"Later... I found out that they were just plain poor, unable to afford Holy Water, haha," Chris said to herself, suddenly bursting into laughter.
"So, being broke is really scary," she added.
"Indeed," Luo Yan nodded seriously, "I know that feeling all too well... the feeling of having no money in your pockets."
"Really? You don't seem like it, what with that ring that looks quite valuable, and your complexion... I guess you must be a noble from the Aus Empire?"
Chris giggled coquettishly as she spoke.
"But dear Qin... that brother of yours, you shouldn't worry, you are not like us, you should be able to reincarnate into a good family, just be more careful next life... oh, right, I almost forgot this is a labyrinth, there might not even be a next time."
"So it turns out... you're not after the Demon King's treasure, but me?" Luo Yan's face revealed a strange smile, "Too bad, considering you helped me return to my throne, I had thought about making you generals of the nation."
"Chris, you talk too much, let's just send this young brother on his way," Reksen said, curling his lips as he swung his greatsword in an arc, but unexpectedly, he fumbled, and the sword flew out, narrowly missing a nearby gray dog.
The gray dog, nearly becoming a soul under the sword, was frightened to the core and glared fiercely at Reksen.
"What are you doing?!"
Reksen was also stunned for a moment.
Even if he was indeed a bit shaky today, it shouldn't be to the point where he couldn't even hold onto his sword, right?!
"I don't know—"
He had barely started speaking when suddenly his body felt heavy, and he collapsed to the ground as if hollowed out.
Everyone was startled.
Bond was the first to react.
Throughout, he had remained silent, but now he drew a flintlock pistol and, without hesitating, pulled the trigger at Luo Yan.
"Bang—!"
The small bullet sprayed out like raindrops! However, Luo Yan who was shot at just watched him with a smile as if nothing happened.
"Stone Skin Armor!"
A chilling feeling instantly crawled over Chris's entire body, and she finally understood what that ominous premonition was all about.
She screamed out.
"This guy is definitely not mere iron! Strike now!"
"Ah—!"
Armed with two axes, Am charged at Luo Yan, with the howling blades swirling around like a violent storm!
However, without any surprise, this guy followed the path of the great swordsman, crashing heavily to the ground, drained completely by Professor Lilith's ring.
From the moment they entered the cave, Luo Yan had been backstabbing them little by little, he just hadn't finished them off yet.
"It's too late."
After chanting his prayers, he released his right hand and a green cubic cone crystal tinkled as it fell on the magic circle drawn by his heel.
Creak—
A deep gray statue rose from the ground, along with the crooked skeletons lying in the corner of the mine.
They held pickaxes, their hollow eyes emitting a chilling coldness.
Perhaps realizing something, Bond, who was relatively calm and composed, suddenly screamed, threw away his unloaded flintlock pistol, and turned to run.
But he hadn't taken two steps before he was surrounded and chopped into mincemeat by the skeleton soldiers with their pickaxes.
The gray dog tried to resist, but just as he raised his dagger, he collapsed powerlessly, only able to watch in horror as the skeletons surrounded him completely, scared out of his wits.
"What did you do?!" Am was still struggling, trying to stand up.
He was the only bronze among those with silver curved blades, yet now he was completely suppressed by this self-proclaimed iron Mage.
Realizing that the power of the opponent was far above his own, Chris's eyes widened in terror, her pale face filled with despair.
"You, you are an Undead Mage?!"
Standing in the center of that emanating green pentacle, Luo Yan looked on satisfied as the belief value slowly increased.
[Belief value +1]
[Belief value +2]
[...]
The taste of fear—
Quite delightful indeed.
Although this increase rate couldn't compare to the graduation ceremony at Demon King Academy, a few dozen points of increase was better than none.
After all.
Shared joy is a double joy.
"Undead Mage?"
He took out a murky Crystal Ball from his pocket and cradled it in his hand, quietly admiring the despair etched on those faces, meanwhile harvesting another wave of belief.
"Call me Demon King."