Chapter 58
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Ghoul and Flesh Mass (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Tell me more details.”
Count Chester urged.
So I explained my plan.
“I plan to move at night with a small group of soldiers. We'll target only the places where collaborators are, then capture them as quietly as possible.”
Handling things stealthily under the cover of night.
That was the plan I'd come up with.
But Count Chester didn't seem pleased with my strategy.
“Too troublesome. And it seems like it would take time.”
“Still, we can wrap it up in just a few days. Plus, this way minimizes damage to our own forces.”
“Hm...”
Count Chester pondered for a moment.
Then he offered a new idea.
“It might be better to deploy a large force in broad daylight and get it over with quickly.”
“If the collaborators realize we're targeting them, they might turn into monsters and go on a rampage. That could harm civilians. And...”
I paused, swallowing to wet my throat.
Then I continued.
“We don't know what tricks the collaborators might have prepared. If we keep cornering desperate people, they could resort to extreme measures to escape the crisis.”
“It doesn't matter.”
An utterly unexpected response.
I was at a loss for words.
But regardless, Count Chester continued calmly.
“Even if civilians get hurt, it'll mostly be refugees rather than residents. We can afford that.”
Refugees often lived in tents since they had no homes.
So if Eremus collaborators rampaged, they'd naturally suffer more than the locals.
“Heros, think coldly. Rather than trying to save as many as possible, we should choose the option that brings us the most benefit.”
“If we follow your decision, Count Chester, what benefits do we gain?”
I asked because I genuinely couldn't think of any.
His answer came right away.
“Let's assume we go with your plan. What do we end up with? Slightly improved public order, that's it. But if someone spots us arresting collaborators, rumors will spread that Count Chester is rounding up civilians.”
Isn't that a stretch?
I thought so, but Count Chester pressed on.
“Besides, doing things secretly at night makes it hard for people to grasp the truth. They won't even feel enmity toward the dark mages. So we need to show everyone. Who’s targeting this city. For that, it's better if the collaborators rampage.”
“You're trying to stir up hatred against the dark mages. Are you preparing for war?”
When I asked, Count Chester nodded.
“As you said, the Eastern Branch Leader will likely attack soon. Probably a large-scale raid, right?”
“Yes. High chance they'll bring an undead army.”
“Exactly. When that happens, we'll need the people's help. Better they burn with hatred for dark mages than cower in fear.”
Count Chester seemed to be gearing up for war.
A strategy laid for the future.
‘Or maybe he's using this to cull the population.’
The city was saturated with refugees.
Even if some died in the ghouls' rampage, Count Chester wouldn't care.
There were plenty of people anyway.
And if some fled in fear, he'd see it as a good outcome.
“For the common folk? Fine. But you can't become a ruler by always making those choices. Remember that.”
As I stayed silent, Count Chester offered advice.
It wasn't particularly helpful, but with our status difference, I had no choice but to agree positively.
Refusing would just sour relations.
“Good. Now let's flesh out the plan I've devised.”
Confirming my reaction, Count Chester met my eyes directly.
We decided to start the purge from the outside.
I'd handle the refugees beyond the palisade first, with the troops Count Chester provided, picking out only collaborators.
Then?
Enter the palisade and repeat.
Once done, move inside the city walls and do the same.
‘Bittersweet.’
After the meeting ended.
I returned to my room thinking that.
I recounted the conversation with Count Chester to Bear and Connel.
Bear let out a sigh.
“It's simple and quick, but not a choice befitting someone ruling a city. To make that decision knowing innocent sacrifices will occur...”
Bear clearly disapproved of Count Chester's choice.
His face was full of dissatisfaction.
Connel thought differently.
“Regrettable about the innocents, but it will definitely strengthen internal unity. The Count made the best choice in the worst situation.”
Connel approved of Count Chester.
Bear stared at him in shock.
“Connel! How can you say that...!”
“There's no way to make everyone happy. So we should grab as much benefit as possible.”
“I agree we can't make everyone happy, but we should still try.”
“Hard to agree. Clinging to impossible goals isn't my style.”
Bear and Connel glared at each other.
They were similar yet different.
That's why these arguments happened occasionally.
Normally I'd wait for them to stop, but not now.
This debate stemmed from Count Chester's decision.
I hated feeling manipulated by him.
“Calm down, both of you.”
At my mediation, Bear and Connel stopped immediately.
I looked at them and shared what I'd realized.
“I've thought it over, and people need power. That's how you enforce your will.”
If I were a great, famous mage like Master, could Count Chester have forced his opinion?
No, he'd have deferred to me as much as possible.
‘Still a long way to go.’
Terrence, an Eremus executive, and the troll he'd summoned.
Suddenly I wondered if I'd gotten arrogant after beating them.
I was just one mage.
To leave a mark on this world, I needed to strive harder.
“So let's keep pushing forward. To get stronger.”
I said, looking at Bear and Connel in turn.
They met my eyes with fierce determination and replied vigorously.
The next day.
I joined Count Chester's forces.
Twelve knights and sixty soldiers.
That was his support.
But only one knight was directly under the Count.
The rest came from various affiliations.
‘Troops he squeezed from the nobles sheltering in his castle.’
The nobles who'd fled to Chester Castle.
They were holed up, just eating rations.
So the Count probably pressured them to earn their keep.
Fine by me.
More troops were better.
One surprise: three priests from the castle volunteered to join.
They wouldn't fight directly but handled emergency treatment for the wounded.
Like field medics.
‘Total forces: one mage, three priests, fifteen knights, seventy-two soldiers?’
Me, the mage.
Gilbert, Bear, Connel.
Plus twelve able-bodied men from Rabbit Farm.
That was my contingent.
‘The able-bodied men are better than average soldiers.’
Why I called them.
Their skills were solid.
They'd gained plenty of combat experience on the way here.
Perfect for this situation.
Plus...
‘Can't let them idle. The Count's watching.’
The able-bodied men and kids.
They survived on the Count's food rations.
Time to step up when needed.
‘Surprisingly obedient.’
When fetching them, I expected complaints.
But no.
When I said I needed help, they accepted without hesitation.
Grabbed weapons and armor.
Unexpected.
I mentioned it to Bear and Connel.
“You saved their lives, Heros. And brought them food and to the city. Loyalty's natural.”
Bear cited loyalty.
“They figured following your orders pays off. You always reward completion fairly. They expect the same this time.”
Connel blamed human greed.
‘Both have points.’
Couldn't pick one.
Maybe both right.
As long as they followed well, their motives didn't matter.
“Heros. Shall we begin?”
As I mulled over the men contentedly.
A middle-aged knight approached.
His name: Godfrey.
City guard captain, Count Chester's close aide.
The only one from the Count's house among the support.
“Yes. Please take care of it.”
I replied to Godfrey.
The Count's troops were under his command, not mine.
Couldn't hand command to an outsider.
Fine by me.
I wasn't responsible.
If the plan failed, the Count couldn't blame me or my group easily.
“No need to push hard. Prioritize protecting me.”
I told the burly trio and able-bodied men.
Count Chester said pick options for max benefit.
I planned the same.
Minimize my losses, grab what I can.
‘Pursue my own gains too.’
As I resolved that, Godfrey asked.
“Who do we grab?”
I looked ahead.
Refugees waiting by the palisade, shouting for city entry.
Terror on their faces as they watched us.
Meeting their eyes felt bad, but unavoidable.
Had to do my part.
“See them? Man with facial scar. Him, and the woman over there. Skinny one.”
I pointed at those with detectable mana.
Godfrey confirmed, ordered soldiers to seize them.
Then.
“We're made! Everyone run!”
The first man I targeted.
He yelled around.
His body began changing immediately.
Growing taller, limbs elongating.
“Kyaaah!”
“A person's turning into a monster!”
“Oh, God of the Heavens...”
The transformation shocked them?
Terrified refugees screamed, fleeing everywhere.
But knights and soldiers held steady.
Clear visual distinction between friend and foe.
“Keeaaak!”
The ghouls that collaborators became.
They fled instead of fighting.
But couldn't shake the knights.
Slash!
Sword swings echoed everywhere.
Eremus collaborators fell one by one to knights' attacks.
Overwhelming advantage.
Maybe why some collaborators tried slipping into refugee crowds without transforming.
But they failed too.
Because of me.
“That one.”
A man pretending not to be a collaborator.
I pointed; soldiers advanced.
Realizing he was caught, he transformed late but couldn't dodge spears.
Pierce!
Over ten spears turned the ghoul into a pincushion.
He collapsed forward without counterattacking.
Similar scenes everywhere.
‘Gruesome.’
The massacre before me.
I didn't look away.
This resulted from my choice.
Couldn't ignore it.
Regardless of my feelings, the purge went smoothly.
Ten eliminated outside the palisade, then seventy inside.
Entered city walls, repeating the process...
An anomaly occurred.
An enemy holding off a knight appeared.
“That one's probably a former knight.”
Bear observed the evenly matched foe.
If Bear rated him so, he was no amateur. Real skill.
Plus, his mana was the most I'd sensed in city collaborators.
Even more than the werewolf bramble knight.
But even he couldn't beat numbers alone.
“Connel! We'll help!”
“Let's end this quick.”
Two allied knights joined.
Suddenly facing three, the man was pushed back, gutted by an attack.
Death closing in.
“I won't die alone!”
He shouted, tearing parchment from his bosom.
Then.
Boom!
Immense mana burst outward.
Only I felt the ripple here.
‘What?’
As I panicked.
The mana converged back on him, amplified—drawing ambient mana too.
Soon, horror unfolded.
Nearby collaborator corpses flew toward him.
‘What magic is this?’
Not just close ones—even from outside the palisade, soaring to join.
The massive flesh mass grew.
Using Eremus collaborators as material.
As I thought that, a living collaborator was dragged in alive.
“Nooooo!”
He clawed the ground desperately but left ten furrows and vanished into the mass.
‘Attack while defenseless.’
I watched, but time passed; the mass shaped into humanoid form.
If Godfrey hadn't stopped me, I'd have magicked it already.
“We'll handle it.”
Godfrey blocked my involvement.
He and twelve knights.
Facing the monster with just them.
Greed in their eyes.
Slay the powerful beast for merit, boost their status.
“Yes. I'll cheer you on.”
I nodded.
But stayed alert.
Bad feeling.
If things went south, I'd ignore Godfrey and intervene.
“Charge—!”
Godfrey raised his sword and yelled.
Knights rushed the flesh mass.
Then.
“Gahk!”
The lead knight flew back, struck by something.
The mass, now troll-sized, had swung a huge fist.
Thud!
The flesh mass slowly rose.
A memory resurfaced.
Right, I'd seen such a monster before.
Just... this one seemed overwhelmingly stronger than that past one.
Hard to believe same type.
Not a baby... Flesh Golem.
That was the massive flesh mass's true nature.
End