Episode 98 The Abyss Opens (2)
"Well then, we'll be going, Grandma."
"Oh my~ I'm fine, so don't worry and go on. Be careful on your way back."
"Hahaha, yes, Grandma. We'll come again next time."
"I told you there's no need to come again."
The hospital visit ended in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
I smiled softly as I left the hospital room with Tae-san.
"I'm glad she seems much better."
"Right? Even the doctors were surprised! They said she might be able to be discharged soon!"
Tae-san exclaimed excitedly.
Even the doctor's opinion was very positive, so he had been in high spirits since earlier.
"They even said it's like a high-ranking priest poured holy power into her for days, but how would a low-ranking civil servant like me have such connections? Even high-ranking officials would have a hard time receiving such luxury."
"...Right? She must have overcome it on her own. It happens sometimes, right?"
"That's right, that's right! As expected, good things happen when you live a good life. Our grandma never committed any sins and lived her life diligently, so even the heavens were moved!"
I glanced back at the hospital room, ignoring his excited chatter.
'I'm glad it worked. I thought it would be difficult to take further measures because things are so busy over there. This is a satisfactory result.'
There was no problem with using "Individual Projection" to transform into Heinrich and use holy power, but if he didn't set up a barrier to block the energy using Hans or Heinz the Second, it could cause various troublesome situations.
'It's not like it's dark magic power, it's holy power used for healing, so it wouldn't be a big deal… but it's still troublesome to attract unnecessary attention.'
It wouldn't lead to a persistent investigation because it wasn't a crime, but it was still burdensome for him, who was currently hiding.
After all, he was the 'Hahoe Mask' and the 'Master of the Blood Alliance' who was currently causing a stir in Korea.
It was better not to take unnecessary risks.
"Oh! What about moving? Did you decide where to go?"
"Ah, that? I found a house in the suburbs because I wanted to live more comfortably. I'm planning to move soon."
"Oh— Han Seong-hyeon has made it! A detached house! But wouldn't it be inconvenient if you move further away from Seoul? Like deliveries and stuff."
"Well, I have to compromise."
Actually, distance didn't matter anymore.
He was currently using "Individual Projection" to directly handle Hahoe Mask's work in place of Hans, who was busy.
'I can now stay in the projected state for 30 minutes. And I'm also planning to keep the house I'm currently living in.'
That place would become a base for smooth movement.
And so, busy days continued both on Earth and in Auterica.
___________________
In the forest of a viscount's territory in the Sharotti Kingdom, located in the western part of the continent.
A sudden disaster struck the territorial army that was dispatched after receiving a report of an anomaly.
A long two-handed sword in one hand.
Thick black armor covering his entire body.
Red ghost fires burning in his eyes and thick dark magic power enveloping the surroundings.
That being had the power to intimidate any living being just by its presence.
Whoosh— Slash!
"Gah!"
"Ki… ll… Ugh!"
Clear footprints of death were engraved with every step he took, and at least one life was lost with every swing of his sword.
"…Ugh, how can we…"
"Eek— It's no use! Run away!"
"You, you idiot! Where to?!"
And he wasn't alone.
The area was already completely surrounded by an army of death that had crawled up from hell.
"Ah, ah…"
The soldiers lamented in despair.
There was… nothing they could do in this situation.
After a short time, there was not a single living soul left.
It was only natural that the ordinary soldiers couldn't do anything when even the knight and the mages leading the unit had already been beheaded.
[…Weak.]
The Death Knight, who had annihilated the unit of hundreds, slowly looked around and muttered in a gloomy voice.
[But this isn't the end. The real thing is yet to come.]
It seemed like they weren't properly prepared because they appeared suddenly, but it would be a difficult fight once the human army started moving properly.
Just like when they had to hide in the boundary after being relentlessly pursued, no matter how much they fought.
Even the immortal army wasn't in a good situation to be complacent after defeating these guys who were nothing more than meat shields.
They were causing great chaos in various countries by appearing throughout the continent, but conversely, the risk of being picked off one by one increased.
'That's why I wanted to move quietly until we grasped the situation.'
The Death Knight subtly turned his head and looked at the undead army hiding in the shadows between the trees.
They weren't very suitable for stealth because of their inherent characteristics.
Not only did the death energy they naturally emitted stimulate the instincts of the living, but even the plants in the places they stayed briefly couldn't withstand it and died quickly, leaving too many traces.
That was also the reason why the clash with the territorial army occurred just now.
And now that a battle had taken place, there was no way to move stealthily anymore.
In other words, they needed to prepare for a full-scale battle from now on.
[Even these guys are precious now, so it can't be helped.]
The Death Knight concentrated dark magic power in his two-handed sword and slowly headed towards the center of the pile of corpses of the territorial army.
Wooong—
Dark energy surged explosively from his already long sword with every step he took.
And when he finally reached the center of the pile of corpses, he…
Embedded his two-handed sword, burning like a giant torch, into the ground.
Whoosh—!
Black flames, as if absorbing light, spread from him in an instant.
The ominous flames swept through the surroundings like a raging torrent, engulfing the corpses of the humans scattered on the ground, burning everything but their equipment and bones.
And the corpses that were left with only bones…
Clatter!
Clatter, clack—!
Hundreds of skeletons slowly rose, creaking.
Starting with hundreds of ordinary Skeletons, Skeleton Knights and Mages were added to the immortal army as new troops.
The Death Knight slowly nodded, looking around at the increased forces.
It was the limit because the humans' level was low, but it wasn't the time to be picky.
[…Good. If we keep increasing our numbers like this…]
At that moment,
[I'm a step late.]
A gloomy voice suddenly interrupted him, echoing through the surroundings.
At the same time, an ominous energy started to be felt from the sky, so overwhelming that even the Death Knight, a knight of death, couldn't help but be tense.
'This is…'
He knew this energy well.
After all, wasn't it the energy of the being he had pledged his loyalty to before hiding in the boundary?
The Death Knight slowly raised his head in the direction of the energy.
There he was, in the middle of the dark sky, shrouded in darkness thicker than pitch black, the being he had imagined.
The embodiment of death, the destination of all life, the Immortal King.
[Karam—]
At that moment, a strange wave spread from the Immortal King floating in the air.
The resonance penetrated the Death Knight, Karam's, body on the ground…
And the contract from three hundred years ago was renewed and overlaid.
[Ah…]
He exclaimed in admiration at the Immortal King's dark magic power flowing into his body.
His emotions, which had been empty since he awakened, were swept away by the overflowing power of death.
The connection that had weakened after the previous Immortal King's fall was strengthened again, and Karam, who had finally regained his prime, trembled.
'As expected, His Majesty never weakens, even after several generations.'
It was only natural.
The Immortal King was death itself, the end of this world!
Thud!
As their master-servant relationship was reestablished, Karam embedded his sword in the ground, knelt, and bowed to his king.
[Greetings, my lord. I am Karam.]
Hans, floating in the sky, looked down at the Death Knight who was paying his respects and the undead who prostrated themselves along with him.
Hans slowly descended from the sky and stood before him, his eyes glowing.
'Karam, he's a big shot.'
He didn't have to worry about the other undead because he could subjugate them with just "Abyssal Eye".
Only the highest-ranking undead like Entracio and Karam needed their contracts renewed.
Among them, Karam was a special individual, not just an ordinary Death Knight.
He was an all-around commander who had surpassed the master level in combat power, had the leadership to lead countless troops, and had even mastered necromancy to create undead.
He was a 'Death Knight Lord'.
'If we had to rank them… he would be in the single digits. One of the closest aides who led a part of the immortal army.'
They wouldn't have had time to rank them while conquering the continent, so there was no official hierarchy.
But there was an implicit influence within the force, considering their individual abilities and the Immortal King's personal trust in them.
In that sense, Karam, who led a part of the immortal army and invaded the continent separately from the main force, was not only a high-ranking executive but also a big shot who even appeared in the continent's history books.
He had encountered such a being by chance and taken him under his command.
It was like finding a gold bar on the street.
[I didn't expect to meet you like this, Karam. But it seems like you caused quite a commotion.]
[I apologize. The place I first emerged from happened to be near a human settlement. I tried to move stealthily, but it seems like they caught our tail.]
[It can't be helped. But now is the time to build our forces and gather strength. Return for now.]
[Your will be done.]
And so, Hans was able to collect Karam and the hundreds of undead into his subspace.
While doing so, he noticed skeletons wearing armor with the symbol of the nearby viscount mixed in with the group.
…They were victims who had recently become undead.
'The damage is greater than I thought.'
He was collecting the undead army, expanding his territory centered on the Talia Kingdom, but it was impossible to collect them all before any damage occurred.
Even though the Sharotti Kingdom was a western country adjacent to Talia, this area wasn't right next to it.
'I didn't expect this to happen.'
The aftereffects of Oath of Heaven's Defiance opening the abyss were greater than expected.
Undead were appearing simultaneously in various parts of the continent, throwing it into chaos.
'This isn't good. Not only is there unnecessary damage…'
The 'immortal army', which was practically his, was being pointlessly consumed.
'It's all because of those Oath of Heaven's Defiance bastards.'
He had to find them and punish them, but he hadn't been able to track them down yet because he was busy dealing with the aftermath of this incident.
Thanks to that, he was able to collect a few more executives like Bone Dragon Entracio and Death Knight Lord Karam…
'This won't do. I need to resolve this quickly. I didn't want to use this method, but…'
No, thinking about it, this method might be more efficient.
Not only could he locate the immortal army more quickly, but there would also be other side effects.
'There might be unexpected side effects… but I have to accept that much.'
An incredibly thick dark magic power slowly started to spread around Hans, who was focusing his mind.
Whoosh—
The dark, heavy, and sticky energy formed a specific structure, weaving the arcane art that Hans desired—.
And the presence generated in the process spread, pressing down on the space.
After a while, the dark magic was finally activated.
Wooong—!
A wave of dark magic power spread in all directions, beyond the forest, the territory, the country.
At this level, there was no way to avoid the Church's gaze anymore.
No, anyone above a certain level would be able to feel it.
[Listen, my children—!]
Right here.
[I am here.]
That the Immortal King was here.
And in response to the Immortal King's message, which spread to all undead in the western part of the continent,
Replies started to come back from everywhere.