The evening bell rang.
Gong, gonnng—the mournful echoes signaled the end of today's war.
"The fight's undecided... it's been so long since my heart raced like this. Maybe... I..."
"Isn't that just because you've been fighting nonstop for half a day and you're out of breath?"
"...Anyway, I'll leave this sword with you! We'll fight again another time!"
At dusk, no matter what, the battle ended.
Humans and Demonkin both went home to eat dinner.
The goal—the giant's greatsword—was retrieved. No need for more overtime.
Still riding on Giant Warlord No.1's shoulder, Lich returned with the giants to Demonkin land.
On the way back—
Ingie, the giant with shining rocklike skin in the sunset, asked Lich:
"Lich-sama, why did you not kill Leila?"
"Why, you ask?"
"You can use that instant-death sorcery, right? Then that musclehead woman could've been killed in one blow..."
"People who don't know necromancy often think 'instant death' means 'a super move that kills anyone instantly,' but Lich wishes to spread the truth. Instant death is really 'forcibly pulling out the soul.' It only works if the target's spirit is weak, with mental penalties like 'careless' or 'afraid'—"
"So it doesn't work on everyone!"
"...Why does everyone cut Lich off? Anyway, yes. Also, one more reason."
"...Sounds like I must ask."
"You don't want to?"
"...Briefly."
"Lich wanted to keep Leila alive."
"Why? She is a human hero, and thus Demonkin's enemy. ...Do not tell me you've grown feelings?"
"No. Her strong body and strong soul have lots of use. But if I kill her, the soul goes to the underworld. If I don't kill her but keep her nearby, there's no facility strong enough to hold that musclewoman. In the end, letting her live is the most efficient and safest way to preserve both body and soul."
"You think of such difficult things."
"...You tuned out just now, didn't you?"
Raise your base intelligence, seriously.
"Lich-sama, thank you for retrieving our greatsword."
"...Well, I worked enough to earn the pay."
"Please continue to support the Giantkin."
"No."
"But Lich-sama, you will be the Giant Warlord."
"Hah?"
That turn made no sense.
Lich tilted his head so far it felt his skull might pop off the spine.
"Oh? Lich-sama, you seem surprised?"
"Of course. Lich never signed up to be Giant Warlord."
"But that greatsword is the very proof of the Giant Warlord. The one who holds it is Giant Warlord."
"Too many 'giant' words, hard to parse."
"And now, Lich-sama is basically a giant."
"Why?"
"Because what you wield as a weapon—that's the former Giant Warlord."
"...Wait, that's not right."
"But you look plenty giant."
"Visually, maybe."
"Our culture says the one who has the giant's greatsword leads us. So, the giant with the greatsword is our general. And the one controlling the giant with the greatsword is you, Lich-sama. So you are basically our general."
"..."
Lich threw the greatsword away.
Ingie hurried to pick it up.
"What are you doing!?"
"Lich doesn't want to be Giant Warlord. Generals fight in the front, right? Giant war style means constant fighting, no rear command."
"Giants don't have a cowardly idea like 'command from the rear.'"
"Lich just wants to research. Fighting on the front line? No thanks."
"But it is the rule."
"Then you be general. You're holding the sword now."
"...That's true!?"
"Congrats on becoming Giant Warlord."
"Thank you. I'm general noooow!!"
Ingie's shout was met with applause from the giants around.
Lich was free from a weird unwanted post.
All's well that ends well.
* * *
"Lich won't be on the battlefield for a while. From now, research only."
Back in the lab, Lich declared this to his beastman students and Wisp Ghost helpers.
He sank into his very reclining chair and sighed.
That's when it happened.
The lab door burst open (though it was a sliding automatic door, so for it to burst meant it was broken), and someone entered.
"Lich-sama, you here ka!?"
It was a woman of dragonkin—
Batlike wings, thick tail, reptilian features.
Her body was small and slim.
But not weak.
Probably because her sleeveless robe showed off toned arms, and the deep slits showed her strong legs.
"Lich-sama! Demon King-sama say, tell you!"
"From the Demon King? What?"
He wanted to pretend not to be home, but couldn't ignore the patron.
Researchers needed some social skill. Sad truth: you couldn't just study.
Lich nervously listened.
The dragonkin woman, with odd intonation, said:
"Dragonkin... defeated Hero!"
"...?"
"Body... you want ka?"
"Yes."
Lich stood.
—Thus, the world's balance shifted.
But the world wouldn't realize the Hero's death until much, much later.
...Unaware of that fate, Lich muttered happily:
"If they're dead, I have to make use of them."