Unexpected Fortune (3)
“Uh, this…”
Laforey opened his mouth with a trembling voice, then closed it again.
Everyone stared at the object on the altar with stiff expressions.
Despite several layers of seals, a sinister aura was seeping out.
The overwhelming energy of death made those watching wrinkle their faces instinctively.
‘This is beyond what I expected?’
He thought he had become quite familiar with the energy after absorbing two fragments, but that thing was beyond what he had anticipated.
The first fragment was one he had from the Oath of Reversal, which had heavy defects causing it to suck in surrounding information.
The second fragment was one held by the Brokoslac Clan, which was tightly condensed and solidified…
‘That one looks to be in decent shape.’
Moreover, its size was as large as the combined size of the previous two fragments.
Of course, he didn’t think it would be perfectly divided into three, but he hadn’t expected such a significant difference.
“Then, I will begin. Please wait a moment.”
Laforey sighed lightly and closed his eyes to focus, and natural energy flowed out from his body.
It slowly moved towards the altar, coming into contact with the death energy seeping out from the seal.
Crackle—
The energy began to contaminate instantly.
He hurriedly cut the connection and wiped the cold sweat off his brow.
“Ahem, this is definitely different from what I thought. If I had simply thought of it as a concentration of black magic and started searching, I don’t know how much time I would have wasted.”
He stood there as if trying not to forget, staring intently at the energy flowing out from the fragment.
As he waited for him to finish his work, the remaining party members silently observed the scene…
“Heinrich.”
The saint approached and spoke.
“What is your impression of seeing that directly?”
Her cold gaze fixating on the fragment, unlike her usual demeanor, was an unforgettable sight.
“What can I say… It’s just impressive. Knowing that something like that exists, it’s no wonder it becomes a disaster for the continent.”
“It’s not containing it; it’s being devoured by it.”
The saint corrected his words firmly.
“A thousand years ago, that thing should have been at the very bottom of the dimension, yet it suddenly appeared on the continent for some reason.”
It was an even more intimate tale about the Heart of the Undead King.
It was supposed to exist in the abyss of Auterica, a garbage dump for all kinds of negative residues.
“It was likely the work of a black magician seeking greater power. To open the abyss and summon that, they must have been among the best on the continent back then…”
“The desire for power is endless once you fall into it.”
The saint sighed and nodded.
“I suppose sealing it was the best option now that it’s already on the continent. It’s impossible to open the abyss and send it back.”
No being could fully accept and handle that power.
It was part of the concept of ‘death’ that had been stagnant and concentrated over a long time at the bottom of the dimension.
‘Thinking like this makes the “Mind Hub” seem incredible all over again.’
Of course, it wasn’t necessarily because of the skill’s power but rather due to the structure of its activation.
Creating a facility to properly seal radiation requires great effort, but managing the entrance is less labor-intensive — it’s a similar issue.
‘Just blocking the radiation leaking out was enough for the “Mind Hub” to operate continuously, but that much can be handled.’
Undead are immune to mental attacks, so as long as he isn’t directly attacked in the mental world like last time, there shouldn’t be much danger.
“Honestly, I’m not sure why I brought Heinrich here and am saying this, but it must be the will of the Holy God. Surely this will help in the future.”
After finishing her words, the saint turned her gaze back to Laforey.
Heinrich glanced at the ceiling, feeling a certain nuance.
‘Holy God, it’s good that you’re helping but…’
He couldn’t shake off the feeling of being sidelined.
Though it was beneficial for both sides, it felt… off.
“Well, that should be enough.”
At that moment, Laforey took a deep breath and turned around.
It seemed the task of imprinting the energy was successfully completed.
“Then let’s leave.”
Following the words of the saint, they retraced their steps through the procedures they had entered.
Just as they all exited without any major issues other than Laforey looking a bit tired…
“Then.”
As soon as they exited the sealed area, a voice rang out.
He turned his head toward the sound, but by then, the Inquisition Officer had already vanished.
‘Indeed, extraordinary.’
He couldn’t be sure, but at the very least, he would classify them as a paladin-level individual.
A target to be most cautious of when dealing with future matters.
“It seems that Laforey overexerted himself today, so it would be best to rest and talk again tomorrow.”
With that, Archbishop Latinus, who had quietly been observing, immediately broke the atmosphere.
After guiding Laforey to the guest accommodations, Heinrich quickly headed towards the training grounds.
‘Done.’
Recalling the events that happened in the sealed area.
‘All the conditions have been met.’
Unexpected luck.
Now all that remain was to choose the execution date.
*
Hehehe… finally.
The moment he had been waiting for had come.
Moreover, he had also gained helpful information for the research he had been diligently conducting so far.
Finding a means to evade the saint’s tracking.
‘What the saint is tracking is ultimately the “Fragment of the Undead King.” So if I can hide that, it resolves the issue.’
The basic outline was to place the fragment in a spatial dimension and maintain the connection to supply energy.
A plan constructed by combining the subordinate spatial research he hadn’t been able to do due to lack of time and the still unutilized “Undying” skill.
However, the experiment creaked from the initial stage.
For some reason, he couldn’t manage to insert the fragment into the spatial dimension in any way.
At first, he thought it might be because of the massive energy contained within, so he was conducting related research…
But this time, through the saint, he learned the reason.
‘About the origin of the fragment. No wonder it couldn’t be inserted into the spatial dimension until now.’
It was an item summoned from the abyss of dimensions into the world.
It was naturally impossible to transfer it to another dimension through regular means.
‘Unless using existing beings free from the world’s laws.’
Right.
Like the Awakened Ones from another world.
‘Just like Hans had freely crossed dimensions with the fragments until now.’
Hans was an incredibly unique individual.
Despite being undead, due to the “Avatar” trait, he was recognized as an Awakened One, being connected to his main body.
Hahahat! In the end, using this body, it’s a problem that can be solved!
Rather than using the backside of dimensions, he had already made progress in creating a subordinate spatial dimension tied to individuals.
Crackle—
The space tore as Hans’ empty hand vanished into thin air, then returned.
A skull staff, which hadn’t been there just a moment ago, was now in his hand.
‘Though the space isn’t quite satisfactory yet, it should improve gradually.’
If he could equate this subordinate spatial dimension with Hans himself, wouldn’t it resolve the issue?
It seems some tuning is necessary. I’ll set the coordinates of the subordinate spatial dimension to overlap with my body and scatter the boundaries…
Since he had already grasped the outline, it wouldn’t take long.
After that, the remaining steps involved extracting the source with “Undying,” filling the subordinate spatial dimension, and maintaining the connection.
As the connection to the black magic route was established, it wouldn’t be hidden perfectly, but any deficiencies could be blocked similar to now by constructing concealment on his body.
That should be sufficient for traversing across the continent.
‘Yes, once this research is completed, I’ll be able to act freely even after obtaining the last fragment.’
Since Heinrich had advanced right to where the last fragment was sealed, it was virtually in Hans’ grasp now.
‘But I can’t go right away. I’m not prepared yet.’
Having personally checked, the last fragment’s size was similar to the combined sizes of the two fragments Hans had absorbed until now.
That meant it contained powerful energy.
It was impossible to hide that energy immediately after absorbing something like that.
It would take considerable time to stabilize…
‘But the church won’t wait for that.’
It would take a considerable amount of time to nullify that formidable seal, and absorbing the fragment would take a fair bit as well.
After probably getting the fragment, he would have to escape immediately.
The problem was what to do afterward.
‘If I release that much black magic without being able to handle it, the Guardians will immediately discover my location, and the pursuit will begin.’
So far, he had hidden remarkably well, but there was no way he could manage it right after absorbing a fragment that was as large as what he currently possessed.
‘Once summoned, I can’t avoid causing attention. Even if the main body moves far from home and gets separated right after summoning, I don’t know what means of tracking may follow.’
It wasn’t like they weren’t right next to starting conflict with the Buncheon Society.
Even if Hans’ connection was uncovered, he wouldn’t be immediately suspected; still, it was unsettling to take such risks now.
Hehe— It’s done! This is possible! Hahaha!
Moreover, there was no longer a need to take those risks.
After finishing this experiment, he would be able to properly conceal the fragment’s energy.
*
“Laforey, is your body feeling a bit better now?”
“Yes, it isn’t a major issue. I’m just a bit tired.”
The day after checking the Fragment of the Undead King.
They gathered again to discuss future plans regarding how to track the Undead King.
“First, my companions from the Elven Kingdom have found a suitable forest for the ritual nearby. They’re preparing things there.”
“Yes, I’ve heard that. Our side also supported with necessary materials. When can we start the search?”
“Hmm…”
At Archbishop Latinus’s question, Laforey paused to calculate something before seriously replying to them.
“The preliminary preparations should be completed within two days, so we should be able to start the actual ritual within three days.”
The church members nodded, agreeing.
They were also continuously searching but, it seemed they hadn’t achieved anything significant, so they had high expectations for this operation.
“I guess we should arrange the order in which to search the areas.”
Though checking all the forests in the continent might take up to a month, with luck, it could happen much faster.
Blip—
A large map of the continent was spread across the table.
Marked with numbers in regions densely populated with trees, it was a map prepared for this operation.
“Then let’s identify the most likely areas first. The larger numbers indicate the higher chances, right?”
The saint asked the man in the black priest robe sitting in attendance.
He was the Inquisition Officer who attended specifically for this operation.
“That’s right. I calculated the probabilities based on the progress of the previous search operations and the activities of that being until now.”
A gloomy voice emerged from beneath the hood and black mask.
‘This is the first time hearing the Inquisition Officer speak properly.’
Even the Inquisition Officer who guided them through the seals only had short answers before now.
Well, since the saint directly asked a question, it likely signaled how important this matter was to her.
Heinrich, standing behind the saint, casually scanned the map.
He was one who had a great interest in this search operation.
‘Let’s see, the Forest of Monsters… oh?’
Though the highest marked probability was around 50%, even considering that, the number was relatively low compared to other regions.
Even though it was the area where the descendants of the Undead King were first discovered.
‘It’s lower than I thought. It’s probably because it was searched thoroughly before, right?’
Since it was where Hans’ existence first started, Talia’s Undead King Subjugation Brigade had thoroughly investigated the vicinity.
Most likely, the results reflected in the figures.
“Well, then let’s prioritize this area first…”
“Basically, we should check here first…”
Those attending the meeting discussed and arranged order based on those numbers.
‘Looks like the Forest of Monsters will be pushed down the priority list. At this rate, I might finish my research before the search begins.’
He was planning to change his course of action according to the timing of the search, but the outcome didn’t seem too bad.
No, in fact, it was incredibly good.
If things went as planned, it couldn’t get any better.
