Suspected Necromancer

Chapter 11 – Khan, the Necromancer

At the bottom of the pitch-black staircase, a large underground chamber unfolded before them.
The space was bathed in an eerie bluish-white magical light.
In the center, something resembling an altar was set up, and upon it lay Luna.
Blood was visibly flowing from Luna’s neck.
Standing beside her was a man with gray hair, probably Khan.
Khan turned and looked at Rato and the others curiously.

“Why have you come here? Could it be that you defeated the Grim Reapers?”

His tone displayed no particular surprise; it was calm, flat even.
However, blood dripped from the corner of Khan’s mouth.

“You! What have you done to Luna?!”

Rato, his voice filled with fury, raised his sword against Khan.

“She has nothing to do with you. Luna is just a product I purchased.”

As emotionless as before, Khan replied.

“Can there be any justifiable reason to use money to play with a person’s life?!”

“Reason is something people arbitrarily determine for themselves. It’s not the objective truth.”

“You…”

Rato was frustrated he couldn’t understand what Khan was going on about.

“Rato-sama,”

Luciana whispered from behind.

“Now that Khan has become an Immortal King, we should retreat. Our chances aren’t good…”

Luciana calmly evaluated that they did not have high hopes of defeating an Immortal King.

“I will kill him here. You guys can go back if you want.”

Rato answered without breaking eye contact with Khan.

“I’ll help too.”

Killian also drew his sword.

“Luna-sama was a friend of mine as well.”

“Haaa, it can’t be helped.”

Luciana sighed and gripped her staff again.

“Even if the master is foolish, it’s the duty of those below to follow.”

“…I don’t know why all of you are so angry. This is my mansion, and I was merely conducting a ritual. I’m not causing trouble for anyone. Will you leave?”

Towards Rato and the others who were brimming with hostility, Khan spoke as if he were admonishing a child.

“I have many reasons to cut you down here, so many it’s irritating. One of which is that necromancy is taboo. I’m sure you know that too. So prepare to face your judgement, delivered by my blade.”

While speaking, Rato closed in on Khan.

“Taboo… that’s also something people decided arbitrarily. Human lifespans are insufficient to completely master magic. Hence, I’ve decided to acquire eternity. That’s all there is to it.”

Seeing Rato approach, Khan quietly started an incantation.

“Like I’d let you finish that!”

Rato quickly closed the distance, aiming the tip of his sword at Khan’s throat.
With a minimal movements, Khan evaded it and kicked Rato’s chest.

“What!?”

Even though he was wearing armor, the powerful blow sent Rato flying backwards.

“…You’re quite skilled for your age.”

Feeling the area where he was kicked, Rato openly grumbled in defeat.

“Whether he’s an Immortal King or a vampire, both his physical and magical capabilities should have improved significantly! Be careful!”

Luciana shouted.
In response, Khan cast a spell he had prepared against Luciana.
His fingertips were illuminated with magical light, which turned into a thunderbolt that struck Luciana.
Luciana swung her staff and deployed a barrier, but the thunderbolt easily pierced through it, dealing some damage to her.

“Ugh…”

Luciana’s expression twisted in pain.

“Sister!”

Killian hurled a bottle of holy water at Khan.
Even Khan couldn’t avoid all of the water, so he got a little wet.
The damp skin where the holy water hit became irritated and turned red.

“Hmmm. So, in the state of undeath, you exhibit an adverse reaction to holy water, regardless of faith.”

Khan observed his own reddened skin with an air of detachment.
At that moment, Rato and Killian simultaneously attacked.
Khan deftly sidestepped their swords as if he were an elegant dancer.

“You monster!”

Despite his unwavering confidence in his swordsmanship, Rato was shocked that his sword couldn’t even touch an unarmed opponent.
Furthermore, Khan could block his strikes with his bare hands and counter with considerable power.
While Rato’s armor reduced the amount of damage he was taking, Khan seemed to have infinite stamina.
Though Killian threw holy water several times, it wasn’t proving to be particularly effective.
Luciana was casting spells, but due to Khan’s vampiric magic resistance, they had no effect whatsoever.
Moreover, if they didn’t initiate attacks, they would give Khan time to cast his own spells, so they had no choice but to keep up the aggression. It was evident that if they continued like this, their energy would be depleted before his, leading to their defeat.

“Perhaps it would have been better to leave after all…”

Luciana inadvertently whispered.

“I wouldn’t mind if you left now. I have no interest in you.”

Khan replied, displaying a generous attitude.

“Underestimating us, huh…”

Although Rato defiantly said that, his face was deeply fatigued. Killian was also having trouble catching his breath.
Khan hadn’t changed his expression from the start, and his victory seemed imminent.

However, when a momentary silence fell upon the underground chamber, Luna on the altar moved slightly, letting out a faint sound.

“No way… Is she alive?”

Rato’s eyes widened. Both Luciana and Killian were surprised as well.
However, Luna immediately stopped moving.
Upon confirming this, Rato glared at Khan.

“Are you not yet an Immortal King?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Khan admitted it as if it were nothing.

“…Why?”

“It’s not something that concerns you.”

“I see… You’re right.”

Rato exhaled slowly.

“Luciana, bring out the mirror.”

“Understood.”

Saying that, Luciana took out a mirror about the size of a human head.

“That’s…”

For the first time, Khan’s expression changed.
The ‘Mirror of the Sun’ is a well-known magic artifact. It could store sunlight during the day and imitate the sun’s radiance at night. It had long been used as a tool to combat vampires.

“Why do you have that?”

The ‘Mirror of the Sun’ was crafted by the Asura and is an artifact that can no longer be created. Moreover, it was often used to symbolize royal authority since it could reproduce the sun’s light at night. It was an incredibly rare magic artifact.

“It’s not something you need to concern yourself with. Luciana, do it.”

And with that, Luciana infused magic into the ‘Mirror of the Sun’ to activate it.
Sunlight began to burst forth from the mirror, emitting an intense light that illuminated the entire underground chamber.
Khan quickly shielded his face with his arms, but smoke began to rise from the parts of his body directly exposed to the light.

“Ngh…”

The hand Khan used to shield his face cracked in an instant, and his skin started to flake away.
Even if he wanted to escape, Khan was immobilized, unable to move.
Rato approached Khan in a low stance, then thrust his sword into Khan’s heart.

“Gah…”

A large amount of blood spilled from Khan’s mouth, and he slowly fell to the ground.

“Enough.”

Rato ordered Luciana to put the mirror away.

“Rato-sama, what if Khan is still alive?”

Luciana voiced her concern.

“It doesn’t matter. He can’t move anymore, and his time is limited. He’s done for.”

After hearing that, Luciana stowed the mirror back within her robe.
Rato then slowly walked towards Luna.

“Wake up, Luna. Open your eyes.”

Rato shook Luna’s body roughly.

“…Mmmm.”

After being jolted awake so intensely, Luna frowned as she opened her eyes. She placed her hand on her neck as if it hurt.

“…Why is Rato here?”

Even though she was still groggy, Luna recognized Rato.

“Do you remember what happened to you?”

“Huh? I think my master… Oh?”

Seeing the blood on her hand, Luna recalled what had happened just before losing consciousness.

“My master bit me!”

Her awareness returned in an instant, and Luna screamed.

“…Where’s my master?”

“He’s over there, on the ground.”

Rato pointed at the fallen Khan.

“Why?”

“He had turned into a vampire. We defeated him.”

Rato answered matter-of-factly.

“Why did my master become a vampire?”

Luna was dumbfounded.

“Ask him yourself. There’s still time.”

Rato lifted Luna off the altar and slowly brought her closer to the fallen vampire.
Luna got down from Rato’s arms and leaned on his shoulder.

“Master… why did you do it?”