31
Chapter 31
Zombies are fighting demons?
"I first noticed it yesterday. I'd heard strange noises for a few days, but I didn't realize it had come to this."
Nyx let out a long sigh.
I racked my brain to assess the situation.
The Sky Tree Tribe is located in Duvenheim, which is home to the Necromancer's Tomb.
Zombie Control is a Necromancer's skill. I had gone to the Necromancer's Tomb specifically to acquire it, and I saw a few zombie soldiers there.
There are two possibilities.
First, there were more zombies than those I saw, and they've wandered outside.
Second, the secret weapon Karon left behind awakened for some unknown reason.
If it's the first, it's a relief, but if it's the second, we're in serious trouble.
The situation I feared most has occurred.
Did someone manage to find it despite how well I hid it? Or did they know the location from the beginning...?
Wait.
- Just a second.
A bad feeling washed over me, and I instinctively accessed the community.
[3-Lifts 500: Any guys here who ended up possessing a girl?] (2)
[I Trusted the Monkey Uncle: Gender-collapse in real-time... exploring a haunted house...] (4)
[Not a Netkama: The ocean is beautiful]
[If Use President's Power: To wipe every single demon from this world—that is the wish of every Holy Knight] (5)
Among the trivial posts, one strange message caught my eye.
[Rino Johnson: Oh, strangers from another world.] (2)
Goosebumps broke out all over my body.
That bastard Karon claimed he learned how to steal souls by peering into the World Beyond the Starlight.
...I wish this were all just a delusion. But since things have come this far, the answer is already decided.
Rino Johnson must have gone back to the Necromancer's Tomb and had his body stolen.
Was there a better way to hide the tomb? No, that's a useless thought.
There was no better way to handle it in that situation.
No matter what I did, Rino Johnson would have ended up at the Necromancer's Tomb.
It's too late for regrets. For now, let's read the post.
[To the pitiful sacrifices of Ishtania.
My name is Karon. I am the Necromancer who once stood against the gods who mocked the surface.
Through the memories of the man who used the title Rino Johnson, I have grasped your current situation.
You must be filled with a desire to survive and a longing to return home.
Unfortunately, you can never go back.
An immense amount of power is required for a soul that has crossed the threshold to return to its rightful place.
Do you really think Ishtania would go through such trouble for you?
Gods are beings that toy with human destiny. They are beings who never place themselves on the scale.
That will absolutely never happen.
However, it is too early to despair.
This body I have stolen possessed great potential and a peculiar ability.
Surely your souls are the same.
I have a proposal.
Entrust your souls to me and become a part of my army.
In exchange, I will kill the demons and gods who ruined your lives.
I am different from those swindling gods. I always keep my word.
Though my power is currently meager, given enough time, I can build a force that rivals theirs.
If you have read this, come to Duvenheim immediately.]
This crazy bastard...
Asking for souls? That's basically telling us to just drop dead.
Even if we don't die, we'd either be mindless slaves or no different from worshippers.
In the end, this guy is no different from a demon.
It'll be a disaster if any Holy Knight sees this and actually heads to Duvenheim.
Anxious, I checked the comments.
[I Trusted the Monkey Uncle: -Root-]
[Shotgun Attack: Another roleplayer?]
Fortunately, no one was taking Karon's words seriously.
There are only two comments.
But it's still too early to relax.
He'll keep posting as many times as necessary.
If he keeps posting that recruitment ad, someone might get curious and head to Duvenheim on a whim.
There aren't many Holy Knights strong enough to travel between regions, but it's not like there aren't any idiots like Hanna.
I definitely have to deal with this eventually.
First, let's put out the immediate fire.
- Done. Chief Nyx. How far have the zombies come?
"They haven't reached this mountain yet... but I believe it's only a matter of time. They've been relentlessly attacking the demon-controlled villages."
In that case, I'll have to evacuate the entire Sky Tree Tribe to somewhere other than Duvenheim.
- Would you mind moving the tribe again?
Nyx gave a bitter smile.
"We've moved our home once already; it's fine. Wherever the members of the Sky Tree Tribe are, that is where the tribe is."
- I'll do my best to find a way.
It was decided: the Sky Tree Tribe would leave the mountain.
Demons might not venture this far, but zombies certainly would.
A madman like Karon might even sacrifice his own people just to grow his army.
The real issue was where to evacuate. Not too far, yet not too close.
I'll need the help of my vassals for this.
I summoned Rake, Paya, and Muri to Totem No. 1.
- I will now relay Nyx's words.
By moving between Totems 1 and 2 and passing messages, they would be able to converse with Nyx.
I don't know this world well enough to have a clear plan, but four natives putting their heads together should find a viable solution.
After a few minutes of deliberation, Nyx decided to head for a region called 'Bolvano'.
It's a place located straight south of here.
It's the territory of a plains tribe called the Golden Sun Tribe, and it's said to be the most remote outpost in the Empire.
The Golden Sun Tribe. I remember hearing about them from Paya when I was trying to unite the tribes.
She mentioned they were the only tribe that still numbered in the thousands. Being on the perimeter, they'd suffered the least.
The problem was that to get to Bolvano, they had to cross through a region called 'Latria'.
Latria... the place where George's Raid Party had last settled. The site the Dark Cloud Demon had ravaged.
I couldn't even imagine what it looked like now.
Still, it was the best option available.
- Get ready for departure.
"Understood."
The Sky Tree Tribe members, fewer than thirty in total, finished their preparations.
They had seemingly been getting ready even before I called them, so it was done quite quickly.
- Let's move out.
Since no one in the Sky Tree Tribe had ever been to Bolvano, I had to act as their guide.
Muri and Rake had traveled extensively thirty years ago when tribal exchange was common, so the map they provided would be sufficient.
- Carrying a totem during a fight will restrict your movement, so leave them to others.
I had to assume we would face combat. It was impossible to travel that distance without a single encounter.
Nyx entrusted Totem No. 2 to a woman—an old friend and the tribe's second-in-command.
"Let's go. Lord Mallak will protect us."
Nyx looked back at the tribe members with a solemn expression.
And so, twelve warriors, seven children, three elderly, and five non-combatants set off.
...Every single one of them was someone I had to keep alive.
***
We were on our way down the mountain.
- Wait.
Right now, I am a totem capable of rotating my head 360 degrees at will.
If I concentrate, I can see a much wider area than anyone else.
And in my line of sight, something suspicious caught my attention.
- Sky Tree Tribe, cover your mouths and hide.
They looked like mere dots from a distance, but something was rushing toward us.
Their chaotic movement suggested they didn't know we were here.
A few minutes after the barbarians had hidden themselves, a raccoon as large as a cow appeared, trailing blood.
It was a Raccoon Demon with tentacles growing from its back, severely wounded to the point where its left ribs were exposed.
Was it a low-tier demon that had fled the village to come here?
Looking at its state, it didn't seem like it would last much longer.
Gurgle... gurgle...
The creature spat out a handful of blood and collapsed.
No, it would be more accurate to say it slumped over, devoid of strength.
Rattle... rattle...
After spitting out more blood, the Raccoon Demon's eyes rolled back.
I thought it was finally about to turn into ash.
Then, the whites of its eyes slowly turned red... and its gaze filled with a crimson light.
And then, it slowly began to stand up.
What? You can turn demons into zombies too? I couldn't do it. Is it a matter of proficiency?
Either way, this isn't a good sign.
It means demons have been added to Karon's Corpse Army.
Sssss...
The zombified Raccoon Demon, eyes gleaming red, turned back the way it had come.
I wonder if it's responding to a call from Karon.
The Sky Tree Tribe only moved after ten minutes had passed since the zombie demon disappeared.
Perhaps because of what had just happened, everyone's face was clouded with worry.
"Mommy..."
A young girl sobbed softly and clung to her mother.
- Let's move.
For all of them, death here would be the end, but I wouldn't die even if Totem No. 2 was destroyed.
I alone am free from the fear of death. Therefore, I'm the one who must keep a level head.
I forced myself to ignore the ominous thoughts flooding my mind and looked around.
The once-abundant Devil's Sight was nowhere to be seen.
No Infected were visible either.
...I wonder what kind of hell the foot of the mountain has become.