Chapter 36: Live Combat Trial
Ambrose had always been a simple sort of lich.
Whether it was taking in refugees, aiding druids, feuding with paladins, or starting wars with neighboring lords, every move and scheme served one purpose only: profit.
It was no different this time. As a legendary lich who possessed the technology to forge artificial souls, he had minimal need for human souls. This war, from his perspective, was a complete loss. The castle's magical defenses devoured gold every second they stayed active.
Killing a few intruders wasn't nearly worth the expense.
So, Ambrose had to earn at least a little interest.
The three who had fallen into his trap would serve perfectly well as free test subjects for his new creation: the living mercury spirit golem.
……
Harvey was beginning to think that magic simply wasn't for him. The so-called school of divination was a joke. His instincts had told him that following the paladin's charge was the right call—yet here he was, falling into a pit trap.
He'd seen pitfalls before, of course. But who in their right mind dug one dozens of meters deep right in front of their own gates? What kind of effort was that? And for what? A few spears at the bottom would've done the job. Why make it so absurdly deep?