Black Lotus and White Marigold -1-

The letter's contents could be roughly summarized like this.

Zhan Ark Caesar, who had become the Hero, developed an almost obsessive sense of duty to grow stronger quickly amid the mounting pressure of the impending war with the Demon King. While searching for a fast way to power up, she stumbled upon an ancient document mentioning the tomb of the progenitor witch known as the Rose Witch, a figure forgotten in modern times. Astonishingly, that tomb was located in the Forest of Beginnings. No—the forest itself was one section of the witch's tomb.

The ancient document described how to enter the underground witch's tomb, along with records of the powerful relic there, the Witch's Heart, and the vast knowledge of magic the witch had accumulated. Determined to claim them and boost her strength, Zhan set off for the tomb, leaving only a single letter behind one night. She abandoned her stay in Maximilis with the princess of the Eastern Jin Empire—her best friend and party member since becoming the Hero.

It was a rash decision, born of her longstanding admiration for the way of the warrior, inspired by tales from a samurai hailing from the island nation of Zipon in the East. Things went smoothly at first. The Forest of Beginnings was frequented by novice adventurers, so the monsters weren't too tough, and even after descending underground to the witch's tomb, it stayed that way. But as they drew near the deepest chamber where the witch's corpse lay, the atmosphere shifted dramatically, and the monsters grew stronger.

The real problem, though, was the traps—lethal ones that brushed against you fatally, placed with cunning malice. It would've helped to have a mage who could detect traps, but with just the Hero and her brawling martial artist friend, things went from bad to worse. Upon reaching the tomb's lowest level, the path behind them sealed shut, cutting off any escape.

In the end, her friend triggered a trap, suffered a mortal wound, and died. Zhan was consumed by regret and grief, screaming in anguish, but it was too late. Yet grief was fleeting in such a dangerous place; she couldn't lug a corpse around. Swallowing her tears, Zhan preserved the body as best she could—hoping someone might find it or that she could return after escaping—and stowed it in a safe zone within the area.

After that, believing there must be an exit deeper in, where the witch's corpse ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was likely buried, Zhan pressed on.

That concluded the letter. It also included info on the areas she'd passed through, in case it might help.

'So the exit's sealed shut, huh?'

This spot, as Princess Zhan described, was one of the rare safe zones on the tomb's lowest level, connected to a passage leading up to the floor above. And just as she said, the upward exit was blocked by a massive stone gate.

'Looks like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠even the princess couldn't escape and died here.'

With the Goddess declaring via oracle that her Hero was dead, she must've perished here too.

'No other options.'

At a high enough level, maybe, but breaking through that sealed door and ascending in my current state was impossible. Which meant I'd have to follow Princess Zhan's path deeper in.

'If it killed a Hero, this dungeon's seriously dangerous...'

Word was, she was still a fledgling as both Hero and warrior, but danger was danger.

'On that note, I'll put the Jin Empire princess's corpse to good use.'

Handing a body to a necromancer? Might as well entrust fish to a cat. No guilt whatsoever. Having seen so many dead in my past life, I just viewed corpses as meat chunks, nothing more. And besides, you should cherish them while they're alive—what good is doting on them after death?

-Rip!! Rip!!

I tore away the red cloth faintly infused with holy power wrapped around the corpse. Suddenly...

"Oh... oh..."

The pitch-black, eerily gloomy tomb interior felt abruptly brighter. The reason? The woman's body emerging from within the cloth.

There was a face of beauty rivaling the pinnacle of any I'd seen. Straight, glossy black hair; a pert nose; slightly sharp feline eyes—all elements harmoniously arranged like a masterpiece. Her skin was flawless, without a single blemish. What especially drew the eye was her explosively voluptuous breasts, matched by perfectly proportioned hips and figure.

'Now I get why people called Princess Zhan and Princess Langfang the black-and-white roses of the two empires.'

Even elves, beautiful by racial standards, paled before them. I understood why.

The only flaw was a small wound near her heart.

'A poison arrow coated in instant-death toxin if not antidoted within a second—that must be it.'

Apart from that, the body was so intact you wouldn't believe she was dead. A stranger might mistake her for merely asleep.

'No way this is fodder for basic undead.'

My elite undead cuties were always beautiful women. Rubbing shoulders with dudes in battle? Reality had plenty of that.

She was more than perfect for an elite undead—overflowing, even.

'Plus, though she died before ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fully blooming, both Princess Zhan and Princess Langfang were renowned for their exceptional talents.'

Appearance, performance—nothing to discard. Turning such a corpse into undead would be the real sin.

But there was a catch.

'Can't make elite undead with my current classes.'

My build focused on raising a few elite undead, but at level 30, I hadn't unlocked the core classes: Corpse Sculptor and Soul Binder. Those two were the heart of my build.

'Round and round to level up, I guess.'

To do anything, I needed levels first—meaning hunting. Note that in Auroray Fantasia, the stat system didn't allocate points; levels raised specific stats tied to race or job, making level-ups essential.

'First things first...'

I cast Embalming, a basic necromantic spell for corpse preservation, on Langfang's body. The faint holy power protecting her was gone, and levels could come anytime—this was precaution.

-Whoooong!!

Ominous death aura, opposing the prior holy power, flowed into Langfang's flesh, halting decay.

-Swish... swish...

I rewrapped her with the now holy-power-free red cloth. Plan was to leave her here and hunt. As Princess Zhan declared it a safe zone, should be fine. Plus, hauling a corpse through danger was risky.

'If I were higher level with more classes unlocked, I'd have an inventory skill for bodies...'

Not now.

'Still, just in case...'

-Clang!! Clang!! Clang!!

Numerous multicolored magic traps loaded with various spells activated around the room. Should be secure now.

"Grooo... baaang... dooooolaaa... cooome baaack... prettyyy..."

Muttering a promise to return, I left the room.

Princess Zhan's tomb intel was gold. Early on—

-Thud!!

"Ugh..."

'If I weren't undead, instant death.'

A poison arrow from somewhere nailed my head perfectly. It did damage, but as undead, it was just a scrape. Poison? Undead have passive Poison Immunity.

-Crunch

-Whoooong!!

Yanked the arrow, injected Negative Energy to heal.

Princess Zhan's notes covered only explored floors and spots; for this uncharted lowest level, just near Langfang's room. Had to move carefully elsewhere. Traps everywhere.

Used Detect Lesser Trap whenever it felt off—dodged the lethal ones. But it guzzled MP, so sparingly. Enemies could pop anytime.

'Damn, should've saved a mana potion from my past life...'

Regret changed nothing. After passing about six ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠trap-filled rooms of various sizes,

'What's this?'

The artificial stone corridors vanished, replaced by a vast natural underground cavern untouched by human hands. Size impossible to gauge—just huge. But clearly different from the prior dungeon vibe.

'A forest underground?'

Yep. This massive cavern held a dense forest rivaling the surface Forest of Beginnings. Comparable scale.

Questioned how such a lightless underground could sustain it, but light existed.

-...!!!

Blinding radiance poured from the ceiling, like spotlights, bathing everything in daylight.

'Glowing moss?'

Ceiling and walls emitted faint glow—moss. Massive clusters beaming from above.

'Alchemy material jackpot.'

Game knowledge flashed: unlearned before, now real in my head. No alchemy class for high-end stuff, but basic proficiency maxed—arcane class prerequisite. It was embedded now.

'Mix with others for HP potions.'

Note: HP pots are poison to undead. Anyway, harvested some glowing moss for inventory, cautiously explored the forest.

Near my entry, scanning for usable corpses or EXP fodder—

-Boom!!!

"??!?!"

-Boom boom boom boom boom!!!

Far off in the forest, rhythmic thunderous booms—like footsteps, but too massive. Ground trembled through my feet too.

'My instincts scream: enemy!!'

Vibration, noise, distant trees toppling by something huge—physical powerhouse, big boy.

Reacted instantly.

-Kiiiiing!!

-Whoooong!!

-Kiririring!!

Instantly stacked every helpful buff I could cast.

'Dark Focus'

Chantless buff skill too. Next, skill: Enhanced Summon Ritual

Necromancer skill, extra MP for undead summons. Less efficient than corpse-made—no material efficiency, weaker, timed—but fine for my golem body.

"Grrooooaaarrrr!!! "

"Grrraaawr!!!"

Two hulking 2.5-meter undead—twisted humanoids with grotesquely bloated flesh—materialized without warning.

"Hee hee hee!!!"

"Hiiiing!!!"

Three skeletons on bone horses, spears in hand, appeared.

"Whooo..."

Two red ghost fires flickered like eyes from my shadow, eerie voices rising as they stirred.

"Kee hee hee hee!!!"

Finally, a ragged-robed skeleton clutching a rotting wooden staff appeared beside me.

Only low-tier summons at my level, max six—pretty meager lineup. Could summon more, but MP conservation with unknown foe.

Whole process: seconds. Auroray Fantasia basics.

'Plan's simple.'

-Groooaa!!

-Kee hee hee!!

Summoned, mentally linked via summoner bond, issued orders. Prepped myself.

-Boom boom boom!!!

All set, the forest parted as...

"GRRROOOOAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!"

...something enormous burst into view.