Chapter 58: 《Union》- (1)
(I)
“Hmm….”
By the time we had almost crossed the Desert of Silence, I had run out of conversation topics with cacti, leaving me with plenty of time for contemplation.
Most of my thoughts were occupied with figuring out how to take revenge on Lilianel, but occasionally, I found myself lost in unrelated musings.
“The Chains of the Goddess….”
For example, the chains of the Celestial Deity Astira that had wrapped around my staff, sealing it completely.
Recalling that cursed sealing spell used by Serion’s saint, I couldn’t help but think about Astira as an entity.
“…I wonder how strong she is.”
Celestial Deity Astira—just how powerful was this world’s one and only god? Did she truly possess omnipotent powers like most deities? Was there really no one who could stand against her?
“Who knows….”
I let out a bitter smile at the question.
If not for Tenma’s talisman a thousand years ago, I would have been able to rip that sealing spell apart with brute force. Considering that, she wouldn’t be as easy to deal with as the humans of this era, but I estimated that I could at least hold my ground against Astira.
More than anything, I couldn’t picture myself, Elzerba, losing to anyone.
“Hmm….”
I absentmindedly clenched and unclenched my palm.
If I truly possessed enough power to rival or surpass Celestial Deity Astira, would I also be able to infuse my magic into an artifact and shape it into existence?
Chains belonging to Elzerba, just like the Chains of the Goddess.
Dark artifacts, just like divine artifacts.
Or, perhaps, necromantic artifacts would be more fitting, since I was a Necromancer?
If such a thing were possible, it would be an immense asset in battle and other areas.
“Manifesting magic power….”
Manifesting MP into a physical form was something that had been impossible in the game. But now that the game had become reality, it seemed entirely within reach.
…If an opportunity arose, I would have to discuss this with Alfred, who had some expertise in this field. Once we occupied Nevirthol, I would activate the Teleportation Hub and bring Alfred over from the royal capital.
“A sealing spell imbued with my magic….”
Entertaining the delightful thought of creating my own sealing spell to imprison someone for over a thousand years—specifically, sealing Lilianel—I continued marching toward the end of the desert.
***
(II)
“Master! Look! The desert is finally ending!”
“…It seems so.”
Following Tina’s finger, which she pointed excitedly like an overjoyed puppy, I saw a clear boundary where the desert sands transitioned into regular soil.
With the end of our tedious and monotonous journey, I felt as though a breath of fresh air had finally reached me.
Although our path to Nevirthol had been shortened, enduring the same scenery and scorching sunlight every day had not been a particularly pleasant experience.
“…By the way, can you survive outside the desert?”
“Of course! As long as I have sunlight, I can live anywhere. Oh, but I might struggle in extremely cold regions.”
…Since the cactus monster I had asked earlier also confirmed that it could survive outside the desert, we crossed the burning sands of the Desert of Silence with lighthearted steps.
The searing sunlight turned into a warm glow, and the stale, lukewarm breeze became a refreshing wind that tickled our skin.
Now that we had escaped the Desert of Silence, we were approximately five days away from Nevirthol.
There was not much time left before I would face Lilianel.
“…Good.”
With a clearer vision of our upcoming plans, I increased the marching speed of my undead army.
***
(III)
“Hm?”
How long had we been walking since leaving the desert?
Tina signaled for me to stop, slowing the pace of her ghostly steed.
With a furrowed brow, the zombie maid calmly reported what she had sensed.
“…I can feel a massive amount of magic power coming from a distance. Judging by its murky density and quantity, they don’t seem weak.”
“Hmm….”
Tina’s warning about the presence of strong magical entities nearby was echoed by my own instincts.
Not far from here, I could sense multiple beings exuding immense magic power.
“…Monsters?”
Given the ominous aura, their owners were likely not human.
“Hmm….”
It was unusual for powerful monsters, which typically lived solitary lives, to gather in one place. I narrowed my eyes.
“…Let’s check it out.”
Since it was on our path anyway, I decided to investigate the source of these magical presences myself.
If it turned out to be something rare like a dragon, it would make for an interesting spectacle.
“Yes! I’ll take the lead!”
With a bright smile, Tina took the front position, and we resumed our march.
***
(IV)
“…Huh?”
After walking for a while, silhouettes began to appear in the swirling dust ahead.
“Orcs…?”
The figures were roughly human-sized. Among monsters, only orcs had a shape and build similar to humans, so I initially assumed they were an orc horde.
However, as the distance between us shrank, I realized they were something entirely different. The aura they exuded was on a completely different level from ordinary monsters.
“….”
When we got close enough, I halted my army.
With this many undead soldiers, it would have been normal for them to panic and flee in terror.
Yet, they remained firmly in place.
That alone proved that these creatures had more guts than the average monster.
“How insolent….”
Tina growled and unsheathed her greatsword, ready to cleave down anything that dared block our path.
“F-Finally…!!”
“…Huh?”
And then, cutting through the dust, a figure emerged from within the group of monsters, walking toward us.
“A suit…?”
I narrowed my eyes as I got a clearer look at the leader of the group.
A monster, wearing a suit? That was certainly ridiculous.
“….”
Step, step.
The man in the suit approached us, as if possessed by something.
At a glance, he didn’t seem hostile, so I let him continue approaching without interference.
As he drew closer, I observed him more carefully.
Purple hair.
Red eyes.
Pointed ears, and sharp fangs protruding slightly from between his lips.
…A vampire.
“A vampire…?”
I was caught off guard by the sudden appearance of a vampire.
Did that mean the hundreds of monsters behind him were also vampires?
Vampires were rare creatures. So what were they doing here, gathered in such large numbers?
This northern plain near the Desert of Silence was by no means an ideal place for them to live.
“…Halt.”
Before I could act, Tina stepped forward, blocking the purple-haired vampire’s path.
She raised her greatsword, as if ready to cut him down the moment he made a wrong move.
“…Understood.”
The vampire responded in our language and came to an immediate stop.
Then, he straightened the wrinkled collar of his suit, cleared his throat, and composed his voice.
“….”
And then, he fixed his gaze on me, staring intently.
His eyes traced over me from head to toe, examining every detail.
“What the hell is this guy doing?”
Of all things, after suddenly appearing before us, he was just… observing me?
The absurdity of the situation left me too baffled to even get angry.
But that wasn’t the strangest part.
The vampire’s next action was something I could never have predicted.
“Kh… khhh….”
“Huh…?”
Tears suddenly welled up in his eyes, and he sniffled.
His eyes turned red, and a thick stream of snot ran down his face.
The large, glistening tears pouring down his cheeks didn’t seem forced in the slightest.
“Kuhuhuhuhuhung!! F-Finallyyy!! Uuuuuhhh!!”
Then, he collapsed onto the ground and began wailing loudly.
Even Tina, who had been blocking his way with her greatsword, was visibly taken aback by his unexpected outburst.
“…What is wrong with this guy?”
I looked down at him with an expression of pure disgust.
It wasn’t like some cute puppy was crying.
This was a fully grown, centuries-old vampire bawling his eyes out, sniffling like a child.
There was no way this could leave a good impression.
“A-At long last!! Finallyyyyy!!”
Despite how I was looking at him, the vampire only cried harder.
His voice was full of joy rather than sorrow.
Then, looking directly at my face, he shouted.
His voice, bursting from his throat, was filled with raw, unhinged emotion.
“I, Arbelion Lwaiaaaaarrrrrrr!! At long lassstttttt!! I have finalllllllyyyyyyy laid eyes upon Goddessss Elzerbaaaaa!!”
“…Huh?”
The words that came out of his mouth left me dumbfounded.
Even Tina and the cactus monster in her arms couldn’t hide their shock.
“W-What… what?”
I stammered, staring at the vampire in bewilderment.
There were far too many things in that one sentence that needed clarification.
“Godd….Elzerba? You mean me…?”
“O, o Great One! Of course, I am referring to you! To be able to utter your noble name is the highest honor!!”
“Uh, r-right….”
The vampire wasn’t just bowing—he had prostrated himself, pressing his forehead to the ground as he shouted.
I had no idea how he knew my name.
But what was even more infuriating… was his own name.
“You said your name was… Lwaiar?”
“Khuhhh…!!”
The moment he heard my words, his lips curled into an ecstatic grin.
With an expression of pure euphoria, he stretched his hands toward the sky and shouted.
“Ahhh, the great Elzerba has spoken my name…!! I can die happy now…!!”
“Uh… huh….”
…Even internet streamers who receive a ten-million-won donation wouldn’t react like this.
I had only muttered four syllables—Lwaiar—yet this vampire was flushed red, on the verge of suffocating from excitement.
“Master, I think he has a mental problem….”
“…Yeah, seems like it.”
Tina spoke with an expression of pity, and I completely agreed.
There was no way this vampire was in his right mind.
“Khuhh….”
Even as I wished he would stop, tears continued to stream down his face.
Finally, the purple-haired vampire got to his feet, still sniffling.
With a nasally voice, he addressed me.
“O Great One, may I be so bold as to introduce myself…?”
“I’ll allow it….”
“…Thank you.”
I had no idea why he needed my permission, but I nodded anyway.
Then, like a proper gentleman, he bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle.
“My name is Arbelion Lwaiar!”
“…!!”
I hadn’t misheard it.
Arbelion Lwaiar.
That name.
The King of Vampires who, 800 years ago, waged war to break my seal.
The same man who was ultimately defeated by Serion’s holy magic, leaving his fate unknown.
Whether it was pure coincidence or a relentless pursuit, one way or another, that Arbelion Lwaiar was now standing before me.
With eyes brimming with deep emotion, he continued his introduction.
“I am the King of the last remaining vampires in this era!”
“….”
“And the proud first believer of the Elzerba Cult!”
“Ha…”
Hearing his words, I let out a deep sigh.
Judging by the overwhelming amount of magic radiating from him, as well as his identity as a vampire king, he was definitely the real Arbelion Lwaiar.
“…He looks exactly like I remember. He is indeed Lwaiar.”
Even the cactus monster, who retained memories from 800 years ago, confirmed that this was without a doubt the Vampire King himself.
“But… this isn’t what I expected.”
I had imagined Arbelion Lwaiar to be very different.
He was the great leader who united all vampires in an attempt to break my seal.
A formidable warlord who nearly crushed the Avilia Kingdom before Serion intervened.
Of course, I had assumed he would be composed, deeply loyal, and exude an unparalleled charisma befitting the king of all vampires.
Instead—
“Pleeaassee!! Make me your slave, O Elzerba!!”
“….”
“Please, just once more, call my name!! I beg of you, let me hear your glorious voice!!”
“Sigh….”
I was completely wrong.
He was just an insane lunatic.
—
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