Chapter Twenty-Five: Diplomacy
In my previous life, there were many days I would stay up late after work. Some nights I would read or watch anime. Other nights I would listen to audiobooks while playing video games. It was in these moments where the longing for anything else but the life that I had truly weighed on my heart.
It was in these times I desperately longed for some form of escape. I found myself dreaming of something more to my existence beyond the endless pointless toil our world had to offer.
I would dread going to work, but even at work I wondered really would be laying for me at home. Before I had gotten sick, I had reached a point in my life where my dreams had all died. I wasn’t ready to give up, I was never ready to lay down and quit.
But even as I continued to struggle forward, I often wondered what I was fighting for. So when I was able to lose myself in the worlds of others I found glimpses of hopes and dreams bigger than myself.
I would watch the triumphs and defeats of others and want to be there. I didn’t care if it meant having to suffer, if the reward was a life filled with meaning. It was in the moments of getting lost in the land of imagination where I felt color return to my empty heart.
I would dream of what might lay before me if I was ever transplanted into another world. I had yearned for unimaginable power, of walking into the room and being the strongest person. I had visions of having loyalty, and love. I wanted to be someone important.
So why in the hell am I blaming the system for giving me everything I had ever wanted?
All of these thoughts raced through my brain even as I cursed the system. I knew the only one I had to blame for the situation was myself. I had made a wish, and now everything I wished for had been given to me. Nice, and hard.
I had recovered from the battle with the dragons but my body still felt weird, and I didn’t know why. I had started to feel it by the end of the last battle. Something was off about the mana coursing through my veins, but I didn’t appear to have any status ailments, so I had tried to ignore it.
This all came to a head as I reacted without hesitation at the arrival of Prince Sherivos. As my friends had kneeled out of ingrained duty, I was readying myself to defend us against a new foe.
“Wuzzy!” I shouted, and my companion who had been trailing the group as we traversed the tunnels rushed past the startled guard who had greeted us at the door and took a defensive posture in front of my friends, growling at the demons who had been awaiting us.
As my minion rushed forth I summoned the comforting weight of Abyssal Ruination to my hand, and my weapons, now familiar, electric hum of power coursed through me as it fed me the power it had been devouring.
The horde of demons that greeted us shifted uneasily at the action, but a wave of one of Sherivos’ four hands stilled their movements. Seeing as they didn’t look inclined to attack us I made no further advancements, but I still began circulating mana throughout my body in preparation to activate any skills I might need at a moment's notice.
Immediately a notification screen popped up as I suddenly felt violently ill.
You have been subjected to Mana Toxicity.
Mana Toxicity: The complete depletion of your mana multiple times in quick succession caused the mana regained to become toxic to your bodily functions.
Repeated use of toxic mana can cause debilitating effects until your body has time to cleanse the toxic element of the mana regained.
“Mana Toxicity is a handful isn’t it?” The demon prince asked me, a smug expression on his face. I narrowed my gaze at him, or at least attempted to. The spinning of the room was making it difficult. I could vaguely hear gasps from my friends and in a moment Shialk was at my side.
“Quick, Leo, lay down!” The imp commanded and began to dig through his pouch of alchemical supplies. I stared suspiciously at the demon prince and his entourage, but the thumping in my head made me realize that even if I had wanted to there was no fighting in my current state.
“Listen to the imp, Lord Leodon. I am not here to attack you, but to talk. I even have a token of goodwill. “ The prince said, and with a snap of his fingers a small black hole opened up in space above his hand and a vial of orange brown sludge appeared.
It dropped into his hand lightly, and he held it out before him. Shialk obviously recognized it as he quickly rushed to the demon’s outstretched hand and grabbed at the vial. He held it out before him as the imp’s eyes glowed white for a moment before running back over to me.
“Leo, I told you to lie the fuck down.” Shialk repeated and I finally gave in. I began to lower myself slowly, but a violent tremble toppled me off of my feet as my muscles had given out.Before I could hit the ground both Faerwyn and Velixen were at my side holding me.
“Keep him steady!” Grenthar commanded, and only then through the haze did I realize my body was seizing wildly. More hands clutched at my body until Shialk’s silhouette was above me.
“You really aren’t going to like this.” My friend chuckled. A second later I tasted the worst possible thing I had probably ever had in my life, as my vision faded to black completely, and I was met with unconsciousness.
***
Peanut butter, Nacho Cheese, popcorn, jelly, a capri sun, and bread. These words echoed in my head as I came to. I knew there was more, but it had been so long that I couldn’t remember the whole rhyme.
The reason my brain provided this information was because it was trying to make any comparison to the foul concoction Shialk had given me at the prince’s behest. In middle school the guys would come up with the most absurd mixtures and dare each other to eat them. That particular combination had earned me a dollar once upon a time.
Even then as I woke with a fit of coughing and my throat burning the only thing I could reason was the potion was nothing more than lavender and ass. I had never once in my life eaten ass, but after drinking that sludge I could probably imagine what it would taste like.
“Oh good, you’re awake. Now perhaps we can get to business.” A dry voice said, breaking me out of my thoughts. I opened my eyes and all around me I could see the concerned looks of my friends.
Even Velixen was visible, with her hood down. I was curious by her presence, but then it made sense. With no immediate threat from Sherivos, remaining veiled would only be seen as hostile action.
My vision continued to swim and wobble for a moment, but once it stabilized I began to study my surroundings for what felt like the first time.
The cavern chamber we had found ourselves in was significantly larger than one would expect given the general size of the tunnels. It could easily fit two-score, armed men within it, and the ceiling arced voluminously overhead.
Taking into account the proximity to the iron barrier, I could guess that it was meant to be a battle chamber of sorts with plenty of room to maneuver in case any monsters from The Wound ever made it this far. The air itself was warm and dry, which gave it a pleasant feeling in spite of the miasmic energy that still clung to the stones this near the cursed valley.
Along the sides of the room were smaller wooden doors which I guessed were the living quarters and other amenities that those who stood guard here would need.
While Prince Sherivos had moved closer during my collapse, his entourage still clung to the walls. They shifted uneasily, but their discipline was evident. They weren’t here to attack me, only defend their liege.
His escort numbered 12 in all, and their levels were astonishingly low as I began scanning their status screens. Each demon belonged to the same race, all labeled as Gelionari. Their skin was a mottled patchwork of various shades of purple, while sporting crimson rams horns protruding from beneath their emerald green hair. Male and female alike, their bodies were muscular and mostly humanoid. Long, powerful, prehensile tails hung behind them.
The armor the gelionari guards wore was finely crafted, made with polished silver that covered their mighty frames. Each breastplate was engraved with the same crest. I could only assume that this meant they were part of the royal guard and not the demon army.
The prince himself was an entirely different sight. I had already noticed his additional arms and ebony skin that made his silvery hair all the more prominent. But his pale yellow eyes gazed down upon me with both concern and amusement. In the center of his forehead, obscured slightly by a golden circlet, was a shining ruby eye.
His body was clothed in a lustrous black satin robe, trimmed with golden threading that glistened in the tunnel's torchlight. His robes clung to his powerful frame majestically and made it clear that, unlike his men, he was no warrior.
That was enforced by the fact that he carried no weapon, just a tome in one of his hands that hummed with magical power and glowed with a violet luminescence. My eyes lingered on the book as it reminded me of my own grimoire.
Sherivos Level: 41 Class: Scholastic Warlock
Title: Eldritch Advisor
Affinity: Neutral
That caused me to frown slightly as it was the second time that my anti-trust perk hadn’t seemed to have an effect on someone who was clearly a member of authority. Derzeri too had appeared as neutral at first.
Perhaps it doesn’t affect those who are an authority over themselves? I wondered. One thing was certain in this world, and it was that everything had some limitations. There was always a form of balance. Realizing the silence had dragged on long enough I raised my voice.
“I would thank you for lending me a hand, but it seems like you have a few extra to spare.” I shot back at him, and could see a twinkle appear in his eyes. “You want something from me.”
It wasn’t a question. As the potion completed its work my body was feeling lighter and I was able to begin looking at everything with a clear mind.
Mostly clear. I reminded myself. It will be a long time if ever before it will be completely clear again. I was interrupted from my introspection by the prince’s voice.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“I think I am really going to like you,” Sherivos smiled. “You are a little bit on the rash side, but given your circumstances, I suppose it makes sense. Yes, I do want something from you, but please take a seat.”
He motioned to a large table that rested in the center of the room. Without waiting the demon walked over to the table and sat at one side waiting expectantly.
Has that table been there the whole time? If it had then I should have known the prince wasn’t a danger to begin with. You don’t set up a giant table if you’re planning for all hell breaking loose.
You can’t keep losing your shit, Leo. I told myself. I knew it wasn’t entirely my fault. I had leveled my charisma too quickly by necessity, and I would need to learn how to temper my actions.
It was like a teenage boy getting a hard-on in the middle of class because some girl's thong was peeking out of her jeans. When young people hit puberty they are easily controlled by their bodies and needed time and experience to learn discipline over themselves.
That effect had only been magnified within me, and I needed to get myself together fast. It’s already too late in some ways though. You have already done some things that can’t be taken back.
I had killed people. Many people now, and had devoured their flesh. While I didn’t quite feel guilty because of the necessity of it, I also couldn’t quite let those thoughts go. Partly because I couldn’t trust how readily I rationalized the guilt away.
Also in part because the memories and experiences of those I devoured remained with me. Every time I consumed the flesh of others a part of them became a part of me, and when I obtained their memories they lurked in the back of my head like ghosts. Perpetually whispering dark thoughts, and haunting my quiet moments.
While most of them had weak enough wills that their minds would fade into obscurity within my mind, Derzeri’s thoughts were potent. He had a strong will, and even now his memories were dancing in between my own making the struggle for my own identity difficult.
I should probably seek psychiatric help. I stared intently at the Sherivos as I struggled with my broken psyche, and my growing suspicion of the prince. While he didn’t seem to mean us harm, something else wasn’t right about him.
“It’s okay, Leo. You can trust the prince.” Faerwyn whispered in my ear. I thought about that through the filter of what I had learned about her ability to taste emotional energy.I wasn’t sure I trusted the prince, but my friends were offering him a lot of respect. So, at the very least, I could give him a chance.
With a nod of my head Jeloqa and Grenthar were at my side a moment later carrying me to the table. I wanted to object to their pampering, but honestly, it felt nice being pampered for a change. After fighting for my life so hard, especially.
I had noticed before that the table was large, but as my friends and I took our places at the table I really got a good appreciation for its size, and make. It was roughly 20 feet long, 4 feet wide, and made of soft, warm, yet sturdy wood. If I had to guess it had come from one of the jungle trees I had grown familiar with near Seavine.
In the process of appreciating the craftsmanship, I realized it was too big to have been brought down specifically for the sake of the prince meeting us. Which meant this was most likely a dining table from one of the side rooms used for the guards.
Sitting in the center of one side with my friends taking their places alongside me made me chuckle to myself. This is giving me strong ‘Last Supper’ vibes. Well, if worst comes to worst I can always eat another prince.
The chairs were quite comfortable too. While not cushioned they were covered in a leathery hide from some monster that added a form-fitting padding which eased most of my tension away.
“You seem to be relaxing, that’s good. It should help our discussions go a lot more smoothly.” Sherivos said as he placed two of his four hands on the table folded together, The other two were thrumming their fingers on the table in a rhythmic tapping.
“You know a lot for a man I have never seen before. That doesn’t engender a lot of trust.” In response to my words, Sherivos raised one of his four arms and lifted the circlet from his head. This revealed a ruby eye that had been obscured by the small crown.
“As I am hoping to earn your trust I will share with you a secret. This allows me to see and understand many things about the world. Much more than even my father expects. The details as to the mechanism aren’t important, but it has allowed me to glean many things about you.”
“Which is how you knew what had happened to Derzeri. That brings up two important questions. First, if you wanted something from me why didn’t you help us against Derzeri? Which addresses my second question. If the Draciolos prince was your ostensible ally, why didn’t you save him from his fate? You made it clear upon arrival that you knew of his demise when you called us dragon slayers’.”
“Oh, that. Not that I enjoy answering questions with inquiries of my own, but what manner of intervention from my team or I wouldn’t have been met with suspicion? In a battle such as that, I have no doubt you wouldn’t have bothered attacking us as well as the draconians.” The prince answered with a shrug, and I had to admit that he had a point.
With the intensity of that battle, it was entirely within reason that I would have treated everyone else with equal hostility as a potential threat.
That didn’t explain why he had let us kill the dragon prince, but I already had my theories as to his motives.
There aren’t many reasons for nobility to seek out dark powers, or foreign royalty and make deals with them.
“To answer your second question. Truthfully, he was no ally of mine. It’s regrettable, as he was truly a noble soul, but even if I wanted to, there was no way I could rescue the lizard from his folly. He was a mere tool, a puppet of someone else’s will. As too am I, and even as you are.”
“I am no tool or puppet,” I said, a fit of rising anger turning my voice into a growl as I narrowed my gaze at Prince Sherivos.
“Aren’t you? Are you not cursing the heavens above for giving you such a fate, oh system-born? I meant no offense by it. I mean you no harm. This is why I am here. I wanted to meet you in person and assess your character. Perhaps even offer my assistance.”
“You mean request my aid,” I replied, scratching at my chin, in thought.
“It amounts to the same thing. I can see you already have an idea as to why I am meeting you like this. I want you to kill my father, and I am willing to help you achieve that goal. As killing him is also in your best interests I don’t see why you would refuse.”
This is what I had expected since I first realized that he wanted to talk to me, but the confirmation still filled me with a weariness I couldn’t fight. It didn’t matter what world you found yourself in, politics and bureaucracy were a constant.
I truly contemplated his desire though as it brought how murderhobo I had become since entering the world. Sure, I killed the cultists, they were nazis. I killed the beasts in the jungle, I had needed to survive. I slew some monsters, that’s what adventurers do.
My mental validation decreased when recalling how I butchered the adventuring party mercilessly. Yes, they had been a threat to my friends, but was that really the best way to handle them?
I probably could have incapacitated them and left them to fend for themselves. Instead, I destroyed them with a smile on my face. The memory caused a part of me to squirm uncomfortably as I went over my battle with Derzeri.
He too had been a threat, but not a malicious one. The draconic prince was simply doing his duty for the good of his kingdom and his people. For the love of a father he could never earn.
The prince’s words brought those struggles to the fore of my thoughts and hung in the air. Do I even want to kill the king? I asked myself. I had wanted to stop him from gaining power. I wanted to make sure he couldn’t lightly invade Shangrior. I had never planned on killing him.
Don’t you want to? You have just admitted how you have killed everything else that has come into your path. What makes this time any different? You are a bringer of death. It’s already too late to wash your hands from what you’ve done. You might as well embrace it.
“I don’t want to kill the king,” I said aloud, both in protest to the voices in my mind and Prince Sherivos. “As I said, I am no puppet. I will choose my own destiny. I am all for stopping Milzeyan. Zelistan is on my borders, and I don’t need a power-hungry megalomaniac interfering with my peaceful life. I don’t see why I would need to kill him though.”
Prince Sherivos narrowed his pale yellow eyes and frowned. Not out of anger or disappointment but in thought.
“Far be it from me to correct you, but do you honestly think you have much choice on the fate of the king? My father will hunt you down and force your hand. If you thwart him he will find you.”
I stared at the prince and tried not to buckle under the weight of the words. The truth of them. It’s as you told yourself. If you have to be a monster, then be a monster for the right reasons.
Maybe killing King Milzeyan would save me trouble down the road, but that didn’t seem like reason enough. Yet, the demon had a point. Someone who wanted to expand would one day put my friends in jeopardy.
I would have no peace as long as someone who wanted what I had and had the power to struggle for it existed.
“So what, you want to take the throne for yourself? Why come to me with this problem?”
“Because you are going to rule Zelistan. Not me.” I opened my mouth to object, but before I could the prince continued. “Firstly, I can not assume control of the kingdom. Not in any meaningful way. My class wouldn’t allow it.
In order to become a ruler there is a prerequisite. You need to be able to initiate system-bound oaths. While occasionally a person can be rewarded a title that grants this, the most common method is through a class benefit.
As you know classes are tailored to the individual. So almost all nobility upon class selection have choices that will give them the ability to take someone’s oath. My classes do not have that ability.
So while I could ascend to the throne and rule in name, the fact that the system doesn’t recognize me as a ruler would make the act a fruitless endeavor doomed to failure.
Another method would have been for the system to grant me a title that would have allowed me to perform oath bindings. Such is the case at times. Still, the system gave me a role of support.
I do not begrudge these facts. In truth, it has probably been the only thing that has kept me alive all of these years. Of all my father's children, I alone remain. Not because of infighting, but because he has seen fit to dispose of anyone he deems as a threat to his rule.
As to why I want you to rule. That answer is more simple. It is your destiny. My third eye allows me to see patterns and predict fate. While this is not true prophecy, the eye’s ability helps me to detect the fluctuations in luck and circumstance, and determine the likeliest outcomes. The future is always shifting, but there are things that are likelier than others.
Your personality, and who you are will set you at odds against the world. Whether you like it or not Zelistan will belong to you. As long as you don’t fail against my father, that is. There is still that chance.
You could die, you could walk away from responsibility, you could even attempt to join my father. Those options are unlikely. I sense a spirit that wants to persevere and overcome. That will push you to confront the king, and through that confrontation gain authority over Zelistan.”
I wished I could walk away. I wanted to spend a day where I could just go to the gym for a couple of hours, take a shower, and then read and play games.
I missed warm showers. Living an isekai fantasy nightmare. I wasn’t an overpowered hero. I was an overpowered monster. Memories, not my own, danced in my head. Lives I had consumed, lives I had taken.
I am beginning to lose myself. Different memories, different minds, different me.
I couldn’t even freely hunt monsters anymore. Not now that I had felt their own fear and desires through our connection. It would always be lurking in the back of my mind. I was just tired of bloodshed.
Can I just walk away? Can I just go back to the jungle? I have a camp there, I could spend the rest of my days just hunting and trapping. Peaceful, and quiet.
I knew that would never work. Even if I wanted to, I was sure the system would see to it that something would disrupt that lifestyle. It kept pushing me forward. The whole time I struggled with my thoughts Prince Sherivos waited, looking at me expectantly.
His pale yellow eyes gazed at me almost pleadingly. I could feel the weight of his words and his desire radiating off of him. In that moment he wasn’t just another demon prince, he was a scared man, who wanted what was best for his people.
Still, I couldn’t shake off my suspicion entirely and decided to change perspectives. If the prince was lying, then what reason would he have to lie?
While he could be lying about being unable to rule, that seemed an odd lie, especially after I had offered him the throne. He could have been trying to prop me up to stab me in the back, but if he wanted his father dead he had already been in a good position for assassination most of his life.
By assisting me in taking out Milzeyan that would only put me above the reach of his treachery as well. As I tried to piece through whatever his reasonings could be, I just couldn’t think of one that would fit in this situation.
Well, I can take him at his word for now, and be prepared for if he breaks it.
“Prince Sherivos. I am assuming King Milzeyan is strong. Much stronger than you, and you are significantly stronger than I am at the moment. What plan did you have in mind?” This caused the prince to smile.
“Oh, I think you’ll like it.”