Elden Ring: Atai vows to have a perfect ending

······Wuhehe, La, Lani, I, I defeated Xiao Ge······Wait for me, I, I will be there soon.

"Lord Zero...Lord Zero..."

Someone was calling me in the dream... Maybe it was Roger, who was going to give me soda water made from loya fruit again.

"Oh, I told you I can't drink anymore!" I shook my hands impatiently.

Then, there was another knock on the door, as clear as a woodpecker tapping in my head.

"Lord Ling, it's already morning and you should get up." This time it was obviously an old voice.

I raised my head, and in my hazy vision, I suddenly saw Edson's face. I stretched and greeted him, "Good morning, Edson... Hmm? Why am I here?"

Looking at the golden seat under my butt, I searched through my brain, which was as sticky as paste, for the memories of last night.

After defeating Greg, we persuaded the other exiles in Stonewell to surrender, and then held a small celebration party in the dining hall.

Under everyone's expectant gaze, Nepheli and I recounted the entire process of defeating Greg, winning applause and cheers again and again.

Among them, there was a small episode -

When we returned to the Imperial Courtyard to inspect and recover Greg's body, we discovered that someone had gotten there first.

It was Gotok, who cursed Greg viciously and stepped on his head: "... You weak king, how pathetic! You mobilized a large army to ask for help in 'reattaching limbs', but ended up with this result... You even dared to belittle me! Greg, you slug! You deserve it! You deserve it! Feel my wrath!"

Well, although Xiao Ge is indeed a bad person and has done a lot of evil things, even your empty arm was reattached by him, right?

But to come and step on other people's heads now is just too mean.

Besides, Xiao Ge wanted to lead his soldiers to return to his hometown at the foot of the Golden Tree and return to the prosperous Golden Dynasty until the end. He was just one of the last people who struggled hard and went astray in pursuit of power. Now that he is treated like this after his death, I can't help but feel unhappy and pity.

But before I could open my mouth, someone stepped forward to stop the other person.

"That's enough." Nefeli looked at Gotok coldly and advised, "Although Greg defiled Stonewell and was despised by others, he was indeed like a warrior, fighting for his beliefs until the very end... I understand your anger, but it's better to stop."

"······" Gotok stopped. After all, Nefeli's eyes seemed to tell him that if he didn't stop, he would have to taste her axe.

He then smiled and said, "Oh, I'm so sorry, I, I was really too excited, so this is offensive. Thank you two faded ones for giving me my freedom back, now I can do whatever I want~"

After saying this, Gotok ran away in shame.

······

After that, I returned to the cafeteria and was urged by Roger to drink a few sips of strange wine. I felt that the whole world was shining with stars, and everything was flashing and shaking everywhere... Unconsciously, I felt a little dizzy.

And then, it was a blackout.

But at least, I remember that we ended up in the dining hall.

Now, there is this golden throne with open doors under my butt, this circular hall beside me, and unfamiliar old bald donkey statues everywhere... No matter how I look at it, it's the throne of the Storm King!

Just as I was about to get up, two waiters suddenly brought fruits, vegetables, barbecued meat and delicious soup to the long table in front of me.

My stomach was growling with hunger and tears of emotion couldn't help but flow from the corners of my mouth.

"Boss, you don't have to be so polite to me. Come and eat with us." I waved to the waiters cheerfully, but to my surprise, they actually gave me a knight's salute respectfully and then left the hall.

——Huh? What's going on? We were all fighting together last night, why are we suddenly so distant?

······I have a bad feeling.

Edson reminded: "Master Ling, please eat as soon as possible. It will be bad if it gets cold."

“...Edson, don’t you want to eat?”

"I've already had breakfast, thank you for your concern." Edson's tone seemed strange, although he seemed to attach great importance to etiquette since they met.

Besides, he won't hurt me.

"Then I won't be polite." I happily drank the soup and ate the meat in big gulps. When I felt sick of it, I had some fruit to relieve the pain. As the hunger gradually subsided, my mind began to become clearer.

——Hmm, it feels really good to open your mouth and eat.

But just as I was eating, a few more waiters came in from outside, bringing in piles of bricks or parchment. Soon, they formed a small hill on the table in front of me.

“······Can I ask what these are?” I was a little curious.

Edson cleared his throat. “These are the important matters that piled up when Greg was in charge of Stonewell, including the renovation of the checkpoint ruins, the black pox in Stonewell, the recapture of Morn, the management of the Weeping Peninsula, and…”

“Stop, stop, stop.” Just listening to it made my head feel bigger.

——You little Ge, after people leave, you have to leave a mess for the next king, right?

Poor Nepheli, three moments of silence for you...

Wait, the person sitting on this throne now seems to be me.

I couldn't help but put down the bowl.

When Edson saw this, he asked, "Master Ling, are you full? If you are, let's set off and hold the coronation ceremony first."

——Hehe, I said something was not right so early in the morning.

——It turns out that I’m the one who has to take over this mess!

——You, what on earth are you thinking? You are really going to cause me great trouble!

"Well, um, Edson, can I ask where Nepheli went?"

"Lady Nepheli left this morning. She also asked me to leave you a message, Master Zero."

"Go ahead, tell me."

"As fellow faded ones, let's trust in each other's guidance and keep moving forward, Zero! I believe that one day, we will meet again in front of the throne of King Elden."

——Okay, okay, you don’t want this hot potato, right?

"Oh~" I pretended to sigh weakly and collapsed on the throne. Then I stole a glance at Edson on the side, and while he wasn't paying attention, I flowed off the table like a puddle of mud, then, I drove at full speed with twelve horsepower.

By the time Edson realized what was happening, he had already rushed out of the door of the throne room. He could only hear him shouting behind him: "Someone, hurry up and catch Lord Zero! He's trying to get away!"

"I, I don't want to be the Storm King! I'm just a useless little A-Tu!" I also yelled in response, but of course I didn't dare to slack off.

In a flash, he ran out of the entire imperial courtyard, crossed the path, and came to the central square.

There are actually quite a few exiles gathered here. They are also members of Stonewell City, preparing to welcome the new king.

In one word, get out of the way! Escape!

But just as I was about to run across the square and slide down the ramp, a hand suddenly grabbed the back of my collar and pulled me to a stop: "Hey, isn't this Zero? I was looking for you."

"What a coincidence, Roger." I turned my head speechlessly and helplessly, and Hurtok was also behind Roger.

——It’s over. There’s no escape.

Roger couldn't help but snorted and laughed: "Why do you look so weird? What happened?"

—Hmm? Hasn't Edson told them yet that he's going to crown me king?

——Then there is still a chance.

"Nothing." I led them out of the city, looking for an opportunity to escape. "By the way, what do you want from me?"

Roger smiled and said, "I remember that before you challenged Greg, you said you would tell me the secrets hidden in Stonewell, right? Now, the whole city is at our disposal. You should fulfill your promise and accompany me in the search, my good friend."

"Ah, that thing... I remember, of course I remember~" I swallowed my saliva, but now is not the time to accompany you leisurely to find the dead prince's stinky face.

I turned to Hertok and asked, "Hertok, do you have something to ask me too?"

"Our deal is that when you challenge Greg, I will help you protect the others and hold back the exiles. And you will tell me the details about Paris." Heltok also mentioned the agreement, "As a warrior, don't forget your promise, Zero."

——Oh, this agreement with Hertok can help me leave Stonewell first.

"Of course I remember this! Otherwise, Hertok, let's first..." I was about to respond when the soul-summoning bell on my waist suddenly rang.

Ding-a-ling's sound, as if there was a tentacle wrapped around me, trying to pull me away.

Moreover, I felt a bit of a blockage in my chest, so I reached out and touched it. It was a brooch wrapped in a piece of silk red cloth—a relic of the pupa group, a plot prop I was going to bring to Little Red Riding Hood Roderica.

In other words, it was the little jellyfish Kurala who urged me to go find Roderica?

——Please, please come one by one. The most important thing now is to let me leave here, otherwise I will be forced to become king!

Roger whistled without looking at anyone as if he was asking for trouble: "Hey, Zero, you're very popular. We have to queue up to get things done by you."

"I, I don't want to either. Don't be anxious, let's go out and talk first." I smiled bitterly.

"Get out? Where?"

"Ah, found him!" Edson's voice came from behind, "Lord Roger, Lord Hurtok, just capture Lord Zero and don't let him run away again!"

It’s over, hurry up...

"Hold on, what next?" Roger actually grabbed my arm tightly.

Even Hurtok was pulling at my shoulders.

"Very, very good." Edson ran over breathlessly, "You two, in order to prevent Master Ling from escaping again, please help bring him to the main stage of the square."

"It's a small matter." Regardless of my struggle, Roger happily lifted me up, and together with Hurtok, dragged me in the direction Edson said.

"Let me go! Let me go now!"

——You, you two traitors, I didn’t say I wouldn’t agree to you!

——Help! I don’t want to take over Xiao Ge’s mess. How can I be the Storm King?

——Save me, Neferi! Melina!