Reincarnated as a Sword Vol. 2

by Yuu Tanaka

  I didn’t know GP stood for Goddess Points. I think it’s because they’re presented to the Goddess of Chaos.

  September 29, 3619

  I finally have more than 10,000 GP stored up. Now I could create facilities which could create mid-tier undead. As much as I would like to be detailed about the dungeon, there are some things I cannot write. Every time I try to write something about the Dungeon Core, my pen stops moving.

  There seems to be a mysterious force behind it. It’s powerful enough to control a Lich like me so I wonder if the gods are behind it.

  November 4, 3619

  I spent some GP to create stronger minions. There are a lot of facilities left behind which all contained some form of undead summoning item. I found a catalyst called the Hero’s Bones among them. As its name suggested, they were the remains of a great hero. Not that I could know before summoning them.

  It turns out they really were strong. I had succeeded in summoning a Legendary Skeleton Dark Knight. This one even had the Extra Skill, Unleash Potential.

  I scrapped with it to see how strong it was and was not disappointed. I had created a good minion for myself.

  December 31, 3619

  Today’s the last day of the year. This was my fourth New Year’s Eve as a Lich. I made some celebratory bread and soup. I couldn’t eat them, of course, but it did get me in the mood.

  How was an undead supposed to celebrate, anyway…?

  I’m getting close to hitting my GP mark. If I set up the Undead Creation Workshop, I’ll be able to produce more undead. I can’t wait.

  February 27, 3620

  I’ve succeeded in setting up the Undead Creation Workshop. Seeing the mechanisms of the dungeon never gets old. Just a few clicks in Dungeon Settings and the Workshop came into being in an instant.

  The list of undead I could create in the dungeon had grown much bigger, and so did my summoning repertoire.

  I wasn’t sure which one to pick. The undead created by the dungeon had crystals in them, which restored mana to the dungeon, but they weren’t very strong.

  The undead I summoned were made of pseudosouls instead of crystal. They were much stronger when I made them, but they weren’t able to contribute to the flow of mana in the dungeon as effectively. They were also quite warlike since they had malice running through them. I could improve on all the undead the dungeon spawned, but going through hundreds of them at a time was a pain.

  Hmm, maybe I’ll try a middle road.

  September 18, 3620

  I’ve been getting used to the orbit of the floating island. I could force it to alter its course by using Orbit Manipulation, but that takes way too much mana…

  I didn’t mind crossing into other kingdoms as long as I stayed close to Raydoss. Taking vengeance upon them is my sole mission.

  April 14, 3621

  The dungeon’s facilities have expanded, and with it, so has GP production. The larger facilities were particularly impressive.

  There was a shield generator which produced a barrier encasing the dungeon, and a furnace where I can turn malice into mana. Each cost 300,000 GP so I doubt if I’ll get them both soon.

  July 11, 3621

  I’ve fully expanded the dungeon. There are ten floors in total now. The dungeon’s area was a diameter of fifty meters in all directions.

  Once I increase our anti-air capabilities, no one will be able to land here. I’ve made plans to create some undead and set up traps.

  May 20, 3622

  I tried making a unique specimen today. I spent 10,000 GP to create an undead called a Ghost Eater.

  It looks like a regular old zombie right now, but I can’t wait to see how it will grow.

  I usually let him wander the halls of the labyrinth alone.

  October 10, 3622

  There is much for me to write today.

  I finally have an intruder after all my years of being a Dungeon Master. I thought it was one of the Raydossian lackeys, but I was mistaken.

  He was alone so he was probably an adventurer. A necromancer, and quite strong, at that. He was riding a Griffon Skeleton, a creature I have trouble summoning.

  I made some bird and spider undead in retaliation, at least. Unfortunately, the Griffon Skeleton was strong enough to bruteforce through them and landed.

  I had made sure that the forest was well-equipped. The Necromancer fell for my illusion traps which made him lose his way.

  He was already running low on supplies by the time he ran into more undead ahead of him.

  I sent my higher ranked undead after him as he tried to retreat. The Ghost Eater had gotten much stronger now so he should have been able to win… but the necromancer got away in the end.

  Too bad. I wanted to talk to him if I had captured him. I guess I wouldn’t mind making him my minion, either.

  I haven’t laughed so hard in so long, though; it might be the first time since I was born.

  “I am the great Jean du Vix! Fuhahaha! An undead lair! A dungeon which befits my very nature!”

  I’m not making fun of him or anything. I kind of respect that. He had skull accessories and wore tattered robes. And his exclamations… Now that was a real necromancer.

  What was I compared to him? I was so polite despite being a Lich, it was kind of lame.

  So, I’ve decided to turn a new leaf and change the way I talk starting today.

  “I am the Lich! King of the Evil Spirits! Kukakaka!”

  Would that work? Uh, I mean, would that be befitting of me?

  Yes, I suppose so! Kukakaka!

  This is going to take some getting used to.

  October 28, 3623

  I have gathered up 300,000 GP. With this, I can build the Malice Furnace. Hunting those monsters which happened to venture into the dungeon’s flight path has paid off.

  I thought I would use the various tools and leave the remains for later. However, crystals were the best source of GP, so I let the dungeon absorb them.

  A whelp such as a Lesser Wyvern yielded 20 GP. In the end, I let the dungeon have its fill of everything.

  This furnace will absorb the malice around it and convert it into mana. Once linked to it, I will have an infinite supply of malice and mana.

  April 12, 3624

  I grow stronger each day thanks to the Malice Furnace. The day is approaching where I shall have power enough to take vengeance upon the world.

  There is a slight problem, however. The power of malice inside me is growing faster than I expected. Seeing as I can convert malice into energy, I should be colossally strong, but…

  Hatred and resentment are growing within me as well.

  November 3, 3624

  I have been experiencing blackouts of memory. Is the Malice Furnace at fault?

  August 7, 3625

  I noticed something interesting today. The Ghost Eater has taken on the form of a little boy.

  I am quite sure it was a giant, ten meters in height, before…

  I suppose it is a result of it shedding unnecessary weight. He is smaller now, yes, but his mana signature is stronger than ever.

  What’s more interesting is that the form he took is of myself, from before I had become a lich. Is it because my magical energy flows throughout the place? Or was it because I made him myself? How curious.

  February 24, 3626

  I have no memory of what happened in the middle of the week. I saw myself in the footage of the dungeon’s surveillance system, but was that really me?

  I saw a Lich. The cruel, ruthless tyrant. The King of the Evil Spirits. It was only a matter of time until I was absorbed into that being.

  But perhaps that is for the best.

  Kindness was a liability in the quest for revenge. That Lich in the footage would be able to take vengeance upon the kingdom Raydoss far better, far crueler than I could.

  October 6, 3626

  The gaps in my memory are getting worse. I hold no recollection of half of what happened today.

  My plan i
s going smoothly, however. I had leveled up, and my minions were armed and ready. With this much power, I can grind Raydoss to dust.

  An all-out war with the entire country is impossible. However, I could bring the floating island to the capital and assassinate the royal family. I would then turn the victims of the first battle into my undead legion.

  In half a year, I shall set my plan into motion.

  The world shall know of the depths of our malice.

  March 21, 3627

  My consciousness returns to me after half a year. My other self has completely taken over. Not that I mind, since the dungeon is in excellent condition.

  But I do wonder if this is divine punishment.

  I was visited by another intruder on this day of clarity. Moreover, it was that necromancer, Jean, and he brought help this time.

  His helper was an adorable little girl who looked about the same age as I was before I became a Lich. However, she was a fierce swordsman.

  I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen.

  If only I had a friend like that… I had been a slave ever since I was born, I never had friends. Perhaps that was why the girl shone so brightly to me.

  I don’t want her to die… Is this an impossible wish?

  They sped their way through my dungeon. Quite efficiently, I might add. They must be well-prepared. Are they going to conquer it?

  The thought tickles my fancy.

  Frustration at being denied vengeance on one hand, and the hope for the release of the malice that has been burning my heart for so long on another.

  Did I want to disappear or no?

  I do not know.

  But the necromancer and the girl must be part of our fate. How it turns out? Well…

  It is unfortunate that I cannot face them in the final battle. I wonder what would happen the next time I woke up. Perhaps I shall awake no longer after this. I can’t wait.

  Perhaps, the one reading these pages are the great Jean du Vix and the Beastgirl. If so, I have one thing to say:

  Thank the gods you’re alive.

  Epilogue

  Morning came, and we were about to set off from Jean’s laboratory.

  “We’re off.”

  “Indeed. Be careful out there.”

  Are you sure you don’t mind filing the reports?

  “Of course not. It’s all part of the job.”

  Jean had recovered for the most part. He was well enough to walk, though he had to lean on Bernard’s shoulder.

  I left the reporting and documentation to Jean. It involved informing the guild and the government, along with bringing the diary to the appropriate authorities. He also had to inform them that the fallen island had completely disappeared.

  Just listening to all the potential bureaucracy made me cringe. Fortunately, Jean had volunteered himself for the job. He did have time on his hands, unlike us who were out on an adventure.

  Besides, they would have a hard time believing that an adventurer of Fran’s rank was able to clear that dungeon by herself. I’d go so far as to say they would never believe it. Add an encounter with a Lich and evidence of a Raydossian conspiracy to that and anyone would think she was making stuff up.

  We didn’t want to waste any more time and so asked Jean to take care of it for us. It was a pain in the ass so we tossed it over to Jean! Something like that. Not to say I completely ditched my responsibilities; I still had the rubble of a floating island to take care of. Jean assured us that leaving the rubble in a place like a volcano, where another element was stronger, would get rid of the undead element. The bottom of the ocean sounded like a good alternative especially since we were going by the sea route.

  “’Til we meet again,” Jean said, oddly formal.

  “Yeah. See you around.”

  “Woof!”

  Take care of yourselves!

  “You too!” Bernard called after us.

  The warm morning sun shone brightly upon us as a pale Magi and a skeleton waved us goodbye… It was the strangest sight.

  Only a few days ago we would have exterminated all undead we saw with extreme prejudice, yet now we were friendly with them. Although, to be fair, seeing one in the middle of the night would still make me jump.

  “Bye-bye.”

  Fran jumped onto Jet. With Jean’s gift of potions we were ready to depart. Fran lightly tapped Jet’s neck and the Direwolf let out a howl before speeding away.

  “Come back any time! We’ll be happy to have you!”

  The necromancer’s laboratory shrank as we gained distance. There was something exciting about going on a journey. It made all our encounters and goodbyes that much sweeter. I felt the same when we left Alessa.

  They were good people.

  “Yeah. I hope we see them again.” Fran nodded vigorously, her expression tinged with loneliness.

  We’ll just have to come visit when we get the chance.

  “Awooo!”

  Jet let out a happy howl, his trots gaining the quality of a skip. Jet must have grown to like Jean as well. The necromancer probably fed him behind my back. I was actually sad to part ways with that obnoxious spellcaster. It felt like we didn’t spend enough time together. We had all come to like the loud necromancer, as regrettable as that might sound.

  Jean had an attractive quality about him. His first dungeon raid even gained him the admiration of the Lich. Even as the Lich’s personality was taken over by the dark side, the style of speech he adopted after Jean’s visit didn’t change. That’s how much Jean influenced him.

  I started thinking, still strapped on Fran’s back.

  Was the Lich really himself during our final confrontation? He was a Lich in form, of course, but I wondered if the person who wrote the diary stayed asleep back then.

  The cruel side of the Lich was brought about by an overdose of malice manufactured by the Malice Furnace. Well, what happened when the furnace was destroyed? I’m sure the furious Lich facing us then was the evil one. But what about after that?

  If the Lich had been serious he could’ve killed us all in an instant. Wasn’t he then holding back? It was too late to speculate about it but I couldn’t help but wonder.

  “Teacher?”

  Fran looked at me curiously as I stayed silent. Oh, she’s so cute when she looks confused. Even the Lich acknowledged Fran’s cuteness at first sight.

  What if he regained his consciousness at the very end? What if we killed him when…

  I wonder who the Lich was at the very end…

  “?”

  It’s nothing. I hope the Lich and Stefan are in a better place.

  “Me too.”

  His dying wishes came true. Fran didn’t die in the end.

  It made me think: What would my dying wishes be? Would I make those wishes as a person or as a sword?

  I suppose it went without saying. I was Fran’s sword, and I would have to make my wishes as a sword. Of Fran’s happiness, I could leave that to other people. I would wish that I could continue to be Fran’s strength. I wanted to fight alongside her as her sword.

  Granted, I couldn’t know what I would wish for until that time comes. But right now, I hope that’s what I end up wishing for.

  Afterword

  Hello, this is Yuu Tanaka.

  To first-timers and long time web readers alike, thank you for buying this book.

  I somehow managed to churn out two volumes in one year.

  There are a lot of revisions and system changes in this volume so readers of the web edition should be able to enjoy the subtle differences, I think.

  I would like to end this volume with expressions of gratitude.

  Thank you to Micro Magazine’s editor I-san, who’s been with me these two volumes. I’m forever grateful to your great ideas and insights.

  Thank you Llo, for the wonderful illustrations. The cover and illustrations of Volume 2 are amazing.

  To my friends and family back home who have stayed with me through thick and thin, thank you.<
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  Thank you to my ever supportive colleagues and everyone involved in the publication process.

  And you, the reader. Thank you.

  I have nothing but gratitude for all of you.

  Thank you for reading!

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