Chapter 567
“Haa, haa.”
Simon was gasping for breath as he climbed the spiral staircase. After Simon and Merida had escaped, the magical-circle elevator had immediately stopped functioning.
Simon recalled what the Ghost of Time had told him a few days ago.
—There’s no doubt the Ivory Tower Master is plotting something. I can’t stop the future from changing because of that third party outside the Tower! If anything happens to you, head upward.
—Upward?
—Yes. Going down will only get you captured by the Ivory Tower. If it comes to it, go up.
—And how far up must I go?
The Ghost of Time pointed his fingertip at the ceiling.
—Of course, the 100th floor!
If anything happened, they had decided to put all plans into motion on the 100th floor, regardless of past or present.
At that moment, Feer’s clone, still attached to Simon’s clothes, spoke.
[Kuheuheu! Can you even trust this Ghost of Time?]
“I can’t fully trust him, no. I don’t know how he might try to use me.”
Simon exhaled and continued.
“But at least, he doesn’t seem to want me captured by the Ivory Tower. And it seems true that he’s hostile to the Tower Master.”
The Tower Master intended to use the Tower of Time for something dangerous.
The Ghost of Time, however, sought to protect the Tower of Time for his own survival.
Their goals were fundamentally opposed.
“His advice about going down leading to capture makes sense. For now, I’ll go up and meet him.”
[Good! Good! I don’t know what you’re talking about, but—!]
Boom!
The Ancient Undead Simon had summoned, Prince, slammed his fists together.
[So all I have to do is shut up and keep climbing?]
“That’s right, Prince.”
[But why did you give me this uniform?]
Prince was now wearing Simon’s Keyzen uniform over his body, his face covered by the hood.
“Listen carefully, Prince.”
Simon’s eyes grew serious. He needed to coax him a little.
“From now on, this is top secret. Don’t tell any of the other undead allies. This is a special mission I’m entrusting only to you.”
[!]
Prince snorted through his nose.
[Se.cret.Mis.sion?]
“That’s right. From now on, you are Simon Follentia, a student of Keyzen.”
Simon tapped him on the shoulder.
“You must speak like Simon, act like Simon. Wander the tower and draw attention to yourself.”
Prince’s expression turned flat, as if unimpressed.
[Ah, come on. Isn’t this just a cheap diversion tactic?]
“But there’s something you don’t understand. The truth is, your real identity is none other than Prince, the ruler of Deathland.”
[?!]
At last, Prince’s expression began to change.
“You must thoroughly hide the fact that you’re the Zombie Prince and ruler of Deathland… and instead live in solitude, pretending to be nothing more than an ordinary student.”
[That I am… the ruler… but must hide it from everyone…]
“That’s right. Even if no one recognizes you, even if no one acknowledges you, you have no choice. That’s the secret mission.”
Tak.
Simon patted his back.
“Go, Prince.”
Prince’s eyes gleamed brightly like a child at play.
[I am—!]
With a stomp that shook the floor, Prince shot upward.
Ahead stood a wall blocking the entrance to the 70th floor.
[I am Simon Follentiaaaa!]
Kwaaaaang!
Prince shot upward like a storm, smashing through the ceiling. Rubble collapsed, and through the opening Prince flashed as he soared.
“What the—!”
“That black uniform…! It’s a Keyzen uniform! He’s Simon Follentia!”
Chaak!
Landing lightly, Prince twisted his left hand to cover part of his face.
[...Yes, everyone calls me Simon Follentia. That’s fine by me.]
“Catch him!”
The Ivory Tower guards fired black magic in unison. Prince clenched his fist with an enraptured look.
[Even if no one recognizes me, it doesn’t matter! That is my mission!]
And then, with all his strength, he drew his fist back.
[Royal Guarrrrd—]
A dark-blue Darkness gathered on the back of his hand, and he thrust it forward.
[Punch!]
Thuuuuuud!
The shockwave bursting from his fist shattered the guards’ spells. A huge crater appeared in the wall, while guards were sent flying by the mere pressure and blast wind.
“W-What monstrous strength is this?!”
[One more time!]
This time his left fist rose.
[Overlord Punch!]
“Guaaah!”
[Now, Bone Armor Punch!]
As Prince wreaked havoc among the guards, Simon quietly slipped away.
‘…Maybe I hyped him up a little too much.’
Simon looked back, smiling awkwardly.
[Kuhuhuhu! The boy has grown into a proper Legion Commander! That’s how one must handle Ancient Undeads!]
With Prince causing such a commotion, reinforcements soon arrived. Faces hardened grimly at the sight of their comrades smashed into walls.
“As expected of the Keyzen Student Council President.”
“Surrender, Simon Follentia! As an on-mission student, causing further trouble will not be tolerated!”
[Hut. Hut. Hut.]
Prince twisted his right hand against his forehead dramatically, muttering to himself.
[Living as someone other than myself… maybe it’s not so bad after all…]
“What nonsense are you babbling?!”
“Get him!”
Flames, ice, and lightning flew from all sides as the guards hurled black magic. Prince laughed as he kicked off the ground, charging.
“Don’t let him escape!”
The guards rushed after him en masse. But one guard suddenly raised a hand.
“W-Wait. We got the report, but… doesn’t Simon Follentia look a little short?”
“Is this the time to nitpick?! Just run!”
“Catch him! We must capture him here on the 70th floor!”
And so the rookie guard’s doubt was brushed aside.
Using the chaos Prince created, Simon managed to regroup with Akemius.
Akemius reported that he had left Merida in an empty room with no people around. Since he’d set Sleep for only a short duration, she should be awake by now.
“...I hope she’s safe.”
[She surely is, Young Master.]
Simon nodded, turning his gaze forward.
“To reach the 100th floor, we’ll need to take the spiral staircase, won’t we?”
[Correct.]
The Ivory Tower’s spiral staircases had two lines.
One connected the 1st to the 70th floors, while the other went from the 70th to the 90th floors. This structure made defense easier, which was why the Tower was locked down from the 70th floor.
Prince was drawing the Tower’s guards away, pretending to be Simon, but the guards on the 70th to 90th floors would still be there.
“How long will it take to reach the 90th floor?”
[Five minutes will be enough.]
There was no choice but to trust Akemius. Spreading his great wings wide, Akemius embraced Simon close.
Flap!
His wings wrapped tightly around Simon’s body.
[Hold on tight, Young Master!]
Akemius’ jaws split wide open.
Kkeeeeeeeek!
With the shriek of a monstrous bird, Akemius took flight. Black feathers scattered as he surged toward the spiral staircase leading to the 90th floor.
“What is that thing?!”
“Fire at it!”
From the ground below, the necromancers’ black magic rained upward, but Akemius absorbed the blows with his body and continued his ascent.
* * *
Spiral Staircase Summit.
90th Floor.
—Chzzk! A monstrous lifeform is approaching the spiral staircase! It’s capable of flight!
As Simon had expected, the defenses here were far stronger. A senior necromancer, listening to the report, gripped his communication crystal.
“Is it Simon Follentia?”
—No! Simon Follentia is still being chased by the guards!
Another guard leaned his head forward.
“Senior, then what is that creature?”
“There’s no need for you to know.”
Click.
The senior necromancer shut off the crystal. At that moment, vast Darkness welled up from below, around the 70th floor.
“I’ll take full responsibility. Whatever comes up, pour every ounce of firepower into bringing it down.”
“Yes, sir!”
The guards stationed on the 90th floor all leveled their staffs downward. At their tips, a myriad of elemental spells began to gather.
“It’s coming!”
Shhhhhhhaaaaaaaa!
Something indescribable—like a mass of jet-black crow feathers—was rising through the staircase.
“Fire.”
Hundreds of spells blazed downward, dazzlingly bright as they struck. Blast after blast pummeled the mass of black feathers, filling the air with thick smoke.
“Got it!”
“It’s dust for sure…!”
“Keep firing! Don’t let up!”
Even as the smoke clouded their vision, the guards obeyed, raining down black magic. The shockwaves shook the stairwell, rattling the Tower itself.
But then—
Fwaaaaaaaaaa!
Bursting out of the explosions, enduring the onslaught, the black-feathered mass did not falter. The guards’ faces blanched.
“It’s already past the 80th floor!”
“We must’ve thrown hundreds of blasts at it…!”
“Stand aside.”
Though the Tower of Time’s guards were considered weaker than the necromancers of the Ivory Tower’s headquarters, the Tower Master had stationed his own chosen elites here.
At a gesture from the senior necromancer, a silver liquid flowed into the shape of a long spear.
“...Ugh!”
The firepower was overwhelming.
Simon, shielded within Akemius’ body, was spared the damage, but the impact transmitted through him left his head spinning.
‘Akemius! Are you okay?’
Akemius’ voice resonated.
[Do not worry, Young Master! I can make it to the 90th floor…!]
Kwaaa-crack!
Then it happened. The body that no black magic could pierce was suddenly skewered. A silver spear plunged into Akemius. His strength drained at once.
“Akemius!”
[Mercury…!]
It was a substance that countered him. Simon was unharmed, but Akemius, struck cleanly, had taken heavy damage.
“Are you okay?!”
[My apologies, Young Master! If given time, I could repair this body… but I cannot continue flying…!]
At those words, Simon’s eyes darted around urgently.
In that moment of hesitation—he saw it. On the 88th floor wall, a rabbit mask was stuck fast.
‘A signal from the Ghost of Time!’
Simon grabbed Akemius tightly.
‘Throw me to the 88th floor! Then retreat and recover yourself!’
[Yes! Forgive me! I pray for your safety!]
With all his strength, Akemius hurled Simon upward. At the same time, another barrage of black magic rained down from the 90th floor, and Akemius plummeted.
‘Akemius…!’
Clinging to the railing, Simon watched Akemius fall.
[Kuhuhuhu! Don’t fret too much, boy! With his regeneration, he’ll be fine.]
The guards of the 90th floor did not pursue—defending their level took priority. Simon let out a breath of relief and turned back.
The rabbit mask on the 88th floor.
Simon scanned the surroundings intently. Could there be something hidden here? A secret passage leading to the 90th floor, perhaps?
‘Ah.’
He gave a brief, helpless laugh.
Then raised his arm to the side.
‘Feer, I’ll need your help.’
A subspace opened, and Feer emerged—instantly breaking down into bone and slipping beneath Simon’s robe to brace his body firmly.
Clack.
Gripping the Greatsword of Destruction, Simon fixed his gaze forward.
The Ghost of Time’s method wasn’t a secret passage.
‘He wants me to use that person?’
Step—step—step.
Slow footsteps echoed.
And from the darkness, came a voice like metal scraping.
[...I smell a Keyzen brat.]
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters