Chapter 93

Shinji Ban and Enma Kuroba were investigating the basement.

This was Sherry's laboratory, where she became the progenitor vampire.

"Quite, quite."

"Are you satisfied?"

"Yes. This is wonderful."

Shinji Ban seemed very satisfied after looking through the materials.

He had deeply studied the Yin attribute, but he knew little about the Yang attribute that Sherry had researched. For him, who sought the truth, this laboratory was a treasure trove.

Shinji Ban's magical equipment focused on the truth.

In his eyes, the laws of the world appeared as information, and the patterns of magical arrays could be observed as meaningful shapes.

"Magic that creates mental structures through magical power. This is one of the Yang magics, isn't it?"

The comprehensive nature of Yang magic is creation and birth.

By giving a mental structure to a corpse, it can be made to move. If mastered, it is even possible to create living beings.

"Did you get a clue about the moving corpse incident?"

"Hmm. I learned that it was a humanly possible act. If we can construct a reverse magic array, we can also cancel the spell."

"Sure, you old man, you know a lot."

"Shut up. We're about the same age."

"That's a forbidden phrase for women."

And the problematic Sherry had taken out the corpse of her lover, who was placed here, and was probably performing a resurrection ritual by now.

"Then, Enma Kuroba. Let's report to His Majesty."

"Right. We can leave the harassment to that progenitor vampire."

"My succubus magic will also be further refined. It's all good."

Shinji Ban, who smiled happily, was in a very good mood.

However, the magical device he possessed received a notification. This magical device was for communication, and the other end was the Emperor. He straightened his relaxed expression and immediately opened the communication.

"Your Majesty, this is Shinji Ban."

"Enma Kuroba here."

"Have you gathered the information?"

"No problem."

"Then return. The situation is critical. We need your power."

"What do you mean?"

"The Fifteenth Legion has been annihilated. And the Invincible Gold has been assassinated."

This shocked the two.

The Invincible Gold, who possessed an invincible armor, had been assassinated. He was a man who kept his magical equipment activated even while sleeping. Therefore, assassination was impossible. His armor absorbed all attacks. There was no way to kill him, who was covered without any gaps and had no weaknesses.

"Who is the assassin?"

Enma Kuroba asked with a voice mixed with tension and curiosity.

"Probably the black cat assassin who caused a stir in the imperial capital."

"I see, 'The Reaper'..."

Understanding this, she revised her perception.

'The Reaper' had taken down both Rute Reiven and the awakened Invincible Gold. While Rute was newly awakened, it was hard to imagine that the Invincible Gold, who had lived for two hundred years, could be killed.

In other words, it meant that 'The Reaper' possessed unimaginable power.

"Things are moving on this side. Return as quickly as possible."

"As you wish."

"Definitely."

The Emperor's orders were absolute.

This was true even for awakened magical equipment users.

It seemed that an irreparable situation had arisen while they were away from their homeland. The two recognized it as such.

"Hurry up, old man."

"I know that, you little girl."

The two acted on their desires, but their patriotism was genuine.

Leaving the progenitor vampire they had created behind, they returned to their country.

◆◆◆

On a new moon night, where even the moonlight was swallowed by darkness, a magical light was shining in a city reduced to rubble. At the center was a single corpse, lying on what looked like an altar, with a huge magical array spread across the ground and sky.

Next to the altar stood a beautiful woman in a pitch-black dress.

"Rouvert... we'll meet soon."

Using the magical power obtained by destroying two cities, she was trying to revive her lover.

The spell was completed.

It was a spirit creation magic, or rather, a restoration magic, mainly based on Yang magic.

Using the information engraved in the world and the information engraved in the body, she was trying to revive Rouvert's soul.

"The magical power is sufficient. Finally, finally."

Unlike Shu's death magic, Sherry's magic was not very efficient.

Due to the nature of extracting magical power from blood, there was inevitably some loss. It was not a power that could take everything like death magic.

That's why she had to destroy two cities.

"It's complete."

The light of the magical array disappeared.

The resurrection magic was completed. She had achieved the impossible resurrection of the dead with a large amount of magical power. Of course, the magical theory was somewhat established. However, most of it was completed by the transmission of her wish through magical power.

Magical power conveys will.

And the world, following the wish of magical power, automatically creates a magical array.

But it meant that Sherry's wish was that strong.

"Wake up."

Sherry cupped Rouvert's face with both hands and called out in a gentle voice.

His closed eyelids twitched.

Then they slowly opened.

"You are..."

Rouvert gazed at Sherry and murmured.

"Sherry, why..."

He sat up and examined his own body.

Then he looked at Sherry's entire body. The dress like darkness and Sherry's unchanged beauty. And his own death, which remained in Rouvert's memory.

What was going on? Rouvert wondered.

"You've come back to life. You have."

"Resurrection magic, you mean...?"

"Yes."

Then Rouvert stared and spoke in a cold voice.

"You're not Sherry. You're a monster. That magical power... it's not Sherry's."

As an assistant to a magician, he had mastered non-elemental magic. By sensing it, he realized that Sherry was holding an enormous amount of magical power.

And the quality of the magical power was completely different.

He thought the woman in front of him was not Sherry.

However, Sherry was the real one. She had just been reborn as a monster.

"I am a monster. I became an undead... a demon reincarnated me for you."

"A demon... and reincarnation!? And resurrection?"

Reincarnation into an undead is a magic seen in necromancers.

Reconstructing one's body with magical power and absorbing surrounding magical power to reincarnate as a monster. There are various monsters to reincarnate into, but a humanoid undead is the easiest.

"Why! Why did you delve into the dark necromancy... the advanced techniques?"

"Rouvert, I wanted to revive you."

"No! Why did you touch the taboo! No, why did you, teacher..."

He answered not as a lover but as an assistant.

Rouvert was a magician in his own right. Of course, he respected Sherry as a magician. In the study of Yang magic, which deals with healing and barriers, Sherry had submitted many papers.

She was trying to achieve the ultimate recovery magic, the revival from fatal injuries.

Applying that technology, she started researching the resurrection of the dead after Rouvert's death.

The resurrection of the dead is not a taboo for the Church. If it is not a monster but a human being who is revived, it is not prohibited. It is considered overcoming the phenomenon of death.

El Magia, the god of magical equipment worshiped by the Demon God religion, is the god of magical equipment. If resurrection is possible through the power of magical equipment, it is recognized as right. The same applies if it is achieved through the technology of magic.

However, Sherry conducted a large number of human experiments.

This was unacceptable. Moreover, she produced moving corpses with failed Yang magic and was wanted as a necromancer.

The magic itself was not a taboo.

"You are still human. I cast the resurrection spell."

"But why did you become a monster, teacher? And a demon, does that mean you made a contract with a monster!?"

"Yes."

Sherry smiled.

Originally, she was caught as a necromancer and was awaiting execution.

To revive her lover Rouvert, she would make a contract with a demon.

However, by that contract, Sherry became a monster, not just in appearance but in spirit as well. Just as Shu had no interest in humans, Sherry had no interest in anyone but Rouvert.

Her transformed spirit was truly that of a monster.

She believed that what she desired could be obtained by force.

"...If you made a contract with a monster and became an undead, I must slay you."

Honestly, Rouvert could not believe that his lover had become a monster.

And as a believer in the Demon God religion, he had to liberate Sherry's soul, who had become a monster. That's what Rouvert thought.

He deployed an attack magic and aimed his hand at Sherry.

The Apophris-style fire attribute magic.

It is often used as the most powerful attack magic. In other words, it showed Rouvert's intent to kill. However, for Sherry, it was a severe betrayal.

"Why? Why?"

The first-tier magic "Fireball" was constructed without incantation. For a progenitor vampire with high magical power, it was a level of power that could be deflected unconsciously.

She had destroyed two cities and finally revived her lover, whom she had made a contract with a demon to revive.

She had done well and was waiting for words of love.

However, what she received was a military attack magic.

"Why? Rouvert."

"You're not the Sherry I loved."

This was a clear betrayal to Sherry. In a sense, the spirit of a monster is pure. By betraying her heart, her feelings took shape.

"No..."

"Sherry?"

"You're not Rouvert."

The will-like power gave strength to the magical power.

As a new law that would erase the world.

"I have to get my Rouvert back."

Sherry extended her hands and touched Rouvert's cheeks.

Rouvert, sensing the powerful magical power, tensed. The "Fireball" he had activated would also harm him at this distance, so he couldn't use it.

Sherry, whose eyes had lost their color, used 'magic.'

"I will love Rouvert forever."

"Ugh... gah!"

"Forever."

Blood flowed out from all the holes in his face—mouth, nose, ears, and eyes—and was absorbed by Sherry. Rouvert quickly turned pale. Losing blood, Rouvert met his second death.

And he received his third life.

"Blood is the source of life. I killed the Rouvert I didn't know..."

Sherry poured more magical power.

"I will get back the Rouvert I loved."

The dead Rouvert regained his vitality and woke up.

His blood-stained clothes became clean, and he was completely back to normal.

"Sherry..."

"Rouvert, how does it feel to be reborn?"

"Ah... I can only see you."

Rouvert, the lover. The Rouvert in Sherry's memory was there.

The law of blood, the source of life.

It was the moment when Sherry's blood magic was born in this world.

◆◆◆

The Holy Kingdom of Falon had a close relationship with the Holy Grinia. Geographically, it was located southwest of the Holy Grinia, and its citizens were deeply religious. The cathedral of the Demon God religion was maintained by the citizens' taxes, and it was so magnificent that it was a famous tourist attraction.

It was called the Falon Cathedral after the country's name.

"Oh! You have returned!"

Bishop Bartholomew of the Falon Cathedral smiled.

The holy knight squad he had dispatched to a nearby city had returned. He thought it was probably good news since he had sent the great holy knight Lumen, the guardian of the Holy Kingdom of Falon.

"Please bring Lumen to this room as soon as possible. Of course, a few others as well."

"Yes."

The priest who came to report left the room.

However, a considerable amount of time passed without anyone arriving. Bartholomew tilted his head. It was possible that they were cleaning their dirty equipment, so he didn't bother to go and call them.

"But it's taking a long time."

Perhaps they were injured.

That's what Bartholomew thought.

This time, he had dispatched holy knights to slay a monster. The monster was an undead and had already destroyed several cities. As a precaution, he had sent the man known as the guardian.

If a city had been destroyed, the monster was at least a disaster level.

In some cases, it could be a destruction level.

If Lumen was injured, it was almost certain.

"Thank goodness this holy capital was not defiled. I am grateful."

While praying to the god, the door was knocked three times.

Thinking it was Lumen, he immediately opened the door. As expected, a man in holy knight attire was standing there. It was Lumen, whom Bartholomew knew well.

"Welcome back. Were you changing clothes? It took quite a while, though."

"Something like that."

"Come in. By the way, where are the other holy knights?"

"I gave them a little job."

"Is that so? But a job?"

"Yes, Bishop Bartholomew, don't worry about it."

If Lumen said so, there was no need to worry. Bartholomew was convinced.

And he invited him in.

"Anyway, come in."

"No, this is enough."

However, Lumen refused.

Without any preparatory movements, he pierced Bartholomew's abdomen with a thrusting hand.

"Wh...y..."

"I have come to know the true god I should worship. You, who obstruct my true god, will surely understand."

"True... god?"

Lumen pulled out his hand.

Bartholomew, who had suffered damage to his internal organs, was mortally wounded. He could be saved if he was healed immediately, but he would die if left as is. As a bishop, Bartholomew could use Yang attribute magic. However, he was not a skilled enough magician to concentrate on activation while injured.

He would die.

He realized this.

"Why... why?"

"Rejoice, Bishop Bartholomew. My god says he will meet you. Come, please."

Saying this, Lumen moved to the side and knelt.

It was as if he was waiting for something to be worshipped. No, he was actually waiting. For Sherry, the new god of the reborn Lumen.

"You foolish bishop who believed in a foolish god."

A woman in black appeared.

Sherry easily infiltrated the cathedral and made her way to the innermost part. Bartholomew realized that Sherry was a monster and was afraid.

"True... why..."

A humanoid monster. Probably an undead.

Definitely a progenitor vampire. It was the monster that Bartholomew had ordered the holy knights to slay. After destroying the prison city of Sheilart, its existence was confirmed, and it had destroyed several other cities since then. The information had already spread among the high-ranking priests of the Demon God religion.

"My blood magic gives love. And makes you love only me."

By extracting all the blood and giving her magical power-infused blood, she created a slave.

A slave who devoted everything to Sherry and obeyed her even to the last drop of blood.

Even a holy knight could not resist.

"By now, my subordinates are increasing the number of my god's believers."

And the blood slaves who were created would kill those who were not and give them blood to create new slaves. Thus, the number of blood slaves would multiply exponentially.

"Come, I'll give you blood. I won't let anyone betray me again."

With these words from Sherry, Bartholomew was reborn.

The Holy Kingdom of Falon, which worshiped the god of magical equipment, fell on this day.