The Necromancer Who Was Despised – Chapter 192

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Indeed, a Bone Dragon… It’s difficult for a single warlock to fully control a dragon’s corpse. A Bone Dragon would certainly be powerful, and if your connections are true, it might be possible to integrate the scattered dark elves. However, that wouldn’t be enough to revive them. The dark elves were once…”

“The current situation is quite chaotic.”

“Hmm?”

“The Six-Kingdom Alliance and the Demihuman Alliance have joined forces.”

“…….”

“For ordinary people, these times are nothing but terrifying.”

“But for me, it could be an opportunity. Yes… you’re right.”

It was also an opportunity for the demon king.

With the bone dust and the world in chaos, he might be able to descend.

It could potentially lead to the birth of a new threat.

However, I still chose to recruit Yeria.

‘I’m not trying to create a Bone Dragon.’

I had partially guided the conversation in this direction.

Neither the demon lord nor Yeria knew that the dragon wasn’t truly dead.

A Bone Dragon would undoubtedly be a powerful undead, a high-ranking undead, even capable of becoming a Legion Commander.

However, it was incomparable to the ‘Death Dragon’ that the dragon and I were planning to create.

‘Descent? Well, would he be able to?’

Descending while avoiding the gaze of the Death Dragon, who would retain his memories and act as a Legion Commander…

‘It would be difficult.’

It wasn’t something that could be achieved in a short time. Especially since it required secrecy.

That’s why I didn’t feel threatened, despite offering the bone dust as a condition.

The dragon hadn’t given me this advice for nothing.

Yeria fell silent, lost in thought.

Then, she chuckled and said,

“Huh, this is absurd. I didn’t even need to think. The demon lord has already agreed.”

It seemed the demon lord had initiated the contract termination. He must have really desired the bone dust.

“He’s sending one of his subordinate’s contractors and is asking for the bone dust. He’s promised a large amount of demonic energy and the soul of a high-ranking demon as compensation for breaking the contract. He said it’s for the Bone Dragon’s materials. What the…”

The soul of a high-ranking demon, while not the ideal material, was still suitable for a Bone Dragon.

The fact that it could be used as a material for a Bone Dragon indicated its significant value.

“What the…”

Yeria’s voice was filled with a mixture of anger and frustration.

It was understandable. She had spent a considerable amount of time working on the demon lord’s avatar.

That’s why I had anticipated a difficult negotiation.

She had invested so much time and effort.

But the situation had taken an unexpected turn.

‘Does this mean she’s lost her purpose?’

Perhaps I could recruit Yeria more easily than I had anticipated.

Of course, my efforts hadn’t been in vain.

She could have sought out another demon or demon lord to contract with, so I still needed to persuade her.

However, this incident, which had shaken her faith in demons, had created an opportunity for me.

“Fine. It can’t be helped. There’s no point in refusing now.”

What was the point of maintaining a contract with a demon lord who had abandoned her?

While she could have been more enraged, she seemed somewhat interested in my offer.

That’s why she was being relatively compliant.

Though, she was still undoubtedly angry.

A warlock soon arrived, and I handed him the bone dust of the Shuppetran.

The contract between Yeria and the demon lord was terminated, and the warlock vanished.

As promised, Yeria received the soul of a high-ranking demon.

Demons were meticulous about contracts, so it was a natural outcome.

I removed my robe, looking at the speechless Yeria.

She stared at me quizzically, and I released my seal.

Horror filled Yeria’s eyes.

Then, she burst into laughter.

“Blinded by the bone dust of a dragon slayer, he lost the perfect avatar. I see. So that’s why you used that artifact.”

“I’ll rebuild your catacomb.”

Unlimited demonic energy. And the dragon’s wisdom. With those, rebuilding the catacomb wasn’t a dream.

While she hadn’t seen the dragon yet, the promise of unlimited demonic energy seemed to have sparked hope in Yeria’s eyes.

“With that, the dark elves reclaiming dark magic and rebuilding their power won’t be a dream.”

I couldn’t do anything about their sheer numbers.

“And promise me one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“The elves. I want you to protect the dark elves from them.”

Come to think of it, the elves had attacked the dark elves.

“If you do that, I’ll even give my life for you.”

Protection from the elves.

It wasn’t a difficult request.

With the current situation, the elves wouldn’t have the resources to attack the dark elves.

“That’s not a problem.”

I readily agreed and extended my hand, and Yeria took it.

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Our return journey was uneventful.

The demon lord’s forces didn’t bother us, and having traveled this path before, avoiding the Imperial patrols wasn’t difficult.

Yeria, upon learning about the dimensional fragment, stored all her belongings within it.

“A miniature world… such a rare treasure, in the hands of an individual…”

She marveled at it, calling it a warlock’s dream, and upon meeting the dragon’s soul, she was speechless.

“Joining forces with you was the best decision I’ve ever made.”

She was repeatedly amazed by the dragon’s intact soul, despite his deceased body.

“With this, I no longer need the soul of a high-ranking demon…”

However, it was too valuable to discard, so she sealed it and spent the rest of the journey engrossed in conversation with the dragon within the dimensional fragment.

It was also beneficial for the dragon, as he could learn about dark magic from Yeria, necessary for transitioning from mana-based magic to demonic energy-based dark magic.

While he wasn’t completely ignorant of dark magic, Yeria’s knowledge, accumulated from years of research as a dark elf, was considerable.

Moreover, she possessed ancient dark elf magic, granting her access to the essence of countless dark magic spells, beyond her own expertise.

We agreed to rebuild her dungeon later, utilizing the dwarves.

While she was intrigued by the dimensional fragment, she didn’t want to establish a separate research lab within it, preferring her own space.

I understood. And there was no need for a dungeon within the dimensional fragment.

No one could enter without my permission anyway.

A simple lab would suffice.

Upon returning to Lineta through the Monster Forest, we were greeted by unexpected guests.

“Ahem.”

Crown Prince Lashder.

“You’re later than I expected.”

Third Princess Sharon.

“…….”

And Prina Lineta, the territory lord, who seemed resigned to the situation.

It must have been tiring for her, constantly having to greet such high-ranking individuals.

It was a busy time, and I wondered how she managed her internal affairs.

‘She’s short-staffed as well.’

“…Greetings, Your Highness and Your Royal Highness.”

I couldn’t just stare at them, so I greeted the two royals.

Honestly, while I had anticipated Sharon’s presence, I hadn’t expected the crown prince himself.

“Ahem. It’s good to see you again. And this is…?”

“My name is Kayla.”

“Lady Kayla. A pleasure to meet you. I heard you reached a higher plane immediately after becoming a free knight. It seems the certificate of appointment was a small help.”

“Yes. More accurately, it helped me realize a delusion I hadn’t been aware of.”

“To have played even a small role in the birth of a Master… I’m honored.”

“Thank you.”

…The crown prince’s behavior was strange.

Princess Sharon simply smiled, as if she found it natural.

The crown prince seemed to want to say more, but Kayla wasn’t particularly interested, so he turned to me.

“I’ve heard the conditions. So, you’ll eliminate House Priogaha?”

“Yes.”

“You and Lady Kayla are more than enough. And since you’re willing to act independently, I see no reason to refuse. I’ve accepted the deal.”

I had anticipated as much.

“I’ve prepared what you requested. I’m not sure why you need dwarves, but it’s a small price to pay. However, I must inform you that with our alliance with the Demihuman Alliance, and our agreement to gradually emancipate demihuman slaves, you won’t be able to own them permanently.”

“That’s not a problem. I wasn’t planning to use them as slaves anyway.”

“Hmm?”

I explained my reason to the puzzled crown prince.

“I have a dwarf working for me, and I promised to find his family in exchange for his cooperation.”

“I see. If that’s the case…”

“Therefore, I intend to choose the dwarves myself.”

“I understand. You may take as many as you find family members for.”

“Yes.”

“Very well. Let it be so.”

A crown prince wouldn’t come all this way just for this matter. And he didn’t seem to have any other business…

‘Did he really wait here during a civil war just to meet Kayla?’

He likely wanted to build a rapport with her.

And his ultimate goal was…

‘Recruitment…’

I doubted Kayla would agree. She had sworn a Mana Oath, and even without it, she wasn’t the type to be swayed.

However, seeing him act this way, despite our amicable relationship with the royal family, was unpleasant.

Of course, I had anticipated it. Though, that didn’t make it any less irritating.

Naturally, I didn’t show my displeasure outwardly.

He hadn’t crossed any lines ‘yet.’

Moreover, I still needed the royal family.

They were acting this way because they needed me as well.

And considering the impending conflict with the Empire, they needed me, and they weren’t completely unaware of my special relationship with Kayla, so they wouldn’t overstep their boundaries.

‘Or perhaps, they’re trying to recruit me as well?’

Perhaps they regretted sending me to Lineta.

A warlock directly under the royal family…

‘Well, I have no intention of accepting.’

My current arrangement was sufficient. I didn’t want to get any closer to the royal family.

“Considering what you’ve asked of us, you won’t be able to attack House Priogaha immediately. How long will it take?”

“It won’t be too long. Ten days at most.”

“Hmm. Ten days. Considering travel time… Ah, you don’t need rest, being undead. And a Master and a warlock’s stamina would be different as well. I thought it would take at least a month, but it seems twenty days will be enough.”

The crown prince, after some calculations, looked at me and said,

“Then we might be able to encounter Master Luces.”

“The Master isn’t on the front lines?”

“It seems there’s some internal conflict within the house. That’s why the front lines are currently quiet.”

While it seemed like the perfect opportunity to attack, it could also allow them to regroup, and they were currently trying to negotiate with some of their forces, which was why they were holding back.

They had prioritized minimizing casualties and securing a decisive victory over a swift attack.

“It seems House Priogaha isn’t among those they’re negotiating with.”

The crown prince nodded resolutely.

“They’ll serve as an example. They enjoyed preferential treatment as a Master, yet they betrayed us at a critical moment. We can’t accept them back now, even if they offer to return.”

Even a respected Master couldn’t be forgiven for certain transgressions.

“If possible, I would like you to capture Master Luces alive.”

He intended to execute him publicly. Naturally, I clarified that I had the right to his corpse.

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