“Wow, that’s a scary look you have, must be someone you know and don’t like then,” the busboy said.
“Sometimes, it’s good not to ask too many questions,” Ludwig said as he proceeded to remove his clothes.
“I’ll excuse myself,’ the busboy said and closed the door.
Once Ludwig had all his clothes off. Putting them on the table along with the lantern which shone dimly in the dark humid washing room. He then placed his foot into the hot water, feeling a sudden rush of warmth going up his bones.
The slime covering his body soon wobbled as if enjoying the warm bath, the feeling of warmth seeped into his cold dead bones and gave him a sensation of relaxation that he desperately needed.
Though it’s pretty funny he thought that he was a skeleton taking a bath, he still seemed to enjoy it.
The slime detached itself from Ludwig and began swimming, bobbing up and down the warm water. While Ludwig was left truly naked in the tank.
He glanced at his body and began studying the intricate carvings of Master Van Dijk, how his Nephilium circuit was carved was incredibly intricate and detailed to the point Ludwig thought of it as a work of art.
He couldn’t figure out how it was made, however, he was thankful for it, since it allowed him to use magic beyond what his messed-up body could.
If the two failed necromancers hadn’t botched his revival, he wouldn’t have needed this circuit. But thanks to Van Dijk saving the day, he now has a better body.
Ludwig took a look at all his skills and abilities and checked his status screen. Though nothing was different from the last time he checked, he just felt more comfortable with seeing how far he progressed.
[Fakery of Death has activated!]
‘Huh?’
Ludwig panicked as his passive ability activated, this meant that Van Dijk was close. But what is he doing here at the inn?
“Ludwig my boy,” he heard, Ludwig looked at the source of the voice. A large-sized bat was hanging upside down in the corner of the bathroom.
Its black fur blended almost perfectly with the background, but the red eyes of the bat shone just bright enough to give it a more horrific appearance.
“Is that you, Master Van Dijk?” Ludwig asked.
“Yes, though I believe I need to give you a communication crystal because I dislike using one of these things to converse. Anyway,’ Van Dijk immediately went to the core of the matter.
“My main body is still investigating the ritual but I need to know something.”
“Yes, Master,” Ludwig replied courtly.
“Did the man you killed, speak of anything… how can I say this, strange?”
“Most of what he did was pretty strange to me, but there was something… stranger than most,” Ludwig said.
“What is it?” the bat spoke.
Ludwig tried to formulate the idea properly before he could speak it.
“He talked about his patron…” Ludwig said.
“The Sultan?” the question almost felt as if Van Dijk’s bat was frowning.
“No, something else.”
“What is it?” Van Dijk asked.
“I don’t think it was the sultan it was another person since the mask that I’m wearing showed me the preparator. It showed me a vision of a place full of corpses, and the Sheikh was there bowing his head to a man that was feasting on the corpses.”
“What else did you see, and what do you know about that corpse-eating man?”
“Well, the corpse-eating man wasn’t human, or at least looked far from it. He had more hair on his body than normal, almost like a feral beast. He also had a lantern just like mine. The Sheikh seemed to have prepared a feast for him. About a few hundred bodies that he ate. The man also mentioned that he couldn’t share his immortality with the Sheikh but he could tell him how the Sheikh could also get his own unique way of immortality,” Ludwig said.
“Continue,” Van Dijk muttered.
“Yes, he mentioned something about a creature that lives in a bog near the Black Tower academy. It would grant the Sheikh a way to immortality, and I suppose he found it with the tree rituals and all.” Ludwig explained.
“Is that all?” Van Dijk asked, he sounded like he had doubts but didn’t seem to push the matter any further.
“Yeah, there was something, although I don’t know if it’s important,” Ludwig said.
“Speak then, let me be the judge of that.”
“At the end of the vision, the Sheikh had to leave because the man was becoming more and more feral, and once he left the domed temple they were in, a loud wolfen howl echoed from inside the temple. I don’t think a human can ever replicate that, it was definitely a wolf’s howl.”
Van Dijk didn’t speak a word for a bit and then said, “Finally… a trace. Good, my boy, good.”
“Do you know anything about the creature in the bog?” Ludwig asked as he wanted to know a bit more about the Glutenous Death.
“Yes I do, it’s not something you nor I can deal with… but if it’s sensible enough to give that man what he wants, then it should be sensible enough for a conversation… I’ll head over to it, do you have anything to do this week?” Van Dijk asked.
“No, not really… I mean the exams and all… but I heard from Hoyo…”
“Don’t mind the exams, all three of you will get a passing grade. Remember, this academy serves as a way to improve upon a mage’s intellect and prowess. You all proved you had enough intellect to obtain the Artificer’s orb, as for you, you get extra points for taking down the preparator of this ritual. Sirou Von Dalton will be rewarding you personally… he’s a Lufondal Empire Imperial consultant and head of security for the emperor…”
“Oh… a big shot,” Ludwig said.
“As big as they can get, you’re lucky he didn’t discover your… condition.” Van Dijk said.
“I know…” Ludwig said as he remembered the terrifying forces he brought with him. Especially that hulking beast of a man, Banner.