The Trap Sprung at the Glass Tower
The Glass Tower's spiral staircase.
Simon and his companions were sprinting upward in a dizzying rush.
Running up the stairs wasn't enough for them — they were stepping onto the railings and leaping from one to the next, climbing in great bounds.
At that pace, they should have reached the top in no time.
-Grraaaaah!
-Huuurrraaagh!
But there were obstacles. As if to declare that no one would be allowed up, crawling zombies poured in endlessly from every floor.
[Move!]
The moment Prince's eyes flashed, the eyes of several zombies descending from the ceiling turned the same shade as his.
Simon immediately raised his free left hand and clenched it into a fist.
'Corpse Explosion!'
A chain of deafening booms rang out, and the zombies' remains rained down.
"Oh my! Do be careful, Simon."
Serne elegantly unfolded an umbrella she'd produced from somewhere, and the zombie debris pattered down onto it.
"It would've gotten all dirty."
'...She's got way too much composure.'
Serne had several feathers stuck to her back and was fluttering along lightly. Whether she'd altered her weight or not, she floated in midair on the umbrella alone.
"By the way, Serne! Do you remember roughly what floor we're on?"
Simon asked as he swung the Sword of Ruin. Three zombies leaping at him were cleaved apart all at once.
"Fifteenth floor."
Kajan answered instead, darting from railing to railing with beast-like movements, his claws flashing. Zombies were torn apart like sheets of paper, one after another.
"And Sasha's hospital room was on the thirty-seventh."
"We're not even halfway there? How dreadful~"
At Serne's gesture, her feathers shot off like homing arrows and punched into the zombies' heads, one after another. The limp bodies crashed through the windows and fell outside.
[Kraaagh! Hidden Card Punch!!]
Prince's fist came flying down, and a shockwave of brutal force swept out, blasting away every descending zombie.
[Hey! Something about this is definitely off!]
Prince said, lowering his fist.
[Zombies keep pouring in from above, over and over!]
Kajan nodded.
"Someone seems to be bringing zombies in from outside through some kind of portal."
Simon's expression hardened. He didn't know who was behind it, but they clearly didn't want his group climbing any higher.
"Then we'd better move faster."
Whoosh!
His formless cloak flaring, Simon planted one foot on a railing.
"Everyone, pick up the pace!"
[Faster than THIS? That's insane!]
"You know what, Prince?"
Simon turned to look back at him.
He raised his right hand, swept his sweat-damp bangs back in the most stylish gesture he could manage, and flashed a brilliant smile. A bead of sweat caught the light and sparkled.
"Heroes only grow stronger the more they're tested."
[!!]
Prince's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
His whole body trembled with a shiver, as if the very concept had never once crossed his mind.
[Those words just now...!]
Prince clenched both fists and stomped on the railing.
[SO COOL!!]
Then he straightened his bent knees and, without warning, charged alone into the horde of zombies.
[HERO!]
Prince's right fist, wreathed in Jet-Black, sent the descending zombies flying with a roar of displaced air.
[I!]
His left followed, thundering once more and knocking the zombies back.
[GROW STRONGERRR!]
Watching Prince sprint along the railings at full power, obliterating every zombie in his path, Serne tilted her head.
"What's gotten into that little brat?"
Simon, only now feeling the embarrassment creep up on him, cleared his throat.
"...Prince just happens to like that sort of thing."
Thanks to Prince, the remaining three were able to ascend the spiral staircase in relative comfort, mopping up only the stragglers.
Prince shouted himself hoarse, his face glowing with exhilaration.
[Simon! You were right!!]
Then he swept his bangs back with his right hand, just as Simon had done, striking a pose that hid his face except for his eyes.
[I really do think I'm getting stronger the more I'm tested!]
Serne called out at the top of her voice.
"Wooow~ How magnificent, Sir Hero!"
Prince's face flushed red at that. He gave a great snort, bellowed 'Leave it to me!', and swept away the incoming zombies.
"This is how it's done, yes?"
Serne lowered her hand and said with perfect composure. Simon gave a wry smile.
"...Y-you're doing great."
"I suppose it's true what they say — Ancient Undead really are the most mysterious beings in the world."
And so, thanks to Prince's heroic performance, they made it up to the thirtieth floor.
The thirtieth floor had a ceiling; to climb any higher, they would need to take a staircase on a different route.
[Haaah! Hahh! Hff!]
Prince lay sprawled on the floor, gasping for breath.
"You okay?"
"That was magnificent, Sir Hero!"
Simon and Serne fanned him eagerly from either side. The gasping Prince shot both of them a vicious glare.
[You two weren't feeding me sweet talk just to use me, were you?]
"Oh, perish the thought~"
Serne's eyes curved like a fox's.
"If only more people could have witnessed your heroic valor, my dear Prince~"
[...]
When Prince's suspicion refused to fade, she clasped her hands together and went on, sounding almost wistful.
"But it can't be helped. Fighting villains in silence, even when the citizens never know — that is the hero's sacred duty, after all."
[!!]
The switch was flipped once more, and Prince sprang to his feet.
[Mm, mm! Those words were so cool! Yes! I shall fight with all my might, whether anyone acknowledges me or not!]
Serne glanced back at Simon and winked.
'...I think she handles Prince better than I do.'
"Quiet."
Meanwhile, Kajan was gliding along with his palm sliding across the wall.
Then he stopped, and knocked lightly against it with his fist — the illusion magic melted away, revealing a huge magic circle behind it.
"Just as I expected. A circle that drags zombies from outside into the building."
Kajan gathered Jet-Black into his fist and struck, and the magic circle shattered into fragments.
"That should cut off the zombie supply. Let's go."
"Yes, sir!"
The four of them ran once more. The thirtieth floor was the passage dividing the lower levels from the upper.
From the thirty-first floor up, this was where all manner of knowledge and top-secret documents were stored. A general access-prohibited zone, open only to those whose identities could be verified.
"This way."
Kajan ran with practiced ease, guiding the three of them.
A vast, open space unfolded before them.
Warm air washed over them; trees and grasses grew inside the building as though it were a tropical region. And even this enormous space had its own floors stacked within it.
'Thirty-seventh floor.'
Simon counted the levels rapidly on his fingers. The seventh one up — that was Sasha's hospital room.
At that very moment —
[Welcome, members of the 7th Legion and Kizen.]
All four froze and glanced around wildly.
"Get down! This is—!"
Before Kajan could even finish, something white slammed into him, and with a crash! he went flying.
"Kajan!!"
-Grraaaaah.
A white zombie.
Its entire body was white, muscular, and over two meters tall. Five eyes were set into its face.
As a necromancer, Simon knew instantly that it was a zombie — but its caliber was on an entirely different level from ordinary ones.
[Can you feel it, boy?]
Just then, Pier, who had been focused on the battle, spoke up.
[That is a legionified zombie.]
"What?"
Another white zombie lunged at Serne. She drew out a feather and spread a Jet-Black shield, but was pushed steadily backward.
"Oh dear."
Serne blinked as well, seemingly startled by its power.
[Who are you?! Show yourself!]
Prince shouted.
Just then, with the sound of footsteps, someone appeared on a landing three stories up. From the linked spirit-sense of Pier, a strong hostility pulsed through.
[It was him after all!]
'Pier, do you know who that is?'
[Magnus's Ancient Undead — the Zombie Butler.]
Aside from his deathly pale skin, the Zombie Butler looked ordinary enough to be mistaken for a perfectly normal human. He wore a butler's uniform and a monocle.
Above all, there was the enormous volume of Jet-Black radiating from his entire body.
His very presence was proof enough that he was an Ancient Undead.
[A pleasure to make your acquaintance.]
He bowed politely at the waist. Simon's face hardened.
"So you're the mastermind behind all of this?"
[As you can see, yes.]
The Zombie Butler straightened his posture and continued.
[Our Legion Commander wishes to speak with the 7th Legion Commander. Will you accompany us?]
[Bullsh—]
Before Simon could say a word, Prince shot toward the Zombie Butler in an instant.
[Shut your mouth!!]
Prince's fist, trailing a massive shockwave, hurtled forward.
Thwup.
But with unearthly calm, the Zombie Butler caught Prince's fist.
[Ah!]
[So you too are an Ancient Undead derived from zombies.]
This time the Zombie Butler's left hand reached out.
[As a fellow zombie, allow me to teach you a lesson.]
FWOOOOM!
His hand punched clean through Prince's chest and out his back. Prince coughed up blood with a 'Hrk—!'
"Prince!"
Simon screamed in horror. The body of a Prince who could bat away blades and arrows bare-handed had been pierced through like it was nothing.
[Is that all? How rather disappointing.]
Just then, a black presence rose from Prince's body like a soul departing, and he reverted to the form of an ordinary zombie.
[Hm?]
FWOOOOSH!
This time, one of the new zombies Simon hurled with Overlord was flying through the air like a bullet.
KRA-BOOM! A black bolt of lightning crashed down onto that zombie.
[Kill me as many times as you like!]
The zombie transformed back into Prince's form and thrust out a fist.
[I'll just keep coming back and pummeling you!]
BLAAAM!
The Zombie Butler hastily raised his elbow and blocked the attack.
[A resurrection ability? Impressive.]
[Shut up!]
Prince twisted his hips and launched a kick, but even that the Zombie Butler deflected with ease.
[Give Akemus back!!]
[Akemus?]
[The one who was supposed to join our Legion from the start!]
[Ah.]
The Zombie Butler stepped back with a smile.
[You mean the Ancient Undead of the 7th Legion. I'm terribly sorry, but that won't be possible. He is one of the 5th Legion now.]
Having said this, the Zombie Butler sighed.
[The loyalty he holds toward a Legion that was disbanded once already — it is remarkable, and he simply refuses to obey.]
[What did you do to Akemus!]
[We have him imprisoned and under torture. Until he pledges his loyalty to Lord Magnus.]
At those words, a demonic fury flickered in Prince's eyes. He roared and charged.
"Your opponent is not me."
Snap!
The Zombie Butler flicked his fingers, and white zombies suddenly erupted from the floor, fists flying.
With a crack!, Prince's body was sent flying dozens of meters.
KRA-KOOM!
Prince smashed into a nearby fountain. But out of the darkness of the wreckage, Prince's eyes gleamed.
[This should be enough!]
Prince activated his crown's power, attempting to seize control of the white zombies.
But —
[I-it's not working?]
[You too possess the power to command zombies. But it will not work on these.]
The Zombie Butler smiled.
[The White Demons are elite soldiers I created myself, and they obey my commands alone.]
Those white zombies were undeniably strong. Kajan was locked in a near-even battle with one, and even Serne had been seized by another.
[Now then, 7th Legion Commander.]
The Zombie Butler turned his gaze back to Simon.
[Let me make the offer once more. Come meet our Legion Commander.]
"I refuse."
Simon said coldly.
"Unless I've lost my mind, there's no reason for me to face that man."
[What a pity.]
He snapped his fingers.
[I regret resorting to such measures.]
"...!"
Simon's eyes widened. Someone was approaching down the shadow-drowned corridor.
A necromancer in a crow robe — and beside him, an unconscious girl hung suspended in the air, bound by ropes of Jet-Black.
"Sasha!!"
[The girl whose life you risked your own to save in the Neutral Zone. If you wish to save this girl's life—]
The Zombie Butler extended his hand.
[Disarm yourself and come here.]
Simon bit his lip until it bled.
"Wait a moment! Simon!"
Serne shouted as she fought off the white zombie.
"Get a hold of yourself! You're not seriously going for some brat's sake, are you?"
[Of course—]
The Zombie Butler snapped his fingers a third time.
Thud.
Thud. Thud.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
White zombies revealed themselves on every floor. Their number alone easily exceeded twenty.
Prince and Kajan hardened their faces and stumbled back a step.
[Even if you abandon this girl and fight, you have no chance of victory. We have an active Crow on our side, after all.]
As if to prove the point, Evangelos grinned smugly.
[The barrier spread over the Glass Tower prevents you from calling for outside help. Now then, my final offer. Disarm yourself and come here.]
"..."
Simon closed his eyes and sank into thought.
After that long, long deliberation, Simon opened his eyes.
Clang!
He dropped the Sword of Ruin to the floor.
"Fine. I'll do it."
[Boy!]
When Simon severed the spirit-link with Pier, the Bone Armour covering Simon's body dismantled itself and clattered to the ground.
"Simon! Think rationally!"
Kajan shouted as he blocked the white zombie's attack. Simon kept his mouth firmly shut and walked, step by step, toward the Zombie Butler.
[Excellent. So you were someone one could reason with after all.]
The Zombie Butler smiled.
[Hey, you idiot!!]
Prince screamed and lunged for Simon, but a white zombie cut him off midway, its fist sending him flying.
[If you come alone, I guarantee the lives of all your companions. Now, this way.]
The distance between Simon and the Zombie Butler shrank. And with every step, the Zombie Butler's smile deepened.
[Yes. Just a little more, just a little more—!]
"You know what, though?"
As he drew close, Simon let slip a faint smile.
"Don't you think this is all a bit too easy?"
GUOOOOM!
In that instant, the Zombie Butler felt his breath catch in his throat. A monstrous pressure had seized his neck out of nowhere.
[!]
Somewhere along the way, his neck had been cinched tight by a black, cord-like thing.
No — not just his neck. His entire body was bound in the cords.
[Aaah~]
A chill ran up the Zombie Butler's spine. Evangelos, the corners of his mouth curved like a demon's, was binding him in black threads.
[D-don't tell me you've betrayed us?! Evangelos!]
[Betrayed?]
A voice, warped and distorted, came from Evangelos's lips.
[From the very beginning, I was never on your si—]
Fssshhhk.
Half of Evangelos's face crumbled away.
The other half was a woman's face.
[I was never on your side at all.]
The Zombie Butler's expression froze, dead serious.
'...It's a trap!'
It had never been Evangelos. That presence was, without a doubt, an Ancient Undead.
[NICE, ERZSÉBET!!]
Prince screamed in delight.
The Zombie Butler hastily surged Jet-Black through his whole body, trying to tear free —
Thap!
Simon closed the distance at a terrifying speed. The Bone Armour lying on the floor flew to him in a flash and fitted itself over his body, and moments later the Sword of Ruin was in his hand.
And then —
FWOOOOM!
The Sword of Ruin, which halted all regeneration, buried itself deep in the Zombie Butler's abdomen.
[G-gyaaaaaaaargh!]
The Zombie Butler let out a scream of agony. Simon turned his head.
"You can stop acting now."
At those chilling words —
CRASH!
CLANG!
Kajan crushed a white zombie's face with his elbow, and Serne beheaded another with her feather-blade.
[...Impossible!]
The Zombie Butler said, trembling with pain.
[Since when did you know?!]
"Not long, actually. But that's not the point."
Simon began examining the magic circle drawn across the Zombie Butler's body.
The Zombie Butler struggled, but at Erzsébet's flick of a finger, spider silk clamped down over his entire body, squeezing tight until he couldn't move at all.
"Found it."
Simon nicked the outer surface of the magic circle with his greatsword, then seized it and wrenched it hard to the side.
SCREEEEECH!
The Zombie Butler howled. From the forcibly stretched magic circle, an unfamiliar pair of human eyes bulged out.
"You're watching, aren't you, Magnus?"
Simon said with a crooked smile.
"Let's make a prisoner exchange. If you want him back—"
Simon's plan, from the very beginning —
"Bring me Akemus."
— had always been to reclaim his father's Ancient Undead.