Wait, What Did You Just Say?
It was easy to tell that some kind of misunderstanding had arisen. Yoahim stepped back in bewilderment.
Ash Dragon Bellrallion. As far as he remembered, that was the name of the boss monster in the Twilight Citadel dungeon located in the Shadow Mountains. As a dragon, it was a powerhouse at level 200, and it was popular for dropping legendary items like the Ashen Pauldrons and Dragon Scale Armor.
"The lord of the Shadow Mountains, the rightful master of the Twilight Citadel, and the first disciple of Kakali—the Ash Dragon Bellrallion…."
"No, before that."
"A follower of Kakali and a prophet who awakened on his own, wielder of magic who commands subspace at will, and one with ashen hair and black eyes."
Leon dutifully repeated what he'd said earlier. Listening to that voice, Yoahim realized why Leon had mistaken him for Bellrallion.
First, the appearance. It was common for dragons to take on human forms that echoed their true bodies. In the actual game, Bellrallion's human form had ashen hair and black eyes too.
And the aura of the evil god. Bellrallion was one of the top five most powerful followers of Kakali. The nonsense Yoahim had spouted to Sasha had sparked this ridiculous misunderstanding.
Next, the magic. This was the biggest issue. Few could cast spells mid-close combat. And Yoahim had fired off magic without any incantation. Sure, it was thanks to an item's skill, but to an outsider, it must've looked like the work of a master mage at the pinnacle of their art.
On top of that, the use of subspace. After hurling Leon backward, Yoahim had pulled the oak staff from his inventory. It was just the game system at work, but to Leon or Sasha, it would've seemed like manipulating subspace.
Subspace is something only a mage on Lilith's level can handle.
Storing items in subspace and pulling them out freely was the domain of grand mages or dragons. In other words, it made perfect sense for Leon and Sasha to mistake Yoahim for Bellrallion.
"Look, I get what the mix-up is, but I'm not Bellrallion. Just a mercenary named Yoahim."
"I've heard tales of supreme beings who occasionally hide their forms and wander the world."
"No, really, I'm not."
"Even if we knew, it would be our place to play along. I understand your desire to fully enjoy this rare diversion. Then, to ensure your amusement, we'll pretend nothing happened, Lord Bellrallion."
This was driving him insane. Yoahim let out a sigh, startling Sasha, who bowed her head.
"Forgive us, Lord Bellrallion. It must displease you for lowly creatures like us to utter your name so casually."
Sasha glanced at Leon, who nodded and said, "If you wish, we'll call you Yoahim."
It didn't seem like this absurd misunderstanding would clear up anytime soon. Yoahim decided to just let them believe whatever they wanted. They weren't going to stick around long anyway—once this commission ended, they'd part ways, misunderstanding or not.
"Lord Yoahim, shall we go then?"
A remarkably deferential voice tickled his ear. Yoahim nodded with an ambiguous expression.
Sandwiched between Leon and Sasha, he walked into the cave, wondering if this was really okay.
"Enemies! Lord Yoahim! Fall back—we'll handle them!"
As they ventured deeper, ghouls poured out just like before. About ten of them this time.
Leon and Sasha drew their weapons and assumed combat stances to shield Yoahim. Watching their movements, Yoahim shook his head.
"No, let's fight like before."
"We can't allow that, Lord Yoahim. How could a supreme being stoop to face such lowly foes personally?"
No, I need the EXP. Yoahim swallowed those words silently, stowed his mace in his inventory, and drew his sword instead. Leon let out an impressed "Ooh" at the sight of the inventory.
"I'm a mercenary here to explore these ruins with you. I'm just doing my part."
"Indeed… Impressive. Then we'll fight together. It's the greatest honor to battle alongside a supreme being."
Think whatever you want. Yoahim gripped his sword and stomped the ground with a loud thud.
"Come at me!"
His booming shout drew the ghouls' attention perfectly. While Yoahim held the front line and kept their eyes on him, Leon and Sasha each took down one. At level 50, they dispatched the level 40 ghouls with ease.
Whenever Leon looked like he might get swarmed, Yoahim sniped the ghouls with Magic Missile to save him. Each time, Leon gazed at him with deep admiration, which was starting to feel burdensome.
Yoahim's party felled the ghouls and pressed on. The ruins were labyrinthine—they looped back on themselves at times or had to backtrack when they realized they'd taken a wrong path. Skeletons, ghouls, and zombies harassed them along the way.
But they couldn't kill Yoahim's group, who stuck faithfully to their roles. If anything, the undead just became EXP for Yoahim.
Yoahim had been level 27 when they first cleared the ghouls, gaining 2 levels from that. Exploring the ruins netted him 3 more. Now at level 32—a remarkably fast pace.
If things go well, I could hit 35 here.
He wanted to settle in and farm forever. This was the quickest he'd leveled since getting trapped in the game.
These two would probably stick around if I asked for more hunting.
With Leon and Sasha mistaking him for Bellrallion, showing fanatical loyalty—they'd probably agree without complaint if he said they should hunt more.
Yoahim cleared his throat with a hem and said, "Leon, Sasha. Let's circle this area a bit more before we go."
"May I ask why?"
"This place was once a temple to Kakali, but now it's defiled by vile necromancers. As servants of the god, isn't it our duty to cleanse it? We should exterminate every last rat—that's the righteous path."
Yoahim mimicked Bellrallion's speech from the game, putting on a stern facade. Glancing at Leon and Sasha, he saw Sasha nodding vigorously, her face flushed.
"Wise words indeed! As expected of the one first anointed by the god. I, Sasha, am in awe!"
Seemed the act had landed. Yoahim kept up the stern act and nodded.
"Then let's clean the god's nest. For Kakali!"
"For Kakali!"
"For Kakali!"
Shouting Kakali's name, the three hunted down every undead hiding in the cave, granting them true death. Yoahim's level rose rapidly in the process.
With each level, he felt his movements changing. His steps grew lighter—he could move fast despite the heavy armor. He didn't tire easily; no matter how intensely he fought, he never got winded. And his already formidable strength surged further. Now he could take on enemies of similar level with a single punch.
"The last one."
Having scoured the vast ruins and wiped out every undead, Yoahim stabbed his sword into the final ghoul's head. His level rose again, hitting 35.
Alone, he couldn't have leveled this fast. Glancing at Leon and Sasha resting nearby, Yoahim thought, They'd be useful to keep around. If I asked them to come with me, they probably would.
But no. Yoahim shook his head. They followed him because they thought he was Bellrallion. The longer the tail, the sooner it'd get stepped on. It wouldn't take long for the truth to come out. He was far too weak compared to the real Bellrallion, after all.
Shame, but we part after this commission. Still, I've gained a lot already.
Decision made, Yoahim said to the resting pair, "Only the necromancer left now. Short break, then we finish it."
Leon and Sasha nodded and rested. They bandaged minor wounds, chewed healing herbs, and recovered.
Yoahim checked his gear, preparing for the necromancer fight.
After about thirty minutes, Leon stood.
"We should be good to go. Drag it out too long, and the necromancer might flee."
Yoahim nodded, and the three moved for the final battle. Having searched every nook, they knew where the necromancer was: the plaza at the ruins' deepest end.
As they neared the plaza, Yoahim felt breathing grow harder. A malevolent aura thickened the air, choking him. Even as a Dark Knight, he grimaced at the foul energy.
This necromancer might be stronger than I thought.
Yoahim tensed and took another step. The plaza was close now. Leon and Sasha's steps grew heavier, more cautious. They sensed it instinctively too.
The necromancer was strong. Maybe stronger than them.
Yet they didn't stop. They had a mission. Serving an evil god and holding to faith amid persecution took extraordinary resolve. For Kakali's return, Leon and Sasha were ready to stake their lives.
That resolve moved their legs. And as they stepped into the plaza—
"These vermin refuse to die and have finally crawled into my domain."
A chilling voice. Yoahim looked up at the ruins' overlord.
Tall and gaunt, clad in black robes with a hood shadowing his face. Beneath it, purple eyes gleamed like burning flames. In his hand, a long bone—some creature's, ending in finger bones clutching a green gem in a skeletal grip.
Up to there, he'd seem like any black mage or necromancer.
"You know no fear. To know no fear is to have never felt it. Come—I shall teach you fear. You have yet to know true death!"
What set this necromancer apart was his hands. The right was skeletal but had some flesh clinging. The left was pure bone. And it wasn't just the hands—his whole body was a patchwork of flesh and bone.
"Hear my name! I am Delion, the necromancer who slays and rules!"
A boom echoed as wind erupted from Delion's body. Fighting the gale that threatened to hurl them back, Sasha shouted,
"This is bad! He's using a relic to try becoming a lich!"
"Sharp one! But too late. You can't stop me!"
Kuhahaha! Delion laughed maniacally.
"Fool. Think becoming a lich changes anything?"
Leon advanced a step against the wind. Delion cut his laughter short and asked,
"Oh? Dark elves, eh. Born hunters and assassins. But what can you do to me? To one racing toward transcendence?!"
An overwhelming presence burst from Delion's body. Even Yoahim struggled to breathe under the pressure.
This guy's dangerous. A necromancer trying to become a lich.
"Fool. You babble without knowing your place. Your future is set."
"What? You arrogant dark elf scum! The one ignorant of their place is you! Think you can beat me?!"
"I might not beat you. But."
Leon pointed at Yoahim with a confident grin and yelled,
"Lord Ash Dragon Bellrallion can! You can't defeat a supreme being! Now, Lord Bellrallion! Show your greatness!"
"Wh-what? Bellrallion? The master of the Twilight Citadel?!"
Delion visibly panicked. Leon nodded proudly at Yoahim.
"…."
I'm fucked.
That was the only thought in his head.