episode_0053

Dreadful.

Repulsive.

Disgusting.

From the eternal snow-covered mountains to the white army lined up below the castle walls, what I felt the moment I saw them was precisely those emotions.

A white corpse, flesh torn out or frozen entrails exposed, walking with each step.

A white skeleton approaching the castle wall, emitting a chilling creaking sound.

And even phantoms flying around the castle walls, spewing curses at passersby.

Witnessing this disgustingly eerie white world, I couldn’t help but feel nauseous.

“Ugh… Ughhh…!”

In the end, I couldn’t hold back the urge and vomited under the castle walls.

“Ugh… Ughh…”

Struggling to suppress another rising wave of nausea, I think to myself.

I probably understand why sorcerers and dark wizards are often portrayed as villains in fantasy novels.

Damn it, how can they be treated as normal when displaying such repulsive behavior?

Asking sorcerers to stop their abhorrent acts? Asking for an end to the persecution of dark wizards?

Don’t make me laugh.

Even when oppressed, they are despicable beings.

If someone with a normal mindset witnessed the scene before me, they would probably have the same thoughts, wouldn’t they?

“Hoo… Hoo…”

Taking deep breaths to calm my overturned stomach, the Grand Duke standing beside me quietly pats my back.

“Are you okay?”

“…Somewhat. But not entirely. I keep feeling like I’m going to vomit.”

“Seems like your stomach is weaker than expected.”

“It’s actually strange to be indifferent to something like this.”

After bluntly retorting, I pull out a flask and gulp down water, the Grand Duke looking serious as he throws a question at me.

“So, do we have a way to deal with this situation? Witch, I believe you must have prepared a brilliant move.”

“Aren’t you overestimating me?”

“Heh, I’ve heard it all. You safely led your group out of the Southern Great Forest, one of the Four Great Magical Realms on the continent, and even defeated the Apostle of Evil in the West. Aren’t you underestimating yourself too much?”

Certainly, the Grand Duke’s words reflect remarkable achievements.

Resurrection being impossible, and even if it were, surviving unscathed in that mentally deteriorating Southern Great Forest was no small feat, not to mention defeating the Apostle of Evil.

Achieving such feats should naturally instill pride.

However…

“Everywhere we go feels like pushing our limits. How can one feel proud?”

With challenges escalating to seemingly insurmountable levels, there was no room for pride.

Or rather, there was no time to feel pride. Busy worrying about what would come next during the time meant for feeling pride.

If the story had progressed as originally intended, or if the difficulty had only risen within predictable bounds…

Perhaps living as a prophetess concept, akin to the fortune teller witch from Northern West, might have been feasible.

Look ahead.

Isn’t the level of difficulty beyond what could be politely termed appropriate?

I let out a long sigh and vanquish a mocking phantom in front of me.

“Haah…”

Still, at this level of difficulty, I’m somewhat competent.

It’s not the worst; it’s manageable.

The Grand Duke hasn’t turned into a fortress, and the Northern Grand Duke beside me hasn’t become a puppet of the Dark Lich either.

Not bad, right? Compared to the ruins that awaited us in the West upon arrival.

If we had seen a city crumble upon arrival like in the West, or if the Northern Grand Duke had turned into a Death Knight.

“Ugh, just thinking about it is dreadful.”

There weren’t such hopeless and dreadful situations.

…Truly fortunate that things didn’t go awry.

Yes, after experiencing it a couple of times, it’s about time it stopped happening.

After smoothly handling this matter, it’s straight to wrapping up the Central episode.

Anyway, since there’s the Imperial Capital in the East, there’s no real need to go there.

So, let’s return to the North again for a peaceful and comfortable life…

Kwahng!

“Ugh?!”

While concentrating on bundling up chunks of mana and planning for the future, a loud noise nearby abruptly pulled me out of my reverie.

Hurrying towards the source of the sound, what met my eyes was a severely collapsed city wall and an ashen aura.

Familiar yet ominous, as I involuntarily looked up at the sky, there was a single skull mounted on a dragon showing an imposing figure.

“…Starting from the attire, it’s already giving me hints. ‘I’m the final boss,’ it says.”

But why are you using holy magic instead of dark magic?

Ponelia, did you really lend your power to Arch Lich? Is it like a command for me to get lost?

That damned demon is truly a clueless woman beyond compare.

Reacting so sensitively just because she experienced subordinate NTR once.

No, did I threaten you with a knife to take the contract stamp on your apostle?

Because your apostle confidently stamped the contract?

“Sigh, devilishly narrow-minded, really.”

As I grumbled, Arch Lich burst into laughter and conveyed the demon’s words to me.

“The demon commands. Tear you apart without mercy. It’s going to be awfully noisy.”

“Could you also pass on a message from me? I have something I really want to say.”

“Hmm, originally, according to the demon’s will, you should be mercilessly attacked. But…”

Mages by nature, even after death, remain curious.

Perhaps curious about why the demon was so angry, Arch Lich stopped attacking and gave me a chance.

“I got curious all of a sudden, so listen up. Just what did you do to make the demon so explosively angry?”

“Well, it wasn’t anything particularly unusual.”

“Well, stealing a servant of the gods through a slave contract is quite unusual, even for me.”

“It’s just desserts, that’s all. I never forced anyone to stamp it, right? If they didn’t like it, they should have been better at guarding their apostles.”

While factually criticizing sharply, I lamented feeling unjust.

“You’re quite despicable too, really. You started the fight first, didn’t you? Should I just keep taking hits from you? Will you stay still while Agathon hits you?”

“Think about it. While Agathon was hitting you, you took a beating and then came back for revenge later. How do you think that made you look?”

“Isn’t that just ridiculous? Yeah! The emotion I’m feeling right now is exactly that… ridiculous?”

Though difficult to express, in essence, this is it.

Stop cosplaying as the victim when you’re the perpetrator.

Of course, looking at the outcome, it’s true that the demon was the victim, but…

The world doesn’t just flow based on outcomes, does it? The process is always important.

After venting full of emotions, Arch Lich, who had been laughing for a while, erased his smile and spoke in a languid voice.

“Heh, I really had a good laugh after a long time. Who knew the demon would see you in such a light-hearted way.”

“Because it’s all true. Even she thought it was a bit ridiculous.”

“Although you gained power, it seems pretty ridiculous even to her, tsk tsk.”

With a mocking tone, Arch Lich seemed to have heard enough and raised his mana again.

“Well, I guess that’s enough listening. The mercy I’ve shown seems sufficient.”

Then.

“Is everyone ready for winter?”

The sinister chuckle disappeared ominously.

A massive magic circle instantly covered the sky.

—–

The battle began to unfold.

Warriors crushed and smashed the countless corpses crawling up the city walls.

Meanwhile, mages cast spells while deciphering the magic circle floating above the Grand Altar.

What kind of magic will emerge from there?

The Magic Circle

Even to someone like me, a complete novice in magic, the magic circle was definitely extraordinary. So, I decided to shoot a chunk of mana at it.

Bang –

The powerful jet of black mana flying towards the magic circle collided with it.

However, the momentary crackling collision was soon overshadowed as the massive magic circle began voraciously devouring the black mana.

…Something feels seriously wrong. Should I run away now?

As I stood there dumbfounded, watching the magic circle being engulfed by darkness, Alain shook me vigorously by the shoulders to snap me out of it.

“Wake up, witch!”

“Huh? Oh, sorry…!”

“No time for apologies! Quickly, tell me how to defeat Ark Lich! You must know!”

“How would I know? If I did, I would have caught it already!”

“You sought solutions even in the West! Think calmly! Got it?”

Under the urgent prodding of the priestess, Alain, I tried to recall the weaknesses of Ark Lich, who had appeared in the original.

…Does that guy have any weaknesses?

It seemed like he did.

Right before the protagonist’s party was wiped out, Lorian did something to Ark Lich, leading to his eternal rest.

But with so many actions taken, it was hard to pinpoint the exact answer.

“What was it that Lorian did…”

Muttering softly to myself, suddenly a voice thundered above my head.

“Say that name again to her.”

“…?”

Gone was the previous nonchalant attitude; instead, a fierce anger erupted from Ark Lich.

Observing his intense reaction, I gleaned two crucial pieces of information.

One was good news.

What Lorian did to Ark Lich.

And one was bad news.

What Lorian did to Ark Lich.

Though the sentences were the same, the implications were vastly different.

What does it mean? Well, think about Lorian’s status and actions, and you’ll probably figure it out.

Watching Ark Lich explode in rage, I let out a bitter laugh.

“Lorian, you crazy bastard.”

Should’ve waited until he was fully powered up to confront him.