Why?!
Of all the places that we should go, why in an ancient burial ground?!!
Earlier, Bubu told us that the locals had steered away from the area when they saw the dead walking around the place as if they were still alive.
I'm sorry, what?
Seeing the look on my face, Bubu tried to lighten the topic by telling me that the locals used to celebrate some of their festivals there.
Who celebrates a festival on a burial ground??!!!
Oh, yeah. There are plenty of countries in my previous world that celebrates festivals or all sorts of rituals in a cemetery or a burial ground. They even have all sorts of ceremonies too.
But the dead stayed dead there! Unlike here!
To make it worse, we have to go there when it's dark as during the morning, the place is engulfed with a mysterious fog.
So what's wrong with the mysterious fog?
Nobody knows as the creatures who attempted to go there out of curiosity and stubborness weren't seen again.
So the choices are either being missing forever or seeing the dead walking around.
I choose nothing!
If it weren't for the fact that we are looking for the transformation stone, Ghost and Deus, I would've insisted on staying at the inn.
Not to mention that Lion, Sly, Alpha and Orm have some sort of interest of trying to investigate anything out of the ordinary lately.
I know that they are trying to get to the bottom of the plot. If only I could tell them what I know. But things got worse than before that as of now, I still have no voice.
It's just as well as I can now concentrate on my thoughts since my thoughts back at the dungeons were jumbled and some doesn't really make sense at all.
But one thing that stood out until now is that I was given to Lion as a result of his wish for more knowledge.
I understood why it works as all the things that I told him about are new to him and definitely fascinating.
As I looked back at the memory, I realized that despite being cold to others, he was unusually a bit.. er.. welcoming to me.
Not really welcoming for others but if you know his personality, then his way of welcoming me is out of the ordinary.
Oh! I seem to remember him telling me back at our home at the wilderness that I used his clothes when I started to live with him at his castle.
Our way of meeting each other is not by chance but planned by the demon king.
Everything fits like a puzzle.
So with me as his "knowledge" wish, the more precious I am to him, the more my value increases that made the demon king increased my price as well. And that price is my soul.
That piece of excrement is really clever.
So in short, I am the leash that holds Lion's neck.
And why Lion is unable to refuse any demand placed on him.
It's like the demon king has free labor from Lion as Lion can definitely break the contract anytime as it isn't his soul that will be taken anymore. But even though I won't mind if he does that, I know that he won't.
And the demon king knows that too.
Oh, I know that the demon king's reason for doing all of that is just for fun.
That maniac.
But as for Alpha, the more that I think about it, the more I realized that my soul became the price of his contract too.
I'm sure that he wasn't expecting it.
Also I realized that the demon king had intended for me to come back all along.
He just needs the right victim to make a contract with.
Someone too desperate to do anything.
But, Alpha? He's that desperate to bring me back?! In exchange for his soul?!
And like Lion, he can definitely break his contract but he won't do that also.
Alpha...
I should spend more time with him. I haven't spent much time with him compared to the rest of the pack and to think that he's one of my secondary mate.
I'm such a piece of trash!
But the demon king is more than a piece of trash. He is the ultimate scammer!
....
It's Alpha who is holding me this time as Lion and Orm are quite busy using their magic to keep us all safe.
Sly is also busy too as he used his fire magic to get rid of the undead that seemed to follow us around.
Yes, Sly can finally use fire magic in his regular form. He told us that after getting out of the egg, he noticed that he can use some sort of fire magic in his regular form but he waited for Lion to teach him on how to control it.
Despite being curious, I didn't look as the sounds of the undead shrieking made me snuggle towards Alpha even more.
I kept on shaking with fear that Alpha used a cloak to make some sort of sling where he placed me on it as an extra comfort, while his hands embraced me for safety.
But it is quite helpful as it kept his hands free at times when there is a need for him to use his magic.
I seemed like a baby!
But I don't mind being a baby as I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY OF THE UNDEAD'S FACES!
To my surprise, it sounded like Bubu is having the time of her life in trying to get rid of the undead.
That's surprising.
It's as if she knows all about them as it didn't take her long to get rid of them.
Hmmm..
Bubu can be strange at times.
As for Khamsin, I can hear him yelling all sorts of curses and mentioning how he didn't sign up for this.
Well, it's his fault for coming along.
Though I know that the experience will help him as a ruler.
Maybe.
And some nightmares too.
Despite his confident appearance, he's... um... how do you say this.. just a bit braver than me.
Just a bit.
But same like me if there's nobody with him.
Especially if it's dark.
All of us somehow understood as he's been living all his life in his city.
Everyone eventually warmed up to him like he's one of the group, in which he is. But somehow, we are reminded from time to time that after our mission ends, he has to go back to his city as he's been gone for quite sometime already.
Oh we already told him that he can go back to his city but he doesn't want to. Even though some of our experiences are life threatening, he just grinned at us while saying that he has plenty of stories now to tell to his comrades, especially his nosy steward.
Sounds of piercing shrieks and screams seemed to surround us in which I tried to take a peek but decided not to or else I will suffer from nightmares for a long time.
Bubu seemed to understand my curiousity as she told all of us that we are facing banshees.
Banshees?
I wished that I have my Buddhist staff with me!
I can feel Alpha's arms around me as he reassured me that he will keep me safe but as the wails and screams of the banshees intensified, I can feel him flinching in pain.
His ears are too sensitive!
Keeping my eyes closed, I moved closer to him as I feel my way towards his ears. Even though he can definitely cover his ears by himself, he prioritized my safety than his own comfort as he didn't let go of his embrace of me.
So I covered his ears with my hands and gave a little lick on one of his ears.
Suddenly, he howled so loudly that his howl drowned the noises from the banshees. He kept on howling until the others recovered enough from the sounds of the banshees then they continued the massacre against the banshees.
He chuckled as he reciprocated by licking me on the neck, whispering into my ear that he will find a way to be alone with me soon.
So that howl was...
Oh.
His ears are THAT sensitive.
....
Bubu warned us in a loud voice that we are now facing ghouls.
She advised everyone on using any sort of fire magic and decapitation against them.
Wow, Bubu!
I'm amazed that she knows quite a lot!
Though I noticed that she is more of her serious self as days go by.
Serious enough that the others started to ask her for some advice from time to time.
She is still protective of me. Even though she doesn't bite anymore, her fighting skills somehow improved to the point that it became more deadly.
And she uses her whip more often as a weapon.
Everyone listened to her advice and soon, it didn't take long for them to finish the fight.
I can hear Alpha sniffing around for a while before telling me that I can open my eyes as he's confident that there's no undead around us.
Hesitantly, I opened my eyes in which I saw the bodies of the undead surrounding us.
Good.
They should stay dead forevermore.
I wrapped my arms around Alpha's neck, making him smile as he nuzzled my face.
Aww.. he definitely needs more attention from me!
Stupid me.
I neglected him!
As we continued on exploring the place, I also continued on giving Alpha all sorts of affection that his face turned bright red.
He didn't mind though as he clearly liked the attention that I gave him.
Bubu gave me a wink and a grin, making my face turn bright red as well that Alpha looked at me with concern as he checked if I have any fever.
I'm not sick!
He continued to nuzzle me all over my face then on my neck until it started to feel ticklish.
He's like a dog.. well.. he is, in a way!
I giggled, without any sound sadly, but he doesn't seemed to mind as his looks of concern became mischievous.
Soon, he tried to tickle me as he whispered to me that he will stop if I tell him to stop.
What kind of logic is that?!
Of course I can't tell him as my voice is..
Oh. That's the point.
Tears fell down my face as he kept tickling me while I tried hitting him on his chest. Gently, of course.
I wished I could hear my own laugh.
It seems too strange for me to be laughing without any sound.
Alpha seems to think the same like me as he stopped tickling me and just held me tightly for a long time without saying anything.
It was a quiet walk for all of us.
....
Too quiet.
We went down on an underground passageway which we walked for a long time without seeing any undead until it became too suspicious.
Yeah, we were right to be suspicious as we soon saw all sorts of symbols and writings on the walls that are written in blood.
Everyone's faces look appalled, especially Khamsin as he tried his best not to puke at the sight.
Lion, Sly, Alpha and Orm glanced at each other with a look that seems to say that they should take time to investigate here.
As for Bubu, she looks interested at everything but at the same time, a hint of anger glinted in her eyes.
Um, Bubu?
Are you okay?
That's a dumb question. Of course, any normal individual is not okay seeing all of these.
But seeing it almost all the time will eventually desensitize you.
Thankfully, I can still feel disgust upon seeing things like that.
The only difference is that I don't feel that terrified unlike before.
But I still can't get used to the undead, the dark, the scary looking skeleton that is staring at us over there...
AHHHHH!!!
I SAW IT!!!
I tried to snuggle even more closer to Alpha as I kept poking him on the chest, making him look curiously at me until he saw the thing that I pointed.
Immediately, he yelled at Lion in which everyone tried to prepare themselves as numerous skeletons came out of nowhere and tried to attack us.
Despite my efforts on trying not to look, I was forced to look at them as they began firing arrows towards us.
Alpha told me to hold onto him tightly as he used his magic to get rid of them.
They're too many!
Lion used all sorts of magic in trying to defeat them while alternating his attacks by using his katana.
As for Sly, this situation is a good training for him to use his fire magic.
I took back what I said as we nearly got hit by some of his fireballs.
Orm yelled at him to be careful while Sly yelled back that he didn't do it on purpose as his magic just went out of control.
Alpha agreed with Sly as he told them that his magic is out of control too as he nearly hit Khamsin.
Khamsin also agreed while yelling all sorts of curses towards the skeletons as he used his magic against them as well.
Bubu yelled at them that it isn't any of their fault as there's something suspicious in our current situation.
No matter how many they tried to destroy, the more skeletons seems to come out of nowhere.
She's right! Now that she mentioned it, it seems weird to be facing so many skeletons even though this is an ancient burial ground....
Ancient burial ground?
Skeletons?
Undead?!
How dumb of me!
This place is a paradise for some creatures who practiced dark magic! Especially necromancy!
Alpha noticed me getting panicked in which he asked me what I am trying to tell him as he will do his best to understand me.
I don't know if he knows how to lip-read but I will try.
I pointed to my lips in which he nodded and mouthed to him the words dark magic and necromancy.
His eyes looked terrified upon realizing what I'm trying to tell him and he immediately warned everyone.
This time, Bubu looked terrified as well.
With a shaky voice, she told everyone to be alert if they saw a lich.
Everyone seems to remember what I shared to them back then when I told them about what I know regarding a lich.
Lion seems to remember that they harvested something very helpful back when we were at the fiery plains that he immediately told everyone to use their weapons and magic at the same time.
Soon, their attacks became more effective as it didn't take as long as before in trying to destroy a lot of them at the same time.
Although Khamsin and Bubu doesn't have that kind of material that is imbued on their weapons, somehow their attacks helped in destroying those that were not damaged entirely.
At last, the battle seems to turn in our favor as more skeletons are being destroyed than the ones who appeared out of the blue.
Suddenly, we heard some noises in which I can see all sorts of hooded individuals surrounding us.
Then in a flash, several chains wrapped around everyone's necks except for me in which Alpha tried his best to cover me with his arms.
But despite his efforts, I can feel myself being pulled through the air by some weird magic.
I can see the horrified looks on everyone's faces as they tried to rescue me but to no avail as the chains that is around their neck glowed and forced them to scream in pain.
Even though he is clearly in pain, Lion tried rescue me in desperation as he used all sorts of magic to attack the hooded individuals.
Upon attacking them, their hoods fell off from their heads, revealing them to be liches.
We are in trouble!
I particularly am in big trouble as I'm currently floating in the air!
And I can't scream at all!
I tried to reach out to Lion but he can't save me as several chains wrapped around his extremities and a paralyzing spell was casted on him. Tears flowed from his eyes as he kept looking at me with desperation.
As for Sly, he tried to break the chain from his neck but failed as several more chains wrapped his entire body. When his chains started to break, several more larger and terrible looking chains wrapped his entire body until only his head was left free in which everytime he moved, the chains glowed mysteriously, making him scream in pain.
Alpha tried to transform into his ultimate form in desperation and succeeded but his entire body is soon covered with chains, including his mouth. A spell was placed on him in which he began to act like a beast once more but subdued.
Orm had managed to keep up a good fight against them but was defeated when his ice magic somehow rebounded against him, freezing his body with ice except for his head. A magic seal of some sorts was placed on his mouth, preventing him from speaking any sort of spell.
As for Bubu, her eyes shook with fear as she was placed inside a cage. It is no ordinary cage though as Bubu fell on her knees, screaming in pain as her appearance started to change into some sort of an unknown being. It didn't succeed thankfully, but the pain is too great for her that she fainted.
As for Khamsin, he was placed in a cage too and was forced to transformed into his griffin form but in a smaller version, as if he is a pet bird. A cuff was placed on one of his legs while he looked at me as if he is apologizing for not being to rescue me.
As for me?
I kept floating on the air while the liches kept bickering among themselves until I can hear a voice of another lich from the shadows.
He told the others that he is going to bring me to him and that they might finally succeeded.
IS HE BRINGING ME TO THE DEMON LORD?!
LION! SLY! ALPHA! ORM! SAVE ME!!!!!
I thrashed around in the air as I felt myself being pulled towards them.
Lion, Sly and Orm have panicked looks in their eyes as they tried to struggle but in vain.
Sly kept screaming my name as I was pulled into a portal with the lich from the shadows.
Not again.
But this time it's serious as I'm going to meet the ultimate scammer.
I don't know whether to be furious or terrified.
Maybe both.