READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 96
The dense crimson over there surpassed mere hostility.
A firm intent to kill. The thought of execution was directly linked to that murderous intent.
Just the killing intent from Roxanne put my life in jeopardy.
To make matters worse, an Old One even more malevolent than Roxanne had intentions of execution.
I narrowly swallowed my despair.
If I completely broke down mentally in this dire situation, I’d be as good as dead.
How do I evade this crisis—no, I must evade it somehow.
The Old One walked, his steps barely making a sound, and with each step, the air weighed heavily.
It felt as though time and space were under his control.
If the Seven Lairs exuded intimidation, the Old One’s presence was fundamentally different.
It enveloped me with an unfathomable, alien energy that seemed to touch my very soul.
Only when he was almost upon me did I catch sight of the Old One.
His entire body was a deep black, like a black hole. Dozens of pairs of eyes crowded his face.
The multitude of writhing tentacles coiling behind him evoked a sense of discomfort.
The Old One passed me and pulled back an empty chair.
After taking his seat, he rolled his dozens of eyes.
“Everyone is gathered.”
Everyone except Roxanne was meeting the Old One for the first time.
Without any formal introductions, we dove straight into the main topic.
“Begin.”
Gurgle. The Old One’s gaze suddenly fixed on Roxanne.
Roxanne gave a small nod before speaking.
“The agenda consists of two items: the execution of Barugore and the fate of Roseha.”
The meeting commenced under Roxanne’s leadership.
A neutral party should be in charge of proceedings, but only the 72 Lords were present.
It would be inappropriate for a council official to lead this sacred meeting.
It seemed natural for a higher-ranked Lord to take charge, and the Old One passed the reins to Roxanne.
“Seventh-ranked Barugore killed fifth-ranked Calandas by his own hand. His intent was even to protect humanity.”
Roxanne cast her gaze at me.
Her razor-sharp gaze awaited my reaction.
I nodded silently.
“You obviously harbored murderous intent and killed a comrade of the Lairs. Do you admit it?”
“The initial intention wasn’t to kill. I was only trying to stop it.”
If Calandas had surrendered, I wouldn’t have thought of killing him at all.
Even at the brink of death, he fought to the end, and this was the result.
“He never wavered in his intent. Had I not killed him, I would have died. Everyone knows why I had to stop Calandas.”
Calandas’s power disrupted the balance of the existing Undead Lairs.
While there was no need to maintain balance, it was a fact that the other Seven Lairs were not pleased.
“Calandas is the Lich King. If he united an empire, he would have posed a threat to the Seven Lairs. If left unchecked, the Abyssal Realm could have faced destruction, just like the Empire. I prevented that future.”
“You’re quite confident.”
“I would advise you to use Renlin’s foresight.”
I had heard it directly from Calandas’s lips.
His ambition was to see all beings in the world turn into the undead.
That’s a truth I had heard, so Renlin’s foresight would surely activate.
Roxanne shot me a wordless glare.
“Everyone knew Calandas’s influence would grow. Yet no one stepped in. Reluctantly, Roseha and I took risks to stop him.”
Roxanne seemed to believe my words. She simply didn’t want to admit it.
“If we had just stood by, Calandas would have aimed for the Abyssal Realm by now. We sacrificed ourselves for everyone.”
“Does that mean betrayal deserves praise?”
“Of course not. I just seek understanding.”
“Even considering that, it doesn’t absolve you. You defended the Empire excessively.”
Roxanne crossed her arms and held her chin high in an imposing manner.
“Regardless of intent, killing a Lord of the Lairs is a grave crime. Besides, you defended humanity excessively.”
I had anticipated she would press me hard.
Being of the Abyssal class, cohabiting with humanity was necessary. Of course, Roxanne was partly to blame, but my personal feelings were greater.
Only human sentiment. It was because I was human that I defended humanity.
“Do you think humanity’s extinction could harm the Abyssal Realm? Even if so, your actions were mistaken.”
“….”
“If you had been the true protagonist, after killing Calandas, you would have wiped out the royals and turned half the territory into ruins. Only then would humanity not look down on us.”
Roxanne pointed a finger at me.
“But what are you? Did you not know things would turn out this way and defended humanity? Barugore, or rather Hero Lucas. You care for humans. In another sense, that makes you more threatening than Calandas.”
…Roxanne.
That lady has always been a piece of work, now and then.
“From the assembly, it seems the protagonist’s words were right. You have a human first mate and were even chosen by the Holy Sword. You undoubtedly harbor a secret desire to eliminate the Abyssal Realm from humanity’s side.”
“….”
“You claimed to prevent Calandas’s invasion. Then I too shall prevent you ahead of time. To ensure the safety of the Abyssal Realm, you must be executed now.”
“Renlin. Let me use foresight.”
As a human, I might have unconsciously harbored a sense of humanity.
However, I didn’t value humanity more than the 72 Lords.
I knew better than anyone my position and situation.
My heart may have been human, but everything else was a Death Knight.
While humanity was hostile toward me, I’d care for them? Right, not happening.
I felt camaraderie and bonds with the 72 Lords.
The 72 Lords came before humanity, without question.
A glimmer flickered in Renlin’s eyes, and she focused her gaze on me.
“I value the 72 Lords more than humanity. For the sake of the 72 Lords, I would even consider exterminating humanity.”
A moment later, Ren’s eyes turned green.
“That’s true.”
“It’s real! It’s really true!”
“….”
Roxanne glared at me as if she wanted to kill me.
I feigned arrogance, straightening my neck.
“Your thoughts are mistaken, Roxanne. I killed Calandas for my own safety and for the Abyssal Realm.”
This statement didn’t even require foresight to determine its truth.
That I prioritized the Abyssal Realm over humanity had already been clearly established.
There was still one use of Renlin’s foresight left.
It could serve as my last hidden shield for a triumphant argument, or conversely, it could become the spear in Roxanne’s hand.
Victorious tides were already flowing my way.
If things continued on like this, the votes would overwhelmingly lean toward opposition.
The only thing left was to solidify my defenses. There could be no room for collapse.
‘I need to use foresight quickly.’
In a way that’s favorable to me. Tactically and without revealing it.
“Renlin. I have one thing to confirm.”
It wasn’t me who called the two.
Naturally, my gaze shifted.
The Old One captured Renlin and me within his sight.
“The seventh-ranked Barugore cherishes humanity. Verify it.”
Bright red level.
…I had forgotten about an enemy more dangerous than Roxanne.
Just because I prioritized the Abyssal Realm didn’t mean I opposed humanity.
Humanity and my sentiments could coexist, and the Old One was exploiting that weak point.
He wanted to know my feelings towards humanity without a comparative reference.
He had seen through my intentions.
“If you refuse, I’ll take it as acceptance.”
“…I do not cherish humanity.”
Even I am not entirely sure about my feelings toward humanity.
If I had to guess, I might have some goodwill towards humans.
But if asked whether that amounts to love, I found myself confused.
Perhaps my words could be true.
Then, transformation occurred in Lin’s gaze as she looked at me.
Red, indicating falsehood.
“Undead hold unconditional hatred for humans.”
In the stillness, the Old One’s voice echoed quietly.
“Strangely, you don’t. That alone is ample reason for betrayal.”
The Old One’s words carried weight.
Moreover, his words bore truth, leaving no room for rebuttal.
I desperately racked my brain, but no immediate thoughts surfaced.
“Do you have anything else to say?”
“….”
“Then let’s end it. I vote in favor of the execution of the seventh-ranked Barugore.”
With that, the Old One cast a glance at Roxanne.
“I also vote in favor. A Lord killed another Lord and possessed intent. There’s no reason to oppose.”
With both the first and second ranks on board, I had been snagged.
The pressure from the hierarchy was unmistakable.
The lower-ranked Lords could easily be swayed by the atmosphere to vote in favor.
What was important was the opinion of the Lords of the Lairs.
“We oppose! We like Barugore. He must not die!”
“Opposed! Opposed!”
Fortunately, Renlin didn’t care for ranks.
I had a feeling about this. Wouldn’t Renlin support me?
Afterward, I silently glared at Daron.
“I’m neutral.”
I knew Daron, always maintaining neutrality, would say that.
Unfairly enough, I had heard that Calandas’s vote was in favor.
If I just accepted that, I’d be the only one to suffer.
“Calandas is also supposed to abstain.”
“No way.”
As if she had waited for this moment, Roxanne countered.
“It is shameless to vote in favor while having killed him yourself. Respecting the will of a deceased comrade calls for a vote in favor.”
“I concur.”
The Old One added a comment.
It wasn’t an utterly absurd opinion, and since the two joined forces, reasoning against it would be pointless.
They say a vote from the Lords of the Lair holds tenfold weight.
Votes: For 30. Against 20.
“I object, and I’ll add this.”
It was Roseha’s voice.
“If you want to kill Barugore, you’ll have to kill me too. That would leave three seats vacant; can you handle that?”
“Naturally, a new Lair will be born.”
Roxanne didn’t even flinch.
“On the contrary, rooting out the rebellion would be ideal. Rules come first. Without proper rules, a group cannot sustain itself, can it?”
Thus, the vote on the 7 Lairs came to an end, and the remaining Lords hurriedly left the conference room.
They aimed for anonymous voting, mindful of potential retaliation.
Soon after, they gathered once more, and the eighth-ranked Isabella came in holding a box.
Inside were slips of parchment with O’s and X’s written on them.
As Isabella nervously began to cast the votes one by one, the results were in favor: 36 for, 29 against.
The majority supported my execution.
…So it ended up like this.
Murderous intent and defiance swirled within the chamber.
I had prepared for the possibility of this outcome. I had planned to do something if it came to this, but I truly didn’t expect it to unfold like this.
“I will grant you a last wish.”
A smile stretched across Roxanne’s face.
The laughter and bright red level were more intense than ever.
Everyone present knew I was not just a simple seventh-ranked Lord.
I was a unique Lord of the Lairs. The strong one who killed Lich King Calandas.
They must understand that to kill me would come at a substantial cost.
The only way out was to inflate that perception of me.
Roseha was already grasping a wicked talisman.
Memories of Isabella’s blood technique sprang to mind, and Estizel’s magic circle materialized in the air.
In response, all surrounding Lords drew their weapons and activated their traits.
I too grasped the Holy Sword firmly.
“I have no intention of dying peacefully. If you don’t want to spill blood, withdraw now.”
Since earlier, my gaze had been fixed on the pair of swords held in Roxanne’s hands.
Double-edged swords pointed backward.
[Dragon’s Fang (EX)]
[Enhancement Success Rate: 1%]
[※ Warning! If enhancement fails, it will be destroyed!]
[If enhancement fails, the cooldown will reset.]
[Would you like to enhance Dragon’s Fang (EX)?]
[YES/NO]
In combat, establishing dominance is half the battle.
The moment the aura of the dragon blood activated, the movements of the lower-ranked Lords halted.
The majority of the Lords here were of a lower rank than I was. That was the implication of the aura.
Even Roxanne seemed affected, her body trembled slightly.
“Anti-Magic Dragon Scale. Double. Acceleration. Hyper-sensitivity.”
─!
With the completion of the incantation, Roxanne’s weapon shattered.
In the blast’s aftermath, her eyes widened abnormally.
Both her eyes and mouth were agape in shock, and her round pupils solely focused on me.
That reaction was to be expected. Calandas’s response had been exactly like that when he lost his weapon.
Zoom─!
In that moment, tentacles surged forward with a whistling sound.
Even in hyper-awareness, the Old One’s assault crashed down towards me.
Just as I was about to react, the tentacles halted mid-air.
No, they hadn’t stopped; instead, they were ensnared by an intangible force.
Boom!
In an instant, the Old One flew through the air and crashed into the wall.
Roxanne stood where he had been moments before.
…What just happened?
What did she just do?
It all transpired in an instant, but due to hyper-awareness, I had clearly seen Roxanne’s movements.
But even witnessing it, I couldn’t believe it.
Not only did she strike the Old One, but she also already manifested a magic circle around him.
As if affirming that I hadn’t misseen, it seemed that all of it was targeting the Old One.
The Old One glared at Roxanne.
“What are you doing, Roxanne?”
“It means I oppose the execution.”
Could it be that my intimidation had actually worked?
Roxanne wasn’t the type to take that kind of gamble just to avoid killing me.
True, her intent in breaking her weapon was to seem tough, but I never expected her to be this afraid of me.
Checking the level, it glowed a deep…
‘Green?’
What is that ruckus about?