Chapter 248

Chapter 248 - Black Crusade (2)

The advancing Western Allied FOrces' morale was towering high. Gathering up to the troops joining from foreign countries, it was a grand scale just with the advance party, and the quality of the troops was excellent.

Since even Count Mayer, highly reputed as the strongest knight of this era, joined, they are full of confidence that they would smash whoever blocks them.

"What are you giggling at?"

"Leave it. Better than stuttering out of useless nervousness."

The veterans of various mercenary groups were comfortable to manage as the rookies didn't show the typical stiffness they usually do. Darting out from the countryside not knowing anything and joining a strong army, their shoulders raised along with it.

"Hey! Can't you get a grip? You left formation..."

The colleague who was scolding the recruit walking with his gaze fixed on one point lost his words midway. Because a lady seemingly molded from pearls and gold passed by his side.

If the wind had a will, all the winds in the world would gather here to worship her clothes and hair. The ivory horse Elion she was riding also wore a resplendent horse armor for ceremonial use.

- Wouldn't this stand out too much? It's not like I'm going to a ball, but heading to the battlefield.

- That is exactly what it is for. Please become a living totem to boost the soldiers' morale.

- A totem...

The horse armor, embroidered with the Elf royal family's emblem with gold threads on a white silk background, captivated everyone's gaze. It is a treasure the 10 most competent weavers of the Blackhand tribe squeezed out over 3 months.

"It's the Lady who walks over the wheat field!"

"Not a lady, a girl."

"It's too awe-inspiring to say girl... Keu-heum!"

"It's said at a single hand gesture from that person, hundreds of bandits sacrificed their bodies on the Bonyard guards' spears?"

Mercenaries who recognized Valda murmured. With many troops gathering from southwestern Roman, quite a few knew the tale of the Emerald Forest.

To superstitious mercenaries, Valda felt like a Goddess of Victory, becoming a great reliance ahead of the battle with the pagans.

Duke Leray, who was conversing with Eugene regarding food supply issues, expressed courtesy to Valda.

"Noble one. Our military fOrce is mighty and no possibility of losing is seen, but war is war. Would it not be better to be in the safer rear guard rather than the advance party?"

"Duke of Reach. I am grateful for your considerate heart. However, the current me is a mage, not a wife. Waiting endlessly at home for my husband's safe return is not my way. I desire to serve in the army and protect him and his army with my own hands."

Valda drew the sword she wore at her waist. The edgeless silver sword was ready to be covered in killing thorns at any time, receiving her magic.

Even Duke Leray, who doesn't know magic, felt the sharp momentum exuding from her. He intuited that a decent knight would meet a painful death if fighting her with a sword.

"Worse comes to worst I can protect my own body, so there is no need to worry. Receiving my husband who came from fighting on the battlefield is my pride."

"May it be as you will."

As Duke Leray, who succumbed to Valda's charisma, stepped back, Caras added a word.

"I knew the Madam was an amazing mage, but I didn't know you also learned swordsmanship."

Caras, looking at Valda's refined gait or movements, considered it was so because she's from a noble background. However, seeing her holding a drawn sword, it was a posture of a swordsman who properly trained in swordsmanship.

"Because the only thing to trust in a 'what if' situation is one's own strength. The anti-personnel magic Valda developed has good affinity with weapons. In her spare time we often spar togAAether. Entangling on the floor practicing physical arts, or riding horses side-by-side occasionally hunting togAAether. Sometimes when we also gather herbs togAAether."

"...It feels like I want to die from envy soon, so I will be going."

Internal affairs and diplomacy, war and leisure, training and hunting. Standing shoulder to shoulder as a partner in all elements composing a monarch's life. To Caras, it was a lifestyle he hadn't even imagined because it was too unrealistic.

But now he knows. Because it felt like he couldn't obtain it in his whole life, an ineffaceable bitter taste settled in his mouth.

* * *

"A group of undead has appeared ahead!"

A scout examining the advance party's march route reported.

Living enemies like bandits, monsters, or beasts voluntarily avoid the place when a military fOrce of this scale appears. However, undead are existences moving on hatred towards the living. They rushed in like tiger moths drawn to a tOrch.

"It's skeletons."

Caras scanned the Wights with only bones left. The Wight, the lowest grade undead,'s final form is a state entirely rotted without flesh and leaving only bones as time passed.

"Let's go! Knights!"

"Let's achieve Roman's purification with our own hands!"

Those who came as free knights from various places drew their swords and burned their fighting spirit. Showing an impressive performance in the first battle where everyone pays attention is more important than anything else.

"Glory to the Curtis family!"

"Blessings to His Highness the Duke."

Knights who already caught a lord's eye and signed a vassal contract each called their liege's names and kissed their swords. Among them were also two border knights who were commissioned to Eugene.

"Balan! The Count is watching!"

Henri, with an androgynous appearance, shook swords held in each hand and his eyes shone aggressively.

"Calm your excitement. Don't forget what Senior Hind said."

The giant knight Balan calmed his friend down like always.

- In the first battle, engagement rights will be primarily given to knights gathered from all over as per custom.

- I am confident I will fight better than anyone else! I will cut off the most heads and decorate His Excellency's honor!

- That is saying to throw away such thoughts, Henri. You cannot please the Count with something like that.

- Th-Then what should we do?

- Look at the battlefield broadly. If you think someone is surrounded or in a crisis, go and support them. If there's a bastard leaving the battle location and aiming for the main fOrce, don't lose them and give pursuit to kill them. Do not jump out alone, link up with the two of you and show stable combat power. Our Lord does not highly evaluate a common man's bravery. He highly regards an officer who looks at and judges even small battles constructively.

The two rookie knights revering their senior's golden teachings waited for the nominal commander, Duke Leray's signal.

"Knights. Commence the honorable battle. Proclaim that the army of the West has brought justice to the South."

As the Duke nodded, flags announcing the attack order shook greatly. The knights all shouted at once and charged.

Befitting knights wandering without a liege, generally their equipment or horses weren't very good. However, their martial arts and bodies trained to the absolute limit for today made up for everything. Struck continuously by the unhesitating fierce attacks of the knights, the skeletons are helplessly swept away.

The ones standing out the most are as expected the two border knights. Henri unwinding dazzling mounted dual swordsmanship. Balan indiscriminately crushing skulls with a morning star twice as long and big as a normal one.

Moreover, riding on Barcia military horses and wearing Hydra armor with viper patterns, they couldn't help but stand out.

"To be granted such precious things already."

Free knights who haven't been selected yet glanced with envious expressions.

When taking a young knight as a vassal, it's customary for the monarch to take care of this and that. Even considering that, usually it's about the level of a sword and shield, and only in special cases do they grant a horse. Bestowing armor and famous horses from the start was effectively unprecedented.

There were more free knights who visited Eugene's camp after hearing the news of Henri and Balan's commissioning. However, there wasn't anyone particularly catching Eugene's eye, so they were sent back after a hospitable treatment.

'I have to show something.'

'If only I could also ride such a military horse, I would have no other wish.'

If one lacks belief in oneself, that is not a knight. Believing Eugene merely hadn't seen their true worth, the free knights fought bravely.

"Henri!"

Balan called his friend who already processed an extraordinary number of skeletons. As Hind warned, a part of them breaking away from the knights' fierce battleground were heading towards the main camp.

When other knights were desperate to strike down as many enemies as possible, the two border knights ceased combat and came running to protect the main fOrce.

"Good. That's it."

Hind, whose expression had been stiff from beginning to end, tightly clenched his fist at his juniors' clever movements.

"Battle preparations!"

But there were more skeletons pouring out additionally than expected. Because it wasn't a level the two knights alone could endure, the captain of the Stone Fist mercenary group defending the forefront drew his sword.

"Everyone relieve tension! They're completely rotted bastards so there's no worrying about corpse poison!"

"But they're tougher and stronger than ordinary Wights, so be careful!"

Decurions encouraged their subordinates. Hearing that, Eugene asked Marbas.

"Are guys left with only bones stronger?"

"They are. It's an issue with varied cause analyses among summoners. Someone says it's because malice ripened over a long time, someone believes nutrients from the flesh were absorbed into the bones strengthening them."

Perhaps it's a topic he likes, Marbas got excited and explained.

"I felt nothing of the sort particularly, though."

"That's probably because whatever you bash gets swept away in a single hit so you couldn't sense it."

Eugene ignored Marbas's sidelong glare and asked again.

"What does old man see the cause as?"

"I view it as a difference in life fOrce. Even if the brain or heart stops, on a cellular level biological activities still continue. It takes longer than expected for all this to completely stop. Such trivial life also resists death energy."

"Is it like water and fire?"

"Water and embers would be a more appropriate analogy. It's not enough to prevent undead-ification, but it continuously gnaws at the black embers."

Eugene wondered if microorganisms, separate from somatic cells, also disrupt the energy of death. Although there would be no method to verify it in the current era.

"But once it rots completely, the elements disrupting the energy of death disappear, you see."

"That's right. Because clumps of flesh and sinews damaged by putrefaction aren't of much help to muscular strength anyway. When completely rotted, it's like a waterway where foreign substances disappeared. The wicked spiritual energy flows without blockage and becomes stronger."

Meanwhile, the Stone Fist mercenary group was earnestly fighting against the skeletons.

"T-These bastards are tougher than expected?"

They were veteran mercenaries enough to take on the absolute forefront, but the guys left with only bones were far more annoying than ordinary Wights. Swords didn't stick well and their strength was not less than theirs either.

Crossbows were also ineffective. Even with a bolt stuck in their eye sockets, they tilted their heads for a moment and launched fierce counterattacks.

"Mercenaries! We will take charge of the attack so push them far back!"

The situation rapidly changed after the female warriors under Cassandra joined.

"Shield Bash!"

At the quick-witted mercenary captain's order, his subordinates put their shields at the front and pushed the skeletons back with a body slam. An intense slinging attack followed with almost a time difference.

Ssing!

"Hiik!"

At the blood-curdling atmospheric cutting sound brushing past the tops of helmets, even experienced mercenaries shrunk their heads like turtles.

Ppogak!

The skulls hit by throwing stones shattered in one shot. Sniping ribs, the rib cages broke and scattered like fish bones. No matter where they were hit, skeletons could not endure. As multiple slinging attacks concentrated on one bastard, they began to be organized in an instant.

Ssing!

Syuak!

All the Stone Fist mercenary group had to do was occasionally push away those approaching with spears or shields. Even that was light work as their entire bodies became tattered and they were staggering.

'Even the dragon tooth soldiers I met in Kazador's underground would have been easy if I had Cassandra's slingers.'

A long-range strike type attack is an extremely unique technique in this era. The problem is that it's trickier to learn than archery.

Meanwhile, the knights who organized the main battlefield reversed direction and charged into the backs of the remaining skeletons' heads, annihilating them right then. Even if wielding equivalent cold weapons, the destructive power is indeed on a different dimension compared to mercenaries.

The lieges praised the knights returning with proud faces. Knights without a liege yet were satisfied with the cheers sent by the mercenaries.

"Henri. Balan. Both were excellent."

"Honorable knights. May you assist my husband with those outstanding martial arts."

The Eugene and Valda couple lining up their horse heads received their new vassals.

A majestic knight riding Might. An Elf who stimulates protective instincts to the point of reaching the realm of magic. The appearance of the couple welcoming them with hands clasped togAAether is indescribably impressive in a way. It also felt fleeting somehow.

At that sight, Henri and Balan felt both satisfaction and an unknown thirst togAAether.

* * *

"It is certain these undead have been touched by the hands of pagan worshipers. I see traces of accelerating the reinfOrcement by artificially removing flesh."

Marbas, who examined the remains of the destroyed skeletons, said.

"Is there a necromancer among the enemies?"

"It could be, or it might not. Raising corpses is only possible for necromancers, but utilizing naturally occurring undead is entirely possible for pagan worshipers overall."

Similar to how priests of different religious orders exchange respect and coexist as fellow religious people.

The undead are slaves of all evil gods. Pagan worshipers who received an evil god's blessing are existences superior to the undead, and so are not attacked.

"The moment even a lowly serf receives a black baptism, they become a privileged class in the world of evil. Not a few become pagan worshipers possessed by the taste of that unrighteous power."

"There was a reason pagan worshipers were unceasing whAAether they were poor or rich."

Right at the top of a human's desires is the desire for recognition. The evil gods thoroughly penetrated human craving for such parts in a status system society.

Marching for about an hour like that, another group of undead blocked the Allied FOrces. This time too, they are skeletons cleanly left with only bones.

Kkulkkeok.

The mercenaries, who intuited that they were not easy targets after trying to fight them once, tensed up. With numbers even larger than before, some were even carrying weapons and armor. They appear to be the ends of mercenaries who died amidst the ravages of war.

However, this time Eugene's direct troops stepped forward.

"Stone cavalry forward."

At Eugene's order, Dark Elf boy messengers ran left and right holding flags with deformed cute pictures of stone cavalry.

Then, as if they had waited, the Dwarves riding Vertigos came forward and lined up.

"In this battlefield, weight is more important than sharp arrows. Show your majestic appearance to the numerous nobles gathered here."

At Eugene's words, the Dwarves burst into hearty laughter whilst raising their two-handed flails in unison.

"Leave it to us. We will turn those pitiful bones into dog food."

"There is no cavalry heavier than us!"

In this kind of situation, a commotion is bound to occur as knights thirsty for military merits hate losing a combat opportunity. Especially since the command structure is not unified, even more so.

However, this time curiosity suppressed everything. Because everyone was curious about the battle of the Dwarf riders they'd seen for the first time in their lives.

"Charge!"

As Rampage took the lead, the Dwarf riders shouted and drove their Vertigos in a single file.

Dududududu!

There's no rhythmic running up and down unique to horses. The Dwarves relentlessly swung their two-handed cavalry flails atop an unwavering charge like a hippo running.

There was no melee.

Just once. Only a single file charge passed by.

Then, shattered remnants rolled around everywhere like a tornado struck a building made of bones.

"..."

The knights and lords who witnessed the only tank legion of this era were beyond flustered; they were at a loss for words.