65 - Joining Forces
The Undead Legion's campsite is buzzing with excitement. Only Ray and Sansei are capable of making noise, and currently, only Ray is speaking, but the atmosphere is still electric. That feeling is being transmitted to the entire Undead Legion.
"Now, I will announce the merits from the previous battle!"
"!!!"
What is happening now is the rewarding of merits. This is something that has been done many times within the Undead Legion.
"The first place for merit is... Number One!"
"!"
The top merit this time goes to the soldier with the number one. It is a predictable result, if one were to call it that.
"The reward for Number One, who has steadily accumulated merit, is Sergeant One."
"...?"
Number One does not understand what Ray is saying. He remains silent, but a question mark floats in his mind.
"One. That is your name. Sergeant is your rank. From today on, you are Sergeant One."
"!"
What he was given were a name and a rank. Number One, now renamed Sergeant One, is surprised.
"And a sword. It belonged to the enemy captain, so I think it is a good one."
"!!!"
Learning that he would receive a sword as well, he is overjoyed.
"Next, Number Three!"
"!"
Number Three's heart swells with anticipation for his reward.
"You are Sergeant Two."
"!!"
"This is your reward. Since you were second in merit this time, the sword is off the table. I will give you one the next time you distinguish yourself."
"............"
Sergeant Two looked a little disappointed. Ray continued to announce the rewards in order. Although he called it an evaluation of the previous battle, it was actually a cumulative evaluation. For soldiers who had nothing, a helmet or armor. For soldiers who already had those, a name. If they were exceptional, a rank was included. He had decided it this way. Since the physical items were limited, he had resorted to using names and ranks as rewards.
However, this turned out to be a success. The personal names they had lost—regaining them brought great joy to the skeleton soldiers.
"Strict training will continue until the next battle! Do your best and earn more merit!"
"!!!"
Once the rewarding of merits ended, it was time for training to prepare for the next fight. Through this repetition, the Undead Legion was steadily growing stronger. They started with small achievements, such as defeating a few enemies, and now they were capable of fighting enemies on a scale of a hundred.
"Now then... next..."
Ray had been spirited in front of the soldiers, but in reality, he was quite troubled. The enemies they had defeated in the battles so far numbered slightly over two hundred. There should still be nearly eight hundred enemies left. Although the Undead Legion had certainly increased its numbers, they had not yet reached three hundred. Facing an enemy more than double their size would be difficult.
"Does it look like it will be a difficult battle?"
"Rather than 'looking like it,' I just can't think of a way to make it not be."
He had fought battles with a high probability of victory, making sure never to overextend. However, the situation did not always align with his desires. Especially now.
"Defeating the two hundred scouts was a mistake."
As a result, the enemy's vigilance had increased. They likely wouldn't send out scout parties so easily now.
"Even so, I couldn't afford to miss an opportunity to win."
Even if he had let the two hundred scouts go, there was no reason to believe the enemy would return to sending scouts in small numbers. He had no choice but to fight.
"Fighting eight hundred..."
The enemy's numbers were more than double. Moreover, it would be in the form of attacking a campsite. Naturally, even if he chose a night attack, the enemy's vigilance would be strict. There was no way they didn't know that the darkness of night was an ally to the demon race.
"If only I could set an ambush..."
Taking advantage of being undead, they would hide underground. This was the Undead Legion's standard tactic. However, when invading an enemy campsite, that method could not be used.
"Can you win by fighting head-on?"
"It's impossible right now. A way to launch a surprise attack on the enemy base..."
Ray sank deep into thought. Although it was just a campsite surrounded by wooden stakes rather than a fortress, how was he to fight an enemy holed up in one place? Ray, not being a soldier, had neither the knowledge nor the experience. Still, he had to think of a way to win. The Undead Legion was only just beginning.
"Hey! Look out!"
"Hm?"
Sansei's shout pulled Ray back from his deep thoughts. A beast was rushing toward him.
"Eh?"
A large, black beast. It kicked off the ground, leaped high into the air, and pounced straight at Ray.
"...Shiro!?"
It had been a long time since they had met. Even so, Ray knew that beast was Shiro. Shiro dove into Ray's chest with the momentum of the jump. Ray intentionally fell backward to absorb Shiro's momentum.
"Why is Shiro here?"
Shiro was happily licking Ray's face. There was no mistake it was Shiro, but he didn't understand why Shiro, who had been in the Forest of Bewilderment, was here in this distant place.
"Ah... oh, could it be?"
Noticing a presence approaching, Ray thought of the reason why Shiro was here.
"Ray."
"Kai-chan... no, I shouldn't use '-chan' anymore. Kai, why are you here?"
The presence belonged to Kai.
"Father told me to go to Ray."
"I figured. By the way, why is Shiro with you?"
"I was saved by Shiro. Shiro carried me to another family, and so..."
With this, Ray understood the reason Kai had survived and how he had safely reached Nordende where his father was. Now, the reason for coming here.
"What did King Dracul tell you to do that made him send you here?"
"He said that the Vampio race is suspected by Ray, so I should clear up that misunderstanding."
"That's... should I call it honest?"
Not hiding the objective was honest. But using Kai for that purpose—how should that be evaluated? It could also be considered cunning. If so, the objective told to Kai became suspicious. Furthermore...
"What were you all told?"
Kai was not the only one who had come. Three other Vampio race members had accompanied him.
"We were ordered to be Lord Kai's guards. Additionally, we were told to follow Lord Ray's orders after arriving safely."
"...Follow my orders?"
"Yes. This is also to clear Lord Ray's suspicions. No, it would be more accurate to say it is to earn even a little bit of trust."
The Vampio race's thinking was correct. The expression "clear suspicions" was not accurate. Ray viewed everyone with suspicion. If they wanted to resolve that, they had no choice but to be trusted.
"We were told by the King to obey any order. Please use us with that in mind."
"Any order, is it?"
Ray understood they were desperate to gain trust. However, this alone was not enough to make Ray trust them. That said, with Kai present, he felt hesitant to send them away.
"It's a bit awkward to say it myself, but I think I'll be useful."
"I suppose... you might be useful."
If he couldn't send them away, he had no choice but to utilize them. The opponents were saying they would listen to any order.
"Then..."
They were accepted. The man was pleased by this, but...
"Yes. I will explain the plan immediately."
"Pardon?"
"I've thought of a plan that seems like it will work. I need to iron out the details, but I'll do that while explaining. Please speak up if you have any opinions."
"A-Ah."
They hadn't expected him to move so quickly. It made sense. Not even ten minutes had passed since Kai and the three Vampio race members had arrived. Ray, who had come up with a plan in that short time and was attempting to execute it immediately, was the one who was strange. They might have been sent to a terrifying place. That thought spread through the hearts of the three Vampio race members.
◇◇◇
The encampment of the Laurel Kingdom Army's detached force. As the darkness of night enveloped the forest, bonfires placed here and there illuminated the camp. Even at night, they could not let their guard down. On the contrary, night was the time when vigilance had to be strengthened. For the demon race exhibited their true value precisely within the darkness of night. Especially since the scouts' whereabouts became unknown, the camp's vigilance had become even stricter. The two hundred scouts had almost certainly been defeated by the enemy. That meant a unit of the Demon King's Army capable of such a feat was nearby. A night of tension. The sentries' gazes were fixed on the darkness. No matter how hard they glared, there was no way they could see the state of the forest depths where there wasn't a single light, but if they intended to keep watch seriously, that was all they could do.
"Hey. Do you hear something?"
An event occurred that further heightened the sentry's tension.
"...The sound of hooves?"
Listening closely, a sound could indeed be heard from ahead. It was the sound of a horse galloping.
"Alert! There are demons!"
Furthermore, the magic tool for detecting demons showed a reaction. At the voice conveying this, the camp reacted immediately.
"Wake up! Demons are coming!"
"Prepare for combat! Hurry!"
The approach of demons. Although they had been on alert the whole time, this was the first time a demon reaction had actually appeared. A sense of urgency spread throughout the camp.
"They're coming!"
The sound of galloping horses drew closer. They should be visible in the light of the camp's fires any moment now.
"Bows ready!"
The soldiers readied their bows. They knew it wouldn't be very effective against demons, but they couldn't do nothing until the enemy approached. It was an attack where any damage dealt would be a bonus.
"Help! I'm being chased by demons! Help!"
"What?"
That scream was heard from outside the camp. It was a voice emitted by a knight who had come galloping on a horse.
"Do not lower your guard! It could be an enemy ploy!"
Instructions were given not to be careless, but they knew that even without being told. There was no way an ally would be galloping toward them at this hour.
"I'm an ally! Don't attack! I am an ally!"
The individual approaching shouted again that they were an ally.
"Stop right there! Stop and state your affiliation!"
"Please let me in quickly! I'm being chased by demons!"
"State your affiliation! If you don't, we will attack!"
"I am Lyle, a knight's attendant private attached to Knight Kaufmann of the Second Mobile Unit! Please help me quickly!"
"The Second Mobile Unit? Why is the Second Mobile Unit here!?"
The Second Mobile Unit was a unit creating roads in the mountains, just like this unit. This unit was the First Mobile Unit, and the Second Mobile Unit was working further east from here. It was strange for them to be here.
"I'm a messenger! Just let me into the camp! I'll be killed by demons!"
"...What should we do?"
The sentry sought instructions from the commander who had come to his side. This situation was not something a sentry could judge.
"What is the reaction from the magic tool?"
"Ah, that's right... there is no reaction."
Told by the commander, he checked the reaction of the detection magic tool, and the man claiming to be a private was not judged as a demon.
"Not a demon... Very well. Let him in. It goes without saying, but do not lower your guard."
"Understood. Approach slowly! Put your hands up!"
"If I don't hold the reins, I can't control the horse!"
"Just come here!"
The sentry grew irritated at the foolish response of the man claiming to be a private, though the man himself might have been serious.
"Please don't attack me!"
Shouting such things, the opponent slowly approached.
"Dismount there!"
As he approached the entrance of the camp, he was ordered to dismount. Following this, the opponent got off the horse. By then, the camp entrance had been opened slightly, and soldiers were standing in front of the man.
"The reaction!?"
"None!"
They checked the magic tool's reaction once more as he drew close, but as expected, there was no reaction.
"Seize his weapon and bring him here!"
First, a sigh of relief. Judging that there was no danger in letting him into the camp as long as his weapon was seized, the commander gave that order. Afterward, he descended from the watchtower to interrogate the man. The opponent was already being questioned while surrounded by soldiers.
"Why is the Second Mobile Unit here?"
"I received orders. To be precise, I wasn't the one who received the orders, but Lord Kaufmann was defeated along the way."
"...By demons?"
"Yes. We were ambushed on the way here."
"And the content of those orders?"
He wanted to hear about the ambush as well, but first, it was a priority to confirm if the man was truly an ally. He asked the reason for being here once more.
"To convey the order to join the Main Army immediately."
"...Join the Main Army?"
"Yes. Our operation has been discovered by the Demon King's Army. It seems that not only the Second Mobile Unit I was with, but other units have also come under attack by the Demon King's Army, and the judgment was that we would only be defeated one by one if we stayed as we were."
"...Other units too. No, but why would that messenger come from the Second Mobile Unit?"
It was possible. In fact, they themselves had been discovered by the Demon King's Army and had suffered many casualties. However, as long as there were points of doubt, he could not trust him.
"There is a possibility that the rear is blocked. At least the rear of the Second Mobile Unit was blocked by the enemy. That is why I came through the forest."
"...Has the messenger to the Main Army not arrived?"
They had sent a messenger to seek instructions from the Main Army, but they had never returned. Now he knew the reason.
"It was fine until I broke through the forest, but when I got onto the road and was proceeding, I was spotted by the enemy. I was suddenly attacked."
"...How did you manage to survive?"
"That was because Lord Kaufmann... told me to leave the rest to me..."
"I see..."
Kaufmann had entrusted the aftermath to the private and attempted to stall the enemy. He understood that was the case.
"What should I do now?"
"Good work. I can't tell you to go back, can I? You may act together with us."
"I see."
The private looked relieved. It was unlikely he would be told to return to a unit that had been wiped out.
"...I could say it's going according to plan, but would a join-up order still be issued?"
It would be good if they could create a road to Nordende. Even if not, if they could draw in the Demon King's Army, that would also be a success as a strategy. Despite that, the reason for a retreat order bothered him.
"Is it strange? But I was certainly told to convey such an order."
"How many are the Demon King's Army?"
"I am sorry. I did not hear that much."
"I see... perhaps the Main Army has already gone on the offensive."
He considered the possibility that the Main Army had invaded to the extent that there was no longer a need to draw in the enemy.
"I do not know that."
"Ah, I wasn't asking you. Right. You should rest a bit. We will make a forced march once dawn breaks. Rest while you can."
"Thank you very much."
Guided by a soldier, the private headed toward a tent. The commander no longer cared about the private and was thinking about their next move.
"Even if we depart after dawn, it will take many days to reach the foot of the mountain. Now, what to do."
To avoid a night attack by demons, he intended to depart in the morning, but there was no way they could reach the foot of the mountain within the day. In the end, they would have to camp in the mountains without a protective fence.
"There is a possibility of an ambush."
"I know. It's a waste of the road we worked so hard to build, but we can't use it."
"A march through the mountains without a road..."
The story was that the road leading to the foot of the mountain was blocked by the Demon King's Army. If they wanted to avoid an ambush, that was their only option.
"If anything, I wish the whole unit had come."
"The whole unit?"
"The Second Mobile Unit. If the entire Second Mobile Unit had come here instead of just sending a messenger, we could have marched with double the numbers."
"Ah, I see."
If a battle with the Demon King's Army awaited them, the more forces they had, the better. The commander thought that the Second Mobile Unit should have come to this camp and acted together.
"...Will the Demon King's Army also gather? No, the attacking side has more freedom. We really should have gathered."
The attacking Demon King's Army could attack each target individually, or they could decide on one target and attack together. He didn't know which they would choose, but because he didn't know, it was better to be gathered.
"How far has the Second Mobile Unit progressed?"
Even if he criticized the Second Mobile Unit's decision, they wouldn't suddenly appear here. If they wanted to join forces, they had to catch up.
"Joining forces in the mountains is..."
The possibility of meeting was low. If that was the case, it was better to march at full speed without worrying about where the Second Mobile Unit was.
"I will proceed with the preparations for the march. I intend to keep the luggage to a minimum, is that acceptable?"
"...Yes. Let's prioritize the speed of the march."
"Understood. I will proceed then."
Departure was tomorrow morning. Time seemed plentiful, yet it was scarce. From now on, days of grueling marching would follow. They couldn't afford to be exhausted before departing. Time for rotating sleep was also necessary. The inside of the camp suddenly became hectic.