The Boss Wants to Die

Chapter 31

The Boss Wants to Die

Having grown up entrusting his entire life to God, what shocked Michael most was that he had become disillusioned with the Sanctuary.

Yet he couldn’t shake the feeling of betrayal no matter how hard he tried.

Like a relentless curse, it dogged his every step.

‘What on earth happened…?’

“Corrupting me like that, and the Evil God doesn’t give it a second thought.”

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Michael rested his elbows on his thighs and buried his forehead in his hands in despair.

The sunlight pouring over his back cast his face into an even gloomier shadow.

“The reason she wants to die is obvious. She probably just wants to return to the Demon Castle. Just like how players return to the Sanctuary upon death.”

He wanted to dismiss it as that, but he knew better.

The Evil God would not return to the Demon Castle.

The moment she met death, she would be gone forever.

Akt crying out that she wouldn’t resurrect was still vivid in his mind.

“Which means the Evil God lied to me.”

Just why does the Evil God want to die?

Going so far as to tell lies.

Even when he tried to piece together information from the Evil God of the past, his memories were far too fragmented.

There were so many missing puzzle pieces that he couldn’t begin to picture the full image.

“Damn it.”

Ever since becoming a familiar, his swearing had increased.

Irritated by his own inadequacy, he opened the quest window.

The only hope he had left.

It was a quest that had arrived out of the blue when his mind had turned to complete mush.

[For Noble Justice.

You are a priest bestowed with a special mission. Great secrets demand great prices.

Become a Fallen Priest and become a Familiar of the Evil God.

You will be hunted by the Sanctuary, but great deeds for humanity require sacrifice.

Serve the Evil God and draw closer to the secrets of this world.

― Completion Conditions:

➤ Become a Familiar of the Evil God (1/1)

➤ Witness the Evil God’s ‘true form’ (0/1)

― Rewards:

➤ Unlock one hidden story.

➤ Unlock the next quest.

※ This is a chained quest. You must complete this quest to receive the next one.]

When he first read it, he had been so bewildered that he had to read the quest over and over again.

He had only accepted Akt’s offer to meet and talk briefly because of this quest.

He needed information.

In the end, though, Akt hadn’t given him anything useful.

‘Draw closer to the secrets of this world. What could this mean?’

Every time Michael reviewed the quest, he tripped over that sentence.

It felt as though it was poking at the justice he had ruined in his past life, leaving him uneasy and unsettled.

Even the quest title was ‘For Noble Justice.’

There was no way he could have refused it.

And so he had gone as far as becoming a Familiar of the Evil God, but one completion condition was holding him back.

The Evil God’s true form.

“Tsk.”

They could have just written the condition in a simple and clear sentence like a proper quest.

Instead, cryptic wording had created confusion, grinding his progress to a halt.

“True form…”

Did the Evil God have another Polymorph appearance?

There was no way to know.

Sighing, he rubbed his tired, dry skin when a voice calling out to him resonated from the depths of his consciousness.

Michael.

It was the Evil God’s Summon.

Michael forced his tearful-looking face into a cold mask and straightened his back.

Though he had fallen, it was time to pursue justice once more.

Becoming a shadow of the world, he quietly leaped across space.

---

“That is all I have to say.”

Michael delivered what I had requested to Akt, almost word for word.

It was a moment where his lifelong habit of memorizing scriptures by heart truly shone.

“By the way, why on earth are you two acting like that?”

Michael looked at Akt and me with an expression of sheer distaste.

If I had it my way, I would have joined his side and looked at Akt with disgust too.

But I was doomed.

I sulkily shook my tightly held hand.

“What is it, Rowoon-ah? Something you want to say?”

Are you asking because you really don’t know?

When I glared at him with that exact look, Akt made a suggestion entirely opposite to what I wanted.

“Not enough? Want a hug?”

His large hand tightened, as if he were ready to pull me into an embrace at any second.

I shrieked in horror.

“Gross! What is wrong with you, seriously?!”

“You were shaking your hand so cutely.”

Akt was just beaming with pure delight at me.

I shook my hand frantically, like a cat with something stuck to its paw.

“I’m telling you to let go! Keep your fingers still! Stop doing weird things!”

Smack!

I slapped his fingers hard as they tried to tickle the inside of my palm.

Akt cast his eyes down, stroking the back of my hand gently with a sullen pout.

“But your hand is so soft. I can’t stop touching it. And when I tickle your palm, you flinch like a cat. It’s cute.”

He chuckled softly, the corners of his eyes crinkling endearingly.

Passing female players were practically drooling, but to me, Akt’s good looks were nothing short of obnoxious.

Acting sweetly like a demon wearing human skin was Akt’s terrible habit.

“If you can’t stay still, can you at least shut your mouth?”

“Do you hate holding hands that much?”

“Your hands are too big. And rough. Besides, you won’t keep still, you keep doing weird things…”

“You gave me permission to hold hands.”

“I said just hold it!”

Akt groaned strainedly, his prominent Adam’s apple bobbing sensually.

“But you’re just too lovely for that.”

“Ugh!”

Unable to endure his words any longer, I pulled my body as far away as possible.

Since our hands were clasped, my arm stretched taut like a drawbridge, but I didn’t care.

It felt like the only way I could endure it.

“……”

Michael was watching us with a look that suggested his soul had left his body.

“Ah, so you asked why we’re doing this?”

Akt offered with unnecessary kindness.

“No. I do not wish to hear it.”

“We decided to date.”

It’s just playing at dating, though.

I grumbled internally.

“I said I didn’t want to hear it…”

Michael pressed a hand to his face, unable to hold back any longer.

“Have you lost your mind?”

“Instead of blessing a love that has just begun to sprout, I’m not sure it’s right to pour curses on it. Especially for a priest.”

Akt drooped his eyes as if wounded, but Michael’s cold expression didn’t so much as twitch.

“I haven’t lost my mind enough to look favorably upon a priest asking for a blessing because he fell in love with an Evil God made of sin.”

“If you hate it that much, will you be able to travel with us?”

“What choice do I have even if I hate it? If this is my trial, then I must overcome it.”

Perhaps teasing Michael had lost its thrill, because Akt loosened his grip.

Feeling like our palms had gotten sweaty, I rubbed mine against my clothes to wipe it off.

I regretted agreeing to let Akt hold hands whenever he wanted, but I had no choice.

If I hadn’t agreed to that, it would have been impossible to summon Michael under the guise of briefly browsing an accessory shop.

‘He never misses a single opening. Is a priest even allowed to be such an opportunist?’

While I grumbled, still thoroughly disgruntled, Akt and Michael fiercely traded words.

“A justification? Do you really need to go so far as joining the party to find one?”

“Then do you want to be dragged off to the Sanctuary right this second? You’re 188 levels lower than me. A single flick on the forehead would leave you being hauled away like a corpse.”

“If you want to see the Demon Sword run rampant, you’re welcome to try.”

“I know that’s how you’d react, which is precisely why I’m offering to find a pretext and buy you time.”

Veins bulged on Michael’s forehead.

“Physical evidence is needed to prove that the Demon Sword is safe in your hands. A party quest completion scroll makes for quite decent proof.”

“Hmm.”

“Akt, this is a good opportunity for you as well. The Sanctuary won’t bother you for a while.”

Michael’s gaze turned to me this time.

“The Evil God should be convinced by then as well. That I won’t kill her.”

“Hmph.”

I put on a haughty act.

In any case, we had to do our best to deceive Akt.

Just a little more.

‘He’s almost convinced.’

Even after Michael’s explanation, Akt seemed hesitant, displeased by something.

‘What on earth is his problem?’

While I tapped my foot anxiously inside, Akt kindly explained the reason himself.

“I was planning to enjoy a date while pretending to clear a party quest. But you had to butt in without any tact and ruin everything.”

I reflexively smacked Akt on the back.

It was so broad and solid that it felt like hitting a stone wall.

“That was why?! You seriously need to strip off those priest robes!”

“No matter how much it’s an order, stripping here is a bit embarrassing. Can’t you let me off just this once? Master.”

“What…!”

“You said you’d dote on me like a pet.”

Akt replied nonchalantly.

“Then that makes you my master.”

My face turned pale as I looked back at Michael.

His eyes were closed.

The aura around him was ominous—he looked ready to faint on the spot.

A boiling surge of mortification flushed my vision red.

“It’s a misunderstanding, Michael! It’s not like that. He’s just—”

“I do not wish to hear it.”

Pale-faced, Michael operated the system window.

[Michael Iruvre has requested to form a party. Would you like to accept?]

Since I wasn’t the party leader, the accept option wasn’t active for me.

I gritted my teeth and glared at Akt.