As the protector of the Star Mausoleum, Margaery Tyr didn’t know how long she had spent on this mountain peak. She remembered some vague details from when she was chosen as the protector. Back then, when the final list was published, everyone except Margaery heaved long sighs of relief. No one was willing to come to this god-forsaken place to lead life like a captive. Nominally, even though being a protector was an extremely honorable job, everyone knew that there was no true meaning for a job that only allowed one to move about in a small space on a mountain peak despite obtaining the highest power of glory. To dark elves who were obsessed with power struggle, this was a punishment more terrifying than death.
However, Margaery wasn’t mindful of this result at all. On the contrary, she was actually glad to become the protector of this place. As a heterogeneity of the dark elves, she never liked or looked forward to battles. She also bitterly detested the crafty plots and machinations. But in the dark underworld, one would be down the road to ruin if one didn’t follow rules. Even though Margaery always sensed and felt the murderous intent and criticisms from her sisters as well as hatred from her mother, she just couldn’t find ways to make herself as bloodthirsty as the other dark elves. It was due to her difference in character that turned her family into a laughing stock of the world of dark elves. This was why Margaery wasn’t surprised when she received the news of her being chosen as the protector. She knew that her family had been trying to banish her and now, with such a great opportunity, they surely wouldn’t let this chance go. Indeed, just as she had expected, it was ‘inevitable’ that she was chosen as the protector, to leave this dark underworld, and arrive at the Star Mausoleum at the peak of this mountain.
In the beginning, Margaery wasn’t used to living here at all. For a dark elf who lived her entire life in the deep underground, exposure to the sudden changes in air pressure was unbearable. Despite that, Margaery held on and no matter how dry and dull life was here, it was better than her seeking survival in the reign of terror in the dark underworld. Just like this, she became the protector of the Star Mausoleum, leading a peaceful yet boring life.
Margaery didn’t know what she was protecting and not even the predecessor was aware. All they knew was that their duty was to ensure that the mausoleum remained intact. There were neither tombstones nor coffins, not to mention any records of the buried. Instead of treating this place as a mausoleum, it would be more appropriate to see it as a monastery or prison. But Margaery was unperturbed by it. She was satisfied with her life without disruptions from the outside world. To a ‘special’ dark elf like her, this was considered a pleasant living environment.
But a few days ago, Margaery’s tranquil life was smashed. An undead army arrived and forcefully occupied the mausoleum. It was only then that Margaery learned that the Country of Darkness and Void Territory had broken out in a war, with the latter invading their territory. This left Margaery somewhat surprised, but she didn’t take it to heart. Even though she was displeased with the undead army occupying her sanctuary by force, she didn’t comment much. After all, they were undead creatures, so it was impossible for her to request them to leave. But even so, she kept a distance away from them. For some unknown reason, she felt like these undead creatures were acting strangely as though they emanated a mysterious and dangerous aura…
“Madam Margaery.”
Upon hearing someone calling her name, Margaery lifted her head and looked forward. Shortly after, a specter young lady drifted out from nowhere silently. She wore the same attire as Margaery, albeit in different colors. This was where the mausoleum stood out from the masses. Apart from the mausoleum protector, there were no other creatures except for the five specters responsible for assisting and taking care of the protector.
“Is anything the matter?”
“This was what happened. Somebody is launching an attack on us.”
“… Huh?”
This news was beyond her expectation as Margaery took a while to process the situation before returning to her senses. She didn’t expect the mausoleum to be ambushed too.
Why is this happening? Isn’t this place only a mausoleum? Could it be that the undead army is the root of the trouble? If that is the case, the situation will be hard to handle…
At this thought, Margaery let out a sigh.
“Is there anything that we need to do, Madam Margaery?”
“… Where are the undead creatures that were stationed outside right now?”
“They have descended the mountain to fight with the enemies.”
“Is that so…”
Upon hearing the specter’s report, Margaery lifted her head and gazed outside the window. Through the thin layer of cloud, she saw some dazzling flashes on the mountain road and heard some faint explosions. It was apparent that the battles below were intense.
But… This has nothing to do with me.
“Seal off the mausoleum. Whatever is happening outside has nothing to do with us.”
“Yes, Madam Margaery.”
While the Star Mausoleum was being sealed off, the battles on the mountain road intensified.
“Heyahhhh!”
Mini Bubble Gum snarled and strode ahead, clenching and throwing her fists forward. Along with this movement, a straight, dazzling light column descended from the sky, landing on the position her fist pointed at. In a series of rumbles, the undead creatures that stopped the young lady were crushed to bits by the light column. The pitch-black ghouls that were proliferating a filthy aura screeched and withdrew desperately. But even so, their bodies were ripped apart by the mighty gales of Mini Bubble Gum’s punch. The ghouls bellowed and forced open their wounds abruptly, spraying dark green blood at the young lady.
“The same trick won’t work on the Saint Seiya!”
Gazing at the filthy, putrid streams of blood, Mini Bubble Gum curled her lips in disdain. She swung her left hand forward and a ray of silver-whitish brilliance glittered beside her, shining on the dark green, poisonous blood, making them disappear to nowhere. At the same time, Mini Bubble Gum turned her hand over and hurled a punch. In the blink of an eye, a burst of light devoured the ghouls that failed to escape. Meanwhile, Canary stood beside Mini Bubble Gum, the fiery sword in her hand dancing like butterflies fluttering in the air. Walls of flame rose from the ground and the blazing flames in her hand metamorphosed into a submissive, yet terrifying monster that pounced on the death knights. Even though the death knights’ swords emanated an ice-cold fog that dissipated the surrounding flames, that didn’t stop Canary at all. She dashed forward sideways, piercing the flame sword into one of the death knights. Facing this attack from her, the death knight flourished its sword from above. The blades clashed, splashing flames in all directions.
Using the momentum from this attack, Canary retreated elegantly, swinging the fiery sword in her right hand continuously as though she were drawing a dazzling magical rune in midair using a light feather. The instant the young lady’s eyes glinted in a scarlet flash, the rune drawn by the fiery sword flickered abruptly. As though resonating with each other, the flames scorching the death knight from the explosion drilled into the gap of its armor on its own. Before the death knight reacted, its body, clad in solid armor, exploded like an over-pumped balloon. Flames surged and enveloped the surrounding undead creatures.
At the same time, a pitch-black figure stared at the young lady ahead. It extended its shriveled finger and chanted quietly under its breath. The power of death coalesced at its fingertip.
“Sia!”
Along with the necromancer’s incantation, an almost invisible ray of light burst out from its finger, aiming straight at Canary. Before Canary reacted, powerful, whistling winds had rushed past her. But at the next moment, a spinning shield appeared from the side and defended her from this attack. The lethal power of darkness that was enough to destroy Canary’s life was stopped by the shield firmly. Anne gripped the shield handle with both hands and swung it forward. Suddenly, the spinning shield adjusted its trajectory and crashed into the necromancer with a loud bang. Not only that, but razor-sharp, monster-like teeth also emerged on the surface of the shield and crunched the battered necromancer. Anne tugged the shield and the necromancer’s body was ripped apart like a rag doll, crumbling to the ground lifelessly.
With Rhode and his younger sister leading the way, in addition to Canary, Bubble, and Anne, their group of five was unstoppable. Blade rays and thunder roared, while holy brilliance and flames followed closely behind like waves. No matter how many undead creatures there were, they were all killed on sight. As long as the undead creatures were engulfed in battle, most of them couldn’t escape. But despite that, the luckier ones who fled disaster didn’t have it much better. Because the magician knights that followed closely behind would eliminate the fish that slipped the net and send them to meet their companions in the netherworld.
“Right there!”
Shortly after, Mini Bubble Gum saw the mausoleum in the shape of a pyramid ahead. Her eyes glinted as she flitted across in a flash.
“Heh. Leader, I’m the first to arrive…”
But before Mini Bubble Gum finished her sentence, a blade light suddenly burst out from the flat ground and turned into a barrier that stopped the little fellow from advancing. Fortunately, Mini Bubble Gum was a veteran in battle. Upon realizing that something was amiss, she hurled a punch forward, colliding with the barrier and leaping back immediately. However, that blade light didn’t seem to intend to let its enemy go. As Mini Bubble Gum retreated, the barrier metamorphosed into a blinding blade light that whizzed and followed her closely. But at that moment, the whizzing shield showed up again.
Clang!
The blade light and shield collided, letting out a crisp rasp. The blade light that failed its attack flew back quickly, while Mini Bubble Gum seized the timing and returned to her group.
“Thanks, Anne.”
Mini Bubble Gum patted Anne’s shoulder and said. Even though Mini Bubble Gum was also able to evade the attack without Anne’s help, the former would end up more embarrassed. Shortly after, Mini Bubble Gum turned over and looked ahead.
A knight donned in a suit of gorgeous, pitch-black armor stood silently before the mausoleum entrance.
