Chapter 218

(5)

8.

Unexpected appearance of Laurea.

Facing her, Kadel and Ian couldn’t hide their surprised expressions. After what felt like an eternity of not being able to speak, Laurea greeted them first.

“It’s been a while, both of you.”

She said it with a warm smile.

Regaining their composure, the two still asked in a daze, “Why is the Saintess here…?”

“Well, I received a prophecy.”

“…Huh?”

“P-prophecy?!”

Ian yelled in shock.

Laurea nodded silently.

Then, the head of the Inquisition Officer handed them a piece of pure white parchment. It was a sacred item recording the contents of the prophecy.

The contents were written as follows:

『At the edge of the Far East. From the beginning of time, the Undead who defy providence have appeared in the Forest of Life, and the world shall be shrouded in the darkness of the Abyss.』

The edge of the Far East and the Forest of Life.

Judging from these two clues, they presumed the location mentioned in the prophecy to be the Eastern Jungle.

According to records, the Eastern Jungle has existed since the dawn of the continent.

It was a vast jungle filled with various kinds of creatures, often referred to as the forest where all life began.

However, they were more concerned about something else.

Without either of them realizing it, their attention turned to the part written at the bottom of the parchment.

“The darkness of the Abyss…”

“Could it be referring to those monsters we saw at the Source of Magic last time?”

“Yes, I think so too.”

Laurea nodded at Ian’s words.

They had previously entered the Source of Magic during an exchange event with Arsen Academy.

There, they faced the Swamp Ruler and his minions, and Laurea even stepped into the Abyss at that time.

As they recalled that moment, the Commander of the Eloden Knights handed them another piece of parchment, stating it contained the latter part of the prophecy.

Kadel and Ian opened the parchment without hesitation, revealing the next contents.

『Only when all stars gather can the darkness be illuminated, oh Star’s Agent. Gather the stars that shall illuminate the Abyss in the Forest of Life and confront the Abyss.』

It was a description of how to oppose the Abyss.

First off, the Star’s Agent referred to Laurea, who received the prophecy. They quickly guessed what the stars meant as well.

“This must indicate the ‘Hero.’”

“Exactly. I interpreted it the same way.”

After the exchange event at Arsen Academy, Laurea returned to the Holy Nation and reported everything that happened at the Source of Magic.

During this process, she also relayed the existence of the ‘Hero’ she learned from Ulan and Noa. It was said that only they could stand against the Abyss.

Thus, Ian, Kadel, and others were aware of the Hero’s existence. Meanwhile, Kadel bore a somewhat concerned expression.

“But can we really gather the Heroic stars in one place? I’ve heard most of them are enrolled at Arsen Academy…”

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Laurea smiled brightly.

Then she explained the reason.

“I was planning to request cooperation from Arsen Academy, and it turns out first-year students are on a school trip around here.”

“Around here?”

“Yes, I heard they’re gathering in the border city of Flute in the Endrak Kingdom.”

“Hmm, Flute is definitely close.”

“Exactly. So, I asked the Mayor of Murka to send a letter. I sent a messenger, so they should join us soon.”

It seemed there was no need to worry as Laurea had said. Kadel nodded quietly.

As their conversation wrapped up, something suddenly caught Kadel and Ian’s attention.

“Um, Saintess.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Forgive my rudeness, but about your attire…”

They had failed to notice due to Laurea’s sudden appearance and mention of the prophecy.

It was her attire.

As a novice Saintess, Laurea was supposed to wear the black priestly robe symbolizing her status as an apprentice.

But currently, she was wearing a pure white vestment. When they showed confusion, Laurea soon smiled and replied.

“Ah, you two probably wouldn’t know.”

After nodding a few times in silence, she revealed the reason.

“Ever since I received the prophecy directly, I’ve been officially recognized as a Saintess. That’s why my outfit changed.”

“…!”

“So let me greet you again.”

Kadel and Ian, still stunned, looked at her in disbelief as Laurea gently held up her white skirt and smiled sweetly while bowing.

“I am Laurea Ro Sharvel, the Saintess of Eloden. I hope to have your support from now on.”

She had officially become a Saintess.

This meant a lot. It meant she gained equal qualifications to the Saint King, the highest authority in the Holy Nation.

“Please forgive our rudeness.”

Realizing this, Kadel and Ian simultaneously knelt and bowed their heads.

“Your knight, Kadel Dun Shanktus, greets the Saintess of Eloden.”

“We greet the Saintess of Eloden.”

“Hahaha, there’s no need for formalities! Nothing has changed except for my outfit!”

Laurea awkwardly giggled at their sudden change in demeanor. Once everything settled, her expression turned serious.

“By the way, I apologize for asking you both to move immediately after you’ve traveled such a long distance, but could we start now to fulfill the prophecy?”

“Of course, Saintess.”

“We’ll carry out the instructions right away!”

No sooner had their answers finished when the commander of the Eloden Knights and the Inquisition Officer, who had been waiting behind, charged out through the door.

“Hurry to prepare for departure!”

“We’re heading to Shulfern!”

With the Saintess’s orders, there was nothing to hesitate about. As everyone rushed to prepare for departure, Laurea silently gazed at the northern sky.

The prophecy and the army of the Undead.

Not to mention, the darkness of the Abyss, etc.

One would normally be concerned in such a tense atmosphere, but Laurea’s expression was surprisingly bright.

The reason was simple.

‘I can meet them again now.’

A smile appeared on her face as she thought of the person she missed, Ulan, the Barbarian from Arsen Academy.

And that afternoon, the elite forces of the Holy Nation, including Saintess Laurea, departed from Murka, heading north.

9.

The heart of the Eastern Jungle.

In this place, where a heavy silence lingered, massive magic roared like a torrent. It was a powerful dark magic from the Abyss they had never experienced before.

As soon as they faced it.

Estelle Autra, the leader of the Abyss Worshippers, trembled her body.

‘This is…’

Lord of the Immortals, the number one ruler among immortals.

The true power of Astevan.

Infinitely stronger than Rakus, whom they served, Estelle swallowed hard.

Shortly after Astevan appeared, she reminisced about everything that happened until now.

‘A lot happened in half a day.’

As Astevan surveyed the Eastern Jungle, he quickly muttered that they lacked troops and then vanished into smoke, seemingly swallowed by the ground.

Immediately, the dark magic that filled the forest disappeared without a trace. Just as they were bewildered by this inexplicable situation, the Undead emerged unexpectedly.

From the damp ground, hundreds and thousands of Undead revealed themselves.

All kinds of corpses buried in the Eastern Jungle had transformed into Undead soldiers, drawn by the power of the Abyss. That wasn’t the only surprising thing.

‘Each soldier possesses powers and magic equal to at least a junior knight.’

Thanks to the enhanced dark magic scattered by Astevan, the number of soldiers rivaling that of thousands of junior knights had now appeared.

Adding to that the Undying minions and the beasts living in the jungle, they could easily turn any kingdom to ruin.

‘If I could continuously create troops of this scale…’

Not only could they turn Shulfern into ruins, but they could also wage war against nations in the kingdom alliance and even the Holy Nation.

Estelle’s eyes gleamed with expectation.

Just as she finished reflecting, the Undying minions, who had briefly disappeared, reappeared. They bowed their heads at Astevan’s feet and spoke.

【We report to the great king.】

【The army of death has occupied the fortress.】

The Undying army created by Astevan.

They had already breached the borders of the kingdom alliance after being expelled from the jungle and had achieved the remarkable feat of reviving the soldiers guarding the fortress as Undead.

【Then, my king.】

【Please give the next order.】

With treacherous gleams in their eyes, Astevan faced the minions, speaking in a voice dripping with desire.

【Increase the number of troops even further.】

【What do you mean?】

【Annihilate all living beings in this jungle and adjacent lands, and join them to the Undying army.】

The moment his command was given, Estelle and the Abyss Worshippers’ eyes widened like startled rabbits.

This meant a not only an invasion of Shulfern but also other kingdoms.

“Wait a moment!”

“That isn’t what was agreed upon with Lord Rakus…”

Several worshippers spoke hastily.

However, they couldn’t finish their sentences.

Their heads exploded as they interrupted the conversation.

“…!?”

The headless corpses, spewing dark red blood, collapsed helplessly to the ground, followed by angry shouts from the Undying minions.

【That decision lies with our king.】

【Not with some worthless eyeballs!】

【You’re still breathing because the king has shown mercy upon you!】

After a round of rebukes.

Including Estelle, the Abyss Worshippers bowed their heads in silence.

At the same time, they realized.

Something was going horribly wrong.

【Charge forth.】

Astevan issued the command in a dry tone.

In accordance with his orders, the Undying minions and Undead soldiers began to move in perfect unison, exiting the jungle.

And at that moment.

They weren’t the only ones reacting to the unexpected situation. Rakus’s minions scattered all over the jungle also sensed the anomaly.

They remembered every action and word of Astevan and the Undying as they conveyed it to their king.

Not missing a single detail.

10.

And at that moment.

In the basement of Count Dermore’s mansion.

A dirt puppet scattered in the dark space began to stir and rise.

Soon, as the puppet’s eyes glowed a reddish hue, Count D’muehl Ron Dermore, who had been waiting, politely bowed his head.

“Welcome, my lord.”

The Lord of the Abyss, the howling eyes of Rakus.

D’muehl welcomed him, promptly bringing up the matter at hand.

“Is there any progress in the plan?”

“Hmm, I feel we’ll cross the line soon.”

Rakus nodded.

Where he had just come from was the Imperial Castle of the Rubens Empire.

To fulfill the ambitions craved by the next Emperor, Chartang, and to turn him into an Apostle of the Abyss like D’muehl.

“As expected from you, my lord.”

Perhaps due to the talk of the plan going smoothly?

A smile appeared on D’muehl’s face. He then muttered with a hint of scorn.

“It’s hard to understand how someone who is about to become the ruler of the empire still craves something.”

“It’s not strange at all. Human greed is endless, both then and now.”

Rakus cackled darkly.

As if similar events had occurred in the past. Just as their conversation wrapped up.

Suddenly, characters were etched into the walls of the basement. The dark letters. It was news sent by the minions who had headed for the Eastern Jungle.

“This is…”

As Rakus confirmed the content of the message, his eyes narrowed. D’muehl sensed something was amiss and cautiously spoke.

“What is it?”

“It seems Astevan has broken the promise.”

The Lord of the Immortals, Astevan.

Mentioning his name, Rakus frowned. Then, looking at the inquisitive D’muehl, he interpreted the content of the message to explain it.

“In addition to Shulfern, which we originally planned to invade, he intends to attack all kingdoms adjacent to the Eastern Jungle.”

“…Huh?”

D’muehl asked, dazedly.

He was left with a blank expression. In contrast, Rakus showed a calm reaction, having frowned just initially.

D’muehl panicked and shouted.

“That, that’s a huge problem! This completely goes against the plans you set, my lord!”

“No, everything is proceeding as planned.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Astevan’s commitment to cooperate with me, and breaking that promise are all part of the plan.”

The return was an entirely incomprehensible answer.

Struggling to understand, D’muehl wore a perplexed expression. Rakus seemed to catch onto this and chuckled softly.

“You won’t understand right away, so just watch in silence. Once the great battle concludes, you’ll finally comprehend my intentions.”

After delivering his answer, he turned his gaze.

To where the Eastern Jungle exists.

Soon, a red glow flashed in his eyes. Like the eyes of a hyena lurking in darkness, waiting for an opportunity.

Chapter 51. Unexpected Reinforcements