Chapter 111
Dealing with mages is, in many ways, a difficult matter. Whether it's combat or a war of words.
They act out of necessity and do not engage in anything wasteful.
Therefore, mages were both hated and feared by everyone. After all, there was never any hesitation in their actions.
Erich assessed the mage before him in exactly that way.
Her cold eyes, the calm face that showed no emotional fluctuation—not even a hint of excitement—even after blowing someone away.
The long, flowing blue hair harmonized with her actions, forming a singular image.
'She's like a block of ice.'
That was the impression Erich received from her. Then, Erich spoke to her.
"He would have listened just fine if you'd said it nicely, you know."
"That is unnecessary waste. You must be Erich. I am Ceres, a member of the Magic Council."
"Erich von Krupp. I'm the deputy-commander of the Watch. This is...."
"That's enough. Let's get to the point. Where do you intend to go?"
Erich's eyes narrowed. She said she hated waste, yet she was a master at cutting people off.
'Feels exactly like that old man earlier.'
So the rumors were true—the temperament was as sharp as the Tower Lord Laurenti as well.
Ceres's blue eyes stared squarely at Erich. After exchanging glances with Frederick, Erich answered her.
"I was planning to discuss that anyway. We're heading for Albrecht's research facility."
"The research facility... So, this so-called core is being made by Albrecht?"
"We'll pick it up on the way."
"In other words, you don't care, or you don't intend to tell me. Understood."
Erich let out a smirk inwardly.
'She really doesn't say a single word more than necessary.'
Next, she glanced over at Aldeber, who was blinking at her side.
"I have to ask since it's odd—are these irrational people coming with us as well?"
"Irrational?! That's blasphemy!"
"Even if such divinity exists, all you do with it is empty people's purses."
At Ceres's comment, Aldeber and the holy knights' faces hardened.
But because they couldn't risk escalating things over mere sharp words from the disciple of the Tower Lord, Corin soon left with her subordinate holy knights, face twisted in displeasure.
Thus ended the first meeting with Ceres, and Erich wore a crooked smile. It was clear this expedition would not be easy.
***
Erich's unit swiftly armed themselves. The treasures brought by the holy knights of the Church were, without exaggeration, truly excellent.
"... A sword couldn't even scratch this?"
"This sword... could slice through armor like bread."
The members observed these treasures closely, delighted smiles on their faces. Each picked their preferred gear, preparing for the long journey ahead.
Their destination was the various research facilities Albrecht was said to have established throughout the central regions.
Most of them were located beneath the outposts of the 6th Fortress, rarely visited by Barbarians....
But once Erich started getting suspicious, everything seemed suspicious.
'Why would he spread such dangerous research facilities throughout this hazardous region?'
Erich fell into deep thought. However, while they were preparing, a piece of grim news arrived.
"Deputy-Commander Erich, a message from the commander."
Erich's eyes narrowed as he accepted the letter. He sighed quietly, as if he'd expected this.
Mikhail asked Erich quietly,
"What does it say?"
"Albrecht has refused the summons."
"A 'come and get me if you can', then."
Erich nodded slightly. It seemed Albrecht had already assessed the situation.
He would have prepared in case he was accused of treason the moment his ambush failed.
His excuse for being away 'inspecting the research facilities' was perhaps part of that.
Soon the holy knights who had brought the treasures also gathered to join the expedition, and among them, someone called Erich's name.
"Sir Erich, it's truly been a long time. Should I be calling you 'Count' now?"
Erich cocked his head as he looked at the middle-aged holy knight approaching him.
Had he met this man before? But soon, Erich recalled his identity.
"Sir Alexander?"
It was Alexander, the Church's holy knight who had fought with Erich at Iceborn, and the captain of the Allflame Knights.
His face bore more scars than before. Evidently, he had continued to join battles even after Iceborn. He was indeed a veteran.
Alexander made the sign of the cross upon seeing Erich.
"There's no one who hasn't heard of your legend. I've listened to your tales as one would a hero's legend."
"I think 'hero's legend' is a bit much."
"It is a hero's tale! Becoming a swordmaster—something everyone admires at your age—if that doesn't make you a hero, what does? Thanks to that, my reputation has risen. I told everyone my opponent was a swordmaster, ha ha!"
Alexander laughed heartily. Erich returned his gaze with a faint smile.
'It was worth sparing him.'
Back at Iceborn, Erich could have killed Alexander at any time. But he spared him, believing the connection would be useful someday.
'Although I didn't expect it would turn out like this.'
Erich made the sign of the cross in response and asked:
"Are you joining this expedition?"
"Yes. I belong to another division, but I insisted and made my way here. Please don't turn me away."
"Turn you away? On the contrary, now that the Lion of Barendorff is with us, we're even stronger. But...."
Erich glanced at the holy knights near Alexander.
They were chatting and laughing boisterously even with the squad members, unlike the other holy knights of the Church he'd seen here, who largely remained silent near outsiders.
"Your accompanying holy knights feel different from the others."
"That's right. The Church's holy knights are divided into two groups: the Allflame Knights and the Lightbringer Knights. The former are more knights, the latter are more like priests. The latter don't even speak to outsiders."
"I see. So the recent visitors here are mostly Lightbringer Knights."
"Correct. In terms of real combat experience, our Allflame Knights have much more. And as soon as I said I was coming here, my brothers likewise wanted the honor and followed."
Erich felt somewhat relieved. If people like Alexander accompanied them, they would definitely be much more manageable than the other holy knights.
In that moment, Erich noticed something had changed about him.
"By the way, the decorations on your armor have changed significantly."
"By fortune, I was promoted from Captain to Knight Commander."
Alexander grinned as he said this. But Erich immediately sensed that this old knight had become much stronger than before.
'It's possible to grow even at that age. Impressive.'
After a short chat with Alexander, Frederick and Barnes soon gathered around Erich.
"Boss, looks like we're all ready. Got a week's worth of food stockpiled too."
"Good work. Then it's time to set off."
"By the way, you two know each other? He looks pretty high up...."
Frederick's eyes sparkled for a moment. It seemed he instinctively perked up at the sight of anyone who looked important.
Erich alternated between Frederick and Alexander's retreating back as he replied,
"We were enemies, once, trying to kill each other."
"... Seems the South isn't so different from here after all. Or is that just you, boss? Why do you have so many enemies? ... Though, you do seem pretty friendly for that."
Erich shrugged, looking past Frederick at the squad members ready and looking toward him.
Everything was now ready. Albrecht had become, officially, a traitor to the Watch, and the time had come to uncover his schemes.
Erich drew his sword and raised it toward the sky.
"We depart to execute the traitor, Albrecht!"
"Ooooooh!"
All morale soared with a cheer.
Among Erich's unit were not only Watchmen but also Hrungr clan members, barbarians,
Holy knights of the Incencus Church, and one mage, making this the perfect time to bring down Albrecht.
***
Albrecht's research facilities were located in the central regions, scattered across several sites; whatever the case, Albrecht was surely holed up in one of them.
There were five research facilities in total. To get to one of them, they headed for their first camping point, and in their path lay the 2nd Fortress.
Thus, Erich's unit was naturally marching toward the 2nd Fortress.
At that moment—
Ceres, the Tower Lord's disciple, hurried her steps to Erich and spoke, glancing back.
"The Church, I can understand, but is there a reason the Barbarians are accompanying us?"
"The reason is simple: they are our allies."
"They're basically killing machines. Is there any good to having them at our side?"
"... I understand how mages view things, but they are human, too."
"Human?"
Ceres gave a dry laugh. Apparently, even mages didn't consider Barbarians to be the same kind of human. Quite a narrow perspective for those who prided themselves on rational thinking.
"You don't think they're human?"
"Would you understand if I explained?"
"If a smart person can't convince a fool, then they're not smart enough."
Erich curled up the corner of his lips. Ceres's overflowing arrogance vanished instantly, her lips pursing.
"Their endocrine system is fully specialized for killing. They produce several times more pain-suppressing and stimulating substances than regular humans. Many other unnatural things—these wouldn't occur in nature."
Erich's eyes narrowed. Then he responded.
"So Barbarians aren't naturally occurring branches of humanity?"
"There's dispute among mages, but as living creatures, their existence feels off. I'm one of the mages who think so."
"I see. But isn't that actually a good thing?"
"... What?"
Ceres's eyes widened.
"Strength is a burden if it's an enemy, but reassuring if an ally."
"But, just because a sword is strong doesn't mean any fool hugs it and sleeps with it unsheathed. Keeping a Barbarian nearby is the same."
"I sleep hugging my sword."
Erich smiled faintly. Clearly, ceres and Erich viewed Barbarians differently.
'So Barbarians are an artificially created race... well, that's possible.'
Probing into the secrets of the Barbarians was fascinating. Erich himself thought so.
But was that important right now?
Preparing for the coming war against the dead, Erich was more concerned with how well Barbarians fought than with their origins.
Of course, he had no desire to learn how the Tower had studied the Barbarian endocrine system and its substances. The mere thought was unpleasantly grotesque.
In any case, that was that. The smooth departure of Erich's unit was abruptly blocked at the entrance to the central region.
A watch unit stopped Erich's force.
"Deputy-commander, I know you're in a hurry, but we're just following orders."
"We already have the lord commander's approval. Does the 2nd Fortress warden outrank that?"
"We're not stopping you, just asking you to wait. The situation is not good here in the central region right now."
"... What do you mean? There shouldn't be any Barbarians here."
"The dead have suddenly run rampant...."
"Dead have run rampant?"
Erich's eyes narrowed. The surrounding members began murmuring.
'So it's Albrecht, after all—he was connected to the dead.'
Now that Albrecht had declared rebellion, was it mere coincidence that the road to his facility was suddenly overrun with the dead?
Erich could not, in any way, believe it was a coincidence.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Albrecht raid!
He's the second-in-command in the Watch, he's probably strong...
Is there a chance he's a mage?
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】