I Refused To Be Reincarnated

"He saw everything and is interested in meeting the courageous group who defeated his creation," The guard added, hastening his steps to bring the trio to the palace before Adam fully dissipated.

Upon hearing the meeting had been set, relief washed over Julius' body. With rapid steps, he followed the guard, running behind him, unaware that Nova's face distorted into a grimace.

'I hope he won't ask for everything,' She thought, an icy shiver running down her spine as the ten's eternal sovereign's image flashed in her eyes. Truthfully, she didn't want to see him and be subjected to his commands again. But what alternative did she have? Even if they possessed the dullahan's essence, with Adam's soul collapsing, she had no hope of freeing herself.

Her heart filled with apprehension, she floated behind the soul reaper, her trembling soul catching Morgane's attention.

'I promised to repay them,' the short girl thought, a flash of determination flickering in her emotionless eyes as she continued. 'I'll offer gold or even that royal secret to help them.'

After everything they went through to grant her request, that was the minimum she could think of to pay the favor back. However, she knew money might not be enough. 'They have their own currency,' she remembered, clutching the soul coin's pouch against her chest as her mind raced.

After a minute, her brows furrowed as she realised she owned no valuable items to trade. After all, even if she had gold, she ultimately was a slave.

Minutes passed as the trio cut through the spotless streets, stunning the ghostly citizens.

"They are living beings!" One yelled in panic, scrambling inside his house and swiftly closing the door and windows behind him.

"They found us! Hide until the guards handle them!" Another screamed, alerting his neighbors before everyone hurriedly escaped and barricaded themselves in their habitations.

"Sigh. They all have terrible memories of mortals, especially mages," the guard said, shaking his head. Who could blame them, though? Most sane ghosts ended up enslaved by dark mages, causing them to hide in remote locations or find cities by a stroke of luck.

Then, as the palace closed in their vision, he continued, "Our lord Ossian is really agreeable as long as you follow his rules. Let me explain to you the most important ones. No matter what happens, don't fight in the city. Don't steal others' properties. Don't curse or commit disgusting actions. Finally, don't lie."

After finishing his sentence, his back facing the palace's gates, he turned towards them and genuinely said with glowing eyes, "I'll wait and pray for your friend's healing here."

Julius bowed his head politely to express his gratitude, saying, "I hope for his recovery, too." Then, he swiftly turned, unaware he had broken Nova's advice, causing the soul reaper's eyes to narrow as one of his passive abilities activated.

An image of an old shop's interior appeared in his mind. Scanning it, he saw a smiling old apothecary seated behind a counter. Above him, shelves supporting medicine-filled flasks glowed under the soft sunlight. Finally, he noticed a beautiful woman cleaning and organising different materials in the back room, where steam billowed above a hot cauldron.

The radiant smile they wore warmed his heart, causing him to understand with relief that the boy's soul was pure. Curiously, he shifted his vision to see what lay on the sides before leaving.

He saw a younger version of the boy reading a book under the wounded ghost's tutelage there. However, an inconspicuous figure he almost missed caught his attention.

Cold sweat dripped from his forehead as the seated man rose, his brown eyes peering at him intently, scanning his essence and tier in a second.

'I'm outside, so how can he see me?!' He thought in alarm as the man raised his hand and placed his index on his mouth.

"Swear not to speak or die," the man said, his words causing the guard's souls to tremble despite his tier-five strength.

"I-I swear!" He blurted out in panic, unwilling to displease the mysterious man, who exuded a tangible soul pressure.

As his words lingered, Julius' soul sea blurred. A second later, he recovered his vision, gazing at the boy's departing figure, dread dancing in the depth of his eyes.

Simultaneously, the man sat back and muttered, "They are doing interesting things... But time is ticking, and the day to choose is fast approaching." Then, he fell silent, his eyes glinting mysteriously, fixing an ethereal window.

***

In the meantime, the trio stepped into the palace's corridor. Not wasting time admiring the luxurious decorations lining the walls, they sped towards the throne room's open doors and halted on the red carpet, their eyes widening.

Before them sat a pale ghost donned in intricate golden armor. Its condensed soul, no different from a proper body, screamed power and majesty.

"Welcome to my soul society, living humans," said the ghost, fixing grey strands of hair under his regal crown with his right hand and caressing his neatly trimmed beard with his left. Then, he continued, his voice carrying his authoritative nature, "We don't have enough time to follow the usual negotiation procedure. So, I'll leave you two options."

Raising a finger before Julius could interject, he said, "One: after your death, I'll turn you into a ghost, and you'll serve me."

Surprisingly, his demand targeted Julius, not Adam. After witnessing the boy's two last fights, he realised how incredible his potential was, compelling him to recruit him.

Then, he raised another finger and added, "Two: your unconscious friend will have to serve me for..." He paused briefly before continuing, "Let's say a thousand years?"

A deafening silence echoed his words as Nova gritted her teeth, thinking, 'I knew he would enslave them.'

Simultaneously, Morgane and Julius weighed the offer carefully despite their shock.

'In truth, he only leaves us one option,' Julius thought, understanding the ghost king's strategy. By giving them the illusion of choice, he compelled them to pick the one he wanted.