The Body of the Undying King (2)
Honestly, Isaac didn't know either.
'How would I know why my body is here?'
In Isaac's memory, the last thing he remembered about the Skeleton King's body was…
self-destructing in the divine realm in a "screw it, let's go!" kind of way.
Well, he did crash into it with that kind of reckless abandon, so it wasn't surprising there was some collateral damage.
In any case, he had thought he'd gone out in a brilliant blaze of glory — the Skeleton King's grand finale — and that he'd never see that body again.
Even if, by some miracle, the remains had survived, after all those years of neglect, there was no way they could retain their former power.
That's what he thought when he entered the treasure vault…
'Sons of bitches. They preserved it perfectly!'
Isaac couldn't hold back his laughter.
Wonderful. It was so wonderful that he physically couldn't stop smiling!
"Ddallttayak-hyak (Almost no loss of magical power)!!"
That purity! That mana!
Of course, if he grew stronger, his current body would eventually surpass that old skeleton.
But something like that was right in front of him?
It wasn't just some special meal or an ordinary artifact anymore.
It was a supreme treasure, powerful enough to turn even a lowly slime into a high-ranking monster!
And if he — Isaac — could claim it…
The best!
Damn, it's so freaking awe—
But at that moment.
Isaac, who couldn't suppress his grin, met the children's eyes.
"..."
The children's eyes were trembling violently as they stared at Isaac.
Their faces had gone deathly pale, as if they were looking at a monster or a demon.
Feeling all the stares, Isaac coughed and wiped the corners of his mouth.
'Damn, I let my excitement show too much.'
Ever since he had gained a human body, this had become a problem.
'I'm terrible at controlling my expressions.'
After living for centuries without nerves or muscles as a skeleton, he kept messing up his facial expressions.
When he was just bones, he couldn't even feel emotions.
Without practice, he might end up laughing at completely inappropriate moments.
'Might be dangerous in front of the Pope.'
Meanwhile, the dragon looked very pleased.
[Look! Look at the face of a true warrior! Smiling even in the face of such terrifying power!]
The children's eyes were still shaking.
'…A warrior?'
Wasn't he confusing the word for pervert?
[He's a boy who can laugh even in the face of death.]
Trying to suppress his laughter only made Isaac roll around on the ground, giggling uncontrollably.
[Yes! That's it! That's the true meaning of strength!]
"Puhettayahya!"
…Maybe he was just a crazy kid?
But then, the dragon spoke again, now sounding more measured.
[Anyway, if you've finally realized your place, I'll let you pick from Hall 2 instead of Hall 3. The treasures there are still excellent.]
The children's faces brightened immediately.
Choosing a treasure from Hall 2, rather than risking certain death in Hall 3, was a much better outcome for anyone aiming to become a Saint.
'With all that demonic energy leaking out, there's no way anyone's bringing anything back from Hall 3.'
'If I grab the best treasure from Hall 2, I'll be seen as a top Saint candidate.'
Then they could ride that treasure all the way to sainthood…
"I refuse. I don't need a treasure."
"?!"
What the hell?!
The children stared at Kina Verit like she had lost her mind.
But Kina Verit just smiled.
"We're all going to Hall 3. And please activate all the traps."
"Hey?!"
Had she lost her mind?
Was she planning to come out of this treasure hunt empty-handed?!
But Kina raised her chin high, as if her intentions were obvious.
'I came here to prove that I am a Saint.'
Her father had told her to go and show everyone who the real Saint was.
"They say even the past Saints couldn't retrieve the Skeleton King's body. Even the genius Saint Melissa failed."
The giggling Isaac suddenly froze in place.
Wait, why couldn't she get it?
No way — a Saint of her caliber should've been able to take it, right?
Was there some other reason?
"Anyway, please leave Hall 3 in its original state and unlock all the safety mechanisms."
Seriously, what's wrong with her?!
The children's faces twisted further in horror.
[Hoho, so you know about Hall 3?]
"You can figure it out with a little thought. There's no way that kind-hearted Saint Melissa would have set up something meant to kill children. You must be the insurance. You even tried to send that baby inside earlier."
Kind-hearted? Who?
The same woman who nearly pulverized the Demon King's head into powder over a stolen wallet?
"I don't want people later saying I only got the treasure because of safety mechanisms. Leave it in its pure, original state. That's the only way to be judged as someone greater than Saint Melissa."
Her voice was sweet but dripping with condescension.
[You're assuming you'll be the one to take it?]
"I can do it."
Kina Verit glanced briefly at Isaac.
She would show the difference in level through overwhelming victory.
And to do that, she needed witnesses to recognize that difference.
"We're going to Vault 3."
[If you're going that far, fine. Well, it's true that it'll be easier to identify the Saint that way.]
The children turned pale.
No way!
If you want to go, go alone! We're fine with whatever treasure is left over!
Just as they were about to shout that, everyone's vision, including Isaac's, suddenly changed.
Flash!
With a sensation of their bodies floating, they landed in a wide hall.
Priceless treasures that couldn't be bought with money were scattered everywhere.
Naturally, the children's eyes lit up, but they couldn't even get close.
"Ugh…!"
The miasma they had felt leaking through before was nothing compared to this.
"T-That…!"
Everyone's eyes were drawn to one place.
[Master! Look!! Your sacred body! Your sacred body—aaack!]
Yes, yes, I see it well.
Isaac looked at a low pedestal at the center of the treasure hall.
It was the only artifact among the treasures that remained intact and vibrant.
"A hand bone, huh."
A hand stretched upward, as if trying to strangle the neck of a god.
At a glance, it looked like an entire wrist had been cleanly cut off and stuck into the pedestal, but Isaac knew the truth.
"The rest is fake; the thumb is the real part."
And of course, it was his body's part!
Not only was it preserved, but it had been sucking up energy from Vault 3 this whole time!
"If I recover that, the power from the other treasures will enter my body too?"
Enough that he wouldn't even need to bother with the larger, bulkier treasures for a while.
It had definitely been worth trapping the elders chasing him in the shadow lich's prison.
The only slight regret was that the part was smaller than expected; the larger the body part, the denser the magical power.
"Actually, for a baby to absorb, maybe smaller is better?"
Too much power might overwhelm his still-developing body.
Until he grew stronger, he would have to be content with this shriveled-up piece.
However, the children were trembling from a different kind of shock.
"…Not even a whole body, and just that small piece is releasing this much miasma?"
Just from one finger bone?
No wonder the Skull King was called the strongest and worst of the Demon Kings.
It couldn't even be compared to the high-level demon totems they had seen at the Vatican.
Honestly, it made them wonder if anyone could even touch that thing.
"B-But if we can just take that…!"
"Saint!"
"Pope!"
Just as the children mustered up their courage to approach—
Thud!
"Ahhh!"
Suddenly, a black aura rose near the remains.
And all the children, raised as elite Saints-in-training, immediately recognized it.
"Demon!"
There was no doubt.
The black aura was gradually taking on the form of a living being.
Seeing it, Isaac frowned in recognition.
"That guy?"
The children, overwhelmed by fear, burst into tears.
"I thought the demons were all dealt with by the second vault's guardian!"
Then laughter echoed through Vault 3.
[Weren't you the ones who demanded that all of Vault 3's safety measures be lifted? You said it was the only way to prove you were better than the Saint.]
No!
We never said that!
And wait, were those "safety measures" actually seals restraining the demon?!
A high-level demon was guarding the Skull King's remains?!
Sure enough, the chains binding the demon's arms and legs clattered and fell away.
A creaking neck, and a voice filled with hatred and malice threatened the children.
[How dare you aim for the King's body.]
No, we weren't aiming for it! We were just aiming for the relic!
At the same time, the voice of Vault 3 laughed joyfully.
[Let's see if you can manage to take it.]
You crazy bastard!
Tears streaming down their faces, the children all glared at Kina Verit.
"This is all your fault!"
"How are we supposed to get that thing now?!"
But Kina Verit just smiled.
"It's okay. Just trust me. I'll make sure we can take all the treasures out."
"!"
Kina Verit looked proudly at Isaac.
He already knew about the demon's existence.
Naturally—because that demon had been captured by the Papal family!
"One of the Fourteen Fostered Demons—the Skull King's closest lieutenants."
The demon had been forced to protect the Skull King's remains in exchange for serving the Holy Faction.
But even if it was one of the famous Fourteen Fostered Demons, it was now just a restrained specter. Nothing to fear.
And most importantly, since it was captured and thrown into the Saint's Vault instead of a prison by the Papal family, it was bound by the Papal family's control.
A Saint naturally couldn't handle it—but a Papal bloodline like Kina could.
He had come prepared with sacred arts specifically to subdue it.
That's why he confidently entered this place.
He would subjugate the demon, protect the children, and retrieve the treasure.
After all, he was the Pope's grandson, heir to the entire nation.
Wasn't this the perfect chance to prove himself as a Saint?
Kina Verit glared at the demon.
His golden eyes shone brightly with divine power.\
"Kneel!"
Clang!
A thunderous crash, like metal colliding, echoed through the air. The demon who locked eyes with Kina Berit flinched.
It was said that the highest-ranking clergy could subdue demons with just a look.
If it were the Pope, a mere glance could make demons flee.
For a Saint, it was a natural ability.
As expected, when the demon froze in place, Kina smiled.
'Good. Proof of success…'
However, the moment their eyes met, Kina's breath caught in her throat.
[Is it you?]
"?!"
The demon's creaking gaze was deadly.
As if holy power meant nothing at all.
[Are you the one aiming for the King's body?]
Kina Berit involuntarily trembled.
What was this?
Why wasn't the sacred spell working?
What is this… No, wait — could it be that I'm feeling fear?
Toward a mere wraith?
Was this the level of the Fourteen Commanders raised by the Skeleton King?
No, now wasn't the time to be thinking about that.
'It's out of control!'
The provoked demon unleashed its demonic energy.
It intended to kill all the children who had entered the treasury.
"Ahhh! Help—!"
With a scream, solid walls of light formed around the children on all sides.
Bang!
A defensive holy spell. It looked like a prison of light.
And just as they checked who had cast it—
"That kid!"
Isaac, who had cast the spell, was charging toward the Skeleton King's body.
Crawling on all fours, he looked surprisingly brave.
"Did he cast a defensive barrier only on us?!"
"Is he trying to become bait himself?!"
No. He trapped them to stop them from interfering.
Isaac's eyes were wild.
It wasn't exactly the same, but he had remembered the defensive spell the captain of Eshua's knights had once used.
"Ddadadada! (Get outta the way, that's mine!)"
As Isaac sprinted toward the Skeleton King's body, the demon's eyes flared.
How dare a mere priest covet the great Skeleton King's body?
Savage demonic energy aimed for Isaac's neck.
However—
Bang!
Isaac struck it down.
The demon looked furious when its attack was deflected.
[...!]
As if asking, "Why didn't it work?"
But Isaac, veins bulging with anger, looked ready to scold him.
"Ddyutyaaak! (You bastard, can't you even recognize your master?!)"
Raising one hand as if to slap, Isaac unleashed a blinding flash of light.
Boom!!
***
Outside the treasury, chaos had already broken out from the shock.
"Did you just say the demon sealed in the Third Vault has been released?"
Frankly, the adults had thought most of the children would stop at the Second Vault.
They had hoped for the treasures of the Third Vault, but even during the Saintess's ritual ceremonies, few children had ever reached it.
And yet, not only had they entered the Third Vault, but they had also released the demon guarding the Skeleton King's body?
How did that even happen?
Listening to the report, Lylai felt dizzy.
The demon of the Second Vault was merely a puppet of the Third Vault's demon.
Even if something went wrong, the ring's power could manage the Second Vault demon, but the Third Vault demon was a different story.
'Isaac, Shuri!'
Both were in danger.
No — at this rate, everyone inside the treasury was in danger. The freed demon would hunt down every priest inside.
"What about the Elder and the Senior who went as supervisors?"
At Lylai's question, the Eshua knights wiped their sweat.
"Well, we're not sure why, but… the traps in the treasury activated, and they went to disable them, and then… they seem to have gone missing."
"It's a place that excludes adults unless necessary…"
All the adults began murmuring anxiously.
"Then aren't the children completely exposed to danger?"
"There's no way the children can handle this…!"
"We have to stop this and bring them back immediately!"
But just then—
Flash!
A massive light erupted from the direction of the treasury.
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