Chapter 179
Episode 179
[... But why me, of all people?]
[Are you scared?]
[What a disappointing thing to say.]
Following Albrecht's suggestion, Erich set out to meet him.
But the guard Erich chose was none other than Hrung-ga.
Hrung-ga rolled his eyes, as if questioning why, out of all the many strong people, Erich would choose him...
'There's a reason.'
In fact, there was a very specific reason Erich had picked Hrung-ga.
'If it were Mikhail or Ungrim, they'd likely try to kill Albrecht the moment they saw him.'
By contrast, Hrung-ga had no personal grudge against Albrecht, and he listened well to Erich's words.
On top of that, he was much stronger than Frederick or Barnes.
For these reasons, Hrung-ga was the ideal escort for a meeting with Albrecht.
Anyway.
As they walked for a while, nearing the predetermined meeting place, a chilling energy was felt from beyond the vast expanse of the ice lake.
Erich had a rough idea of whose power it was.
[Hrung-ga. He's in that forest.]
[Mmm.]
Hrung-ga gripped his axe firmly.
He seemed rather tense—no surprise, since he had already heard various tales about Albrecht through Erich.
But now, to have in person the opponent he had only heard about—of course, he was nervous.
But at that moment—
It was actually the fact that 'he could feel' the presence of the opponent that made Erich feel something was off.
'... So he's caught on as well. Does he know I'm coming?'
Albrecht was a genius when it came to hiding his presence.
Otherwise, how could he have hidden from so many people for a thousand years, all while moving freely through the Watch?
Yet the fact his presence could be sensed right now meant that Albrecht was 'deliberately' revealing himself.
And sure enough, soon Albrecht appeared. He sat on a stump and curled his lips into a smile at Erich.
"It's been a while. Isn't this the first time we've met when you actually know who I am?"
Albrecht's white hair rippled in the wind. His white eyes flashed.
Now that most of the truths were revealed, it seemed he no longer needed to hide that he wielded the power of the dead.
"... You deceived us well all this time. How did you ever manage to conceal your use of the power of the dead?"
"That's a secret. I can't just tell you that lightly."
"... So, why did you want to see me?"
"It's because our goals seem to align. I've come to share some valuable information."
"... Valuable information?"
Albrecht snapped his fingers.
Immediately, a dead rose from the ground behind him. Hrung-ga gripped his axe and flinched at the sight.
Without hesitation, Erich accepted something handed over by the dead. It was a map.
Albrecht added an explanation.
"The Lord of the Dead is awakening them there. He seems rather sad, about losing Karkas."
"... I suppose he would be. So the Lord of the Dead has already awakened?"
"The Lord of the Dead has always been awake. He simply hasn't revealed himself."
"Hm."
Erich looked at Albrecht with wary eyes. Why was he revealing the location of the Lord of the Dead? Albrecht continued.
"There's no need to look at me so suspiciously. I also don't want the Lord of the Dead to sweep away the entire Empire."
"Then how could someone who didn't want that have served him for almost a thousand years?"
"Because I had to."
Albrecht wore a faint smile. His pale skin gleamed in the sunlight.
"So, do you mean for me to go to this place and eliminate the Lord of the Dead?"
"That's up to you. You could try to predict the date of the invasion, or rush in and try to kill him. Either way, it won't be easy."
"Hard to believe you, no matter what."
"I thought you'd react that way. Still, aren't you clever? You assess and act more insightfully than any commander I've seen."
Erich found the truth of Albrecht's words doubtful, but that only added to his confusion.
If Albrecht wanted to lie, he didn't need to go to such lengths.
'In fact, that makes it all the more suspicious.'
Albrecht had operated in the shadows for a thousand years.
He was a man who managed his own body so well that no one had ever discovered him.
But now, in the lead-up to the final battle against the Lord of the Dead, why was he giving something like this?
"Are you planning to absorb the power of the Lord of the Dead yourself? Become the new master of the dead?"
"... Interesting. That could be a way, too."
Albrecht grinned broadly. Erich couldn't read anything from his ambiguous expression—whether it was truth or lie.
But from Albrecht's reaction, Erich sensed the man was after something beyond his expectations.
'So, it's not a simple story, huh?'
Then Albrecht waved his hand. The body of the dead who had handed Erich the map collapsed on the spot.
"You may have your suspicions about me, but there are laws in this world you don't know. Believe or don't believe—up to you. Just do as you feel."
Albrecht then stood up from his seat. As he moved to leave, Hrung-ga tried to intercept him—
― KWAANG!
Suddenly, Hrung-ga's body was slammed against a tree behind them.
Albrecht had sent Hrung-ga flying with nothing more than a wave of his hand.
"...!"
This situation shocked Erich quite a bit—when Albrecht sent Hrung-ga flying just now, there had been no warning sign.
It was neither magic nor brute strength. Nor was it the foul power of the dead.
It was something else entirely.
'... A kind of power I don't know about?'
Of course, Erich had expected a surprise from someone as old as Albrecht.
But an undetectable power—that was truly astonishing even for Erich.
For a moment, Erich glimpsed Albrecht's eyes.
In that fleeting instant, his white gaze formed a strange pattern in both eyes.
"Don't try anything foolish. I have little tolerance for experiments of mine trying to overstep their bounds."
"Were you the responsible person who created the barbarians?"
"... I suppose, seeing as Ungrim is now with you, you must hate me by now? Ironic, isn't it? I was the very one who created them."
Albrecht offered a faint smile. Erich had already suspected as much.
Albrecht possessed remarkable magical talent. He had seen his form in illusions before.
So this wasn't especially surprising.
Albrecht walked back into the forest. With every step he took, the surrounding scenery seemed to darken.
Erich made no move to stop the receding Albrecht—in fact, the very thought of stopping him seemed to have vanished.
'If he was only the Lord of the Dead's puppet, I might have executed him here and now.'
But Erich sensed there was something greater at play between Albrecht and the master of the dead.
Which was why he simply let Albrecht disappear into the forest.
Shortly after, Hrung-ga, regaining his wits, stood up while rubbing the back of his head.
[Wh-what just happened?! Where is he?!]
[He's already gone. Flew off quite well, too.]
[What an embarrassing thing...!]
[No need to feel embarrassed. From what I saw, I don't think you need to.]
As Albrecht's presence vanished, Erich nodded.
Instantly, the shadows emerged and filled the clearing.
They bowed their heads as if awaiting Erich's command.
"King, take your kin and tail Albrecht. You've suffered from him before, so you should know how to go about it this time, right?"
"Yes, successor."
King had already suffered under Albrecht once.
That meant his chances of avoiding detection were higher now.
All Erich wanted was one thing—to determine Albrecht's lair.
Even if Erich managed to defeat the Lord of the Dead in the final battle—
If Albrecht turned out to be an even worse threat than the Lord of the Dead, Erich needed a way to eliminate him too.
Understanding his movements was crucial.
'... Their relationship is not as simple as I thought.'
Thus, although the shadow's original purpose at this place was to support Erich in disposing of Albrecht, Erich changed his plan on the spot.
He would probe Albrecht further. Shadows were the most optimized resource for such a mission.
Erich then recalled the suspicious power Albrecht had displayed a moment ago.
He felt there was something deeper hidden than what he knew.
'... The divine ritual. And the new power I witnessed today.'
Erich examined the residue of the power. He sensed the divine ritual intricately interwoven in it.
Apparently, Albrecht, too, had his own 'divine ritual'.
But there were said to be only two beings in the world who wielded the divine ritual.
Incensus and the Lord of the Dead.
Even if, for argument's sake, Albrecht had received it from Incensus... still, where did he get this power?
Strangely, Erich couldn't sense in Albrecht the power peculiar to the Lord of the Dead.
That could only mean one thing.
Albrecht was using yet another divine ritual.
If so, it made sense that there were powers beyond Incensus and the Lord of the Dead.
The power of Incensus, who sent his future self into the past.
And the power of the Lord of the Dead, which can bring all life to an end.
So, what was the power that Albrecht possessed? Erich was lost in such thoughts.
Hrung-ga soon spoke up.
[... Is it really okay to just let him go like that?]
[We must. But that's fine, in its own way.]
[Why?]
[I saw a new possibility.]
Hrung-ga could not understand Erich's train of thought. But Erich slowly raised the corners of his lips.
Because, after a moment's reflection, he had reached a conclusion.
'... Maybe it isn't impossible for me, too, to awaken to a new power, just like Albrecht did.'
Erich slowly turned around. If Albrecht could do it, so could he. If he could awaken a new power like Albrecht, it would be of great help in facing the Lord of the Dead.
A cold wind swept across the clearing of the ice lake, now empty of everyone.
With the final battle approaching, an indescribable tension grew ever deeper.