Departure and Target
“Are you ready?”
“I’m ready.”
“Have you shared the direction we’re heading?”
“I’ve shared it.”
“Have you replenished your energy and stamina?”
“Yes, more than enough.”
“Have you checked your equipment?”
“Yes, I’ve checked it.”
“Did you confirm that you haven’t forgotten anything?”
“I’ve confirmed it~.”
“Good. Now head outside, climb the wall, and start moving. I’ll lock up and report to the knights before joining you. Now, go!”
Two days after accepting the subjugation request, the morning arrived. Last night, through the Knight Commander, I received the King’s acceptance of our request. I was told that I could use the materials as I pleased, but any financial matters should be reported through the Knight Commander. With the sun rising and people beginning their daily activities, we decided to set out. It would be troublesome for the knights if we started moving in the evening, and more importantly, nocturnal monsters become active at night, making it a hassle to deal with them. Thus, we chose to move out in the morning.
By the way, the earlier confirmation routine is something we always do. Before moving from one town to another, we check for any forgotten items or anything left behind. Initially, I did this alone, and then Fana joined me, which is why it has become a habit. I thought we could skip it, but Fana insisted that she wouldn’t feel ready for a long-distance journey without it, and the others expressed their desire to do it as well, so we went through with it.
“Well then, I’m off.”
“Yes! May fortune favor you!”
“Yeah. You all do your best too.”
“Yes!!!”
With that, I sent Fana and the others ahead in the direction of our target while I locked up the house and greeted the knights stationed in the watchtower atop the wall before following after them. Entering and exiting via the wall had become accepted; during my time as a Hero, I would often bypass the gates and head directly to the Royal Castle over the walls, so it felt somewhat nostalgic.
Apparently, we are among the few humans who traverse the walls like this. Normally, even in a hurry, people wouldn’t cross the walls, and only a handful of superhumans can leap down from the top without injury, making them memorable.
For some reason, the knights hold me in very high regard. I suspect it’s due to our shared experiences on the battlefield, but I’ve heard from the Knight Commander that I’m seen as an object of admiration, a goal, or even a mentor in their hearts. When I happened to shake hands with a knight passing by, he exclaimed that he would never wash that hand again, which makes me think there’s some truth to it… but why?
Well, putting that aside, I decided to chase after them. From what I could see from the top of the wall, they seemed to have moved to a place where they wouldn’t be easily spotted. However, I knew the destination and had already plotted the course, so I ran, confident I would catch up.
As for our target, the disaster-designated Beastman village was located approximately seven hundred kilometers in a straight line from the Royal Castle. It would typically take about ten days to walk there, but given our speed, we could reach it in just under five days, even with a leisurely pace.
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“Oh, by the way. I don’t know anything about that guy.”
“…What? I didn’t tell you?”
“No, you didn’t.”
“I thought I did. My bad.”
“No problem, just tell me now.”
“Alright.”
Thus, we successfully regrouped, and as we walked, Fon, who remembered the route, led the way, followed by Stella. Ruru walked behind them, and Fana stayed close to assist Ruru if she got tired. As we walked, Rio spoke up.
“The target this time is a Dead Eater, a type of Undead. Broadly speaking, it’s a kind of Undead, similar to Liches and Necrosis. However, the original body wasn’t resurrected from a corpse.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yeah. It’s actually alive; it’s classified as Undead because it has the ability to manipulate corpses.”
“…But there were no Undead when they attacked the village?”
“…Is that so?”
“Yeah. The monsters that attacked were mostly the usual types. I did see some Demon Race members, but no Undead.”
“Hmm… that’s strange. It should be living off the remains of the creatures it devours and using them as Undead. Didn’t you see any Skeletons or Wraiths?”
“Only until they were about to escape, but I didn’t see any.”
“Hmm…”
…Did the observers mistake what they saw, or were they a different type that looked similar? Or perhaps they evolved with some special ability? At the very least, I was glad to hear this; I had been preparing for a typical giant Dead Eater. If it wasn’t using Undead or wasn’t trying to, then its individual strength would be abnormal. If it was using Undead but they didn’t appear as such, then it could be a Spirit-type Undead or a Shapeshifter-type Undead.
If it were a Spirit-type, I could deal with it easily; it would dissipate with a hit. However, if it were a Shapeshifter, fighting in a group would be troublesome. I could determine whether something was real or fake at a glance, but in the heat of battle, I would need time to reassess my recognition, which could lead to confusion or even friendly fire.
“…As for the strategy, we’ll decide once we arrive, but if it’s using Undead, it might be better for me to fight alone.”
“…Is it that troublesome?”
“Only if it’s using Shapeshifters as Undead. If it’s a standard type, I wouldn’t worry too much, but considering it has grown to the level of a disaster designation, it’s worth considering the possibility that it could be controlling various Undead.”
“I see… Is there a chance it’s hiding the Undead?”
“Yes. I’ve killed individuals that could store and expel Undead from their bodies several times, and I’ve seen Undead crawl out of a swollen belly right after killing the host.”
“Hmm… Have you fought them before?”
“I have. A few times, actually. I remember incinerating a pack of them and dragging them down to the depths.”
“Wow.”
Well, they weren’t easy opponents. Some of them would only prey on children and flaunt the Undead they created, while others would turn one half of a couple into Undead and make the other half carry their severed head. Usually, when we encountered such things, Fana would charge in and crush them, so I never got the chance to observe their ecology or combat methods. I never had the desire to do so either.
…Well, it’s not something worth discussing.
“By the way, does it have a name?”
“The target?”
“Yeah. I’ve heard that creatures that become abnormally strong, like disaster-designated ones, often have names that surface.”
“Ah, that’s true.”
“Then what’s its name?”
“I believe it was ‘Desecrated Crypt, Gugi.’ That’s what was written on the paper that summarized its location… Ah, here it is.”
“Wow, it really is… Alright, I’ll remember it.”
“You don’t need to remember it.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s just an enemy we’ll kill soon. Knowing its actions and fighting style is fine, but putting in the effort to remember is a waste. It’s far more meaningful to recall enjoyable or interesting memories instead.”
“…I see?”
“Yeah. In reality, I only remember enough to recall if prompted, and for the lesser ones, I just think, ‘Oh, there was something like that,’ and nothing more.”
“Then I won’t remember it.”
“That’s the way to live easier.”
Remembering what I’ve killed and how many times I’ve killed them is something only a saint who leaves their name in history should do. Only those who are deeply compassionate towards other lives or can respect everything other than themselves can manage to remember such things. And even if they do, they’ll eventually crumble under the weight of those memories.
…At least for me, it’s impossible. No matter what, I fight for my own sake, so I can’t become that noble of a person. If I could, I would still be a Hero, continuing to fight against the Demon King’s Army Executives.
“By the way, that’s a rather ominous name.”
“Is it?”
“Yeah. Leaving aside ‘Desecrated’ and ‘Crypt,’ ‘Gugi’ is a rather ominous name. It’s the name of a monster from a story or fairy tale my mother told me, one that drove Beastmen to the brink of extinction before the age of weapons.”
“…Oh?”
“And just before it was about to die, a Beastman picked up a fallen sword and stood against it, ultimately seizing the glory of victory and the future of the Beastmen. That’s how the story ended. That’s why Beastmen in this era use weapons and armor, or so my mother said.”
“…I see. By the way, how was that story passed down?”
“My mother said it was taught through generations. It’s been forgotten for so long that she’s the only one who remembers it.”
“…I see.”
…I can’t help but think this is more than coincidence. Why would there be the luxury to name a being capable of destroying the world and to accept such a name without question? Why would they accept it as a fact without any doubt? If it was a name prepared by a few humans, how could they so easily accept it as a unique name?
…I don’t understand. I don’t understand, but it seems to be influenced by something. I suspect it’s not the work of Angels but rather of God… Ouch. Ah, I can’t think too deeply; it gives me a headache. At the very least, it seems to be influenced by something, and when I try to think deeply about it, my head starts to hurt…
For now, I’ll think about it after everything is over. It wouldn’t even be a funny story if I ended up failing and nearly dying because I was lost in thought. So, I’ll save my thoughts for after we finish everything. It bothers me, and I don’t like it, but I don’t have the power to dispel this presumed divine influence.
“Hmm… That fairy tale, do you remember it?”
“Yeah, I remember. I asked my mother to read it to me many times before bed.”
“I see… It might be useful. Can you tell me?”
“Sure.”
“Then, I’ll rely on you.”
“Okay. I think it starts with…”
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Understanding this is an interference case.