— A while back, Kraugel had just entered the city through another gate that was not under siege by the Stampede wave.
"Towa! Stop for a moment."
Kraugel stopped his run, simultaneously halting Towa and Gumi. He then gestured for Towa to come a little closer.
"I have a task for you."
"I am ready to carry it out," Towa responded.l
"So, here's the thing..."
...
Everything was coordinated. Gumi would assist the adventurers and Holy Knights in fighting the Stampede, with Kraugel, of course, emphasizing that she must prioritize her own safety. As for Towa... Kraugel let go of his hands, stretching them forward while using a skill.
"Wait a minute."
[ Unique Gift - Death Ruler ]
[ Create High Rank Undead ]
Come here, my servant of death, Barosque!
A crimson-black magic circle appeared, creating a black mist that seemed to erupt. Then, an Undead appeared, wearing an ancient-designed purple robe and tied with a black scarf inscribed with magical runes.
The Undead, no... the Elder Lich had the appearance of black bones and wore several rings on its fingers.
"Oh, look at him. It wasn't in vain that I went all-in on this servant of mine. His level... at least 50 if we were in Wonderland..."
Then, he quickly walked towards Kraugel and prostrated himself.
"KYOHOHOJHO, thank you for your kindness, my master. I am Barosque, come to serve you, the Supreme Ruler."
"Khoho?" Towa asked.
"Humu?" Gumi hummed.
"W-Wait a minute!"
Kraugel pulled Barosque up from where he was prostrating, then Kraugel used [ Soundless Queue ], creating a soundless field.
"I - NEVER - TAUGHT - YOU - TO - DO! - ALL! - THAT!"
"Eh? What is 'that,' my master?" Barosque asked.
"You idiot, what era do you think this is, huh! Eh?"
Eh, wait, if I think about it, this is exactly the era where such expressions are often used, isn't it... I was the one who was wrong, wasn't I...
"Hmkhmm, so the point is you don't need to prostrate yourself and overreact. This world judges people by their dignity and charisma anyway."
"Ah, aaahhh. In that case, I shall correct it, Master," Barosque said.
"Yeah, something like that. Now, follow me."
Simply put, after he turned off the Soundless Zone, Kraugel immediately introduced Barosque to Towa and Gumi.
"Fumu, as expected of you, Master. You even subjugated a creature of death; it's truly great," Towa said.
"Hehe, yeah, yeah, Master is awesome," Gumi giggled.
Barosque was assigned to search with Towa for various evil creatures he detected with his [ Danger Detection ]. Then, Gumi immediately dashed off to the Stampede Gate as soon as the two of them left.
— At the present time...
Towa and Barosque were seen in a fairly wide alley flanked by several buildings, along with dozens of Demon Dolls that had been mutilated and some whose mutilated remains were crushed.
"Kyohoho, good work, and thank you for your hard work, Lady Towa," Barosque said.
"There's no need for flattery. It was your ability that quickly eradicated them," Towa responded.
This man... his previous ability... he manipulated a large amount of wind in succession, and that wind was black, with the density of Magus and black wind combined. Even the Demon Dolls were torn and crushed in an instant... [Towa]
"Kyohoho, I just realized. The flow and activation of magic in this world are a bit unique, aren't they?"
"Unique?" Towa asked.
This girl... no, I don't want to make any assumptions about this individual just from her appearance. Her ability from a moment ago, creating steel gloves with very long, sharp steel claws, was truly terrifying. In addition, her speed is no joke. Kyohoho, Master Kraugel, you always get lucky gacha pulls... [Barosque]
"I think it's time for us to move to a different location. We must move as quickly as possible so we can also help—" Towa was interrupted.
"Help who?" a voice asked.
Barosque and Towa instinctively looked up at the rooftops of the buildings flanking the alley they were in, seeing 4 individuals in black robes with a thick murderous intent.
However, that was it. Only that man gave me a bad feeling. The others might also be strong, but the man over there felt like seeing the individual who was dressed like a priest before...
"You, you're the man who smiled at me that time, aren't you?" Towa asked.
"Hahaha, you were the one peeking at night, huh? A demon with strange hobbies? You're not from the lineage of the Black Primordial after all; I'm quite disappointed," the mysterious man said.
What are they talking about? Peeking? Lineage? [Barosque]
"You talk a lot for a sneaking coward," Towa retorted.
"Khekehe, I'm not sneaking in because I can't fight the entire kingdom. I'm sneaking in for another reason, for example... hmm... well, something like that," the mysterious man replied.
"Lady Towa, I'm going to attack!"
Barosque whispered to Towa, then immediately used his Extra Skill.
[ Black Haze ]
He whipped up black winds in the wide air, throwing and tearing the bodies of some of his opponents on the rooftops.
However...
"That's not how the game is played!"
The man who had been talking with Towa was right behind Barosque! He stabbed him with the dagger he held in his right hand, and as time passed, Barosque's black bones began to erode.
"H-How is this possible?" Barosque and Towa exclaimed.
I should have high resistance to sharp weapons, but how can that short dagger tear me apart? [Barosque]
"Kekek, this poison is quite special in my territory. A single drop can destroy the biological structure of even a Wyvern, and even inanimate objects are not free from its corrosion and paralysis!" the mysterious man said.
"Khukk!" Barosque gasped.
"Rest, I'll be the one to finish this man."