Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Revelation
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As I entered the dean's office, the dean stood there politely, wiping away his profuse sweat with a handkerchief.
Right now, I wasn't here as one of the dean's subordinate professors, but as the Griffin Kingdom's one and only black mage.
As Necromancer Deus Verdi, I was present in this capacity.
- You've arrived.
The face of His Majesty within the crystal orb on the desk looked utterly grim. It didn't at all resemble the visage of a man who had firmly subjugated the nobles and ascended to a throne with power as absolute as any monarchy.
"Necromancer Deus Verdi greets Your Highness."
I immediately dropped to one knee, intending to offer a formal greeting, but Orpheus waved his hand dismissively.
- We're beyond such formalities, aren't we? You know I don't care much for that sort of thing.
At his words, I decided not to force it and slowly rose to my feet.
The dean and Erika appeared quite shocked by His Majesty's response, but I paid it no mind.
"I heard the situation on my way here. The tribesfolk of the Marias Great Forest in the east have launched an air raid."
- It's a massacre. A great slaughter. Nothing survives in their wake.
They kill humans and eat beasts.
Moving with only those two thoughts in mind, they were no different from a swarm of locusts bringing calamity.
"I heard it's to avenge Chieftain Katholer and the people of Setima."
- It's been years since the chieftain died. Back in my father's time.
I knew about the chieftain. During my battle with Magic Judge Tairn at the execution grounds, his soul had been one of those forcibly awakened by Remegaton.
I remembered his power being considerable, unleashing torrents of lightning.
- As for the grudge of Setima's residents... I don't know the details, but I heard you've already resolved it. The Zeronia Family took responsibility and even erected a memorial.
"I can say with certainty that they would never condone a massacre carried out in their own name."
They were pure souls who had even forgiven the Zeronia Family and the Griffin Kingdom that slaughtered them so cruelly.
The fact that the Marias Tribe was committing massacres under Setima's name greatly, exceedingly unsettled me.
- Indeed. Something felt off, so I looked into it. And a rather irritating family popped up.
King Orpheus ground his teeth.
- Romerjan, Heroin, Boman. Intelligence reports that the heads of families still defying me have crossed en masse into the Marias Great Forest.
"......"
- Those bastards were colluding with the German Kingdom, no less, and were preparing for outright treason if things went south. Utter madmen.
But now that they'd been exposed, they'd fled and dragged the Marias Tribe into it?
It was a scheme reeking purely of malice, yet it raised questions.
"I doubt the Marias Tribe would follow just because of a few words."
- Yes, that's what I think too.
The nobles must have done something after crossing over, but even that alone wouldn't be enough to make the tribes of the Marias Great Forest invade a powerhouse like Griffin.
- So I dispatched soldiers first. To show the royal family's resolve in thoroughly protecting our citizens, I even pulled some from the Royal Knight Order.
It was a rather aggressive response, but it conveyed genuine concern for the welfare of the subjects.
It was tantamount to taking the kingdom's strongest sword—meant to guard the royal family—and wielding it on the battlefield to cut down the enemy.
Especially since Knight Commander Gloria Grace was a powerhouse on par with Magic Judge Tairn.
I figured victory reports would come soon.
"We lost."
Otherwise, King Orpheus wouldn't be fretting like this.
- ......Yes, even the knight commander was routed. They're trying to keep it under wraps, but they can't hide it completely.
Defeated by eastern tribesfolk—the king's knights.
That alone could plunge the entire kingdom into chaos once more and topple the hard-won solid throne.
- I need your help. I hear they wield a unique power unrelated to mana. And when it comes to enigmatic incidents, you're the expert.
"......"
- Saintess Lucia has already headed there too. She's been friends with Knight Commander Gloria since childhood.
It was information I already knew.
I took a moment to breathe deeply, then bowed my head.
"I shall obey your command. I'll depart immediately."
- I leave it to you.
The crystal orb went dark, and I slowly straightened up to look at the dean.
"As you heard, I'll be stepping out for a bit."
The dean nodded vigorously in response.
* * *
Preparations for departure didn't take long. Since it was a dangerous battlefield, I left the pregnant Iluania behind, of course.
Pindenai, Owen, and I set off.
Professor Per Petra looked wistfully at the now-desolate lab, and Erika apologized for not being able to come along.
Students like Aria and Elenoa were in practical training, so I left without bidding them farewell.
"Whee, I said I had no use for it, and bam—somewhere to use it pops up right away."
As she drove the carriage, Pindenai grinned while eyeing the Hand of the Blood Ancestor I'd gifted her.
Being an item that activated on blood, it needed real combat to test its performance.
"Owen, you'll be in the safest spot, so no need to worry too much."
"Yes, I'll watch Necromancer-nim's exploits with my own eyes!"
"Hey, you just gonna spectate while your big sis goes ham in battle?"
Pindenai immediately poked at him with a jab. I told Owen to just ignore her and sank into thought.
The words the Mountain Lord of the North Wedden Mountains had said to me during that visit lingered in my mind.
'The guardian deity of the Marias Forest has abandoned the forest.'
If a guardian deity abandons its nest, it loses near-eternal life and its immense power rapidly weakens.
I suspected Horua was involved in this incident somehow.
'Great Warrior Valkzar.'
He wielded a unique power unrelated to mana and was a top-tier powerhouse in the kingdom, routing even Royal Knight Commander Gloria.
The crucial point was.
'He's a character who doesn't appear in the game.'
A completely unfamiliar name.
An existence not even mentioned by name in the game.
The game had no such large-scale event at this point, no scenario of the Marias Tribe invading.
It seemed the changes I'd caused—the butterfly effect—had whipped up this storm.
'Even so, something still nags at me.'
From the massacres in the name of Setima's residents to the great warrior unleashing superhuman strength.
Everything was unknown to me, nothing but irksome issues.
I let out a deep sigh and turned my gaze out the window to clear my head.
* * *
Eastern mountain path village.
Thick smoke billowed from the razed village the Marias Tribe had made their outpost.
With such a massive barbecue going on, they had no choice but to light huge bonfires—and now they were dancing around them.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
From within a massive tent resounding with fierce drumbeats.
Great Warrior Valkzar tore into meat while gazing at Shong, the shaman and prophet.
Shong knelt before a large map of the Griffin Kingdom, shaking a staff adorned with bells and muttering something.
As time passed, a game piece on the map began to move ever so slightly.
Spotting it, Shong sprang up and pointed at the piece with his staff.
"That one. That is the one the ancestors spoke of—the closest to death."
"Hmm!"
"He's coming! Still some distance, but from the speed, he's in a carriage! He's coming!"
"Hmm!"
"Avoid that man at all costs! That is the revelation the ancestors gave me!"
Grinding his thick lips, Valkzar wore a dissatisfied expression, but Shong shook the bells again as if to snap him out of it.
But Valkzar roughly drained the goblet beside him and bellowed.
"The souls of our ancestors reside in my shoulders! They illuminate my path and guide me!"
Don't underestimate me—the great warrior lived up to his name with his fighting spirit.
"The flaming wings of Lord Horua accompany my back! The guardian deity himself chose me, commanding me to achieve the salvation of the Marias Great Forest!"
"......"
"Me, lose? Even that red knight they called the king's greatest sword couldn't properly match me and fled in defeat?"
"......It's not about losing."
Shong replied in a low voice, like a warning.
"If it's a duel, who could beat you as you are now! But he is the judge of the dead."
He pointed straight at Valkzar's chest.
"The moment he appears, the ancestors will flee. The moment he beckons, Horua will fall to the earth. That is the revelation."
"......"
"Please, ensure he does not become our terror."
At Shong's earnest plea, Valkzar fell into thought. It was the first time Shong had begged so desperately, the first time he'd shown such excessive fear.
An existence that could nullify him, bolstered by the ancestors' power and guardian deity Horua?
Frankly, Valkzar was intrigued.
He wanted to go fight him.
To feel with his own skin just how formidable he was.
But the three former Griffin Kingdom nobles standing deferentially beside him spoke up.
"He is a necromancer."
"Just a dog guarding the north."
"A man who can't even control his own shit and piss. We'll handle him."
After all, Necromancer Deus Verdi was the one who had driven the nobles to flee in the first place.
The three burned with zeal for vengeance against the necromancer.
"Tch, do as you like."
Though a bit disappointed, Valkzar figured if he could be taken down by mere nobles like these, there was no need for him to step in—and he downed another brimming goblet.
Frankly.
He didn't think these puppet-like nobles could accomplish anything even if they tried.
Convinced he'd end up facing the man eventually, the great warrior savored the feast, anticipating their encounter like a pause between bites.