ITK C392: A Special Guest

It’s me.
I feel like Sensei’s not himself lately.

Like, he’s not lively.
No, I don’t even know if a Lifeless King should even be lively in the first place.

Anyway, he looks lonely.

I wondered if it was because a lot of us from the farm were busy with the expo.
Many orcs, goblins, and other residents stayed behind to do some minor work in the winter, though.

Besides, Sensei’s supposed to have his hands full teaching the students, so I don’t think he’d be lonely…

“Do you want to go to the expo too, Sensei?”
“Oh, no. Not at all!!!”

That’s clearly a reaction to someone who hit bulls-eye.

“Why not? It’s not like it’s the first time you’re visiting human civilization, right?”

He’s been to Mr. Dalkish’s territory to summon the Three Mother Goddesses before.
He ventured into his homeland for the first time in a thousand years and seemed to have had fun interacting with the humans.

I say having him join us will be more fun, too.

“I’ve changed my mind… I did something thoughtless.”

Is he referring to when he showed himself to the humans?

“Lifeless Kings are a threat to mankind. Encountering them means death. Because we are unbound by the laws of nature, we disregard the life even of those around us.”
“Where is this all coming from, Sensei?”
“I don’t think I should casually mingle with the living.”

Is Sensei, perhaps…
Still bothered by the fact that Mr. Silver Wolf got terrified of him or that one time he saw a brutal Lifeless King during their field trip?

“It’s okay, Sensei! We know best that you’re kind and not like other Lifeless Kings!”
“But…”

Even the students are swarming around the uncharacteristically timid Sensei.

“Don’t feel so down, Sensei!”
“You’ve been nothing but kind to us, guiding us every step of the way!”
“You’re not a bad guy!”

He seems moved by the encouragement from students of all three races.

“Kids…”

Having his spirits uplifted, Sensei once again leaves the farm to visit human-inhabited land.
But this time, just to observe.

---

Since it had been announced in advance a special guest was coming, everyone was restless as they went from pavilion to pavilion.

“Who’s the special guest?”
“Maybe a celebrity?”

No one even anticipated he was no longer human.

As soon as Sensei appeared, the expo hall was seized by a paralyzing fear.

“Noooooooooo! It’s a monster!”
“An undeaaaaad!”
“It’s a Lifeless Kinggggg!”

Among the visitors, many were horrified by the sight of Sensei. Some even fainted.
Sensei has already suppressed his miasma, so their reactions were purely out of fear toward a Lifeless King.

“I knew it…”

Just when Sensei was about to be brokenhearted…

“I’m so glad you came, Sensei!”

Demon King Zedan welcomes Sensei with open arms.
Even he has come today.

“Oh, did you come here to meet me, by any chance…?”
“Of course! I was one of your students, too!”

I remember the Demon King once lived a secluded life at the farm and learned magic from Sensei.
Now, he’s here to return the favor.

“Don’t forget about me.”
“Great Demon King?!”

The Demon King’s father and predecessor.
He is a lover of culture and has been heavily involved in hosting this event.

“Oh… Oh, I am ever so grateful…”

Sensei’s so moved he looks like he’s about to cry at any moment.

As for the surrounding crowd…

“It’s His Majesty!”
“Has the father and son made peace with each other?”
“They’ve come here to greet a Lifeless King! Is he that important of a person?”
“What if today’s special guest is him?”
“His Majesty! The Great Demon King! A Lifeless King! Which one is the most important guest? I can’t tell!!!”
“Maybe it’s the three of them?”

Anyway, thanks to the royal warm welcome, the atmosphere around Sensei mellowed out.

“Come, Sensei, let’s tour the expo together. And if you like, you can visit the capital afterward. I’d love to show you various places of interest.”
“A Lifeless King’s visit to the capital shall become a millennium commemoration. May you enjoy yourself to the fullest.”

Sensei is smothered with tears of gratitude to be treated as a state guest by the highest authorities.

“Thank you… Thank you…! I’m so glad to have come here.”

Let’s keep it a secret that I felt like a (grown-up) grandson who had come to the city to frolic with his grandfather during this time.

Anyway, I’m just glad Sensei seems to be enjoying the expo in his own way.

---

Oh yeah, in addition to the Demon King and the Great Demon King, another demon was talking to Sensei.
He seemed to be a big wig, but he gave off such a lax vibe; he looked like a regular Joe to me.

“He’s one of the Heavenly Four and the commander of the army, Belphgamilia.”

That’s him?
I’d heard rumors, but I’d never met him before.

“Oh, it’s you. I’ve heard about you.”
“So have I. Coming here was a hassle, but I’ve always wanted to meet you in person.”

Sensei and Mr. Belphgamilia shake hands.
What is this familiar atmosphere?
It’s like they know each other already.

“He is the apprentice of an acquaintance of mine, so I know him,” says Sensei.

What’s that supposed to mean?

“I should’ve said my regards sooner, knowing His Majesty is acquainted with you, a member of the Three Wise and One Folly like my master. But I’m just so lazy that I…”
“I understand. You were that man’s apprentice, after all.”

And then, they laugh it off like two sophisticated people in their world.

According to the details of the conversation, Mr. Belphgamilia was apprenticed to one of the strongest Lifeless Kings, a sage, and was taught a secret breathing technique that allowed him to gain strength comparable to that of a Lifeless King.

…

My brain can’t keep up!

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