However, every time I see someone dying slowly and quietly, I begin to envy them.”

We didn’t say anything else, and Retzel continued without anyone telling him to. 

“At some point, I came to enjoy the death of others. Even those who are dying. And I like to see the helpless faces of their families and loved ones because …… it is a sign of love. It’s a look that no one else can give me, and I can’t help but want to see it.”

“Is that why you kill them?”

“Yes. I didn’t take the trouble to kill him myself, though.”

I asked him about the pluto, wondering if I could believe him.

“So you came to this country and met Pluto while you were wandering?”

“Yes, I did. When I arrived in the country, I heard a rumor in town that there was a person with a rare skill called [Jack-of-all-Trades]. It’s a shame he wasn’t immortal.”

“But didn’t Geiri say that Pluto-san didn’t die? He also said that he was being manipulated by [Jack-of-all-Trades]. Maybe that’s why he was so close to Retzel-san?”

“To be honest, I was surprised because that’s what I had heard earlier too. I didn’t know what had happened in the castle at that time. I guess I should have used transfer, but the last time I saw Pluto after his girlfriend was killed was when he appeared in front of me. But it’s puzzling that Geiri said he buried him right away.”

“Could it be a ghost or something ……? I don’t like that kind of thing like Makina-oneechan ……”

“I-I’m starting to feel okay about it!”

I put my hand on Makina’s shoulder to reassure her, who was shaking while hugging Sephiro.

“By the way, Lars-kun, do you ever have anyone else talking to you in your head?”

“That’s not happening to me. Maybe [Super Jack-of-all-Trades] is really different.”

“Hmm, that’s interesting too …… About the “Wise Man’s Soul” too …… No, that can wait. Now, I’ve moved from the topic, but I have a body that can’t die, even if I try to use the “Wise Man’s Soul”, even with Brao’s poison, it’s impossible. But if Lars-kun, who mastered even ancient magic at the age of ten, your “Super Jack-of-all-Trades” surpasses even Pluto’s “Jack-of-all-Trades”. I thought that you must be able to kill me. In return, I will do my best to protect your family and friends from the Berias Kingdom and the Gospel’s Descent. What do you think?”

Retzel threw away his cigarette and looked at me with a smile. I was horrified to see how much being unable to die could drive a person crazy.

I pity him a little when I think that he is protecting his title as a doctor in order to tell himself that he is doing it for the sake of others.

“…… One last question. Why did you decide to kill my brother, or anyone else for that matter, to get pleasure from it? And why did you help the Gospel’s Descent?”

“…….”

Retzel raises his eyebrows and mouth and looks me in the eye silently. He took out his glasses and opened his mouth.

“From the order of events, I would say that I’m after the cooperation with the Gospel’s Descent. I did it in the hope that some people would come to hate me and kill me, and that I might actually die. I’m a doctor too, and as I said before, even if I don’t take the trouble to do it myself, I can be targeted as an accomplice. Just like Lars-kun did back then.”

He continued, lowering his shoulders as he teased that he had almost died. It’s true that Brao was the perpetrator at that time, and Retzel just abandoned him. It’s not very trustworthy, but it makes sense …… And if that horrific scene really happens–

“…… Fine, but be prepared when I realize you’re deceiving us.”

“Haha! That’s how I get you to take me seriously …… No, I’m just kidding. So let’s call it a done deal, I’m counting on you.”

I grabbed his hand and shook it back while he glared at me, and I got his cooperation. Then Retzel turned serious and said to me.

“Let’s hurry up, then. We need to get the help of the knights of Reflexion Kingdom too.”

“Can’t we handle this on our own?”

“If the man who just took the War Demon’s wife is coming, he’ll be too much for us. Honestly, we can’t do it without sacrifice unless we can get everyone out of the city.”

“Don’t say it so clearly …… Who the hell is that man?”

“That man is one of the ten Chief Priests, Akzeryus, the [Cruel]. He’s a man who can kill people, both adults and children, without regard for their feelings or guilt. He’s willing to take hostages, so the more people there are, the worse off we’ll be. “