Chapter 360: Episode 360

Glass Tower, Spiral Staircase.

Simon’s group was frantically racing up the stairs. It wasn’t enough to just run; they were vaulting from railing to railing to move faster. At this pace, they should have arrived in no time, but…

’Uuuuh!’

’Groooaaan!’

Obstacles. As if determined to block their path, zombies on all fours poured out endlessly from each floor.

[Out of my way!]

Prince’s eyes flashed, and the eyes of several zombies descending from the ceiling changed to match his. Simon immediately raised his empty left hand and clenched it into a fist.

’Corpse Explosion!’

A series of explosions thundered through the stairwell, and the remains of zombies rained down.

“Oh my! Do be careful, Simon.” Serne gracefully opened an umbrella she had produced from somewhere as zombie remains splattered onto it. “I almost got something dirty on me.”

’She’s so relaxed.’

Serne had attached a few feathers to her back and was floating gracefully upward. It seemed she had altered her weight, as she drifted in the air with just the umbrella.

“More importantly, Serne! Do you remember what floor we’re on?” Simon asked as he swung the Greatsword of Ruin, cleaving through three charging zombies at once.

“Fifteenth floor,” Kajan answered instead. With beast-like agility, he leaped between railings, his claws flashing. Zombies were torn apart like paper. “And Sasha’s room was on the thirty-seventh.”

“We’re not even halfway there? How dreadful,” Serne sighed.

At her gesture, feathers shot out like guided arrows, embedding themselves in the zombies’ heads. The limp bodies shattered the glass windows as they plummeted outside.

[Hah! Hidden Card Punch!!]

As Prince threw a punch, a shockwave of brutal force erupted, blasting away all the descending zombies.

[Hey! Something about this is weird!] Prince said, lowering his fist. [They’re just pouring down from above nonstop!]

Kajan nodded. “It seems someone is using a portal to transport zombies from outside into the building.”

Simon’s expression turned grim. He didn’t know who was interfering, but they clearly didn’t want his group to reach the top.

“We have to go faster.”

His formless cloak billowing, Simon landed on the railing with one foot. “Everyone, pick up the pace!”

[You want us to go even faster? That’s impossible!]

“You know what, Prince?” Simon called back, looking over his shoulder. He raised his right hand and, in the most dramatic way possible, swept back his sweat-drenched bangs, flashing a brilliant smile. The beads of sweat glittered in the light. “A true hero only grows stronger through trials.”

[!!]

Prince’s eyes widened as if they would pop out. He trembled from head to toe, thrilled by a concept he’d never considered.

[Those words just now…!]

He slammed his foot down on the railing, clenching both fists. [Were so cool!!]

Then, launching himself off his bent knees, he charged headfirst into the zombies alone.

[Hero!]

His right fist, wreathed in jet-black, sent out a shockwave that blew away the descending zombies.

[Trial!]

His follow-up left hand unleashed another roar, sending more zombies flying.

[Growing stronger!]

Seeing Prince dashing across the railings at full speed, smashing every zombie in his path, Serne tilted her head. “What’s gotten into that little guy?”

A wave of belated embarrassment washed over Simon, and he cleared his throat. “……Prince has always liked that kind of thing.”

Thanks to Prince, the remaining three ascended the spiral staircase with relative ease, cleaning up the straggglers. Prince let out a series of triumphant shouts, his face ecstatic.

[Simon! You were right!!]

Then, mimicking Simon’s pose, he swept his bangs back with his right hand, covering his face except for his eyes. [I really do feel like I’m getting stronger the more trials I face!]

Serne shouted up at him, “Woooow! You’re so cool, Sir Hero!”

Prince’s face flushed bright red. He snorted once and, yelling “Leave it to me!”, swept away the last of the descending zombies.

“This is how you do it, right?” Serne said, lowering her hand, her expression now impassive.

Simon gave a wry smile. “……Yeah, you’re good at that.”

“I guess it’s true what they say. Ancient Undead really are the most mysterious beings in the world.”

Thanks to Prince’s heroic efforts, they made it to the thirtieth floor, where a ceiling blocked their path. They would have to find a different staircase to go higher.

[Hah! Heok! Hah!] Prince was collapsed on the floor, panting heavily.

“Are you okay?”

“You were so cool, Sir Hero!”

Simon and Serne stood by his side, fanning the flames of his ego. Panting for breath, Prince glared at them. [You two weren’t just sweet-talking me to use me, were you?]

“Oh, of course not,” Serne said with a sly, foxy smile. “It’s just a shame more people couldn’t witness your heroic deeds.”

[…]

When his suspicion didn’t waver, she clasped her hands together and sighed dramatically. “But it can’t be helped. It’s a hero’s duty to fight villains in silence, even if the citizens don’t recognize him.”

[!!]

As if a switch had been flipped again, Prince shot to his feet. [Mm, mm! Those words are so cool! That’s right! I’ll fight hard even if no one acknowledges me!]

Serne turned to Simon and winked.

’She handles Prince better than I do.’

“Quiet.”

Meanwhile, Kajan had been sliding his palm along the wall. He stopped, tapped it lightly with his fist, and an illusion melted away, revealing a large magic circle.

“Just as I thought. This is the circle drawing zombies from outside into the building.”

Kajan gathered jet-black energy in his fist and punched, shattering the magic circle. “That should stop the supply. Let’s go.”

“Right!”

The four of them started running again. The thirtieth floor was a passage separating the lower and upper levels. From the thirty-first floor onwards, all sorts of knowledge and top-secret data were stored. It was a restricted area, accessible only to those with proper identification.

“This way.” Kajan led them, running as if he knew the way.

An open vista unfolded before them. A wave of warm air washed over them; trees and plants grew inside the building as if it were a tropical conservatory, with different levels stacked within the massive space.

’37th floor.’

Simon quickly counted the levels. Sasha’s room was on the seventh one from here.

Just then.

[Welcome, members of the 7th Legion and Kizen.]

The four of them froze and looked around.

“Be careful! This is—!”

Before Kajan could finish, something white rushed in, and with a deafening crash, he was sent flying.

“Kajan!!”

’Groooan.’

A white zombie. It was entirely white, muscular, and massive, standing over six feet tall with five eyes on its face. As a necromancer, Simon knew it was a zombie, but it felt like it was on a completely different level from the others.

[Do you feel it, boy?!] Pier, who had been focused on the battle, suddenly spoke in his mind. [That is a legion-forged zombie.]

“What?”

Another white zombie charged, attacking Serne. She summoned her feathers to form a jet-black shield but was still pushed back.

“Oh my.” Serne blinked, surprised by its power.

[Who are you! Reveal yourself!] Prince shouted.

Footsteps sounded, and a figure appeared on a platform three stories high. A strong sense of hostility emanated from Pier.

[So it was him!]

’Pier, do you know who that is?’

[An Ancient Undead of the Magnus Legion. The Zombie Butler.]

Except for his pale skin, the Zombie Butler looked almost human. He wore a butler’s uniform and a monocle. Above all, the immense amount of jet-black energy radiating from him proved he was an Ancient Undead.

[A pleasure to meet you.] He bowed respectfully.

Simon’s expression hardened. “Are you the cause of all this?”

[As you can see, yes.] The Zombie Butler straightened up. [Our Lord Commander wishes to speak with the Lord Commander of the 7th Legion. Would you be willing to accompany me?]

[Bullsh—]

Before Simon could respond, Prince dashed toward the Zombie Butler. [Cut the crap!!]

Prince’s fist, accompanied by a massive shockwave, shot forward.

With unnerving calm, the Zombie Butler caught Prince’s fist.

[Ah!]

[You are also an Ancient Undead derived from a zombie.] The Zombie Butler’s left hand shot out. [As a fellow zombie, allow me to teach you a lesson.]

His hand pierced through Prince’s chest and came out his back. Prince coughed up a spray of blood.

“Prince!” Simon shouted in alarm. Prince’s body, which could deflect swords and arrows, had been effortlessly pierced.

[Don’t tell me it’s over already? I’m a bit perplexed.]

A black energy rose from Prince’s body like a departing soul, and he reverted to an ordinary zombie.

[Hmm?]

A new zombie, launched by Simon using Overload, flew like a bullet. With a low rumble, black lightning struck it.

[Kill me as many times as you want!] The zombie transformed back into Prince and threw a punch. [I’ll just keep coming back to kick your ass!]

’BAAAAM!’

The Zombie Butler hastily raised his elbow to block the attack.

[A resurrection ability? Impressive.]

[Shut your mouth!] Prince twisted and threw a kick, but the Zombie Butler blocked that as well with ease.

[Give Akemus back!!]

[Akemus?]

[The one who was supposed to be in our legion!]

[Aha.] The Zombie Butler stepped back, a small smile playing on his lips. [You must be referring to the former Ancient Undead of the 7th Legion. I’m afraid I can’t do that. He is now a member of the 5th Legion.]

He sighed. [His loyalty to a disbanded legion is so strong, he simply won’t listen.]

[What did you do to Akemus!]

[He is being held captive and tortured. Until he pledges his loyalty to Lord Magnus.]

A fiery rage ignited in Prince’s eyes. He roared and charged forward.

“Your opponent is not me.”

’Snap!’

The Zombie Butler snapped his fingers. A white zombie shot up from the floor and threw a punch. With a sickening crack, Prince was sent flying dozens of yards.

He smashed into a nearby fountain. But from the darkness of the rubble, his eyes gleamed. [This is nothing!]

He activated his crown’s ability, trying to take control of the white zombie. But…

[I-It’s not working?]

[So you also have the ability to control zombies. However, it won’t work on these.] The Zombie Butler smiled. [The White Ghouls are elite soldiers I created to obey only my commands.]

Those white zombies were certainly strong. Kajan was fighting on nearly even terms with one, and even Serne was tied down by another.

[More importantly, Lord Commander of the 7th Legion.] The Zombie Butler looked at Simon again. [I will make my offer one last time. Let us go and meet my Lord Commander.]

“I refuse,” Simon said coldly. “Unless I’ve lost my mind, I have no reason to face that man.”

[That is a shame.] He snapped his fingers again. [I regret having to resort to such measures.]

“……!”

Simon’s eyes widened. A figure was approaching from the darkened hallway. A necromancer in a crow’s robe. And next to him, an unconscious girl, bound by ropes of jet-black, floated in the air.

“Sasha!!”

[The girl you risked your life to save in the Neutral Zone. If you wish to save her,] the Zombie Butler said, extending a hand, [disarm yourself and come here.]

Simon bit his lip until it bled.

“Wait! Simon!” Serne shouted while fending off a white zombie. “Get a grip! You’re not actually going to surrender just to save one little kid, are you?”

[Of course.]

The Zombie Butler snapped his fingers a third time.

’Thump. Thump thump. Thump thump thump.’

White zombies appeared on every floor. There were easily over twenty of them. Prince and Kajan’s expressions hardened as they backed away.

[Even if you choose to abandon this girl and fight, you have no chance of winning. We also have an active Crow on our side,] the Zombie Butler said. As if on cue, Evangeline grinned. [The barrier around this tower prevents you from calling for outside help. Now, for the final offer. Disarm yourself and come here.]

“……”

Simon closed his eyes, lost in thought. After a long, agonizing moment, he opened them.

’Clang!’

He dropped the Greatsword of Ruin to the floor. “Alright, I understand.”

[Boy!]

Simon severed his mental link with Pier, and the Bone Armor attached to his body dismantled and fell away.

“Simon! Think rationally!” Kajan yelled, blocking a white zombie’s attack.

Simon kept his mouth firmly shut and walked toward the Zombie Butler.

[Excellent. A reasonable man.] The Zombie Butler smiled.

[You idiot!!] Prince screamed and lunged at Simon, but a white zombie intercepted him, sending him flying with a punch.

[As long as you come alone, I will guarantee everyone’s life. Now, this way.]

The distance between Simon and the Zombie Butler shrank. With every step, the Butler’s smile grew wider.

[Yes. Just a little, a little more…!]

“But you know,” Simon said with a faint smile as he approached, “don’t you think this is a little too easy?”

’Squeeeze!’

Suddenly, the Zombie Butler felt his breath catch. An immense pressure was crushing his neck.

[!]

His neck was being tightly constricted by what looked like a dark blue thread. No, not just his neck. His entire body was wrapped in them.

[Ahhh.]

A chill ran down the Zombie Butler’s spine. Evangeline, his lips curled into a demonic smile, was restraining him with black threads.

[D-Don’t tell me you’ve betrayed me?! Evangeline!]

[Betrayal?] A modulated voice came from Evangeline’s mouth. [From the very beginning, I was—]

Half of Evangeline’s face dissolved away, revealing the face of a woman.

[—never on your side, was I?]

The Zombie Butler’s expression froze. ’…It’s a trap!’

That wasn’t Evangeline. That presence was unmistakably an Ancient Undead.

[Nice one, Erzebet!!] Prince shouted with glee.

The Zombie Butler hastily tried to escape by erupting with jet-black energy, but…

’Thud!’

Simon rushed toward him with terrifying speed. The Bone Armor on the floor flew back onto his body, and the Greatsword of Ruin was once again in his hand.

And then.

The Greatsword of Ruin, which prevented regeneration, was thrust deep into the Zombie Butler’s abdomen.

[Gah, ahhhhhhhk!]

The Zombie Butler let out a scream of agony.

Simon looked back over his shoulder. “You can stop acting now.”

As if on cue…

’CRACK! SLICE!’

Kajan crushed a white zombie’s face with his elbow, and Serne beheaded another with a feather sword.

[……Impossible!] the Zombie Butler said, trembling in pain. [How long have you known!]

“I haven’t known for very long. More importantly…”

Simon began to examine the magic circle drawn on his body. The Zombie Butler struggled, but at a flick of Erzebet’s finger, the spiderwebs tightened, immobilizing him.

“Found it.”

Simon lightly tore the surface of the magic circle with his greatsword, then grabbed it and pulled it sharply to the side.

’Riiiiip!’

The Zombie Butler screamed. An unfamiliar human eye appeared on the forcibly stretched magic circle.

“You’re watching, aren’t you, Magnus?” Simon said with a sly smile. “Let’s make a prisoner exchange. If you want to save this one…”

Simon’s plan from the very beginning…

“…bring me Akemus.”

…was to reclaim his father’s Ancient Undead.

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