The Necromancer Who Was Despised - The Necromancer Who Was Despised chapter 272

I didn’t expect someone like him to come to the border to greet us.

“I’m Doynha. I sent someone separately, didn’t I?”

Even though I showed my discontent, Duke Atounu calmly replied.

“We’ve received contact. Since we’re also aware of the urgent situation, we’ve prepared a separate carriage. However…”

He looked at the Phantom Steed we were riding and smiled wryly.

“I’ve prepared a decent horse, but… I don’t think I can keep up with the Undead’s endurance. Still, using the carriage will be more comfortable.”

It’s indeed true that riding a horse is more tiring than riding in a carriage. Depending on the situation, we could even minimize our rest time.

If the Phantom Steed pulls the carriage and takes turns with the coachman…

“I’d like to have our conversation while moving. I have a lot of things I want to hear.”

I won’t hinder our movement. In fact, with the highest-grade carriage, we’ll receive help. With the Prime Minister accompanying us, we won’t have any issues with checkpoints.

At the same time, it seemed like he didn’t want to miss the opportunity to talk with me.

I didn’t know he would suggest this method, but it wasn’t like we were wasting time, so I saw no need to refuse.

I boarded the carriage he had prepared, and he brought out another Phantom Steed, tying a total of four horses.

The Prime Minister had even prepared a coachman from the Gobalt side, but to be honest, we didn’t really need one.

We didn’t need any horse-handling skills.

However, we did need someone to guide the way, so the coachman got on the carriage.

The interior of the carriage was quite spacious.

With only four people – me, Kaila Atina, and the Duke of Atonu – there was still plenty of room even if ten people were to ride.

Of course, the coachman was seated outside.

“It seems like you’re the only one riding, sir.”

The coachman wasn’t an ordinary person, but fundamentally, they sat outside.

In other words, there were no guards inside the carriage.

“It seems like you really just want to talk.”

After everyone got on, the coachman announced that we would depart, and I gave the Phantom Steed instructions to follow the coachman’s lead.

As soon as the carriage started moving, the Duke of Atonu opened his mouth.

“Firstly, I’d like to express my gratitude for your support. I had given up on the Spetran Kingdom, thinking it would collapse from internal conflicts, but I didn’t expect you to take control of the kingdom in such a short time.”

It seemed like he was treating me as the King of Spetran, considering I was representing the kingdom.

Currently, the Spetran Kingdom was struggling with internal conflicts and its national power had greatly declined, but given my achievements in the Hectio Kingdom and the support of the coalition of different species, it was a natural choice.

The Prime Minister of Gobalt was showing such a humble attitude because of this reason.

“I’ve heard many unbelievable stories about you, but it seems like they’re all true.”

“Too kind.”

I showed a disinterested attitude towards such unnecessary praise, and the Duke of Atonu briefly bowed his head before continuing.

“I’ve heard that the coalition of different species has sent support troops. It seems like you’re moving together through some means…”

“Yes, I’m with my Undead.”

“…I’m curious about the method, but I suppose it’s not my place to ask. Instead, I’d like to know more about the scale.”

“20,000. There are various species, but the core is composed of humans and Orcs.”

“May I ask about their quality?”

“They’re all elite. They’re the ones who participated in the neutral zone conquest.”

“Neutral zone… Ah, I’ve heard that you led that as well. You’ve succeeded in retaking it this time.”

Thanks to this, if we were to take control of the empire, they would have no choice but to back down, the Duke of Atonu said.

“The physical abilities of humans are well-known, and the Orcs’ magical abilities are also exceptional. Given that they’re all veterans of the neutral zone conquest, I’m sure I can trust them. It seems like the coalition of different species has made a big decision.”

At the same time, he added that it was my role that brought about such support, saying that I had done a great job.

“However, I know that they are elite and that the Empire’s military power is not to be underestimated, but the Empire’s military power is not to be underestimated either.”

My opponent in the neutral zone was Cardinal Lirin.

From noble mtl dot net

To be precise, the Empire’s elite forces, which were deployed at the forefront, clashed with the Allied Forces of Different Species, while I faced a part of the direct priestly unit, a master-level holy knight, and some reserve troops and logistics units.

Although we achieved an overwhelming victory without Tinus, it was only possible because the Allied Forces of Different Species took on the Empire’s elite forces.

Before facing them, the Empire’s army, which was stationed in various parts of the neutral zone, was pushed back unilaterally.

But this time, it’s different.

They are gathered, and their military power is on a different level.

With two cardinals, a holy knight unit, and…

“Even the Saint…”

Although the leader of the holy knight unit did not reveal himself, the Empire’s top knight unit, the holy knight unit, and two cardinals, who are equivalent to the Pope in terms of authority, have been deployed.

It is said that there are five master-level holy knights, with over 20,000 troops, including 2,000 priests and 3,000 knights.

Among them, the elite unit belonging to the holy knight unit is 300, which is equivalent to at least an expert-level unit.

If they were to stay within the Empire, it would be impossible to break through, even if there were two kingdoms.

At least, since they came out, there is a chance of winning.

“Our military power is not to be underestimated either.”

First, the number of troops is overwhelmingly in our favor.

The Allied Forces of Different Species have 20,000 troops alone.

Adding to that, my undead army has around 5,000, and the remnants of the 6 Kingdoms’ Alliance are still resisting.

The quality of our troops is also not to be underestimated.

I, an 8-circle, and Tinus, an 8-class.

Additionally, there are Master Kaila and Artina.

Dark Elf Bert, a black mage, and Prete, Yeriya.

Similarly, Rich, a black mage, and Death Knight Han, who is comparable to an expert-level unit.

And there’s White, a high-level undead created from a red ogre.

Although the Allied Forces of Different Species did not send a master-level unit, this alone is sufficient.

“The chances of winning are sufficient.”

The Empire will use its powerful priest unit as a base and buff us, and with the Saint and the cardinals leading the way, they will construct a temporary holy land and pressure us.

But my undead army is relatively strong against holy power, so I don’t think they will be weakened that much, and the Allied Forces of Different Species’ soldiers have rich experience fighting against the Empire, so I don’t think they will be pushed back.

“From the start, they have been fighting with the Empire, receiving the blessing of the holy land…”

They are the ones who recently defeated the Empire’s army, which was holding out in the neutral zone.

And if they have an elite holy knight unit, we have an undead knight unit, a mummy priest unit, and a medium-sized army created from red ogres, so we have nothing to fear.

“Their true strength lies within the Empire’s territory.”

Of course, it’s not like they will be easily defeated just because they came out.

But there’s a difference between having no opening to attack and being able to fight.

“The Saint is the problem…”

According to Duke Aton’s words, the Saint has only revealed herself once, at the beginning of the war.

When the Empire first participated in the battle.

The Saint constructed a massive temporary holy land, and its range reached the area where the 6 Kingdoms’ Alliance’s soldiers and mercenaries were stationed.

That’s why the 6 Kingdoms’ Alliance was quickly defeated.

We couldn’t let our guard down.

If there was an irregular strongman like Tinnus on our side, there was an unpredictable variable like the Saint on the other side.

“We’ll continue to provide material support. It’s just that the situation is unstable, with no fixed stronghold…”

“We’ve prepared a stash of supplies to last for a while.”

The fact that my abilities, or rather, my means, were similar to those in the astral plane was something the other side probably suspected as well.

Even so, since I hadn’t explicitly revealed it, they could only take that attitude.

“Then it’s fortunate. News has arrived, but currently, half of our territory has been occupied.”

Half of our territory.

It was a truly dire situation.

“We’ve recently lost our capital as well. If we’re pushed back further, we’ll lose 90% of our territory.”

“…….”

“After that, it’s Deubel. But the Empire will likely target our country, Gobalt, first.”

“That’s likely.”

Gobalt was the only country adjacent to all six kingdoms.

If this place fell, the six kingdoms would be physically cut off.

After that, they would be hunted down one by one.

Currently, even with the combined military power of the six kingdoms, we couldn’t drive the Empire’s army back.

It was a situation where our main force had been decimated from the start.

“I apologize for saying this, but our kingdom has the weakest military power among all the kingdoms.”

We had relied heavily on mercenaries, and as a result, we had deployed the most mercenaries to the front lines.

In a sense, we had suffered the most damage, and therefore, it was absolutely impossible for Gobalt to stop the Empire at this point.

“Please, you must stop them. If you help us, we will never forget this favor.”

That’s why I had come.

I bowed my head and replied to Duke Atonu, promising to do my best.

The exchange of information continued afterward.

The Empire’s movement route, expected supply lines, and the number of remaining friendly forces….

With well-organized roads, sturdy carriages, and tireless horses, it would take only a day to cross the Kingdom of Gobalt.

So, we had to exchange as much information as possible during that time.

At first, I thought it would be nice if they didn’t interfere, but since we were getting high-quality, up-to-date information quickly, my thoughts changed a lot.

And among the information we obtained, there was something unexpected.

The dark magic faction that had attacked the Sufetran royal family.

Traces of the dark magic users, suspected to be from that faction, had been discovered.

However, it was discovered too late.

Not only was the current situation of the six kingdoms in disarray, but it also meant that they had been moving secretly.

‘Erelle…’

The place we were currently heading to.

They said that the dark magic users had infiltrated Erelle Kingdom during the chaos.

But I was certain.

Their ultimate goal was not that place.

‘The Land of Death.’

Their destination was… the place with the highest possibility.

◈ Ji-hoon

The Land of Death was a term used to describe a land where no living being could survive, literally a dead land, due to the influence of the powerful demon king who had descended upon it in the past.

It was a place where dark mages like them might be hiding, but surprisingly, it wasn’t like that at all.

The magic here was brutal.

It wasn’t the pure magic that existed in the demon realm, but a horrific, corrupted magic that had spread throughout the land.

Even after a long time, it didn’t disappear and instead expanded its range.

This magic was so strong that even dark mages couldn’t easily withstand it, and it included the living beings mentioned earlier, as well as the dark mages themselves.

Moreover, this place was where four countries shared a border.

The Sacred Empire, one of its two vassal kingdoms, Malicos Kingdom, the currently endangered Erlia, and finally, the Dubres Kingdom.

They were using their divine power and magic to prevent the Land of Death from spreading further and protecting the areas that weren’t contaminated.

I thought they would head towards the Land of Death because it was the place where the demon king had died.

“If they’re really Perugin’s followers, they’ll definitely go there.”

The Land of Death was the worst place, but it was possible to endure.

Of course, it was impossible to live for a long time, and surviving for just a year was a remarkable feat.

So, it was ridiculous to think of hiding here for a long time, and it was also foolish to try to sneak into the country while avoiding the strict surveillance of each nation.

However, if there had been significant progress in avatar creation, and considering the current situation where Erlia was in chaos, it was sufficient reason to head in that direction.

The demon king’s death had created this place, but if one wanted to utilize it, it was impossible to do so unless they were the demon king themselves.

There was no place as abundant in magic as this one. It was a magic that couldn’t be handled, but if one was the demon king, it would be slightly different.

Given the current situation, it wasn’t difficult to infiltrate the Land of Death, so my speculation that they would head in that direction was quite plausible.

“We must stop them…”.

If the avatar was completed, it was impossible to imagine the extent of its power.

It would wield a significant portion of the demon king’s power, and without dragons, the possibility of stopping it was almost zero.

But we couldn’t just abandon the empire either.

It was a situation where we were caught between a rock and a hard place.

“We can’t divide our forces…”.

Dividing our forces with the empire right in front of us would be madness.

In the end, solving one problem at a time was the best we could do in the current situation.

Still, I didn’t intend to abandon everything, so I asked Atounu Duke, who had brought me the news, to continue tracking their traces.

If possible, I would have asked them to catch those people, but I knew it was an impossible task, so I didn’t make such a request.

After all, they were the ones who had destroyed the Spelteran royal family.

No matter how many troops had defected and the defenses had weakened, what they had done was not ordinary.

“They even killed the Master.”

Currently, the Gohalt Kingdom had no Master.

The royal family had all fled to a secret location, and they had mobilized all their remaining forces to support the Erlia Kingdom.

In such a situation, asking them to track down and kill those people was an excessive request.