Chapter 236

(1)

1.

Agent Calex.

Ulan, having finished off all the Undying Minions with the last being the very last one, silently stared at the Ashen Remains fluttering in the air.

“……”

This makes it the second time.

The first was eliminating the Lord of the Abyss, the Frost Dragon, and now, for the second time, he’s accomplished something he hadn’t in his past life.

Yet, there was no particular thrill.

Sure, it was the first time he had taken out twelve minions, but that didn’t mean the enemy was gone.

‘Lord of the Immortals.’

Astevan Urvathra Mordem.

Ulan recalled this character and gazed intently at the heart of the jungle. He felt like moving at that moment, but there was something he needed to do first.

‘I need Noa’s advice.’

The Lord of the Immortals was an unknown entity to Ulan. He’d never faced him head-on in his past life.

On the other hand, Noa was different.

She had lived through this world’s events dozens, if not hundreds, of times. So she must have a good understanding of Astevan.

“So what’s the plan?”

Just then, Sven, who had arrived close by, asked for Ulan’s opinion. With that, Ulan broke free from his thoughts and immediately shared his thoughts.

“First, I’ll regroup with the others.”

“Got it.”

Nodding obediently,

Sven took out a Signal Flare and shot it off. It was the same Signal Flare he received from Milena last time.

Some time later.

With the center of the jungle almost upon them, the rest of their party who had been outside gathered in one place.

2.

Meanwhile, at that time.

A figure arrived at the deserted Arsen Academy, which was empty due to the school trip schedule.

A middle-aged mage in a brown robe.

He seemed to have no interest in anything else but walked in a singular direction. Towards the Source of Magic at the center of the academy.

Normally, one would need the administrator’s permission to enter the Source of Magic, but he was an exception.

Because he was the newly appointed administrator of this place.

“We have arrived, my lord.”

D’muehl Ron Dermore.

Newly appointed as the head of the Magic Department, replacing the missing Diplyn Cernio.

As soon as D’muehl finished speaking, the mud doll resting on his shoulder started to squirm and move. It was a clone of Rakus, the Lord of the Abyss.

“Then let’s start the investigation.”

“Yes, understood.”

The reason the two were here was simple.

To find out why one of the Lords of the Abyss, the Phantom Knights, were subdued. Just as they were looking around Zone 5 for a while.

“What is this…….”

Rakus, sitting on D’muehl’s shoulder, suddenly jumped down. After wandering around for a while, D’muehl casually asked.

“Did you find something?”

“A trace of a spirit.”

“Huh? A spirit?”

D’muehl asked in surprise.

It was no wonder. Spirits were beings that had vanished hundreds of years ago, truly the stuff of legends.

“……My blunder. I didn’t expect the Seventh Star to have found its way here already.”

Rakus frowned slightly.

Thinking of the Seventh Star, the bard who manipulates spirit arts, he clicked his tongue low.

But his regret didn’t last long. A moment later, he swiftly turned his body, as if shaking off any lingering thoughts.

“But it’s too late to pick up the spilled water; for now, we can only be satisfied with confirming the existence of the Seventh Star.”

After accomplishing their goal in Zone 5, they departed the Source of Magic, returning to the mansion. Of course, having left no traces behind.

After quite some time had passed.

A letter was delivered to D’muehl upon returning to the mansion. A letter without an indicated sender.

However, it had a strange magical scent.

The magic of the Abyss.

“This letter is…….”

“Did it come from a worshipper?”

“It seems so.”

D’muehl opened the letter immediately.

Upon seeing the handwriting inside, he quickly realized who the sender was. The leader of the worshippers, Estelle Autra.

“What does it say?”

“Hmm, it says that the Abyss Worshippers and their minions have escaped safely from the jungle.”

Along with that, the detailed events that occurred in the jungle were written. In a low tone, D’muehl began to read the contents of the letter.

From trivial matters to significant ones.

Moments later, after conveying all the news, D’muehl muttered with a slightly puzzled look.

“By the way, that’s a bit unexpected.”

“What part?”

“I didn’t think heroes would be strong enough to take out the Undying Minions.”

The most shocking news in the letter was that all of the Undying Minions had been eliminated.

Each Minion was powerful enough to be compared to a Master or High Mage, so D’muehl’s surprise was even greater.

“Your guess wasn’t wrong. Except for the ‘variables’ that ■■ mentioned, the other heroes aren’t that strong.”

On the other hand, Rakus murmured as if unbothered. As if he’d known this would happen all along.

Just as Rakus finished his reply.

Suddenly, D’muehl cautiously spoke up.

“Um, my lord.”

“Hmm?”

“If it’s not rude, may I ask what that entity you mentioned earlier is?”

The entity Rakus occasionally referred to as ‘■■.’

It was evident that it referred to a specific target, but D’muehl couldn’t understand what that was.

Having never heard that term before.

“I see. I suppose I never mentioned it before.”

Meanwhile, Rakus nodded to D’muehl’s question. As if he didn’t mind at all. He then readily provided an answer.

“It is the Abyss itself.”

“Huh? Does that mean……?”

“A being that has existed since the dawn of the Abyss. Moreover, it is the one who created the Six Lords of the Abyss.”

“……!?”

D’muehl’s eyes widened.

He had only thought it was one of the hidden Lords of the Abyss, but what flowed out was a story much grander than that.

And there was one more reason he couldn’t help but be surprised.

“That’s like……!”

“Yeah, very similar to a Divine Being.”

Divine Being. In other words, the god of this world.

An existence that has been here since the beginning, omnipotent, and even created beings to live on this star.

There were many similarities between what Rakus had just described as ■■. As D’muehl’s gaze wavered like a candle in the wind.

“However, all I can say is up to this point. I didn’t receive permission to mention anything beyond that.”

Rakus added.

D’muehl, on the other hand, had no intention of asking further.

He had realized that it was an immensely grand story he could hardly handle.

After their conversation drew to a close.

“In any case, getting back to the point, Astevan is still in the jungle, right?”

“Yes, he’s said to be lingering in the ruins.”

“Then at least this time we should cheer for the heroes. For the sake of our plans.”

Rakus let out a sinister smile.

It was a smile with strange motives.

3.

The party, gathered closer to the heart of the jungle, took a moment of rest before the decisive battle.

No, it would be more accurate to say they were re-equipping.

Delia, having spent massive amounts of magic burning the forest, focused on recovering her magic, while the others were busy maintaining their weapons.

Noa was no exception.

While organizing the talismans to be used in battle, she suddenly felt someone approaching.

A familiar sound of footsteps. It was Ulan.

“Noa.”

“Yes?”

“Have you ever fought Astevan?”

“Hmm, if you mean purely in terms of fighting, then a few times, yes.”

Of course, she had never won once.

Noa confessed with an awkward expression. However, Ulan asked again without caring.

“Good. Then share your advice.”

“Huh? Advice?”

“I mean, tell me about Astevan’s special powers or things to be cautious of.”

“Ah, if it’s about that…….”

I can tell you plenty.

Nodding her head, Noa took a moment to organize her thoughts and then held out three fingers.

“He has three powers.”

The power to turn corpses into Undead, the power to create mazes, and the power of immortality.

However, among the three powers, since he already knew the first two mentioned, Ulan immediately voiced his confusion about the third power.

“What’s the power of immortality?”

“It’s the ability to not die, quite literally.”

It was a troublesome power even in the original work.

No matter what method was used, they couldn’t kill Astevan.

So much so, that the only thought was to either toss him back into the Abyss or seal him away.

“So you’re saying there’s no way to eliminate him?”

“Based on my experience, yes.”

“That means…….”

“From several clues discovered in the original work, I’ve made a guess. It’s the key that can grant Astevan eternal rest.”

A key that could grant eternal rest.

In other words, that meant a way to eliminate the Lord of the Immortals. Ulan couldn’t hold back his eagerness and urged for a response.

“What is it?”

“The Star’s Agent.”

The star means the Divine Being.

Only two exist who can act as the Divine Being. The Saint King and the Saintess of Eloden. One of them is currently here.

Ulan nodded as if he understood.

“So Laurea is the key to victory.”

“Exactly. More precisely, we need the divine authority of the star granted only to a formal Saintess.”

The power bestowed only to the Saint King and the Saintess.

If they could use the divine authority of the star to strike at Astevan’s source, they could surely deliver him to his end.

Upon hearing the clue for resolution, Ulan’s tense expression finally eased. He felt a little of the frustrating feeling dissipating.

“I see. Got it. I’ll remember that for the fight.”

“Yes, I’ll let you know right away if I think of any other points to be cautious about.”

After finishing their conversation.

The two joined the rest of the party.

Delia’s magic had been replenished to a decent extent, so they were about to advance into the heart of the jungle.

Just then, Sven suddenly spoke up.

“So who will take command?”

“Command?”

“Do we really need that?”

“Of course. When facing multiple enemies, no one knows how the situation will change.”

Let alone Astevan, who is the Lord of the Immortals.

A monster that could create an Undead army any time there are corpses around. So it’s always wise to pre-select a commander.

“Uh, in that case…….”

As soon as Sven finished speaking, all eyes turned, without anyone saying otherwise, towards one person.

The strongest individual among the assembled party here, Ulan. Meanwhile, Ulan’s gaze was directed entirely elsewhere.

“Then I recommend Noa.”

“……Huh?”

A sudden nomination.

Noa turned to Ulan with a startled expression. Before she could resolve her confusion, someone else had already asked a question.

It was Kadel.

“Can you explain why?”

“I simply judged that for this particular occasion, Noa would be more suitable than me.”

Ulan answered without hesitation.

On the other hand, Kadel seemed unable to fully understand, ready to ask again. Just then, Laurea, who had been quiet, spoke up.

“Well, if it’s Ulan, then it makes sense that he would fight up front, so it’s a bit off to put him in charge.”

“That’s right. Ulan always fights at the front.”

Ivella nodded as well.

While fighting in the front has the advantage of perceiving the flow of battle, conversely, there isn’t much room to oversee the conditions of the rest of the party.

“I think it would be fine if it was Noa.”

Delia added her input.

Because they had received help from Noa in various situations, they were easily able to agree with Ulan’s decision.

“I’m all for Ulan’s decision!”

With a smiling face, Fertisha supported Ulan.

Following her, Ian and Sven expressed no opposing opinions either. Kadel then set aside his doubts and took a step back.

After receiving unanimous agreement.

Ulan looked back at Noa once more.

“Seems settled, I’m counting on you.”

“Aha, I’ll do my best to meet your expectations.”

Noa smiled awkwardly.

She never thought she would take command of the heroes. So she felt a bit strange about it.

But that was just for a moment.

Lightly patting her cheeks, she quickly got to the point. To explain the plans for Astevan’s subjugation.

Chapter 54. Lord of the Immortals