Chapter 218 : Chapter 218
Chapter 218 : Outer one (5)
What on earth is this chaos from early dawn?
At any rate, I was lucky.
"Krnock, Deli."
"Brother Bihen......!"
Out of nowhere, they burst into tears. Overwhelmed with emotion, they couldn't even speak properly.
I can hear the explanation later. They're still kids. Comforting them comes first.
"I'm here now, so it's alright."
"Waaah!"
"We were so scared, Brother!"
I patted the rascals gathered in my arms. Their hair has grown in the meantime.
"Did the Windermere army launch a surprise attack?"
I asked, looking behind at the ongoing commotion. It was a complete shambles.
'Hmm?'
As I scanned the area, my brows furrowed on their own. Creatures that weren't human, yet weren't demonic beasts either, were running amok.
'Jiangshi......?'
Faces close to an ash-gray color, eyes with no pupils where only the whites floated around, a gait that dragged along the ground like a broken doll, and a ferocious aggressiveness toward the living.
There was no mistake. Looking again, their numbers were considerable.
'Why are the Empire's demonic beasts here again......?'
From behind, Deli grabbed the hem of my clothes.
"L-Last night, the soldiers of the Imperial Capital Knight Order received instructions from someone. To kill all the mercenaries here and clear the path for the Windermere army."
"What?"
"He said that after assassinating Rowen Windermere, he'd frame it as if the Mercenary King did it."
Deli repeatedly took deep breaths. He was struggling to calm down. He deliberately pronounced his words more clearly as if he shouldn't make a mistake, but his voice trembled to the point it was pitiful to hear.
"E-Everyone seemed to be possessed by that person. Morgan, uh, I mean, Morgan is a senior who took really good care of us. Er, I mean......"
Eventually, Deli burst into tears. He sobbed as he wept, but he squeezed his voice out loudly as if he absolutely had to convey these words.
"Please help us, Brother...... Yes? Please. Save everyone."
Krnock shielded Deli, and I hugged the two of them.
I looked around. Since it was a supply camp, there were plenty of places to hide.
I pointed to a suitable spot.
"Stay hidden quietly until things quiet down."
After confirming that Krnock and Deli safely entered a small tent set up like a storehouse, I turned around.
My gaze sank. My mind became astonishingly calm, even to myself. There was no agitation or anxiety, just like when I first saw the Mist Fang Wolf.
'The Empire's intervention is close at hand.'
SHWING—!
I drew Zahara Toxeed. This is convenient when dealing with a crowd.
"H-Help me!"
"Aaargh!"
As soon as I brushed past the bushes, I saw a mercenary who had fallen to the ground. He was being chased by the Jiangshi.
SLICE—!
Jiangshi must be subdued by severing their necks or legs. Since they're corpses raised by spell power in the first place, the concept of 'killing' them doesn't exist. Stopping their movements until I can find the sorcerer is the best option.
"Haaah! Wow, fuck, I almost died! Dammit!"
The mercenary poured out intense emotions. It was confusing whether it was a scream of terror or a cheer of joy. For now, I helped him up.
"T-Thanks! What unit are you from? I haven't seen your face before."
"Skip the greetings. Is there anyone suspicious? The culprit who caused this situation. Like a mage, for instance."
I gestured with my chin toward a Jiangshi bastard howling like a beast up ahead.
The mercenary shook his head.
"From what I know, there isn't a single mage here."
"Hmm."
"Forget everything else, we've got to find that bastard Morgan and thrash him. That supervisor!"
He was the senior Krnock and Deli had mentioned. Seeing him called a supervisor, it seemed the soldiers of the Imperial Capital Knight Order were temporarily managing this place, and Morgan was the highest ranking among them.
"What's your name?"
"Me? If I were to speak of myself, I'm Kenny of the Paradis Mercenary Band—"
"Good, Kenny. For now, just follow behind me quietly."
"What? Who the hell are you to order me around?"
"I'm Bihen Benkou. Don't worry, even if we aren't exactly on the same side, I'm not your enemy."
"Right, Bihen Benkou. Thanks for saving me, but that doesn't mean you can...... Huh?"
While I was checking the surroundings, the bastard named Kenny suddenly thrust his face in front of mine.
"B-Bihen Benkou? No way, you aren't the Sword Fiend Bihen Benkou...... are you?"
"......That's right."
"Whoaaaa—! R-Really?! Fuck, is it real?! Why the hell are you here?! Holy shit! Rumors have been circulating for a while now about whether the Sword Fiend joined the war or not! To think that was real!"
I quickly grabbed him by the collar. In the meantime, I swatted away a Jiangshi rushing from behind as if swatting a fly. Kenny's eyes went round.
"Listen carefully. These bastards are immortal. You can't kill them with ordinary methods."
"U-Uh?"
The head of the Jiangshi I had just swatted away fell right at Kenny's feet. It rolled its mouth and eyeballs around like a fish pulled onto dry land.
"Aaargh! W-What is this?! It's not dead?!"
"Yeah. If you just fight recklessly, everyone's going to die here. If you understand, stick behind me and gather the people. You, who are somewhat familiar with them, are better suited for it than I am."
"U-Understood! You mean we shouldn't scatter and need to unite in one place, right?! Leave it to me!"
Kenny spat into both palms and readjusted his grip on his weapon.
It was a relief that he was quick on the uptake, but I suddenly felt at a loss.
'How do I find Morgan now......?'
Before I knew it, a thick white mist filled the surroundings. It was difficult to discern even an inch ahead. From all directions, screams and the friction sounds of blades echoed incessantly.
THUD—!
I advanced bit by bit, cutting down the Jiangshi that popped out from time to time.
I didn't activate the Ghost Eye. Since I couldn't precisely filter out only the spell power, it would only cause confusion in my vision instead.
"D-Don't panic, everyone, and gather here! I'm Kenny of the Paradis Mercenary Band!"
In the midst of it, Kenny shouted at the top of his lungs. He was a bastard who had some sense after all. In a situation as extremely chaotic as this, announcing the gathering spot with such a loud voice was the most certain method.
"Kenny!"
"Oh, you bastards! You managed to stay alive. Hurry and fall in! This side is the Sword Fiend, Bihen Benkou!"
"What do you mean? No way, that Sword Fiend Bihen Benkou?"
"Yeah! The Sword Fiend has come!"
As the number of people joining increased one by one, their numbers swelled rapidly.
In the meantime, the Jiangshi popped out abruptly from within the mist without warning.
"Target their necks or limbs! Don't waste your strength unnecessarily!"
I shouted to the fellows following behind. At a glance, their numbers had increased again in the meantime.
The uncomfortable vision due to the thick mist, the immortal demonic beasts deployed everywhere, and the paths entangled like a maze......
It felt exactly as if I were leading a unit trapped inside a sorcerous formation.
'......A formation.'
It was the moment I turned my eyes.
CRASH—!
Fierce flames surged along with a roaring sound, as if a fire bomb had exploded in the distance. A commotion began to spread from around that area.
"The provisions storehouse exploded!"
"Why the hell are you putting out a fire at a time like this?! Hurry and escape!"
I stared at the place where the explosion occurred.
The flames spread, catching fire in an instant. As black smoke mixed with sparks rose vigorously, the white mist around it settled even more densely.
'Is someone intentionally creating the mist......?'
As if they were truly imitating a sorcerous formation.
Formations are usually used by an inferior defending side to block or delay an enemy's offensive.
The soldiers of the Imperial Capital Knight Order had to massacre the mercenaries with far fewer numbers. Borrowing the power of the sorcery that created Jiangshi must have also been to compensate for that numerical inferiority.
'An intentional fire that thickens the mist while simultaneously blocking the exit.'
It was a clear tactical judgment.
'Krnock and Deli said the soldiers of the Imperial Capital Knight Order seemed to have lost their reason...... but that isn't entirely the case.'
The true culprit who caused this situation in the first place—the bastard who must be related to the Empire—wouldn't be here right now anyway.
Did it absolutely require sorcerous power to make the mist thicker? No, it didn't.
'It means that their intellect and a minimal chain of command are alive enough to light a fire and create an artificial formation.'
It was then.
CRASH—!
My head turned reflexively.
Northeast direction, the second explosion.
'Over there.'
I immediately shouted to Kenny's group behind me.
"Don't move! Hold your positions here!"
I kicked off the ground and sprinted. Behind me, the shouts repeating the command to hold the position rapidly grew distant.
I sheathed Zahara Toxeed and drew the Heavenly Demon.
'Frost Sword.'
As I ran my sword finger, condensed with cold qi, down the blade, the edge was instantly dyed white. The transparent blade, glowing with cold qi within the murky mist, lit up the path ahead like a lantern.
SHWING—!
The frost extending in a straight line completely froze the soaring flames right then and there.
Following that, I landed in the immediate vicinity.
Up to this point, it was within the blink of an eye. It was a speed difficult for an ordinary fellow to perceive.
"......"
My eyes locked right onto the fellow at the center of the soldiers.
I wondered why he looked somehow familiar, and it turned out I had run into him before. A while ago, at the Krause mansion, together with Noser.
"Supervisor Morgan. It's you, right?"
"......"
Although it's impossible to tell from a mere glance like this, he doesn't seem completely out of it.
He definitely showed an unconscious reaction to my call.
The soldiers around him rushed at me all at once.
I sheathed the Heavenly Demon, picked up a long pole rolling around nearby, and snapped it in half.
'They are his subordinates after all, so if they die, Noser will be deeply grieved.'
I brandished the broken pole like a club.
The fellows charging forward collapsed helplessly one after another along with dull hitting sounds. It's fine. They won't die from just this much.
After swinging my arms a few times like that, before I knew it, quite a lot of fellows were sprawled out on the ground.
WHOOSH—!
Finally, Morgan, left entirely alone, swung his sword. Even while dodging, I was on the verge of letting out a yawn. There was clearly a sluggish air to his movements.
'Is it the influence of the sorcery?'
There's no need for me to trouble myself by thinking that far ahead.
I kicked his calf, knocking Morgan down. I immediately mounted on top of him, grabbed his legs, and twisted them.
SHWING—!
I drew the Heavenly Demon again. While operating the Frost Sword—
'Kuhn.'
The steam rising over the white blade coagulated in the empty air. It was a size that roughly one person could pass through.
Soon, Kuhn revealed her figure from within it.
"Can you dispel the spell?"
As I gestured with my chin, Kuhn slightly shifted only her head to look down at Morgan.
"It is possible."
"Start right away."
Leaving Morgan to Kuhn, I turned back toward Kenny's group once more.
Now, all that remained was to settle the mist with the cold qi of the Frost Sword while ensuring no casualties occurred until then.
***
How much time had passed?
Before I knew it, the mist cleared. The revealed area was a complete wasteland. The cruel sight of charred tent remnants and corpses scattered everywhere came into view.
"Haa, haa...... Is it all taken care of?"
Kenny collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily.
Normally, I would've smacked him across the mouth, but it felt like I didn't need to go that far this time.
The dismembered Jiangshi showed no further signs of regeneration.
"Whew— driving me crazy. What on earth is this all of a sudden......"
A mercenary murmured. His face was half-vacant. There wasn't even a shred of relief that he had survived.
"In a single night, the bastards I shared a barracks with all fucking died. Crazy, I just opened my eyes after sleeping, and this shit happened."
I saw them while fighting earlier. These fellows aren't naive greenhorns. They are seasoned mercenaries showing signs of having rolled around this field quite a bit.
Even those veteran fellows are to this extent. Now that they barely managed to cross the threshold of death, it seemed the reality and overwhelming shock were belatedly rushing in.
I stood up. Since there was no way I could indulge in sentimentality forever.
"Kenny, follow me."
"Ah, right!"
Groans of suffering from injuries and squeezed-out breaths were heard intermittently. It was a disaster familiar from the experiences of my past life.
As I walked, barely leaving it behind, Kenny spoke in a trembling voice.
"Thanks to responding calmly just like you said, I lived. T-Thanks, Bihen Benkou. Seriously, if it weren't for you, I would've been completely dead."
"If you're that grateful, promise me just one thing. That you won't get worked up."
"What? What do you mean all of a sudden—"
Turning the corner, the soldiers of the Imperial Capital Knight Order sprawling on the ground immediately came into view. A few were squirming, perhaps having woken up in the meantime.
"T-These bastards......!"
Kenny gnashed his teeth. Giving him a warning in advance wasn't enough. Thanks to quickly extending my arm, I barely managed to restrain him as his body lunged forward.
"Calm down, Kenny. Those fellows were targeted too."
"Let go—! My comrades died because of those bastards!"
Just then, I felt Kuhn's presence from behind.
At the same time, Kenny's struggling stopped. His gaze went to Kuhn. His eyeballs were enlarged as if on the verge of popping out.
"W-W-Who......?"
Kuhn spoke quietly.
"To explain it simply, it is dark magic. Someone cast a powerful spell on these fellows to annihilate you. If they have a sin, it is merely the weakness of having no choice but to succumb to it."
"Pardon? Ah, yes. D-Dark magic......"
"If you understand, stop whining and go bring the necessary personnel right away. As soon as they regain consciousness, the Young Master will conduct an interrogation."
Kenny looked back and forth between me and Kuhn with a stupid expression. Before I could say anything, Kuhn scolded him.
"Will you not move immediately?"
"Ah, yes, yes! I'm going!"
Kenny left the spot as if fleeing for his life.
Kuhn bowed her head politely.
"I apologize for cutting in, Young Master."
"No, I was in a tight spot, so you did well. Seeing that the Jiangshi lost their power, it seems the dispelling was concluded successfully."
"Yes, however—"
Kuhn cut off her words. Her gaze and mine simultaneously returned to a single spot.
Rumble, rumble, rumble— Rumble, rumble, rumble— Rumble, rumble, rumble—
A violent ground-shaking. It was gradually drawing closer.
Without either of us needing to be first, we went toward the direction where the sound was heard and narrowed our eyes.
The highly enhanced vision magnified the distant scenery clearly, as if pulling it in with my hand.
'Is it the Windermere army......?'
My gaze lingered for a long time on a man approaching fiercely at the very front.
Thinking there was no way, I looked again several times.
There was no mistake. Because that face was impossible to forget even if I tried.
'Isaac Hart.'
Bolero was also together beside him.
......Surely they aren't coming to take revenge for their past lives.