Chapter 38

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 038

Chapter Title: Army of Death #3

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The wicked necromancer Arkham wielded corpses like puppets.

Thus, the people called him the Dark Emperor.

He aimed to become the emperor ruling the realm of death in the Night Land.

However, even this plague emperor had a weakness.

It was difficult for him to handle the countless corpses all by himself.

'Well, even I struggle to control a single shadow.'

That was why Arkham created the "monarchs."

They were something like intermediaries for the corpses.

"So, if we find and kill those monarchs, the situation improves?"

Clap!

I spat into my palm and clapped my hands to flick it off.

The spit flew south, and the weasel cursed.

"Damn it! You messing around right now? Our lives are on the line here!"

"Then do you have any other ideas?"

"Even so, that side's packed full of half-dead corpses!"

To find the "Arkham monarchs" in this vast sewer right away, we needed a sharp plan.

Among us, the one with the best scouting ability was—

"My nose is going crooked! There are too many Arkhams; my senses are numbing!"

See what I mean.

So, we had to do something.

The barrier created by the priests pooling their power wasn't unlimited either.

—Grrrrroooar—

—Kaaaaack!

Crackle.

Crackle-crackle.

"Damn it! They're keep throwing in those corpse bastards!"

"It's getting hard to hold!"

The barrier from the priests felt like its light was gradually dimming against the hordes of corpses and skeletons charging in droves.

Staying put like this would just mean a dog's death!

"I'll follow the squad leader."

Captain Manja gripped his large lance firmly and joined my party.

Soon, Baturi raised his hand too.

"Arkham's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠monarchs will be hard to beat without priest support! So, I'll go too!"

"Ooh!"

It was my first time doing a boss fight with a priest in this situation, but it felt good.

And that was it?

The weasel patted my shoulder.

"Bro, let's make sure we meet again alive!"

So, the team hunting the Arkham monarch would be Captain Manja, me, and Priest Baturi.

Thinking a small group would be easier to move when someone else raised their hand.

"I... I'll go too..."

"Huh? You, mouse?"

The cowardly mouse who had been squeaking in fear nonstop since entering this sewer was volunteering for the strike team.

Captain Manja quickly warned him.

"Mouse, you could die."

"I know. But it's nagging me with orders nonstop."

"Orders? Who from?"

Who dared give orders to the mouse behind my back, the squad leader?

As I looked around, the mouse said,

"Juperi-nim."

"Juperi? Your idol?"

The mouse nodded.

"It says I have to follow you, squeak squeak—super annoying! Doesn't even give a great blessing... talks a ton for nothing.... So annoy...ing!"

Nosy without even being a proper trading partner?

Just like my Nihilaz!

The top student Baturi tilted his head curiously.

"Your idol talks to you that much? Does it happen often even outside the Night Land?"

"Y...yeah, it's a huge headache. I thought it'd quieted down since coming to the academy, but suddenly it's this noisy..."

Anyway, the mouse joined our assault team too.

All that was left was to break through.

"Let's go! Success means riches! Failure means corpses!"

"Prepare to charge!"

Click.

Captain Manja aimed his lance forward and started sprinting with all his might.

"For His Imperial Majesty—!"

Crunch.

Craunch!

Just that alone cleared a path like a tunnel boring machine.

"Agh! It bit my hand!"

Then the mouse screamed.

Baturi reached out sturdily, and the wound healed swish-swish.

"Try not to get hurt until we meet the Arkham monarch!"

A party with a priest is amazing!

A chill ran down the back of my neck.

'Something's happening!'

'We might actually graduate in the top 5!'

How much time had passed?

"Squad leader! The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠number of Arkhams is increasing even more! If we want to turn back, now's the last chance!"

Captain Manja, who had been charging everywhere, panted heavily.

Had he overworked his elderly joints too much!

At that moment, I recalled the thieves' "lock rule."

—Behind every locked door and padlock lies treasure.

Conversely, wasn't there something valuable to protect behind the countless Arkhams?

'Monarch...!'

My thoughts reached that point, and confidence surged instead.

"Captain Manja! Keep going! Keep pushing!"

Clink!

Clink!

Ether dropping every time we killed an Arkham.

These moving corpses were one thing, but the ether was what really troubled me.

Damn, I had to pick all that up.

Even the round skulls rolled tumble-tumble wildly.

Could I leave this unpicked?

Only one answer!

"《Shadow Companion》!"

I activated the skill.

Rise, my clone!

Pick up the ether and skulls!

"Shadow sorcery? Squad leader, you were hiding some pretty vicious skills in your gut!"

"Don't talk to me! My brain feels like it's splitting left and right!"

"The b...brain is already divided into left and right hemispheres!"

This mouse bastard!

Does nothing but yap nonstop; I wanna smack him!

"You stop playing around and pick up some ether at least!"

"N...not playing. There might be a t...temporary rest spot around here..."

The mouse pulled paper from his pocket.

Wondering what he was doing, he folded it neatly into a frog shape.

"Go."

—Ribbit.

The paper frog croaked!?

What trick is this!

That guy, despite appearances, is a mage, so maybe magic!

Hop, hop.

The frog hopped along the underground sewer nimbly.

Then it stopped in front of a wall, and the mouse tapped the stone wall with his staff.

Thud thud.

"There's s...space behind this. Everyone, over here!"

What the hell was he planning.

Feeling uneasy for no reason, the mouse pulled out a brush-like tool from his bosom and painted something on the wall.

A square shape with a doorknob; it looked exactly like a door.

"This is my blessing, 'Rat Hole'."

Whoosh!

"Agh! The mouse got eaten by the wall!"

I yelled in surprise.

Then Captain Manja pushed my shoulder.

"Let's go in too!"

Whoosh!

I went through the wall too.

Soon Baturi followed.

A fairly spacious clearing appeared before us.

An old bed and a brazier suitable for a campfire.

No rotten smell.

The silence, devoid even of the corpses' screams, was cozy.

"Looks like a rest area for workers who used to labor in this fortress. I know because I served in the fortress back in the day."

Captain Manja looked around and assessed.

At that moment, I was admiring the mouse's ability I'd just seen.

"You can make a door on the wall and pass through? Amazing!"

Infinite utility!

If I'd had something like that, my criminal record would've been half!

But the mouse lit a campfire and clicked his tongue.

"It...it's useless in combat."

"Mouse, can you ask Juperi if I can trade with it? Please?"

I shook the mouse's shoulder.

But the mouse shook his head vigorously.

"It says you smell like snake. So no trading."

What—!?

Snake means Sabrannik!

Indeed, since I'd traded with the snake idol, the rat idol, seeing me as snake prey, couldn't approach.

So damn unfair.

'First time regretting trading with Sabrannik!'

Anyway.

Everyone lit the campfire and took a short rest.

"This is traditional dried meat from our homeland. Called Barutz."

Baturi pulled out dried meat that was salty and delicious.

It was so good I kept eating, and Baturi offered more of his share.

"I eat it often, so I don't crave it much."

Baturi probably wanted to replenish calories too.

Was he lying on purpose to yield?

'Priests are suckers.'

His face was dark and swarthy with small eyes, rustic-looking, but with such a kind personality, he might make a good girlfriend.

'Add Baturi to my backup girlfriend list.'

With my belly nicely full, I felt even more relaxed.

If I was going to take time to trade with an idol, now was the only chance.

"I'll step away for a bit."

I headed to a dark corner.

And called Sabrannik.

"Sabrannik, you there?"

Was it mad at me now?

Back then, Sabrannik had been fussing over the "Eight-Armed Spider Idol."

But I had my say too.

"Sabrannik, you ditched me when that weird spider showed up!"

The conversation cut off.

'Truly a cunning snake idol that lies well.'

The blessed one said you trade with idols like yourself.

Sabrannik must be good at lying like me.

But greedy like me too.

"Sabrannik, your nickname's 'Skull-Eating Dragon God,' right? Here, tons of skulls."

I examined the skulls from defeating the Arkhams.

Over a hundred easily.

"Lord Sabrannik, what can you give for these skulls? You know my situation, right? Give me a good blessing!"

If not good stuff, I'll die!

"How about that 'Serpent's Leg' you mentioned before?"

"Blood? But they're corpses; poison won't work!"

Meaning the poison gets stronger, enough to work even on corpses.

"Good. Deal."

Swish.

Soon the surroundings darkened.

I stood by a riverbank shrouded in thick darkness.

From afar, a bone serpent slithered over wriggle-wriggle.

Sabrannik mumbled excuses nonstop and opened its mouth snap.

I shoved skulls into that mouth like crazy.

Like shoveling coal into a train engine!

Soon Sabrannik smiled contentedly.

Drip.

A drop of tear from Sabrannik wet my head.

After finishing the trade and returning, Baturi said to me,

"Yor, good news and bad news. Which first?"

"Better take the beating first. Bad news!"

"Mouse says the monarch's room is near this lounge."

"Oh! That's good, right?"

"Problem is, that monarch looks like an Erdar."

What—?

Sabrannik, holy shit!

A hybrid of Arkham and Erdar!

Could something that horrific even exist in this world!?

Rage doubled, eroding my reason.

"Then the good news?"

Fwoosh.

The campfire flickered violently.