Ch.53Ep.53 Necromancy

To subdue the dead means to understand everything about them.

Think of it as raising something.

Even if you’re raising a pet dog, you need to understand what it likes and dislikes.

You shouldn’t do things that would sour your relationship, but somehow you need to train it.

While a good, equal relationship between owner and pet is fine, there are also forceful owners.

For Radios, becoming a forceful owner would be more appropriate.

Especially if the dead he’s subduing are people from another world.

And if they’re among the top-ranked powers among the Outer Gods.

Wouldn’t it be better to subjugate them harshly with a whip rather than trying to persuade them with kind words?

“But the prerequisite for Subduing Dead is the target’s death. So do you think you can defeat Namgung Ihyun, Milia, and Ren?”

“…I’m not sure about that.”

The enemy possesses an Order, while Radios has none.

Even though he has the Divine Bullet as a final hidden card, can he rely on that to fight them?

Doubtful. Three years ago, he might have tried to take them on somehow, but the situation has changed since then.

It’s hard to imagine how much stronger they’ve become since acquiring their Orders.

Certainly, Subduing Dead could be a good card, but what use would there be in subduing the weak?

Radios now finds himself in a position where he must face opponents stronger than himself.

Especially since he ultimately needs to defeat Yog-Sothoth.

He must thoroughly destroy the forces of the Outer Gods and completely shatter the faith that exists in Kadinant.

But if he only does that, all that faith would return to Olympus.

And that would give those Olympians even more immense power.

He needed to erase all faith directed toward the Outer Gods in Kadinant and redirect it to the Guardian Spirits.

If that were possible.

‘I might be able to obtain an Order.’

It’s not always necessary to break through one’s own limits to obtain an Order.

The conditions for obtaining an Order.

If the conditions for transcending human limitations are met, an Order can certainly be obtained.

Think about it.

If an entire continent worships only one god.

What is that if not a god?

Of course, since such cases are extremely rare or very few, relatively speaking, surpassing one’s limits to acquire an Order is considered the easiest method.

Radios also thinks that transcending his limits would be safer and faster.

But if he truly cannot obtain an Order until the very end, he has no choice but to redirect faith to himself.

The problem is that to seize that faith, he must wage war against those who possess Orders.

In the end, the process of obtaining an Order beforehand might be necessary. No, it would be necessary.

“By the way, what Order do you possess, Lady Rin?”

“You’ve already seen it, so why ask? My Order is Blood.”

Whoosh.

As Rin opened her palm, sticky blood freely swam through the air.

Kraud had told him that an Order is something that can specifically describe someone.

But the fact that her Order involves blood and fighting means…

‘Lady Rin… just how much has she fought?’

Even though the goblin race’s lifespan is said to be 200 years, Radios doesn’t think Rin is 200 years old.

After all, her husband Kraud was destined to become Cronos’s host.

Someone like Kraud wouldn’t have married late, would he?

Then her age must be… at least over 1,000 years.

‘It’s rude to ask a woman her age… and with Lady Rin’s personality.’

Blood might come flying at him immediately, so he’d better drop this line of thought.

“It’s better not to be obsessed with obtaining an Order.”

“Pardon?”

After observing her Order for a while.

Rin spoke with an unpleasant expression.

“If you become too obsessed with obtaining an Order, you’ll actually move further away from it.”

“Did you… also obtain your Order late, Lady Rin?”

“No, I obtained my Order quickly… but even though I’m just one step away from Divine Order, I haven’t been able to advance for several years.”

“I see. You can obtain a Divine Order?”

Radios’s eyes widened.

According to Kraud, there are only seven beings with Divine Orders.

Yog-Sothoth’s ‘Boundary.’

Nyarlathotep’s ‘Chaos.’

Idra’s ‘Reverie.’

Zeus’s ‘Lightning.’

Hades’s ‘Death.’

Poseidon’s ‘Waterway.’

And finally, Kraud’s ‘Time.’

These beings with Divine Orders show noticeable differences from those with regular Orders.

But Rin is only one step away from obtaining such a Divine Order?

“That’s amazing, isn’t it? Only one step away from a Divine Order!”

“Even so, I simply cannot move forward. Just as difficult as it is for you to obtain an Order, Radios.”

“Ah… I see.”

He understood immediately. His current state—he knew exactly what she meant.

He can fight well enough without an Order, but there’s fear, and he feels anxious that others have Orders while he doesn’t.

Even though Rin has an Order, she naturally compares herself to those around her.

And her closest person would obviously be her husband, Kraud.

Actually her daughter, but anyway.

Though there’s a difference between Order and Divine Order, the concern is the same—somehow he could empathize.

“Let’s set aside the talk about Orders for now. In any case, no matter what advice I give, you’re the one who has to push through on your own.”

“I understand.”

“Then I’ll pass on the incantation for Subduing Dead.”

Rin then spent about three hours very methodically teaching him the incantation.

Radios didn’t understand why she was explaining so slowly.

But with each stroke added to the incantation, he could vaguely guess.

Why this magic had become forbidden.

‘The magic itself is steeped in malice. Without considerable mental strength, one couldn’t withstand the demonic nature emanating from the spell.’

The feeling of forcibly detaining the dead instead of sending them to the Underworld—

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong?”

“J-just a moment. May I go somewhere briefly?”

In the middle of learning the incantation, Radios asked Rin with confused eyes.

Normally, learning an incantation takes much longer.

Once thoughts stray elsewhere, continuing would actually be more disruptive.

“There’s only one stroke left, but we can finish that tomorrow. Go ahead.”

The incantation itself would seem perfect.

Summoning the dead and giving the power to control them.

But the safety measures are missing.

The formula to reduce the pain of the dead while controlling them, and the absolute command authority over the dead.

If one were to attempt Subduing Dead in this state, even if they could turn the dead into undead, the caster would suffer great damage.

And that dead person could harbor evil intentions and attack the caster in return.

‘Surely they wouldn’t test it somewhere.’

Of course, it would be no more dangerous than a wild animal at worst.

Rin nodded and gave permission, and Radios moved away from her, imagining the worst.

‘No. That can’t be. Absolutely not, it shouldn’t be.’

When humans die in Kadinant, their souls fall to the Underworld.

Radios himself went to the Underworld after being killed by Serena, didn’t he?

Then, what about Veichel?

If she died and fell to the Underworld, if she retained her powers from when she was alive.

What would have happened to the Underworld now?

“Sword of Judgment!”

He had sworn never to use it again, but he had no choice.

Now, the only way to contact the Underworld was through the Sword of Judgment skill to connect with Hades.

“Hades! Answer me, Hades!!”

[…]

Naturally, there was no response from Hades.

Their relationship had completely soured after he undid Elysse’s brainwashing.

After all, he was trying to initiate dialogue after having essentially declared war.

“Answer me, you son of a bitch! I know you can hear me!”

[…What is it?]

After continuing to hurl insults at Hades, the guy finally answered.

Although his voice was laden with annoyance and hostility.

But that wasn’t Radios’s concern.

“Veichel! Where is Veichel?!”

[What nonsense is this? Didn’t you annihilate her?]

“…Annihilate?”

Is there a difference between annihilation and death?

While Radios was momentarily stunned, Hades continued with an incredulous tone.

[Beings with Orders are annihilated when they die. Veichel Breate awakened her own Order during her fight with you, and died. She wouldn’t have fallen to the Underworld.]

“…Is that true?”

[Yes. I thought you were going to say something important, but instead you’re spouting this nonsen—]

Whoosh.

Having gotten what he needed, Radios deactivated the Sword of Judgment without listening to the rest.

It was an absurd assumption, but it was something he should have considered at some point.

“Right… it couldn’t be. Veichel… has completely disappeared from this world.”

He had completely forgotten the fact that when people from Kadinant die, they go to the Underworld.

That’s how shocking Veichel’s death was to Radios.

But now that he had heard this confirmation from Hades, it must be certain.

If Veichel had been causing trouble in the Underworld, Hades would have been the most troubled.

It would have meant passing on to Olympus a problem that should have ended here.

“That’s a relief… I suppose.”

Is it a relief that Veichel has found peace, that her existence has completely vanished?

Should he consider that a relief?

His mind must be quite confused.

The fact that thoughts of Veichel suddenly came to him while learning the incantation proves it.

It was an extremely remote possibility, but the moment Radios thought about Veichel, he felt goosebumps all over his body.

If her death at his hands had been a ploy to go to the Underworld.

He might have ended up doing a favor for the corrupted woman and facing an even stronger enemy.

“…How annoying.”

He thought he had sent her off perfectly, but he ruined his mood with these unfounded suspicions.

Still, he had completely learned the Subduing Dead technique, so he could just go back and continue training.

“…This presence?”

He sensed a familiar presence nearby.

Simultaneously, a fishy blood scent permeated his nostrils.

Radios instinctively launched his body out of the goblin village.

The village’s structure prevented outsiders from coming in.

But it didn’t stop people from leaving.

As he exited the village, Radios witnessed a shocking sight.

It was none other than.

“Namgung Ihyun?”

It was Namgung Ihyun, covered in blood and being chased.