Chapter 516: Where He Stands

The Elegiac Society might not be the only secret society in the world, but it was surely the one with the highest bar for entry.

Not only did you need to be undead, you needed to be at least a legend to even qualify.

There were no referrals nor legacy members. Only the President himself had the authority to invite new members.

As a result, even after all these years, the Elegiac Society's membership remained so sparse that a single small tavern could seat every one of them.

When Black Rose stepped into this little tavern in the desert, barely half the Society's members had arrived. Strangely enough, there were outsiders present as well.

A cluster of what looked like mercenaries sat scattered around the room, deep in loud conversation, mostly about recent events. More than two months had passed since that great overseas war, but its aftershocks still hadn't settled completely.

The desert had been territory Lyon seized from the dwarves in the first place, and had never been especially secure to begin with. Now, with Lyon in internal chaos, no one had the attention to spare for it.

The mercenaries were discussing the paladins' large-scale withdrawal, apparently as ordered by the newly appointed High Inquisitor. Word was that Lyon was simply abandoning the desert outright. Who knew when the dwarves might march back to reclaim it?

The desert's residents had only just learned the prayers and hymns of the Lord of Dawn, but now they'd have to switch masters yet again. The returning dwarves might want to settle old scores, too.

Black Rose quickly spotted her close friend, the bone dragon Alabastra.

She wore a cloak that concealed the twin horns marking her draconic soul, making her look like an ordinary adventurer. But beside her sat Gareth, who didn't even bother with a helmet. Though he had shrunk to the size of a normal human, it was clear that he was a Dullahan.

Perhaps it was that brazen appearance of his that kept the other patrons at a respectful distance.

This was still Lyon's territory, after all. Lyon might be in disarray, but an undead drinking openly in broad daylight on Lyon soil was either a fool or someone powerful enough not to fear consequences—and either type was best left alone.

Black Rose sat down beside Alabastra. "You left your true body at the Dragon Graveyard?"

Alabastra shook her head. "It's right outside."

"I can't sense a trace of it! You've gotten stronger, Alabastra."

Her legendary boon had always been stealth, but Black Rose knew her well enough to notice the change at once. Her boon had grown far stronger.

Alabastra sighed. "I'd rather I hadn't. It's a blessing from the dragon gods. It wasn't just me. Some of the overseas dragons got lucky too, including my father."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Black Rose asked.

"It's put the idea of returning to the mainland back in his head. He never stops to think! If war breaks out again, who will end up as cannon fodder? We bone dragons will die while those useless dragons can hide behind us. And in the end, they'll reap all the benefits. Do we bone dragons need the mainland's food? Do we need any of those luxuries?"

Alabastra's position couldn't have been more different from the others. Bone dragons were undead, but the undead were not dragons.

The continent's various kingdoms might be in disarray right now, but the Dragon Tyrant's revival had rattled them badly. If the dragons dared return, every kingdom would unite against them without hesitation. And when that happened, the bone dragons would be the first to die.

Black Rose gave a cold laugh. "The dragon gods just won't give up, will they? They'd sooner drive this world's dragons to extinction than let them keep hiding away from the mainland."

"Exactly. They're all a pack of fools who actually think they're capable. I had Gareth pin my father down, or I wouldn't have had a moment's peace."

Black Rose: "..."

Gareth let out an exasperated sound.

"I'm exhausted, too. I have to hold back, but the old man got stronger from that blessing. If I hold back too much, I might not even be able to keep him down. But when I use a bit too much force, Alabastra blames me..."

Before he could finish, Alabastra punched him.

"You nearly took my father's head off! Am I not supposed to be upset about it?!"

"Alright, alright, it's my fault. I'll practice more, I promise. Next time, I'll bring your father in without a scratch on him!"

......

Watching the bickering couple, Black Rose felt a mix of envy and sorrow. Even back when Ambrose was still around, the two of them had never seemed quite this close.

She'd once thought none of this mattered much. Only after he was gone did she realize how much her own obsession had shifted because of him.

Lyon no longer mattered. What mattered now was bringing his soul back.

Resolved as she was, Black Rose still couldn't stand watching her friend flirt in front of her. She cut in. "Why meet here, of all places?"

Alabastra shook her head. "No idea. Poet picked it."

Alabastra pointed, and Black Rose spotted Poet standing behind the bar, wiping down a glass.

Poet was dressed in a bard's garb, looking like the sort of washed-up busker who'd never quite made it. He wasn't much of a bartender, either. His glass-wiping technique looked less like polishing and more as if he held some personal grudge against the glassware.

Black Rose didn't bother greeting Poet. All she wanted now was for the President to arrive, so she could ask that mysterious elder whether he could help bring Ambrose's soul back.

After a short wait, the Elegiac Society's members began trickling in one after another.

The dwarf vampire came first, floating in through the door with both feet off the ground, his four-foot frame somehow projecting a six-and-a-half-feet aura. Once he sat down, though, with his feet dangling well short of the floor, the effect grew rather awkward.

The ghoul Yugasi followed close behind, as elegantly dressed as ever, trailed by a dark-skinned, powerfully built man—the giant Im with his size shrunk down.

Even scaled down, he still stood well over six feet. His muscle mass was enough to intimidate anyone who looked at him.

More awkward still, Im ended up seated right next to Heki Stone. The dwarven vampire looked smaller than just one of the giant's arms.

Heki Stone clearly wanted to relocate, but before he could, Aige arrived. Right behind her was, at last, the mysterious President.

The President appeared, as always, in the form of a skeleton wrapped in tattered robes that concealed most of his frame. The instant he entered, every member of the Elegiac Society rose to their feet as one, bowing to him with deep respect.

Every member of the Elegiac Society, in one way or another, owed the President a debt.

Gareth had been saved through the Necromantic Codex. Alabastra had been able to reincarnate smoothly thanks to a ring the President had given her. Aige had learned to speak with the President's personal guidance... and the rest needed no explaining. Every one of them had received his kindness in some measure.

With the whole Society gathered, the little tavern felt distinctly cramped.

With so many legendary undead in the room at once, dark magic naturally gathered around them. The temperature inside began plunging rapidly. The other patrons sensed that something was very wrong and hurried out of the tavern.

Before long, only the Society's own members remained inside.

Poet sighed, wistful. "Running a business really isn't easy. I'm going to lose money again today. I wanted to try what young Tiga did, to get a taste of building something from nothing, but it turns out it's a lot harder than it looks."

At the mention of that name, everyone's expression turned somber.

Poet raised his glass to the room. "We've gathered here today to remember a friend we lost. Our time together was brief, but he was an interesting little brother to us all. Since the Elegiac Society's founding, three of our members have fallen for good. Let's all drink to our friend, and let's all remember that undeath is never truly eternal."

The wine was gold and gave off a strange, fragrant aroma. Black Rose drained her cup in one go. Her very soul felt soothed—clearly, this drink had been brewed specifically for the undead.

But she had no time for pleasure. The moment everyone set their cups down, Black Rose blurted out, somewhat impulsively, "President, can you tell me where his soul is?"

The President set down his cup and looked at Black Rose calmly. "You want to bring his soul back?"

"Of course. Whatever the cost!" Black Rose exclaimed, resolute.

Every eye in the room turned to the President. Even Heki Stone couldn't help but look hopeful.

Whatever their history, the lich had always been a true friend to everyone here. He'd helped Aige ascend to godhood, helped Black Rose get her revenge, helped Gareth handle his family's affairs... Everyone remembered every bit of it.

The undead felt little in the way of emotion, but even setting sentiment aside and speaking purely in terms of self-interest, every member of the Elegiac Society hoped he'd come back.

But the President only shook his head. "You can't. No one can pay this price."

"Not even you?" Black Rose was visibly startled.

"I'm nothing more than a skeleton who's lived a very long time. I don't have the power you think I do. His end was a path he chose for himself. There is no possibility to bring him back to life within the mortal realm."

Hearing that, Black Rose immediately seized on the key phrase.

Not possible within the mortal realm? What of other realms?

"President, please, tell me where he is!"

"A sinner's soul can go nowhere else but Hell."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.