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The Death Mage that
doesn't want a fourth
time 150
by Densuke

Yoshi (Translator), Sebas Tian and

Dakarans (Editors)

Sponsored With ♥
Conor M. ($100)

Don’t underestimate human strength!

" Previous Chapter

With the information gained during the

audience with the gods inside the
Boundary Mountain Range, Vandalieu
had gained hope for achieving his
heart’s desire, the resurrection of his
mother Darcia.

But he still didn’t know the exact method

that would allow him to resurrect her.
He didn’t know, but this was information
that Ricklent, the genie of time and
magic, and Zuruwarn, the god of space
and creation, had made the effort of
giving him. It was highly trustworthy.

And since his objective was the legacy of

a legendary champion, it was almost
certainly true.

“Ah, thank you, Vandalieu!” said Darcia.

She was very happy upon learning this

information. Up until now, she had been
in an incomparably better state than
regular spirits due to Vandalieu’s death-
attribute spell, Visualization, and
because she could share his five senses.
Thus, she didn’t feel a particularly
powerful urge to come back to life.

But now that she might really come back

to life, it seemed that she had all kinds of
thoughts.

“I can finally do things like making meals

and fixing clothes for you, Vandalieu!”
she said happily.

It seemed that she wanted to take care

of her son with her own hands as a
mother.

Vandalieu looked up at her with an

emotional gaze. “Mom…”

“So, you need to teach me how to cook

and sew. You’re better than me at both,
after all,” Darcia said.

“Yeah, leave it to me, Mom.”

The deterioration of Darcia’s spirit had

almost completely stopped with
Vandalieu’s death-attribute Mana, but
some of her memories were cut
unnaturally short, and she did feel some
uneasiness.

And most importantly, coming back to

life would allow her to spend time with
her son as a living person.

And with her revival, perhaps Vandalieu

would not try to take reckless actions of
revenge, become injured and suffer over
her death. And she would be able to be
of use to him as well.

Sam, Rita, Saria, Pauvina and the others

were also very happy to learn of the
news that Darcia’s resurrection would
become possible, so things were a little
festive in Talosheim right now.

But a full-on festival couldn’t be held

while things were still looking suspicious
in the Sauron region.

Through the Goblin communication

devices, Vandalieu learned that Duke
Cuoco Ragdew, a fan of Eisen’s (syrup),
had deserted the Amid Empire’s army. It
would probably be best to meet him
directly.

And while he was at it, he might as well

use Noble Orc meat to hold a dinner
party with everyone as they exchanged
information.

“… What happened?” Vandalieu

whispered in shock.

He had finished preparing with high

spirits and teleported with Legion, only
to see the wounded members of the
Sauron Liberation Front lying on the
ground, and Iris with the shadow of
death on her face.

Quickly deciding that there was no need

to even ask, Vandalieu cast his spells.

“So, you’re Vandalieu,” said one of the

enemies. “You’re smaller than I
imagined. That mass of flesh beside you
is an Undead, is it? Either way, I’m
surprised that you could Teleport. To
think that you could even use space-
attribute magic.”

Several people have died. But fortunately,

it seems that only a few minutes have
passed, and the wounds on their bodies
aren’t beyond repair.

Vandalieu used death-attribute magic to

protect the spirits that had just left their
bodies while also repairing the bodies
and conducting cardiopulmonary
resuscitation on them. He delayed the
deaths of the bodies’ cells, particularly
focusing on the cells of the brain, while
using his spirit form hands to move their
hearts and lungs.

“I’ll help you. Berserk, you’re up,” said

Pluto.

“GRRR!”

A flesh-colored bear appeared on

Legion’s surface and threw chunks of
flesh that made up its own body near
the motionless people lying on the
ground. Berserk’s flesh that had been
separated from Legion split up even
further, wriggling in an unpleasant
fashion and crawling onto the injured,
wrapping around them and infesting
them.

“Hoh, so you’re creating Undead from

the useless corpses right away? But –”

“Bububuh, that’s not right, Ervine. That’s

what it might look like, but it seems that
he intends to heal them.”

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, while

simultaneously repairing things like
bones, organs and nerves enough to
sustain life functions. With the spirits of
the bodies’ owners put back inside, their
resurrections were complete.

Berserk was throwing his flesh at the

resurrected individuals to infest them,
providing emergency treatment by
acting as bandages and wooden splints
while forcibly making them retreat.

“Boss, these guys are –” Miles said from

behind.

“I know. Well done on being able to hold

out this long for us, Miles,” said
Vandalieu in gratitude, but time was still
short, so he continued his treatment of
the wounded.

“No, not that, these guys are the Fifteen

Evil –”

“Vegetables?”

TLN: This joke doesn’t really work in

English, but the start of “evil-breaking
swords” is /jasai, which sounds
like /yasai, the word for
vegetable.

“… I’m sorry, I’ll leave it for later,” said

Miles as he shut his mouth, realizing that
Vandalieu currently didn’t seem to have
time for listening to details.

A vein appeared on Ervine’s forehead as

Vandalieu, who was still floating in the
air with Flight, stared at him but
otherwise taking no notice of him. “Oi,
how long are you planning to ignore us?
I’m the Fifth Sword of the Fifteen Evil-
breaking Swords, the Five-headed Snake
Ervine. We made all this effort to speak
to a brat like you –”

“Iris, your wounds won’t heal. What

about Blood Potion?” Vandalieu said, still
paying Ervine no attention.

As Ervine’s image was reflected in

Vandalieu’s hollow eyes, his face
stiffened.

“Vandalieu-dono, do not… concern

yourself with me…”

“Your Majesty… Iris has been wounded

by that man’s holy sword… It is an
Artifact that inflicts wounds that cannot
be healed through power originating
from Vampires, the Demon King’s
fragments or the light and life
attributes,” said her father George who
inhabited her now-cracked sword,
delivering grave news.

Because Iris had been deeply wounded

by the holy sword Nemesis Bell, even
though Vandalieu extended his spirit
form and fused with her, his Rapid
Regeneration skill had almost no effect,
as he was a half-Vampire.

Thinking that it was a type of curse,

Vandalieu tried to remove it, but he
couldn’t do that either. It seemed that
unlike Ice Age’s ice, it was not a curse.

It seemed that the holy sword held

something that was not a curse, the
power of a superior type, or perhaps a
subtype, of the light-attribute that could
possibly be named the holy attribute.
This was very troublesome.

Thus, Vandalieu cast the Death Delay

spell on Iris. It was a spell that didn’t heal
injuries and merely delayed the time it
took the target to die, but its effects took
place, not being obstructed by the holy
sword’s power.

Iris was enshrouded by Mana that

looked like black fog, but her face was
still pale white. She was still on the verge
of death, and her current state was
being extended, so that was only
natural.

“Iris, I unfortunately can’t heal those

wounds,” Vandalieu said. “It will probably
be impossible even for Jeena. So please
choose whether you will become an
Undead later or a member of one of
Vida’s races other than a Vampire.”

“… I understand,” Iris murmured. “I must

give the title of Liberating Princess
Knight to another…”

“You don’t understand. We’ve already

said we’re going to take that little girls’
head, haven’t we?” said Ervine, swinging
his whip in anger.

With a noise sounding like the air itself

splitting, a piece of rubble that was once
a part of the resistance’s base crumbled
to pieces.

Confirming that Vandalieu’s attention

was finally on them, the ‘Insect Swarm’
Bebeckett took over for Ervine and
began the negotiation. “We can begin
now, can’t we? Bububuh, we are the
Fifteen Evil-breaking Swords of the Amid
Empire. Dhampir Vandalieu, His Majesty
the emperor has taken a great interest
in you. If you swear loyalty to the empire
and devote your power to be used for
the empire’s good, then we promise to
spare your life. And those of your
subordinates, too. Depending on
circumstances, we will allow you to
possess land on the other side of the
Boundary Mountain Range, and you may
take Ghouls in the empire's territory
with you.”

The conditions named by Bebeckett

could have been considered
extraordinary, considering that they had
been named by the emperor of the
Amid Empire, where Vida’s races,
particularly Vampires and Dhampirs,
were harshly disdained and persecuted.

At the very least, no emperor in the

Amid Empire’s history other than
Marshukzarl would have thought to try
to negotiate with Vandalieu.

But at the same time, Marshukzarl

thought that it was highly likely that
negotiations would break down. From
Vandalieu’s actions that had been
revealed through investigations, it was
doubtful as to whether he still had the
sanity needed to negotiate.

If that power could be obtained, it would

be useful beyond imagination. But
leaving Vandalieu alone was too
dangerous. He had already become a
being who could shake the foundations
of the Amid Empire.

That was why Marshukzarl had tried

negotiating with Vandalieu, thinking that
the chances that they would succeed
would be less than thirty percent, and
dispatched enough fighting strength that
he could be eliminated with certainty if
he rejected the negotiations.

Will you be smart and join the enemy you

can’t defeat, or die as a tyrant inside a
small well? Which will you choose?
Thought the ‘Insect Swarm’ Bebeckett,
the Tenth Sword.

As a Bug Tamer who employed

countless insects, she was an
exceptional spy, but she was even more
specialized in attacking large numbers of
enemies.

“I forgot to say this, but that Liberating

Princess Knight and the senile traitor at
the back aren’t included,” Bebeckett
added. “We need their heads as proof of
having accomplished our official mission
here. If you need the Princess Knight at
all costs, then we don’t mind as long as
you can provide the head of someone
who looks like her.”

Bebeckett had a countless number of

insects inside her own body; she was like
a general in command of a countless
number of soldiers. She had used those
insects to stop numerous monster
rampages before.

She had been dispatched here with the

hopes that she would be able to use that
power to exterminate the countless
Undead under Vandalieu’s command.

Of course, he only has that strange mass of

flesh with him, but I won’t let my guard
down.

“Now then, can we hear your answer?”

Bebeckett asked.

“Shut up.”

Vandalieu had been listening to

Bebeckett’s words but not considered
them even for a moment.

Marshukzarl’s offered conditions might

have seemed extraordinary to the three
Swords, but to Vandalieu, they were
more worthless than garbage.

Most importantly, Vandalieu was

currently busy suppressing his anger
and self-hatred. If he had put more
serious thought into things, if he had
been prepared… he could have
prevented this situation.

“… Honestly speaking, I have no

attachment to the Sauron region,”
Vandalieu said. “My support for Iris and
her companions was for the selfish
reason of wanting connections to the
Orbaume Kingdom in the future. My first
impression of Iris, Haj and the others
wasn’t that good to begin with, anyway.”

“Then our empire can take the

kingdom’s place –”

“That’s why I’ll kill you.”

With anger and bloodthirst, Vandalieu

put his two hands together and released
Death Bullets from his fingers, aiming
for Bebeckett and her companions.

Vandalieu had associated with these

people for a selfish reason, and his first
impression of them hadn’t been good.
But they had shared many meals
together, interacted with one another
and spent time together. They had
adored him, calling him ‘Boss,’ and eaten
his curry, calling it delicious.

Vandalieu didn’t feel the slightest

hesitation in directing his bloodthirst
towards those who had hurt Iris, Haj and
the others.

“I told you that the negotiations will fail!”

said Rickert.

“I never thought they’d succeed to begin

with! Don’t act all high and mighty!”
shouted Ervine.

Bebeckett avoided the black fist-sized

Death Bullets, while Rickert and Ervine
repelled and broke them with their holy
sword and whip.

“I see, what a pity. Then become food for

my insects along with the resistance
that’s on death’s door!” shouted
Bebeckett.

The sleeves and hem of her robe

expanded, and the low hum of insect
wings could be heard as a countless
number of shadows flew out from
within. These were the insects she
controlled.

None of them were larger than the palm

of a hand; as monsters, they were all
small insects. Most of their Ranks were
below those of Cemetery Bees, too.

Flies with a unique venom, moths with a

strange attack that could only be
thought of as magic and beetles that
spat acid that could melt steel – They
were insects of all kinds with vicious
abilities.

An exceptionally experienced
adventurer or an extremely powerful
monster might be able to deal with one
type, no, several types of these insects.
But there probably wasn’t a single
adventurer who could deal with a swarm
of insects with dozens of varieties.

Bebeckett was confident that the same

would be the case for Vandalieu, who
seemed helpless against the flood of
insects and unable to even fire more
Death Bullets. She let out a loud, strange
laugh.

“BUBUBUBUBUH! There have been

many powerful people like you! But you
see, you only have two options, whether
to yield to the power of a great nation or
be crushed! If you want to blame
someone, blame your own foolishness –”

“It’s over,” Rickert sighed, seeing that

Vandalieu was no longer even visible
behind the insects that he was
surrounded by. As he’d expected, the
negotiations had failed, but it was the
Fifteen Evil-breaking Swords, the Amid
Empire, who had won in the end.

But this sense of resignation and relief

was blown away in an instant as
Bebeckett’s strange but elated,
triumphant tone turned into a scream
filled with shock and fear.

“HYAAAH! Wait, WAIT!”

“Bebeckett?!” Rickert shouted

Bebeckett’s name in surprise.

But it seemed that Bebeckett had no

time to pay attention to Rickert; she
twisted her body and screamed. “Wait!
Wait, don’t go! DON’T LEAVE MEEEE!”

As she screamed, a countless number of

insects flew from Bebeckett towards
Vandalieu.

Ervine opened his eyes wide in shock.

“That brat isn’t being eaten by the
insects?!”

Bebeckett’s insects that were swarming

around Vandalieu weren’t biting his skin
with their powerful jaws or stabbing him
with their venomous stingers. They were
simply clinging to his skin and hair…
being silently absorbed.

And Vandalieu, who had equipped all of

the insects inside his body, appeared as
if nothing had happened at all.

“It seems that I am superior as an Insect

User,” said Vandalieu, who had stopped
firing Death Bullets so as not to harm
the insects that had taken a liking to
him.

The truth was that he had emitted a kind

of pheromone that attracted the insects
with the Demon King’s scent glands, but
that could probably be included in his
skill as an Insect User.

Meanwhile, Bebeckett fell onto the

ground, wheezing.

The person who rolled out of her robe

was an old woman with great damage all
over her body.

Bebeckett had been using insects by

offering a part of her flesh to the
monsters as food, making them mistake
her body for their nest. Thus, she had
been reliant on the insects to sustain the
life of her own body.

All of those insects that she had been

relying on had been charmed and stolen
by Vandalieu, and now the ‘Insect
Swarm’ Bebeckett was nothing more
than an old woman on the verge of
death.