68 [2-2] It's a dungeon with a stronger enemy than th...




"Teiralure is a fragile thing. It's really a cunning guy to take advantage of my absence. ......

 Erminio Drouet muttered, looking up at the city walls of King's Landing.
 Erminio is 27 years old. As a human vanguard adventurer, he is at the peak of his prime due to his balance of physical ability and experience.
 He has blond hair that is set well for an adventurer. And a rude face. Instead of a helmet, he wears a gilded circlet of protective enchantment on his head.
 He wears silvery white holy armor, and his dignified demeanor gives him the air of a nobleman.

 Erminio is followed by two knights in full body armor with holy seals engraved on them. Following Erminio were two knights in full-body armor with the Holy Seal engraved on them, and a bearded bandit (shifu) looking like a ruffian. And then there was the wizard, dressed in a corset bustier and lace miniskirt, holding a wand.

 Erminio's party, the Drouet, is said to be the second strongest party in Ciel-Teira.
 If you want to know what other adventurers think of the party members, please visit ......

 Erminio, the leader of the party, is a bonafide warrior (fighter) who adventures with the support of his father, a cardinal and vassal of the Holy Kingdom. He is vain, proud, and has a childlike personality that causes him to throw tantrums when he doesn't get his way. He is not lacking in talent, and is an Adept.

 Two priests, Etre and Alfonso, are sent by his family to attend him. Although they are priests, they wear heavy armor and can also play in the vanguard, making them what is commonly known as "paladins. In fact, both of them are officially temple knights of the Holy Kingdom, and although they are not registered adventurers, they are considered to be of the sixth rank (elite), and they are the center of this party.

 Edgar, a thief who follows Erminio for money. His rank is 6th (Elite). He does everything from assisting in the search to performing menial tasks. He's used like a rag, but he's given an allowance that's worth it, and his equipment is luxurious.

 Loretta is a female wizard who doesn't even try to hide the fact that she's trying to win a fortune. Her rank is fourth (guard). At a slight discount, she's only a 4.5, which makes her a bit inferior to the rest of the party, but she's been taken in by Erminio and is never left out of the party. She always wears the powerful and high quality armor that Erminio bought for her.

 They often use their money to solve both daily life and quests, and their party's finances are out of balance. But there is no problem. If they are short of money, Erminio can simply beg his parents for it.
 They are not adventurers for a living; they are adventurers half for Erminio's amusement and half so that he can make a name for himself back home.

 With three valuable magic users in his ranks, and two of them being elite priests who can even play in the vanguard, it was inevitable that he would rise to a position where he would be considered second-best.
 However, compared to the country's best "spear spear" (mainly because of Erminio and Loretta), the party as a whole is a bit inferior, and Erminio's laxity and behavior is considered more of a problem, and he is still in second place.

 More than .......
 This is the first time I've ever seen such a thing. The fact is that he's a model adventurer who is being complemented by the "spear of zero".

"But it's eerie, isn't it? Even this close, not a single arrow has flown.

 Edgar looked up at the castle wall and wondered.

"There's no sign of the undead around.
"The undead must have rotten brains. They must have rotten brains. It's a good time to sneak in.
Erminio, you don't have to sneak in. Isn't the gate open?

 Loretta leaned over Erminio and pointed to the city gate. Her soft breasts pressed against Erminio's arm.

 Loretta was right, the city gates were open.
 It is gaping open as if to welcome the five of them.

 But Edgar frowned when he saw it.

"Isn't that a trap? The gates of a fortified city are full of devices designed to kill the invaders.
But there are no undead to operate them, right?
But there are no undead to run them, right? Maybe there's a mechanism that works automatically.
 Edgar, get up there first and hang a rope from the top.
"For how much?

 Edgar replied as usual.
 Seeing this, Erminio smiled contemptuously and flicked the silver coin.

 I'll be back.

 The streets of Teiralea were silent.
 There were surprisingly few traces of destruction, nor was there the stench of death in the air.
 There were no undead roaming the streets, and only people seemed to have disappeared.

"Mister, there's something ...... over there, a stray dog.
Hmmm? I'm not sure if you've been turned into a zombie or not.

 A skinny stray dog that didn't breathe fire or have three heads showed its face and ran off in a frightened manner.

 Up to this point, the five of them had made it in unhindered. There were no monsters on the city walls, no traps of any kind.
 It was so peaceful that it was almost unbelievable.

 Edgar opened the doors of the houses and stores, and checked inside.
 Herminio strode proudly by, Loretta clinging to his arm.
 Etre and Alfonso followed Erminio as quietly as a guard golem.

"What do you got?
There are signs that the house has been searched everywhere. It looks like they've taken everything they could lay their hands on.
Hmm, so they're gathering at the castle.
 Are the undead holed up in the castle too?
Come on, .......



 Given that the castle town was so quiet, it seemed appropriate.
 Erminio looked at the partially collapsed royal castle.
 On the castle walls fluttered a number of red rose banners that looked as if they had been painted with human blood on rags.

It seems that there is nothing to be found in the castle. Why don't we just go to the castle?
"Hey, Erminio, there are some treasures left by the kingdom here, aren't there? If there are any jewels, I want them.

 I'd love to have some jewels." Loretta said in a voice that sounded like honey boiled down with sugar.
 Loretta, with her long, peach-colored hair, has a face and body that would appeal to a man, and any man with less-than-perfect taste would say that she has an attractive appearance. She also has a talent for magic. Erminio was very proud to be pampered and relied on by such a talented and beautiful woman.

If you want jewels, I can buy them for you.
 ...... It is a shame, however, that the treasures of the departed have fallen into the hands of the undead. It should be protected by those who know its value. I'm sure there's at least one treasure that should be displayed in the treasuries of my family, even if it's in the royal palace of a small, desolate country.
 Oh, yes. I heard the First Knight Commander used a national treasure called something like a magic sword. That would be appropriate for me to use.
 All right, it's decided! Let's head for the castle.
Hey!
Yes!

 Edgar and Loretta replied, and Etre and Alfonso followed silently.
 But their steps soon came to a halt.

"Evil presence. ......
The smell of blood.

 Etre and Edgar said almost simultaneously.

 The five of them approached the castle, hiding behind the surrounding buildings, and found something strange in the square in front of the castle.
 It was an execution table.
 It was a crucifixion table, as if it were an execution by fire or crucifixion.
 There was no one there, but around the ...... area, there was a sticky organic stain that smelled of decay, and it continued like a line drawn with a paintbrush toward the gate of the royal castle.

What the hell is this?
What's this?" "It's ...... blood and carrion. It looks as if they dragged a large number of corpses or something on the execution table into the castle. ......
 And it was probably just a few minutes ago. It's still new.
Why was that thing on the execution table and why were they dragging it now?
Didn't you ...... just turn a pile of corpses into zombies?

 I'm not sure what to make of that.
 Across the moat, on top of the walls surrounding the royal castle, a number of figures appeared.
 None of them looked like normal people. Some were crumbling corpses, others were just bones in armor.
 Oddly shaped soldiers, bows and swords in hand, looked down at the members of the Drouet.

"There you are.

 More skeletons in armor appeared around the castle walls. They seemed to have come out from behind the castle.
 On the chest of their magnificent armor was engraved the crest of the Order.

Don't get too close to the castle walls, young man. There are skeleton archers and liches up there.
I know. ≪Give me the Consecration.

 As Erminio draws his sword, Alfonso casts a spell. The blade became white with a pure glow.
 ≪It is a sacred magic that grants divine blessings to equipment.
 It can be used on weapons to deal special damage to the undead and on armor to push back the power of impurity.
 Moreover, it is a spell that lasts, so once cast, the wielder does not need to maintain it, but can use another spell to attack or heal.
 If you have a priest in your party, this is the spell you should use first when fighting the undead.

This is the end of the knights who were killed by the Rose of Hell.
 Loretta, how strong is that thing?
Well, from the looks of it, it's a skeleton warrior.
In short, it's a punk.

 Erminio laughs slyly.
 I'm not sure what you mean by that.

I was just bored out of my mind. Why don't you at least try your hand at resistance?

 Erminio's words of provocation were dressed up.

 ...... Erminio's death is in ten minutes.