Chapter 46
Chapter 46 – 12. The End is An Open Door (2)
It was not possible to recount all the stories spanning over 100 years. So, Karnak roughly summarized the story of his past life and told Serati.
He was born as an illegitimate son of a fallen family and learned necromancy. The days when he was trying to take over the family and was chased after being caught as a necromancer.
Afterward, he traveled around the world, growing stronger, and in the meantime, earning people’s anger and eventually becoming a hero of the continent. In the end, he gave up being human, became Astra Schnapps, succeeded in conquering the world, and even tried to recover her lost body.
“That’s why I came back to this era. Something like this.”
Finishing the detailed explanation, Karnak winked.
“How is it? did your curiosity clear up?”
Serati had a bewildered face.
“Oh, my god……”
But in the meantime, it seems that she was getting a little bit convinced.
“Okay. Indeed, that’s why…”
Karnak was taken aback.
“Huh? Do you really believe it?”
“Are you lying?”
“It’s not like that, but it’s a story that’s hard to believe even when I think about it.”
“Honestly, once you show something like that, you can’t help but believe it.”
The skills he showed were so absurd. It would be more understandable if it was based on such a ridiculous story. At the same time, he also heard another question.
“So, does that mean Karnak was originally an immortal being?”
“Yeah.”
“You mean there was no death, no disease, no pain, right?”
“Uhuh.”
“Do you even have enough power to handle all things at will?”
“It may be different depending on the scope of all things, but anyway, I was able to sleep as much as I wanted in the world.”
“However….”
Serati asked again as if she couldn’t understand.
“You threw all that away and became human again?”
Wasn’t it the sound of getting out of the limits of insignificant human beings and rising to the realm of gods? But gave it up just because it didn’t feel human?
‘Isn’t it better to create a separate body that can feel the senses?’
“I tried. It didn’t work.”
“Then if you possess another human…”
“I tried that too. It didn’t work.”
“Then, if you put something like sense sharing on another human…”
“I tried it too. It didn’t work.”
For decades, he tried everything he could think of. After failing and failing, this was the only way left.
“By the way, Serati also secretly knows a lot about this trick? It’s hard for good people to think of, but something like that.”
“Well, that’s because I’ve read a similar book before…”
This was one of the reasons she readily accepted Karnak’s explanation. Thanked the hobby of reading various adventure stories whenever she had time, she could easily understand the stories of his previous life and space-time return.
Anyway, Serati was confused. What if someone told her that instead of becoming an undead, she could become an ultimate warrior who transcends even the four great kings?
‘I guess I’ll take it…’
Until Karnak reached that level, there must have been a constant effort, tenacity, and unwavering mental strength. So he must have obtained immortality.
But after reaching the goal, he gave up because it was different from what he thought? In the first place, wouldn’t that kind of person not be able to go to that supreme state? Karnak let out a deep sigh.
“Yeah, I knew that too.”
It was sincere at the time. He regarded this piece of flesh as just a cumbersome obstacle blocking the path to the ultimate state of his dreams. He thought that it was worth giving up everything for one truth, one absolute goal.
“You’ll never understand that until you actually experience it.”
“I was just as happy in the early days of becoming a Death Knight. All of the uncomfortable things I had as a human disappeared.”
Karnak and Barros grinned. There was no regret at all for having abandoned both of them. Serati cautiously continued the question.
“Still… Is it worth it?”
Wouldn’t it be sad to lose what he’d built his whole life? Wouldn’t it be resentful to be pushed by an opponent weaker than him? Didn’t he run away from Straf’s ‘something’?
“Why would it be a waste?” Karnak continued, “If possible, I would not give up on both of them. It was just that I couldn’t help it because one of them had to give up.”
Infamous Scans
Translator: Anom
Proofreader: Orange
Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/D28kQrftFe
Did he miss the powers of the past? To be honest, sometimes yes. Was he not dissatisfied with his weakened current self? Why not? Of course, there were complaints. Though, he never wanted to go back to Astra Schnapp.
“I was the King of Hell. No matter how much I was a King, it didn’t change the fact that I was living in Hell.”
Of course, becoming a human did not mean living in heaven. Didn’t people say it too? The present world was said to be hell. Karnak agreed with that to some extent.
“If there are stages in hell, human life would be about the middle layer of hell.”
The life that became Astra Schunapp was at the bottom of hell.
“It is better to live comfortably in the middle of Hell than to reign as the King of Hell’s Underworld and subjugate the world to your feet.”
He smiled calmly, “I have lived both, so it must be perfect.”
Serati nodded, “Okay…….”
She thought she knew why necromancy was a taboo among taboos. It was the conclusion that someone who had reached the ultimate level in necromancy had not reached.
“Is it better to choose death than to become undead……”
Karnak raised his eyes.
“What are you talking about? If you’re going to die, you should become undead.”
“Pardon? But just now…”
“So I will stay away from necromancy as much as possible. But I’m going to die right away, so give up on life? Then, that’s all I can do.”
“Then there’s no point in returning, right?”
“So, no matter what, we have to go back to Astra Schnapp.”
Then, a road construction regression towards his was performed to regain his human senses again!
“Isn’t this reasonable?”
Beside him, Barros also said a word.
“Wouldn’t that take too long? You have to kill half of the continent’s population before you can become the Commander-in-Chief again.”
“It’s something I’ve only done once. It won’t take years like it used to.”
“I see. I understand.”
Serati trembled at the calm conversation between the two masters and servants. Now she understood their behavior.
‘Ah, you’re that kind of people.’
The mindset itself was different from that of ordinary people. Once again, she made up her mind.
“Master Karnak.”
“Yes?”
“I am now your knight, so I will protect you with all my life.”
Not for Karnak. For humanity and the world. She had no idea what this dangerous man would do if her life was in danger! Karnak tilted his head at Serati’s sudden change of attitude. In any case, there was no reason to refuse her protection.
“Uh. What. Thank you.”
With the story roughly finished, the party moved on again. Watching Karnak’s back as she followed, Serati thought for a moment.
‘Then, what will their human plan be when it’s time to die of old age?’
»»————- ★ ————-««
Five days after leaving Trist City, Karnak, and his party arrived at Zestrad Manor. 5
“I’m here, Old Man Tafel!”
Because they had received a message in advance, the mansion’s attendants were there to meet them. Old butler Tafel greeted Karnak with a bright face.
“Welcome, my lord.”
He’d already heard it through rumors. How Karnak and Barros performed at Derat City. Tafel was also worried when he received the news that if he went to the capital to study magic, he would have been sitting in Derat City for several months.
It was said that it was the privilege of youth to see the world and increase knowledge, but it was not a word that surprised him by putting off things to do. At one time, he was quite worried about how to nag. But, what?
Didn’t the fame of Karnak and Barros, who made great strides in Derat City, spread to the northernmost part of the kingdom, all the way to Zestrad? It was a truly honorable thing to deal with numerous necromancers and save the people of the kingdom. The prestige of the Zestrad Family also greatly increased. It was a rumor that Tafel was able to praise with a happy heart.
‘Hmm?’
Behind Karnak stood a woman he hadn’t seen before. She was a beautiful woman with luscious red hair, a remarkable impression, and a look full of vitality. For those who lived only in the countryside, she was also a surprising beauty they had never seen before.
“…..No way?”
He felt a little uneasy, but Tafel responded calmly.
“You have a guest, my lord. It would have been nice if you had informed me in advance.”
“Right, really?”
Karnak pointed at her as if he had just remembered it.
“Let me introduce you. This is Serati Allen.”
The reason was obvious if a young guy went on a trip and returned with some beauty. The servants and maids of the mansion where they gathered began whispering.
‘Oh, my goodness!’
‘What if?’
‘Is she the future baroness?’
Tafel was perplexed. The lord of a region could not take a wife at will. She had to match to some extent. But he had never heard of an aristocrat with the surname Allen. No, the name sounded very common. It meant that she was possibly a commoner and not a noble.
‘Huh. How am I supposed to say this?’
However, the story that followed was a bit surprising.
“She has become a new knight of the Baron Zestrad family. The formal appointment will be made later, so be prepared.”
“……Yes?”
Tafel blinked. A knight? Not a prospective wife?
‘No, why did such a woman become a knight of our territory?’
She was obviously someone with fantastic beauty. Her body was also slim and beautiful. However, this was a virtue of beauty, not a virtue of a knight. Wouldn’t it be basic to have reliable muscles, a big size, and a strong impression if she wanted to live like a knight? So, like that, Sir Barros standing next to her.
“Lord, no matter how much our territory was the frontier, you couldn’t make anyone a knight…”
Not only Tafel, but everyone else looked at Karnak and Serati in confusion. Barros laughed at the people’s reaction.
“It’s as expected by Serati.”
“It happens often.”
Serati did not blink an eye. Even halfway people got angry when they were ignored, and the true strong were insensitive. She could prove herself instantly either.
At first glance, Serati drew her sword. The movement of the foot sword was quite sophisticated, and everyone was convinced to some extent.
“It’s cool to draw a sword.”
‘Well, if a woman wants to use a sword, she’ll do that much, right?”
‘But I heard that graceful swordsmanship against monsters is useless.’
Whoa!
A red light covered the blade. At the same time, she pressed the shoulders of those who had gathered formidable energy.
“Woahhh!”
“Kyaaak!”
Servants and maids stepped back in amazement. Tafel’s eyes also shook violently. No one knew what the light in front of their eyes was, no matter how ignorant of swordsmanship they were.
“Too, a fighting sword? Could it be that you’re an Aura user?”
Sir Barros, who was recognized as the strongest in Zestrad, and Sir Randolph, who was the strongest knight in Deventor, could not reach that stage. Wasn’t it a realm of super-humans that all the family’s knights would not dare to attack?
Karnak asked sullenly, “Do you still have doubts about her skills?”
There was no way. It was just that Tafel’s expression had changed a little.
“No, but why is someone like that a knight in our territory?”