My left arm, severed, still had more than half of its forearm. So, it’s a prosthetic arm life from now on. I’ll have to ask Orietta to make one. I wonder if she can make one that retains sensation. Sensation that can feel warmth or cold. Pushirira’s soft, firm, large…
I have to take her down. It must be soon. The Undead Queen is groaning in pain each time she’s cut after flesh has been put back on her body. It must be soon.
Even with hemostasis, blood still flows. My grip strength in my right hand is gone. I want to touch Rufina’s chest just one more time, but my left arm is also rotted and gone. After that, I kept slashing mindlessly until Rufina held me.
“Captain, stop. You’ll die.”
Ah, that’s right. I’m killing to kill.
“I want to make a contract. A contract of subjugation…”
That’s right. Rufina’s objective was the contract. I’d completely forgotten.
Rufina approaches the Undead Queen, who stands on her knees in the center of the magic circle. If she can’t talk properly, should I just kill her?
“I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die yet…”
Eh? She can still talk? If she can talk, then I’ll leave the subsequent contract to Rufina. I don’t understand magic. I wonder if she’ll do something grand.
“Enter into a contract of subjugation with me. Then you shall live.”
The Undead Queen weakly affirmed and entered into the subjugation contract. But before that…
“Heal Rufina’s wounds! If you can’t, I’ll kill you.”
I have to say it. For me, Rufina’s wounds healing is the biggest worry, more than subjugation.
“It will heal. After subjugation, Rufina’s wounds will also heal as my body returns to normal.”
Then hurry up and make the contract and heal the wounds. Make my skin shiny. If possible, if you could make her chest a little bigger, then I’d be okay.
Then the contract ritual began, but I just sat and watched from behind. Looking at my left arm, blood seeped from the wound, and my whole body was covered in scratches. I thought I was dodging them, but was I just not noticing?
When the Undead Queen disappeared and the magic circle vanished, my consciousness also faded.
I apparently slept for a full day. When I woke up, I was in a fluffy bed with a soft duvet. Ah, noble life is nice. I wonder if it’s about the same living standard as modern-day Japan. If Alana weren’t sleeping next to me, I wouldn’t have gotten into trouble with Sophia.
Christine, Alana, and Orietta were in the room, probably worried about me. The two of them were sleeping on a large sofa, but Alana was sleeping in bed with me.
Pushirira and Sophia opened the door and entered. Sophia, upon seeing Alana, pulled Alana’s ear without even saying “good morning.”
While Alana, safely seated on the sofa, was by my side, I also tried to get up and threw off the duvet, but my left hand just grasped at empty air. That’s right, I didn’t have a left hand.
“Ohh, you don’t have to get up. Keep sleeping.”
Pushirira’s gentle words sank into me. Propping myself up, I asked about what happened while I was asleep.
The contract went well, and the Undead Queen became Rufina’s subordinate. Rufina’s body has also returned to normal. My left hand rotted off, and I’ll have to get a prosthetic.
The prosthetic arms in this world move like real hands, but the loss of my limb still affects me greatly. I’m happy for Rufina, but I can’t fully rejoice.
“Captain~! I’m okay~! Ori-chan will make you the best prosthetic arm~!”
“If you’re a mercenary, having a prosthetic arm is normal. A friend of mine even replaced their head.”
Pushirira laughed heartily. Such a person doesn’t exist. If you replace your head, you’ll surely die. Trying to force a laugh that way is painful. But, you know…
“I wish I could be made a handsome man too.”
I have to respond to everyone’s kindness. A gloomy captain is just a captain. I am the captain of the White Lily Corps.
As if relieved, everyone gave a small smile. I’m glad I’m here. I downed the drink I found placed there in one go. It’s ale! What are you doing putting alcohol near an injured person?
“G-Gack, Gack, what about Ru-Rufina? Where is she?”
“Rufina, huh…”
Hm? Didn’t you just say her body returned to normal? Why are you hesitating? After a moment of silence, the door opens with a flourish. Rufina enters with a grand entrance.
“Captain, are you alright!”
Still in her black robes, hiding her face, and bursting through the double doors—who is she? Is she a star?!
“Rufina, I’m fine. Are you alright?”
Everyone watched with puzzled eyes as Rufina strode past the White Lily Corps and up to the bed. More than puzzled, there was a sense of incongruity. I don’t know how to explain it, but what is it?
“Look!”
Rufina threw open her robe, revealing herself naked. What a pervert. If she did that in Japan, she’d be reported.
I was involuntarily mesmerized by Rufina’s naked form. Her rotted skin had beautifully returned to normal, and more than that, her skin seemed to have a glow more than before. Her pale skin was slightly flushed, looking healthy. But something is strange…
“Rufina, haven’t you shrunk in height? You’re about the same as Alana…”
Yes, she seemed smaller overall. Alana is the shortest in the White Lily Corps, but Rufina looks about the same. Of course, her chest has also become disappointing.
“There’s a slight reason for this. When my body was healed, I temporarily merged with the Undead Queen. As a result, rather than healing, it became like rewinding my physical time.”
I don’t understand. Explain it more simply for an injured person. Rufina continued, putting on her robe.
“My father completely merged with the Undead King. When you merge, not only does physical decay disappear, but you can return to your body at any point in time you have lived.”
So that’s why Marquis Rutland looked so young?! Considering Rufina’s age and the Marquis’s title, I thought he was young. If he can become young again anytime, there’s no such thing as natural death? Truly undead.
In other words, Rufina also turned back time. Rather than envious, it’s disappointing. Did the Undead Queen shrink Rufina’s chest too? Ah, unnecessary trouble…
“Anyway, I’m glad Rufina is well.”
Rufina, now robed, straightened her back, turned towards me, and bowed her head.
“I am deeply grateful for your efforts for me, Rufina Rutland, on this occasion. My dream as a Necromancer, my heartfelt wish, all have been made possible by you, Mikael Sin. To eternity, I pledge my loyalty and respect to Mikael Sin.”
She suddenly started speaking properly and then uttered difficult words! She’s calling herself “watakushi” and not using “aru.”
What should I say in a situation like this? Should I use proper honorifics? Or is there some kind of template?
“Yeah.”
Looking into Rufina’s eyes, that’s all I replied. So pathetic! I turned my face towards the window out of sheer embarrassment. I need to think of some words.
While I was feeling awkward, Marquis Rutland’s undead servant came to announce that preparations for a meal were complete. I told them to go ahead, saying I needed to change, but changing with just one right arm is difficult. Things I could do normally are now impossible.
I need to have Orietta make me a prosthetic arm soon. As I struggled with a single button, Rufina entered again after a knock on the door.
Rufina, without saying anything, helped me change, and I said nothing either. In the end, Rufina said “Thank you.” …I have no regrets.
