Chapter 37
‘One, two, three… hmm. Around thirty, maybe?’
In the wide clearing, thick tree roots jutted out from the ground in chaotic patterns.
Eric, having moved forward with his companions while Ophelia and the Winterrose forces fell back, counted the approaching undead one by one with a calm expression.
‘A mercenary captain and a knight… all troublesome types. Well, at least they were operating far from the border in the northern regions, so that’s a relief.’
The strength of the undead generally reflected their abilities in life.
The mercenary captain leading dozens of men and the officially appointed knights were formidable, far stronger than most monsters. But not all mercenaries or knights were equal in skill.
For example, first were the Emperor’s personal guard protecting the capital. Second were knights of domains bordering other countries or monsters, like the Duke’s family. Third were academy graduates assigned elsewhere due to lower grades. And finally, independent knights or those of minor baronial houses—or in families like Winterrose, who had little combat experience—were considered a tier below.
In practice, their abilities and observable stats reflected this hierarchy.
“Lord Eric… will it really just be us?”
“Do you think we should ask them to come back now?”
Leona and Lilian spoke nervously as ghouls gradually closed in from all sides. The numbers had decreased compared to before, but facing what had been over a hundred soldiers now with only four people was naturally worrying.
But there was no real need to be afraid.
Eric wasn’t foolish enough to sacrifice himself for something he couldn’t win.
“It’s fine. We can win.”
When facing undead, there were two main points to keep in mind: their limited weak points and the lethal toxins carried by long-dead, decayed corpses. Unlike living creatures, undead only had certain vulnerable spots, and the postmortem toxins could infect even minor wounds.
“Lady Malefica, you know antidote magic, right?”
“Of course. I am a priest, after all.”
Still, in ordinary situations, that would be enough.
In this case, there was little need to worry. The ghouls of Dalnaerim Forest had not been resurrected by strong negative energy but were instead caused by the runaway effects of the <Jewel of Life>. Unlike typical ghouls, which required months to fully lose vitality and become dangerous, these corpses had been dead barely two weeks, so their toxins were not overly threatening.
And if necessary, Malefica could neutralize the toxins.
‘Of course, their stats are still high since the corpses are intact.’
Whoosh—
Eric drew his sword from his waist and raised it over the campfire.
Though these ghouls had slightly higher stats than normal, that was only in comparison to other corpses. They were nothing compared to the undead made from the bodies of dukes’ knights or heroes that he would face later on the battlefield.
‘Undead are generally slow. In a way, they’re safer than <Frost Wolf> for me.’
Ssshhh—
Watching the blade glow red in the firelight, Eric fixed his sword on a ghoul that had nearly reached him.
Dangerous or not, he just needed to avoid getting hit.
Of course, that was easier said than done. Defeating dozens of undead without taking a single hit was impossible for most heroes.
‘If I can’t handle this, I can’t exactly call myself a veteran.’
Eric Ather
Level: -99
Strength [8]
Agility [7]
Stamina [9]
Mana [3]
Traits: <Indomitable>, <Neurotoxin>, <Frost Step>
Even comparing agility, his stats were overwhelmingly superior. Yet he had the experience and knowledge to compensate for any deficiency.
Being a powerless, goddess-abandoned Level -99? That didn’t matter. Not at this moment.
-Whrrr—
“Lord Eric!”
From behind, Lilian shouted urgently as a ghoul raised its sword, closing in.
Screeech—!
The dull sound of steel meeting steel echoed through the clearing. Eric’s precise strike cut the ghoul’s wrist, leaving it dangling, unharmed due to its mediocre agility but decent stamina.
Ssshhh—
The scent of burning flesh filled the air as the heated blade sliced into its soft tissue.
Thunk—
Clang—
The ghoul’s hand fell along with the sword it held.
Uuurgh…
Seeing the ghoul disarmed, Eric immediately struck at its defenseless neck.
Slaaash—
The sword cut perfectly between the vertebrae, and the ghoul’s head tilted to the side. Eric frowned.
‘It’s easier to target weak points than on four-legged beasts…’
Unlike other undead, the ghouls had barely decayed, leaving their faces almost as they had been in life.
‘Still, it’s unpleasant.’
Looking down at the head on the ground, Eric rolled it slightly with his foot to inspect it and stuck out his tongue in disgust.
If someone like him, a complete stranger, found it unpleasant, how much worse must it have been for knights who faced them daily?
The memory of the soldiers staring at the fire in shock crossed his mind.
[Critical Hit!]
[You struck the enemy’s weak point at the perfect timing!]
Despite the discomfort, ghouls were a favorable matchup. They were faster than him, but not too fast to react to their movements. Even with weak stamina, hitting their vital points at the right moment made them manageable.
-Whrrr…
-Uuurgh…
Of course, their relentless aggression, charging even as their comrades died, was troublesome.
Vwoooom—
Ssshhh—!
-Grrrr…
Kwoong—
Time passed as Eric swung his sword tirelessly against the surrounding horde. Finally, after slaying the last ghoul, he wiped the blood off his blade and collapsed to the ground.
“Haaah… huff…”
He glanced over the corpses around the fire, heads cleanly severed, then grabbed his waterskin, drank deeply, and buried his head between his knees.
“Lord Eric… are you okay?”
“Hm?”
For a brief moment, Eric looked at Lilian, who hesitated before speaking, and smiled at her crestfallen face gripping her staff.
“I’m fine. Just tired. And don’t be so glum. When the time comes, I’ll make you do it whether you want to or not.”
“…Yes.”
Lilian, like any other mage forced to rely on protection during combat, surely felt uneasy.
Especially since using her magic could have ended the fight quickly, but with the <Jewel of Life> still unstable, wasting a valuable mage was not an option.
She seemed to sense this, trusting and waiting silently.
“Lord Eric… are you really okay?”
At that moment, Leona returned after finishing the cleanup, and Eric smiled warmly.
“See? That’s thanks to all the training I’ve had.”
“No, it’s entirely your accomplishment, Lord Eric.”
Blood soaked their armor, and bits of undead flesh were scattered everywhere. Eric had fought alongside Lilian and Malefica, but most of the ghouls had been dealt with by Leona, who managed over twenty by herself while he handled only five. He handed her a drink in acknowledgment.
“Now, let’s go. Before that damn tree grows any bigger.”
Watching her hesitate to drink, Eric stood and gazed up at the tree, now appearing even larger.
“Your Excellency’s relics… no.”
The runaway <Jewel of Life>.
The anomaly in Dalnaerim Forest.
“Time to put an end to this.”
It was time to root out the cause.
