Many things have happened since I became an apostle of Aurora-sama. I can't deny that I've witnessed many strange events, and now I am able to perform feats that were once considered impossible. However, so far, this is the first time I have encountered a boss that can speak.

"Hmm? That's strange. I'm sure I'm speaking the human language. Are you actually part of some other race?"

The skeleton asked, directing its gaze in our direction. It's not that we couldn't understand what he was saying, but the surprise of encountering a talking monster was so great that, honestly, we weren't sure how to react to this situation.

"You... can you speak?"

Saemi asked beside me, with a confused and incredulous look on her face. Fujiwara, Ana, and Aoi seemed to have the same question in mind. In fact, I think all of us had that doubt hovering in our thoughts.

"Well, why wouldn't I be able to? Are you possibly comparing me to mere skeletons? You have no idea how rude that would be if that were the case"

In fact, that's exactly what I was thinking, and judging by the girls' faces, they seemed to be considering the same idea. However, that was no longer the main issue. All my senses screamed danger when I looked at the hooded skeleton. In fact, at this point, I had a pretty good idea of what that skeleton was.

"You... you're a lich, aren't you?"

As soon as I uttered those words, the Lich's red eyes locked onto me, its gaze was eerie, and it felt like it could see into my soul.

"Hmm... that's interesting, young one. So you know what I am"

The Lich said. I couldn't determine what his mood was, as his face showed no emotion. Or rather, can skeletons even show emotion? While this thought crossed my mind, Ana's voice echoed.

"Lich? What is that?"

Ana asked curiously. When I turned to her, she was looking at me with her finger in her mouth, tilting her head to the side. Although it was quite cute, I couldn't fully appreciate it given our current situation.

"Lichs are usually former wizards who attempted to perform some kind of forbidden magic or the like and ended up assuming this appearance. Although there are variations, they almost always conduct inhumane experiments in pursuit of immortality"

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I said while keeping my gaze on the Lich, I really couldn't tell what the origin of the Lich in front of me was, but one thing I was sure of, just as my senses are telling me that this monster is extremely dangerous, somehow, I can also see several black shadows attached to the Lich, I couldn't even tell how many there were in total, all tangled up, held by something.

"Hohoho, though you are young, you seem to have good knowledge. As you said, I am a Lich, but I am not yet complete. I have not achieved immortality. All I did was abandon my mortal flesh for something more resilient and enduring. I think it's been five hundred years since I did that"

Said the Lich as he looked at his hand. Then, he turned his gaze to us, and the flames in his eyes burned even brighter.

"But I am close to achieving it, the immortality I seek"

Continued the Lich, his eyes burning with restless desire.

"See, I fear death. What comes after death? Have you ever wondered? I am a mage, the unknown terrifies me, and I don't want to die. That's why I used those children in experiments. Small children are at the beginning of life, and I thought that with them, maybe I could understand why we are born into this world only to die"

For some reason, the Lich's words made him seem tormented, but at some point, I stopped paying attention to his words.

(He... he just said he killed children?)

With that thought in mind, I turned my gaze towards the Lich, more precisely at the cluster of shadows wriggling and contorting on his back. As I looked, suddenly, a human face emerged among the shadows, its eyes conveying endless pain and suffering. As soon as I realized what these forms were, my stomach instantly churned, and I put my hand over my mouth, trying to hold back the impending vomit.

"Makoto? Are you okay?"

Saemi's voice echoed beside me, but all I could hear was a buzz. My eyes saw everything spinning, and I couldn't contain the uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. Everything came out.

"Blargh"

As I bent down to vomit, the girls' voices echoed, but at that moment, I wasn't hearing anything. The only thing my mind could think of was how inhumane the being in front of me was. Out of fear of not dying, he took the lives of countless children, sacrificed them without an ounce of guilt.

"My goodness, vomiting right after looking at someone. Kids these days are really ill-mannered... or perhaps, can you actually see it?"

Asked the skeleton while pointing to the mass of shadows behind him. His words sounded as if he found the situation amusing, and upon realizing that, an incessant anger grew within me. As I stood up, I drew my sword from storage and looked directly into the Lich's eyes.

"You... What did you do to the children you captured?"

I yelled, locking my eyes on the Lich, but he seemed absorbed in his own thoughts, muttering something.

"This is simply fantastic. Although I can sense them, I can't see them. You have something that makes you special... I want that, I want what you have. If I have that... Yes, with that, I will finally achieve immortality"