READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 132
The four-wheeled carriage finally stopped in front of the Duke’s castle.
Six dukes stepped out from inside the carriage.
“I told you once we got in, we’d just go for it. I can’t even taste it first.”
“By the way, I wonder if this will end well.”
“Everything will be fine. We’ve made all the preparations. That one is watching over us.”
Unbeknownst to them, the dukes had come to follow the Old One.
Since realizing the unknown terror, their faith had become twisted.
How could they not serve after witnessing the Old One’s blessing?
“Duke Calasutra, don’t waver now. If you’re lined up, then just go through with it.”
“…Understood.”
Barugore was close friends with other Undead Lairs’ lords.
Killing him would gain the enmity of the Seven Lairs, but the real power was the Old One at the top.
If it meant holding onto the Old One’s lifeline, who wouldn’t be willing to kill?
The dukes each slipped their hands into their pockets.
Soon enough, they pulled out hefty eyeballs.
“This is always disgusting to look at….”
Duke Calasutra scrunched his face in revulsion.
The dukes of the Seven Dukes had seen their fair share of grotesque sights.
Even for them, the eyeballs the size of their palms were quite off-putting.
It was an instinctive discomfort, bordering on alien rejection.
“Think of it as the blessing of that one. Then it’ll be easier to consume.”
“…Understood.”
Though he said that, the six were busy reading each other’s expressions.
Haah— a heavy sigh escaped.
“Have you all made your resolve?”
After the sigh, Duke Sanjiba yelled out.
“Why do you dukes keep hesitating? How do you expect to pursue a grand cause with such indecision?”
Unlike the others, he wore a determination set in stone.
He had come for revenge for his biological father.
Until now, he had been powerless and unable to seek revenge, but now he was granted that strength.
In reality, it was unclear if Barugore was the suspect.
But the likelihood was strong, and even if it wasn’t his doing, it didn’t matter.
He just needed a target to unleash his hatred.
Duke Sanjiba looked around and shoved an eyeball into his mouth.
With him starting, the rest began to consume their eyeballs one by one.
Even Duke Calasutra, who hesitated to the last moment, ultimately shut his eyes tight and gulped it down.
Instantly, a tremendous magic surged within him.
A real-time giddiness took control of his body, overwhelming his emotions.
His hands tingled and writhed. The exhilaration coursing through his whole body naturally closed his eyes.
“Ah….”
A short gasp escaped from their midst.
Each one stood there blankly, lost in euphoria.
After a while, they snapped back to reality and almost simultaneously drew their weapons.
Great swords, straight swords, large sabers, rapiers, etc. While they were technically all different, they all took the shape of blades.
The treasured swords of the Sevens Dukes, by another name.
Though each one’s color differed, they were often called the Seven Colored Swords by the public.
“Did you all check the guest list?”
“Why ask something obvious?”
In essence, it could be seen as a purging list.
The lords of the Roseha faction attending this banquet, Roseha and Barugore. They could not be allowed to leave alive.
If things escalated, there could be other casualties, but what could be done? It was their own lives on the line.
“It’s time to begin.”
Duke Sanjiba stood at the forefront, followed by the dukes.
The moment of battle was drawing near.
***
[Fragment of a Star (NO. 2)]
[Enhancement Probability: 0%]
[※Caution! Applying enhancements to the target will result in absolute destruction!]
[If the enhancement fails, cooldown will reset.]
[Would you like to enhance Fragment of a Star (NO. 2)?]
[YES/NO]
As I looked at the notification window, I was lost in deep thought.
Why did a notification window appear in empty air?
If it were a common item, maybe, but this was numbered, not lettered. That meant it was a relic.
‘Is it a bug?’
At first, I was suspicious, but it’s hard to be sure without checking.
I gently pushed Roseha’s hand away and headed for the notification window.
“Huh? Why?”
“I need to check something for a moment.”
With my gaze fixed, I reached out, and something actually grasped my hand.
It was a translucent, star-shaped fragment that looked like glass.
On the surface, it appeared unimpressive. The fact that such a thing was a relic seemed unbelievable, even when looking at the notification window.
‘Really?’
It made no sense that relics would be scattered around in this place.
Yet, I couldn’t deny that the notification window was lying, either.
As I pondered this pointlessly, I felt a gaze from behind.
Turning my head, I spotted Duke Prifatana, mouth agape in shock.
A mix of disbelief and awe flickered across his face.
…I understand.
I’m confident that the Seven Dukes, with the Old One backing them, led us into a trap.
They must’ve taken advantage of a potential benefit and would have surely cooked up something with the relic passed down from the Old One.
If it was indeed a relic, it would pose a great threat even to the Undead Lair Lords.
“Um, good lord, do you have a moment?”
As the duke awkwardly approached, he smiled hesitantly.
Though feigning ignorance, his gaze lingered on the fragment in my hand.
I waved it around as if to flaunt it.
“A relic, huh.”
“….”
The duke silenced and glared at me.
I too kept my eyes on him, my hand moving towards the hilt of my sword.
In that moment, Roseha stepped beside me and glared at the duke.
“Did you try something funny?”
Though he shouldn’t have known the unfolding situation, I felt relieved that we were in sync.
Suddenly, a change occurred in the duke’s level.
The previously minute darkness deepened beyond red.
In what seemed like a fear response, the duke took a step back.
─Thud.
That was when the lights went out.
Putting aside the panic, my undead sight was free in the darkness.
Roseha was in the same boat. Even if it was the duke’s trick, it didn’t matter.
“What’s going on? What’s happening suddenly?”
“Is this some kind of event?”
“Looks like it. It is the Duke’s 100th birthday, after all.”
In the darkness, I could clearly see Duke Prifatana trying to escape.
Just as I tried to catch him, a gasp echoed in my ears.
Reactively, I turned my head toward the sound’s origin.
Fresh blood erupted from that place as silhouettes fell one by one.
The levels disappeared, which was irrefutable evidence of death.
Even with a passing glance, I recognized the faces of the corpses. The lords of the Roseha faction.
The previous levels vanished, replaced by new numbers that filled my view.
Each of those figures were alarming.
[Lv. 88]
[Lv. 89]
[Lv. 90]
A deep shade of red.
Silhouettes with clear intent to kill were steadily approaching.
─Click.
The lights flicked back on, and my vision cleared.
“Ahhhhh!”
A scream like ripping fabric filled the air.
Even in that moment, I kept my eyes trained ahead.
I recognized familiar faces I had grown tired of seeing in games.
The dukes, approaching slowly, griped the blades in their hands.
Their levels surpassed anything I remembered easily.
Borrowing from Bellevar’s words, they must’ve received some kind of power from the Old One.
“What are you guys?”
Roseha stepped up protectively in front of me.
The leading duke wore a grim smile, while Roseha gathered magic in her hands.
The eyes of the dukes widened like lanterns at the sight.
“Why is the magic…?”
“Hey! Prifatana! What the hell is going on?”
The horrified expression quickly vanished from my sight.
It was blocked by the notification window.
[The Eye of the Old One (EX)]
[Enhancement Success Probability: 1%]
[※Caution! If enhancement fails, it will be automatically destroyed!]
[If enhancement fails, cooldown will reset.]
[Would you like to enhance The Eye of the Old One (EX)?]
[YES/NO]
Even while staring at the duke, why was a notification window appearing—
In that instant, a thought crossed my mind.
What if the Old One’s schemes took the form of elixirs?
Even asking myself wouldn’t result in an answer.
It was something I could confirm, and right before me was a perfect test subject.
──!
With an explosion, red substances splattered everywhere.
Only blood and chunks of flesh remained where the leading duke once stood.
‘Good.’
The venue fell into utter silence in an instant, without a chance for the ruckus to subside, everyone fell into silence.
Amid the stillness as if time had frozen, I turned my gaze to the next duke.
“Roseha. I’ll spare one alive.”
I couldn’t just kill them all indiscriminately. I needed to keep one for interrogation.
Splatter!
Once again, blood and flesh splattered as another duke exploded.
The remaining dukes watched their levels fade like snow under the sun.
“Ahhhhh!”
Four of them turned and tried to flee simultaneously.
The blackened levels melted away as they distanced themselves from me.
Had they dared to engage, it would’ve been troublesome, so I counted myself lucky.
Splatter!
Explosions occurred at one-second intervals, and the dukes could not escape my sight in three seconds.
As the three seconds passed, the dukes vanished without leaving a trace.
Only bloodstains and chunks of flesh were left behind.
“Ah, ah….”
Duke Prifatana trembled, crouching on the floor.
He had been giving off a peculiar stench; it turned out his pants were thoroughly soaked.
Even after reaching a hundred years old, he knew how to act.
I turned my gaze to Roseha.
“Are you hurt?”
“…Huh? Ah, yeah. Thanks to you.”
As I looked at Roseha, I instinctively raised my gaze at the level above her head.
[Lv. 94 (MAX!!)]
The affection from Charlotte was maxed out.
That feeling showed on Roseha’s level now too.
……What was that?
What did I just do?
“You know? Females are attracted to strong males.”
Suddenly, Roseha grasped my hand and pulled me close.
My hand landing on her chest was certainly not my intention.
“I knew about strength, but seeing it in person….”
As she trailed off, she suddenly wrapped both arms around my neck.
Lifting herself onto her tiptoes, she closed the distance between our faces.
On reflex, our foreheads touched as we gazed at each other.
Roseha’s sensual hands caressed my neck.
“Can you not yield to me? Let’s just go for it.”
Ah.
It’s a mountain over mountains.