Casual Chaos in the Lich's Lair
Thanks to Huu's suggestion, the four of us descended toward the deepest part of the underground dungeon. The passage narrowed and darkened the further down we went, exuding an eerie chill, but the mood somehow felt like we were out on a picnic.
"You really think that'll work? Have you ever even caught a lich before?"
"(Kuhahaha! You gotta feel it to know! Fitting for a bitch like you!)"
"Sigh... I just can't get used to that speech pattern."
Yunet and Huu chattered away up front, while Mari at the rear let out heavy sighs. Even as we plunged into the heart of enemy territory, there wasn't a shred of tension.
"...."
And in the middle, Ludia walked in silence. Was she the only one keeping her wits about her, staying vigilant?
Ugh... Why'd I do that earlier...?
No. Her mind was a jumbled mess of her own thoughts.
She hadn't fully registered it amid the chaos before, but now that time had passed and the memories resurfaced, it was utterly insane.
I can't do that again! Never!
Why had she tried to protect that zombie in front of that monster? She'd nearly gotten sent straight to the goddess's side in one hit!
And earlier, when Huu had gone berserk engulfed in Carlide's holy power... Why had she fearlessly thrown herself in to calm him?
"Huuuh...."
Her body had moved on its own—a strange, unfamiliar sensation. Was it because of the brand on her shoulder?
No, there'd been no reaction at all. Or maybe...
"Ah, no way?"
Ludia's mumbling lips formed a perfect O, her eyes widening. As if she'd found the thread in her tangle of doubts.
A sense of obligation. One-sided goodwill tipping the scales...
Yeah, that must be it.
Honestly, he'd protected her how many times now? And he never demanded anything in return. So of course she was starting to care. But... had she always been the type to fret over stuff like this? And why of all people, that zombie...
"Huuuuh... I dunnooo..."
It didn't quite feel like payback for the brand. He could've indulged his own desires, but he never did. Sure, he looked terrifying and spoke weirdly, but surprisingly, he listened to her obediently.
Maybe before becoming a zombie, he'd been a decent guy?
Whoosh.
"...Hah!!"
"????"
The moment that thought crossed her mind, Ludia let out a sharp gasp and halted in her tracks.
It'd seem fine, right? Just a fleeting thought.
But an irresistible heat surged through her like wildfire.
"Haa... No! Take it back! I take it back...!"
This is driving me crazy! Why does this happen out of nowhere?!
Ludia clung to the wall with one hand, waving the other frantically, her face a picture of misery, but...
"Lady Ludia, are you alright?"
"Whoa? What's up with her all of a sudden? You hurt somewhere?"
"Ha... haa... huuuh..."
Too late. Her face burned beet red, breaths coming in gasps. The ticklish itch spreading from her chest downward made her mind haze over more with each inch it descended.
"(Oh no! This bitch has huge tits but a frail body! Needs training! Kuhahahaha!)"
"Huu... huuuh..."
Nooo! This is all your fault!
Ludia wanted to scream at the blankly staring Huu, but she wasn't in any state for that.
This pain—if she endured it, she'd lose her reason. Before she made a worse spectacle...
Grab.
"Eh?"
"(Huh? What's this, bitch?)"
"....."
In the end, Ludia tightly clutched Huu's arm. All three others turned to stare.
"I-It was... scary..."
She squeezed her eyes shut and played the scaredy-cat.
"......."
Silence from the trio. They each seemed to have their suspicions, but since she was a saintess candidate... they held their tongues.
"H-Hey... Mari, your boyfriend's got another girl clinging to him. Wanna pretend to be scared too?"
Yunet smirked at Mari.
"S-Sis! I said it's not like that!!"
Mari finally snapped for real, her face flushing as red as Ludia's while she fumed.
***
A vast space shrouded in darkness. Violet magic crystals embedded everywhere emitted a faint glow.
Illuminated by that light: intricate statues, magic circles, and structures.
"...They're coming..."
The Lich seated on his throne flashed lime-green eyes.
Footsteps echoed from afar. The time for reaping his patience had arrived.
"I've been waiting... my sacrifices..."
Everything had gone smoothly since corrupting the wandering Luzadio.
The countless vengeful spirits in the Heretic's Tomb made excellent offerings, and the altar for summoning Tantaros was perfectly complete.
True, the plan to use Luzadio as guardian during the summoning had gone awry, but that was a variable he could handle.
Rumble...!
The massive stone door ground open, kicking up thick dust.
Through his skeletons, he'd watched: just four of them. What mad scheme was this—overconfidence in their skills?
But judging by their holy power alone, they equaled thousands of sacrifices.
Heart pounding, he rose to greet the offerings stepping onto his stage.
"Welcome... my sacrifices..."
But then—
"No, you gotta open the door the other way or it kicks up less dust!"
"S-Sis, it opened with a mechanism..."
"(Kuhahaha! Scared bitches got no brains!)"
"Sis! Can you focus for once?! There's a lich ahead—a lich!"
"......?"
This wasn't what he'd expected.
Had they gotten high before coming? The Lich was utterly confused by what he was seeing.
A hallucination? No... this was real.
His lime-green gaze flickered like wind-tossed flames.
They clearly knew who he was, mentioning "lich," but their reactions...
"You lot... do you even know... where this is...?"
"Shut it!"
The spear-wielding woman bellowed. Then she turned accusingly to the greatsword paladin.
"Don't you know coughing mid-fight messes up your stance?"
"Sigh. Then just stop breathing altogether..."
"Why are you always so extreme? Getting sensitive 'cause your man's stolen?"
"Argh!! Enough already! Keep it up and I won't hold back!!"
"......"
In the Lich's life—such humiliation.
No tension whatsoever in their antics; rage boiled up.
And moreover—
"What... are you...?"
Why were those two stuck together in the midst of this?
He'd recognized the bandage-wrapped one immediately. And clinging to his arm... a saintess candidate??
No. Her holy power felt off—muddied, mixed with mana. Was she really a candidate?
"...Ah. W-We have our reasons... don't mind us."
"....."
Whatever. It was ridiculous. Fury surged.
A humiliation he'd never felt even in life.
Why act all chummy here? Who were they facing...!
"You... insane fools...!!!!"
Grumble...!!!
No more mercy. He'd planned to sacrifice them swiftly for the ritual, but these mad ones needed punishment.
He stimulated the scattered mana around. The space shook, thunder rumbling.
"Scream... in agony..."
Mana coalesced into black clouds. Soon, dozens of spells would rain down.
Orchestrating mana and unleashing barrages—his specialty.
"(Bitches! Plan now!!)"
"Tch. Talk later!"
"Just shut up!"
Finally grasping the situation, they scattered. Spear and greatsword girls charged from both sides.
The clinging pair stayed center, glaring at him.
"Kuhuhuhu... futile..."
Aiming for him? A sinister smile escaped the Lich.
His body was formless mana. Untouched by such idiots' blades, even holy-infused ones!
Soon, freeze their limbs, torment with fire and lightning, repay the insult.
Prime entertainment before Tantaros arrived...!
"Illegal altar!! Demolition begins!!"
"...Huh?"
BOOM---!!!!
But as victory's smirk formed—crimson flames erupted massively.
A deafening explosion rocked the space.
"Wh-What is this?!!"
"Argh! I was so pissed earlier 'cause I couldn't do this!!!"
BOOM!! BOOM!!!!
Scorching pillars of fire everywhere—not just one spot.
The blue-haired maniac swung her spear, unleashing perilous flames with each strike. Magic crystals melted, structures crumbled.
"I can do AoE too!"
Shiiiing...!!!
KABOOM!!!!
And the black-haired paladin was no slouch. Her greatsword swings cracked the floor, shattered statues.
"N-No...!!!!"
The altar... was collapsing.
His contingency magic barriers shattered; decades of prep crumbled like tofu under these two lunatics.
"Rise! My soldiers!!"
Desperately, the Lich dispersed his magic clouds. Destroying the altar with his own spells was riskier.
He extended a hand, raising corpses buried near the altar.
Grrraaahhh---!!!
Massive hulks rivaling Luzadio opened bloodshot eyes glowing lime-green, muscles bulging murderously.
Meant for this very moment—with Luzadio as guardian!!
That fool charging blindly at the bandaged one without knowing his identity...
Gnashing nonexistent teeth, the Lich pointed at the altar.
"Protect the altar! Stop them!"
"(Kuhahaha! My turn now!!!)"
"?!!!"
But the one he'd thought stationary charged in—with the saintess candidate... on his back.
"Y-You...!"
Madman. Fight like that??
"Kyaa! L-Lich, sir??!!"
"??"
And the girl on his back had words too!
"I-I'm just relaying a message...! Summoning Tantaros is tough, right??!"
"?!!!!!"
What? These fools now...??
For a moment, the Lich doubted his own ears.