Chapter 63
At the mention of information about Ms. Lumina’s head, I glanced at Belarus.
Since returning from the auction that day, Lumina had not visited the convenience store even once.
Because I knew how serious Lumina was about finding her head, I didn’t force myself to call her over, either.
Of course, perhaps because she wanted to reassure me despite being busy, she sent me texts fairly often.
-I think I’ll have to stay busy for a while to find clues. Sorry……
-(An emoji of a cat lying down with a >‸< expression)
-Today I took the road on the outskirts and went outside the city. The scenery here is amazing.
-(A sunset selfie taken on the outskirts of the city with her motorcycle parked nearby)
-Haha, selfies are a little difficult to frame.
-An ogre asked me to deliver some meat, and it turned out to be wyvern meat.
-(A mirror selfie of Lumina reflected in a mirror)
-I took this while I had my helmet off for the first time in a while because it was hot.
-(A photo of Lumina sitting on her motorcycle without her helmet)
I received several texts with photos attached and replied to them, but whenever I tried calling her myself,
-Mincheol, sorry! I can’t talk right now!
Vroooom!!
all I usually heard was her hurried voice over the sound of an engine before the call abruptly ended.
The clue to the head Lumina had been so desperately seeking came from the mouth of Belarus, who had now come to see me.
Endless Corporation.
One of the biggest corporations in Taepyeong City.
A blackest-of-the-black corporation run by the limitless labor of undead who never need to rest.
Considering their intelligence network, this definitely wasn’t baseless nonsense.
At the same time, however, a strong sense of caution welled up inside me.
‘Why come to me instead of going directly to Ms. Lumina?’
Was it because he had no way to contact Ms. Lumina directly?
Or did he have some other purpose that required going through me?
He claimed he had come because of a gift he wanted to give me, but honestly, I couldn’t take him at his word.
He was certainly not the sort of person who would give away information like this for free.
He was an executive of a corporation more devoted to capitalism than anyone else.
He appeared polite on the surface, but it was impossible to know what he was thinking.
Hadn’t Lumina already been taken advantage of once?
Five billion won.
The amount she had paid to confirm whether the head really belonged to her.
Perhaps he had sensed my gaze.
Belarus spoke with a clatter of his jawbones.
-It appears you are having some rather rude thoughts about me.
“I can’t help it. I’ve already been taken advantage of.”
-Hahaha, I understand. Our goals were pointed in different directions at the time. It could not be helped.
Clatter.
After laughing once, he approached the counter.
-Withholding information is a very wise response. There is no need to show the other party your hand first.
“……”
-Silence! A splendid means of communication. Sometimes nonverbal actions can put pressure on the other party.
Belarus’s tone was exceedingly gentle.
It was always like this with him.
A conversational style that acted unhurried and left no openings.
Perhaps it was the wisdom that came with having lived for so long.
-The bonds between the living can sometimes be stronger than a contract. Though I do question whether it is appropriate to consider Ms. Lumina, a dullahan, alive, I have no intention of rudely stealing her contact information, either. Nor do I plan to meet with her right away.
He lifted a briefcase and placed it on the counter.
He took a small USB drive out of the case.
-To restore damaged trust, it would be best to show you something first, would it not? Especially since I came here to give you a gift.
“…What is this?”
-It contains information about an object believed to be a head. Of course, we do not know whether it is truly Ms. Lumina’s head, either. As you know……. Heads belonging to abandoned undead are scattered all over the place, more widely than one might expect.
“…You’re saying there’s information about Ms. Lumina’s head on this?”
-It is merely ‘believed to be’ a head.
After raising and flicking his index and middle fingers, he smoothly slid the USB drive across the counter toward me.
“You came all this way just to give away information this valuable?”
-Hahaha, human youth, nothing in this world is free.
“If it isn’t free, what do you want?”
Clatter.
Belarus adjusted his silver-framed glasses and spoke calmly.
-There was an opinion in our internal company meeting that paying five billion won simply for Ms. Lumina to touch the head had been a little excessive. Therefore, we determined that refunding part of that amount in the form of a rebate would be good for long-term customer relations.
“……”
-However, refunding it in cash would be extremely complicated and nearly impossible under corporate accounting procedures. Therefore, we intend to provide this information by substituting its value in the form of mileage. We originally wanted to contact Ms. Lumina directly, but……
Clatter, clatter.
He scratched his smooth skull awkwardly.
-She blocked my number as spam.
That was understandable enough.
After being swindled out of five billion won, it would be stranger not to block his number.
Lumina must have thought she had been scammed, especially.
-Of course, we would also like to entrust you with a commission while we are at it.
“A commission?”
-According to our information, the ones currently holding the object believed to be that head are scavengers wandering the wastelands outside Taepyeong City.
Belarus’s red eyes grew cold.
-They were once a renowned imperial mercenary corps, but now they are vermin who attack merchant caravans bringing materials, energy, and food from outside Taepyeong City. Their existence has caused no small amount of damage to Endless Corporation as well.
“……”
-With so many residents and outposts outside the city, trading supplies with them is essential for our company as well. Banditry in an age like this. It is quite troublesome, would you not agree?
I understood Belarus’s objective immediately.
Using one enemy to defeat another.
Use Lumina’s power to wipe out the troublesome bandits.
The cost Endless incurred in the process would be the information.
In effect, they were getting it done without lifting a finger.
“So you want us to wipe out those bandits.”
-Precisely. With Ms. Lumina’s power, I am certain she could annihilate them.
Snap!
He brought his jawbones together with a pleased click and flinched.
He had probably been trying to wink, but it was difficult to tell since he had nothing but bones.
-Ah, of course, we do not intend to leave all the danger to just the two of you. Our company will be dispatching personnel for the operation as well.
“Who are you planning to send?”
-It will probably be someone familiar to you. Manager Millelo—you worked together once before, did you not?
Manager Millelo.
The moment I heard that name, a face flashed through my mind.
‘Oh, that zombie manager.’
The zombie who had participated in the auction with us.
I remembered him as a fairly powerful undead.
I recalled seeing him deal with several radical undead all by himself in an instant.
-It would be a case of killing two birds with one stone, would it not? Ms. Lumina would find a clue about her head, while our company would deal with those troublesome bandits……. A beautiful transaction. Of course, if you successfully complete this commission, Endless intends to pay Ms. Lumina a separate success fee. What do you say?
“…That isn’t something I can answer for her.”
-I know. That is why I am asking you to deliver the message to Ms. Lumina.
I looked from the USB he held out to Belarus.
“…I’ll contact Ms. Lumina for now. Other than that, there’s nothing more I can do to help.”
-Excellent. That alone will be sufficient.
After finishing, Belarus clapped his hands as though he had only just remembered something.
-Oh, one more thing. I would like Mr. Kim Mincheol to accompany us on this commission as well.
“Me?”
-Yes.
“Why? I don’t have any combat ability whatsoever. I’m just a human.”
-That is precisely why we are asking. According to the information we obtained, a human youth is essential.
After finishing, Belarus pulled something from the inner pocket of his suit and held it out over the counter.
-Ah, and this is the personal gift I mentioned last time.
“What is this now?”
Inside the small box was an extremely luxurious-looking analog wristwatch.
Black hands moved precisely across the silver watch face.
-Please accept it without feeling burdened. It is not the sort of cursed object that will turn you into an undead or bind your soul simply because you wear it. Just think of it as a ‘detection device.’
“Detection?”
-Yes. The moment you face a threat, the watch’s hands will stop.
Clatter.
Belarus smoothly adjusted his glasses and gave me a strange smile.
-If you fall into a trap invisible to human eyes or encounter a danger that threatens your life, head in the direction indicated by this watch. It should help you escape the crisis.
“…It’s a valuable item.”
-I told you I would give you a gift. I, Belarus, do not lie. And I cannot send an ordinary person on a mission empty-handed.
What he handed me was a USB drive and an expensive analog watch.
As Belarus, whose bones had brushed against me while he handed over the items, asked me,
-By the way, human youth……. Are you growing a plant?
Belarus’s gaze lingered near my shoulder for a moment.
His red eyes glowed, and an aura rippled around him.
-The scent of nature is very strong on you. It is an extremely fresh fragrance.
“……”
I kept my mouth shut.
I remembered the moment Priella had glared at him like an enemy.
-That bastard burned the World Tree.
-If you say one more word, I’ll smash your jawbones so you can’t run your mouth again.
I had never seen Priella so furious before.
“I recently got a small potted plant.”
I said nothing about it being the World Tree.
Well, I wasn’t sure whether I could hide something like that from a lich as powerful as Belarus.
-I see. A potted plant.
His jawbones moved slowly after hearing my answer.
-Haa.
A deep sigh.
Belarus did not press me further and gazed into empty space.
-Growing something is truly a difficult and peculiar thing.
“……”
-Even the most fertile land will eventually have its nutrients depleted and its roots begin to rot if its fertility is drained over too many years. Because of the disorderly branches spread by a great tree, young leaves wither without ever seeing the sunlight.
His red eyes flashed once.
-Sometimes, burning even the roots can be a solution. Even if it is an extreme one.
“What are you trying to say?”
-I mean that death is inevitable for new life to bloom.
I looked at Belarus as he spoke as though trying to justify why he had burned the World Tree.
-Though it has nothing to do with me anymore.
His eyes still glowed red.
His gaze, which had been fixed on a distant place, returned to me.
-I have been speaking rather abstractly. Talking about potted plants sometimes brings back old memories. It is a bad habit of mine.
Belarus’s jawbones clattered.
-But do not worry. I have no intention of killing a life that is newly growing. Death is possible only after life has been born.
“……”
His tone made it sound as though he knew what I was growing.
He must have already figured it out.
There was no way someone that powerful would not know.
Perhaps Priella had given it her own blessing last night because she knew that as well.
‘Death becomes the nourishment for new life.’
But Belarus was someone who had turned his back on death and lived an immortal existence.
To hear such a being speak of the cycle of death and life.
It was ironic.
-Please take good care of it. I look forward to the day that sprout becomes a great tree. In any case, I hope to hear a positive answer.
He bowed his head.
Then he soon left the convenience store.
“……”
He was impossible to read.
It wasn’t that his intentions were hidden; they were simply too plainly visible.
Watching his back recede, I sent Lumina a text.
And not long afterward.
-I’ll be right there.
She sent me a reply.
***
Ding.
“Mincheol, Noona’s here~.”
I heard Lumina’s excited voice.
“You’re here?”
“Belarus came?”
“Yes. This is the USB he gave me. He said it contains information about an object believed to be a head. It might not be your head. Maybe……”
“He might just be using me to accomplish his own goals in one fell swoop.”
Lumina cut me off as though she already knew.
“I know. That man isn’t the sort of lich who would willingly hand over information like this. But it can’t be helped. There’s a limit to the information I can obtain on my own, and if I look at it positively, I’m getting information for free from a major corporation like Endless. Ah, I guess it isn’t free?”
Perhaps she had remembered the five billion won, because she let out a quiet giggle.
“Thinking of it that way, I don’t feel like it was a waste. Before, I thought it was a little much. Five billion won just to verify whether a head was really mine? That’s outrageous.”
“There was no other way at the time.”
“Phew, that’s true.”
Lumina picked up the USB lying on the counter.
I could see her fingertips, covered by leather gloves, pressing down firmly.
I couldn’t see the flames flickering inside her helmet, but if she had had a head, she probably would have been wearing a resolute expression.
“Scavengers in the wastelands……. I should ride my bike out to the outskirts tomorrow.”
“Are you going alone?”
“Of course. I’m looking for my own head. Besides, they’re former imperial mercenaries. And Endless says they’re sending people, too. We should search together.”
Lumina boldly spoke while habitually patting her own shoulder.
But a peculiar tension lingered at the end of her voice.
There was anticipation in her voice—the possibility that she might find her head.
I looked at her helmet for a moment, then opened my mouth.
“There’s one condition Endless set.”
-What is it?
“They said I have to go with you.”
At those words, she came to a sudden stop.
Lumina, who had been glaring at the USB, set it down on the counter.
“Tell them I’m not taking it.”
“Ms. Lumina.”
“You’re not planning to say you’ll go, are you?”
“…If we have to find it.”
I didn’t want to go, either.
I had already felt it while traveling through the seventy-fourth floor with Sonya.
How weak I was as an individual.
But they had set it as a condition.
They said I had to go with her.
That was the only way we could find the head.
After hearing that, how could I possibly stay put?
The scavengers in the wastelands couldn’t be stronger than the monsters on the seventy-fourth floor.
It probably wouldn’t be as dangerous as that.
‘I’ve already experienced it once, so I know how dangerous it is.’
And they said the zombie manager would be going with us, too.
“No. Do you have any idea how rough a place that is? Why would you let an ordinary person tag along? You just stay here and guard the convenience store safely, Mincheol.”
“I’ll at least carry the luggage.”
I held up the analog watch Belarus had given me.
“He said it detects danger. With this, I should at least be able to avoid falling into traps or getting ambushed.”
“That’s…… Even so, it’s dangerous.”
“It’s information that cost five billion won. You should make sure you get your money’s worth.”
Even at my joking words, Lumina couldn’t readily nod.
I braced myself against the counter and leaned a little closer toward her.
“I told you I’d help you find a clue about your head.”
“……”
At my words, Lumina stopped as though she had frozen.
The only sound in the store was the humming white noise of the refrigerators running.
“Noona, let me help you too.”
At those words, sparks flew inside her helmet.
After a brief silence, a small laugh, like air escaping, slipped out from inside her helmet.
“Haa, seriously……. Sometimes, when I look at you, you’re even more reckless than I am.”
Lumina reached out with her helmet on and messed up my hair.
“All right. Fine, let’s go together. Now that I have a dependable navigator, I can definitely earn my keep with five billion won’s worth of meals.”
“Of course. I’m amazing at navigation.”
“But promise me. If things get even a little dangerous, hide behind me without asking questions. Got it?”
Lumina lightly clenched her fist and held it out.
I bumped my fist against hers.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
And the following day.
I honestly told the manager that I was going to the wastelands.
When I said I was trying to find Lumina’s head, his brow furrowed slightly.
Why are you doing that?
was the expression on his face.
“…It seems that old Belarus fellow gave you a gift?”
The manager’s eyes landed on my wrist.
“He said it would help me avoid danger. Is it some kind of strange item?”
“No. That old man is the type who doesn’t spare any expense on gifts for people he takes a liking to. If he handed it to you personally, you can be sure it’s a reliable item.”
“That’s a relief.”
“So you’re going to use your paid leave?”
“…Is that not allowed?”
“……”
The manager’s eyes narrowed.
“The wastelands should be fine……. They’re less dangerous than the Tower, at least. Go and come back safely. If Lumina is with you, you won’t get hurt.”
“Thank you.”
“But!”
The manager glared at me and continued.
“When you get back, you’re playing games with Jinjo for as many days as you took off.”
“Yes, sir. Understood.”
With the manager’s permission, Lumina and I headed to Endless’s headquarters early in the morning.
“Uuugh, good morning. Maybe it’s because it’s daytime, but my body feels all limp.”
We met Manager Millelo, who had been waiting in front of Endless’s headquarters.
Ding-.
An eyeball popped out of his socket and rolled across the floor.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I’ve been working overtime for the past few days, so my eye is a little swollen.”
“……”
Do eyes normally swell up like that?