Chapter 68

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Translator: Ace

Chapter: 68

Chapter Title: The War That Never Came

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Everything always seems obvious in hindsight.

Thoughts that once felt utterly unshakable, convinced they'd never change, inevitably shift to "it was nothing after all" once time passes.

This incident was just like that.

By their own description, northerners. To civilized folk, northern barbarians.

A battle race said to live and die by combat, ignored by all as savages yet impossible to dismiss when it came to raw power.

The war they'd invade and start—something everyone assumed inevitable—hadn't happened at all.

Every sign had pointed toward conflict. Yet stepping back from that brink revealed it wasn't so clear-cut.

They had many shortcomings. Their martial might was formidable, but unity between tribes was perilously weak. Reports had also surfaced that a significant number of tribes opposed war altogether.

Having only ever commanded small forces on a tribal scale, they lacked experience handling large armies—a critical liability. Guesses abounded that supply lines for feeding such masses had faltered too.

Outwardly imposing, they lacked the substance to back it up. Internal dissent must have been fierce.

...Ian spun it that way, and it was true enough.

The off-the-cuff excuse he'd pieced together landed with surprising plausibility.

"I see. So that's how it was. Sharp insight indeed."

The emperor nodded in admiration. Ian bowed his head.

"You're too kind, Your Majesty. It was just a simple deduction."

"Simple, you say? Meaning all those ministers who swore war was coming couldn't even make an easy guess like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that—idiots, then?"

"Pardon? No, no, surely not!"

"Lord Ian, excessive humility can be its own poison. A truly impressive man recognizes his own talents. Don't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you agree, Chief Chamberlain?"

"Your Majesty's words ring true."

Chief Chamberlain Richard bowed in agreement. The other ministers nodded along. Ian was well aware many viewed him—a commoner mage with no noble roots—with disdain, yet even they concurred.

The fact struck Ian as profoundly awkward.

'Insight? What insight? I just patched something together.'

Honestly, there was nothing impressive about it.

It was merely reverse-engineering from the known outcome. What was so great about that?

Ian was certain anyone foreknowing no war would break out could fabricate similar reasons.

Of course, he couldn't say that outright.

"It was merely the guesswork of a humble mage. Please, cease your excessive praise."

"Can't do that. Rewards and punishments must be meted out clearly. I intend to properly reward you, Lord Ian."

The emperor stroked his chin thoughtfully, then shook his head.

"We'll discuss this later. Affairs of state pile up, and this meeting's dragged on. Dismissed."

The council ended there. Heading back to his office, Astheon sidled up, grinning slyly as he jabbed Ian's side.

"Hey, left hand. Nice one? Knew you were quick on the uptake. Heh."

"Pardon?"

"Keep it up. Got it?"

"Ah, yes."

Astheon sauntered off. Ian watched his retreating back, tilting his head.

'What?'

What had pleased him?

'He liked my excuse?'

Maybe, but that hardly seemed tied to quick wits.

'Stayed low-key and didn't showboat?'

He had kept quiet as a mouse, eager to get home. No words to add anyway.

Surely not that?

'Eh, whatever.'

Ian gave up puzzling it. The crown prince's mind was an enigma anyway.

'Gotta extract that devil soulstone soon.'

Ddol Ddoli had slain the devil; he wanted its soul. Problem was, no chance yet.

Warp-jumping via Ddol Ddoli risked backlash.

'Need to find an opening soon.'

Small mercy: they wouldn't torch the corpse right away.

No cremation customs among them.

'Tribal chief? Funeral director?'

They just dumped bodies, as far as he knew.

Devil corpses didn't rot easily—no worry it'd vanish.

'But birds pecking it? Could spawn monsters.'

Maybe the monster hordes in the far north stemmed from northern funeral rites.

The northerners' treatment of Ddol Ddoli was lavish beyond measure. Barely lifting a finger—sitting idle—they handled everything. How convenient?

It made sense why humans craved power, but that didn't make it good. Royal honors left Ddol Ddoli unmoved.

Ddol Ddoli didn't eat, expel waste, sleep eight hours daily, or indulge in revelry.

No need, no interest. Their fawning felt nice, but wasting time here pointlessly offered zero fulfillment.

'Ddoli bored sitting still. Want get strong. Want roam.'

Some might call aimless wandering without a home torment, but for Ddol Ddoli, it was joy.

No fatigue from endless marching, thus pure delight in vagabondage.

Ddol Ddoli knew the thrill of seeking the strong, the ecstasy of finding one, the rush of battle.

And more.

Roaming brought sights to savor: lush green forests, acrid dust of wastelands, splashing through swamp puddles, cool gorge rapids.

Meant for strengthening, yet Ddol Ddoli found unique pleasures within.

'Ddoli move now.'

Pretty long stay, all told. Time to go.

"Lord Karak, where to?"

-Ddoli go now.

"Pardon?"

-Stayed long. Time leave.

"You can't!"

"Abandon us not!"

Humans prostrated. But Ddol Ddoli was firm.

-Not abandoning. Life lived solo. Each go own way.

"Wh-what?!"

-Can't do nothing without Ddoli?

"......"

-Speak true. Want god? Or protector?

Humans' faces twisted complexly. Ddol Ddoli pressed on. Heart set, words flowed easy.

-Natural trust Karak. But don't expect bodyguard too. Life solo, as said.

"......"

-Ddoli same. Has master, but no babying. Ddoli always roamed alone. Because rock.

"......"

-You live so. Like rock. Trust others, don't lean. Grow own strength. Then you become great.

Ddol Ddoli turned. Steps toward leaving brought sobs.

"Ahh, Lord Karak!"

"We were fools, blind to your profound intent...!"

"Forgive wretched us! Sniff!"

They bowed repeatedly. Ddol Ddoli stone-faced, inwardly pleased. These likable humans weren't total dimwits.

-Meet again if paths cross. Ddoli go.

"Lord Karak! Whither do you head?"

Ddol Ddoli paused. Hadn't pondered that far.

'Master said strong monsters nearby.'

Per master, head further up this plain.

-Ddoli go up.

"Up...? North?"

-Yes. North has monsters. Ddoli go kill. Bye.

Thud! Thud!

Ddol Ddoli marched off. Volgrom stared blankly at the receding form, then muttered.

"A revelation."

"Pardon?"

"Lord Karak's revelation."

"Great Chieftain, what do you mean?"

"Don't you see? The true meaning in his words just now?"

"Well..."

"He showed our path forward. Northward."

"N-north? Nothing but tundra there..."

"Wrong. Look aside. Northwest—what's there?"

"Northwest... Frostboundary Woods?"

Frostboundary Woods.

A wild forest northwest of the northern plains, crawling with monsters.

Heading there? Why?

"Warriors! Truly blind? Lord Karak goes himself to purge those vile beasts—for us! The monsters who've slaughtered countless northerners!"

Warriors' eyes sharpened. No one missed it now.

"Said go own ways, yet he doesn't abandon us! Paves road for fools like us!"

"......"

"Warriors! Sit idle? No—we act, not rely!"

"Yes!"

"Exactly. Warriors."

Volgrom grinned broadly, relieved.

"Prepare to march. Slay the beasts who've ravaged us northerners."

"Woooah!"

"To war!"

"Kill ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the monsters!"

Cheers erupted. The grand army meant for the empire veered northwest.

Same moment. Arkbon perched on Necropolis battlements, gazing over the vast black wasteland.

Empty sockets seemed vacant stare, but no. He issued orders to subordinates busier than ever.

Via master's gift: 'Group Consciousness'.

This power revolutionized his legion, 'Immortal'.

Telepathic chat from afar streamlined command. No messenger drudgery.

Boosted combat power. His forces conquered swifter now.

Even now, warring at two fronts simultaneously.

-My king.

Mid-report, sudden voice turned him. Hooded staff-bearing skeleton: first retainer, Skeleton Mage Rotton.

-What.

-Executed king's order.

-Oh ho.

Arkbon's gaze shifted. He'd awaited this.

One directive: procure superior vessel for high-grade soul infusion.

-Guide now.

-Yes.

He descended. Low skeletons hauled a corpse.

Long-haired woman's. Mangled horribly, but irrelevant. Flesh meant nothing to undead.

Vessel quality trumped form.

Especially for intended mental entity.

-Set down.

-Yes.

Arkbon inspected slowly; Rotton elaborated.

-5th-circle black mage human female. Best we found. Suitable?

-Not bad.

Arkbon nodded pleased. Not thrilled, but passable.

-This vessel withstand devil soul. Good work.

-Thank you.

Arkbon checked: soul presence key.

'Soulless husk.'

No soul here. Likely demonic taint birthed wraith wandering wastes.

'Then.'

Arkbon extended hand indifferently. Power surged; black vapors from soulstone in left poured into corpse.

"Kyaaaaaaaack!"

Corpse shrieked horrifically, convulsing. Flesh began dissolving.

Burning away to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bare bone.

But Arkbon wasn't satisfied.

'Even bones crumble.'

More power. Purified Evil would shatter skeleton too.

Finally, white bones powdered into air.

From bone dust sprang a translucent woman.

-Mm...

The woman opened eyes.

-Wh-what... how...

-Awake?

-What happened? I was imprisoned...

Her face twisted in confusion. Clutching head, muttering nonstop. Watching, Arkbon stroked chin.

-Soul memories persist, it seems.

Intrigue lit Arkbon's gaze. First try for him—novelty inevitable.

'No matter.'

Ability mattered most.

This soul had power; it'd greatly aid the legion.

-Who you? Speak.

-I am Succubus Vespera. Direct retainer to Lord Beelzebub, subordinate taken by Sirmet. And I...

Vespera startled. Words spilled unbidden.

-Wh-why am I saying this...

Something wrong. Tried holding tongue—failed. Averted eyes from skull—stuck.

What sorcery?

-Your past life. Father's gift.

-Grrr! No! I am... kyak!

-Forget past life. Devil you were gone. Beelzebub no master now. Only Banshee Vespera exists.

Zing!

Intense glow from Arkbon's sockets. Meeting it, Vespera shuddered violently.

Moments later, her eyes glazed; she nodded.

-Understood, my king.

Irresistible force. She felt destiny rewritten, old self unreachable.