#1039 Sensei’s Legend

“What’s wrong with dried meat? It just kinda hangs out in your mouth, waiting for the right moment to go down.”

Veil mumbles while chewing noisily, stuffing her face with the meat.

Yes, dried meat is great.

It keeps well and, most importantly, it’s delicious.

However, I think this town could use something a little more unique to set it apart.

Once I’d finished the mountain of dried meat they’d served, I politely said my thanks and stood up.

“Care to join me for a little stroll?”

After giving them a heads-up, I step outside into the fresh air.

“...What’s the Lifeless King doing?”

“There’s no questioning his wisdom. Let’s just follow him!”

The townsfolk, bless their trusting hearts, follow right behind me without a second thought.

What a loyal bunch.

“Are these people serious? They’re that easily charmed? You’re not using some kind of zombie brainwashing magic, are you?”

We stroll through the town... and eventually, beyond it.

Before us stretches an empty plain, as far as the eye can see. Nothing particularly noteworthy.

“It’s almost laughable how there’s just... nothing here. I guess the only perk is you can spot a weirdo from a mile away...!”

The town’s chief mutters with a bit of self-deprecating humor.

Come to think of it, that band of thieves earlier was spotted pretty quickly, thanks to this wide-open space.

But with all this flat land, it’s perfect for farming.

Why it hasn’t been used for that, though... perhaps it’s the lack of water.

Not a stream or brook in sight.

They’re probably barely scraping by with enough water just to drink, let alone irrigate crops.

“I remember when Master got serious about finding water. We all pitched in to build a canal. Good times.”

In any case, this spot looks promising.

...Now then, earth and water spirits, if you’re listening, show some mercy and bless this land with your bounty.

Here we go!

Swoosh!

I swing my staff high and then bring it down with all my might.

The tip of the staff digs deep, deep into the ground.

“Huh?! What’s he doing?”

“What is the Lifeless King up to?”

The people who followed me are baffled, not understanding what’s happening.

I pull the staff out with a grunt, leaving a gaping hole in the ground behind.

It’s pitch-black at the bottom, impossible to see anything.

But from the depths, I can hear it—a faint trickle, the sound of water.

The trickling grows louder and closer...until at last, water gushes out of the hole.

A LOT of water.

“WH-WHAAAAAT?!”

“Water! Where is all this water coming frommmmmmmmm?!”

Water gushes from the ground with increasing force, until it finally shoots up into the sky like a fountain.

It’s as if it’s a geyser now.

And as the water keeps pouring out, it floods the area, eventually submerging a large section of the plain beneath a growing pool.

By the time the water jet settled down, silence had returned to the surroundings.

The vast stretch of water now resting on the land…

Looks like...

“A pond...!”

“Our town... has a pond now...?!”

“After all those years of rationing every drop during the rainy season...?!”

I made a pond.

After all, people need water to live, right? You can never have too much of it.

But we’re not done yet.

I move a little further away from the new pond...Ah, this area should be good enough.

I stab my staff into the ground once more!!!

“Did he just stick the staff in the ground again?!”

“Is the Lifeless King planning to make another pond here too?!”

This time, however, I didn’t pull out the staff. I simply let go of it.

The staff is already planted deep enough, so it stands upright all on its own.

In fact, not only did it stay put, but it starts digging even deeper into the ground, sprouting roots that spread all around. It grows thicker, like a tree trunk, and eventually, branches and leaves sprout from it.

In other words…

“The staff… turned into a tree?”

“And what a magnificent tree it is!”

Mm, it turned out quite nicely, didn’t it?

Naturally, I summon another identical staff from my trusty pocket of subspace.

“...What was the point of this, you pseudo-corpse?”

Hohoho, Veil, can’t you see?

I thought you’d recognize it instantly as a humble servant of Lord Saint living on the farm.

“This is… hmm? ...Wait! I get it! It’s an apple tree!!!”

“APPLE?!”

The townspeople echo it back like parrots.

Ah, that’s the classic confused response.

“Apples are an absolutely delicious fruit! You can eat them as is, bake them, or cook them! The apple jam and pies Master makes are heavenlyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!”

“Wait, are you telling me that this apple tree will be part of our town now?!”

I had the tree spirits from the farm help me root an apple tree here.

It’s just one tree for now, but with the water from the pond I created earlier, it’ll grow strong. Soon enough, this whole area will be covered in apple trees.

At that point, this town’s specialties will be apples and dried meat.

“Oh, Lifeless King! To bless us with such kindness!!!”

“They’ve started prostrating themselves again.”

Now, now.

All I did was give them the raw materials.

It’s up to the townsfolk to figure out how to make the most of it.

Now then, I suppose it’s about time for me to head home.

I’ll never forget the taste of that dried meat they gave me here.

Not that I should care about forgetting things as my life ended a thousand years ago.

“We’ll never forget this gift, not even through generations!!!”

“Lifeless King!”

“We’ll carve today’s legend into stone and pass it down to the future!”

No need for such dramatics.

Frankly, I was the one who wanted to repay you.

You welcomed me warmly, not just into your town, but into your hearts. And for that, I’m truly grateful.

If you must pass something down to the next generation, let it be your kindness.

Now, farewell...!

“Aaah! The Lifeless King is riding the beam of light up into the sky!”

“He’s ascending! He’s ascending!”

“The Lifeless King is returning to the heavens!”

My dear people, may you continue to live happily and healthily...

***

Some days later...

“Hey, pseudo-corpse.”

“What is it?”

It’s rare for Veil to come all the way to my dungeon.

What could this be about?

If it’s leftovers, I already have plenty.

“You know that human town we randomly visited? Afterward, I got curious and decided to secretly check it out.”

Oh, curious, are we? That’s rare for you, Veil.

So, how’s it going?

Are they thriving with the pond and apple tree?

“Well, yeah, they’re doing fine with those... but something stood out...!”

Oh?

“There’s a statue in the middle of town. It wasn’t there before. I double-checked my memory—no doubt about it.”

Why are you so hung up on this?

Human history moves fast. It’s not that strange for something to pop up in a month or two, is it?

“It’s a statue of you!”

“Eh?”

“I’m telling you, those people built a statue of you to thank you! More than apples or dried meat, they’re now known for you!!!”

Oh my, how flattering.

By the way, Veil.

I was thinking of choosing the next place to visit. Could you check your schedule?

How about we head out on another adventure, just the two of us?

“No way! I’m done being your sidekick! Get someone else to play along this time! Wahh! I’m done with these visits!!!”