Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Exposing the Impostor
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Leyzon had sharply torn apart the flame-head's bluff.
The atmosphere soured because of it, but Leyzon couldn't care less.
Serves you right—who told you to impersonate me?
The flames around the flame-head's head flickered unsteadily.
"What's your proof for denying me?"
Proof? What proof?
"Even if Abyss is someone I know..."
"Anyone here could say the same. And it's the same story countless necromancers have told before."
Are there really that many liars out there?
Necromancers, always the same.
Necromancers were inherently shadowy types due to their class traits.
Back when he'd played Dungeon Replay, he'd even been rejected from parties just for being a necromancer.
That's how full of crazies and uncooperative types they are.
Despite creating a space for necromancers to band together, it seemed they were still lying to each other here.
No wonder the Gray Mage Tower crumbled the moment the Empire struck—they had zero teamwork.
"In that case, let me turn the question back on you."
Leyzon glared at the impostor, his displeasure plain on his face.
If the impostor got away with this, it would spell trouble for Leyzon.
Something I didn't do gets pinned on me.
Like it or not, he was known as Abyss.
And he knew this wasn't something he could hide forever.
Being called Abyss isn't all bad.
There was value in a name.
Of course, a big name came with big risks.
But on the flip side, it let you imprint your presence without the hassle.
Even if it meant being treated like the world's bogeyman, the name carried weight.
That name value will be crucial for the nation-building ending, one way or another.
If it weren't for the nation-building ending, he wouldn't have stepped forward like this.
Name value doesn't come overnight.
It was forged when your name passed countless lips.
Which also meant it could be tarnished just as easily.
Like right now, for instance.
A name-ruiner stood before him.
Leyzon had no reason to let the impostor run wild.
"You claimed to be Abyss. How much do you really know about him?"
"What fool spills his own secrets?"
This rotten bastard.
"Then no matter how you slice it, there's zero reason to believe you."
As the flame-head fell silent, the other necromancers began to murmur.
Leyzon flashed a toothy grin, sensing he'd gained the upper hand.
"......Fine."
The flames around the flame-head surged.
He seemed a bit heated now.
"Then I'll prove I'm Abyss by sharing a few facts."
"Go ahead."
Let's see how well you spin this.
"I..."
All eyes turned to the flame-head.
Everyone wondered what he'd say next.
"...am not human."
Leyzon's eyes slowly widened at those words.
It was a subtle reaction.
But the necromancers caught it.
Proof that the flame-head had spoken truth.
Leyzon hadn't bothered hiding his reaction, either.
This confirmed he truly knew Abyss.
The problem was...
Look at this guy.
This bastard actually knew about Abyss.
"How's that? Correct?"
He turned the question back on Leyzon.
Every move oozed confidence.
"......Yeah."
He couldn't deny a fact.
As Leyzon affirmed it, the others quietly swallowed.
"Heh heh heuk... Even so, that's not enough for us to believe. What if you two are in on it together?"
Right on cue, the skeleton man spoke up.
He clacked his teeth, fanning the flames like he was enjoying the show.
"The skeleton has a point. Showing up at this exact timing is suspicious."
The monkey man chimed in.
They weren't wrong.
It wasn't intentional, but the timing was oddly perfect.
Leyzon denying the flame-head had inadvertently bolstered his claims.
"Believe it."
Amid the growing doubts, the flame-head stood firm.
"You'd be wise to."
His flames roared blue and wild.
"Disbelieve me, and the Empire will devour your futures."
Whether hunch or whatever, he urged them to trust him unequivocally.
The murmurs grew.
And this atmosphere...
"......Abyss's ascension level isn't hero-grade."
Leyzon shattered it again.
Another truth following the first.
The flame-head's gaze met Leyzon's.
Leyzon smiled chillingly.
He didn't know how the flame-head knew about him.
But if he did...
Since I'm Abyss...
Everything you say is a lie by default.
The flame-head wavered before this sudden new truth.
At first, Leyzon thought he might be from the Gray Mage Tower.
But he quickly dismissed it.
This wasn't a space crafted by the Gray Mage Tower Lord.
As the lord himself had said, it was made by another necromancer.
If the Gray Mage Tower Lord could influence the resonance world...
The real letter Leyzon left wouldn't have survived.
Soul Bond wasn't some ultimate skill to begin with.
It only told you if the target was alive.
Minimal info.
That's why Leyzon hadn't hesitated to ally with him despite the risks.
Whatever he is, he's impersonating me for some gain.
Leyzon had no intention of letting it slide.
"Abyss's ascension level isn't hero-grade?"
"What does that even mean?"
The necromancers' murmurs swelled again.
They all looked baffled.
Gazes slowly shifted to the flame-head.
Leyzon claimed Abyss wasn't hero-grade.
Yet the flame-head before them was clearly hero-grade or higher.
That alone proved Leyzon's words branded him a liar.
"Ha."
An incredulous breath escaped the flame-head.
"I thought you knew something substantial about Abyss."
Leyzon felt eyes glaring from within the flames.
Irritation plain as day.
"There's a limit to nonsense. No one will buy that both Abysses aren't hero-grade."
"Oh?"
Leyzon glanced around casually as he spoke.
Necromancers who met his eyes flinched.
He gave them a soft smile.
"So what? If I'm right, you're definitely not Abyss."
"Don't try to pass it off as bullshit."
No thanks.
I'll push you into a corner hard.
Who's the one spouting bullshit here, anyway?
"Then let me ask you—as Abyss—one question."
Leyzon stepped forward deliberately.
He plopped down on an empty sofa.
Crossed his legs leisurely.
A posture screaming confidence, no deception here.
He had no plans to lose his name value.
Especially not to these top-tier necromancers.
Abyss was an idol to them.
The name Abyss would always hook necromancers.
No way he'd hand it over.
"How many undead has Abyss created in total?"
At those words, every necromancer's gaze stabbed toward the flame-head.
Why the name Abyss carried such weight?
Because of the undead he made.
Abyss's undead were leagues beyond the norm.
Strength on another level.
Intelligence that stunned.
Undead that acted independently, without relying on their necromancer.
This was revolutionary in necromancer circles.
They praised and marveled at Abyss's undead.
How could they not, when it represented the pinnacle of their craft?
Only four of Abyss's undead were publicly known.
Death Dragon.
Demon King of Curses.
Moving Black Citadel.
Vampire Queen.
Nothing beyond those four.
The Death Dragon and Vampire Queen had vanished long ago.
The other two had gone silent at the Empire's fringes.
So despite their fame, info on Abyss's undead was scarce.
Some necromancers had set out to witness them personally.
Most never returned.
And now Leyzon asked for the exact number of Abyss's undead.
What would the flame-head say?
As curiosity peaked...
"Five."
Abyss's undead numbered five, he claimed.
Five.
One more beyond the known four.
Leyzon's lips slowly curled upward.
This guy.
He really knew about him.
Even info these others didn't have.
I don't know what he is...
But info can be dug up.
Leyzon knew the resonance world better than anyone.
Excluding Syria, Estelle, and the other two undead.
There was one more.
That one could extract every scrap of info in this resonance world.
Then the flame-head's true nature would come to light naturally.
So for now...
"Wrong."
Leyzon decided to rattle the impostor thoroughly.
"Six."
Rage exploded from the flame-head.
"Foolish drivel!"
"It increased."
His fury halted abruptly.
Within the flames, bewilderment and shock began to spread.
"Recently, too."
He knew about Leyzon.
Knew far more than expected.
Enough that, without Leyzon's intervention, the impersonation could've worked.
But that's exactly why he realized.
That Leyzon truly knew Abyss.
And that final bombshell...
Either Leyzon still communicates with Abyss.
Or...
He is Abyss himself.
Whoosh!
The flame-head shot to his feet.
Whether the former or latter.
Impersonating Abyss made him Abyss's enemy, plain and simple.
Abyss was the pinnacle for necromancers.
Even if his power didn't match the hype.
His undead were undeniably dangerous.
The flame-head knew Abyss.
So he knew this better than most.
And if he knew of the fifth undead.
Then he knew Abyss could track him down if he wanted.
Though he can't right now, of course.
Leyzon hadn't reunited with all his undead yet.
So it was an unusable card, but the flame-head didn't know that.
That's why Leyzon subtly hinted at being Abyss.
You lot can't track me with the soul I'm using here.
The soul here was Ryu Han-hyuk's.
And Ryu Han-hyuk didn't exist in this world.
Trace the soul, and you'd find a body that wasn't here.
So he played his hand.
Leyzon's lips twisted maliciously.
In an instant, he'd plunged the necromancers' doubts and thoughts into chaos.
Even if it was infamy—that was still his name.
Don't covet it.
That was his declaration.
"......I can't stay any longer. I'm leaving."
He bolted from his seat.
The act screamed guilt, but he had no desire to stick around as Abyss's target.
Leyzon watched his retreating back, then turned to the other necromancers.
Each wore a different expression.
The butterfly mask's eyes gleamed.
The lizard-head gaped.
The skeleton showed keen interest.
The monkey man was openly impressed.
The flame-head clearly knew Abyss inside out.
Yet he'd fled like a coward.
Which meant...
Leyzon's words were all true.
If Leyzon truly knew Abyss...
They couldn't treat him lightly.
"D-Do you really know about him?"
The lizard man broke the silence.
Leyzon caught the urgency in his eyes.
"Yeah. Just look at that tail-tuck and run—proof enough."
"Then please, pass a message to him!"
Leyzon blinked.
What now?
The lizard man dropped to his knees before Leyzon.
"The imperial family is using captured necromancers in underground prisons to create undead!"
Every necromancer turned to him at those words.
"Lizard, you got caught?"
"Heh heuk... Locked in that prison and you still log into the resonance world? You got a death wish?"
The butterfly mask, skeleton, and monkey reacted in turn.
Seemed they were hearing this for the first time.
Leyzon's eyes narrowed.
What the hell were the Empire up to in secret?
"My soul doesn't matter! I came here solely to find Abyss."
He gazed up at Leyzon with a resolute face.
"Even if the Empire finds out and executes me on the spot, I have to tell him."
"The imperial family is targeting Abyss's undead. That's what these new undead are for."
Those words hardened Leyzon's expression too.
"Tell Abyss. Protect his undead."
The Empire—these bastards had finally lost it.