Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Skeleton Holy Knight (3)
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"What do you mean by that?"
Liana stepped out of the count's mansion.
The moment she emerged, she shouted at her subordinate.
"How did we lose track of our people?"
"Well... the team in question hasn't returned yet."
Three Holy Knights who had been out on reconnaissance still hadn't come back.
Liana closed her eyes at her subordinate's report.
It was late afternoon now.
Sunset was approaching, and early evening would soon follow.
The others who had gone out to gather information had already returned long ago.
But these three were still missing.
"It's not just them being delayed, is it? Missions don't always wrap up on a strict schedule."
She clung to the hope of a simple delay.
Missions could drag on if complications arose.
But if there had been any issues, they surely would have sent word through some channel.
"Did they mention anything specific?"
Her subordinate nodded slightly at her question.
"Ha..."
That much was reassuring, at least.
But the relief didn't last long.
"Just a moment ago, we got a letter. It's from the Adventurer's Guild..."
"Adventurer's Guild?"
She snatched the letter from her subordinate's pocket.
Tore it open and scanned the contents immediately.
"......"
The message was straightforward.
A brief rundown on the Sail Kingdom's situation, followed by their intent to investigate the mountains.
A simple map was enclosed, marking the dungeon they were heading to.
"This doesn't look good."
Putting it together, the three missing Holy Knights had sent this letter before ascending the mountains.
And now, several hours had passed since it arrived.
No word yet?
Definitely not a good sign.
"We'll figure it out on the move."
What they needed now was swift judgment and time.
Liana hopped into the carriage.
She was disguised as a merchant, her Holy Knights posing as adventurers escorting the caravan.
Hence, the carriage was nothing fancy.
"Move as fast as you can."
The carriage lurched forward.
Inside, as it rattled along, Liana clutched her head.
'Things have gotten messy.'
Even if temporary, she was currently the vice-captain of the Holy Knight Order.
She had even served as the captain's aide before that.
Her solid track record had earned the Church's trust, leading to this critical mission.
But failing to manage her knights and botch the mission?
Shed be relieved of duty, no question.
And it wouldnt end there.
'My position would be ruined.'
Shed grown up in the Church, lived in unwavering loyalty, blindly following its commands.
The Church was her life.
Yet this incident could unravel years of effort.
'I cant let that happen.'
Liana racked her brain, pondering how to turn this around.
By the time she surfaced from her thoughts, the carriage had reached their base.
It was filled with Holy Knights who had completed their tasks and returned.
But three were still unaccounted for—missing.
Now came the choice.
Search for the missing?
Or press on with the mission, leaving them behind?
Obviously, the latter from the start would be a blunder, sparking questions about her competence as vice-captain.
Only one real option.
'Find the missing first.'
At least they had left a clear trail.
If it had just been "heading to the mountains" without the map, she might have given up from the outset.
The range was vast.
Revealing their Holy Knight identities and full gear might work, but their current adventurer disguises were woefully inadequate.
That said, rushing off blindly wasnt wise either.
Every action needed justification, and even routine moves required weighing the gains.
Liana sank back into thought.
The three missing Holy Knights had headed to the mountains.
Their letter detailed the Sail Kingdom's current state.
Most striking: the royals had strictly banned entry to the mountains.
'What could it be?'
Liana fixated on the blockade.
Why seal off the mountains?
'Monsters?'
She shook her head.
If monsters, theyd call for extermination, not a ban.
Same for a monster wave.
Yet theyd barred adventurers too.
If monster-related, theyd leverage adventurers first.
But the royals hadnt.
As if hiding something they couldnt afford to expose.
'...Hiding?'
A spark ignited in her mind.
Puzzle pieces clicked into place.
It had seemed off from the start.
The mountains were vital terrain for Sail Kingdom.
Seal them off?
'If hiding something, what?'
Resources?
No.
Similar reasoning as monsters.
Then it hit her—a key puzzle piece.
What if the missing Holy Knights and priests truly tied to Sail Kingdom?
"......"
A chilling hypothesis.
Until now, it was just the Churchs claim to pressure Sail Kingdom.
But if true?
Sail Kingdom might be covering it up.
Chilling.
Yet she smirked faintly.
'This could be an opportunity.'
Her subordinates who climbed likely thought the same.
Simplified things.
If harm befell this mission team?
The Churchs voice would amplify.
Handle this right, and they could dismantle Sail Kingdom itself.
Thats what crossing the Church meant.
Truth didnt matter.
She held the key to the riddle.
Whatever the royals countered, strike first and end it.
Just hound them on the mountain ban.
The process would unravel all mysteries.
Decision made, action was swift.
"Everyone, assemble!"
Time to hunt the missing.
"When serving the Master, the next most important thing after loyalty is martial prowess."
Celia held up a finger as she spoke.
"If you lack the strength to protect the Master, youre useless."
"Exactly!"
Maru nodded firmly.
Hed learned much since arriving here.
Celia truly earned her role as head manager.
"Shall we test it in real combat? A group should be coming soon to find their missing comrades."
The three adventurers Celia had charmed.
In truth, they were Holy Knights infiltrating Sail Kingdom.
Knowing that, she predicted theyd come searching soon.
"But youre too vulnerable to holy power, Maru. Bad matchup against Holy Knights."
As an undead monster, Maru was a terrible counter to Holy Knights.
If he were 5-star, maybe, but at 4-star?
Even with a magic sword, a swarm of Holy Knights would overwhelm him.
"Dont worry, Ive got just the thing."
As if struck by inspiration, Celia summoned a nearby skeleton knight.
"Bring Death Knight over."
Darkness falls quickly in the mountains.
The early evening sunlight barely filters through the trees, casting long shadows as the forest begins to swallow itself in gloom.
And amid that encroaching dark, figures wandered the woods.
Church Holy Knights.
Sunbeams piercing the canopy glinted off their swords.
From afar, they looked like stars shining in the void.
"......"
Yet the forest was eerily silent.
Where birdsong, whispering winds, and chirping insects should fill the air, there was nothing.
The stillness bred deep unease.
Trees stood mute, as if hiding voices, and the knights felt unseen eyes, glancing about warily.
"Vice-captain, why not wait for dawn?"
In this pitch black, their movements were hampered.
Holy light could dispel nearby shadows, but little more.
The suggestion made sense.
Retreat now, return at first light.
Liana knew it too.
This wasnt ideal for operations.
"Well go as far as the marked spot on the map."
But obsession and urgency clouded her judgment.
Temporary or not, she led these Holy Knights as vice-captain.
Her word was law here.
They pressed on at her command.
Soon, they neared the marked location.
Time for the dungeon to appear.
They scoured the surroundings, advancing cautiously.
Moments later, something shattered the forests hush.
Clack-clack- clack-clack-
Bone impacts echoed from the dark, drawing nearer.
"Battle stations!"
Liana bellowed.
As they braced, faint light revealed shapes between the trees.
"Skeletons...?"
Gaunt bones clutched rusted swords, charging forth.
Not high-tier—just the lowest skeleton soldiers.
Five of them.
Tension evaporated instantly.
Some laughed at the foes; others sighed in relief.
"What? Just those puny things?"
Relief at 1-star monsters in this creepy place.
And the audacity of such weaklings challenging them? Laughable.
But Liana clicked her tongue softly.
"Not even the dungeon yet..."
Monsters outside dungeons? Sure, undead spawned naturally in death-tainted spots.
Not unusual.
But deep in these mountain woods?
'Coincidence?'
She scanned around.
No reason for skeletons here.
"Die!"
"Filthy undead blocking our path—erase them!"
Her knights charged the skeleton soldiers.
Normally, scout first, but these were pushovers, so they swung wildly in excitement.
All Holy Knights.
Holy power infused their blades, shattering skeletons in faint bursts of light.
But only briefly.
"Whoa? Why so many!"
Too many monsters.
Five at first.
Then ten more.
After clearing those, fifteen fresh ones.
"Tch."
Liana scowled.
Predictable.
These undead werent natural.
Some controller lurked nearby.
"Theyre toying with us."
Watching, gauging their response.
She drew her sword.
Channeling her irritation, she cried out.
"Goddess, grant your faithful servant the power to purify these unholy beings. [Holy Purification]!"
⟨ Holy Purification ⟩
Pure white light erupted from her blade.
It surged toward the skeleton soldiers.
A massive glow engulfed the forest.
As it faded, no skeletons remained.
"Form up and advance!"
Their position was compromised.
Retreating would just invite more losses.
Better to eliminate the threat head-on.
And undead? Manageable, even with subpar gear—for Holy Knights.
Liana and her knights proceeded slowly, swords ready.
No new monsters followed, thankfully.
'Is that it?'
If so, perfect.
The mountains atmosphere was off; spin it right, tie it to Sail Kingdom.
"Vice-captain! Something over there!"
A lead knight shouted.
Liana whipped her head toward it.
"!"
Shock hit her.
Not like the prior skeletons.
A pitch-black skeleton dark knight stood there.
But that wasnt the issue.
"Wh-what the...!"
Malevolent aura poured from its sword.
And its attire...
"...A maid outfit?"
A skeleton dark knight in a maid dress, wielding a demon sword in one hand.