After leaving the crowded adventurer's guild, Edward, who had taken on the woman's ission, followed her alone. Sihe request specified a Grand Mage, the other, not being one, didn't see much point in others tagging along.

  As the surroundings became quiet, the woman walking ahead quickly asked with surprise, " you really lead me to find a Grand Mage?"

  Because the woman came too close all of a sudden, Edward, slightly out of breath, pressed down on her shoulder and nodded, saying, "Don't worry. Since I've taken on your ission, I'll help you. Also, my name is Edward Durin. I ask why you insist on a Grand Mage for this task?"

  In this world, while mages held signifit privileges, it was mainly due to their rarity, not ah-shattering abilities io mages. The explosive magic Edward assisted Helena with before seemed powerful, but it ed a siderable amount of mana. Few mages in this world could maintain both such high magical expenditure aal stability.

  Most mages in this world, rather than participating in battles, worked as researchers in their mage towers or addressed national-level issues for the Empire.

  sidering this, most mages didn't join the adventurer's guild. It wasn't practical to employ a researcher feneral tasks. In this situation, someone suddenly rushing into the guild seeking a Grand Mage indicated an urgent matter.

  Hearing Edward's words, the woman, who had lowered her hood, looked a bit nervous but quickly said, "My name is Viz. I'm sorry, but due to the urgency of the matter, I 't expin why I o find a Grand Mage right now. But please don't be afraid, and please believe me. I genuinely want to seek a Grand Mage to solve a problem for my friend."

  "A problem for your friend? a Lich like you have friends?"

  "......."

  Surprised that Edward would directly mention her identity, Viz stood still, and Edward expiraightforwardly, "Although your robe ceals the part of your aura that belongs to the undead, it also hides any signs of life. Ordinary people might not be able to firm this, but for a mage at my level, an undead like you is as spicuous as a bright red undergarment hanging on a windowsill."

  "Uh—"

  Although Edward's metaphor seemed quite subtle, Viz took a step back, only to be surprised that Edward didn't react to her identity. She then asked with a hint of astonishment, "So, you're a Grand Mage, and so young— Wait a moment, Edward Durin, are you the genius mage who rose to fame at the Mage Tower five years ago?"

  "You know me?"

  "Yes, after all, five years ago, I wasn't a Lich yet. It was only a few years ago that I was actally transformed into a Lich due to a magical experiment."

  "I see..."

  "But aren't you afraid? Clearly, you know I'm a Lich..."

  "Although it's a bit surprising, I'm not afraid. It seems you were, at most, a high-ranking mage in your living days. Even though I don't know how you transformed into a Lich, you're just a half-baked mage now. Of course, if it were a Lich-level undead mage, I would be wary. But you don't exude a strong undead aura."

  Yes, while being undead brought eternal life, the decay of the body ofte Liches weaker than in their living state. This was why many senies knew methods to transform into undead but refrained fr it. Even though the w prohibited humans from turning themselves into undead, if the bes were signifit, many would still take the risk. Unfortunately, there was no perfect windfall, only equal exges.

  Being undead required sacrifig a part of one's strength and wisdom. That's why very few voluntarily transformed into undead in this world.

  "If you choose to give up practig human magid instead learn neancy, the talents that e with being undead help you reach higher realms faster. However, ordinary people wouldn't be ied in neancy."

  "Then, aren't you going to report to the church or the knight order?"

  "No, because it's meaningless and a waste of time. You, such a creature, won't pose a threat to human society. Only some fanatics from the church might go mad and rush over."

  Hearing Edward's words, Viz, who had been astonished for a while, breathed a sigh of relief. "Great, I was worried that if my identity was exposed, I'd be hunted again— You're right. I am a Lich, and the friend I need your help with is her than the Headless Horseman you've probably heard of."

  "The Headless Horseman?"

  Wearing an astonished expression, Edward was well aware of who the "Headless Horseman" represented. Almost everyone in this era had heard rumors about the formidable and terrifying figure. He also felt fortunate because he had inally po seek out the rumored Headless Horseman as an actor. Uedly, this time he mao gather a Lid the Headless Horseman in one go.

  Soon, in Viz's narration, Edward finally uood why she came to the adventurer's guild to find a Grand Mage.

  As the rumors had it, the Headless Horseman, Belldia, ohe stro knight, was assassinated otlefield by an undead army. His corpse was transformed into one of the most powerful undead, the Headless Horseman.

  However, the subsequent story wasn't as straightforward as the rumors suggested. Iy, the Headless Horseman couldn't resist the ands of the Lich who had transformed him into an undead. He became a puppet sughtering humans otlefield for a long time. During that extended period, the Headless Horseman's humaions were gradually erased, nearly being a plete walking corpse.

  What ged everything was a ce. The Lich who trolled the Headless Horseman died for some reason. Normally, in such situations, the Lich should leave an imprint of trol and pass it on to a disciple or another Lich. However, perhaps due to the rapid unfolding of events, the imprint trolling one of the most powerful undead, the Headless Horseman, disappeared from this world.

  Therefore, finally regaining his sciousness, the Headless Horseman escaped from the realm beyond the Northerory auro the human world. Unfortunately, after turies had passed, everything had ged. Instead of being greeted with flowers and admiration, the once-imperial hero was now met with terror and fear.

  People were terrified by his hideous appearance, and they immediately reported the o the churd the knight order, leading the Headless Horseman, who had thought he could finally avoid battles, to once agairapped in a stant state of fleeing.

  It was during one such joint pursuit by the churd the knight order that he entered Viz, who was also being hunted. With her help, he mao escape the encirclement and learhat the church's trol over the Southerory was weak. That's why they came to this seemingly peaceful but equally unweling nd for the undead.

  "In the years that followed, Mr. Belldia and I wahrough the Southerory. I had heard rumors about the Headless Horseman before and had a certain fear of him. However, through our iions, I realized he wasn't as terrifying as the rumors suggested. Although he sometimes did strahings, he remained a wise and reliable knightly role model."

  "I heard that due to Grand Duke Viktor's dislike of the church, there were hardly any sightings of the churd the holy knights in this nd. So, Mr. Belldia and I came to the Southerory. However, the fear of the undead among people couldn't be eliminated. My situation was bearable as ordinary people couldn't distinguish between a human and a Lich, but it wasn't the case for Mr. Belldia. Just seeing his appearance scared people away, let alone living a peaceful life."

  "But the worst was yet to e. Although these years were extremely difficult, Mr. Belldia seemed happy just to return to his homend. However, retly, the curse on Mr. Belldia suddeed. It was a curse id upon him by the Lich who once trolled him."

  "Although I had studied this type of magic before and uood its principles, my shallow magic power was ultimately insuffit. That's why I wao find a Grand Mage for help. Initially, Mr. Belldia strongly opposed my decision, as a misstep could affect me too. But seeing Mr. Belldia suffering from the curse's effects, barely haviuro his homend ao experience a peaceful life, I hope Mr. Edward, you help him. I'll find a way to earn the reward, please, you must..."

  Viz spoke with utmost siy, ying all her cards oable before Edward. Therefore, after some thought, the man didn't say much, just quietly stating, "Don't worry. If there's anything I do to help, I'll do my best."