Chapter 81
Richter quickly noticed that Erich's expression had grown peculiarly stiff. He strode over and asked,
"... Has something gone wrong?"
"No. In fact... it's quite the opposite. It feels as if some unbelievable miracle has occurred."
"... What do you mean?"
Richter, who had no eyes thanks to being a Swordmaster, wouldn't have seen it, but Erich did.
He could feel a presence from the healed child's body that was the same as his own.
'... How could this be?'
This had not happened when he healed the deserter dead, nor when healing those corroded by the blood of the dead.
Yet after he healed the children cursed by the dead, he sensed in them a power fundamentally the same as his own.
'The power of Incencus has settled in the children.'
It was faint, but Erich was certain.
Erich hesitated for a moment. How could he have shared the power of Incencus with them?
But he quickly dismissed that thought. This wasn't that sort of phenomenon.
His crimson eyes burned brighter as he increased the resolution of his vision.
At last, Erich formed a hypothesis.
Just as a person gains immunity after recovering from a disease, it seemed that the process of curing the curse through Erich's power... had somehow changed the "constitution" of the children.
Given what he could see and analyze, that was the best possible guess. It wasn't certain, but one thing was clear:
'If someone cursed by the dead is healed, they can receive this power.'
The corners of Erich's mouth slowly lifted. This could, perhaps, be an opportunity.
"Fortress Commander. Please bring all the children who are cursed. I must heal them immediately."
"... Very well."
There was a brief pause before Richter replied—he must have sensed that
Erich had made an extraordinary discovery.
All the children of the village were healed by Erich's hand.
It was a near-marathon that nearly drained him of aura, but Erich did so willingly and with joy.
Though just because they now could wield a power similar to his, the children would not become warriors on his level, this power revealed a special effectiveness against the dead.
He confirmed that it allowed one to move freely among the dead and burn them, inhibiting their regeneration—the true potential of this power.
With even a bit of support, it would be a tremendous help in battles against the dead from now on.
After completing the healings, a satisfied smile appeared on Erich's lips.
'... Just as I expected.'
All the children healed by Erich reacted in the same way.
As their constitutions changed, a power similar to Erich's began to flow within them.
"All the children have been healed."
"... I see. I will keep them under my protection for now, but I'll have to think about where to send them."
"No. That won't be necessary. These children have become important."
"... What do you mean?"
Erich explained to Richter the state of the healed children and what he had discovered.
But Richter, still not quite understanding, questioned him.
"These children can use aura? Like you?"
"It's a little different from aura. It's more like the Church's holy power, if I had to compare it. It's a bit complicated to explain."
"... What on earth?"
Richter blinked both eyes. But he didn't ask for further explanation. He only gazed quietly at the healed children.
Cheers erupted in the village. Gustav, who had been watching, chimed in.
"Fortress Commander. You know what they say—good is good."
"Yes, that's true."
Richter gave a small smile. Yet, apart from their joy, Erich harbored other thoughts.
He had discovered the clue to make the fight against the dead much easier.
With that, this village now had to be protected at all costs.
He had to receive recognition from the main force and officially bring it under the jurisdiction of the Watch.
Those who could wield power similar to Erich's were too precious.
Though the children were still young, once Erich became commander, they could become valuable assets. Erich declared to Richter,
"Fortress Commander Richter, I will take responsibility for this village and obtain the commander's approval."
"... What did you say?"
The eyes of Richter and the other members widened in surprise—because Erich spoke with unprecedented confidence.
***
"Boss, did I do something wrong?"
"No?"
"Then why are you really like this?"
Frederick looked around irritably. Outside, children were running and playing, something that seemed to annoy him greatly.
"Do you have any sense? If you get involved in something like this, all the credit you've earned until now will go down the drain."
"You think I didn't consider that before making this decision?"
"Yeah, I know you thought it through. But people always think they've got a plan—until there's a blade at their neck."
Frederick was steadfastly opposed. Understandably, as a veteran of the Watch, he was steeped in its culture as much as Erich.
But protecting Barbarians was one thing—now Erich wanted to ask for the commander's permission for the mixed-race children born here as well.
From Frederick's perspective, it was a nonsensical plan.
Even Vans joined in.
"... No matter how I think about it, this isn't right."
"I knew you'd say that. I understand your concerns, but I have a way to persuade them—just wait."
Frederick let out a deep sigh.
"Well, let's hear what that is."
"... You're saying there's a way to convince the Watch about the existence of children with both Watch and Barbarian blood? The more I hear, the crazier it sounds. So, what is it?"
"They have the same power as me."
".... Phew."
Erich never thought Frederick would understand. But that was indeed enough to persuade the commander.
In fact, it was an even more effective method, given that other factions in the Empire were involved.
Regardless, Erich focused on Joseph lying before him. The man had already fainted from Frederick and Vans' harsh interrogation.
"So, has he said anything?"
"He's a tough one. No matter how much he's tortured, he refuses to talk."
"Hm. I see."
When Erich signaled, Frederick splashed water on Joseph.
― Splash!-
Joseph opened his eyes with a groan, glaring at Erich. The sounds of children playing outside drifted in.
"... So you brought those children, after all. Fool. You'll die because of your silly compassion."
"You mean the children you claimed were cursed? Always scheming..."
"... I never lied. They are certainly cursed, and I said the curse could be lifted by using Barbarian blood."
"Of course—because it's your curse, isn't it?"
Joseph smirked.
It was just a ridiculous play on words.
In reality, after having his necromancer place the curse, Joseph would gather Barbarian blood and then loosen the shackles of the curse.
A deviously clever scheme to toy with Richter and the 6th Fortress.
Erich squatted down in front of him and ignited a flame above his palm.
― Whoosh.-
"By any chance, do you know what this is?"
"... What are you talking about?"
"Thanks to the curse you placed, the children can now wield the same power as me."
Joseph's eyes widened. He looked out the window.
"... That's impossible."
"Believe it or not, it's true. Yet, I can't quite understand this phenomenon. Why did burning away the curse transfer my power to the children? Any ideas?"
By nature, Joseph was the type to enjoy inquiry. A mix of disbelief, astonishment, and curiosity appeared on his face.
After some silence, he murmured,
"Are you familiar with magical theory?"
"Sounds like you know something."
"When two forces that are absolute opposites collide, the victor completely occupies the vanquished—just like fire spreading to a tree..."
Erich's eyes narrowed. But Joseph, seemingly indifferent to Erich's reaction, pondered for a while and continued.
"It seems your power and the curse are perfect opposites. I thought only 'that one' possessed such a unique power..."
Who was 'that one' he was referring to?
But after saying that much, Joseph fell silent. He had no intention of revealing anything about the dead.
That puzzled Erich. Why answer this much about the power? It felt like more than mere curiosity.
"Honestly, I didn't expect much, but you've told me quite a lot. What's your intent?"
"... With that power, you can wipe out the Barbarians. That's enough for me."
"You've allied with the dead just to get rid of some Barbarians?"
"...'Just' Barbarians, you say. Ridiculous. Are our real enemies the dead? No—it's the Barbarians."
Joseph's eyes burned with venom.
'He hates Barbarians.'
There were many in the Watch who despised Barbarians. The grudge built up over hundreds of years of warfare did not fade easily.
Even if you knew nothing about Barbarians before joining the Watch, just spending a few days here would make you hate them. Centuries of accumulated hatred. That's how men like Joseph emerged.
But,
They didn't know which side they ought to truly fear. Foolishly.
"Even if that's so—why did someone like you cooperate with the Barbarians? The Orca-roid you experimented on was surely supported by them."
"Have you ever made rat poison, Centurion?"
"... Rat poison? Are you about to spout nonsense again?"
"Rat poison shouldn't be too toxic. It should kill slowly, so poisoned bait can be taken back and fed to the young. The sweeter, the better."
It sounded like rambling at first, but it wasn't just nonsense.
'So, you're spreading rat poison?'
Joseph thought of turning the power of the dead into rat poison and releasing it into Barbarian society as a form of hunting them.
The sweeter the poison, the more they would become addicted and unable to escape.
But for the Watch, was it any different? Both sides were consuming the poison. The dead's true intentions were obvious...
Joseph laughed chillingly.
"Kukuku. If you want to know more about that power, ask a mage. That's the best advice I can give you."
"... A mage?"
"They're experts in such things. I'm sure they can give you a good answer."
"I see. Anything else you want to say? I don't plan to let you live, though."
"No. I've told you everything you need to know. It's not just the power of the dead you need to use against Barbarians. I've seen the possibility—with that, I'm satisfied."
Erich felt a sense of discomfort. Joseph stared straight at him, a wide grin on his face.
'Don't tell me—'
― PAH!-
The next moment.
Joseph's head exploded instantly, splattering blood and brain matter everywhere.
Frederick wiped away the sticky blood and spoke.
"... What the hell? What is this?"
"... I don't know. It must have been a curse placed on him. That would explain why he couldn't say more about the dead."
Erich's eyes narrowed. Joseph—a foolish man with a burning hatred for the Barbarians.
His end had come so swiftly that even Erich couldn't react in time.
Erich turned to Vans.
"... Vans. Sorry. I was hoping to let you execute him."
"It's fine. He's dead, that's what matters."
Vans looked at the headless corpse with vacant eyes. A lump of half-coagulated blood slid down Vans's cheek. Frederick bit his lip.
"Damn it. Would have been nice to get more information."
"Enough. We wouldn't have gotten more out of him anyway."
"So what now? Looks like talk of the dead ends with this guy."
He had already reached a conclusion about this.
"We'll stay here until the main force arrives. At the same time, we'll gather intel on the Barbarians based here, then persuade the commander before heading up. I promised those mixed-race Barbarian children would be spared."
"... Alright. But are you really sure you have a method?"
Erich grinned broadly. A method?
The moment those children displayed power like his, success was a foregone conclusion.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
More troops!
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】