Episode 1206

‘Let’s just assume he’s being considerate.’

Though the inner turmoil was fierce, Lee Han decided to accept it.

At least thinking so made his heart feel a bit lighter.

I sense magical energy in the swamp, disciple of Osu. Don’t be hasty and destroy everything; check carefully. There may be something to learn.

“Ah, yes.”

Lee Han glossed it over.

What could there be to learn in such a foreboding dimension, anyway?

If anything moved, he was planning to just attack first. After seeing the dead before, he had a feel for the average level of the local enemies.

Maybe there was no need to ask and talk to each one individually…

I sense powerful vitality as well. Hmm. There might be other enemies, too.

“Ah, yes… What?”

Lee Han faltered.

That last comment was not something he could just gloss over.

Other enemies? What did that mean?

“What do you mean?”

Disciple of Osu, given your family and status, you don’t think we’re the only ones to visit a place like this, right?

The Yaksha King was right.

There were few who knew the true nature of Sangueros, but at least there were many who aimed for its power and domain.

Wizards, demons, evil god worshippers, etc.

Running into other trespassers here was hardly surprising.

Still, there must be a reason for you to ask like that. If I had to guess, your reason is…

-The heir has already set off.

---

A priest with a snake symbol inscribed on his forehead spoke with suspicion.

“Something is strange… Something is off.”

At present, the order’s structure was divided into three parts.

Ordinary believers, less fanatical but also less mad.

Fanatical priests who led those believers, boasting strong faith and divine power.

Lastly, the undying bishop who commanded those priests.

Of course, the undying one himself had not personally come.

As someone who dreamed of eternal life, the bishop was highly suspicious and thorough. Because of a deal with the Hag, he wasn’t about to cross into this strange dimension himself.

Currently, the undying one was commanding the party while possessing the body of the priest with the snake mark on his forehead.

Though his powers were greatly limited, he could easily escape if need be.

“What is it that seems off to you?”

A follower who had once been an apothecary asked the undying one.

Priests would not ask unnecessary questions, but believers did. While watching for reactions, they constantly asked questions.

They were still at a stage where they weighed faith against profit.

The undying one did not bother to scorn or intimidate.

Most of the followers of the Prahgal Cult were drawn in by the sweet dream of immortality.

But only a select few could actually step into the realm of true immortality.

Those half-hearted ones would soon fall away. Not even worth bothering to consume or deal with.

“Was there ever anyone in Sangueros’ cult capable of managing a domain this size?”

The undying one wondered.

He had come seeking Sangueros’s power in order to keep his promise to the Hag.

But this domain gave him a sense of discord. Far more powerful energy radiated from the core than expected.

Weren’t all the old bishops of the Sangueros cult wiped out by the last imperial purge?

‘Has a new bishop-level figure emerged? But is that even possible?’

To produce a new bishop in Sangueros’s cult, an entire small region would need to be sacrificed.

Old, closed-off western vampire clans might have done so, but in this day and age it was almost impossible.

Unless there was some strategist here with skills beyond his expectations…

“And yet I sense the power, but it’s not being properly managed. Did someone recently gain their power?”

“Typical of parasites! Pathetic scum, all of them!”

The followers cried out in flattery. The undying one hid his contempt as he gave orders.

“True enough. Go! Bring back their heads. I want to see this supposed new bishop for myself!”

At his command, the followers surged forward.

The Prahgal Cult’s powers were many, but among the most notable was their excessive vitality.

No matter their wounds, they regenerated quickly, and could even reattach severed heads—one reason this evil god’s cult remained so popular.

Squirm—

Their powers didn’t stop at simple regeneration.

To withstand such overflowing life energy, cultists would transform into more complete forms. The results could look grotesque and monstrous to unbelievers, but internally followed perfect laws.

One follower transformed into a chimera with the bulk of a mid-sized golem—massive enough to stand against a troll.

With the assault of the followers, the dead were swept away.

Watching, the undying one honed his senses to the utmost. If the enemy counterattacked, this would be the key moment.

But there was no counterattack. As if the place had been abandoned.

‘What is going on?’

Even as they won, the undying one felt more and more uneasy. He couldn’t read what the enemy was thinking.

“…If the enemy makes no move, just burn them more. Bring me the heads of the enemies. Let’s see if their master stays quiet if all his minions are lost!”

The undying one split the priests and followers and sent them out.

In a place like this, dispersing forces was not ideal—but it did help provoke the enemy.

Surely they can’t just stay quiet in the face of this?

“Priest!”

“!”

As expected, the enemy bit the bait.

Those who had gone to the swamps came running, and the undying one’s eyes gleamed as he asked:

“The enemies have appeared?”

“N-no, it’s not that…”

“?”

“There’s another mage in the domain.”

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

The undying one rejected this outright.

Most evil god worshippers settled in obscure dimensions, far from reach of imperial trackers.

Naturally, this Sangueros-imbued domain was such a place.

As an evil god worshipper himself, the undying one had run into the Sangueros gang before, so he could track it—but a mere wizard? Impossible.

Unless the bishop had sent them an invitation, no way was a mere wizard finding their way here.

“I-I’m serious. I saw others too.”

But the followers all insisted. The undying one thought carefully and asked:

“Couldn’t they just be someone who got lost and wandered in?”

That would make sense.

Occasionally, foolish magicians who didn’t know their place would get greedy and become lost in the dimension.

“No, they were sweeping away the dead just now.”

But the followers disagreed again.

If they were lost, they’d be trying to escape, not fighting aggressively. But the wizard they’d seen was openly combative and assertive.

“…Follow me.”

The undying one raised the priest’s body and moved.

Whether ally or enemy, he had to check with his own eyes.

‘Their reports were…true?!’

From a distance, the undying one caught sight of a wizard—and was shocked.

Just as the followers said, there really was a wizard in the swamp.

He was clearly not just lost. That level of aggression was far beyond mere misdirection.

He seemed especially skilled in water magic—though it was usually less destructive, he was sweeping through the undead before they could get close.

‘A dangerous one. Who is he?’

A powerful wizard was a threat to evil god worshippers by their mere existence.

Even if not an enemy now, he could easily become one in the future.

The undying one watched closely.

The other was not using high-level magic, but that didn’t mean much. Maybe he simply didn’t need to, and that was probably the case. Reaching this place alone spoke to his strength.

‘Mana… What…!?’

As he watched, the undying one belatedly realized the opponent’s mana reserves—he was stunned.

He’d been distracted by trying to guess the identity—but the wizard hadn’t stopped fighting, not for an instant!

“!”

The wizard finished off his enemies and turned his gaze. He must have noted their presence.

Given how soon his followers had seen him, he’d likely been aware all along—no mage of this level would have missed it.

Instead of an ambush or foolish attack, the undying one spoke with a touch of respect. Quite rare from this self-absorbed bishop.

“Greetings, wizard.”

---

“Aren’t those guys from the Prahgal Cult?”

-Seeing the snake mark on their foreheads, you’re right. If several priests are here, they’re putting in real effort.

“…We’ll be fine because of the contract.”

Lee Han recalled the contract with the Hag.

The Hag herself had personally brokered a temporary alliance with Prahgal.

Hamster squeaked in agreement.

-A powerhouse like the Hag doesn’t speak lightly. If she said it’s agreed, it is.

“Whew.”

-But are those guys even aware of that?

Hamster’s jab was sharp.

Even if their leaders had agreed, underlings might not know. Lee Han frowned at the point.

“Shouldn’t you have mentioned that first?”

-……

Hamster shivered at Lee Han scolding him for a difference of even a few seconds.

-If they don’t know, it means they don’t rank high enough to matter, so it’s fine.

“Can you really say that, looking at those numbers?”

Lee Han was quite uneasy.

He could still vividly remember the time Prahgal priests had sacrificed themselves to summon a massive undead monstrosity…

No way, they weren’t about to summon one of those here again, were they?

“Greetings, wizard.”

The priest who seemed to be in charge greeted him. At that polite attitude, Lee Han let out a breath of relief.

It could be a ruse to lower his guard, but at least there seemed no intention to attack for now.

“They must know of the Hag’s contract.”

-That seems to be the case.

“May I ask your name?”

The priest inquired, and Lee Han was about to use a fake name as usual. He wasn’t foolish enough to share his real name with an evil god cultist.

“S…”

He was about to say Stedal Nago, but a chill ran down his spine.

Come to think of it, wasn’t that the alias he’d used when robbing Prahgal before?!

“S?”

“It’s just a passing connection—why share names?”

Lee Han quickly changed the subject. The priest’s eyes flashed with a strange light.

‘Something’s off.’

It felt as if the priest was both himself and yet someone else. Lee Han focused and enhanced his soul sight.

He saw an incredible sight. Inside the priest’s body were two souls.

“Can there be two souls in one body?”

-What? Ah… That’s a common evil god cult trick. When you’re too attached to your own life, you plant a shard of your soul in a subordinate and control them.

Hamster spoke, smacking his lips.

He didn’t like the side effects and aftereffects of that method, but looking at the state he was in now, maybe it would have been better after all…

In the midst of such thoughts, Hamster shivered at the ominously flickering mana.

-Be careful! He’s using an evil power!

“What kind?!”

From the priest’s snake-marked forehead, the power of an evil god burst forth, trying to envelop Lee Han.

The intent was to pierce his defenses and peer into his inner mind.

But the power simply bounced off, vanishing into nothingness. Blood dripped from the priest’s eyes and nose.

-…Well, that’s good.

“Can’t you tell me a bit sooner? Try to focus!”

Hamster gnashed his teeth.

Ever since they’d left Einrogard, this brat had gotten especially sharp.

-I am focused. That one just tried a sneak attack…

While they whispered, the undying one stemmed the bleeding in his host’s body. That backlash was from the failed power.

The fact that his power had bounced off was shocking enough, but the opponent’s utterly nonchalant reaction was even more so.

So calm even after an attack!