It's impossible to recount a story that spans over a hundred years. So Karnak gave a brief summary of his past life to Serati.
He told her about being born as an illegitimate child of a fallen noble family and how he came to learn necromancy.
How he was discovered as a necromancer while trying to take over the family and had to flee.
He wandered the world, growing stronger, and in the process, incurred the wrath of the people, eventually becoming the continent's enemy.
Finally, he abandoned his humanity, became Astra Spiritus, and after successfully conquering the world, pondered how to regain his lost physical body.
"That's why I returned to this era, or something like that."
Karnak finished his explanation with a wink.
"Well, did that clear up some of your curiosity?"
Serati looked dazed.
"My God..."
But even so, she slowly began to understand.
"I see. So that's why..."
Karnak was the one who was surprised now.
"Oh? You actually believe it?"
"Is it a lie?"
"It's not that, but even I think it's a hard story to believe."
"Honestly, after seeing something like that, I can't help but believe it."
The power they displayed was so absurd that it made sense to have such an outlandish story behind it.
At the same time, another question arose.
"So, Lord Karnak, you were originally an immortal being?"
"Yes."
"You're saying you had no death, no disease, and no pain?"
"Yes."
"You even had the power to control all of creation?"
"Depending on the scope of 'all of creation,' but yes, I could control the world as I pleased."
"But..."
Serati asked again, as if she couldn't understand.
"You gave all that up to become human again?"
Didn't he say he had transcended the limits of a mere human and reached the realm of gods? And yet, he gave it up just because he couldn't feel human sensations?
"Couldn't you just create a body that could feel sensations?"
"I tried. It didn't work."
"Then couldn't you possess another human's body...?"
"Tried that too. It didn't work."
"Then what about sharing sensations with another human...?"
"Tried that as well. It didn't work either."
Over decades, he tried every possible method he could think of. After repeated failures, this was the only path left.
"But Serati, you seem to know a lot about these methods. Most good people wouldn't even think of such things."
"Th-that's because I read a similar book once..."
This was one of the reasons why Serati was able to accept Karnak's explanation so easily.
She had a hobby of reading various adventure stories in her spare time, so the idea of past lives and space-time regression wasn't too hard for her to accept.
In any case, Serati was confused.
What if someone told her she could become the ultimate martial artist, transcending even the Four Martial Kings, instead of becoming undead?
'I think I'd accept it…'
To reach that level, Karnak must have had immense dedication, unwavering determination, and mental strength. That's probably how he attained immortality.
But after reaching his goal, finding that it wasn't what he expected, he gave it up?
Could someone with that kind of mindset even reach such a supreme level in the first place?
Karnak let out a deep sigh.
"Yeah, I figured you'd think that."
He was serious at the time.
He considered this mere flesh nothing more than a cumbersome obstacle blocking the path to the ultimate state he dreamed of achieving.
For the sake of one singular truth, one absolute goal, he believed it was entirely worthwhile to give up everything.
"You can never truly understand it until you've experienced it yourself."
"I felt the same way when I first became a Death Knight. All the inconveniences I had as a human were completely gone."
Karnak and Baros both chuckled.
Neither of them showed any sign of regret for what they had abandoned.
Serati cautiously continued her questioning.
"But still... don't you feel like it was a waste?"
Wouldn't they feel a sense of loss for what they had built over their lifetimes? Wouldn't they be frustrated to be defeated by someone weaker than them? After all, hadn't they even run away from someone as insignificant as Shutraff?
"Why wouldn't I think it was a waste?"
Karnak smirked.
"If I could have avoided giving up either, I would have. But I had no choice because I had to let go of one."
Does he miss his past powers?
To be honest, sometimes he does.
Is he dissatisfied with his current, weakened self?
Why wouldn't he be? Of course, he is.
But even so, he never wants to return to being Astra Spiritus.
"I was the king of hell. But no matter how much of a king I was, the fact remained that I was living in hell."
Of course, becoming human doesn't mean living in heaven.
Don't people say that this world is hell on earth?
Karnak somewhat agrees with that statement.
"If there are levels to hell, then human life would be somewhere in the middle."
Life as Astra Spiritus was like living in the lowest level of hell.
"Rather than reigning as the king of the lowest level of hell and forcing the world to bow at my feet, I'd rather settle for a moderate life in the middle level of hell."
He smiled calmly.
"I've lived through both, so I know exactly what I'm talking about."
Serati nodded in understanding.
"I see..."
Now she understood why necromancy is the ultimate forbidden art. If that was the conclusion reached by someone who had attained its ultimate power...
"Is it better to choose death than to become undead...?"
Karnak's eyes widened.
"What are you talking about? If you're about to die, you should become undead if you have to."
"What? But just a moment ago, you said..."
"That's why you should avoid necromancy whenever possible. But if you're on the brink of death, why would you give up on life? At that point, you should do whatever it takes."
"Then wouldn't that defeat the purpose of coming back?"
"That's why, by any means necessary, I must return to being Astra Spiritus."
And then, he'll reverse time again. So he can once more regain his human sensations!
"Doesn't that sound reasonable?"
Baros chimed in from the side.
"Won't that take too long? You'd have to kill half the continent's population to become the Death King again."
"I've done it before. It won't take as long as it did back then."
"You're right. That makes sense."
As she listened to the two casually discussing their plans, Serati trembled. Now she finally understood their way of thinking.
'Ah, these people were always like this.'
Their way of thinking was entirely different from that of ordinary people.
Suddenly, she steeled her resolve.
"Lord Karnak."
"What?"
"I am now your knight. So, I will dedicate my life to protecting you."
It wasn't for Karnak's sake, but for the sake of humanity and the world.
She couldn't predict what this dangerous man would do if his life were in danger!
Karnak tilted his head at Serati's sudden change in attitude.
"…?"
In any case, he had no reason to refuse her offer of protection.
"Well, thanks, I guess."
With the conversation more or less wrapped up, the group resumed their journey.
As she watched Karnak walking ahead along the main road, Serati suddenly wondered,
'So, what will he do when he gets old and is about to die?'
***
Five days after departing from Trist City, Karnak and his group arrived at the Jestarad estate.
"I'm back, old man Tafel!"
The servants of the mansion had come out to greet them, as they had been informed in advance. The old butler, Tafel, greeted Karnak with a bright smile.
"Welcome back, my lord."
He had already heard the rumors.
How Karnak and Baros had made a name for themselves in Derat City.
When he first heard that the young master, who had gone to the capital to study magic, had suddenly stayed in Derat City for several months, Tafel was quite worried.
While it's true that seeing the world and gaining experience is a privilege of youth, it doesn't mean one should neglect their duties and spend all their time idling. At one point, Tafel even worried about how to properly scold him.
But who would have thought?
The fame of Karnak and Baros, who had made a great impact in Derat City, had spread all the way to the northernmost Jestarad estate of the kingdom.
They had dealt with numerous necromancers and saved the kingdom's people, a truly honorable deed. The prestige of the Jestarad family had also greatly increased.
Tafel was about to praise them with joy when he noticed something.
'Hm?'
There was an unfamiliar woman standing behind Karnak.
She was a strikingly beautiful woman with luscious red hair, a refreshing demeanor, and vibrant features.
To those who had only lived in the countryside, she was an astonishing beauty, the likes of which they had never seen before.
'…Could it be?'
Feeling slightly uneasy, Tafel maintained his composure as he addressed Karnak.
"My lord, you have a guest. It would have been nice if you had informed us beforehand."
"Oh, right?"
As if he had just remembered, Karnak pointed to the woman.
"Let me introduce you. This is Serati Allen."
If a young man went on a journey and returned with such a beautiful woman, the reason was obvious.
The gathered servants of the mansion began to murmur among themselves.
"Oh my!"
"Could it be?"
"Is she the future baroness?"
Tafel felt awkward.
A lord of a region cannot simply choose a wife based on personal preference. There needs to be a certain level of social compatibility.
However, he had never heard of a noble family with the surname Allen.
And it was such a common name—likely meaning she was a commoner rather than a noble.
'Huh, how should I address this?'
But the next thing Karnak said was rather surprising.
"She has become a new knight of the Jestarad barony. The formal knighting ceremony will take place later, so prepare for it."
"…Pardon?"
Tafel blinked in confusion.
A knight? Not a prospective wife?
'Why would he make such a woman a knight of our estate?'
She was undoubtedly a stunning beauty with a slender and elegant figure.
But those were the virtues of a beauty, not a knight.
To survive by the sword, one needs robust muscles, a large build, and a strong presence.
Like the man standing beside them now, Sir Baros.
"My lord, even though our estate is in a remote area, we can't just make anyone a knight…"
Not only Tafel, but others as well were bewildered, looking back and forth between Karnak and Serati.
Seeing their reactions, Baros chuckled.
"As expected, just as Serati predicted."
"This happens often."
Serati didn't bat an eye.
Only mediocre people get upset when they're underestimated; true strength comes with a certain level of indifference. After all, a true warrior can prove themselves on the spot.
Actions speak louder than words—Serati drew her sword.
Her sword-drawing motion was so refined that it left everyone somewhat convinced.
"Her sword-drawing is impressive."
"Well, if a woman is going to use a sword, she'd have to be at least that skilled."
"But I've heard that graceful swordsmanship isn't very useful against monsters."
Whoooosh!
A red light enveloped the blade, and at the same time, an overwhelming aura weighed down on the shoulders of those around.
"Gasp!"
"Ah!"
The servants and maids recoiled in shock. Even Tafel's eyes shook violently.
Even if someone was unfamiliar with swordsmanship, there was no mistaking the power of the light before them.
"A-a battle aura sword? Could she be an Aura User?"
Not even Sir Baros, recognized as the strongest in Jestarad, or Sir Randolph, who was the strongest knight of Deventor, had reached that level.
Wasn't this the realm of a superhuman, beyond the reach of all the knights of the family combined?
Karnak asked nonchalantly.
"Do you still have doubts about her abilities?"
Of course, there were none.
Tafel's expression just changed slightly as he responded.
"No, but why would someone like her become a knight of our estate?"
[T/L: Please support me: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]