Book 1 Chapter 70
【70】69.
“Our mission is to investigate the abnormal situation in Fairy Forest. It’s an investigation into why undead appear.”
At Lauta’s words, Lunia raised her hand.
“I heard that even Death Knights are appearing in Fairy Forest now. Have you ever fought a Death Knight, Senior Lauta?”
“Yes.”
“Then you must have a plan for Death Knights.”
“Is there a need to make a plan for Death Knights?”
“Huh? What do you mean…?”
Lunia made a bewildered expression at Lauta’s question.
“If Death Knights really appear, we’ll have to make a plan. But.”
Lauta glanced at Leo.
“Only one person has seen a Death Knight, haven’t they?”
“Are you saying Leo made a lie?”
“He probably didn’t lie. But he must have mistaken it for another undead. Skeleton Knights can look like Death Knights, you see.”
“Even so, I think it’s right to prepare a plan for any unforeseen circumstances. It’s not that difficult to devise a strategy against Death Knights, is it?”
“The proud class representative of Seirun knows one thing but not two.”
Lauta chuckled.
“High-ranking undead like Death Knights disappear if they don’t continuously receive mana from a Necromancer. That’s why there are always demons where Death Knights are found. But this is Verkia, the capital of Elsalvekia.”
“……”
“If you’re a student of Seirun, you’d know, right? There’s a large-scale stellar magic spread around Verkia. It’s magic created by the great ancestor, Lady Luna, and demons can never approach it. Even if they do, their location is immediately detected.”
Lauta spoke as if he was certain that Death Knights would not appear.
As Lunia hesitated at his words, Leo spoke.
“A Necromancer doesn’t necessarily have to be a demon.”
“What?”
“Beings other than demons can also use dark power as much as they want.”
Hearing Leo’s words, Lauta said.
“That’s even more ridiculous. Do you think a proud Elf would do that?”
Lauta, speaking irritably, suddenly turned his body.
“Let’s stop wasting any more time and get going.”
Watching Lauta walk ahead, Kal whispered softly.
“Doesn’t his attitude seem completely different from before?”
“It must mean there’s no one else he has to pay attention to.”
Kal clicked his tongue at Leo’s words.
“I don’t really like that type.”
After a little while.
Khehehek! Kyahahaha!
A group of goblins appeared.
“Shall we see what you can do, Lumen?”
Lauta smiled and gestured at the goblins with his chin.
“Will you two take them on?”
As Leo was about to step forward, Kal said.
“Leo. Do you really need to step forward for mere goblins?”
Kal smirked and pulled out his magic staff.
“Leave these small fry to me.”
‘Kal’s combat… Come to think of it, I’ve barely seen it since the beginning of the semester.’
In Kal’s case, he had been aspiring to be a support since admission.
Because of this, even in combat classes, he mainly took on the role of supporting other students rather than being on the front lines.
In addition, his magic studies also focused on auxiliary magic or enchantment magic rather than offensive magic.
“Goblins are a piece of cake.”
Kal, who was playfully smiling and twirling a short staff between his fingers, made a mistake and dropped it.
“Ugh?”
Lunia gave an incredulous look, watching Kal frantically pick up his staff.
“Why is he so clumsy?”
Kal, who picked up his staff, grinned as he watched the goblins forming a siege.
“Alright, then, shall I show you my works?”
Kal opened a sub-space.
Along with it, weapons poured out of the sub-space.
Eiran’s eyes widened at the sight.
“Weapons…”
“Well. He specializes in alchemy magic, but.”
While Leo tilted his head, Kal unleashed his magic power.
Lauta snorted.
“Crude magic power.”
Indeed, Kal’s magic power was at the threshold of Lumen’s average.
Kal was a talented magician, but it was inevitable that he seemed lacking in Lumen, where only the best gathered.
‘But even so, Kal never gave up.’
He didn't give up because he knew his limits.
Instead, he chose to move in a different direction.
Whoosh-!
The weapons, reacting to Kal’s magic power, floated into the air.
Leo’s eyes widened slightly at the sight.
“What, it’s just simple psychokinesis magic?”
Lunia, who had been watching with a bit of interest, looked slightly deflated.
Using weapons with psychokinesis magic was a very common attack method.
“No, that’s not psychokinesis magic.”
“What?”
Kal’s weapons emitted magic power, and then the power of various attributes began to manifest.
Eiran was surprised at the sight.
“What’s happening?”
“It’s enchantment.”
“Enchantment?”
“Yes.”
Leo instantly saw through the magic Kal used.
‘He’s carved psychokinesis magic formulas into the weapons. Those magic formulas are reacting to the enchantment magic.’
Enchantment magic is a simple magic that any magician can use.
And the idea of carving psychokinesis magic formulas into weapons was also simple.
However, implementing enchantment magic with such a complex structure was difficult even for experienced magicians.
‘Were those weapons made with alchemy? Quite impressive, actually.’
“Go!”
The weapons, obeying Kal’s command, flew towards the goblins.
Weapons enchanted with diverse elemental magic streaked across the sky.
Krrug?
Kyaaah!
The goblins gasped in fright and scattered.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
But the weapons, imbued with Kal’s will, moved intricately.
The weapons quickly cut down the goblins and returned to Kal.
Kal, putting the weapons back into the sub-space, wore a smug expression.
“Hmph. How’s my trump card?”
“Kal! That’s amazing!”
Eiran shouted excitedly.
Leo was also impressed.
“Why didn’t you present this magic as your unique magic during the midterm exams?”
“It’s just using simple enchantment magic and weapons made with alchemy, so it can’t be called unique magic.”
“I think the ability to approach magic in this way alone is worthy of being called unique magic.”
“Is that so? It was just an idea that came to me as I desperately tried to create something decent.”
Kal was a magician specializing in enchantment among alchemy, which involves imbuing objects with something.
However, a simple enchanter finds it difficult to achieve great success as a magician.
‘Despite that, Kal focused on researching enchantment magic from the moment he entered school to leverage his strengths. That’s how he perfected this magic.’
“If you show it to Professor Len, he’ll praise you tremendously, you know?”
“Oh! Really? Then, will this help me survive until the second semester?”
Kal’s face brightened at Leo’s words.
No matter what anyone said, Leo’s endorsement was reliable.
Leo chuckled, watching Kal showing enthusiasm.
Lunia and Lauta also looked at Kal with surprised eyes.
“Hmph. It’s still just simple enchantment magic.”
Lauta snorted, but Lunia thought differently.
‘For someone who's at the level of our school’s lower classes to come up with such magic.’
Lunia looked at Kal with a complex expression.
“Alright, we’re moving again.”
After that, there were several more battles with monsters.
But there was no sign of any undead appearing.
“No undead are appearing, and yet Death Knights? Ridiculous.”
Lauta’s scoffing was heard.
But Leo’s face was serious.
The group had now arrived at the former entrance of Fairy Land.
The magic cast by the previous Fairy King was still intact, and outwardly, nothing seemed to have changed since a few days ago.
However…
‘The ground is cursed.’
A secret curse that only Leo, who lived through the Age of Calamity, could discern.
‘The Curse of the Dead.’
Among the many curses used by demons, this one was special.
Because it was a curse that only one person could use.
The Legion Commander of Tartaros who survived the Age of Calamity.
Erebos’ most loyal subordinate and the most terrifying being among demons.
‘The Necrolord Hel Kaiser.’
He was effectively the commander leading Tartaros.
‘He wouldn’t have moved directly.’
If Hel Kaiser had moved directly, it would be truly extraordinary.
‘Records after the Age of Calamity show that he has never moved directly even once. But it’s certain that at least a subordinate acting on his orders is here.’
He looked at the entrance of Fairy Land with a grim face.
‘Beyond this… there’s something Shilrod wants to protect.’
While Leo was lost in thought, Lunia spoke to Lauta.
“Senior Lauta. Since there’s no sign of undead, shall we return for now?”
“No. We’ll explore this surrounding area further.”
“Alright.”
“From now on, split up and explore the surrounding area.”
Lunia paused.
“On our own?”
“Then what? Should I clean up after you?”
Lauta made an irritable expression.
Lunia was flustered by his appearance, and Lauta, snorting, investigated the surroundings with a serious face.
“No. Isn’t he here to guide us? What exactly is he doing?”
“He seems to be… looking for something.”
Kal grumbled with an incredulous look, and Eiran made a puzzled expression.
“Leave him alone. Ignore that unpleasant fellow and let’s explore the surroundings on our own.”
Lunia, sticking her tongue out at Lauta and taking care of the group, paused when she saw Leo.
Leo was staring intently at Lauta, who was busily searching for something.
Seeing Leo’s eyes narrow, Lunia instinctively knew.
‘He knows something.’
***
That evening.
The Lumen and Seirun students who returned after completing their exploration mission felt puzzled.
“Chelsea, your group didn’t find any undead either?”
“No. It’s not just our group. All groups reported not finding any undead.”
“Is that so?”
The outbreak of undead had already been confirmed by the Elsalvekia Council.
That’s why they formally requested Lumen and Seirun for help.
‘But the undead disappeared without a trace in just one day?’
If the undead themselves had vanished, it wouldn’t be strange.
Undead have a limited activity time if they don’t receive mana.
However, in the center of Fairy Forest, the ‘Curse of the Dead,’ a curse that endlessly generates undead, was spread.
‘But the undead have disappeared. As if there’s a Necromancer controlling them.’
“Professor Herdium.”
At that moment, Lauta spoke to Herdium, who was receiving reports from the Seirun students.
“What is it, Student Lauta?”
“Although there are no undead, it is a fact that an abnormal situation has occurred. Fairy Forest is a sanctuary for Elves. I believe these ominous beings should be uprooted as soon as possible. While first-year students might be at risk, second-year students can sufficiently explore the forest at night. So please allow us to explore at night.”
At his words, some second-year students whispered irritably.
“Ugh, he’s brown-nosing again.”
“What an unpleasant fellow.”
As all second-year students except Lauta were in the lower or intermediate classes, their classmates’ gazes towards Lauta were not favorable.
“I understand your thoughts well, Student Lauta. However, night exploration is dangerous even for second-year students. Night is when the aura of the undead becomes stronger. Therefore, I cannot grant that request.”
“But Professor!”
“Student Lauta. Even zeal can lead to problems if it’s excessive.”
Watching Herdium speak firmly, Lauta clenched his teeth and retreated.
Seeing this, Leo muttered to himself.
‘It’s getting more and more suspicious.’
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