Chapter 22

Dont be ridiculous! If there was a solution like that, why did you come here instead of searching for the statues around the city?

Because we didnt know how much progress you made with the ritual. How can we be so easygoing when the ritual could happen today? Also, the situation is different now.

Zich pointed at the book that theDeputyMayor was holding.

Since the catalyst is in a state like that, you wont be able to do the ritual right away. Of course, we wouldnt be able to buy much timeprobably not even a couple of days, but so what? If we find even one statue in that time, the game is over. If we destroyastatue, your power will diminish, and the ritual will get pushed off again. Then, we can use that extra time to continue to find more statues.

Capture them!

As if Zich had hit the bulls eye, theDeputyMayor ordered all the waiting undead to come forwardand opened up his book. But Zich was faster.

Then lets see each other later!

Crash!

As he swung his sword, a huge hole formed on the buildings wall. Then, Zich wrapped his arm around Lubellas waist and jumped out of the hole. Indeed, theDeputyMayor must have thought that it would be dangerous to show a scene where a great deal of undead pouredout of theMayors house, so none of the undead followed them.

It's too risky to show thesaint candidate fighting the undead.

TheDeputyMayor had falsely charged Lubella for summoning the undead and didnt want toprovide theevidence that she was actually an opposing force.

I am going to use this situation to make a greater case against Lubella.

Bump!

Zich softly landed on the ground, but he wasnt completely safe. In front of him, surprised guardshad seenZich and Lubella suddenly jump out of the building.

What?

An intruder?

Its Lubella! The Witch, Lubella!

The Witch came to attack again!

The guards found Lubella, and their eyes turned hostile.

Well, look at what will happen.

With this, Lubellas false charge wouldworsen, and news that Zich was her companion wouldspread far and wide.

We will be falsely charged with assassinating theMayor now too. Actually, is it not a false charge? Its true that I killed him.

If he thought like that, it could have been better if he hadnt killed theMayor. But Zich quickly threw that thought away. At that time, theMayor was the same as a tool. He was remodeled to handle the book called the Key better than anyone else.

Before my regression, those Bellid guys used this tactic a lot. If theMayor was alive, the situation would have worsened.

Holding Lubella like some luggage, Zich said,You became famous, Lady Lubella. They are welcoming you as the Witch as soon as they see you.

Who is the man with the Witch?

I dont know! He is probably the Witchsunderlingor something like that! Dont let him out!

What? The Witchs underling?Underling?If Im being particular, I am the Demon Lord, which is even higher than a witch,Zich grumbled while fixing his grip on his sword.

M-Mr.Zich! They dont know anything!

I know, Lady.

If it were a dangerous situation, Zich wouldnt have bothered to answer, but he was facing trained, ordinary soldiers at most. There was no need to kill them. Heslidhis sword back into its sheath and lifted his sword in its sheathed form.

Please tolerate it if I break some of your bones.

Then, he ran towards the guardsrunningathim.

The guards long polesaimed forhim, but Zich smoothly moved between the poles and escaped. Then,as a spear passedby their faces, Lubellalet outa small scream.

Crack! Crack!

Ah!

Urgh!

One fellwithevery strike. Their arms, legs, or armor broke while their bones were smashed under Zichs hands. The guards in front of them fell to the ground instantly, and a huge opening appeared between them. Without hesitation, Zich ran.

His new shoes shoneunder thesunlight. Other soldiers joined, but Zich and Lubella had already gone over the wall and disappeared.

* * *

The city was in a mess. TheDeputyMayor was dead, and Lubella, who had tried to curse the city, even succeeded in assassinating theMayor. As expected, the citys economy froze even more. The next in line after theMayor and theDeputyMayor tookthe now-emptyleadership role, but it wasntassame as when theMayor was still alive.People began to fear that their citysautonomy would be taken away, andtheycursed the Witch and her newly discovered companion.

And what the two,receiving all the insults from the citys residents were doing was

Yeah, it came out well.

Zichcame out from thecover of the nightandstared at the wanted poster of him that was posted next to Lubellas. Unlike Lubellas,the drawingof him was a rough outline thatlacked in many ways and failed toidentifyspecific characteristics.

Even this sloppydrawingcant hidemy handsomeness. I have to say that my face is quitefine to look at.Zich swiped his face exaggeratedly and chuckled.

It seems like Im right, seeing how theydrewme. Although the guards couldnt have seen me properly, thatDeputyMayor saw my face.

Even if he was pretending to be dead, theDeputyMayor should have had the influence to place a more accurate drawing of Zichs face on the wanted poster. But if the wanted poster was made this poorly, itcould meanthat theDeputyMayor hadnt intervened in its making process at all.

Zich suddenly felt a firelight and the sound of armor clanking from afar.

Whoops! Since I am wanted, I should quickly hide. This reminds me of the old days.

BeforeZich regressed andearned his powers,he had lived hiding most of the time.While reminiscing, Zich skillfully escaped from the guards and moved. He escaped into the inner-city houses for the poor; the worn-out buildings there looked like they were about to crumble at any moment, and a foul stench seeped out of the area.

Zichknocked on the door. As promised, he knocked four times in a row, rested, knocked two more times, and rested again before heknockedfive times.

Creak!

The door opened like a frail old man, swallowing back his feeble groans andbreakingthe deafening silence.

Come in,Lubella said while searching Zich's surroundings in case a person had trailed Zich. As soon as Zich came in, the door closed.

You have become a true criminal now,Lady.

Yes, I am thinking about changing careers,Lubella responded while taking Zichs luggage. What happened in the past couple of weeks had been so heavy that Lubellas personality seemed to have grown more relaxed. Lubella searched through the luggage Zich had brought. Therewerefood ingredients inside.

Where did you get all of this?

I borrowed them.

Zich shrugged. He said he borrowed it, but of course, Lubella couldntsimplyaccept that.

You stolethem.

Well, I cant make a fair deal right now.

Thats true.

Lubella knew that in their situation, it couldnt be helped. But it didnt change the fact that her heart felt heavy.

Dont make a face like that. I didnt steal.

Really?

Zich handed her a slip of paper. On it, names of places, their locations, and items were written all over the page.

These are theplaces whereIgotthe items from. When this is all over, we can just pay them all back at once. In short, its like acreditnot stealing.

To make a credit, dont you need the owners agreement?

We cant only live by the rules. What about giving them twice the price of the items as an apology?

Zichwinked. Lubella laughed despondently and nodded.

I am going to write off the credits as a business expense. Is that fine with you?

I will be grateful if you do that.

Zich and Lubella dropped the food items on the rusty table. Although the table looked dirty, sincethey were inan abandoned house in the slums, they were grateful that there was furniture.

While chewing the hard bread, they talked.

We are going to look for Bellus stone statues now, right?

Yes, we have to.

Is there a method to findthem?

Even if they searched all around the city, Porti was large. On top of that, both of them were wanted and couldnt move freely.

Yes, there is a method. Lets go to the slums first. Its easier to move there than other places, and I already havea placein mind.

Sounds good.

Lubella followed Zichs suggestion.

By the way, what happenedto the mannamedHans? You didnt justforget?

That guy already left the city some time ago. I ordered him to do something.

Thank goodness.

Lubella felt relieved since she worried that theDeputyMayor might have captured Hans. If he left the city, Hans would at least be safer than them.So, the two finished their meal in silence and prepared for the near future.

* * *

Hey, hasnt it been a while?

Zich brought Lubella to a small open area. Three people were standing in a reeking area piled with waste and trash. As if he was meeting a familiar acquaintance, Zich waved his hands at the three men and approached them.

The three men turned aroundand scowledas if they all had a bad temper.However,that lasted for only a moment. When they recognized Zich, theybecamestartled.

Shit! Run!

Wait, wait! I have something to ask you.

Without much difficulty, Zich stopped the three from escaping. Lubella checked the menas they hungtheir heads down lowthey lined up neatly in front of Zich and Lubella tilted her head.

Why? Do you recognize them? Zich asked.

Yes, I feel like I have seen them before.

Its when Lady Lubella first met me. These guys were with me when we beat that shopkeeper up.

Ah!

Lubella thought they looked familiar;they were the thugs she saw in her shocking reunion with Zich. When the three men saw Lubella, their faces filled with dread.

T-the Witch!

I knew it!Hes theWitchs underling!

Huh? Who is the underling?

All three thugs simultaneously cowered back. But among the three, one glared at Zich and Lubella like he wanted to kill them. He looked like a young manwhorecently passed his adolescence.

What are you here for?

Whatstroubling you,buddy? We bonded while beating up a person in a back alleyway together.

It wasnt a bonding to brag over,butLubellaheldher tongue at Zichs shamelessness. The thugs alsohung theirmouths wide open, but Zichsimply placedhisarmsaround the young man.

I have something I am curious about.Think you cancooperate with us? We will reward you very well.

Zich took out a pouch full of money from his pockets.Zichhad money; it was just that he couldntstrikea deal with people personally in his current situation. Of course, collecting credit was another type of conversation.Besides, after all of this was over, Karuwiman would pay him back for his losses.

I shouldnt try to save money in a place like this.

Zichthought it was best toencourage them to use theirheadsontheir own free will. Of course, if money didnt work, Zich thought he wouldnt hesitate to use his fists.The three thugs stared at the pouch full of money. The coins that shone brightly inside the pouch made them dizzy. However, their answer wasnt satisfactory.

No.

Dont be like that and think about it one more time. Its not a big deal. Isnt there anyone who suddenly fell ill or died? Like someone who has suddenly lost their vitality?

The thugs expressionsstiffened, and Zichs eyes sparkled.

You guys know something, right?

We dont know!

It will be better for you guys to just take this money and tell us. I dont intend to let you guys off now that I know you know something. And, because of our situation, I also intend to use whatever means and methods possible. Dont you think its better to take the money rather than go through a lot of pain anyways?

Zich put pressure on the arm that he had placed on the top of the young mans shoulders.

Ugh!

The young man groaned, but in the end, he didnt open his mouth. So, Zichs eyes became crueler. He was thinking of all kinds of torture methods

Drop!

Lubella kneeled in front of the young man. The slums dirty ground dirtied her dress, but she didnt seem to mind. Everyones eyes widened at the sight.

I beg you.She pleaded,This is not for our personal gain. I know you wont be able to believe us easily, but this city is in great danger right now. At worst, this city could become the city of the dead. Even now, the undead are roaming around the city, but a more terrifying

Dont make me laugh! This is all because of you guys!the young man shouted.

I am just telling you beforehand, but we have no relations with those skeleton bastards. Cant you believe these pure-lookingeyes?

Zich tried to open his eyesas wideas he could and tried to make an innocent face, but it wasnt very effective.

You expect me to believeyouwith just that! If it werent for you guys, my younger brother wouldnt have!

Huh? Your younger brother?

The young man closed his mouth with an expression that seemed to say, Oops! But Zich had already gotten the information he needed.

Oh, so the person we are looking for is your younger brother.

The young mans facefroze.