NOVEL WEB Chapter 33: My Familiar Had a Huge Misunderstanding
===A Certain Female Holy Knight===
【No Life King Turned the Thunder Dragon Emperor Into His Familiar】
Three days after the white-haired undead was found in Romana Kingdom, the news about him killing the Thunder Emperor Dragon—who was feared as a great disaster-class monster—and resurrecting it into his familiar had already spread far and wide.
In any case, it was already confirmed that the said undead was the very same disaster-class undead called 「No Life King」 by the necromancer Jean Diego, and he was heading toward the capital of Romana Kingdom, Alte.
The white-haired undead then fought the Thunder Dragon Emperor, who was already raiding the royal capital before him. Then, the said undead turned it into his own familiar after he killed the monster.
Fortunately, the white-haired undead flew away from the royal capital along with the Thunder Emperor Dragon, leaving the royal capital nearly unscathed.
In the streets, people said things such as 「Could it be that this white-haired undead was actually protecting the royal capital?」 or 「Maybe he isn't actually a dangerous monster」. The Abeel family, the kingdom's royal researchers of monsters, thought that train of thought was too naive.
The person in charge said the following, 「Maybe he's only gathering war potential right now. If the No Life King put together other monsters on the same level as the Thunder Emperor Dragon under him, he will eventually create an extremely terrifying army. By then, humanity is doomed.」.
Upon hearing that, the western nation union declared a state of emergency.
They decided to elevate the threat level of that undead from disaster-class monster to great disaster-class monster, and warned the other nation to be vigilant.
I unintentionally crushed the morning newspaper upon reading the contents of the headline.
「Is something the matter, Captain Limule?」
「… No, it's nothing.」
The newspaper that I read was a famous newspaper in the western regions. It had branches spread all over the place.
Although only wealthy people could afford the newspaper, the rumor eventually reached the ears of the common folk.
From then on, the rumor would only become more and more exaggerated as it was passed on from mouth to mouth.
The white-haired undead himself became the symbol of fear for so many people. It was no wonder since the No Life King was a great disaster-class monster.
It felt like there was something wrong for a holy knight like me to sound like I was protecting the white-haired undead. Yet for some reason, I couldn't see him as a dangerous being.
「Captain, it's about time for the audience.」
「Um, roger that.」
We were currently waiting inside the royal palace of the Romana Kingdom.
We came to hear the story from the living witness, the Hero King, Alendros the Third.
We heard that Alendros the Third himself led his army to subjugate that undead.
He was someone who was hailed as the wise emperor who rebuilt his declining nation in one generation. I wanted to know his personal opinion about that undead.
I was following behind the bigshot noble who guided us toward the audience chamber, the place of our meeting.
There, I saw a man with a large stature sitting majestically on top of a magnificent throne, showing no sign of weakness despite already being in his fifties.
「Raise your face. I'm Alendros the Third. You're the holy knight of the Saint Melt Religion, Limule, right?」
「Yes!」
「… Although I heard that you were the daughter of the pope, I can truly see the resemblance after meeting you face to face like this.」
His Majesty was an acquaintance of my father.
For that very reason, a mere holy knight like me could meet His Highness in person like this.
Setting up a sudden audience during chaotic times like this wasn't supposed to be a simple matter.
「In addition, I hear that you met that white-haired undead in person, correct?」
「Yes. We received a personal order from the pope to go to this country to subjugate the necromancer, Jean Diego. By then we, who received the news about the appearance of white-haired undead, wondered whether he was Jean Diego's latest familiar then heading straight toward Coastal. We just never expected that we were going to encounter said white-haired undead in the city of Dary.」
But then, even the power of our holy spears couldn't put a scratch on him.
「I see. And then, did he kill one of your comrades?」
「… No, he didn't even fight back to begin with.」
「I see… if that's the case, what's your personal opinion about that undead?
「!!!」
My body stiffened upon hearing such a question from His Majesty.
I was wondering whether I should tell him the truth or not.
I mean, my personal opinion was the exact opposite of the common opinion about that white-haired undead.
I couldn't say a careless remark in front of His Majesty.
「… Uhm.」
When I was worrying about what to tell him, His Majesty told his personal bodyguard and retainer to leave the audience chamber.
And then, His Majesty said.
「Personally, I can't see that undead as a dangerous monster.」
「!!!」
He said a remark that looked like he was siding with the undead right in front of me, who could be said to be the representative of the pope.
So it wasn't a simple remark, even by His Majesty's standard.
Therefore, I also told him of my honest opinion about that undead.
「… Your Majesty, the truth is, that undead never attacked us, nor did he fight back when we tried to kill him. All he did was stand still in place. If the No Life King is really trying to build an undead kingdom… Why would he spare our lives?」
Naturally, there was a possibility that he might want to enjoy the sight of us trembling in fear even if it was just a while longer.
But in my opinion, he just didn't look like someone who would do something like that.
「That undead actually saved my life.」
「Eh?」
「That time, I recklessly challenged the Thunder Dragon Emperor by myself, aiming to sacrifice myself in the process. But then, that undead interrupted our battle, and as a result, I'm still alive right now.」
Wasn't that simply because he wanted to make the Thunder Dragon Emperor his familiar?
Such a question appeared in my head, but His Majesty seemed to already anticipate my reaction.
「He poured the potion on my heavily wounded body. At that time, I desperately needed to heal my wound before the Thunder Dragon Emperor came to finish me off. But then, I was filled with despair upon knowing that my wound was worse than I expected, and I barely made it in time to grab the potion. That undead, who seemingly couldn’t watch the situation anymore, snatched the potion from my hand and sprinkled its content on my body.」
「That undead used… a potion on you?」
That meant the undead was literally saving His Majesty's life rather than just ignoring him to fight the Thunder Dragon Emperor.
「… Can you believe that?」
「Ah… yes, it sounds unbelievable, but… as someone who met that undead in person, I think it's highly possible for him to do that. I think… that undead still retains his human heart.」
If that was the truth, then… What should we, the holy knights, do when faced against that undead?
The other party was undead.
Even though coexistence was impossible… I didn't see any benefit in trying to provoke him either.
「I have one request for you.」
「Yes!」
「I want to meet and speak personally with that undead.」
「Meet… and speak?」
「Yes. I don't think it's an impossible request.」
「… You want me to become the mediator?」
「Exactly. Of course I know that you're someone from the church. And I know that you're not in a position to follow my order.」
However, it was impossible for His Majesty to personally look for that undead.
But as a Holy Knight, such a thing was possible for me to receive his request in the name of investigating the undead.
And once I came in contact with him, I could somehow arrange a meeting between him and His Majesty.
Naturally, that was only possible if that undead could speak with humans, but still…
「… Your wish is my command.」
「Thank you very much. Naturally, I'll assist you as much as possible.」
And then, I left the audience chamber after I bowed to His Majesty.
◇ ◇ ◇
===3rd Person PoV, The Misunderstanding of a Certain Undead Dragon===
「Kuh… I completely lost the sight of him, huh!」
The Thunder Dragon Emperor, who turned into a blonde-haired babe, had a vexed look on her beautiful face.
The reason for this was because her master—the one who turned her into undead—had escaped, thus leaving her behind on her own.
Her giant dragon form aside, it was almost impossible for her to search for a single human in this vast forest.
And her master had sealed his mana, making it even harder for her to find his presence.
Nevertheless, she wondered why her master had left her behind.
「Did I actually… make him sad?」
Suddenly, she fell into self-contemplation.
And yet, the matter she was contemplating about had already missed its mark by miles away.
「But then, I can't think of any reason other than that. Yup… I'm sure that master will only escape again even when I manage to find him.」
Her brain was spinning its gears.
As a result, she came upon enlightenment.
「THAT'S IT! A TRIBUTE! I HAVE YET TO GIVE HIM A TRIBUTE! NO WONDER HE LEFT ME BEHIND LIKE THIS!」
She then made a “brilliant plan” for her master.
「I'M GONNA GIVE HIM A TRIBUTE THAT CAN MAKE HIM SMILE! NATURALLY, THE TRIBUTE MUST BE SOMETHING AS STRONG AS ME! WELL THEN, I GUESS IT'S TIME TO PREPARE THE BEST SACRIFICE!」
Thus, the woman turned back into her dragon form and flew back to the sky.
『Kukuku, wait for me, Darkness Dragon Emperor! I have no grudge against you, but your life is the most suitable tribute for my master!』
…. No need to say that her so-called master never wished for that kind of tribute.