The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 353 An Encounter with a Wandering Ghost

Luo Yan's carriage did not enter the stone fortress ruled by the knight lord in Eagle Rock Territory. Instead, as usual, it found a secluded corner in the more expansive and chaotic traveler camp on the outskirts of the city to set up camp.

"Rock and Soil, obey my command... If anyone you don't know comes in, teach them a lesson." Luo Yan waved his wand and wove a spell.

Two clay golems, each about half a person tall, quickly rose from the muddy ground.

They looked like gray snowmen, bowed slightly to their owner, and then stood on either side of the tent entrance like loyal guards.

While the elemental golems are not as useful as the stone golems of the Earth Soul tribe, they are extremely convenient for executing these simple commands.

Those who had recently awakened their magical potential looked on with envy and whispered among themselves to their companions.

"This big shot should be a bronze-level player."

"Bronze?! Judging by that skillful chanting and the perception of the elements, I'd say it's at least steel-grade!"

"You know nothing! A mage who can travel alone in the wilderness must be at least a silver-ranked mage!"

"Nonsense, then what is he doing at Xuebang?"

The argument grew increasingly heated, leaving Luo Yan, who overheard it, speechless. Meanwhile, Taf, oblivious to everything, made two "poof" sounds until her tail was "accidentally" stepped on.

After setting up camp, Luo Yan led Sarah and Tauf out of the tent area and went to the market at the traveler's camp.

This time, he again did not disturb the local lord, but instead strolled through the market as a traveler with his cat and dragon.

Compared to dealing with a vain country nobleman, the vibrant scene before him was far more interesting to him.

Hundreds of tents spread out like mushrooms across the muddy snow, some simple, some luxurious, some dilapidated, some brand new, and so on.

The air was filled with the smell of damp firewood burning, the sour smell of cheap beer, the smoky aroma of roasted meat, and the sweat of the crowd.

The main body of this camp consists of hundreds and thousands of young, anxious faces.

They gathered in small groups around the campfire, some engrossed in reading yellowed books, others making clumsy spell-casting gestures in the air while muttering incantations. A peculiar, almost fanatical academic atmosphere permeated this chaotic camp, occasionally punctuated by one or two incidents that spiraled out of control.

It is extremely difficult to complete a spell without guidance, as his little players have proven long ago... The threshold for becoming a mage is much higher than that for a warrior.

This is why vendors in the market sell potions that are "supposedly" leftover from the mages of the Academy, which can stimulate the magical elements within the body.

As for whether it's actually effective... who knows?
Comfort therapy is also a form of therapy, and the premise of calling upon extraordinary power is believing that one possesses this power beyond that of ordinary people.

If it really can't be activated, then it means that you don't have the talent, and obviously you can't blame it on the potion not working.

Luo Yan, accompanied by Taf and Sarah, strolled leisurely through the bustling area, his gaze soon drawn to a peddler selling miscellaneous items.

On the man's stall were several "lucky charms" that didn't look very reliable, a few colorful "magic ores," and rolls of parchment sealed with wax.

Luo Yan casually picked up a scroll and asked the shrewd-eyed vendor, "It's very lively here, is there some kind of celebration?"

"A celebration? Oh no, sir, this is much more important than a celebration!" The vendor immediately put on a smile upon seeing Luo Yan's attire and began to enthusiastically introduce the event. "Is this your first time here? This is the start of the Academy's annual winter 'Apprentice Recruitment'! I'm not exaggerating at all; this is a top priority for young people in the Kingdom of Rhodes! In fact, it's not just the Kingdom of Rhodes; young people from many other places, such as the Kingdom of Ryan, also come here to try their luck!"

At this point, he lowered his voice and continued mysteriously.

"In a few days, the masters of the thirteen mage towers in the Academy will send envoys to the border. They will organize examinations and personally interview qualified apprentices. The lucky ones selected will be personally led by the mage masters to cross the desolate swamps that mortals cannot cross, and go to the tower to learn true magic!"

"That sounds interesting," Luo Yan said with a smile.

"Of course!" The vendor's eyes gleamed with envy, wishing he could be among those young people. "For the young men of the continent of Os, this is the only chance to change their fate besides becoming a knight! And this path is much smoother than that of a knight, although it's also much more difficult. It's said that becoming a mage depends entirely on talent! Every year, hundreds or even thousands of people come here to try their luck, and in the end, only one in a hundred can pass the mage's test!"

Luo Yan nodded and picked up another scroll.

"I see. Then what are these...?"

"Essential for beginners, sir!" the vendor immediately began promoting. "'Cleansing' scrolls will keep you looking presentable even in the mud! 'Light' scrolls will be your guiding light when you're stuck in the wilderness! These are genuine products from the Academy, only 10 silver coins each!"

Luo Yan smiled, tossed down a gold coin, and amidst the vendor's delighted gaze, waved his hand to pocket the ten scrolls that were useless to him, considering it payment for the information.

Leaving the peddler selling scrolls, he led the two onward, and the scenery in the camp became increasingly bizarre and fantastical.

Besides the "scholars" who buried themselves in their studies, there were also some ladies dressed in flamboyant attire.

They wore heavy cashmere coats and heavy makeup to conceal their nasolabial folds; their brightly colored clothes were vaguely visible beneath the wool... clearly not proper clothing.

These girls leaned against the tent entrances, their bold and passionate gazes making some of the naive young men from the countryside blush and feel awkward. Occasionally, groups of them would slip into the tents, and soon the lights inside would be turned off.

Taf peered curiously out of the cloak, finding it all very novel; she had never seen anything like it before, back on the continent of Gana.

It seems that the Zeta Empire does not have this ancient profession.

Just then, a hand suddenly covered her eyes and, ignoring her protests, shoved her back under the cloak.

Sarah was the one who made the move.

Her cheeks flushed bright red, so much so that even the inside of her black-fuzzy cat ears turned a lovely pink.

She pressed one hand against Taf's head, while the other hand nervously shielded Luo Yan, as if afraid that her master would see something unclean.

"Your Highness, please don't look over there... They will pollute your eyes." Sarah's voice was barely audible, and her words were disjointed.

Seeing her serious expression, as if facing a formidable enemy, Luo Yan couldn't help but smile.

For him, the demon king of the labyrinth, the seven emotions and six desires of the human world were nothing more than the most mundane scenery in the palm of his hand.

What hasn't he seen?
“A few pitiful people are not enough to offend my eyes. Let go of Tauf, we are leaving.”

“Yes…” Sarah blushed and withdrew her hand amidst Taff’s incessant dragon roars.

……

The "Adventurer's House" on the edge of the camp is the only decent tavern in the area.

Luo Yan and his group walked through the noisy crowd and found a relatively clean table in a corner to sit down, where they ordered a plate of the most famous roasted lamb chops in the area.

Sarah took out a towel and carefully wiped the table again until a layer of the glossy wood was peeled off.

Luo Yan smiled and did not stop him.

He knew Sarah did it for him, although he wasn't actually that particular. As for the time in the Holy City, it was just to maintain the persona of Prince Colin.

When the sizzling, spiced lamb chops were served, even Sarah, who had never shown much interest in Imperial food, couldn't help but take a second look, while Taff was already secretly swallowing her saliva under her cloak.

"Eat it while it's hot, otherwise it won't be as fragrant if the oil solidifies."

Seeing the reserved cat and dragon, Luo Yan took the initiative, slowly cutting off a piece of mutton, and casually inquired about the details of the apprentice recruitment from the waiter next to him.

Just as the waiter, holding the tip, looked bewildered and at a loss, a slightly nervous but sincere voice came from beside him.

"Hello, sir, is this seat taken?"

Luo Yan looked up and saw a young man whose face was roughened by the ravages of time, but whose eyes were still clear.

Not far behind him stood three young companions, two gentlemen and one lady, who were nervously looking in their direction.

After slowly and carefully swallowing the crispy, fragrant mutton, Luo Yan replied succinctly.

"no one."

"Great!"

The young man breathed a sigh of relief. He pulled over a stool, but instead of sitting down, he bowed politely. “My name is Phoenix. We’re also here to take the apprenticeship exam. Seeing that you’re all alone and inquiring about recruitment, we took the liberty of asking you… If you don’t mind, we can travel together, so we can look after each other on the way.”

Luo Yan sized him up and calmly introduced himself as someone who was traveling abroad.

"Colin."

Seeing that he did not refuse, Phoenix became bolder.

He could tell that this "Mr. Colin" had an elegant demeanor and exceptional manners, and was especially distinguished by the presence of a capable maidservant, clearly indicating that he was either rich or noble.

If you can befriend such a person before the assessment, even if you are not ultimately selected, it will still be a rare and valuable connection.

“Mr. Colin, please allow me to introduce my companions,” Phoenix said warmly as he stood up and introduced his companions. “That burly man is Barrett, the blacksmith’s son; the one with the bow is Leo, the hunter; and that lady is Ilara, the merchant’s daughter. We all met on the road.”

He continued, "It's quite a coincidence that we just finished learning about the registration process yesterday and are preparing to go to the registration office at the border tomorrow. If you'd like, we can guide you."

"Then I'll have to trouble you." Luo Yan nodded, gladly accepting the offer, and then chatted with the candidate who had been preparing for a long time about Xuebang.

When the topic of the Academy came up, Phoenix's eyes lit up, and he recounted the Academy's thirteen core mage towers and their corresponding schools of thought in great detail.

"The Academy has hundreds of mage towers, but only thirteen are the core, each corresponding to one of the thirteen mainstream magic schools of the Empire! Among them, the Tower of the Great Sage, which studies 'Source Power,' is the most important! The other twelve are the towers of the Soul, Holy Power, Element, Protection, Enchantment, Illusion, Summoning, Transfiguration, Life, Spirit, Law, and Astrology schools!"

It was impressive that he could memorize all twelve words. Luo Yan looked at him in surprise and suddenly felt that it was a bit hasty to go to the exam unprepared.

These guys have all memorized them!
However, things will work themselves out. The important thing about exams is participation, and besides, he had Earl Sylphine's letter of recommendation in his storage ring.

For the sake of the empire, Xuebang would never allow him to fail the exam.

"I'm very curious... what is that source of power?"

"It is the origin of matter! It is also the Holy Grail of the current magical world!" Looking at Mr. Colin's curious face, Phoenix continued with bright eyes, "The mages of the Academy believe that all magical phenomena originate from a cosmic fundamental energy that transcends elements, light and darkness, and the source of the universe comes from a place called the Void Realm."

It sounds a bit like the "ether" theory.

Hell also has similar doctrines, but they are more academic and have relatively weak practical value. After all, if you're looking for pure destructive power, fire is undoubtedly the most direct. Not to mention that it's an abstract substance, even other elements are somewhat weak in terms of destructive power.

Seeing Mr. Colin deep in thought, Phoenix continued with anticipation.

"By the way, Mr. Colin, have you decided which mage tower you want to apply to? I'm planning to apply to the Tower of the Great Sage. I've heard that it has the richest educational and material resources of all the mage towers!"

"I...I'm still thinking about it."

Luo Yan wiped his mouth with a napkin, pondered for a moment, and then said slowly in a matter-of-fact tone, "But from what you've said, the Tower of the Holy Energy School is more in line with my mysterious temperament."

Taff, huddled in her cloak, couldn't help but snort.

mystery?

More like a charlatan!

Unlike the contempt she held for Taff, Colin's words surprised Phoenix, who was then filled with respect.

The Holy Power School is a school of thought that studies the connection between sacred prayers and faith, and it is also the branch of magic most closely associated with the Imperial Church!
Those who choose that place are all devout believers in the Holy Light and of noble character, for those with impure intentions cannot receive the blessings of Saint Sith.

"I see!" Phoenix exclaimed sincerely. "Mr. Colin does indeed have a reassuring aura! No wonder you made this choice!"

Tauf wanted to keep laughing, but Sarah's boots gently stepped on her tail, so she could only keep her face up and shrink into her cloak without making a sound.

At this moment, Phoenix seemed to have made up his mind. He took out a slightly crumpled wanted poster from his pocket and laid it flat on the table.

He had already given up on the commission, since his and his companions' journey had almost come to an end here.

While adventurers are only earning tuition and travel expenses, they don't make a living like those adventurers who live near the labyrinth. They have to make trade-offs between risk and reward.

“…Mr. Colin, since you are devoted to the Holy Light, you might be interested in this matter.”

He pointed to the words on the bounty poster and tentatively said, "This is a commission we accepted when we passed by the Adventurers' Guild. Pompeii Village in Eagle Rock Territory was attacked by a necromancer, and the local miller has issued a bounty of fifty silver coins. If you are willing to accompany us, we can give you thirty coins after the mission is accomplished. It's not much, but it's a small token of our appreciation."

Luo Yan's gaze fell on the bounty poster. His indifferent eyes showed little interest, but a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

To be honest, he had never seen a "wild" necromancer in this world, although his players "claimed" to have encountered one a few times.

The undead system of Hell was formed under strict laws and ancient traditions, and the birth of every lich has a traceable origin. These "fallen ones," who broke away from Hell's system of traditions and evolved on the surface on their own, were undoubtedly an excellent research sample, or rather, a point of interest for him.

As for the reward of thirty silver coins, he ignored it.

Luo Yan pondered for a moment, then looked up and met Phoenix's expectant gaze, speaking gently.

"Okay, I'll join."

Seeing Luo Yan readily agree, the four of them couldn't hide their joy.

For this fledgling "rookie" team, having a seemingly unfathomable expert join them was undoubtedly a huge insurance policy for this dangerous mission.

"That's great, Mr. Colin!" Phoenix rubbed his hands together excitedly. "Then we..."

"No rush." ​​Luo Yan raised his hand and smiled, gesturing for him to sit down. "Eat first. Only when you're full will you have the strength to face the dead."

He pushed the fragrant plate of roasted lamb chops to the center of the table and ordered four more of the same dishes and several hot drinks from the bartender.

This generous gesture made the four penniless young people extremely grateful.

They thanked them politely and then wolfed down what was perhaps their most sumptuous dinner in months.

Over the course of a meal, the group grew much closer. Sarah, however, remained silent throughout the conversation, simply waiting quietly beside Luo Yan.

As for Taphthong, she is a dragon who cannot speak in front of people because of her master's orders; she can only focus on the food on her plate.

The four adventurers were seeing a legendary species for the first time, never expecting that a dragon's cub could be kept as a pet!

Recalling the legend of the dragon protecting its calf, they looked at Colin with even greater admiration, and his tall figure suddenly became unfathomable.

After the meal, as dusk approached, they left the noisy camp together without delay and headed towards the location of their mission—Pompeii Village.

Pompeii is not far from the traveler's camp, but the scenery is quite different.

Several hundred families live here. The village roads are muddy and most of the houses are dilapidated, clearly indicating that the lord of this place is not good at managing his territory.

Especially after the undead attack, the villagers kept their doors and windows tightly shut, and only militiamen carrying spears patrolled the roads.

The entire village was shrouded in an atmosphere of fear, and the thick oppression made Ira, who was acting as a supporter, feel weak in the knees.

Not only her, but the blacksmith's son was the same, his eyes warily scanning his surroundings, his hand always unconsciously reaching for the warhammer behind his back.

Luo Yan observed them carefully. They probably hadn't taken on any particularly difficult missions along the way, otherwise they definitely wouldn't have survived to this point.

Although he hadn't been an adventurer for long, he knew one thing well... who would go looking for trouble with the undead at night?

After making a few inquiries in the village, they quickly found the client, since the entire village only had one mill, located on the southern hills.

This mill is the only decent stone building in the village, with its towering blades resembling sails. The miller is also the richest man in the village, having built a two-story villa next to the mill.

However, the owner of this mill was far from the dignity of a rich man; his sunken eyes made him look more like a ghost than a skeleton, and his face was full of haggardness.

Upon seeing Phoenix and the others, he grasped at a lifeline and rushed out to greet them without even putting on his shoes.

"Adventurers! You've finally arrived!"

The middle-aged man fell in the snow, then hurriedly got up.

Phoenix stepped forward to support him and said in a deep voice, "We've taken your case. Could you tell us more about the situation? Where did your child go missing?"

"Yes...yes, they were kidnapped!"

The miller's voice trembled with fear, "Just last night! Those...those monsters rushed out of the forest, they broke down my door, and I...I watched helplessly as my son was dragged into the darkness by a skeleton..."

"Didn't you ask Sir Richter for help?" Illara couldn't help but ask, her clear eyes filled with dissatisfaction with the world.

When the lord was mentioned, the miller's face showed not only sadness, but also a mixture of despair and resentment.

"Please! I ran to Eagle Rock Fortress right away, but the master wouldn't see me. His servant said he was waiting for Prince Krankel, that he found me annoying, and that such matters should be handled by you adventurers!"

As he spoke, he had just stood up when he suddenly knelt down on the ground, almost sobbing uncontrollably as he pleaded, "I only have one son! Please, please help me find him! I'm willing to give you all my savings!"

Luo Yan's expression was somewhat subtle. Could that Prince Krankel be referring to him?

“You don’t have to give up all your savings. We’ll only take the fifty we’re owed… As for whether he’s still alive, we can’t guarantee it, but we’ll do our best.” Phoenix said in a deep voice, helping the middle-aged man, who had been drained of all his strength, up from the ground again.

Just then, a sickeningly loud sound of bones grinding together suddenly came from the direction of the village entrance, accompanied by several shrill barks of dogs.

Not long after, the bell rang, and the militia began to assemble.

"They...they're back again!" The miller was terrified.

Luo Yan noticed that the militia's combat effectiveness was really worrying; the team of less than fifty people couldn't even muster five muskets.

Before long, the village fence was toppled, and one wave of evil undead chased after the defeated militia, while another wave rushed toward the mill.

Phoenix's expression changed, and he immediately drew his longsword from his waist, shouting at his companions.

"Get ready to fight!"

A dozen or so undead creatures, pieced together from animal skeletons, staggered from the village entrance, their empty eye sockets burning with a ghastly green flame, heading straight for the mill, as if something there was drawing them there.

Taf, always eager for drama, looked on excitedly, though it was unclear which side she was secretly cheering for. Sarah glanced at Luo Yan, who gestured for her not to intervene, then revealed his wand from beneath his sleeve and mouthed—

"Leave it to me."

Although Luo Yan didn't consider himself a kind person and never hesitated to take action when necessary, he still found the massacre of unarmed villagers despicable.

This behavior brings nothing but death, and no one benefits from it.

Those skeletons heading straight for the mill were deliberately lured there by him.

Sarah understood immediately and didn't ask the Demon King why he did this; she simply stood silently beside him.

Phoenix drew his sword first and shouted.

"Barrett, push up!"

"give it to me!"

Barrett, the blacksmith's son, roared and swung his heavy warhammer, standing like a wall as he faced the foremost undead bear.

The hunter Leo quickly found a high vantage point, drew his bow, and aimed a precise arrow at the eye socket of another undead wolf. Ilara nervously retreated to the back, chanting incoherent incantations as if trying to cast a weak protective spell on her companion.

"Tangled!"

Phoenix gritted his teeth and activated the power of the magic pendant, channeling a faint affinity with nature. Several vines sprouted from the ground and wrapped around the ankle of a skeleton soldier.

The four young people worked together seamlessly, but these undead creatures were tireless and fearless, and they quickly found themselves at a disadvantage.

Especially after dark—

The moon is out.

Under the moonlight, these spirits seemed to be on drugs, their previously sluggish movements suddenly becoming sharp and swift.

Just as Barrett was about to be struck by the undead bear's claws, Luo Yan, who had been observing from behind, finally made a symbolic move.

He casually raised one hand, and above his storage ring, a fist-sized, dark red fireball quietly condensed.

This is the most basic Black Iron level Fireball spell, its power precisely controlled to the level expected of an "excellent adventurer," and disguised as the power of the ring.

"call--"

The fireball, accompanied by a slight whistle, traced a precise arc, not attacking the thick-skinned undead bear, but instead striking the skeleton mage behind it who was commanding the undead army.

"boom!!!"

With a muffled explosion, the skeleton mage shattered into a pile of broken bones.

Without their commander, the remaining undead creatures faltered and were quickly overwhelmed by the combined attack of Phoenix and his three companions, turning into a pile of wreckage.

The battle ended, and the four young men, panting and still shaken, exchanged relieved glances, then simultaneously turned their awe-inspiring gazes to Luo Yan.

A single, perfectly timed fireball instantly turned the tide of the battle. This mysterious Mr. "Colin" was probably even more powerful than they had imagined.

Phoenix glanced enviously at the ring on his finger, wiped the sweat from his brow, and looked at Mr. Colin.

"Thank you... If it weren't for your help, Barrett would definitely be in danger!"

Barrett bowed respectfully, his face showing no trace of contempt.

He had previously looked down on this gentleman of noble birth, believing that he only had everything he had today because of his ancestors' influence.

But now he realizes he was terribly wrong.

This gentleman truly possesses a noble soul, worthy of his noble birth... After all, he could have waited until he was dead to make his move and received a few more silver coins as a reward.

Illala looked at Colin with a flushed face, not because of admiration or anything like that, but simply because she felt embarrassed that she hadn't managed to throw a single fireball.

It's nothing, Luo Yan won't laugh at her.

Even the best players in the Great Tomb of Nazarick can't cast a fireball on their first try; most players die many times before they learn how.

In short, the night's battle proved far more difficult than they had anticipated.

The four young people finally realized that courage and dreams alone were far from enough to face a real necromancer.

“This necromancer is probably more powerful than we thought,” Hunter Leo said in a low voice, looking warily into the dark forest. “Especially since the power of the undead is enhanced at night, it would be too passive for us to go in at night.”

Illala nodded in agreement, nervously wiping the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve.

“That’s right. We’re not familiar with the forest terrain, and our visibility is limited at night, making us easy targets for ambushes. Phoenix, how about… we wait until dawn to go? It’s okay to postpone our registration at Xuebang by a day.”

Phoenix looked troubled. He glanced at the miller beside him, who was almost crying, and then at his equally exhausted companion. He was caught in a deep dilemma.

The miller overheard their conversation, like a drowning man watching a passing ship sail away from the island.

He rushed forward, grabbed Phoenix's arm, and pleaded with tears streaming down his face.

"No! Adventurers, please, we can't wait until tomorrow! Every moment we wait increases the danger to my child! Heaven knows what that demon might do to a child! Please, go and save him tonight!"

“But…” Phoenix was at a loss when a steady hand gently patted the miller’s shoulder.

It's Mr. Colin.

He approached without anyone noticing and spoke to the weeping miller in a calm and convincing tone.

"Don't cry, we'll go tonight."

These words stunned not only the miller but also Phoenix and his companions. They all turned to look at Luo Yan, their faces filled with worry.

“Mr. Colin,” Phoenix couldn’t help but say, “the forest at night is very disadvantageous for us, and we know nothing about the necromancer’s abilities…”

Luo Yan's gaze swept over their four young and uneasy faces, indicating that they didn't need to worry.

"Let's resolve today's issues today."

A mere unregistered wandering ghost is not worth the esteemed Demon King wasting an extra day of his time on.

(End of this chapter)