The Boss Wants to Die - Chapter 80

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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.
Chapter 80
Beneath my feet, Aerial lay fevered and half-conscious, yet his grip on my ankle never wavered.
“I am the Demon God. Even if I wanted to ask you for something, I can’t think of anything worthwhile.”
……
“You said I’ve grown old and weak, so you couldn’t kill me anyway.”
I lifted my head and stared out across the empty sea before us.
The contract not bending to my will angered me, but I didn’t want to break the alliance and trouble the Water Deity or Aerial.
“Turn the underwater ruins into a Sanctuary. Can you do that?”
― The origin of that place is already a Sanctuary, so yes. But why would you wish for such a thing?
I added the specific conditions.
“If we kill the pirates, can you make them return to this Sanctuary?”
― ……Yes, it’s possible.
“Then lock those who return inside a Water Prison and bind them to the seabed for nearly an eternity. That’s my condition.”
The Water Deity fell silent for a moment, thinking.
The system seemed to be weighing the Water Deity’s request against mine.
An hourglass symbol appeared briefly before a message arrived.
[Please make one additional request. The values between the alliance conditions are not yet equal.]
I rolled my eyes downward.
Aerial came into view.
Aerial, suffering from the fever……
‘The Water Deity’s power is limited to the sea, so there’s not much use for it anyway.’
Most things can be resolved with the Demon God’s strength.
Rather than demanding a power I barely need, wouldn’t it be better to add a condition that brings comfort to the suffering?
Even a light rain gladdens the thirsty.
Like Aerial, burning up with the fire-curse right now.
I murmured without thinking.
“Heal Aerial’s fever.”
Aerial’s eyes widened as he looked up at me.
“That……!”
[Equivalent Exchange satisfied. The alliance condition has been accepted!]
[The Water Deity’s requested alliance condition is now under review.]
The Water Deity, who had been thinking for some time, spoke.
― Demon God. In this case, there is nothing you ask of me in return.
“That’s how the strong are. Too perfect becomes a flaw, they say.”
I laughed dryly and shrugged.
“There’s nothing I desire except death. Everything else can’t form an Equivalent Exchange, so I can’t ask for it.”
― Are you truly certain?
“I am.”
― ……In this case, I will be deeply indebted to you.
The Water Deity spoke thus for a moment, then quivered the seawater as he continued.
― I accept your request.
“Good.”
Right, Aerial?
As I looked down with a slight smile, Aerial pressed his face into the sand.
His shoulders trembled—he was crying again.
“A crybaby to the end. Just how much more do you plan to cry in front of me?”
As if to console Aerial, seawater flowed slowly into the oxygen bubble, cradling him gently.
Aerial wept bitterly.
With the intensity of a long ordeal finally coming to fruition.
A cry that resembled the will to live, now transformed into the cry of having lived.
I turned my gaze from Aerial’s face, which couldn’t be called pleasant to behold.
I wanted him to crumble without watching his back, without self-consciousness.
Only then would he find the strength to rise again.
The Water Deity, who had been observing me intently, spoke.
― Demon God. You are a warm and gentle being.
I burst into laughter.
“I’m only kind because I’m strong enough that you have nothing to give me. Don’t think too highly of me.”
Warm and gentle.
What an absurd thing to say.
—Do you truly believe that? Even as you doubt, I felt clearly the moment your heart touched the sea.
“…….”
—The sea does not forget kindness. All the waters that have wandered the world and returned to the sea remember that grace.
The Water Deity spoke in a monotone, unwavering voice.
—I will not forget your boundless compassion, which dares to mirror the sea itself. For what remains of my days, I shall devote all my strength to protecting you.
Then a brilliant light burst forth from my right hand.
I furrowed my brow and bowed my head.
A blue and simple pattern slid across my skin like a brushstroke, slowly being absorbed.
It was a blue talisman in the shape of a water droplet.
—Now all the seas in this world are yours.
Trill-la-la-la!
[Congratulations! You have successfully formed an alliance with the Water Deity!]
I gazed down at my hands in bewilderment.
The pattern that had glowed softly like luminescence had completely faded into my skin.
It bore the form of a tattoo, much like the collar marking my neck.
At this rate, my entire body would be covered in tattoos.
‘Though I suppose it’s not so bad.’
It was small, and I rather liked it—resembled Aerial’s pearlescent scales.
It had been inscribed on my right ring finger like a band.
It felt as though I carried a peerless jewel of the sea upon my body.
—Aerial, I have another request for you.
Aerial, who had been weeping until now, managed to pull himself upright.
The Water Deity’s commands were absolute to the mermen.
“Y-yes, yes. Please, speak. Your Majesty.”
—Find the pearls of my children scattered across the land.
“Sniff, pearls……?”
Aerial blinked, struggling to compose himself.
He hiccupped and whimpered in a way that was rather endearing.
With my task complete, I grew idle and watched Aerial with folded arms.
‘Should I make Aerial my younger sibling? He’s adorable enough. Strange how empty that spot feels.’
While I entertained these pointless thoughts, the two continued their conversation.
—Yes. Were the Water Tribe not all slain on the same day? To restore them without issue, we must revive the entire tribe at once, as though that tragedy never occurred.
“Then, until we recover the pearls, we cannot save everyone?”
—Correct. But do not worry. Those children who have already returned to the sea as Spirit Essence, I hold them safe in my embrace.
The Spirit Essences of the merfolk within his care were clearly visible beyond his transparent form.
Aerial seemed to see them too, peering into the luminous depths.
Aerial’s reddened eyes were contorted as though holding back tears.
—Once you bring the pearls, the remaining Spirit Essences will gather here as well. Then I shall breathe new life into them.
“Understood.”
Aerial spoke with grim resolve.
“I shall reclaim them without fail. And I will bring back the heads of the pirates, one for each journey.”
Unlike before, when rage consumed him, Aerial was now remarkably cold and composed.
“They will spend long years in the Water Prison, a time for reflection.”
—Thank you.
As the conversation drew toward its end, gentle water seized my waist and legs, lifting me softly upward.
—The Demon God has no tail nor gills, so I shall carry you safely to the land.
At last, it was time to part.
I looked down at the sea receding swiftly below me.
There was still nothing to see in that place.
Yet I could feel the seawater that wrapped around my body was remarkably gentle and tender.
—Then, I suppose I must rest my eyes until we meet again…….
The water droplet pattern on my right ring finger gradually faded into darkness.
***
After that, I couldn’t quite recall how things proceeded.
I seemed to have collected Aktr along with Aerial and returned to the Inn, but I wasn’t certain.
Truly, I had done nothing but sleep like a madman.
I did not wake for a long time.
For a being such as the Demon God, who rarely tired, it was an extraordinarily long sleep—though I could only guess that the forming of the alliance had drained my strength.
“Save me, save me—!”
In my dreams, members of the Water Tribe sometimes appeared.
They screamed and fled from the pirates.
As they ran, the Water Tribe transformed into different people.
Those people screamed and fled as well.
From me.
“I’m sorry. I truly am! Please, just spare my life!”
I couldn’t understand why they begged me for forgiveness.
They pleaded and pleaded.
The me in the dream gasped with tears and rage.
You know the sins you’ve committed well enough?
Then pay for them with your deaths — as if that were my logic, I broke their necks one after another.
One by one.
‘Die!’
“Gahhh……!”
I bolted upright in bed, gasping roughly for breath.
My head spun and my body felt hollow.
It had been like this for days now.
My consciousness felt muddled, as if I’d been anesthetized, and the stress accumulated.
“Heart, water…….”
“Cold water? Or should I bring something lukewarm?”
“Cold, please…….”
I was drinking the water when I started in surprise and turned my head.
Aerial was sitting near the bed.
‘Wait — is that really Aerial?’
I scrutinized Aerial’s appearance carefully, feature by feature, and narrowed my eyes.
“……You’re Aerial?”
“If this splendid face isn’t me, who else would it be?”
Aerial boasted arrogantly.
The crude manner of speech, the lavish beauty — anyone could see it was Aerial Atlantis.
Only, the impression he’d given of a crimson rose had transformed into a blue one.
Like transparent aquamarine gemstones cut dozens of times over, Aerial’s blue eyes sparkled with iridescent brilliance depending on the angle.
And his hair — what of it?
It was as pure as if seawater itself had been scooped up and poured over his head.
His appearance had become resplendent in an entirely different way.
‘Even if you turned a human into jewels, they wouldn’t be more gorgeous than Aerial.’
Only his left eye had not turned blue — it remained vivid red.
Something had happened; he now possessed Odd Eyes.
‘And why is he still a party member?’
Didn’t Aerial have no further business with us?

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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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