## Chapter 845 – Black Knight

“It seems… that ‘Skull Sorcerer’ you mentioned refers to a Lich.”

After the Death Knight’s flesh and bones had completely melted away, Lysha spoke those words.

Lich.

A cursed and evil being. According to legend, it’s a monstrous creature born when an extremely inhumane high-ranking necromancer turns their own body into an undead. Or, should I call it a legend? It’s said that there were quite a few Liches during the Idol War era. And that many died, too.

In other words, they’re like dragons – monsters that aren’t commonly seen anymore. If a Lich created this Death Knight, it makes a certain amount of sense.

If a high-ranking necromancer can turn their own body into an undead, why wouldn’t they do the same to others? And this is a Death Knight strong enough to warrant such a notion. Of course, only a Lich could create something like this.

“Lich, Lich… I’ve only heard about them in stories, so it doesn’t feel real.”

Karin said, crossing her arms.

“This one has only heard of them in stories as well. But when you say ‘Skull Sorcerer,’ isn’t that the first thing that comes to mind?”
“There are Skeleton Mages, but… they aren’t something a knight would be terrified of.”

A Lich is on a completely different level than some scrub Skeleton Mage. Even an E-rank adventurer could easily crush a Skeleton Mage in a one-on-one fight if they paid attention to the magic and kept their wits about them.

In fact, skeletons are really pathetic.

However, a Lich is not.

It’s a being that not only possesses all the power and knowledge it had in life but has also gained even more powerful and inhuman strength by shedding its physical body. I know that because it doesn’t have the limitations of a physical body, it can use any magic without side effects.

“Well, your sister has heard stories about them a few times. A Lich is like the epitome of a necromancer… but I think it’s closer to a fairy tale.”
“This is like some kind of joke. A Lich…”

Even Karin said it sounded like something out of a fairy tale, and the mage Winia said the word “Lich” sounded like a joke.

“Are Liches really that unrealistic?”
“Wouldn’t you say so?”
“What about Cloudy?”
“Hmm… Mama doesn’t know.”

It’s a bit strange that Liches feel unrealistic when demons and monsters are running rampant.

When I asked around, the women who had heard stories about Liches associated them with something like a legendary being, more powerful and evil than a great mage, or something like that.

It wasn’t much different from what I had heard a few times in my life. In fact, it seems that Liches haven’t been sighted since the Idol War. That’s why there’s a lack of information about such long-vanished beings.

“Anyway, let’s pack this stuff up and go back.”

I immediately packed up all the Death Knight’s armor and the evil items that came out of its insides and organized them.

Death Knight, then Lich?
Damn, Death Knight into Lich is such a textbook build.

I’m terrified of getting Coil Nova’d.

* * *

“I have defeated the evil Black Knight!!! This is the proof!!!!!”

ㅡFlap!!!

With a rough sweep, I removed the cloak, revealing the Black Knight’s dark armor to the world.

A wooden cross was carefully erected, and the armor was draped over it. The crushed helmet looked sinister, and the black breastplate and spiked shoulder pads felt extremely destructive.

“Huk…!”
“That’s it!!! That’s what I saw!!! That’s definitely it!!!!”
“T, the Black Knight is dead!!!!”
“He’s finally dead!!!”
“Praise the Paladin!!!!!”
“Aaaaaaaah!!!”
“What monstrous armor!!!”
“I can’t believe it!!”

The reaction of the crowd that saw it was nothing short of astonishment.

Even I, who was watching, was so shocked that I wanted to tear my hair out, so how could these people not be?

The crowd consisted of ordinary citizens and religious figures from the city, as well as soldiers and some commanders. After cleaning up the scene yesterday and informing the church of the subjugation, the officials confirmed all the facts and arranged this event.

Because we had to make an announcement.

I really like being up on this stage like this. When I stand here and say something, people listen very well.

“I!! Kim Kat, the Paladin directly under the Saintess of the Brass Celestial Church, have defeated him!!”

I shouted once more towards them, as if emphasizing the point.

The astonished crowd twisted and screamed, the excited religious figures jumped up and down, and the soldiers raised their fists as if wanting to avenge their comrades.

“But there’s something I must say here!!”
“…!”
“…!”

Immediately, I calmed them down and conveyed the most important fact.

“This is no mere Black Knight! Surprisingly, this bastard is an undead who has been resurrected! A very powerful Death Knight!!!!!”

The fact that he was a Death Knight.

“Wh, what!!!”
“A Death Knight!!!”
“Oh my god!!!! You mean he was undead!!!!”
“I can’t believe it!!!!”
“You mean he wasn’t just a serial killer!!”
“Mommy!!!! Mommyyyyy!!”
“Save meeeeeeee!!”
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
“Wasn’t the Death Knight supposed to be a being from stories!!”

As expected, all hell broke loose.

Still, that was all I had to say. I had explained the details to the church yesterday, so now they would take care of the aftermath.

The Death Knight was dangerous enough, so the warning should be sufficient.

ㅡClatter.

I immediately packed up the armor and came down from the stage.

“Praise the Paladin!!”
“Hooray!!!”
“Praise the Brass Celestial Church!!!”
“Hoorayyyyy!!”

The crowd praised me as I left.

The church and the lord said they would treat me well, but I refused everything because it was urgent and decided to return quickly. The announcement was mandatory, though.

I have to report about the Lich to the Saintess as soon as possible.

“Kat, you’re back?”
“Yeah. Are the preparations all done? If so, let’s rest for a bit and leave right away.”
“Okay.”

When I returned, the preparations for departure were all complete. I also lay down on the floor for a while, got up, loaded all the luggage, and climbed onto the driver’s seat.

“Let’s go, you fucking bastards.”

ㅡGrrrrrrr!!
ㅡKrrrrrr!!!!!

Rarely showing such inhuman motivation, the two fucking bastards kicked the ground powerfully. Let’s increase the speed a bit this time.

“Go faster!!!!!! Faster!! Go faster!!! Time is of the essence!!!!”

ㅡThud thud thud!

They sped up a bit when I urged them.

“Hoo.”

I feel a little relieved now.

I had roughly organized my thoughts about the Lich yesterday.

The rumors I knew, what Lysha told me, and the traditions that Karin had heard while wandering around. I thought about them while putting them all together.

Yes, if it’s a Lich, everything fits.

A Lich is a being that can be said to be almost immortal. We can’t know when this bastard was active, when he was born, or anything like that, and it’s meaningless to think about it now. But if this Lich is involved, then all the evil plots and undead incidents of the heretics that have occurred so far can be explained.

Well, the kobolds who caused trouble in the past and their cursed queen. And the undead festival, of course, and what happened in the Isvant underground facility. And even the various events in the Misty Plains.

Until then, I only knew it vaguely, but if it became clear that a Lich was involved, there was no need to think about it in a complicated way.

If he’s a powerful high-ranking necromancer who can make himself immortal, then it would be very easy to control demons and brainwash the impure elements called heretics.

A Lich is working with demons… and leading heretics?

Maybe it’s something like this, but what is their purpose? What they have done so far is mainly mind-controlling monsters and heretics and creating large numbers of undead.

The giant Evil Giant in the Isvant underground and… even the Abomination found in the underground research facility hidden in the Misty Plains. And this time, the Death Knight.

They seemed obsessed with controlling inhuman beings to their liking and creating or raising undead.

Why the hell are they doing that?

Are they perhaps plotting to create an immortal army and turn the world upside down?

A Lich who has transcended the flesh and life is capable of such crazy things. Since he doesn’t have a normal body, he thinks everyone else shouldn’t have one either. Those crazy bastards will always think that way.

But what about the heretics?

It is not known what they worship, but it seems clear that they are at least cooperating with the Lich. Why is this? Are the heretics worshiping the Lich as their god?

So they do everything the Lich tells them to do?
Or are they simply brainwashed and cooperating?

Perhaps the Lich and the heretics are worshiping the same being.

I don’t know now… but one thing is certain: a Lich definitely exists, and he is plotting something while controlling heretics and demons.

The contents of the report will be summarized very simply.

I’ll get a good reward for this one, too.

I drove Ilryong and Iryong and seriously explained this matter to them.

The undead until now were scrubs, but this Death Knight that appeared this time was definitely threatening. He’s stronger than most paladins or knights. What if these guys are mass-produced? And if all the unstable parts are improved and a perfect Death Knight is created?

Even the undead troops that appear with them… even the Abomination could be used like siege weapons. Anyway, it’s very threatening. I can’t just think about it lightly and move on.

Suddenly, I remembered the heretics I found while hunting Sasquatch last winter. When I rushed in, the white-haired woman there escaped through a gate created by the demon next to her.

A heretic executive… what is their purpose?

* * *

“In the past, you defeated a Flesh Golem and brought back the orb inside, didn’t you?”
“That was a while ago.”

As soon as we got home, Lysha placed the spoils she had brought this time on her workbench and said that.

The Death Knight’s armor and the evil magical items that came out of its insides. All of his bones and flesh had melted away, but these inorganic things remained. Lysha picked up the black orb that came out of the Death Knight’s brain and showed it to me.

“There is no power felt in this orb now, but when I trace the traces, it seems that the feeling is similar to the orb I touched at that time.”
“I see… that’s right.”

At the end of the Undead Festival, there was an evil black orb inside the Flesh Golem we caught. I sold it to Lysha at the time. It seems that a similar aura is being felt in the orb that came out of this Death Knight’s brain.

That means that the heretic and undead incidents at that time can also be seen as being caused by the Lich’s forces.

No.

It’s certain.

“This one used such evil power to replenish her lacking magic power and… began to study other magic. That’s why I can be sure. These were made by the same being.”
“This orb and that orb from back then, you mean.”

Lysha nodded.
A witch’s guarantee is 100%.

“Then Lysha. What about that heretic grail from the past?”
“That also… the energy itself feels similar. It’s natural since the same heretics used it. The Lich and the heretics are cooperating.”

It matches my expectations.

“But where are they all?”
“Hmm… I sold them all to the mages when I was cleaning up the store. In fact, they had served their purpose, and the information about them is in this one’s head, so it doesn’t matter.”
“I guess so.”

Anyway, after hearing all of Lysha’s testimony, I immediately went up to the first floor and started writing the report. If I organize this and take it tomorrow or the day after, it will be fine. Lysha has to investigate the spoils, too.

Wow, when I think about it, the first thing I did when I first met Elise was that. Kobolds using the symbols of heretics were erecting idols and performing rituals. Perhaps the heretics began to operate in earnest from that time.