After successfully concluding the banquet, the next day marked the official opening of the undead exhibition.
Shun, his family members, and those who assisted in organizing the event gathered for the opening ceremony.
Simon, who was participating as a bodyguard, stood a little distance away from Shun, keeping watch.
"Huff, this is tough."
Until the afternoon ceremony began, Simon had been practicing his summoned armor.
He recalled the conversation he had with Pier during training yesterday.
"But Pier, can the skeleton of the 'legionized' Pier also use the summoned armor?"
"There's no reason it can't. But for now, don't even dream about it."
"Why not?" At that moment, Pier's clone was smiling.
"Because it would spoil you."
Pier was also Simon's mentor.
He had never regretted listening to Pier's advice, so Simon focused solely on mastering the summoned skeleton's armor.
Clap clap clap! The thunderous applause brought Simon back to reality.
The opening ceremony had finally concluded.
The people on stage began to disperse, and Simon moved closer to Shun for protection.
"Simon hyung! Are you worried about something?"
"Huh? No, it's nothing."
Just then, the host of the ceremony turned his gaze toward Simon.
When Simon smiled as if to ask what was wrong, the host spoke loudly.
"By the way, we have a student from Kijen here with us! Did everyone know that?" The murmurs from the audience grew louder.
"Of course, we can't miss the words of the top authority in this field! Now, let's welcome the Kijen student!"
Wowww! The cheers erupted.
Simon looked at Shun with a troubled expression.
The host's gaze was also directed at Shun.
"Is it okay? Count."
Simon made a face that seemed to plead for help.
But Shun just grinned playfully and pushed Simon forward.
"Of course, it's fine!"
"Now, this is an impromptu interview! Please come forward, Kijen student!"
So this is how it ends up.
With a bitter expression, Simon was pushed out.
"Wow."
There were so many people.
It seemed this exhibition was quite a hot topic even within Blue Harbor.
"Please introduce yourself briefly!" The host handed Simon a magical amplification device.
The host himself was speaking loudly enough for everyone to hear without it.
"I am Simon Polentia, a first-year student aiming to specialize in summoning at Kijen."
"Oh, but you missed the most important part!" The host playfully winked and shook his finger.
Simon chuckled softly and continued.
"I am honored to have entered Kijen as the first special admission student."
Murmurs filled the air! With that one line, Simon felt the gazes upon him shift dramatically.
"While protecting the Count, you must have gone inside at least once, right? How was this exhibition?" Simon quickly gauged the atmosphere.
Although it was an opening ceremony, it was lively and energetic, not stiff like noble culture.
The unique free atmosphere of the resort island was likely reflected in this.
Then he decided to match the mood.
"I can confidently say this is the best undead exhibition I have ever attended."
Of course, this was his first undead exhibition.
"Blue Harbor is one of the few places with a uniquely evolved ecosystem. The fact that this ecosystem is preserved under the name of the Old Ones without being destroyed is, as a necromancer, a blessing from the heavens. The undead created from the creatures of this island look like technology from twenty years in the future to me."
"Make your diction a bit stronger. Use more stimulating expressions."
"I especially recommend that you definitely check out the Overlord on the last floor."
"Oh! It seems you are quite interested in the Overlord!" At the host's joke, Simon immediately responded.
"I was so curious while guarding that I even asked the staff about the price."
"How bold! Uh, how much is it...?"
"Starting from ten thousand gold, so I gave up."
Hahaha! The atmosphere of the opening ceremony brightened significantly.
The host and Simon exchanged words quickly, raising the mood.
At that moment, the butler gestured as if checking his wristwatch.
The host, who had been teasing Simon with questions about whether he had a girlfriend at Kijen, suddenly snapped back to reality and wrapped things up.
"Oh, has it already been this long? Please show your interest and support for the new undead exhibition starting in thirty minutes. And! Let's give another big round of applause to Simon, who kindly took the time to participate in this interview!" Applause erupted from all around.
"It was my honor. Thank you."
After bowing to the audience, Simon returned to Shun's side.
Shun chuckled and lightly tapped Simon's leg.
"Simon hyung! You spoke better than I expected!"
"…Better than expected? Is that a compliment?"
"Hahaha!"
A little later, the exhibition hall opened, and countless people lined up to view the exhibits.
Shun and Simon wandered around the exhibition hall, greeting guests they hadn’t met during the banquet on the second day and guiding them.
On the morning of the fourth day.
Just like the third day, it seemed they would spend most of their time in the exhibition hall.
Simon was riding in a carriage with Shun, heading to the exhibition hall early in the morning.
Looking out the window, Simon crossed his arms.
"The weather is cloudy today."
"Right? I wonder if many people will come to the exhibition."
A thick fog covered the entire beach.
Indeed, tourists who had come to the beach were bewildered by the unexpected weather.
"Why is there suddenly this fog...?"
"It's not even raining."
"Do we have to stay cooped up inside all day?"
The managers of Blue Harbor were already moving about.
They said the sea fog was so thick today that swimming was restricted.
Tourists were grumbling as they left the beach.
"Yes, let's go."
Even those resting under umbrellas began to walk toward the city.
"Hey, hey, but don't you see something strange over there?"
"Yeah. I see it. The fog."
"No, beyond the fog... what is that?"
"Stop talking nonsense and let’s go. I’m hungry."
But the murmurs from the beach grew louder.
Screams and urgent cries to run mixed in.
Swoosh! Everything happened in an instant.
Cutting through the thick fog, a gigantic ship appeared, so massive it left one’s mouth agape.
The flag fluttering atop the ship's mast depicted a distorted skull with two crossed swords beneath it.
The meaning of this flag was clear.
"Pirates!"
"Pirates!"
The peaceful beach was thrown into a state of panic in an instant.
People began to scream and flee in all directions.
Boom! The sound of cannon fire shook the sky.
Cannonballs fired from the warship exploded against the tall buildings of the city.
Stone structures crumbled, igniting flames on the pillars.
Boom! Crash! Some cannonballs fell onto the beach, sending up a massive fountain of sand and knocking people down.
"Run! Run!" Countless cannonballs flew through the fog and wind.
The beach and village turned into a chaotic mess in an instant, engulfed in flames.
Soon, the enormous ship approached the shore.
Crash! As the pirate ship landed, pirates began to descend using ropes.
"Hehehe!" And there was a tall man with a long beard, sitting on a chair on the deck, chuckling.
He held a communication crystal and shouted,
"Second and third ships, surround the island from the left and right and land! Don’t let a single one escape from the island!"
-Yes!
In the fog, large ships of the same size scattered left and right.
The man stood up, and the pirates all stepped back, bowing their heads in respect.
"Blue Harbor, huh? A nice island."
Clang! He drew the sword at his waist and shouted,
"What are you doing! Everyone land! Leave not a single one behind!"
"Waaaaah!"
Simon and Shun, who were in the exhibition hall, quickly rushed outside at the thunderous sound of cannon fire.
They heard someone muttering in shock.
"Oh my god..."
The enormous pirate ship that had arrived with the thick fog was bombarding the entire city.
Blue Harbor was turning into a sea of flames.
"This is no ordinary pirate group."
The butler said, sweating profusely.
"Looking at the size of the ship and the flag, they are pirates from Shinju. They shouldn’t be here in such peaceful waters, but how...?"
Shun grabbed the hem of Simon's clothes with a terrified expression.
Simon covered Shun's palm with his hand and patted his back.
"The commander has arrived!" A man in uniform, adorned with badges, rushed out of the exhibition hall.
"... This is absurd."
He muttered with a blank expression.
"How could a pirate ship reach the coastline? What is the coastal outpost doing?!"
The commander quickly pulled a communication crystal from his pocket.
"Outpost! Respond! Outpost!" But the communication remained silent.
The commander hurriedly switched channels to contact elsewhere.
"This is the commander! Respond immediately!"
However, all three naval units blocking the sea remained unresponsive.
"Is the communication suddenly down? Because of the fog?"
"It’s just that we can’t get through."
Simon said with a grim face.
When he turned his head, wondering if someone was interrupting, he widened his eyes upon seeing Simon's uniform.
"K-Kijen...!"
"What do you mean we can’t get through, hyung?" At Shun's question, Simon sighed softly and said,
"It means they’ve already been attacked."
At the Blue Harbor Naval Headquarters.
"Cough!"
"Cough cough!" Armed soldiers were collapsing one by one, spitting up saliva.
The entire building was shrouded in thick green smoke.
In the Blue Harbor Naval Second Barracks.
"What on earth did they put in the food...!"
"Cough!" Here, everyone was lying on the ground, oozing black liquid from their mouths.
Some soldiers struggled to hold on, but artificial slimes crawling on the floor approached and engulfed their bodies.
And finally, in the Blue Harbor Naval Third Barracks.
Blood was everywhere.
Soldiers lay twisted unnaturally, and the walls were filled with traces of battle.
And among the corpses of over a hundred soldiers, there was a man leisurely smoking a cigar.
"See, it would have been better if you just fell for the poison comfortably, right?" Although his ceremonial robe was soaked in blood, the man didn’t flinch.
He held up a communication crystal.
"What about the ships?"
-They’ve all been burned.
"Not a single one must escape from the island. Especially..."
The strongest necromancer of Blue Harbor wore a chilling smile.
"Capture Count Shun and the Old One family no matter what."