In a dense forest on the outskirts of the Tepaya Basin, Princess Lilya, wearing freshly cleaned silver-white armor and brandishing a new sword, stood in a clearing, quietly listening to the report from her guards.

After enduring the baptism of war and combat for this period, the youthful charm that the princess once possessed had seemingly been washed away. She now exuded an unwavering spirit of iron and blood, and her bright eyes had gained a sharp gleam that few could directly meet.

Her sky-blue hair was neatly tied in a ponytail, secured by a silver feathered helmet. Her slender figure, protected by the armor, with just the right roundness in her chest, gave no hint of the valiant warrior who had once bravely fought in the midst of hundreds of beastmen.

Emily knelt on the ground, her gaze upturned towards the princess, whom she had served for many years. She could sense that her mistress was undergoing a profound transformation at an unimaginable speed.

As the princess’s trusted confidant and right-hand, Emily naturally had some understanding of her current state.

But as long as they could complete this mission, successfully win the war against the beastmen, and return to the royal capital, Princess Lilya would undoubtedly assert her dominance over all competitors, firmly keeping them under her heel.

With some strategic maneuvering, once the ailing old king breathed his last, Lilya would ascend as the new queen of the Human United Kingdom, reaching the pinnacle of this world.

For this, Emily would spare no effort to assist her mistress.

For example, by obtaining detailed information about the upcoming target.

“Is that so… humans…”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Emily nodded. “Several of us, Shadow Guards, conducted a thorough investigation. The facilities in the basin are entirely operated by humans, with numerous traps, mechanisms, and counter-magic wards set up around the perimeter. It’s impossible for the beastmen to use these things.”

Lilya, Flora, and a somewhat bored-looking Miss Violet, who was stifling a yawn, exchanged glances. Miss Violet sighed and whispered, “Beyond expectations, yet within reason? No, this was expected too, it’s all so extreme. Well…”

“Emily, how many people are there in the basin? Have they discovered your group?”

The female guard in dark, tight-fitting clothing, her face concealed by a black veil, contemplated for a moment. Her unique, slightly hoarse but oddly charming voice responded, “It appears they haven’t noticed. Everyone has refrained from venturing into the interior of the basin and is instead perched on the steep mountains surrounding it, conducting observations from higher ground. As for the number of people…”

“I’ve already confirmed that,” Lilya interjected. “There aren’t many, likely around 300. But…”

Miss Flora suddenly took over Emily’s words, her expression showing some peculiarity. “Lilya, those people in the basin are not humans.”

“Oh? What do you mean?”

The princess tilted her head in puzzlement. However, Flora didn’t immediately respond. Instead, she furrowed her brow, seemingly hesitant. Helplessly, Lilya turned her inquiring gaze to the knowledgeable priestess.

Violet innocently raised her hands, adopting an “it’s not my concern” look. 

“Don’t look at me. I didn’t investigate this. Typically, I’m responsible for ensuring the safety of my employer. Lilya, you can’t become overly reliant on me.”

“Um… you’re right. I’m sorry…”

Lilya suddenly realized, biting her lip. She recognized that she had indeed grown to trust and rely on this teacher-turned-guard, despite having known her for less than a month. It wasn’t a good sign.

While Violet’s words might sound somewhat indifferent, Lilya knew that she was genuinely looking out for her.

“Let me explain it this way, Your Highness. Do you remember those few mages who appeared on the enemy’s side during the rebellion of a part of the Royal Guards?”

Flora’s voice chimed in again, as if she had finally decided how to explain the situation.

At this, Lilya finally understood.

“You mean, undead?”

“Yes… and no.”

A conflicted and serious expression flickered in Miss Flora’s eyes. She paused for a moment and then proceeded to explain, “Ordinary necromancy merely involves manipulating corpses for combat. The bodies are hard to preserve for long, and they lack self-awareness and intellect. They rely on instincts, retaining about half of their former strength at best. It’s a basic application of necromantic magic.”

“But several years ago, I personally witnessed another type of even more peculiar, or should I say, advanced necromantic magic.”

“It can turn a living person’s body into an immortal corpse, preserving them at the moment of death, retaining all their wisdom, memories, and combat skills. Although their strength can never improve again, this magic can significantly prolong their lifespan. Moreover, they are no longer affected by the desires of the living, such as food, sleep, and more, becoming what is known as ‘living dead’.”

“Huh?”

Violet, who was eavesdropping, exclaimed in amazement.

This is quite interesting. Similar skills, even in the 【Illusory World】, Violet had never heard of. After all, something like extending one’s life had little meaning for players. Only in the real world could such life-extending magic be possible.

As Lilya spoke, her expression gradually stiffened. “You… are you saying that those people inside are…?”

Flora nodded, “I can’t say for sure, but I’m at least 80% certain. I’ve seen and interacted with undead or zombies before. Although they may look similar to the living, the decay and foul odor are unmistakable. When hundreds of them gather, even from a distance, I can faintly smell that stench.”

Gulping…

Miss Princess swallowed nervously. As a young girl, she was most afraid of things like ghosts and zombies. Even though she had killed many people on the battlefield, these concepts were not easy to completely change.

“Flora, those… zombies, they can’t be killed no matter what, right? Just like in the stories…”

Upon hearing this, Flora smiled, “There’s nothing in the world that can’t be killed. If it’s not working, it means you’re using the wrong method or you’re not strong enough. Your Highness, there’s no need to worry.”

“Just… I didn’t pay much attention when I saw those necromancers before, but now that there are so many zombies appearing, and considering the same puppeteer behind both, Your Highness, someone may have come into contact with something not quite clean.”

“What is it?”

“【The Eternal Throne】. You might not have heard of it. It’s an underground secret society within the Austre Empire, and their ideology revolves around granting people immortality through necromantic magic. In simple terms, it’s a cult, and the technology to create the living dead is something they’ve developed.”

Flora ran her fingers over the patterns on her simple short bow and spoke with a deep tone, “When I traveled through the empire before, I had a confrontation with the 6th seat of their 12 seats. Their strength was on par with mine, reaching a legendary level. As for the other 5 seats above him, they would only be stronger, which is why I find this very concerning.”

Miss Flora turned around and gazed into the nearby basin, then glanced at Violet with a significant look, “If this is indeed the stronghold of the 【Eternal Throne】, given the scale we’ve uncovered so far, there are likely to be at least 1-2 seat holders inside. Add to that the possibility of an impending Beastman army, Your Highness, this is going to be a tough battle.”