The Necromancer Who Was Despised

Even with imperfect memories, it recognized me and tried to resist my orders, as if it had judged me as its arch-nemesis.

However, the undead, like servants, couldn’t disobey their master’s orders, and although they hadn’t fully surrendered, they would thoroughly follow commands. An interesting relationship had formed.

“Thinking about it, Nelson and Kereo were like that too. Even if they’re dead, they’re not in a good state.”

The guy recognized me as his enemy, which wasn’t entirely wrong.

Although those who tried to escape first were on the other side, in reality, I was the one who pushed them to their deaths.

“In reality, it would have been impossible to save them.”

But for my own desires and personal revenge, I drove them to death, giving them no choice but to become undead.

Therefore, it was understandable that even in death, they would harbor hatred towards me.

“I don’t care.”

The first high-ranking undead I obtained was an enemy from my first life. Come to think of it, my first undead was also an enemy from my first life.

By the way, Kereo was a high-ranking undead who possessed many memories from his past life, allowing him to use magic based on his past experiences.

“Wasn’t it called a ‘agic-based ore’?”

Anyway, the type of power that formed the basis of the ore was different, but it was still an ore.

Of course, magic-based ores had a more powerful and rough energy, making them harder to form.

But my undead were different.

“My magic-influenced undead are quite tame, after all.”

To be precise, they were ferocious, but when under my control, they listened well.

Therefore, it was confirmed that Kereo’s elite living armor, refined with my influence, could use magic-based ores.

“It’s even more destructive, though.”

My dark magic was just as powerful as other dark magic.

I explained to my companions that Kereo was a high-ranking undead with a sense of self and intelligence.

“A high-ranking undead…”

“He can use proper swordsmanship and magic.”

“Magic too?”

“Since it’s based on magic, the destructive power is even greater. He’ll be useful.”

Kyle looked surprised.

“Don’t worry about the rear guard.”

“…If these people are protecting the master, there’s no problem.”

“Will we be able to do something about this?”

“There are still those who haven’t been revealed.”

The main golem.

From the moment it appeared, it would draw attention, and although it wasn’t slow, it would inevitably reveal our position, so I planned to deploy it right before battle.

“Will we take Anelis too?”

She had been doing miscellaneous tasks according to my orders until now.

Luckily, she was a mid-ranking mercenary and had experience working with party members, so she wasn’t incompetent, but honestly, she wasn’t that impressive either.

“Atina even showed her frustration openly.”

“Are we taking her because she’s not much help in battle?”

I also had the same thoughts, but it wasn’t possible.

“It’s not safe.”

“Tsk.”

From Atina’s attitude, I realized that she had stronger feelings towards Anelis than I thought.

Because of her, I thought I’d gradually lose interest in the royal family and its connections…

From Atina’s perspective, the benefits she gained from Anelis joining were immense.

Although there was no material support, I was able to quickly and securely establish my position, which brought forward the day I could reunite with Tia.

If things continued like this, it was possible that I could even call Tia back within a year.

It was clear that she had realized this as well, yet she couldn’t hide her extreme dislike for Anelis.

Even Kayla wouldn’t directly confront Atina like that, although she would scrunch up her face.

Valdur seemed genuinely uninterested.

However, I didn’t know what to do about Atina’s attitude.

It was a reaction different from my expectations, but it wasn’t a problem that would affect Anelis’s life, and what I cared about was her physical survival, not her mental stability.

“Don’t worry, I won’t kill myself just because I’m being bullied a bit.”

She had chosen to abandon us and flee when we were in crisis at the temple.

So, she wouldn’t make an extreme choice like that.

“…Considering the scale, it seems like we’re on the same page. Then, how many guards do you think we should have?”

Kayla ignored Atina’s attitude and asked a practical question.

“Three Elite Living Armor sets would be enough.”

“Two are enough to protect, so three… is it?”

Honestly, I thought even three would be excessive.

But because of Anelis, I had no choice.

However, Kayla seemed to think that even that was insufficient.

“Then, I’ll stay behind.”

“That’s a bit…”

“There’s also the Skeleton Knight, and the Elite Living Armor that’s become a high-ranking undead. They won’t get tired, so it’ll be enough.”

Including the main golem and Atina, Valdur would also be included, so even if I wasn’t confident, I said I’d do well.

“You’ll also support us from behind, right, Master?”

I shook my head at Kayla’s words.

“It’s not just you who can’t do it.”

You also know that. So, instead of telling them to stay, I said I would, knowing that I’m more useful than all of them combined.

“At least with more numbers, we might be able to take on multiple opponents… but…”

Even Kayla would be able to achieve more than the sum of their parts if she made up her mind.

“Don’t worry. If it’s dangerous, I’ll flee.”

Kayla had a reluctant expression.

Suddenly, I realized that she was also a bit strange.

I knew that she thought of me a lot and prioritized my life above all else.

But now that we’ve reached the 5th class, and she’s shown a completely different level of power…

“Is this also because of Anelis?”

I glanced around, and Anelis, who looked tired, caught my eye.

“What’s with her?”

This was something I couldn’t do anything about. Yet, she was on high alert like this…

No matter how weak I was in close combat as a mage, I was still a 5th class. Plus, my own abilities were on par with a mid-ranking mercenary.

Anelis was also a rear supporter who wielded a bow, so it wasn’t like she was better than me in close combat…

After taking a deep breath, I gave Kayla a hand signal to move forward.

Around that time, Kayla seemed to realize that her stubbornness was futile and opened her mouth.

“I understand. But if it’s dangerous, you must escape.”

“I also value my life. Ah, yes.”

I called out to Atina and Valdur.

“Just a moment, please.”

I cast a simple magic spell on the three of them, including Kayla.

[Protection]

It’s a bit different from a regular shield.

You could call it a team-kill prevention shield.

“It reduces the impact of my magic on you.”

When I use powerful magic, it’s inevitable that there will be indirect damage, but if I cast a large-scale curse, the effect will be weakened, and even if it does affect them, it will be mild.

Considering their resistance, it’s a level that can be safely ignored in combat.

I also cast the same magic on Anelisse.

I explained this to my party, and Kayla seemed to have caught on to what I was planning.

“You’re thinking of casting a wide-range curse, aren’t you?”

I was preparing to prevent our allies from getting hurt.

After finishing our preparations, we targeted the time when the orcs were still in their village.

“No ambushes for us.”

I didn’t even want to hear the noise of them joining the battle.

We could have taken them down head-on without dispersing their forces.

“It’s different from before.”

Dispersal, luring, traps…

We didn’t need to use all those tactics like we did in the past.

We approached the orc village openly, and the orcs who discovered us looked like they couldn’t understand what was happening.

It was as if they were saying, “What are these few humans and undead doing, coming to our village?”

But soon, I took out the golem I had prepared, and my party began to gain momentum.

[Fog of the Swamp]

A grayish fog that hindered the enemy’s movements and slowly drained their vitality began to spread across the area.

Taang! Taang! Taang!

An alarm-like sound spread throughout the orc village.

The orcs who were preparing for battle, led by their warriors, rushed out to defend their village.

But soon, they were caught in the thin fog.

“It’s not that thick.”

To be honest, even the orcs’ vision could penetrate the fog without much difficulty.

The purpose wasn’t to blind them, but to hinder their movements and drain their vitality.

It might not have a significant impact at first, but their vitality would drop faster than usual, and they would start to feel the fog’s effects later on.

In other words, the effect would turn the tide of time in our favor, even if they outnumbered us.

The excited orcs didn’t realize the true nature of the terrifying fog and charged straight towards us.

Wooooo!

It started with the main golem.

Its massive body drew the attention of the enemies, and its long reach allowed it to strike them first.

The precise moment I intervened, my buff increased the main golem’s strength and durability.

Paang!

Kwaduk-kwaduk!

The orc, who was almost at the brink of death, couldn’t withstand the attack and became a puddle of blood, spilling it all over the rear lines.

However, the already enraged enemies didn’t care and charged towards the main golem.

The yet-to-be-upgraded 1st and the knight-turned 2nd, along with the high-ranking undead, Cerio, who had gained self-awareness, were the first to be taken down.

With my magic, which had strengthened them, they were now at a level where they could easily take down ordinary orcs.

“My strengthened magic has become even more powerful…”.

At my current level, I could utilize multiple strengthening, buffing, and cursing spells to make even a normal skeleton capable of withstanding an orc.

Although it’s difficult to handle multiple targets, the number of undead I’m controlling is limited, so I can afford to strengthen them multiple times without depleting my magic.

Thanks to Elroset’s staff, which amplified my magic’s power, they were able to maintain their formation even when hundreds of orcs charged at them.

——!

Cerio’s self-awareness resisted my command, screaming in defiance.

However, it couldn’t disobey my orders.

I ignored its screams and commanded it to attack the orcs, who were now targeting the main golem.

As the orcs focused their attention on the undead, Atina began to move.

Sshh, sshh.

Using the fog I summoned as a backdrop, I skillfully evaded their senses and struck their weak points one by one.

Baldur helped maintain a stable frontline, preventing the undead from being easily surrounded, while Kailra quietly observed the situation.

Kailra’s plan was obvious.

“Krrr…”.

The warrior orcs, who knew how to use mana.

According to the request, there were at least ten of them.

Kailra was targeting them.

“To be honest, I could do it alone…”.

The large-scale battle continued.

I only updated my strengthening spells a few times, excluding the initial curse, and refrained from using magic excessively.

The war between the hundreds of orcs, led by the main golem, and the undead and humans.

In the midst of that violent spectacle, I sensed that Annelise was frozen in place.

“It’s taking too long.”

I turned my gaze from Annelise to the battlefield.

By now, nearly 100 orcs had died, yet the warrior orcs’ movements were still unseen.

“Why haven’t they made a move yet?”

It seemed they were wary of something.