The Game of the Greatest Black Mage
Chapter 181

Chapter 181

0.

The repeated attacks of the undead.

They invaded and attacked whenever they pleased.

The number of 3rd Unit members remaining here was not enough.

Therefore, the return of Nuartein, who had gone to the royal castle to report, was desperately needed.

The same was true for reinforcements.

However, the atmosphere in the royal castle was not one where they could dispatch reinforcements.

All the commanders of the assassination units had been urgently summoned to the royal castle.

And looking down on them, the absolute ruler of Basilica, the king, scowled fiercely, flicking his tongue and openly showing his displeasure.

He had every reason to be.

While in the midst of preparing for war with Ninyaru, what was this bolt from the blue?

Not only were they losing troops because of this, but even procuring supplies was not easy.

Those in charge of supplies from the outside could not come because of the undead.

Not a single thing was going smoothly.

To make matters worse, even the once sturdy city walls had been reduced to tatters by the repeated undead attacks.

So, it would have made no sense for him to be in a good mood.

“……”

““……””

As the king, a black snake beastkin, made no sound.

No one inside the hall dared to make a sound.

A tension like a tightly drawn string.

In the midst of it, the king gestured with his head as if to say, ‘Go on, speak.’

The gesture was directed at Nuartein, who had his head bowed.

Upon being singled out.

“……Yes. A great army of undead is currently swarming and attacking the city walls. Judging that the current forces on the wall would be insufficient, our unit members have stepped forward to defend, but they are outmatched. It is my assessment that support will be necessary.”

Nuartein's report did not contain the crucial information that the enemy had retreated their forces the moment reinforcements arrived.

Unfortunately, the only ones in this place who knew that fact were Nuartein and Sibren.

No one else knew the truth.

“Undead, you say.”

At the king's heavy voice.

The commander of the 1st Assassination Unit, a spider beastkin covered in thick, purple poison hairs, muttered.

“Hmmm. Were they sent by Ninyaru?”

The question, in other words, was as good as directed at Sibren, who had recently returned from Ninyaru.

Sibren did not answer.

As if to say he had not seen them in Ninyaru.

At this, the king also nodded.

If this was the case, they could not know who the culprit was.

However.

“The timing is too convenient.”

The king was indirectly saying there was a spy.

Sibren should have been nervous at the king's words, but.

He remained calm as if it were nothing.

The king stared at Sibren with narrowed eyes.

This was Sibren, who had been thoroughly raised as an assassin, his emotions removed.

If the enemy was the one being tricked, so be it; there was no way Sibren would betray them.

Betrayal, after all, required emotions like the fear of death or greed.

But Sibren, whose emotions had been thoroughly removed, betraying them?

How could that be possible?

Because of this, the king ended up missing many things.

But he was a king who had no way of knowing that.

“The war with Ninyaru is postponed.”

“But, Your Majesty……”

“I don't know if it's one arrogant bastard or a group of them, but they are clearly wicked fiends trying to invade my domain. Even if you lot are lacking compared to me, you can surely handle those damn undead.”

These were clearly not naturally occurring undead.

Furthermore, they did not entertain the slightest thought that the enemy could be an outsider.

To create that many undead, lead a legion, and repeatedly attack?

It had to be a wicked Black Mage or a Lich.

Since this was the Crevice of the Labyrinth.

It would not be strange for anyone to enter this place.

If he had his way, he, the absolute ruler, would want to move himself.

But if he were to move.

‘That lazy fellow will surely make a move.’

The king of the black snakes.

If he were to move, that lazy fellow from Ninyaru would surely move as well.

Hadn't they made such a pact with each other?

Let us not step outside our respective cities and exercise our power.

If one were to break it, they would both consider it a desire for conflict.

It was a very old pact, but the reason it was still kept was simple.

‘I am afraid of him making a move.’

The king of the black snakes was still afraid of the white lion.

Because he was a white lion, older and more powerful than himself.

If he were to move, this war would also become meaningless.

The war, too, was planned only to deal with the merchants of the Labyrinth Guild.

If they were to succeed in that.

His dominion over the Labyrinth would increase, and even if it were only for a moment, he might be able to surpass that white lion.

It was a war started for that purpose.

But to think it would go so wrong right from the start.

This was a war that could not be allowed to fail.

A war where all the merchants of the Labyrinth Guild had to be killed.

There could not be a single mistake.

Therefore.

“If we cannot stop those undead now, the entirety of Basilica will be infested with those filthy creatures. Therefore, it is fine to start the war with Ninyaru after we have dealt with them.”

At the king's words, all the commanders bowed their heads.

Then, the king looked to one side and asked.

“Sibren.”

“Yes.”

“What was the situation in Ninyaru?”

“They realized it was my doing, but they failed to catch me. I have dealt with all the merchant administrators first, so I expect they will be busy trying to fill those roles for some time.”

“Therefore, the war is postponed. It is impossible for the dull and lazy Ninyaru to figure out our plans and strike first.”

He had no way of knowing that he was the foolish one.

With his eyes and ears blocked.

He had no way of noticing it.

And so, the black snake beastkin shouted.

“Get those filthy undead out of my sight.”

“Yes. Understood.”

“It shall be done.”

“We will obey the command.”

So the three commanders shouted.

Sibren and Nuartein bowed their heads, a teal glint flashing between their eyes.

It seemed the operation would begin soon.

1.

Seonghyun told Silberion, who had just arrived, about the current situation unfolding in Basilica and the circumstances of the king's order.

“……And that's what happened.”

“?????????”

Silberion, who had listened to the story with an expression of utter disbelief, blinked her eyes as she looked at Seonghyun.

An expression that seemed to ask, ‘Is that true? or What are you even talking about?’

But she realized this was reality, and she also came to understand the incredible feat Seonghyun had accomplished.

How could he have such a broken ability?

He took out one of the enemy's leaders and turned him into a spy.

And after that, he took out another leader and made him a spy, too?

‘Does this even make sense?’

Normally, it was something that made absolutely no sense.

Even Seonghyun had not known it would work.

Because it was a strategy he had made up on the spot.

The problem was, because of this, the enemy's alertness was now at its maximum.

It might be different for the others, but.

“The commander of the 1st Assassination Unit, the spider beastkin Laktera… I don't think we can handle him by ourselves.”

“……O-Of course… sir.”

Silberion, who had spoken informally at first, also began to use formal speech.

Considering what Seonghyun had said until now and his power, it was only natural.

Seonghyun did not pay it much mind either and began planning the operation.

Should I wait for the main force to arrive?

Since those guys are waiting.

What kind of strategy should I use against them?

Countless such thoughts followed one after another.

“……You're already doing so well right now that I don't think there's anything for me to do.”

At this point, Silberion's pride was not even hurt anymore.

He had done it with his familiars, but those familiars were also Seonghyun's power.

Since he was a Black Mage.

In other words, it meant that Seonghyun had single-handedly brought that castle to its current state.

Right now, Silberion could not voice her opinion on anything.

Whether it was power or strategy.

Seonghyun surpassed Silberion in everything.

Therefore.

“Whatever you command, I will carry it out.”

Now, she had come to truly acknowledge and follow Seonghyun as the captain of the special detachment.

As she spoke in acknowledgment.

Seonghyun stared at the distant city wall, deep in thought.

As soldiers increased one by one.

He saw Laktera, the commander of the 1st Assassination Unit, who felt especially powerful.

At this rate, even if he summoned a large army, it would surely be annihilated before long.

‘The Explosion Build?’

No.

That was mostly a one-shot deal.

Using it now would only heighten the enemy's vigilance.

If he used it now and the enemy prepared for it later, its effectiveness would be severely reduced.

That, at least, had to be avoided.

Therefore, he had to save the Explosion Build and use it when the main force arrived.

For the purpose of breaking through the city wall and opening a path.

As Seonghyun was thinking this, he suddenly looked up at the city wall again.

“Ah.”

Why didn't I think of this?

As Seonghyun wore that exact expression.

Helena asked, looking curious.

“Ahaha, Seonghyun, you've come up with another fun idea, haven't you? What is it?”

At Helena's words, Silberion also seemed to grow curious and perked up her ears.

Expecting that a great order would now be given to her.

Seonghyun, receiving the gazes of the two, looked at them and said.

“Hmm, I just thought of something for Commander Silberion to do. Well, it applies to all of us, actually.”

Oh, what could it be?

As everyone thought this and waited for Seonghyun's words.

What came out of Seonghyun's mouth was truly unexpected.

“Let's rest for a bit.”

“What??????”

Silberion asked back with a truly bewildered expression.

As she looked at him as if asking what he meant.

Helena immediately grasped Seonghyun's meaning and exclaimed in admiration.

“Ooh?! As expected! That's our Seonghyun! So smart!”

What on earth was he talking about?

Was she the only one who did not understand?

As Silberion grew restless with that thought.

Helena told Silberion with an alluring smile.

“If you want to make a turtle stick its head out, waiting is the best way.”

“……Ah?!”

Only then did Silberion also cry out as if she understood.

Seonghyun and Helena nodded.

It seemed like a very good strategy.

2.

The commanders who had their emotions removed were fine, but.

Soldiers trembling with rage began to appear.

“Those bastards I could just chew up……!!!”

“Filthy undead bastards!!!”

“Fucking hell, what a shitty way to fight a war.”

Finally, the high praises erupted.

But it could not be helped.

It was only natural for them to say such things.

It was already the third day.

Did the undead legion attack relentlessly?

No.

It was the opposite.

“They only appear with uncanny timing to attack when the supply caravans come out, and they don't even approach the walls! Shouldn't we be the ones to go out and fight?”

“……”

At the words of a member of the 1st Assassination Unit, the commander Laktera said nothing.

However, he simply narrowed his eight eyes and stared at the wasteland near the surrounding city walls.

Visually, there was nothing there.

That was why it was even more baffling.

How on earth were they getting their information?

He could not understand.

‘Should we go out?’

No, that could not be right.

If they went out, they would have to abandon all the advantages of a defensive siege and face that enormous undead legion.

It was effectively no different from giving up on the war.

In that case, even if it was frustrating, it was better to just stay here.

If it were not for the supply issue, that would be the right answer, but.

‘The supplies are drying up.’

It was not just war supplies; to threaten the labyrinth and kill those who entered it, they needed to obtain the materials scattered throughout the Crevice of the Labyrinth.

But if those dwindled, they could never rule the labyrinth.

On the other hand, the enemy was an undead legion that needed no such supplies.

Laktera had no choice but to agonize over what on earth to do in this situation.

So, he asked those whose heads worked better than his.

“Must we continue to stay like this?”

Having had his emotions removed, there were no signs of nervousness or impatience.

But he asked because things could become critical if they stayed like this.

Two people answered.

“Abandoning the advantage of a defensive siege is exactly what they're aiming for.”

“We just need to wait like this. Eventually, they'll get tired of waiting and will surely attack.”

At those words, Laktera nodded slowly.

Since his own thoughts were similar.

He could trust those two, who were known to be more brilliant than himself.

And so, Laktera expressed his gratitude to Sibren and Nuartein.

“Thank you. We shall wait longer.”

At Laktera's thanks.

“No. On the contrary, thank you for listening to my words.”

“Indeed.”

Sibren and Nuartein were even more grateful.