The man’s eyes welled up as he stared at the piece of paper emblazoned with the words “Human Rights.”

(Human rights… Come to think of it, my life has been one tossed about by these so-called human rights)

Born into poverty, the man’s existence had been one where no one—not even his parents or siblings—acknowledged his worth as a human being. To survive, a basic instinct of any living creature, he resorted to theft, deceit, and violence.

Before he knew it, he was part of a criminal organization. He was aware that some people led honest lives, but he disregarded the concept of others’ rights, convinced that such notions didn’t apply to his world.

Consequently, he found himself suddenly captured and transported not to a guard post, but to an unexpected location—Vandalieu’s workshop.

He was stripped of his name, identified only by a number, and treated like a test subject. However, instead of a noose or grueling mine labor, he found himself thrust into an existence that could only be described as a forced harem life, complete with three square meals and a relentless regimen of suspicious drugs.

Eight women had chosen the man as their partner, so he had to attend to them day and night without distinction.

The room he was confined to was spacious and lavish, designed more for the women’s comfort than his own. The oversized, luxurious bed could accommodate a couple of giants with room to spare.

Resistance, tears, pleading—it made no difference. He was subjected to an unending cycle of being drained.

To an outsider, it might seem like anything but the life of a lab animal. A criminal acquaintance might joke, “If there’s a prison like that, sign me up for life!” But those words would be swallowed instantly if they learned that his partners were all undead.

In fact, at first, the man thought it was an experiment where he would be eaten, not in a sexual sense but in a literal one. After all, no sane person, or even someone slightly unhinged, would think of being intimate with zombies.

However, Luciliano, who was leading the experiment, had no interest in the men’s common sense or sense of chastity. No matter how many times they pleaded, “This is impossible!” he would respond with a curt, “Understood. Here’s a prescription,” and force them to ingest, inhale, or inject aphrodisiacs without their consent.

The man had heard whispers of tamers who used female slaves to breed with captured orcs or ogres, but now he found himself in a position even more surreal.

And unlike those stories, his undead partners meant no offspring would come of it. He was certain he’d spend the rest of his days in a crazed magician’s meaningless experiment, drained to death rather than facing execution or grueling labor.

However, once he accepted his fate, everything became simpler.

The initial fear that had gripped him eventually dulled, and with its departure came a peculiar realization: the undead were not grotesque as he had once believed. On the contrary, their features were often strikingly well-formed. Thanks to a unique enchantment that staved off decay, they lacked the stench of death. Their pale skin, cool to the touch, and the clouded, lifeless eyes were the only signs that set them apart from the living. Beyond that, they were not so different from mortal women.

Tentatively, he tried speaking to them, expecting eerie silence or unsettling responses. But to his astonishment, they conversed as if nothing were amiss. Words flowed, questions were answered—an entire dialogue unfolded, almost natural in its rhythm.

Encouraged, he began to engage them more often. At first, his motives were not pure. A part of him clung to the hope that he might manipulate these interactions to find an escape. After all, deceit, theft, and exploitation had been second nature to him; they were the tools that had carved his identity, rooted deep in his being.

Yet, as he asked their names, inquired about their past lives, their choices, and even their preferences and hobbies, he found himself divulging bits of his own story in return. The lines blurred, and before long, he no longer saw them as mere undead. They became individuals. They became “them.”

Life changed dramatically after that. At their encouragement, he studied through lectures and received vocational training. Meals changed from demon-delivered rations to dishes lovingly prepared by their hands. Each day carried a hint of normalcy that he had never imagined in a place so removed from the world.

The greatest shock came when he noticed their bellies swelling. Life was growing inside them—a realization that struck him like a bolt. The concept of an undead bearing a child was unimaginable. Yet, for Luciliano, the eccentric researcher overseeing this peculiar project, it was a predictable outcome.

Unbeknownst to the man, experiments had confirmed that undead infused with life gold and spirit silver by Vandalieu and Legion’s Isis could conceive and give birth after union with the living. This experiment had used him as a subject to observe whether children born from such a union could develop properly.

When his children came into the world, Luciliano, Vandalieu, and Isis examined each infant with relentless scrutiny. The hybrids were the true test—proof of whether life and undeath could mingle and thrive. They were studied intently, every detail observed, for their growth would determine the success of the experiment.

Amid these events, a ghostly woman joined the growing circle around him, and even she bore his child. It was only after this that Luciliano declared the experiment’s completion. The man and the other test subjects—whose existence had only been hinted at—were brought together in the workshop’s grand hall for their graduation ceremony, no longer test subjects but companions who shared an experience unlike any other.

Luciliano stood before the gathered men, his voice calm yet commanding. “You might wonder why we’re holding a ceremony like this,” he began, “but this is Master’s policy. Apparently, even rituals that seem unnecessary carry meaning and influence the minds of those who participate. For those of you reclaiming your humanity, this ceremony serves as a necessary milestone, marking the end of your journey from criminals to test subjects and back to human beings once more.”

The men exchanged uncertain glances, puzzled by Luciliano’s words. But they knew better than to question the will of their Master, the ruler of the country they were soon to call home. They told themselves their confusion stemmed from their lack of education.

“And just so you know,” Luciliano continued, lifting a parchment labeled ‘Human Rights,’ “this document is merely symbolic. Even if it’s lost or damaged, the rights you’ve gained as human beings remain intact.”

To some, his explanation might have sounded condescending, but that was not his intent. In the world of Lambda, the concept of human rights was still a novelty. The rights of nobles and commoners were so different they might as well have belonged to separate species, and most accepted this disparity as natural.

Even those familiar with the term ‘human rights’ often lacked a clear understanding of what protections it entailed. Yet, through the lectures they had attended since arriving in the Vidal Demon Empire, these men had come to grasp its meaning.

Luciliano’s expression softened as he relayed the final message. “Master wants you all to know: he expects you to be good parents.”

The men stood in silence, each grappling with the weight of those words. Every one of them had committed crimes in their homelands, chosen as test subjects based on both their offenses and their personalities. Still, they were criminals. One might question the wisdom of releasing them, even in recognition of their contributions.

But the Vidal Demon Empire was a land of second chances. Examples like Ira and Chipuras, former subordinates of the pure-breed vampire Ternecia, illustrated this—even if they had only come to loyalty after becoming undead. And Luciliano himself was no stranger to redemption; once a criminal slave convicted on near-false charges, he now stood as a trusted researcher.

Moreover, separating parents from the children born of this experiment was never an option. Vandalieu believed that bringing new life into the world imposed a duty—a responsibility to improve the lives of those created. This belief was why the test subjects received education and vocational training.

Indeed, the men had changed. Their past misdeeds remained, but now they faced the future with purpose, determined to atone and become the kind of parents their children could admire.

As for those children, they rested quietly in the arms of their mothers, the female undead seated in the guardian’s seats at the ceremony.

(Master has tentatively named them “Corpse-Born children,” but how will they grow from here on?)

The Corpse-Born children, the product of the experiment, appeared strikingly similar to ordinary infants. Depending on the traits of their parents, some bore pointed ears, or had lower bodies shaped like serpents, octopuses, or spiders. Yet, within their respective races, they looked no different from any other baby.

Their skin, however, held an unnatural pallor, and their eyes—from the iris to the whites—shared a single, uniform color. If the iris was black, the entire eye was black; if blue, the eye was entirely blue.

Most astonishingly, these children could consciously control their heartbeats. Typically, their hearts were still, only beating when needed to boost their physical capabilities. For them, the heart was not essential for life but functioned as an auxiliary power source.

Their breathing pattern is similar, but they appear to breathe regularly since they need air vibration to produce sound. Interestingly, they cease breathing while asleep.

They also have Jobs and Ranks, and grow by increasing their Levels and Ranks. Strangely, their Rank at birth is 0. Even goblins, horn rabbits, and imp mice mutated from ordinary mice are Rank 1. Neither Luciliano’s extensive knowledge, nor the records in the Adventurers’ and Mages’ Guilds, nor even the memories of the evil gods from the former Demon King’s army contained any mention of Rank 0 monsters—save for Lifedeads, which were artificially created through life-attribute magic.

As the saying goes, a child’s job is to cry. These infants gain experience through crying, laughing, and rolling over. Within one to three months after birth, they typically rank up to Rank 1.

“Papa~?” called one of the infants.

“Mama, what is Papa doing?” asked another.

And so, they grow from newborns to infants. The fact that their Rank was 0 was also discovered by asking the children themselves after seeing their status.

It appeared that these children developed not through the steady passage of years, but by accumulating levels and Ranks. What would their growth look like? When would they reach adulthood? These questions lingered, sparking Luciliano’s boundless curiosity. But for now, knowing that they were capable of growth was enough to deem the experiment a success. The details could be studied over years or even decades, with patience.

“Papa is in the middle of work. Let’s wait a little longer, okay?” said one of the mothers.

“Okay~” chirped a child.

“Uuugh, aaagh…” groaned another mother.

“Mommy, you’re drooling, you’re drooling…” babbled an infant.

Forcing the Corpse-Born children to gain experience and Rank up quickly was possible, but it would have created bodies that matured unnaturally fast. There was no reason to rush their growth—no impending crisis threatened the country, no imminent battle loomed against Alda’s forces. They could afford to let the children develop at their own pace.

Some of the children were already more mature than their mothers, though.

“Now then, after you receive the documents, I’ll guide you to your new residences,” Luciliano announced.

And so, the men graduated from being experimental subjects and became citizens of the Vidal Demon Empire.

<<<< ++++ >>>>

Meanwhile, at the Hero Preparatory School in Orbaume, a graduation ceremony was underway.

“Congratulations on your graduation, everyone. Truly, congratulations!” Meorilith stood on the stage, her voice warm and full of emotion as she repeated her heartfelt congratulations to the students. For her, this was clearly a significant event.

“Now, I shall announce this term’s top graduates! Elizabeth Sauron and her five companions, please step forward to the stage!”

The names that rang out weren’t those of Alex and his party, but Elizabeth and her group. Despite Alex and his team’s efforts, they couldn’t surpass the swift progress of Elizabeth and her companions, who had gained valuable training and experience under Vandalieu.

“I can’t say I’m not frustrated,” Alex admitted, his voice resigned. “But it can’t be helped.”

“Yeah,” one of his teammates agreed. “How could we ever beat the ‘Demon King Slayer’? Elizabeth and the others have transformed completely.”

“Exactly. Even if we competed now without Vandalieu’s participation, I doubt we could win,” another said.

Elizabeth’s group had clearly grown beyond relying solely on Vandalieu. Even without his direct involvement, Alex and his team would struggle to match their strength. The impressive development of Elizabeth’s group had become well-known among the students at the Hero Preparatory School. If they had leaned solely on Vandalieu, criticism would have been rife. But now, they were met with envious admiration.

“Vandalieu, Pauvina… I’m happy for them, but they were already amazing before coming here,” murmured Darcia. “I’m not sure what to say now.”

“Eli-chan! Darling! Mahelia! You’re all wonderful!” Amelia cheered.

By the way, ordinary adventurer schools don’t have seats for guardians at their graduation ceremonies, but in the case of the Hero Preparatory School, seats are properly prepared for nobles who wish to observe as guardians of the students.

As it wasn’t expected that the empress dowager and consort (?) from the neighboring country would come, tension was visible on the faces of the other students’ guardians.

This would typically be a chance for ambitious individuals to approach influential figures like Darcia and Amelia—especially Amelia, whose mental state made her a potential target. But today, with Borkus, Bellmond, Eleanora, and Basdia in attendance, any ill-mannered individuals remained as quiet as mice, avoiding their watchful gazes.

“Wasn’t Pauvina’s graduation scheduled for next spring?” Borkus mused.

“I heard it was moved up. Pauvina-sama’s party members were swept along with it,” Bellmond explained.

Eleanora chimed in, “It might seem unfair, but that’s how it goes. After all, she has a dragon familiar—even if it’s only a lesser one.”

“Still, Reinhart and the others should be capable enough to graduate now,” Basdia remarked. “So whether it’s six months later or today, it shouldn’t make much difference.”

As the four conversed, Elizabeth stood on stage delivering her valedictorian address.

“As the representative of the graduating class, I pledge to conduct myself in a manner that honors the education I have received at this esteemed institution,” Elizabeth proclaimed, her voice resonating with strength and clarity.

With that, the graduation ceremony came to an end. The school does not issue graduation certificates or mementos. Graduation from an adventurer preparatory school is recorded on one’s Adventurers’ Guild card, which serves as sufficient proof of completion.

At this graduation ceremony, few students displayed strong emotions like tears. For the students of the Hero Preparatory School, this institution was just a stepping stone to greater things.

“Uuu, teacher! I’ll never forget your teachings!” sobbed one man, wiping a never-ending stream of tears with his sleeve.

“Mr. Eisam, as this is my last day as a student, I’ll say this one final time: I am not a teacher, but a student,” the “teacher” responded to this emotional display.

“Yes, Teacher Vandalieu! Thank you so much!” Eisam exclaimed, “But I’m also done with teaching and am returning to adventuring, so I guess I’m no longer a teacher either!”

“Ah, I see you’ve outmaneuvered me,” Vandalieu said, a small smile breaking through. “From now on, as fellow adventurers and rivals, I look forward to working with you.”

While the students remained composed, Vandalieu found himself in an awkward situation with the former teacher Eisam, who was sobbing uncontrollably.

“Rivals… Are you planning to be active as an adventurer, Teacher?” Harbinger, an other instructor at the school and one who couldn’t stop calling Vandalieu ‘teacher,’ asked hesitantly.

“Yes. I don’t believe there’s a rule against the ruler of a country joining the Adventurers’ Guild.”

“I-I see,” Harbinger replied, his tone uncertain. “Best of luck with that.” Inwardly, though, he couldn’t help but sympathize with the Adventurers’ Guild, which would now face the unenviable task of managing Meorilith’s inevitable—and likely frequent—migraines.

After stepping down from the stage, Elizabeth heaved a deep sigh.

“I’m not ready to graduate,” she confessed, her voice tinged with reluctance.

Becoming the top student had been immensely satisfying. Achieving the goal she had set upon entering the school filled her with pride and accomplishment. She had long shed the weight of Count Reamsand’s ultimatum—the threat of losing his support or worse, being forced to be his concubine. Elizabeth had even fulfilled her goal of outshining her half-brothers for her mother’s sake. The initial reasons that drove her to pursue the path of an adventurer had vanished.

However, Elizabeth’s reluctance to graduate from the adventurer preparatory school wasn’t due to the typical post-achievement burnout that often follows the achievement of a significant goal.

“My lady, it will be alright. If I say it will be alright, then it will definitely, probably, absolutely be alright. I will always be by your side, my lady,” Mahelia said, her voice wavering slightly with nerves. Mahelia, who had been like a sister to Elizabeth and was her closest friend and maid, tried to reassure her.

“That’s right,” added Makoto Hamilton. “Vandalieu mentioned he would send a sharp former civil official undead to assist as well.”

“We’ll help too,” chimed in Taurus Zetts, “though we may be of little help—truly, very little help.”

“And we have absolutely no confidence!” Yuzef Cataronis admitted with a sheepish smile.

Elizabeth turned to her friends, tears brimming in her eyes. “You all… I appreciate your sentiments, but please don’t say things that only make me more anxious!”

“We’re sorry, my lady!”

“But we’re also full of anxiety!” they replied in unison, earning a small, reluctant smile from her.

The real reason Elizabeth dreaded graduation was that it marked the beginning of her inheritance of the Sauron Duchy title. Considering the series of events that had thrust her into the succession struggle—where she had suffered a crushing defeat—one could argue that her ambition had been fulfilled. Yet, there was no satisfaction in this victory for Elizabeth. Instead, it felt like a burden she could barely shoulder.

At the moment, most aspects of her life were progressing well, save for her mother Amelia’s persistent mental fragility. Elizabeth had accomplished her goal of becoming the top student and had found a sense of family, even gaining a younger brother and sister by bond, if not by blood. Her future appeared to be bright, shared with loyal and trustworthy friends.

But now, as she stood on the brink of a new chapter, the prospect of inheriting the family headship from the very house she had defeated felt like an unwelcome weight.

And this wasn’t just any minor noble house or merchant family; it was a dukedom. The level of knowledge, experience, and the crushing pressure that came with such a position was on an entirely different scale.

The same applied to Mahelia and her other companions, who were expected to support her. They were maids and young masters, not trained advisors or seasoned leaders. Expecting them to become competent aides overnight was unrealistic.

“There’s no need to be so pessimistic. Things will work out somehow, and Vandalieu said he’d lend his strength,” Zona said with an unwaveringly cheerful smile.

“But that means we’d be completely dependent on him!” Elizabeth snapped, unable to accept the idea of being entirely reliant on Vandalieu due to her own pride.

“Even though the family feud is over and the succession is settled… why is this happening?!” she cried out, reflecting on how she had dismissed the possibility of ever becoming a duchess long before she had even enrolled in the Hero Preparatory School.

Elizabeth involuntarily cried out, reflecting on how she had dismissed any possibility of becoming a duchess, even before enrolling in the Hero Preparatory School.

“Come now, life is akin to navigating a tempestuous sea. While the future remains uncertain, let’s press on—one step at a time—without losing heart.”

“Come now,” Vandalieu interjected, his voice calm and steady. “Life is like navigating a stormy sea. The future is uncertain, but we can press on—one step at a time—without losing heart.”

Vandalieu, the unintentional architect of these circumstances, was trying to offer reassurance.

“…Mmph!” Elizabeth huffed, turning her face away.

To be fair, Vandalieu hadn’t directly cursed or influenced Elizabeth’s half-brother, who had been poised to become the next duke. It was the fear of Vandalieu’s power that had led him and those around him to surrender the headship willingly. The real root of the upheaval was the series of events surrounding the revival of the Demon King Guduranis and the undeniable might that Vandalieu and his allies had demonstrated in defeating him. Blaming Vandalieu for this turn of events would be absurd.

“That’s why I’m saying there’s no helping it,” Zona said, her tone light but insistent. “We’re just kids who graduated as the top students from the Hero Preparatory School. Managing a duchy? It’s impossible. Let’s be honest with ourselves and rely on Van.”

With that, Zona lifted Vandalieu like a doll and brought him closer to Elizabeth. But Elizabeth turned her gaze away.

“But that would make me a puppet,” she whispered. “I’ll say it again—I have my pride.”

“My lady, I understand how you feel. But with our current abilities, it’s impossible for us to lead the administration of a duchy,” Mahelia said firmly, stepping forward to block any thought of escape and admonishing her with a steady gaze.

“So, we have to rely on someone, no matter what,” Zona added, her voice practical and resolute. “It’s either the former Duke Rudel’s subordinates or Van. And if we have to choose, wouldn’t it be better to rely on Van? We can depend on him fully, use the time to study and become capable of managing the duchy ourselves, and then repay him for all he’s done for us.”

Zona’s logic was sound. Elizabeth knew that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t acquire the knowledge and experience of a Sauron Duchess overnight. The only realistic option was to set her pride aside, lean on Vandalieu, and work toward repaying him in the future.

This plan, however, hinges on unwavering trust in the person being relied upon. Any reasonably intelligent individual would recognize the risks: the Sauron Duchy could be usurped while under another’s complete control, or vital privileges—once relinquished—might prove challenging to reclaim. But Elizabeth knew Vandalieu well enough to understand that the Sauron Duchy held no value that would tempt him into betrayal.

“Elizabeth-sama, I should mention—if you truly don’t wish to inherit the Sauron Duchy, I believe it’s fine not to,” Vandalieu said suddenly, his tone as calm as ever.

“W-What are you saying all of a sudden?! What would happen to the Sauron Duchy?” Elizabeth’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“I think it would work out somehow, one way or another,” Vandalieu replied, unblinking as Zona held him aloft.

Elizabeth stared at him, feeling the weight of his nonchalant words sink in. She knew then, with absolute clarity, that if she gave up, Vandalieu might truly approach the Sauron Duchy with a casual ‘whatever happens, happens’ attitude. He might act, but it would undoubtedly be with minimal effort.

“…We can’t simply abandon it like that,” she said, her voice low but determined.

If she surrendered now, there was no telling what Vandalieu’s passive intervention would lead to. She took a breath, letting her shoulders relax as she reached her decision.

“Fine, I understand. If I have to rely on you, then I will. But don’t you dare give up. In return, I’ll repay this debt—no matter what it takes!” Elizabeth declared, pointing her finger directly at Vandalieu’s face.

“Understood. Then, let’s start by changing the topography,” Vandalieu said, his tone still as composed as ever.

Even with her mind made up, Elizabeth couldn’t help but feel stunned by Vandalieu’s unexpected response.

“If Elizabeth-sama is willing to repay the debt at any cost, then it’s worth being relied upon,” he added.

“T-There’s a limit, you know…” Elizabeth’s voice faltered as she kept her finger aimed at him, disbelief and exasperation mingling in her expression.

Faced with Vandalieu’s unwavering response, all Elizabeth could do was manage a weak protest, the weight of the future pressing down on her.

<<<< ++++ >>>>

● Job Description: Transition Guide – by Luciliano

A job that guides beings who have undergone reincarnation… but that would include all living things in this world, including monsters, insects, and plants, so that’s probably not correct.

It’s likely a job that guides those who have experienced reincarnation while maintaining their consciousness and memories… in other words, their identity, due to some factor.

For example, Pauvina who underwent pseudo-reincarnation, Legion who transferred as souls from another world and reincarnated, Kanako and others who reincarnated from another world, and the Demons. Furthermore, the undead and golems created by Master are all targets of this effect.

However, even Mei Amemiya, who didn’t reincarnate but simply came from another world… just transferred, seems to have been receiving improved guidance effects since Master took on this job.

Therefore, the “transition” in this job might not just mean reincarnation, but could refer to “those whose environment has drastically changed.” Of course, changes like job transfers, reassignments, career changes, or moving houses probably don’t count.

● Race Description: Corpse-Born Child – by Luciliano

A race born from the mixing of undead and the male test subjects, in other words, a hybrid of the undead and the living. Their appearance, characteristics, and internal structure (which Master examined by becoming a spirit) are similar to newborns whose parents were both living. However, heartbeats are not essential for survival, and the same goes for breathing. They probably won’t be affected by normal poisons and won’t get sick.

Surprisingly, their rank at birth is 0, and they seem to grow proportionally to their level ups, progressing to the next stage with each rank up. Rank 0 is infancy, Rank 1 is early childhood (about one to three years old). Ranks 2 and above are currently unconfirmed.

However, it’s speculated that they become adults (over fifteen years old) around Rank 5, and after that, like ageless races such as Majin, they might continue to grow but not age.

Note that if the mother is a ghost-type undead, they are born with a body made of spirit. In this case, their characteristics are the same as those with physical bodies.

We haven’t confirmed cases where the mother is a skeleton-type or living armor-type undead yet, but… if pregnancy becomes possible, wouldn’t Corpse-Born children be born in those cases too?