novelraw Chapter 1649 - 1647: Who Is This Mysterious Person?
Chapter 1649 - 1647: Who Is This Mysterious Person?
The Great Tomb of Nazarick, lowest level.
A single sentence from the succubus immediately shocked everyone present.
"Master Ainz, Natsuriya Bradford has been confirmed dead."
"Is this true?"
Sitting on the throne was a huge skeletal figure, wearing the robe of a mage. In its pitch black eye sockets flickered a dark red negative energy light.
"Yes, it’s confirmed that her name has disappeared from the list."
The succubus nodded and said, while those who heard her report looked at each other, a trace of seriousness on their faces. Everyone understood that as a vampire, Natsuriya was considered one of the most powerful among them, but now, she had been killed?
"What exactly happened? Can it be confirmed?"
"I’m sorry, but so far, we haven’t obtained any useful information."
The high-rank demon, standing to the side in a suit, said in a low voice.
"I suggest resurrecting Natsuriya immediately and gathering information."
"I think so too."
Hearing the high-rank demon’s response, the lich on the throne nodded.
"Then, let’s make preparations immediately."
Soon, the gold coins for the resurrection were ready. The lich stood up, raised the golden staff in his hand and shouted.
"Natsuriya, rise again!"
With a roar from the lich, a radiance was instantly released from the golden staff in his hand. At the same time, the mountain of gold coins began to melt, solidify, and then...
"Nothing?"
Looking at the empty ground in front of him, the lich’s tone revealed an undeniable panic.
"What’s going on? Even though the gold coins were consumed, why didn’t Natsuriya resurrect?!"
Seeing this, the others also showed surprise and unease on their faces. Originally, for them, death was not the end. As long as their Supreme Sovereign was there, they could bring someone back to life. But now, Natsuriya, who was killed, couldn’t be resurrected?
What exactly is happening?!
"Master Ainz, please calm down."
While everyone was talking, the high-rank demon stepped forward again.
"Although we can’t confirm what exactly happened, it’s certain that Natsuriya has been killed and cannot be resurrected. This poses a significant threat to us. I recommend we investigate thoroughly what has happened and then make a decision."
"Quite right."
Upon hearing this, the lich also heaved a sigh of relief, suppressing his inner anxiety.
"But regardless, Natsuriya is dead, and we cannot just ignore it. An attack on her is a provocation to us, the Great Tomb of Nazarick!"
As he spoke, the lich suddenly waved his hand.
"Everyone, listen to my orders, immediately send out people to investigate what exactly happened! Report any clues immediately, understood?"
"Yes!"
As for Fang Zheng and the others, they didn’t care about the tomb or the morgue. After eliminating the vampire, they continued on their way and soon reached their destination. When the Adventurers’ Guild learned that Fang Zheng and his team had eliminated the vampire that had been wreaking havoc near the city in the past few days, they immediately conducted an investigation. After confirming everything, they gave them a substantial reward.
Fang Zheng himself wasn’t an adventurer, so he only received some money. However, the Priestess of the Goddess, Megumin, and Ais, as adventurers, received an upgrade reward—despite not being able to contribute much in the final battle against the powerful vampire. Nonetheless, they did defeat the previous vampires, a fact confirmed by Fang Zheng and the caravan. Therefore, the Adventurers’ Guild upgraded the three’s rank from White Porcelain to Black Obsidian, which made the three quite excited.
Because of this, Megumin excitedly suggested celebrating at the tavern, and of course, the others didn’t refuse. So they went to the tavern and happily enjoyed a big meal.
"I didn’t expect it would be so easy to reach Black Obsidian."
After the meal, the group returned to the inn to rest. While walking, Megumin was still bubbling with excitement, jumping up and down.
"It seems reaching Platinum is only a matter of time. By then, the whole world will know of the Red Demon Clan’s great mage, Megumin! A few vampires are nothing; next time, we should just challenge the Demon King!"
That’s why I brought you all this far.
Watching the ecstatic Megumin, Fang Zheng silently wiped some cold sweat. He was sure that with Megumin’s chuuni brain circuit, once she learned of the Demon Lord Shabranigdo’s resurrection, she’d definitely rush to join the commotion.
Fang Zheng dared not give her that opportunity.
"Can we take Black Obsidian rank quests now, Fang Zheng?"
Bouncing around the Priestess of the Goddess and Ais, Megumin seemed unsatisfied. After a circle, she asked Fang Zheng.
"Probably... It mainly depends on your coordination."
Fang Zheng had to admit that Megumin’s Burst Magic was indeed a powerful weapon, but with such a once-a-day ultimate move... without someone pulling the reins, it wouldn’t work.
However, if used well, it could certainly be quite useful.
"Haha, then next time, let’s find something more challenging! I don’t want to go to the sewers! We should fight creatures like liches and headless knights for fun!"
The sewers—even if you wanted, I wouldn’t let you go there.
Upon hearing this, Fang Zheng rolled his eyes helplessly.
In the deepest labyrinth, how many times have you buried us alive, and yet there’s no sense of it in your head?
"Ais, next time we... Ah!"
However, at that moment, Megumin, who was walking backwards facing the three, seemed not to notice what was under her feet, tripped, and landed heavily on the ground.
"Megumin, are you okay?"
Seeing this, the Priestess of the Goddess hurried over, and Megumin shook her head.
"I’m fine... Ugh, what’s this?"
"A sack?"
Looking at the white sack by Megumin’s foot, the Priestess of the Goddess was puzzled. She walked up to it and opened the sack to see what was inside. But after opening it,
"Sir Knight! Quickly come here!"
"Hmm?"
Hearing the Priestess of the Goddess’s slightly panicked voice, Fang Zheng exchanged a glance with Ais, then walked forward. Upon seeing the scene, he finally understood why the Priestess of the Goddess was so panicked.
The thing that tripped Megumin was not trash or a rock, but a woman stuffed in a sack. She looked older than Megumin and the Priestess of the Goddess, and she was naked. Not only that, her face and body were covered in signs of abuse. Bruised and beaten, even her lips were torn—and it seemed like she had been brutally beaten countless times.
"How horrible! Who did this? Please wait, I’ll save you immediately!"
As a Holy Practitioner, the Priestess of the Goddess certainly wouldn’t turn a blind eye. She quickly knelt beside the woman, reaching out her hand.
"Little Healer!"
Soon, a holy radiance emerged from the Priestess of the Goddess’s hand, covering the woman. The woman trembled slightly, slowly opened her eyes, but even so, her breathing was still extremely weak, as if she were on the verge of death.
"Hey!!"
At that moment, suddenly a nearby door opened, and a burly man walked out. Seeing this scene, he frowned.
"Who told you to mind other people’s business? Get lost!"
"But she’s about to die."
"That’s none of your business! Little girls, you..."
As he spoke, the man reached out towards the Priestess of the Goddess. However, just then, Ais suddenly flashed, appeared by the man’s side. Her longsword, still in its scabbard, struck the man hard in the stomach. The next moment, accompanied by a strange scream and groan, the man dropped to his knees. Before he could get up, the cold blade was already at his throat.
"It’s none of our business."
It was only at this point Fang Zheng, hands behind his back, swaggered over. He slightly smirked as he looked at the man.
"So, it’s your business, then?"
"No, well, I don’t... I don’t know either..."
"Really?"
As he spoke, Fang Zheng winked at Ais, and Ais immediately flipped her right hand, causing the blade pressed against the man’s neck to sway slightly, leaving a bloodstain on his throat.
"Ah———!!"
Realizing that his life was truly in danger, the man suddenly became cowardly.
"This, this, I......"
"Speak, what is your relationship with her?"
"She, she is......."
Looking at the woman lying on the ground, the man hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"She is an employee at our store......"
"Employee......?"
Fang Zheng glanced at the battered and bruised woman.
"I’m not even going to ask why she ended up like this. In any case, we’re taking this woman with us. You don’t have a problem with that, do you?"
"Wait, wait, you can’t do that!"
Hearing this, the man immediately shouted.
"Legally, she is our property, and taking her would be kidnapping!"
"Oh."
Fang Zheng only uttered a faint "oh."
"So you’re saying you are her owner?"
"Yes, yes, that’s right!"
"So that means......"
As he spoke, Fang Zheng extended his hand, summoning the Pitch Black Greatsword and swung it fiercely.
"If I just kill you, then she won’t have an owner, right?"
"Hiss........."
At this, the man gasped sharply.
"However, I still respect personal wishes."
As he spoke, Fang Zheng walked in front of the woman, crouched down, and looked at her. The woman’s eyes were empty and lifeless, looking as though she was already close to death.
"Now, it’s your choice, come with us or stay here?"
"Sir Knight?"
Hearing this, the Priestess of the Goddess suddenly screamed, but Fang Zheng waved his hand to signal her to stop talking.
"Come on, I gave the choice, now it’s time for you to make your decision."
"........."
Facing Fang Zheng’s question, the woman stared blankly at him, and after a moment, she seemed to muster all her strength and opened her lips.
"Sa... save... me......"
"Good, it seems you’ve made your choice."
Hearing the woman’s response, Fang Zheng nodded, then stood up again and looked at the man beside him.
"You heard her, we’re taking this woman with us."
As he spoke, Fang Zheng reached out, picked up the woman, and turned to leave. However, at this moment, the man hurriedly called out to them.
"Wait, wait!"
"What else is there?"
"Really, I beg you not to do this! Taking her will cause a lot of trouble!"
"Trouble?"
"Yes, you should know...... Eight Fingers."
At this point, the man lowered his voice.
"The one who secretly rules this country...... so if you do this, it will really be troublesome! Please, just pretend you didn’t see anything, okay? You’re adventurers, if you provoke Eight Fingers, you won’t have a place in this country!"
"So what?"
However, to the man’s surprise, Fang Zheng in front of him showed no reaction to the name Eight Fingers. In fact, for Fang Zheng, whatever Eight Fingers, Nine Fingers, or Ten Fingers, it didn’t matter at all. Not to mention whatever secretly rules this country, even the actual ruler of this country, in Fang Zheng’s eyes, was no more than an ant.
"Let’s go back first."
As he spoke, Fang Zheng turned to leave with the woman, leaving the man sitting there dumbfounded, watching their backs until he could no longer speak.
Back at the inn, the girls immediately took the woman to their room, and even the usually hyper Megumin couldn’t help but be touched upon seeing the condition of the woman before them.
"This is... too much!"
"This isn’t just about being beaten......"
After carefully examining the woman, the Priestess of the Goddess turned pale.
"She has multiple illnesses, and... even signs of long-term drug poisoning...... Who on earth would do this, and why......"
"Can she be healed?"
"I apologize, Sir Knight."
Facing Fang Zheng’s question, the Priestess of the Goddess lowered her head in frustration.
"My abilities are really limited......"
As she spoke, the Priestess of the Goddess also clenched her hands. Initially, she thought the woman was only beaten and injured, but after a careful examination, she was completely at a loss as to what to do.
"Then leave it to me."
Fang Zheng said, snapping his fingers.
Soon, a Holy Light descended from above, swiftly covering the woman, and before their eyes, the wounds on the woman’s body rapidly healed at a speed visible to the naked eye, and her previously pale face gradually showed a healthy glow.
"Sir Knight, that’s amazing......"
Seeing this, the Priestess of the Goddess was full of admiration, and Ais beside her also widened her eyes in surprise, staring curiously.
"Alright, her body should have returned to its state before all this happened... Let her have a good rest, you stay with her."
"Yes, Sir Knight."
"Ais."
After instructing the Priestess of the Goddess, Fang Zheng turned to Ais on the other side.
"Tonight you’re on watch, keep an eye on the surroundings. That Eight Fingers, Seven Fingers, whatever they are, might send people to spy on us, take them all out."
"Understood."
Hearing Fang Zheng’s orders, Ais, who was tending to her weapon, nodded and answered softly.
"And you, Sir Knight?"
"I’m going out for a while."
As he spoke, Fang Zheng reached out and grabbed Megumin by the collar.
"Megumin, you haven’t unleashed your Burst Magic today, have you? Come with me, and let yourself go wild!"