Chapter 822

Chapter 822

“Phew... Alright.”

After completing all the preparations perfectly, Leeha started heading towards the citadel that rose in the center of the city.

The architecture, made with an unknown mix of bones and other materials, irritated his nerves.

However, Leeha did not have the luxury to observe his surroundings in detail.

He focused all his nerves on Pyrot Cocri, walking along the path to the citadel.

It was obvious that the boss would exist in the largest citadel in this immense city.

* * *

―Are you still okay?

―Yes. Thinking about it as the village of Pyrot Cocri makes sense.

―What do you mean?

―The types of undead I’ve never seen before. Some of them seem like I can’t even hit them.

Among the undead wandering between buildings, not only were there Dullahans, but also Death Knights.

Leeha had seen them being summoned and commanded by Faust, so they weren’t that surprising. However, the large number of spirit-type monsters similar to Phantoms was intriguing.

“Even though I completed my second job change, I still don’t have attack skills... I won’t be able to deal direct damage to those spirits.”

Among the floating entities, some were obviously spirits, with faint gray or translucent black appearances, but there were also monsters wearing hats deeply pulled over their faces, riding brooms.

“Kihehehe.”

‘Isn’t that just a witch, not an undead?’

Leeha could only think that way, as he had not seen their true form, cloaked by magic.

Besides the spirit-type and airborne monsters, there were many other peculiar monsters.

Especially notable were the ones wandering around in white shrouds with their hair down, and male monsters following at a certain distance, giving off an oddly familiar vibe.

‘Could it be a maiden ghost and a bachelor ghost? There are things that look like Jiangshi too... This seems like it’s gathered all ghosts from the East and West.’

Leeha shook his head and refocused.T/his chapter is updat/ed by nov(ê(l)biin.c/o/m

There was no time to be distracted by the surroundings.

The citadel was less than 100 meters away now, and if there were guards like in the royal palaces of other nations, it would be difficult to advance from here.

“Kakakakak.”

Leeha deliberately made a skeletal noise as he looked around. To his relief, the surroundings of the citadel were empty.

This was in stark contrast to the countless undead he had seen walking on the main road and around buildings.

―No enemies around the citadel, I’m going in.

―Be careful, they might be hiding.

―I confirmed it with 〈Distorted Vision〉. Don’t worry.

Nothing could hide from his passive skill.

Although sudden attacks from underground were a common pattern in cemetery hunting grounds, Leeha would not fall victim to those.

―There’s a grand emblem at the entrance. Just to be safe, please check again. It’s a huge heart with a slightly stretched X on the sides.

―Yes, it is. It symbolizes the confidence of controlling all undead. It’s like manipulating toys they love with their hands.

―The X?

―Precisely it’s the handle of a marionette. Do you see the thin lines extending from the ends of the X?

―Ah...

Were the thin lines, which he had thought were mere scratches, representing strings?

Leeha nodded in understanding as Blaugrunn explained.

Passing through the citadel’s gate, a splendid space unfolded. Leeha hesitated for a moment when he saw the interior, decorated like a luxury hotel lobby.

―Still no one inside. There are plenty of paths; where should I go? Where would Pyrot Cocri like to be?

―The most splendid place. The highest place. He likes to stand out. He wouldn’t be hiding in the basement.

“Okay.”

Ha Leeha recalled the exterior of the fortress.

The castle, balanced on both sides, certainly had its highest point at the center.

It was a distance that Ha Leeha couldn’t even fathom how to observe or shoot from.

‘That absolutely cannot happen.’

It would be good to kill Pyrot Cocri or strengthen the seal, but Ha Leeha decided that his top priority would be ensuring he didn’t become undead.

As if responding to his resolve, Ha Leeha finally arrived at the topmost floor.

― Top floor reached. A splendidly decorated door can be seen.

― It has been reported to the Lord. Contact immediately upon discovering Pyrot Cocri. Do not be surprised. Use the time to contact us instead of being astonished.

― Of course.

Ha Leeha opened the door. The space, which occupied the entire top floor, was vast.

There was no leisure to appreciate the lavish interior decorations.

What immediately seized his attention was the gigantic, bright red crystal before his eyes and the pitch-black wall arranged around it as if to swallow the crystal.

Unlike the other three walls, the black one drew his eyes for a moment, but Ha Leeha focused his gaze on the crystal in front of him.

What was in the crystal ball? If Pyrot Cocri was there, he needed to whisper immediately!

Ha Leeha took a step forward.

“Who are you? Who dares to communicate with dragons?”

As soon as the girl’s voice resonated, a lavender light flashed from beside Ha Leeha.

Abnormal Status: Space Constriction (enhanced). All spatial movement within the radius is restricted for 15 minutes.

Abnormal Status: Communication Disruption (enhanced). All group chats, including whispers, are forbidden for 15 minutes.

Ha Leeha was bewildered in many ways.

* * *

“Then we will depart immediately tomorrow.”

“This is the matter the Pope is most concerned about. We look forward to your success, Browless.”

At the headquarters of the 〈Sacred Alliance〉, a secret operations meeting was in progress with Browless, ewin, and other key NPCs and players.

It had been made known to Ha Leeha that the entire 〈Sacred Alliance〉 personnel was searching the western part of the new continent.

That was indeed true.

Ram Hwayeon, who allied with paleo, and even all the users belonging to the Special Forces and various Knight Orders including Shin Nara and Lark, were spending their time in the west of the new continent.

“However, it is impossible with just my efforts. If Commander Ewin of 〈Sacred Alliance〉 does not attract attention, they will immediately catch on.”

Nevertheless, it was only a ‘deception.’

“Playing the role of the defeated is my specialty. Didn’t I pull off the role magnificently against Granville in the previous national war? Hahaha!”

‘Fox of the Prairie’ Ewin immediately caught the meaning behind Browless’s words.

“But since the opponent is who they are, I won’t show a single gap.”

“I have no doubts about it.”

Browless nodded with trusting eyes.

“A feint to the east, striking from the west.”

Ewin refined the strategy with a satisfied expression.

They would create the pretense of concentrating all their forces in the west, while a small team would target the east of the new continent.

If they aimed at the east from the beginning, the Demon King’s military strength would also head that way, making this inevitably a necessary strategy right from the start of the operation.

“We’re finally going. Though it’s annoying to go with you, Alexander.”

“The direction is the same, but the purpose is different. Don’t forget that, Luger.”

“... It’s unseemly to bicker before we even start.”

“I agree with Kidd-ssi on that point.”

The chosen ones for this journey included Luger, Kidd, who would track Kaztor with Browless, and Alexander, and Lee Jiwon, who would gather information about 〈Laputa〉 in the eastern new continent with Browless.

“Why do I feel uneasy yet somewhat reassured... Haha, it feels like we’d have the perfect team if Ha Leeha-ssi were with us.”

And Fernand.

When the player assigned as a guide with Browless uneasily laughed, Luger scoffed and gripped his cobalt-blue python.