Chapter 250

Chapter 250 - Black Crusade (4)

The two young knights, Henri and Balan, were busy the entire way to their new destination, Baron Hafen's territory. It was because they had to learn the Mayer family's methods.

New drill formations.

Posture and format when reporting something.

The Mayer family laws frequently used in the field.

Rules for distribution of spoils and pillaging.

Regulations regarding local supply requisition and trade.

Security regulations.

Map making and map reading methods.

Manual transport methods and first aid techniques.

Functions, authority limits, and methods to request cooperation by department within Moving Castle.

Even having many things to learn, it was too many.

"It feels like I became a civil official, not a knight somehow."

Henri grumbled while twisting his curly hair. If it were the combat techniques of an inheriting knight he respected, he would have learned it excitedly no matter how painful the process, but this is...

"I like it."

In contrast, his best friend Balan had the exact opposite reaction. He earnestly read the booklet that looked small held in his pot lid-like hands.

"Really? This kind of stuff is fun?"

"The more you look, it's exquisitely carved drill formations and regulations. As if numerous people polished it over a long time."

"Things like that don't matter. I thought exams were finally over upon graduating, but as soon as we're commissioned it's an exam again?"

Because they were in the middle of executing a war, they were given ample exam periods, but anyway they had to pass the written and practical exams regarding the educational matters.

Since the ones setting the questions and conducting it were Eugene and Hind, they couldn't possibly do it half-heartedly.

"Think of it as the price for serving in the best army. Didn't Senior Hind say it? Here, a common m..."

"Stop with that common man singing already. I feel like scabs will form on my ears."

- A common man's bravery is not needed. Stand up as an officer at the same time as a knight.

It is a saying always constantly on the lips of Hind, who is in charge of educating newly commissioned knights.

There are heaps of knights who thoughtlessly chase only the honor before their eyes and miss the macroscopic profits. Eugene strongly despised such people, and that was something Hind also sympathized with.

"Hmm. Our friend Henri seems to be complaining that there's a lot to memorize."

"Can you hear his voice from here?"

Hind looked at Eugene as if surprised. Because it was an event happening at least 40m away in the noisy military camp.

"I can't hear him at all. But if his lips are jutting out a whole bowlful next to a colleague holding the education booklet, what else would it be?"

"Please look upon him generously. Even though he's a slightly lacking guy, his talent for swordsmanship is beyond mine. WhAAether you use him as an assault captain or send him to a duel trial, he will become the best card."

Eugene almost said, 'He looked like it,' but swallowed his words considering Hind's honor. The sword wielding he showcased holding dual swords in his first undead battle was amazing enough to make other knights pale in comparison.

"From now on, I will sponsor the House of Border Knights in the name of the Mayer family."

"The instructors' lingering worries will disappear cleanly."

For a great noble of Eugene's level to sponsor doesn't simply mean the resolution of financial issues. Because in the event of being placed in a dispute situation, decent opponents would voluntarily step back seeing that the backer is the Mayer family.

"It's something I should have started earlier, but I couldn't pay attention to it being busy wandering around all this time. I want to meet the border knights who graduated in the meantime too. That is, if they haven't decided on a liege yet."

"It's glorious words, but you wouldn't perhaps be intending to take over the House of Knights?"

Hind asked carefully.

There's no free lunch in the world. It is not a rare occurrence for wealthy merchant groups or nobles to privatize Houses of Knights suffering from financial difficulties.

Of course, most places reaching that point are not much to look at. Because a House of Knights that produced multiple excellent knights has no financial worries. Since the sponsorships from seniors or honorable families are ample.

"No. I have absolutely no thought of interfering with the operation. I would have no other wishes if they just advertised that there's a place of employment like this too. Merely arranging interviews isn't an excessive request, is it?"

"..."

In Hind's thoughts, he wondered what difference that was from saying he'd sweep up all the graduates. Would there even be a knight who would refuse joining after receiving Eugene's treatment and seeing his army?

* * *

Meanwhile, the Morad family's army arrived early at Baron Hafen's territory.

Kkaak-! Kkaak-!

"There's no movement in the village. Except for crows tearing at corpses."

"It seems to have been about two days since they suffered the disaster."

The hunters serving as scouts at the vanguard said. A hunter possessing outstanding enemy detection abilities and proficient in archery and traps is a completed soldier in itself.

Although it varies slightly by territory, in Count Morad's territory there is an obligation to serve in the army during war in exchange for using the hunting grounds.

There are those who solely extract the hunting rights and run away when war breaks out, but the Morad family pays generous compensation. Hunters who are always hard-pressed for money participated in the war without exception. Some followed out of loyalty to the lord too.

"Count. Shall we just pass by?"

"No. We will gather the corpses and burn them. If we just leave them and go, it's troublesome if monsters are attracted later or they become undead."

At the older hunter captain's words, Count Morad shook his head. He intends to subjugate all the risk factors in the territory and thrust an expensive bill to Baron Hafen.

Having issues occur in this village after receiving money and leaving was troublesome. Because it would mean the Morad family didn't handle the job properly despite it being a place they passed through.

"Then we will also sort out usable things while we're at it. For food, we'll give only long-term preserved foods to the soldiers and feed the rest as chicken and pig feed."

"I will leave it to you."

This is the reason nobles prefer hunters as soldiers. Because it's not just shooting bows well, but they function as the army's lubricant in various aspects. For one whose improvisational ability drops cannot endure long as a hunter.

As the supply lines gradually lengthened whilst marching south, they had to use whatever they could procure locally.

"There are no hearts."

"It's the same for the corpses over here. The hearts were entirely dug out."

The hunters who entered the village examined the corpses everywhere. Being winter, and cool as it was bordering a forest, putrefaction hadn't progressed much.

"This is..."

A certain hunter with grayish hair covered a blood-splattered woman's corpse with a straw hat rolling nearby. Even he, who went through all sorts of hardships, frowned at the gruesome appearance of having the uterus extracted.

"Hearts and uteruses. I heard those are the parts barbarian shamans use as sacrifices when employing wicked magic."

"This is fucking ominous. If I knew it would be like this, I should have just run away."

Hunters murmured everywhere.

"Stop."

The hunter captain raised his hand and quieted everyone down.

"There are over 10 knights serving in our army alone, and the military fOrce is in the thousands. Even if a 'what if' situation occurs, fighting is not our role, so do not get uselessly scared."

Then he employed soldiers who received temporary command to collect usable supplies.

Rye bread hard as stone, dried fruits, salt sacks, bean sacks, potato sacks, shoes, and gloves were loaded out in rows. They also detached herbs, mushrooms, and dried fish hung on the house eaves.

He handed the smoking pipe he was smoking to the hunter captain who returned after finishing the search.

"Can you guess the culprit?"

"It is absolutely an act of bandits. Seeing as they committed mass slaughter more than necessary, it's not bears or wolves either. Considering the corpses are intact except for some organs removed, it's not the act of Orcs or Goblins either."

The hunter captain who took a deep puff returned the smoking pipe politely with both hands.

"The knights say claw marks from Wargs were discovered on the corpses."

"No. Even if the length or depth of the marks are similar, there were 6 claws. I do not know what kind of bastard it is. WhAAether it really is a demonic beast summoned by pagans. Anyway, the bastards who committed this act are not far. It would be good to increase night watches. Since looking at the combat traces, they were attacked at night."

"I shall do so. Thank you for the advice like always."

* * *

Around the time the two Count families' armies entered Baron Hafen's territory from the west. A third army entered from the east. It is the pagan subjugation fOrce sent by the Roman Emperor.

Although an Emperor notorious as a tyrant, he has minimal rationality. He knows leaving the situation where a pagan army has run rampant, whAAether big or small, unchecked is a crazy act. As his retainers gathered their mouths and appealed, he immediately dispatched an army.

"From here on it wouldn't be strange to run into the Noble Faction army at any time."

"What are you worrying about? Those guys only filled up their numbers, they are weak greenhorns. I guarantee they'll be terrified out of their wits seeing limbs rolling around one by one in actual combat."

The knights belonging to the subjugation fOrce are uniformly high-spirited. Because after achieving a great victory, the Emperor's army defeated the Southern nobles in succession in large and small local skirmishes.

"Dammit! What I'm worried about is not the Western nobles or whatever!"

The knights also spoke roughly, and it was common to find those using dialects. Because their origins were fallen nobles, bandit knights who were wanted but received the Emperor's amnesty order, mercenaries who established merits, etc.

They were thirstier for success than anyone, didn't hesitate to do dirty work, and were also equipped with flexibility. The Emperor would group such people togAAether and handle matters of the shadows.

- To think I'd be a knight receiving an imperial order when I almost hung on the gallows.

At first, everyone worked hard with the thought 'Where else would I get this?', but as their achievements increased, their heads gradually began to grow big. Greed arose from the thought, 'After all I've done for him!'.

"The South right now is a land flowing with milk and honey. We must quickly wrap up the work here and head to the Southern battlefield."

"Of course! It's a land that's yours if you plant your flag, but at this rate it seems we'll be robbed of all the plums."

Everyone wanted to rule even a single small village and act as a lord rather than the government post of Emperor's knight.

Naturally, the commander who has to soothe and lead these bastards couldn't help but suffer from headaches. Even more so if he is a civil official, not a fellow knight.

"Everyone calm down and keep the assigned white flags per unit well. If you face the Western noble army, unconditionally raise the white flags first. Because we came to subjugate the pagans, not to fight the Noble Faction army."

"Sir Walter. Why would a person who received the Emperor's command say cowardly words like that? Anyway, this is why former scribes are, tsk tsk."

Walter is the deputy director of the Internal Affairs Ministry that oversees the Emperor's diplomatic affairs. He only lacked a peerage, it was a tremendous position, but a civil official was a civil official. To firmly grasp rough and uncultured knights of the shadows, individual martial prowess was necessary.

"Yes. I am of scribe origin. Therefore, I am recording every conversation during the operation, so chatter to your heart's content. I will specially add footnotes for the loudest bastard and attach it to the very top of the report to be presented to His Majesty."

"..."

That didn't mean he was solely swayed either. Since he didn't eat his time in a political den in vain.

"Summoners. It is time to repay the grace you received from His Majesty. There must not be even a slight setback in the operation."

Walter said to the summoners serving in the army.

In the Imperial Palace, there are mages and summoners gathered from everywhere to find Moving Castle. Even after having the castle taken by Eugene, the Emperor still kept them by his side and worked them for various uses.

Among these gathered summoners, there are also those who handle wicked power. Dark arts developed in the days when they were feared as necromancers, before building up the good image of today.

"Sir Walter. Once monsters are released, control is almost impossible until the battle ends. The only thing we can do is set the direction so they don't come to our allied camp."

"That is enough."

They are summoners who directly tame and employ monsters. This was the reason this subjugation fOrce consisted of knights and mercenaries of the shadows. Because if they were orthodox noble knights, they would have thrown a fit at using monsters in the army.

Of course, that doesn't mean these knights won't throw a fit at all.

"No matter how urgent the situation is, to mobilize monsters."

"If a rumor of this spreads, my honor will..."

It was dumbfounding to complain about honor despite having their hands stained with more filth than a decent mercenary, but Walter gently reasoned with them.

"It is said defeating barbarians with barbarians is what benefits the people the most. The Gods also said it is not a sin if you purify evil with wicked power. Your honors will never be damaged, so do not worry."

And he added one final word.

"Keep in mind that all this is only possible when we are not fighting the Noble Faction. If you happen to encounter them, raise the white flags straight up."

"I got it, so please stop. Emphasizing what damn white flag to honorable knights, my goodness."

Monsters cannot be used on the main battlefield. Because it's equivalent to another of the Emperor's weaknesses being created, just as much as executing nobles heedlessly.

But neither did the Emperor's military fOrce have enough leeway to dispatch the main fOrces. Walter had to somehow subjugate the pagans with the things given right now.

* * *

Among the three commanders, the one who first faced the evil fOrces was Eugene.

"It's the end of days."

Around the time Marbas was feeling sad at the appearance of the destroyed village discernible even from afar. The scout trying to enter through the entrance reported.

"There is a survivor here!"

There was a young man approaching staggering while deeply bowing his head. His clothes were torn here and there and full of grime, but it was a living person. The rotting skin unique to undead was not seen.

"Halt!"

The scouts trying to run taking out bandages stopped at Marbas' shout.

"That is not a survivor! Step back!"

Towards the scouts reflexively aiming their crossbows, the young man slowly raised his head. Eyes dyed red without a speck of white stared at Eugene's army.

Jjeoeok.

The inhumanly mutated jaw joint opened. Inside the mouth light enough for a human fist to enter is filled with sharp teeth.

"Oh my god."

"Pagan? Evil spirit possession?"

Towards the scouts flustered by the existence seen for the first time in their lives, the bastard pounced.

Peopeopeok!

Since everyone is a veteran, a command like 'Shoot!' is not needed. The reflexively shot bolts pierced vitals like the eyes, neck, and chest, and made the bastard tumble forward.

"It's a Corruptor. A result of a living person falling to the temptation of hell and having their body and soul twisted. Though that level is merely in the early stages yet."

Marbas bit his lip. The level of pagans eating away at the world was more serious than expected.

The scouts who lowered their waists stepping on the crossbows to load saw the Corruptor's feet when their gazes lowered. Mutated, elongated toes pierced through the straw shoes. At the ends of them hung claws reminiscent of a beast.

"Battle preparations!"

"Ambush! It's an ambush!"

And the Corruptors hiding throughout the village revealed themselves.

"Can they be reverted to humans?"

At Eugene's question, Marbas shook his head.

"It's the same as trying to save an addict who ate 1,000kg of drugs. If mutation has already occurred, there is no method. Grant them a merciful death."

"Understood."

Eugene received Blackout from Homi. The spirit of hell dwelling in the axe blade fluctuated. As if intensely looking forward to a taste of hometown to be tasted in a long time.

"Cover!"

"These bastards don't even budge from one or two hits!"

The Dwarves forming the battle line pushed the Corruptors back with their shields. Like Marbas' analogy, the bastards were showing terrifying aggressiveness as if they took drugs.

Thanks to the fresh flesh that wasn't rotten unlike Wights, they are nimble and strong, yet they didn't easily fall even after getting hit by siege crossbows.

"Above! They're coming over the roofs!"

They even ran around on the roofs on all fours and attempted three-dimensional attacks.

"Shoot! Drop them all!"

Fortunately, there was a Dark Elf archer unit in Eugene's army. Sharpshooters enough to sufficiently catch up to three-dimensional maneuvers.

Peoeok!

Peok!

Numerous arrows flew and shot down the followers of hell. Running over the roofs has the advantage of being able to disrupt the infantry line, but it also had the disadvantage of allowing volley fire to the shooters deployed on the ground.

"Kieeek-?!"

As if the bastards noticed that too, everyone came down from the roofs and dashed on the ground.

"They're coming! Watch your necks!"

And only at the point of attack did they jump to aim for the upper part of the Dwarf phalanx. However, Eugene had already arrived at the front line.

"Raise your shields high..."

Buuuuung!

At the moment he was about to warn them, the Dwarves felt the wind digging into their heads and the backs of their necks.

Through their sensitive beards, they realized this originated from the axe blade. Yet for some reason, the wind contained a subtle heat.

Tukwukwakwak!

The 4 Corruptors attacking from mid-air all rotated 180 degrees togAAether. Their upper bodies faced the ground and their lower bodies were flying in another direction spinning round and round.

"The rear troops surround the village. Do not let a single bastard slip away."

Like always, the Lord's voice that's even more reliable when heard on the battlefield.

Chiik.

The Dwarves saw the blood stained on the black axe blade being absorbed taking the form of evaporating.