Chapter 307

Chapter 307 - The Anti-Undead Purification Squad

The Anti-Undead Purification Squad, composed of Lantzheim warriors, had arrived.

"My Lord! Are you in there?!"

Hermann shouted. He was a high-ranking commander representing the Lantzheim warrior unit.

However, since joining under Eugene's command, he hadn't seen real combat. Upon hearing that his lord was fighting underground, he had rushed ahead.

"I'm here. The enemies inside the passage have all been eliminated, so there's no need to hurry. Take your time."

Tracking was easy due to the trail of battle and the scent of Ghouls left by Eugene's advance.

The Purification Squad had sensibly brought a stretcher. When the unconscious Alzhar was placed on it, the Dwarves eagerly lifted it.

"Now isn't the time for gold. Let's go up quickly and prepare to move the monster's corpse."

"We must preserve Your Lordship's great feat."

The Dwarves not carrying the stretcher looked ready to sprint all the way outside the cave.

"I appreciate the sentiment, but in wartime, we must forgo such things."

Eugene, a hunter and mage, intuited that taxidermizing a Nosferatu was impossible.

When Eugene lightly, truly lightly, nudged the corpse's side, it crumbled completely. As if touching a figure made of salt.

The exposed cross-section showed skin, flesh, and bone all thoroughly dried. It looked like a mummy dried for hundreds of years.

"Is it because of Your Lordship's holy sword?"

When the Dwarves asked, Eugene shook his head.

"Seems to be a characteristic of this creature. An existence that endlessly plunders and sucks dry, yet never returns it to nature. A parasite that, despite having blood and flesh, is infinitely closer to the undead."

When Eugene touched its head, it collapsed like a sandcastle.

"We can't hang it in the lobby."

"I don't really want to hang it either. It's ugly to an extreme. It might just ruin the guests' mood. You've worked hard, so go on up quickly."

Eugene pushed the back of the disappointed Dwarf.

"Will Your Lordship remain?"

"I want to see the combat effectiveness of the newly formed Anti-Undead Purification Squad firsthand. Such a perfect combat environment doesn't come along easily."

Eugene knew countless cases where theoretically excellent weapons or tactics failed in practice.

Often, units sent for testing would exaggerate their results to report to the higher-ups, mindful of their gazes.

Even as his status rose, his need to see things firsthand remained unchanged.

The knights and warriors respected and followed this trait, though not all agreed.

-We know you are the strongest and bravest, but you must exercise restraint now. Do not forget that tens of thousands of lives rest on your shoulders. No knight can save the monarch from the monarch himself.

-The Princess is right. You cannot imagine how many lives the serf reform you've built will save in the future. What about the additional bridges you've just started? There are many who await their completion with bated breath. If anything were to happen to you, all these plans would crumble.

Since Eugene became a Great Lord, Varda had been warning him about such matters. Recently, as various projects progressed, Marbas had joined in as well.

Even setting aside affection or loyalty for Eugene, they couldn't imagine another lord like him emerging.

"I'll be careful."

Eugene always smiled and brushed it off, and he would continue to do so.

This was also why Varda, beyond the succession issue, earnestly wanted a child. She thought that only if he had a baby would he finally exercise caution.

*

"Let's go to the common hall. I know the way."

Eugene wanted to search the Nosferatu's feeding place and nest more thoroughly.

When a great mystery vanished, the smaller mysteries it had suppressed would emerge. There was a high risk that the evil energy remaining in the cave after the Nosferatu's demise could raise undead.

"Not a single drop of those filthy creatures' blood, not a single breath, shall touch Your Lordship!"

The spearmen and crossbowmen of the Lantzheim warrior unit took the lead and cleared the path.

They were the most expensive to maintain under Eugene's command. Because whether close-combat or ranged, they all used silver.

Grrrr-.

Just then, Ghouls appeared from the opposite side.

It seemed that with the Nosferatu's demise, which had exerted strong control, all had entered a state similar to berserk rage. Their hatred for the living was palpable even from here.

"Be careful. They're more dangerous than Wights. And there are jaguars mixed in."

In the life of wild beasts, hunting and being hunted was natural. Death was always nearby, and it simply wasn't their turn yet.

Conversely, a person who had lost their wild nature and lived in civilization could die the most pitifully in the world.

Therefore, it was fairly common for the dead to rise as Wights based on lingering resentment. In contrast, it was very rare to see a beast become a Wight.

The proportion of beasts mixed in was a major difference between Ghouls and Wights.

"We had one or two engagements on the way. That monster didn't discriminate and bit everything."

The Purification Squad members leveled their new anti-undead spears forward. A weapon first introduced to this world through Eugene's design. A halberd.

-What is this? It looks like a trident spear, but the blades on both sides curve outward? The distance between the blades is also wide.

-It's called a halberd. Its killing power may be inferior to other spears, but its stopping power is second to none. It's also easy to aim.

The trident spear was favored by Colosseum gladiators who pushed technique to its limits. On the battlefield, spearmen overwhelmingly preferred cheaper, easier-to-handle, and high-penetration single-edged spears.

However, the Purification Squad's main enemy was the undead. Since silver provided both destructive power and penetration, having multiple blades was more advantageous.

"Halberd!"

The halberds, with shortened shafts suited for indoor combat, formed a schiltron. In a space where two could fight, over ten halberds were densely leveled. If counting the blade points, that was over thirty.

Guaaak-!

The Ghouls that charged in a death formation were instantly turned into fish paste.

"There's no need to stab or slash!"

"Just hold your ground!"

Ghouls pierced in the chest, abdomen, and thighs were immediately neutralized.

With a single-edged spear, its powerful penetration could ironically allow the enemy to close in. But with a halberd, bones got wedged between the three blades, forcing them to stop.

-Undead know no pain, no death, no tactics. In actual combat, they will charge straight ahead without fail. Don't think about stabbing; focus only on receiving them. Precise aiming and holding ground! If you do these two things well, the rest will be handled by the silver.

Eugene's newly proposed tactic was very unfamiliar.

But the Lantzheim warrior unit were world-class experts in group spear techniques. They quickly adapted to the new weapon and doctrine.

Pisit.

Fwoosh.

Blue flames erupted from various parts of the Ghouls' bodies.

Charging a silver-plated schiltron was like pressing butter onto a heated fork. Arms and legs severed by the burning silver fell everywhere.

"How does it feel?"

"My Lord! I'm not being complacent, but this is the easiest fight I've ever had!"

"Our seniors back home would be dying of envy watching us fight!"

The Purification Squad members shouted excitedly.

Undead, who knew no pain, fear, or vital points.

Long spearmen specialized in targeting weak points.

The two were diametrically opposed. The Lantzheim warriors, who prided themselves as the strongest infantry but had always avoided undead, felt exhilarated seeing their long-standing weakness resolved.

"Come at me as much as you want!"

Ghouls surged in waves, but met the same fate. With nearly ten blades stabbing per enemy, approach was impossible.

Even the jaguar Ghoul that crawled along the floor was blocked by several spears.

Kyarr-.

Being a jaguar originally, it tried to force its way through with its size and ferocity, but was ultimately thwarted.

Chwak!

A trident spear driven from above crushed its neck, and no beast could endure that.

The struggling jaguar, with its own strength and silver's destructive power acting as a multiplier, had its head severed.

Despite the threatening numbers and combination, the Ghouls couldn't touch a single hair of the Purification Squad.

"Impressive. Beyond my expectations."

Eugene marveled sincerely. Whether in battle or commerce, things rarely went perfectly according to plan.

In practice, various issues always cropped up, making adjustments essential. However, the Lantzheim warrior unit demonstrated a combat effectiveness that seemed a direct translation of Eugene's theories.

"My Lord! With this much silver, how could we not crush the undead?"

Yet even hearing the lord's praise, the Purification Squad looked embarrassed.

"To be honest, it feels like we're fighting using 'tangpa'."

"Not 'tangpa', halberd."

"T-tanpoa?"

"Halberd."

"Tang! Pa!"

"Halberd."

"Down Pa!"

"...Fine."

Eugene stopped around the sixth mistake when the Purification Squad members' faces grew too pale.

Unlike the flexible Black Hand tribe Dark Elves, the Lantzheim warriors were 100% pure, stubborn soldiers.

-They specialized in mobile warfare and felt no shame in showing their backs to the enemy.

-They were noble warriors who considered holding their ground until death an honor.

These were evaluations received from the Roman nobility. It was unsurprising that jokes didn't land with them.

"We've been fighting while trembling over a single silver coin."

"How many silver coins evaporated in that last engagement?"

The Purification Squad members inspected their blade edges, dulled by undead reaction. They seemed more fearful of the silver consumed than the battle itself.

"Don't worry about it. This is all an investment. The best way to make the most money with silver is to fight with silver at the right place."

Considering the silver discovered at Akran Temple, there was likely a silver mine nearby.

Eugene was obsessed with securing silver, having even implemented a silver monopoly system to widespread complaint. His expectations for silver mines were as high as for gold mines.

In value, it naturally couldn't compare to gold. However, having fought evil enemies time and again, silver was the only thing that brought peace of mind just by looking at it.

*

Upon arriving at the common hall where the Nosferatu had fed, another Purification Squad was in battle.

"Skeletons?"

Undead that had completely decayed, leaving only bones, were launching a fierce attack. Despite their frail appearance, they were more powerful enemies than Wights.

-They look like they'd break if you tapped them, yet they're giving the mercenaries a harder time than Wights.

-It's because they've shed all the muscles and tendons that no longer function due to decay. The evil energy flows unobstructed through the bones.

-Like an open water pipe.

Eugene recalled a conversation he had with Marbas.

Even experienced mercenaries struggled with Skeletons. However, the hard-counter Purification Squad spearmen were easily holding them off.

Crack!

The halberd was the optimal weapon for seizing incoming rib cages.

Fwoosh.

Skeletons whose entire chests were engulfed in blue flames collapsed one by one, powerless.

Some Purification Squad members even stabbed between the rib cage and pelvis to sever the spine. Even if caught by just one of the three blades, the spine was instantly snapped in two.

Those that crawled forward with only an upper body were finished by overhead strikes to the back of the head or back.

"Watch the right side! Many are armed with spears!"

Skeletons attacked with spears and swords carved from monster bones, but it was futile. The Purification Squad blocked them using the three blades of their halberds as if catching them.

Crrrk!

Twisting the halberd with both hands in that state dislocated the Skeletons' wrist joints, causing them to drop their weapons.

A technique favored by Colosseum gladiators. Executing this in group combat with an unfamiliar weapon proved the excellence of the Lantzheim warriors.

"We'll join you! Just hold on a little longer!"

"The Count?!"

The fighting Purification Squad's morale skyrocketed at the sight of new reinforcements, and especially Eugene charging in.

With twin swords drawn, Eugene attacked, and the Purification Squad closed in from both sides, instantly annihilating the Skeletons.

"There seem to be quite a few stragglers."

Hermann replaced his silver-exhausted spearhead with a new one as he spoke.

"Even the completely rotted bones are rising as undead, separate from the Ghouls."

"If they die and are left in a place like this, their resentment must be overwhelming."

Waiting in the common hall, Purification Squad units arrived one after another from other passages.

There were injured, but no dead. In narrow passages, densely leveling silver-plated halberds and pushing forward left the undead with nothing they could do.

"Was there anything uncomfortable?"

Eugene grabbed each warrior and asked for their combat impressions.

'Excellent.'

'I am truly in awe of Your Lordship's foresight.'

Among the generic responses, patience in questioning yielded some useful insights.

"Twisting the spear after stabbing was highly effective. It wasn't just about wedging the weapon between the blades."

"If you twist while stabbed in the thigh, you can instantly sever the leg. If you twist while stabbed in the chest, the speed of silver spreading doubles. Even with a spear embedded, undead still push forward, making this tactic possible."

Some warriors pointed to the gripping part of the halberd.

"If we attach a knuckle-like handle here, we could twist much more powerfully."

Due to the shaft's structure, even gripping tightly and twisting resulted in considerable slippage and wasted force. There were even cases where the spear slipped backward after stabbing the enemy due to sweaty hands.

To compensate, spearmen wrapped cloth around the shaft or carved grooves. Wearing leather gloves or washing hands with sand were also common methods.

But these only alleviated the problem; they weren't fundamental solutions.

"Wouldn't attaching a handle make it awkward to use?"

"We'll be fine."

"Oh!"

For warriors who had wielded spears for generations, it was no issue.

"However, attaching a handle firmly to the shaft would be difficult with a wooden spear shaft. We'd need to use a hollow iron rod, but the cost..."

"That's fine."

"Oh!"

As expected, for Eugene, who could freely invest in armaments and blacksmiths, it was no problem.

*

The Dwarf expedition team that made it outside headed straight for the open-air hot spring.

"Your Lordship is fighting down there, and we're..."

"Before descending, the Master ordered that those who returned unharmed should drive out the accumulated chill and fatigue here."

At the words of the slaves from the Eastern Empire, the Dwarves couldn't refuse.

Clank clank!

Bang bang!

The Dwarf village under construction was a sight that brought a smile just by looking. Easygoing Dwarves leaned their shoulders against the stone walls, fully immersed.

"Wow. When the village is completed, will we be able to soak here daily?"

"It's nice and warm. A luxury we couldn't even dream of during our time in the Elysium Mountains."

Seeing their carefree comrades, the veterans covered their faces.

"You idiots! Do you think this is the time to be lounging and smiling?"

"What can we do about what's already happened? Rather, we should be grateful that Your Lordship cares for his subordinates."

Mining in unfamiliar territory had many variables. They had indeed faced a crazy monster like the Nosferatu. If the employer was as generous and meticulous as Eugene, it was a blessing among blessings.

"Then what about our share? We have no idea how many percentage points we'll have to reduce from what we originally planned."

Dwarves were a race of loyalty and conviction. Even a simple technician wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice their life for their accumulated reputation.

However, there was one thing that could easily break even the grip of the stubborn as steel.

"It's better than dying. My first grandchild is due next month."

"You lot have no pride as miners!"

It was the hand of a newborn. There were no parents who could outdo their children, no grandparents who could outdo their grandchildren.

After the hot spring bath, their frayed nerves calmed as they filled their bellies with beer and cheese jerky given by the Easterners.

"Aren't we cutting too much? Rather than that, about this much..."

"You want to present Your Lordship with a decimal percentage? In situations like this, you always go with a natural number, and preferably an odd one."

The discussion then shifted to what percentage to change the share to.

Around the time a rough conclusion was reached, the mine cleanup was also completed. Theodore, who had gone down with the Purification Squad, returned after finishing his vein survey.

"Are you feeling alright? I knew you were overdoing it."

"I'm not that old yet. The Count descended personally to save us; I couldn't just sit still. This is a matter of principle."

It was for the same reason that Hermann, the Lantzheim representative, had personally descended. Theodore, representing the Dwarf pioneers, had also gone out to survey.

A beautiful story, but Eugene warned him not to do this in the future. He was a leader who prioritized efficiency over principle when it came to his own people.

"How was the vein?"

"Since the undead had settled in, there was absolutely no silver to be found."

"Damn."

"However, gold was flowing like a river. The mining conditions were also pleasant, making it highly profitable."

"!!!"

"The Count observed that the Rakshasa had been scraping away small amounts of gold as offerings to the monster."

"That makes sense! Those creatures are famously fond of shiny things. I heard that without gemstone ornaments, males can't even court females."

Rakshasa didn't farm. It was suspicious that they simply served the Nosferatu as objects of primitive faith and offered sacrifices.

However, if the creature occupied a highly profitable gold mine, the story changed. With their poor mining technology, the Rakshasa had no alternative.

"It's fortunate that this is a new continent."

"If it were near Roman lands, ugh! Just thinking about it is terrifying. All sorts of people would have come knocking with spoons."

Before building the village, they should have built a fortress first. Lords indebted from wars and unpaid mercenaries would have swarmed like bees.

But here, there was no need to even set up guards. Then only one problem remained.

"Theodore. Here are the newly adjusted shares. This is Plan A, and this is Plan B."

"Not bad."

Theodore, after glancing through the two contracts, closed his eyes tightly. As the leader of the pioneers, he had to contract on the best terms, but he was at a disadvantage in both justification and strength.

Sighs only multiplied.

'Should I have sent the heavily armed warriors from the start? No. Even then, against that monstrous creature...'

Theodore, who thoroughly believed in reason and technique, felt the weight of divine fatalism in his heart for the first time.

*

"I have no intention of changing the contract terms."

However, Eugene intended to maintain the tentatively discussed shares from before departure.

"No matter how well-situated the settlement is, it's a village on the other side of the world, and in a jungle at that. You need this much share to feel motivated, right?"

"But we cannot claim such shares when our lives were saved. If Your Lordship hadn't been here, the mine development itself would have been impossible due to that monster."

"Not just for you, but also when recruiting additional immigrants from the Old Continent. If we present such shares, even those filled with hope would hesitate."

Eugene didn't dislike making more money either.

But he was a ruler before a businessman, and had to look beyond profit. Planting his influence here was more important than just making a profit.

To do that, he needed more adventurous pioneers. The motivation and loyalty of such people came from the reward of their labor.