The Genius Necromancer of the Barbarian Race

The Curtain Falls on Lagmor Mountain

Kiyaaaaak!

As Leonhart stabbed Medusa's eye with his sword, an ear-splitting scream echoed throughout the dungeon.

At the same time, red blood flowed from Medusa's eye.

Having lost her sight, medusa staggered helplessly.

While some things caught in her wavelike gaze turned to stone, fortunately, it seemed none of the adventurers were affected.

"Now's our chance!"

Someone's shout rang out amidst Medusa's howling.

I didn't know who it was. But following that shout, the adventurers all charged at the writhing Medusa, who struggled in pain.

*Riiip!*

― Kiyaaaaak!"

As a spear pierced Medusa's side, her body twisted violently. At the same time, the petrifying snakes rushed in, squirming to protect her.

That was true for Leonhart, who had stabbed her eye as well. As he twisted to avoid the petrifying snakes, medusa began to thrash her entire body.

Because of that, leonhart was flung and slammed into the wall.

"Leonhart!"

"We knew it from the moment that bastard went up there alone!"

The voices of Leonhart's companions rang out nearby.

Golden Wind.

The commander of that adventurer party had fallen.

Yet the adventurers' onslaught didn't let up.

Having lost one eye, she was now unable to fully wield the 'curse of Petrification.'

The adventurers, not wanting to miss this opportunity, leapt at Medusa with redoubled fury.

They continued to swing their weapons at her. But, having lost one of her main attacks, medusa had no way to shake off the adventurers.

* The dungeon's master has been slain.

Soon, the dungeon's master expired in vain.

I'd seen something similar before.

There's no winning against superior numbers.

Even if you're the dungeon master.

"Ugh, ugh...!"

As the notification that the dungeon's master had fallen appeared, I saw those who'd been turned to stone begin to return to normal.

As I read that text, I started hearing familiar voices around me.

Serena.

She was returning to her original form.

Serena slowly began to straighten her arched body. Her joints moved gingerly, and her once-stiff muscles regained their vitality.

"Brother Dmihtan!"

As she did, she asked,

"H-how was it!?"

Serena's eyes sparkled indescribably, and in her gaze was a deep sense of wonder and powerful conviction.

"What are you talking about?"

"Wasn't it much easier to move since I was arched like that!?"

"Is that really important now? The problem is you were turned to stone, Serena."

At my words, Serena's face flushed red. Perhaps from embarrassment, apologetic shame, or maybe both.

"Ooooh!"

Barkal also woke up.

Color gradually returned to the muscular body that had been gray as stone.

"U-uh...?"

Unlike Serena, Barkal's voice was low and heavy. More precisely, there was clear bewilderment in his tone.

Did something happen?

As I was about to ask, Barkal raised himself and began examining his body.

Arms, legs, torso.

Everything seemed in place, but Barkal's mood was heavy.

"S-something's wrong, brother!"

What is it! What's the problem?

Muttering to himself, Barkal spread out his hands.

"This can't be!"

Gradually, Barkal's flustered voice grew louder. He started counting the fingers on his right hand.

"Brother! It seems one of my fingers disappeared while I was turned to stone!!"

Through his skull helmet, I could see Barkal's eyes widen in shock.

"Is that true, brother!?"

"Y-yes! Look at this!"

Barkal splayed the fingers of his right hand.

"One, two, three, four, five...!?"

Five.

"Th-there are only five, brother!"

"Barkal, you're supposed to have five fingers."

"Oh!"

He looked truly shocked.

I let out a sigh.

* * *

When the dungeon master died, the entire Lagmor Mountain dungeon began to rumble.

This was the dungeon's final death throes. The adventurers didn't need to be told what this meant, so they quickly sprang into action.

"It's collapsing! We need to move, now!"

As I shouted, Barkal and everyone else nodded.

"Portal, over here!"

As we were about to search for the portal, one of the adventurers' voices echoed in the dungeon.

With that, everyone, including us, sprinted toward the source.

We ran up the stairs, pushed through tight corridors, and barely glimpsed the collapsing ceiling ahead.

"Watch out for falling pillars!"

With Serena's warning in our ears, we dodged falling stone pillars and pressed ahead.

If you looked back even once, you might die. Fueled by that vague fear, I continued forward until a bluish portal came into sight.

"Dungeon God! Over here!"

Near the portal, adventurers waved frantically at us, beckoning us to enter.

We threw ourselves towards them without hesitation. Truthfully, there was no time to think.

The sound of the collapsing ceiling drew ever closer behind us. In that situation, moving our feet increased our chances far more than hesitating.

It was then—

Suddenly, a cold sweat broke out on my back.

Was it fear of dying from the collapsing dungeon? No. I'd escaped dungeons enough times to be used to it by now.

This was something different. An unfamiliar, foreign sensation.

Pondering that, I glanced back, and immediately realized the source of my unease.

Inside the Lagmor dungeon, down one of the many passageways—

There, 'Abyssal Energy' churned, and a dark knight mounted on a black horse gazed down at us.

So that bastard was alive after all.

Luckily, Barkal didn't notice. If he had, he'd surely have erupted and tried to fight.

Thinking that, I dove into the portal. Instantly, blue light enveloped me.

It was as if I were being swept up in a river. Even after many times traveling through portals, I just couldn't get used to this sensation.

When I opened my eyes again, the foul-smelling scenery of Lagmor Mountain filled my view.

I had clearly escaped the dungeon safely.

But where were the others?

"I-I'm up here."

As I looked around, a voice called out from above.

Looking up, I saw Serena caught on the tip of a tree branch.

Should I help her down? As the thought crossed my mind, Serena quickly scrambled down the tree to my side.

The way she climbed made her look like a monkey.

"D-Did you feel it at the end too, brother Dmihtan?"

She looked at me with worried eyes. Apparently, Serena had felt it as well.

"Are you talking about the dark knight?"

Serena nodded. So I was right.

"He...didn't look like he wanted to fight, did he?"

"That's how it looked."

The dark knight we saw in the underground dungeon of Iushil.

If he'd truly meant to kill us, he would have revealed himself when we first entered the dungeon.

I really thought that was the case. Instead, I grew curious as to why he'd silently watched us the entire time.

Why?

Considering how overwhelming the 'Abyssal Energy' felt, he must have been there from the start.

Could it be—

"He's wary of something."

I stroked the 'Shard of Vespers' I'd been carrying close to my chest.

Is he wary of this? What could it possibly be?

No.

It must be because this shard can manifest the 'Abyssal Existence,' making it possible to kill it, that the dark knight remains so wary.

If that's the case, then what I saw today can be summed up as follows—

That dark knight's a real coward.

* * *

Below the camp at Lagmor Mountain,

Alona, the master of the Belhaim Adventurer's Guild, watched as the adventurers returned to safety, a smile curling at her lips.

"They made it out, they made it!"

"They're really alive! Ahahaha!"

The adventurers who emerged from the dungeon threw their arms around each other, shouting jubilantly over and over.

At that sight, alona was certain.

The Lagmor Mountain dungeon had been conquered.

Though the threat of an eruption still remained, that was far safer than leaving a dungeon in the middle of 'Abyssification' unattended.

"I'll report the outcome of this incident to the higher-ups."

As if reading her mind, a guild associate standing by spoke up, and Alona nodded.

As her subordinate disappeared into the distance, alona let out a sigh of relief.

In a way, her future as 'Belhaim's guildmaster' had been at stake. Having just taken charge, if she'd failed in this crisis she'd almost certainly have been cast out.

That's why Alona had anxiously watched events unfold.

Her sigh of relief only came because things ended well.

'Next...'

She already knew.

This incident was critically important for the capital of the Kerval Kingdom, belhaim.

No doubt, many adventurers would see their fortunes turn because of this.

And Alona herself desperately wanted to use this success to cement her position.

For that, she must create a 'hero'.

If the 'adventurer party' that resolved this crisis were to be elevated and celebrated, then the 'Adventurer's Guild' itself would be in the spotlight too.

If bards turned this event into a song, the whole world would know of it.

More adventurers would flock to them,

And the guild would become even stronger.

The only problem was choosing the right adventurer party to make that 'hero'.

'Golden Wind...'

Was already too famous.

If the name of a party that already made history was mentioned again, the public response would probably be lukewarm.

That's why Alona wanted a new adventurer party.

Famous in their own way,

But never before called heroes.

"Did the Dungeon God party get out safely, too?"

"I'd feel so guilty if anything happened to them."

"Yeah... They saved our lives, after all."

While she was pondering, alona heard the familiar name of an adventurer party ring out.

The ones that first stopped the eruption of Lagmor Mountain and approached the dungeon before anyone else.

A reputation formed naturally.

All that remained was for the guildmaster to formally acknowledge their feat.

This was a golden opportunity.

A party that saved Belhaim from crisis. And a chance for her to prove her own discernment in recognizing their value.

Which was why Alona's smile showed no sign of fading.