Chapter 155

Chapter 155

Spendthrift Necromancer (155)

Witch Iris.

Merhen was always beside her.

“Um…….”―What?

“I need the bathroom…….”―Go. Don't move your Mana. I know everything even without watching.

“Yes, ma'am.”

Iris hurriedly nodded and ran toward the bathroom.

When she ate.

Even when she slept.

Merhen orbited around her like a satellite.

But did that make Iris feel uncomfortable?‘……

Actually, I kind of like it?’Honestly, she liked it.

The reason was simple.

Swoosh.

Merhen extended a hand and a cup of water smoothly floated toward her.

Gulp.

Merhen drank.

Even a trivial movement like that contained profound magical principles.

When she'd pulled the cup over just now, for example. She'd simply used Mana to move it, yet the water inside hadn't rippled even slightly.

What if Iris tried doing the same thing?

The water inside would probably shake like it was caught in a typhoon.

Of course, Iris was still a Witch, so she probably wouldn't spill it.

A Mage who claimed to have defeated Great Witch Ananke.‘I don't know if that's actually true…….’But at the very least, Iris was beginning to believe it wasn't entirely empty boasting.

She called every Mage in existence besides herself an ‘idiot.’

An arrogant absolute being who looked down on even Witches like Iris as though they were insects.

There was exactly one situation where that attitude melted away completely.―Minwoo! Did you come to see me?

Merhen's face lit up like sunlight.

Whenever she was with Kim Minwoo.

Then she reacted not like a cold, arrogant undead, but like a genuinely emotional person.‘Why does she like him that much?’Necromancer and undead.

Naturally, they were master and servant.

But…….‘Is he really worth obsessing over this much?’Seriously, she played with a Full Witch like a toy.

With a summon that powerful, nobody could complain even if she twisted her master's neck off.

Loyalty?

That was meaningless to a summon at Merhen's level. If she wanted, she could probably remove restrictions like that in an instant.

Yet she remained loyal.

No, it went far beyond simple loyalty. She practically adored him to death.

Iris couldn't understand what Kim Minwoo had given her to earn affection that deep.

Soon, Kim Minwoo stroked Merhen's head and spoke.

“You've been working hard.”―No. I'm not tired at all. I'm only watching one idiot.

“Want to talk for a moment?”―Anytime!

Merhen and Kim Minwoo disappeared.

A short while later.

Merhen reappeared with her arms folded and an irritated expression, staring directly at Iris.―Hey, Supreme Idiot.

“Y-Yes?”

Iris quickly straightened at the sudden change in nickname.

Merhen frowned in annoyance.―That Ananke bitch. Is she that strong?

“Excuse me?”―I'm annoyed. Answer quickly.

“She obviously is……

right?”―Stronger than me?

“That…….”

Iris desperately worked her brain. When had she last seen Ananke?

The ‘entrance ceremony’ where Apprentice Witches gathered in the First City.

Traditionally, all seven Great Witches assembled onstage and bestowed blessings.

That had been the last time Iris saw her. Hundreds of years ago.

“……

I don't really know.”―You don't know?

“I'm sorry…… but I genuinely don't. Lady Ananke has never revealed her power…… though there is something I can infer.”―What?

“The other five Great Witches have each changed once, but Lady Ananke and one other have not. They've lived a long time while maintaining their positions, so…….”―She's probably stronger than I remember?

“Wouldn't she be?”―Haa…… this is really annoying.

“Wh-Why are you…….”―Minwoo says he can't trust me!

“What?”―He asked what happens if those Great Witch bitches come. Whether I can kill you instantly when that happens. Isn't he doubting my current ability?!

Iris's eyes darted around.

Somehow the conversation had become both urgent and directly connected to whether she lived or died.―And what's even more annoying is I couldn't answer him. My Authority hasn't fully returned. Against idiots like them, this Merhen…… damn it…….

“Uh…… Lady Merhen hasn't done anything wrong. Like you said, your Authority simply hasn't fully returned yet…….”―So. I'm going to plant magical bombs in your heart and brain.

“……

Excuse me?”―With one look from me, your entire body needs to explode so completely that you die before even feeling pain. If that Ananke bitch has gotten stronger, that's what we need. Minwoo is right. A Great Witch might come, you know? You have to account for even a 0.01% variable. I'm right, aren't I? Right?

“Uh…….”―Resisting won't help. Just because a Supreme Idiot like you fights back doesn't mean I can't implant them. It'll just be more annoying. Answer quickly. Are we doing this or not?

“A-And if I say no…….”―I'll make you want to say yes. Very slowly, starting right now. You did the same kind of thing too, didn't you? You slaughtered the creatures living here. Like a machine, without feeling much guilt. Right?

“…….”―I'm the same. So you'd better answer carefully right now.

Merhen spoke with chilling eyes.

This wasn't a joke.

She meant every word.

The answer was predetermined.

“I-I'll do it.”―Good. Smart choice.

Merhen answered with a smile.

If Minwoo was worried.

If this was what it took to reassure him.

Then she would simply do it.

However.

Her resolve to eventually kill every Great Witch had become absolute.

How dare those idiots cause Minwoo to doubt her? Ananke especially.―Don't worry too much. The Great Witch might not come, right? Then we can just turn around and eat you instead.

“R-Right?”―Yeah. Don't worry. Senior or Veteran, none of that means anything to me. They're all idiots. Now let's implant them. Quickly.

“W-When you remove them later, there won't be any problems, right?”―Yeah. Easier than eating. Don't worry.

Merhen answered casually.

Honestly, it wasn't easier than eating, but none of that mattered.

Iris?

She was destined to die anyway.

The reason was simple.

According to Minwoo, the Gate's clear condition plainly required them to kill her. They weren't going to live inside this Gate forever.

If they wanted to leave, she had to die.

Merhen could offer as much emotionless reassurance as necessary.

If Minwoo's value was 100.

Iris's value to her was close to 0.

No.

She had actually broken through the floor and entered the negatives.―Then I'll start the procedure. Think about accepting it. That'll make implantation easier.

“……

Okay.”

A short while passed.

Merhen nodded and spoke.―You'll wake up after one nap and it'll all be over.

Iris instantly fell asleep.* * *[The Skeleton Apprentices' crafting experience increases greatly!][Accumulated production experience creates a new Skill!][The Apprentices can now use ‘Rune Crafting(F)’!][Fourth Class Advancement Class, ‘Apprentice Rune Crafter,’ has been created!][They are learning another production-type Skill!][Power of Collective Intelligence!][The Apprentice group comprehends the principles of tattoos!][‘Tattooing(F)’…….][Fifth Class Advancement Class, ‘Apprentice Tattooist,’ has been…….]

“Oh, we got it!”

Kim Minwoo's eyes snapped open at the System messages ringing while he slept, and he leaped upright.

Exactly two days.

The Apprentices had gained new Classes. Tattooists and Rune Crafters.

When he moved into the area of the Witch's tower now commonly called the training hall, he saw countless Skeletons diligently receiving instruction.

The awkwardness of the first day had vanished.

The Gnomes and Barbarians now watched the Skeletons with warm expressions. They listened intently without a single complaint.

And they were smart enough to understand five things from one lesson.

In other words, they were satisfying students to teach. Of course their teachers would look at them fondly.

Kim Minwoo watched the scene with the same warm expression.‘Excellent.’The most important thing was learning the Skills. Once acquired, they could raise proficiency through independent use even without teachers.

Tattooing and Rune Crafting.

Now that they'd learned both, he could squeeze value from them forever like a spring that never ran dry.‘I didn't expect them to learn in only two days.’Collective Intelligence was far more impressive than expected.

Perhaps because they all shared the category of production techniques, learning one thing gave them lightning-fast inspiration, which unlocked something else.

The connections fed smoothly into one another like that.

This fantasy continent was truly no different from a mountain of treasure for Kim Minwoo.

And perhaps the awkwardness between the different races had eased during the past two days, because they were now smiling and talking among themselves. Even the Orcs assigned to grunt work had joined in.‘Makes sense.’The facilities inside the Witch's tower were excellent. For races that had suffered through hell, they now had warm beds, three delicious meals a day, proper sleep, and pleasant weather.

There simply wasn't much to be angry about, so the community naturally functioned well.

At first they'd competed over who had suffered the most, then cried and laughed and sympathized with one another. And so the relationships between the races gradually…….

That was when.[Amazing!][You have discovered the ‘Caesar Continent's’ true clear conditions!][Accordingly, all true clear conditions are revealed!][You may continue with the existing clear method, but fulfilling the true clear conditions may grant astonishing rewards!]

“Hm?”

True clear conditions?

What was this now?

That was when.[True Clear Conditions][1. Lead the major races toward harmony and increase the continent's strength.][2. Prevent intervention from the Dragon Legion and Eastern Witch Society.]

Kim Minwoo's eyes gleamed at the messages.‘Come to think of it…….’This Gate had originally begun as Salvation of the Continent(S+)

.

Considering that, these conditions actually felt natural.

Otherwise, the same thing that had happened when Mutakta disappeared would simply repeat itself: outside forces would extend their hands toward the continent again.

The harmony condition made sense too. Five races cooperating was far closer to saving the continent than having them fight each other to the death.‘Condition 1 is nothing special.’The leaders gathered here were already entering a reconciliation mood.

If he established a mixed-race city in the continent's center and encouraged interaction, harmony might come more easily than expected. They'd all been ruined anyway, so relocating wasn't particularly difficult.

There would be detailed problems, of course, but those could be handled gradually. The truly difficult condition was Number 2.

Prevent intervention from both organizations.‘Can I even do that?’Honestly, he couldn't guarantee it.

If Merhen and Cedric were powerful enough to kill even Great Witches and Ancient Dragons, maybe it would be possible.

But objectively speaking, they weren't.

At most, they could probably handle Senior through Veteran ranks. That was also why he'd asked Merhen to implant magic capable of instantly killing Iris.‘Just in case.’The chance of a Great Witch appearing was low, but nothing in the world was certain.

Failing to prepare when preparation was possible was idiotic.

That was why he'd even bruised Merhen's pride by asking her to implant the bombs.‘I feel bad, but.’It's true.

They still couldn't beat Great Witches or Ancient Dragons.

Merhen being adorable was one thing.

Clearing a Gate was another.

That was when.

Perhaps using spatial movement magic, Merhen suddenly appeared beside him and spoke rapidly.―Minwoo! Minwoo really is a genius!

“Hm?”―The alarm magic I placed outside the dimension went off. I can feel it. Familiar Mana. It's Ananke. That idiot came personally.

Wait a second.

He'd prepared for it, but he'd never truly expected it.

She actually came?

Merhen spoke brightly to Kim Minwoo, whose expression had stiffened.―Don't worry. Even if that idiot has gotten stronger, she absolutely can't stop me from detonating the bombs I implanted. Even the Death Lord couldn't stop this.

Oh, really?

Then he could relax.

A long time might have passed since the Witch Society's seal was lifted, but Ananke couldn't possibly have become stronger than the Death Lord.

At minimum, that meant their escape route was guaranteed.

“So when do you think she'll arrive?”―Hmm…… three minutes? Ah, she just entered the planet. She's flying this way now.

The Great Witch was already right on their doorstep.