Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Noble Proof
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- Gwaaak, gwaaaaaak!
- Valhallaaaaa!
Enemies were everywhere.
Horrifying undead monsters and savage, cruel barbarian warriors were slaughtering their allies indiscriminately.
It was a one-sided slaughter, a massacre.
In that terrible hellscape, the soldiers fled for their lives.
- R-Run!
- Retreat, retreat!
There was no need to stoke their fighting spirit.
It was a battle destined for defeat from the start… The difference in strength was so great that it couldn’t even be called a fight.
- Huff, huff, huff!
Gwen ran, and ran, and ran with her comrades.
Even as she ran out of breath, fell, and scraped her knees and arms raw, she didn’t stop running.
She had to live, somehow.
She wanted to survive and return to her family back home.
She didn’t want to die like this.
But she didn’t have the ability to escape this terrible situation, and even luck wasn’t on her side.
- Hahaha! Run all you want! Run!
An evil laugh echoed.
Suddenly, a mage in a black robe appeared.
Crack, craaack!
Squeeze!
The ground split open, and from within, white bony hands shot out and grabbed the ankles of the fleeing soldiers.
- Kyaaaak!
Gwen barely managed to escape the grasp of the bony hands.
One of her boots came off, but Gwen could keep running.
- I-I have to run!
Just as Gwen gritted her teeth, got up, and was about to bolt.
- H-Help me! Please!
A comrade's desperate cry pierced Gwen's ears.
She froze.
Gwen's steps came to a halt.
- Please don't leave me! Gwen! Save me! Pleeeease!
- …….
Gwen hesitated for a moment.
She wanted to live.
She wanted to run away.
But Gwen didn't.
She wasn't heartless enough to abandon a comrade in peril.
- Get up! I'll help you!
- Th-Thank you.
- Hang in there!
- Huuuk!
Gwen pulled her comrade with all her might, but the bone shackles couldn't be broken by mere strength.
- Keke. Foolish girls.
The black mage approached Gwen.
- Do you pathetic wretches think you can escape my bonds?
- ……!
Startled, Gwen quickly picked up a pickaxe and swung it at Crowley.
But even a black mage wouldn’t be hit by an attack from a combat engineer, a non-combat role.
*Ssk*, Crowley dodged Gwen's attack and his dagger pierced her heart.
Stab!
- ……!
Gwen's body shuddered as if struck by lightning.
- Trying to struggle, are we? Kekekeke.
*Thud*, Gwen collapsed.
- I'm... sorry. I couldn't... save you...
- G-Gwen...!
- My leave... was so close... my family... I miss my mom...
That was Gwen's last memory in this world.
[Notification: You have read the Lingering Will.]
[Notification: You can absorb the Lingering Will.]
‘If she had run away alone… she might have lived.’
Carlyle unconsciously clutched Gwen's combat boot.
‘Why were you so damn kind…’
[Notification: You have absorbed the Lingering Will!]
[Notification: You have acquired the skill !]
‘This is…’
[Symbiosis]
Get up! I'll help you!
Effect:
- When retreating or returning, all squad members' movement speed +50%
- When retreating or returning, all squad members' Health, Stamina, and Mana recovery +150%
[Symbiosis].
That was the name of the power Gwen left in this world through her Lingering Will.
Though she wasn't a war hero who had performed brilliant feats, her final moments were nothing short of heroic.
‘I won't forget your end.’
*Ssk*, Carlyle carefully held Gwen's boot to his chest.
* * *
Right after recovering the bodies of their fallen allies.
“Hold on a moment.”
Carlyle spoke as if something had occurred to him.
“What is it?”
“Since we're already out here, I was thinking we should raid what we can.”
“Raid what?”
Begman tilted his head.
“That black mage bastard's dungeon.”
“Ah.”
“Since we're out, let's go clear it out.”
“I don't mind, but… how do you know where his dungeon is?”
“There's a way.”
Carlyle looked back at Evangeline.
In truth, Carlyle knew the location of Crowley's dungeon, but it was difficult to say so openly.
But with Evangeline by his side, there was no need to make excuses.
“Can you guide us?”
“Of course.”
Evangeline nodded and cast [Memory of the Earth], creating a form of Crowley and recreating the scene.
“That son of a bitch.”
“Just looking at his ugly mug pisses me off.”
The reconnaissance team members growled at the earthen form of Crowley.
Even though it was just a figure made of dirt…
“Let's follow it.”
Carlyle followed the form of Crowley.
“It's here.”
Crowley's dungeon was located in an abandoned cemetery about two kilometers from Bowden Fortress.
It was a place used to hastily bury any unidentified bodies that were found.
Even that was in the past; now, no one visited, and the place was overgrown with weeds.
“It was here?”
Begman looked dumbfounded.
Hiding in plain sight…
Crowley's dungeon was located beneath a stone slab in the very center of the cemetery.
“Let's go in.”
“Wait.”
Begman stopped Carlyle.
“Why?”
“Won't it be dangerous?”
“The bastard's dead. There's no way the undead are still active.”
“Huh?”
“When a necromancer dies, their undead stop functioning.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Carlyle explained with a nod.
“The guardians in a necromancer's dungeon are bound to be undead. It shouldn't be particularly dangerous.”
“I-I see.”
“Even if something dangerous does happen, we're perfectly safe today, so don't worry.”
Carlyle said, glancing over at Maranello.
With the Grim Reaper of the North by their side, it was no exaggeration to say that Carlyle's group had nothing to fear.
Meanwhile, Maranello watched Carlyle with a pleased smile.
‘The Young Master is leading the reconnaissance team.’
How much had he worried because of the wayward Carlyle?
From Maranello's perspective, he felt like bowing to Carlyle.
For the Northern hooligan to have grown so splendidly in just two months since enlisting…
‘Hah. What a piece of trash. Of course, he only has trash.’
Unfortunately, even after searching high and low, there were no useful items in Crowley's dungeon.
Of course, being a black mage's dungeon, it was full of various items and materials on black magic, but most of it was so evil he didn't want to touch it.
Fortunately, they were at least able to grab various potions and decades' worth of valuables like gold coins, gold bars, and various gems.
“Let's just take what we need and get out.”
“Let's.”
Carlyle's group left the dungeon with the money, potions, and a few bodies of Decaron soldiers that hadn't yet been turned into undead.
Fwoosh, Fwoooosh!
They didn't forget to set it on fire before leaving.
Thus, the dungeon that the evil necromancer Crowley had cultivated his entire life, along with the dangerous items and dark knowledge stored within, vanished into a handful of ash.
‘Are you watching?’
Carlyle thought of Crowley, who was probably suffering in hell right now, and gave a cold smile.
‘Now, not a trace of you is left in this world. The research materials you spent your life on, your belongings. All burned to nothing. This is my final punishment for you.’
To deny his entire life, his very existence, by leaving nothing behind.
That was Carlyle's final revenge against Crowley.
* * *
After returning to Bowden Fortress, Carlyle put the combat boot on Gwen's body and saw her off for the last time.
Rigor mortis should have set in, but he was able to put the boot on easily, perhaps thanks to [Breath of Purification].
The next night.
“Is everyone here?”
“Yes.”
The reconnaissance team members answered Helen's question.
“Then let's begin.”
As soon as Helen finished speaking, Begman stepped forward and pointed at Carlyle.
“Rookie.”
“Yes?”
“Stand up.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean, 'why'?”
Begman glared.
“Don't you want to be promoted? If not, just say so. I'll let you keep slogging it out as a private.”
“Ah, so that's what this is.”
Carlyle's expression became indifferent, as if he'd finally understood.
“As you all know, our rookie is a direct blood relative of the Sigmund Family. A fresh-faced Sigmund who finished his succession and commissioning ceremonies two months ago.”
“Hahaha!”
“You all know, right? A Sigmund has to pass the Noble Proof. I counted his combat engagements over the past two months, and it comes out to exactly ten. So, it's time for us to evaluate him.”
Begman scanned the reconnaissance team members.
“The evaluation is simple. We just need to decide whether our rookie is qualified to become an officer and commander in our army. You've all watched him up close, so don't worry about what others think and vote your conscience. Got it?”
“Yes!”
“Alright then… anyone who thinks the rookie isn't qualified to be an officer?”
“……”
No one raised their hand.
“Then, anyone who thinks the rookie is more than qualified to be an officer?”
This time, one by one, all the reconnaissance team members raised their hands, expressing that Carlyle was qualified to be an officer.
Unanimous.
The entire reconnaissance team deemed Carlyle qualified to be an officer and a commander.
Ting!
A notification window appeared before Carlyle's eyes.
[Notification: Unanimous!]
[Notification: Congratulations!]
[Notification: You have completed the !]
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!
“Yeah!”
“He's getting promoted faster than any of us! Hahaha!”
“Whooo!”
“You'll be an officer now, Private Carlyle.”
The reconnaissance team members sincerely congratulated Carlyle.
“Sniff…”
Watching, Maranello once again took out his handkerchief and wiped away his tears.
Just a year ago, it was unimaginable that Carlyle would pass the Noble Proof…
“Congratulations, Private Carlyle. No, I should call you Second Lieutenant Carlyle from now on. Though you'll have to remain a private until you pass the promotion review board.”
Helen also offered her congratulations to Carlyle in a simple and calm manner.
“Thank you.”
Carlyle bowed his head low to Helen and the reconnaissance team members in thanks.
And that was it.
Carlyle just stood there blankly, not saying anything special.
“What, that's it?”
“Nothing else to say?”
“What's with the reaction?”
The reconnaissance team members tilted their heads.
It was because Carlyle didn't seem particularly happy.
Helen quickly stepped in.
“To celebrate, I will specially permit a little drinking tonight.”
“Ooooh!”
The reconnaissance team members' eyes went wide.
They couldn't even remember the last time they'd had a drink, so it was no wonder they were going wild now that drinking was permitted.
“Private Carlyle.”
“Yes, Sir Helen.”
“Come with me for a moment. Let's talk separately.”
“Alright.”
Carlyle answered readily and followed Helen.
Being congratulated by everyone in such a boisterous setting felt like sitting on a bed of nails.
And…
‘Promotion… do I really have to do it?’
Carlyle had a rather negative view of being promoted.