I don’t have a pen or paper. I do, but they are extremely expensive, and once I buy them, I won’t be able to quit after just three days. But I’ll buy them. I need to record the evolution of humanity.
I parted ways with the White Lily Corps and visited Ria to report our success. I asked Priscilla to check on Rufina. She seemed a bit off, and the absence of Rossa was also concerning.
“—That is all with my report.”
“Thank you for your hard work. That concludes all the reports, doesn’t it?”
The Dwarven elders had also gathered. I had hoped for a private moment, but I wished they had been a bit more considerate.
The elders offered words of praise for our achievements, but I wish they would stop patting my back and saying “well done.” When I took the first hit, I glared back at them because of the intense pain.
“We managed to hold them off today, but the Demon Army is still formidable. Please remain vigilant.”
“Uwah! Leave it to us!”
Don’t yell in the room. It’s not that large, I can hear you just fine. I thought we were dismissed once the report was over, but I was called back. I struck a heroic pose in my mind, but Asmus, who was beside Ria, isn’t leaving?
“King Shidenzach still hasn’t arrived. Perhaps the Demon Army’s encirclement was faster than expected, and he’s outside their blockade.”
The fact that the Demon Army, to which we inflicted so much damage, arrived sooner than I anticipated was a miscalculation. Surely, he isn’t actually late because he was drinking, is he?
“The carriage is carrying Magic Cannon shells. It’s impossible to break through the encirclement with shells loaded on it.”
It’s inconvenient to have only one direction of entry at a time like this. It’s easy to defend, though. We don’t have many Dwarven reinforcements either. Breaking through would be suicidal.
“I said it’s impossible to break through, but would it be possible to carry the shells manually through the caves?”
Asmus might know. Despite his size, he is a Dwarf. He should be familiar with the caves.
“…I think it’s possible. I don’t know the actual size of the shells, but considering the size of the Magic Cannon, I think it’s possible. The weight is another matter; even for a Dwarf, there are limits.”
If that’s the reason for the delay in reaching Runbergzach, it’s understandable. If it’s true, I’ll apologize in my mind for the drinking comment.
“It feels like there’s a glimmer of hope.”
Ria’s smile is blinding. If we can get the shells, we might not only push them back but annihilate them. My first victory against the Demon Army, for Ria. I’m fired up! …I’m ready to kill.
That readiness lasted only until the next morning.
“A cave-in?! The cave collapsed!?”
I wish I could be woken up peacefully. At least wake me up with good news. Was it Teresa? Good for her working in the morning, but how was my work last night?
“The southern side has collapsed. From the larger passages down to the smaller ones, everything. Fortunately, the central and northern areas seem to be fine.”
Of all places, it had to be the side where the shells were coming from. I hope it wasn’t the shells exploding that caused the cave-in… If it were, it would be much worse. Even if the King is transporting the shells, it will take time, or he might just give up and go drinking.
“What about the Demon Army?! Have they made any moves?”
“Only the smoke from their cooking fires… that’s all.”
Their supply line isn’t cut off? Did Christine and the others manage to handle it well? With Sophia, Alana, and Orietta there, a supply unit would be no problem.
With the hope of the shells gone, I’ll put my faith in holding them off until their supplies run out. Or, we could fight to a certain extent and retreat into the caves. There must be an escape route somewhere.
“Wake up the entire White Lily Corps. And where did Priscilla and Rufina go?”
Priscilla, whom I haven’t seen since yesterday. Sending her to check on Rufina and then not having her return makes me a bit worried. I told the White Lily Corps, “I can’t let the girls do all the work,” and we were given rooms to rest without standing guard duty, but our sleep time was extremely limited.
The new White Lily Corps are sleeping piled up, filling the room with the scent of roses. You all have terrible sleeping postures. One person is twitching, but I guess they’re okay.
“I’ll go look for Priscilla and Rufina. Rose-san, …Rose! Wake up! While I’m gone, please take care of the White Lily Corps.”
Rose-san raised her hand dismissively over her shoulder. As long as it’s understood, it’s fine. I’m worried about the two of them and was about to leave the room when I groped someone’s behind and then exited.
In reality, I should be heading to the cave-in site or Ria’s location, but there are other important people here, so one person’s absence won’t matter, I thought, and went to find the two of them.
Finding the two of them was surprisingly easy. Black aura and shouts from a crowd were visible even from a distance in front of a building that used to be a warehouse within the castle walls.
The ones shouting curses were Dwarves. Those being cursed at were Rossa, the skeleton standing in front of the door. I could tell she was suppressing her anger with the unsettling skeletal appearance and black aura I didn’t want to see in the morning.
“Yes, yes, I’m sorry. I’ll just pass through.”
I could have shoved the cursing Dwarves from behind, but we are in a cooperative relationship now. I want to resolve this as peacefully as possible.
“Mikael-sama…”
I can’t read the skeleton Rossa’s expression, but from her tone, it sounds like a voice of relief. It feels more like she’s glad she didn’t have to kill rather than being saved. It’s good I taught her that unnecessary killing is bad.
“Are you the master of this monster?! How dare you collapse the caves!”
Thank you for the clear explanation. It seems Rossa is being blamed for the cave-in. It’s wrong to discriminate just because she’s a monster. She obeys orders well, and Rossa, a glamorous beauty in a red dress, would never do something like that. Even though she’s a creepy skeleton right now.
“She is under the command of a Necromancer belonging to the White Lily Corps. She is not someone who would harm anyone.”
That’s a confidently stated explanation. With this, everyone should be convinced and leave. You’ve worked hard, I’ll handle the rest, so everyone go home, hug your wives, and sleep.
“Who could believe such a thing! Isn’t she a creepy skeleton!”
Looks and credibility don’t always match, but if I were to get a loan from a bank, a suit would be more effective than distressed jeans, wouldn’t it? If I were borrowing money in a tattered skeleton costume, I’d have to emphasize the impact.
“Rossa, blow off your own head.”
Rossa put her right hand to her face and, without hesitation, blew off her own head. Her body trembled as she took two or three steps towards the Dwarves, then fell powerlessly and vanished into dust.
“Rossa is an Undead Queen, but my command is absolute. With this, her innocence should be proven. Now, everyone disperse! Don’t get in the way!”
Perhaps the shocking performance of Rossa blowing off her own head, despite the nonsensical logic, was too much for them. One by one, the audience members left.
Ignoring the now empty stage, I entered the room. Priscilla and Rufina were sleeping, embracing each other, and Rossa was standing by Rufina’s pillow, having regained her flesh.
“It’s been a while, Mikael-sama. Was that alright?”
An Undead Queen who revives easily even after her head is blown off once. It was tough for me too, killing Rossa.
“It was excellent. How are Priscilla and Rufina? And wasn’t Rossa easily defeated yesterday?”
“I apologize. Yesterday, my synchronization with Master didn’t go well, and it took time to return after being killed once.”
That can happen? Someday we’ll become one, but I guess there are days when things don’t go well. I also get cut, broken, or my heart stopped, and after that, I’m not feeling well.
“Are the two of them not feeling well?”
“Yes, especially Master…”
It’s because you bathed in Giant’s blood recklessly. If you’re caught in such a downpour of blood, you’ll catch a cold. You seem to have changed, but I’ll take a look inside just in case.
“Rossa, lend me a hand. I need to pull Priscilla off, or she’ll strangle Rufina.”
What kind of ferocious dream is she having? Priscilla had her arms around Rufina, strangling her with a smile. I sometimes wake up with a sore neck, and this must be the reason. If anything, I wish she’d strangle me face-to-face. I want to be buried.
As Rossa and I were prying Priscilla’s arms off Rufina, a hook flew at my cheek. Of course, I dodged it, but what kind of ferocious dream is this idiot woman having!
“Priscilla, wake up! What would you do if Rufina died!?”
I felt sorry for waking her up gently, so I decided to give Priscilla’s chest a squeeze. It’s better to have a pleasant dream than a nightmare.
“I’m awake! Don’t underestimate me!”
I couldn’t avoid the next two rapid hooks, and I was thrown back, my head shaking, my knees buckling. I want to know how she can deliver such power at point-blank range while I’m down.
But I won’t die in vain! If I’m going to fall, let it be into Rufina’s chest… I forgot, her chest was a fake glass bottle filled with demon blood.
“It… hurts…”
“Is the captain an idiot?”
The one who calls me an idiot is the idiot, hmph! But she’s so flat, Rufina-chan’s chest. If I merge with Rossa, will I get half of it? I’m waiting in anticipation.
“Rufina, how are you feeling?”
“I don’t want to hear it from someone who’s collapsed. My condition is… not good since coming to Runbergzach.”
Isn’t that because you bathed in Giant’s blood? If you drink that much, you’ll feel sick. Rufina is getting old, I suppose. When she was young, she could empty a bottle of whiskey, but as you get older, your liver can’t handle it.
“Can you fight?”
“Of course. I’ve already ordered Rossa to undeadify any usable corpses.”
That’s exactly why Necromancers are disliked on the battlefield. Both fallen allies and slain enemies become the Necromancer’s, leading to miscalculations in maintaining the front lines.
“Rossa, what’s the breakdown of the undeadified?”
“Goblins were discarded. Orcs are about three hundred, and although the Giant is patched up, I’ve secured one.”
Was the person who created Frankenstein also a Necromancer? I recall him being a scientist, but this much increase in combat power leads to a decrease in enemy strength.
“No Dwarves were undeadified, right?”
“There are no Dwarves.”
That’s a relief. Undeadifying allies, those who fought alongside us risking their lives until just now, would leave a bad impression. Although I really wanted them…
“Understood. The Demon Army seems to be having breakfast, and they’ll attack when they’re done. The undeadified will be deployed outside the castle walls, Rufina and Rossa on the left flank, and Priscilla with the White Lily Corps will head to the center.”
“You… don’t give orders while you’re sleeping.”
Who do you think made me collapse! If you’re worried, lie down with me. No strangling. I conveyed the detailed instructions, and the three of them left the room, leaving me behind.
“Captain, Rose-san is calling for you.”
I’m glad you’re feeling better. It’s Wendy, right? I didn’t want to be seen like this. This pathetic state. I used Wendy’s hand to lean on her and stood up.
“Wendy, are you alright after your injury?”
“I’m fine now. Captain, are you alright?”
I’m sorry to be such a pathetic captain, causing my subordinate to worry. I’m fine now! Your smile has given me courage. Now, let’s fight. Time waits for no one. I will fight to attract the Demon Army until Ashtal’s Knight Order safely meets Queen Anneliese.
“I heard there’s a reward…”
Time waits for no one, but I’ll make them wait for about fifteen minutes. My battlefield chooses no time or place.
