We were looking for an opponent to test out our skills, and Urushi’s detection ability helped us to locate a powerful magic beast.

We proceeded through the mountains while concealing our presence.

A few minutes later. We finally caught sight of the undead as we emerged onto the ridge of the mountain.

In one of the valleys beyond the mountains, we could see several undead were huddled together.

『The undead in the center seems pretty strong』

(Nn)

It was probably the boss leading the undead. An individual with the appearance of a wrinkled mummy and dressed in a sorcerer’s robe was performing a hideous ritual in the center of the undead.

There is an altar in front of the boss. There, a small, fat man is lying on it. But it was obvious that he was no longer breathing.

His head had been severed and placed on his stomach. The blood flowing from the wound had already stopped, suggesting that a significant amount of time had passed since he was killed.

When the boss undead raised his staff, magic flowed into the boss from the poor victim. Then, black magic power was released from the boss undead’s staff into the surrounding area and flowed into the undead under his command.

The undead, except for the boss, do not seem to move at all. However, the power emanating from their bodies can be seen to be increasing.

『It would be pretty bad to let this continue, huh?』

(Nn. The undead are getting stronger)

(Woof)

『Well, yeah』

Maybe he’s using some kind of technique to strengthen the undead under his control. Perhaps he’s the reason for the recent undead troubles.

Now we no longer have the option of leaving it alone, I guess.

『Let’s take them by surprise』

(Okay)

『Fran, we take on the boss, Urushi, you handle the undead around him』

(Woof!)

We then sprang into action.

As we approached the boss in a flash with teleport, Fran slashed at them. Urushi also made a surprise attack with shadow transfer and chewed off the head of one of them.

After getting this close, we now know what we’re dealing with. The results of the appraisal showed that it was a Mummy King. Compared to the Wight King we fought before; this one was just as strong.

However, since they were greatly inferior in terms of summoning subordinates and command capabilities, this one was considered lower in terms of threat level.

Fran had slashed his rear after teleporting, and her slash struck the Mummy King directly in the back. However, the Mummy King was still standing, looking very much intact.

「Adventurers! Those who see us, shall not return alive!」

『It has its skill active!』

The Mummy King possesses a skill called “Shield of the Dead Spirit”. It was a skill that has an effect similar to a Shield Technique, in which damage taken by itself is transferred to undead under its control.

Its advantage is that it is always activated and can be triggered even if the user is caught off guard. However, it is also a weakness. If it continues to be attacked, the damage will continue to be transferred to the undead under its control regardless of its will.

「Kill them!」

At the command of the Mummy King, the undead begin to move. These guys are also quite strong and must have a threat level of E.

Wait, they are ghoul-type undead, with races like High Ghoul Soldier or High Ghoul Magician.

With their “Pollution” skill, even one of them is quite dangerous. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were given a threat level of D. Pollution is a skill that constantly sprays a deadly poison that does not lose its toxicity for a long period of time, contaminating living creatures and food.

The area of contamination for a high-ranking ghoul can exceed a 20-meter radius, and it is said that a village can be destroyed just from a single ghoul walking through it.

It doesn’t work on us since we are resistant to poison, but it would be dangerous to let them run loose.

Fran slashes at the Mummy King some more, but the ghouls also showed no sign of damage transferred to them. It must have more undead under its control in other locations.

But he certainly does not have an infinite number of them. For the Shield of the Dead to be activated, the undead to which it is being transferred must have been created by itself and be under its control.

This “under control” part is important. In summoning and necromancy, the number of monsters that can be controlled is determined by the power of the magician. A single powerful beast can exceed the magician’s capacity, even if they can control over a hundred small fry.

This is also the reason I can’t summon any other magic beasts than Urushi because he takes up all my summoning capacity.

Also, if one creates something and leaves it alone, it will not be considered to be under their control. A contract has to be signed and the creature has to be added to the control of the contractor.

There were powerful ghouls around, and it was hard to imagine that any Mummy King, no matter how powerful, could lead hundreds of undead.

『As planned, Fran attack the boss, Urushi clear the surrounding!』

(Got it)

「Nn」

It would be quite advantageous to launch a wide-range attack with light magic, but Fran fights only with a sword.

『Fran. I’m going to test the power of my blessings too, okay?』

(Okay)

A Mummy King is strong, but not as strong as Fran in a one-on-one fight. When it is cut down in rapid succession, it helplessly calls out to the ghouls around for help, but is prevented by Urushi from rushing to its aid.

Ten minutes after our surprise attack.

「Shiit! Not in a place like thiis! My apolog―… Ghwaah!」

Finally, the Mummy King, whose Shield of the Dead was no longer in effect, fell to Fran’s swordsmanship.

It was cut in two and crumbled to dust as it was. But there was no magic stone within it. Considering its last line, it might have been an individual created by a necromancer.

『There might be someone around who made this thing. Let’s look around some more』

(Nn)

『So, how’d it go?』

(So-so?)

According to Fran, she’s getting better at using Physical Manipulation methods while continuing to slay the Mummy King. At least, she should be able to keep up with Hilt better than before.

A reasonably strong opponent who could take a lot of slash, the Mummy King was just perfect for testing our skills.

(What about Master?)

『I tried to use the blessing of the Goddess of Wisdom consciously. Apparently, it increases my control over magic and skills. However, it also doubles the exhaustion』

It would be dangerous to keep using it, but it would be a reassuring if I can put it to good use.

(I see)