I Became My Elf King Character In A Game-Like World
Chapter 101: Life Water

Chapter 101: Life Water

Varn was quiet for a moment. Then he laughed, a dry, mocking sound at his own expense. "Elf King, let me be straight with you. I used to be strong. Peak eleventh circle! Across all the human lands, the name Varn meant evil! But look at me now. I’m old, practically got one foot in the grave. My time’s almost up. With the little life I have left, I doubt I could even beat a regular fighter."

Varn looked right at Renjiro. "Even if I give you my soul’s core, I don’t have long left anyway. So why should I toss away my pride, the pride of someone who stood at the top, just to serve you for maybe a few weeks, a few months?"

The Bone Dragon spoke up again, his voice echoing. "Your Majesty, it’s true, Varn is dying fast. I can feel his life force fading! You know, thinking about it, I almost feel bad for him. He’s the one who gave me this new life, way back when. We were together for hundreds of years. Good times!"

Varn froze. The dark energy he was gathering inside himself wavered. ’Is this idiot... actually feeling sorry for me?’

Dragon let out a long sigh. "Ah, Varn, just give up. Stop fighting. The Lord of the Underworld is calling you. Let me send you off properly."

Varn’s face turned dark with pure anger. ’Right. Never expect anything decent from this low-life.’ He made up his mind. He would unleash his power, not to surrender, but to blast this stupid dragon and make him regret ever opening his bony mouth.

But just then, Renjiro asked, "Is there really no other way?"

If Varn had to die, Renjiro thought it was a real shame. A top-level necromancer like Varn could do so many useful things. Raising undead armies, attacking human cities, messing with the Temple... lots of potential.

Varn stopped, surprised by the question. "Until now, I’ve only found two ways," he admitted, his voice scratchy. "One, try to become a Lich. But that’s super hard. Liches are almost like demigods. If it fails, I wouldn’t just die... I’d turn into a mindless monster, full of nothing but hate."

"And the second way?" Renjiro asked.

Varn looked at him. "The second way is simple. I need a Stone of Life, or the Life Water to keep living. But," Varn’s face twisted into a sneer, "Your Majesty, your people’s Lake, where the Life Water comes from, was taken by the Temple a long, long time ago! Your elves didn’t just lose their ancient home, they lost that precious water too!"

His voice dripped with sarcasm. "Elf King, with the elves’ power now? You can’t attack the temple and take back the lake! So you see? You can’t save me. And I won’t serve you."

Renjiro said calmly, "But I can save you."

"What?!"

Varn’s sneer disappeared, replaced by total disbelief. His face went blank. ’Save him? How?’ He needed Life Water every single day to stay alive.

The elves hadn’t had their lake for ages! They couldn’t possibly have that much. He stared hard at Renjiro, wondering if the Elf King was just messing with him, playing some cruel final joke.

Renjiro stared blankly at the undead mage, Varn.

"No, you heard me right. I can save you!"

"Hahaha..." Varn let out a few weak laughs. "Your Majesty, to keep living, I need a lot of the Life Water. I have to drink it every single day just to survive. Even the Temple, who controls the Lake now, probably couldn’t get their hands on that much."

Renjiro frowned slightly. "How much Life Water do you need?"

"If I told you, you probably wouldn’t believe me!"

"Tell me."

"Elf King, you really are stubborn!" Varn sighed. He pulled a small crystal cup from his storage ring. It was maybe four or five centimeters tall and three centimeters wide.

"See this cup?" Varn held it up. "I need at least this much every single day!"

Varn watched Renjiro’s face change slightly. Renjiro pressed his lips together. ’This Elf really doesn’t get it,’ Varn thought.

"I was a peak Saint-level necromancer," Varn explained, his voice raspy. "To keep my body going, I need one cup like this, every day. Normally, I might have lasted a bit longer, enough time to try turning into a Lich. But after that fall just now... I’m really close to death’s door."

Renjiro asked, looking puzzled, "Are you sure? A cup this size?"

Varn sighed again. "In the human world, just one cup like this is worth at least a hundred thousand gold coins, and that’s if you could even find someone selling it. Over the years, trying to find enough Life Water... let’s just say I’ve done things I’m not proud of. I had to take potions made with it from... others."

Renjiro turned to Elaria beside him. "Elaria, does this mean we’ve been... wasteful?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Elaria nodded slowly.

If what Varn said was true, that a tiny cup was worth so much gold, then their elves had been casually drinking fortunes... unbelievable fortunes.

The nearby Lorien commanders were silent too. The waste... it was staggering!

Varn spoke again, a hint of desperate hope in his voice, "If I had enough Life Water, my chances of successfully becoming a Lich would be much, much higher! But it’s impossible, Your Majesty. You can’t possibly get that much."

Renjiro simply waved his right hand.

Thump. A large wooden barrel, about a meter wide, appeared out of thin air right in front of Varn.

"Is this enough?" Renjiro asked calmly.

"Huh?" Varn stared at the large barrel, confused. "Your Majesty Elf King, I think you misunderstood. I need the Life Water, not just plain water."

Just then, the lid of the barrel popped off.

Instantly, an incredibly rich wave of life energy burst out, spreading through the air. Everyone nearby couldn’t help but take a deep breath, feeling refreshed.

The Bone Dragon craned his huge skull closer, peering into the barrel. "Am I seeing things? That’s... that’s a whole barrel full of Life Water!"

"How is this possible?!" Varn gasped, completely stunned. After a second, he urgently said, "Quickly, help me up! Quickly!"

"Master, slow down," His disciple urged, carefully helping Varn to his feet and guiding him closer to the barrel.