Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: To the Roselia Cathedral (2)
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The Ion Continent was the largest landmass in the Auterica Dimension.
Its total area was roughly on par with Earth's Eurasian continent—about four or five times the size of the second-largest, the Enamel Continent.
But unlike Earth, humans didn't dominate the entire continent.
This was a world where monsters truly existed, and they boasted forces strong enough to vie with humans for territory.
With physical prowess that overwhelmingly surpassed humans from birth, tenacious survivability that let them endure even the harshest conditions, and absurd reproductive rates that turned a handful into a village in just a few years...
Moreover, the vital energy coursing through their bodies acted as an insurmountable wall for those who hadn't cultivated mana.
Unlike humans, who had to refine it into aura or mana to wield it, monsters could simply breathe and devour prey to increase their vital energy.
Of course, that power was limited to physical enhancement and resistance, making it far less versatile than other abilities...
But for monsters, whose overwhelming physiques were their greatest weapons, that was no issue at all.
Thus, they had long hindered the development of human nations, rooting themselves in mountains, valleys, and terrains across the continent.
'The Monster Forest, a thorn in Thalia Kingdom's side, is just one of many. Forbidden zones like that are scattered everywhere across the continent.'
Of course, as the Church of the Main God had once ravaged the Monster Forest, it was possible to temporarily conquer such areas.
But fully exterminating the monsters and stabilizing them would require efforts, resources, and sacrifices far beyond that.
However.
In stark contrast, the vast 'Northern Mountain Range' occupying most of the Ion Continent's north...
Was a demonic realm humanity could never approach—a true hellscape.
An extreme environment filled with bone-chilling cold and venomous beasts.
Monsters teemed in numbers befitting its enormous expanse, crawling with superior specimens that had survived eons of survival of the fittest.
And with the 'madness' unleashed by the recent Abyss rift perfectly suited to concentrate there, it had become a hell incomparable to before.
And in the heart of that hell...
[Ho, excellent. I like this very much.]
Someone nodded in satisfaction, as if he'd found prime real estate in a perfect location.
A being who warped the surrounding space just by existing—the continent's despair, the incarnation of death.
The Immortal King Hans.
[As Your Majesty commanded... I have selected this location after considering various conditions... Not too far from the Principality, not too close... Accounting for the distribution of surrounding monsters and the terrain's ruggedness...]
Beside him, Olivia explained diligently, like a licensed realtor.
She had worked day and night, deploying ghosts tirelessly to please the Immortal King, but such tasks were now routine for her.
[Well done, Olivia. This place will do nicely.]
Fortunately, her efforts paid off—the spot perfectly suited Hans's tastes.
It was a mountain spacious enough for an army to reside, ringed by taller, harsher peaks that blocked even midday sunlight, cloaking it in perpetual shadow.
Not the northernmost point with eternal blizzards, yet snow piled on the ground year-round, lending a chilling atmosphere.
'It looks ominous and eerie just standing here—perfect for a Demon King's Castle.'
Moreover, the converging ridges seemed like well-trodden monster paths, a strategic hub swarming with the beasts.
Another ideal factor.
[Now then—time to prepare for moving in.]
Swoooosh—
As Hans spoke...
The ground around him was instantly covered in viscous darkness.
This was his usual method for summoning undead from his sub-dimension, but today's spell had one key difference from before.
[Kehheheh, you've been cooped up in that cramped space for so long. Now go wild to your heart's content.]
Swoooosh—
The black darkness spread like shadows across the ground.
Endlessly, without stopping.
...Continuing until it threatened to engulf the entire mountain.
Finally, the darkness covering the mountain ceased expanding.
From within it...
Clatter—
[Keeek!]
Crunch—!
Countless undead slowly rose.
Zombies, skeletons, ghouls, ghosts, wights, dullahans...
Dozens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands...
As silhouettes filled the mountain, the surrounding plants withered instantly under the horrific aura of death.
The mere presence of that lethal energy invaded the space, and toxic fumes from the corpses mingled in the air.
Thus, with one mountain shrouded in darkness fully steeped in death, the next black magic from the Forbidden Knowledge activated.
Rumble—!
Amid the seething horde of undead and the devouring death aura...
A massive tremor—and the 'Demon King's Castle' revealed itself.
Black bricks forged from darkness, savage carvings etched throughout, towering spires jutting everywhere.
The epitome of a Demon King's Castle.
'Technically the black magic 'Labyrinth of Eternal Night,' but altering its exterior is child's play for Hans.'
Manifesting the interior fully at once was impossible, but the Labyrinth allowed free internal customization, so no issue.
What mattered was the magnificent Demon King's Castle now standing before him.
Clatter—clunk—!
[Groooar—!]
Next came the routine: clearing the territory around it.
For the Immortal King's domain to teem with living monsters? A matter of pride!
This area was a monster hotspot anyway, so capturing and converting them would bolster Hans's forces nicely.
'Rohan Principality gets a breather too. Invasions from the north will drop sharply with the castle here.'
He couldn't help openly, but this convenience was fine.
Those monsters would become his troops regardless—no loss for him.
'Should bring some discards here too. The Old man, that Oath of Reverse Heaven executive—big size, perfect fit.'
The steady work by Hans and his undead army in the western continent had yielded plenty of sacrificial fodder.
Black mages and demon worshippers were nowhere to be found in their wake.
Some might even be fanatics devoted to the Immortal King...
'In short, Hans played a huge role in stabilizing the west.'
Even the empire with the continent's strongest might, the eastern republics, and southern tribal alliances struggled—yet the weak western alliances suffered least, thanks to his unseen efforts.
No one would see it as pure goodwill, though.
'Oh, right. Bring that guy here too.'
Among the new residents for the castle...
Was Andrew Weaver, the Earth Awakener met in Tobea.
'More useful than expected, that unique skill. Installing invisible CCTV across the continent? Closer to stealth drones, maybe.'
To exploit such utility, keeping him close for constant prodding was best.
'He had that dull, lazy vibe.'
Just a first impression, but Hans's transcendent judgment carried weight.
'Nothing fun here to distract him. Olivia's swamped—stick him under her, she'll love it.'
Thus, unbeknownst to him, Andrew Weaver's fate was sealed.
Of course, only after making the environment human-habitable.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [Yes, Siana. You have a report?]
-That's right, my King! I didn't become an imperial noble for nothing, you know? As I mentioned before, I've been diligently gathering info useful for conquering the continent!
In a vast chamber inside the partially furnished Demon King's Castle...
Hans sat on a massive throne of bones, communicating with Siana in the empire.
'Andrew's useless beyond his skill, so fine to bring. But Siana with her baronial title? Waste to move her yet. Watch for now.'
Siana's rise to nobility was simple.
Adopted into a baronial family as a childlike figure using her unique charm, then over a decade of 'accidents' whittled down the household one by one.
Her swallowing the family as the sole survivor was inevitable.
-...Anyway, the greedy Crown Prince Simon is quite manageable. I'm in the thick of working him over now. The real tough one is his rival, the Fifth Princess 'Riley Carte Azerion.'
The Azerion imperial family had three princes and four princesses.
The Second Prince had lost power to the Crown Prince; the Third and Fourth Princesses abandoned the throne for marriage.
The still-teen Sixth Prince's faction was negligible; the Seventh Princess wasn't even ten.
'Yet only the Fifth Princess is seen as a real contender to the Crown Prince.'
Normally, no matter her talent, a Fifth Princess wouldn't get the chance.
Eldest birthright gave huge succession advantage, and time's head start built factions.
-Princess Riley earned the Emperor's favor with her brilliance, but her weak maternal relatives meant one person's role was key to her current power.
And that person was the biggest obstacle Siana named.
The faction's martial pillar, guarding the Fifth Princess through crises to the end.
Her closest confidante, a childhood friend...
One of the continent's top archmages...
-Viscountess Isea Pristin. She'll be a major hindrance to Your Majesty's great cause! Top priority for elimination!
She was also recommended for the 'Hero Party' this time.
-Truth be told, I nearly got caught facing her once. Now I avoid her as much as possible. And I fooled the Archbishop...
In other words, claims of her being top-ten mage understated it.
She hid her full power to protect the princess better.
-For someone not yet thirty to be this strong means unimaginable growth ahead. We must nip it in the bud before she grows more!
Siana also reported Isea Pristin's heading to Roselia Cathedral.
Unknown outcome, but a threat if she joined the Hero.
Of course, Hans knew all this well.
'Impressive indeed. Most executives couldn't touch her. And late twenties? Looks barely late teens at most.'
Which made sense.
Right now, Harley—en route to Roselia Cathedral—was facing her head-on.