Monster Subjugation (2)
I was riding piggyback on Grandpa Carlo as we moved along the mountain path for the monster subjugation. All because of Grandpa Carlo's stubbornness! Even though my mind is that of an adult!! With over a hundred Holy Knights watching!! Hey! You there! The one who looked at Grandpa Carlo and thought, 'Damn, I'm so jealous of that old bastard I could die.' I memorized your face!
“Do we really have to travel like this? The other knights are either riding horses or walking.”
“I’m doing this because I’m worried your legs might hurt if we take too long.”
“It’s embarrassing, so please put me down.”
“Hehe, if you dislike the piggyback ride, how about being carried like a princess? That would actually be more comfortable.”
That’s right. On the mountain trail heading out to subjugate monsters, I was being carried piggyback by Grandpa Carlo. All thanks to his stubbornness! Even though I have the mind of an adult!! In front of more than a hundred Holy Knights!!
“I hate that even more.”
“Then I suppose there’s no helping it.”
My body was comfortable, but my heart wasn’t. Those warm, doting gazes were incredibly burdensome.
“By the way, what do you think of the clothes this old man gave you as a gift?”
“I… I like them.”
In truth, I didn’t really like them. He must have bought them thinking of me, but since I couldn’t act like a real child and say I hated them or refused to wear them, I just said I liked them. To be more precise, I didn’t dislike the clothes themselves—I just hated that I had to wear them. The design itself was actually pretty nice.
It looked like a combat-adapted version of the nun’s habit I’d seen in my previous life. Instead of black, it was pure white with gold accents in various places. It was the kind of outfit that could be called battle priest attire. I wasn’t sure if battle priests even existed, but since Benedict had said he would fight on the front lines himself, it seemed plausible. After all, Benedict didn’t exactly look like a typical Holy Knight.
“I’m truly glad to hear that. Hehehe.”
Grandpa Carlo let out a satisfied laugh, apparently believing my words. Then, as if he had nothing more to say, he continued moving forward in silence while still carrying me piggyback. I didn’t say anything else either. These were all veterans, and I was a rookie, so it was necessary to maintain tension before battle.
The mountain path was quiet. They had said that monsters would appear as soon as we left the parish, but the scattered traces of battle we’d seen along the way suggested that Benedict and the Holy Front Knights had already cleared the area once.
Using the sound of the knights’ footsteps and the horses’ hooves as background music, we advanced a little further. The mountain’s appearance began to change. The trees full of green leaves gradually disappeared, replaced by blackened, burned trunks filling the surroundings. Although all the trees had burned down, new life was sprouting from the ground, suggesting there had been a wildfire here some time ago.
And then the downhill slope began. I instinctively felt that we weren’t far from our destination. As if to prove my intuition correct, Grandpa Carlo finally set me down from his back.
Finally!
“I pray you remain unharmed. This old man will go ahead to command the young ones, so let’s meet again after the subjugation is over.”
Having said that, Grandpa Carlo strode forward and gave several instructions to the person leading at the very front. I hadn’t noticed during morning preparations, but now that I looked, the face was familiar. The one in charge of training… I think his name was Hassad. The person who had somehow managed to get an autograph from me back at the Holy Front Knights’ barracks during my foolish decision last time. He had been incredibly happy about it.
The knight commander, Bout, was not participating in the subjugation. Someone had to stay behind to take responsibility and protect the parish with the remaining Holy Knights.
If Grandpa Carlo was at the very front and Bout was staying at the parish, then where was the vice-commander?
“Hehe. Greetings, Saintess Candidate. I’m finally introducing myself.”
The person who approached hesitantly and offered a belated greeting was the vice-commander. He was also the one assigned to be my escort for this subjugation. I wondered just how much he had been squeezed by the commander last time—he had been crying and begging with snot running down his face.
“Oh, hello. You’re the vice-commander, right? Nice to meet you.”
“Huk! You remembered me!! Please call me Jacob! Jacob!”
“Alright. You can call me Levia too.”
“Huuuuk!”
Ah, please. Ignoring Jacob’s exaggerated reaction, I greeted the others.
“Nice to meet all of you too. I’ll be in your care today. Sorry if I’m being a burden.”
“A burden? Not at all!”
“We will protect you with our lives so that not even a scratch appears on you!”
“It is an honor, Saintess Candidate.”
“C-can I get an autograph…”
“Thank you for saying that. You can all call me Levia. Please tell the other Holy Knights too. I hate being called Saintess Candidate.”
“Huk!”
“Huuuk!”
“Lady Levia, please give me an autograph!!”
After showing the same reaction as Jacob (except for the one asking for a signature), they began introducing themselves one by one. Including Jacob, there were ten people. Two women and eight men. Monad, Lapi, Cheto, Mila, Drax, Orei, Ramad, Naenka, Chunbong… Chunbong? Anyway, those were their names.
“Um, Lady Levia.”
While I was mentally repeating their names and faces, Jacob spoke up again.
“What?”
“Please… please be careful not to get hurt.”
“Don’t worry. If things get dangerous, I’ll stay as far back as possible so I don’t interfere with the battle.”
When the fighting starts, our position will be at the very rear. I had no intention of actually retreating, but saying this should ease their burden a little.
“Not even a single wound is acceptable. We could die.”
His worry seemed excessive. Well, I suppose it made sense. To anyone who didn’t know better, a monster subjugation sounded dangerous, and having what looked like a child participating would only heighten that perception. However, the worry Jacob had in mind was something else entirely.
“We will.”
“Huh?”
“If even a wound the size of a millet grain appears on Lady Levia’s body, we will die. By that damn old man’s hand.”
“...”
Ah… so that’s what he was worried about.
“If I get hurt, I can just heal it with divine power.”
“The fact that a ‘wound appeared’ is what matters.”
I wondered what kind of image Grandpa Carlo had among the Holy Front Knights.
“Do you perhaps remember? A few weeks ago, when the parish barrier was broken and the outer wall was breached by attackers.”
“I don’t remember.”
“We really thought we were going to die that day.”
“Were the attackers that strong?”
“No, I heard His Eminence the Cardinal took care of the attackers. The next day, we almost died at the hands of the old man.”
As if recalling that time, Jacob and the escort knights all trembled.
“It had been years since we last tasted hell.”
“Please spare us, please spare us, please spare us, please spare us, please spare us, please spare us.”
“It would be better to die fighting monsters…”
“...”
Maybe it was Grandpa Carlo who had turned these Holy Knights into lunatics? Even if not entirely, I had a feeling he was at least partially responsible.
“All troops, halt!!!! Tie the horses here! From now on, we move on foot!”
The monster subjugation force had already descended from the mountain. Not long after, a tall hill came into view. At its highest point stood a massive rock gradually eroding from weathering, and below it stretched a desolate wasteland resembling ruins. Traces of buildings suggested that people had once lived here long ago.
Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud!!!!
Suddenly, a sound that shook the earth rang out.
“Prepare for battle!! Prepare for battle!!!”
“Vanguard, charge forward and get ready! You bastards, move faster! Is this your first time facing Burnphallos?!”
“Mages, prepare bombardment!!!”
Those wearing heavy armor rushed forward, planting their shields and waiting. Those in lighter armor similar to Cheska’s began chanting spells. Holy Knights using magic? It seemed there was no rule that Holy Knights could only use cold weapons.
I had found it interesting yesterday when Grandpa Carlo explained the formation, but seeing it in person felt completely different. Perhaps this was the result of choosing a different path instead of divine power? After all, divine power could coexist with any force except for the opposing magi.
Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud!!!!!!!!!
The earth-shaking sound grew louder and louder.
“Vanguard, cast the holy law!”
Archbishop Carlo gave the order.
“Those who are not permitted. You shall not dare cross the wall under the name of God!”
The Holy Knights in the vanguard chanted their prayer. Then, walls made of light began to form in front of their shields.
Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud!!!!!!!!!!!
Finally, at the highest point of the hill, the monsters came into view. Correction. Calling them simply ‘monsters’ felt a bit insufficient. It would be more accurate to say a monster horde or monster legion.
The number of creatures charging down the hill at terrifying speed easily exceeded several hundred at a glance.
Burnphallos. My first thought of bison had been correct. But not entirely. Their appearance resembled bison, but they wore helmet-like coverings on their faces, and their fur was a vivid red. And above all… they were burning. Their horns were on fire.
Hundreds of them charging down with flaming horns looked like a wave of fire descending upon us.
Thump thump.
It was clearly a situation where I should be afraid. Monstrous creatures I had never seen before were rushing forward to trample everything. Yet strangely, instead of fear, a competitive spirit welled up inside me. Was it because my divine power, which I could use differently from others, was also stimulating my heart?
I wanted to fight. I wanted to become stronger. My entire body was itching with anticipation.
The Burnphallos drew closer and closer.
“Vanguard, prepare for impact!!! Rear rookies, prepare Holy Protection Barrier!”
At Grandpa Carlo’s shout—
The Burnphallos and the Holy Knights collided.