Reborn As An Evolving Monster

"How can you prove that the Value you'll show is for the answer that I seek?"

"Just take my word for it."

"Ha! And why would I?"

"Oh..." A screen had appeared in front of Mark. "Didn't expect that."

"How can you prove that-" The Undead Lich was interrupted before it could repeat its question.

"System, show him."

Its face was nothing more than bones. Lacking muscles, no expression could be seen or read.

But Mark could tell that the Undead Lich was stunned.

"That doesn't mean anything."

"WHAT DO YOU IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING??" Mark shouted as the Undead Lich nonchalantly swayed its hand.

"I have no idea what kind of Information you thought about weighing. No idea how many pieces of information you grouped together."

"Ha." Mark chuckled. "Is there even a number that would justify a number like that?"

The Undead Lich remained silent for a couple of seconds.

"No... I can't." It admitted.

"See? Worth a lot, huh?"

[The Information has been Valued at 4.750.000 Gold Coins.]

"How come?"

"So that's a high number in general, huh?"

"There are very little things that cost this much or more."

"Good to know. Guess we should work on that Contract again, huh? Your 25.000 don't seem as-"

"The Contract has already been signed. Plus, I already fulfilled my part."

"The Value justifies it, I would say. The difference in Value. I didn't realize that my Information was that much more valuable, since I thought that I would get more out of you."

"Fine... I get this Information, then we can have three questions each-"

"I refuse. I get a hundred questions. You get none."

"Hahahaha!" The Undead Lich laughed out loud. The situation was ridiculous but, "What makes you think you can have it your way."

"The Value of the Information you gave is barely 1% of what I'm giving. Actually, about 0.5%. That's 5 in a thousand. Would you prefer that? I get one thousand questions and you get five? We can take turns. You'll have your chance to ask after my 200 questio-"

[The System has altered the Contract according to both Contractors' wishes and arguments.]

Additional messages were read and,

"What kind of bullshit is that? I tell you the Information then... Five questions for me and three for you? What the fuck is this?" Mark's annoyance was tangible.

The Undead Lich let out a sigh of relief.

'Good thing I was quick to offer a Contract. The fact that we didn't weigh the Information before that certainly saved me from having to give out a thousand answers. Phew... He's not knowledgeable on how Contracts and Vows work, so the System gave him some leeway. He didn't know how valuable the Information was... No, he knew. Otherwise, the Contract would have been made void, with reparations paid to me, of course. He knew it was valuable, but he didn't know it was THAT valuable...'

'Tsk. I should have thought about it more! 4.750.00 Gold Coins, huh? Wonder if I could've taken the money instead. Don't know where or how I would spend it though... Five questions to three. That's fine with me. I didn't come here expecting anything in the first place. While the Information might have Value, sharing it doesn't hurt me in any way. Sharing it with too many might decrease its Value but... I am killing him afterward. Or ending him I should say? Undead Lich. Inside the Dungeon, I had to crush its head. What about this one? What if it can use Dark Magic in the same way? How would I approach that? Maybe...'

The Undead Lich suddenly felt growing animosity coming from the white-scaled Monster. It was still seated a good distance away. The white-scaled Monster wasn't even looking the Undead Lich's way. Still, the Lich could tell.

'Ha...' It chuckled internally. 'To be young again.'

The Undead Lich tapped its finger against the desk, grabbing the white-scaled Monster's attention.

"Done thinking?"

"Not quite."

"We don't have all day."

"Don't we?"

"I'd rather finish this quickly." Its hand pointed, and showcased the numerous Materials and Ghouls. "I have things to do."

"Isn't it nice taking a break?"

"Is that one of your five questions?"

"Wait... Why do you still have three? Didn't we use up one of them already?"

"Looks like the System didn't accept your answer."

"The fuck does that mean...? So I have to explain the whole thing, huh? Alright-"

"No need." the Undead Lich interrupted as it raised a hand. "I'm not interested."

"That's not fair. You asked already."

"The Contract changed. I'm not interested in it. I already have a good idea of how it works."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I truly can't wait..." The white-scaled Monster felt a shiver go down its spine as the Undead Lich talked. "To dissect you."

"Sure, whatever."

"You don't mind it, do you?"

"I'll be eating everything there is in here." Mark said as he looked around. "From the Ghouls to the Gems. Drinking everything too. Poisons, Blood... Everything you worked on will disappear and be swallowed."

"That would be a shame."

"Would it now?"

"I'd rather leave these for someone who would study them, perhaps build up on my research."

"Can't do that. I'm not a very smart one, you see. I'm more of a glutton than an academic."

"Academic, huh? You certainly say interesting things. Devouring, huh? No waste... Devouring things can help you heal, right?"

Mark didn't answer.

"No, it can even help you change your Form." The white-scaled Monster's eye twitched, and the Undead Lich knew. "Huh? I was right? Interesting. Very interesting, white-scaled Monster. That's definitely a sacrifice, if you don't get to do that."

"Ahh..." Mark sighed.

"Let's get to it then. The Information I want."

"Sure. It's pretty simple really..."

Mark felt his throat dry up immediately.

It wasn't an easy thing to say.

"I died, and I was Reborn inside this body." Especially because he hadn't told anyone. "I was..." Because he hadn't told her. "Reborn As An Evolving Monster."

"Born of Necromancy, huh? But that doesn't justify it."

"Then it's even simpler. I was born, lived and died..."

The words came easily. Perhaps because he wanted to share them. Because he felt he should have shared them long ago.

"In another World."

"Huh?"

"I come from another World."