Chapter 18
The awakening battle had ended, and the Necropolis crumbled into ruin. The survivors sighed in relief and mourned the dead. Those slain by the undead were tragic enough, but a significant number had been sacrificed by the necromancers, turned into undead themselves. There was too much life lost to celebrate.
"……It's so devastating."
"A tragic affair."
Once the bustling heart of the territory's most prosperous county seat, it was now complete devastation—no living thing in sight, not even a single weed. They searched in hopes of finding any survivors, but…… all they found were the corpses of those slain and turned into undead. The one silver lining was unearthing what appeared to be the dead count's body from the ruins of the lord's castle.
Gazing at it, Behena sent a pitying look.
"……Uncle."
A pitiable man. Alive, he had been loathsome, worthy of curses. But he had once been family, blood-related. Seeing his mangled corpse stirred a complex mix of emotions in Behena—joy tinged with bitterness, but not sorrow.
"Lady Behena……."
Karlson's hand wrapped around her shoulder. Then a voice called out to him.
"Hey, Karlson."
Bella approached, waddling unsteadily.
"……Lady Behena."
"Ah, yes…… Go on, Karlson. I'll handle the cleanup here."
"Understood. I'll be right back."
Karlson said that to Behena and hurried to Bella. As he arrived, she asked straight away.
"How many?"
Karlson answered without hesitation— he knew exactly what she'd ask.
"Yes, my liege. Two dead. Five serious injuries. Sixteen minor. Total remaining: 98."
"Two…… You secured the bodies, right?"
Bella's voice grew a touch somber.
"Yes, we built coffins and laid them to rest properly."
"Good…… Their families…… Still back in the Mountain Kingdom, right? You have their addresses? Condolence payments…… Ah, you left it to Ju Cheong-ah. I'll visit them personally later and cover it. Split it half and half for now."
"Understood, my liege."
"Now, the serious and minor injuries—how bad?"
"Serious cases…… Limbs severed or unconscious with potential lasting effects. Minors can recover fully with treatment, no major sequelae."
"The serious ones? Critical?"
"Fortunately, we triaged quickly and stabilized them. No life-threatening issues beyond those potential aftereffects."
"That's a relief."
The day they were exiled from the Mountain Kingdom. The Red Evil Mercenaries were formed from the loyal knights and soldiers who followed her. They'd wandered foreign lands for years, never showing homesickness. Bound solely by loyalty and honor to her. Losing even one cut deep.
Two……
Their names flashed in her mind. But she didn't voice them. These were men who had staked their dreams and youth on her. They couldn't rest in peace until she reclaimed the Mountain Kingdom. Calling their names now might leave them with regrets, preventing a peaceful passage to the afterlife.
"……Fucking undead bastards."
At Bella's mutter, Karlson dropped to his knees before her.
"This was not your mistake, my liege. All of it stemmed from my unforeseen failure."
"I know that, you idiot. Who's blaming me? And it's not your fault either…… It's all on that count bastard who pretended to negotiate and stabbed us in the back, and that necromancer fucker. Why would I blame you for undead summoned by that piece of shit—man or woman, whatever?"
"Yes, my liege. My apologies."
"Enough, you moron."
Bella lightly shoved Karlson's shoulder with her fist. She glanced around and continued.
We need a proper funeral for the dead. Not just her two mercenaries—Behena's soldiers had taken heavy losses too. Over half gone. Not just numbers; each was a life, a family's breadwinner or child.
……At the very least, their vengeance must be thorough. The undead were mere tools. The count behind this mess looked dead already……
That left one target. The necromancer. She had to catch that bastard.
"Round up the able-bodied survivors and have them patrol the area."
"Patrol, my liege?"
"Yeah. Tell Behena too. Send every relatively intact soldier to comb every inch around here."
"Why is that?"
"To catch that necromancer fucker. Dina said the Necropolis and summoning/controlling hordes of undead would've drained most of their mana. They're probably scrambling to escape without time to recover, so even regular soldiers can take 'em. Search everywhere and drag in anything alive."
In this situation, anyone still alive alone was likely the necromancer.
"Understood. I'll issue patrol orders immediately."
"Good. Handle it. Report if you catch 'em. I'm heading to my husband."
"Yes, my liege."
With that, Bella issued orders to Karlson and headed toward Ian and the others.
-Kaaaaak!!!
We stared at the undead fused with Regina—limbs severed, writhing vigorously on the ground, refusing to die—plunged into deep thought.
"Darling, what do you plan to do?"
"Uh, no clue."
I'm no cleric with undead expertise, nor have I studied necromancy. No clever solutions here. Guess we really do need to catch the necromancer behind this?
As I pondered silently, Dina circled the undead, kicked the head lunging to bite her.
-Guak…!
"Hey now, stay put."
Thwack…!
-Guuuu….
"Ho ho, this is……."
The undead seemed oddly subdued. Dina beckoned me over.
"Yeonja, come hither."
"Huh? Why?"
I approached, and she kicked the head again, twisting it to point at the nape.
"Look here. There's a strange gem embedded."
"Huh? Oh, yeah?"
Right where she indicated: a gleaming dark purple gem. Magic stone-like, but the color differed from any I knew—maybe not?
I reached tentatively, and the undead wrenched its neck, gaping wide to chomp my hand.
-Gaaaak!!
Thwack…!
"Hey, I said stay put, you pest!"
It cowered under Dina's fierce kick, clamping shut, helpless.
Touching the gem triggered the familiar window from magic stones.
Mid-to-High Grade Magic Stone
A mid-to-high grade Magic Stone…… Roughly equivalent to two regular ones?
Magic Stone
Hmm, safe to absorb? Won't it mess with Regina?
"What's wrong, Yeonja?"
"Something happen?"
"Huh? Oh…… It's a Magic Stone. Mid-to-high grade."
"And?"
"It's embedded in this thing. Wonder if it's safe to absorb."
"Hmmm…… True, could be risky. Best leave it for now."
Without knowing its function, absorbing might harm Regina…… I hate dark thoughts, but better safe.
As I mulled, Bella returned after checking her subordinates.
"What're you lot doing? Why huddle around this monster groaning?"
"Ah, Bella's back?"
I greeted her and explained: How to separate Regina from this undead? And the Magic Stone at its neck.
Bella shrugged nonchalantly.
"No big deal."
"Why? Got a way?"
"Nah. If you don't know, just ask the culprit."
"Huh……? What?"
"The bastard behind this. Told my guys to catch 'em."
"The one who did this?"
"Yeah, the necromancer. That fucker."
"Oh?"
Off to catch the necromancer. Direct from the source—best method, if they'd talk.
"Ah, Bella. Did you send your subordinates as this body suggested?"
"Yeah. Why not call me 'beast' like usual? Acting all formal."
"How rude, you two. Cheong-ah too. Why insist on nicknames? I'm hurt."
"……Fuck off. Hey, Ju Cheong-ah, you hate it too, right? Say it."
"Well…… It does feel awkward, Dina."
"Wah, you two are too much."
Dina, in her mature beauty form, pretended to wipe tears, looking glum. Bella spat curses, Cheong-ah caught between. Despite weeks apart, their unchanged dynamic made me chuckle unwittingly.
"Haha……."
"Darling?"
"What, laughing out of nowhere?"
"Yeonja, something amusing?"
"Nah, just……."
I shrugged. It finally felt real—like I'd truly returned to them.
"Good to be back."