The moment I stepped out of the Audience Chamber, an intense wave of dizziness washed over me.
My hand instinctively shot out to the wall to steady myself.
Then, the black smudge manifested in my vision once more.
It flickered in and out of existence, gnawing at my consciousness. I tried to swat it away, but my hand met only empty air. As I had suspected, it was a mere hallucination, devoid of any physical form.
While I grappled with the illusion, a wave of nausea followed.
Being undead, I had no stomach to empty; I was left only with the phantom sensation of the sickness. Still, I forced my legs to move, dragging myself down the corridor.
My condition was deteriorating rapidly.
When I tried to use teleportation, I felt a jagged disturbance in my magic power. It would be unwise to attempt any advanced arts in this state. Out of necessity, I continued my journey on foot.
(What on earth is happening?)
I was baffled by these internal changes. I never imagined I would be plagued by such symptoms after becoming an undead.
My physical state was steadily worsening. Although I tried to alleviate it with magic, it had little effect.
"...Ugh."
A sharp, splitting headache struck, and I drove my fingers into my temples. I used too much force, and I heard the sickening crack of bone as my digits sank into my skull.
Strangely, the new pain seemed to dull the old. I decided to keep walking, my fingers still embedded in my own head. Shards of bone occasionally crumbled and clattered to the floor. I continued toward my chambers, crushing the fragments underfoot.
"Damn it..."
"You look like you are in pain. Are you quite all right?"
A voice called out to me from ahead.
I looked up to see Yura standing there. However, I realized my mistake immediately. Her aura was too transcendent, her presence too detached. The sheer volume of power radiating from her was far from ordinary.
I spoke her true name.
"The Great Spirit, I see..."
"Yes, that is correct. I have a notification for you today. It is a very serious matter."
Responding with clinical indifference, the Great Spirit began her explanation without invitation. Half of her words were slipping through my mind. I knew I couldn't afford to ignore her, but the sheer intensity of the headache and nausea made it impossible to concentrate.
I channeled a faint surge of holy magic to purify my head. The burning, excruciating light caused my skull to begin melting instantly, but the searing agony succeeded in drowning out the underlying symptoms. My appearance was likely horrific, but I didn't care.
While I struggled, the Great Spirit stood there quietly. She said nothing, simply waiting for her opportunity to speak.
Casting a glance at my smoldering fingertips, I looked back at her.
"It seems this isn't a conversation that can be put off."
"Indeed. It is a situation where every second counts. It is also related to the abnormality that is assailing you."
"What?"
I reacted sharply to her words. My current condition was clearly atypical; a pileup of ailments was beginning to manifest to a degree unthinkable for an undead. It seemed the Great Spirit knew the cause.
"Shall we talk here? Or shall we move to another location? I do not mind either way."
"...I want to move locations."
I wanted to hear her business immediately, but this was a public corridor. There was a chance someone might overhear. I needed to hear this in a place where we would not be disturbed.
I led the Great Spirit to my private chambers. On the way, I nearly collapsed several times, but I endured through sheer mental strength.
My symptoms were accelerating. The writhing black smudge was spreading with enough force to blot out my entire field of vision.
I had the Great Spirit sit on the sofa and then slumped into the one opposite her. My body felt heavy. Though I felt as if I might lose consciousness at any moment, I forced myself to speak.
"Here, there should be no concern about eavesdropping."
"You seem to be in considerable pain. When did these symptoms begin?"
"Just a short while ago."
"I see. Then it is not too late. There should still be time."
The Great Spirit looked slightly relieved. Although I couldn't read her emotions from her face, I felt a sense of something akin to familiarity directed toward me. Despite that, I pressed her on the point that mattered.
"Time for what?"
"I will tell you now."
The Great Spirit straightened her posture and spoke in a flat, level tone.
"To be blunt: the world's defense mechanism has been triggered. In other words, we face a crisis of world ruin."
"..."
I fell silent. After a brief pause, I asked, "I know you are not the type to joke, but is this the truth?"
"I only speak the truth. A crisis is undoubtedly approaching."
"Then what kind of crisis is attempting to destroy the world?"
I pressed her further. As far as the information network of the Demon King’s Domain could tell, no such existential threat existed. At most, there were conflicts between nations or skirmishes with our own borders. Certainly, nothing of that scale could be called a crisis of the world. At the very least, nothing should have triggered the defense mechanism.
Ignoring my internal skepticism, the Great Spirit reached the heart of the matter.
"Supernatural existences from outside the world have begun their invasion. The one responsible for the abnormality affecting you is one of their number."