Chapter 316
Chapter 316: Summoning and Curse
—
It was a dreary stone room.
Dark, with no windows. Understandably so, for it was deep beneath the Demon Lord Castle, an area hewn from solid rock.
Hanging from the exposed rocky ceiling was a lamp emitting a bluish phosphorescence. Its feeble glow hardly qualified as lighting, appearing almost pointless, but its purpose was to illuminate the surroundings with a wave of magical energy, not visible light.
This was no tool for the living.
It was a lighting fixture designed for the undead to perceive their surroundings.
And in such a bland, lifeless room, music befitting a grand court resonated. Musicians dressed in lavish costumes skillfully played string and wind instruments. They were so absorbed in their performance that they wore blissful smiles, seemingly knowing nothing beyond playing.
‘~~~♪’
Their splendid concert was accompanied by a mix of humming and the clinking of metal.
— In the center of the room stood a monstrous entity.
A being described as a cross between a spider and a tree, with multiple spider-like legs on the lower half and countless arms resembling branches on the upper half. It was a sight that defied description. A grotesque head, seemingly adorned with multiple eyeballs set in a mask, moved with precise clockwork-like motions.
Moreover, at the ends of its arms were numerous tools affixed, such as sharp blades, tweezers, sewing needles, and scissors, which it manipulated skillfully, focusing intently on its work with the deftness of an artist or surgeon.
— What was it working on?
The monster faced a casket-like tank, filled with a liquid concoction, where a humanoid figure with blue skin floated.
— A creature resembling Zilbagias Reiju.
However, it was still incomplete. Specifically, its abdomen was empty, and parts of its limbs lacked skin, exposing muscles and nervous systems. The facial area was nearing completion, but it had neither hair nor horns, and the eyebrows were currently being styled by the monster with tweezers.
‘Hmm… Is this good enough?’
One of the numerous arms of the monster moved to pull a piece of paper toward it. It was a portrait of Zilbagias, including front and side views, meticulously sketched from various angles.
‘Alright, alright. The eyebrows look good like this.’
The monster nodded in satisfaction as it compared the sketch with the puppet before it.
‘I need to prepare a perfect body so Zil can feel no discomfort!’
The true identity of the many-armed monster was—needless to say.
The Undead King, Enma.
Now, deep in the workshop located at the lowest depths of the castle, where even Zilbagias had never been summoned, he was exorcising a specialized body in preparation for his beloved’s demise.
Usually, Enma showed Zilbagias only a neat humanoid body, but now he was in an unrefined, homey appearance with no makeup whatsoever, just enjoying his private time.
Enma loved this workshop. While it appeared desolate, the walls contained ample storage space, filled with every material necessary for crafting undead bodies. Plus, if he requested, he could listen to every past masterpiece from the orchestra.
It was likely one of the most luxurious work environments on the continent.
‘…Hmm?’
Just as Enma was eager to continue creating Zilbagias’ body, he suddenly looked up at the ceiling.
‘Something’s noisy up there… Did Nephradia die? Oh, that useless demon race got killed by the Demon Lord, huh? How unexpectedly anticlimactic.’
With a tick-tick, the head with the mask tilted to the side.
‘…Should I call her just in case? After all, she’s the one who killed Zil-kun.’
He maneuvered his spider-like legs with a fluidity that was terrifying and moved to the corner of the workshop. Activating the sealing array inscribed on the floor, he opened a space to capture spirits and, with no incantation, opened a gate to the spirit realm.
‘【Come forth, Nephradia Izanis】’
With a swoosh, tendrils of dark magical energy searched the spirit world.
‘Ah, as I thought, no response.’
But there was no reaction.
‘Looks like her soul got devoured. That spear was something else…’
He muttered, not directed at anyone in particular.
Fundamentally, undead have a strong resistance to dark entities. Against demon races and night elves, only fire tends to be an effective form of attack.
However, that demon lord’s spear—the weapon that sealed the power of the man-eating Demon God Cannibal—
‘It might even work on us.’
Enma murmured, looking pensive.
In truth, the exact effects were still unclear. Having never battled the Demon Lord, he could not verify whether undead souls could be consumed.
Still, Enma anticipated that their souls could be at risk and that countermeasures should be prepared—
‘It’s still not enough… To clash with the Demon Lord.’
They were living beings. No matter how strong, they needed to eat and sleep. Even if they were not stronger, as long as they relentlessly attacked without giving rest, they’d eventually wear down.
Soldiers defeated by the Demon Lord cannot be reused? Then let’s prepare such overwhelming numbers that it wouldn’t matter if they couldn’t be reused—you just need to keep up the assault for days.
‘Ahh. That said, what a disappointment. I almost had a chic present ready for Zil-kun…’
Nephradia’s soul.
For Enma, Nephradia’s reckless actions hastened Zilbagias’ demise, providing him exactly what he wished for, but the deceased would likely disagree.
— This is the very soul of the culprit that cornered Zil-kun! You can do whatever you want with it, Zil-kun♪
— Oh, as expected of Enma! How considerate, thank you!! My beloved!
‘…I thought that’s how it would go.’
As he closed the gate to the spirit world, Enma sighed, though the body lacked lungs, so countless shoulders just twitched.
‘Ah… I wonder how Zil-kun is doing right now. I hope he’s okay.’
He wouldn’t mind dying at all; in fact, he welcomed it. But if Zilbagias’ soul were to be damaged, and his personality lost, he simply couldn’t bear it!
‘He isn’t dead yet, right? Hmm, not dead yet.’
Even as he attempted to confirm, the device to summon Zilbagias continued to call his name in vain.
‘…Ah! Please don’t let the Holy Church get him, Zil-kun! If you’re going to be killed, let it be by a magical beast or a Sword Saint!’
With countless hands raised as though in prayer, Enma called out towards the far-off ground.
‘Please, Zil-kun! Stay away from the Holy Church…!’
The Undead King wishing for the Demon Lord’s demise.
In the depths of the underworld, as serene as the afterlife, he awaited his beloved—
†††
Meanwhile, at that very moment.
†††
“Woooah!”
I was brimming with magical energy all over.
“[Holy Light, come to my hands]”
A silvery light enveloped me.
“You filthy parasites feeding off humans…! I’ll purify you all at once!”
And I unleashed the holy attribute light.
“HaAAAAH!”
— In front of me were piles of bed sheets.
With crackling sounds, countless fleas and lice were burned to death.
“Alright! This side’s pest control is done!”
“Thank you~”
The priestess apprentice at the orphanage sighed in relief, her hand on her chest.
“I’m sorry… for using up your precious magical energy…”
“No, no, it’s fine, I’m on break anyway. Besides, it’s for the bright future of these children.”
I replied with a smile.
“If there are any other troublesome spots, just let me know. We’ll handle it quickly.”
“Well, then… The food storage too. There’s a bunch of bugs…”
“Leave it to me.”
— Howdy, I’m Hero Alexander.
I said I didn’t want to be around too many involved parties.
But here I am, doing volunteer work through the connection with the Holy Church regardless.
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