Chapter 28. How to Deliciously Cook an Undead

“Ah, aah…”

Involuntary gasps of awe filled the air.

Amongst the knights of the Kingdom's army, none could remain unmoved by the spectacle before them.

This was undoubtedly the divine hand, reaching down to save them from the brink of death.

“The rumors…were they true?”

“Truly…has the Absolute One not forsaken us…!”

Doubt transformed into conviction, and conviction paved the way for worship.

Unfazed by the millions of undead, a celestial being descended gracefully from the heavens. Some knights, forgetting their duty, clasped their hands together in prayer.

“Father God, please look upon us…!”

“Aah…!”

And amidst them, Lisia and Herien also witnessed the Constellation's Descent.

“That’s…”

“Aah, Lord God…! My love, my everything…!”

This was the first time Lisia had laid eyes upon Ron’s summoned physical form, but such trivialities mattered little.

Right there.

Wasn't the source of that warm, all-encompassing Divine Power standing before them?!

“Aah…”

She barely managed to keep her trembling knees from buckling, but the involuntary upturn of her lips was uncontrollable.

Like a pet welcoming its master home from a long journey, Lisia could only continue her ceaseless Worship, overflowing with joy.

‘The Absolute One is using Summon?’

Herien was equally astonished.

It was extremely rare for a Constellation to lower themselves to the level of mere humans.

And for the Absolute One, who wielded the greatest influence among them, to use Summon was an unprecedented event, unlike anything anyone had ever experienced.

Bathed in the absurd amount of Divine Power radiating from the heavens, the Absolute One, finally taking human form, landed upon the earth.

“…A child?”

As his form came into clear view, Herien felt a sense of dissonance.

It wasn't just one person who had arrived, but two.

Emerging from his embrace, as if a loving younger sibling, was…

A cute little girl with an innocent face, utterly incongruous with the current war-torn landscape.

Upon seeing her sky-blue hair, faintly shimmering with Divine Power, and the resolute determination in her eyes, Herien felt an irresistible, overwhelming pull towards the girl.

It wasn't a human emotion like affection, but a powerful impulse woven by fate.

“…The Hero?”

The Hero of the next generation, whom she should have been seeking out to serve, was standing alongside the Constellation.

Questions like ‘How?’ were far too late in this situation.

The girl was already with the Absolute One, standing before the encroaching undead horde.

Even without understanding, Herien could vaguely grasp the meaning of this act in her heart.

“I sense a powerful Divine Power emanating from that girl as well.”

Lisia, standing beside her, added credence to Herien’s suspicion.

“What…what does that mean―”

“For the Hero to also receive Father God's Blessing…how pious and beautiful.”

It was absurd.

But it was happening right before Herien’s eyes.

“...”

For a moment, the Absolute One’s gaze shifted from the undead to the forces Herien belonged to.

His gentle gaze held a charm that instilled a profound sense of relief and reverence in all who met it.

“.....”

As Herien was captivated by this indescribable sensation…

‘Ron,’ who had suddenly appeared and seized the atmosphere, felt secretly pleased with the situation and turned his gaze back towards Elder Lich’s army.

The ferocious horde, seemingly bewildered by this sudden ‘Sudden Quest’ in the midst of their advance, faltered at a considerable distance.

-Grrrr…

-Keeek…

It wasn't reason, but instinct that told them…

If they dared to step into the domain of that Divine Power, they would be annihilated without a trace―

“Those who defy providence and defile death…”

Ron addressed the undead.

His tone was drastically different from the one he used with the little Hero, Ellie. It was laced with the arrogance and majesty of one looking down upon lesser beings.

“You must understand the weight of your sins and return to where you belong.”

Having returned from death, they must return to death once more.

That was the fate the undead must accept.

Ron, with his superhuman vision, looked beyond the horde, towards their commander.

‘Was he always missing a jawbone?’

He felt a sense of incongruity at the difference from his first impression.

But the target of this debut performance was still right there.

“.....”

‘Nice to meet you.’

He could sense considerable hesitation emanating from the empty eye sockets.

The commander was undoubtedly racking his brain, wondering whether to turn his army around or flee.

No matter how powerful a monster, it was fundamentally just a lump of experience points meant to be hunted by players.

Ron, still holding the little Hero’s hand tightly, took a step forward.

‘Should I teach her how to draw the Holy Sword?’

Though it was originally the Sword Saint’s role, he decided to do it this time as a fan service.

“Ellie.”

“Hmm?”

He called out to the little Hero, brimming with excitement thanks to the Blessing Buff he had applied beforehand, and briefly met her gaze.

“Shall we draw that Holy Sword again?”

“Yeah…but, I don’t know how…”

“I’ll help you.”

Ron said, touching his forehead to Ellie’s.

For a brief moment, Divine Power flowed between their foreheads, automatically analyzing Ellie’s magic circuits.

[Some authority over the Follower, ‘Ellieon,’ has been unlocked!]

Among them, what Ron wanted to handle was, naturally, the Holy Sword.

Since all the preparations he had made so far were to celebrate the Hero's birth, he naturally decided to fulfill his duty to the end.

“Uh…!”

Originally, she would have to learn how to handle the Holy Sword slowly under the Sword Saint’s tutelage, but…

Given the current situation, he wanted to give her a good experience a little early.

In other words, opening up her meridians.

- Woooong…!

He circulated a little of the Divine Power and magic power residing within her, and the power of the Holy Sword began to take shape on its own.

The startled little Hero’s gaze slowly turned towards the manifestation of the miracle happening at her fingertips.

- Ssst.

The Holy Sword, forged by the combined magic within the Hero and Ron's Divine Power, took on an even more powerful form.

‘Not bad.’

It wasn’t as good as the one he had received from the Constellation called the Son of the Star, but this certainly looked like a high-Grade Holy Sword.

“Now, look straight ahead.”

Ron placed the formed Holy Sword in Ellie’s hand and guided her back to the stage.

The targets were the trembling horde of undead.

“.....!”

Before that, however, Elder Lich, who had sensed the change, raised his arm with a desperate resolve.

He decided to try a do-or-die body slam.

‘Nice.’

Ron liked that kind of passion.

If he ran away, it would definitely be a bother to chase him.

In truth, Ron…

From the moment he arrived here, he had no interest whatsoever in the grand cause and providence he had spoken of.

‘That's a luxury.’

To complete the hunt quickly, grow the Religious Order, and expand his power…

For players who are busy every single day, such things are nothing more than roleplaying.

‘My experience points.’

Therefore, even though he roughly knew what was about to happen, he felt absolutely no Guilt towards the undead who were charging forward despite knowing they would cry and eat mustard.

Especially towards those ugly corpses.

“Everyone in the world will sing your praises.”

“.....”

- Thump. Thump.

Praise.

It was a burdensome and complicated word, difficult for a young mind to fully grasp.

However, Ellie was happy with anything at this moment, as long as she was with the one she trusted.

The pleasant thump-thump of her heart supported that thought.

A white, slender, beautiful hand reached out and grasped the hilt of the Holy Sword protruding from Ellie's hand.

Until it was handed to her.

And then.

- Kieeeeek!!

- Groooooar!!!

The disgusting and chilling monsters that were swarming in, about to harm her and the people behind her—

“Ellie, do you want to try whatever you want?”

Thanks to the kind person who waited for Ellie's choice with a relaxed smile, as if he knew everything, the little girl could act with full confidence.

Small, still-growing hands grasped the Holy Sword.

What happened at that moment was a miraculous and wondrous event.

Because the feeling, which should have been unfamiliar, felt comfortable and stable, as if she had always held it close to her heart and in her hands.

‘I can do it.’

With encouragement bursting forth from deep within her, the next Hero, ‘Ellie,’ swung her arm, Holy Sword and all.

“Hiya…!”

- Whoosh!

The beautiful Holy Sword swung with a frail arm.

And what followed was…

- Fwhoosh!

A massive chain reaction, triggered by her will.

The magic power, granted permission by its wielder, flowed from Ellie’s core into the Holy Sword.

The Holy Sword, which devoured Ellie's magic power like a hungry pedestrian, began to exude destructive power and absolute authority.

"....Ah.”

The Elder Lich, whose jaw had already fallen off and couldn’t speak, faced it.

The phenomenon of a natural disaster, like a massive tidal wave, unimaginable to have been unleashed by a mere little girl.

“Lord God!”

Elder Lich cried out the name of his Constellation.

But there was no reply.

Even as that unbelievable, enormous power wiped out a third of his forces and reached the place where the Elder Lich was located…

- ....

The Elder Lich’s Constellation, the mastermind behind all this, remained deeply silent, desperately trying to escape.

[You have eliminated the Hidden Monster, ‘Elder Lich’!]

[Sudden Quest Cleared!]

[Constellation, ‘Prophet of Fleshless Death’s’ invasion has been successfully repelled!]

[A massive Flow of Stars is watching you.]

[You have acquired a reward!]