[Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]

    Chapter 89

    Necropolis

    Kaylen was well aware of this place.

    ‘A secret stronghold of dark sorcerers, established by the followers of the Demon Realm.’

    Before the Demon King’s descent, the first thing dark sorcerers would secretly construct was a Necropolis. This was because the Middle World had a relatively lower concentration of dark mana compared to the Demon Realm.

    A Necropolis, created through offerings of human bones and flesh, served to supplement this lack of dark mana.

    ‘The scale isn’t particularly large... but the dark mana here is substantial.’

    In his past life, there had been larger Necropolises during the subjugation campaigns, but the sheer amount of dark mana emanating from the structure itself seemed greater than any he had encountered before.

    “Darkness, reveal yourself.”

    As the Saintess stood up and stretched out her hand, the dark mana pouring from the Necropolis became visible even to ordinary eyes.

    Thick black mana, rising like smoke in all directions, was overwhelming—engulfing not only the Necropolis but also the surrounding garden.

    And from within that ominous darkness...

    “Hah.”

    A single strand of dark mana was connected to the head of the First Prince, Diether Hart.

    As the onlookers gazed at the prince’s head, Diether Hart himself looked up.

    Upon seeing the black strand, he let out a sigh.

    ‘The Saintess... what a nuisance.’

    Bormian, the one controlling Diether Hart, was irritated.

    He had planned to lay low and stall for three more days until his true body arrived, yet now the hidden Necropolis was exposed so easily.

    Feigning ignorance, he spoke up.

    “What is the meaning of this? Why is that black thing connected to me?”

    “This is dark mana. It signifies that Your Highness is connected to the Necropolis.”

    “I... I’m connected to dark mana?”

    Bormian manipulated Diether Hart’s body to feign surprise, but the expression on his face was unnaturally stiff.

    So much so that even those loyal to the prince found it strange.

    His left face showed shock, while his right remained expressionless, as if paralyzed.

    ‘W-what? Why can’t I control it properly...?’

    Alarmed, Bormian looked up.

    The dark mana linking Diether Hart was gradually fading in color.

    “Your Highness, are you familiar with the Black Skull?”

    “B-Black Skull, you say?”

    Due to the complete paralysis of the right side of his face, his speech slurred awkwardly.

    Step. Step.

    As the Saintess approached with cold eyes, a chill ran down Bormian’s spine.

    He had borrowed power from a Demon Legion Commander, believing no human could threaten him.

    Yet now, witnessing the divine power radiating from the Saintess''s armor, he felt an instinctive fear.

    “The Black Skull—those who wished to become demons, offering their bodies and souls to the Demon Realm. They replace the flesh they sacrificed with new bodies and become puppets known as ‘Marionettes,’ controlled by others.”

    ***

    “Marionettes are indistinguishable from ordinary humans at a glance, making it difficult to identify them... but here at the Sanctuary, we’ve found a way to detect them.”

    “You mean suspicion?”

    “No, not suspicion.”

    The Saintess spoke with a radiant smile.

    “I am certain.”

    Chiiiizzzzz...

    With the sound of flesh burning, Diether Hart’s forehead was momentarily engulfed in a brilliant white light.

    “Ugh... ugh...”

    His entire face then froze into an expressionless state, as if completely paralyzed.

    Like a puppet with its strings cut, he collapsed to the ground, his joints twisting unnaturally.

    “O-Oppah!”

    Violet gasped and rushed toward him.

    Chiiiiik...

    But before she could reach him, black smoke rose from his body, and his flesh began to melt away.

    Without leaving even a final word, Diether Hart vanished suddenly.

    Violet''s eyes filled with despair and fury.

    “Saintess! What have you done?!”

    “Look at his bones.”

    “His... bones...”

    As the smoke cleared, the bones revealed beneath Diether Hart''s melted flesh were black, emanating a strange dark mana.

    His arms, legs, and torso bones were all intact, but...

    “His skull is missing, isn’t it?”

    “That is proof that he was a Black Skull.”

    Thud.

    Violet collapsed to the ground.

    Her brother... had truly followed the demons?

    It didn’t feel real.

    “No... that can’t be...”

    Diether Hart.

    He was the only one she could truly open up to and rely on.

    The armor worn by the knight who arrived riding a dragon—

    It turned out to be a Mana Suit.

    Some of them, noticing the engraving on the gauntlet that read Myorn Workshop, lit up with recognition.

    “Mana Suit Expert, release.”

    As the White Knight spoke those words,

    his pure white armor instantly turned a brilliant shade of blue.

    Clank.

    For a moment, he bent his knees slightly.

    “Huh...?”

    Then, the White Knight vanished from sight.

    Not just the knights,

    but even the Saintess and the Holy Knights of the Sanctuary

    failed to track his movement.

    He reappeared about ten seconds later.

    Chhh...

    In the silent battlefield,

    a sharp rift-like sound resonated.

    “L-Look over there...”

    “The undead...!”

    The undead legion that had been standing in perfect formation—

    Their bodies now bore thin, radiant white slashes that cut clean across them.

    Over a thousand undead—

    All of them—

    Had been shredded apart without a chance to resist.

    Fwoosh!

    From their bisected torsos, pure white sacred flames erupted.

    The once-formidable undead legion could not withstand the fire and burned helplessly.

    “Whoa...”

    A thousand foes felled with a single strike.

    The legendary tales of a Sword Master—

    Tales that most believed to be mere exaggerations,

    especially among the knights who wielded aura—

    were now unfolding before their very eyes.

    The knights stood in stunned silence,

    witnessing the true power of a Sword Master.

    “Is this the end?”

    Beyond the annihilated undead army,

    the White Knight murmured those words and took a step forward.

    [Kuhuhuhu... Impressive. Truly impressive! Go on, flaunt your sword even more, Sword Master!]

    Despite the utter destruction of the undead legion,

    a voice filled with amusement echoed from the Necropolis.

    [Prove your worth. Only then will my efforts be recognized by my master... Hehehe. This time, things will be interesting.]

    Rumble.

    The inner walls of the bone-formed Necropolis began to collapse,

    causing the ground to split apart.

    From within, one after another, black coffins slowly rose to the surface.

    The coffin lids began to open on their own.

    [Vampires, arise.]

    “We shall obey our master’s command.”

    Whoosh. Whoosh.

    One by one, the vampires inside the coffins began to rise.

    Kaylen frowned as he observed them.

    ‘Vampires... active in broad daylight?’

    Vampires, known for their weakness to sunlight—

    Yet here they were, moving effortlessly under the bright sun.

    ‘And their complexion... They’re different from the vampires I know.’

    Unlike the pale, lifeless creatures of legend, these vampires appeared almost as healthy as ordinary humans, with a natural flush to their skin.

    They were nothing like the vampires of a thousand years ago.

    Thud. Thud.

    A total of 200 vampires slowly emerged from the coffins.

    They were young men and women, all clad in matching uniforms of a similar style.

    Violet, watching from behind, felt an eerie sense of familiarity.

    ‘Those faces... Could it be...?’

    A grim premonition settled in her chest.

    Among the 200, too many faces looked familiar.

    [Hahaha! Violet, do you see them?]

    As if to confirm her worst fears, a chilling voice echoed from the Necropolis.

    [The Meisters you brought with you. Aren’t they splendid?]

    [Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]