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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“It’s good to see you again.”
“…….”
“So, you said I was arrogant?”
“…….”
“I’d appreciate an answer.”
“…Why?”
“Hmm?”
“Why haven’t you been purged yet? You should have been discovered long ago….”
I chuckled at his words.
It was simple.
I had grown too quickly for them to notice, while simultaneously avoiding any conspicuous acts of evil that would warrant purging by other factions.
I had accurately identified who to align myself with, and clearly distinguished between friend and foe, thus avoiding being swept away by the current and killed.
Thanks to that, I was able to grow this much without significant interference.
I didn’t explain this to him.
I hadn’t kept this bishop alive just to savor a petty sense of superiority.
In fact, my earlier provocation was merely a playful whim, prompted by his pathetic appearance.
While it might have been deeply humiliating for him, more effective than any death threat, it was just a small prank to me.
I stopped playing and asked him,
“Do you want to live?”
“What…?”
“You haven’t begged for death. You haven’t even attempted suicide. Are you clinging to a sliver of hope?”
The bishop couldn’t bring himself to answer.
“If you give me the information I want, I might let you live. A transaction, of sorts.”
Of course, I had no intention of keeping my word.
Just as I had deceived one of the leaders of the raiding party that had harassed Doriem, I would deceive him too.
Perhaps surprised by my offer, the bishop asked, his eyes wide,
“R-really?”
“If the information you provide is satisfactory, then perhaps. As you can see, to me, you’re… insignificant.”
“I-I see.”
‘You see, my foot.’
He was agreeing with me, even as I belittled him.
‘Perhaps this will be easier than I thought?’
I had anticipated a difficult interrogation. I had assumed he would have deep faith, being dispatched here.
I had been prepared to resort to torture to extract information, but it seemed I wouldn’t need to.
The bishop was about to betray the Empire without hesitation.
It was almost suspicious.
“Then swear it.”
“Hmm?”
“Swear on the demon you’ve contracted with, that you’ll guarantee my safety….”
“I haven’t contracted with any demon, though?”
“…What?”
“And besides, are you in any position to make demands? You seem to be mistaken….”
I materialized demonic energy in my hand.
“I can kill you at any time. I’ve only kept you alive because I’m curious about the situation within the Empire and the Goddess Religion’s infiltration of the Six-Kingdom Alliance.”
While I could glean some basic information, intelligence on an enemy nation was difficult to acquire, and information known to a bishop was even more valuable.
That’s why I intended to extract it from him.
However, I wasn’t going to tolerate his arrogance. I had the power to turn his world into a living hell at any moment.
While the bishop hesitated, the remaining Jutus forces were annihilated.
I silently stopped the flow of magic, and the sight of the undead standing amidst the slain humans clearly conveyed the battle’s outcome.
“Choose. Will you become one of them? Or will you grasp at this sliver of hope?”
The bishop’s betrayal was swift.
“What do you want to know?”
“First, fix your tone.”
His tone changed instantly, and he began to divulge information about the current situation within the Holy Empire and the Goddess Religion’s operatives within the Six-Kingdom Alliance.
‘Truly a group of fanatics.’
Surprisingly, the Empire seemed relatively unified, with minimal internal strife.
While not completely absent, it wasn’t significant enough to be a concern.
The current Pope was a zealous figure, determined to achieve his grand ambition within his lifetime, and ironically, he possessed the ability to match his ambition.
I couldn’t help but sigh.
As soon as he finished divulging the necessary information, the bishop knelt before me.
“I’ll defect.”
“Hmm?”
“That’s all the information I have. I want to defect. I’ll abandon the Empire and become a citizen of the kingdom….”
Ironically, the bishop seemed to have anticipated that I wouldn’t spare him.
Despite that, he had revealed everything, hoping to become a citizen of the kingdom and atone for his sins.
“You’re a strange one. You paint the Empire as a group of fanatics, yet you, dispatched here, cling to life like an old man.”
Even at Athena’s words, the bishop remained prostrate, repeating his desire to defect.
Naturally, I had no intention of accepting him.
He was babbling about converting to the Earth Mother Religion and serving them…
‘Why would I accept that?’
There was no reason to accept someone I couldn’t trust.
However, that didn’t mean he was completely useless.
“Are you serious about defecting?”
“Yes!”
“There might be a way….”
“I’ll do anything…”
He almost reverted to his previous tone but managed to restrain himself.
“Become a Lich.”
“…….”
The bishop fell silent at my words.
Lich.
While the term usually referred to high-ranking undead mages, priests, who used divine magic, could also become Liches.
Mummy Priests, while called priests, were essentially warlock’s, manipulating demonic energy and magic, focusing on supporting and strengthening other undead. They were called priests because they used to be priests in life.
The reason for using the corpses of priests was their familiarity with supporting roles, and the lingering traces of divine power, a force that transcended human limitations, similar to mana.
While mages could be turned into Mummy Priests and priests into Skeleton Mages, it was inefficient.
At my suggestion, Bishop Boledi’s face went blank.
However, it was only for a moment. Soon, his expression turned to anger.
“You said you’d let me live!”
“Is becoming a Lich suicide for a mage?”
“That’s…”
“You’re simply changing species. And besides, even if you convert, do you think anyone would trust a traitor? You’d be sent to dangerous areas and eventually be caught and executed by Inquisitors.”
Inquisitors weren’t even necessary. He would be killed on sight the moment he was discovered.
At the mention of Inquisitors, Bishop Boledi’s face paled.
Being a member of the Goddess Religion, he would be well aware of their methods.
“However, if you become undead, it’s a different story. You might not know this, but unless you commit suicide, defiance is impossible.”
“…Are you telling me to become your slave?”
“I’m telling you to become someone I can trust.”
“Is a Lich a person?”
“Personally, I think so. They have their own will, thoughts, and can even speak. Why wouldn’t they be considered people?”
“…….”
“This is my only offer. Otherwise… well, I can try talking to them, but do you think the Earth Mother Religion would accept a traitor from the Goddess Religion?”
While they might consider it, given their positive view of me… why would I bother?
At my words, Bishop Boledi seemed to realize the absurdity of his request, recalling the Goddess Religion’s persecution of other faiths.
He had blurted it out in desperation, but it was a nonsensical request.
Not everyone who requested conversion was accepted.
While a bishop wasn’t weak, he wasn’t valuable enough to warrant accepting him, considering the past persecution they had endured.
Moreover, it was doubtful he would retain his power after converting. It was uncertain if the Earth Mother Goddess would grant him such favor.
Realizing that he would likely be killed if handed over to the Earth Mother Religion, the bishop’s eyes lost focus.
“…I’ll do it.”
“Hmm?”
“I’ll become a Lich.”
Ultimately, unwilling to die, he clung to life.
I hadn’t expected him to accept, but since he had, that was enough.
‘A new test subject?’
Honestly, I had never turned a living human, especially a priest, into a Lich.
It was a whim, a spur-of-the-moment suggestion, but the bishop, driven by his desire to live, had accepted.
I was lucky it was even possible. It couldn’t be done by force.
I chuckled softly.
“Then… go to sleep for now.”
I intended to take him as a prisoner for now.
While I could have taken him secretly, I decided to take him as an official prisoner, so I could share the information I had gained.
‘No one can take him from me anyway.’
I didn’t need to be as secretive and cautious as before.
“A living human… into a Lich….”
Eryan was horrified, but I ignored him.
I put Boledi to sleep and instructed Annelise to load all the prisoners onto the carriages.
Some were terrified by the Skeletal Steeds, while others, realizing they were being taken by a necromancer, panicked and tried to resist, but subduing them wasn’t difficult.
As we approached the former front lines, a Doriem knight, noticing us, was stunned.
“This is…”
“I’ve annihilated Jutus’ main force. These are my spoils.”
It was hard to deny, considering the dozens of carriages and the thousand Skeleton Warriors before him.
The Bone Golem, the Draugr, and the other imposing undead added to the scene’s credibility. Furthermore, they would likely be aware of my identity by now, so he had no choice but to let us pass.
As we left the front lines, I parted ways with Eryan.
“I’ll never forget this.”
He never addressed me informally again.
My power to single-handedly wage war, my ruthless efficiency, and my willingness to turn living humans into undead had shattered his previous perception of me.
I told him he had done well and wished him well, ending our brief acquaintance.
“Athena.”
“Yes?”
“Take these, and go back to Lineta with Annelise. I’ll meet you there after speaking with the lord of Doriem.”
“Sure.”
There was no need for them to stay.
I assigned all the unnecessary undead to her.
The lord of Doriem greeted me enthusiastically, overjoyed at the news of Jutus’ defeat.
He seemed to have no doubts about my report.
Considering my power and the royal backing, it was understandable.
“You should be able to handle the surrounding territories on your own.”
“Of course. They were only a threat because they were united. Scattered, they’re nothing to fear. And without the priests and paladins that bolstered their strength, the other territories are insignificant.”
He was treating me as an equal, or even a superior.
My accomplishments had clearly impressed him. He hadn’t expected me to resolve the situation so quickly.
Moreover, I had arrived with minimal forces, receiving only a single mercenary as support.
Despite that, I had achieved remarkable results in such a short time… The fact that I was sent by the royal family and was a recognized warlock from a neighboring territory also contributed to his cautious respect.
He was right to be cautious. If Lineta and Doriem ever clashed, the outcome was obvious.
It was best to maintain a good relationship.
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