Chapter 53: Court Death!
Chapter 53: Court Death!
Benjamin cleared his throat for a moment and took a step back.
Sleep with Death herself!? Are you kidding me!?
But well…it’s not that I’m against it…but she’s too powerful to push down now right?
He doesn’t dare do such a thing now but maybe in the future…
Benjamin shook his head and threw the matter at the back of his head.
“Ahem. By the way…you don’t seem to have any problems sharing these things with me. Do you want something from me?”
Death smiled and chuckled.
“Clever boy.”
She stretched her finger and pointed at the Soul Stone on his head.
“I need your Soul Stone.”
Benjamin’s face paled and quickly took another step back.
Death saw he started to be wary of her and chuckled.
“Calm down. If I wanted you dead, why would I bother talking to you?”
“Cause you’re lonely?”
“...Well, that’s true I suppose.”
Death was speechless and didn’t know how to refute that.
She sighed and shook her head.
“Anyway, I do not wish for your death. And I’m not telling you to hand over your stone.”
“What is it then?”
Benjamin asked, confused about what she wanted from him.
Death looked at the empty surroundings and continued.
“It is rather boring here. But I cannot leave. Originally, I had to wait until someone claims the Soul Stone but with your existence, there is another solution.”
Benjamin frowned and felt something bad was about to happen.
“With your Soul Stone, I can split my soul into two and have half of my soul reside in your stone so you can take me out. Granted my power will weaken by half as well, but it doesn’t matter to me as long as I get out of this damned place.”
Benjamin fell silent for a moment.
“So you want to turn it into a Horcrux?”
“What’s a Horcrux?”
“...Nevermind. Anyway, let’s say I agree with that…actually, no. How can I agree to that? I feel like there’s a huge consequence to freeing you from this place…”
Benjamin quickly refused.
This Great Demon King is sealed, why would I unseal her for no reason!? Because she’s hot!?
…Ahem, while that is a great reason, it’s not enough to endanger the whole universe!
Who knows if she would go on a rampage after going out or not…
Benjamin was not completely familiar with this character from the comics of his previous world so he didn’t dare to make a rash decision.
“While I did say free, it’s merely a change of environment and a transfer of prison from here to your Soul Stone. However, I would be able to see the outside world. As for me, you can control me as long as you wear that crown and I also can’t go far from you.”
“Then isn’t that even worse? Why would you want to do that?”
Death smiled wryly.
“Do you think I wanted to? However…when you’ve lived for as long as I am and sealed for as long as I am…you’d understand why I would make such a decision.”
“I don’t really get it…”
Benjamin shook his head, unable to understand what she meant.
Death chuckled.
“I do not expect you to understand. In any case, I have made my decision. How about yours?”
“...”
Benjamin thought for a moment and weighed the pros and cons.
“Do I get anything out of this by the way?”
“Is having me serve you not enough?”
“Uhh, that’s not what I mean. I’m not going to order you around like a slave anyway…”
“Hmm…”
While Death pondered what he could get as a benefit, a system prompt appeared in front of Benjamin.
[Emergency Quest: Court Death!]
[Because host is being indecisive, the System has created an emergency quest to provide the host with benefits. Agree to Death’s request and successfully conquer her heart, being the only being alive to court death!]
[Rewards: +1 Life Token, Necrosword]
[This quest has no failure condition and will continue until the host completes it or dies. Of course if host angers Death, there is only one outcome. Death!]
“...”
Benjamin stared at the window blankly before quickly agreeing.
“I agree! Quick, get inside my stone!”
“???”
Death was speechless and was confused why Benjamin would suddenly agree.
However, this was fine. She was getting troubled with the fact that this does indeed not give Benjamin any benefits nor does he have a reason to accept her request.
Don’t tell me he really fancies me?
Death looked at Benjamin dubiously but his eyes were as clear as a lake.
She shook her head and held out her hand to touch the Soul Stone.
“Do I need to do something?”
“No. Just stand still.”
Death said and closed her eyes.
Benjamin watched as the mature and voluptuous body in front of him slowly…shrunk down.
“...”
After a while, Death opened her eyes and nodded satisfied.
“Umu, this will do for now.”
“...”
Benjamin still stood still in silence.
Death…turned into a loli!?
Loli Death pointed at the Soul Stone and explained.
“My other half is now residing in that stone. Once you leave this place, so will my other half. I will leave her in your hands, Benjamin Freed.”
“Uhh…sure…”
“Un? Is something wrong?”
Loli Death tilted her head when she saw Benjamin answer in a daze.
Seeing her tilt her head cutely, Benjamin almost suffered a heart attack.
What is this creature!? Why does she look cute!?
Benjamin started to feel an existential crisis.
What is this!? Why do I want to hug her and squeeze her like a teddy bear!? Am I a lolicon? No no no no! Do I like kids!? No no no no! Do I WANT to have kids!? U-un…this is the most logical answer…is this what it’s like to be a father? Is Death gonna be my daughter!?
His eyes turned dizzy with such thoughts that just went on and on.
Seeing him like that, Death realized something and patted her little forehead.
“Oh, how stupid of me. I was unable to control my power after my soul was cut in half. It seems that my innate charm had leaked out and caused you to be in confusion. Give me a moment.”
Death explained and closed her eyes again.
When she opened her eyes again, Benjamin felt his mind clear up.
His back was full of sweat.
Damn! This…is Death’s charm!?
No wonder she was so troubled in the past of many people courting her…
I didn’t know Death can be so alluring…
Moreover, the system didn’t see it as a mental attack and it was bypassed…that was dangerous.
Well, to be precise, it really wasn’t a mental attack.
It seems he can’t completely rely on the system for mental attacks and he needed to prepare more to guard against such things in the future.
But still…kids huh?
Come to think of it, Nat also wanted to have kids but she hasn’t gotten pregnant yet.
Benjamin shook his head to clear his thoughts and sighed.
“Can you not do that when we’re outside? I’m afraid you’ll attract a whole load of trouble…”
“Yes. Don’t worry. This was an accident.”
Loli Death nodded like a mature little adult.
…Honestly, she still looked cute…
“By the way, while I appear like this, I am many millennials old. I’d appreciate it if you don’t treat me like a child.”
“Yes, yes.”
Benjamin nodded seriously but his hand was already unconsciously stroking her head.
“...”
Loli Death sighed and shook her head.
“You should be on your way.”
“Ah wait. I still have something to ask.”
Benjamin quickly said.
“What is it?”
“Just out of curiosity…but is there anyone who’s attempting to claim this universe’ Soul Stone right now?”
“Right now? No. Well, there was a recent visitor. He was quite peculiar.”
“Oh?”
Benjamin was immediately curious.
Did Thanos already try to get it?
Loli Death continued.
“Yes. His head was very red and looked like a skull. It is curious. I do not know of any race that had such features.”
“...”
That…isn’t that the Red Skull?
So he’s also sent to that place as he did in the movie…
“Is he still there?”
“No. When he knew that he needed to sacrifice someone he loved, he left.”
Huh?
He didn’t stay?
Does that guy even have someone he loves?
…Hold on.
Could it be…his daughter?
Benjamin recalled Ophelia telling him about Red Skull’s Daughter before.
Sinthea Schmidt.
After being separated from Red Skull, SHIELD found her and brainwashed her to erase her memories of Red Skull, and is now living a normal life.
When Benjamin found out before, he wanted to help her but realized that living a normal life was better than being treated like a tool of both HYDRA and SHIELD.
So he simply asked Ophelia to monitor her from afar and not interfere.
And she did continue to live a normal life. Away from all the strangeness and lived without worrying for her life.
But if what Death said was true…and Red Skull may be coming after her…it seems that her normal life can no longer be maintained.
No, even if Red Skull doesn’t do anything to her, just the fact that Red Skull is returning means that they needed to secure his daughter to protect her.
Not just from Red Skull, but from other people aiming to target Red Skull.
HYDRA is not without enemies. Its enemies weren’t only SHIELD after all.
I reckon even the government would want to abduct Sinthea for their own purposes.
Benjamin sighed and shook his head.
It’s really annoying when he has to worry about threats outside of Earth and inside…why can’t these fools just unite properly instead of scheming all day long.
“Do you know this person?”
Loli Death asked upon seeing the change in his expression.
“Yeah…I suppose we are from the same planet. If that is who I think he is.”
“I see.”
“Anyway, you’ll understand when you accompany me outside.”
Loli Death nodded.
“Un. I’m looking forward to it.”
“...”
Benjamin really wanted to pinch those cute cheeks…
However, this was Death. He has to hold back…
The next moment, as he just blinked his eye, he found himself back in Limbo just like that.
Benjamin looked around and saw he was no longer in the Soul World and sighed in relief.
It’s good that he really can go back…
“Hm? Is this your planet?”
Suddenly, Benjamin heard a voice behind him.
…It was Death in her loli form…
“You’re already out?”
“Yes. I simply couldn’t wait. But…where is this place? The outside world wasn’t quite what I imagined it.”
Loli Death looked a bit disappointed as she saw the hellish environment of this place.
Benjamin chuckled and shook his head.
“This is Limbo. I went here to hide the presence of the Soul Stone since I wasn’t sure if it would be safe to take it out back in my world.”
Loli Death nodded.
“I see. In that case, I shall hide its presence for you.”
“You can do that?”
“Of course. I reside in it after all. I can control it to some extent. But don’t worry. You still have more control over it than me.”
Benjamin nodded.
Loli Death touched the Soul Stone again and the light on the stone dimmed a little.
Afterward, Benjamin cast an invisibility spell on it so no one coils see it with their naked eyes.
“That’s an interesting trick.”
Loli Death looked curious but didn’t focus on it too much.
“Well, shall we go then? I’ll look around this place another time. There are still some things I need to do back on Earth.”
Benjamin needed to contact Ophelia about Red Skull.
While he’s at it, he should inform Fury and Coulson as well.
Maybe also Steve Rogers…
This time, Loli Death’s eyes lit up, and looked excited.
“Let’s go!”
Benjamin chuckled.
Even though she’s many many years old…she really does look like a kid at this moment.