Necromancer Of The Black Bible (141)

The Empire’s 15,000 troops finally arrived at Viscount Grovebern’s Brandstein City.

The Deputy Towermaster and 6th-circle Archmage Hyro stood with the garrison and watched the castle from a distant hill.

At that moment the Commander-in-Chief Aegis approached.

“What do you make of it, Chief of Staff?”

“Not very good.”

Hyro began to recount, one by one, the circumstances he had observed so far.

“The dispatch we sent before departure hasn’t arrived. And, moreover, that scene…”

Aegis’ brow deepened at Hyro’s words.

And with good reason—the appearance of Brandstein Castle was odd to anyone who saw it.

The castle was swathed in thick, dark clouds.

The stale, heavy wind and atmosphere felt oppressively bleak.

Hyro looked at the scene and continued speaking.

“I’ve read in old tomes that Necroturgy practitioners hate the light and use spells to summon clouds. I’ve studied water magic until now, but I’m not accustomed to this kind of aura and atmosphere.”

“Is it really that serious?”

Hyro nodded gravely at Aegis’ question.

“I hoped the rumors of a Necroturgy practitioner were false, but seeing it for myself I understand. There is a Necroturgy practitioner here.”

Hyro did not hide the truth.

Originally his intention had been to retrieve the silvanite ordered from Grovebern, but now the entire plan had to be revised.

Silvanite was important, but more important was retaking Brandstein City.

Then Aegis spoke.

“So, Chief of Staff, what do you think we should do now?”

A deep wrinkle formed between Hyro’s brows.

The most important thing on the battlefield is information.

Determining the enemy’s scale and strength is the priority.

Yet there was almost no information about the enemy now.

They could predict the presence of a Necroturgy practitioner, but knew nothing of his power or forces.

After gathering his thoughts for a moment, Hyro spoke.

“We must go through the villages in Viscount Grovebern’s domain and gather information. And…”

“Speak, Chief of Staff.”

At Aegis’ prompt, Hyro opened his mouth cautiously.

“If there truly is a Necroturgy practitioner here, we must request reinforcements from the capital.”

“Reinforcements? Isn’t that too hasty?”

“It is not.”

Hyro continued with a careful expression.

“It is recorded in ancient texts. To defeat the first Necroturgy practitioner, humanity united all armies. When that wasn’t enough, they even asked a dragon for help. The dragon Eckhart first appeared in the world to burn the undead hordes raised by a Necroturgy practitioner.”

“Eckhart is gone, but many who have mastered his magic still exist here. I believe their power would be sufficient to subdue the enemy…”

Hyro fell silent at Aegis’ remark.

Aegis is a Swordmaster before he is a Commander-in-Chief.

He specializes in the flame aura learned from the Eckhart line and is a commander who knows nothing of defeat.

Such a man, watching the situation, would not agree with Hyro’s call to summon reinforcements.

As Hyro expected, Aegis“ white brows twitched and spoke.

“I’ll leave reconnaissance to you, Chief of Staff. I intend to test the enemy.”

“Test? …”

“We must clash with them once.”

Though he didn’t explain in detail, Hyro understood what Aegis was thinking.

‘He underestimates the enemy.’

He thought it wouldn’t be too late to clash once and then judge.

But that is a misjudgment.

If they clash with a Necroturgy practitioner’s army, it becomes irretrievable.

Because the enemy multiplies by the number of fallen allies.

Hyro emphasized and explained this point.

But Aegis spoke as if he could not be convinced.

“Requesting reinforcements without first testing the enemy won’t be permitted by my pride and the pride of all the Swordmasters dispatched here.”

The conversation ended there.

Aegis, as if unwilling to listen further, looked around and gave orders.

“From now on we’ll fortify. Raise a vanguard. Muster the 3,000 fastest and most agile elite soldiers.”

“Yes!”

“Understood!”

Hyro sighed.

‘Fools…’

They do not know the terror of a Necroturgy practitioner.

They do not know the horror of undead legions that rise again even when slain.

‘It’s something you could understand with just a little thought…’

He was already frustrated at what could be done with those who insisted on learning only by crashing into things themselves.

But the knights’ bluntness and simplicity were necessary to Hyro.

It would be troublesome if they discovered the plan he had crafted.

‘First…’

He must gather information.

To confirm whether there truly is a Necroturgy practitioner.

If so, to ascertain what powers he possesses.

Based on that, he could write a report and send a courier so reinforcements arrive before foolish Aegis is annihilated.

‘By the way, has Leopold truly disappeared?’

Hyro felt something strange.

He had originally orchestrated these events to take Leopold’s position, but now he felt that Leopold was somehow needed.

Natasha watched the entire situation from atop the castle.

The 15,000 soldiers camped on the hill and the busy movements that followed.

Even by watching quietly, she could guess what they intended.

‘They’re forming a vanguard to hold a siege.’

From the formation’s size, the vanguard was about three thousand.

Seeing some cavalry ride to the outskirts, it looked like they were heading for other villages.

They were likely trying to gather information.

Natasha surmised that this battle would not be so easy.

‘The fact they aren’t advancing immediately with this small city suggests their commander is thoughtful.’

Quite a different feeling from Grovebern.

In any case, even if they go to the villages, they won’t obtain information.

Because she had already told them what to say.

-Tell them the castle was taken by the force that came out of the forest, but there has been no further movement since.

-This is an order. If you do not comply, there will be no next time.

Having already tasted the power of undead soldiers during the harvest period, they would not disobey Natasha’s orders.

Then a voice came from behind.

“They must be dealt with.”

She turned and saw Verdin.

He stood beside Natasha and looked down at the area below the castle.

“They seem intent on fortifying. From their movements they look quite experienced.”

“By the way, aren’t you leaving immediately?”

“We cannot go in this state.”

Having already been briefed, Natasha knew that the princess Verdin was seeking was located on the Empire’s eastern coast.

Natasha said they could go, but Verdin refused.

“We will depart after they withdraw.”

“Very well. But… where is Laerin?”

Verdin did not answer, and at that moment a soft voice whispered into Natasha’s ear.

-I am watching the situation from the very top of the castle.

“Ah, I see. Do you see anything noteworthy from there?”

-The Commander-in-Chief and the Chief of Staff seem to disagree. The Chief of Staff is cautious, but the commander appears a bit impatient.

It was welcome news to hear.

If the enemy commander is impatient, the fight will be that much easier.

-Still, do not be complacent. They have many who can use draconic-word magic.

Natasha nodded at Laerin’s remark.

Fire is lethal to undead soldiers.

Then Verdin spoke.

“One of their commanders is issuing a challenge. I’ll go out and see.”

“Are you sure?”

At Natasha’s question, Verdin smiled.

A smile brimming with confidence.

His gaze was not ordinary; perhaps he had learned where the princess was.

Natasha nodded in response.

“Very well. Go.”

“I will obey.”

Verdin bowed lightly and stepped outside.

He ran like the wind, mounted his skeletal horse in the stable, and gave orders to his subordinates.

“Come with me.”

Three undead he had raised in the last battle.

They were Gerhardt of the Iron Wall, Krause the Red Wolf, and the Fire mage Konrad.

They followed behind Verdin’s words.

Their movements differed from the other undead soldiers.

They had borne aura or Mana Rings in life, so even as undead they were exceptional.

The gates opened.

When Verdin appeared, a knight in front of him shouted.

“So you finally come out! What have you been doing all this time? Did you come looking for a place to flee?”

The elite soldiers standing behind the knight laughed at his provocation.

Nevertheless, Verdin drove his mount forward slowly.

As he crossed the gate, his faceless form was revealed. When three undead appeared behind him, the laughter vanished.

Because some recognized their faces.

“Ge… Gerhardt? Isn’t that Gerhardt of the Iron Wall?”

“Th-that’s Krause the Red Wolf. And behind him… could it be Konrad?!”

Many recognized them as representatives of Viscount Grovebern’s domain.

Most shaken was the provoking knight, Orion.

He wielded a mace as his main weapon and had long admired Gerhardt of the Iron Wall’s prowess.

Seeing that Gerhardt had become undead, he couldn’t believe his eyes.

Then a voice spoke inside his head.

-Do you fight with your mouth?

Even in his confusion, Orion bristled.

Verdin’s appearance was certainly strange, but he was not large in stature compared to him.

Orion was confident that if he channeled aura into his mace, he could defeat him in one blow.

“I’ve seen it all in my life. Fighting a faceless creature. I’ve crushed many faces with this mace, mind you.”

No answer came.

Instead, the three undead behind Verdin began to move.

Gueeeh-

Grouuh-

Ughaghagh-

The undead approached, each uttering strange groans.

Orion did not wait for them to approach.

“Kael! Ivelin! Garik! Charge!”

Three young knights waiting behind spurred their horses.

The knights swung their weapons, and the struck undead were flung far away.

But they soon rose again.

Detached arms and legs reattached, and they began advancing again.

At that moment, the tip of Kael’s spear, who stood at the far left, glowed red.

He pierced Konrad’s chest with the spear, and in that instant Konrad burst into flames.

After seeing him turn to ash in an instant, Kael spoke.

“They must be opposed with a flame aura.”

Garik, standing in the center, changed color at his words.

Because he could not use a flame aura.

Orion, glancing between Kael who had already struck down an enemy and Garik whose complexion had changed, spoke.

“Garik. Stand down. From now on we’ll handle this.”

“…Understood.”

Orion raised his aura and set his mace ablaze.

Ivelin likewise ignited the tip of his spear with flame.

Seeing those flames, Verdin charged without hesitation.