After handing over the rough blueprint of the afterlife to Talos and leaving him with the expansion work – Talos’s expression looked inexplicably very sad, but it must’ve been my mistake. Like a golem would even have expressions. – I observed the dragons, the life givers.
It seemed that due to being bored from sitting in the corner, quite a large number of dragons had gathered, making an impressive sight.
「KIIIIEEEEEEK?! Creator Dragon God?! Why the Creator Dragon God?!」
「Lord! That’s different!! The Creator Dragon God isn’t here, right!!! I need to escape from here!!!」
「Oh Honorable Creator Dragon God. With your merciful heart, please look upon us pitifully. Oh Honorable Creator Dragon God. With your merciful heart, please look upon us pitifully. Oh Honorable Creator Dragon God. With your merciful heart, please look upon us pitifully.」
Ha-ha-ha. What a mess.
The only thing I could say while watching this chaos was…
“Do not be afraid.”
A phrase that gave absolutely no reassurance.
But you know what? I understand why you’re scared. However, I’m not here for that. I’m merely here to oversee if what you’re planning to do is going correctly.”
I glanced around at the gathered dragons and spoke.
“So, carry out the tasks you’re supposed to do.”
At my words, the Dragon Lord chimed in in agreement.
“Like the Creator Dragon God said, we must do our duty. Who wants to waste their life dozing off in a dark cave without sunlight anymore?”
“But that’s not so bad!”
“Shut that mouth of yours!!”
While one dragon got pummeled by the tails of surrounding dragons, the Dragon Lord continued speaking nonchalantly.
“If we handle this task well, the Creator Dragon God won’t pull us out of our bodies and turn us into spirits anymore! Thus, we will gain freedom!”
No, I don’t do that anymore… This guy… He knows I don’t get angry about that matter anymore and is using it to control the dragons…
“From now on, we will be known as life givers, and the Creator Dragon God will assign us the task of caring for countless lives in this world! We will be workers tending to the Tree of Life, following the Creator Dragon God’s will, freely traveling around the world!”
All I asked the Lord to do was neutralize the malice rising from underground… Why is the story going this way?
That guy… subtly expanding the scope of his assigned duties…
What’s his intention? Surely he doesn’t have a bizarre hobby of increasing his workload!
“Alright then, oh Creator Dragon God. Since those who will follow your will have gathered, please give them a word.”
Huh? Suddenly drawing attention to me here?
I don’t exactly know what this guy wants, but… might as well play along.
“I shall support you all, so do your best.”
Simultaneously, numerous roars from the dragons filled the world.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
“So, what’s your scheme?”
“What scheme?”
The Dragon Lord, polymorphed into human form, smiled calmly and said,
“I just wanted to offer other options to my kin who were doing nothing.”
“There was no need to involve me in such a thing.”
“No, it was necessary.”
The Dragon Lord continued in a light tone,
“At the end of the Age of Dragons, the scene the Creator Dragon God showed… It became a strong restraint for the surviving dragons. Seeing countless dragons losing their bodies and turning into spirits at just one gesture of yours… Even thinking about it makes me shiver.”
That was a bit harsh, I admit, but they asked for it…
Knowing the result beforehand, I still granted their request.
“As for me, if others think they’ll meet the same fate as those spirits just by getting on your bad side…”
“I’ve already said I won’t do that anymore.”
“Even if you say that, the other dragons won’t feel the same way. In such a situation… Tada! A new task has emerged.”
“A new task…”
Meaning the job of giving life.
“The Creator Dragon God gave direct orders, named it personally, and even cheered us on directly. Doing this job… The dragons will have a faint belief that they won’t be abandoned by you.”
“They won’t be abandoned from the start.”
“Even if you say that… The dragons perceive things differently.”
So you’re saying the dragons stayed cooped up because of me?
Ugh… Admittedly, I did go a bit overboard back then…
“Anyway, the dragons will start moving little by little, so I hope you continue to support them. If you do, all the dragons will move as your hands and feet.”
At that, I nodded slightly.
Indeed, there probably aren’t any creatures stronger than dragons in this land. Their utility is unparalleled.
Though I should worry that their overwhelming power might disrupt the world’s balance.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Thus, the dragons began to neutralize the rising malice from the land… The land called the Dragon’s Tomb.
Increasing their vitality through magical power and purifying the rising malice with it, the dragons started their work.
While observing the dragons, I conducted research on concentrated malice and also created spring water to restore the dragons’ overused vitality.
This spring water, which could be drunk or applied to the body for effect, greatly helped the dragons who used too much vitality.
However, using that spring water as a center, they quickly built structures, eventually constructing a grand temple… What is this all about?
Moreover, they offered me the best room in that temple. Though I’m somewhat grateful, it’s unnecessary…
Well, it’s not something I should concern myself with.
While conducting various researches and observing the dragons’ work…
An urgent-looking Dragon Lord entered the room where I was staying.
“Creator Dragon God. The dark spirits are gathering.”
“The dark spirits?”
“Yes. They say their numbers are countless. One of the dark spirits mentioned that they were doing something you instructed…”
At the Dragon Lord’s words, I nodded slightly. Seems like they properly followed the order to gather as many dark spirits as possible.
“With such a great number, looks like they carried out my instructions properly.”
Since more manpower is better, they brought quite a lot.
“Where are the dark spirits?”
“I shall guide you.”
Following the Dragon Lord’s guidance, I headed towards the Dragon’s Tomb.
There, I found an impressive sight of numerous dark spirits, including Shade, gathered together.
Wow, the land is completely enveloped in darkness.
“It’s truly astonishing. The malice is beyond reach for the dark spirits.”
“I’m somewhat curious if other spirits are the same, but first things first.”
Approaching Shade, the largest spirit standing at the front, I said,
“You seem to have gathered quite a lot. Do you know how many exactly?”
“We’ve gathered so many that counting holds no meaning. Please let our efforts aid the Creator Dragon God.”
The respectful Shade made me smile slightly.
“You’ll have no immediate tasks since your workplace is still under construction, but learning how to transport souls would be beneficial.”
“Transporting souls?”
“Yes. Since the task I’ll assign you involves bringing the souls of the deceased, learning that skill would be helpful.”
Though I currently have no souls to teach with, I’ll have to instruct you later when I do.
Ah, right.
“And I have a gift for you as the representative of the dark spirits carrying out my orders.”
“Honored to receive such a gift.”
I took out an item made from concentrated malice.
A pitch-black scythe, black from blade to handle.
Hmm, seems appropriate for a grim reaper!
“This is…?”
“A scythe materialized from concentrated malice. It’s a weapon crafted specifically for you, the leader of the dark spirits transporting souls.”
I handed the large scythe to Shade, who carefully received it.
As expected, while this scythe would be dangerous for other beings to even hold, it has no effect on the dark spirit Shade.
And it suits him perfectly, just as I imagined.
Here’s one more gift for you.
“I shall bestow upon you a new name. As the chief of those who transfer the souls of the deceased, you shall henceforth be known as Thanatos.”
The god of death from Greek mythology.
“Thanatos… So this is my new name.”
“Yes. I trust you from now on, Thanatos.”
The dark spirit who lost his original name and was called Shade until now deeply bowed his head in gratitude to me.
