Chapter 201
One of the Red Evil Mercenaries, smashing through the Necromancer Count's army and felling even the revived undead soldiers to clear a path, pointed to the sky and shouted.
"Captain…! Look over there!"
"I'm already seeing it."
What the hell was that thing? An inexplicable doubt spread like a plague among everyone there.
All the living raised their eyes to the heavens.
A deep purple magic circle.
Behena tugged anxiously at Karlson's collar, her face pale.
"K-Karlson. That thing…."
"I don't know either."
Karlson shook his head, equally clueless.
Murmurs rippled through the ranks.
Even amid the fierce battle, the atmosphere grew chaotic.
This held true for Bellatrix too, who was sweeping through undead soldiers right in the heart of the enemy lines.
Catching the brilliant flash of deep purple light, she instinctively looked up at the sky.
Staring blankly at the massive magic circle, she muttered.
"What the hell is that…?"
Seizing her momentary lapse, undead soldiers lunged at her.
Their jaws—dripping black saliva—split wide with a grotesque snap! And they charged to bite.
-Gwaaaaaaaaaaa!!
"Whoa, shit…!"
Bella startled, swinging her greatsword—
"Beast! Don't get distracted by useless crap—keep your head in the game!"
Splat…!
Dina dashed in, smashing the thing's head with a mana-infused fist, then scolded Bella.
"Ah, sorry sorry. But I wouldn't have gotten hurt anyway. You know I'm tough, kid."
"Quit with that nonsense. No matter how sturdy you are, I keep telling you it's best not to take needless hits."
"Ugh, the nagging. First Cheong-ah, now you? Jeez. My ears hurt—cut it out."
"You damned beast, when someone talks to you…."
Bella grimaced, clutching her ears as if they really ached.
As Dina bristled at her tone, Bella quickly diverted her attention, jerking her chin skyward.
"Anyway, kid. You know what that is?"
"Hmm. Even this one doesn't know for sure."
"Yeah?"
"But judging by that deep purple mana, it's probably necromancy."
"…Necromancy. Yeah, makes sense."
The undead soldiers overflowing this place were products of necromancy.
So it wasn't strange if the magic circle that had appeared in the sky was related.
No—given this necromancer commanded undead on such a massive scale, it was only natural they'd have power like that.
Especially since they hadn't even shown their face properly yet.
"Ominous. For now…."
Dina glanced sideways.
Toward where Cheong-ah and Ian were. Bella caught on immediately and cut her off.
"Back to Ian?"
"…Yes."
"Got it. I'll clear the way—follow me."
"Understood."
BOOMMM…!
-Gwuuuuuuuu!!
Bella swung her greatsword toward Ian and Cheong-ah.
Dozens of undead soldiers within its radius had their waists sliced clean in half.
Even as their lower bodies flew off, the undead lunged with undiminished aggression.
Dina's fists pulverized those.
A path opened.
The two women bolted straight down it, racing to regroup with Cheong-ah and Ian.
§
"…Ua?"
As the battle ended, a magic circle flashed overhead.
Regina tilted her head at the sudden development.
What the hell is that…?
Cheong-ah, blind and unable to grasp the situation, furrowed her brow at the thick, prickling mana that stabbed at her like needles—a visceral discomfort.
"What's happening now?"
Regina flailed her hands, trying to explain to Cheong-ah's question.
Like, so….
"U, ugh, ah…."
But Cheong-ah was blind.
No matter how frantically Regina gestured, she couldn't see a thing.
"Sorry, Regina. Being blind, I can't get it from gestures."
"…Uu."
While they talked, the undead attacks slowed.
One by one, like machines grinding to a halt, the soldiers froze.
No more arrows flew.
"What do you think it is?"
"U, ahua. Ua…."
A magic circle appeared in the sky, so….
"I can't understand from that, Regina."
"Uu…."
As they puzzled over it—
BOOMMM…!
The undead horde recoiled amid an explosion, and Bella and Dina rushed in to join them.
"Grumpypants!"
"Hey, Ju Cheong-ah!"
They skidded to a halt, spotting Regina beside Cheong-ah.
The balls on this bitch—standing here like she owns the place!
Convinced the Count had sent her to assassinate Ian, they glared daggers.
"Regina, you goddamn bitch…!"
Bella exploded, lunging— but Cheong-ah stepped forward, blocking her.
"Bella, stop. Don't."
"What the hell? Why are you defending her all of a sudden?"
"Why? The fight's already over."
"What?"
Only then did Bella scan Regina up and down.
Her body was a battered mess of wounds, like she'd been through hell.
Clearly, she'd tangled hard with Cheong-ah.
"So what? Doesn't change shit."
Bella stayed nonchalant.
She had history with Regina—plenty of grudges.
And for good reason….
"That fucking bitch came right after I lost my arm and eye to try and assassinate me. Fight's over? Big deal. I've got a mountain of shit piled up against her. You think 'it's over, let's make up~' fixes that?!"
From Bella's side, there were old scores with Regina.
As she vented, the culprit flinched.
"Ugh, ah…."
Of course, Cheong-ah—who knew every scar on both their bodies— wasn't swayed.
"Bella, you said you didn't mind her assassination attempt. Said it was fun, even? That you honed your one-armed fighting thanks to it?"
"…Well, yeah, that's that. But what I mean is—when she ambushed us back then. Thinking about Ian suffering…!"
Dina, watching quietly from the side, dropped a casual bomb.
"Hm. Wasn't that because you were too slow and got hit?"
"No, kid—you picking sides now? Cheong-ah's on her side, so you gotta back me up!"
"Why should this one take your side? This one sides with Yeonja."
"Why bring up Ian all of a sudden? Fine, I'm on Ian's side too! He's my husband!"
Bella thumped her chest, indignant.
Cheong-ah cut in.
"Enough, Bella. That's not important right now."
"…Yeah?"
Cheong-ah pointed skyward.
"More importantly, what's up there? Regina tried explaining, but I can't see, so… It feels unpleasant. Bad vibes."
"Huge magic circle in the sky. Necromancy."
"Necromancy?"
"Yeah. Told the beast too—don't know details, but the mana's necromantic."
"I see. Hey, Regina."
Regina shook her head vigorously at Cheong-ah's call.
She didn't know what it was.
She'd barely understood the undead soldiers under the Count's command.
Back when she kidnapped Ian, she'd just followed orders: someone would assist, so grab him when the time came.
Ian meant nothing to her then; all her focus was on Jubi….
She'd obeyed blindly, but looking back, those 'people'—no, things—who ambushed with her were probably undead too.
But their origins? No clue.
Right now, she just worried about Jubi alone.
Ian? With those three around, he'd be fine.
"U, ua."
"What? Say it again."
Regina nodded at Bella, mixing in gestures.
"Ua, ahua. Ugh."
They might not get it fully, but if they understood she was just stepping out briefly….
"Oh, you got a kid you're watching? Worried about her?"
"Ua…?!"
"What?"
Regina's eyes went wide—Bella had nailed it perfectly.
How?!
"U, uaa?"
"How'd I know?"
"Uu!"
Nod nod.
"Wasn't guessing. Heard about you from Ian over comms before. Pieced it together."
"Beast, your memory's sharper than I thought."
"Bella… you're growing on me."
"…What the hell am I to you people?"
"Ugh…."
"Anyway, go. I get it."
"Take care, Regina. See you next time."
"Farewell."
"Ah."
Thanks.
Regina thanked them and headed straight for the tower roof.
They watched her go briefly, then turned to Ian.
"…So how's Yeonja?"
"Yeah, was dying to ask. He okay?"
"Well…."
The undead had halted, no arrows incoming….
And with all three here, he'd be safe.
Cheong-ah carefully set Ian down—stomach-down to avoid hurting his wounded back.
The moment she did, all three tilted their heads in unison.
"…Huh?"
"What the…."
"Why… is the wound gone?"
The massive gash that had scarred Ian's back just moments ago had vanished without a trace.