Chapter 3 Light, Darkness, and the Miserable Dead The Ender Knights had assembled in a room at an inn in Enge. The Knights were a combat organization formed to battle darkness. Though they called themselves knights, they didn’t belong to any nation, instead traveling the world to eliminate any enemies who would cause harm to humans. Their few members were considered the cream of the crop, and even the lowest members on their three-rank hierarchy were no different from the very best mercenaries in terms of skill. The burden of facing the vanguards of the dead was too great for mere humans. The Ender Knights were humanity’s last bastion—the reason they were spoken of as heroes so frequently in fairy tales. In the center of the room, a man was sitting heavily in a comfortable armchair. He was in his forties or fifties. Deep wrinkles creased his face, and his hair had faded to white. His body, however, trained through many long months and years, still hadn’t waned much at all; the massive power housed in it would have made anyone who saw him feel like they were dreaming. In reality, the older man was a first-rank knight—of which there were no more than five in the entire Ender Knights—and the leader of the ones who had come to Enge on this occasion. He boasted absolute authority and strength within the Knights as the central force of the light that had protected humankind from many calamities. His many martial exploits and his mild demeanor earned the old knight much respect, and as always, he watched his pupils with quiet eyes. “I see…,” he said. “So we haven’t found Horos Kamen yet.” “It’s to be expected from a second-rank necromancer. There seems to be little doubt he’s in the forest…but his Warding Morass spell is powerful. Not a single rip in his defenses.” “Regular tactics will take time. We can’t go on like this.” At their master’s words, one of the disciples—Luphrey, the third-rank knight whose positive attitude always buoyed the group—shrugged, while the coarser Nevira clicked his tongue. Sorcerers with real ability had a comprehensive grasp on spells even outside their field of expertise. The ones who violated taboos, especially, tended to be skilled in concealment spells. The Ender Knights were far from ignorant when it came to sorcery, but they were a step behind the sorcerers experienced enough to have broken taboos. Warding Morass was a high-level barrier spell of the illusion type that confused those who entered a specified area and caused them to become lost. It was nigh impossible to brute force one’s way through it. On the other hand, the bounded field was said to have a weakness: It would stop working if someone who knew the path guided you through. Epe narrowed his eyes at his disciples’ report, then said in a low voice, “He’s dangerous. He’s slipped through my fingers many times. We must destroy him before he reaches first rank.” Just as the Ender Knights’ members were split into three ranks, necromancers—their fated enemies—were divided into three as well. Horos Kamen was classified as second rank, while a first-rank necromancer was closer to an evil god than a human. Second-rank necromancers were extremely dangerous mages. Defeat was an impossibility, of course. But depending on how they went about destroying Horos, several third-rank knights could be killed. But Epe offered a genial smile to change the mood. And in it, for just an instant, was absolute confidence. The few first-rank knights in existence had another crucial mission aside from the subjugation of darkness. It was to pass on their strength and experience to their juniors. His gaze was directed at the youngest female present. She had been listening patiently, not saying a word. “Senli, as planned, I’ll leave it in your hands. Take Luphrey and the others and kill Horos. You can do it, right?” “…Yes, Master.” A second-rank mage was a significant threat—not as bad as first rank but still considerably rare. Senli, the designated leader, didn’t sound the least bit ruffled. Her violet eyes never wavered as they returned Epe’s gaze. Epe nodded deeply at her expression, indicating his satisfaction. “You’ll be fine, Senli. Despite your youth, you’re nearly a first-rank knight. The power of your blessing, especially, is top class, even including those who have come before us.” A virtuous spirit. A blade-wielding princess of light. One blessed by all the gods upon her birth. Senli Sylvis. Her talents stood out even among the Ender Knights, who were the best of the best. In particular, her blessing, which was directly linked to her ability to purify darkness—necromancers referred to it in several ways, such as positive energy—was stronger than any pupil Epe had ever had. The Ender Knights strengthened their blessings through severe training and mental concentration, but by the time Epe had scouted Senli, she’d already possessed a blessing of seemingly impossible strength. And as the power of light grew, she would reach even greater heights. It was as though she’d been born to become an Ender Knight. With experience, she would doubtlessly rise to a first-rank knight and even surpass Epe. “Your opponent is especially strong for a second-rank necromancer, but if you face him with your companions, you will be able to win. When you defeat Horos…I plan on recommending you for a first-rank position.” “?! But that’s… I’m still not…” “Your relative weakness isn’t an issue. I’ve been a first rank for thirty years, so it’s meaningless to compare yourself. Besides, you will catch up in no time. You have the sword technique of a natural genius, and the strength of your blessing is beyond words. The only worry I have about you is… Listen to me carefully. It is your…naïveté. Necromancers are, well… They’re a crafty bunch.” Senli nodded solemnly. The other members watched Epe with similarly serious expressions. Senli met Epe’s gaze and replied with the utmost calmness, “That won’t be an issue. I’ve seen many disasters and tragedies. These necromancers would bring pain to humankind. I was bestowed this blessing so I could slay them and grant their corrupted souls salvation.” “…Your kindness and righteousness are strengths as well as weaknesses. But this is a path all must take. One cannot become a first-rank knight without facing hardships and conflict.” “Please, leave her to us, Master,” said Luphrey. “She does still act naive at times, but we’ll be with her, too. Even if the strength of our blessings isn’t much compared to hers, we have more experience fighting the darkness. We can make up for what she lacks.” Epe eyed his students fondly as Luphrey took a step forward from Senli’s side and rapped on his chest. The other knights nodded as well, a variety of emotions on their faces. Epe appeared satisfied. He crossed his long legs and looked hard at Senli. “Even necromancers cannot survive on their own. Powerful magic requires precious catalysts. Someone in this town must be working with Horos. Continue your search. This, Senli, is…your job. I will give advice if needed, but I will not interfere.” “Yes, Master.” “Still, you’re not a first rank yet. I will be on call. That Horos should still be second rank…but if the worst comes to pass, and that has changed, report it to me.” Engraving her master Epe’s words deep into her heart, Senli left the room with her companions to resume their search. As Senli was checking on equipment at their base, Nevira addressed her. He wielded a mace as his main weapon and took the front line in Epe’s squad. “Senli, I still think we should destroy the entire forest along with the barrier. Your blessing would probably manage it. Warding Morass is a delicate spell. If we mess with it even a little, we can obliterate the barrier.” “I’ve said this many times… That is our last resort. If we disrupt the forest, the fleeing magical beasts may attack the town.” “I’m telling you: That’s exactly why the master says you’re naive. There would be casualties, yes, but far less than if we let a second-rank necromancer run loose,” said Nevira, gritting his teeth as he looked down at Senli. Senli and Nevira didn’t get along well, but she still thought his words held a nugget of truth. The Ender Knights’ mission was to destroy the darkness. Everything else was secondary. Several civilian casualties would occasionally come about as a result of their conquests. And the Ender Knights viewed those choices as correct. A corpse-controlling necromancer was a fearsome opponent. Those dark sorcerers who played with souls, even death itself, wouldn’t hesitate to stoop to the most cowardly of acts. Fighting one required resolve. Senli knew the reason others called her naive. But she’d become an Ender Knight in order to protect the weak. Once, Senli had been confined to bed for a long time for reasons unknown. Her blessing had been too strong for her, and the ever-increasing positive energy had been straining her body. But she’d grown, and after physical and mental training, she could use that power perfectly. Now she had the ability to fight. “I’m the leader this time. We’ll continue the search. As long as we are in Enge, the necromancer won’t make any big moves. We’ll proceed with caution.” The Ender Knights had an overwhelming advantage against necromancers. In a fair fight, they’d never lose. Nevira scratched his head at what she said and, after a moment, replied angrily, “…Hmph. Fine—you’re the leader this time. But…at least give a time limit. True, we should eventually be able to find someone who knows where the guy is, but we don’t have the leeway to be taking it easy with our search. Horos isn’t the only necromancer out there. You understand, right?” “……Yes, I do. We will settle the score within a month.” “That’s too long. The more time we give him, the stronger he’ll get. He’s already being more cautious in the forest. You might emerge unscathed, but Horos is a powerful mage. Your companions will die.” Senli briefly fell silent at her companion’s strong, threatening voice but eventually looked back up and said decisively, “One week. If we don’t find the key in that time, we’ll destroy the forest. Conduct preparations while we search. Both to clean things up after we’ve destroyed it and to survey the destroyed location.” “Understood.” Senli’s violet eyes contained not even a shred of doubt. Nevira’s lips twisted into a cold-blooded sneer, and he gave her a firm thwack on her slender back. Preparations proceeded rapidly. When I visited Enge again on an errand, the entire town was abuzz. Listening closely, I could hear gossip about the Ender Knights, which I hadn’t heard much of last time. Shrinking away from the sunlight pelting me, I carried out my responsibilities. These errands took place during the day most likely because the undead were more active at night, and thus they would be more cautious. I received an item from Hak that looked to be the same as the one I’d received on my previous errand. After taking it, I moved to leave the room immediately, but Hak called out to me and asked me to relay a message. His typically aloof expression looked just a little more tired than usual. “Tell the lord I look forward to the day we can meet again. They’re sniffing me out. I don’t plan on betraying him, but their noses are sharp. It’s too risky to procure anything more for him.” “Right, got it.” “…You really do have intelligence. To think you can manage just fine under the sunlight… How fearsome. The lord, your master—he is, without a doubt, the strongest out there. First-rate even among my customers.” Hak gave a bitter smile, visibly shuddering as he spoke. Once the deal was finished, I went outside. I had just a tiny bit of free time. This was the more important part of the trip. I entered a deserted alleyway. Lou, despite her criticism of me doing something I wasn’t ordered to, followed in silence. I only had so much time when the lord’s eyes weren’t on me. His guards were always in the basement room he kept me in, watching me, and they wouldn’t let me go outside without asking. These errands were some of the few moments the surveillance wasn’t on me. The Ender Knights were on constant lookout, so he couldn’t use a familiar to watch me. Hiding Lou with my body as she shrunk down, I peered into her dark eyes and asked, “Did you get them?” “Y-yes. B-but…what are you…going to do with—?” “Excellent. Thank you, seriously.” Time was of the essence. The lord spent longer and longer hours cooped up in his laboratory by the day. He was probably preparing some sort of ritual. At this point, the only times I saw him were the moments when he commanded me to go out hunting. Deep exhaustion had been evident on his face, but his eyes glowed with an eerie light. He was trying to break yet another taboo of some kind. Truly terrible—though as a detestable being myself, I didn’t have much room to talk. I already couldn’t hope to match the lord or the Ender Knights. If they took the initiative, I’d have no chance. Lou took the items I’d requested from her clothing and held them out, her face a mix of fear and questioning. I snatched them away from her, looked at them closely—and smiled, for the first time in a while. They might not have been much to Lou, but to me, these were the keys to my survival. Lou didn’t seem to be in any pain. She was the one purposely making decisions that went against her slave commands. That meant her cooperation with me wasn’t considered an indirect attack against the lord. Lou nervously glanced around and whispered in a shaking voice, “A-anyway… About what you said before—” “Yeah, of course. You’ll just have to trust me, but I will keep my promise.” She probably still didn’t trust me, but she looked clearly relieved at those words. Her expression softened, and it even looked like a little of the tension left her shoulders. Maybe I’d even reassured her? I was weak, but Lou was weaker. She didn’t even try to fight. That was the difference between her and me—I resisted death while I lived, even right up to the moment I died. She was truly a helpless, pathetic person. But I couldn’t afford to be goofing off. I needed to prepare. “Lou, we’re going back right away. I have one quick thing to do, so please wait at the town’s exit for me.” “Ah—” Without waiting for a response, I dashed out of the alley with the items. The only thing I had to be cautious of was that I didn’t accidentally run face-first into the Ender Knights. My situation was essentially life-or-death, just like when I was alive—but this time, I had a body that could move. I didn’t want to bet on either the lord or the Ender Knights. Because neither of them would be the winner. The winner…would be me. The lord was downright ghastly now, as though the moment of truth was near. His expression twisted in strange ways, and the power I felt coming off his back was wicked enough to make even an undead like me flinch away. While the lord’s emotions had reached a fever pitch, the slave Lou was growing even more haggard than before. She was helping him with his experiments, doing only as she was told as he yelled and screamed at her. My tasks, meanwhile, hadn’t changed. Rather than getting any combat experience, I just followed the lord’s instructions and accumulated the power of death. The contents of the second package I’d received from Hak was a black fang, similar to the first package. With my limited knowledge, I couldn’t fathom what he would use it for, but I’d done everything I was able to do. There was nothing left now but to leave my luck to the heavens. A necromancer or the Ender Knights. The lord or Senli. In the end, who would emerge victorious over the other? However things turned out, the situation would change. I could feel my mind rustling with tension. In the carnage to come, would I, the one with an incredibly low chance of winning, be able to survive? After I’d finished my hunt, the lord, unusually, called for me. “End,” he said, “we will perform the ritual now. Once it is done…you will be the strongest—the strongest king of the dead.” “What do you mean by the strongest…?” The question was a sincere one. What did he mean by that? Would conducting this ritual cause me to grow more powerful than even the first-rank knights and their outrageous, supernatural abilities? Would I be able to crush Senli and the Ender Knights? Would it allow me to live freely and peacefully, not bound to anyone? But the lord didn’t answer my question. He spoke to me through his glaringly delighted gaze. Of course. Those words of his—he hadn’t been looking for my understanding. It was more like he was muttering them to himself. “But for that, I require you to mutate into a darkstalker, at the least. No—you must. You are undoubtedly the single finest specimen among all the undead I have ever controlled, but as a ghoul…you are far too weak. I would have preferred to wait for the next mutation after that—to a lesser vampire—and execute this after ascertaining your capacity, but I cannot expect that much with a first-rank knight on my trail. It was truly fortunate that you, End, were my final undead at this moment.” A lesser vampire. That was an undead who came a step before a vampire. The more rank mutations one progressed through, the greater the amount of energy needed, and the more time it took. For one who hadn’t even become a darkstalker yet, it was still a long way off. The speed of my mutation had apparently been abnormal. If the lord’s words were true, then typically it would have required a much larger chunk of time to create the king of the dead. He was playing the long con. The lord’s voice was a little feverish, as though he hadn’t slept very much. “Your soul—it continues to fall toward the darkness. Understand, darkstalker…? This will be in time. My Warding Morass will not be so easily broken. End, kill them—kill them all! Amass all the deaths you can muster! Feast upon their corpses and desecrate their souls!” “……Yeah, of course.” My emotions didn’t waver. My answer came in monotone. Right now, in my mind, Horos Kamen was a complete enemy. I didn’t know what this king of the dead nonsense was all about, but whether in tales old or new, from east or west, rituals performed by a necromancer were never good. “Damn, if only we had more time… If they come, it will be during the day. Never falter—never let your guard down.” “I don’t need an order for that.” “Very well. End, return to the morgue!” Even at a time like this, the lord remembered to command me. Partly impressed, I obeyed the order and returned to the morgue. Lou looked to me—she had been forced to help the lord in the laboratory or something—but our eyes didn’t meet for long before I turned away. Our deal was already over. I still had a card left to play. I’d played it once already, but in all likelihood, the lord hadn’t found out. His owl familiar stared at me. The lord had said it would be in time, that there was still a little time left. But he was wrong. There was no time left. Neither for the lord nor for us. My mind was already made up, and so were theirs. The only one who wasn’t finished was the lord. And so, two days later, the lord came to me at a different time than usual, a horde of skeleton knights behind him. It had been just about when I’d predicted. I knew exactly what had happened without having to listen to the lord, but he spoke in choppy phrases, filled with a clear, bottomless rage. “The Ender Knights—they’re—they’re here. It’s too early… Damn it all! The Warding Morass isn’t working. Did Hak betray me? Yes—that is the only possibility. No more than a merchant after all! He sold me out—for money?!” “…” Lou was bound by her orders. I was there as her chaperone. Apparently, even the lord wouldn’t doubt his own slave. His eyes glittered darkly with vengeance. “Fortunately, the Extinguisher doesn’t seem to be here. We’ll have to destroy them. I can’t afford to create a barrier to buy time. The ritual isn’t complete, either. They’re…they’re right under my nose. Very well—that is fine. Those hypocrites are standing in the way of my long-cherished wish. The king of the dead may not yet be complete—but I will show them all the secret arts of my necromancy.”
Chapter 9
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