Chapter 244
Chapter 244
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 244
Chapter Title: Gravekeeper Gorgodon
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Smoke rose from the mana weed lit in Gravekeeper Gorgodon's pipe.
Thud thud thud thud thud!
Up above, the Blizzard Beast battered the shadow ceiling.
But she remained utterly calm.
It was the reaction of someone who had never seen the Blizzard Beast as any real threat from the start.
She shook off the blooming mana weed once.
Then she plopped down atop the frozen ice statue that lay prone and rigid.
"So, what brings you here, visitor?"
Even as an elderly grandmother, the aura she exuded was no joke.
"You've collaborated with the elf Siliel on research before."
"Siliel?"
Gorgodon slowly stroked her chin with her hand.
Then, as if it had just come to her belatedly, she let out an "Aha!"
"You mean that elf kid."
Treating an elf like a kid.
That alone hinted at her age.
"You've researched together for quite a while, but you can't even remember her name?"
"I'm just bad with names. Had some trouble with my brain a while back."
Gorgodon swept back her bangs with her hand.
Revealing a long scar etched across her forehead.
That definitely looked like something only a head injury could cause.
"Doesn't matter what else, I just can't remember names."
Gorgodon laughed as if forgetting names was no big deal.
"So, research data. What's in it for me to cooperate?"
What a foul-mouthed old hag.
"The result of that research is right here."
As Leyzon spoke, the shadows parted.
Soon after, a boy hesitantly stepped forward.
The moment Gorgodon laid eyes on the boy, her gaze narrowed faintly.
"Piran."
Leyzon called his name, and Piran raised his hand.
In that instant, pitch-black poison bloomed from Piran's grasp.
Only then did Gorgodon understand Leyzon's words.
"Haha, I see."
Gorgodon let out a hollow chuckle.
She took a long drag from her mana weed.
"So the little brat is that elf kid's research result."
True to her fellow researcher, she recognized it immediately.
"Interesting. Never thought that guy's research would actually succeed."
Gorgodon apparently hadn't known the research had succeeded.
"So, what about this successful research has you curious enough to come digging?"
"Siliel's research data burned up in a forest fire. I've restored some, but a lot's missing."
Leyzon explained plainly without hiding anything.
"I want to take that research further. Plenty of ways to apply it."
"A parasitic life doesn't sound so bad. If anything, we'd be jealous."
Gorgodon was an Earth Beast.
To prolong her life, she had to absorb the dungeon's power.
As such, she actually envied those who could live comfortably in the Empire.
But Leyzon snorted at that.
"That's just clinging to life out of greed for more years."
Leyzon nailed the flaw.
Even Empire citizens didn't live forever.
They died when their lifespan ran out.
The reason Earth Beasts hiding in the Empire had survived this long was forced life extension.
Calling that enviable was flat-out wrong.
"Wordplay doesn't work on you, huh. Well, looks like your side has Earth Beasts too."
Gorgodon's eyes landed on Rakroden.
Half of Rakroden's bloodline was Earth Beast.
She could tell at a glance.
She's no ordinary one.
He knew the Gravekeeper was no pushover, but she exceeded expectations.
She'd been subtly steering the conversation, refusing to give in easily.
She's not outright hostile, though.
Still, she didn't seem inclined to cooperate smoothly.
Her ties to Siliel didn't run deep.
Just "we did research together" level.
"Gorgodon."
So Leyzon decided to cut the flow.
"You want something."
Gorgodon halted mid-sentence.
She tossed her fully smoked mana weed to the ground.
Sizzle―
The remaining embers melted the snow.
"Right you are."
Gorgodon grinned wickedly.
"That Thousand-Year Mage has his eyes on me. This scar on my head? His doing."
Thousand-Year Mage.
The name made Rakroden's eyes widen.
"...Why him?"
Leyzon had heard the name often too.
It came up again.
Leyzon, who had played Dungeon Replay, didn't know the man.
He'd only glimpsed him once, through a skull's soul.
"So, I'd like you to protect me from that bastard."
"Abyss, no."
Rakroden tried to stop Leyzon.
"Any involvement with the Thousand-Year Mage is bad news. Let me handle the research instead."
Urgency seeped from him.
He wanted no connection whatsoever.
"We should at least hear her out."
"Abyss!"
They'd come this far.
"Besides, things are already at rock bottom with the Thousand-Year Mage."
Leyzon and the Thousand-Year Mage were already on a collision course.
"I don't know his goal, but I can feel it'll end in a showdown."
The Thousand-Year Mage stood with the Imperial Family.
That made clashing with him inevitable.
"Rakroden, you know it too. We can't dodge it forever."
"..."
Rakroden fell silent.
He guarded against the Thousand-Year Mage precisely because he foresaw the clash.
For him, it was unavoidable too.
"Dodging solves nothing."
Info on the Thousand-Year Mage was unknown territory.
You learned by colliding.
"Plus, Gorgodon must know something, standing against him."
Leyzon saw this as opportunity.
His lips curved high.
Rakroden couldn't argue against that knowing smile.
"...Damn it. If things go south later, don't blame me."
"Never blamed anyone in my life."
They were in the same boat now.
Rakroden committed to seeing it through with Leyzon.
"So, Gorgodon, what's your deal with the Thousand-Year Mage that left you like this?"
"What deal? Beats me."
Gorgodon flashed a meaningful smile.
"I'm curious too. Mind asking him for me?"
Crazy woman.
She cackled.
"Call it bad blood if you want. One thing's sure: he's gunning for me."
That smile screamed con artist.
"If you want, I'll share his info too. In exchange for protecting me from him."
Rakroden looked to Leyzon.
He'd follow Leyzon's call.
"Deal."
And Leyzon accepted Gorgodon's offer.
Rakroden swallowed a groan but said no more.
"...Guess we'll have to brace for the Thousand-Year Mage now."
"Business as usual."
"Mindset's different."
As Rakroden slumped, the women approached to comfort him.
Always such a worrier.
"Come to think of it."
Then Gorgodon stroked her chin and spoke.
"Who might you be?"
She hadn't seen Leyzon before.
She didn't even know who she was contracting with.
Leyzon found it absurd.
Contracting blind—made him want to back out.
"See for yourself."
But a done deal couldn't be undone.
Leyzon approached the ice statue.
He placed his hand on it.
Gorgodon's gaze followed.
Soon, light flowed from Leyzon's grasp.
Auto-Evolving Undead Creation [?EX]
Skill activated.
Gorgodon's eyes widened hugely.
She belatedly realized what magic Leyzon wielded.
"...Transcendent magic?"
She echoed the same as Garjun.
To Gorgodon too, Undead Creation was transcendent magic.
Rumble!
Soon the ice statue began to move.
Not just it.
The other ice statues stirred, gathering beside Leyzon.
14 warriors, 6 archers, 4 mages—a full 24 hero-grade pioneer knights formed up.
Leyzon smiled faintly, flanked by his Ice Knight Order.
"So, any guess who you've contracted with now?"
A hollow laugh escaped Gorgodon's lips.
"...I said it in jest, but you're even bigger than I thought."
She had approached it with a "no loss if it works" mindset.
Bad blood with the Thousand-Year Mage, but she figured he wouldn't outright kill her.
We'll figure out their history later.
Leyzon smiled at Gorgodon.
"Then, formal intros. Gorgodon, I'm Leyzon, called the Abyss."
Gorgodon no longer treated Leyzon lightly.
Her clear eyes gleamed as she smiled back.
"Gravekeeper Gorgodon."
Contract with Gorgodon successfully sealed.
"If there's stories you want to hear, how about we head out?"
She gestured to the ceiling, suggesting they leave.
No need to chat in the Snow Citadel.
It'd surely be a long talk ahead.
"Sure, but first."
Leyzon cracked his neck.
A habit when steeling for battle.
"Gotta handle business before we go."
A hero-grade dungeon they'd gone through the trouble to enter.
Passing it up felt wasteful.
"Leyzon, a massive presence approaches."
Right on cue, Estelle addressed him.
True to her words, the ground began to quake.
It was here.
Leyzon peered through the shadows to spot enormous horns of ice.
Snow Citadel Overlord.
Blizzard Deer.
A colossal deer made entirely of snow and ice.
Deer in name only—this monster had dozens of legs and a thicket of horns.
With all the commotion gathering hosts in the Blizzard Beast's lair.
The overlord wouldn't let it slide.
"Perfect."
Overlord showing up sped things up.
"Estelle, fusion."
"Yes."
Estelle was best suited against the Blizzard Deer.
Undead Fusion
Estelle Aragon
Purple horns sprouted atop Leyzon's head.
His pupils shifted to reptilian slits.
A black sun and dragon halo hovered above.
Gorgodon, seeing Undead Fusion for the first time, gaped.
Fusion was power from yet another realm beyond Undead Creation.
"Be right back."
Leyzon vanished from the spot, leaving everyone behind.
A belated gust swept through.
"I'm the woman who can't remember names, so I don't know what 'Abyss' means, but... what the hell is that guy?"
Gorgodon questioned the silent Rakroden.
He glanced at the shadow ceiling and sighed.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out myself."
Leyzon was evolving beyond the strongest necromancer into something more.