An Eternal Promise
Ludia closed her eyes for a moment and opened them again. "...Huh?"
The clamor from moments ago had vanished like a lie, replaced by a vast, barren plain stretching in every direction. A desolate land that seemed devoid of any life. The sky was choked with thick, black clouds, making it hard to imagine sunlight ever piercing through. This wasn't where she had been. Where was this?
"■■■■, I'll leave the rear to you."
And right before her eyes stood a man. His platinum armor was shattered and cracked in places. His sharp, intense gaze and copper-toned skin gave him a resolute air. His face was set with grim determination, like someone prepared for their final stand. A face she'd never seen before. Who was he?
"No!! Please don't go!!"
She was screaming at him. Her mind wondered, Why am I doing this? But a surge of raw emotion from deep in her chest swallowed everything. Tears streamed endlessly, her voice cracking as she clung to his hand, refusing to let go. Why? Why this?
"It's time to end it."
"No! This can't be the end! We didn't come all this way for this!"
"...."
It felt like she was throwing a tantrum. But when his thick hand overlapped hers, the warm touch drained her strength. Thud. Maybe from crying so hard earlier? As soon as her arms went limp, her legs gave out too.
But the man said nothing at the sight.
"Until the very end, it was my honor to stand with you."
The knight in battered armor bowed formally.
"I hate it!"
"Fulfill your remaining duties as a saintess."
"No! Don't act all formal!"
Even without the strength to move, she kept shouting. Her cracked, breathless voice pierced sharply, but...
"And... be happy."
With those final words, the man turned away. At the end of his gaze, something was spewing endlessly toward the sky. Black and red. A sinister energy that seemed to pierce and corrode the skin just by looking at it. An ominous pressure that squeezed and crushed her heart.
"Don't go!"
Her cry rang out in vain. The man began walking toward it.
"I'll wait for you!!! Until you come back!!!"
With each step he took away, a pain like her chest was being ripped open stabbed her. Her head knew she couldn't stop him. Her body had already given up. But her heart wasn't ready. It was infuriating that all she could do was scream, and she collapsed onto the dirt floor.
Long golden hair spilled over her tightly clenched fist, gripped by overwhelming regret.
"I'll be reborn instead!!! Or live forever!!! I'll break this wretched curse, no matter what!!!"
Regret lingered. She screamed again at his vanishing silhouette.
And doubt crept in—Can I really do it?
"...No matter what..."
But she vowed not to break. Not in decades or centuries. Until he came for her.
"I'll wait..."
As the man faded from view and the black-red energy began to churn unnaturally, she quietly closed her eyes. It felt like everything was draining from her body. Like sinking into the cold earth beneath.
- ....This is the last chance. I'm begging you.
"Yes?"
When everything was engulfed in darkness, an unfamiliar voice whispered from behind. Ludia startled and opened her eyes.
**
When her eyes opened, she was back in the underground dungeon.
"...A dream?"
Crumbled walls and piles of rubble. The dungeon floor still reeked of blood. As she sat up, familiar sights greeted her, thankfully.
"No, you were talking fine before I knocked you out, but now you're mute again? Or changed? Say something. What the hell are you made of? What did you eat growing up?"
"Sister, he's always like this..."
"(Uhahahaha! You damn bitches! So obsessed with me, huh?!)"
In one corner, Yunet was cornering Huu, fuming. Huu, shoulders hunched against the wall, but speaking in a completely different tone. And Mari, sweating bullets in between.
"...Pfft."
To think she'd find this chaotic mess so welcoming. Ludia thought the present was far better than that dream.
**
The heretic Luzadio was dead. Strictly speaking, they'd taken down the Lich's familiar.
As a result, all the skeletons drawing power from him crumbled into handfuls of bone dust.
"So... what now?"
We huddled on the relatively clean floor. Ludia spoke first.
"We catch it. The Lich."
Yunet replied as if it were obvious.
"Liches are powerful magic-wielding monsters. Sneaky bastards by nature... Better not leave it alone too long."
Mari nodded in agreement this time.
"(Kuhahaha! So full of energy, all of you! Bet you'd pant just as tirelessly in bed!)"
""......""
No, I just asked if everyone wasn't tired. And he said that. He did.
Under their piercing glares, I pulled out the ring in my hand.
"Anyway, ignore the pervert for now. We need to reform the subjugation team. I'll call down General Chest too."
Even without Yunet saying it, most of the subjugation team was already exhausted. We'd descended deep into this torch-lit darkness for ages. Half had died or been injured fighting the skeleton horde. No way we could take a Lich with this crew.
"I'll request reinforcements from the Central Paladin Order too. Ones equipped to handle a Lich."
"Then should I contact the branch? If the branch leader or Amelia comes... they'd help with the Lich subjugation."
"Ugh...(Wait, is that the one I know?)"
I watched the three discuss intently.
Lich, Lich. Hearing it over and over jogged my memory—this novel's Lich... was that guy?
The fallen noble with the twisted personality. Of course, things were diverging from the original, so caution was needed, but... if it really was him...
"(Hey! Bitches!!)"
""???""
I mulled it over a few more times. Is it him?
Yeah... probably.
According to Mari, Liches usually operated solo, wielding powerful curses and magic. Not swarm-pushers like necromancers, but this one seemed quirky. Probably because he'd dealt with people so much before becoming a Lich—he couldn't shake the habit.
And Luzadio mentioned "offerings." In the novel, only one Lich sought sacrifices.
....That bastard. Same tricks, different place.
"(We're going to catch that dumb Lich bastard!!! Just follow me!!!)"
I told the three we should go after the Lich. Before things escalated further.
That idiot was surely prepping a summoning altar. But knowing his weakness changed everything.
Why hesitate?
"Whaaat?!"
"Master Huu, that's insane..."
Ludia's eyes widened dramatically, and Mari sighed "Huu..."
The natural reaction to such an outlandish idea.
"....."
But Yunet just stared silently. Our eyes met, and her gaze narrowed.
"You know something."
As expected. Girls without common sense were sharp.
"(Quick on the uptake, you tasty bitch!! Bet you're useful in bed! Uhahaha!!)"
And out came the sexual harassment-level vulgarity. The two blushed and whipped their heads away, but
"Heh! Bed's just the start! Versatility's my charm, hahaha!"
Yunet took it as praise and bit right in. She shot up, snorting triumphantly.
"Sister, please..."
"L-Let's hear the rest..."
"Huu..."
Not fazed by the dwarf's crass speech at all. Yunet's one redeeming quality.
**
By the time Amelia arrived at the Heretic's Tomb, the paladin camp was in frantic motion. Even inside the tents, soldiers in full armor hauled gear and weapons. It felt like war was imminent.
"What's going on?"
"Not sure... Looks like battle prep."
"...?"
Just the usual monsters here. Who'd come to this hellhole?
Amelia raised a questioning brow at Medel's words.
"You've arrived, Lady Amelia."
As she strolled the tent, a man approached and bowed politely. Short brown hair, neat paladin.
"I'm Chest Blaud, overall commander here."
Amelia extended a hand lightly; Chest shook it warmly.
"Pleased to meet you, General. How's your wife?"
"Same as ever."
"Must be tough."
"Haha! More than camp life, actually..."
He laughed heartily but trailed off. Amelia and Medel, knowing the situation, just smiled faintly without prying.
"So, what's the rush? First time seeing it like this."
"Yes, circumstances arose."
Several soldiers hurried past during their chat. Chest apologized and led them to his tent.
"First... Sir Luzadio has passed."
"The missing Luzadio?"
He brought it up casually en route, but Amelia looked surprised.
"Yes. Sadly, he'd turned heretic. Hiding in the dungeon depths."
"How'd you know?"
"A scouting party came up from the underground. Dragging his corpse."
Chest pointed to one end of the camp. A black cloth bound to a tall pole—a site for purifying those tainted by Kalide's unholy power.
"Want to see?"
"No. Later."
"Understood. State was gruesome. Hard to show."
How bad was it? He shook his head with a tsk.
"By the way... Didn't Lady Ludia come here too? And her group?"
Not seeing Ludia around struck him odd. Or maybe ulterior motives. Amelia cut to the chase.
"Ah, yes. They're heading deeper into the underground dungeon now."
".....?"
Deeper? Why? She halted abruptly.
"Yes. High chance of a Lich down there."
"Heavens! Lady Amelia!"
"......"
That explained the intensified monster attacks lately. Reports deviated from norms, but not impossible.
She turned to Chest.
"...So her group went down to hunt the Lich."
"Yes. Sent up the main subjugation team, left a small elite squad. Just General Yunet and Ludia's group."
"?!"
Amelia's eyes flashed wide—a rare sight.
"They claimed a method, but I don't get it. So we're assembling a large force now."
"....."
She crossed her arms, stroking her chin thoughtfully. Deep in her own world.
Ignoring the bustle, she pondered intently.
"...General."
"Yes, Lady Amelia."
"I'll go with you."
Her words stunned the rest.
"Pardon?"
"Lady Amelia?!!"
"Medel. Prepare what I mentioned."
But Amelia seemed indifferent to their shock. Just carrying out her decided task calmly. Or perhaps masking impatience masterfully. Time might be short. Especially against a Lich.