Details of That Skill
“… Necro… Marionette?”
Crunch.
While biting into a piece of fragrant buttered toast, I looked up at the window floating in the air.
My unique skill had leveled up during last night’s “work,” unlocking a new authority. Heart pounding, I leaned closer to the screen to see the details.
- Other actions (defeating monsters, training, etc.): Experience gained 0 (Invalid)
“… Yeah. This part hasn’t changed.”
My shoulders slumped.
The ominous words “Murderer” still sat there like a king on a throne.
Dear developers, are you really telling me to live my entire life branded as a “killer”? This is going to leave a permanent stain on a maiden’s résumé, you know!
I washed down the bread with some milk and pulled myself together before looking at the item below.
It was the new “function” added now that the skill had reached Level 2.
Stores the souls of killed targets as “possessions.”
“… Possessions?”
Still holding my toast, I blinked in bewilderment.
For such a grand name, isn’t this basically just collecting things?
I’m not some tasteless collector who gathers souls just to stare at them.
If it lets me get a “second harvest of experience,” then lucky me, but otherwise that name is way overblown.
… At least, that’s what I thought at first.
Then I read the continuation of the details written below.
The instant I saw it, my mind completely froze.
- The stored soul can be fixed into a “vessel” prepared by the caster.
- Resurrection completes only if the target consents, at which point they become a subordinate.
“… Huh?”
Time stopped.
The quiet of the dining hall rang in my ears like a sharp, metallic whine.
Resurrection.
Subordinate.
Underling.
The moment my brain processed the meaning of those words, I shoved my chair back with a clatter and jumped to my feet.
“The Blessing of the Murderer… isn’t just a skill for killing… it’s for making the people you killed work for you!?”
That means…
I can make my very own… “strongest army”…!?
I thought of that one-eyed giant I had just “dealt with” yesterday, Nagaku.
Level 64.
I only won yesterday because my surprise attack worked on the first encounter. His strength itself was completely genuine.
If someone like him became my loyal servant?
… Victory.
At this rate, I could conquer the world
I covered my mouth with both hands, desperately trying to suppress the laughter bubbling up.
Me, sitting with my legs crossed on a black throne.
Flanking me on both sides would be the strongest warriors, former enemies.
“Alice-sama, your orders.”
“For Alice-sama’s sake, we have destroyed this country.”
And they’d swear absolute loyalty like that!
Kufufu.
What is this? That’s totally the vibe of a “charismatic villain.” Pretty cool!
My imagination wouldn’t stop.
Holding back my excitement, I operated the status screen.
The button I needed to tap was [Stock List].
Fwoom. The window switched.
A long list of names appeared.
Nagaku Einbel (Lv.64)
Dogorgon Lagract (Lv.45)
Zeik Han (Lv.30)
Mora Keen (Lv.28)
Volt Cross (Lv.27)
Munts Aiger (Lv.26)
Dario Moreno (Lv.25)
Bunts Giger (Lv.24)
Jorg Fieser (Lv.21)
“… Hmm?”
As I scrolled through the list, I tilted my head.
I understood Prince Dogorgon and Nagaku.
But the names lined up below them… Zeik? Mora? Volt? Who are these people? I don’t remember meeting anyone like them in my entire life, not even one millimeter.
“… Ah, right.”
After thinking for a few fractions of a second, I clapped my hands.
They must be those thug guys who picked a fight with me in the alley, and those suspicious members in the warehouse.
I killed them before making them introduce themselves, so I didn’t know, but of course they had proper names.
“Well, the more pawns the better.”
I muttered lightly, then looked at the button next to the list.
Beside each name was an item labeled [Make Subordinate].
When I tapped it, a confirmation window popped up.
Apply? It sounds like some kind of government paperwork, but there’s only one thing to do.
“Alright… yes.”
I tapped it without hesitation.
While I was at it, Prince Dogorgon too.
Then all the people whose names I couldn’t match with faces.
“Ei, ei, eeei!”
As casually as claiming login bonuses, I mashed [YES] from the top of the list to the bottom.
Tatatatata!
The brisk tapping sounds rang inside my head.
Once I finished submitting all the applications, the list display switched all at once.
Round and round.
Loading circles started spinning beside each name.
“… Hmm?”
While chewing my toast, I stared at the screen.
It’s taking a while.
I thought it would immediately show “Success!”, but the spinning icons showed no sign of stopping.
“Confirming their will, huh…”
Still munching, I suddenly thought about “them” on the other side of the screen.
What kind of situation are they in right now?
This is a game world.
The ones who died should have “logged out” by now and woken up in the real world.
Inside those narrow, cold capsules, waking up covered in gel… what would they be thinking?
First, confusion that they’re conscious even though they died.
Then, learning that the world they believed was real just moments ago was actually a virtual space, what would they feel?
Despair at being killed?
Or pitch-black murderous intent toward me?
Or deep relief that they managed to survive this terrible death game?
They’re probably all panicking.
And right at that moment, my “invitation” arrives.
Notice from the ‘Gnosis Online’ Administration Office
… Something like that?
The real world is terribly boring. Everything is managed by AI, days where neither failure nor success exist, just an endless routine.
That’s why they were enjoying games inside dive pods in the first place, yet before they knew it they were forced into a life-or-death death game…
If they return to Gnosis Online, the worst-case scenario is mission failure, the saviors all dying and getting caught in the Personality Destruction Program.
When you think about that, most people would probably say, “I never want to go back again.”
… BZZZT!
An unpleasant buzzer cut through my thoughts.
[Application Rejected: Bunts Giger has refused]“… Ah.”
Just as I thought.
Well, yeah. Normally no one would want to play a crappy game like this ever again. I think that’s a wise decision. Mm-hmm.
But reality turned out to be harsher than I expected.
… BZZZT!
… BZZZT!
… BZZZT!
[Application Rejected: Bunts Giger has refused] [Application Rejected: Dario Moreno has refused] [Application Rejected: Munts Aiger has refused] [Application Rejected: Volt Cross has refused]“H-Hold on a second…!”
The rejection notifications started firing off like a machine gun.
One red “NO” after another was shoved in my face. Every time it happened, my heart shrank with a sharp jolt.
It wouldn’t stop.
A rejection rush.
In no time at all, half the list had turned gray.
… BZZZT!
[Application Rejected: Zeik Han has refused]“N-No way… at this rate, is it going to be a total wipeout?”
Pale-faced, I stared at the remaining names.
Left were Dogorgon Lagract, the prideful Third Prince, and Nagaku, who had been overwhelmingly strong. And then two others, Mora and Jorg.
… No good.
Even the ordinary members said “no.”
There’s no way an older brother with royal pride, or a warrior like Nagaku with his martial honor, would accept becoming the “pet” of the little girl who killed them…
My “Strongest Army Plan”, dead before it even started? A lonely Demon King all by herself?
“No… that would be way too lonely…”
Just as I teared up and tried to close the window…
… Ping!
Suddenly.
A light approval sound rang out, different from the rejection buzzer.
“Eh?”
As I lifted my head, blue letters danced across the window.
[Approved: Mora Keen has consented]… Ping!
Immediately, a second sound followed.
[Approved: Jorg Fieser has consented]“T-There are some…!”
My voice bounced with joy.
There were some weirdos! Two of them!
Thank goodness, at least I avoided being completely alone. I’ll give Mora-san and Jorg-san some candy later or something.
But surely that’s the limit…
… PIKOOOOON!
At that moment, a particularly heavy approval sound rang out, different from the others.
[Approved: Nagaku Einbel has consented]“… Huh?”
I stared blankly, mouth hanging open.
Nagaku?
That monster who was so strong?
He threw away his pride and submitted to the enemy who killed him?
My ears, frozen in shock, were struck by yet another impact.
… PIKOOOOON!
[Approved: Dogorgon Lagract has consented]“… Seriously?”
A dry laugh slipped out.
Even royalty came back.
Does that brother have the resolve to throw away not just pride but even his humanity for the sake of his ambition to “become king”?
All the people with normal sensibilities ran away.
But four “lovable lunatics” chose to return to this insane death game.
And among them were the exact “strongest pieces” I wanted most.
“Fufu…”
I swallowed the laughter rising inside me and gently narrowed my eyes like a saint.
To those hopeless fools who chose a thrilling hell over boring reality, I gave a vicious smile.
“I see, I see. Everyone wants to be friends with Alice-chan, huh?”
And with that, I softly placed my finger on the [Materialize] button floating in the air.
What do you think about this chapter?
