Chapter 215
Chapter 215
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 215
Chapter Title: Jeron's Tribulations (4)
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In the grand hall deep within the Immortal Citadel.
A black-gowned noblewoman was delivering her report with proper etiquette to the one seated upon the throne, amid an intimidating atmosphere lined with countless Death Knights on either side.
"...As per Your Majesty's command, the continental invasion plan is proceeding smoothly... The element of surprise remains limited due to the Saint's foresight... However, we capitalized on their inadequate preparations this time, achieving satisfactory results with overwhelming force..."
The translucent noblewoman, Banshee Queen Olivia, proceeded to detail the outcomes of the operation step by step.
The raiding forces assembled by the Immortal King's decree had struck over a dozen locations simultaneously. Aside from a few sites where hero parties intervened, all had successfully met their objectives.
Of course, those undead legions were later mostly destroyed by each kingdom's subjugation forces, but the rank-and-file soldiers—excluding a handful of commanders—were disposable from the start, so there were no real losses.
Undead overflowed around the Immortal Citadel anyway.
"Keh—well done, Olivia. To think they'd handle me so carelessly. Did they start seeing us as a joke after I toyed with them for a while?"
As her report concluded, Hans, seated on a throne of skulls and bones, let out a small chuckle.
He briefly gauged the swarming undead near the citadel, then swallowed a rising pang of regret.
'If I could move more at once than now, I could flip the continent far more efficiently. Even after days of preparation, hitting just over a dozen spots is the limit.'
Naturally, even with undead aplenty for troops, transporting them to invasion points was another matter entirely.
Mobilizing such massive armies across the continent wasn't easy to begin with.
'At least it's feasible at my level.'
Mages performed at their peak only in thoroughly prepared environments.
And even the pinnacle of black magic, the Immortal King, was no exception.
'Using the death energy filling the area as a catalyst, the Immortal Citadel becomes the core of a massive magic circle. With my near-infinite black mana supplied on top...'
The result was a portal in one wing of the citadel, enabling mass undead transport.
Possible only because the Immortal Citadel was the ultimate spell 'Labyrinth of Eternal Night,' fully under his control.
Its main drawback: it was one-way, specialized for outbound travel.
But with only a few commanders returning anyway, bringing along a lich or two solved that easily.
"We are also pursuing the investigation you previously ordered... Regrettably, approaching key figures in the south remains stalled... However, we've gathered some intel on the Obaypo Clan in the east..."
He sank into thought as Olivia delivered her addendum.
The Southern Tribal Alliance, severing all external ties for some scheme.
The Obaypo in the east, seizing control of the republic much like Talia Kingdom's case.
'No way their simultaneous moves now are coincidence.'
Plus the recent imperial princess assassination attempt and the anomalies on the Enamel Continent that Harris was investigating.
All deeply suspicious.
'Leave them be or eliminate them. Which benefits me more?'
Of course, he wasn't fretting over their disruptions alone.
His sole focus was raking in massive karma via his 'continental invasion plan.'
'Their presence makes crumbling the continent easier. Short-term karma yield would be higher that way... But long-term, they'd be variables in my home turf show.'
After mulling it over, Immortal King Hannibal Strauss scanned his linked avatars' statuses before muttering one line.
"Indeed, it seems I'll need to step in personally at least once."
A single phrase foreshadowing the major events ahead.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The moment Starb raised his claw-shaped dagger.
'Ah... So this is the end.'
Even in that desperate moment, Riley surprisingly felt little fear of death.
Regret over her unfinished deeds and sorrow for bonds she had to leave outweighed it.
'Sister Se-ah must be devastated.'
Thinking of Lee Se-ah, closer than family, intensified those feelings.
She'd given so much for Riley, yet Riley couldn't repay her—not even a proper goodbye—before parting like this.
'I hope she returns safely to Earth without forcing revenge.'
Next came Hesperon, another Earthling like Se-ah.
Their bond wasn't long, but his presence had sharpened intensely just before chaos erupted, naturally drawing her thoughts.
'...He seems able to escape alone. Why go so far?'
Amid his battle with traitors using bizarre items, she faintly sensed his emotions through their strengthening link.
He was desperately trying everything to save her.
'Just run alone, damn it...'
She'd screamed it inwardly multiple times, but he pressed on silently, focused.
She'd hoped briefly, but now it truly ended.
Whoosh—!
Starb's grotesque dagger finally swung toward her.
Riley squeezed her eyes shut, unable to watch...
And instinctively gripped something surging from her 'passage' to Hesperon.
Cough—
Reopening her eyes upon sensing familiarity, the first sight was.
"Whew, that was close."
A dazzlingly confident smile, unhidden even caked in blood.
And...
And...?
"Ah!"
Riley's eyes flew wide.
The familiar ceiling she'd always seen.
Yet now it felt strangely alien, the scene flooding in.
"...A dream...?"
She rose from silk-sheeted bedding, tousling her hair back.
Lustrous golden locks cascaded, scattering morning sunlight from the window.
"Ah."
The memory remained vivid.
Hardly surprising—just a day and a half had passed.
She glanced outside, then hurriedly dressed and stepped out.
Naturally, the princess assassination attempt brought massive fallout to Jeron.
When she appeared bloodied in a man's arms at the palace's main gate via unauthorized teleportation, the rushing guards were stunned.
Terror in the capital to kill the presumptive crown princess? Chaos was inevitable.
Worse, the culprit was the Imperial Guard Captain, duty-bound to protect the imperial family above all.
The Imperial Guard was paralyzed by massive investigations, drawing the Imperial Inspectorate, Palace Mage Tower, and even the Emperor's personal Royal Knights.
Without the ongoing undead raids or her assurance of safety, even Lee Se-ah would've acted.
Princess Riley herself faced a packed schedule today related to it.
Her first stop upon rising:
"Welcome, Your Highness."
"Any issues overnight?"
The imperial hospital where Hesperon lay.
Gazing at his deathlike sleep, she quietly asked the director beside her.
"He had several high fevers, but recovered quickly and is stable now. His physique is incredibly honed for a mage—unbelievable. Without it, he wouldn't have lasted till here."
This outskirts palace facility, dubbed the antipode to the afterlife, boasted the empire's top medical experts.
Pharmacists handling nearly every drug, surgeons reattaching limbs perfectly, alchemists brewing potions and culturing organs, elite healing mages, even resident high priests from the Church of the Main God.
It rivaled Roselia Cathedral's ward in fame...
"We've invested heavily, so no threat to life. But expect permanent disabilities."
"...Disabilities...? To what extent...?"
Even here, impossibilities existed.
The director replied calmly to her trembling voice.
"His right eye was sacrificed in a ritual for power—no fixing that. Such high-grade artifacts are strictly controlled; no idea how he obtained it."
A mere physical injury could've been regenerated or replaced with a cultured eye.
But ritual sacrifice left little recourse.
"The right hand too... The curse mingled with the Abyss runs deep; full cure's impossible. We can weaken and seal it to prevent outbreaks, as now—that's best."
He added overusing mana risked the sealed curse rampaging.
Despite boosted stats, Hesperon was a novice mage barely past low rank.
Facing elite knights and even hindering a master swordsman demanded a price.
Heinrich's holy power barely kept him alive.
"We could amputate and transplant a new arm. Rehab takes time, and strength won't fully return due to side effects—but fine if he sticks to mage work."
Lifetime seal for full power, or sever the source for a weaker arm—a dilemma.
Riley gazed at sleeping Hesperon with quivering eyes.
It wasn't her choice.
When he woke... he'd decide.
Knowing his overflowing talent, she felt deep guilt.
"Hm, sounds too negative—my apologies. Still, we fully restored his damaged vitality and life force from artifact overuse. Used heaps of rare materials, but as Your Highness's lifesaver, it's the least."
His emotionless addendum continued, but Riley stood silently staring at Hesperon, unresponsive.
The director paused, bowed cautiously, and exited quietly.
Composure was his creed, but not tactlessness.
Swish—
Right after he left.
She, statue-still, slowly extended a hand, gently stroking his rune-wrapped right arm.
Her touch rose to his seemingly sleeping right eye socket.
"...Another debt."
She hadn't repaid the last one.
He could've fled alone but recklessly used dangerous artifacts to save her.
He must've anticipated this.
'...Idiot.'
Yet he chose it without hesitation.
As if unconcerned with aftermath, content with her rescue, smiling without regret.
Surge—
Choked by emotion, she yanked her hand back, steadying her breath.
After staring a bit longer, she inhaled deeply, turned, and left.
"I'll come back."
She had much left to do.
Her expression froze as she exited, chilling anyone by the time she cleared the ward.
"...Status?"
"Sir Starb's fleeing, but injured—expect capture soon."
"Stragglers fully detained; interrogating for accomplices."
"Compiling list of pre-incident suspects. Report by today."
Her aides, shadowing like ghosts, added details.
"Priority one. Down to the masterminds. Understood?"
"Yes, notifying all."
"Full effort."
The iron-blooded princess, stung by the ambush, bared her fangs for vengeance.
Mustering her amassed power and imperial support.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Enamel Continent, Elven Kingdom borderlands.
Four days into his instinct-led search.
Harris finally spotted the suspected culprits.
'Ah... What the hell are those...'
Bipedal beasts with animal heads resembled beastkin but exuded utterly alien auras— a race he'd never encountered.
Reviled like vampires, instinctively repulsive on sight... Werewolves, Lycanthropes.
Yet oddly, they blurred unless directly eyed—their presence faint to senses alone.
That delayed his discovery.
Without homing on his hunch, even he wouldn't have found them so soon.
But that paled now.
'Why's an Abyss rift here...?'
Compared to the pitch-black hole before them—perfectly gaping, devouring even light.