Am I a bad person?' That thought came to his mind many times in the past century or so, in the end he simply came to the realization that he didn't really care.
Morality was just an aggregation of rules created by humans to build a functional society, and they were as voluble as any other concept created by humans.
Oh, how much society loved that word. 'Morality'. Everything circled around it. That simple concept would be enough to categorize beings as good or evil; and yet, they were all ready to trample those rules as soon as it was advantageous to them.
Two red dots hidden behind a mask fell on the figure of a human who just laid in front of him; the man was alive a few instants ago. He could have had a family. He could have been a good person. He could have also been the worst scum in the world, a worthless existence, not that he cared either way in the first place.
This was the result of an instant. An instant in which the human slumped before him, glanced at her in a way he didn't like at all. And in that moment the magic caster knew that man had to die.
After living for more than a century in this world he came to understand that morality was nothing but a pretty word, and like in his previous life, the one who had more power had the right to do anything they liked.
"Hey Satoru! Are you there?"
Those words brought him out of his trance. The sweet tone lured him toward the person who spoke, leaving the dead body in the dark alley.
As soon as he turned the corner, he came across the person calling for him, a childlike figure with blond hair falling on her shoulders, deep crimson eyes and a pout on her face, which should give her a menacing look, but mixed with her childish appearance, ended up making her look just cute. The magic caster refrained from chuckling at the sight. He knew that it would only serve to irritate her further. Instead, he apologized.
"Sorry, Keeno, I thought I saw something suspicious down there, but it ended up being nothing."
The masked undead lied. At those words the vampire's expression changed into one of surprise.
"Oh, I see. It could not be helped then! We would not want to leave some petty criminals free to roam the street if we could help it!"
She declared in a proud tone. That was exactly one of the things he loved more about her. That endless optimism and positive vision of the world, which were both robbed from him by his previous life and the Emotional Suppression which cursed him since arriving to this world, and still to this very day.
But everything came with a price; for him to protect the gentlest side of her, he had to take care of the darker side of this world by himself. Killing, scheming, stealing… there was nothing he wasn't willing to do to protect that precious smile of hers, a smile which was the only thing to still bring happiness to his empty world.
And who cared if he had to trample countless lives to reach his happiness? After all… he was a self-proclaimed hypocrite.
He felt like someone would be reprimanding him by now if they were there, but he couldn't recall who would do such a thing. Time was so convoluted in his head. Some names sometimes came to mind, some he could sometimes associate with events, others he could not remember even why he knew them.
"Oi! Satoru! Snap out of it!"
Keeno's voice made him return to reality once more. That, indeed, has been a big problem as of late; he was spacing out in his own mind more and more often as the years went by, dissociating himself from reality. 'Is it because I am undead? Or is it merely a side effect of my disinterest in the world?' he wondered.
"Are you done with your errands?"
He asked the petite vampire princess who just huffed in response.
"Yeah, why did you think I was searching for you?"
She retorted sarcastically, to which the undead decided to mess with her even more.
"I just thought you could not get too far away from me… like when you used to follow me like a little pup… girls grow so fast these days…"
At his words, the blond girl almost tripped on the spot and began stuttering.
"I-I… Y-you! I-Idiot!"
She almost shouted as she blushed furiously while trying to hit him, failing miserably due to her height, eliciting a chuckle from the masked magic caster who just picked her up like a child and teleported away.
. . .
The old woman trapped in the body of a young girl sat in front of the campfire, right next to her companion. The blowing night wind as the only sound alongside the burning wood.
Her crimson eyes fixed on the useless fire, like in the fairy tales she loved so much when she was but a young maiden still. Even after all those years she refused to let that childish desire for wonder and adventure die. Even if labelling their senseless wandering as adventuring was an insult to the word itself.
There just was nothing more to see, and both her and Satoru knew it. Re-Estize, Baharuth, the Holy Kingdom, the Draconic Kingdom, the Dwarven Kingdom, the Council State, the Elf Kingdom, hell, even the Theocracy. They saw them all, some rise, and some fall. 'Is this how Satoru felt before we met? This deep sensation of aimlessness, as if your life meant and was for nothing?' She wondered that many times in the past years.
She looked back at her life, before she met Satoru. Only fragments remained by now. People without voices or faces she could recall and a sense of nostalgia for a heart that has long since stopped beating.
But she knew her life meant something… was worth something! At least to someone else if not herself. And it was for that exact reason that she continued to smile, even against the cruelest possible world. She knew that her smile meant everything to someone. And that was enough for her.
She closed her eyes and let her body fall on the soft side of her life companion. She felt his skeletal hand close around her in a protective way. A perfect summary of her life, she thought in amusement.
Satoru was everything; a mentor, a protector, a friend, a companion and even a lover, even if not in the sense many other races thought. Not in the same way her fairy tales spoke of. No, their love was a mean to an end. To have purpose in this world, that was the true meaning of their love. They gave purpose to each other since the moment they first met in the middle of a dead city.
The world refused them, both, for their nature, something they were not in control of, and so they found peace in each other's company. 'Was the reason behind the hate of the dead for the living the same?' Again, a question without answer.
. . .
Death. Death all around them. And yet he did not care, for humanity has brought this upon themselves. The carnage was inevitable, and, while he was patient and didn't care much for attacks that could not hurt him, they dared to target what he cherished most in the world. And so, the monster was unleashed.
The grass was dead. The ground was dead. The very air died alongside any form of life in his proximity. The enemies totally deleted from this reality. Not even dust remained to show they ever existed in the first place.
A fitting end for those who tried to steal from him. And if the Theocracy ever cared, they should never have come near him.
"They will not forget this… they will seek revenge…"
The blond vampire said, as she descended from the sky. The undead magic caster limited himself to patting her head and ruffling her blond locks.
"Do not worry… I will protect you."
He said in his usual deep, monotone voice which was rewarded with a smile from his companion. 'Let them come… let them rage and cry… for I will be ready… to end them all to protect what I love' The red dots in his eye sockets shined as his only purpose was rekindled once more.
. . .
She did know. Deep down she did know the true nature of Satoru, even if she tried to lie to herself. She knew he acted in the shadows, behind her back, to hide the ugliest side of the world, and she admired him for that. He was so strong to be able to carry everything on his shoulder alone… and yet, sometimes, he seemed so fragile.
One gesture, one small threat. That was all that was needed to have him come completely undone. One instant a Theocracy's soldier pointed his holy sword at her, the next she was sent flying up by Satoru's spell while he unleashed true hell down below. That was the first time… she was truly frightened by him in a very, very long time.
The very earth rumbled, and the skies cried in agony as death descended upon the world. And yet her love could not diminish, for that was all she had left in her life.
. . .
The vampire sat on the skeletal undead's lap, her sharp fangs trying to pierce his bones as she used her Energy Drain on him. A necessity, a desire, she would not suppress but, at the same time, wasn't willing to satisfy with anybody but her companion.
She knew that in all his might, to allow such a puny creature like her to feast on him, he had to lower his defenses to the minimum, making himself a target for everyone who wished him harm. The fact that he was willing to do it just for her made her feel like her dead heart was beating once more.
"After you are done, you are going to clean all that saliva. You know that right?"
He told her in his usual dead serious tone.
"Shuut upp!"
She retorted as her mouth was full of his essence.
"You know that bones aren't the best thing to bite, right? You aren't a dog."
He said, and while his tone didn't change, the irony was there, and she found herself blushing once more in embarrassment.
"I'mm gooing too shuck yoou dry!"
She retorted in her rightful maiden fury.
"Then I guess we are going to get stuck here like this for years or even decades."
A lost battle was a lost battle; but even realizing this could not help the exasperated groan escaping from her mouth.
. . .
The Dragon Lords were mighty creatures, capable of much destruction, and even capable of killing Satoru's kin. So, when the two undead found themselves face to face with three of them, a feeling of tension was unavoidable.
No one spoke for some time, simply staring at each other. The biggest one was in the middle. His scales shined like platinum under the rays of the full moon. On his right, another smaller dragon stood, his red eyes contrasting with the glimmering golden color of his scales. The final dragon stood on the left. He was the smallest and was completely black, almost hiding itself in the dark of the night if it wasn't for the moon illuminating him and his shining silver eyes.
"Why? Why do your kin keep coming here? What do you want from this world?"
The largest dragon asked, his tone hard as the scales which protect him, his gaze as fierce as his kin's reputation said.
"You are different from the others… you do not seek conquest, you do not seek slaughter, you do not seek heroism… and yet, you walk the world, wandering seemingly aimlessly… so I ask once more, what do you want from this world?"
He repeated, his grey eyes glued to the form of Satoru who felt his hand being squeezed by his fellow undead companion who was currently trying not to shudder in fear at the presence of the dragons.
"There is no kin of mine I recognize… there is nothing I desire to take for myself in this world… and if you must know… I seek a peaceful existence."
The black dragon snorted at the undead's words but was immediately silenced by a glare from the largest dragon.
"Will you protect this world? Even with your life?"
He asked again, focusing his steel gaze on Satoru once more. The undead didn't answer immediately but squeezed his companion's hand with his in a comforting way.
"I have no interest in this world, or what happens to it… but if anyone trys to take away what I love from me… I will not stop until every danger has been destroyed."
The undead magic caster declared, a vow before a dragon and under a shining full moon.
. . .
"How long are you going to follow us around still?"
The annoyed vampire glared at the well-endowed woman currently stalking behind her and Satoru; in return the woman just gave her a twisted smirk.
"As long as those fuckers from the Theocracy are afraid of approaching your friend… He is just the perfect shield for people like me."
The black cloaked woman said as the smaller one scowled.
"You know, the only reason why Satoru didn't kill you yet is because you gave us valuable information about the Theocracy's secret weapons!"
The vampire huffed.
"Awww… come on shorty… we all know you are just envious… it is a shame that that undead body of yours will never grow to adulthood… but look at the bright side! You will not age either!"
The taller woman said with a maniacal giggle, eliciting an offended groan from the petite vampire who just limited herself to shifting closer to her companion as if to shield him from that woman's craziness.
"But now I wonder… who would win between mister skelly and the black-white freak?"
The woman wondered aloud between her mad giggling.
. . .
Satoru looked down at the horde of undead, zombies, skeletons and even two Death Warriors marching in a disorganized army. He may have been inclined to stop them… if it wasn't for the fact a group of adventurers from that same city tried to attack him and Keeno just a few days ago.
'Retribution comes for all…' he thought darkly. At first, he just thought of destroying the Adventurer's Guild in the city, but then he met the undead cultist currently hiding in the cemetery, and the rest was history.
"Satoru, I don't want to look at this…"
His vampire companion said as she squirmed in discomfort on his lap. And as many times before he could not refuse her, and they both disappeared in a flash of light leaving the city to its inevitable demise.
. . .
She continued to suck his essence. The urge was becoming more and more intense as time went on. She feasted on his negative energy as she drained it with care, even if she knew that even if she tried as hard as she could, she would only be able to drain a minuscule fraction of it.
This was her only way of getting stronger, apart from studying magic, something at which, she was proud to say, she was quite good at according to the few magic casters they met during their time together.
Her eyes began to close as she was lulled to sleep by the pleasant sensation draining brought, not that she could ever fall asleep, no matter how hard she tried.
But it was moments like these that made her truly appreciate her existence. Sharing this intimate urge of hers with who she loved was just all she needed. If only it could all last forever…
. . .
The Holy Kingdom fell first as the new batch arrived in this world, not that he cared in the first place. He heard tales of monsters, angels and demons ripping their way across the continent.
To his surprise, the Slane Theocracy managed to repel those who invaded after they killed one of them. He didn't know they could do it, considering how many resources they wasted in the past years trying to kill or capture him.
The Elf Kingdom was obliterated while the Draconic Kingdom submitted without further bloodshed with the sole condition of the new players slaughtering the Beastmen Nation first, something they eagerly did.
The Bloody Emperor tried negotiating with them. That didn't end up well after the players discovered he was scheming alongside the Theocracy. Rumor said that the emperor died screaming as he was impaled on his own flagpole and left to die there. Re-Estize met a similar fate, except for the princess, who was said to have escaped the country and whose whereabouts were currently unknown.
The Dragon Lords came to him, seeking his support in challenging the invaders, an offer he refused to their great displeasure.
He sat there in the depth of the Forest of Tob. It was a small safe haven from the war currently raging around the continent.
"Ta-Dah!"
The 2 centuries old vampire cried out as a young girl as she placed a plate of charcoal black biscuits in front of him, making him come out of his trance.
She was wearing a pink apron that Satoru gifted her years ago, when she first demanded that the two of them played husband and wife. This seemed to be a similar phase. She even demanded he give her a ring this time… for all he loved her, she could really be childish sometimes. But that was part of her charm, he guessed, as he took one of the biscuits and bit it. 'It is a lucky thing I can no longer sense any taste' he mused as the crumbs fell from his jaw to his gown.
"It is very good, honey."
He said, eliciting a big, perfect smile from the blond vampire.
"Anything for you, darling!"
She said and he once again felt that familiar wave of happiness wash over him. That was all he desired, 'yes… endless happiness is truly a blissful thing'.
. . .
She did not know how it happened. Maybe someone followed her when she went to buy supplies for her kitchen in the nearest village, or maybe it was Satoru's defensive spell that did it. Either way, they have been found.
A strange creature, similar to a bull but with curved horns, frozen wings and a snake like tail looked down at them from the sky.
"I can't believe it! Aren't you that guy from Ainz Ooal Gown?! Ah! Who would have guessed I would meet you here?!"
She knew his words weren't meant for her but Satoru himself didn't seem to want to have a conversation.
"Leave this place. You have land to conquer and kings to kill."
He said, dismissing the demonic looking being who just scowled.
"Tch! You bastards always thought you were so mighty! But we aren't in Yggdrasil anymore! Here there are no more rules! And you are in the way."
At those words, Satoru took a fighting stance without uttering a word; she immediately thought of a way to hide. Maybe she could just fly away. She looked up and then noticed it. A glowing globe the same color as the sky slowly descending on them.
"Satoru-"
She called out but then everything around her exploded in a blinding light and the next thing she knew was darkness.
. . .
He looked at Keeno who just called for him when the 10th tier holy spell [Raphael's Requiem] hit him at full power. An AOE spell designed to counter Necromancers and destroy their summons in one easy swoop.
The pain was real then, but he didn't care. The only thing he cared about was the form of his companion, falling apart as she crumbled into dust.
He stood there, unmoving, his gaze set still on the pile of ash that had, a few seconds ago, been his life companion in this world.
"That's for all the times you killed me back then, jackass!"
A second figure descended from the sky. It was an angel with 10 wings and a golden staff in both hands, who just chuckled.
"Now jokes aside, come and join us! We are about to conquer this world! Here we can even become gods! We are no longer limited and powerless like back in Japan!"
The words barely were registered by Satoru who just stood there as fire consumed his body and soul. But no one ever used a fire spell, none that he could recall in their brief exchange. Then why was he on fire? But then it came to his mind. This wasn't fire. This was his Emotional Suppression kicking in at a force he never felt before. But what was he suppressing? What was this continuous sensation of damage he was feeling? It took him some time to get it. Who could blame him? He didn't feel anything remotely similar to this in more than 2 centuries, and realizing what it was, was only intensifying it, breaking through the barrier which was his Emotional Suppression.
He roared and screamed like never before in his existence as his many passive auras exploded alongside his building unwavering rage. And then, the Forest of Tob was no more.
. . .
Loss. He has lost it. His will to go on, his purpose, his reason. And there was only one thing to do now. Hate, hate them all. All those who loved life and all those who enjoyed it while he was denied. Hate and kill them all.
"What did you come here for, player?"
Called out the Platinum Dragon Lord, the true mind behind the resistance against the newcomers. Satoru still remembered his meeting with that being decades ago, when his mind was still at peace, and his life filled with purpose.
"Kill them, I want to kill them all."
He stated his heart's desire openly.
"Then go and kill them, I will notify the others about your new allegiance."
. . .
There were only five of them, only five remained of the initial ten. One taken out by the Theocracy, two by the Dragon Lords of the Council State, helped by the Platinum Dragon Lord, and two killed by him.
The plan was simple. Lure the remaining five together, isolate them in a small area and let him finish them off. The plan was even going well. The armor used by the Platinum Dragon Lord had just casted his [World-Isolating Barrier] reducing the area of movement of the enemy to the minimum possible. At the same time, he was still hidden with his [Perfect Unknowable] spell.
As the five players were giving their all to break down the Dragon Lords and warriors of the resistance, an invisible Satoru raised his hands.
"[Widen Magic: Cry of the Banshee]"
He intoned even if no one could hear him as he prepared his final trump card.
"[The Goal of All Life is Death]"
He said once more as the [Perfect Unknowable] was dispelled around him. It was just a matter of seconds. He even thought that one or two of the players noticed him in the back, but, either way, it was already too late.
The final second stroke the illusionary clock and the world inside the barrier was engulfed in light before completely dying alongside its inhabitants.
. . .
Two figures stood looking at the ocean before them. The petite and short one holding hands with the tall and bulky one.
"So… this is what happened."
The blond vampire princess said in a low tone.
"Yes, and now, we have to leave… the Platinum Dragon Lord will not tolerate my presence any longer after what I did… but he still recognizes the necessity of a drastic action to counter the invasion… so he will let me leave… he may just be scared of facing me alone anyway… not like I have any intention of battling him."
The skeletal Overlord said in his deep but strong tone as he squeezed the small hand of his companion. 'I will no longer risk losing you… I only have two wishes left…' he darkly thought with renewed resolve.
"Did you ever wonder what is there… beyond the western ocean?"
She asked, with a small, sad smile adorning her visage.
"No… but I know you did… I guess we will find out."
The sun began to fall toward the horizon, casting a fiery, red, flame light on both figures.
"Yes, I guess we will…"
There was no more need of words between them. They both already knew what the other felt and that, like two halves, they were complementary to each other.
What they didn't know was what would come next, but, as long as they were together, they would face anything in their way. As long as they had purpose, there would be nothing stopping them.
And as the sun finally disappeared leaving only the starred sky, a small boat departed from the shores of the known world, towards the unknown, and who knows how many other adventures.
FIN