Chapter 804
News arrived that the Ancient Undead had reached Feer’s Ruins. Hearing this, Simon slipped out through the dormitory window.
‘It’s been a while.’
The chilly evening breeze rustled the leaves.
Pulling his robe tight, Simon strolled leisurely into the depths of the forest.
“Freeze.”
He sensed presences all around him.
People slowly emerged from behind the trees. Each held a bow or crossbow—these were the wardens, guardians of the Forbidden Forest and Roke Island’s ecosystem.
‘Hm? What are the wardens doing here?’
Simon found it strange.
This wasn’t his first time in the Forbidden Forest. During his time at Keyzen, he’d memorized the wardens’ patrol routes and timings perfectly. There was no way they’d suddenly show up like this.
“Raise your hands slowly.”
As he hesitated, Simon noticed the leading warden’s eye turn crimson.
It was the eye of a woman, with long eyelids and a round pupil. She blinked a few times, like giving a signal.
So Simon obediently raised both arms.
“I’m a Keyzen student. Don’t shoot.”
“Follow us. Now.”
Simon walked as the wardens guided him. They didn’t bind his arms or restrain him, merely kept their crossbows aimed as they led him deeper into the forest.
Eventually, when they had gone far inside, one of the rough-looking wardens who had first aimed a bolt at him strode forward.
“A student wandering the Forbidden Forest at this hour! You must think you’ve got a hundred lives!”
Simon stayed silent, wearing a curt expression. The warden suddenly thrust his face forward.
“What, hiding something in your mouth? Let’s check!”
He grabbed Simon’s cheek and stretched it wide. Simon’s expression grew even more sour.
“Nothing there. Then let’s check your clothes—”
“What are you doing, Erze?”
Simon pushed away the warden’s hand, cutting him off. The warden smirked and then his body quickly melted, morphing.
From the sagging, sticky web-like slime, Erzebet emerged.
[Legion Commandeeeer! I missed you sooooo much!]
She suddenly leapt forward, throwing her arms around Simon.
As expected—it was her.
The general of the spider unit, Erzebet.
[While apart, this girl gazed at the moon each night, yearning desperately for you, my commander.]
“Uh, right. But why disguise yourself as a warden? Did something happen?”
[Ah.]
Erzebet licked her lips with her long tongue.
[You were being tailed, Commander.]
“Hm?”
[To dare tail you in front of this girl! I easily shook them off. Looked like Keyzen students. Shall I have the spiders drag them in?]
Simon shook his head.
The face of Sota Psyche immediately came to mind.
“No need. It’s probably just the Student Council or the Disciplinary Committee.”
[To think you’re important enough to be tailed now. Indeed, this girl is relieved, you’re becoming a true big shot.]
Her appearance changed once more.
Her hair shimmered into bright pink, her outfit transforming into a Keyzen schoolgirl’s uniform.
The form she often used when sneaking around campus, Elizabeth Weffer.
[Tada~]
She held out a basket in both hands.
[It’s Basket Day! Did I do it right?]
“Oh, that. You knew about that too?”
[To know the enemy and know oneself, that is the basic of a spy. Since rival human teenage girls celebrate such things, this girl thought she should too.]
But instead of chocolates or candies, the basket was filled with wine and cheese snacks. Simon pointed it out.
“I think the contents are wrong.”
[What does it matter? As long as it’s in a basket, it counts.]
She pushed the basket into Simon’s arms with a smile.
[Now then, shall we go? This girl will guide you.]
“Yeah, lead the way.”
With smiles, the two headed toward Feer’s Ruins.
* * *
The underground of Feer’s Ruins.
Doom! Doom! Doom! Doom!
Skeletons banged drums and instruments. Somehow, they kept rhythm and even played a melody.
Kekekeke!
Grrrrrr!
Gyeeeeeeh!
All kinds of undead ran wild through the ruins. Being Legion-type undead, their sense of self was strong. They fought, clashed, rolled around, and screamed, causing utter chaos.
[Take this! Haha!]
Nearby, Prince was playing with the ball Simon had brought.
Legion-type undead were easily influenced by Ancient Undead. Perhaps because of Prince, even the Legion-type zombies were playful, turning the single ball into total mayhem.
Then, a Corpse Spider swooped in, snatched the ball, and bit into it—deflating it instantly.
Prince let out a furious wail and ran to Simon to complain.
[Simon! That stupid spider unit idiot ruined our ball…!]
[Oh my, why scold my children?]
Erzebet stroked the sulking Corpse Spider, glaring at Prince.
Simon forced a wry smile, calming the two generals.
“Enough. I’ll buy a new ball later.”
Erzebet’s Corpse Spiders were incredibly active, constantly scuttling about. They piled bread, fruit, and food before Simon as if by magic.
But Simon was the only one eating, and the amount was overwhelming. He waved them off, telling them to stop.
In contrast, Akemius’ Skullwings were calm like their master, perching in high places, silently observing.
Herseba’s Mummies swung on bandages like swings. Inside her staff, Herseba herself was piling up towers of sand from the ruins.
A party of the dead.
Noisy, chaotic, with bizarre screams echoing everywhere. Impossible to tell what was going on but perhaps because it was his Legion, Simon felt oddly at ease.
“Alright, let’s hear your reports.”
[Me first! Me first!]
Prince shot his hand up and jumped forward.
He clenched his fist, staring at Simon. Knowing what he wanted, Simon gladly performed their handshake.
Clap. Clap. Snap. Snap. They’d done it so often now that the speed and moves looked natural.
[Some new dungeons suddenly popped up in Deathland, so it took me a while to smash them all.]
Prince finished, patting his shoulder proudly.
During the vacation, there were a few times when Prince did not respond to the ring, it seemed his true body had been inside a dungeon.
[There were three groups of undead who dared resist me, the ruler of Deathland, I crushed them all, and wiped out the remnants as well. Ah, and also!]
Prince turned his head.
[Let me introduce some new family members!]
Thud! Thud!
Monstrous figures larger and more brutish than ordinary zombies appeared.
Gigantes Zombies.
They were upper variants of normal zombies.
[These guys, before, I couldn’t subjugate them with the power of my crown, but recently I can!]
Prince looked back at Simon.
[Probably because you’ve gotten stronger.]
“Really?”
Simon smiled, feeling proud.
When the Legion Commander grows stronger, the Ancient Undead moving with Darkness also become stronger. This was why one could not rely solely on numbers in a Legion, but also had to mind the commander’s own strength.
[Next, it is this girl’s turn.]
Following that, the other Ancient Undead began their reports.
In Erzebet’s case, during the vacation she seized part of the Insect Graveyard, covered it with webs, and transformed it into a spider den. She had also worked hard to replenish the Corpse Spiders.
Akemius reported that he had expanded his forces in the Jungle of Screams. The image of towering Skullwing nests filling the jungle was magnificent just to hear about. He even subdued powerful high-ranking native monsters, so he said there would be no attacks for the time being.
“You’ve all done well.”
The undead lost in the battle against North Star had been quickly restored in their own ways during the vacation.
And lastly.
[This is Grayson, of the North Star forces in the Frost Field.]
Before the beak of a large northern bird, a magic circle appeared, and a voice flowed out.
Grayson, the confidant of North Star and one of the Three Brothers, possessed the ability to control dead birds.
[If it pleases you, I will report in place of Lord Xairos, who cannot leave the Frost Field.]
“Yes, I’ll count on you, Grayson.”
At the Frost Field, Myurr’s warship had been safely taken over, and it was decided to store it deep in the Abyss where Xairos resided.
Apparently Xairos had been quite excited, saying, “The Legion Commander has entrusted me with a core mission of the Legion.” He swore to guard it without a single gap, and declared that if Myurr attacked, he would cooperate with the 2nd Northern Legion to repel it.
[And according to the Legion’s directive, we have been searching continuously for the 5th Legion’s Magnus, and the traces of Myurr, Sin of the Dead, and on the way here, we gained a small result.]
Simon shot to his feet.
“A result?”
[Yes, please place your hand on the bird’s head.]
As Simon approached and placed his hand on the bird’s head, the mental link grew stronger.
“Ah!”
His vision wavered, the surroundings turning blue. Beneath his feet stretched a vast sea, and the sound of the wind filled his ears.
It was a past scene, seen through the bird’s eyes.
“This place…?”
An unimaginably vast ocean. It seemed to be the southern seas of the continent.
The bird was not flying too high, so several islands could be seen. The islands together formed an archipelago.
[Please, focus on the southernmost island.]
At Grayson’s words, Simon looked toward the lowest island of the archipelago.
‘!’
He saw something writhing on the island.
[I will magnify it.]
Time froze, and Simon’s vision zoomed inward.
“This is…”
[The 5th Legion’s Ancient Undead, Lamia the Serpent Princess.]
Her voice echoed.
[And these are the undead monsters she commands, the Dead Nagas.]
At once his vision shifted back, returning to Feer’s Ruins.
Simon gasped, steadying himself.
Feer spoke.
[Keh-heh-heh! Lamia is one of Magnus’ closest confidants! This is valuable intel!]
“Can we pinpoint the exact location?”
[We’ll need to check against a map!]
Feer spread out a map on the ground, and Simon and the Ancient Undead bent over it.
[Here it is.]
The bird controlled by Grayson marked a spot. As Simon studied it, his eyes widened.
“W-wait…”
[What is it, boy!]
“This terrain, I’ve seen it before…”
Simon clutched his forehead, desperately searching his memory.
—I heard the second-years’ group exam will be an island survival evaluation! What kind of test will that be?
—I figured as much, so I narrowed down some candidates.
Not long ago, Dick had said that.
—Serin Island, Chenon Island, Garaon Archipelago, Lehlon Archipelago. Adding the other places, there are eight in total. Logistics from Roke Island have been moving through them.
Recalling that, Simon shot upright.
“It’s certain.”
[Legion Commander?]
Simon’s face hardened as he said,
“This place, it’s one of the candidate sites for the second-years’ group exam.”
No comments yet. Be the first to leave a review!