I’m Telling You, I’m Not a Boss Monster!

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“Come back when you’re done!”

“Lin! Wait up!”

Right after arriving on the first floor of the Twin Star Tower through the portal, I perfectly persuaded Renlin to get us out of there.

Even though I didn’t want to go to the Twin Star Tower after finishing my business, I lied and said I would.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have let me leave until the end.

The Twin Star Tower is a dungeon surrounded by a forest on all sides.

If you go straight west from the tower, you reach the realm of spirits.

So, we were currently traversing the forest to the west.

So far, it was just a generally lush, green forest.

But if we went deeper, we would encounter a forest eroded by spiritual energy.

“That is the revered lord. Do not come too close.”

“Before that, he is my master.”

Although we had been bickering, we hadn’t fought seriously, so I left it alone.

Every time I saw those deep pink levels, I felt so regretful.

If only I had some real peppers, I’d just become a harem king.

“I have a question, boss.”

At Charlotte’s sudden inquiry, I gestured with my eyes for her to continue.

Charlotte hesitated, biting her lip before continuing.

“I’ve heard that the lord neither likes nor dislikes humans.”

When did I ever say that? I momentarily pondered.

Oh right, I said that to Daron.

Just like there is humanity, I can’t hate humans since I’m one of them.

Since I’m not someone like Charlotte who has suffered great pain at the hands of humans.

On the flip side, I can’t just love them either, given my position, and the fact that they’ve tried to kill me multiple times.

That’s why my feelings now are neither here nor there.

“If I had hated humans, you wouldn’t be here beside me.”

“Yes. I think that’s good. But there’s one more thing I want to ask about, the conflict with the Lich King.”

Her intuition is pretty sharp.

I had a rough idea of what Charlotte would ask next.

“If the Lich King wishes to exterminate humanity, how do you plan to respond?”

“I’m considering stopping it.”

“I see. I don’t know if you’ll realize it, but my desire is the destruction of humanity. That’s why I supported your lieutenant.”

I understood that desire well, knowing Charlotte’s background.

In fact, she seemed more inclined to serve Calandas or Roxanne than me.

This meant that Charlotte currently held intentions entirely opposite to mine.

“But it’s not the case anymore. If the lord intends to save humanity from the Lich King, I will wholeheartedly assist you.”

Honestly, that was a bit unexpected.

Even if she said so, I thought she might waffle a bit before making a decision, but she was so resolute all at once?

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. You are my top priority, boss. …Yes.”

Looking at those deep pink levels, I couldn’t help but think, “So this is what it is.”

Charlotte’s long-held wish and our brief relationship. Surprisingly, I was prioritized over her long-held wish.

Even if siding with me meant forsaking her own wish.

“My master remains unchanged; it’s Lucas.”

“…Ria.”

“You’re true to yourself. Even now, after being betrayed and dying, you still feel compassion for humans.”

A sentence within me rose up to my throat.

I’m not Lucas, for heaven’s sake.

“I’m also human, but I wish for the empire to crumble. They should pay for killing my master.”

“….”

“But you’re different from me, master. That’s so very master-like. If you want to save this world, I’ll help.”

I still hadn’t confirmed whether I would step in or not.

But from what I’ve heard, it already seemed that I was destined to confront Calandas.

Well, I’ve been leaning in that direction.

As we walked and talked, the spiritual energy that hung like fog suddenly blocked our path like a wall.

With no resistance, I pushed my body inside, and a rapidly changing scene unfolded before me.

The fog-like spiritual energy swirled hazily around, and the grayish-white energy subtly obscured my vision.

The sparse grass and trees were all stained grayish-white.

Not a single leaf was visible on the branches, and there was no sign of life whatsoever.

[Lv. 48]

[Lv. 52]

[Lv. 54]

Within the spiritual energy were malicious spirits, evil spirits, and wandering spirits. All sorts of spirits mixed together.

They would rush at any living being they saw.

I, being undead, wouldn’t sense them, but these two were different.

In this world, most spirits can be attacked.

If one’s magic and aura reach a certain level, even higher spirits could be defeated.

These two easily surpassed that level.

“Get ready.”

Since they treat me like a transparent human, they’d better handle it well.

I took a step forward with a casual stroll in mind.

Strangely, at that very moment, the spirits froze in their movements. All their gazes were fixed on me.

-AAAAAAHHHHH!

-HIIYAAAAAHHHH!

Is it just my imagination? The moment I approached, the evil spirits let out terrifying screams.

They even began to float in the air, trying to flee from me.

…What’s going on?

Certainly, the spirits shouldn’t even sense me as an undead, so why?

At first, I thought it was just a feeling, but no matter how I looked at it, they were avoiding me.

While doing so, they muttered some strange incomprehensible sounds.

‘Black level?’

Now that I looked closely, all the levels were black.

For whatever reason, those evil spirits seemed to fear me.

“An alien soul…?”

At Charlotte’s mutter behind me, I turned my head instinctively.

Did she interpret the spirits’ language?

I had seen settings where high-ranking necromancers study the languages of evil spirits.

I nodded slightly, encouraging her to continue speaking.

“The quality of your soul…it’s strange? A predator is approaching….”

Her eyes widened in awe and confusion. Charlotte’s gaze was fixed on me.

Even then, I was the one who left her most confused.

…An alien soul.

Could it be because I’m a soul from another world?

Or perhaps my physical body and soul are different, resulting in some twisted causal law or something.

What was certain was that they recognized my soul from another world and panicked like that.

It felt like being discriminated against for being from another world.

“Indeed, the second-ranked lord of the Immortal Palace. Your soul’s quality is transcendent.”

“Transcender master.”

By pure happenstance, I was able to enter the forest of spirits so easily because of me.

Along the way, the evil spirits, scarier than me, fled at the sight of me, and I didn’t feel too great about it.

It felt a little like being left out among the dead, not a nice feeling at all.

‘Is it really supposed to be this easy?’

The forest of spirits is accessed through Renlin’s portal. Again, this time, no obstruction from the spirits, using a high pass.

Even considering it’s just preparatory, it felt too easy.

The world is all too accommodating of me.

***

Clearly fraudulent. The Lich King sensed that power during the extinction inspection.

Such power could only belong to a Bond Dragon, or an undead with a higher rank.

“A lost undead. We must subjugate it.”

At this pivotal moment, a powerful undead acting alone needed to be under control.

Instinctive senses said it was just an individual, yet I was truly in awe that such power was radiating alone.

‘It’s a level that can be compared to mine.’

The Lich King moved there with his companions.

Where the powerful soul lay buried was some underground tomb.

Was it the tomb of an ancient lich or that of a Bond Dragon?

Calandas entered deeply inside with anticipation.

Considering the traps set everywhere, it was no ordinary tomb.

An ancient ruin. Or perhaps it could even be a dungeon.

Eventually, after comfortably moving forward, I reached the last room.

Creeeak—

The stone door creaked and opened with difficulty as it scraped against the floor.

Beyond the newly revealed landscape, a curled-up Bond Dragon came into view.

Calandas’s bony finger pointed at the Bond Dragon.

“That one.”

Grrr.

The Bond Dragon, recognizing the intruder, lifted its massive body.

Even at first sight, I could tell. That creature was of a higher caliber, incomparable to your average Bond Dragons.

‘It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this excitement.’

If I could just subjugate that Bond Dragon, it would be an extraordinary companion, one that would overwhelm even the existing senior members of the corrupt den.

However, that being exuded unyielding hostility.

Boom!

Every step the Bond Dragon took caused the ground to quake.

“It won’t go down easily.”

Swooosh!

Calandas’s shadow rapidly expanded. From it shot forth dark hands and white bony hands.

In an instant, a legion of undead took control of the area.

The Reaper appeared next to Calandas without any prior notice.

“Subdue that Bond Dragon.”

“Yes.”

In the meantime, the Bond Dragon opened its mighty jaws.

Zzzzz…

A black spot at the center gathered a fierce icy chill.

Boom—!

Thus, with the firing of that breath, the battle began.

Calandas began firing multiple spells from a distance while continuously reinforcing his forces.

Watching the Bond Dragon retaliate, Calandas was filled with ecstasy.

‘I want it so badly.’

For a creature capable of matching the power of the Immortal Palace, no less.

The Hero Dullahan. The Lich Master of the Mage Tower. Those trifles didn’t even enter my gaze compared to what I wanted.

Soon, the battle turned into a war of attrition with no resolution in sight.

As a day passed, Calandas finally managed to drive a wedge.

Eventually, the last freezing spear caused the Bond Dragon to collapse.

Calandas approached it to check its eyes.

“Thankfully, it’s still alive.”

To catch one Bond Dragon, he had consumed two of the same kind, 50,000 undead forces, and three Heroes Dullahan along with two Lich Masters.

Yet, it was not at all regrettable. This creature was worth that much.

Calandas placed his hand on the Bond Dragon’s face.

“I, command you to serve the Lich King.”

He immediately sought to interfere with the soul through the spiritual world.

“…It already has a master.”

From what I confirmed, the Bond Dragon was already an undead serving another.

The fact that the soul bond was intact meant its master hadn’t been extinguished.

Moreover, the bond was so strong that it couldn’t be severed.

Then, who was that master, and where could they be?

Had they gone into hiding or been sealed away? I could tell nothing; was it a Lich or another Bond Dragon, nothing at all.

But that wasn’t the important part.

“I can’t just give up like this.”

No matter what, I must somehow make this Bond Dragon my companion.

Such a sturdy bond could not be overcome easily, even for Calandas.

However, there was still another method only Calandas could perform.

Overlapping bonds. Even if I couldn’t cancel it, I could impose another seal on top of it.

“It’s a shame it’s not my first choice, but there’s no other way.”

Judging by how long it had been left alone, it was highly likely that its master was sealed away.

As long as its master doesn’t appear, this Bond Dragon would forever belong to Calandas.

Calandas cautiously attempted the soul binding.

Finally succeeding, the Bond Dragon raised its upper body and flapped its wings.

The blue light in its eyes lingered on Calandas, and soon, the Bond Dragon bowed in submission.

“I’m pleased.”