62 - Not as Expected
The Undead Legion was considered the weakest within the Demon King's army. To train this Undead Legion, the first thing Ray did was assign numbers.
The numbers weren't meant as names, but as a rank. He gave the soldiers an order. As for how he decided that order...
"Line up!"
The skeleton soldiers began to move in response to Ray's command. Ray felt a prickle of irritation at their sluggishness, but there was no point in complaining. Ray himself bore some responsibility for the skeleton soldiers' slow movements.
"...Alright! Finished!"
Once a hundred or so skeleton soldiers had finally finished lining up in a single row, he began attaching number tags to the soldiers in order from the front.
"...Hey, when did you prepare things like that?"
"Don't call me 'hey,' call me Commander. This is an army, you know?"
"...Commander. When did you prepare those?"
Only the way he addressed him had changed. His tone was not that of a subordinate speaking to a superior. Ray didn't particularly mind, though.
"While Sansei was sleeping. I had plenty of time, so this much preparation was a piece of cake."
"...You're a sarcastic man."
"If you can tell I'm being sarcastic, then reflect on yourself. We're making this legion strong together, right?"
"Y-yeah... but if you push too hard, you won't be able to keep it up."
"I'm fine. I don't need much sleep."
Ray's appetite and need for sleep were considerably lower than those of an ordinary person. It wasn't entirely without the help of inheriting the abilities of Kamiira and Rui, but since he hadn't actually become a member of the Vampio race, the effect wasn't that great. He was simply used to it because he had lived that way for a long time.
"So, what is that for in the end?"
"Among the soldiers, there are those who move well and those who move poorly."
"Well, that's true."
There were several reasons, such as the undead's own abilities and their compatibility with the caster, but as Ray said, the quality of movement differed for each undead. Sansei, naturally, knew this.
"I'm planning to have them learn the movements, centering on the soldiers who move well."
"How?"
"Well, just watch. Dismissed!"
Upon receiving Ray's order, the skeleton soldiers who had been lined up began to move. Since it was a simple order to dismiss, the line merely became disorganized.
Seeing this, Ray looked a bit exasperated, but he quickly recovered and moved to the next action.
"Line up!"
He moved the location and gave the order to line up again. The skeleton soldiers began to move to line up in front of Ray.
"...Ah, I see."
Looking at the skeleton soldiers, Sansei roughly understood what Ray wanted to do. The skeleton soldiers headed toward the spot where Ray stood. Those at the front were all soldiers who had been given low numbers earlier.
"...Did it change a bit?"
Looking at the lined-up skeleton soldiers, the numerical order was slightly off. Ray checked them one by one from the front and recorded it on a piece of paper in his hand.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm recording the ranks. It would be a bit much to decide the rank based on just one time, right? So, I'll do this several times and judge based on the total score."
"Hah."
Is it really necessary to verify it so thoroughly? Sansei wondered. Unaware of Sansei's feelings, Ray repeated the dismissal and lining up many times. Watching this, Sansei wondered this time how he didn't get bored repeating the same thing.
—As a result, Sansei, who was watching, ended up being the one who got bored. Ray continued this for half a day without end.
"Alright! I'm going to call out numbers now, so line up here in that order! Number two!"
The skeleton soldier whose number was called moved to the position Ray indicated.
"Next, number one!"
The skeleton soldier with the number one tag lined up behind him.
"Number four!"
Ray shouted the number, and the skeleton soldier with that number joined the line. As he repeated this, it gradually stopped going smoothly.
"Number sixty-two is you! You over there! The one I'm pointing at! Yes, yes!"
A skeleton soldier appeared who didn't grasp his own number.
"...Heh. There's that much of a difference?"
Even Sansei was surprised by this. He had never checked the difference in ability between each individual in such detail.
"Alright, last one. Do your best next time."
The skeleton soldier with the number one hundred and six tag was the last. Sansei thought it was finally over, but...
"Now, for the top ten, this."
What Ray took out was a black string. While Sansei watched to see what he would do with the string, Ray tied it around the upper arms of the ten skeleton soldiers at the front.
"Alright! Now, break!"
Ray declared the end of the morning training. Even though he told them to take a break, skeleton soldiers had no concept of resting. They just stood there blankly.
Ray already knew that skeleton soldiers would react this way. Without worrying about it, he took the bundle of papers and entered the tent set up in the garrison. Seeing this, Sansei hurriedly followed after him.
"Hey, what's with those black strings?"
"Excellence awards."
"Huh?"
"Proof of high performance. As we continue training, the soldiers who obtain many black strings should be the excellent soldiers."
"Does that actually mean anything?"
"Since each individual is weak, we have to make them capable of fighting as a group. My plan is to make the soldiers who collect the most black strings the squad leaders."
A leadership role for conducting group combat. Ray was attempting to select skeleton soldiers who could be entrusted with that.
"Group combat... that seems far off."
"Even so, we can't fight as we are now. We have to make them stronger, even if it's little by little. Which is why I want armor and either swords or spears."
"We don't have any."
"I know we don't have any now. Can't we get them supplied by the Demon King's army?"
"There's no way we'd get them, right? It's not just because it's us, but the Demon King's army doesn't have weapons or armor to supply."
Demons had different weapons depending on their race or tribe. There were even people who fought bare-handed without weapons. Weapons and armor were not provided like in a human army.
"...Then, shall we go steal some?"
"Steal from whom?"
"From the Laurel Kingdom army."
"How?"
"By sneaking in."
"...Is such a thing possible?"
If it were that easy to sneak into the enemy camp, the Demon King's army wouldn't be struggling. There were many people skilled at acting under the cover of darkness, but even they had given up, saying it was difficult.
"There's a possibility I can do it."
"Are you really that amazing?"
Sansei looked at Ray with doubting eyes. Since he believed Ray was human, he couldn't imagine Ray possessing abilities that surpassed those of demons.
"It's not that I'm amazing. It's just that I'm not a demon."
"What do you mean?"
"I know that detection magic is cast around the enemy camp. But that is probably designed to detect demons."
"If it can find demons, it can find humans too, right?"
"That's where it's different. There are various types of detection magic, and some magic that detects demons reacts to something unique to demons. If they're using that, I won't be caught."
Ray knew that among the magic tools in the castle of the Laurel Kingdom, there were tools of that type.
"...What about other magic tools?"
Sansei's concern was reasonable. There were magic tools that didn't limit the target to demons and judged based solely on the movement of an object. In that case, Ray would likely be discovered.
"In that case, I'll run."
"How? It's the enemy camp!"
"It's the same wherever. If I'm found, I just run."
"I'm asking how!"
"By running."
"Hah?"
An unexpected answer. It was a response that was impossible by Sansei's common sense.
"I'm faster than a horse. I'll probably be fine even if I'm chased."
"Faster than a horse... you're human, right?"
"I've acquired that ability. I'm better in forests than on flat land, but well, I don't think I'd lose even on flat land."
One of Ray's special abilities, [Swift Feet]. This ability, which had belonged to a magical beast, was superior even to a horse. By using that ability, Ray had overtaken the reinforcement army where the Heroes who left the royal capital first were, pulled far ahead of them, and arrived at the front line.
"You... you're not an ordinary human, are you?"
"Commander."
"...You're persistent."
"It's an ability I acquired by working hard to train. As expected, in a state where I have no power, I couldn't even speak of fighting and destroying the Laurel Kingdom where the Hero is, right?"
"That's true, but..."
"Come to think of it, does the Laurel Kingdom's army not train?"
If they were doing it, Ray thought he wanted to use it as a reference.
"Training after coming to the battlefield? That's what you call a makeshift fix."
"Aren't we the makeshift fix here?"
"...Well, yeah."
"Well, whatever. I'll check that too."
Another reason to head for the enemy camp had been created. This was also a very important matter for Ray. Ray thought he should make it happen soon, but...
"Can you let me through the fort?"
"Ah... probably impossible."
If it became known that he was heading toward the Laurel Kingdom's camp, he would immediately be branded a traitor. Ray thought that the Demon King, who didn't seem to think well of him, would do exactly that.
"I guess you're giving up on reconnaissance."
"Is there no other way?"
"If there were, that would be a battlefield too."
The place where the fort was located was the only spot where the road leading to Nortende passed through. That was why the enemy and ally had been facing off in this place for a long time.
"Then, what about the mountains?"
"Mountains... ah, you said earlier that you're better at moving through mountains. But I heard they're quite steep?"
"I won't know until I see. But it's worth trying."
"It'll take days, right? What about the training in the meantime?"
Even though the enemy and ally were facing off, there was a distance between the Demon King's army fort and the Laurel Kingdom army camp that took two or three days to march. If he were to move that distance, and moreover through mountains without roads, it would likely require a considerable number of days for a round trip.
"What do you mean 'what about it'?"
"...I'm the one doing it?"
"Of course. But we have to decide on the training method. In that case, the departure will be a bit later."
Training had only just begun. Moreover, for a while, they would be proceeding in a state of trial and error. In that state, Ray thought it would be impossible to leave it to Sansei.
"Can we really become strong?"
"We can. To make the legion strong, the first thing necessary is to improve the soldiers' movements. For that, we have to make the movements ingrained in their bodies to the point where they don't need to think about it with their heads."
"They can't think with their heads from the start, though."
Even if skeletons didn't have brains to think with, that would lead to the question of how they could move. This was a self-deprecating joke from Sansei.
"Then all the more reason to carve it into their bodies. The other thing is our power. We have to repeat training many times to become able to move them well."
"Well, that's true."
The movement of the undead depended heavily on the head that commanded them. In other words, the abilities of Ray and Sansei. The two of them had to become able to send precise instructions to the soldiers as commanders.
"Then we'll do full-scale military training, get weapons and armor. I want to increase the numbers too. And then..."
"I get it. I get it. Anyway, there are lots of things to do, and if we do them, we'll get stronger, right?"
"That's it. Now, the conversation is over for now. I have to think of a training method."
Saying this, Ray immediately became immersed in thinking of a training method for the skeleton soldiers. Sansei looked at Ray with an interested gaze.
Sansei felt that he was the one who had created them. Therefore, he also felt anger when the skeleton soldiers were looked down upon.
But Ray was not like that. Even though he wasn't, why was he working so hard? It was to achieve his own goal, but if that were the case, it wouldn't be strange for him to view the skeleton soldiers as mere tools.
(...He's a strange guy. Even though he's still young, I feel a sense of reliability. I wonder what will happen when he gains experience... if he doesn't die, he might not end up as just the commander of such a weak legion.)
They had only met yesterday. Despite that, Sansei felt that being like this with Ray was natural. Right now, the atmosphere was more like a gang leader and his lackey plotting something together than a legion commander and a subordinate, but Sansei felt a sense of anticipation for what would happen in the future.
◇◇◇
The darkness of night is the ally of demons. Among them, the Vampio race is a species that exhibits its true value precisely within the darkness of night.
The garrison of the Undead Legion. There, a member of the Vampio race, who had received orders from King Dracul, was lurking. He had been near the garrison since daytime. However, if he approached in the daylight, his existence would be known immediately. Thinking so, he had waited in a distant place for the sun to set.
The surroundings were already enveloped in the darkness of night. There were few beings who could find a Vampio lurking in the dark. The Vampio man slipped into the garrison and gazed at the scene before him.
A human figure stood in the garrison square, where there were no lights. The moonlight illuminated that person, Ray. In the middle of the night at the garrison, Ray was performing his own training. He was confirming his movements with a sword.
(...I see. His movements aren't bad.)
The Vampio who saw Ray correctly evaluated his skill. Though it was based strictly on the movements Ray was showing.
(I wondered what he was doing during the day, but his individual strength isn't bad.)
During the day, just watching from afar, he couldn't tell what Ray and the others were doing. They were just repeating lining up and scattering all over the garrison. Even if he had watched from nearby, he probably would have had the same impression.
(However... it's not as if there's anything particularly special.)
His swordsmanship was decent. But that was all. Even that decent skill would leave him with almost no opponents he could defeat against demons. He was not an opponent King Dracul needed to worry about.
Just as the Vampio man was about to reach that conclusion...
"Excuse me."
"What!?"
The Vampio man jumped in surprise at the sudden voice. He had not anticipated such a situation at all.
"Ah, did I startle you?"
"...N-no."
He didn't know with what intention Ray had spoken to him. However, judging by the fact that he had gone out of his way to make his presence known and the politeness of his wording, the Vampio man judged that there was no hostility.
"Could you tell King Dracul for me?"
"...Tell him what?"
"I promised to discuss various things, but it seems I won't be able to make time for a while. I'm sorry, but could you ask him to give me a bit more time before I visit?"
"...A-ah. I see."
Ray's business was a message for King Dracul. Once he understood that, the Vampio man certainly didn't feel relieved.
He had looked away for only a brief moment. In that time, Ray had approached this close without being noticed. Blending into the darkness of night.
Ray had made the darkness of night his ally even more than the Vampio man had.
"I'm sorry, even though you went through the trouble of coming all this way."
"...No. It's my job."
"Still, I've made the results of that job null."
"That's not true. I believe it was worth coming this far."
He had been able to learn a glimpse of Ray's ability. He had successfully fulfilled King Dracul's order.
"Is that so? That's good. Then our business is concluded, right?"
"...Yes, indeed."
Leave this place. He understood the meaning of Ray's words this way.
"Then please give my regards to King Dracul."
"Understood. I will certainly convey that along with your previous words."
"I'm counting on you."
"Yes."
The Vampio man turned his back to Ray and left the garrison. A sneer floated on the expression of Ray, who gazed at that back. It was an expression he didn't usually show.
(Was this the right move?)
A voice echoed in his head. It was that of the magic sword, Kamui.
(It's not good to be completely underestimated, either.)
He didn't intend to show off his abilities. It was the result of judging that it wouldn't be very good to be thought of as just an incompetent human.
If this hadn't been a subordinate of King Dracul, Ray wouldn't have done such a thing. It was an action taken specifically because King Dracul had shown him favor.
(I think it's better not to trust others so easily.)
(You say that, but he's Rui's father, you know?)
(That's...)
When asked if he didn't trust Rui's father, even Kamui found it hard to agree.
(But he's still a stranger.)
(Y-you bastard.)
Knowing it was a phrase meant to tease him, Kamui directed feelings of anger toward Ray.
(It's an army led by that Demon King. I am on guard. But that's exactly why I have to cherish those who might become allies. Besides, even if I'm betrayed, what's going to happen?)
(That's true.)
Thinking about what would happen if he were betrayed meant he couldn't be said to trust him. For Kamui, it was desirable that Ray be that cautious toward others.
(Now, did you think of anything?)
(Yeah. Necromancy is ultimately magic. The strength of magical power affects the effect. Thinking about it that way, what needs to be done is decided.)
While Ray was moving his body, Kamui had been thinking about the legion's training.
(I can't strengthen magical power itself. In that case, it's about using magical power efficiently.)
(That's how it is. But that's the difficult part. Until now, training magical power has been completed within one's own body. But necromancy isn't like that.)
The training Ray had done until now was about how to efficiently circulate and distribute magical power within the body. But with necromancy, he would be applying his magical power to the bodies of the undead, not himself.
(...It becomes control beyond the distribution, then.)
Magic is said to be activated, circulated, distributed, and then converted into an attribute before being triggered and released. What was necessary for necromancy was the distribution and release of magical power. How to efficiently distribute magical power and deliver it to the undead soldiers. Ray thought this was important.
(When it comes to releasing, I can't do it continuously. That's the problem.)
If it were just circulating within the body, he could do it forever. Normally he couldn't, but. However, if he released it outside the body, he would run out of magical power.
(What if I do that while fighting?)
Ray thought of a solution.
(Don't start thinking of nonsense, will you? Do you intend to charge into the enemy camp alone?)
(If I keep killing enemies using you, my magical power won't run out easily. As for the release... with the simultaneous activation of beginner magic.)
One of the abilities of the magic sword Kamui was magical power absorption. It absorbed the magical power of enemies. The idea that he could continue using magic indefinitely by using that was what was nonsense.
(Are you an idiot? If you could do that, there'd be no need to train the legion, right?)
If he had the power to strike down hundreds of enemies alone, he wouldn't say an army wasn't necessary, but he wouldn't need to prioritize it. Because he couldn't do that, he was trying to possess the power of numbers.
(I've just been using my head too much.)
(That's not the problem. You occasionally have these weird ideas. Be careful.)
Even if he got injured, he would heal immediately. This thought made Ray reckless. But Super Recovery was not omnipotent. If he took a fatal wound, he would die.
(Even if that happens, Kamui will stop me, right?)
(No depending on me. I'm not a subordinate personality meant to protect you anymore.)
(True. It can't be helped. I'll just have to do the training steadily.)
With this, another training method had been added. In this way, Ray and the others would continue to train the legion while repeating trial and error. Though it would soon become impossible to just leisurely do training.