Chapter 159
There were more shamans in Haratakan than Erich had expected. He could tell without having to count—rescued shamans were gathering, one after another, in the camp.
And fortunately, most of them were regaining their power.
While the mages watched with fascination at the mysterious power the shamans wielded, some mages nodded with satisfaction, as if pleased that they had come here.
'... Definitely foreign.'
Erich murmured inwardly as he watched. Even to him, the shamans' power was a force of a different order from that of mages or aura.
The shamans' power shimmered with a unique green hue, clearly distinct from any power he had seen until now.
Of course, Erich, too, had fought shamans before.
But according to Aung-ga's explanation, only the shamans residing in Haratakan were true shamans.
Those like Kalga, who had left with her, lacked the essence of a shaman's power.
Since he had already fought a shaman, Erich couldn't predict just how much help these shamans, said to be even stronger than Kalga, would be.
In any case.
After some time had passed, the elderly shaman Aung-ga gathered the shamans and stood before Erich.
Though not neatly arrayed, the green energy radiating from them formed a sense of order.
Aung-ga slowly bowed his head to Erich.
[As a shaman of Haratakan, I express my gratitude. Thanks to you, many shamans were able to return.]
[Now it is time to uphold the promise we made.]
[Of course. We shamans will help you expel the dead from this land.]
Erich nodded.
But another problem remained.
On the path that led to the peak of Haratakan, the final ritual stood in their way, and the creature guarding that spot would not go down easily.
To remove it, he needed their assistance. At that moment, Frederick spoke to Erich.
"All that's good, but what are you planning to do about the menacing bastard along the way?"
Erich looked at Frederick in silence, then glanced him up and down before responding.
"How do you know about that?"
"What do you mean?"
"About the ominous aura."
"Barnes told me."
"... I see."
Erich let out a small chuckle. He had been about to praise Frederick if he had sensed that aura himself...
But, it was no surprise if Barnes had felt it instead. Still, if it was noticeable enough—
'That Barnes... At this rate, he might soon awaken his insight.'
It meant Barnes was on the verge of reaching the threshold of a Swordmaster.
Indeed, Barnes had the necessary skills, and it was about time.
Above all, he was enduring Mikhail's relentless training.
Erich turned to Frederick.
"Don't you feel anything?"
"Well, when I look up there, I feel like anything I eat would give me indigestion."
Erich nodded slowly.
Frederick, too, was reaching a level where he could sense unease instinctively.
Of course, awakening as a Swordmaster didn't always happen in order, so it couldn't be guaranteed that Frederick wouldn't be the first to awaken depending on circumstances.
Erich's gaze slowly shifted from Frederick and Barnes to Mikhail, then swept across Hrung-ga and Ceres.
These were the resources Erich currently had at his disposal.
And he needed to make use of them fully to eliminate the formidable foe.
Erich's gaze shifted to the peak. From there radiated a power greater than any he had ever felt.
***
On the way up to the summit, Erich encountered many of the dead and Death Knights.
But for Erich, whose military power was now enough to defeat Death Knights with ease, they posed no great problem.
Ceres and the other mages, in particular, became a considerable force here.
For example, things went like this:
― Grrrrrr!
A massive Death Knight lunged at Erich. Its heavy frame seemed to make the ground shake with every step.
Yet not a single member of the climbing party flinched—they had grown accustomed to such sights.
The mages standing behind Ceres calmly raised their hands. The black tattoos hidden beneath their robes lit up brightly.
― Whoosh!
In an instant, fireballs blasted from several mages. Taking the barrage, the charging Death Knight's momentum faltered.
Then, as the strength of more mages joined in, fierce flames erupted from the gaps in the Death Knight's heavy armor.
After only a brief moment—
― Thud!
The creature, smoke billowing from the seams of its armor, collapsed to its knees.
'Convenient and powerful.'
Thanks to the mages' efforts, Erich's party was able to ascend the mountain with little trouble.
'No wonder the Empire favors mages.'
The Imperial Family favors the Mage Tower.
They do everything they can to side with mages, and such convenience persisted for as long as the Empire endured.
It was clear, even from Erich's perspective, that mages could bring out a force far exceeding simple numbers.
Particularly impressive, the mages, despite not having fought the dead often, seemed to instinctively know what worked best against them.
That adaptability was an immense asset to Erich.
Moreover, the fact that their organization accepted a young woman as Tower Master without issue spoke to their flexibility of thought.
But even these mages were shocked at what they saw next.
Before Erich's advancing troops, a field of snow was splattered everywhere with bloodstains.
― Step.
Everyone halted, and only Erich, Mikhail, and Ceres stepped forward. Erich bent down to examine the snow soaked in blood.
"... The snow isn't frozen. The blood is warm."
"They died just recently?"
Mikhail frowned. But Ceres, standing beside him, shook her head.
"... Not exactly. This seems to be imbued with magical energy."
"Magical energy?"
"This blood is still being used as a magical reagent, so it remains warm. Like water that's being kept boiling..."
Erich rubbed the bloodstain on his hand. He definitely felt something strange, though not as delicately as mages could.
'So this blood is being used for some kind of magic.'
However, even Ceres didn't seem to know what effect the magic produced. One thing was clear: the dead had a purpose.
Considering they had spilled enough blood to soak the whole peak, it was clear they were preparing something massive.
Ceres continued.
"Those who use magic have a unique power. Even among humans, they can be used as entirely different materials."
"... Because this blood is from shamans, then?"
"Yes, likely for a special purpose."
Erich's eyes narrowed. They were killing shamans to drench the mountain in their blood.
Whatever the aim, it was certain that something vast was being prepared.
But for now, there was nothing to be done. All he could do was face them directly and uncover the truth behind this magic.
"Frederick, advance."
At Erich's command, Frederick mobilized the troops. During the resumed march, they encountered a few more Death Knights.
Dispatching them was not difficult.
However, what tormented the party more than the dead themselves was another sight.
Deeper into the interior, they came upon shamans skewered on spikes, bleeding out.
It was a sight with which Erich was all too familiar.
It resembled the ritual that had prevented shamans from using their powers—where they lingered in a state neither alive nor dead.
Where only white snow should have lain, there was blood on all sides.
The grotesque sight sapped the party's morale.
Of course, some mages seemed almost more curious than frightened, wondering at the purpose behind this horror.
Then, Erich halted. The party behind him stopped as well.
A massive wall had appeared in front of them—a hastily fortified wall, perhaps better called a fortress.
But—
The eyes of all were filled with shock and horror. The true nature of that wall had become clear immediately.
"That wall..."
It was made from the dead shamans. The wall seemed, as if warning that crossing it meant certain death.
And the blood that streamed from it flowed down, staining the earth below bright red.
Nearly everyone who witnessed it was filled with dread.
Frederick sneered.
"Those damn... filthy bastards."
[Appalling.]
Even Hrung-ga, well-accustomed to blood, spat on the ground. Even he found the sight disgustingly unpleasant.
Erich, meanwhile, focused not on the wall's appearance, but its purpose.
'If it's a wall, it should serve to block something. But this...'
If they had created a wall to block outside intrusion, the dead themselves should have been stationed there—enough to halt any intruders.
But to Erich, the wall was shoddy in the extreme.
It held no function as a fortress wall.
What meaning could a wall without defenders hold?
So, to Erich, the purpose of this wall was immediately suspicious.
All the more for someone versed in strategy and tactics.
Assuming an opponent's actions held no meaning was risky.
Strategy starts from presuming every action has a reason.
Erich asked Ceres:
"What kind of magical power is this?"
"I... don't think it's really magic. Maybe it's just meant to intimidate us?"
Erich shook his head.
That was the very assumption he had to avoid.
Did this wall have no purpose?
Was it really meant simply to frighten?
'No. At least, not the dead I know.'
Erich had long memories of war against the dead.
More than anyone, he knew that every action they took had a reason.
If they built this wall, there must be a reason. Erich needed to discern their intent, and quickly.
But then—
All eyes turned toward the summit.
A great spark erupted there, sending waves of black and green light rippling out in all directions.
"... What's that?"
"There are still survivors."
Erich didn't know exactly what clashed up there.
But the circumstances made one thing clear: the presence of that light meant some shamans were still resisting.
Just as he thought this far, Erich tilted his head.
'There should still be a ritual left here. So how are they able to use their power?'
But sitting and pondering wouldn't yield an answer.
Erich slowly raised his hand, intent on witnessing firsthand what was taking place there.