The Unaware Harem Adventure Tale of the Strongest Enchanter ~~I Don’t Know My Companions’ Faces or Identities, but I’m Pretty Sure They’re All Guys~~ - 17. The Enchanter Always Appears at the Worst Possible Time

17. 17. The Enchanter Always Appears at the Worst Possible Time

The central city of Mirdia, Meruel, was wrapped in ominous miasma.

In front of the destroyed city gates, the Silver Blade wore a tense expression.

They had fought Dullahans several times on the way here.

As for lower undead, they had encountered so many that counting them became troublesome.

Even though they had overcome all of them and pressed forward, Luke felt a heavy, clinging sensation—as if he had stepped into a swamp.

Even though they were an S-rank party that had overcome countless death-defying situations, they had never fought an Undead King with such solid defenses and gathered forces.

“We’ll be fine. We’ll definitely win. Haven’t we already fought with an Undead King before?”

“You say that, but I’ve never felt miasma this thick. There’s a cold, deathly presence drifting from the town so chilling it could freeze you. That castle too—it’s so thick with miasma and death that I can’t even look directly at it. I feel like I’ll puke.”

The healer Emma gripped her staff tightly and trembled.

From the main gate, a large street led up to the towering castle.

Even though sunlight shone on it, the entire town was cloaked in darkness and black miasma.

Luke felt a bad feeling as he looked at Emma.

As a healer, she was more sensitive to miasma and undead than anyone else.

He had never seen her this scared.

Was the Undead King really that powerful?

Should they retreat? Even though they hadn’t fought yet?

Think calmly. We have Liza and Bronk. I still have about 80% of my stamina and mana.

Everyone is equipped with anti-undead magic tools like this. No fear of possession.

We’ve placed one of the single-use teleportation magic circles back in Avantale just in case we lose.

We’ll be fine. We can win. We’ll liberate Mirdia from evil.

Thinking that, Luke tightened his grip on the hilt of his greatsword.

“Luke the Lightning Striker”—that was his second name.

His magical tool shaped like a greatsword absorbed his mana and emitted lightning.

With superhuman strength and lightning attacks, he had climbed to the peak of S-rank.

But—he still hadn’t reached his ideal.

He first witnessed that ideal when he was thirteen.

He met that boy during a visit to the arena with his father.

That radiant, glossy silver hair that reflected light. He wasn’t very tall. And the one-handed sword at his waist clearly marked him as a swordsman. But Luke had momentarily forgotten who he was and why he was here due to the boy’s incredibly strange and unusual presence.

A boy around Luke’s age skillfully, delicately, and beautifully parried his opponent’s attacks.

Each movement was like a work of art.

Before long, Luke was completely captivated by the boy’s swordplay.

Later, that boy would be revealed as the Sword Saint who had defeated the Demon King alone.

Luke wasn’t someone who merely admired heroes.

He knew what he could and couldn’t do. He understood his strengths and weaknesses.

He came this far because he had a chance to win.

*Fuuu*, letting out a deep breath, Luke calmed himself before the battle.

Wearing his usual smile, he created a cheerful, positive atmosphere.

“No problem, no problem. Let’s knock them down fast and dash back to Avantale. Thinking of fighting everything just brings you down. What’s our subjugation target? Emma.”

“The Undead King.”

“Right. And where is the Undead King? Liza.”

“The castle, I suppose.”

“Okay. What’s the fastest and shortest way to get there? Bronk.”

“If we’re considering fighting the Undead King, we should conserve Emma. If we’re to avoid enemies and go shortest route, the best method would be for me to clear the path with my shield, and the three follow behind me.”

“Correct. Think you can all do it?”

The three nodded under Luke’s determined gaze.

As each took their position, Bronk raised his large shield and started running.

“The residents are coming out!”

“Keep damage to a minimum. They’re only being controlled.”

“Easy for you to say. But I’ll try my best.”

The townspeople, groaning, shuffled out from behind buildings. But the large shield knocked them aside as they pushed forward.

Wraiths tried to possess them from above. But the anti-undead necklaces on their necks repelled them.

The four rushed through the main road and arrived at the castle safely.

◇

In the audience chamber, where the miasma was thickest.

Luke and the others opened the door and stormed in.

Sitting on the throne at the far back was the Lord of Mirdia, Marquis Flareheart. He was clearly not sane.

His eyes were rolled back, his mouth half open. He was drooling and mumbling nonsense.

Next to him stood another figure.

A Skeleton wearing a crown.

Clad in black robes, wielding a magic staff in his right hand.

From the dark eye sockets, a definite gaze was fixed upon the four.

“Welcome to my royal castle, adventurers. I bid you welcome.”

“You’re the Undead King, aren’t you?”

“Indeed. It’s been a while since I welcomed guests. How about we start with introductions?”

“I’ve no words to exchange with monsters. Emma.”

“Right!”

The healer Emma deployed the holy magic—Holy Field.

Warm light filled the room. It was purifying the miasma.

“Holy magic for undead, huh? Learn this—clinging to preconceptions will destroy you. Dark Wall.”

“A dark defense spell!? I didn’t know an Undead King could use something like that!?”

“Dark Snake.”

“Kh… Ice Drake!”

Darkness and ice clashed and entwined.

While protecting Emma, who continued the holy magic, Liza constructed her next offensive spell.

“Let’s go too, Bronk.”

“Yeah.”

A ball containing explosive flames was launched.

Bronk dropped the edge of his great shield to the floor. He braced himself.

An explosion occurred a moment later.

Bright red flames licked the floor and walls. It was scorching the ceiling.

“No resting for you. Ice Lance—!?”

“Liza!? Whoa!?”

Two bat familiars snatched away the anti-undead necklaces from Liza and Bronk.

As Luke tried to move forward during the brief moment the flames faded, he saw the Undead King aiming his staff.

“Paralyze.”

“Wha—”

“A status effect!?”

“My body… won’t move…”

“My holy magic is… unraveling… wait, wait…”

Luke collapsed onto the floor. He was gritting his teeth.

The fire spell had just been a distraction. The bats stole the necklaces while Liza’s focus was diverted. And paralysis was cast at the perfect moment when she couldn’t resist.

This was bad. The worst-case scenario. The word “annihilation” flashed through Luke’s mind.

“You let your guard down, assuming I was just a monster. I’m a mage who became undead with my human memories intact. I know the strength and weakness of humans well. Ah, yes, I remember now. Liza. Liza Flanet. We were in the Royal Magic Academy together.”

“Huh? You and I at the same academy?”

“Don’t you remember Norman Cordesca?”

“Doesn’t ring a bell. Who’s that?”

“Figured. Still, to obtain you here is a great fortune.”

“‘Obtain me’? No way I’d ever obey some Skeleton like you—!?”

A Wraith possessed Liza’s body.

At the same time, another Wraith entered Bronk. And they both began moving, unconscious.

“Liza!? Bronk!”

“It’s useless. Once possessed by a Wraith, the person loses consciousness. I never thought I’d regret abandoning my living body this much. If I were alive, I could’ve enjoyed this body to the fullest. What a shame.”

The two possessed stood before the Undead King. They then turned around. They looked down on Luke and Emma with blank white eyes.

The Undead King behind Liza reached for her ample chest.

As the paralysis began to wear off, Luke gripped his sword and tried to rise.

“You bastard…! My comrades!”

“Unbreakable will—how beautiful. But reality is cruel.”

“Guh!?”

An invisible hand grabbed Luke’s neck and lifted him into the air.

No matter how he struggled, he couldn’t grab the unseen arm.

Emma stood up and began deploying holy magic.

“Luke, I’m coming to hel—kya!”

A fireball slammed into Emma’s stomach.

She was blown back and slammed into the sealed door behind her.

“E-Emma… EMMMMMAAAAAAA!!”

“Ahahaha! Delightful! Tormenting the weak is such pleasure.”

At that moment, holy light flashed from somewhere.

“Gah!? Holy magic!?”

The Undead King gave off a faint smoke. He dropped Luke, and stumbled back.

“*Cough, cough…*”

“Who’s there? Are there others besides these four?”

*Creak creak creak*—the door cracked slightly open.

“Excuse meee~. Would the Silver Blade be here?”

There stood a man with messy hair.