Yi-Han gritted his teeth at the detestable enemy's suggestion.

"Those despicable bastards. They want us to take the traps above first."

-There are no traps above.-

"Pardon?"

-I said there are no traps above. Why would there be traps above when it's not a prison?-

"...?"

Yi-Han became confused.

"Then why are they telling us to come out? Is it a trick to prevent us from using magic?"

-They're not that kind of guys.-

"Then what is it?"

-...I don't know.-

The undead mage honestly admitted it.

It was the first time he had seen the berserkers of that prison behave so obediently.

Yi-Han slightly poked his head out.

The undead berserkers who were watching gestured for them to come out with blunt movements.

'It's too blatant for a trap.'

Feeling uneasy about just going out, Yi-Han waved his hand.

It was a signal to back away.

Surprisingly, the undead berserkers backed away.

"...?!"

-They're backing away?!-

Both the undead mage and Yi-Han were surprised.

Were they really the same group as the berserkers who had charged at them like madmen earlier?

"I'll go and check."

Ogoldos spoke while supporting his body with his staff.

He couldn't stand the guilt of only holding back his junior since falling here.

At least doing something, even if it was like this...

"Pardon? It's fine. Let's approach together after spreading fog."

"..."

Ogoldos felt his determination crumble.

Although they approached cautiously, the undead berserkers really didn't charge at them.

They just watched Yi-Han's group climb up to the ceiling.

-Entangle and become stairs... They really didn't come.-

"Could it be that magic is needed to go up?"

-The magic has already been dispelled. Originally, the ceiling couldn't be breached.-

The undead mage spoke while climbing up the ramp made of bones.

The underground prison where prisoners were confined was protected by powerful mana. Originally, to the extent that it couldn't be breached no matter what.

Although the explosion earlier was tremendous, if the underground prison had been normal, the ceiling would have been intact.

The undead mage now had no choice but to acknowledge what Yi-Han had said.

Something happened to the owner of the palace!

-It's really surprising. To think something happened to the king.-

"..."

Yi-Han broke out in a cold sweat. Ogoldos saw that and worried inwardly.

'Is he really okay? Did he use too much mana after all? If I ask, will it seem like I'm saying something unnecessary?'

"So... You're still loyal to the king? From what I see, he seems to have a lot of personality issues."

He spoke to sow discord, but the undead mage readily answered as if he hadn't noticed Yi-Han's ulterior motive.

-Kings are originally violent.-

"Is... Is that so?"

'If he's violent enough to imprison people when he's bored, shouldn't his head be cut off?'

-Of course, whether you resent the king or not is a separate issue. I resent him for ignoring my loyal advice, but I'm loyal because he's my king. Originally, the strong have the right to reign.-

"...Wait, then what happens if he becomes weak?"

-Then he should die. A weakened king has no right to be king.-

There was a sound of nodding from behind.

Yi-Han's group turned their heads. The undead berserkers had stopped following them and were nodding their heads.

Ogoldos made a choking sound.

-When did they... What the...?-

"They don't seem to be attacking now. Right?"

-It seems so. Don't provoke them.-

Despite the undead mage's words, the berserkers followed quietly.

When Yi-Han's group stopped, they also stopped, and when Yi-Han's group started walking, they also started walking.

When fear is repeated, one becomes accustomed to it.

Yi-Han began to wonder what actions those undead berserkers would tolerate.

"Could you please pick up some bone fragments for me?"

-I told you not to provoke them...-

The undead mage was about to shout, but the berserkers surprisingly picked them up willingly.

-!-

"Oh..."

-This... We need to experiment.-

The undead mage's eyes also changed. The mage spoke to Ogoldos.

-You try asking too.-

"...Please pick up some bone fragments."

At Ogoldos's request, the berserkers stood still, dumbfounded.

It was as if they were asking, "Who are you to give orders?" Ogoldos glared at the undead mage with an embarrassed face.

-This is...-

"What is it?"

Yi-Han hoped for the undead mage's wisdom.

-It seems they've accepted you as one of their own.-

"..."

For a moment, Yi-Han thought he had misheard.

Passing a test, being acknowledged after winning a fight, or at the very least, not being touched because of too much mana.

There were many other good things, so why did he say they accepted him as one of their own?

"Does that make sense?"

-Since they're guys who like to fight and have gathered together, it's not that nonsensical...-

"When do I like to fight?"

-Didn't they misunderstand that you were the one who caused the undead explosion earlier?-

Yi-Han protested in anger.

"This mage did it!"

However, the undead berserkers gave him a dumbfounded look as if asking what he was talking about.

The undead mage spoke as if telling him to give up.

-If they were the type to listen when told, there would have been no reason to suffer until now. They're not the type to communicate with.-

"But what..."

Yi-Han, who had suddenly become one of them, looked at the berserkers with a displeased expression.

-It's not urgent now, so let's move. Actually, being treated as one of them isn't bad, right? If not, we would have had to fight to the death down there earlier.-

"If it's not bad, you can be one of them, Mr. Mage. Go and tell them."

At Yi-Han's words filled with hostility, the undead mage backed away, slightly intimidated.

-I told you they don't listen...-

"Hah... I understand. So, how much further is it?"

The undead mage's goal after escaping the underground prison and ascending into the palace was one.

To check the throne in the depths of the palace and find out what happened to the king.

Yi-Han didn't strongly object. He also had to find other people and get out anyway.

If the undead mage, who was familiar with the geography of this palace, reached the throne in the depths, he would be able to find the others scattered throughout the palace using the palace's power.

'The king is not here.'

And Yi-Han had a conviction that the king would not be there.

...Because Yi-Han had defeated him!

-We're almost there. It's really surprising. I can't believe it's like this. Has the king really left...-

The mage muttered and tapped the wall with his staff.

Then the wall opened, and a path appeared. The place that had been a path until now disappeared underground.

"!"

Yi-Han's complexion changed.

From a certain point, the quality of mana felt in the air had changed.

The undead mage noticed the change in Yi-Han's complexion and said,

-You're sharp. You must feel the pressure due to the powerful mana. Even more so since you're still a young mage.-

'I don't feel it.'

Due to the immense amount of mana, he never felt pressure from something like this, but Yi-Han roughly went along with it.

"Yes."

-It's because of the mana emanating from the king's space. It's the power and core that sustains this palace. When the king was sitting inside, it was to the point where you couldn't even breathe.-

Creak-

A huge stone door opened, revealing a vast audience chamber. When it was confirmed that no one was inside, the undead mage made a tsk-tsk sound by clacking his bones.

-It's really surprising...-

Get out.

"!?"

The undead mage was also surprised by the voice coming from the throne, but Yi-Han was the most surprised.

The King of Ghouls he had defeated before.

The voice was exactly the same as that king's.

'Has he already fully recovered!?'

He knew that the king had been driven out of the continent and returned to the realm where he originally was, but to think he had already recovered from that blow.

Yi-Han bowed his head deeply. Ogoldos didn't understand and was puzzled.

-Are you the king?-

That's right. How dare you enter my audience chamber? Even the most terrible punishment would not be enough, but I will forgive you this time. Get out.

"Let's get out."

Yi-Han whispered.

Fortunately, it seemed that the other party had not noticed Yi-Han's identity.

If he got out when he said he would forgive him...

However, the undead mage replied in a sarcastic voice.

-It doesn't seem like you're the king.-

What did you say?

-The king's subordinates have all disappeared, the flames that illuminated the palace have been extinguished, and the walls that guarded the prison have vanished. What kind of king is a being without subordinates, a palace, or authority?-

"Do you have to provoke him?"

Yi-Han tried to persuade the undead mage, but it was meaningless.

The logic pursued by the beings of the undead realm was the logic of power.

It was okay for the King of Ghouls to be a tyrant because he had the power to match it.

However, in the current situation where he had become weak, that logic was applied in reverse.

A weakling like you dare to say this?

-It seems you've been greatly injured. I don't know how you ended up like this, but...-

If you want to die, I'll kill you.

-Try it.-

Not only the undead mage but also the berserkers behind him suddenly walked forward.

There was not a hint of loyalty in their eyes. Only the desire to test how strong the one above them was.

And the berserkers patted Yi-Han's shoulder and pointed to the throne.

"...No, wait. Don't tell me..."

Were they telling him to fight together as one of them?

Yi-Han pondered how to convey the message, "I am human, and you are undead."

In the meantime, the undead mage initiated the attack.

-Now, fake king! Why don't you show your abilities again!-

'Damn it. Why are mages all different from their appearance?'

The undead mage, who had been cold, calm, and rational until now, immediately turned hostile upon seeing the King of Ghouls weakened.

It was the logic of power that only the undead could understand.

The mana in the vast audience chamber began to gather toward the throne. The King of Ghouls, who had forcibly absorbed the mana inside to recover his strength, growled.

Do you think I'll lose to a mage like you even if I'm seriously injured and recovering?

As the undead mage speculated, the King of Ghouls was drawing in all the resources of the palace to recover from the severe damage he had suffered on the continent.

From the flames outside to the subordinates.

The damage was severe as he had been sealed for a long time and had just been released only to be defeated.

However, he never even thought he would lose.

He was confident that he could sufficiently deal with those prisoner bastards with just the strength he had recovered in this palace.

-Poison...-

As the berserkers charged, the King of Ghouls looked at them with annoyance.

Those prisoner bastards from the underground prison were not dying and crawling out, making things bothersome.

He had left them alone because he found it admirable that they attacked other prisoners...

Die.

Kwajik!

The King of Ghouls concentrated his flickering form and appeared in front of one of the berserkers.

And he delivered a brutal blow. The thick body of that berserker was penetrated.

"...!"

It was a spine-chilling attack, but the undead mage and the berserkers were not intimidated at all as if they had already expected it.

"...Spread as fog!"

A vicious poison cloud spread around the throne. The King of Ghouls distorted his form and tried to quickly escape the poison cloud.

Then the berserkers chased after him and unleashed attacks. The King of Ghouls nimbly transformed his body to avoid the attacks.

"Blaze forth!"

At that moment, flames flew in pursuit of the King of Ghouls. The size was not great, but the heat emanating from those small flames was tremendous. The King of Ghouls instantly felt threatened and pulled his body back.

You...?

The King of Ghouls felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity and displeasure rising. The opposing mage had his face covered with a bone mask.