24 Hearts

86====================

Calypso’s Nightmare

“Hoh? That armor, lance, and shield… Don’t they belong to the Blue Lancers of the Byron Empire? This is the first time I’ve met one somewhere other than the battlefield.” He said, as his eyes lingered on Jeanne.

Jeanne flinched when the title of Blue Lancer came out of the other person’s mouth. He sounded like he spoke to her on a battlefield. The Count continued to talk as he took a sip of coffee leisurely.

“Oh, don’t worry. There’s nothing to be wary about… For now.”

“For now?”

“Yes. For now. You are very lucky.” He laughed. “Want to know why? As far as I’m concerned, you’re lucky that you met me. If you came at a different time, you would be attacked by ghosts by now. You broke the veil I set up and entered my mansion unauthorized. But, I will forgive you for breaking in. If you want to live, I suggest you leave my mansion quickly… No, leave this area entirely.”

“It’s a little difficult to do that.”

“How is it difficult?”

“We were looking for a missing person… and then we found this place. There were ghosts before we got here, and the footsteps by your entrance are suspicious. Is it because of you that the ghosts attacked the village? “

When Judah finished his sentence, the man’s eyes widened before he burst into laughter.

“Haha! That is true. It’s nice to see a smart kid here who gets everything right too! Even though I was possessed when I did whatever you may be speaking of, it’s still me at the end of the day.”

He tapped his finger. At that moment, a ghost was summoned by his side.

“Can you see it?”

The ghost was a black shadow that emitted such a foul aura. It disappeared into the wall with an eerie chuckle. After showing them his power over the ghosts, he laughed and headed into a hallway in front of the room.

“Why did you do that?”

The laughter in Jinmu’s face grew into something dark. Why did he do it?

“Why? …There are many reasons, but you can see it as a necromancer’s miserable decision. I don’t want to talk too much. So make sure you go back the way you came from. I don’t know when the ghosts will take over me again.”

“What happens if they possess you?”

“Well, first of all, they’ll devour you. I don’t know how you came by here, but I believe you came from a village nearby. Maybe they’ll attack another village? It’s terrible beyond terrible. If you were adventurers and not children, I’d even ask you to kill me.”

“You want us to kill you? Can’t you just stop?” Jeanne frowned at the thought of it.

“If that’s the case, I wouldn’t be talking to you like this. I can’t die right now, and I can’t bring my body to its death either. Whoo, I’ve said enough. I’m a person who has a lot to think about. This is useless. Don’t bother me and just get out of here. Oh, if you need anything, you can take things from the mansion. I don’t need to use things anymore. Farewell then.”

He waved his hand, turned his back, and walked down the hall. They heard the man mutter about the good taste of his coffee. Judah looked at him and glanced at his system window. Since he knew the man’s name, he could read his information.

──────────────────────

「Status Window」

[Name: Jinmu]

[Title: Reaper of Battle]

[True Name: Calypso’s Nightmare]

[Level: 78(-38)]

[Occupation: Necromancer (B+)]

[Race: Human]

[Strength: 78(-33) (B) / Potential B]

[Health: 79(-33) (B) / Potential B]

[Agility: 59(-17) (C) / Potential C]

[Magic Power: 92(-37) (S) / Potential S]

[Magic Resistance: 89(-36) (A) / Potential A]

[Charisma: 65(-19) (B) / Potential A]

[Charm: 60(-18) (B) / Potential B] ◀ Special

[Knowledge: 78(-23) (B) / Potential A] ◀ Special

[Luck: 59(-17) (C) / Potential C] ◀ Special

[Favorability: 0 (normal)]

[Reliability: 0 (normal)]

「Talent 7/7」

[Bel-Therja Bell]-Rank: A

[Necromancy]-Rank: B

[Baekje’s Hero]-Rank: B

[One Man Corps]-Rank: B

[Possession]-Rank: A

[Grudge]-Rank: B

「Skill 6/6」

[Black magic-necromancy]-Rank: A

[Black Magic-Magic Circle]-Rank: B

[Positive]-Rank: B

[Horse Boost] -Rank: B

[Imperial Melee Combat Skills-Bala]-Rank: B

[Imperial Swordsmanship-Bala]-B

──────────────────────

His high level was crazy, and it fitted the man well. Judah and Jeanne’s skills had nothing against him. However, those were his stats as himself, not when ghosts possessed him. And due to his deteriorating physical condition, a significant number of his stats were reduced.

‘However, his level is still higher than expected.’

If Judah came to him a little later, time would have reduced Jinmu’s level, and his stats could decrease into something they would be able to fight. However, the Count was still in a diminished state, and Judah thought it was worth trying.

He summoned Altemia in his left hand and threw it at Jinmu’s back. But the Count’s magic power emerged from his body as if expecting the weapon coming at him.

Swoop!

Dark purple energy cascaded over his entire body, blocking Altemia from hitting him. However, his level 70, characteristics, and skills were not entirely enough to stop Altemia. His shield tore as Altemia’s blade struck, scarping his collar before it hit the floor. The Count froze in his tracks while Judah’s lips curled up in anticipation.

“Did I say I’m leaving? If you need someone to kill you, well, I can do just that.”

“…Huh?” The man faced them again. He squeezed his mug tightly before sticking his tongue out.

“Why are you sticking out your tongue?”

“I’m drinking something hot.”

He glanced at Judah, and in a blink, he threw away his mug. Even though it hit the wall and fell to the floor, the mug rolled down the hall without breaking. Whoever made it did a solid job.

“You’re one brave and fearless kid. You’re quite capable. Do you think you’ll be able to kill me, Count Jinmu? I’ve been on the battlefield for 20 years. There will be bloodshed. I am not trying to send you back for no reason!”

“…”

Judah knew. He knew Count Jinmu, a commander of the Baekje Empire, a man who inflicted great damage whenever there was a war against the Byron Empire. The Byron sent out an assassin to kill him. However, the killer failed to assassinate the Count and ended up burning his family and his estate instead. This further fueled the anger he had for the enemy, tormenting the Byron Empire even more on the battlefield.

But Judah couldn’t say that, so he stayed quiet.

“Count… Jinmu?”

“Oh, yes. Your Blue Lancer knows me. What do you think? Can you kill me? Do you have what it takes to vanquish the thousands of ghosts that are tied to my soul?!”

Jeanne swallowed the lump in her throat. She thanked the heavens that she had her helmet on, or else they would see the fear in her eyes. She covered herself with her shield, whispering to Judah.

“Judah, ​​If he’s the real Count Jinmu, we must run while we still can.”

Judah felt that she was trembling, despite her efforts to keep her voice from showing it. She probably heard the stories about the Count because of other Blue Lancers.

“Don’t worry. He’s not as strong as he used to be.”

He whispered back, but Jinmu nodded as if he overheard the conversation. He took off his glasses, took a small cloth out of his pocket, and wiped its lenses.

“Yes. I’m a lot weaker than I used to be. But I’m not weaker than you. I think it’s wise to listen to her. I’m giving you a chance right now. A chance to live. I don’t want to kill anyone right now, especially if they don’t have the skills to kill me.”

“You don’t want to kill?”

There was silence before the Count replied.

“There are things that adventurers, mercenaries, and soldiers have to consider; whether your opponent is stronger or weaker than you, it should tell you when to fight and when to get out.” He put on her glasses again and looked at Judah dead in the eyes, “I’m a good guy, but that’s not enough. Just because you tore through my magic, do you think that’s worth testing me?”

Judah nodded confidently, “Yes. I don’t know what you were like in the past as the great commander and necromancer you once were, but now I see how weak you’ve become.”

Jinmu bowed his head, peering at Judah’s legs. He expected the boy to be trembling in his shoes, but he stayed true to his words. Then Judah stepped out behind Jeanne, threw Altemia at him, and drew his bastard sword from his waist.

“A decent trick…”

Jinmu’s eyes narrowed as he spread his arms open. The purple magic circling him gathered in his hand before spiraling upward, creating a sword.

Clang!

He swung his sword and struck the dagger. It bounced back, but it damaged his magic sword severely. His swing was on perfect timing, and yet the blade did enough damage. There was no reason for the dagger to have such power. No, there was one way. There must be a reason why his dagger managed to stand against him.

“What a great weapon that is…”

He used magic to restore the form of his sword, staring at the dagger lodged on the floor. Then he glanced back at his opponents, jumping backward as Jeanne charged at him. She spurred the ground before thrusting her lance at him.

Quaang!

A loud ring buzzed through his entire body as its shockwave shattered the bricks of the hallway, sending debris flying into the air. Jeanne pulled out her lance from the ground then rushed straight to Jinmu with her shield.

“The reason a Blue Lancer is scary is because of their defense and speed. If I tied your feet, you are nothing!”

Jinmu shouted, generating magic. Black figures stood up from the floor, grabbing Jeanne by her feet.

“!”

Jeanne tried to lift her feet as the foul creatures broke through the cracks of her iron shoes. She didn’t budge as if a rope bounded her legs.

────!

As evil laughter echoed through the hallway, ghosts began to appear through the walls, ceiling, and floor. In a blink, Judah threw a dagger at Jinmu and the spirits on the wall. The Count avoided the dagger coming at him as he held his sword tightly. The ghosts, on the other hand, screamed as the blade extinguished their existence. Jinmu’s eyes widened in curiosity, watching Altemia as it absorbed the spirits.

“Hoh? What? It’s no ordinary weapon! Absorbing a ghost—No, is it absorbing life? That’s amazing.”

He underestimated the Altemia as nothing but an object of mere magic. Judah smiled to see the Count with his guard down. This was his chance. While the Count stayed bewildered, Judah had to finish the fight while he could.

He triggered Altemia’s skill. Rather than activating -One in Ten Altemia-, he activated the same skill he used when his dagger was buried in the mud earlier.

“What?”

With his years of experience on the battlefield, Jinmu felt a shift in power. He saw an aura of blood flowing out of Altemia, rising out like thorns. Then he found himself lifted in the air by something piercing through his back, leaving him no chance to react.

“What… is this?!”

Altemia began to suck up his life force. His hands clamored to grapple on whatever had struck him. When Judah tried to activate the other daggers stuck around them, a black figure began to emerge from his body.

“AAAAAAHHHH—“

He screamed. The black figures in his bodies freed him from Altemia’s grasp.

Judah tried to activate the skills of the rest of the daggers, but the ghosts coming from the Count blocked the attacks. Then slowly, countless spirits continued to emerge from his body.

─────!!!

With an ear-piercing screech, the ghosts came down at Judah and Jeanne. Judah summoned Altemia quickly and threw it in front of him, triggering -Liberation- for the first time. Sacrificing 5% of his stamina, drops of blood spew out from Altemia’s blade, whirring around the dagger like a whirlwind. The ghosts that fell into its sharp edges looked like fruits shredded inside a blender.

Hundreds of ghosts burst into pieces, filling the hallway with their remains. Judah’s stamina began to decrease further, but as Altemia absorbed the remains of the spirits, he recovered in an instant.

Despite killing countless spirits, the ghosts Jinmu used as his limbs continued to surge. He could continue using Liberation, but not before freeing Jeanne from the ghost that held her hostage. Then he looked back up to observe the situation.

The ghosts chattered while wandering around Jinmu’s body.

-Look at him. Do you think he can handle them without our help?

-Wouldn’t the dead find it unfair to suffer and die again, but by the hands of a mere child? Oh, of course, that includes me too.

-You know what? You’ve been on the battlefield for a very long time… Don’t tell me you’re about to die now? Or do you wish to die on purpose? So you can rest? Oh, you can’t. You’re in trouble. You don’t think we’re just simply let your soul go, right?

Jinmu looked at Judah with bloodshot eyes, ignoring the voices of the ghosts around him.

“Damn it, kid, run! If you don’t want to die, go away! Run… this instant!”

One of the ghosts whispered in his ear, putting his hand on Jinmu’s shoulder.

-Wow! That’s so cool. Why the hell are you thinking about letting him go? Don’t let him get to you. Do you remember your son in him? Well. If you think about it, the villagers and the adventurers of the villages we attacked saved the boys at the same age as your son. Unfortunately for them, we still chased and killed them. Hahaha!

“You’re all too loud. I am your owner. I’m the one who controls you! Don’t you dare go against my word!”

-Oh. Did you forget that everything changed a long time ago? There was a time where you controlled us. But now…

The ghosts that spoke to Jinmu rushed straight into his body. The Count staggered as he cackled, and then he froze. Slowly, he lifted his head, a smirk forming on his lips.

“Now, we control you.”

From Jinmu’s mouth, the sound of a hundred voices thundered all at once.