Past Life Returner

Mount and Caso looked the same as I remembered them. I could feel the tension through their downcast demeanor. When I looked down, the only one who met my gaze was the bastard, while the rest only showed the backs of their heads.

However, the bastard would stand at the judgment stand with Entegast. Hence, regardless of its innate cheeky nature, it couldn’t afford to remain completely at ease. The anxiety was evident in its eyes which were still playfully smiling at me.

[You said you would defend me, right?]

I nodded.

[If you fail to defend me properly, I, Lu-neah, will suffer the consequences. Remember how our master handled Insectum.]

I couldn’t tell what was happening beyond the curtain. However, something was undoubtedly occurring there as the entire curtain began to ripple.

I, too, lowered my head from then on. Mount and Caso seemed even more intimidated as they sensed the ominous atmosphere. They were frozen, not even moving a finger like little mice trapped in fear. A division was formed with the curtain as the boundary. The curtain was continuously vibrating, contrary to the stiff atmosphere below.

The bastard’s message appeared much later, directed to all the Dooms.

[Our Master has declared that the matter is of grave importance and will be sorted out on the judgment stand. All lords, be prepared.]

[Don’t ask me what to be ready for because even I, Lu-neah, do not know.]

At first, I wondered what it meant. Soon, the ground shook, and a solemn power broke through the curtain. It emerged like a gust of wind, but soon transformed into a vortex, stirring the space. The force that filled beneath the curtain carried a weight to it. It reminded me of the power of constructing the Time Reversal insignia.

I could withstand it, but the others couldn’t do the same. Under the weight of immense pressure, knees buckled and heads bowed as if coerced by an overpowering force. It felt as if any further increase in power would cause a cataclysmic eruption.

Even I kneeled down and lowered my head.

[There was an accusation leveled by me, Doom Lu-neah, that Doom Entegasto conspired with Doom Lu-neah to orchestrate the demise of Doom Man.]

Next to the staircase, something began to form in a pitch-black void that was previously empty. Nonetheless, it was small and was merely a foothold. Undeniably, it was a stand of judgment for Entegasto.

[Continuous conflicts among our lords are certain to incur the anger of our Almighty Master.]

[So, our master has chosen to personally judge both Doom Entegasto and Doom Lu-neah.]

A colossal figure emerged from beyond the curtain. Just as it had been during the battle, it was not exceedingly towering, only slightly taller than me.

Entegasto stepped on the stand, which coincidentally aligned with my eye level. Its gaze on me was still filled with suspicion. As the bastard flew toward the stand, it finally looked away.

[Our Almighty Master has a message to those lords who are doubting his omniscience, so listen carefully.]

[Our Master is indeed almighty. He sees and hears everything. However, as many of you know, the only entity capable of opposing our Master is the Old One.]

[This incident, where Doom Entegasto and Doom Lu-neah conspired for the death of Doom Man, happened when our Master was confronting the Old One.]

...What the hell is it saying? It happened while Doom Kaos was dealing with the Old One?

I thought Entegasto had been blocking Doom Kaos’s view.

[If that was not the case, then the perpetrator of this event would have been immediately punished by our Master, the omniscient one. Even Doom Entegasto could not be an exception.]

[He hopes everyone learns a lot from this trial. Then…]

[Our omnipotent and Almighty Master will begin the trial!]

The curtain shook fiercely again, and it was a powerful command from Doom Kaos that made me open my mouth.

[Our Master has decided to hear from Doom Man first. Doom Man, please begin~]

***

I received the right to speak.

“Everyone knows that Doom Entegasto harbors animosity against me. Despite that, I never expected Doom Entegasto to plot my murder. Why do you think so? I am the vanguard. I am carrying the burden, including the responsibility of the injured Doom Arukuda, Doom Entegasto, and other lower lords who have yet to release the seal of the Great Red.”

I gulped before continuing.

“Although Entegasto has a grudge against me, I think it would have understood what kind of sin it would be to forsake our Master’s will and conspire for my death. To achieve victory in the war, we lords must fulfill our master’s orders instead of being swayed by personal feelings.”

“...”

“Thus, I thought Entegasto would fulfill the duties of a loyal subject first. I believed that it, too, would control its emotions to offer victory to our Master. However, Entegasto has conspired with Lunea and ended up plotting for my death. But its greatest sin is not that.”

That was enough for the introduction, and it was time to move on to the main point.

“Lunea said that it had no choice but to comply with Entegasto’s coercion.”

Then, I looked at the bastard. It had been waiting for this moment as well.

[Hehe, good job! I, Lu-neah, will take over.]

[Also, I will borrow your tone a bit. That would be more effective to deliver messages to our Master. So, don’t complain, okay?]

The bastard was unable to bear the furious gaze of Entegasto, so it flew higher. Entegasto raised its head and continued to stare at the tiny spirit.

[Why would I ever lie in this circumstance?]

[I am much weaker than Doom Man. Planning Doom Man’s death? I am not foolish enough to plan such a thing alone.]

[One of the reasons why our Master values Lu-neah so highly is precisely because of my ‘wisdom.’]

[I will confess to you, my master, without any false flattery. Doom Entegasto summoned and threatened Lu-neah to kill Doom Man.]

[I had no choice but to follow its orders. No, I had no choice but to pretend to obey.]

[I know. The sin of not immediately telling you, my lord, the truth at the time is an unforgivable sin. But I could not do so. This is because I knew that our Master’s will lie in the victory of the war.]

[Entegasto dared to disobey your orders and kill Doom Man? How could I possibly report that? I would have been free from Doom Entegasto’s threat, but that would be all.]

[How angry would our Master have been? Our Master would have no choice but to punish Entegasto, a long-time faithful servant. How devastated would our Master’s heart be?]

[Ultimately, if our Master punishes Entegasto, it would have only been good for the Old One’s faction.]

[Doom Entegasto was consumed by rage and plotted a futile act, but it was out of personal feelings towards Doom Man. We all know of Entegasto’s loyalty to you, my Master. That loyalty is something we, your subordinates, should emulate.]

[Therefore, I am willing to accept all punishments and quietly resolve everything.]

[My Master… I plead with you. Please. Please calm your anger. Doom Entegasto must also be deeply repentant over this incident.]

[Also, please recognize my loyalty. Please consider that the sin I committed is great, but it was all to bring you victory… Lu-neah is also deeply repentant over this incident.]

[I will accept punishment, but please spare my life. I will never casually judge your will again.]

[I… I had no choice this time…]

The bastard didn’t stop at following my tone, but it stayed conscious of it even after the trial ended. It appeared to be walking a tightrope between Entegasto and me, but such a future that it was preparing for would never come as today would be its last day.

Then, the bastard looked at me with a face asking me to defend it.

[Please tell the Master how deep my loyalty is. Even if you have to make up a story… Please make it as long as possible. Please use your imagination, Doom Man! Lu-neah will play along with whatever you say. Hurry! Hurry~!]

I opened my mouth.

“Before the trial began, our Master said he did not know the details of this case because he was facing the Old One.”

[W…wait. What are you…trying to say?]

“But Lunea once told me that Entegasto was covering the Master’s eyes with his power and that the master could not know what was happening back then. Therefore, I have some doubts. If Entegasto intentionally blocked your view, then that would be the biggest crime that Entegasto has committed.”

[ (｡◕ˇдˇ◕｡) What the heck are you saying?]

The bastard sent a message to me instantly.

[When did Lu-neah say that? Are you trying to frame Entegasto by making up a story?]

[Cancel that right now! Entegasto will be driven into a corner now!]

[Master won’t kill Entegasto then. Even after the judgment, Entegasto will live and continue to threaten Lu-neah! Please…]

The bastard sent me messages like that, but…

[No! I have never said such a thing. I think Doom Man has misunderstood or perhaps misinterpreted something I said!]

It raised its voice beyond the curtain. However, Entegasto was the one who was actually flustered, not Lunea. The murderous intent emanating from Entegasto as it glared at Lunea was perceived as bewilderment to me.

The bastard shuddered as it looked at me.

[This will not work.]

[Do you actually not know what the Book of Death is? When all three books are gathered, it will cause a tremendous power to emerge. Entegasto had to disperse them out of fear of that. Are you not curious about where the last volume is? Are you not going to make your priest the Undead Emperor?]

[Ugh… Come on. Let’s stick to the script. It will be a win-win situation.]

[For Doom Man, it is a golden opportunity to not only gain Lu-neah but also the strength of the entire spirit tribe. And even the Undead Emperor. Please retract your previous words immediately!]

Entegasto’s gaze shifted from Lunea to above the curtain. It also appeared to be starting a refutation. Every now and then, it glanced at Lunea, and its body trembled uncontrollably in rage.

After a moment…

[Don’t resent Lu-neah, Doom Man. It is only because you didn’t follow the script first. You have ruined what could have been a symbiotic relationship.]

[My Master. Please kill Lu-neah. I will confess everything as it is. I have committed a great sin again. I deserve death as I have outraged both the Master and Doom Entegasto.]

[This was all a play by Doom Man to take the place of Doom Entegasto.]

[He promised to return one Book of Death and my necklace if I cooperated.]

[Doom Man said…]

I shouted out as well, “Oh, my Master! Please execute Entegasto. Also, please give me the last volume of the Book of Death that Entegasto is currently holding. Please don’t worry about Entegasto’s absence. I will take over its duties as well!”