Chapter 135

Chapter 135 - Zombie Apocalypse (1)

The falcons employed as familiars by tribal witches boast a superior load capacity compared to carrier pigeons.

It was also possible for the Blackhand Mercenaries in distant locations to draw landscapes of the local area and send them to the Moving Castle via falcons.

- That is a groundbreaking idea!

When Eugene first spoke of the idea, Chieftain Allesa twitched her ears in excitement.

- I wouldn't go so far as to call it groundbreaking... Even if it wasn't me, someone among the tribe members would have probably thought of it anyway.

- But you were the first to think of it, Lord... A large army can sometimes fall to ruin just because a single letter arrived a day late.

As the chieftain, tribe members operating in distant places were a constant source of worry.

Although every single one of them was strong, an unfamiliar environment was a dangerous variable in itself. Being isolated and experiencing a crisis while carrying out requests was common.

It shattered her heart whenever she heard news of warriors dying or being injured and failing to return to their families' embrace like that.

It was at least a relief if it was just one or two, but whenever an entire unit fell into a crisis occasionally, her heart would sink.

However, if they requested help from Eugene via falcons, salvation that ignored common sense became possible.

- Regardless, I would like you to share it with everyone, Chieftain... Because when they need help, we will be able to cross the continent to find them.

- ...I sincerely hope that thinking we have become family is not just a delusion of my own.

To the deeply moved Allesa, Eugene replied by kissing the back of her hand.

- The castle still has many empty spots... We must gather the widely scattered family members in one place... For the next Dark Elf festival, let us all travel together through this castle.

- That... Just imagining it is wonderful.

- I also wish to try wearing the tribe's traditional clothing I wore last time again... Homi seemed to like it... She probably fancied how it sparkled with gold leaf.

- I will personally dress you next time, Lord.

Eugene felt warmth filling Allesa's cold hands. Her heart beating fiercely and raising her body temperature influenced even her extremities.

* * *

Ending his reminiscence, Eugene focused on the painting in his hand.

The landscape painting drawn with hyperrealism granted a perfect image to Eugene, who had never visited the location.

The core, reacting to his mental world, exuded intense mystery.

It showed locations in the real world identical to Eugene's imagination like illusions.

His hand linked with the core swiped away the incorrect locations one by one and found the true destination.

'This is it.'

The moment his mind filled with conviction grasping the correct answer.

Flash!

Riding a streak of giant lightning, the castle ascended.

Right after, the place the castle revealed itself was beyond the Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Samur. It was the Appen Peninsula attached to the southern edge of the continent.

Because of its distinctive appearance resembling a shoe, adventurers also called it the continent's boot.

Lined with various free cities and maritime republics, it was also a strategic point for trade via the sea. A place filled with the most colorful spectacles in the world.

"There's no sand in the smell of the air."

"This is what a place people live in feels like."

Hills covered in grass swaying in the wind instead of desolate sand dunes. The Dark Elves smiled at that affectionate scenery.

"I heard there are so many truffles here."

"You kept the pigs and dogs starved, right?"

"Isn't that obvious."

The robust housewives giggled and braided the hair of their daughters who would act as their assistants.

Perhaps because it rained recently, the freshness of wet trees and flowers deeply pierced their noses.

Now, the residents reacted with expectation rather than surprise at the instantaneously changing scenery. Because no matter how mysterious a miracle is, they inevitably get used to it.

"Wait! We still shouldn't go out!"

"We have to wait until the scouts finish their reconnaissance... It's the Lord's policy."

Dark Elf boys and girls hugging and comforting their excited younger siblings.

Such sights bestowed a heartwarming smile upon the mercenaries, whose daily lives involved smelling iron and blood.

It was like a refreshing drink that daily nursed their humanity, which was easily worn down in the rough and cruel mercenary life.

- You can't endure as a mercenary if you step back like that.

- Bastards who threw away being human are the ones who survive until the end.

They were the ones who didn't doubt that was the mercenary's path hearing such words when they were rookies.

However, after meeting Eugene, becoming family members of the Moving Castle, and traveling the world, everyone was discarding such thoughts.

The fullness originating from the coexistence of human-like hearts and courage. It drove out the specific mindset of mercenaries that only living for today was enough.

A life where they were faithful to day by day, thought of the future, and trained themselves. The path to truly act as strong warriors had unfolded.

"I hear the Emperor's faction and the Noble's faction are already at each other's throats in southern Roman even though autumn hasn't arrived yet... I thought you'd intervene and grab a piece for yourself taking this opportunity."

Rex found it unexpected that they had come much further south than he anticipated.

"It's still early... I wish to stay a bit further away from the Emperor for now... Judging by the rumors, he goes berserk whenever he's bored at every royal council because of me."

"Because you snatched away midway what he was searching for while making unreasonable moves... Even having a hawk snatch away a rabbit you were chasing makes your insides burst, much less having a massive catch like this stolen away..."

Rex shrugged his shoulders while pointing inside the castle with both hands.

"As you said, the Emperor and I became practically sworn enemies who cannot live under the same sky... But I don't really wish to confront him openly."

"Then will you continue avoiding the Emperor in the future? It seems you could act a bit bolder with this castle."

Of course, a head-on clash in an open field was impossible, but a siege was a different story.

Attacking the Moving Castle using siege weapons was a madman's act, and drying them out to death through a siege was also impossible.

"I will proudly stand against him someday, but I wish to prepare more for the time being... At least until I can move all the people of your family in."

The world to travel was vast, and there were still many things to prepare. There wasn't really much a mere knight lord could gain by openly confronting the Emperor.

As long as the Emperor's faction in the north was annihilated and Duke Ismar was well and alive, the possibility of Northfork being threatened was also very low.

"The Emperor can just listen to rumors about me to his heart's content... If he commits misrule out of excitement, that's even better."

Rex chuckled, perhaps imagining the Emperor's face turning turning red and blue in the capital.

"It must be maddening... Hearing news of the Moving Castle appearing here and there and its owner being active, but not being able to chase after him either."

"Well, I'll ask the Emperor about his own feelings when we face each other someday."

Eugene looked down at the new outside scenery.

"It seems there was a fire."

Smoke was rising from a forest in the distance. Exploring the world moistened by recent rains, it didn't seem to have spread into a mountain fire.

Eugene rustled and pulled out a letter from his chest to double-check. It was an invitation from the Blackhand Mercenaries operating in the Appen Peninsula.

It wasn't exactly asking for help facing a crisis. The content was for him to come visit for sightseeing since the weather was nice and pirate hunting was enjoyable.

"The friends dispatched here are those whose opinions align with mine... They will immediately join the Moving Castle."

"It said they were tracking pirates under the request of the Apostle State... Do you sects also work together?"

As expected of a world acknowledging and coexisting with diverse faiths, concepts like the Pope or the Papacy did not even exist.

Instead, religious organizations formed by representatives dispatched by each sect existed, and because they were organizations where the apostles of God gathered, they were referred to as the Apostle State.

True to a group united by mighty religious orders, their authority and influence were so great that even kings of quite large nations couldn't treat them carelessly.

"Because money has no smell... Besides, befitting gentlemen who distance themselves from corruption, there's no risk of having our wages stolen."

"Because hiring a mercenary corps originating from an assassin guild rather than regular mercenaries is unexpected, that's why."

"The higher-ups of the Apostle State don't really like our pasts or personalities much either... But they like our skills and way of handling things."

Befitting a hub for Mediterranean trade and the center connecting the East and West, the Appen Peninsula was a hotbed of countless conflicts.

First, there were pirates engaging in plundering in all directions wherever ships could reach.

Unlike those active in the inland sea at the continent's center, they were pirates active in the true ocean.

Since they operated massive sailing ships catching the sea breeze, their scale was on a different dimension, and nobles participating from nations hostile to the Appen Peninsula were even mixed in.

They were pirates in name only, essentially dangerous enemies closer to a navy.

Added to that, foreign armies aiming beyond looting to outright occupation were constantly looking for opportunities.

To protect privileges from their clutches, the demand for mercenaries was endless.

"But isn't this the edge of the continent? It's too far from Roman, where you guys were mainly active, so how did you even strike a deal?"

They were people who didn't even operate much in Gord, which was at least somewhat close to Roman. Let alone the Appen Peninsula, which was even further away and obstructed by massive mountain ranges.

"There's a reason for all that... We've actually had quite a few requests for our traditional line of work here in the past."

"My word... Priests commissioning assassin..."

"Shush! Shush! Do they not say walls have ears?"

Rex simulated looking around while blocking Eugene's mouth. However, it was strictly a playful attitude; he wasn't genuinely reprimanding him.

"Relax, neither are here."

Eugene, removing Rex's hand, was genuinely surprised. The holy group he could project equivalently to the Papacy in his memories commissioning assassinations!

"People live everywhere there too... They cannot survive by merely remaining clean."

"Not wrong words."

The Apostle State also owned many granaries and prime ports in the Appen Peninsula.

No matter how much they put God's name at the forefront, if strength and political power did not support it, defending them for a long time was impossible.

"I suppose our ancestors' clean handling of affairs was impressive... They've entrusted us with various requests since then... Like things requiring restraint, sense, and competence that ordinary mercenaries would struggle to handle."

"Do they still occasionally entrust you with jobs done the old way?"

Rex smiled at Eugene subtly asking about assassination requests.

"Things in the world can't just be split perfectly into A and B, can they? Sometimes there are many tasks with ambiguous boundaries... A tracking mission might turn into an elimination mission on the fly, too."

Rex also replied by appropriately beating around the bush.

"You must absolutely keep this a secret? Trust is our life."

"Stating the obvious."

Eugene snickered and appreciated the peninsula's beautiful scenery.

"Do I just wait here?"

"Yes... Everyone will come searching here in a few days."

After experiencing teleportation to Hell in the distant past, the Moving Castle's trauma prevented it from descending to a location where human souls existed.

Just like a frightened heart jumping at a pot lid after being startled by a soft-shelled turtle, it stopped setting foot in space-time itself where human souls were present.

Therefore, teleporting directly to where the tribe members were to pick them up was impossible.

'To think an existence that gained life from Hell fears Hell.'

It was somewhat ironic, but since Eugene wasn't the one setting the rules, it couldn't be helped.

The problem was that let alone a few days, there were no signs of them joining even after waiting a whole week.

* * *

"An accident has definitely occurred!"

Behind Rex speaking with conviction, tribal knights bore serious faces.

The warriors dispatched here were also elite rangers.

Being defeated by mere pirates was preposterous. Even if massive pirates reaching the thousands sometimes landed, retreating without fighting in such cases would suffice.

Making Eugene wait this long after sending an invitation first meant a serious problem had arisen.

"We will commence the search immediately... Issue the order to deploy the subordinate forces."

"Thank you!"

Although extremely exclusive toward outsiders, sharing a bond like real brothers among members was the Blackhand Tribe.

Rex was genuinely relieved that they were with the Moving Castle.

He didn't know what happened to his brothers and sisters here, but had it not been for this castle, they wouldn't have been able to step forward to help this quickly.

Thus, the entrance of the massive stables within the castle opened, and the heavily armed cavalry deployed.

"Might... It seems your first real combat after rehabilitation will be a search mission."

Grrrrr-.

At Eugene's whisper, his terrifying mouth opened, and a yowl overflowing with confidence leaked out.

Right after finishing his mutation, he neighed like a horse for a while, but no longer.

Because he now realized that he himself was also a predator, just like the Lord riding on his back.

They headed toward the nearby civilian houses referring to the map enclosed in the letter for a long while. Homi's ringing whistle could be heard from the vanguard.

"Everyone prepare your weapons... A battle is taking place ahead."

Without Eugene needing to give the order, everyone was already preparing to fight.

Because they were all well-versed in Homi's whistle after being together for a long time.

"The number of enemies is about 100 to 200... Correct?"

They could even decipher the details contained within the changes in rhythm and tone.

"Sir Hind... I grant you a level 2 Homian qualification."

"It's an honor."

Everyone laughed lightly at the joke in a situation preceding battle.

As they got closer to the engagement zone, the sounds of weapons clashing and shouts were heard. Even a hymn piercing through them.

"They are armed priests... It seems they are fighting pirates."

"That worked out well just in time... We were needing information regarding this place."

It was an awkward situation to rashly intervene when mercenaries or nobles were fighting among themselves, but there was no need to hesitate if armed priests were fighting.

The ones they pointed weapons at were the main enemies of humanity, such as bandit gangs, pirates, and monsters.

It was an opportunity to earn favor with the Apostle State, the Appen Peninsula's big shot, while also accumulating fame and acquiring information.

Passing through the final thicket, armed priests waging a desperate struggle while surrounded by pirates came into view.

Wearing different monastic habits and symbols from each other, they seemed like a patrol force formed by an alliance of several religious orders.

"Help the priests!"

"Charge forward!"

The suddenly appearing cavalry bit into the pirates' flanks.

Grrrrr-!

Crush!

When Might at the lead rammed his head into a pirate, a corpse spurting bloody foam flew through the air like a pinwheel.

Both sides fighting instantly stopped their battle and bore dumbfounded faces at that spectacle.