Chapter 601

Translation: There were a total of five tombs that were attempted to be robbed. Not only one tomb, but all four other tombs were also dug up, and everyone could see the same fact. All the buried artifacts were broken. It is speculated that this happened because the undead came back to life in the ground, broke the artifacts, and crawled out into the world. However, the bodies were still inside. There were bodies with different dates of death and degrees of decay, and some were not. Since the number of buried people was countless, the faces of the bodies were too decayed to recognize. "These are not the bodies of warriors," said Ellen, who had confirmed all the bodies in the dug-up tombs, and Louise nodded her head. All the bodies were maintaining their appearance to some extent, regardless of the degree of decay. This already indicated that their nutritional status was not good during their lifetime. Since this area was a newly expanded site after the gate incident, most of the buried bodies were those of soldiers. Therefore, most of them were soldiers. It was impossible for the bodies of soldiers to be so decayed. "There are no injuries." "Yes." Moreover, most of the bodies here are those of deceased soldiers. Therefore, they are obviously those who died in battle with monsters. Their bodies should have some signs of injury, such as missing limbs or even missing skulls. However, although the bodies looked malnourished, all their limbs were intact. "These are the bodies of the refugees." Therefore, these are the bodies of those who died of illness or starvation. "Then... after reviving the bodies, they put other bodies in these tombs... is that it? Why would they do such a thing?" Heinrich expressed his doubts, but the other three could not answer his question. Reviving bodies as undead is crazy. However, after reviving the undead, taking them away, and putting other bodies in the tombs is not crazy, but strange. The intention cannot be understood. Ellen crawled out of the pit and cautiously turned her hand. "One thing is for sure, there are people who have tampered with the tombs. We don't know why the bodies were switched, but..." There are two groups of suspects: tomb raiders or those related to undead transformation. However, even if it was the tomb raiders' doing, it is too strange that the bodies were switched in the situation where they are being chased. It is not a meaningless act. Extreme actions such as digging up tombs and confirming them do not usually occur. It is understandable to clean up the dug-up land and erase the traces of the tombs, but why disguise the bodies? "But... we have to fill this up quickly, right?" Heinrich was very restless because if someone saw this sight, there would be a big commotion, even if this place was not visible. Of course, it was not just a matter of digging a little, but since the tombs were completely dug up, it would definitely be noticeable even if they were filled up. "No, wait a minute." However, whether Heinrich was anxious or not, Louise was examining each one with a meaningful expression. They dug up a total of five tombs. All five tombs had been attempted to be dug up. The original burial artifacts were all broken, and the bodies found were not those who were supposed to be buried there. If tomb raiders had forcibly broken the artifacts and switched the bodies, it was unclear why they would do such a thing. If the culprits they were chasing were involved in this and had resurrected the real owners of the tombs as undead, it made sense, but there was no reason to switch the bodies in this situation where they were being chased. The group decides to dig up another tomb that had not been attempted to be dug up. They soon dug up the sixth tomb, which was different from the other five. The burial artifacts were intact, and there was no sign of attempted digging. However, the body inside had been switched. Louise and Ellen were shocked at the sight of the body, which was clearly not that of a warrior. They couldn't understand what was wrong with the situation. The suspicion arises that there may be a more fundamental problem than just tomb raiders or the culprits they were chasing. "If this is the work of the ones we are chasing, there were things they should have taken but didn't. Undoubtedly, they should have taken the undead."

"And things they wouldn't take. To be precise, things they wouldn't show interest in."

"Funerary objects buried with the bodies."

The bodies were buried with objects.

"Even if they resurrected the bodies as undead, it's certain that they weren't interested in treasures buried with the bodies, as much as they were not interested in the belongings of the lion."

The ones who caused the incident in the underground tombs of the Holy Order of Knights are not important people who care about a penny.

So it's certain that they weren't interested in treasures buried with the bodies, even if they resurrected the bodies as undead.

There was one more thing in common with all the tombs they found.

There were no funerary objects in any of the tombs.

"At least it's not like the belongings of a lion in his lifetime, but in most cases, weapons and armor are buried as funerary objects. Especially for warriors. But there were no funerary objects in any of the tombs, and although the bodies were dressed in mourning clothes... there was not a single object buried with them, and the clothes they were wearing were all the same. And while the bodies were switched, the fact that there were no funerary objects left in the tombs means that it wasn't the work of tomb raiders or the ones we are chasing."

"...."

"It must have been like that from the time they were buried."

This body that was switched was not the work of the ones they are chasing or tomb raiders from the beginning.

The body was switched from the beginning when it was buried.

"With the influence of the management director, such a thing is not possible."

Everyone begins to imagine something frightening.

Louise looks at Ellen quietly.

"Ellen."

"Yes."

"There seem to be too many things tangled up in this."

The incident that started with the death of the Archbishop was spreading endlessly without limit.

The Archbishop was an inquisitor.

The Holy Order of Knights had unknown internal problems.

The murdered inquisitor was chasing the remains of undead saints.

And even in the national cemetery where the culprits seemed to be involved, the buried bodies were switched.

Everything they have found so far does not lead to a single conclusion.

Each clue reveals a completely different problem.

There were too many problems in the world, and all the problems were showing the tip of other problems that could not be ignored.

The bodies that were switched in the imperial national cemetery.

It's too big to see it as a deviation of the management director. He couldn't do such a thing.

So the switching of bodies in the national cemetery could only have been done by a greater power. Approval or orders from a greater authority, or acquiescence.

Without that, it's an impossible task.

They have to check each tomb one by one to make that suspicion a decisive truth.

Ellen murmurs absentmindedly.

"Is it right to think that the Empire was involved in this...?"

"That's right."

Louise could only nod her head with a firm expression.

If they switched the bodies, what did they do instead?

What were they trying to do?

"Wait... if all the other tombs have different bodies buried in them..."

Ludwig opens his eyes with a desperate expression.

"What about Ashur's tomb...?"

At his words, Heinrich and Ellen grit their teeth. "Find Ashur. Then we will know everything. The bodies buried in the tombs were not the owners of the tombs, but completely different people. That means they haven't found Ashur yet. We can't confirm that all the bodies were switched without opening all the other tombs. Ashur's tomb. If we check just one more, we will be certain of our suspicions. There! What are you doing? Eventually, someone had to discover them, no matter how hidden the tombs were. Where did the problem start? What should we address first? The inquisitor's death, the undead saints' remains, the switched bodies in the national cemetery. No one could be sure which direction all the clues were pointing. Everything could be a problem. If everything in the world is a problem, how can we solve this? Ellen began digging into the tomb with Heinrich's melted eyes. The manager and the soldiers watched with pale faces. The soldiers who saw the warrior digging into the tomb without warning could only be frightened, and Ellen did not offer any excuses or apologies. She brought the manager and the shovel and returned to Ashur's tomb. The warrior dug into the tomb with her bare hands. It was easier and faster with tools. Every time the blue magical power touched the shovel, the ground revealed its secrets. Ellen quickly dug down to the depth of Ashur's coffin and twisted the lid open with the shovel. This time, it was a body that they should be able to recognize. Just as they all expected. It had started to decay, but there was a face they didn't recognize inside. "What are you doing, warrior...?" Ellen handed the shovel to the manager without saying a word and crawled out of the hole. "Fill the tomb and pretend you didn't hear or see anything about this. Remember, if you don't want to die early." Looking at the frozen faces of the others, not just the manager. After digging up seven tombs, Ellen was now certain that all the bodies in the national cemetery had been switched. Ellen said that and gestured to the group. "Let's go. We have nothing else to do at the national cemetery."