Chapter 49: 《The Adventurer of the City》- (1)
“….”
The Necromancer Lord, Elzerba’s summon, the Snow Woman Isera, arrived at the fortress city Nevirthol at twilight, just as the sun was setting.
“Humans’ city….”
What lay before Isera was an enormous iron wall so tall that its end could not be seen.
Its thickness was immeasurable, standing firm as if to deny any enemy intrusion.
Though the wall alone would force most enemies into a hard battle, the defense system of the fortress city Nevirthol did not stop there.
There was a deep moat of unknown depth and defensive weapons strategically placed along the walls.
The soldiers, too, were far better equipped than those of other cities.
However, what caught Isera’s attention was something else.
“Hmm….”
Crackle.
She looked down at her palm, where faint sparks danced.
The blue static briefly flickered across her pale, jade-like skin before gradually fading away after a few seconds.
“A barrier….”
Unlike other cities, Nevirthol had deployed a magical barrier specifically against monsters.
For Isera, it only caused an irritating static sensation, but for low-tier monsters like goblins, they would disintegrate the moment they touched the barrier, unable to even approach the walls.
“How trivial.”
Isera let out a scoff.
If this barrier could not stop monsters like herself, who posed the greatest threat to humans, what was its use?
It was merely a ‘tool’ to make humans’ lives a bit more convenient and could hardly be considered a strong defense system.
…She had briefly worried that her master’s skeletons might be affected by the barrier, but her concern was unwarranted.
This barrier could do nothing more than slightly char the bones of Elzerba’s lowest-tier skeletons.
“….”
After crossing the barrier’s boundary, Isera began walking toward Nevirthol’s checkpoint.
Even at the late hour, the checkpoint was bustling with people.
Given the city’s location, the crowd mainly consisted of soldiers, mercenaries, and adventurers rather than farmers typically seen in other cities.
“….”
Without a word, Isera moved to the end of the line at the checkpoint.
She despised waiting for anything and felt an urge to freeze everything around her, but she suppressed it with a sigh and pushed her impatience aside.
Her role in Nevirthol was to infiltrate the ranks of the hero’s comrades and become a trusted confidant of Lilianel and the hero.
She was to give them hope that they could triumph against Elzerba, only to snatch it all away at the final moment.
…For this, she needed to blend quietly among these insignificant humans.
“I’ll have to hold back my temper….”
Isera sighed and shook her head. The thought of tolerating humans, the race that had dared to seal her master for a thousand years, was sheer torment.
-“…Next.”
After waiting for about twenty minutes, it was finally Isera’s turn.
Two soldiers clad in heavy armor approached her and began scanning her from head to toe.
‘Filthy humans….’
Suppressing her disgust, Isera growled inwardly at their intrusive stares.
Inspecting one’s appearance to determine their race was a standard procedure at checkpoints, but even this was hard for her to tolerate.
-“Human?”
“…Yes.”
When one of the soldiers asked, Isera nodded.
Thanks to the perfume provided by Elzerba, which masked her undead aura and scent, they seemed unaware of her true nature.
To them, she probably appeared to be a human adventurer with unusually pale skin.
-“Identification.”
“….”
The soldier then requested her identification.
Isera handed over a forged S-rank adventurer card, also prepared by Elzerba.
Having already taken control of major cities like Ermaile, the royal capital Lexia, and the mining town Lavaheart, forging an identification card was a trivial matter for Elzerba.
-“This adventurer card…?”
-“S-S-rank adventurer?”
“…Indeed.”
The soldiers’ eyes widened in shock upon seeing Isera’s card.
In human society, S-rank adventurers were considered among the strongest.
-“I-I apologize for not recognizing you.”
-“Welcome to Nevirthol! Please, come in!”
“….”
After verifying her adventurer card, the soldiers’ demeanor became noticeably more respectful.
It seemed S-rank adventurers were held in very high regard among humans.
-“You’re from Lavaheart, I see. You’ve traveled far.”
-“What brings you to Nevirthol?”
“…Looking for work.”
In response to their questions, Isera answered coldly.
She had heard that Nevirthol was a city constantly under attack by northern demons.
It was no surprise that adventurers and mercenaries would flock here, given the constant demand for manpower.
-“Hmm.”
Hearing her answer, the soldiers exchanged nods, their expressions still free of any suspicion.
-“Understood. Lastly, please place your hand on this ‘magic detection orb.'”
“…!”
Before she realized it, the final step of the inspection had arrived.
When one of the soldiers held out a large, transparent orb, Isera frowned.
‘A magic detection orb….’
That orb was undoubtedly a magic tool used to detect the mana within living beings.
Since no creature could alter the mana within their body, the moment Isera, as an undead and monster, placed her hand on the orb, her identity would be exposed instantly.
…The checkpoint was supposed to involve just a simple ID check, but detecting mana was an unexpected twist in the plan.
-“Ah, we normally don’t go as far as mana detection, but with all the uproar about the Progenitor Vampire recently, the world is in chaos.”
-“We would greatly appreciate your cooperation.”
“….”
Perhaps noticing Isera’s displeasure, the soldiers each added their words of explanation.
Isera, however, merely let out a sigh.
‘This is troublesome.’
If she refused the test now, that would only arouse suspicion.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Isera let out a deep sigh and reached her hand toward the orb.
-“Alright, beginning the measurement now.”
-“It won’t take long.”
The soldiers, pleased with Isera’s cooperation, seemed to grow even friendlier.
The magic detection orb began to flicker and emit strange noises as Isera’s hand rested upon it.
It was likely analyzing Isera’s mana.
…However, Isera had no intention of waiting for the orb to deliver its results.
“…Cryogenesis.”
She whispered softly, her voice low enough that no one could hear her.
In an instant, the orb froze solid and shattered into pieces.
Since the orb had been in direct contact with Isera’s hand, the unbearably cold energy of the Snow Woman had seeped into it instantaneously.
To the untrained eyes of ordinary humans, it would have simply appeared as though the orb had suddenly broken.
-“W-What? The orb?!”
-“What’s going on? This has never happened before!”
The soldiers panicked at the sight of the shattered orb.
It seemed they had never seen the orb break during their time working at the checkpoint, and they began to flounder in confusion.
-“W-Well, I suppose it’s possible. The orb was quite old, after all….”
-“We apologize! We’ll bring out a new orb from the storage right away.”
…In their panic, the soldiers didn’t even think to suspect Isera.
Instead, they apologized profusely to her and hurriedly promised to fetch another orb.
Hearing this, Isera scowled.
Her cold demeanor already gave off an intimidating air, but now, with her expression twisted in irritation, an even more oppressive atmosphere began to emanate from her.
“I’ve already waited for over thirty minutes. Now you’re telling me to wait even longer?”
-“A-Ah, no, that’s not what we meant….”
“…You must think I have nothing better to do.”
-“T-That’s not….”
Without giving them a chance to explain, Isera relentlessly berated the soldiers.
From their perspective, it was as if they were being scolded by a figure of far superior skill, status, and honor—an S-rank adventurer.
They couldn’t possibly ignore her words.
-“D-Do you think it’s okay?”
-“She’s an S-rank adventurer. What could go wrong?”
-“True. If she were weak, it’d be obvious soon enough. No one would dare forge an S-rank adventurer card anyway….”
The soldiers whispered among themselves, deliberating.
-“…We apologize for the delay. We’ll let you pass this time.”
-“With the current unrest, we hope you’ll become a great strength to Nevirthol.”
“Hmph.”
In the end, the soldiers allowed Isera to pass through the checkpoint.
Clicking her tongue in irritation, she paid them no further attention and leisurely walked toward the city gate.
“…Fools.”
The Snow Woman, clad in adventurer’s gear, scoffed under her breath.
Soon enough, when her master led an undead army to crush this place, and when she—the one hailed as an ally of heroes and the hope of the city—betrayed them all, these humans would beat their chests in regret.
No doubt they would lament the fact that they had let Isera enter the city without any suspicion.
Or perhaps it was their blind trust in the mere title of “S-rank adventurer” that would prove to be their undoing.
Still, one thing was certain.
“…It begins now.”
…To Isera, this was an opportunity beyond comparison.
***
(II)
Normally, when adventurers or mercenaries pass through a checkpoint and enter a new city, securing a place to stay, such as an inn, is their first priority.
This is because, depending on the requests they take on, adventurers or mercenaries may need to remain in the city for extended periods, making a “base” essential for their operations.
“…This should do.”
…But Isera was different.
Upon entering Nevirthol, she immediately sought out a damp, shadowy back alley untouched by human presence, cloaked entirely in darkness.
“….”
Behind an old building, where the stench of filth subtly rose, Isera took out a grotesque black monster core from her bag.
…It was the core of a high-tier monster, the Behemoth.
This monster core, which she had requested from Elzerba in advance, began to glow faintly as Isera channeled her mana into it.
Woong-
The Behemoth’s monster core began to pulsate violently, resembling the beating heart of a fetus.
“…It’s ready.”
Watching the core pulse more intensely with every second, Isera smirked with satisfaction.
The Behemoth was one of the highest-tier monsters in existence.
Into the core of this monster among monsters, Isera infused her mana.
…Soon, this Behemoth’s core would become a heart, and the monster, born from Isera’s mana, would emerge as the most powerful creature in existence.
Though she wasn’t yet sure of the strength of the so-called hero, she was certain of one thing—this monster would be unmatched.
Even if all the S-rank adventurers in this city joined forces, they wouldn’t stand a chance against it.
Countless buildings would be destroyed, and countless lives would be lost.
But tragically, no one in this city would be able to stop the colossal monster.
…No one except its creator, Isera.
“….”
The hero and the elf Lilianel were, after all, the most powerful figures in the nation.
Meeting them whenever she pleased, or casually becoming their ally, was out of the question.
To approach them, showcase her skills, and leave a lasting impression, such a grand stage was necessary.
…An S-rank adventurer who single-handedly defeats a monster that no one else could handle.
Even for the hero and the elf, such a powerful individual would not be someone they could easily overlook.
“Well, fine.”
With preparations for the grand performance in the fortress city Nevirthol complete, Isera allowed a faint smile to grace her lips as she turned her back on the dark alley.
“…See you soon.”
…Left behind in the shadowy alley was nothing but the pulsating, enormous monster core.
—
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