Chapter 135 (1/2)
Volume 2
The Simple Job of Only Perishing to the Hero Volume 4 Chapter 16
– 107.167.229.84
The instant he connected with Ichika’s Life Seed, images completely different from what was shown up until now poured out inside of Vermudol.
Those were, memories of death.
A cluster of final moments that Ichika had been deeply submerged in.
Memories of being killed by an Ogre, by an assassin.
Memories of being betrayed by friends, by companions, by family.
If there were memories of dying for the sake of justice, for the sake of friendship, there were also memories of yielding to malice and the absurd and dying.
Her countless deaths poured into Vermudol.
That lamentation, that despair──it went berserk inside of Vermudol.
With his magical power and consciousness being shaved down to the utmost limit, he desperately maintained the connection that felt like it was going to break off.
「That’s why, ……-san.」
A moon, could be seen.
What he could see beyond the images of death that were going berserk, was a beautiful moon suspended in a night sky.
「Please don’t, cry like that.」
That was, a memory of her first life.
A gentle memory, from when she didn’t know anything.
「It’s because……I am alright.」
The words that didn’t turn into words, the words that she wanted to turn into words, they poured into Vermudol.
「……Guuh!」
There’s no way she was alright.
This kind of absurdity, irrationality, it shouldn’t be fine to allow.
Vermudol strengthened the connection with Ichika’s Life Seed.
When he did, the technical skill that coiled around her Life Seed like a curse……the 「Sacrifice’s Rebirth」 could be seen.
That thing that twined around like a chain and restrained Ichika’s Life Seed, Vermudol grabbed it.
「Disappear……!」
Mustering his remaining magical power to the limit, Vermudol interfered with the 「Sacrifice’s Rebirth」.
Tearing it off, and destroying it……he made it crumble.
Through Vermudol’s interference, the 「Sacrifice’s Rebirth」, which was 「sealed」 by someone and had its power weakened, was completely eliminated from inside of Ichika.
Simultaneously, the technical skills that were derived from the 「Sacrifice’s Rebirth」, Memory Inheritance and Ability Inheritance, were also eliminated.
That wasn’t a problem. That was because there was no need to hand down her memories and abilities from now on.
Convinced that he had succeeded, Vermudol lifted the connection to Ichika’s Life Seed.
Simultaneously feeling fatigue that was hard to resist attacking him, Vermudol collapsed onto the bed.
Within his consciousness that was dimming from being at the limit of his stamina and magical power, Vermudol saw the figure of someone slowly lifting him up.
However, while not knowing who that person was, he parted with his consciousness.
「……Mu.」
Tucked in a warm futon, Vermudol opened his eyes.
Within his vague consciousness, Vermudol retraced his memories.
He remembered as far as connecting with Ichika’s Life Seed, and succeeding in eliminating the 「Sacrifice’s Rebirth」.
But, he had no memory of anything after that.
「Good morning.」
It was there that a familiar voice came down from above his head.
When Vermudol turned his gaze to it, what was there was the figure of Ichika sitting in a chair and looking down on Vermudol.
「How are you feeling?」
「……Nn, ahh. My body is still……heavy.」
「It cannot be helped. Vermudol-sama, you had exhausted every last bit of magical power after all.」
Right now, Vermudol was in a state where it was painful for him to move his body a bit.
Magical power would naturally recover, but even so, he probably wouldn’t be able to move for a day.
Since he had exhausted even the magical power that his body would normally safekeep unconsciously, this was only natural.
「Rather than me, Ichika. Are you alright?」
「Yes, there are no problems. Everything is thanks to you, Vermudol-sama.」
「I see.」
Ichika gazed at Vermudol’s look of relief.
The usual expressionless Ichika held a Ringil and a knife in her hands.
Vermudol gazed with an absent minded head at the Ringil skin that was making a refreshing crunchy sound as it was being peeled.
The Ringil, which was cut up into pieces that were at an easy to eat size, was neatly placed on a plate that was on top of Ichika’s lap.
「Say, Ichika.」
「Yes, what is it?」
「Are you alright with not resting?」
「I am resting you know?」
When she said that, Ichika placed the plate on top of the table that was next to the bed.
「I have left today’s work to others.」
「I, see. And yet, is this alright?」
「What are you asking is alright?」
「To be looking after me in a place like this……I’m sure that even you are tired.」
Hearing those words, Ichika made a slightly offended face.
「I am not such an ungrateful woman.」
「Saying ungrateful, you……」
「Today, I decided to devote the whole day to serving you, Vermudol-sama. So please obediently be looked after by me.」
Vermudol was about to say something despite that, but he eventually gave up and breathed a sigh.
「……Got it. Ichika, please do as you like.」
「Yes, I shall do that.」
After Ichika replied like that, she sat down on the edge of the bed, and peered at Vermudol’s face as he lied there.
Maybe having used up all of his strength in that exchange just now, Vermudol had already fallen asleep.
While gazing at his face as he quietly made sleeper’s breath, Ichika expressed a small smile.
Ichika thought “I’m sure that he hasn’t noticed that I called him not as Demon King-sama……but by his name of 「Vermudol-sama」”.
However, that did not matter.
Ichika was feeling exhilarated by the fact that she was released from her cycle of rebirth.
As for if her current feeling of exhilaration would continue on until tomorrow as well, even Ichika herself was not sure about it.
At any rate, there was still something that she had to do.
Her revenge on the God of Life who had played with her fate.
That desire was still within Ichika.
However, in regards to an answer to Vermudol’s question of 「what will you do after that?」, she had yet to prepare one.
She thought that anything would do as long as she could complete her revenge.
That is why she had not thought about anything beyond it.