Respite in the Buried City
It had grown from a small village into something the size of a proper city. More buildings, more fields. The underground space I'd visited after so long had changed dramatically. The ceiling loomed dizzyingly high. Meticulous engineering and magical reinforcements ensured it wouldn't collapse. The simple rectangular structures remained unchanged.
"Grand Duke. Everyone's entered safely."
Allen approached from a few steps away from the slide. The knights stood ready in formation.
"Good."
I stood from the end of the slide, brushing lightly at my backside. Scardi stood beside me.
"Everyone, good work. Don't get too relaxed yet, but get some solid rest. Looks like we're finally getting a vacation after all these years."
The knights chuckled softly. After decades of fighting, their first break like this felt bittersweet, it seemed. I felt the same. No magic beasts to battle—it was relaxing, yet somehow off. A mix of emotions, no doubt.
"It's not the vacation any of us wanted, but rest up today. Sleep as much as you want, no worrying about beasts."
"Yes, Grand Duke!"
The knights roared in unison. Allen was among them. Deep underground, far from the beasts, their voices wouldn't draw any trouble.
"Alright. Head to the barracks and rest. Dismissed."
Most of the knights had been conscripted from elsewhere. A few hailed from this frontline, but the majority came from below. That's why they needed barracks.
"I'll guide you to the barracks. Luis will show you to your room, Grand Duke."
Allen beckoned a man standing off at a distance. Luis, the 26-year-old chief administrator. Married too young at 15, with a 10-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son. And his wife was one of the top milfs in the North.
"Yes, Grand Duke. I'll escort you."
The young man approached, sweating profusely. Even as chief administrator, he seemed overly timid, glancing around nervously.
"Lead on."
I walked through the city with Scardi. The roads were clean, and lights mounted along the outer walls illuminated everything warmly, like sunlight. Underground, light was paramount. That's why we'd prioritized it. Without it, people grew depressed and withered away fast.
"Grand Duke!"
"Your Grace! Thank goodness you're safe."
People we passed greeted us effusively, their eyes and voices brimming with goodwill. I paused, and soon a crowd gathered. More watched from afar. Time to say something.
"Everyone's working hard. It's cramped, I know, but living won't be tough, so hang in there."
"Oh, no, sir! Would any trash in the North forget your grace, even if we starved?"
A woman with a child on her hip shouted. She was quite pretty. Not just her—the surrounding men and women all cleared the baseline for handsome and beautiful. Life in this harsh place had honed their features sharp, without an ounce of fat.
"Thanks. I'm grateful for your hard work. Everyone, back to your posts."
I infused mana into my voice, letting it echo through the cavern. It carried without being shouty.
"This way, please."
As the crowd dispersed, Luis took the lead again. About 30 minutes later...
"Here we are, Grand Duke. It's nothing compared to the manor you sent ahead—I'm ashamed."
Luis stopped before a one-story house made of packed earth, tucked in a corner of the underground city.
"Ashamed? You did good work."
I clapped his shoulder and stepped inside. The door, too, was packed earth—solid and thick, almost stone-like in texture.
Not bad at all?
The space was spacious. Simple belongings sent ahead by the servants were neatly arranged. Even the wardrobe from the manor was there.
"How'd they move something that heavy?"
"The magicians handled transport. They took care, so no damage."
"Gonna have to reward them later."
"Hearing that will thrill them. Rest well, then."
Luis slipped out the door promptly. Suddenly, Scardi and I were alone in the house.
"They brought furniture from the previous Grand Duke."
Scardi murmured, eyeing the wardrobe. Black with blue accents, it was old but sturdy. The late Grand Duke had made it himself. I'd said the wardrobe wasn't essential—leave it—but they'd brought it anyway...
"Yeah. They really went all out."
Strange feeling. Hard to put into words, so I stayed quiet.
"Grand Duke, I'll head out now. My room's nearby—call if you need anything."
"Hold on."
I caught Scardi's waist as she read the mood and tried to leave. We'd lived under the same roof anyway. No reason to separate now, and I didn't want to.
"Grand Duke...?"
Scardi's eyes widened. Her gaze trembled as she looked up, cheeks flushing.
"Let's live together here. If you don't want to, go back home. What do you say?"
No forcing it. She'd obey an order, but I wanted her to choose.
If not, she wasn't ready yet.
"...Yes, Grand Duke. I'd like that."
Fortunately, she nodded with a shy smile. No reluctance.
"Gotta move your stuff, then. I'll help—let's go."
"Yes, Grand Duke."
Arm around her waist, I headed out. My unpacking could wait.
"Grand Duke. Time to get up."
In the dim predawn gloom, Scardi gently shook my shoulder. We'd shared the bed. Memories of last night's vigorous "exercise" to adjust to the unfamiliar bed flooded back.
"Mm...? Dawn already?"
"The sun's rising. Beasts will appear soon."
Scardi mumbled sleepily. She must be exhausted too.
The outer wall lights were set to sync with surface light: bright by day, soft moonlight by night.
I sat up slowly, looking around. A ceiling lamp flickered on, banishing the dark—Scardi's magic.
"Not tired?"
"A little. But... your love has me brimming with energy."
She blushed but said her piece. Good to hear.
"Alright. Let's get ready and head out."
Despite the sweat and fluids from last night, my body felt clean. No lingering scent. Scardi must've cleaned up with magic when she woke first. Refreshed, I changed clothes. She did too.
Oh...?
Just watching her slip into her bare skin made last night's familiar outfit look new. The novelty of her changing here, maybe? Anyway.
Our destination was a detached three-story building, much larger than my house but smaller than the barracks. The magicians' hub.
"Grand Duke, you're here? Captain too."
Just inside, up the stairs, a robed man walking the hall greeted us. Straight out of a fantasy tale, classic wizard look.
"Yes. How's remote viewing?"
Scardi's eyes sharpened, voice steady. Hard to believe this was the woman who'd moaned lewdly in my arms.
"All clear. Northern frontline and nearby areas fine. Other territories report the same."
"Excellent. Can we head to the viewing room?"
"Of course. Right this way."
We followed him down the hall. Gray stone texture everywhere—like walking a school corridor.
He brushed a stone door lightly. Strange patterns glowed on the gray surface, and it thudded open. Noisy but imposing.
And inside? Far more grand than mere stone.
Monitor room?
The vast wall crammed with screens. Tables before them. Magicians at the tables adjusting views—it was too modern.
Northern frontline roads I couldn't leave behind. Roads outside frontline territories, and more.
"Grand Duke."
The magicians turned calmly. We'd announced our arrival.
"Good work, everyone. Frontline status?"
"Dawn's breaking—beasts incoming soon. Marking the side wall."
A central magician pointed to a blank wall. Blue light gathered at his fingertip, flying to embed in the stone. Ripples spread, birthing a screen: the Northern Frontline Wall.
"Peaceful so far."
I crossed my arms, hanging back. No EM radiation, but staring close might hurt my eyes. Hard to see the big picture up close.
"Grand Duke, sit. Standing the whole time will tire you."
Scardi offered chairs from her hands. When'd she grab those?
"Thanks."
I sat meekly. Scardi conjured a chair from the floor with a gesture and sat beside me. Magic never ceased to amaze.
Here they come.
Minutes later, the overhead wall view shifted. White bulls—Crete—and white lions—Nemean—swarming in hordes, crystal clear.
Gulp.
The magicians' swallows echoed sharply. They were tense too.
Would these beasts politely pass through the open gates? Or smash everything?
Answers soon, as they slammed the wall.
"Gr-Grand Duke."
A magician's voice trembled beside me.
"Yeah. I see it."
Lions scaled the walls. Bulls rammed, crumbling sections, charging madly. Gaps formed—they funneled through, open gates included.
Knew it was coming, but watching it crumble is suffocating. Repair costs...?
The beasts charged in organized lines, suffocating to watch. Disciplined. Bloodshot eyes fixed ahead, but the coordination chilled deeper.
Those over the walls sprinted wildly before slowing, sniffing. They nudged scattered beast corpses here and there. Houses, forges, barracks—ignored entirely, like mere rubble.
"No hostility toward civilization."
"Not reacting blindly to blood and flesh. We knew, but seeing it live..."
"Their momentum's fading. Learning the entrances are narrow."
Magicians muttered dazedly, pulling out pens and notebooks to record. That researcher zeal was reassuring yet unnerving. Scardi just sparkled with interest, no mania. Her restraint was a relief.
Targeting humans only, huh?
The inner city filled instantly. Thousands turning to tens of thousands crammed in naturally. Packed tight, beasts grimaced, mouths agape in pained roars. No sound, but it was petty complaining.
The front-runners burst out the gates—pushed, really. Fierce influx, but leaders' momentum died, like waves soaking into sand.
As expected.
"Sniffing around?"
"Seems like. Need more time to confirm."
"Same here."
I nodded, chatting with the magicians.
Just minutes since entry—too soon for conclusions.
"Tough duty, but set rotations to monitor. Log anything suspicious. Call if big changes."
"Yes, Grand Duke."
"Thanks."
Conversation done, eyes back to the screens. Right on cue, frontline beasts gaped wide.