A Deal With The Frigid Wizard

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Chapter 26

At the same time, there was a method for using corpses among the recent research the warlocks were conducting. It was a method of smelting the corpse with various drugs and magic, and manipulating it through a brand engraved on the corner of the corpse’s body.

In order to check their power, they made a few sieges, attacked slash-and-burn villages and small villages on the outskirts, and collected vital blood. Dozens of people died at a time, though the slash-and-burn village itself was not officially registered with the state, and it was kept secret because it was happening on the outskirts.

The warlocks who confirmed the power of the Chinese Zombie through several raids and monster hunting were thrilled.

Although it has the disadvantage of not being active during the day because it is weak to sunlight, the Chinese Zombie showed a strong body, high speed, and unstoppable strength that overwhelms any number of magical beasts.

If these were improved a little and they secured enough numbers, it seemed possible to conquer the continent.

Of course, it was not a false confidence because it was difficult to even deal with a powerful person unless you were a knight or a wizard with some skill. Nonetheless, in front of an absolutely strong person such as Hisran Ephesion…

No matter how strong the Chinese Zombie was, it was just a child’s play.

“Stupid things. Did you think that you became invincible just by dealing with a few Chinese Zombies? I’ve been asking you to stay out of sight yet. Still, I’m glad I got a little bit of vital blood.”

The dark magic circle in the cave that Zephiroth and Diana discovered was not the one that controls the Chinese Zombie. It was a monster that absorbs the blood of resentment and fear with its teeth and claws and stores it in its body.

The warlocks hiding near Viscounty Koufen were in charge of collecting blood from such Chinese Zombies and sending them to the holy land of black magic through the magic circle.

By adding the blood that had been collected with the blood that had been sent a while ago, it was enough to strengthen the power of the holy land. Devrant, who gathered the warlocks in the holy land in front of the red altar, sprinkled blood on the altar and infused it with his own magical power.

Normally, the blood leftover from soaking the altar would flow down to the floor. However, the blood disappeared without a trace of the people sprinkled on the altar.

The altar that had absorbed the blood began to emit a wonderful light as if an earthquake had occurred, the space shook slightly. Some of the warlocks were agitated, but as Devrant stood calmly in front of the altar, it soon became quiet.

As the vibrations subsided, a warlock pointed a finger at the statue.

“Th, that…”

The statue of the God Tumor opened its mouth like a living creature.

— Loyal servants.

A contradictory voice rang out, seemingly dry and eager. Devrant knelt down on his knees and bowed his head to the floor.

“Oh, my God…!”

All the warlocks followed him and bowed their head. Devrant threw away his usual calm and spoke in a simmering voice.

“It is difficult with our foolishness to carry out the revelation. Please look after your lowly servants.”

— Not long ago, the best vessel came over from another dimension. If I descend from that vessel, the gods bound by the law of causality will not intervene recklessly, and there will be no existence that can stop me from coming out of the earth.

“Where should I find the vessel?”

— Next to the strongest fire on the continent right now…

Even though the power of the holy relics were strengthened with the blood of hundreds of grudges, the time to connect with the god Tumor was short. But, he got two new hints. Having expended considerable magic during his ritual, Devrant took a break to organize his thoughts.

“Came from another dimension, and stands by the strongest fire…”

The scope of the investigation was significantly reduced compared to before.

Hearing the hint, the first person that came to mind was Hisran Ephesion, the famous Archwizard of Fire. Dragons that are supposed to be stronger than him had long since disappeared from this continent, so the one who currently handles the strongest fire must be Hisran.

“…This, this is strange.”

Wasn’t he the one who solved Viscounty Koufen’s Chinese Zombie incident caused by the greedy warlocks who couldn’t control their arrogance?

“You mean we’re going to get entangled in this and that way?”

If he did a little research around Hisran, he would soon find someone who has come from another dimension. Even if they have a different appearance from the people here or change their appearance with polymorph magic, they would have different characteristics.

“Then, Count Gloria’s daughter is useless.”

Count Gloria’s only daughter, Elena Gloria.

She was recently recognized for her talent for magic by the nearby magic tower branch. She was seventeen this year. It was late, although she was old enough to learn magic if she wanted to.

She was particularly gifted at dealing with the magic of a cold nature. The warlock, who accidentally obtained this information, doubted whether she was the possessor of a strong yin. Still, the warlock thought that Elena was also a good vessel candidate, so they devised a scheme to obtain her body.

They dazzled one of the Count’s maids, so that they put a worm in Elena’s food that was barely visible to the naked eye. The worm’s name was ‘Rigor.’ At the time when the warlocks were proudly roaming this continent, it was more widely known as ‘False Death Worm’ than its original name.

This worm was a kind of parasite. When it entered the body of a living organism, it slowly absorbed life force, leading to a state of suspended animation.

Usually, they collapsed within three days of Rigor infiltrating, and within ten days at the latest, the worm burrowed into the heart, causing the heart to temporarily stop and appear dead. However, they weren’t really dead.

Rigor was a creature that went through metamorphosis. The reason that the heart of the most nutrient-rich life form nests from a pupa to a moth was because it needed a lot of nutrients to become an adult. How to get better nutrients from living creatures than dead ones.

So, Rigor kept life by flowing a special secretion into the body of the living being who had fallen into a false death.

After all, all the warlock needed was Elena’s living body. They planned to quietly take away the body that had turned into a corpse after the funeral at County Gloria.

If there was one mistake they made, it was ignoring the love the Count had for his daughter.

Count Gloria did not spare his wealth and personal connections, and mobilized all his powers to pour out the divine power of the priest on his fallen daughter. Among them, the divine power did not destroy Rigor, but it made its movements dull.

Because the worm had not yet reached the heart, the Count’s daughter looked as though Elena had just collapsed.

“Now, no one will know of Rigor’s existence. We should just leave it alone and focus on Hisran.”

Devrant, who had decided in the direction he would move, summoned what he called his right arm.

‘What is love?’

‘That’s how I feel about His.’

To the young son who asked with sparkling eyes, the father answered with a smile. Even though they were a bit fiery when they were angry, they were usually affectionate parents to their children.

‘Then, does father love mother more than me? You never get angry with mother.’

‘What…? Haha, is that how it is? It may be difficult to say, though my love for His and Vellita are a little different. His as the only child, and Velita as the only woman.’

‘As a woman…?’

‘If His is a little bigger, I’m sure you’ll find a woman who makes your heart race and looks pretty no matter what she does.’

‘What if there is no such person?’

‘Just do what His likes. It’s all right if your heart isn’t beating fast from the start. Do you feel attracted to something? That’s enough. If you are kind to her and work hard, your body and your heart will follow.’

‘Look at this. That is nothing you should say to a child.’

The mother looked happy as she patted his father on the back with her little hand.

A smile hung on the corner of Hisran’s lips as he looked at her. At the same time, he felt that he wanted to see Jaeha. Is it a selfish wish to want to see her smiling happily by his side like his mother?

When the corners of his chest tickled and he opened his eyes, Hisran recognized that he was lying in bed. He had a vague memory of finding the warlocks and throwing a fireball once… What happened after that?

“As long as she is safe…”

…All other minor issues will be fine.

Hisran, who raised his body halfway and glanced around, noticed that this was the bedroom in the Viscounty. And, he found someone sleeping on a chair by the bed.

“Jaeha…”

It was her, she was the one Hisran had wanted to see so much until a little while ago.

The moment he saw Jaeha’s unharmed face, Hisran’s heart pounded.

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