The Path of the Overlord sealed all skills upon initial entry. 

That meant there was no significant threat except for the initial cursed zone.

But after conquering the coliseum and returning, the one-way restrictions of the path were lifted, and the skill seals and other restrictions were also removed.

In other words... battles could occur within the passage.

‘No, they certainly could occur.’

Looking around at my party members who had lost consciousness and collapsed, I broke into a cold sweat.

‘It’s too much to have a lord-class monster hiding and suddenly appearing, damn it!’

Standing before me was the culprit of this situation.

The vampire lord and the boss monster of the next stage, No Life King Celendion.

He may look like a young boy in his early to mid-teens at a glance, but one should not be deceived by appearances. He's actually a monster with hundreds of years of experience.

"..."

Celendion was observing me quietly with his bright, blood-red eyes.

His gaze was unsettling, reminiscent of a child observing a captured insect.

"Do you feel like talking to me, player?"

Upon hearing the boy's voice, I replied brusquely.

“My name is Ash.”

"Hmm?"

“I said Ash, my name. Ash. Ash ‘Born Hater’ Everblack.”

These creatures kept lumping me in as just another player instead of using my name.

Do they think I won’t tell them my name if they ask? My name, Ash, is dirt cheap. I'll hand it out left and right!

Upon hearing my name, Celendion blinked for a moment, then clapped his hands together.

"Ah, yes. Of course. You guys have names too."

“What did you say?”

"When you look at ants, you call them ants, you don't ask their names, do you?"

Celendion slightly bowed his head.

"Anyway, I apologize. I was thoughtless."

“...”

"I repeat, I had no intention to upset you. I also didn't intend to harm you."

“Didn’t you? Then what’s this?”

Pointing to the collapsed party members around us, Celendion cast a glance at them.

"Understand, human. For me, it's quite a hassle to subdue you without killing you."

“...”

"I just wanted to have a conversation."

As I watched him apologize and ask for understanding, I became certain.

‘This guy, he didn't come here to kill us.’

If he had intended to, we would all be dead by now.

But he only subdued us, and even wanted to start a conversation.

Celendion's purpose was not to kill us. Of that I was certain.

However, 

‘Why?’

Why go to the trouble of keeping us alive, we who are as insignificant as ants and could be crushed with a flick of his finger?

“...”

Well, fine by me.

If he's willing to lower himself to this extent(?), I see no reason why I can't indulge him in a conversation.

Plop!

I just sat down right there on the corridor floor. Celendion's gaze turned puzzled as he looked at me.

"What are you doing?"

“I’m sitting. You sit too.”

"Hmm?"

“Sit here. I’m not sure what you want to talk about, but it’s awkward standing like this, isn’t it?”

"..."

Celendion seemed a bit confused, apparently he wasn't familiar with the sitting culture, but cautiously sat down in front of me without a word.

For a moment, we sat facing each other, silently observing one another.

I was glaring blatantly, while Celendion had a calm expression.

I really wanted to punch him right in the face, but doing so would likely cost me my life...

Anyway, I took a deep breath and asked.

“So, what is it that you wanted to talk about with me so badly? What’s bothering you? Studies? Career? Adolescence? Which one?”

"...? I don’t understand what you’re saying, but..."

Celendion carefully opened his mouth.

"There's just one thing that I wanted to ask you, that I've been curious about."

“Go ahead and ask. If I can, I'll answer.”

Not answering might result in losing my head.

I had been wondering what kind of question made him come all the way here himself. The question he asked was completely unexpected.

"How did you kill Orlop?"

“...What?”

I scowled, asking, "Orlop?"

"The commander of the Black Spider Legion. The mother of all spiders. The Queen of Tarantulas - that's Orlop."

"What the hell is this... wait a minute."

If she was the commander of the Black Spider Legion...

'The Black Spider Queen we killed during the Forward Base Battle?'

That Black Spider Queen defeated in Stage 0, the tutorial.

Seems like her name was Orlop.

'Back then, she wasn't displayed as a named entity... So that creature was the Queen of Tarantulas?'

The Queen of Tarantulas.

A title that signifies the biological mother of all spider monsters in the <Protect the Empire> handbook.

I thought she only existed in the handbook since she never appeared in the game.

Was that creature from the tutorial really such a big shot?

'No wonder she didn't easily die. She was a legion commander.'

To my nod, Celendion reciprocated with a nod.

"You seem to remember."

"Well, of course I remember. I nearly died because of that bastard."

Literally, I almost died. I was on the verge of game over there.

"Orlop would usually not go to the frontlines herself. However, she was spawning at that time and seemed to need to consume human flesh and despair."

"Gross."

I grimaced. There was no need for such a horrific tale.

"However, she died."

Celendion stared at me gently.

"You killed her with a cannon."

"Well, yeah."

Strictly speaking, it was Damien, but anyway.

"So, what? I did kill that spider. Did it come back for revenge?"

"Revenge?"

Smirk.

A smirk formed at the corner of Celendion's mouth.

It was the first expression he showed on his face.

"For that mere spider? Hardly."

"..."

"I did tell the king I was going to battle for revenge. But that's just a superficial reason... I never had sympathy for that filthy spider."

"Then why?"

What's the connection between me killing that Black Spider Queen and this kid coming after me?

The answer was revealed soon.

"I."

Because Celendion clearly stated it from his own mouth.

"I want to die."

"…?"

Wait, I was stunned, unable to comprehend.

"What?"

"I said I want to die, human. I... I want to face death."

Celendion slowly looked at his own palm.

"It's been about five hundred years since I came back to life here... I've been wandering in search of someone who can kill me again."

Came back to life?

Wants to die again?

What the hell is he talking about? Not understanding, I blinked as Celendion continued to mumble to himself.

"But no one... not even a decent wound, let alone killing me."

"..."

"And then, Orlop."

Celendion looked at me again.

This time, it wasn't just my appearance he was looking at, but something deep inside me.

"Orlop, who was a legion commander like me, got swept up in an unexpected situation and died. Just by a mere human's cannon."

"..."

"I had a hunch then. If the one who killed Orlop could do it, maybe he could kill me too."

There was a desperate look in Celendion's red eyes.

"Can you... Can you kill me?"

"..."

"Can you free me... from this never-ending dream? Can you return me to the darkness of eternal sleep?"

After staring blankly for a while,

"You're talking nonsense..."

I opened my mouth, starting to growl.

"Can I kill you? Is that even a question, monster?"

"What?"

"From the start, I came here to kill you all."

I slowly got up from my seat.

"To rip out your monster neck, hack your flesh, burn it to ashes. That's why I'm here."

I remember.

Those who bled and fell to the monsters' claws and teeth.

"Of course, I will kill you! Not just you, but your subordinates, your family, and whatever the hell that creature you call king is!"

I remember.

The Margrave who, after a lifetime of holding back monsters, eventually fell apart and died in my arms.

"Everyone! Every single one! I will annihilate them all without leaving a single one alive!"

I remember.

The sight of more than three thousand corpses lying on the battlefield.

The azure sacred flame burning amidst them.

"That is my mission on this front line, the single goal I must achieve even if it costs me my life!"

The clamor of the funeral, the wailing of the choir, the silence that followed the prayers.

Ken, Tein, Ron, Jiya, Peke... and the countless warriors whose names were not even left behind.

I remember.

I remember it all.

That's why it is my duty as the commander of this front line to despise you creatures so intensely.

"You need not worry, Vampire King! Whether you ask for it or not, I will gladly kill you. It would be wise for you to prepare for the scream you'll let out when you meet your end on my sword!"

Celendion, who had been quietly listening to my roaring voice, smirked.

"...Really? Is that so?"

His smile was faint.

It was different from the mockery earlier. Quiet, even shy, a small smile.

"Even if your attitude is just a bluff, I am glad. Because at least your hostility seems genuine."

Celendion slowly rose from his seat.

"But, I really can't understand. How could you, mere prey, kill me? Is there even a method that exists?"

"Of course, it exists."

What do you think, vampire spawn? How many times do you think I've chopped off your head in the game?

I declared confidently.

"Just crawl up to my castle walls with your neck clean. Then, I'll be the one to end your pitiful life!"

"..."

Smirk.

The smile deepened on Celendion's lips.

For a moment, he looked like an old man in his eighties or nineties rather than a teenager.

But in the next moment, his expression returned to its usual stoic state, and he transformed back into a teenager.

"I will see you soon. I sincerely hope your words were not empty."

Slowly. Slowly.

The ends of Celendion's body started to transform into mist.

"And, your subordinates... they have been trying to ambush me since they regained consciousness."

"Eh?"

"It might be a good idea to stop them. Because I wish for you to be in your best condition on the day of our final battle."

Surprised, I looked at the party members who were lying on the ground.

They had woken up without me noticing, and were all preparing to ambush Celendion, their secondary weapons at the ready.

I hurriedly signaled them to stop. Stop, stop! You can't even deal proper damage right now!

"Then, Player... no, Ash."

As he completely turned into a black mist and disappeared, Celendion whispered faintly.

"I am looking forward to it. I hope that you can truly kill me that day."

Swish.

The mist, resembling a flock of bats, engulfed him, and he was gone completely.

Staring at the spot where the Vampire King had disappeared, I muttered under my breath.

"If you want to die that badly, why don't you just kill yourself, damn..."

Why all the trouble of coming and going and asking someone else to kill you?

Just kill yourself! Write my name in your suicide note! Then we'd both be happy!

'But I guess he can't do that, hence he's asking someone else to kill him.'

There's no need to empathize with a monster's situation.

As I grumbled, I looked down at the party members. They were all grimacing in pain, slowly picking themselves up.

"You don't need to despair over the difference in strength. Our fangs will definitely reach that guy's neck."

I lifted up each of the moaning party members one by one.

"I will make it happen, and you will make it happen."

With so many things to say, the party members looked at me. I just nodded at them.

"Let's go back."

There's so much to do.