Chapter 16. Ghoul Horde
The evening sun that had painted the sky blood-red had now completely vanished beyond the horizon. The whole world plunged into pitch-black darkness.
Grace climbed onto the bed and lay down. For some reason, her heart was pounding like crazy. Soon, Ji-hyuk entered the room. He'd set up night watches before coming in, and now he let out a light sigh as he cracked his stiff neck side to side.
She bolted upright. He waved her off casually. Just lie down, you're fine.
"Just relax and lie down."
Ji-hyuk sat in the chair and gulped down a glass of water. The flickering candle flame swayed wildly for a moment. She lay back down gingerly and squeezed her eyes shut tight. With her sight gone, all her senses zeroed in on sound—the rustle of sheets, the creak of the floorboards, even his soft exhale. Everything registered sharply.
Soon, Ji-hyuk slipped into the bed. Grace's breath caught in her throat. He glanced at her sideways, then spoke to her rigid form.
"Wanna hold hands while we sleep?"
Ah—.
"...N-no, I'm fine."
"Yeah? If you wanna hold hands, just grab 'em—no need to ask. Wanna hug? Hug away. Got it?"
Ji-hyuk patted her arm once, let out a long breath, and closed his eyes. Suddenly, her chest ached. Did she even deserve this comfort? Leig and the others had died so horribly, so tragically—did she have the right to just lie here peacefully?
Ah, aaaah—.
Her anxiety surged again. She felt suffocated, her heart racing wildly. It was like she might die right then. Terrified she'd just drop dead any second.
That's when the captain pulled her into his arms. He whispered softly, like a sigh, "It wasn't your fault. You're okay. It wasn't your fault. So you can let go of that burden now. It was bad luck. An accident. Nothing you could've done."
Leig, Leig, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, that I survived alone, I'm sorry...!
She tormented herself with crushing guilt, forcing her own misery. Degrading and destroying herself. Rejecting even a sliver of happiness. Denying any peace.
...She thought that was the price of survival.
"Grace, it's okay. Accidents happen all the time. You did everything you could—there's a limit. Don't ruin your life over it. Surviving isn't a sin. Leig would be glad you're alive."
No, no.
"I'll make sure to get revenge for you. And we'll get out of this. Shake it off now. I'll handle the revenge, promise. Believe me. The captain can do it. So trust the captain. I'll be right here."
Aaaaaah—.
In the end, Grace broke down crying. Sorry to her dead lover. Sorry to her dead comrades. Sorry for surviving.
"The world's cruel sometimes. But you can't fall apart. Bad luck comes, but so does good. ...Meeting your current comrades? That's your good luck."
Her symptoms eased soon after. Exhausted from sobbing, she felt much lighter than before. Not all the weight was gone, but it was a huge relief.
Ji-hyuk stroked her hair as she nestled against his chest and whispered, "Chain-smoker, potty-mouth... now crybaby too, huh?"
"...I'm not a crybaby. And I'm not a potty-mouth either..."
"It's fine. Curse if you wanna curse. Cry if you wanna cry. ...Nothing's more frustrating than holding back what you feel. Let it all out till your heart's clear."
Hmph—. Grace snorted and wriggled out of the captain's arms, turning her back to him with a huff.
This brat, throwing a tantrum.
Ji-hyuk lay back straight.
"...Goodnight, Captain."
"You too."
Soon, even breathing filled the room. Ji-hyuk closed his eyes to the sound.
· · ·
Thud thud.
"Captain."
Ji-hyuk's eyes snapped open. He jumped out of bed and flung the door wide. It was Kayak.
"They're coming."
"Got it. Be down soon. Get the others ready."
"Yes, sir."
He turned away. The noise woke Grace too. She scrambled up and hurried to get ready. Ji-hyuk strapped the holy sword at his bedside to his waist and headed out with her.
Team members and knights assembled quickly. Villagers stirred one by one, heading to the makeshift shelter. Soon, Ji-hyuk's team and the knight order were fully gathered.
The hero swept his gaze over their faces. Moonlight made everything clear as day.
"Ghoul horde's coming soon. Won't be easy. They keep moving even if limbs get chopped or torsos blown—only the head's the weak point."
Ji-hyuk tapped his temple with his index finger.
"Not here to wipe the horde. Goal's to protect the villagers safely and take down the necromancer."
"Understood—!"
"Assume you've all got your roles down. Good luck. To your positions."
While the hero team pierced the horde to claim the necromancer's head, the knights would guard the villagers. They paired off and scattered to posts. No healers in the knights, but their sturdy plate armor would hold against ghouls. Key was smashing the necromancer's skull before too many flooded the village.
Ji-hyuk and his team slipped into the outermost house. Harsh breaths echoed—huff huff. Weapons gripped tight, they waited.
Ji-hyuk called Yael. She approached, clutching her staff with both hands.
"You know ghouls are weak to light and fire, right?"
"Yes."
"Your role's crucial. Support from the back, solid. ...Grendal—!"
"Yes, Captain."
The massive orc archer stepped up with his greatbow at the ready.
"You guard Yael and Grace, back 'em up. Got it?"
"Yes."
"Gid, Mahushu."
The pair stepped forward.
"You two tank up front—keep the back three safe. Clear?"
"Yep."
Ji-hyuk called the last, Kayak.
"Kayak."
"Yes, Captain."
The lizardman replied politely.
"You're with me."
"To the end."
Everyone burned with resolve. They trusted the captain would surely take down the necromancer. The man who'd toyed with and killed a demon like it was nothing. A mere necromancer was no match.
"Second we step out, roles activate. Got it?"
"Got it."
They chorused. They held still longer, waiting silently. Then, far off, something writhed into view.
Gasp—. Yael clapped a hand over her mouth at the window. The shambling ghouls were grotesque—limbs twisted unnaturally, some dragging spilled guts from ripped bellies. Missing body parts were standard. The horde was immense, countless—too many to count.
Even Ji-hyuk was inwardly shocked. What the fuck...! The empire was a damn bastard for letting it fester this bad. An investigation team could've prevented this. No wonder villages fell defenseless.
"C-Captain, we good?"
Gid's voice wavered with fear. Ji-hyuk scanned the team one last time.
"Just numbers—weak individually. Stay sharp, you won't die."
He signaled to move. They gripped weapons fierce, resolve renewed, and charged out.
—!!
The stench of rotting corpses hit hard even from afar. Urp—. Yael dry-heaved, stomach weak.
"Eyes sharp—!"
Ji-hyuk bellowed, charging ahead with Kayak. Drag it out, and it turns dangerous—find and kill the necromancer fast.
...He took small comfort that ghouls were slow. But numbers could overwhelm even the sluggish.
Suddenly, brilliant light flooded from behind—Yael's light orb. —!! Ghouls hesitated at the glare, movements duller. Not stopped, but it helped Ji-hyuk plenty. He nodded back at Kayak. The lizardman gripped his sharpened mace and tailed close.
A fireball streaked in, exploding atop the horde—over a dozen ghouls tumbled. Ji-hyuk bolted from there, slashing through.
Insane numbers. How many villages wiped out to make this? Human and lizardman swung weapons madly, pushing forward. Fire magic kept blasting the pack.
Ghouls heading village veered suddenly toward Ji-hyuk and Kayak. This fucker, already scared...?
"Kayak—! Follow—!!"
Ji-hyuk swept his holy sword wide, advancing relentlessly. Kayak bashed rear cling-ons, sticking tight behind.
Huff, huff—. They panted rough, slaughtering endless ghouls. Fearless corpses driven by orders shrugged off head cracks or torso slices.
...Perfect soldiers, militarily. No food, no sleep, no fear of death.
Suddenly, ghouls lunging at them froze, bodies twisting weirdly. Ji-hyuk sensed bad vibes. He sped up.
Ghouls clumped together, flesh mashing. Fuck—.
Mashed meat pulsed, reforming into giant shape.
"C-Captaiin—!!"
Kayak yelled urgently.
"Ignore—break through—!!"
Ji-hyuk sliced faster. A fireball hit the corpse giant's back, exploding. It staggered. —!!
Hero team confirmed horde halted, rushed to aid. Mage Yael eyed the giant, chanting high-level fire spell. Fierce mana swirled.
Meanwhile, Grendal nocked three arrows, drew bow to limit. Released—arrows pierced giant's torso like light. It toppled forward with a boom.
But two more corpse giants rose. —!!!
"What the fuuuck, this shit's bullshit—!!"
Gid cursed thickly, face pale. Timely, knights arrived. Captain ordered slaughter.
Sweating buckets after long chant, Yael unleashed high-level fire. Not perfect, but power leagues beyond low-tier. She hurled at giant.
Slower than low spells, but lumbering giant ate it full. Massive blast lit surroundings, area scorched barren. —————!!!!
One shot vaporized the giant. All gawked. Yael's jaw dropped—didn't expect that potency. First real combat use.
"Thiiis fuuuckiiing thiiing's insaaane—!!"
Gid whooped manic. He bounced, begging more spells.
Ji-hyuk and Kayak glanced back at the blast. Captain approved. Good work, Yael. Rear secure now.
They'd pierced the thick ghoul wall. Vision cleared— atop low hill, necromancer puppeteering ghouls.
Hero launched without pause. Necromancer poured dark mana desperately. Two guards by him moved—far smoother than ghouls. Mana-boosted elites.
Corpse giant approached rear. Horde surged. No retreat now.
Ji-hyuk pressed. Kayak beast-leaped at charging elite ghoul. Giant fist plummeted to crush hero. Ji-hyuk sidestepped easy, aerial-twisted to bisect elite with holy sword. —!!
Then charged necromancer. Already at nose-close. Ji-hyuk saw rot-eaten face, swung hard for instant kill.
Clang—sword rebounded off something solid. Necromancer grinned wicked, fangs bared. You dare?
...Laughing?
Ji-hyuk's face hardened. Sword whipped behind back. Stance lowered, body leaned—holy sword flashed like light. —————!!!!
Sword pointed skyward. Dark barrier shattered in one strike. Necromancer's body diagonally cleaved.
"A, aaaaaaaaagh—!!"
Scream pierced. Ji-hyuk moved to crush skull—but something shot at his face. He twisted back, dodged.
Severed arm sprouted freakishly huge limb—monster-like, not human.
"Kuhhuhu, uhehehehe...!"
Fiendish dark mana—demon-contracted arm, clearly.
Enormous arm twisted grotesque, chased relentlessly to kill.
"You fucker, you're done...!"
Necromancer glared bloodshot, voice eerie.
Suddenly, arm grabbed his head, yanked clean off. Skull pulped like rotten melon in fist. —!!!
New head sprouted from neck—demon.
- Ehehehehehehehe
It seized the necromancer's body fast. Ji-hyuk cracked neck.
...Came for necromancer, ended up with demon.
Around it, land turned death-zone. And upon this earth, a demon descended.
Kevola, demon of corpses.