Chapter 383: The beginning before winter

The Death Mage Who Doesn’t Want a Fourth Time

《The Levels of the ‘Transcendant Strength,’ ‘Constant Super Mana Recovery,’ ‘Extreme Strengthen Subordinates,’ ‘Divine Venom Secretion (Claws, Fangs, Tongue),’ ‘Enlarged Attack Power while Unarmed,’ ‘Super Strengthened Body Part: Hair Claws, Tongue, Fangs,’ ‘Demon Thread Refining,’ ‘Super Increased Mana Recovery Rate,’ ‘Enlarged Vitality,’ ‘Augmented Attribute Values: Reigning,’ ‘Augmented Attribute Values: Worshiped,’ ‘Strengthened Attribute Values: Demon Empire of Vidal,’ ‘Self-Strengthening: Cannibalism,’ ‘Augmented Attribute Values: Cannibalism,’ ‘Murder Healing,’ ‘Self-Strengthening: Murder,’ ‘Augmented Magical Power while equipped with a Staff,’ ‘Strengthened Attribute Values: Guide,’ ‘Blood Rule,’ ‘Roar of Destruction,’ ‘Golem Genesis,’ ‘Hollow World God Magic,’ ‘Precise Mana Control,’ ‘Divine Alchemy,’ ‘Group Coordination,’ ‘Group Commander,’ ‘Death Thread Reeling,’ ‘Dark Scream,’ ‘True Demon King Artillery Technique,’ ‘Demon World Binding Technique,’ ‘Transcend Limits: Fragments,’ ‘Whip Technique,’ ‘Staff Technique,’ ‘High-speed Flight,’ ‘Musical Instrument Performance,’ ‘Dancing,’ ‘Muscle Technique,’ ‘Magic Fighting Technique,’ and ‘Labyrinth Domination’ Skills have increased!》

《The ‘Augmented Attribute Values while Enveloped in a Soul’ Skill has awakened to ‘Enlarged Attribute Values while Enveloped in a Soul,’ and the ‘Augmented All Attribute Values’ Skill has awakened to ‘Enlarged All Attribute Values!’》

The intensive training of Borkus and the others against the Demon King Familiars had great effects on Vandalieu as well. Because Demon King Familiars were split entities of Vandalieu, the experience they gained was reflected in his Status as his own.

It turned out that battles against opponents who had Skills at a high Level, something that monsters did not possess, were effective for Vandalieu as well.

And most importantly, he had gained Experience Points.

Because Demon King Familiars were split entities of Vandalieu, he had thought that the training would boost Borkus and the others’ Skill Levels, but not their Job Levels. After all, even if they defeated the Demon King Familiars, they only destroyed split entities of Vandalieu… a part of him. They didn’t actually kill anything.

But it turned out that Borkus and the others gained Experience Points from defeating the Demon King Familiars.

When Vandalieu and the others consulted Luciliano about this, he had responded with, “I do not understand the specifics of it, but the fact alone would be worth writing multiple theses about.”

According to Luciliano, there had been numerous theories in this world regarding Experience Points.

The theory that one absorbed some energy-like substance from the things that they defeated.

The theory that the gods evaluated and scored people’s feats, and people received that in the form of Experience Points.

The theory that Experience Points were not an extrinsic factor but an intrinsic one… that one’s soul was trained by their feats and the energy produced by that process was what people called Experience Points.

There were other theories out there, but these three were the most prominent. And most scholars and theorists believed that the first was the most likely. They believed that the Experience Points gained by those with non-combat-related Jobs were absorbed from the faint quantities of energy present in the materials and resources they worked with.

And those other than scholars and theorists did not think too deeply about Experience Points. One can breathe even if they don’t know exactly what air is made of, and one’s heart beats steadily even if they don’t understand how their heart and blood vessels are structured. In the same way, one’s Level increases even if they don’t understand how Experience Points work.

Vandalieu had never thought very deeply about Experience Points, either. And that was no different now.

He knew that they were a phenomenon that could not be explained by any proven theory, but this did not cause him any convenience, so he had left the matter alone.

“Leaving that aside, it’s time for a Job Change,” Vandalieu said to himself as he touched the crystal ball.

《Jobs that can be selected: Creator, Tartarus, Wild Spirit, Dark Battery Cannoneer, Dark Beast User, Hollow Shadow Caster, Balor, Apollyon, Demogorgon, Soul Devourer, God Devourer, Nergal, Ravana, Shaitan, Chi You, Ouroboros, Rudra, Blood Ruler, Demon Electricity User, Juggernaut, Berserk Muscle User, Apophis, Azathoth, Taotie, Hollow World God Mage, God Spirit Alterer》

He had recently reached Level 100 with ‘Fallen Warrior’ and ‘Insect Ninja,’ and he was here to change Jobs again now because he had just reached Level 100 with ‘Eclipse Cursecaster.’

‘Fallen Warrior’ had been a Job that provided bonuses to all martial-combat-related Skills. It was indeed a literal ‘Warrior’ Job in that it was excellent for every kind of physical combat technique… Perhaps the ‘Fallen’ part was why it had provided bonuses to his venom-related Skills as well.

‘Insect Ninja’ was a scout-type Job that made it easier to handle bugs as followers… though unfortunately, it had provided less-than-ideal bonuses to his Skills, as he had not put much effort into improving his scouting techniques.

And as for ‘Eclipse Cursecaster,’ it was a Job that allowed him to curse or implant seeds and microbes in those who he touched with his hands, feet, tongue, nose, tentacles, or blood.

It was a Job that was useful for inflicting continuous damage over time against an enemy in combat, for distributing seeds over a wide area of farmland, and for cultivating mushrooms.

“Now then, my next Job… I select ‘Nergal.’”

Nergal was an unusual mythological figure. In Mesopotamian mythology, he was the god of the underworld, and at the same time, the god of the sun – though he symbolized the sun as bringing drought and withering, rather than blessings and warmth.

It could be considered a fitting Job for Vandalieu, the ‘Eclipse Emperor’ who ruled with Talosheim as his capital.

《The Levels of the ‘Transcendant Strength,’ ‘Underworld God Magic,’ ‘Constant Super Mana Recovery,’ ‘Super Increased Mana Recovery Rate,’ ‘Enlarged Vitality,’ ‘Augmented Attribute Values: Ruling,’ ‘Augmented Attribute Values: Worshiped,’ and ‘Staff Technique’ Skills have increased!》

《The ‘Self-Strengthening: Murder’ Skill has awakened into ‘Super Self-Strengthening: Murder,’ and the ‘Murder Healing’ Skill has awakened into ‘Super Murder Healing!’》

• Name: Vandalieu Ark HIllwillow Solder Zakkart
• Race: Dhampir (Mother: Goddess)
• Age: 13 years old
• Title: Ghoul Emperor, Eclipse Emperor, Guardian of the Cultivation Villages, Holy Son of Vida, Scaled Emperor, Tentacle Emperor, Champion, Demon King, Oni Emperor, Trial Conqueror, Transgressor, Black Blood Emperor, Elder Dragon Emperor, Food Cart King, Genius Tamer, True Ruler of the Red-light District, Patron Saint of Transformation Equipment, Liberator of Goddesses, Colossus Emperor, Savior, Demon King Slayer, Self-proclaimed Human
• Job: Nergal
• Level: 0
• Job history: Death-Attribute Mage, Golem Transmuter, Undead Tamer, Soul Breaker, Venom Fist User, Insect User, Tree Caster, Demon Guider, Archenemy, Zombie Maker, Golem Creator, Corpse Demon Commander, Demon King User, Dark Guider, Labyrinth Creator, Creation Guider, Dark Healer, Disease Demon, Magic Cannoneer, Spirit Warrior, Bestower, Dream Guider, Demon King, Demiurge, Whip Tongue Calamity, Divine Enemy, Dead Spirit Mage, String User, Great Demon King, Vengeful Berserker, Destruction Guider, Dark King Mage, Pale Rider, Chaos Guider, Divine Guider, God Destroyer, Hollow King Mage, God Spirit Mage, Dungeon Master, Qliphoth, Demon Ruler, Spirit Therapist, Magic Staff Creator, Artisan: Transformation Equipment, Underworld God Mage, Dark Demon King, Pandemonium, Soul Fighter, Vandalieu, True Demon King, Yin Guider, Changing Guider, Spirit Guider, Guiding Master, Fallen Warrior, Insect Ninja, Eclipse Cursecaster
• Attributes:
  • Vitality: 1,471,586 (+882,951) (Increased by 555,977!)
  • Mana: 108,904,589,156 (+108,904,589,156) (Increased by 3,056,175,838!)
  • Strength: 899,870 (+224,967) (Increased by 310,411!)
  • Agility: 771,890 (+192,972) (Increased by 295,058!)
  • Stamina: 826,265 (+206,566) (Increased by 275,815!)
  • Intelligence: 985,618 (+246,404) (Increased by 327,936!)
• Passive skills:
  • Transcendent Strength: Level 8 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Super Rapid Regeneration: Level 10
  • Underworld God Magic: Level 10 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Status Effect Immunity
  • Magic Resistance: Level 10
  • Dark Vision
  • Alaya-vijnana Enticement
  • No Incantation
  • Guidance: Alaya-vijnana
  • Constant Super Mana Recovery: Level 8 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Extreme Strengthen Subordinates: Level 7 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Divine Venom Secretion (Claws, Fangs, Tongue): Level 5 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Limitless Body Expansion (Tongue)
  • Enlarged Attack Power while Unarmed: Large (LEVEL UP!)
  • Super Strengthened Body Part (Hair, Claws, Tongue, Fangs): Level 8 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Demon Thread Refining: Level 9 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Mana Enlargement: Level 10
  • Super Increased Mana Recovery Rate: Level 7 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Enlarged Attack Power while activating a Magic Cannon: Small
  • Enlarged Vitality: Level 6 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Augmented Attribute Values: Reigning: Level 9 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Augmented Attribute Values: Worshiped: Level 8 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Strengthened Attribute Values: Demon Empire of Vidal: Level 8 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Self-Regeneration: Cannibalism: Level 10 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Augmented Attribute Values: Cannibalism: Level 10 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Enlarged Attribute Values when Enveloped in a Soul: Small (Awakened from Augmented Attribute Values when Enveloped in a Soul!)
  • Super Murder Healing: Level 1 (Awakened from Murder Healing!)
  • Super Self-Strengthening: Murder: Level 1 (LEVEL UP and awakened from Self-Strengthing: Murder!)
  • Augmented Magical Power while equipped with a Staff: Very Large (LEVEL UP!)
  • Enlarged All Attribute Values: Small (Awakened from Augmented All Attribute Values!)
  • Strengthened Attribute Values: Guiding: Level 2 (NEW!)
• Active skills:
  • Blood Rule: Level 10 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Roar of Destruction: Level 4 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Golem Genesis: Level 6 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Hollow World God Magic: Level 5 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Precise Mana Control: Level 9 (LEVEL UP!)
  • God Cooking: Level 3
  • Divine Alchemy: Level 6 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Soul Equipped Destructive Demon God Technique: Level 2
  • Greater Multi-cast: Level 10
  • Aberrant Technique: Level 4
  • Embodiment: Level 9
  • Group Coordination: Level 10 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Super High-speed Thought Processing: Level 10
  • Group Commander: Level 9 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Death Thread-reeling: Level 2 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Vengeful Throwing: Level 4
  • Dark Scream: Level 2 (LEVEL UP!)
  • God Spirit Magic: Level 8
  • True Demon King Artillery Technique: Level 2 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Demon World Binding Technique: Level 5 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Transcend Limits: Fragments: Level 8 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Spirit Therapy: Level 7 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Whip Technique: Level 6 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Spirit Form Transformation: Lightning
  • Staff Technique: Level 7 (LEVEL UP!)
  • High-speed Flight: Level 5 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Musical Instrument Performance: Level 5 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Dancing: Level 4 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Muscle Technique: Level 8 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Magic Fighting Technique: Level 6 (LEVEL UP!)
• Unique skills:
  • God Devourer: Level 10
  • Deformed Multiple Souls
  • Soul Encroachment: Level 3
  • Labyrinth Domination: Level 3 (LEVEL UP!)
  • Great Demon King
  • Root Source
  • Divine Enemy
  • Soul Devour: Level 10
  • Vida’s Divine Protection
  • Earth’s Gods’ Divine Protection
  • Clustered Soul
  • Zantark’s Divine Protection
  • Clustered Existence
  • Soul Form: Level 9
  • Demon King’s Demon Eyes
  • God of Origin
  • Ricklent’s Divine Protection
  • Zuruwarn’s Divine Protection
  • Perfect Record Technique
  • Surpass Limits: Soul: Level 8
  • Mutation Induction
  • True Demon King
  • Demigod
  • Botin’s Divine Protection
  • Peria’s Divine Protection
  • Inner Worlds
  • Guiding Master
• Curses
  • Experience gained in previous life not carried over
  • Cannot learn existing jobs
  • Unable to gain experience independently

“Now then, when are Alda and his forces going to make their move?” Vandalieu murmured as he left the Job-changing room after checking his new Status.

“If it is to be a war between the Amid Empire and the Orbaume Kingdom it should begin either between spring and summer, or between autumn and winter,” said Sam’s voice, echoing inside the carriage.

Saria and Rita appeared on either side of Vandalieu to elaborate.

“The Amid Empire and the Orbaume Kingdom have been at war numerous times since the nations were founded, but the only place where they share a border is between the Mirg shield-nation and the Sauron Duchy, in the central northern region of the continent. Though apparently, they did try naval warfare in the past as well…” said Saria.

“Apparently, both navies were attacked by monsters before they encountered their enemy, with only a third of their ships surviving, and the surviving ships simply fled back home,” said Rita.

“Naval warfare… I’m surprised they tried that, considering that only the sea-nation Kalahad and the Farzon Duchy face the sea, and the peninsula on the southern side of the continent, where the Merfolk nation is, lies between them,” said Vandalieu.

Traveling between the eastern and western parts of the Bahn Gaia continent would require one to traverse the seas on the southern side of the continent. This would be a difficult obstacle, as it was ridden with complex currents and reefs, and crawling with powerful monsters such as Krakens.

There were safer sea routes with significant detours, but such a journey, even just one-way, would take over two months. The ships built with this world’s level of shipbuilding technology would not be able to maintain their capability to be used in combat for that long. And if the crew weren’t all veteran sailors, morale wouldn’t last long, either.

And for both the Amid Empire and the Orbaume Kingdom, their only enemies at sea were pirates and monsters, so there was no reason for them to have permanent, large-scale navies. Thus, neither nation had many greatly experienced sailors.

And despite all that, there had been someone in both nations who had tried to send armies at their enemies through the seas… and both had lost their positions after being made to take responsibility for the resulting catastrophic failure.

“But if you exclude naval warfare, war can only be conducted in certain seasons. It’s common for large wars to begin between spring and summer. It’s less cold at that time of year, and because it’s a northern region, the summer isn’t particularly hot, so there’s plenty of food as long as there isn’t a drought,” Saria explained.

“In contrast, skirmishes and short wars apparently begin from autumn to early winter. Snow doesn’t pile up too deep around the border between the Mirg shield-nation and the Sauron Duchy, but it gets very chilly, and the soldiers can’t stand it,” said Rita.

Even in this world, where resistance Skills and Magic Items existed, one could not escape the effects of the climate and season.

Of course, there had been cases where one side invaded the other with a small number of elite soldiers who were capable of withstanding the cold, but such attacks were often defended against by the elite soldiers on the other side.

“I see… You two are very knowledgeable,” Vandalieu remarked.

“We had Luciliano-san teach us these things!” said Saria.

“And Chezare-san, too!” said Rita.

“We thought it would give us an opportunity to talk with you, Bocchan!” said both sisters simultaneously, striking a pose on either side of Vandalieu.

They had previously been maids serving a small noble house that ruled a remote region; they had not received particularly advanced education. That was why they had started learning various things after becoming Undead.

“You two put in a lot of effort, didn’t you? But I don’t think that information is very relevant anymore,” said Vandalieu.

“Yes, you did move a part of the Boundary Mountain Range and close up the border between the Mirg shield-nation and the Sauron Duchy,” said Rita.

Vandalieu had taken what to him was only the most reasonable action, as he didn’t want to force the Holy Nation of Amid to attack through the Sauron Duchy ruled by Elizabeth, but as a result, it was now difficult for both nations to wage war over land.

“Well, it might have been a big incident for the Amid Empire… or rather, the Holy Nation of Amid, but I’m sure it isn’t a big problem for Alda. After all, for him and his forces, even if they conquer the Orbaume Kingdom, the war would be pointless if they didn’t defeat me,” Vandalieu said.

Even if all twelve duchies of the Orbaume Kingdom were conquered, there would be no point if the Demon Empire of Vidal still stood. And even if the entirety of the Demon Empire of Vidal were destroyed, there would be no point if they failed to kill Vandalieu.

Looking at it from another perspective, if they managed to kill Vandalieu, even if it came at the cost of the destruction of the Holy Nation of Amid, Alda’s forces would view that as a victory.

It was indeed true that if Vandalieu were to somehow become the sole survivor in such a war, even if his nation were to be destroyed, he could quickly create a new army of Undead and rebuild his empire, so killing him was necessary.

“But even if they did manage to kill you, Bocchan… I think we would be filled with so much hatred that there’s no telling what we would do,” said Saria.

“You don’t kill non-combatants, Bocchan, but we might lose ourselves and do such things,” said Rita.

“As embarrassing as it is to admit, I do not think I would be able to restrain myself, either,” Sam agreed.

If they managed to kill only Vandalieu, however, and left his allies alive, his allies would carry out the chaotic massacres that he prevented by being alive.

The Undead were probably the only ones who would be driven to that degree of madness out of their hatred… If it were just these three, with Sam carrying Saria and Rita through his alternate dimension at high speeds, the damage might be limited to several fortresses and towns. But if Borkus, Knochen and Cuatro were to lose themselves to madness, it wouldn’t take much time at all for the entirety of the Holy Nation of Amid to be reduced to a wasteland.

Incidentally, Gufadgarn, who was ever-present in Vandalieu’s shadow, was refraining from engaging in this topic of conversation. She was completely certain that if Vandalieu were to be killed, that would only happen because she had been defeated first.

“But to me, the key in this war with the Holy Nation of Amid is whether we can kill Heinz and Bellwood. In other words, even if we managed to slaughter everyone except those two, I wouldn’t be able to call it a victory,” Vandalieu said.

Heinz was capable of summoning Bellwood upon his own body, and he was without a doubt the greatest threat among Alda’s forces. The potential heroes and even the Fifteen Evil-breaking Swords were no more than opening acts for Heinz.

And if only Heinz were defeated, but Bellwood was not, Vandalieu would certainly be delighted, as Heinz was his mother’s killer and erasing him from existence was one of Vandalieu’s conditions for achieving happiness… but now that Bellwood had awakened, it was always possible that he could find someone else to descend upon and create a second Heinz.

“I can’t imagine that people capable of summoning a god upon themselves come around very often, but there is still a small chance. And it’s still always possible that Bellwood descends upon the world independently to attack us, even at the cost of his own existence,” Vandalieu said.

He was currently unaware of Bellwood’s current mental state. If he did, he would know that Bellwood was incapable of carrying out such a suicide attack.

“I think that Alda’s forces are wary of me going to attack them, but I’m more wary about Heinz attacking somewhere I can’t immediately get to,” Vandalieu said. “But I’m sure they don’t want this current situation to drag on, with time just passing by.”

It was already halfway through autumn, and the beginning of winter was already in sight. Based on past history, war would normally begin next spring, but they couldn’t wait that long.

“Let’s attack during the winter. I’ll use the Demon King Familiars as disposable pawns in a suicide attack to draw Heinz and his companions out, then I will kill him and destroy him. I’ve already spoken to Chezare about it,” Vandalieu said.

Sam gave a hearty laugh. “I’m sure this winter will be a little livelier than usual!”

“A chance to get more colleagues! Bocchan, when the war is over, let’s have more Living Bikini Armors and Living High-leg Leotard Armors!” said Rita excitedly.

“Rita, I can only visualize a hellish landscape filled with Living Armors worn by spirit-form men once they increase their Ranks, so let’s not do that,” said Saria.

“Let’s interview them properly first,” said Vandalieu.

As Vandalieu decided to begin the battle this winter, Eileek had already received a Divine Message from Alda.

“I have received a Divine Message from our god, ordering us to carry out our holy war. Everyone, our holy war begins now!” Eileek declared.

In a way, things looked like they would begin as Vandalieu wished for – with the Holy Nation of Amid being on the offensive, and Vandalieu being on the defensive.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep