"Let me see if I get this straight," I asked the armored knight in front of me, "you are part of a group of undead creatures that are being terrorized by a different group of undead led by the 'queen' living in the castle in the north?"

"Correct." - Armored knight

"And because of that, your group wishes to defeat the queen so you can live in peace. But said queen has a ridiculous amount of servants who will fight to their second death for her, not to mention the fact she has a real deal castle protecting her. Is that right?" - Garami

"Correct." - Armored knight

"And since you overheard our conversation about raiding the castle, you figured out we could work together?" - Garami

"Correct." - Armored knight

"...Can you say anything else than 'correct'?" - Garami

"Yes." - Armored knight

Tch. Just a man of few words then. And all this here sounds more than just a little familiar.

"One more question: do you guys know a guy called Glavras?" - Garami

"...No?" - Armored knight

The knight tilted his head in response to my question. No dice. And I was certain this whole situation was similar to the Water-Knot. Or maybe Glavras decided to merge the concept of a "Dungeon" with...whatever this place is supposed to be. There being tons of Extra Medals here along with the rumored "spawning undead" can't be just a coincidence. Something System-related is going on here on this island.

"You do know that your story is too crazy for the common man to believe, right?" - Garami

"Yes." - Armored knight

"If so, why did you try to convince me you're not trying to trick me?" - Garami

This guy could be working for this so-called undead queen for all I know. I'm not gonna trust whatever scary person that tries to sneak up on me in a dark alley.

"You are not common. Nor man." - Armored knight

.........Oooookay, I did not expect such a reply. Is this guy speaking the truth? Or is this some super-complicated mental trick?

Whatever the case...let's just take him to Filyn. She's got the strength to spare, enough to blow this guy and whatever trap he may or may not have in store

"Fine. I'll let you have an audience with the Big Bad Filyn." - Garami

"I'm grateful." - Armored knight

"But first, mind introducing yourself first?" I asked, remembering that he's yet to even name himself.

"...I am Iron Tirnog, head of Tir na Nog Freedom Village's Security Force," said the armored knight as he removed his helmet and bowed.

"...Right. Garami here." - Garami

I stared at the now-headless armor, the ghost-type undead "Living Mail" known as Iron Tirnog, without losing my cool at all. Some things just don't phase me anymore. Except for one thing... How is he able to speak?

---

I guided the knight, Iron, back to the temple. Just as we were to enter it, we saw a massive flash of light coming from inside.

Carefully, I opened the door and saw Mira holding a sword covered in bright light that faintly reminded me of the crystals her Crystal-type skills created. And Filyn on the ground, holding her eyes while screaming "I'M BLIIIIND!!". Again, some stuff doesn't phase me anymore.

"Filyn, if you can stop making a fuss for three seconds, I have some intel for you." - Garami

"Who is making a fuss!? ...And who's the guy behind you?" - Filyn

She saw through Iron's gender just like that?! When he is just a piece of armor!? ...Phew. I still can retort like the best of them.

"This is Iron. He lives here, along with those wild undead. And he told me, *blah-blah, yadda-yadda*." - Garami

I had Iron wait at the entrance while I explained what I'd heard from him to the girls.

"WOW! I thought this place was some weird Dungeon, but throw that idea into the garden and call it fertilizer!" - Filyn

"...A little too forced." - Garami

"Way too forced." - Mira

"I was thinking the same right after I said that punchline. My brain must still be sun-fried." - Filyn

"Anyway, what's your take, Big Bad?" - Garami

"Do you mind!? I need a more impressive nickname than that! Like, say, ******-" - Filyn

"Okay, you're out!" - Mira

"You'd drop the Karma Value of an entire city just by speaking like that." - Garami

"Sorry! My brain's still sunburned! Or crystal-burned or whatever. But I like this setting! A small resistance force planning on overthrowing the royalty and taking complete control... I love it!" - Filyn

The last part prolly isn't in Iron's mind, at least. He seems too dull for being part of grand conspiracy plans.

"We're gonna help then?" - Garami

"Of course! Undead creatures capable of rational thinking are a rarity! Let's put them into our debt and absorb them into my organization!" - Filyn

"Is this like working overtime?" - Mira

"Not entirely, but our contract does not include take-overs of undead villages and/or their villagers." - Garami

"Aw, fine! I'll give you another bonus when I think of something! You, Iron-or-whatever, lead the way to your cozy little home of a tomb!" - Filyn

And there she goes. Iron, first giving a confused look in my direction, hurried after her out the front doors, leaving me and Mira behind.

"Is she always like this?" - Garami

"I fear for Blot's stomach." - Mira

"That train has prolly departed before anyone of us two could walk. By the way, how did those quests turn out?" - Garami

"Pretty well. Aced them on my first try!" - Mira

"Sweet! What's the result?" - Garami

"Light plus Crystal equals Luster!" - Mira

"Luster... That sounds cool." - Garami

"Not all of us can stock up on fancy skills and obtain their Technique User titles so early in life like you, hon. But shouldn't we follow them?" - Mira

"True. That Iron guy won't survive Filyn." - Garami

"Isn't this the case where we are worried about our employer? But you're right. If we don't move, Iron is going to end up as the armor for some super-busty female." - Mira

How would that even work? Not that it will stop Filyn from trying. Wait for us!

---

After leaving the purple-colored Hotel District (the names are according to Iron), we skipped past the red Graveyard District and returned to the grey Horror Hills District. Did they name the whole place after that one location? Not that there's anything else noteworthy here, so I get why.

"We need to pass through the Halloween District to reach the Village District, was it?" asked Mira Iron while referring to the orange and yellow districts respectively.

"Affirmative." - Iron

Halloween...

"Listen, on a map inside the train station on top of the hill over there, there was a warning written regarding this place. That it's [the place where idiots want to live], or something like that." - Garami

"Why, how rude. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays." - Filyn

"I fancy Christmas more." - Mira

Huh? Does Terra Sol have the same holidays as Earth? ...No, that can't be it. It must have been the Migrants that introduce those concepts to this world, or maybe the gods themselves decided to make up an excuse for more free days. I mean, there's a lot of stuff in the World System that seems to have been based on stories from Earth.

Thinking about it, stuff like "Goblins" and "Zombies" could have been called something completely different, even "Humans", but no. It's a true carbon copy of the knowledge from Earth. Now I'm beginning to wonder how the inter-universal copyright laws work.

"The people there...weird in their heads." - Iron

"How so?" - Mira

"Their leader, always a Lich. But recently, only Lessers take the position." - Iron

"Are you trying to say there's a constant turf war going on there?" - Garami

"Affirmative. The undead there, spawns from the ground. Much faster, more unnatural, than we who are born, from collected dead aether. Not even remains, are needed." - Iron

Hmm, this is suspicious. What Iron is talking about sounds way closer to how monsters are spawned from a Dungeon than how a natural undead is "born". One of these "naturals" need some Undead-type aether or similar stuff, plus some sorta "remains" such as a corpse, or in Iron's case, the remains of an old, abandoned armor. Spiritual ghosts are born from "grudges" that are left in areas where people have died.

"So the reason why only idiots would wanna live there is because of the constant fighting there?" - Garami

"Affirmative. Not even the dead, can sleep there." - Iron

"Yup. Only true idiots would live in that kind of neighborhood." - Filyn

"Thank you." - Iron

"...? Don't tell me YOU were the one who made that map?" - Garami

"Affirmative." - Iron

"Hey, Iron? Did you use the railway from the station to go to Tree Sea Isle? The place with lots of flowers and trees." - Mira

"Affirmative. Observing Miss Garami's performance, I became certain. She could defeat, the undead queen." - Iron

"I knew it! You were the one I saw back when I was hiding in the trees!" - Mira

"Affirmative." - Iron

What is she...? AAAAHH!! That's right! He was there! Iron must have been the guy we have been following through the tunnel underneath Tree Sea Isle! All the craziness since we arrived on this island made me forget half the reason why we ended up here! Not to forget that the second half, saving Filyn, was also gone for a little while. *Innocent whistling*...

"Are you people finished with your late meet-and-greet? I want to get past this place pronto. Normals are one thing, but Lesser Liches are just boring." - Filyn

"Stop there. Iron, or whatever, did you say that those Lessers are appearing frequently?" - Garami

"Affirmative." - Iron

Is that his catchphrase? But if this isn't a Dungeon..., at least not a normal one, then D-rank monsters such as the Lesser Lich shouldn't appear out of thin air. If a creature is reborn into an undead, then the story is different.

My point is, there aren't any suddenly-appearing Liches here in the Halloween District. There are undead creatures here that decide to evolve into them. And to do that, they need 2 things: [Spectermancer] and a special item known as a "Soul Jar". The latter one is catching my interest at the moment.

Because, if what Iron says is true, then this District in front of me may contain several Soul Jars AND at least 1 Lesser Lich! If I could find that jar and capture the undead, then I would have both a super-rare item and an ability related to Necromancy! I could easily whip up a super necro mode for one of my Nightmare Demon items! There are even those undead-focused Extra Medals we discovered in the Graveyard District, so I'm as good as set!

Considering my options, I should aim for upgrading my outfit. These thief-inspired assassin clothes are cool, but a necromancer's cloak sounds so much cooler! And having the option to fully concentrate on commanding the undead isn't a bad thing either. Sneaking around is fine and all, but sometimes, you need to stay in the spotlight and inspire people. Not to mention I get don't need to do the heavy lifting then.

"Whatever. As I said, Lessers are just trash. Let's skip past this place." - Filyn

"Hold it right there, Filyn! Where is your sense of adventure?" - Garami

"It went to find a free grave. There are lots of them around this place." - Filyn

"Hah! I don't know what Liches you've met in the past, but these guys are essentially the bosses of this District! Bosses! Am I right, or am I right, Iron?" - Garami

"Me? ...Affirmative. You are right." - Iron

"Not that he had that many options to choose from..." - Mira

"ANYWAY! If that Lich is a boss, won't he be hoarding some treasure?" - Garami

"Treasure?! Forget I said anything. Let's go and crush that Lich!" - Mira

"Eeeehh~? No way~. You two can have fun with that. I'll be sitting on the sideline." - Filyn

Tch. I didn't manage to convince the one person I wanted on this gig. Mira joining me was already a fated event, but Filyn's attack power would make things much easier...

Hold it! If it was her, she may have bulldozed over the Lesser Lich before I could capture it with the Kigal-Note!

"If that's the case..., Iron! If your peeps have had as much trouble with these Halloween idiots as I assume they have, show us where we can find the Lesser trash." - Garami

"...Is that fine?" - Iron

"Call it us giving you some extra service." - Garami

"Affirmative. This way." - Iron

The one who's getting the most outta this deal is me though~.