Chapter 282 â Followers of the End (1)
âKing of the end?â It was a title, and Theodore looked at the other personâs face as he reiterated it.
The woman was neat, well-cleaned and had pale white skin. Her features had a lilyâs simplicity that completed her beauty. Who would want to hurt this tearful and beautiful woman? A normal male who didnât know the situation wouldâve pulled out their handkerchief.
However, Theodore just looked down at her mercilessly.
ââŠWhat, this woman?â
He had seen many beautiful women and knew that Hipatia was very beautiful. She was a white beauty comparable to Veronica, Aquilo, and Ellenoa. Nevertheless, his head was cool. All his senses were alert, and he wouldnât be tempted by lust or sympathy.
Just after that, something came to Theodoreâs mind. It was the âJerem, King of the endâ that had emerged from the white womanâs mouth. âJeremâ was a name he had heard once before, and the distant memories of the past popped up.
Finally, Theodore remembered the origin of the name, and his expression stiffened.
âJerem, is it that grimoireâŠ?â
As if in response, the information window of Deathâs Worship came to mind.
[-This grimoire contains the soul of the legendary warlock, Jerem. As a 9th Circle necromancer who attacked mankind on the side of the demons, Jerem will steal the body of any creature who reads the grimoire and turn them into an undead. He dreams of the perfect resurrection as his soul awaits in the abyss.]
It had already been several years since Theodore obtained the grimoire. Back then, the grimoire, Deathâs Worship, had taken over the body of a Meltor investigator in the Miller Barony and was now sealed in the inventory by Gluttony.
However, it was a grimoire that a 9th circle magician dwelled in. At that time, and even today, Theodore hadnât  been able to consume Deathâs Worship, so it was just an object left in the corner of his inventory.
How did this woman, Hipatia, know the name of the warlock, and why did she call Theodore âJeremâ?
âThere are a few possible hypothesis, butâŠâ
It was just a hypothesis. His super sensitivity warned him that one wrong word would cause an antagonistic relationship with this woman. Of course, he couldnât have a friendly relationship with a warlock.
However, he could use this misunderstanding. Theodoreâs experience whispered to him. Rather than denying it, he should see what the other person was mistaking him for.
Theodore made a decision and boldly spoke to her, âKing of the end? Iâm sorry, but I canât remember.â
Was it the right answer or wrong answer? Hipatiaâs eyes widened at his answer and looked at Theodore with a mournful expression. âAh, our kingâŠ! Did you lose your memories? I am White Rider Hipatia, one of the four riders of the end! I judged that with the wonderful skills you just showed, you mustâve been secretly growing your power in the magic kingdomâŠâ
âToo verbose. If you donât want me to leave, you better explain right away.â Theodore moved his magic power, pretending to be angry. His seven circles turned lightly, but the magic power shook the area and gave off a strong pressure. A body wouldnât be able to handle this pressure without good skills.
However, there was no shaking at all in Hipatiaâs posture. She kept prostrating herself politely, looking up at him with soulful eyes.
âThis woman is the death knightâs controller.â
He had roughly guessed it based on the magic power he felt, but now he was fully convinced with this test. A necromancer who had reached at least the 7th circle was enough to cause a disaster in a small kingdom.
If she was hostile, he had to end her here.
Additionally, if the four riders of the end were four warlocks, it meant that Hipatiaâs organization possessed four masters. It was a variable sufficient to overturn the course of this unification war.
It seemed like Deathâs Worship was something important to them, but Theodore hadnât admitted that he possessed it. As Theodore was swallowing his dry saliva, Hipatia looked at him and started speaking, ââŠI am your subject, but I will dare to speak.â
She put her hands on her lap in a defenseless posture. âMy king, we started watching you since we missed Charlotteâs Necklace at the Kargas auction house.â
Indeed, Theodore nodded. He had guessed it since that Orcus Company appeared with the death knight. This type of power wouldnât be mobilized if the necklace wasnât an important object.
âDidnât you go the Pirate Archipelago with it? In retrospect, I donât understand my folly. Rather than following Your Majestyâs will, I hastily tried to grab your ankleâŠâ
âYou yielded to that arrogant sea dragon, Aquilo! Since your body isnât yet complete⊠And this Hipatia⊠I donât doubt that the day of the end is coming.â
If a ring was attached to the ear, it was an earring. If it was attached to the nose, it was a nose ring. Hipatia kept saying things that couldnât be understood. If Aquilo were here, she wouldâve torn Hipatia apart.
As Hipatiaâs explanation continued, Theodoreâs expression grew more serious. Her speculation about Aquilo was completely wrong, but all the reasons cited afterward were plausible. From when Theodore summoned the high ranking demon, Magnus, on the Sipoto Plains up until when he had taken out Deathâs Worship to escapeâŠ
Finally, there was one crucial part in Hipatiaâs understanding.
âBy that way, did Your Majesty make âthatâ directly?â
âThe death knight with the Aura Ability! Without any traces of necromancy, you pioneered the death knight to an unprecedented level⊠This Hipatia once again realized that the king was resurrected!â
Theodore belatedly realized what she was referring to, âDonât tell me she mistook Gladio as a death knight?â
It was an exquisite coincidence. Necromancers, as those who made a mockery of life, were bound to be more sensitive to live force than anyone else. Hipatia would naturally understand that the automaton âwasnât aliveâ when she looked at it.
She saw that it contained a sword masterâs soul. The automaton was a by-product of a time when magic engineering was common. It was natural that she would mistake the automaton for a death knight variant.
Theodore was convinced, ââŠWouldnât I be mistaken if I was in the same position?â
It wasnât just one or two coincidences but many overlaps that caused the Hipatia to think this way. Gluttonyâs voice poured into one ear while Theodore thought about it. How could Theodore use this misunderstanding?
Should he shake hands or create a hostile relationship with the four horsemen? They were already exhausted from fighting with their old enemy Andras, and now they had to deal with a warlock organization with four masters? It was something that Meltor couldnât afford.
However, if the opposite was applied, Meltor might be able to overwhelm the battlefield.
âLet the âbarbarians fight among themselvesâ⊠is it?â
In other words, he could force the four horsemen to collide with the Andras Empire and destroy them. It might be beneficial, but it was hard to conspire with warlocks who could threaten a kingdom.
Andras wouldnât be able to avoid a catastrophic disaster.
âOkay, Iâll believe your words this once. That⊠Hipatia?â
âYes. I will do anything, my king.â Hipatia didnât care about her white clothes being stained as Hipatia kneeled down and looked at him with eyes full of affection. Theodoreâs conscience was throbbing. She might be a warlock, but was it okay to take advantage of such a pure affection? He felt some guilt. Thus, Theodore couldnât help asking Hipatia.
âCall it a test, but I want to ask you one more question.â
He wanted to know if it was capable of coexisting with warlocks.
âWhat is the ultimate goal of the four horsemen?â
âHuhu, you are asking something obvious,â Hipatiaâs sweet face laughed as she rose. Opening her arms widely, she exclaimed, âIt is a promise that we didnât forget after thousands of years of waiting, my king!â
Under the night sky, where thick darkness descended like a curtain, a beautiful woman dressed in white called out in a bell-like voice. There was an emptiness in her eyes as she looked toward something indescribable.
Hipatiaâs body danced in the wilderness where starlight shone down, and she answered Theodoreâs question, âIt is our mission to put an end to this world.â
There was madness in the pure eyes that looked at him.
âThe purpose of the four horsemen is to destroy this ugly civilization and the entire human race.â
ââŠI see.â Theodore realized it with her answer. âI understand.â
They could never tolerate each other.
The sound of footsteps was heard. The elementals made the tunnel, but they couldnât pave the ground. Theodore stepped on rugged pebbles as he hurried. It would take him 10 more minutes to join the party that had departed earlier.
Theodore fiddled with something in his arms and couldnât overcome his discomfort, eventually pulling it out.
ââŠDamn, warlocks are famous for their bad taste.â
It was a small crafted skull. Hipatia had explained in a cheerful voice that he could use this artifact to talk to her at any time.
She said that it shouldnât be put in a separate space, but he couldnât withstand the physiological discomfort for more than 30 minutes. Theodore eventually threw the dark red skull into the inventory.
He washed his hands a few times with water magic and called a companion to make him feel better, âGluttony.â
Gluttony responded immediately, -What is it, User?
âDid you hear the whole story with Hipatia?â
-Of course. Those warlocks, they seem to be the same in any age. The followers of the end⊠Those who believe that death is superior to life are everywhere.
Warlocks naturally worshipped death. Life was only a moment when they werenât dead, and it was believed that true life was just before being born and after death.
They assumed that the lives of others were worthless based on their view of life and thought that they should slaughter people to return them to the right path. The fanaticism of the Lairon Church but without any morality or conscience was the essence of a black magician.
In the end, the four horsemen were nothing more than an organization aiming to destroy the world. It was a very ordinary warlock organization.
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âKnow the enemy or you will be burnedâŠâ
It was forbidden knowledge, but Theodore now had a close association with the four horsemen and couldnât ignore it any longer. He took a deep breath and told Gluttony, âGluttony, I want to hear about black magic.â
-Hrmm. It was silent for a moment, before the grimoire replied, -Okay. Letâs talk about the past.
Current schedule:Â 6 chapters a week to match the authorâs release rate.
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