By noon, E-Rantel still felt somewhat subdued because of the apothecary shop attack.
However, with the soldiers maintaining order, most residents had stepped back outside. Business still had to go on. Street vendors had set up their stalls early and were already shouting to attract customers.
A smaller number of people chose to stay home and wait another day. After all, money could be earned again. If you lost your life, that was the end of it.
The Adventurer's Guild, on the other hand, was hardly affected. Adventurers of all kinds gathered inside, chatting among themselves. Compared to ordinary citizens, they seemed far less frightened.
A commission had already been posted regarding the apothecary shop incident: track down and kill the culprit. The reward was generous enough to draw considerable interest.
Some overly confident adventurer teams had already set off, hoping to find the so-called murderer first and claim the bounty.
Unfortunately for them, they were bound to return empty-handed.
The culprit, Herohero, had already left E-Rantel.
"Naohara-sama, hurry up!"
Outside the Adventurer's Guild, Clementine stood in a black robe, looking particularly cheerful. She kept waving her pale arm, the commission slip in her hand especially eye-catching.
Her voice drew plenty of attention. Nearby adventurers turned to look at her. When they noticed the badge on her chest, they thought to themselves:
Copper rank. A rookie.
Once they understood the situation, they lost interest. After silently admiring her looks for a moment, they went back to their conversations.
Beauty didn't pay the bills. Work came first.
"Clem, calm down."
Naohara, who had been chatting with the receptionist at the counter, sighed helplessly when he heard her calling out.
After the morning's blood-drinking incident, he had taken Clementine out of the Spinning Bird Inn and brought her to the Adventurer's Guild to register her as an adventurer.
On their way out, they had also run into the innkeeper, Ajjie.
When Ajjie saw the two of them stepping out of the same room, he froze. His expression turned as if he had seen a ghost, followed by a long, dramatic sigh.
Neither Naohara nor Clementine had any idea what that was about.
...
After finishing his casual chat with the receptionist, Naohara turned and walked toward the entrance.
He exchanged greetings with a certain red-haired adventurer along the way, then made his way over to Clementine.
Two figures followed silently behind him. They appeared to be Momonga and Herohero in disguise, though they were not the originals.
They were actually Doppelgängers summoned from The Great Tomb of Nazarick by Naohara, disguised to look like them. There was a small side quest ahead, a good opportunity for their lower-level accounts to grind some adventurer ranks.
"This is my first time being an adventurer."
Clementine smiled faintly. She used to specialize in killing adventurers. She had never imagined that one day she would become one herself.
She had even collected the nameplates of the adventurers she killed and fashioned them into a piece of clothing, which she was currently wearing.
The feeling was strange.
It was like a murderer carrying stolen goods, swaggering through a police station, and then successfully blending in with the officers.
Thrilling, in its own twisted way.
"Let's go. Time to complete the commission."
Clementine broke into a light run along the street. It was obvious that this former adventurer killer was genuinely interested in taking on a quest.
Especially after learning that Momonga and Herohero would be leaving temporarily, leaving only her and Naohara-sama together, her excitement had risen even more.
As for the Doppelgängers, Clementine instinctively ignored their existence.
Naohara shook his head but didn't say anything.
Behind them, the Doppelgängers disguised as Momonga and Herohero exchanged a glance before jogging after them.
As proper tools, they were highly competent. Wherever the Supreme One went, they followed.
Incidentally, a certain Wise King of the Forest was still asleep in the courtyard of the Spinning Bird Inn. Out of courtesy, Naohara thoughtfully chose not to wake her.
...
At the same time, deep within the E-Rantel graveyard.
"Khajiit-sama, everything is ready. Shall we begin summoning the Undead?"
A figure dressed in a dark red robe bent at the waist and spoke respectfully to the bald man in front of him.
"And that brat? Has the Crown of Wisdom taken effect?"
Khajiit opened his dull, lifeless eyes. His hoarse voice sounded as if it were scraping against stone.
"The soul transfer was successful. Although there is still some rejection, it will not cause any problems in the short term."
"Under the manipulation of his Talent, the Crown of Wisdom has been successfully activated. Its effect has not diminished in the slightest."
The robed man replied carefully.
"Good. Prepare to begin the ritual. I've waited five years for this."
Looking at the magic circle painted in blood before him, a faint smile appeared on Khajiit's corpse-like face.
He slowly raised his withered arm. A dark purple orb hovered above it, glowing faintly as it continuously absorbed the Negative Energy in the air.
"As long as the plan succeeds and I absorb all the Negative Energy of E-Rantel, I will break through the boundary between life and death, step into a brand-new realm, and become an immortal being."
Madness flickered in Khajiit's eyes as he stared at the Orb of Death in his hand. He stepped forward, moving deeper inside until he reached a massive altar.
Seven figures sat cross-legged atop the altar, forming a circle. In the center lay a golden-haired youth.
That youth was Nfirea.
No. Perhaps it was more accurate to call him Puch.
The real Nfirea had long since died. What remained was only his body, now housing a soul named Puch.
"Where is Clementine? Didn't I tell you to inform her?"
Khajiit's gaze swept across the area. When he realized one person was missing, his expression darkened.
"My lord, we searched all of E-Rantel last night and found no trace of her."
"The final mark shows that Clementine went into a small forest outside the city and then disappeared."
"We suspect teleportation magic."
The figures on the altar stepped forward one by one and reported respectfully.
"She ran away? Forget her. Begin the ritual."
Khajiit considered it briefly, then dismissed the matter. Clementine's disappearance was an unexpected variable, but as long as it did not affect his overall plan, it didn't matter.
He stepped onto the altar and stood at its center. In front of him lay Nfirea's body. The others took their assigned positions and began channeling their magic into the altar beneath their feet.
The crimson magic circle began to glow.
Once he confirmed that the ritual had started perfectly, Khajiit slowly raised his right hand. The Orb of Death immediately connected to the altar below, and he began chanting an unfamiliar incantation in a low voice.
As time passed, the Crown of Wisdom resting quietly on Nfirea's head suddenly emitted a faint light.
An unseen ripple spread outward at high speed, instantly covering the entire graveyard.
The once silent cemetery began to change.
One after another, hoarse roars echoed through the graves.