Chapter 60

Lich, Albatross still gets a headache just thinking about that day.

If he had been alive, cold sweat would have trickled down his spine. The Beacon of the Sanctuary. A single beacon annihilated the massive army of corpses over ten kilometers away.

It wasn’t just a collapse in combat ability—it was total annihilation. Truly, not a single one was left; they all turned back into corpses.

“Back then, the master sought to elevate the reputation of the Underground Castle by hunting the Hero Party, aiming to rise through that. So, the strategy he employed was the Encirclement and Annihilation Formation.”

Albatross pulled out a board much larger than a typical chessboard and placed three chess pieces in the center. This was the Hero Party.

Each one was a rare talent, equivalent to a queen in chess. They could go anywhere and do anything. Even though there were only three, they were not to be underestimated.

The plan was to thoroughly surround these three with a massive army, then push them into a corner using high-level undead like Dullahans, Liches, and Death Knights to hunt them down. Elder Lich Balzac’s plan was to overwhelm the Hero Party with sheer numbers. The Underground Castle had accumulated power for hundreds of years, and unleashing it all at once would be more than enough to annihilate the Hero Party.

“But it failed.”

“Of course, it failed.”

Albatross gave a bitter smile as he looked at his disciple, Calios.

“But it wasn’t anyone’s fault.”

So, the Underground Castle didn’t underestimate the Hero Party. They poured their hearts into encircling and annihilating them. A massive army of 400,000 corpses formed the encirclement, pressing in from afar, while high-level undead like Death Knights and Liches held them in the center to prevent their escape.

Corpses don’t have infinite stamina, but they far surpass the living. If the plan had worked, the Hero Party should have withered and died there. Their corpses would have been reanimated by the Underground Castle, becoming elite undead to further strengthen the castle.

“Who could have known there would be something capable of wiping out all the chess pieces?”

No matter how many knights, pawns, or bishops there are, or even if queens cover the entire board, chess pieces can be swept away with a single hand. That’s exactly what happened that day.

Kyle merely activated the Beacon of the Sanctuary against Elder Lich Balzac, unaware of the ripple effects it would cause. But Albatross saw and heard it all.

A beacon is meant to send signals to others. Naturally, it can be seen from very far away.

The Liches and Death Knights waiting in the distance to hold the Hero Party were annihilated. Other types of undead were also purified almost simultaneously.

The 400,000-strong corpse army turned into 400,000 piles of fertilizer without even lifting a finger, enriching the land. The necromancers who witnessed this horrifying and terrifying event were left unable to think.

They simply ran for their lives. One flash of light, and their once-solid corpse army turned into corpses. What else could they do? They were already in a state of panic, with no morale left.

“So, this time, we’ll have our revenge. He’s no longer with the Hero Party.”

Albatross never directly mentioned taking revenge on Kyle.

The memory of that day remains a trauma that even now, as a Lich, hasn’t faded. It lingers deep in his chest. His heart no longer beats, but the pulsing fear within him is still alive.

“Hydra’s Venom. It has no effect on us, the already dead.”

Tilting the jade bottle he received through a messenger, Albatross slowly stood up.

“But the Hero won’t survive.”

The combination of Hydra’s Venom and the undead.

It would be truly terrifying for the living.

***

Everyone has their own journey. And through that journey, they grow. That’s why I’ve always been grateful to Yurinel.

She showed me, who lived in Pumpkin Vine Village, this vast world.

The adventures with the Hero Party broke the walls of the well for this frog, showing me rivers and lakes. I experienced so much, and my perspective grew accordingly.

“Ah…”

I thought I had grown accustomed to horrific scenes, but I couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

I had to walk carefully, lest I accidentally step on a skull. The heads of children, not even fully grown, rolled around Meso Mountain, reduced to bones.

“They didn’t even bury them or cremate them, just dumped them like this on the mountain?”

Even the Princess, who must have grown accustomed to bloodshed on the battlefield, couldn’t hide her shock. Honestly, anyone would. Mr. Layton avoided our gazes, deliberately looking away.

“It’s tradition to leave them as food for mountain beasts.”

“Even so, this is… How long have they been doing this?”

“Almost 300 years.”

“It’s a wonder the Death God hasn’t appeared sooner.”

I held my head as I looked around.

It was clear this was the birthplace of the Death God. No need to wait until tomorrow. I immediately instructed Mr. Layton to contact the Temple and show them this place.

The Death God born here had already taken his son, but that was just the beginning.

A being born from resentment. Such a thing cannot be normal.

It may seem like righteous revenge at first, but it ends in catastrophe. In fact, there’s no need to see it through to the end—it will only spread resentment across the world before being eventually vanquished.

But how many tragedies will occur before then?

It’s too dreadful to even think about.

“I tried to offer prayers for the unjustly sacrificed children, but they didn’t reach them. Baron. Do you know what you and your comrades have done? There are no more unjust children left. Only the Death God remains.”

The divine power of the Death God filling this land could be removed by me, but it would be better left to the priests of the Three God Faith. They need to know the Death God has been born.

The reason they receive offerings from the entire continent is precisely for situations like this. Holy Knights and Inquisitors may act against demons, but their fundamental purpose is to deal with the Death God.

“So, in the end, it was I who harmed my own son.”

Mr. Layton hung his head, but it was already too late.

The God took his son, and with that, the revenge was complete. Perhaps, for Mr. Layton, that was a more terrifying revenge than death itself.

“The Death God seems to have already moved far from here. It’s unclear exactly where it went, but if it reappears, something dreadful will happen.”

One should not try to understand gods with human logic. No one knows when, how, or in what form the Death God will appear.

Perhaps it will appear in the era of our children or grandchildren, long after we’ve died of old age. Or perhaps it will appear hundreds of years later.

Or maybe it will appear somewhere tomorrow.

There’s no way to predict, and all we can do is hope the Three God Faith is well-prepared. They need to know the Death God has been born as soon as possible to make those preparations easier.

“It’s me. Inform the Temple… that the Death God has appeared. Offerings? That’s not important. This is a truly serious matter, and they won’t be expecting offerings anyway. It’s fine to make offerings after this is over.”

The expression of Baron Layton, who was communicating through a magical tool, suddenly hardened.

“What? Really? Is it true? Is it confirmed? No, no. I trust you. But this… I need to report this properly. This is a truly important matter.”

“…Got it. Got it. Alright. I’ll contact you later. Damn it…!”

His hand holding the magical tool trembled. After ending the communication, he slowly turned his head to look at us with a dazed expression.

Then, he swallowed hard and slowly opened his mouth. The Princess, seeing him like this, spoke with a stern expression.

“What are you trying to say? Don’t beat around the bush, just say it quickly.”

“Princess Ardein. It would be best for you to return to the Capital as soon as possible.”

“What do you mean?”

As the Princess looked puzzled, Mr. Layton took a deep breath. Only then did he gather the courage to speak the truth.

“His Majesty the Emperor… is in a very critical condition. Most of those who have obtained the information are already waiting for the day of his passing.”

It was like a bolt from the blue. I was quite shocked myself.

So, how must the Princess, his own child, feel? She was almost trembling, visibly shaken.

Her legs were shaking so much it was visible. I couldn’t see her expression, but I could easily imagine it.

“That can’t be, that can’t be? I knew Father wasn’t well, but to deteriorate so much in just a few months?”

“I dare not explain the reason myself, but it would be best for you to return as soon as possible. Preferably right now. And Priest…”

Mr. Layton grabbed my hand tightly and expressed his gratitude.

“Truly… truly, thank you. If we had more time, I would have properly hosted you, but I didn’t expect to part so quickly, so I couldn’t prepare anything. As you said, we’ve already informed the Temple. The rest, we’ll discuss with the Three God Faith to resolve.”

“Saint… Saint!”

The Princess urgently called for me, grabbing my hand.

With desperate eyes, she quickly poured out her words. It was a rare look of panic on her face. There was no trace of calmness, and rightly so.

But I couldn’t afford to panic as well.

“Father… please help Father. He’s always loved me, even though I’ve done nothing for him. Somehow… somehow, if you can help him… if you can…”

Normally, I would have said I didn’t know. I would have said I couldn’t be sure if I could help without trying.

If the Emperor is dying, it’s likely not due to illness or a curse, but because his lifespan has run its course. As the Emperor of a nation, he would have access to the healing of the Three God Faith’s Saintess.

Even such a person cannot be saved from something as inevitable as the end of one’s natural life.

The Lord has not granted me that much. He could do it, but He doesn’t. If He had, the elders of Pumpkin Vine Village would have already rejuvenated into youth.

So, even if I go, it’s highly likely I won’t be of any help.

Before the events at House of Vlad, I would have certainly thought so.

***

Everyone has their own journey. And through that journey, they grow.

If I hadn’t come here, if I hadn’t seen the problems faced by the vampires, and if I hadn’t solved those problems with my own hands, I would have never doubted.

Perhaps, perhaps, my Lord is more special than others.

I wouldn’t have thought of that, nor would I have had the chance to.

What the Three Gods cannot do, perhaps my Lord can find an answer.

The one behind me, the one I serve, the one who watches over me, is an immensely mysterious being.

“If we can reach His Majesty before he passes.”

That’s why I could answer like this.

“Surely, I can be of help.”

“Saint…”

“Let’s go to the Capital. Together.”

I grabbed the Princess’s hand, which was shedding tears, and pulled her along. Now is not the time for this.

We must reach the Capital as soon as possible. If we arrive too late, after His Majesty has passed, no amount of my abilities will be of any use.