I Defeated the Guide Angel and I Became a Necromancer ~ I Feel Like I'm Playing a Different Game from Everyone Else, but I'm Doing Fine ~ - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Angel Hunting – Part 4: Forbidden…

◆ Forbidden Paradise – Spirit Mausoleum ◆

“Ex Machina Natalia (Lv.105) has been revived.”

“Ex Machina Natalia (Lv.105) has gone berserk.”

“Doger Ghost (Lv.70) has activated [Undead Possession], and the completed form, Maistardgel (Lv.100), has been resurrected.”

After a scene where Doger offers Natalia the heart of a Seraph, both the mechanical mermaid and the cyborg Doger simultaneously activate.

“Wha…t…the…heck…is…go…ing…on? Everyone… run…”

“This… this is my power!!!!”

“Maistardgel (Lv.100) has taken control of Ex Machina Natalia (Lv.105).”

The message from the mechanical mermaid Natalia is garbled. Though unreadable… Ah, the audio glitched, and I could make out some of the content… Contrary to the log stating her berserk state, her movements are sluggish, almost as if she’s resisting, mechanically deemed berserk. After all, a fragment of Natalia’s will still remains. The reason for her resistance is just that.

The cyborg Doger, with his entire body augmented, rejoices at Natalia’s activation, laughing maniacally. Unaware of Natalia’s slight consciousness remaining—finally, the state of being trapped in the portal is lifted here, and they can move!

“Natalia! That’s the enemy obstructing us! Let’s kill it together!!”

“Ex Machina Natalia (Lv.105) has switched to combat mode.”

“—Eliminate, them.”

“Ex Machina Natalia (Lv.105) has assumed the stance of [Gun Hazard].”

“That’s bad…!?”

As soon as they could move, Doger issued a command to attack Natalia with murderous intent. The moment Natalia switched from berserk mode to combat mode, her movements became smooth. And the armaments attached all over her body… armaments, armaments, armaments…! Heavy machine guns on both arms, missiles from both shoulders…

The bazooka cannon deployed from its waist, and missile pods aimed at us! At this rate, everyone except Pers-chan will be riddled with holes!!

“Can you put Aegis on Donta!?”

“Wan!!! (I’ll be the shield!!!)”

“Aegis!!!”

“Donta has entered [Penetrate 3] state.”

“—Done!.”

—How on earth do we dodge this storm of bullets!!!

“Donta has nullified [Double Heavy Angel Dust].”

“Wauuuuuu!!! (That one was tough, huh!?)”

“Donta has been hit by [Double Angelic Bazooka] and entered [Penetrate 1] state.”

“Donta, endure with Adamantine!!!”

“Wan!!! (I’ll give it a try!!!)”

“Donta has activated [Adamantine], turning his head to back into diamond.”

“Donta’s [Penetrate] state has been lifted.”

“Donta’s [Bone Shield] has been lifted.”

“Weak!!! Donta has been hit by [Angelic Missile] directly, taking 24,400 damage! Donta is in a critical bleeding state.”

“Gyauuuun!!!”

Oh, oh no…! The missile’s direct hit stripped away the Penetrate, and the Bone Shield can only withstand one hit! And it’s dealing four times the damage against Donta’s undead and demon attributes! Angelic Missiles are super effective against undead, darkness, and demons! This matchup is the worst for us… We have to be prepared for this damage to be the last, or Donta won’t make it!

“Well done, Donta! Pers-chan!!!”

“Aegis!!!”

“Perseus has entered [Penetrate 10] state.”

“Shall we let Natalia touch it!!”

“Maistardgel (Lv.100) has activated [Barrier Generator].”

“Maistardgel (Lv.100) has set [Barrier: 30,000].”

“Ex Machina Natalia (Lv.105) has set [Barrier: 30,000].”

“(´；ω；)”

“Frioniel has activated [Energy Light], and Donta has recovered 2,500. [Critical Bleeding] has been lifted, entering [Bleeding] state.”

Oh, come on, there’s a barrier generator…?! So, does that number on the barrier mean it nullifies damage by that much? Isn’t that cheating?! Oh, there was someone who nullified ten shots regardless of damage… It’s a draw, isn’t it…?

Huh? Oniichan, you had a healing skill?! That energy light isn’t an attack skill, it’s a healing skill?! The amount is a bit meh, but stopping Donta’s critical bleeding is significant. I’d like him to activate it one more time, but you can see from his haste… It can’t be used consecutively… Donta, poor thing, hang in there a bit longer.

“Short-term battle. If we lose, we die.”

“07XB785Y is on standby for the activation of the awakening skill [Shooting Requiem]!!!”

“Oniichan! Protect Donta and the others!”

“(｀・ω・)ｂ”

“The activation word is… this… with this!!! Rise, Stone Wall!!!”

“Aurelia has activated [Stone Wall]. Multiple stone walls have been generated around.”

Oh!?! Lia-chan came up with a new magic spell?! Ah, is this an enhanced version of the [Sand Shield] that the older sisters in the guild’s mage team used in the training ground?! For low to mid-level magic, I thought defensive spells were hopeless because the magic circle couldn’t withstand Lia-chan’s magical power and collapsed, but now she can activate even higher-level ones?! It seems like she’s doing pattern analysis of activation words, but I have no clue about magic circles or patterns at all!! Anyway, with this, a barrier has been created. At least we can avoid Donta being targeted and killed…

It seems that Rena-chan senpai’s awakening skill can’t be activated right away. The standby time is 30 seconds, and it activates after that… 30 seconds may seem short, but it’s actually long…!

“—Eliminate… Eliminate…”

“Ex Machina Natalia (Lv.105) has assumed the stance of [Gun Hazard].”

That skill that shoots like crazy, the cooldown is way too short… It’s much faster than Pers-chan can reach it… Can Donta, can Donta move? He endured quite a bit with those injuries…

“Frioniel has activated [Energy Light], and Donta has recovered 2,500. [Bleeding] has been lifted.”

“Kuuun…………”

“(´；ω；｀)”

“Donta, watch from there. We’ll beat that thing to a pulp for you.”

“Donta-san…”

…Huh? Come to think of it, where did Chiyo-chan go…?

“—Youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!”

“Princess Chiyo has [Fox Transformation].”

“Princess Chiyo has activated [Aqua Moon] and avoided [Double Angelic Bazooka].”

Ugh… Wow. She’s really furious. Wearing a black fox mask, with black fox ears and a tail made of human souls… That’s definitely bad news… Chiyo-chan always said she would seriously take on her opponent, but at that time, although Chiyo-chan was serious, she wasn’t… truly serious…

“Don’t, don’t get close to Natalia!!!”

“Maistardgel (Lv.100) has fired [Slag Shotgun].”

“Will it work, little brat?!?!”

“Miss… Princess Chiyo deflected the bullets.”

No, I’ve seen deflecting bullets with a sword before, but that’s fiction, right? Deflecting shotgun pellets in real combat, what even is that?! That’s not humanly possible?! This person isn’t human, she’s a fox spirit!

“Scarlet Shadow Lady…”

“Princess Chiyo’s HP has decreased by 50%, entering [Scarlet Shadow Lady] state.”

“B-Barriers!!! Full power!!!”

“Maistardgel (Lv.100) has activated [Barrier Enhancement Device].”

“Maistardgel (Lv.100)’s [Barrier: 30,000] has been temporarily enhanced to [Barrier: 200,000].”

“Ex Machina Natalia (Lv.105)’s [Barrier: 30,000] has been temporarily enhanced to [Barrier: 200,000].”

Ah, She drew it… The demonic blade that won’t return to its sheath until it tastes blood… I Scarlet Shadow Lady is unsheathed… It’s over, it’s all over…

“—Oh, we got closer quite easily!!!”

“B-But! This invincible barrier cannot be broken!!!”

It was a mistake to not pay attention to Pers-chan. Oh, she’s completely within range now. And that barrier that was temporarily strengthened? Invincible you say? With a barrier of about 200k? You’re underestimating them too much, Doger-kun.

“Destroying Demon Slash!”

“Princess Chiyo has activated [Destroying Demon Slash], and Maistardgel (Lv.100)’s [Barrier] has been set to [64,000].”

“Do you think your shoddy barrier can stop my Halberd!?”

“Perseus has activated the awakening skill [Princess Crisis], removing the [Barrier] status from Ex Machina Natalia (Lv.105) and dealing 228,400 damage.”

“M-m-m–My defense…”

“Daaaaaa!!!”

“Princess Chiyo has activated [One Sword Severing Iron], removing the [Barrier] status from Maistardgel (Lv.100) and dealing 114,100 damage. Left arm was severed.”

“Ah, aaaaaahhhh!!! The b-barrier…!!!”

“Maistardgel (Lv.100) has activated [Barrier Generator].”

“Maistardgel (Lv.100)’s [Barrier: 30,000] has been set.”

“Ex Machina Natalia (Lv.105)’s [Barrier: 30,000] has been set.”

There you go. Such barriers are like tissue paper against those two when they’re serious. Reapplying 30k now is pointless…

“Undeads!!! Rise…!!! Disappear into dust… Lich Explosion!!!”

—Wait, what’s this guy doing?! Oh no, oh no!! This is the catacombs, there are plenty of corpses around!! You mean everything around here, like the walls and pillars, will explode!?! This isn’t a joke!!

“Maistardgel (Lv.100) failed to [Create Undead]. Failed to use [Lich Explosion].”

…? Huh? Failed? Is that even possible? Oh, maybe… It can’t be used with that mechanical body, right? Necromancy. That’s it, isn’t it? I received this Undead Enhancement from Babylon-chan, but you don’t have it now, do you? Necromancy probably needs a catalyst, right? After all, Animate Fetish is a skill dependent on this black cursed hand of mine, and necromancy feels like it’s activated through Undead Enhancement. Oh, you don’t have it! It failed!

“Such a trifling thing…! Watch as this contrivance is dismantled before your eyes!!!”

“Princess Chiyo has activated [Hundred Flowers Dance], removing the [Barrier] status from Maistardgel (Lv.100) and dealing 154,600 damage. Right arm severed. Left leg severed. Right leg severed.”

“Guaaaaahhhhhhh!!!”

Oh dear! What a fuss! What a fuss! You’re a full-body cyborg, so you’re not bleeding or anything. It’s just the machine body being dismantled, yet you’re screaming like that. Now then? Shall we turn the scrap metal that injured Donta into iron scraps?!

“Using an awakening skill for minor damage? How pathetic, Rena-san!!!”

“Ah, had enough? Well then, let’s call it quits.”

—Of course, it’s not me, it’s Senpai Rena-chan!!!

“Bam!”

“07XB785Y has activated [Magic Bullet Attribute Change: Fire], [Sniping Shot]. Weak!!! Critical Hit!!! Removed the [Barrier] status from Ex Machina Natalia (Lv.105), dealing 58,200 damage.”

“07XB785Y has consecutively activated [Quick Draw Shot]. Weak!!! Critical Hit!!! Dealt 537,700 damage to Ex Machina Natalia (Lv.105).”

“Gaaaahhh… Gah…”

“Stop it, please… Natalia, Natalia…!!”

—They were all set to kill us just a moment ago, but now that it’s their turn to die, they’re begging for mercy? How hypocritical.

“07XB785Y has consecutively activated [Quick Draw Shot]. Weak!!! Critical Hit!!! Dealt a total of 559,100 damage to Ex Machina Natalia (Lv.105).”

“Sons… and… daughters…”

“07XB785Y has consecutively activated [Quick Draw Shot]. Weak!!! Critical Hit!!! Dealt a total of 629,100 damage to Ex Machina Natalia (Lv.105).”

“Stop itttttt!!!!”

—Too resilient… Must have over 2 million HP… But the HP bar is visible now, so it’s almost over, right? Honestly, that’s equivalent to several tanks. Well, not quite comparable to that… those are too unique. Maybe like two Great Whale ships? Hmm… I wonder if it’s the quality of the materials…

The HP bar is almost gone. Is it over?

“End.”

“07XB785Y consecutively activated [Dead End Shot]. Weak!!! Critical Hit!!! Dealt 145,100 damage to Ex Machina Natalia (Lv.105), turning her into scrap metal. Experience gained: 9,999,999.”

“Perseus has reached Level 81. Congratulations!”

“07XB785Y has reached Level 81. Congratulations!”

“Donna has reached Level 47.”

“Aurelia has reached Level 37.”

“Frioniel has reached Level 18.”

“Princess Chiyo has reached Level 9.”

Oh no!!! Princess Chiyo-san’s experience points are significantly reduced because she’s still using the Scarlet Shadow Lady!!!

“Oh!!! Chiyo-chan, put away that demonic sword!!! It reduces experience points!!!”

“Huh…? I haven’t seen blood yet… I have no choice… Here I go.”

“Princess Chiyo has deactivated [Fox Transformation], taking self-inflicted damage! Received 20 damage. Deactivated [Unmatched Scarlet Shadow Lady].”

“I don’t mind shedding my own blood.”

“Um… It looks painful… Sorry…”

Ugh~~~ Instead of feeling regret over the wasted experience points of Ex Machina Natalia, it’s more painful to see Princess Chiyo-chan cut herself a little to let some blood flow and sheath her sword Scarlet Shadow Lady…! That must be really painful… A clean cut like that is seriously painful… Ah~… Princess Chiyo-chan’s beautiful legs…!

“Nataliaaaaaa…!!! I’ll never forgive you, I’ll never forgive you all…!!!”

“Oh, that’s right.”

“That’s right. As revenge, I’ll take this Natalia and make her mine! Ever since becoming Death Thanatos, the number of undead subservient to me has increased to six! That’s why I can do it! I’ll turn her into my undead!”

“Indeed, at that moment, just before waking up as a machine, I felt a slight resistance. There must still be some soul remaining! From now on, I’ll show you the difference in status as a necromancer!”

“Hey, wake up!”

“The Mermaid Princess Natalia has been resurrected as an undead.”

“The Mermaid Princess Natalia Ghost (Lv. 1) has become your follower.”

“There, she’s awake! How’s that, Dogel?! This is the catalyst power of a necromancer received directly from Babylon-chan! The status is different!”

“Oh… Me… Ah, Dogel!!! I’m sorry for leaving you alone, that’s why you’re…!”

“Ah, ahhhhh… Natalia, Natalia…! Why are you, no, why are you also, a necromancer?!”

“Um, uh, yeah…”

“Dogel, I’m happy…! To be able to speak to you even after death…!”

“Me too, Natalia…! Just hearing your voice makes my heart feel like it’s going to burst…!”

“Should I turn you into a spirit too?”

“Ah, y-yes! I don’t care about my physical body anymore…”

“Completed Form Maistardgel (Lv. 100) has ceased life functions… Function shutdown.”

“Wake up~”

“Completed Form Maistardgel has been resurrected as an undead.”

“Completed Form Maistardgel Ghost (Lv. 1) has become your follower.”

“Ah, Dogel!!”

“Nataliaaaaaa!!!!”

Huh? This is a bit different from the development I was expecting… I mean, I was thinking of something like “Hey Dogel, are you watching??” But why is it suddenly turning into a lovey-dovey scene?

“Oh my… It seems to have become a rather nice atmosphere, hasn’t it…?”

“…Hmm.”

“I’m a bit… No, it’s nothing…”

“I find it difficult to use magic in enclosed spaces… I’m sorry I couldn’t be of much help…”

“Thanks, Lia. You were a great help.”

“(´ω｀)”

“Kuuun… (Thanks, Lia~…)”

Don-chan is in rough shape. Oniichan really did a great job protecting Don-chan and the others. Lia-chan’s nice concealment magic, without that, Don-chan would have been Swiss cheese, honestly. Pers-chan, you were a big help overall…! Without Aegis, it would have been a complete mess from the start. And Rena-chan senpai… What’s up with the power of that awakening skill? She was chugging MP recovery potions while shooting away… She’s definitely our destruction goddess…

“Speaking of which, Rinne-sama, you called me Chiyo-chan…?”

“Oh, did you not like it…? I’m sorry, it just kind of slipped out…”

“No! I’m actually quite happy that you have become closer to me! From now on, please continue to call me Chiyo-chan! Or even Chi-chan would be fine!!!”

“Chi… Chiyo-chan.”

“Yes!!”

Chiyo-chan showed her true, serious side, didn’t she? To get so furious after seeing what happened to Don-chan, even though our relationship is still short, she’s really a kind-hearted person deep down. But she’s also quite scary… I’ll make sure not to anger her.

“Dogel…”

“Natalia…”

And how long are they going to keep embracing and having a lovey-dovey moment? This isn’t the development I had in mind, it’s frustrating…!?

“So, how did you two end up like this?”

First of all, why is this guy so versatile, able to create machine soldiers, summon angels, and use necromancy?!

“Let me explain…”

Alright, let’s hear it then. Oh, here comes a cutscene… This is…

◆ ◆ ◆

Maistardgel. There isn’t a soul in Floating City Melitina who doesn’t know his name.

Descended from the lineage of the primal masters who created Floating City Melitina, he was a genius. Combining super-science and magical technology, the descendants of the masters built an advanced civilization. He possessed the power to imbue life into machines.

He created machine lifeforms one after another. At first, it was animals like dogs, cats, and birds. Then, as the technology advanced, it didn’t take long for him to be able to create humans.

The machine humans worked diligently for the humans. But gradually, they began to develop emotions and started to demand their own rights. Eventually, this escalated into violent incidents, and from the moment they were shot dead in order to suppress them— a war between humans and machine humans erupted.

In the end, humans emerged victorious. The difference in numbers was simply too vast. While the machine humans were sturdy and resilient, they couldn’t withstand the sheer numerical advantage of the humans. And naturally, Mustardgel, the one who created the machine humans, was captured as a major criminal of Melitina. He was stripped of his title as a master and banished from Melitina…

“Hey, are you alright?”

— Banished from Melitina, thrown into the sea, yet Dogel survived.

“And you…?”

“They call me a Siren. I was singing my favorite song, and then you fell down, so I caught you.”

She’s a Siren. Legend has it that her song captivates everything. Luckily, Dogel was rescued by the Siren, and his life was saved, sent back to land.

After that, Dogel expressed his gratitude to the Siren and parted ways, eventually reaching the Ocean Church. Without being asked anything, he was offered a warm meal and a cozy bed to sleep in… That night, Dogel cried like a child.

“You really seem to enjoy coming to listen to my songs.”

“It’s not like that, really. I’m just curious…”

“You’re not very honest.”

And then… Dogel started working as a monk at the church. He frequently visited the Siren and listened to her songs. He was drawn to the beautiful songs that were absent in Melitina. Until he met Natalia.

“Oh? Looks like someone washed ashore.”

“What!?”

The Siren found Natalia, the mermaid princess, washed up on the shore. That was the first encounter between Dogel and Natalia. To heal Natalia’s wounds, Dogel repeatedly used his still amateurish healing magic, brought her meals, and as Natalia gradually opened up to Dogel, their relationship quickly deepened.

“This is boring.”

The Siren felt jealous. Dogel, who came to listen to her song, was sticking to another woman… It was then that she realized for the first time. Oh, she actually liked Dogel. That’s why she was feeling jealous. From that moment on, Natalia began to appear as nothing more than an intruder to her.

“It’s terrible! Monsters are attacking the Kingdom of the Sea!”

“Why…! I have to go!”

“No, Natalia, your wounds are—”

The monsters driven mad by the Siren’s singing attacked Natalia’s kingdom, luring Natalia out. And the next time Dogel saw Natalia—it was her pitiful form washed up on the beach, barely clinging to life.

“…Please forgive me for leaving you behind…”

Losing Natalia drove Dogel insane. He converted Catacombe into a laboratory to repair Natalia’s body, experimented with devices and machinery to stop her decay and tried to merge her with mechanical parts, attempting to bring Natalia back to life. He even used a device given by the Siren to turn back time, but it turned out to be fake. Despite all his efforts, Natalia never returned to life.

“If humans won’t work, then why not use angels?”

“Angels…? Are such beings even real?”

“They are. Churches are close to the heavens. If enough spirits gather there, angels will surely appear to deal with them.”

“But even if they do exist, how…?”

“I’ve heard that the Demon Lord can resurrect the dead… If you beg for help from the Demon Lord, you might receive his benevolence.”

To the weakened heart of Dogel, the words of the Siren were a sweet but deadly poison. If there were no other options left, then any method would do… Dogel finally reached out for forbidden magic.

◆　◆　◆

“But this is how we were able to meet each other!”

“I’m grateful. There’s no greater happiness than this!”

The Siren was too pitiful. She was used as a pawn. Perhaps she hoped that Dogel would give up on Natalia and look at her, even though it might have been a futile attempt. Even when Natalia headed to the kingdom of the sea alone, she must have hoped he would rely on her. Did he not even spare a glance for the Siren…? Is that why he didn’t help her…?

“Oh, yes… I’m glad for you.”

“Yes, I’m truly glad…”

“You, you’re the one who brought Natalia and me together! You’re like the cupid of love!!!”

“Oh, no… This is bad…”

“Huh…? What’s wrong…?”

“Rena-san, R-Rinne-nee seems to…”

Oh no…?

“Oh… Crap…”

“This is really bad…”

“W-Waaaahhh…! (I said something I shouldn’t have! I said it!)”

“I also think that was quite… inappropriate…”

“(； ・`ω・´)”

No, calm down. Maybe I misheard. Maybe it was just me. Let’s just calm down, okay? Let’s try asking again, what did you say?

“Sorry. I wasn’t really paying attention just now. What did you say?”

Try saying it again? What was it again?

“Um, well… You’re the one who… brought me and…”

“Brought us together…”

“Love’s… Cupid…!?”

… I’M GOING TO KILL THEM ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!

“You two can be buddies in the afterlife foreverrrrrrrrr!!! Disintegrate into dust, death explosionnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!”