Chapter 136: Looting an Empty House
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 136: Looting an Empty House
“Wow...”
“Wow...”
Jed and Penelope stood side-by-side, staring intently at the wound on Ferda’s chest. The two of them let out the exact same exclamation of disbelief.
“How are you even alive?”
“I’m alive because it wasn’t a fatal blow,” Ferda replied dryly.
“Still, it’s a miracle it missed your heart.”
“The bleeding wasn’t even that bad, so stop making a fuss.”
The object had been driven in quite deep, but because there was minimal organ damage and blood loss, it had ended up being a relatively minor injury. Ironically, it was because Ferda had such a frail body that the injury remained superficial; there wasn't enough muscle or density to cause a more complicated internal rupture.
“So,” Penelope said, peering into the hole with a cheeky grin. “You shared a hug, and during that entire embrace, you didn't realize there was a horn on her head?”
“Yes...”
“Is that Archduchess person an idiot by any chance?”
“...”
Ferda couldn't bring himself to say no. Instead, he simply glared at Penelope as if he wanted to kill her.
Penelope didn't even bother to meet his gaze. She kept her eyes fixed on the hole in Ferda’s chest and began to hum to herself.
“Man, I’m genuinely impressed. You almost went to the Great Beyond through your chest, didn't you? To that far-off place?”
“...”
“You, who left a hole in my heart... You are my soulmate~. Ooooh~. My eternal com—”
Thwack!
Before Ferda could even lift a hand, Jed smacked the back of Penelope’s head, knocking her out cold. Then, as if nothing had happened, he seamlessly changed the subject.
“Are you still planning to proceed with the expedition?”
“There’s no particular problem, so I must. Besides, wouldn't this be enough to ward off any further bad luck?”
“Well, I suppose so. And are we really supposed to just stay put?”
The orders for the knights, excluding William, were primarily to guard the main castle. It was essentially telling them to take it easy while the others did the heavy lifting.
“There is no place for you to play an active role in this specific operation,” Ferda explained. “It would be better for you to guard the castle and report on any developments. And...”
“And?”
“As long as Garnet is in this castle, we cannot let our guard down.”
Both Ruri and Ferda were heading out for this expedition. With the key personnel away and Garnet remaining behind, there was a strong concern about what she might do in this 'empty house.'
“Keep an eye on Garnet. Can I trust you?”
“Do not worry. Even if she is an old friend, I am a knight of this castle now.”
“Fine. I shall trust you.”
“Then, I’ll be going now.”
Jed dragged the unconscious Penelope away by her collar like a sack of luggage. However, he faltered at the threshold and turned his head back.
“Um...” Jed spoke up, looking as if he’d been itching to say something. “Congratulations on... your first successful move.”
“...?”
Jed gave a thumbs-up and vanished.
Ferda didn't quite understand the comment, but he instinctively sensed it came from a similar, twisted train of thought as Penelope’s.
I forgot they’re two of a kind.
Lacking the energy to get angry, Ferda closed his eyes and prepared for tomorrow. Or at least, he tried to. Every time he was about to fall asleep, the melody Penelope had been singing echoed in his ears.
Ferda decided that as soon as he woke up, he would destroy that devilish woman.
* * *
Morning dawned.
The soldiers, having finished their preparations the night before, were moving busily to begin the march. The forces were divided into three groups.
The 1st Regiment was under the command of Olivia, the commander-in-chief. The 2nd Regiment was commanded by the son of Duke Ruthenia, the strategy officer. The main force would remain at the castle to protect the citizens and the noble ladies.
Their strategy was to lure monsters from two locations simultaneously, eliminate them, and then secure two of the breeding grounds. The temporary alliance had to deal with a total of four.
The Far East Union, concentrated in the Count Consilus territory, would also move. However, since they lacked Magitech, they decided to face only one Super-sized Monster.
Erica, performing a special operation, had selected twelve adventurers to form the 'Eri Adventurer Party.' Their goal was to take down one Super-sized Monster, bringing the total to six targets to be eliminated.
The primary objective was to completely destroy the line within three days, including travel time.
No one wore a pleasant expression. Even though the entire monster force was heading toward the Empire—essentially allowing them to loot an empty house—the situation was grim. The fact that they were walking into a death trap remained unchanged. No matter how one looked at it, this was war.
The mere word 'war' is enough to exhaust a person’s soul.
“The capital of the Empire shall be our shield, and we shall be the sword that strikes at the source. For your motherland and your honor...!”
The Princess’s skillful speech inspired the ranks. Though it boosted morale, it didn't seem enough to completely turn the tide of their spirits. In fact, Olivia herself hadn't expected a massive effect from words alone.
She had a different plan.
— We will conduct a forced march to reach the monsters as quickly as possible.
— What do you hope to achieve by doing that?
— We must use the Magitech Riflemen—those called Tactical Infantry—to boost morale.
The efficiency of the Tactical Infantry had already been proven several times. Olivia judged that if they could wipe out the charging monsters without significant casualties, morale would undoubtedly skyrocket.
“Then, I will contact you once we reach the first point.”
“I shall pray for your good fortune.”
She looked at Ferda while fiddling with her amulet of the Alte Faith. It was a silent gesture, a promise of prayer.
Over three thousand troops and wagons carrying supplies moved along the established path. The two fully prepared forces split up. The 1st Regiment was led by Princess Olivia and the Imperial Army, while the 2nd Regiment was led by the young lord of House Ruthenia and his army.
Ferda moved alongside the 2nd Regiment. His force consisted of fifty Tactical Infantrymen, Isabella—the commander and core strength—and Ruri.
As they moved along the path, a dense forest greeted them.
“I can’t help but feel worried. It feels like we’re walking into the belly of a Leviathan,” the strategy officer, Louis Ruthenia, remarked as he stared into the dark depths of the woods.
He wasn't the only one who felt that way. Everyone stepping into this place carried the heavy thought that they might die. Even Ferda felt the same.
It was then.
A sudden gust of wind blew, and for a moment, a massive shadow blotted out the sun.
“W-What is that?”
“Is it a monster?! Already?”
Everyone looked up at the sky at the sudden anomaly. They thought a battle was starting as soon as the march began, but that wasn't it.
“Ah...!”
“That’s...!”
The moment they identified the source, everyone let out a gasp of awe. Even Ferda was no exception.
Scales that burned redder than the sun, even from high above. Two pairs of horns and wings so large they seemed to cover the heavens and the earth.
“A Red Dragon!”
“I-It’s Lady Valdrova!”
“Her Highness the Archduchess has appeared!”
Valdrova made a large circle in the sky before landing on the summit of the Lonely Mountain. Her posture made it look as if she ruled the entire mountain range. The Red Dragon, who had not shown herself for a long time, had made a grand appearance.
Why did she come out?
She should have been able to sense the monsters even from inside her Lair. The fact that she revealed herself like this meant there was a reason.
As Ferda gazed up at her, his eyes met Valdrova’s. Though she was far away, Ferda could tell. She was staring clearly at him. She tilted her head slightly as if to say something.
— I will do what I can.
That was what Ferda seemed to hear in his mind. Then, she cast her gaze toward the east.
As the saying goes, 'a good interpretation is better than a good dream,' and seeing her, Ferda shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Her Highness the Archduchess is watching over us!”
“Long live Hestia! Long live Archduchess Valdrova!”
Without being prompted, the soldiers let out a thunderous roar, their morale soaring. This was something only she could do. The image of the Evil Dragon, infamous for killing humans like insects, was nowhere to be seen. If that were truly an Evil Dragon, would they be chanting her name so fervently?
Overwhelmed with emotion, Ferda reflexively placed a hand over his chest.
My heart...
Ferda smiled as he watched her.
I shall engrave your courage into my heart.
The biting morning chill could no longer make them shiver. The march of the soldiers, with victory already etched in their hearts, began once more.
* * *
The borderlands of the Archduchess’s territory were undeveloped plains. The ground was filled with small stones that frequently broke plows, making it useless for farming. A few shelters built by hunters were the only traces of human presence, and even those were gone now.
The Super-sized Monster surrounding the Archduchess’s territory looked similar to a caterpillar, but it was immobile. It sat in place, repeatedly contracting and expanding. It sucked the life force from the earth to craft eggs, and from those eggs, it incessantly produced monsters.
After being left alone for a month, all the land within a two-kilometer radius had turned black. It bred and gathered an army as if it were a daily routine.
But today, something was different.
A beast-type monster sensed the shift in the air, twitched, and raised its head. What it saw was the sun rising in the east—and against that sun, numerous flags and a line of humans appeared.
— Kieeeeeek!!!
It shrieked to signal danger. At that sound, all the monsters turned their heads. The reason for their existence was right before their eyes.
The monsters moved, using their sharp, animalistic shrieks as war cries. They charged toward the humans instinctively, without any set formation.
The blonde commander at the front raised her sword high.
“All troops, prepare for battle!”
Olivia’s voice rang out loudly, amplified by magic. She possessed enough charisma to be mistaken for a war hero rather than a delicate Imperial Princess.
“Tactical Infantry, form a Crane Wing! Mages, focus on the aerial types! Tactical Infantry, concentrate on the ground!”
Olivia had immersed herself in troop deployment plans solely for this moment. The infantrymen holding Magitech Rifles moved in perfect order to form a line at the front. All fifty of them stood in a row, aiming their barrels forward.
“Initiate!”
As they pressed the triggers, a humming sound began to emanate from inside the rifles. Pure bullets made of mana glowed within the pipes. The beast-type monsters charged on all fours. The moment they attempted a body slam, they would vanish without even realizing they were dead.
When the distance was close enough, her sword cut through the air.
“Fire!”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A thunderous sound erupted from the ground. Even the soldiers standing behind flinched in surprise. The sound wasn't the only shocking thing; before they could even process what was happening, the front line of beast-type monsters collapsed.
They didn't die instantly, but the stopping power was extraordinary. The front line fell like autumn leaves, but monsters do not possess 'momentum' or fear. The monsters following from behind continued to charge.
The Tactical Infantry had to prepare for the next attack.
“Switch lines!”
As if they had been waiting, the Tactical Infantry pulled back. Simultaneously, knights clad in heavy armor stepped forward with great spirit to form a phalanx. These were men who had come for the purpose of protection, carrying the reputation of their territories on their backs.
The monsters that destroy everything and those who seek to protect clashed head-on. The knights held their ground brilliantly. Once the clash settled into a stalemate, a knight shouted.
“Spearmen!! Attack!”
“We must hold the line!”
“Stab them in the eyes! If you can't hit the eyes, go for the mouth! If not the mouth, go for the groin!! Stab them anywhere you think is dirty!!”
The knights held firm while the spearmen stabbed through the gaps and over their heads, preventing the monsters from getting closer. The goal was to buy time.
“Second attack is ready!” the adjutant, William, reported.
Olivia, who had been commanding frantically, raised her sword again.
“Tactical Infantry, close formation! Knights, open the firing lanes!”
Bwaaaaa!
Since her voice alone wasn't enough, she used a horn to relay the command. Hearing the signal, the knights in the center calmly stepped back. As if the wall of men had become a gate, they opened a path toward the center. The monsters that broke through poured into the opening.
Until the path opened, they hadn't realized it was a corridor leading to death.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Fifty mana bullets flew toward the clustered monsters. There was no need to even aim for the heart; they simply dropped. The monster corpses became a threshold, a stumbling block that hindered the path of those behind them. The monsters were isolated in the firing lane.
“Die! Die!”
“Be purified by the Light of Alte, you wicked things!!”
The beast-type monsters, which had been the greatest threat, were trapped in the lane, unable to do anything. The knights’ swords, imbued with Aura, hacked their bodies to pieces.
The monsters let out death rattles, mimicking the sounds of dying animals. The beast-type monsters, which had numbered over a hundred, were reduced to a handful in an instant.
“The cleanup of the remnants is complete!”
“Commander, your orders!”
The adjutant’s face was bright with hope. The same was true for Olivia. She pointed her command sword toward the sky and shouted.
“Advance in two battalions! Do not let your guard down until the very end!!”
The reliable wall of humans moved quickly. The Melted following the beast-type monsters were suppressed in an instant, and they succeeded in pressing right up to the Super-sized Monster.
“1st Battalion, Super-sized Monster secured!”
“2nd Battalion, secured as well! The operation is a success!”
They prepared so that any new monsters created would be dealt with immediately. Unless it had abilities other than spawning, it was effectively neutralized.
“We won!!”
“Long live Count Kali!”
“Alte watches over us!”
The soldiers boosted morale by shouting the names of their respective lords or their god. Standing in the back, Olivia heard their cheers.
With this, I’ve taken one step further into my plan.
Joy welled up within her. The thrill kept twitching at her face, making it difficult to maintain her composure.
If only the 2nd Regiment succeeds, the plan will be absolutely perfect.
Olivia did not doubt their victory. Because Ferda was there. Perhaps that was why she couldn't hold back a laugh in the end. She raised her sword high, celebrating the victory of their first battle.
* * *
The 1st Regiment’s success was essentially the same as a victory for the 2nd Regiment. Aside from the location, they were facing the same types of monsters, and the forces had been balanced with that in mind.
In this situation, the strategy officer and supreme commander of the 2nd Regiment, the young lord of House Ruthenia, thought to himself:
Is this really the kind of war I used to know?