LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 93
“Have you been waiting long?”
Outside the Imperial Palace, Briyagon was quietly waiting.
He looked at me with wide eyes and wagged his tail.
I wondered if he always acted this way, but I noticed the residual aura of antimagic on my body.
‘Could it be him?’
I realized late that he might be following me because of it.
Since I had taken the dragon’s orb from his former master, it was a reasonably solid guess.
Other than that, there was no particular reason I could think of.
After Lucas, mistaking the Great Dragon again seemed absurd.
I couldn’t believe there would be another one who mistook him for a dragon.
Erasing those silly thoughts, I climbed onto Briyagon’s back.
First, I needed to get out of the Imperial Palace and tear the portal scroll in a deserted place.
***
Out from the portal came familiar faces in a rush.
Thud, thud—among them, Roseha ran out and hugged me tightly.
Instinctively, I tried to push her away, but not a speck of dust budged. How strong is she?
“Where’s Calandas? What happened to him?”
Roseha, still attached to me, asked while peering closely.
I opened my mouth nonchalantly.
“He’s dead.”
“I knew it. I suspected it, but still…”
“It must be unsettling.”
“Um, a little. No, a lot?”
By the way, I had left Calandas’s corpse behind.
If he died as an Undead, he couldn’t be revived through necromancy.
There was nothing else useful to do with the body. Calandas’s corpse was literally just a corpse, nothing more, nothing less.
The staff might have been useful, but I had broken it, and the dungeon core was surely crushed under the wreckage.
‘Is there any way to get a Necronomicon?’
I wanted to at least salvage something from the dungeon wreckage. Let’s raise Charlotte and Estizel.
“You did well, dear. I didn’t think you’d lose, but I was still worried.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Behind me, Charlotte bowed her head deeply.
It was clear from her expression that she was genuinely nervous.
Though she maintained a straight face, I could see her true feelings.
“Master. You’ve been through—”
As I handed over the Moonlight Sword, Cecilia’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You used it well.”
“…You can keep it, you know.”
“It suits you better.”
Since it was dual-wielding, the Moonlight Sword didn’t perform efficiently in my hands.
Considering I barely won, even with favorable equipment, it said it all.
Cecilia, who was hesitating, finally grabbed the sword’s hilt.
Then she bowed her head once more.
“Thank you.”
…But it was originally yours, so why thank me?
I held back the urge to question.
“Kiric. Isn’t that Balutak, the Great Chief who ate the Skull Chief?”
“The boss is a skeleton, too. And what’s he going to eat? You think the boss is like Balutak?”
Now that I looked closely, Balutak was perched on Isabella’s back.
With only his arms remaining on land, it certainly looked ridiculous.
“We can’t say it’s all over yet. In the summoning of the 72 Lords, he could die.”
I had that in mind too. That the summoning was essentially the crux of the matter.
My life was more at stake in the summoning than in the battle with Calandas.
Climbing a mountain only to find Everest blocking my way.
“Um, do I have to attend too? I mean, I’m the Eighth Lord after all. But it seems really scary…”
“…Is that the problem for you?”
Roseha voiced what I was thinking.
With the boss potentially facing death, and she’s worried about that? It’s like she’s overlooking the two mountains, Balutak and Goldie.
Isabella averted her gaze under Roseha’s glare.
With a deep sigh, Roseha continued.
“Usually, the decision of execution depends on a vote, but you never know. It might already be decided.”
I prayed for the first option. If it were the latter, I would be dead within minutes.
Thud. Roseha elbowed me in the ribs.
“You know, I’m on your side no matter what.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll protect you even if it costs my life. Though the old one is a bit concerning…”
Roseha trailed off, casting a look at me as if to ask if I could handle Roxanne, but I couldn’t do anything.
Roxanne was the strongest in the world, aside from the Old One.
If she wanted me dead, I would drop dead right there.
“If you survive, great. If you die, then I’ll die too. I’ve staked my life on you. So don’t die, okay?”
“I feel the same way.”
Isabella interjected, and the others merely twitched their lips in silence.
“I’m sorry. I apologize.”
“Sorry…”
Those were Charlotte and Cecilia’s words.
I guessed Roseha must have told them.
I had clearly heard it once before from a Council member at the 72 Lords’ gathering.
In emergency summons where bloodshed may occur, only Lords can attend.
If they brought their subordinates, it implied they were preparing for battle.
As Lords, Roseha, Isabella, and Estizel were obliged to attend.
Meanwhile, Charlotte, Cecilia, and Balutak couldn’t come.
Still, I felt their hearts’ intentions.
“But you, what did you do to my body?”
Roseha poked my side again.
I looked at her with a puzzled expression.
“Don’t you remember? You saved me. You didn’t just heal me then, did you?”
She was indeed referring to my evolution.
While I pondered how to explain the Evolution Technique, Roseha spoke up.
“A miracle of love, perhaps?”
“….”
“Hehe. Looks like you love me as much as I love you?”
I couldn’t tell if she was serious or joking.
Isn’t it normal to think of it as the hidden power of the Undead Lair Lord?
Seeing Roseha’s sly smile, it seemed more like a joke.
Whenever I made a particular angle, her intentions to seduce me were apparent.
With nothing to explain anyway, I decided to let her think as she pleased.
“It’s time to head back.”
There was nothing more to do here.
Post-war cleanup would be the Empire’s job. We had done our part.
Before Charlotte opened the portal, I shot a glance at Briyagon.
Right, he was here too.
‘Can he enter the dungeon?’
There was no way. He was as big as the Great King Daron.
Looking back, Daron had visited the Mausoleum of Faith before.
He had shrunk his size down with shrinking magic.
“Can you shrink your body?”
I was about to ask Charlotte when I first turned to Briyagon.
After all, he was a dragon too and had profound knowledge of magic.
Whether he understood my words, Briyagon nodded.
“Try to shrink yourself as much as you can.”
Barely finishing my sentence, Briyagon’s body gradually shrank.
The more he shrank…
Crazy. He got way too small!
I didn’t expect him to become smaller than me from a giant like Daron.
To compare, he was the size of a little boy.
“…Is there no magic burden?”
Again, Briyagon nodded.
I didn’t know if it was not magic to begin with or if it was a trait of his that didn’t use magic.
Whatever it was, since he claimed he was fine, I decided not to worry about it.
I extended my arm, and the Bond Dragon sat on it.
“Charlotte.”
“Yes.”
Charlotte discreetly opened the portal.
There were still bigger mountains ahead, but for now, let’s go home and rest.
You need a clear head to come up with plans.
***
Roseha went back to the castle, and we returned to the Mausoleum of Faith.
Soon, Estizel, Selina, and the other workers and vampires who had taken refuge in the castle would return as well.
“I’m unable to relax at all.”
Isabella said, looking at me.
She seemed even more anxious now than during the war with the Corruption Cave.
Charlotte and Cecilia were also nervously watching me in silence.
Even without a clear expression, it seemed they were more worried than I was.
It felt burdensome enough; I wished they would stop staring.
To lighten the mood, I revealed something I had kept inside.
“Soon, I’ll be summoned.”
There was no room for refusal.
If I didn’t comply with the summons, death was certain without a chance to argue.
The only way out was to improvise in the meeting hall.
“I’ll do my best to prevent a purge even if I die.”
Again, I said that I might very well die, and everyone knew that.
If by chance I died, I hoped it wouldn’t end there with my death.
I had already developed feelings for them.
If I were to purge the Mausoleum’s minions alongside Roseha, I wouldn’t rest peacefully even in death.
“When the time of the summons comes, everyone should evacuate outside the dungeon. It doesn’t matter where outside.”
If the boss dies, the dungeon core perishes, and the dungeon collapses.
Of course, even if I died, this dungeon wouldn’t collapse. I wasn’t the dungeon boss.
However, since everyone thought of me as the boss, it was wise to evacuate them outside.
“I will remain here.”
“If you die, I’ll be buried alongside you.”
Just by looking at their levels, it was clear they valued me over their own lives.
“I want you all to survive.”
Being in the dungeon wouldn’t guarantee death, but if they killed themselves because I died, that would be like killing me twice.
“If you still have regrets, then live and take revenge, at least.”
Both of them had experienced the desire for revenge, so if they used that as an excuse, they could manage to live well.
Charlotte fidgeted her lips and lowered her head.
Cecilia, who was looking at me, turned to Isabella and locked eyes.
“Please take care of the Master. Make sure he comes back alive.”
“I’m scared, too… but I’ll do my best!”
Isabella firmly patted her chest.
In contrast to the mood, Balutak was over on the side, frenetically devouring food.
Right, eating was crucial for his remaining limbs to regenerate. I understood.
On the other hand, it was almost pitiful the way he was face-down, eating like that.
Rumble!
“Kiric!”
Just then, a portal opened right in front of Balutak.
“Kyaaa!”
He trampled over Balutak’s food when Estizel bolted out.
Following her came Selina, and then a flood of witch children, insect swarms, and vampires poured out.
All of them stepped on Balutak’s food.
“Boss—!”
As soon as she saw me, Estizel dashed over.
“I’ve heard the news! You killed the Lich King!”
“That’s right.”
“Isn’t that a big deal? I wanted to tell you how much your rank has risen…”
Estizel trailed off with a gloomy expression.
While the boss was on the verge of death, her rank seemed to be soaring, and it looked like she was feeling conflicted.
“How much did it rise?”
“Uh… it feels awkward to say…”
“You don’t need to worry about me. Just say it.”
Estizel, who had been cautiously observing everyone around her, finally forced herself to speak.
“Um, it’s 40th place…”
“That’s quite amazing.”
Estizel’s eyes widened in shock.
Blinking rapidly, her eyes took me in.
“…Really?”
“Yeah. Already at 40th place, that’s impressive.”
Honestly, I hadn’t thought much of it. I just said it to boost Estizel’s spirits.
Whether it worked or not, Estizel wiped her nose.
“Right? I’m already 40th! I’m really amazing, right?”
The way she clenched her tiny fists was quite adorable.
“Very amazing.”
“Hehe. I’ll reach the top 10 soon! No, at this rate, I could even make it to the Seven Lairs—”
“Don’t cross the line.”
“Why are you trying to take my place, Master?”
Suddenly, the two of them, who had been silent until now, chimed in.
…Why are they acting like this?
I was just as surprised as Estizel, who was now looking confusedly back and forth, “Huh? Huh?”
“Um… I mean, I might be a single entity… so I’m the same as the boss…”
“You and the boss are in completely different leagues.”
“How can a mere 40th compare with the boss? Choose your words wisely.”
“I was just joking…”
“Make sure to joke appropriately given the circumstances.”
“Ugh… I’m sorry…”
Seeing that everyone was on edge, I thought they must be feeling really tense.
I felt a bit sorry for Estizel. Because of me, she was getting scolded on both sides.
Just as I was about to comfort her, another portal opened beside us.
Out of the portal popped an orc dressed in a familiar suit.
He was one of the Council members who had guided us at the previous gathering.
“Greetings, Lord.”
The orc bowed with precision.
Without a word, I nodded.
The orc respectfully presented something to me.
I couldn’t believe it, but he was already here.
“A summoning notice?”
“No. There is a one-day grace period before the summons.”
“Then what is it?”
“It is a notice sent from the Abyssal 10th Layer.”
“….”
I barely swallowed my fear as I accepted the notice.
As I opened it with trembling fingers, one sentence came into view.
However, the content was more chilling than concise.
【You’re dead now.】