The Boss Wants to Die - Chapter 31

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The boss wants to die.
Episode 31
Michael, who had grown up his entire life entrusting himself to God, found it most shocking that he himself had become disillusioned with the Sanctuary.
Yet he could not shake the feeling of having been betrayed.
It pursued him like a stubborn curse, shadowing his every step.
‘What’s happening…….’
“She corrupted me, and Aktr doesn’t seem to care at all.”
Michael sat on the edge of the bed, his elbows propped on his thighs, pressing his forehead down in despair.
Sunlight pouring across his back drove his face deeper into shadow.
“Her reason for wanting to die is obvious enough. She wants to return to the Demon Realm. Just like how players revert to the Sanctuary when they die.”
He wanted to dismiss it that way, but he knew better.
Aktr will not revert to the Demon Realm.
The moment she faces death, she dies forever.
Aktr’s cries about not being revived echoed vividly in his mind.
“Then that means Aktr lied to me.”
Why does she want to die so badly?
Even going so far as to lie.
When he tried to glean information from Aktr as she once was, the memories were far too fragmented.
With so many puzzle pieces missing, he couldn’t imagine the complete picture.
“Damn it.”
Since becoming a retainer, his cursing had increased.
He regarded his own inexperience with irritation and opened the Quest Window.
Now his only remaining hope.
A quest that had arrived suddenly when his mind was turning to mush.
[For the sake of noble justice.
You are a priest entrusted with a special mission. Great secrets demand great sacrifice.
Become a Fallen priest and serve as Aktr’s retainer.
You will become a fugitive hunted by the Sanctuary, but all great works for humanity require sacrifice.
In serving Aktr, draw near to the Secrets of the World.
― Completion Conditions:
➤ Become Aktr’s retainer (1/1)
➤ Witness Aktr’s True Form (0/1)
― Rewards:
➤ One hidden story will be unlocked.
➤ The next quest will be unlocked.
※ This is a linked quest. You must complete this quest to receive the next one.]
When he first read the content, he’d been so flustered that he had to read through the quest multiple times carefully.
He’d accepted Aktr’s proposal to meet briefly and talk precisely because of this quest.
He’d needed information.
In the end, Aktr had given him no information at all.
‘Draw near to the Secrets of the World. What could that mean.’
Every time Michael studied the quest content, he stumbled at that very sentence.
It felt like it was pointing out the justice he’d ruined in his previous life, and he couldn’t help but feel bothered, uneasy in his heart.
Even the quest title was “For the sake of noble justice.”
There was no way he could have refused this quest.
And so he’d become Aktr’s retainer, yet one completion condition had him by the throat.
Witness Aktr’s True Form.
He clicked his tongue.
True to its nature as a quest, the completion condition was written in simple, straightforward language.
But the incomprehensible phrasing had caused confusion in his quest progression, leaving him at a standstill.
“True Form…….”
Did Aktr possess another Polymorph form besides her current one?
He had no way of knowing.
As he sighed and rubbed at his withered skin, a voice from the depths of his consciousness called to him.
Michael.
It was Aktr summoning him.
Michael forced his face, which had seemed about to crumble into tears, into coldness and straightened his posture.
Though he had fallen, it was time to pursue justice once more.
He became the world’s shadow and quietly leapt across space.
***
“That concludes my thoughts on the matter.”
Michael delivered everything I’d requested to Aktr nearly word-for-word, without a single syllable out of place.
It was a moment when his habit of memorizing scriptures bore fruit.
“But what exactly are the two of you doing?”
Michael regarded Aktr and me with visible displeasure written across his face.
Left to my own devices, I would’ve joined him in his disdain for Aktr.
But that ship had sailed.
I shook my firmly clasped hand with petulant jerks.
“What is it, Ro-un? Something on your mind?”
Playing dumb, are we?
The moment he looked at me with those eyes, Aktr’s suggestion went in the exact opposite direction from what I intended.
“Not satisfied? Want an embrace?”
His large hand tensed as if ready to pull me close at any second.
I shrieked in horror.
“Stop being gross—seriously!”
“You were shaking your hand so adorably.”
Aktr simply grinned, clearly delighted by my existence.
I thrashed my hand like a cat with something stuck to its paw.
“Let go! Keep your fingers still! Don’t do anything weird!”
Smack!
I struck his finger hard as it tried to tickle my palm.
Aktr’s face fell, and he gently stroked the back of my hand while his gaze dropped.
“But your hand is so soft. I can’t help but touch it. When I tickle your palm, you shrink away like a cat. It’s adorable.”
He puffed out his cheeks and giggled.
Female players passing by drooled at the sight, but to me, Aktr’s beauty was nothing but repugnant.
Speaking sweetly while wearing human skin like a demon—that was Aktr’s terrible habit.
“If you can’t sit still, could you at least keep your mouth shut?”
“Do you hate holding hands that much?”
“Your hand is just too big. It’s rough. And you won’t stop doing weird things with it—”
“You said holding hands was allowed.”
“Just holding! That’s all!”
Aktr’s protruding Adam’s apple bobbed sensually as he groaned with difficulty.
“But you’re just too lovely for that.”
“Ugh!”
I couldn’t bear another word from him, so I yanked my body away.
Our arms stretched out like a drawbridge because our hands were still linked, but I didn’t care.
This was the only way I could endure it.
……
Michael watched us with the expression of someone whose soul had left his body.
“Ah, so that’s why you asked why we’re doing this?”
Aktr offered some unnecessary explanation.
“I’d rather not hear it.”
“We decided to date.”
It’s just a game of pretend, though.
I grumbled inwardly.
“I said I’d rather not hear it—”
Michael pressed his face in his hands and finally couldn’t hold back.
“Have you both lost your minds?”
“I’m not sure whether a priest should curse a love that’s just taken root, rather than bless it. That’s quite the dilemma.”
Aktr’s eyes drooped as if wounded, but Michael’s cold expression didn’t so much as flinch.
“I haven’t lost my mind to the point of blessing a priest who’s fallen in love with a demon born of sin.”
“If you hate us so much, can you still travel with us?”
“Whether I like it or not, it doesn’t matter. If this is my trial, then I must endure it.”
When the novelty of teasing Michael wore off, Aktr released my hand.
My palm felt damp, so I wiped it on my clothes.
I regretted agreeing to let him hold my hand whenever he pleased, but there was no helping it.
Without that concession, calling Michael over while pretending to browse an accessory shop would have been impossible.
‘He doesn’t miss even a moment’s opening. Can a priest really be such an opportunist?’
While I nursed my irritation, Aktr and Michael exchanged words in fierce succession.
“A pretext, you say—do you really need to find one by joining the Party?”
“Then do you want to be dragged straight to the Sanctuary right now? You’re a hundred and eighty-eight levels below me. One blow from my hand and they’ll be carrying your corpse away.”
“If you want to see the Demon Sword rampage, you’re welcome to try.”
“Since I know you won’t push it that far, I’m looking for justification to buy us some time.”
Veins bulged across Michael’s forehead.
“To prove that the Demon Sword is safer in your hands, I need evidence. A Party Quest Completion Scroll makes for pretty good evidence.”
“Hmm.”
“Aktr, this is a good opportunity for you too. The Sanctuary won’t be a nuisance for a while.”
Michael’s gaze shifted toward me.
“Even Aktr will accept it at that point. That I won’t kill him.”
“Hmph.”
I exhaled a thin trail of smoke, playing innocent.
Either way, we had to do our best to deceive Aktr.
Just a little bit more.
‘Almost there.’
Aktr seemed reluctant even after Michael explained whatever was bothering him.
‘What’s the problem?’
I was anxiously tapping my foot when Aktr himself provided the reason.
“I was planning to enjoy a date while pretending to clear the Party Quest. But you had to stick your nose in and ruin everything.”
I reflexively struck Aktr across the back.
His back was so broad and solid it felt like swinging at a stone wall.
“Is that what this was about? You really need to take off that priest’s robe!”
“Even if it’s an order, I’d be embarrassed to remove it here. Could you forgive me just this once? Master.”
“What the—!”
“You said you’d treat me nicely, like a pet.”
Aktr answered with perfect composure.
“Then you’re my master.”
I turned to Michael with a face gone pale blue.
He had his eyes shut.
The ominous intensity radiating from him suggested he might collapse any moment.
A seething wave of shame flooded his eyes red.
“It’s a misunderstanding, Michael! It’s not like that. He just went ahead and—”
“I don’t wish to hear it.”
Michael’s face had gone deathly pale as he manipulated the system window.
[Michael Irubruwe requests to disband the party. Do you accept?]
I wasn’t the party leader, so the accept option wasn’t active for me.
I gritted my teeth and glared daggers at Aktr.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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