With the information gained during the audience with the gods inside the Boundary Mountain Range, Vandalieu had gained hope for achieving his heart's desire, the resurrection of his mother Darcia.

But he still didn't know the exact method that would allow him to resurrect her. He didn't know, but this was information that Ricklent, the genie of time and magic, and Zuruwarn, the god of space and creation, had made the effort of giving him. It was highly trustworthy.

And since his objective was the legacy of a legendary champion, it was almost certainly true.

"Ah, thank you, Vandalieu!" said Darcia.

She was very happy upon learning this information. Up until now, she had been in an incomparably better state than regular spirits due to Vandalieu's death-attribute spell, Visualization, and because she could share his five senses. Thus, she didn't feel a particularly powerful urge to come back to life.

But now that she might really come back to life, it seemed that she had all kinds of thoughts.

"I can finally do things like making meals and fixing clothes for you, Vandalieu!" she said happily.

It seemed that she wanted to take care of her son with her own hands as a mother.

Vandalieu looked up at her with an emotional gaze. "Mom..."

"So, you need to teach me how to cook and sew. You're better than me at both, after all," Darcia said.

"Yeah, leave it to me, Mom."

The deterioration of Darcia's spirit had almost completely stopped with Vandalieu's death-attribute Mana, but some of her memories were cut unnaturally short, and she did feel some uneasiness.

And most importantly, coming back to life would allow her to spend time with her son as a living person.

And with her revival, perhaps Vandalieu would not try to take reckless actions of revenge, become injured and suffer over her death. And she would be able to be of use to him as well.

Sam, Rita, Saria, Pauvina and the others were also very happy to learn of the news that Darcia's resurrection would become possible, so things were a little festive in Talosheim right now.

But a full-on festival couldn't be held while things were still looking suspicious in the Sauron region.

Through the Goblin communication devices, Vandalieu learned that Baron Cuoco Ragdew, a fan of Eisen's (syrup), had deserted the Amid Empire's army. It would probably be best to meet him directly.

And while he was at it, he might as well use Noble Orc meat to hold a dinner party with everyone as they exchanged information.

"... What happened?" Vandalieu whispered in shock.

He had finished preparing with high spirits and teleported with Legion, only to see the wounded members of the Sauron Liberation Front lying on the ground, and Iris with the shadow of death on her face.

Quickly deciding that there was no need to even ask, Vandalieu cast his spells.

"So, you're Vandalieu," said one of the enemies. "You're smaller than I imagined. That mass of flesh beside you is an Undead, is it? Either way, I'm surprised that you could Teleport. To think that you could even use space-attribute magic."

Several people have died. But fortunately, it seems that only a few minutes have passed, and the wounds on their bodies aren't beyond repair.

Vandalieu used death-attribute magic to protect the spirits that had just left their bodies while also repairing the bodies and conducting cardiopulmonary resuscitation on them. He delayed the deaths of the bodies' cells, particularly focusing on the cells of the brain, while using his spirit form hands to move their hearts and lungs.

"I'll help you. Berserk, you're up," said Pluto.

"GRRR!"

A flesh-colored bear appeared on Legion's surface and threw chunks of flesh that made up its own body near the motionless people lying on the ground. Berserk's flesh that had been separated from Legion split up even further, wriggling in an unpleasant fashion and crawling onto the injured, wrapping around them and infesting them.

"Hoh, so you're creating Undead from the useless corpses right away? But –"

"Bububuh, that's not right, Ervine. That's what it might look like, but it seems that he intends to heal them."

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, while simultaneously repairing things like bones, organs and nerves enough to sustain life functions. With the spirits of the bodies' owners put back inside, their resurrections were complete.

Berserk was throwing his flesh at the resurrected individuals to infest them, providing emergency treatment by acting as bandages and wooden splints while forcibly making them retreat.

"Boss, these guys are –" Miles said from behind.

"I know. Well done on being able to hold out this long for us, Miles," said Vandalieu in gratitude, but time was still short, so he continued his treatment of the wounded.

"No, not that, these guys are the Fifteen Evil –"

"Vegetables?"

TLN: This joke doesn't really work in English, but the start of "evil-breaking swords" is 邪砕/jasai, which sounds like 野菜/yasai, the word for vegetable.

"... I'm sorry, I'll leave it for later," said Miles as he shut his mouth, realizing that Vandalieu currently didn't seem to have time for listening to details.

A vein appeared on Ervine's forehead as Vandalieu, who was still floating in the air with Flight, stared at him but otherwise taking no notice of him. "Oi, how long are you planning to ignore us? I'm the Fifth Sword of the Fifteen Evil-breaking Swords, the Five-headed Snake Ervine. We made all this effort to speak to a brat like you –"

"Iris, your wounds won't heal. What about Blood Potion?" Vandalieu said, still paying Ervine no attention.

As Ervine's image was reflected in Vandalieu's hollow eyes, his face stiffened.

"Vandalieu-dono, do not... concern yourself with me..."

"Your Majesty... Iris has been wounded by that man's holy sword... It is an Artifact that inflicts wounds that cannot be healed through power originating from Vampires, the Demon King's fragments or the light and life attributes," said her father George who inhabited her now-cracked sword, delivering grave news.

Because Iris had been deeply wounded by the holy sword Nemesis Bell, even though Vandalieu extended his spirit form and fused with her, his Rapid Regeneration skill had almost no effect, as he was a half-Vampire.

Thinking that it was a type of curse, Vandalieu tried to remove it, but he couldn't do that either. It seemed that unlike Ice Age's ice, it was not a curse.

It seemed that the holy sword held something that was not a curse, the power of a superior type, or perhaps a subtype, of the light-attribute that could possibly be named the holy attribute. This was very troublesome.

Thus, Vandalieu cast the Death Delay spell on Iris. It was a spell that didn't heal injuries and merely delayed the time it took the target to die, but its effects took place, not being obstructed by the holy sword's power.

Iris was enshrouded by Mana that looked like black fog, but her face was still pale white. She was still on the verge of death, and her current state was being extended, so that was only natural.

"Iris, I unfortunately can't heal those wounds," Vandalieu said. "It will probably be impossible even for Jeena. So please choose whether you will become an Undead later or a member of one of Vida's races other than a Vampire."

"... I understand," Iris murmured. "I must give the title of Liberating Princess Knight to another..."

"You don't understand. We've already said we're going to take that little girls' head, haven't we?" said Ervine, swinging his whip in anger.

With a noise sounding like the air itself splitting, a piece of rubble that was once a part of the resistance's base crumbled to pieces.

Confirming that Vandalieu's attention was finally on them, the 'Insect Swarm' Bebeckett took over for Ervine and began the negotiation. "We can begin now, can't we? Bububuh, we are the Fifteen Evil-breaking Swords of the Amid Empire. Dhampir Vandalieu, His Majesty the emperor has taken a great interest in you. If you swear loyalty to the empire and devote your power to be used for the empire's good, then we promise to spare your life. And those of your subordinates, too. Depending on circumstances, we will allow you to possess land on the other side of the Boundary Mountain Range, and you may take Ghouls in the empire's territory with you."

The conditions named by Bebeckett could have been considered extraordinary, considering that they had been named by the emperor of the Amid Empire, where Vida's races, particularly Vampires and Dhampirs, were harshly disdained and persecuted.

At the very least, no emperor in the Amid Empire's history other than Marshukzarl would have thought to try to negotiate with Vandalieu.

But at the same time, Marshukzarl thought that it was highly likely that negotiations would break down. From Vandalieu's actions that had been revealed through investigations, it was doubtful as to whether he still had the sanity needed to negotiate.

If that power could be obtained, it would be useful beyond imagination. But leaving Vandalieu alone was too dangerous. He had already become a being who could shake the foundations of the Amid Empire.

That was why Marshukzarl had tried negotiating with Vandalieu, thinking that the chances that they would succeed would be less than thirty percent, and dispatched enough fighting strength that he could be eliminated with certainty if he rejected the negotiations.

Will you be smart and join the enemy you can't defeat, or die as a tyrant inside a small well? Which will you choose? Thought the 'Insect Swarm' Bebeckett, the Tenth Sword.

As a Bug Tamer who employed countless insects, she was an exceptional spy, but she was even more specialized in attacking large numbers of enemies.

"I forgot to say this, but that Liberating Princess Knight and the senile traitor at the back aren't included," Bebeckett added. "We need their heads as proof of having accomplished our official mission here. If you need the Princess Knight at all costs, then we don't mind as long as you can provide the head of someone who looks like her."

Bebeckett had a countless number of insects inside her own body; she was like a general in command of a countless number of soldiers. She had used those insects to stop numerous monster rampages before.

She had been dispatched here with the hopes that she would be able to use that power to exterminate the countless Undead under Vandalieu's command.

Of course, he only has that strange mass of flesh with him, but I won't let my guard down.

"Now then, can we hear your answer?" Bebeckett asked.

"Shut up."

Vandalieu had been listening to Bebeckett's words but not considered them even for a moment.

Marshukzarl's offered conditions might have seemed extraordinary to the three Swords, but to Vandalieu, they were more worthless than garbage.

Most importantly, Vandalieu was currently busy suppressing his anger and self-hatred. If he had put more serious thought into things, if he had been prepared... he could have prevented this situation.

"... Honestly speaking, I have no attachment to the Sauron region," Vandalieu said. "My support for Iris and her companions was for the selfish reason of wanting connections to the Orbaume Kingdom in the future. My first impression of Iris, Haj and the others wasn't that good to begin with, anyway."

"Then our empire can take the kingdom's place –"

"That's why I'll kill you."

With anger and bloodthirst, Vandalieu put his two hands together and released Death Bullets from his fingers, aiming for Bebeckett and her companions.

Vandalieu had associated with these people for a selfish reason, and his first impression of them hadn't been good. But they had shared many meals together, interacted with one another and spent time together. They had adored him, calling him 'Boss,' and eaten his curry, calling it delicious.

Vandalieu didn't feel the slightest hesitation in directing his bloodthirst towards those who had hurt Iris, Haj and the others.

"I told you that the negotiations will fail!" said Rickert.

"I never thought they'd succeed to begin with! Don't act all high and mighty!" shouted Ervine.

Bebeckett avoided the black fist-sized Death Bullets, while Rickert and Ervine repelled and broke them with their holy sword and whip.

"I see, what a pity. Then become food for my insects along with the resistance that's on death's door!" shouted Bebeckett.

The sleeves and hem of her robe expanded, and the low hum of insect wings could be heard as a countless number of shadows flew out from within. These were the insects she controlled.

None of them were larger than the palm of a hand; as monsters, they were all small insects. Most of their Ranks were below those of Cemetery Bees, too.

Flies with a unique venom, moths with a strange attack that could only be thought of as magic and beetles that spat acid that could melt steel – They were insects of all kinds with vicious abilities.

An exceptionally experienced adventurer or an extremely powerful monster might be able to deal with one type, no, several types of these insects. But there probably wasn't a single adventurer who could deal with a swarm of insects with dozens of varieties.

Bebeckett was confident that the same would be the case for Vandalieu, who seemed helpless against the flood of insects and unable to even fire more Death Bullets. She let out a loud, strange laugh.

"BUBUBUBUBUH! There have been many powerful people like you! But you see, you only have two options, whether to yield to the power of a great nation or be crushed! If you want to blame someone, blame your own foolishness –"

"It's over," Rickert sighed, seeing that Vandalieu was no longer even visible behind the insects that he was surrounded by. As he'd expected, the negotiations had failed, but it was the Fifteen Evil-breaking Swords, the Amid Empire, who had won in the end.

But this sense of resignation and relief was blown away in an instant as Bebeckett's strange but elated, triumphant tone turned into a scream filled with shock and fear.

"HYAAAH! Wait, WAIT!"

"Bebeckett?!" Rickert shouted Bebeckett's name in surprise.

But it seemed that Bebeckett had no time to pay attention to Rickert; she twisted her body and screamed. "Wait! Wait, don't go! DON'T LEAVE MEEEE!"

As she screamed, a countless number of insects flew from Bebeckett towards Vandalieu.

Ervine opened his eyes wide in shock. "That brat isn't being eaten by the insects?!"

Bebeckett's insects that were swarming around Vandalieu weren't biting his skin with their powerful jaws or stabbing him with their venomous stingers. They were simply clinging to his skin and hair... being silently absorbed.

And Vandalieu, who had equipped all of the insects inside his body, appeared as if nothing had happened at all.

"It seems that I am superior as an Insect User," said Vandalieu, who had stopped firing Death Bullets so as not to harm the insects that had taken a liking to him.

The truth was that he had emitted a kind of pheromone that attracted the insects with the Demon King's scent glands, but that could probably be included in his skill as an Insect User.

Meanwhile, Bebeckett fell onto the ground, wheezing.

The person who rolled out of her robe was an old woman with great damage all over her body.

Bebeckett had been using insects by offering a part of her flesh to the monsters as food, making them mistake her body for their nest. Thus, she had been reliant on the insects to sustain the life of her own body.

All of those insects that she had been relying on had been charmed and stolen by Vandalieu, and now the 'Insect Swarm' Bebeckett was nothing more than an old woman on the verge of death.

But her life was ended immediately. Not only Rickert, but Vandalieu and his companions as well, all looked at the man who had smashed the back of her head.

"E-Ervine! Why...?!" Rickert exclaimed.

Ervine looked composed, despite having just sent Bebeckett's blood and pieces of her flesh flying into the air with a single swing of his whip. "To not hand him the Experience Points," he said. "If we just let Bebeckett die like that, how many Experience Points do you think he would gain? With that being the case, having me, her ally, take the Experience Points was the least we could do for her."

"Th-that might be true, but..."

Ervine was unaware of Vandalieu's 'Unable to gain Experience Points independently' curse, but even so, Rickert was speechless at Ervine's callousness.

And Vandalieu also froze in surprise at Ervine's act of finishing off his companion to prevent the enemy gaining Experience Points.

And then his head suddenly flew off away from his torso without warning.

"Eh?" Iris said in shock.

"B-Boss?!" shouted Haj.

They saw Vandalieu, whose head had been cut off, and the man responsible for this, a man dressed completely in black.

The man who had cut Vandalieu's head off was one of the Fifteen Evil-breaking Swords, the 'King Slayer' Sleygar, the Eleventh Sword. He was a matchless assassin.

He was equipped with the Night-god's Cloak, an Artifact that erased the presence of the one wearing it, and he had acquired Disexist, the superior version of the Silent Steps Skill. He had assassinated a countless number of monsters with the title of King and ringleaders of rebellion groups.

It was an old trick to aim for the head, the commander, when there were too many enemies. This strategy was particularly effective when fighting a group of monsters ruled by a monster with the title of King.

The monsters in such groups were strengthened by the Strengthen Followers Skill possessed by the King monster. But if the King who possessed that Title was defeated, they would lose that effect. And monsters that lost their absolute commander often fell into chaos, turning into a disorderly mob.

That was why Sleygar specialized in assassinating the leaders with a single strike, used that skill to take the heads of all kinds of Kings, earning himself the Title of 'King Slayer' and his position as the Eleventh Sword.

If Bebeckett had been in charge of large numbers of enemies, Sleygar's job in this mission was to slip past Vandalieu's servants and assassinate him with a single strike.

That was why he had erased his presence and stayed hidden this whole time.

Vandalieu's head span through the air. Blood sprayed from his torso like a fountain, sticking onto Sleygar's cloak. Seeing this, Ervine was certain that Vandalieu was dead. That was indeed how it appeared, but the completely-black Sleygar looked like he was shining –

"G-GYAAAH?!"

Ervine's certainty in this victory crumbled as Sleygar screamed and clutched his face with one hand, crumpling and falling onto his back.

"GUAAAAH! M-my eyes... what did you do to me?!" Sleygar writhed in agony, still clutching his face with one hand.

Meanwhile, Vandalieu's spirit form that had emerged with Out-of-body Experience took his head back from Legion and attached it back onto his body.

"Ah, that was surprising. Ah, Haj, get back a little more. It's going to sting."

Vandalieu hadn't noticed that Sleygar was hiding, but with the Danger Sense: Death spell, he had sensed that his head was being aimed