#1038 A Lonely Sensei

Continuing as Sensei the Lifeless King, ever at your service.

We’ve managed to capture the band of thieves that have been troubling the town.

For the time being, I’ve frozen them in place using time magic, but it’s not a permanent solution. Perhaps it’s time to lift the spell.

“Instead, I could simply halt their cognitive functions. That would prevent any thoughts of escape or resistance while they’d still obey instructions without question. It’s quite an efficient method with no extra work on our part, and they’ll continue with basic needs like eating and other bodily functions on their own. A fine solution, wouldn’t you say?”

“You really leave nothing to be desired, don’t you?”

These thieves will soon be transported to a larger city, where they’ll face the proper judgment.

After all, taking what others have worked hard to build, without any effort on their own, is not only cruel but also an act that threatens the very fabric of society.

I do hope the courts are strict in their verdict.

Perhaps I should reach out to young Ritheseus, one of my former students, who now holds a prominent position in the Human Kingdom’s judiciary.

Now then, I should inform the townsfolk that the danger has passed.

I imagine they will be much relieved to hear it.

“No, no, no...! How can they be relieved when the greatest threat of all is still here?”

What’s the matter, Veil? Back in human form already?

A threat, you say?

Is there something still lurking in the shadows, endangering the town?

I will not stand for that.

As someone who happened to pass by, it is my duty to ensure this town’s peace is fully restored, no matter what it takes!

Come now, lurking menace!

Face me, the Lifeless King, one of the World’s Two Greatest Calamities—I shall be your opponent!

“It’s YOU, dummy! You’re the danger!”

Wh-What?!

The threat to this town… is me?!

“Yes, you! You’re practically walking disaster incarnate! You even said it yourself—Lifeless Kings like you and dragons like me are known as the Two Greatest Calamities in the world! World-level Calamities, you know?!”

G-Gah!

Ah… of course.

Now that I think about it, when we first arrived, the townspeople were indeed frozen in fear, and the entire town was cast into the depths of terror.

Compared to the likes of us, those bandits were mere dust in the wind...

This town, even now, teeters on the edge of destruction simply due to our presence!

“You’ve finally realized. Unchecked power, especially when its wielder doesn’t recognize the harm it causes, is the true madness.”

Indeed… You have a point, Veil.

I came here hoping to observe and understand the lives of mortals, but as an undead king, I am far too removed from their world.

To believe that such a gap could be bridged was naive on my part.

It seems I’ve been quite the fool.

Before I cause these good people any further distress, I shall take my leave.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. I’ll treat you to some ramen on the way back!”

For the last time, Veil, I’ve had more than enough gonkotsu for a lifetime.

Just as I turned to leave, preparing to cast a teleportation spell...

“Wait! Please, wait!”

A voice calls out from behind.

I turn to see one of the town guards—someone I’ve grown familiar with—running toward me, breathless.

“Please forgive us for our earlier behavior! You cannot leave without allowing us to express our gratitude!”

“Please don’t leave us without letting us thank you properly!”

???

What is this...?

The people’s demeanor has changed entirely.

“We were wrong to fear you. We thought you were a terrifying monster…!”

“But in truth, you saved a child, stained your sacred robes in the process, and rid us of the thieves who threatened our home!!!”

“You’re our savior! We cannot let you leave without showing our thanks!!!”

They kept speaking, one after the other?!

I… I believed that I had become a creature so far removed from humanity that I could never be accepted by them...!

But here they are, showing me gratitude and acceptance, even for someone like me?!

I… I am…!

I am truly moved...!!!

“You’re getting sentimental in your old age, aren’t you?”

Quiet, Veil!

These aren’t tears… it’s simply a bit of my astral essence escaping from my eyes, that’s all!

“Just because you’re undead doesn’t mean you can go around leaking weird stuff all over the place!!!”

“If it pleases you, we’ve prepared a feast in your honor! Would you kindly attend?!”

With pleasure!

To turn down such hospitality would be against the moral way of man!

Let’s accept the invitation graciously!!!

“Uh, you’re not exactly ‘man’ anymore, though.”

Ah, stop with the obvious retorts, Veil!

What about you? Are you skipping the banquet and heading home?

“No way! I, the great Veil, never turn down an invite! Even if it’s a trap, as long as there’s food, I’m in!”

Fair enough.

It looks like we’ll humbly accept the invitation, then.

Hyahoo!!!

***

“Grandpa! Thank you for saving us!”

“Grandpa, are you a hero?”

“Grandpa, show us some magic!!!”

Ah, even the children gather around me with such curiosity!

Very well, if you wish it so, I shall delight you with a little magic.

Perhaps I could summon one of the gods from the old world?

“Stop right there! You’ll drive their sanity into oblivion! Don’t think just because I’m handling all the damage control today that you can try anything outrageous!”

Now, now, Veil, I wouldn’t do such a thing...

Well, since you insist, perhaps a simple fireworks display will suffice.

Hmm, seems that pleased them more than I expected. Good.

“Lifeless King, the meal is ready. Please join us for the feast.”

“Mm.”

As I sat down, I was greeted with a modest yet colorful spread of dishes.

Naturally, bread was present.

And, of course, no feast would be complete without some ale—primitive stuff brewed from barley, it seems.

The main course is sautéed dried meat, dried meat soup, and a salad with dried meat.

And then some more dried meat.

Hmm, it seems this town has a particular fondness for dried meat.

“Oh... how embarrassing. We have so little to offer, and yet we dared call it a feast...!”

What nonsense, my dear host.

Your hospitality shines through in this meal!

A full course centered around your town’s specialty is splendidly grand!

“No, no...! You misunderstand. The dried meat isn’t even made here! We import it from another village. We serve it only because we have little else to offer…!”

Is that so?

This dried meat soup, in particular, has a unique flavor—the balance of salt and broth is rather distinctive.

Delicious, truly. I shall have another serving.

“Our town, while considered large enough to be called one, is far from the capital, and we don’t have any true specialties. It’s more of a trading post than a real town. It’s hardly more than a village in size and spirit.”

What are you saying?

A town is a town, neither more nor less!

“Because we’re on a trade route, we have an abundance of preserved foods like dried meat. It’s practically all we eat here. Even the bandits who attacked earlier were fools—what could they hope to steal but dried meat?”

The one speaking seems to be a leader of sorts, with a bit of bitterness in his tone.

Now, now, no need for such self-deprecation.

It’s a great relief that your town wasn’t pillaged by those lawless thieves.

But I see...

This town does have its own unique challenges.

Learning about these specific circumstances is the kind of living knowledge one can’t gather from reports alone.

It was well worth my visit here.

So, having seen and heard all this, the question now is: What can I do in return?

These kind people have shown me such respect and gratitude, offering what little they have, even if it’s just dried meat. As one of the world’s Two Greatest Calamities, it would be shameful not to repay their kindness.

Very well. I shall lend a hand in the town’s development, even if small.

But fear not.

This town, built through generations of hard work and perseverance, belongs to you and your ancestors.

Compared to that, my modest help is but a drop in the ocean.

A town is, after all, neither more nor less than what it already is!!!