Chapter 39
—Uwoooaaah!
A massive tree, hollowed out like a cave.
Inside it, the count had been resurrected through the power of the Jewel of Life.
Unlike the ghouls lurking outside, Eric faced the grotesque sight of the count, his upper body grotesquely swollen, and instantly frowned in disgust.
Kwaaang—!
“Ugh! C-Count!”
Every swing of his massive right arm crushed walls and ceilings as if they were tofu.
Watching the knights of the Winterrose family scrutinize the count with confused expressions, Eric turned to look at Leona before things got out of hand.
“Lady Leona. I’m counting on you.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Eric subtly gestured toward the now-undead count. Leona nodded and stepped forward to confront him.
“My lord, I…”
“Don’t worry. Make it as big as possible. With a body that size, you won’t miss.”
While she went alone to face the count, Eric prepared his magic behind her for Lilian, who was hesitatingly calling to him.
Unlike the time in the Nivossus Mountains, where it was just him and Leona, now there were several knights capable of protecting her in an emergency.
“…Yes! Leave it to me!”
Seeing Lilian clutch her staff firmly and step back, Eric quietly smiled and glanced at Malefica.
“You could have said something as soon as you felt that.”
“I couldn’t help it. I only sensed it just now.”
Eric narrowed his eyes in puzzlement.
Ever since discovering the undead corpses outside, which seemed to be the work of the count’s group, he had assumed a necromancer would be present where the Jewel of Life was.
This monster… If Malefica didn’t notice until the undead count appeared, it means she let the jewel run wild and ran off immediately.
A necromancer cannot fully utilize their power in a place brimming with life.
In a forest, with the Jewel of Life present, this limitation was even more severe.
A necromancer capable of controlling undead in such a forest would have earned great acclaim.
Sighing, Eric accepted the situation.
If I could catch the culprit behind this anomaly, not only would it be a great achievement, but I could uncover the mastermind… Well, it’s safer than having a named necromancer involved anyway.
“What’s the plan now?”
“What plan? We handle it. Even the appearance alone makes it impossible to see him as the same count. The knights will understand.”
Having resolved it mentally, Eric clicked his tongue at the knights still in panic.
Not long ago, they had shaken off hesitation facing the undead commander. And yet, here they were again.
Of course, even though he had become a monster, pointing a sword at one’s lord is never easy.
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
Vwoooom—
Kwaaang—!
“…Can you handle that monster with this team?”
Eric glanced briefly at the Winterrose knights, his eyes complex.
Then, swinging his right hand, he watched as the surroundings crumbled like paper and shrugged.
What was I worried about…
“What can’t we do? We caught him with only three people in the Nivossus Mountains.”
By sheer numbers, the count’s strength and endurance were over twice that of Leona’s.
Even though she was one of the few top-tier heroes in the game, and Eric had cleared “Protect Humanity” countless times, he was only level 26 and nearly powerless compared to this monster.
Still, there was no need to overthink how to take him down.
Behind him was Lilian, one of the top three heroes in firepower among all heroes.
“Sir Berl.”
“Ah… Hero.”
“How long will you just stand there? You were supposed to recover the count’s belongings and make Miss Ophelia the matriarch! Was your determination outside all lies?”
“B-but…”
Eric glared at the Winterrose knights, scolding them.
Leona had been holding off the count alone due to her agility, but in the narrow cave, she couldn’t keep facing such a massive opponent alone forever.
The knights hesitated at the sight of the transformed count, but each was trained. Though individually they might be overwhelmed by the giant arm, together they could tackle a named monster.
“…Sorry. I showed a disgraceful sight again just now.”
Berl, snapping out of it, nodded toward the now-undead count.
“Draw your swords! Help Lady Leona stop the count!”
Srring—
“Uwaaahhh!”
Berl drew his sword and charged at the count, followed by a dozen knights.
“Target the legs! Stop him from moving first!”
“Don’t confront him head-on. Dodge in and aim for the neck!”
Once the knights joined, Leona no longer had to desperately dodge attacks alone. Scratches began appearing on the count’s body.
Although the Jewel of Life’s rampant power gave him bizarrely high regeneration, small wounds healed quickly—but even the brief flow of blackish blood was enough to corner him.
Though already dead for days, if all his blood drained, the swollen body would collapse like a deflated balloon.
Only one thing worries me…
Eric watched the battle from behind, guarding Lilian and Malefica, and eyed the count with an ominous gaze.
Indeed, the count had not yet used his full strength despite being pressed back.
—Groooaah… Uwoooaaah!
Bang! Bang! Kwaaang!
For a moment, doubt struck. The count, drenched in blackened blood, roared and slammed the ground with his massive arm.
“What’s happening all of a sudden…?”
“Perhaps it’s his final struggle?”
“Better step back, everyone…”
Kugugugugu—
Pfwak—!
Everyone paused as the cave shook violently. Skeletal, dry arms burst from the ground all around.
“U-Undead!”
“Don’t panic! Push forward while half of them are out! Focus on holding them back!”
Necromancy.
One of the two traits on the undead count’s status window.
Of course… I knew this would happen.
Seeing the undead surround them, Eric swung his sword at the one rushing Lilian first.
Pook—
“Hero! Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Protect the priestess and Lady Lilian.”
He kicked away the first undead with his sword, then followed Berl’s lead to guard the two.
“Ugh! These guys are stronger than expected!”
“Their… arms? I cut them earlier!”
“Regeneration…?”
Even though the knights initially seemed to gain the upper hand, the rapid regeneration and reattachment of severed limbs quickly shifted the battle.
Does the Jewel of Life’s effect extend to them too?
“Don’t fight them—just push them back! Hold them off! If the necromancer falls, so will the undead… ugh!”
Eric adjusted the strategy, focusing on buying time for Lilian to finish her spell rather than eliminating the undead immediately.
Suddenly, a ghoul grabbed his ankle roughly, making him miss blocking it.
“What the…?”
—Groooaah!
“Damn… Lady Lilian!”
One severed arm, wriggling on its own, had latched onto his ankle. Eric stomped it off, noticing a ghoul had reached Lilian.
Kwaak—
“Ugh…”
Pain shot up his arm.
“Lord! My lord!”
Before the ghoul could strike Lilian, Eric extended his arm, biting through the thick coat, and grimaced as its teeth clamped onto his forearm.
Squeak— Pook—
—Grooo…
Thunk—
“Hero! Are you okay?”
“My lord… your arm…”
“…I’m fine. Keep casting. The only way to finish this is to defeat the count!”
After clearing away the undead, Eric patted Lilian, worried, and approached Malefica.
“Miss Malefica.”
“I know. Show me the wound.”
Beneath her shredded sleeve was a deep, gruesome bite. No venom, thankfully, but the flesh was nearly detached.
—Ugh…
“What… what is it?”
“The undead…”
With the knights protecting her, Malefica began treating Eric’s wounds. Suddenly, the undead froze, and Eric looked at the count curiously.
—U-uh… Ber…l?
Unlike before, the count’s eyes regained a hint of clarity, scanning his surroundings.
“Count? Count! Are you coming to your senses?”
After fumbling, he muttered something. Berl, cautious, approached.
—Ophelia… the girl…
“The lady came to help find the count but is now leaving the forest with the soldiers! Luckily, she’s unharmed. If we retrieve the count’s belongings… no, the jewel…”
Perhaps after repeatedly regenerating, the Jewel of Life stabilized enough for the count to regain some clarity.
—Jewel… ah… aaah!
“C-Count?”
“Count! What’s happening?”
At the mention of the jewel, the count noticed it beating like a heart in his chest and screamed, clutching his head.
“Watch out, everyone…”
The count, losing reason again, swung his arm at Berl. Leona tried to intervene, but his massive arm struck before she could.
Creeeeeaaak!
“Ugh…”
Thunk—Crash—!
“Berl! Lady Leona! …Damn!”
The two knights flew helplessly across the floor. Eric pushed away Malefica and rushed forward.
“My lord! The spell is ready! If we fire now… L-lord?”
While Eric checked the two, Lilian, having completed her spell, looked around in panic.
“Lady Leona! Wake up!”
“U-My lord.”
The knights, thrown and disarmed, were conscious but battered. Eric exhaled in relief, seeing Leona barely calling to him.
Though she had been struck, she avoided serious injury, though her arm was broken from bracing herself.
“Good. She’s conscious. Thank goodness…”
—Uwoooaaahhh!
Boom—Thud—!
Just as he was relieved, a roar sounded behind him. Eric bit his lip and stood.
“…Miss Malefica.”
“Yes, speak.”
“Take care of Lady Leona. If possible, the other knights too.”
Leona and Berl were incapacitated. Though many knights remained, their condition could not be considered good after the prolonged fight.
“…Are you sure you can do this alone?”
“There’s no choice. If not me, it falls to you.”
The Jewel of Life went berserk again, and the undead that had paused started moving.
With Leona down, the tired knights couldn’t handle the brute.
“No, my lord! Too dangerous… ugh!”
Seeing Eric turn toward the count, Leona realized his plan and struggled to stand.
“Lady Leona, don’t move. You’ll worsen your wounds.”
Leona clutched her broken arm, grimacing. Malefica shook her head at the sight.
Passing the knights fighting undead, Eric approached Lilian, who was anxiously stomping her feet.
“Lady Lilian! Is the spell ready?”
“Ah, yes! It’s finished, but…”
“Then fire it.”
Eric cut through the knights and stood before the count, who had been swinging his massive arms freely.
“W-What, my lord?”
“I’m fine. Hurry!”
The narrow cave, blocked by regenerating undead, left no escape.
Everyone would die if delayed. Eric shouted at hesitating Lilian.
“B-but…”
“Lady Lilian.”
Leona, seeing her hesitate, spoke urgently:
“No. You can’t.”
A half-powered mage using all her energy at once could barely withstand the spell. Leona knew the danger.
“Grr… What are you doing! Fire it now!”
“Don’t fire!”
“Ah… ugh…”
Caught between the shouts, Lilian gripped her staff tightly.
“Hurry!”
After a moment’s hesitation, she made her decision, closing her eyes tightly.
Fwah—
Hot air surged, and through half-open eyes, Eric smiled silently at her.
Good job.
Braaam—!
A massive fireball erupted, emitting searing heat that made everyone sweat, filling the cave with light from the intricate magic circle.
“No….”
The blinding white light obscured everything.
“My lord!”
Leona’s voice rang desperately through the cave.
Kwaaang—!
