episode_0015

“Sigh…”

Regina’s state, emitting an unknown groan while nestled in my arms, did not look good even without words.

I thought her condition had improved a bit after our conversation. Was that ultimately my misconception? I only left briefly to deal with the Death Knights.

“Don’t leave, please don’t go…”

“Don’t worry. I will never leave Regina. I just went to deal with the Death Knights for a moment. It’s dangerous if the Death Knights attack while we’re asleep.”

“Th-that’s right… You’re not abandoning me, right? If even Cyan leaves, I-I’ll really fall apart…”

Regina struggled to speak weakly while fidgeting in my arms. Her condition looked bad to anyone who saw her.

Perhaps I had been too casual about the 999 regressions. Regina had to repeat 7 years from age 10 to 17, 999 times.

Even knowing that it would end in her horrific death. Bound by ‘fate,’ she had to force a smile and live.

So I couldn’t push Regina away recklessly. She was a girl broken because of me; how could I abandon her?

“Sorry for leaving you alone.”

“N-no, Cyan…! It’s because I-I’m lacking. It’s because my mind is messed up, so you don’t have to apologize…!”

“Sorry. You must have been very lonely.”

And so, I held her tightly for a while to calm her down.

It wasn’t until an hour passed that Regina finally felt enough warmth and moved away from me.

“Can you get up now?”

“Uh, yes… How long did I sleep…?”

“Um… Since there’s no clock here, I’m not sure, but it’s probably evening now. It seems like quite some time has passed.”

Saying that, I slowly got up.

“Regina, are the places that hurt okay?”

“Uh, yes… Even though my body is very weak, my recovery ability is quite good…”

“Well, let’s go defeat the boss now. The test should be over by now, and if we don’t return, everyone will worry.”

“Okay, got it…!”

Having regressed 999 times, Regina’s swordsmanship and magic skills would be the best in this world.

The issue was Regina’s body. With a fragile body worse than an average first-year student, she couldn’t fully utilize her true abilities.

“The dungeon’s name here is… ‘Tomb of the Ancient Lich,’ right?”

“Yes. To be precise, this two-tier dungeon we’re in is the tomb of the ancient lich. The corridor upstairs probably serves as the entrance to this dungeon.”

“S-so… Will the ancient lich appear…? Oh, um, I’m not doubting your skills, Cyan, but still… the ancient lich…”

“Yeah. Right. Dealing with the ancient lich would be too much for both of us.”

If Regina had been in perfect condition, even the ancient lich wouldn’t have been a match for her…

However, for Regina Strellachia, who had lived according to ‘fate’ in despair, things like training or building her body were irrelevant.

Regina’s severely frail body. Her stamina was extremely lacking.

“So… Shouldn’t we find another way…?”

“Well, there’s no need to worry about that.”

Typically, an ancient lich is around level 80-90. However, this dungeon’s level is 55. It’s low for an ancient lich.

The reason was simple. The boss in this dungeon was nothing more than a fake lich at level 55.

“The ancient lich in this dungeon isn’t the real deal.”

“Is he a proper guy… not really…?”

“Yeah. Your control over Death Knights is almost non-existent right now, isn’t it?”

“Oh…!”

The Death Knights are elite soldiers guarding the dungeon. Something is clearly amiss when such elite soldiers wander around inside the dungeon.

It feels like the Royal Knights abandoning their guard duties and aimlessly roaming the palace grounds, that kind of vibe.

Hence, even the boss in this dungeon from the game can’t muster the overwhelming force typical of ancient liches. Even the Life Vessel that comes to mind with “lich” only amounts to one.

“So, don’t worry too much. With your skills, Regina, you should be able to win easily.”

Even though my weapon is a fake sword, in reality, there wasn’t much difference between a fake sword and a real one for someone who could infuse magic into their blade.

It might not compare to what Swordmasters use, but the cutting power of a fake sword infused with magic was no different from a real one.

Muttering like that, I slowly moved forward.

If memory serves me right, the “Tomb of the Ancient Lich” had a rather straightforward layout. While the corridors twisted like a maze, the path to the boss room was brightly lit with torches.

We proceeded slowly towards the heart of the dungeon.

There were no significant dangers. The highest-level mobs in this dungeon were just Death Knights, but Death Knights couldn’t defeat us.

“The traps… are all disarmed…?”

“It’s been hundreds of years since this dungeon was built. The things that set up the traps have all rotted away.”

Muttering thus, I stood in front of a massive door.

Unlike the walls covered in moss and dust, an exceptionally well-maintained wooden door. Like a grand gate, the huge door slowly creaked open with a little effort on my part.

“Ready?”

“Yes…! I’m used to fighting now…”

Upon hearing Regina’s firm reply, I pushed the door open slowly.

…

Creak…

With a grand grating sound, the boss room opened. Simultaneously, a translucent window appeared before my eyes.

“You have entered the Chamber of the Ancient Lich (Lv.60).”

With a light gesture, I dismissed the translucent window and leisurely surveyed the boss room.

The chamber of the Ancient Lich that I had seen countless times beyond the screen. Purple torches flickered, illuminating the room.

White pillars made of well-polished bones. Minerals embedded in the ceiling emitting a faint purple glow. And in the distance, an altar.

Regina, overwhelmed by the temple-like atmosphere, clung to me.

“Uh…”

“Scared?”

“Ah, um… Yes… It’s a place I’ve never been to before…”

Having lived 999 lives as a reincarnator, Regina found the eerie temple scene frightening. No, to be precise, she was scared of the unknown future.

So, Regina tightly held Cyan’s hand. Although the dungeon was scary for Regina, Cyan’s presence comforted her more than anything else.

Sensing Regina’s unease, I gently caressed her small hand that I held and murmured.

“Don’t worry, Regina. Remember I promised to change your fate? I’ll prove it to you right here and now.”

“Uh…?”

Blushing slightly at the touch, Regina trembled. For the first time, she found this dungeon terrifying. However, Cyan’s presence calmed Regina’s heart more than the dungeon ever could.

Realizing Regina’s expression, I let go of her hand, placed my hand on the hilt of my sword, and whispered.

“Get ready. It’s time to rise.”

“Yes, okay!”

Clang-

With a cheerful footstep, the altar began to tremble. Human, elf, dwarf, demon… the altar made of bones from various races started to crack and break apart.

Overwhelming magic pressed down on the space. Thud! Hands made of bones broke through the altar and emerged.

“Regina.”

“Yes…!”

“I’m truly sorry, but can you push yourself a bit more this time?”

That fellow is the Ancient Lich of the Inferno Plate.

Unable to lead an army, lacking overwhelming magical power, with only one Life Vessel.

A hidden boss created for users to practice the upcoming battle against the ancient lich.

“Oh, yes! Of course…!”

“Alright then.”

[‘Ancient Lich Alextus’ detects intruders]

[Boss ‘Ancient Lich Alextus’ rises]

[Followers of ‘Ancient Lich Alextus’ rise]

The status window shivers. Bones popping out of the ground simultaneously.

The ancient lich rising from his altar gazed at the invaders with empty eye sockets and moved his lips.

Tap-tap-tap-tap-

The chilling sound of magic-infused bones. Simultaneously, thirty Death Knights began to rise from the ground.

Once shining patterns erased from rotten shields. A once sharp sword now dull. Rust covering the armor’s original color.

Those who once wielded swords to protect humanity now aimed them at the girls who entered, worn down by centuries. Empty eye sockets stared at us.

“S-Sian…? Weren’t you unable to handle an army…?”

“This is significantly fewer.”

A proper ancient lich could single-handedly start a war with thousands of undead. Compared to that, this is quite cute.

Muttering to myself, I silently observed the ancient lich. It wasn’t time to act yet.

Tap-

The battle commenced as the ancient lich flicked his finger. The Death Knights covered in sticky magic closed in.

“-_ㅡ____-ㅡㅡ__—-!”

Unknown void-like cries as geometric patterns rose around Alextus. Layers of massive runes unfolded above the bone temple.

The knights forming a phalanx advanced like waves. Regina silently raised her magic against the approaching dark tide. Bright red magic pushed away the surrounding murky energy.

“Regina. Wait.”

“Eh…? But…”

“Wait. Not yet.”

As soon as I finished speaking, interlocking runes began to rotate like gears, emitting sharp friction sounds. Dense magic pressed the space as Alextus raised his arms towards the sky, letting out a eerie laughter.

[‘Ancient Lich Alextus’ invokes the ancient magic ‘Garden of Ruin’]

“____ㅡ_-ㅡ, ㅡㅡㅡ__!!!!!!!”

“Get ready.”

Alextus and my voice overlapped as the Death Knights approached, pointing their swords. I grinned and wrapped my arm around Regina’s waist.

“Huh?!”

“Just hold on for a moment, it might get dizzy.”

The hidden scars under the gloves began to glow. With a strange sense of floating, Regina and I found ourselves on Alextus’ altar.

I raised the dark magic and shouted, “Now!”

Simultaneously, Regina’s sword gleamed red, its pure aura shimmering.

“_ㅡㅡ__?!”

Amazement mixed in Alextus’s voice as Regina swung the blood-tinged sword.

.

.

.

Thud!

A faint explosion nearby.

Ellen and Yerena almost simultaneously halted their steps.

“Did you hear that?”

“Yes. Sounds like it came from the underground nearby…”

Yerena’s expression hardened as she gripped her sword hilt.

The intuition honed from battling monsters in the north insisted that this explosion was related to Sian.

There was no hesitation. The current self was not the young child who had to helplessly watch her mother being abused.

“I will go over there!”

There was no time for deep contemplation. Yerena’s legs, enhanced with magic, pounded the ground.