The Plum Blossom Swordsman Reborn into a Count's Family
The endless tide of undead pouring down was nothing short of spectacular. Even if they were nothing more than low-grade skeletons and zombies, the sight alone made it look as though the end of the world had arrived.
"…This is bad."
Melissa muttered, her face grave.
"Bad? They're just low-grade undead — skeletons and zombies. We can wipe them out in one sweep. If it comes to it, we use bombs."
Skeletons and zombies were nothing more than moving bones and corpses. For all their horrific appearance, they weren't particularly strong.
"That's true for you, Master. But for everyone else? To nobles and servants who aren't trained for combat, they're objects of pure terror. And there are simply too many of them. The soldiers won't be able to hold."
"The knights will handle it. We're not the only ones here, are we?"
At my words, Melissa nodded.
"The knights of House Arhen are strong. For now, we'll have to put our faith in them."
We took off down the corridor again. Whenever we found a door, we opened it and checked inside. More than a few times, we ran into people still alive.
"My lady!"
We found three servants who had been hiding. They were trembling in a cramped room that looked like a storage closet, and the moment they saw Melissa, their faces lit up with relief.
"So this is where you've been hiding. Go to the first floor. Staying here on your own won't do you any good."
"B-but…"
The servants glanced toward the window. Skeletons and zombies were still spilling from the black hole that had opened in the sky.
"I know it looks dangerous. Of course you're frightened with countless undead appearing like this. That's exactly why you need to stick together. If you go down to the first floor, the knights and soldiers will be fighting the undead. Help them."
"W-we can't do anything…!"
"Is that so. Then stay here trembling until an undead that breaks in kills you. You don't actually think this place will stay safe forever, do you?"
The servants exchanged uneasy looks, then spoke to Melissa.
"My lady, couldn't you come down to the first floor with us…?"
"I'm sorry, but I have to resolve this situation. We can't just keep taking hits forever. The path down to the first floor is still safe. Go."
"Y-yes! Understood!"
The servants bolted toward the first floor.
I watched them go, frowning.
"Insolent little bastards. Do they not know their place? You're too soft on the servants, you know."
"I learned it from you, Master. Aren't you kind to your maids as well?"
"Maids and servants are different."
"Well, don't get too angry. Even if it's only temporary, now that I've agreed to become the head of House Arhen, those people are my responsibility too."
We set off again in search of the demon contractor.
We found a corpse torn to shreds. The chunks of flesh writhed and crawled together, clumping into a single mass. The gathered meat pulsed as though it were alive.
"Making undead, is it? Disgusting."
Melissa clicked her tongue and cast a spell. Flames rose and consumed the corpse.
KWAOOOOOM!
An explosion thundered through the air. Melissa and I both looked out the window. An entire annex had gone up in a single blast. Debris rained down, and from within the wreckage, black flames surged upward.
Atop the ruins of the building, a necromancer in a black robe stood in plain view.
"…There's another Master over there. When did he get over there?"
"This is the worst."
I muttered as I looked at the man clutched in the necromancer's hand. He looked like a noble. His limbs had been severed, and hundreds of pitch-black larvae wriggled across his torso, seeming to devour his flesh. The man was screaming in agony, howling beyond endurance.
"There's a magic circle on his side — proof of a demon contract."
"That thing isn't going to kill the demon contractor. It'll keep him alive with dark magic until it achieves its goal."
"So in the end, our only option is a frontal fight…"
The necromancer turned his head. He looked straight toward where I stood. Watching me with an expressionless face, he raised undead from the rubble and headed toward the lily garden.
"Looks like he has no intention of fighting right away. Preparing thoroughly, is he?"
"Time isn't on our side. The undead have been pouring down nonstop since earlier… and the key that could end this situation in one stroke is in that thing's grip."
"Master. I think we need to regroup as well. If Father — an Aura Master — cooperates with us… it would be a tremendous help."
Three Master-class combatants. That was enough power to casually wipe out an ordinary city. And yet, for some strange reason, I couldn't quite bring myself to believe we could beat the necromancer.
"Master. Let's go down to the first floor. Father will probably come to the first floor as well. He might already be down there directing people."
Following Melissa's suggestion, we descended to the first floor. In the lobby, every living person — soldiers, knights, nobles, and servants — had gathered. And just as Melissa had guessed, the Duke of Arhen was commanding them.
Looking at the exhausted soldiers and knights, and the corpses strewn about, it was clear they had already fought one engagement. Things had fallen into a lull for the moment.
"Count Pruker. And Melissa. Do you know anything about the current situation?"
The Duke of Arhen fixed his gaze on me as he asked. It was because of the necromancer. Aside from skin tone and eye color, that thing and I looked identical enough that anyone would believe we were twins.
"Father. Allow me to explain. This is the work of a demon. Behind this entire incident, King Dulibard is almost certainly involved."
"I've heard the rumors that the king has joined hands with demon contractors. I refused to believe them no matter what, but it seems those rumors were true."
The Duke of Arhen looked out the window.
"I tried to send the knights outside. But a transparent barrier surrounds the mansion and blocks the way."
"At present, the mansion has been transformed into a labyrinth by the power of the Mirror Demon, Viruviru. Kill the demon or the demon contractor and the situation will be resolved. The problem is that finding a hidden demon is nearly impossible… and the demon contractor has been captured by the necromancer."
"So we have no choice but to fight the necromancer. What exactly is that necromancer?"
This time I stepped forward.
"Me, from a parallel world. Ah — do you know what a parallel world is?"
"I've heard the theory from a mage at some point."
"The Mirror Demon, Viruviru, manifested a parallel-world version of me."
"Manifested? Not summoned from a parallel world?"
"No parallel worlds exist in this world."
I spoke with absolute certainty. It was something that had come up in the original work.
"…Then why call the necromancer a being from a parallel world?"
"Because Viruviru created the necromancer out of the possibility of a parallel world. The necromancer is an elaborate fake. Everything about it, from its existence to its origins, is false. But the power it wields is real. It will have memories and experiences similar to mine, yet different."
"……Is something like that even possible?"
"It's possible precisely because it's a demon. A demon's power defies all measure. Don't try to judge it by human common sense."
"How many demons has King Dulibard allied with? If every single demon is on this level… the rebellion will fail."
"Demons with this much power are rare. Among the ones still remaining, there aren't many this dangerous. We've also prepared a trump card. Leave the demons to us. House Arhen should focus solely on the rebellion."
The trump card was Yuria. As long as Yuria was with us, I couldn't imagine losing.
"Understood. What do we do now?"
"If we want to get outside, we have no choice but to fight the necromancer and win. It knows that too — that's why it's acting so leisurely."
I laid out the plan.
The knights and soldiers would handle the fodder — the undead. Meanwhile, Melissa, the Duke of Arhen, and I would attack the necromancer directly.
"Understood."
The Duke of Arhen nodded without argument.
"Father! Please take me with you!!"
Verdo Arhen, the Duke's son, burst forward. His eyes blazed behind the armor he wore. I could feel the competitive fire directed at Melissa.
"No."
The Duke of Arhen cut him off flatly.
"That necromancer is strong. It is beyond ordinary measure. I don't have the luxury of protecting you."
"I swear I won't hold you back! I am the heir of House Arhen! Please give me the chance to strike that thing down as well!"
"The heir is Melissa. When this is over, Melissa will succeed to the dukedom. And Verdo — you are still weak. Join the knights and hold back the undead."
"Father! I can fight too!!"
"Anyone can fight. Learn to distinguish courage from recklessness. Do not overestimate your own ability."
"Father…!"
"That is an order, Verdo."
"Kh…"
Verdo clenched his teeth. His hand pointed at Melissa.
"But Sister…! Why is Sister allowed and I'm not?!"
"Melissa is strong. Recognizing the strong is itself a form of strength. In that regard, you continue to disappoint me."
At the Duke of Arhen's deep sigh, Verdo looked flustered. He hurriedly scanned the room. The retainers and knights, fully aware of his gaze, ignored him. In a situation this urgent, no one was about to argue with the Duke of Arhen.
The only one who didn't know his place was Verdo.
"…I will follow Father's command."
In the end, Verdo bowed his head.
Before moving out, the Duke of Arhen called for Harmel, the knight commander.
"Harmel. Look after Verdo."
"Leave it to me, my lord."
Before the battle, we checked our equipment. I was already at full readiness, but the Duke of Arhen and Melissa were not. Father and daughter inspected their gear with meticulous care.
"Melissa."
"Yes, Father."
"Don't hate Verdo too much. He's still young. He hasn't even had his coming-of-age ceremony yet."
"You needn't worry. I don't resent Verdo. If anything, all I feel toward him is guilt."
Melissa shot me a sidelong glance.
It meant don't interfere. I'd been planning to put that insolent brat in his place… but for Melissa's sake, I let it go.
"Do you remember Verdo when he was little? He followed you everywhere. He liked you more than he liked me."
"…Yes. And I abandoned that Verdo without a word and left. It wouldn't be strange if he resented me. But I have no regrets. Father — you won't have to worry about Verdo. When this is over, I will leave House Arhen."
"Melissa. Your roots are Arhen. Never forget that, at least."
"I will never forget it until the day I die."