Episode 9
Red Nose’s Past and the Aftermath
Red Nose hated his appearance intensely.
Even among the small Imps, his unusually puny body and a large nose occupying half his face were utterly hideous.
And that wasn’t all.
Among them, his exceptionally large, red nose made him a frequent target of his peers’ mockery.
-Kya-kya-kyak!
-Kee-kik!
-Kyeeek!
Amidst his peers’ torment, Red Nose’s resentment grew bit by bit.
Why was he born with such a weak body?
Why was he born with such a monstrous nose?
Just for being born a bit uglier, must he be the target of such cruel torment?
Why couldn’t he resist at all?
Hatred for the tormenting peers and resentment towards the world.
And self-loathing…
Red Nose soon realized all these emotions bundled together were called jealousy.
“Gkh… Has jealousy consumed even itself…?”
He was now a man cloaked entirely in black.
One night, no different from any other.
When he was away from the horde, tending to his wounds under the moon.
“Red Nose, do you wish to become strong?”
The man, unnaturally fluent in the Imp tongue, asked Red Nose.
“Though your body is small and hideous, the jealousy within is beautifully covetable.”
The words of the man in a large, black robe that hid even his face stimulated Red Nose’s heart.
Become strong? He could?
That such an ugly self was beautiful?
Perhaps that’s why.
Before a man he should have suspected first, Red Nose answered as if pleading.
How could he become strong?
He wanted revenge on the Imps who tormented him and on the world.
“Feed on jealousy and burn yourself.”
For some reason, the faceless man felt like he was smiling.
“Swallow it. This will help you.”
Then, the man offered something to Red Nose.
A black stone radiating a sinister, ominous aura.
Red Nose, taking the Black Stone, stared blankly.
And then.
He swallowed it as if entranced.
From then on, Red Nose changed.
He brought all those who tormented him under his feet.
He took anything he coveted, making it his own.
The more he coveted others’ things, the stronger and larger Red Nose’s body grew endlessly.
It didn’t take long for Red Nose to reign over the horde.
But no matter how strong he became, no matter how much he took and took again, Red Nose’s heart remained unfulfilled.
What to do?
How could this thirst be quenched?
Then, humans entered Red Nose’s sight as he brooded.
Wearing coveted armaments, emitting delicious smells daily, laughing and chattering as if so happy…
That’s it.
He must take that.
With such shiny things right before his eyes, his heart remained unfulfilled.
But this alone is insufficient.
Humans are weak but not easy.
To take everything from them, he must become stronger.
Stones.
He needs stones.
That black, covetable stone will make him even stronger.
Red Nose ordered the Imps to find Black Stones.
It wasn’t difficult.
The small fragment he had swallowed long ago told him where the Black Stones were.
The problem arose then.
-Kyek!
-Keeeek!
A very simple command: just bring the Black Stones.
Even though he had assigned a Giant Imp to command, as he didn’t trust the stupid Imps, they failed spectacularly.
They even reportedly fled after being defeated by humans.
Then, had the Black Stones been taken as well?
After becoming what he was now, Red Nose could tolerate taking anything, but being taken from was unacceptable.
-Crack!
-Keeeeeeng!
-Kyyaa!
Swallowing the two Imps who returned in failure as an example, Red Nose heaved his massive body up.
He could no longer trust the foolish creatures.
Now it was time to move himself.
The faces of the excavation team members returning to base camp were touched with relief.
“Thank goodness…”
“I thought we’d never make it back alive…”
“Now I can finally breathe again.”
The unexpected Imp assault and the Giant Imp’s appearance.
This excavation, which had reached the brink of annihilation, was a hellish experience for team members with little combat experience.
With tension released, people could be seen slumped down, losing strength all over the camp.
“Everyone, good work! I’ll go report the situation, so rest up!”
While Deacon went to report the excavation failure, Ethan approached me sitting in a corner.
“Savior, are you… alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“Really? You moved the most intensely, how could…”
Ethan wore a disbelieving expression, but my condition was literally optimal, as if the earlier battle had been a lie.
“That can’t be… Savior, have you by any chance encountered an entity called the Black Spirit?”
Ethan, examining my condition with a serious expression, quietly continued.
“Your aura since returning from the ruin, and that superhuman strength… I think you, Savior, have made a contract with the Black Spirit.”
I simply nodded.
The Black Spirit was a somewhat known entity in this world too.
Though its exact nature wasn’t revealed, it was known as an existence that appeared all over the world, causing trouble.
Moreover, with Ethan’s knowledge and abilities, he likely knew quite a bit about the Black Spirit.
“Probably the cause is the ruin…”
Having observed me closely, he must have some clues.
“Savior, the Black Spirit is a dangerous entity. It’s known to grant power to contractors, but the cost is horrifying.”
As his prediction matched, Ethan’s expression grew even more serious as he continued as if giving advice.
“Those who gain power beyond their control end up devoured by the Black Spirit and become monsters.”
That was a fact I also knew.
People led by the Black Spirit’s demands and consumed by the black power eventually become monsters.
“I don’t yet know a way to completely break free from the Black Spirit…”
Of course, that didn’t mean one could ignore the Black Spirit’s demands.
The being I met in the ruin’s underground was a clue that could slightly satisfy my curiosity.
Even if some danger followed, I shouldn’t miss the chance to meet it again.
And regarding the black power, there were ways.
“For now, you must become stronger. A known fact is that you must become strong enough not to rely on the black power to withstand the Black Spirit’s temptations.”
I nodded.
Ultimately, the answer to the problem is one.
Becoming stronger.
To prevent destruction, unravel the world’s secrets, and ensure my own survival, I must constantly grow stronger.
“According to history, the only figure who overcame the Black Spirit’s power is Edana, the founder of the ancient Valencia Kingdom… But I’ll look for other methods.”
Ethan patted my shoulder, telling me not to worry.
Knowing the future, I knew it wasn’t something to worry about immediately, but a question arose.
“Ethan, why are you helping me so much?”
“Huh?”
“About the Black Spirit… that can’t be easy to research… Are you sure it’s okay?”
The people here aren’t simple beings.
They aren’t NPCs moving according to predetermined roles; they live and act based on their own emotions and thoughts.
I think that’s why, even if the broad framework is similar to the game, differences occasionally appeared in the details.
That was one of the facts I’d realized about this world through my experiences so far.
So, Ethan’s actions were puzzling.
He had no reason to help me this much…
“What do you mean ‘okay,’ Savior? What kind of disappointing talk is that?”
But Ethan readily answered.
“Haven’t I been indebted to you for my life three times now? And then not helping my life’s savior? My ancestors would be angry.”
“But…”
“Why, there’s even a saying, right? That even a Goblin leaves a silver coin by the pillow if indebted. Oh right, you lost your memory. Haha.”
“……”
“And it’s good for me too. I get to know an adventurer who can face a Giant Imp alone, you see.”
Continuing his explanation with a refreshing laugh, Ethan handed over a small notebook.
“Take it. You need to get stronger, and I need to part to find other methods, so let’s contact each other with this.”
“What is this?”
“It’s magically enchanted notepaper. I have one too. What you write appears to me, and what I write appears to you.”
This is a new item. Like a messenger?
“It might look like nothing special, but it’s a very expensive item.”
Notepaper that allows communication regardless of distance or location—I received an unexpectedly useful item.
“Well… the result wasn’t good, but Jarette’s request is over. Seems we’ll be leaving soon, so I’ll say goodbye now.”
As if having nothing more to say after handing over the notepad, Ethan extended his hand.
“Contact me anytime if you need help. I’m truly grateful.”
Ethan soon rose from his spot.
I quietly watched his retreating back.
Come to think of it…
Had I ever been thanked by someone in my life?
At least before coming here, I don’t think so.
Well, why would anyone thank someone just lying in a hospital room…
It’s the first time.
Thinking about it, both helping someone and being thanked for it.
My heart felt truly strange.
But Ethan wasn’t the only one who expressed gratitude to me.
“Thanks, mister.”
“We survived thanks to you.”
“You, you’re really something. A person facing a Giant Imp alone? I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.”
“I knew you were the one! I knew from the first time I saw you that you were extraordinary.”
“Oh really? At first, you thought he was a scammer, didn’t you? How quickly people change their minds.”
“What? You’re the one who almost pissed himself thinking you’d die.”
“What did you say? Come here!”
The guards thanking me one by one as they passed, and…
“It’s not much, but take it. It’s the price for saving my life.”
“I saw your shoes were worn out earlier, so wear these. They don’t fit me anyway. They look like they’d fit your feet.”
“Take my jacket too. I bought it thinking the excavation might be long, but since it’s over now…”
“Hey, you haven’t eaten yet, right? Let me treat you. I’m the camp cook here.”
Excavation team members expressing gratitude by throwing silver coins, giving clothes, even offering to treat me to food.
Before I knew it, my hands were full of items and money they had given.
Honestly, if I were to be precise, I hadn’t faced the Giant Imp intending to save them.
I just acted because I could.
Because I thought it was something I could do.
Even if the environment changed and my body transformed, the core wouldn’t go anywhere.
My mind was still just an ordinary person lying in a hospital room, chewing over loneliness.
My vessel was too small to harbor grand causes or righteous hearts.
But I don’t think I’ll forget today’s experience.
Who knew being thanked by someone could be such a happy thing…
A fact I only learned after gaining a second life—I didn’t want to forget it.
“Allen! Jarette is looking for you!”
Just then, Deacon’s voice called from afar.
Donning my newly acquired gear, I walked toward the direction of the sound.
Allen.
: Title Demon King
: Erosion Rate 9%
: Fame 5.
An adventurer whose name is not yet known.
: Traits
No trait selected. Will you select one?
: Attributes
[Strength 15]
[Accuracy 5]
[Evasion 5]
[Stamina 5]
Equipped Weapon : Iron Sword.
Equipped Armor :
Excavation Team’s Hat. [New!]
Excavation Team’s Jacket. [New!]
Excavation Team’s Pants. [New!]
Excavation Team’s Shoes. [New!]
