Chapter 98
Chapter 98. Presence and Foreboding
“—That’s odd,” Enma said, his face as expressionless as ever.
“It hasn’t even been two months since you took down Faravgi, right?”
He muttered, not believing that a chief of the tribe could so easily disappear.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Enma, standing beside me, concentrated and conjured a horrific darkness that was incomparably denser and more malicious than mine.
“[—Come forth, Faravgi.]”
Numerous writhing tendrils of Enma’s dark magic surged into the gate I had opened to the spiritual realm, probing its depths.
“…This is strange. There’s really no trace whatsoever.”
“Actually, I have a clue.”
Enma’s and Claire’s eyes turned toward me, intrigued.
“Oh? What kind of clue?”
“That guy said something along the lines of, ‘I don’t care if my soul disappears,’ right before he used some kind of light magic that felt like a secret technique…”
I spoke confidently. —I wasn’t lying at all.
Enma slapped his forehead, making a “yikes” face.
“Indeed. If it’s a light magic that rivals darkness, it wouldn’t be surprising if there’s a technique that sacrifices one’s own soul…!”
And if such magic had damaged his soul—it’s entirely possible that the spirit could lose its definition much faster than usual.
“Why didn’t you say that sooner?!”
Enma scolded, lightly tapping my shoulder.
“Sorry. I thought I’d be okay since I beheaded him before he could do anything.”
…This isn’t a lie either; just the timeline is a little different.
“Hmm… I understand how you feel…”
“Master—still, wasn’t it just recently that we started thinking about doing something with Faravgi?”
Claire chimed in, putting her hand on my shoulder. Her hand rested casually on the shoulder that Enma had just scolded.
“Surely, the prince never thought of making him a teaching material until then.”
“And even if we were told at that stage, it would have probably been too late.”
Enma sighed, looking disappointed.
“Drat, I was all set to play with Faravgi’s soul today, and now I have nothing prepared!”
Well, that’s just great.
“Still, Jill, you’re really strong, huh? Making even the dragon chief decide to use such forbidden techniques.”
“…Well, who knows what the other party was really thinking.”
I replied nonchalantly. I almost said, “If only I could have summoned him, I might have found out,” but there’s a saying: “Liars have many words.”
After all, I had only been speaking the truth up until now. I decided to keep quiet before anything slipped out—just looking somewhat regretful.
Feeling that we shouldn’t end things here, we moved on to some lessons.
“Wahoo!”
Sophia burst into the library and began reading books with glee. Still, ever since the drunken incident, she’s been a bit… reckless with her behavior. Is she okay?
“—By the way, the next lecture might run a bit late.”
As Enma mentioned while recalling the explanation of the cursed tools we had prepared for Faravgi, it suddenly came to mind.
“Oh? Why’s that?”
“I had some business at the front lines, you see.”
Those words, spoken casually, froze me in shock.
—Enma, the ‘Doll Maker,’ is heading to the front lines?
Could he be going to battle? Did the Demon Lord’s army run out of strength?
“What’s with that face? I’m not going to fight; I’m just cleaning up corpses.”
While making a dismissive gesture, Enma appeared uninterested.
“You’re being called to clean up corpses?”
“It’s not my first time. I appreciate your high regard for me, though.”
“I’ll be going too!”
Claire, who had been leaning on the table reading a magic book, waved her hand enthusiastically.
It seems that Enma will be accompanying us as a supervisor for Claire and the other undead.
“Since I’m the only Undead King with a decent title, after all.”
“I see…”
Cleaning up bodies is always a headache in battle. It drains manpower, dampens morale, and if left unattended, it can become a source of disease.
In that regard, if the bodies could move on their own—it would be the easiest clean-up possible.
“Did that many corpses pile up?”
Mobilizing an entire necromancer unit. And most of the corpses are likely from humans…
“Your brother seems to be leading a unit under Emelgias that is rapidly taking down fortresses.”
“…Oh? My brother rushed ahead?”
“No, I haven’t heard anything like that. It seems to be going according to plan.”
…This is strange. Wasn’t the current tactic of the Demon Lord Kingdom to take it slow and steady?
I can’t believe the Demon Lord would allow such rapid progress just to give Emelgias credit. What could be blowing in the wind…? Since I’m in medical, this kind of military strategic information often arrives a beat late…
“What’s the matter? You look like you’re in a rush, or something.”
Enma smirked, teasing me.
“Well, one of my brothers might just achieve a promotion. It’s only natural I’d be anxious.”
I scratched my cheek, evasively answering.
“…I’ve been thinking about this for a while…”
Enma closed the distance, getting uncomfortably close.
“Are you… really aiming to be the Demon Lord?”
…Now he’s treading on thin ice.
“I’ll leave that to your imagination.”
Even to the Demon Lords themselves, I haven’t made my stance clear. There’s no way I’d tell Enma.
“…I’d be happy if you became the Demon Lord. You seem like the one who understands us the most.”
He said with a cheerful smile, not fully supporting me but making his feelings clear nonetheless.
Well, it was basically like saying the same thing.
†††
After learning a few things about cursed tools, we dispersed.
No, today’s lecture was quite beneficial. I learned how to create pseudo-magic items using necromancy.
The technique of bestowing magical properties is originally a highly advanced skill. It’s often misunderstood because of the dwarves who whip up magical items so easily.
Magic’s essence, limited bloodlines or talents, or perhaps the miracles of gods—unless one relies on those, one cannot instill magic into items.
…But from another perspective, necromancy is a kind of bestowal technique that grants a “soul” to the “items” known as “corpses.”
Focusing on this, Enma managed to blend curses and magic into the process of housing souls, ultimately giving rise to something akin to magical items specifically tailored for certain types of spells.
It’s like an extension of the technology used to control the swaying of a carriage—a simple idea once you say it, but one that wouldn’t have crossed my mind…
Unlike the dwarves’ magical items, they disappear in sunlight, and require knowledge of necromancy or possessors of dark magic to handle well—this might not matter much for necromancers, but for its high production efficiency, it’s noteworthy.
“An approach typical of Enma, who doesn’t value life at all.”
The problem lies there.
I was told I should try that in the next lecture as well, but just imagining fiddling with souls made me want to puke…
Indeed, undead must be exterminated.
…Even if they happen to be childhood friends.
Bringing my mindset back together despite the unpleasantness, I poured sweat and blood into my training.
Lately, I’ve been feeling rather intense, so seeing me calm today elicited a “Huh?” from Platy.
“You’re taking it a bit easy today.”
“That may not be the case.”
After all is said and done, I’ve grasped at least a bit of the trick of shaking off or ignoring curses. Now it’s all about raw strength!!
I’m getting used to Platy’s three-lance style, too. Indeed, while Platy’s speed is a threat, I’m now able to flexibly defend by using the skulls of human soldiers like armor.
…In a way, this could also be seen as a type of variable magic armor.
Strictly speaking, it’s not necromancy, but a spell that reshapes bones. It responds to my will and, most importantly, has a soul residing within.
Hints were lying close at hand after all.
But to me, they are not merely tools.
They are comrades.
—And so, after an almost equal battle with Platy, training came to an end as dawn approached.
Recently, it’s been taking longer than usual to settle things with Platy in our training… It’s tough for me, but I’m sure it’s tough for Platy too. The Grand Duchess isn’t just for show.
“Well then, Leila.”
“Yes?”
My training is usually topped off with Leila’s flying practice.
However, today—
Should be different.
Without hesitation, Leila started to remove her maid outfit, but then glanced my way.
“………”
As if it really dawned on her for the first time, she suddenly blushed and hurriedly moved to cover herself with her clothes as she backed away.
…W-wait, now of all times?!
I mean, she’s always stripped without a shred of shyness before, so I had become accustomed to it and looked at her normally! I should have looked away like I did at first…!
…W-wait, but why now of all times?!
Leila is oblivious to human modesty. I had thought she understood it in the context of being transformed into a dog or cat—whether we would feel embarrassed in that form.
“….As I thought…”
“…Did something happen with master yesterday…?”
“…You two were locked up in a room together for a rather long time…”
Whispers echoed from behind me, Viine and Garunya gossiping.
Ugh… N-no, it’s a misunderstanding! It’s a misunderstanding…!!
“I put a tender girl in a secret affair, and she ended up crying…!”
The way you phrase that!!
“Um, so…”
Leila, who changed back behind me, spoke hesitantly.
“Uh… I’ll try flying.”
But from that voice, the hesitation vanished.
With a flap, she spread her wings and lightly kicked off the ground.
She took flight. Strongly.
Moreover—with a smoothness unlike before.
“Oh…”
I let out a voice that was more like a sigh.
With each flap, higher she flew.
“Wow…”
Garunya and the others expressed their delight from behind.
Leila—she no longer fell to the ground.
“Wow!!”
She soared like she was swimming through the sky.
Not forgetting the gazes of the other dragons patrolling in the high skies.
“I… I’m flying!!”
Joyfully, she circled above the training ground.
She was so visibly happy—so delighted—
“She truly has taken flight.”
Antedeixis muttered in a somewhat touched tone.
…Yeah.
That’s the form she was meant to have…
I lay on the training field, gazing up at Leila.
Looking at the sky that was beginning to lighten.
…Has it been seven years since I left the front lines?
A mountain of corpses has amassed, requiring the services of necromancers now.
I wonder what’s happening at the front lines now?
In stark contrast to the nation’s strategy so far, Emelgias is advancing rapidly.
…Something is happening in the Demon Lord Kingdom. Or perhaps, something is about to happen.
I clenched my fists tight against such ominous premonitions.
The allied soldiers, who are still bleeding, and those who must have fought through the night against the forces of darkness…
I ponder whether they, too, are now gazing at the dawn and the morning sun—lost in thought.
†††
“…Looks like they somehow managed to hold out…!”
Kneeling, I felt like collapsing as I gazed at the retreating Demon Lord army.
Breathing heavily, the black-haired swordswoman looked up at the sky—the sky at dawn.
All around, there were heaps of dead bodies. Those struck by Night Elf arrows, those whose heads were smashed by spears, those torn in half, and others charred by magic—living beings were a rarity. Those unscathed were almost nonexistent.
The western part of the Defteros Kingdom, which was supposed to be a supply base in the rear.
Now, that fortress had become the “front line.”
Thanks to not just the soldiers’ desperate counterattacks, but also the reinforcements from allies withdrawing, plus the incidental presence of the Holy Church’s reserve forces.
Had it not been for the heroes and high-ranking priests who conserved their strength, this fortress would have turned to rubble by now.
…However, even though they made it through today, they too…
“It might finally be my turn next…”
The swordswoman, smiling bittersweetly, muttered.
“—Oh, Barbara, you’re still alive!”
A hoarse voice came from behind.
Turning, an elderly beastman warrior waved his hand. His coat had a mix of white in gray fur, pointed ears, and protruding nostrils. A wolf-like beastman known as “Wise Wolf”—his fists were soaked black in blood.
Of course, all of it was the enemy’s blood.
“Ah, Master!”
The swordswoman, called Barbara, straightened up in a panic.
“Excuse my poor display…!”
Though this elder beastman wasn’t her master, she showed him the utmost respect.
“Oh no, that’s natural. My back’s been sore and painful too…”
Smiling wryly as Barbara composed herself, the elderly beastman shrugged.
“…After surviving a night like that, it wouldn’t be surprising to collapse. Indeed, it’s great that we both made it out alive! Hohoho.”
The elder beastman patted Barbara’s shoulder affectionately—then suddenly leaned closer.
“—The hero is amassing notable individuals.”
Speaking in a whisper so that no one around could hear.
“It seems he has something planned.”
His gaze, sharp and devoid of age, locked onto Barbara.
“I’m sorry to bother you when you’re worn out, but I need you to come with me.”
“…Yes!”
Pushing through her exhaustion, Barbara somehow managed to stand up.
…The fight isn’t over yet.
