I Became a Raid Boss-Chapter 109: In the Land of the Dead (5)

When Selene withdrew her hand from the man, the golden divine energy surrounding him faded completely.

His complexion had noticeably improved compared to before her treatment. He was still pale, but at least he no longer looked like he was on the verge of collapsing with his last breath.

“I’ve done everything I can. But...”

“You’re about to say full recovery is impossible, aren’t you?”

“I’m... sorry. I wish I could do more...”

“There’s no need to apologize, Sister. Thanks to you, this dying body of mine has gained a little extra time. How could I possibly blame you? Please, don’t say such things.”

The man was fully aware of the reaper’s scythe hovering over his neck. Even so, he regarded his impending death with a composed acceptance.

“I was prepared for this outcome from the moment I decided to attempt the ‘Ascension Rite.’”

Hearing the unfamiliar term, Selene tilted her head in curiosity.

“The Ascension Rite?”

“It’s a ritual to forcefully absorb miasma and elevate one’s essence.”

“Are you, by any chance... from our clan—or, perhaps I should say, a demon?”

“Do I look like one?”

“Well, not exactly.”

As I explained to Selene, the man turned to me with a questioning look.

It was only natural; this ritual was known exclusively among demons, and here I was, knowledgeable about it. If Edel hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known, either.

“Yes, as the young lady said, the Ascension Rite is a ritual where one accepts miasma to elevate both soul and body.”

“Hmm.”

Young lady, huh.

Not my favorite title, but compared to “little girl” or “kid,” it wasn’t too bad.

I nodded in satisfaction, while Selene looked puzzled.

“You increase your essence by absorbing miasma?”

“That’s correct.”

“I hope it’s not rude to say, but... it sounds incredibly dangerous.”

“Haha, rude? You’re quite right; it’s indeed a dangerous ritual.”

“Forcing in more miasma than one’s capacity can handle is naturally perilous.”

Even pure mana could be lethal under such strain; miasma only made it worse.

Imagine stuffing a stomach already full to the brim with unknown, spoiled food.

Either it bursts violently, leading to immediate death, or it slowly kills through poisoning—the outcome is the same.

And the man before me was clearly in the latter category.

Sure, well-used poison could act as a medicine, and perhaps, if lucky, he could survive and grow stronger.

But what were the odds?

“How many have succeeded so far?”

“...The previous chieftain and the current chieftain. Only the two of them.”

“Two people...”

In response to Selene’s question about how many had attempted, the man continued.

“Before answering that, I should tell you this first. Since Lady Atisha guided you here, I assume you already know our mission.”

“To purify contaminated mana, right?”

“Ah, so you do know. Then I can keep it brief.”

Their duty, as assigned by Lady Edel, involved purifying the overflowing miasma. I already knew the basics, so I let his words wash over me without paying too much attention.

“...So, we didn’t stop the younger ones when they chose to move to other continents. Our duty is important, but so are their lives.”

Still, there were some interesting bits.

Apparently, younger demons lacked the same sense of duty and prioritized survival.

It might have sounded old-fashioned, but the way he said it, without judgment, kept it from feeling that way.

I thought of the villages on the Ardina continent, where demons hid under the weight of guilt for abandoning their homeland and duty.

“Those who stayed either had the resilience to endure or resolved to bury their bones here, no matter the cost.”

“What’s so important about that duty?”

“Haha...”

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The man merely chuckled at my almost petulant grumble.

“In the end, those who could no longer endure had three choices. First, they could follow the young ones to Ardina. Second, they could stay here and accept their death. And third...”

“The Ascension Rite, right?”

With all that groundwork, anyone could guess that much.

“By elevating their essence through the Ascension Rite, they could continue living in Raxia. And if they died... well, they were already prepared to be buried here.”

“Are you sure you’re not a demon yourself?”

“Feel free to check.”

Lifting the hair over my forehead, I saw him shake his head.

“I wasn’t actually doubting you; it’s just that you answered too accurately.”

“I had a cheat sheet.”

“Cheat sheet...? Well, there’s one thing you misunderstood. For those of us who attempt the Ascension Rite, it’s not that we don’t care if we fail.”

“Of course, you’d hope for success.”

“No, that’s not what I meant...”

Selene, who had jumped in to answer, awkwardly pulled back.

“Even if we fail, our death contributes to Raxia, to our clan. That’s why we embrace it willingly.”

“Even in death, it helps?”

“Haha, I see you’re unaware of that part. It’s a joy to finally have something to teach you.”

“Fine, get on with it.”

“When one fails the Ascension Rite, they either explode and die instantly or succumb to their injuries not long after. However, in the moment of death, the vast amount of miasma within us dissipates as well.”

“What? That can’t be...”

“It can. Though our bodies are tainted by miasma—”

The man lifted his hand, pressing his pale fingers to his chest.

“Our souls remain untainted.”

In that final moment of death, as the soul departs from the body, the soul and miasma blend, diluting the corruption.

While it doesn’t purify completely, it buys us some time.

The man explained it that way.

“Because miasma can go berserk, we perform the Ascension Rite in deserted areas. Those who fail go to a quiet place to die alone.”

Images flashed through my mind: bodies strewn along the shore, corpses abandoned on the roadside, as if they’d been on their way somewhere but hadn’t made it.

Seeing Selene’s reaction, with her hand covering her mouth, I knew she was thinking the same.

“They’re insane...”

Whether burning one’s soul was possible or not, anyone willing to do such a thing had to be mad.

As I mulled over his words, a small smile crept onto my face.

“Then again, I’m not really one to talk.”

“Pardon? Did you say something?”

“No, nothing. Anyway, is everyone who’s alive gathered in the center?”

“Yes. Those who lived on the outskirts have mostly moved to Ardina, and those who remain live at the center. It’s the only way to maintain the village.”

“Yeah, that makes sense.”

As the man’s lengthy tale concluded with such an unsettling truth, I felt my mind wander.

I’d known about the Ascension Rite from Edel, but only in theory; I hadn’t understood how deeply the participants were committed.

I knew demons valued their mission, but not to this extent.

“My story is more or less finished, so if it’s not impolite, may I ask a question?”

“...What is it?”

“Why are you heading to the center?”

“Quite a quick question.”

“Haha...”

I suppose he hadn’t had much chance to ask before.

“That Ascension Rite you mentioned.”

The fire had dwindled while we were talking.

I threw the remaining logs on, and the flames surged larger than before.

“I plan to try it myself.”

Of course, unlike you, I don’t intend to fail.

Sacrificing my soul to benefit others? I’m not exactly the self-sacrificing type.

I fully intend to succeed.

To succeed and...

As I stoked the flames with a stick, I noticed the sudden silence around me and lifted my head.

The man and Selene were staring at me with identical expressions, like mirror images.

In other words, they looked at me as if questioning my sanity.

“...What?”

I’d have thought Selene, at least, would understand.

“Didn’t Edel tell you?”

Selene nodded quietly.

“No...”

“Ah, I see.”

Right, it made sense. She didn’t know about the Ascension Rite or our objective.

It’s ridiculous to work together without knowing the goal.

What had Edel been doing, keeping everyone in the dark?

See, this is why having a proper superior is important.

In that sense, I thought I hadn’t been a bad leader.

No such confusion had ever happened under my command.

Even if my subordinates grumbled, I always took charge and smoothed things over if a conflict was brewing.

Those who resisted were usually the nobility, but if I sat them down and talked it out, they’d come around.

Of course, for some reason, every time, the infirmary saw an increase in patients, but it’s not unusual for knights to sustain injuries from intense training.

Bang!

“That’s not the issue here!”

“Whoa.”

Suddenly, Selene jumped to her feet, her voice louder than usual, which made me frown.

“You’ll wake everyone. Speak quietly.”

“Are you really considering this after hearing that your soul could be lost if you fail?”

“For us, the Ascension Rite dilutes miasma; it doesn’t—”

Glare.

The man, interrupted by Selene’s sharp gaze, fell silent.

Even though he’d likely lived far longer than Selene, given his respectful address of Atisha, he was thoroughly cowed by her intensity.

“There’s a misunderstanding. Edel suggested this method.”

“...Lady Edel?”

“Yeah.”

Honestly, I wouldn’t have known about it if Edel hadn’t told me.

“Why would she...?”

“Why else? I already told you.”

The purpose of the Ascension Rite, as the man explained, was exactly what I needed.

By succeeding in the ritual, I’d attain—

“An elevated essence.”

A level far higher than what I currently possessed.

Oh, I’d misspoken.

Not if I succeeded.

“I will succeed.”

As I’d said before, I had no intention of failing.