Helbertron picked up the Lehert Saber and gently drew the sword.
Shrring.
With a light rasp, a murky black sword aura flowed out. The aura that should originally have shone brilliantly had been invaded by the Death Knight’s mana and was giving off an uncanny light. After confirming there was nothing wrong with it, Helbertron belted the sword at his waist and looked at Damon. As if to prove that he had regained his strength, the eerie, distinctive gaze of a Death Knight blazed from within his helmet.
“At any rate, your life is quite tenacious. To think you survived even in a situation like that.”
“I couldn’t die before dealing with that bastard Verkis.”
At Damon’s reply, Helbertron nodded as though he agreed.
“Of course. That said, will you explain what’s going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“The brats on guard were calling you Crown Prince. What in the world is the reason for that?”
Damon waved a hand and answered indifferently.
“It’s nothing much. The body I obtained in order to escape Verkis’s lair just happened to belong to the Crown Prince of the Krosen Empire……”
It was an answer tossed out as though it were nothing, but Helbertron could by no means take it lightly.
“Amazing. Then does that mean you will one day become Emperor of the Krosen Empire?”
Damon firmly shook his head.
“No. My desire is confined solely to revenge. No matter how vast the empire, the throne of emperor could never dare hold my heart.”
“But if you become Emperor of the Krosen Empire, the path of revenge will become that much easier, won’t it?”
Damon grinned.
“You don’t need to worry. As it happens, a million elite soldiers of Arcadia will be gathering from across the continent to help us take our revenge……”
When he briefly explained what had happened so far, the Death Knights, led by Helbertron, reacted as though their souls had left their bodies.
“You truly are an extraordinary fellow. To think you could even seize such fortune…… Be that as it may.”
Helbertron’s burning gaze fixed on the figure behind Damon. At last, his eyes had landed on Shrekheimer.
“What is that shabby lich wretch? Seeing as it trails after you, it doesn’t seem to be an enemy…… Don’t tell me you made a lich to face Verkis?”
Damon deliberately frowned.
“What a truly ill-mannered lot you are. Though it may be a thing of the past, to spout such outrageous words at a high-ranking cleric of Berhazel.”
A bewildered look spread across Helbertron’s face.
“A high-ranking cleric? A lich?”
“That’s right. And he was also someone who knew you well.”
“S-such a thing……”
Doubt appeared on the faces of the Death Knights. It was only natural, for almost all who knew them had become ghosts of the Northwood Plains. Comrades and subordinates alike had all met their end there. Were they not in a state where even their souls could not find rest and had to wander forever?
When all eyes turned to him, Shrekheimer stepped forward. Due to the nature of being a lich, he could not reveal emotion outwardly, but Shrekheimer was now gripped by a strange feeling. They had once been members of the lofty leadership that guided the mighty Icarot Empire. Though their paths had differed, they had respected each other’s achievements. Yet now they had become cursed undead and were encountering one another in far-off Arcadia. It was an astounding fate. The one who spoke first was Shrekheimer.
“It is good to see you. I never dreamed I would meet you all after five hundred years had passed.”
“……”
“Do you perhaps remember the name Shrekheimer?”
Only then, as though recognizing him, an intense gleam surged in the eyes of the Death Knights.
“Shrekheimer? Are you truly High Archbishop Shrekheimer?”
Shrekheimer silently nodded.
“To think the High Archbishop became a lich……”
The Death Knights were at a loss for words. It was already something worthy of beating the ground in grief that the greatest knights, who pursued honor, had become Death Knights, but for even the devout High Archbishop to transform into a cursed being of darkness…… No one could open their mouth.
“You must be greatly surprised, but it is the truth.”
Looking over them, Shrekheimer began explaining how he had ended up this way. Briefly, he told them everything from the time he escaped the Northwood Plains to the moment he became a lich by Damon’s hand. The Death Knights listened intently, sometimes astonished, sometimes sighing. After hearing all of Shrekheimer’s explanation, Saramis let out a long sigh.
“So such a thing happened to you. I understand now why the High Archbishop became a lich.”
Saramis, who had been a devout believer of Berhazel when alive, held considerable respect for High Archbishop Shrekheimer. Seeing him treat Shrekheimer with particular courtesy compared to the others, it seemed that even after dying and becoming undead, that respect alone had not disappeared. Helbertron abruptly extended a hand to Shrekheimer.
“Welcome. We and Sir Shrekheimer are in the same position, in that we abandoned everything for revenge. Let us join forces and ensure that our revenge succeeds.”
“Of course we must.”
Shrekheimer silently took the proffered hand. The bony hand of the gaunt lich and the hand of the Death Knight wrapped in a murky black gauntlet clasped together firmly. Once their handshake ended, Reindelf, who had been waiting, extended his hand as well.
“I too welcome the High Archbishop.”
Though they had met as undead, he did not seem displeased to face someone with whom he had shared ties in life. Moreover, had they not become comrades who would fight together from now on? Shrekheimer looked over each of the Death Knights and spoke.
“Though I cannot bestow blessings upon you as I did in the past, I believe I can support you to some extent when you fight. Since I am armed with dark mana instead of divine power, I should not be particularly lacking.”
“Not lacking in the slightest. With supporting fire from 7th Circle magic, what would there be to fear?”
Damon, who had been watching their reunion, stepped forward.
“Now, let us end the reunion here. There is much to do, so all of you hurry and enter Incresia.”
To the Death Knights, those were welcome words indeed. To be honest, the divine power rising from the magic circle was no different from torture to them. Divine power was a blessing that invigorated life force for humans, but to undead it was the same as deadly poison.
The divine power inside the prison was quite strong. They had been able to endure it only because they were extremely powerful undead; if they had been low-grade undead like zombies or skeletons, they would have melted away by now without leaving a trace. Though the magic circle had been released and was no longer emitting divine power, the remaining divine power continued to inflict pain on them, so they watched with expectant eyes as Damon opened Incresia. When the magic treasury Incresia revealed its entrance, Damon looked at them.
“I will restore your injuries later, so all of you go in.”
“We will.”
Helbertron nodded and seized Shrekheimer by the arm.
“It may be your first time seeing Incresia, but it is more comfortable than you would think. For undead, it is like a cozy nest. Then let us enter. It seems we have a great deal to talk about.”
Seeing all their eyes shine, they were probably intending to ask about news of their families. In that regard, they could truly be called peculiar undead. Though it had been intentional, because Damon had allowed them as much of their intellect from life as possible, they had become Death Knights more human than humans.
Perhaps their hearts were impatient, for they hurriedly tried to drag Shrekheimer into Incresia. But that was nothing more than their wish. Damon coldly stepped between them.
“Only you are going in. High Archbishop Shrekheimer has work to do with me.”
Helbertron glanced at Damon with expressionless eyes and hurled abuse.
“You petty bastard. You’d rather die than see anything go well for us, wouldn’t you?”
“Of course.”
When Damon answered at once and pulled Shrekheimer away, the Death Knights disappeared into Incresia as if they had no choice. Once all the Death Knights had gone in, Damon closed Incresia. Shrekheimer, who had been silently watching, threw a remark at Damon.
“But Damon. I am no longer a High Archbishop. I do not think the title of High Archbishop suits an evil lich……”
Damon smiled gently and shook his head.
“No. To me and to the Death Knights, you are the eternal High Archbishop. Even if Berhazel does not acknowledge it.”
“……”
“Among all the priests who have existed in this world until now, there was likely no one who held as much affection and concern for the people of Truvenia as you did. Is that not so?”
As though he could think of nothing to say, Shrekheimer remained quietly silent. Damon reached out and patted his shoulder.
“Let us go. We have no time, since we must recover the Bone Dragon stored in the underground plaza and enter the imperial palace.”
When Damon began walking, Shrekheimer silently followed behind.
Recovering the Bone Dragon was even easier. Perhaps orders had already been given, for the knights guarding the plaza were already preparing to withdraw.
“Release the Bone Dragon.”
As soon as Damon’s command fell, the knights removed the iron chains wrapped around Zicrate. Once freed, Zicrate let out a roar as if delighted to see Damon.
Kwaaaaarrrr.
The roar echoing through the sealed underground plaza was quite loud. It was enough to make the guard knights grimace and block their ears. After letting out one roar, Zicrate respectfully lowered his enormous head. It was an attitude signifying absolute obedience. A smile also appeared at the corners of Damon’s mouth.
“I am glad to see you as well. But let us save the reunion for later.”
Without hesitation, Damon stored Zicrate in Incresia and turned his head toward Russellant.
Russellant’s body, which could only be described as wreckage, was also tightly bound in iron chains. When Damon signaled with his eyes, the knights rushed in and began undoing the chains. Watching them, Damon clicked his tongue.
“I wonder just how much dark mana I’ll have to pour in for it to be restored…… Tsk, tsk.”
Seeing Russellant’s miserable state brought to mind the desperate battle he had fought not long ago. Verkis’s overwhelming combat ability was enough to make him shudder just by recalling it. To think the Russellant he had trusted had been smashed to pieces in a single blow…… As though to shake off his impatience, Damon lightly shook his head.
‘Still, this is fortunate. The knights gathered up every last bit of Russellant’s wreckage.’
When he gave the order, Incresia immediately swallowed Russellant. The ancient magic treasury did not leave behind even a single fragment. Since not even one piece could be missed if it was to be properly restored, Damon carefully saw to collecting the wreckage.
If he was to conduct aerial combat, Russellant absolutely had to be restored, and even if an immense amount of dark mana was consumed as a result, there was nothing to be done. After finishing the task, Damon looked at Shrekheimer.
“It is done. Let us go.”
“Understood.”
Shrekheimer silently followed behind Damon. The suspicious gazes of the guard knights focused on his back. Though he was wrapped in a black robe, the knights instinctively realized that Shrekheimer was not human.
After taking care of the urgent matters, Damon headed for the imperial palace without delay. It was to attend a meeting to discuss the invasion of Truvenia. Theodore was running around frantically because of preparations for that meeting. That was precisely why he had been unable to accompany Damon.
“This way, Your Highness.”
A guard knight adorned in splendid armor guided Damon. Dozens of well-trained imperial guards surrounded the two with practiced movements. Perhaps sensing something strange, several of the imperial guards glanced at Shrekheimer, but that was all. Among the imperial guards, there was no one with the courage to dare question someone accompanying the Crown Prince.