Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Monster Wave (1)
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Despite Rzhev’s declaration, less than ten percent of the people left the city. There were almost no desertions among the knights and soldiers.
It was a testament to how well Krain Rzhev had led this place.
The very fact that they chose to stay and defend their home, even when their lord had permitted them to leave, was a clear example of what this place meant to them.
“All citizens will relocate to the inner castle. Check our war supplies, and make sure to stockpile an ample amount of food. We must be thoroughly prepared. It’s going to be a very cold winter.”
This winter would be long and frigid. Many trials and hardships would come.
And those trials and hardships would sow division, anger, frustration, and despair.
“Understood. We will begin preparations.”
“Ensure we can cooperate closely with the Holy Kingdom and the White Mercenary Corps. Now that the Empire has abandoned us, it's not a choice but a necessity.”
“The Holy Kingdom and the White Mercenary Corps, you say?”
“Yes. I’ve already spoken with them to some extent, so they’ll help where they can. They are our only allies in this situation.”
He no longer had any intention of hiding it. The moment the Empire abandoned Rzhev, their relationship was over, regardless of the outcome.
But he couldn't just look out for himself; he was the Lord of Rzhev, the shield that protected this land. The lives of thousands, tens of thousands, rested on his shoulders.
“Alright! Everyone, get ready! We don’t have time!”
Following Krain Rzhev’s declaration, the soldiers began to hasten their preparations to move.
They were not abandoning Rzhev. They would face the monsters at Adma, and if it fell, they would return to Rzhev.
Literally, Rzhev would be their last bastion. It was home not only to the soldiers but to their families and all its people.
“We’ll head out first.”
“First? We’ll all be moving within a few days anyway. Wouldn’t it be better to go together?”
“Before heading to Adma, I plan to scout the surrounding area and clear out some monsters. It would be best to eliminate any unforeseen variables, don’t you think?”
At those words, Rzhev looked at me with a pained expression.
“He was like that, too. Always taking the initiative in everything. He may have sounded flippant and grumpy for his age, but there was a warmth beneath it all. You’re the same. Is it because you were his disciple?”
No, that was just because there was no one else he could trust.
The things I did were quite unconventional, after all. How many people in this fantasy world would truly accept the idea of a government for the people?
Besides, he was me and I am ‘me’. How could we be any different?
And flippant for my age? Is he saying I talk like a damn kid right now?
Ha, seriously.
“Well… I’ll see you in Adma.”
“I’ll see you in Adma.”
Krain Rzhev firmly grasped the hand Kratos extended.
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Outside the lord’s castle, my comrades were waiting, fully prepared.
To be precise, the members of Squad 3.
Due to the urgency of the matter, they hadn't spoken to their captains directly but had communicated their desire to transfer to Squad 3. Thankfully, both Derek and Lando had readily supported their decision.
And so, Squad 3 now consisted of four members. With me as the dealer, Seamus covering the rear, Reinhardt on the front lines, and Niceta as our healer, we had a minimally viable team composition.
“Are you worried?”
On the verge of departure, Niceta kept glancing back as if something was bothering her.
“Yes. I’m worried. About Soteria.”
Soteria was the name of the child rescued from that breeding ground. Due to the circumstances, she had been left in the care of the cathedral in Rzhev.
Niceta had willingly become her guardian. The problem was that the psychological trauma from the breeding ground had been so severe that the girl had yet to regain consciousness.
“She’ll be alright. For her sake, we can’t let the monsters invade this place. We have to defend it well.”
“We must. No matter what.”
“Let’s go. If we want to protect this place, we need to move quickly. We have to make sure no one else suffers.”
“Understood. I will annihilate every last one of them so that no more children like Soteria are created.”
Perhaps Niceta saw her own past in that child. That might be why she cared for her so deeply.
She had seemed more serious since the breeding ground incident. Whether she had matured slightly or was simply in shock, I couldn't tell.
Of course, deep inside, she was undoubtedly nurturing her rage against the demons. It wasn’t the kind of thing that would disappear so easily.
“See you in Adma.”
Luther also embraced his comrades, now members of Squad 3, who were embarking on the difficult path ahead.
Their small number was a bit concerning, but they were more of a reconnaissance team than a strike force, so it should be fine.
And their skills were famous within the mercenary corps. What more needed to be said?
“You go on ahead. We’ll take care of all the monsters in the area and then join you.”
“That’s reassuring. But leave some for us, alright?”
The time was slowly approaching.
***
“The preparations are proceeding smoothly, I trust?”
“Yes. All preparations are nearly complete. They will certainly be finished before the Grand Plan begins.”
“And the personnel deployment in other areas?”
“It is all finished. They will proceed at once on your signal.”
“Good. We must make a definitive example of them. The world to come will be shaped by His hand.”
Many parts of the original plan had gone awry, but after more than a decade of preparation, there could be no mistakes in the Grand Plan.
No, perhaps it had started even more than ten years ago. It was already in motion before he had joined.
If so, just when had He begun preparing for this? He couldn't even begin to guess.
“There must not be a single error in the execution of the Grand Plan.”
“I will see to it.”
Ludwig Brandt clenched his tingling hands, a thrill of excitement surging through him. The Grand Plan was finally at hand.
After it was all over, a true new world would dawn.
“It will all end soon. And it will begin. A new world.”
All preparations were steadily nearing completion. There were no obstacles. No. Even if someone tried to interfere, they wouldn't be able to.
The moment they interfered, they would be unable to escape responsibility for all the resulting consequences.
It was a perfect checkmate.
“What about the others?”
“They seem to have their complaints, but they are following orders without a word.”
“See? It would have been better if they had just cooperated from the start. What foolish bastards.”
There were always fools who would only listen after you held their weaknesses over their heads or resorted to violence.
“Such foolish things. And the Holy Kingdom? No unusual movements, I hope?”
“Their troops are moving suspiciously, but it doesn't seem their blades are aimed at the Empire for now. There are no signs of an information leak either. It appears they are simply making preparations.”
“Sufficient. Who would have thought? Those fools may cry out in the name of God, but it is not God they worship.”
Yes, who could possibly imagine what was about to happen? Even he found it overwhelming to merely glimpse a fraction of His plan.
It was something a common person could never hope to comprehend.
***
It was utterly silent. Like the calm before a storm. All along the road from Rzhev to Adma, the signs of life had drastically diminished.
I hadn't expected this. To think it would be this difficult to find even a trace of a monster.
“This is bizarre.”
The corpses of the monsters we killed on our first trip to Adma were still there. But the traces of monsters that used to roam the area as if on patrol had clearly vanished.
It was as if they had receded like the tide. As if all the monsters had pulled back to unleash a tsunami-like wave.
The only thing we confirmed was that there were no antennas around Rzhev.
“This isn't good. It’s too quiet. Way too quiet.”
“I know. Even scouting the area, there are no tracks. It’s like the monsters have been completely wiped out, isn't it?”
This was a clear harbinger of a wave.
Where were all those monsters? No, where was the starting point of the monster wave?
And when would the wave begin?
It was impossible to predict its scale.
“We head to Adma for now.”
We had to get to Adma. The answer seemed to lie not here, but beyond it.
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When we arrived at Adma, the acrid smell of burning corpses filled the air.
“The gate! Reinforce the gate at all costs! We don’t know what kind of bastards will come charging in! We’re not going out anyway, so just board it all up with wood!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Durability is our top priority! A monster wave is bound to have large monsters mixed in! Reinforce it! It’s not like we’re going to use it again anyway!”
The corpses from my first visit were being burned, the walls and gate were being repaired, and a communication channel with Rzhev was being established. Everyone was busy with their assigned roles.
Amidst his frantic commands, Rzhev was keeping track of and attending to the entire situation. His face was gaunt, and exhaustion was visible in every feature.
“You’ve returned.”
“My scouting shows that the surrounding area has been wiped clean of monsters.”
“All those monsters?”
“Yes. To a strange degree. Not a single one in sight.”
Rzhev had experienced enough monster waves that a depleted monster population wasn't entirely unheard of, but this was strange in its own right.
For that many monsters to vanish in an instant.
“I think I need to scout towards the Demonic Realm.”
“The Demonic Realm? Hmm… Won’t that be dangerous? If a wave is coming, it will start from there, won’t it?”
“I’ll go. Going alone will be the fastest and safest way.”
Knowing the moment the monster wave began was crucial. If someone had to be sent, it was right to send the most capable person.
“Scouting the Demonic Realm. Will you be alright?”
“It’s worth it. It’s better to be certain.”
“I approve.”
Soldiers were busy moving food supplies within Adma.
“By the way, you were right about the food supply. Seems even those demonic bastards have to eat. It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? Using such an expensive portal just to transport food. It’s clear they were up to something shady.”
“My Lord. The preparations for transport are complete.”
“Begin moving it immediately.”
They decided to leave only a portion of the food that filled the storehouse and move the rest to Rzhev. This place was merely the first line of defense.
“I’ll set out first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Remember, this is strictly reconnaissance. Just report back. Where they are, and from which direction they’re coming.”
Tension hung in the air. A cold, damp wind blowing from the Demonic Realm grazed past, feeling like claws on the skin.
“Now, all we can do is wait.”
Krain Rzhev gazed beyond the Demonic Realm, where a dark energy seemed to gather. It was the same sight he had seen time and again, but today, he felt an unknown terror in that view.
***
“Damn it. So this is where they all were.”
A day’s journey from the entrance to the Demonic Realm.
At the place I had reached at the edge of my thoughts.
A horde of monsters, too vast to count, filled the Demonic Realm endlessly, looking as if they could march on Rzhev at any moment.