Chapter 60

Chapter 60 - Spiritual High Tide (2)

Marbas's finger tapped the golden key.

"That castle is an existence floating spanning between this world and another world. It is the reason why it was not easily discovered for a very long time."

"If one is a Summoner, one could not help but be intrigued."

"As a person who looks into and listens to that distant place, wouldn't it be a lie to say I have no interest?"

Marbas placed his burn-stained hand near his ear.

"Ever since becoming a Summoner, I have continuously felt the existence of that castle. Sometimes strongly, sometimes faintly. It felt exactly like it was endlessly sending me letters."

"If so, have you never thought of joining the Emperor?"

The person who covets the Moving Castle the most, and is also abundant in power and wealth. Probabilistically, there would be no better option to find it than by his side.

"Because those who went to the Emperor with that thought ended up halfway like slaves. And I don't feel inclined to leave the side of the violent but loyal Blackhand friends."

"Certainly once you get close, they are truly reassuring and good friends."

The eyes of the two talking about Dark Elves were harmonious and warm.

"Do you think the Moving Castle can really be found?"

"I cannot be certain of that, but it is certain that now is the right time. Let us talk about something else for a moment."

Perhaps because he met an opponent to properly talk about his field of interest after a long time, Marbas also showed a joyful expression.

"On a beach with shallow water depth, water repeatedly comes in deeply and recedes. This is called high tide and low tide, and its principle is mmm..."

Marbas showed signs of contemplating how to make it easy for a knight to understand.

"It is because of the influences the sun and the moon exchange with each other, right?"

Eugene omitted parts like tidal forces and answered simply. However, with just that, Marbas showed an immensely surprised expression.

"Did you have profound knowledge in astronomy? This is something almost even magicians do not know."

"I have seen it in a book."

When speaking of knowledge others don't know, a book was the most convenient excuse.

"The conversation has become easy. Like high tide and low tide, this world and another world also repeatedly get closer and farther apart. Summoners call the period when they get closer the Spiritual High Tide."

"Even hearing it roughly, it feels like it would be completely detrimental to the world."

For ordinary farmers, warm sunshine is sufficient. Unknown powers burrowing into the world is merely a disaster.

"That is correct words. Because during the Spiritual High Tide, incidents exceeding human cognition increase. Great magicians are also mostly born during this period."

"Seeing the flow of the conversation, it seems now is that time?"

Marbas nodded his head.

"What floats between this world and another world is the Moving Castle. If so, wouldn't the time when the Spiritual High Tide comes in be the right time to find it? Moreover, it's a high tide coming in for almost the first time in 20 years. The cycle before that was over 100 years ago."

Hearing it, the Emperor could not help but be anxious. Because if he misses this opportunity, there might not be a second time during his reign.

"If so, don't you covet this key even more?"

"A massive mystery cannot be possessed just by wanting it. Destiny will choose its owner. I have already sufficiently learned the price when coveting what exceeds one's limits."

"It's a hypothetical story, but when the time comes, it would be good if I could receive Lord Marbas's help."

"It's what I was hoping for. As a seeker of truth, wouldn't it be an honor that cannot be missed? What I wanted to converse with you about today was also for that."

Marbas picked up the key and placed it in Eugene's hand.

"What meaning there is in this key entering your hand, only the gods will know. I pray that tranquility will be together at the end of it."

With that, the conversation between the two ended.

The next day after spending such a comfortable night. The Dark Elves, having finished collecting money, prepared to leave.

"You have already established a great merit and been bestowed a territory."

Helga, who learned of Eugene's destination, admired.

It hadn't been long since he made his name known as a Free Knight, yet he rose as a lord. Moreover, if it's Northfork, it is an excellent village even she has heard of.

"What do you guys plan to do?"

"We plan to immediately return to the tribe. Thanks to you, Sir Knight, we lessened our troubles."

The Blackhand Mercenaries did not like staying in one region for a long time. Because it was difficult to find work, and there were also many times they got swept up in grudges and favors.

Eugene shared a firm handshake with Helga and parted ways.

* * *

The further north they went, the thicker the river became. Not much was left until Northfork.

"Come to think of it, does this mean we've become direct subordinates of the lord?"

"When we get a bit older, it might be good to ask him to stick us in the territory guard."

In the unstable life of a mercenary, there was nothing as good as having a final bastion.

"Drink cold water and wake up, you."

"A mercenary bastard should know his place, what on earth."

Although, of course, there were more people rebuking such sweet dreams.

Anyway, resting in the employer's territory is indeed the greatest luxury of mercenaries. Since it's a trade village, food and things to play with will also be abundant. Everyone puffed up with anticipation and asked for sleep.

And they had to be forcefully woken up in the early dawn.

Piiiiik-!

Homi's sharp whistle hammered everyone's eardrums. Something was caught by her senses that are more sensitive than a hunting dog's.

"Raise weapons and shields!"

The mercenaries jumped up, armed themselves, and lit the torches they had prepared in advance.

Everyone only made an effort to wake up with frowning faces, there was not a single person who doubted Homi's senses and judgment.

"While groups 1 and 3 block in the front, groups 2 and 4 put on your armor. Once everyone puts it on, we rotate!"

Hind, wearing a breastplate with the help of a mercenary, gave detailed instructions.

Thanks to that, Eugene could concentrate on observing beyond the darkness. It did seem like something was approaching, but nothing that could be called murderous intent or military discipline could be felt.

"I am Eugene Meyer, a knight moving after being bestowed a fiefdom by Count Morad. Reveal your identity over there!"

Thanks to the torches in various places, they could gradually check roughly the shapes of the approaching enemies. They are clear human figures, not monsters.

"If you approach further, we will shoot!"

Despite Eugene's warning, the intruders did not stop. The mercenaries closely attached their index fingers to the crossbow triggers.

"Those bastards are holding weapons!"

"Commence firing!"

At the silhouettes of the weapons held in their hands, Eugene gave the attack order.

Thud thwack thud!

Even though multiple bolts flew and hit, almost none fell down. Even a single small scream did not come out.

"Just what on earth?"

"It definitely felt like it stuck in flesh."

The flustered mercenaries could know the reason as the enemies came into the vicinity of the torches.

What was revealed in the light were corpses distorted with hatred towards the living. At that horrific appearance, shouts burst out from all directions.

"Wights!"

They are Wights, the lowest tier undead monsters.

"How long has it been since the war broke out that undead are already appearing?"

Death in this world is not the same. Those who die by the hands of others, not from natural death or disease, leave intense grudges on the earth.

When these gather in large quantities and mature, evil energy is formed and undead rise up. However, in a situation where it hadn't even been half a year since the war broke out, it was too early.

"Aim for the head! Other places are useless!"

"Do not even risk the danger of getting scratched! It is fine even if you can't catch them, dodge their attacks as much as possible!"

Some Wights, with almost only bones remaining, approached clattering. The bolts caught in their eye sockets or between their ribs shook and fell off one by one.

Trudge trudge.

Clatter. Clank.

Around the time the bastards that approached staggering reached the front of the square formation.

The mercenaries felt a very cool wind blowing above their heads. Even knowing it wouldn't harm them, it's a wind pressure that gives them goosebumps every time they experience it.

Craccckkkk!

Cruuunch!

Smash!

Making magnificent sounds, three Wights collapsed with their heads and neck bones broken.

"Maintain the defensive line just like now."

"Leave it to us!"

Eugene, holding a flail, instructed from behind the mercenaries. Even a knight in front couldn't be as reliable as a knight behind their backs.

Wights are not like evil spirits requiring magic power to deal damage, nor do they possess robust physical bodies like Ghouls.

Considering their sluggish movements and practically non-existent intelligence, they can be seen as far weaker than an Orc or Gnoll of similar size.

However, numbers are strength itself. Moreover, the bastards spread diseases with corpse poison or rusted weapons. Even a scratch, if neglected and unlucky, leads to having an arm or leg cut off.

"Large shields to the front! There's no need to attack actively."

The shieldbearers concentrated on maintaining the defensive line while pushing the Wights away.

Behind them, mercenaries holding blunt weapons with both hands smashed the Wights' heads. Tools used for constructing the campsite also played a great active role.

Eugene also fought by breaking through stagnant sections where Wights seemed to herd, rather than actively obliterating enemies.

Because having become a commander, he had to distinguish between when to charge in like one against a hundred and slaughter, and when to maintain the allied battle lines.

A flail was the best mounted weapon that could satisfy rear command and fierce attacks simultaneously.

"The rumors I heard when I was at the House of Knights were entirely about swords and spears."

Hind became speechless with a blank face after properly seeing what kind of knight he was accompanying.

Crrraaack!

Crack!

Eugene's appearance fighting gave the feeling of a black storm descending in the shape of a knight.

'He was going immensely easy on me when he sparred with me at the House of Knights.'

While Hind admired the martial might of the knight he served, on one hand, he was regretful.

Because there was no active role of the ether-made sword he had expected. A sword all those who train in a sword want to swing even if exchanging it for their lives!

That one didn't even think of coming out while stuck on Eugene's waist.

"Starving lives of the wild. I promise you food. Tie the feet of our enemies for more seeds and prosperity!"

As Valda's spell finished, the Wights clamoring at the front of the mercenaries staggered in an instant.

It is because weeds and vines grew with fierce momentum under their feet and wrapped around their ankles and legs.

"Th-What is this?"

"Do not panic and hold your positions! Our Magician has bound the bastards!"

The mercenaries calmed down at Hind's shout.

Since Wights have extremely low intelligence, they seemed to perceive even the bushes tying their legs as a kind of enemy.

Kkeeeeek-!

Kkiik-!

Because they attacked the bushes stuck to their bodies first, they bent their waists leaving the mercenaries in front of them.

"Now is the time!"

As everyone struck down with all their might using weapons and shields, Wights with their skulls crushed collapsed in all directions.

"You are amazing! Lady Magician!"

The mercenaries praised Valda.

Magic itself is hard for a mere mercenary to see, but to think it helps in combat this intuitively! They felt like they were receiving the protection of a god.

Some Wights collapsed on the floor were wrapped in additionally grown vines and couldn't even get up.

The moment a mercenary holding tent construction hammers in both hands approached and tried to finish them off.

"Donovan! Step back!"

At the mercenary captain's shout, he immediately slid backwards.

Vwoom!

By a hair's breadth, a huge grasp passed through the place where the mercenary was. A muscular existence popped out from the nearby bushes and swung its hand.

"To think there would even be Ghouls..."

The mercenary captain groaned at the identity of the newly appeared enemy.

Ghouls are existences that are born themselves taking a tangled pile of corpses as a womb. Wicked existences that are half undead and half living creature.

Their height is much taller than an ordinary mercenary, and their materialized fingers and nails remind one of 10 daggers.

However, the truly annoying thing is the bastards' roars.

Groooooar-!

A Ghoul's voice contains a weak curse. Even if it's not at the level to leave harm on the body, it is enough to cause fierce fear.

Because this originates from mystery, without means of magic resistance, even a knight with a hundred battles of experience felt terror.

"Uwaaah."

The shields of veteran mercenaries shook and began to lower bit by bit.

"Everyone snap out of it! Hold your shields properly!"

Hind swung his weapon and encouraged them, but his arms and the nape of his neck were also deeply covered in goosebumps.

"...!"

At that moment, the white downy hair of Homi, who was smashing Wights with her military hammer, stood upright completely. Her cute round eyes became fierce and her pupils narrowed vertically.

The heat of battle and the crisis of her comrades. That awakened something deeply hidden in Homi's instincts. She raised her head high.

"Awoooooo-!"

Unlike the gloomy Ghoul, a clear and dignified howling resounded across the world.

Then, the mercenaries felt the fear that seemed to constrict their hearts cleanly washed away.

Roarrrr-!

The enraged Ghoul roared again, but it had no effect now.

As if Homi's war cry had coated the mercenaries' hearts, the wicked aura could no longer shake their hearts.

"I can feel the Squire's breath flowing riding my heart."

A certain mercenary said with a trembling voice.