I Refused To Be Reincarnated

Julius knew picking the second option would be no different from selling his brother as a slave, not to mention the duration. A millennium was too long.

But the first option was a risky bet, too. After all, once he agreed, what guarantee did he have the ghost king wouldn't kill him and turn him into a ghost on the spot?

'I don't know,' he thought, despair creeping into his young heart. Yet, he had to make a choice. One with lasting consequences for both of them, no less.

Sweat dripping from his forehead, he gathered his courage and asked, "What prevents you from turning me into a ghost on the spot after I pick the first option?"

"Lies are banned from my territory, and I only speak truths," answered the ghost king, a smile tugging at his lips. Then, after seeing the boy's sceptical expression, he added. "If you are unconvinced, I can take a soul oath."

Silence engulfed the room again as Julius pondered, 'With our link, picking the second option is even worse. I'll have to stay in this city and die or see Ossian destroy it.'

Unwillingness covered his features. Ever since his birth, his big brother had been bound to him for reasons no one could figure out. Would breaking that link have terrible unforeseen consequences?

As the boy pondered, the silent Morgane suddenly chimed in, her emotionless voice echoing against the silence. "I can reveal one of this world's secrets," she started, trying to find convincing words before adding. "Without knowing it, you'll die in a few years."

"Oh? Interesting, but I don't think a mere secret has more value than these two," Ossian replied, scanning the red-headed girl's soul with his glowing eyes. After a second, they lit up, causing Morgane to tremble.

"Tell me that secret. In exchange, I'll remove that slave spell plaguing your life force and hindering your emotions," he said, his smile broadening.

"I-I..." Morgane stuttered, tempted by the offer. It was her biggest dream to free herself from the royal's control and roam the world. Yet, despite the chance to achieve it, she doubted.

'Can I selfishly accept, leaving them to fend for themselves?' She thought, guilt veiling her eyes as she considered the question seriously. With only that secret as a bargaining chip, she would have nothing to offer Ossian to help the duo.

"I refuse," she mumbled, her heart aching in consequence. Despite her desire, helping the duo was her priority right now. Even if their interactions were limited, they had only shown her kindness, endangering themselves and ending up wounded, all to find her mother. 'How will I look at myself in a mirror after abandoning them?' She thought, trying to appease her chaotic emotions.

"You know where to find me if you change your mind," Ossian responded, unbothered by her refusal and not planning to change his price. Regardless of her secret, he still believed Julius and Adam had more value. After all, he witnessed a kid in the middle of the second tier defeat a late-stage tier four dullahan with his own eyes.

"Now, make your choice before it is too late," the ghost king said, pressing Julius for an answer and gazing at Adam's flickering figure.

Everyone gazed at the boy, anticipating his answer with bated breaths.

Knowing time was running thin, Julius stopped thinking. With a grimace, he resolved himself, starting, "I chose the f..."

However, he halted mid-sentence, his eyes widened in confusion. 'What is that?' he thought, staring at a transparent window floating before his face. Then, his eyes bulged as two words suddenly appeared on it.

[Option Two.]

He read the short answer, doubts filling his mind again. 'Why option two? Who is trying to communicate with me?' he mused, frowning. Option two was the worst. He had already established that. At least, with the first, they would have time to search for solutions to free him from the promise.

So, why two?

After a brief instant, he resolved himself to ignore the message and chose the first. Yet, before he could, the window enlarged, the letters becoming bigger and denser. Then, under his bulging eyes, two more lines appeared.

[Name: Adam]

[Race: Spectral sovereign]

'Is big brother trying to communicate?' He thought before realising something bizarre. 'What's a spectral sovereign?' He added in alarm. Even after crossing the canyon, they found no ghost remotely similar to Adam. After all, he was the only one who could use pure mana and had no innate ability.

'Or were our perspectives biased the whole time, and his innate ability is the possession of mana circuits?' He mused, deciding to trust the message for better or worse.

"I chose the second option," he declared, closing his eyes, doubts gnawing at his heart.

"Alright, I'll apply a mark on you to..." Ossian began before abruptly halting, his eyes narrowing. 'Is he less intelligent than predicted?' He pondered, wondering if Julius failed to understand the implications.

"Are you sure? One thousand years is no joke," he said, subtly trying to influence him.

But the boy firmly replied, "I'm not sure, but that's what I picked."

"Verry well," Ossian grumbled, walking toward the unconscious flickering ghost, his facade perfect. Yet, he was dancing inwardly. Of course, he would have preferred having the boy first. But it didn't matter for his long-term plan, anyway.

After seeing how close the duo was, possessing one of them was the same as having both, according to his understanding. So, truthfully, the two propositions were unavoidable traps.

Satisfied by the outcome, he channelled his potent soul essence, placing his hand above Adam. Bright grey light glowed from his fingers as strands of soul energy melded with the dying ghost, alleviating the flickering gradually.

Five seconds later, Adam's ethereal mist swirled and condensed, repairing his mangled chest and shoulder and causing everyone to sigh in relief but Nova.

She knew Ossian would next brand his slave mark into Adam's soul, forcing him to serve him for a thousand years. But what could she do? She was his weak slave herself and couldn't go against a tier-six ghost king...