Isekai Journey Of The Magic Archer

Chapter 396 Their Beef

It didn't take him more than a few minutes to kill off every single undead, including the troll mage-level beings, as well as some of the normal creatures that passed through the lizardman's defenses.

It was a short time and his presence made pressure on the lich and Rein, who was struggling against tens of enemies at the same time, mitigated.

There was a limit to how long he could use the Don. The divine artifact was naturally too powerful for the current him after all.

It worked after he used a large amount of Solnova as well as Mana to wield it. And they had a tough opponent behind those good-looking gates.

So, he finished the lowly undead quickly and obtained three energy cores. One from the ghost and the other two from the skeleton knights and mages he had killed.

There was also a skill stone from a goblin with the skill [Scream], so it was a gain too.

It was sad that even after killing close to forty skeleton knights and mages, they only obtained two energy cores, but he didn't complain about this part. Rein was already happy that they got those things.

In their race to get to the boss's room first, Rein naturally won with her own power and he accepted his loss there. But she also had to consider the fact that he was the one that obtained more 'things' and not followers. The last cores and skill stones also technically belonged to him.

So after they sorted everything before the gate and gathered around each other, it was clear that they both owed each other one of their special coin.

But their own account settlement was of less importance right now.

"Khuaaaa! Kuuuuaaaa!!" [< You bastard lich of the north! You fucking thief!! >]

As soon as their small things were finished, the lizardman had turned his gaze toward the being with his master's partner.

He had spotted this creature as soon as he was back to his senses after using his [Berserk] skill and he wanted to just crush the skull of this fucker on the spot!

But he didn't have time or any chance at that time.

His master told him that the person fighting with the tens of creatures with her splendid movements and mastery of the scythe was his partner and he genuinely felt awe after seeing her strength.

Just like his master, he instantly acknowledged her. His heroic senses screamed at him that he would die while facing her, just like him. He also acknowledged her beauty, which was unlike anything he had seen in any creature in his lifetime.

Her beauty... was truly unparalleled. Even an old lizardman like him couldn't dare look into her eyes that seemed like a sweet but most potent poison.

She was truly the best mate for his amazing master, and he knew that much for sure.

But one thing... he couldn't accept one thing.

"Khua! Khuaaaaa!" [< Master! Please let me kill him just once! >]

[< "I don't know what beef you two have but you can't kill him Zuroro! Please calm down!" >]

Eon was holding back the big lizardman alone while Rein was standing before the lich with her scythe in her hand.

Even she didn't know why the strong lizardman that had shown her such amazing combat just a while ago was acting like that toward her first follower.

This was a peculiar sight. His follower was trying to attack her follower while the person being attacked, the strong lich, instead of defending himself, was just standing behind her…

He was just standing there with no reaction the whole time until the lizardman calmed down and just glared at him with his sharp eyes filled with deadly killing intent.

It took them a considerable amount of time and that too was after their fight and cleanup. They were also just before the gate of the core of the tomb where the evil spirit resided, but… the evil spirit was just silent from the moment Eon had taken out the white bow.

Its silence was concerning, but for now, the immediate problem was their subordinates.

"Ok... let's start then. Why the hell is a great lizardman champion angry at the black lich of Vibha?"

It was a name that he hadn't heard in years and it felt somewhat nostalgic to the lich. He also acknowledged that his master's partner was an amazing existence.

[ "So-" ]

"What's the black lich of Vibha? Is Morris that famous?"

He wanted to explain how his relationship was rocky with the whole lizardman clan, but his master cut him mid-sentence and asked her partner, master Axion, a genuine question.

"Morris Orpheus, one of the rare darkness attribute mages who reached (tier-6) before he entered the lichdome.

The unlucky genius was chased away from his own hometown because they thought his amazing talent and feats were the result of some evil presence.

They were actually fucking fools to chase away someone so amazing, but that was their grave mistake in the end.

He was the one who created the [Understanding of darkness], one of the books used for teaching the darkness attribute at the origin academy, something that we will learn from in the future.

And not only that, he was someone who devoted his whole life to magic and truths related to the darkness attribute.

One of his sayings is, 'The pure darkness is different from evil. Even the holy light might have to submit to darkness in certain circumstances.' is still debated over among many mages.

Famous? He's a mysterious figure whose name is spoken every day in today's mage society.

No one actually knows his whereabouts or what happened to him in the last few decades. The last known thing about him was also that he became a lich and went on a long journey.

And to meet a famous person like this, after he had gone under my dear friend, and is hostile to my worrier, is definitely something I never thought would happen."

His introduction to him was long and she genuinely never knew such an amazing figure existed. And even more so that someone so highly praised by her darling would be a fanatic that started following her.

He sighed after saying just that and ignored his ignorant friend. Then he looked the lich in the eye with a somewhat interesting and respectful expression and then nodded at him, telling him to continue what he was saying.

The lich also understood the look in his eye. It was a bit scary, but still, this at least wasn't a death threat. He was safe for now, so he continued, just as he said to do with those cool eyes.

[ "I already told the master a bit about myself but the 'friendship' between me and the lizardman tribe goes way back to the days that I had just started to observe the creatures of this island.

At first, I was only interested in finding the source of that great pure darkness on the island, but then, I also found something that was just as peculiar as that great presence.

The [Gray-black Lynx]. One of the rare species of creatures with a darkness attribute.

I think they mainly stayed in the western part of the island, the most dangerous area, which stayed untouched from the anger of the evil spirit because of a certain creature inhabiting the coastal regain of that place.

But one family of these big cats used to roam around my house...

They were creatures of darkness and I also wanted to get close to them, but I didn't have any exact idea how to do so.

Days went by and I just continued thinking about what to do. But I clearly wanted to get close to them. That was my definite will.

I thought and thought and searched the island in search of something that can interest those amazing creatures.

And I actually found it. It was sudden and unexpected but I definitely found it... and it was something that belonged to the lizardman tribe..." ] He stopped for a moment and looked into the eyes of the furious lizardman.

In the past, he only regarded their race as strong, but not much praiseworthy.

They were creatures of water, and some of the special ones had the powers to wield other elements. But there was none that could wield darkness among their kind.

The lich, the darkness fanatic, didn't regard them as much of a great threat or useful creatures other than good targets to observe, so he wasn't much considerate of their kind.

But the thing that they grew, the thing that was a magnificent feat for their great tribe, was something that he couldn't help but acknowledge.

"They grew [Blue salmon]?" Eon asked with a genuinely astonished expression. He had a vague idea of what the topic of their dispute and animosity could be, but even he wasn't expecting the name of a rare creature like gray-black Lynx to come up here.

He obviously knew what these creatures of darkness were and also what they would like the most in a habitat like this island.

He obtained great analytical data after using Lucy's skill and knew the basic environment of the overall island.

The island was definitely fit for creatures like the gray-black lynx and they were omnivorous, so they had plenty of things to eat on a diverse and large island like this one.

Commonly, these darkness-attributed creatures ranged from (Red) to (Green) rank, but there were instances when they were born with special abilities as well as an evolution skill and become something entirely different. They were famous because of their ability to travel long distances with shadows as medium... just like Rein or his grandpa Zhen.

Anyway... though they were omnivorous creatures, they all had one thing in common. Just like any 'cat'... they loved fish.

And according to the perfect environment of the island, the lizardman tribe, a species known for their fish cultivation talent, was most likely to grow the blue salmon, a freshwater and sea fish species.

This was a simple conclusion based on facts that he knew, and there was definitely a chance for his question to be answered negatively. But surprisingly... he was right.

[ "I-indeed... I didn't think master Eon was this amazing. Indeed... my understanding and thinking are limited to assuming you were only a 'great' person... you are the great person that actually can't be fathomed!

Well, yes... they grew blue salmon, but the amount they produced was low compared to their big tribe.

They used these fish as a special delicacy that was only used at important events.

The fish held great meaning to them, but... the lynx loved the fish.

After the first time I gave them some, they started showing interest in me~!

And after that... I just continued stealing from the lizardman. Fought to get the fish, and just continued stealing from them until 'that day' came." ]

He had the [Mana speech] so it was natural that he could understand a lizardman's language. And still, he continued stealing their rare and important property.

It was petty, but understandable from both parties' perspectives.

One was a darkness fanatic, while the other was a proud warrior who heartily followed the customs of his kind.

It wasn't possible for the lizardman's years-long hatred to calm quickly. They knew they would need a long time for him to forgive the lich.

It was pointless for now, so they had to focus on the main thing for now.

[< "Zuroro. You can't kill the lich. Not at least until we are here. You will get your chance for revenge, I assure you of that. So, for now, at least don't kill him.

He is a subordinate of my dear friend and someone who will be of great use to me, so I need him." >]

[< I...! I... understand, master. >]

He was angry and the killing intent in his eyes was still as hot as flames, but it was alright for now. He had resolved one thing from his point, and Rein also had one last thing she had to take care of.

"Morris. Give your book of souls to Eon," she said with a normal expression, but these casual words of hers surprised the hell out of him.

[ "M-master?! What-" ]

"I won't repeat myself." She cut him mid-sentence and said with stern eyes and a calm smile.

And that much was enough for him to understand she was the most serious he had ever seen her. He had no choice but to follow her order.

[ "Please take care of it." ] and he didn't say much, took out a simple-looking old book with a brown cover from his storage skill, and handed it to Eon.

Eon glanced at the book with his blue eyes, nodded with a smile on his face, and stored the book in his white crack.

"Thanks, Rein~." he was happy to receive such a magnificent gift, and she nodded back at him with the same radiant smile as him. Her first follower's life was in the most secure hands, after all.

She could rest assured now, and he was naturally happy to get a good, unique, and cool divine artifact which contained the origin soul of a prominent person.

It was cool from her side... and that was it.

Their preparations were already complete, so they got ready.

The party of four. A warrior, a scytheman, a lich, and lastly, the party leader, a magic archer.

It was a pretty good party considering the opponent was only a single evil spirit... or so they thought until the lizardman opened the giant rock gates and they entered the core chamber that contained two golden coffins, walls made of pure silver which were covered with carvings of a weird old language, an army of undead, and the evil spirit floating in the air.

This was... definitely 'a bit' more overwhelming than any of them had thought.

From the smirking evil, spirit... to the glamorous room.