Chapter 238
Chapter 238
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 238
Chapter Title: Crusade Army
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Righteous ones! The end of the holy war is finally upon us! The heretics, repeatedly routed, are in full retreat, leaving just one village standing!"
It was early morning.
Sera stood on the platform and shouted at the top of her lungs.
The plaza was filled with all the troops lined up just like at the last execution ceremony, their faces deadly serious as they listened to her speech.
That's right.
The advance was finally beginning.
On the last village held by those heretic bastards—Yerutak.
"And right there, the apostle of the false god Ezath has made his nest!"
"Apostle!"
"The apostle of the evil god!"
Apostle.
Thinking about it, all this chaos stemmed from that one guy.
The bastard claiming to be Ezath's apostle had rallied bandit hordes and invaded the village—that was the root cause. No idea why the lunatic did it, but today it all ended.
"We will slay him and set right their twisted sense of justice!"
—Waaaaah!!!
—Uwaaaaaah!!!
—Slay them! Slay them!
The crusade army's morale soared.
As Sera's speech wrapped up, the troops smartly formed marching columns. The Radiant Cross Society led the way, followed by the Brass Celestial Society, then the soldiers and adventurers. The Salvation Heavenly Kingdom Society brought up the rear.
We stuck with the adventurer group this time.
Being up front seemed too risky.
They left behind some defensive troops, so the column was slimmer than when we'd first arrived at this village. Most of the civilians who'd tagged along had bailed anyway. After seeing that flesh tower, no one wanted to head into the real battlefield.
"Katt... I'm fucking exhausted. Can't we just turn back now? What's the point chasing glory all the way there? We've made bank—let's head home."
Winia grumbled as she walked beside me.
The old Kim Katt would've spun on his heel without a second thought.
But.
"I am the saint Kim Katt."
I am a saint.
"More of that nonsense."
"A saint never abandons the suffering masses. We save them first, Winia—only then can we leave."
"You're driving me insane. Ugh. This blackie bastard ignores everything I say lately."
"Bear with me. We have to set this land's justice right."
It was a sense of duty.
Money was the top priority, sure, but as an anti-war saint, I had no choice but to see this war through to end it.
"Justice my ass. Tch. See if I follow you on some bullshit like this next time."
"Sorry."
"If you're sorry, carry me."
"Can't with the backpack."
"Fucking irritating. You're dead when we get back. Mark my words."
"Really sorry. I'll do whatever you want when we return."
I groveled apologetically.
"...Take it back, and you're done."
No clue what she'd ask for, but I could handle anything once we were back.
Plenty of downtime ahead.
"Katt's so pumped—I'll let it slide this time."
"Sis, seriously... Let it slide? Once you give this blackie an inch, he goes feral. I'm the one keeping him in check as is."
"Yeah... You're right. Still, let's cut him some slack?"
"What can I even say."
The march proceeded smoothly.
No skirmishes, no rain—just cool weather and steady progress. Zoning out from all the walking aside, it was fine.
Heading back might be the real issue, though.
The crusade army marched for three full days.
No major hiccups, but it was grueling. Sleeping outdoors for three days straight is no joke.
Knowing all this misery came from those heretics fueled a rage that clouded rational thought.
—Halt!
We arrived at a massive encampment where the lords' subjugation force was stationed. The map showed it was pretty close to Yerutak, the village held by the heretics.
A huge number of soldiers were camped under tents, apparently having arrived ahead of the crusade army and waiting.
"Finally, a breather. Fuck."
The real fight started now, but just reaching the destination eased my mind. Rest up, then charge when the trumpet blows, right?
"Blackie, I'm seriously dying here. Maybe I should just kill you."
"Forgive me just once. I didn't think it'd turn out like this."
"Didn't think? Bullshit, you fucking blackie bastard."
Anyway, we claimed a spot, spread our cloaks, and sat. My neck was a bit stiff, but otherwise fine. More than ready for combat.
Mana capacity must've grown a tad.
Mana permeating my muscles and bones boosted stamina exponentially. The increase was tiny, but my mana control was already at its peak.
Still overflowing with energy.
"Ugh, just walking's making me bloated. They said lots of Ezath-blessed freaks, huh? Can't wait. Last time, only scrubs—kinda disappointing."
"That disappointed you?"
"They went down too easy."
Hard to believe those words from the woman who'd mulched dozens of heretics like a blender.
"Felt a bit short."
Seemed she craved cleaving strong foes... What a terrifying woman. But that's what I liked.
We sat, ate, napped a bit to rest.
—Bwoooo!!
The horn blared. Must mean action time. As it sounded, the commanders who'd marched with us clapped and bellowed.
"We're encircling the village now! Follow the soldiers accordingly!"
—Clank, clank.
—Creak, creak.
The commanders must've hashed out tactics—they all sprang into bustling motion. Village wasn't in sight yet, but per the guy, they planned to surround and advance from the start.
Orders were orders.
We trailed the long soldier column.
Holy knights veered off in another direction. Felt like a full regiment moving in perfect sync.
Onward to the objective.
"...Blackie, that looks kinda dangerous, no?"
After walking some more.
A village ringed by a wooden palisade came into view ahead.
But the vibe was off. Black smoke—not from fire, but literal dark aura rising from the village.
"What the fuck is that."
And that wasn't all.
Despite clear skies, the heavens above the village were pitch black. Like a gaping void punched only there.
Massing dark energy forming inky thunderclouds!
What the hell!
Some massive evil ritual or curse in progress?! Soldiers reaching the darkened sky murmured uneasily. Temperature dropped too, with an ominous vibe.
"K-Klaudy! I'm so scared!"
Terrified, I grabbed Klaudy's hand.
"Scared, Katt?"
"Terrified!"
"Hehe, yeah? It is unusual. That... bizarre energy gathering like that."
Bizarre energy.
Klaudy sensed it too.
She traced my cheek with a finger and added,
"I wonder what could be happening inside."
What... happening?
Sinister thoughts like octopus tentacles clung to me. O... Oh...!!! Nooo!!!!!! Straight to the abyss!
Demon heart striking again!
"Gasp!"
I summoned superhuman willpower to hold my gaze on the shaky village.
No need to go berserk here.
"...Something horrific. Probably unfolding. No idea what, though."
"No need to fear so much, Katt. Like always. You'll handle it fine, right?"
Klaudy cupped my face with a benevolent smile.
That's right.
"Nothing to fear."
I'm saint Kim Katt, after all.
Nearly a thousand troops encircling one village—overwhelming odds. Palisades meant nothing against holy knights.
Just charge through unhindered.
Holy knights clear the front; we scavenge scraps from behind.
"...Huh?"
Something was wrong.
Scanning the palisade, a weird sensation gripped me.
No one on the walls.
No sentries, no archers. Not just the walls—the village felt eerily empty, no enemy presence at all.
They'd know we were coming—should be fortified.
No guards at all?
Even bandits aren't that lax. Did they abandon it entirely? Subjugation force would've known...
—Bwoooo!!
Horn blast shattered my thoughts.
"Let's go, Katt. Winia. Keep an eye so Katt doesn't do anything weird?"
"Insane. Is blackie a kid? Well, yeah, he is."
"Thanks for worrying. But saint Kim Katt is practically invincible."
Saint Kim Katt never falls.
"Gonna lose my mind. Sis, what do I do."
"Hmm... Dunno?"
"Goddamn it. These fuckers."
Front lines advanced first; we rearguards moved once the assault kicked off. —Waaaaah!!! Rousing cheers erupted ahead, echoing across the field.
—Thud thud thud thud!
Forward, forward. Holy knights hit the palisade—then —Rumble! A massive roar.
It had begun.
Holy knights smashing the palisade.
—Crack!
Thick walls snapped like twigs and toppled. Superhuman power. Those massive wooden fortifications shattered into splinters.
Demolishing from all sides left the village exposed like a molted crab. Time to devour the seasoned guts inside, I figured.
—Advance!
Troops poured through the breached palisade.
Our turn—we entered the village... But.
—...
Holy knights at the entrance halted. Soldiers stopped behind them; scrambling adventurers and mercenaries froze too.
"Wh-what? Why stop?"
No one spoke.
Village interior was empty.
No one?
Did the bandits all flee?
Deflated, so they paused?
"Katt. Open your ears. Focus on sounds."
"Sounds?"
I strained my ears per Klaudy.
Then..
—...Thump.
—...Thump.
Something dropping?
"Evil aura!"
A holy knight snarled simultaneously. And!
—Thump!
Something enormous charged from the village depths!
"Gasp!!!"
"What the hell is that!!!"
"Kyaaaaah!!!!!"
They were people—humans—no, monsters bloated into giants!
Not the muscled macho giants from before! Uniformless black horrors transcended humanity into monstrosity!
Demons!
The monsters charged madly!
"U, uwaaaah!!! What are thoooose!!!"
Adventurers screamed in panic!
Soldiers roared cheers; holy knights burst with radiance!
"Holy one!"
Blinding light flashed—Bang! Holy knights kicked off the ground.
Warriors of light charging the monsters!
Monsters looked brutal, but with holy knights, victory was certain! I bellowed, "Fear not! The heavenly gods are with us! Aizelmart forever! Verde forever! Sertoga forever!" The saint's cry!
—Uwaaaaaah!!!
—Aaaaaah!!!
—Uoooooh!!
Morale-charged troops bellowed in unison!
—Boom!
Holy knights clashed with monsters!
Even amid it, I couldn't comprehend.
"Where the fuck did these heretics go, you monster-spawning cunt bastards!!!!!!"
These conscienceless Ezath shitheads!
This proved their parents were ghosts!!!!!