NOVEL WEB Chapter 72
My actions inadvertently helped Calandas.
The four heroes, the great sage, and the extermination of the Duke.
The coaxing of Cecilia and the heist of sacred relics.
The core powers of the Empire vanished all because of me.
Of course, from Calandas’s perspective, my actions have been quite threatening all along.
Calandas must be aware that my feelings toward him are absolutely malicious.
Along with my radical behavior, I wielded the Holy Sword.
The Solar Holy Sword, which exerts power beyond that of a sacred relic against Calandas.
He wasn’t just conscious of me for no reason.
‘Or maybe he truly does know.’
At the meeting of the Seven Lairs, I directly warned him.
He might have picked up on my stance.
“Hey, you scrawny little bastard.”
It was Roseha’s voice.
She glared at Calandas with an intensely twisted expression.
I was the one in trouble, yet she looked angrier.
“Who are you talking to so loudly? Do you want to die?”
“Your mouth is vulgar. Truly befitting the queen of harlots.”
“What are we going to do about this brat? Kill each other with Barugore? Do you think you can even compete with him?”
No, why is it always me they bring up when they’re just standing around?
“You’ll get killed by Barugore. I’m not joking. Even if you beg on your knees for him not to interfere, you’re going to have a hard time. You have no idea of your place and are making threats?”
‘Please stop it.’
If we’re going to fight, we can fight among ourselves; why must I be involved?
Whenever Roseha tried to suppress me with words, I was the one who shrank back.
If I had a mouse hole to hide in, I would have crawled into it.
“My business is done here.”
Calandas turned away as if he didn’t want to engage.
At least he didn’t take any further interest in me.
A gray portal opened, and Calandas pushed his body into it.
But just before leaving, he shot me one last glance.
“Barugore. Don’t forget today’s warning.”
With a chilling tone, Calandas disappeared.
Even after that, I stared into the void where he once stood.
Calandas’s warning made one thing clear to me.
Just looking at his level, a deep crimson. He is more wary of me than I could have imagined.
And judging by the fact that his level has risen in the meantime, it was clear he was beginning to prepare for an invasion.
…If that guy were to engulf the Empire, would he leave me be?
‘Not at all.’
I had my doubts, but today I learned for certain.
The mere existence of the Holy Sword makes me a threat. Once he gains a strong power, he will surely target me like flowing water.
He had mentioned after the Empire, the target would be the same Seven Lairs, hadn’t he?
‘I need to prepare quickly.’
I had to get my hands on a mana eater as soon as possible.
Cough, cough.
With the sound of a cough, everyone’s attention turned to Daron.
It was hard not to look at him, given his boisterous voice.
“We’re in for a riot. While I remain neutral, I wonder how the fallout would play out if humanity were to be eradicated…”
With a vague tone, Daron glanced at me.
“So, Barugore, what about you? As the same Undead, do you harbor a desire for humanity’s destruction like the Eldritch?”
Most of the 72 Lords indeed held a hostile stance toward humanity.
However, even within that faction, there are conflicts in opinions.
Roxanne and Calandas desire purely destruction.
Daron and Renlin are neutral.
Roseha’s neutral stance is for the sake of the species’ survival, or perhaps friendly.
There was no reason to hide my thoughts here.
“I do not hate humans. I neither like them nor wish for their destruction; if we’re discussing annihilation, then I oppose that.”
“That’s surprising. It’s the first time I’ve met an Undead with such depth of thought.”
“I also ask: If we let Calandas go unchecked, we would only be helping him grow his powers.”
Daron nodded slightly.
“Yet you plan to simply sit back and watch?”
“For now, yes. I shouldn’t interfere with long-standing aspirations. Since it doesn’t pose any immediate harm, why should I?”
“Then if we target the Seven Lairs based on the Empire’s power?”
“Then the Six Lairs will have to execute the Eldritch. However, preventing that future out of worry is a flawed method. How can one act confidently about the future? To move based on fearing fluctuations in hierarchy is even more reckless.”
I felt frustrated.
Looking around, I noticed Renlin and Roseha seemed to agree.
These folks only contemplate the coming future; they don’t know it for sure.
Perhaps I should tell Renlin to use her insight.
If she were to say she had seen a future where Calandas turned the Seven Lairs into enemies…
‘That’s vague.’
Because it wasn’t a future I had seen directly.
If the episode of Calandas invading the Empire failed, then the player wouldn’t be able to witness the subsequent story.
The only ending I had seen was the Q&A text from the developers regarding the story that followed.
If one hasn’t seen a future that has occurred as it is, Renlin’s insight wouldn’t activate.
Thus seeking their assistance against Calandas would be a difficult endeavor.
I had guessed this, so I had neither disappointment nor expectations.
‘…If I were to act alone.’
In the decayed cave where death breeds and the tomb of faith is located.
Two Lairs would clash over humanity.
“I’d prefer you to stand back as well. When the Lairs’ aspirations are impeded by another Lair, even Roxanne would not be able to handle the backlash.”
“….”
I stopped thinking further.
The thought of the aftermath was giving me a headache.
Regardless of the choice, above all, acquiring a mana eater was paramount.
***
“The conversation was enjoyable. Let’s meet again.”
“I guess it’s time for me to head out too. See you later, darling.”
Thud. Thud.
After a brief chat, Daron lumbered out through the portal.
Roseha left as well, and naturally, only Renlin was left, twirling around me.
Putting aside the disconcerting antics, she chirped like a sparrow.
“Barugore. Are you coming?”
“I’m coming! I’m coming!”
As it turned out, there was no need to delay.
I signaled the two and Cecilia wobbled as she brandished the Moonlight Blade.
Charlotte opened her backpack and proudly pulled out a black book.
“I heard our destination is the Forest of Spirits. So I brought the Necronomicon.”
The Necronomicon is the pinnacle of necromancy.
Magic that manipulates souls, including the Undead, is necromancy.
The Forest of Spirits was heavy with magical energy and spiritual essence, making it more concentrated than oxygen.
Spirits, phantoms, evil spirits, and restless souls. All sorts of spirits sticking around could be quite a troublesome obstacle.
The spiritual essence in the Forest of Spirits is rather severe.
If the Undead’s morale leads to physical trembling, the evil spirits’ essence interferes with the mind and soul, causing even greater harm.
Even if Charlotte’s level is low, her immunity built up through necromancy should be fine.
Cecilia was a higher level, so her mental fortitude should be considerable.
‘I’m fine.’
By nature, spirits can’t recognize the Undead.
I’m not clear on the details, but being Undead has its advantages.
Once we pass through the Forest of Spirits, hidden underground lies a ruin.
The legacy of the Anti-Mage. The boss there is an Anti-Mage Great Spirit, but I’m not too worried.
“Let’s get going.”
“Are you coming right away?”
“Coming right away! Lin! I want to play with Barugore!”
“We’ll first take care of business. After that, I’ll visit the Twin Star Tower.”
To be honest, I really didn’t want to go to the Twin Star Tower.
If Roxanne is the hardest boss in the game, the hardest dungeon to clear is definitely the Twin Star Tower.
The Tower of Twins, where time flows backward.
Ren’s tower has time going backward, while Lin’s tower has minutes and seconds flowing backward.
Given how time and space warp, you can imagine the dangers of that dungeon.
Compared to the Twin Star Tower, the Forest of Spirits is practically a playground.
Well, it’s not really about clearing it, but the idea of being welcomed there feels uncomfortable nonetheless.
Who would want to be in a place where time and space twist?
“Hf! Hf!”
“Ik! Ik!”
A white portal appeared before us.
Renlin poked at my legs from behind. Despite that, I didn’t budge an inch.
At first glance, they looked like innocent little kids, but in reality, it was quite terrifying to think about.
I turned my attention to Charlotte and Cecilia and nodded.
“Let’s go.”
The two stood at my sides as if performing a ritual.
This time, Ren switched targets and began poking Charlotte’s legs. Lin also adorably poked at Cecilia’s legs with her tiny hands.
Charlotte looked utterly flustered, whereas Cecilia immediately patted Lin’s head.
“How cheeky! You!”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“You better mind your place! You were dead originally! If it weren’t for Barugore!”
It wasn’t just a casual remark but a sincere conviction.
If things had gone wrong, Cecilia might have very well been dead.
She also knew that Renlin was the third-ranked Lair, so maybe her anxiety had eased due to appearances.
Without hesitation, I stepped into the portal.
Once I got the mana eater and returned… I would find a way to deal with that bastard Calandas.
***
After the three core powers of the Tomb of Faith left, the dungeon became even more clamorous.
It was perhaps an obvious observation.
Since the three most influential and solemn figures had departed.
-Kiriririririk!
-Mr. Balutak! Give it to me! Give it to me, you bug! Hey!!
-Kyaaaah!
Unable to endure the racket, Estizel stormed into the attendant room.
Of course, the ones left were the loudest two.
Sigh. Estizel let out a deep sigh as if the ground was falling beneath her.
“This is a problem… It’s going to disrupt my studies.”
Estizel shook her head vigorously.
Contrary to her words, her body was already seated in front of the desk.
The desk prepared solely for her by the Lord.
Estizel has been spending more than half of her days at her desk lately.
Her rank among the 72 Lords was steadily rising, and learning magic was quite enjoyable.
It was due to her instinctive drive for improvement and magical achievements.
‘The boss has reached 2nd place?’
Initially, she felt disheartened compared to herself, but now it fueled her further.
This week, for sure, she would reach at least rank 45.
With determination, Estizel clenched her fist.
She opened the drawer without looking at the empty space.
Her groping fingers fumbled for a while before they finally stopped.
Her two eyes finally registered the empty drawer.
The Necronomicon, which should have been there, had completely disappeared.
…Could it be?
Clack! Bang!
Clack! Bang!
She repeatedly opened and closed all the drawers, yet nothing appeared.
The only black thing visible was darkness.
“Oh, ugh…”
Estizel’s pupils rolled around as if they were broken.
Without the Necronomicon, she couldn’t study magic properly.
If her achievements stagnated, her rank would hit a plateau.
Estizel didn’t want to give up her rank, no matter what.
How did she come this far!
Just then, to add insult to injury, the etched number in her mind flipped.
Ranking 50. Her primal instincts already hinted at the news of her demotion.
Estizel’s face turned dark with despair.
“Oh, no. This can’t be happening…”
Suddenly, the door swung open and Isabella and Balutak entered.
In their sight, as soon as they entered, Estizel was seen sitting at her desk.
“Ooh…!”
Isabella exclaimed admiringly.
Having remembered the timid Estizel from before, she came by to cheer her up.
Given that Estizel was studying, it was a perfect opportunity to shower her with compliments.
“Of course, things are different. Well, this is why your rank keeps rising. The legendary genius Estizel! At this rate, you might hit 48th place soon, right?”
“Kirik. Little Isabella. Growing stronger day by day. Evolving day by day.”
No response came back.
Estizel simply hung her head in silence.
After a while, Estizel pointed her finger toward the door.
“Everyone, please leave. I want to be alone.”