Chapter 45: Declaring Failure
"Hmph, you're quite cautious." The cold senior snorted impatiently, rolling her eyes. "Because you're cheap. The one next door might cost me two corpses to deal with."
So, he was the cheaper option.
Saul glanced at the other two first-level apprentice corpses. It seemed she was already making her pick.
"Hurry up, stop dawdling," the cold senior urged.
Saul had no choice but to grip the soft leather mask and walk toward the corner.
Just as he was about to step into the magic circle, a rustling sound froze him in place.
The hard-covered book enlarged and flew in front of him, flipping open.
Mocking words emerged once more.
Lunar Calendar Year 314, July 11
What a great day! Knowing you lack materials, someone kindly delivers a corpse to you.
You obediently put on the "Pure Maiden's Absolute Domain," sit honestly in the magic circle, and carefully observe the three corpses.
Huh? Why can't you see the evil spirit? You turn your head—are you seeing things? Why is the evil spirit on Peggy?
Oh ho ho ho... No, you really are seeing things. That cleanliness-obsessed evil spirit is obviously on you!
Tonight, Peggy will write in the mission log: "Three first-level apprentice corpses handled today."
Saul knew it—good fortune never came without a price!
Anyone preaching effortless, high-profit opportunities was a fraud!
Don’t fall for small gains, don’t get scammed!
Saul decisively chose to refuse and abandon the assistance.
The words on the diary reappeared. Saul took one look and nearly lost his mind.
Damn it. This time, the senior had no intention of playing nice—she would kill him outright.
"What are you hesitating for? Get in there!" Peggy's voice behind him was laced with impatience.
Saul slowly turned around, his face twisted into a forced smile.
"Senior, I think one first-level apprentice corpse isn’t quite enough."
Peggy’s eyes widened in disbelief. "You want two?"
"No, no, I'm not that greedy. It's just that I've been doing experiments lately and need a few materials."
He began listing ingredients while his brain worked at full speed to devise a plan.
Destroy the magic circle?
No good. The hard-covered book mocked his intelligence and warned him he'd die under the combined assault of Peggy and the evil spirit.
He considered two more strategies, both instantly dismissed by the book.
"What kind of nonsense is that? Where am I supposed to get these materials?" Peggy scowled.
Saul forced a bitter smile, continuing to stall.
"You're in a hurry, aren't you, senior? I think today your mission log should say: 'Handled one first-level apprentice corpse.' Right?"
Peggy narrowed her eyes.
"You're smart. That’s right. I'll hide the second-level apprentice's corpse. If you report me later, I have plenty of ways to kill you."
She reached into her robe and tossed a bulging silver pouch into Saul’s hands.
Saul caught it. The pouch jingled—it was filled with magic crystals!
"These are enough to buy ten sets of those materials you just listed. Now get in there! If you keep wasting time, I'll break your legs and throw you in myself."
"Thank you, Senior."
Saul tucked the money bag into his robe, took the mask, and stepped into the magic circle, sitting down obediently.
"Put on the mask!" Peggy urged again, her voice laced with killing intent.
"Alright, just making sure it’s facing the right way."
Saul flipped the mask over in his hands while discreetly prying open a tiny vial with his fingernail.
This was his last-minute gamble—and the hard-covered book had not ridiculed his death scenario this time.
"Pure Maiden's Absolute Domain," "Cleanliness-obsessed Evil Spirit"… These words reminded him of the vial he had tucked away—"Elemental Fairy’s Ultimate Filth."
With the evil spirit and Peggy both far beyond his strength, Saul could only bet on the escape route the book had hinted at.
As he flipped the mask, he poured a generous amount of the potion onto it.
When he finally donned the mask, a faintly fishy scent rushed into his nose.
The mask seemed sticky, adhering tightly to his face.
"I've contaminated this so-called Absolute Domain. If you really have cleanliness issues, then stay the hell away from me!"
On the other side.
Peggy was about to lose her temper. That damn rookie apprentice had finally sat down in the magic circle she had drawn.
Of course, the circle Saul sat in was useless—the real focus was the mask on his face.
Peggy grimaced, enduring the friction-induced soreness between her thighs as she stepped into the candlelit center.
She shrugged off her loose robe, revealing a nightgown-like dress and fair-skinned legs.
She kicked off her boots, exposing equally pale feet.
Her skin was as delicate as the mask Saul was wearing.
"Keep an eye on those three corpses. The moment you see black smoke rising from one of them, tell me immediately! The evil spirit moves quickly—I must confirm its location at once."
"Understood."
"Begin."
Peggy raised both hands, each forming different, rapid gestures.
At the same time, she chanted inaudible incantations.
The candles on the floor suddenly flared up.
On the ceiling, walls, and floor, the magic symbols squirmed like living worms.
Only the magic circle surrounding Saul remained motionless.
Saul dutifully observed the three corpses.
The room’s changes grew more intense.
The candle flames stretched a meter high, writhing as if they were burning human figures. Faint screams reached Saul’s ears.
The black markings on the floor split and reformed like stick figures dancing around a bonfire.
For a moment, Saul felt as if those stick figures had actually stood up, twisting their flat bodies in celebration of their newfound existence.
"Quick! Tell me! Where is the evil spirit?" Peggy’s sharp voice shattered his trance.
Saul shifted his gaze and locked onto Peggy.
"It's on you, Senior," he said coldly.
Peggy froze, then snapped her head around. Her face was covered in writhing black strands, making her look like a demon.
"Look again!"
In Saul’s eyes, the black strands withdrew from Peggy’s skin, rapidly forming a twisted, sinister face.
Its hollow eyes and gaping mouth were equally large. As soon as it materialized, it lunged at Saul.
Its mouth stretched wide, black drool dripping onto the floor.
Boom!
Saul jerked backward as if something had rushed into his body. A wave of dizziness and icy coldness emanated from the mask.
But before he could react, the sensation vanished as if a hand had touched a burning-hot stove and recoiled instantly.
Forcing his stinging eyes open, Saul saw the black evil spirit retreating into Peggy’s body, its face contorted in agony.
"AHHHHH!" Peggy screamed in horror. "How can this be!?"
The black face merged with Peggy’s, and her voice turned hoarse and grating.
"Filth! So filthy! So filthy!!!" Peggy's body convulsed as she gagged, spewing out black, viscous liquid.
"How could there be something this disgusting!? You wretched woman, you lied to me! That wasn’t a pure maiden at all—it was a filthy man!!!"
"Get out, you perverted evil spirit!" Peggy fought desperately against the possession.
The two souls battled within her body.
In the corner, Saul yanked the mask off his face, gasping for breath.
He wasn’t trying to prove his purity—he just couldn't stand the stench.
The mask, tainted by the evil spirit’s brief possession, now reeked so horribly that even someone accustomed to corpse stench couldn't bear it.
Every second wearing it made him want to die.
Amid the chaos, the hard-covered book popped open.
Lunar Calendar Year 314, July 11, Clear Skies
What a fascinating reaction!
A fresh maiden's skin, a drop of elemental fairy filth, and a cleanliness-obsessed cursed spirit... together, they have forged a Necromancer’s Terror Mask!
Ugh!
But first, you need to get rid of that awful stench.
Comments
Post a Comment