Chapter 139

Chapter 139 - Zombie Apocalypse (5)

"If it's my wish."

At Eugene's appearance seriously pondering, Cassandra straightened her posture. Valda and Homi, who were a short distance away, also pricked their ears.

A man who is the ultimate appearance of a knight in strength, but whose way of thinking is far separated from a knight. Since he didn't usually talk much about his inner thoughts, they couldn't help but be curious.

"I want a family."

"A family?"

Perhaps she hadn't expected the answer at all, Cassandra's face morphed bizarrely.

"I do not think it is that surprising."

"Because if it was you, Lord, I thought you would desire a much larger and grander dream."

"For instance?"

Cassandra recalled the great lords of Roman where she mainly operated.

"A sovereign dominating a region like Duke Ismar, or going a step further and becoming the king of a nation entirely."

"I think that's far too absurd a dream."

"It is not."

It would take time, but the knight before her eyes possessed the conditions to aim for that level of ambition.

His capabilities as a knight aside, the miraculous power and legitimacy the Moving Castle possessed were overwhelmingly powerful.

"I do not know about other nations, but in Roman, it is entirely possible... Imagine claiming 'In truth, I am one who inherited the blood of the ancient royal family!' while putting forth the Moving Castle."

Mercenary captains acting as lords after luckily occupying a territory during wartime are not few. However, most did not last long.

Because their complete lack of legitimacy became the perfect justification for surrounding nobles to invade. After living loudly for a while, they were attacked from all sides and either chased out or hung on the gallows.

But what if it was the Roman aristocratic society crazy about the banner of descendants of the Ancient Kingdom? There, the Moving Castle would certainly become the ultimate legitimacy in itself.

"I don't really feel inclined... If things get too big, the time I can spend with my family will become insufficient, won't it?"

"Are you speaking sincerely?"

Cassandra, who thought he was joking, found herself dumbfounded.

The familial love of nobles in this era is bleaker than an ordinary household. It was akin to a cocktail mixing love between blood relatives and the pursuit of honor and profit for the family. And typically, the ratio of the latter was bound to be substantially higher.

Let alone marriage, even children's education was swayed depending on the family's political interests. Being raised in another family from a young age or simply sent as hostages was common.

For a rising knight where it wouldn't be strange to burn brightly with ambition, his wish seemed far too modest.

"Only family remains in the end... Besides, the family I picture is a very large one."

"A very large family?"

"Right... A truly large and perfect family... It might be a goal as difficult as your dream of becoming a sovereign."

The brilliant Cassandra vaguely realized. The family Eugene spoke of wasn't simply a concept consisting of a husband, wife, and children.

"Though preparing for the massive threat that will approach you all would come first before that."

"You mean the prophecy handed down to our family."

"Right."

- A ruin of the family unable to be stopped by even countless spears shall approach.

- The only path to avoid it is receiving an invitation as a guest to the cradle.

Cassandra was also a witch possessing outstanding skills. At some point, she felt an ominous energy following her family.

It revealed its presence when the sun set. Ceaselessly following the shadows of the wandering family tenaciously, hiding in the dark and trying to cross the family's threshold.

An ominous feeling lacking substance but impossible to ignore. Cassandra was certain that was the existence called fate.

It was the reason she attempted to find a home for her clan to settle in Samur even if it meant pushing herself.

However, that insidious energy dared not follow them inside the Moving Castle.

It was a part that made her instantly understand why the chieftain and the tribe's elders hung themselves so desperately on an outsider human.

It was also the reason Cassandra folded her stubbornness and turned into a pro-Moving Castle faction.

"Right now, I should quickly bring the sheep scattered outside the fence into the house first... We don't know when it'll rain and wolves will appear."

He was speaking of the family members still scattered here and there across the continent.

"Sheep, you say... Our warriors are not that weak."

"I apologize if your pride was hurt... It was an expression of worry."

"Of course, I am always grateful for your heart cherishing us."

Even the cruel and arrogant Cassandra possessed special bonds with her family members.

The stronger someone's disdain for the outside, the greater their attachment to their inner members in return.

Furthermore, unlike a great merchant which could be achieved simply by having ample wealth, a sovereign was a dream that could only be reached if there were people to lead.

* * *

Ominous premonitions are always spot on.

"It had already become hell."

The scout who went to observe the third stronghold and local lord's manor reported.

Because a larger battle than the previous villages was confirmed, Eugene's army halted for reorganization. The subordinates moved busily everywhere, eating combat rations or maintaining their weapons.

"Do you slowly wish to form a household?"

"You were eavesdropping."

"I just happened to hear."

Valda avoided his gaze with a somewhat flushed face.

Eugene was boiling a stew using river snails gathered from a nearby stream.

- I-is that something humans can eat?

- It's delicious... Try it once.

- ...If it is not an order, I shall politely decline.

Those who approached wondering 'What kind of novel cuisine is our Lord cooking again?' freaked out and fled without exception.

Only Homi, who grew up together with him in the mountains and whose palate became similar, smacked her lips as if her mouth was watering.

"My subordinates have been slowly prodding me... Saying I should lay the foundation for the family."

"Those are correct words... Everything the family has resting solely on one person's shoulders is too heavy a burden."

Currently, the exact formal constituent of the Meyer Family was only Eugene alone.

However, accumulated wealth, subordinates he led, a territory, and even a castle. The weight class was far too massive for a single person to fully handle alone.

Eugene couldn't possibly handle various events, diplomacy, or dispute mediation all by himself.

Beings holding the same surname 'Meyer', the second and the third, were necessary.

"However, there is a part that worries me."

"What part?"

"Isn't the biggest purpose of taking a spouse to form a household producing an heir? So that even if a mishap occurs to the current family head, the family can remain consistently established."

"If the heir is not solid, even the mightiest family holds the risk of shattering to pieces."

Possessing strong traditionalist tendencies, Valda nodded as if it was obvious.

"But my circumstances are a bit unique... The level of burden that would be placed on my child if I saw one."

Speaking, Eugene looked toward the direction of the Moving Castle.

Valda immediately understood what that gaze meant. Because it was a topic she too occasionally thought about.

"The castle might not acknowledge your heir as its master."

"Exactly."

Eugene's hand gently cupped Valda's stomach.

"W-what...!"

A sudden skinship. Her golden eyes trembled faintly.

She reflexively grabbed Eugene's wrist, but that was it. Her hand full of tension moved no further.

Beyond the thin cloth covering Valda's navel, the body temperature from Eugene's palm gradually seeped in. She didn't dislike that sensation. Only a tickling sense of fulfillment swelled up.

"I apologize if it was unpleasant."

"..."

Squeeze.

Valda's hand didn't detach Eugene's hand, but neither did it permit it to retreat.

"Chuckle."

Finding herself feeling resentful over his appearance laughing lightly for some reason, Valda let go of his wrist.

However, Eugene tasted that soft sensation while stroking her stomach.

'As expected, is it difficult for an Elf to hide her emotions?'

Valda's ears rapidly reddened. Eugene enjoyed even such a reaction cheerfully.

"Stop tak..."

"Even if my bloodline is succeeded through this place."

The moment the unbearable Valda was about to say a word, he struck first as if he had been waiting.

"This place..."

"The Moving Castle will probably not acknowledge that child as its master... Because it chooses its partner by soul rather than blood."

"...I suppose so."

"The stress that child will receive will be unspeakably large."

The Moving Castle gifted Eugene a mighty faction and perfect freedom. However, in some aspects, it also bestowed heavy restrictions.

"Furthermore, though a bit awkward to say with my own mouth, aren't I quite a renowned knight? The expectations towards my heir as a knight will also hang heavily... Double the immense burden."

Did practically thinking points push out embarrassment? Valda's breath and expression calmed down.

"Even so, that is what that child must duly bear."

"It wouldn't be as easy as it sounds... It will probably be more burdensome than for a child from a royal family."

"That is what it means to inherit noble blood... The right to voice weakness is not permitted."

"Wouldn't the child be pitiful?"

"They are revered preciously to overcome that."

Eugene forgot that the Elf lady before his eyes was incredibly boomer-like in some aspects.

"It is not immediately urgent, so we can think about it again next time."

Eugene smiled awkwardly and scooped up the stew that began boiling.

Listening quietly by his side, Homi, pondering over something deeply, jerked her head in surprise with a startled face.

* * *

"This isn't a number a manor of this size can hold... It seems the people who evacuated here have been added."

The small manor where the lord once stayed was full of those who were no longer human.

"Prepare for battle."

"Let us fight, brothers!"

At Eugene's order, the dwarven warriors forming the vanguard erected a solid wall.

They were warriors reliable just by looking at them, but this time, there were far too many enemies for them alone.

"Cassandra."

At Eugene's call, Cassandra raised her hand.

"Amazon!"

"Hoo-ah!"

At her lead chant, the female warriors replied in unison.

Eugene had heard war cries on the battlefield countless times since rising up as a knight.

However, there was something special about the war cry shouted in unison by female warriors on the scale of a century. While emitting strong will, they exuded a sophisticated momentum an army of men could not mimic.

"I am truly lucky... I coveted that skill watching the Pitfall Mercenaries fight."

"Lord... It is rude to compare those chimpanzees to our ladies."

Smiling while covering her mouth, a sling was held in Cassandra's hand.

The other female warriors also gripped their slings and loosened their hands and ankles everywhere. Unlike bows, it was a weapon utilizing the entire body.

The composite slings created by processing monster ligaments and leather were premium articles beyond compare with what the Pitfall Mercenaries of Samur used.

"So this was your primary armament, not bows?"

"Since operating solely in rough terrains is our duty... Receiving arrow supplies on time is difficult... However, stones overflow everywhere."

"If only you could procure food, you could keep fighting."

"Besides that, it is a weapon with many advantages."

Slinging was also a weapon efficiently composing for the physical strength lacking compared to men.

The female warriors also wore diverse secondary armaments on their waists besides slings.

Slinging of the Pitfall Mercenaries, techniques of hunters, and the close combat capabilities of heavy infantry were evenly equipped by them.

The only difference was that they did all three better.

"Hey ladies... Aim properly."

"If the back of my head rings while fighting in the middle! Just try it... I'll beat your butts with this hammer after the battle."

"Bullshit."

"Are you doubting our skills?"

The dwarves forming the vanguard and the Dark Elves behind them exchanged curses.

"I shouldn't actually hit you, right?"

"You worry too much... Even if I wanted to hit you on purpose, it'd be hard... You're so short they'll just pass right over your heads anyway?"

There's a saying the enemy of my enemy is my friend. That holds true for relations between races as well.

Just as Elves and Dark Elves were archenemies, Elves and Dwarves were also archenemies. However, the exact relationship between Dwarves and Dark Elves was subtle.

Even if they couldn't be called close, they were in the same situation of hating the same bastards the most. An atmosphere of 'Hey. Have you eaten?' flowed between the two races.

A pragmatic nature capable of setting fire to a forest if necessary was also a commonality between Dwarves and Dark Elves.

Apart from Eugene's leadership, it was the reason the Hammer Brotherhood and Blackhand Mercenaries could coexist without major discord under his command.

"Why are Elves hated by both sides?"

"Aren't they annoying?"

"They are annoying."

At Eugene's question, Rampage and Cassandra spoke in unison.

"..."

Valda's ears drooped sullenly.

"Naturally, Valda is an exception."

Eugene's two palms supported and stood up her drooping ears.

"I know, so let go of my ears... Truly, whenever there is a chance..."

Brushing off the glaring golden eyes, Eugene mounted Might.

'It isn't bad for relaxing tension ahead of battle.'

Letting out bizarre shrieks, monsters sprinting from all over the manor were charging in.

By the time they approached about 50m of the dwarves' shield wall, terrifying sounds of tearing air traversed the battlefield.

Crack!

Crrrack!

The sound of stones the size of plums smashing the monsters' faces rang out from all directions. A different kind of cheerfulness from hitting with arrows or hammers could be felt.

As the relentlessly charging monsters collapsed en masse, the ones following behind tripped over them, turning things into chaos.

"Crazy..."

"I think it's stronger than a crossbow."

The dwarven warriors forming the vanguard mumbled.

To be honest, until right before the battle, they didn't hold huge expectations for the female warriors' sling support.

Unless they were conscripts or rookie mercenaries, they doubted how effective stone attacks would be against those sturdy monsters, after all.

Not to mention the horse archers who had built somewhat of a trust coordinating together on the battlefield also struggled against these enemies because their arrows didn't work.

Crush!

However, seeing the stones accurately striking faces and turning the monsters into bloody pulps evaporated such thoughts.

Those hard mycelium carapaces cracked and split apart in one shot, exposing mushy flesh.

Even if they withstood one shot thanks to particularly thick mycelium, they couldn't do anything about the shock.

"Where is that bastard going?"

"Hahaha!"

Perhaps they got concussions, some monsters staggered like drunkards and walked in wrong directions. Chuckles leaked out everywhere from the dwarven phalanx.

"They're coming!"

Those arriving piercing through the rain of stones were already battered. The mycelium and dead wood bark covering their faces were entirely shattered, exposing their soft flesh.

Homi, Rex, and the other scouts' arrow attacks dug into those spots.

"Kryaaaa-..."

Thud.

Amidst the countless collapsing monsters, the dwarves couldn't swing their hammers even once.

Normally, they would have been antsy desiring to play an active part in front of their employer, but this time at least, everyone purely admired.

"Shall we charge?"

After a few rounds of long-distance attacks, as the firing angle disappeared, Rampage asked Eugene for an order.

"No... Let us massage them a bit more with range before going in."

At the same time, the female warriors kicked off the ground together.

"Excuse me for a moment."

"Eh?"

Stepping on the shoulders and shields of the sturdy dwarven warriors, they wielded their slings once again.

The stones slung securing an additional firing angle continuously knocked down monsters.

"Beautiful."

Eugene couldn't hold back his admiration at that powerful yet agile appearance.

Meanwhile, not a single one among the female warriors stepped on a helmet. While they exchanged curses before the battle, they didn't genuinely harbor ill feelings toward the dwarves.

They held their own amount of respect for the strong bones who would reliably hold out in the close combat that might unfold.

"Ugh, so heavy... My shoulder might pop out at this r..."

"Shut up!"

Some dwarves spouting unnecessary words did get their heads stepped on.