Chapter 826

“What should we do, Gerda? Maybe it’s best to inform Lumi.”

『Of course, Bahamut. I will inform the Spirit King immediately.』

“Wait a moment! Wouldn’t it be better to come up with a plan before acting? As I mentioned before, if we touch it recklessly, the main body of Pyrot Cocri might awaken—”

“It’s alright. It’s alright.”

“What?”

Bahamut interrupted the worried Ha Leeha. He then looked at Gerda and asked.

“Gerda, if it’s Lumi, would they be able to freeze all the underground spaces of what’s known as the Coldwind Mountain Range?”

Gerda, startled and surprised, showed a fierce expression upon hearing the question.

『You belittle the Spirit King with your words, leader of the metal dragon.』

“Your words are disrespectful to the Lord, top-grade spirit of snow and ice.”

Blaugrunn immediately countered the sharp remarks directed at Bahamut. Bahamut, however, just laughed heartily.

“Ha ha, it’s all right, Blaugrunn. I apologize if I upset you, Gerda.”

Ha Leeha instantly realized.

Bahamut had merely asked the question on behalf of Ha Leeha’s curiosity.

The Spirit Kings would demonstrate unimaginable power, and as Bahamut had said, there was no need to worry about it.

“I will join in as well. Rather than eliminating Pyrot Cocri immediately, it’s better to freeze all underground spaces and keep them under surveillance.”

“An extensive alarm magic, my Lord! As expected!”

Blaugrunn looked at Bahamut with excitement and admiration. Bahamut patted the spirited member of his race with a satisfied smile.

Ha Leeha tilted his head and asked.

“We’re not eliminating Pyrot Cocri?”

“Didn’t you mention it yourself? The moment you entered, it recognized your presence.”

“That’s... correct.”

“If Peklo City is perfectly implemented, I wouldn’t be able to approach it either. The moment you get close, it would notice.”

“But it hasn’t woken up yet—”

“No, that’s the trap. It hasn’t not woken up; it’s just not rising.”

“– What?”

Bahamut clicked his tongue.

It wasn’t directed at Ha Leeha.

The leader of the Metal Dragons gritted his teeth as he thought of Pyrot Cocri.

“Have you heard what it likes the most?”

“... Choices, right? Manipulating the opponent to do as it pleases—”

“Exactly. Blaugrunn told me. You communicated via messenger with Blaugrunn, and my story was included.”

“That’s correct.”

“Then it anticipated that you would summon me if you managed to get out.”

“Ah?!”

Ha Leeha made a face as if he had been struck.

Pyrot Cocri knew how to transform all the undead in Peklo City into its own form.

In that case, why didn’t it just launch a massive attack from the beginning? Why specifically deal with the trio?

‘The initial provocation was to make its opponents attack it. But that was a trap to force the choice of not fighting, and therefore we attacked it.’

It was confident because it knew as long as the crystal ball was untouched, it could be managed.

However, if even that was another twist in its complex trap?

“The moment I set foot in Peklo City, Pyrot Cocri would awaken by itself. And through the ‘Abyssal Maw’, suppose Le and Ghibrid come...?”

From Ha Leeha’s perspective, who had no idea where Bluebeard or Ghibrid were, and from Bahamut’s perspective, who couldn’t casually know other NPCs’ locations even as the highest-ranking AI, it was only natural to think cautiously like that.

“It was a trap. To lure the Lord...”

Blaugrunn looked impressed by the enemy’s cunning.

Ha Leeha was too stunned to say anything.

A monster that designs multi-layered psychological warfare and traps to capture Bahamut.

‘An enemy like Pyrot Cocri...requires thinking even beyond the battle with Chiyou.’

As all the pieces of the puzzle fit together, Ha Leeha felt his hair stand on end.

“Gerda, can you call Lumi now?”

『... Understood. But before that... Ha Leeha?』

“Yes!”

Ha Leeha responded urgently to the sudden call. The top-grade spirit of snow and ice approached Ha Leeha.R/ê/Ad lateSt ch/a/pters at novelhall.com Only

『Indeed, this is Ha Leeha, the one who discovered the existence of the Pyroth-Cocri and informed us―』

“Hurry! Hurry and block it, Pyrot Cocri is coming out!”

However, Ha Leeha had no time to acknowledge their pleased greetings.

『”No matter if you’re Ha Leeha, you should show respect! How dare you display such an attitude—”』

“Sorry, but I don’t have the time for elaborate words—please, Lumi-nim, Queen of Eyes and Ice!”

Ha Leeha couldn’t foresee what kind of penalty this might lead to, but he had to get straight to the point without beating around the bush.

『”It seems something urgent is happening. Very well. Bahamut, assist us.”』

If Gerda resembled a harsh and mature adult woman, Lumi looked more like a calm and gentle elder woman.

Lumi, the one who could be aptly described as the ‘Queen of Ice’, did not get angry with Ha Leeha, unlike Gerda.

“Haha, let’s do it, Lumi.”

Bahamut responded to Lumi as if addressing an old friend.

Despite having the leader of the Metal Dragons and a higher-tiered Spirit Queen in front of him, Ha Leeha did not even have time to marvel at them.

‘What on earth is happening!?’

〈Achievement: You are My Toy (S)〉

Impressive.

You have sparked the interest of one of the Demon King’s Fragments, Pyrot Cocri. While it may not be pleasant to congratulate you for capturing the attention of someone who kills all living things to turn them into undead, it does mean your outstanding abilities have been recognized.

Be cautious.

Even while sealed, she will pour all her strength to make you “her toy”.

All the undead in Peklo City will strive to find you.

To prevent the inevitable undeadification of yourself, here is a gift we can offer.

Reward: 25 Stat Points

Alarm function triggers if Pyrot Cocri’s avatar or any undead influenced by Pyrot Cocri is nearby.

(In case of death by the aforementioned entity, an undead monster with 120% of your death-time stats and skill grades will be created.)

You are the first registrant of the 〈You are My Toy〉 achievement.

Up to the third registrant, names will be recorded in the Hall of Fame and an additional 200% of the current effect will be applied.

Effect: 50 Stat Points

Despite gaining another S-grade achievement, Leeha could not be happy.

‘An alarm for Vampires, an alarm for Bluebeard, and now an alarm for anything related to Pyrot Cocri!? It’s not just a biological radar for the Demon King’s army, ahhh! What is this? Oh? But...’

Even in that moment, one phrase caught Ha Leeha’s eye.

‘You all?’

It was a situation that naturally elicited expletives. The phrase being plural meant...

—You are the second registrant.

—Damn it, all the undead of Peklo City will struggle to find me, not just Pyrot Cocri’s avatars?

Ha Leeha made a peculiar face as he listened to the whispers of Kidd and Luger.

—You guys achieved this too, huh? Should I be relieved about that, or be regretful about the stat points picked up?

Though he said that, there was hardly any jealousy about them catching the achievement as well. Ha Leeha was greatly relieved to share an achievement and a place in the Hall of Fame with his comrades.

—This isn’t the time to talk nonsense! What about freezing it? How did the freezing go?

—If we’re late, countless Pirate-Korkis will come pouring out. We must hurry, Ha Leeha!

Both of them urged Ha Leeha vigorously.

‘The moment I die to Pyrot Cocri—120% stats even upon death! Why does there have to be another penalty!’

Another version of himself with stats and skill levels 20% higher than what they were at the time of death?

‘Not a chance. If Undead Ha Leeha, Undead Kidd, and Undead Luger are created at the same time—’

Ha Leeha felt confident.

To defeat those three, it would be impossible with just the real three of them. If those undead ran rampant during the inaccessibility period after death penalties...

‘A decent twenty knight orders would vanish in one day.’

Therefore, sealing the cave entrance was of the utmost priority.

—Quickly block it, you... fool!

—Ah, it’s starting now! Luger, stop ranting! Will it help if you keep pushing?

Ha Leeha shouted at Luger and watched the magic of Lumi and Bahamut. Pure white mana particles endlessly poured into their bodies.

Blaugrunn and Gerda guarded the surroundings with serious expressions.

‘Peklo City’s underground is vast. But if they freeze the entire underground as it is!’

It wasn’t just about blocking the entrance with an ice wall. It meant filling the underground beneath the mountain range with ice.