#1035 Exploring the Immortal King’s District

I am an Immortal King.

I don’t have a name.

Rather, I lost it.

Perhaps as a side effect of existing for far too long as an immortal, I’ve forgotten my own name ages ago.

And so, the people around me call me “Sensei.”

Also known as Sensei the Lifeless King.

Well, I’ve actually remembered my old name recently. Apparently, it’s Thomack Moore.

Not that I recalled it myself, I heard it from others.

It’s rare to be reminded of something that you should’ve known better than anyone else. It’s quite the experience.

Maybe this is the price I pay for having wandered so far from the natural order as an immortal.

See, among the immortals, there’s a special category for those of us who chose to become undying—like me, a Lifeless King. A high-level undead.

To wish for eternal life is no small thing. It often means dedicating your whole existence to research and gathering knowledge.

I, too, have lived for eons and amassed quite a bit of wisdom, or so I thought...

But lately, I’ve begun to wonder—maybe my knowledge isn’t quite as all-encompassing as I believed.

The person who brought me into this vibrant world… Lord Saint.

It used to make me so happy to be of use to Lord Saint. But recently, he’s been relying on me less and less.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like our relationship has soured.

It’s just that Lord Saint has met many new people since coming to this world, and with all these new acquaintances, they can quickly call on specialists to handle problems.

It’s not a bad thing to expand your social connections.

The more people you know, the bigger your world becomes, after all.

So, naturally, I shouldn’t feel jealous of Lord Saint’s new friends. And I’m not.

What I’m frustrated with is myself.

I’ve spent a thousand years proudly hoarding knowledge as an Immortal King, but in the end, I don’t know everything about this world.

There are things I don’t understand, and so I must ask others for help.

And in doing so, I’ve come to realize.

I may be immortal, but thinking that you know everything is nothing but arrogance.

Learning is a lifelong journey.

So, if I’ve gained eternal life as a Lifeless King, that just means I must study for eternity.

It feels like the gods are whispering to me: “Return to your beginner’s mindset.”

Though, to be fair, most of what the gods actually say to me is food-related…

That’s when I had an epiphany!

I’m executing my grand plan! The Lifeless King’s Grand Tour of the Nations!!!

“Huh, you’re cooking up another weird plan, pseudo-corpse? Is this Master’s influence rubbing off on you?”

Ah, Veil.

Veil the Grinzel Dragon. You usually only show up when new dishes are involved. What brings you here now at such a strange time?

“I’ve started picking up on the scent of trouble too. Things are getting tense at the farm with a new baby on the way. Since Master’s busy tending to his wife, I’m here to keep the peace!”

Hm, all fired up with purpose, I see.

It seems like you’ve grown quite a bit on the farm.

“Meanwhile, haven’t you regressed? You never used to spout such random nonsense. What’s this ‘tour of the nations’ plan?”

Ah, you heard that?

Well then, allow me to explain my groundbreaking plan in detail.

“You sound like a villain. Coming from a pseudo-corpse, it’s even more convincing.”

Lord Saint has been asking for a lot of everyday knowledge lately, right?

That’s exactly where I realized I’m woefully lacking.

It makes sense, though. I’ve been holed up in a dungeon ever since I became immortal, cutting myself off from the outside world.

Meeting Lord Saint gave me a reason to venture out a bit, but I’m still mostly a recluse.

There’s no way to gain new, living knowledge as I currently am.

Yes, I could pull some knowledge from the world’s circulating mana as a Lifeless King, but that’s no substitute for live experience.

I need to see it with my own eyes! Hear it with my own ears! Feel it with this body!

I need to touch knowledge directly!!!

And that’s why I’m embarking on a grand journey to wander the world.

I’ll leave this place, explore, learn, and add valuable knowledge to my collection!!!

That way, Lord Saint will rely on me even more than he does now!!!

“Haa, that’s exactly the kind of thing a pseudo-corpse would think of. But is it really okay?”

What are you on about, Veil?

“You’ve got a lot going on here at the farm, don’t you? What about the Farm School? You teach classes there all the time. If you leave, who’s going to take care of it?”

Hm-hm-hm, you noticed something important there, Veil.

But fret not. As a Lifeless King, I’m far more versatile than you think.

I’ll just take full advantage of my abilities, and most problems will clear immediately!

First off, as a Lifeless King, I can fly at high speeds and even teleport.

Even if I’m at the edge of the continent, I can make it back by the end of the day.

“So your grand journey is just going to be a bunch of day trips, huh? I guess that’s pretty normal for us transcendent creatures.”

That’s exactly why I’ll squeeze in visits to towns and villages between classes and gather firsthand, living knowledge from the people there.

Now, let’s head to the first town!

Flight magic—Fire!!!

“Ahhhh! Don’t just take off like that! You’re flying off like a rocket! I didn’t know your kind flew like that! Anyway, wait for meeeeeeeeeee!!!”

***

We’ve arrived.

This is the first stop on my grand journey across the world.

It’s an unremarkable town at the edge of the Human Kingdom.

Medium-scale.

It’s not even a key point for trade since it’s on the opposite side of the Demon Kingdom’s border.

No notable products either. Just an ordinary, run-of-the-mill town.

Nothing more, nothing less.

But it’s in places like this that the most important lessons lie waiting for me to uncover.

“Hey! Hold up! Don’t go flying off and leave me behind!”

Oh, Veil.

You caught up.

I didn’t expect you to stick around. You’re more loyal than I thought.

“I didn’t come along because I wanted to! But you’re in such a weird mood today that I can’t just let you run loose.”

Veil, taking the role of the responsible one...

Time really does change people...

But I cannot afford to lag behind!

Just because I’m an immortal doesn’t mean I can’t grow!

It is time for some fresh, exciting experiences! Onward, into the town!

“Ahh, wait! You’re definitely acting off today!!!”

As soon as we step into the town... I spot a resident!

Knowledge exchange happens through conversation!

Let’s go interview them, shall we?

“Excuse me! Could I ask you a few—”

“Aaaaahhh! A monster?!”

Huh?

As soon as they see me, they scream and run away!

Why?!

I approached them with the utmost courtesy and friendliness!

“Yeah, that’s not gonna fly.”

Veil caught up again.

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten you’re literally the scariest monster in the world? A Lifeless King showing up could bring down an entire nation, so, of course, people are terrified of you. Even if they don’t know you’re a Lifeless King, they can feel it in their bones!”

Wh-What?!

But I developed a technique to cleanse that overwhelming miasma! That’s how I got along so well with the Farm Students, so why wouldn’t it work here?!

“As if. Even without that creepy aura, you’re still radiating an aura of sheer power! You’re a super-powerful Lifeless King! One look at you and any human would be shaking in their boots!!!”

N-No way...!

Does this mean I can never interact with normal people…?!

Is this the tragic fate of an immortal king...?!