A Real Human Being Chapter 20
Added 2025-11-18 15:35:59 +0000 UTC***
Once we entered the room, the en
Comments
I still won't forget people who called Lisch Nagash.
Wiererid
2025-11-23 15:06:27 +0000 UTCThank you, this was the intention. Really glad about the positive reception of all of this, from start to finish I half-expected the arc to flop if I didn't manage to capture the atmosphere and make it engaging despite the lack of fighting or other characters besides those two goofs.
Wiererid
2025-11-23 15:06:10 +0000 UTCJust over a year has passed so far, I believe. Maybe two, need to check. But Berg is fine for now. As for if Albert meets him again - spolier for the next arc, so I will withold the info for now. I think you will thank me later.
Wiererid
2025-11-23 15:05:16 +0000 UTCNot likely, once the chosen were started to be elected things escalated quickly.
Wiererid
2025-11-23 15:04:33 +0000 UTCHoly sht, that arc was amazing. It was so creepy and deeply thought provoking. I genuinely couldnt guess at where the plot was going. I love the lore and intricacies of magic you described. Really felt like a genuine, indepth exploration.
Lolernator
2025-11-22 16:56:43 +0000 UTCGot a question mate. Will we be going to see Berg again? The dwarf? I forget how long it’s been. Maybe after the time skip? It would have been a few decades then. I wonder how things would have progressed. How Lisch grew. Maybe he had his own apprentices. I wonder I wonder lol.
Robolo42
2025-11-21 18:07:01 +0000 UTCSo there is a 30 year timeframe for the the chosen to mature passed the threshold where they can live without the king so could any of them have made it to that level and escaped the sealing of Irem
Mrfacemanlol
2025-11-19 22:27:02 +0000 UTCAt least we didn't have nagash scenario. Thanks for the chapter.
Technobread
2025-11-19 21:20:04 +0000 UTCThanks!
Wiererid
2025-11-19 18:49:09 +0000 UTCAfter the first ritual the King became the Heart. He wasn't as bloated and controlled himself to not be too intimidating, but his transformation was very much utility over substance. He wasn't strictly walking he was rooted in place (ha-ha), but still a legitimate king and very much involved in the affairs of Irem. He could even continue to conduct the research. Yes, the barriers and the 'chosen' reaction is something I planned to cover in this chapter... and forgot. So pacing-vise, will have to do it next chapter. To summarize, the seeds when out of control ate away at the body, but how fast they killed - depends on the host and some external factors. So a few of the chosen were trying to crawl towards the palace hoping the king can save them. I'll explain more about the barriers later, but basically, there were 8 layers. The king tried his best to breach as many as fast as he could to salvage as much of his people (infected ones) as he was able, but only those in the castle (first layer) and immidiately outside of it (once the first layer was broken) got a 100% survival rate, those under the second layer already only were partially saved (so those outside the now peterified cacoons of roots) because it took him minutes to breach it. As for specific procedures, there weren't any backups involved. It's the same people. First integrated into the roots with bodies for preservation, later transfered into the Heart with a ritual.
Wiererid
2025-11-19 18:49:04 +0000 UTCI mean, nice guesses, but it's not quite that straightforward. I guess you'll have to see. It's still nice to read ideas like those, sometimes they give me ideas.
Wiererid
2025-11-19 18:43:02 +0000 UTCThe questions will potentially be answered in the following chapters. Some of them at least. Glad you enjoyed it too!
Wiererid
2025-11-19 18:41:29 +0000 UTC...thanks a lot. Will get through it eventually.
Wiererid
2025-11-19 18:40:50 +0000 UTCGreat chapter
Aidan O'Donnell
2025-11-19 05:36:00 +0000 UTCThanks for the chapter! Just trying to make sense of some timeline elements in my head. After the first ritual, the one that made him immortal, did the King still look like a regular human, or was he a walking root monster? Were there any monstrous flesh roots already at that point that he could control, and were the grooves and chambers in his castle already built with him being able to grow roots out of his body(?) to access them? And then after that, when the barrier went up, I assume the people whose seed infection he was suppressing all got chestburster'd, but they were still able to move somewhat under their own power? If he was still relatively human, what caused him to "transform" into a more traditional pile of roots after the barrier went up? Did he choose to make that happen? And after the barrier eventually failed, he deliberately spread out and consumed what was left in the city so he could try to survive? He was still conscious and himself mentally at that point, right? And are the souls inside him just the people who happened to already be in the inner barrier when it went up? I assume that wasn't ever the intended end goal of the ritual process. Did everyone else die before he was able to back up their souls?
Haris Sales
2025-11-19 04:30:55 +0000 UTCImo without Albert, L probably would've died to some of the proto mimics in the beginning. Or got wounded bad enough for roots to finish him.
GrinBean
2025-11-19 04:15:41 +0000 UTCTruly this arc is peak. I believe, with irems past, we will see it's future now. I think author will do 1/2 or even three chapters before timeskip, or was it intended to be only one chapter?. I think Lisch will go out as a young man and will come back as a hardened battle mage/necromancer (or if he won't, because he'll realize he doesn't want to chase ghosts, will found a family and marry? That would be great too and very realistic way of showing how time flows while Al is still in his autistic hyper focus digging at irems secrets). I also think if he returns he will probably come back with a group of fellow necromancers that are wishing to revive irem/it's culture and nation. Some probably would want to see everything for themselves, some would intend to destroy the heart and city covertly due to their own beliefs. That could be a great detective arc/confrontational moment (considering lisch now is sort of renegade by his kind's standards. he will have to find people that are both capable necromancers and wouldn't burn him at stake for things he believes now. That would be a great mirror for him to look up to and a way to show intersection between science and ideology - after all, if any of modern necromancers accept injustice of irem, that means the veil of ethical necromancy would be stripped, and in some way they stand on the wrong side of history/or at lest a significantly biased one. while it might be hard for some of them to admit (those who adhere to same principles lisch adhered to) , it's an interesting question how many and how much ready they will be to stop following beliefs they held from young age, and which their predecessor and their predecessor's predecessors believed in completely.), like imagine if in that hypothetical colloborator group there'd be a necromancer who doesn't believe in traditional teachings, is an impostor since he killed/stole knowledge of the art and just tagged along because he sees possibility of attaining more power/monetary gain. Or, maybe amongst them there will be some demon informant/spy that will create new demonic interest in the city. I mean, who told us that kings enemies are not still alive, because maybe some of them were demons? When immortality is involved there's no telling how old grudges get. Well, these are just my guesses. Regarding heart, there are many perspectives. Like, it would be very dope to turn it into some sort of time capsule where people could interact with it, and immerse themselves into old irem by exploring hearts denizens dreams/memories. Or turn it into matrix outright. After all, the heart is in some way, a data center/processing unit. It's just biotech as far as A would be concerted which is even better. I'm not even talking about how by studying all the procedures, Al is becoming some kind of flesh druid.
GrinBean
2025-11-19 04:03:03 +0000 UTCI am very curious how Frieren would react to the "Assembled True History of Irem" book, since she was alive while Irem was still around and probably even lived close to it when the Sealing happened. Will we get to see that at some point? Or would it be an omake? This arc, otherwise, was pretty damned PEAK! I absolutely loved it and am very curious what they gained from the scrolls in Irem's Academy's library. Does Albert learn any of their spells or magics too?
Deathknight134
2025-11-19 02:33:23 +0000 UTCCorrections: You keep writing "Lisch" as "Lich" for some reason. Or is it meant to be the opposite? "cought" --> "caught" "murge" --> "merge" "was was to" --> "was to" "etheriel" --> "ethereal" "only ones before" --> "only once before" "glimpse surface thought" --> "glimpse surface thoughts" "Stanned enough" --> "stunned enough" (?) "Sat down suddenly" --> "sat up suddenly" (since he said was laying on the ground beforehand) "aware on conscious" --> "aware or conscious" "a genuine true" --> "a genuine truth" "He's time is" --> "His time is" "via male" --> "via mail"
Deathknight134
2025-11-19 02:29:24 +0000 UTCSo... the imortal teuflisch next?
Alexander
2025-11-19 00:55:51 +0000 UTCYe this was a real fun read. I guess without Albert there, mr. L would've eventually succeeded in getting to the heart, but destroyed it? Or did he perish in his attempts, and the heart died eventually from malnutrition? Either way, really liked the dramatic standoff of the beginning of this chapter. I think in the end the whole arc was quite great. Been awhile since the earlier chapters, but I especially like the transition from spooky Irem in the last chapter and a profoundly sad Irem in this one. Of course, Albert making his first friend is also great. Hopefully not gonna be his last. Overall, I was glad to read it, but also glad that it is over, if that makes sense? Feels like a change in Albert's circumstances is due. I'd like to see him in another place, in another time and with other problems to solve next. For some reason I wanna end this comment with this: A damn good adventure path for levels 6-8 for a party of 2 characters, I think around 5 sessions should be fine for this one.
TheOchreKnight
2025-11-18 23:45:57 +0000 UTCTy
Alba
2025-11-18 23:33:09 +0000 UTCNow. With all this ancient mind and soul magic around, would Albert keep demon slaves? Every one slave is basically one demon that's brewing tea and catching monsters insted of hurting humans. Nothing malicious. Just demon daycare till Al cures them🙂
Kutungu Osas
2025-11-18 23:25:13 +0000 UTCGlad to hear it man!
Wiererid
2025-11-18 22:55:09 +0000 UTCThey both did a great and terrible thing, depending on the perspective. After all, even the Barmherzig only did as much as he could, he could've made an error, if not here, then down the way. Both sides operated with what they had and tried to achieve the best results they could, and when greater power struggle, it's common people who suffer the most.
Wiererid
2025-11-18 22:54:51 +0000 UTCThe roots grew from the heart, so, eh, both? He was both, at least. Now he is neither.
Wiererid
2025-11-18 22:53:11 +0000 UTCI needed Irem for a lot, starting with 'to show that I can write out my own multi-chapter arcs that are intresting to write', mostly to myself. It also establishes a lot of things I need. From here on out, I can do A LOT.
Wiererid
2025-11-18 22:52:22 +0000 UTCWe are operating on Christianverse canon here, so the soul is completely indestructable and immutable (I may be joking, or I may not)
Wiererid
2025-11-18 22:51:24 +0000 UTCWithout Barmherzig to direct their growth, even if any seeds remained, it would be pointless. The procedure as it exists now won't work. But the groundwork is there.
Wiererid
2025-11-18 22:48:54 +0000 UTCIt may be. Or it may not!
Wiererid
2025-11-18 22:48:12 +0000 UTCThank you, that was indeed the purpose yes.
Wiererid
2025-11-18 22:48:00 +0000 UTCThank you, it's really nice to hear. Yeah, this whole arc is a treasure trove of potential for me to explore long into the future.
Wiererid
2025-11-18 22:46:08 +0000 UTCIndeed. An attempt for elevating humanity that failed miserably at the later stages.
Wiererid
2025-11-18 22:45:24 +0000 UTCWho is right and who is wrong is a little ambiguous. A king who couldn't hold onto his own kingdom under the weight of his ambition, can only have himself for blame, but you aren't wrong.
Wiererid
2025-11-18 22:44:56 +0000 UTCNot unless someone does an omake.
Wiererid
2025-11-18 22:43:59 +0000 UTCYep. The timeskip is coming soon. Next chapter, or if it drags too much consider what I am planning for it, a chapter after that will be a skip until 'next segnificant event in the journey of Albert'
Wiererid
2025-11-18 22:43:45 +0000 UTCI mean that's fair. The chapter were big and loaded, and I don't exactly repeat myself. So you were right!
Wiererid
2025-11-18 22:43:04 +0000 UTCKinda, yeah. For now I am thinking a few short timeskips, into a new one that will lead to the next arc.
Wiererid
2025-11-18 22:42:36 +0000 UTCI liked it
Alexz
2025-11-18 22:30:04 +0000 UTCSo is the king in the heart or living plants?
angie bell
2025-11-18 19:45:03 +0000 UTCIn the end the King immortality as dubius and imperfect as it was really only went awry causing a catastrophe because some people just had to assume his heart to be as dark as their own and went around plastering non-existing schemes of the King as truth to the masses. Their characters were lacking and rather than self reflecting they just convinced themselves for that to be the standard, dooming the dream of a man who's heart was purer than their imagination. I wonder who should be considered worse between hypocrites like this or those that malicious spread those lies fully aware of their nature purely because their interest was attacked...
Voral
2025-11-18 19:20:15 +0000 UTCRoad to hell is paved and all that. I enjoy how you made neither side wrong, Barmherzig was doing good for good reasons but appeared as a monster to the uninformed. The resistance could only see bits and pieces, and what they saw was horrific. Irem was a great arc, and I'm sad we'll pry not see much of L going forwards but Albert has to continue his journet. I look forward to when he meets more demons, and if his reputation is widespread as the Accursed
Dan The man
2025-11-18 19:16:24 +0000 UTCIt sounds like he endured for quite a long time as an immortal root-monster before he enacted his human instrumentality project. At least 30-60 years, given the timeline for the ‘seed’ ritual. To the point where they carved out spots for his new body. In that sense, it’s not too strange.
AnonymousJohn
2025-11-18 19:05:30 +0000 UTCI was scared for a minute that the two were actually going to fight. Regarding the Chosen, it seems like even with the best of intentions, the methodology wasn't perfect. I certainly would have been leery of putting a monster in my head that would devour me and everything around me if I ever left the King's range. It does seem like it was a good-faith, mostly-successful attempt, assuming that their souls remained fully intact after being Ship-of-Theseus'd into Monster hybrids
Empty Shelf
2025-11-18 18:58:10 +0000 UTCStrange that the story of immortality survived through the rebels. Even if it was after the original rebels died off, which kind of makes it even more of a curiosity that the story survived.
N0T0B0K
2025-11-18 18:47:23 +0000 UTCTime to plant Barmherzig Seeds in the zombies!
StarBat
2025-11-18 18:10:34 +0000 UTCThe foreshadowing of Lisch becoming a Lich is strong. Very strong.
AnonymousJohn
2025-11-18 18:09:02 +0000 UTCMany parallels between the King and Lisch here. Lisch was even born in the general area, maybe a descendant of the surviving citizens. Hopefully Lisch learns the right lessons and lives a happy full life. I like how this was a simple tragedy and not the king being stupid evil. Feels human and fits the Frieren tone well. It is somewhat ironic that the moral necromancers fell into the same knee jerk prejudiced against scary magic that most lay people have against their magic. It is fitting however. Tyftc.
Yeno .M Evig
2025-11-18 17:54:28 +0000 UTCI'm excited for what albert can achieve with 40 or 50 years or so studying all this... at the very least, I hope he expands resonant soul to be able to experience the memories of of others... he has a huge group of people in that heart now... and I hope he can learn what needs to be changed in his core to feel again. at the very least, he could learn the basics of casting the old way, from the library they have~ Also, I feel bad for this city :( he was trying to do a good thing, but he probably moved too quickly. he should have done a hand full of people in relative secret and let them fully acclimate... then do a handful more. it shouldn't have been widespread enough to cause a rebellion.
MagicWafflez
2025-11-18 17:44:45 +0000 UTCThis is an amazing chapter. It's also almost horrifically consequential. I'm still trying to think about the consequences, potentially anyway, of the most talented and valuable of fallen civilization being potentially returned to the modern era. Then there's Albert making tangible progress on his goal a possible solution closing in within a few centuries (heh). And of course the tension of lisch returning after military service and just aging next to Albert. Bravo! I can't wait for the next chapter.
Sir M
2025-11-18 17:27:32 +0000 UTCA satisfying conclusion. As the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. And in this situation... The perpetual in ability of humans to properly communicate arises.
PseudoSim
2025-11-18 17:06:19 +0000 UTCA kingdom thay offered immortality and truly tried to spread as much as possible... but the greedy thay couldn't get it wrecked it for everyone else.... yeah that fits human nature all right.
Anonymous Daniel
2025-11-18 16:57:37 +0000 UTCAre we going to see reactions to the published history
blake anderson
2025-11-18 16:44:50 +0000 UTCI really enjoyed this arc and found it very engaging. If there is one more wrap up chapter for the arc, will you include a time skip then?
Joshua Bittel
2025-11-18 16:36:47 +0000 UTC…my initial assumption was that the chosen retained their own will. I didn’t pick up on the subtext that initially implied otherwise. Also the king was really truly a crazy genius man. That even a demon can’t make sense of the spells he used.
Baron of Awesome
2025-11-18 16:33:37 +0000 UTCWe going into a big timeskip after this?
Vincent Mason
2025-11-18 16:27:12 +0000 UTC
