Chapter 273 - Near the Medioland-Morandine Border ②
I had thought the Medioland army was retreating, but before my eyes was a swarm of Revenants. Had they been bypassed? If they were nearly unscathed, there were close to ten thousand.
"W-What is the meaning of this!"
"T-This is... I have no excuse. I do not know."
The King of Morandine shouted, but the black-clad priest only flustered, unable to grasp the situation.
Screams rose from the soldiers. Magic and arrows were fired even though no orders had been given.
The attacked Revenants began to advance toward the Morandine soldiers.
Heavy infantrymen holding shields attacked with hand spears, but the Revenants continued to advance with the spears still stuck in them.
When they thrust their spears deep to push them back, the weapons merely pierced through the bodies with a squelching sound, failing to stop their march.
Upon the walls of the passage that was supposed to drive back the Medioland army, the appearing Revenants attacked one after another.
"Guh! These things, what incredible strength..."
Revenants feel no pain, and the shackles of their reason have been removed. With strength that made it hard to believe they were once human, they grabbed the shields and attacked as if to crush them.
Everyone was wearing chain mail. What was targeted were their faces. Noses were bitten off, and the sound of neck bones being crushed by hands could be heard. The Revenants that raised their heads had their mouths stained with blood, and the corpses of the soldiers they had pushed down had cheekbones peeking through.
"Hieee!"
Even though they were veteran soldiers, they instinctively backed away from the gruesome sight. Some were vomiting up the contents of their stomachs.
The heavy infantry had been overpowered. These were not opponents that could be defeated with steel weapons.
Once one spot collapsed, they poured in from there one after another. In close-quarters combat, magic and arrows would only induce friendly fire.
Since they were not in a horizontal line, their formation fell into disarray as they retreated sluggishly. They had already penetrated inside the walls. In the confusion, those in the rear rushed to support, and brawls began here and there.
If they retreated, nearly ten thousand Revenants would attack the territory. They could not allow damage to their own country.
They retreated bit by bit, but that only made things worse. They were caught by the Revenants appearing in succession, and casualties continued to mount.
In a hurry, they sent a request for reinforcements to the three thousand soldiers who had been lying in wait near the border.
The entire standing army of eleven thousand of the Kingdom of Morandine would be gathered. If they could not repel them here, there was no telling how much damage would occur.
What was intended to drive the Medioland army to destruction had turned into a battle with the fate of the nation on the line.
"Holy magic! Use [Purification]! [Holy] is fine too! You may use all the scrolls, this is an emergency!"
Heavy infantry protected those with silver weapons, stopping them with attribute magic centered on ice or [Holy], and returning them to the earth with [Purification].
They managed to regroup somehow, but their numbers were simply too great. Since this was ostensibly a battle between humans, there were no Church priests. There was a limit to what could be done with mid-level holy magic alone.
In no time, their magical power was exhausted, and they had used up all the scrolls.
Because they were under the direct control of the King, there were high-level holy magic users unaffiliated with the Church as mercenaries, but there were too many enemies.
Even if they returned about twenty bodies to the earth at once, doing it twenty times would only account for four hundred. It was a drop on a hot stone. (T/N: 'A drop on a hot stone' is an idiom meaning an effort that is completely ineffective or a drop in the bucket.)
"Y-You! What do you intend to do!"
Even when the King shouted at the black-clad priest, since the man specialized in fire and lightning magic, he could not use them in a state where friend and foe were mixed. He could only fluster in a panic.
As they barely held on to avoid being swallowed by the swarm of corpses, one of the staff officers who had been commanding the front line came galloping on a horse.
"Your Majesty! There is an offer of cooperation from the Medioland army! They say they have multiple people who can use ultra-high-level holy magic, and many archers equipped with silver arrowheads. The Medioland army appears to be unscathed."
"W-What, is that true!"
He had thought that perhaps the Medioland army had already been destroyed, but it seemed everything had gone mad.
Everything had been seen through. It was extremely pathetic, but at this rate, his own army would be destroyed. Swallowing his pride, he decided to accept the rescue.
"T-That must not be. James is trying to tear a rift between Your Majesty and us."
The black-clad priest hurriedly tried to stop him.
"Shut up! In the first place, this is your blunder! A man who cannot even wipe his own tail should not speak clever words!"
"But, Your Majesty!"
He grabbed the reins of the King's horse and continued to cling to him.
Whose fault was it that things turned out this way!
If they did not receive reinforcements, the entire army would be destroyed. If that happened, Medioland, leading ten thousand soldiers, would take control of the entire land.
"Insolent fellow! Stand back!"
A royal guard whipped the man's hand.
The man endured it, but when he stumbled while trying to avoid the whip, he pulled the horse's reins he was holding too hard in the momentum. The neighing horse began to go wild, and the King was almost thrown off.
"You! What are you doing!"
The enraged King drew his silver sword and cut the man down then and there.
"D-Did I do it..."
Before the King's eyes were a lump of earth and a magic circle. It was probably for sending letters.
Even though he had acted in a fit of rage, he had destroyed an ultra-high-level magic user sent by the Ruined Town.
There was no turning back now.
"Your Majesty! Are you safe?"
The staff officers brought their horses close.
"U-Umu. It is no matter. However, it is as you see. I cut him down without thinking."
The staff officers exchanged glances with each other.
"With all due respect, Your Majesty. We were opposed to joining hands with such people who go against the teachings from the start. We only cooperated out of necessity because Engrio was in the background. The Revenants they manipulate include the soldiers and people of our country. Few know of it now, but it will eventually spread. At that time, what will the soldiers think when they know they will be manipulated like that even after death? Their scheme is a teaching of a ruined nation. Taking this opportunity, we should cut ties with Engrio, which joins hands with the Ruined Town, and ally with Medioland."
Where the staff officer pointed, there was a swarm of corpses attacking the screaming soldiers of the Morandine army.
Could a soldier who thought that his own family or acquaintances might be among the swarm of transformed figures swear loyalty to the King...
"I understand. I was wrong to fear Engrio. From now on, as you say, I shall ally with Medioland. I do not mind if some territory is plucked away because of this. I have finally woken up."
The staff officers, showing expressions of joy, immediately sent a messenger to request reinforcements from Medioland.
At the same time, they gave instructions to line up the wagons in the rear to make a simple camp and pull the entire army back to that point.
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In the Medioland army's camp, there was a mound of earth with a solidified footing in the middle.
Standing on top of it with his staff officers, James could see the bonfires of the Morandine army trying not to be swallowed by the swarm of corpses.
"This has turned out unexpectedly. I didn't think the moat we built along the inside of the earthworks would be this useful."
While there was still daylight, James and all those who served [Clump Sand] built the earthworks. And after the sun went down, they likewise all worked together to dig a moat inside the earthworks, and built a wall with [Glacio] on the inside of the moat so that the Revenants could not climb up. They had intended to drop the Revenants who crossed the earthworks into it as a preparation against the Morandine soldiers.
They had successfully lured them and dropped them into the moat, but their numbers were great. Out of necessity, they made it possible to crawl up in the direction the Morandine army would likely come from and guided them by attacking with archers. That was when the Morandine army arrived.
James himself performed magic detection while riding in a bowl that carried archers and was hidden by [Camouflage]. He detected the location of the black-clad person using [Necromancy] to manipulate the Revenants and returned them to the earth one after another with arrows with silver arrowheads.
By that time, the battle between the Revenant swarm and the Morandine army had already begun.
He had already defeated the practitioner. If the Morandine army had just watched the situation, they would not have continued to attack as a group. Because they fired arrows, cast magic, and launched clumsy attacks, the target of the Revenants had completely become the Morandine army.
It was exactly as planned. He watched for a while, but...
"However, James-sama. At this rate, the Morandine army might be wiped out."
It was as the staff officer said. The Morandine army seemed to have no means to counter the Revenants and was collapsing.
At this rate, the Morandine army would be destroyed, and many Revenants would be released into the wild. This would be a disaster-level calamity for the uninvolved populace. As James, such a thing was not what he desired. In the first place, he could not stand rumors being spread that Medioland had released ten thousand Revenants into the wild and caused great harm to Morandine. In a hurry, he deployed the bowl and secretly sent a messenger.
Fortunately, the Morandine army accepted the request for reinforcements and proposed that they would part ways with Engrio and establish friendly relations with Medioland from now on.
To his surprise, the King himself bowed his head.
James, seeing the letter sent via the magic circle, quickly flew the bowl, finished the meeting with the King of Morandine, and completed the consultation about repelling the Revenants together.
James turned to the person beside him.
"Gwyn. It's about time. Could you put the Priestesses in the bowl and support Morandine by casting [Purification] from the sky? After that, I'll create a blindfold with [Glacio], so please use [Ascension]. Of course, hide your presence, and make sure Morandine doesn't see through the [Flight Magic]."
"Understood. Don't worry. Also, I'm going with you."
"A-Ah. I'm counting on you."
Seeing Gwyn with sparkling eyes, James barely managed to hold back a burst of laughter.
Along with the issuance of Engrio's mobilization order, Henry and the others, together with Harris, flew in an ultra-high-speed bowl to Gwyn, who was invading Septanaquila.
The purpose was to contact the King of Finis, secure the cooperation of the Priestesses, and prepare for Gargoyles that might attack the Sertoria Central Army or the Royal Capital in the worst-case scenario, and in return, they would pass on [Flight Magic].
As for Finis, especially the Priestesses, they had intended to rush to the aid of Sertoria if there was a request for reinforcements. However, they were surprised and moved by the fact that Henry, the former King and a hero, had come in person and offered to teach [Flight Magic] in return for their cooperation. Gwyn immediately contacted the Royal Capital and conveyed the request of Henry and the others.
Naturally, the request for aid was accepted, and the former hero Eleanor personally taught [Flight Magic] to the Finis army's magic soldiers, and the King of Finis was also greatly pleased.
Gwyn in particular seemed to have taken a great liking to [Flight Magic], frequently attending the Finis army's practice sessions and secretly using it during the siege of Septanaquila as practical training.
Seeing Gwyn jump into the bowl even before the Priestesses, eager to ride it again this time, James finally burst out laughing.
When Gwyn heard James's plan against the scheme of the Morandine army and the Ruined Town this time, he offered active cooperation. If the opponent was Revenants, he secured the cooperation of the Priestesses and accompanied James. During that time, as a countermeasure against Revenants, they prepared spheres filled with [Purification] and [Ascension] from a priest who could use ultra-high-level magic, and made several round trips to the Finis Royal Capital using the [Teleportation Circle] for transporting Eowyn's medicine.
"Then, shall we provide support as well? We'll return the Revenants to the earth in order from the front with archers and holy magic. I'll go experience this Medioland [Flight Magic] or whatever it's called."
"Sorry, Eowyn. I'm going to the King of Morandine's place."
"Yeah, leave the rest to me and Gwyn."
Eowyn, who had been laughing at Gwyn's appearance along with James, boarded the bowl operated by Medioland soldiers, carrying the archers and holy magic users he had brought himself. James took two staff officers with him. The two of them hid their presence and soared into the sky.
When [Purification] was fired continuously from a long distance, the Revenants who were grappling with the Morandine soldiers turned into lumps of earth one after another. Then, silver arrows rained down.
Once James had the Morandine soldiers retreat, he continuously built ice walls between them and the Revenants using [Glacio], which were not very high but had considerable length.
The Morandine soldiers raised a cheer.
On the other side of the ice, multiple white lights were emitted. It was [Holy Overflow].
At the same time, silver arrowheads were likely turning the stopped Revenants into earth one after another; the sound of arrows cutting through the night air could be heard.
Finally, they could see a giant glowing sphere floating in the air beyond the ice wall. [Ascension] had been activated.
The swarm of Revenants slowly lay down on the ground.
From their rotten bodies, small balls of light, which were fragments of souls, floated up and were gradually drawn into the glowing ball floating in the air. They were causing thousands of Revenants to ascend at once.
When James knelt on the spot and chanted a prayer praising the Goddess in a loud voice, all the Morandine soldiers knelt and chanted in unison. From the soldiers, only the giant ball of light could be seen.
There was no distinction between general and soldier. The King and the staff officers likewise knelt and chanted in unison.
Behind the miracle of the Goddess being performed, the Priestesses and archers hidden in the bowl were stopping the Revenants who could not be saved by [Ascension] with [Holy Overflow] and returning them to the earth with silver arrows, but the King of Morandine, the staff officers, and the soldiers were simply offering prayers while looking at the ball of light and the soul fragments drawn to it.
They had been wrong. And yet, they were saved by the miracle of the Goddess.
The soldiers on the front line had been prepared to be overrun by corpses and die in battle, yet not a single person retreated in order to protect their own people. That was something they could be proud of, but no one thought that way.
When the full moon began to tilt heavily toward the west, James's staff officers came to the Morandine camp bringing his horse. And they reported that there were no moving Revenants.
At the same time, they reported that as a result of detecting the surroundings with [Sense Living], all those who gave a reaction had been either killed or captured. Those detected were all Engrio scouts.
The Morandine soldiers let out sighs of relief, and afterward, they praised the hero James one after another.
"James-dono. Truly, I am grateful. And I apologize for my mistake that caused such a situation. I do not care what happens to me. However, I ask that you do not hold my vassals, soldiers, and people accountable."
The King of Morandine tried to kneel before James.
"Your Majesty, please stop. One who is a King must not kneel to those of another country."
James quickly lowered his posture even more than the King and made the King of Morandine stand as if supporting him from below.
Seeing that, the King of Morandine's staff officers knelt on one knee and bowed their heads as if surrounding the two.
"Your Majesty. First, let the soldiers rest. And at noon, let us mourn the war dead who fought bravely together. Until then, please come to our camp. There is someone I wish to introduce to Your Majesty."
He could not refuse. The Morandine army had already suffered nearly four thousand casualties... and most of them were war dead. If Medioland had not rescued them, they would likely have been wiped out. The King, taking several high-ranking nobles as staff officers, headed to the place the Medioland army had used as a camp.
The King of Morandine was invited to the Medioland army's headquarters.
Across a large table, the Medioland and Morandine camps sat facing each other.
Drinks were distributed, and from here, the negotiations began. The Morandine side was prepared for the King having already apologized, and for demands for the ceding of a certain amount of territory and the right to use the ports on the east coast. If they refused, they would turn both Engrio and Medioland into enemies. Concessions were natural.
"Your Majesty. First, I will introduce these two."
With that preamble, he called them from the adjacent tent and had them sit to his left and right: the Crown Prince of Finis and the Crown Prince of Northern Gram. The King of Morandine already knew that the three countries had joined hands and destroyed Septanaquila and Gram. However, he had not thought the coordination was this strong.
Moreover, the Crown Prince of Northern Gram, who was said to be suffering from the [Karmic Disease], was lively, although there were several scab-like things on his face.
The Morandine camp uniformly raised voices of surprise. The current mobilized force of these three countries was forty thousand in the standing army alone. That was a figure nearly four times that of Morandine's standing army, and far surpassed even that of the Engrio army.
Not only the King but everyone in the Morandine camp prepared themselves for the necessity of partially subordinating themselves to Medioland.
"Your Majesty. This incident was like our army falling into a trap devised by the ambitious King Seldic of Engrio and Servetus, the Chairman of the Council of the Ruined Town. It has been confirmed that the [Teleportation Circle] held by the person Your Majesty cut down was connected to the direction of the Ruined Town. Fortunately, in this land, there were not only our Medioland army but also Eowyn-dono, who succeeds the lineage of the Kingdom of Gram, and Gwyn-dono of the Kingdom of Finis, the hero of the north, and thanks to Your Majesty who rushed to the rescue leading the Morandine army, we were able to escape the predicament. I, James, offer my deep gratitude."
Just what was he saying...
The Morandine camp tilted their heads and looked at each other's faces.
Gwyn and Eowyn had solemn expressions.
"J-James-dono. You, just what..."
The King of Morandine tried to ask back, but James continued regardless.
"The four countries jointly succeeded in safely releasing the souls of those manipulated by the evil ones who cause turmoil on the island. This is truly a joyous thing. This must surely be the guidance of the Goddess. From this day forward, let us establish friendly relations, hold hands as friendly nations for a long time, and walk the path of coexistence and co-prosperity."
Looking at James speaking with a dead serious face, Gwyn almost burst out laughing but suddenly grimaced. He was likely stepped on by Eowyn, who was looking away.
"A-As for our side, it is an offer we could not wish for more, but are you all fine with that?"
When the King of Morandine instinctively asked, he said there were a few things he wanted to ask of His Majesty.
As expected, here it comes.
The Morandine camp realized that James's lines were a smokescreen for negotiations and stiffened their expressions.