79 - Starting Over
The Undead Legion that broke through the encirclement of the Laurel Kingdom army numbered only ten riders. There might be others following, but for now, that was all there was around Ray. Their destination was one of the bases. It was a place chosen as a temporary hiding spot. Their subsequent actions had not been decided. The Undead Legion had been devastated. He was not yet in the mood to rebuild it immediately.
"...For now, let's rest."
"!"
Even upon arriving at the base, there was nothing to do. There were too few of them to conduct training. Before that, he lacked the will.
"............"
Ray sat on the ground, staring blankly. The images of the soldiers heading toward the wall of light floated in his mind.
"...Damn it."
Ray believed that this situation had been brought about by his own carelessness. He had shown an opening that allowed the enemy to ambush them. That was the cause.
(Is Sansei... safe?)
The possibility was slim. Even knowing that, this was the only way Ray could ask.
(...How should I answer?)
(Do you know!?)
(No, I just know the situation at that place a little longer than you did while you were unconscious. I didn't see it until the very end. Even so...)
(Even so, what?)
(I can imagine. Sansei was prepared to die.)
They had tried to pass on their power. Kamui believed that Sansei had stabbed them knowing full well what they were doing. As for why they did such a thing, Ray could only think that they believed they would never see him again.
(...I see.)
(...By the way, you were deceived by Sansei.)
(Eh?)
(That guy was a girl.)
"Hah!?"
Due to the sheer shock, Ray could not keep the words contained within his mind.
(And... this isn't clear, but the age as well.)
"Lies?"
(I've been thinking about it all the way here. When I first stole Sansei's ability, the only thing I obtained was Necromancy.)
(What does that mean?)
He didn't understand the meaning of being told something about the time when he first met Sansei so suddenly.
(Well, listen. While you were unconscious, Sansei called me out and stabbed themselves. I think they knew they could pass on their abilities that way.)
(...Because I stole Necromancy first.)
(If you think about why I was able to do that, you'll understand.)
Considering the trigger for the theft, Ray quickly realized it was because they were slashed by the Magic Sword Kamui. He didn't think it was strange that they knew.
(Even so, only Necromancy could be stolen at that time. Other abilities weren't stolen.)
(...Things like that happen, right?)
It wasn't that he completely rejected Kamui's story. This method of consciously raising doubts to derive the truth was the way they had done things since they were the primary and secondary personalities.
(This time, too, I couldn't steal everything. I had a clear sensation of being blocked.)
(...In other words, Sansei's power was above yours.)
(The part about being a Lich from birth might be a lie, too. They might have lived for a considerable number of years and then became a Lich.)
(Why would there be a need to hide that?)
(Who knows. But because they were a younger boy, we lowered our guard toward Sansei. That is a fact.)
(True. To protect themselves... but if they've lived that long...)
It wouldn't be strange for them to possess considerable strength. Then the question arose as to why they needed to pretend to be a child to protect themselves.
(Is it a fact that they were a Lich from birth? The number of abilities passed on wasn't that many.)
(...Is it a waste of time to think about it? Whether a girl or whatever age, Sansei is Sansei. That's fine.)
He would never reach the truth regarding Sansei. Only Sansei knew the truth. No matter how much they discussed it, there was no one who could prove it was correct.
(Thank you. I was told to tell you this.)
(...I see.)
Thank you. He could only imagine the meaning contained in this single phrase.
(And also—)
"Wait."
Stopping Kamui's words, Ray made a gesture as if searching the surroundings. It was clear that something had happened.
(What's wrong? An enemy?)
"I felt mana. Detection? No, it's different! We've been hit! Run!"
Ray shouted loudly. Almost simultaneously with his voice reaching the soldiers, flames erupted all at once from the surroundings. The momentum of the flames surrounding them was tremendous, indicating that it was man-made. Even if it weren't, being suddenly surrounded by flames was not something that happened by chance.
(...This is bad.)
(We have no choice but to break through, prepared for severe burns, right?)
(As for me, yes.)
If it were Ray, it would end with severe burns. But the skeleton soldiers could not do the same. There was no way they could remain safe after being burned by flames of this intensity.
(Give up.)
(However...)
(Do you intend to give up on your revenge over something like this?)
("............")
(We made a promise.)
(...Understood.)
Revenge did not belong to Ray alone. Kamui, too, had sworn revenge, likely with a will far stronger than Ray's. Ray decided to escape. However, the person who set this up knew that Ray would not be burned to death by flames of this level. This was not the end. A violent blast of wind struck Ray. Unable to withstand the momentum, Ray was blown away. The sensation of being slammed into the ground was the last memory. Darkness enveloped Ray's consciousness.
◇◇◇
The Laurel Kingdom army had driven the Undead Legion to near total annihilation. However, there was no sign of relief on the face of the commander-in-chief, Sieg. He had let the legion commander, Ray, escape. That fact led Sieg to judge the operation as a failure. The soldiers were undead. As long as the caster lived, they should be able to be resurrected again.
"...Is the commander's whereabouts still unknown?"
Sieg asked the returning subordinate about the status of the search.
"We have sent many search parties in the direction they are thought to have fled, but not yet."
"...Any traces?"
They couldn't possibly find him just by chasing. The opponent's feet were far faster. That had been driven home repeatedly until now.
"For now, those too..."
"I see... Understood."
Although it was the most important matter, Sieg did not have the luxury of brooding over the lack of progress. There was a mountain of post-war processing that had to be done.
"Has the assessment of the damage been completed?"
"Roughly. The dead and missing are approximately three thousand."
"That much, huh..."
A battle of three thousand against thirty thousand. Despite having been overwhelmingly superior, the losses of the Laurel Kingdom army were immense. The cause lay in the magic unknown to the Laurel Kingdom army, the magic unleashed by Sansei.
"Just as they gathered to surround the enemy, that magic struck. Moreover, once they were taken in, that was the end. They vanished without a trace."
If they had suffered severe injuries, there might still be a possibility of saving them with recovery magic. But it wasn't that, they had vanished. Just as the soldiers of the Undead Legion had vanished upon receiving purification magic.
"It wasn't the magic of the escaped Ray Tsukiya, was it?"
"I cannot say for certain, but considering the situation, it is thought to be that of the other caster."
"To think they were a caster capable of using such magic..."
He had viewed only Ray as dangerous, but Sansei was also an incredibly dangerous existence. He only realized that for the first time after this battle.
"It is a magic that involves the caster as well."
It was a threat. However, magic that commits suicide by taking the enemy with it is not something that can be used in war. Though that is based on the pretense of valuing human life.
"It would be troublesome if there were others on the enemy side who could use similar magic."
"Yes. We must be cautious with the final blow."
The final move when cornered. The subordinate did not think they would use it frequently. If they did, it would be after defeat was certain and they were merely awaiting death. In other words, after the allies' victory was decided.
"...The possibility is low. No, I'll have the past records checked just in case."
They had cornered the Demon Race many times in the past. If it hadn't been used then, it could be considered that very few casters could use it. Otherwise, it wouldn't be strange if it had been used several times in the past.
"The casualties other than from the final magic seem to be few. There are reports that they were saved because many users of light-attribute magic were mobilized, but I wonder how it actually is."
Many injured people were saved by recovery magic. He believed this to be a fact. But it could also be said that there were simply many injured people whose wounds were treatable with recovery magic. The subordinate was considering the latter possibility.
"The enemy fought to escape rather than to defeat us. That's likely how it is."
Sieg agreed with his subordinate's thought. The Undead Legion had no luxury of delivering finishing blows. If they could just stall, that was enough.
"It won't take much time for the injured to recover."
"True. In the first place, we never had the luxury of waiting for that."
There was no reason to keep a large army in this place where the battle had ended. Rather, they had to redeploy to the now-empty northern region.
"What about the movements of the Demon King's army?"
"Yes. It seems our country's positions constructed on the front line have been occupied. Furthermore, several groups seem to have moved south from there, but the details have not yet arrived."
The Demon King's army was on the move. It wasn't information to panic over. Such things were already factored into the Laurel Kingdom army's operational plan, he would be more surprised to hear they weren't moving.
"There is no need to wait for the report. Let the units depart sequentially as their reorganization is completed."
"Yes, sir."
The placement of the units had also been decided. He just had to send the commanders who knew the operational plan and the required number of soldiers toward those locations.
"Also—"
"A messenger!"
A messenger jumped in front of Sieg, looking quite panicked. Seeing this, tension ran through the surroundings.
"What is it?"
Sieg asked the messenger in a deliberately calm tone.
"Ray Tsukiya has been discovered!"
"What!?"
Sieg could not remain calm at this report. He instinctively leaned forward.
"In the forest to the east. He was found burned to death there."
"...Burned to death?"
Sieg's excitement cooled instantly. He felt something strange about the report that the escaped Ray had been burned to death.
"Of course, since it is a charred corpse, it is in a state where confirming the identity is difficult. However, several bones, both human and horse, were discovered in the same place. Also, the remains of supplies after being burned. I believe there is no mistake that it was a base of the Undead Legion."
The messenger still seemed excited, speaking quickly and telling him many things.
"...Is there any reason you judged it to be Ray Tsukiya?"
"The only thing was that the charred corpse was not just bones. Also, items thought to have been obtained in the royal capital and supplies issued to our army's soldiers were lying beside the charred corpse."
"I see... and that charred corpse?"
"Thinking that it was necessary to investigate in more detail, I have brought it here. I believe it will take a little longer to arrive."
"A good decision. Understood. Let's make the final judgment after the investigation of the body is finished. Good work."
"Yes, sir."
Having received words of appreciation from Sieg, the messenger left with a happy expression. He didn't understand. It was precisely because Sieg was not convinced by the content of the report that he went out of his way to offer words of appreciation. He had only stopped himself from denying the report on the spot because it would be pitiful.
"............"
Sieg remained deep in thought.
"There's no need to think about it."
The one who spoke to Sieg was Geel. In the army, Geel was the only person who would speak to Sieg while he was thinking.
"...What do you mean?"
A question to which the answer was already known. Geel had said there was no need to think.
"Let's talk inside."
Geel pointed to the tent pitched right behind Sieg. It wasn't a large one where a military council could be held. Sieg rarely used it, but it was a tent he used when he wanted to rest a bit.
"...Understood."
Sieg understood that it was a conversation he didn't want others to hear. He didn't know the reason, but there was absolutely no need to refuse.
"...He's almost certainly alive."
As soon as they entered the tent, Geel spoke.
"For now, let me hear the reason."
He thought that if Geel said so, it must be correct. However, without evidence, he couldn't convince others.
"Cecil disappeared."
"That female mage?"
"Yeah. We were tracking together, but I was left behind."
"Hey. You're too careless just because she's a young girl."
"Idiot. That girl isn't the kind of cute woman you can afford to be careless with."
This was not an excuse. Geel believed that, limited to matters involving Ray, she was a woman with no carelessness or openings.
"Then why?"
"Suddenly, my horse's legs were frozen. It's the freezing magic that girl is good at. And that happened while I was galloping at full speed, you know? I wanted to praise myself for not getting seriously injured."
A new way to utilize freezing magic. Cecil had learned that. From an experience completely different from battle. Though it was Hinata who experienced it, or rather, was made to experience it.
"That's quite... But why would she do such a thing?"
"The reason Cecil accompanied the battle was to meet him. She's head over heels. To a frightening degree."
"You... keeping that a secret is a problem, you know?"
"My bad. I didn't think she'd go to such extremes."
In the end, Geel had been careless. He had the naive thought that even if Cecil tried to do something strange, he could stop her. This was the result.
"In other words, are you saying she let him escape?"
"Almost certainly. If he were truly dead, there's no way Cecil would leave that corpse. But Cecil wasn't there. Even though she should have been ahead of me."
"...How troublesome. Her action is a crime. Moreover, it's a very heavy crime of betraying the country."
If she were helping a traitor escape, it wouldn't be strange for Cecil to be recognized as a traitor as well. If that happened, she could hardly avoid the death penalty.
"That's where I have a request."
"Before reducing the crime, first bring her before me."
"I know. To do that, give me an order. Searching for the remnants of the Undead Legion. How about that as a pretext?"
"Hey. Does that mean you're hiding her crime?"
"There's still no evidence that Cecil let Ray escape. Right?"
Despite saying that it was certain Cecil let Ray escape, this was his stance.
"...As I thought, you're soft. What, are you in love with her?"
"No way. Knowing that girl's feelings for Ray, I couldn't possibly fall for her. If I had to say, it's like the feeling of a parent taking care of a poorly-behaved child. By the way, it's the same for Ray."
"To think I'd hear the word 'parent' from you..."
"Shut up. It's a metaphor, a metaphor."
"Well, fine. Since I got to hear an interesting line, I'll listen to you here. Since there's no evidence of escape, it's something I can permit."
Even the serious Sieg could be this flexible. It was because it was Geel's request.
"Much appreciated."
"However, it's a different story if he starts running wild again. In the first place, we won't be able to hide the escape."
"That... probably won't happen."
"Is that so?"
Good news for Sieg. Provided that was a fact.
"He's not an idiot. On the contrary, regarding a certain domain, he's extremely clever. Do you think that guy couldn't read the hidden side of this battle?"
"...The betrayal of the Demon King's army. You really think they betrayed them?"
The existence of an insider. Before they could even investigate if that was true, this battle had begun. Sieg also had no certainty whether the Demon King's army's betrayal was the truth.
"Yeah. I think that's why they burned the base they fled to. He has no reason to go out of his way to fake being burned to death."
"What about her?"
"The reason Cecil could find the base was because flames were rising. Otherwise, how could she have pinpointed the location of the base?"
"...I see."
It wasn't a logic without any holes, but it was sufficiently convincing.
"The one who prepared the charred corpse was probably Cecil, though. But that was surely to buy time."
"And we fell for it completely."
"For the record, I searched the surroundings too. But I couldn't find any traces. Even knowing it was a disguise, I can't catch up."
"...Then how will you track them?"
There were no clues at all. Sieg was curious how Geel intended to track the two.
"It would be difficult if it were just the brat. But if that girl is with him, there's a sufficient possibility of finding them. She can't survive without eating normally."
"Procuring food. Besides that, they'll need various things. There's a high possibility they'll appear in places where people are."
"That's it. If that happens, that girl will stand out again. Ray is also a guy who naturally draws attention."
The surrounding towns and villages. From there, they would gradually expand the search area. That in itself would be a daunting task, but in reality, it wasn't as if he had absolutely no idea where they might flee. Otherwise, even Geel wouldn't consider searching.
"You've thought it through, huh. I wish you'd utilize that head more for military duties."
"That's always the extra part. Searching for those two is also a military duty. Right?"
"That's true. Then, Geel. I formally order you. Secretly find Ray Tsukiya and Cecil, who is highly likely to be accompanying him. However, the order will publicly be the search for the remnants of the Undead Legion. This is a top-secret mission."
"So stiff. But, well, thanks. I'm off."
Since he had received a formal order, he should move to action immediately. Even as they spoke, the two might be drifting further away. Geel left the tent and proceeded to leave the camp.
"...Now, which side of the coin will it be. To think I would end up making such a gamble."
Sieg muttered alone in the tent. He felt that his response this time was unlike himself. Despite that, why had he accepted Geel's request? It was just a hunch. Sieg had bet on his own intuition.
◇◇◇
By the time he noticed, the sky was no longer visible. What reflected in his eyes was a rugged rock surface. Even in this dark place without light, Ray could see it clearly. The sensation against his back was by no means pleasant. Soil or rock. Anyway, his back hurt. But as his consciousness became clear, he realized that his back was not the only place where he felt pain. His whole body hurt. And his feet and hands were strangely cold. Ray didn't know what was happening to him. And then, a new sensation. Neither painful nor cold, it was, in words, pleasant. He turned his gaze toward his pleasant lower body. What reflected in his eyes was snow-white skin. It was Cecil, naked, straddling him and swaying her hips.
"Hah, hah, haah, ahn."
Cecil was letting out rhythmic moans. Ray became even more confused as to what was happening.
"Is this a dream?"
"...Ray... you've woken up?"
Hearing Ray's voice, Cecil's eyes widened in surprise. He saw tears gradually welling up in those wide-open eyes.
"I don't quite understand the situation, but Cecil-san, what are you doing here?"
"Can't you tell by looking? I am having sexual intercourse with you."
"...I see."
A truly straightforward expression. Ray was the one who became embarrassed by it.
"Why am I here?"
"I carried you. I rescued you and brought you here."
"I see... Were the injuries severe? Or rather, burns."
"Yes. I thought you had died. Even so, I wanted to be with Ray. That's why I brought you here."
Cecil's heavy words, heard for the first time in a while. However, Ray did not let them darken his mood now. Rather than feeling that way, there was a question that attracted his heart more.
"With me, who was like a corpse... um... sexual intercourse?"
"Yes. I thought that at least one last time. I thought it would be impossible, but Ray responded."
"I... I..."
A lower body that responded while on the verge of being burned to death. Ray became afraid of himself. But right now, Cecil was more frightening than himself.
"Your skin has become quite beautiful. You're okay now, right?"
As she said this, Cecil stroked Ray's chest and abdomen. In reality, the burns seemed to be healing, and he no longer felt pain even when she did that. Cecil did not seem to care about this, which would be impossible for a normal Human Race.
"...I seem to be recovering, but my hands and feet won't move. They're very cold, they might have become useless."
The sensation in his limbs was quite dull. Ray considered the possibility that some kind of impairment remained, however...
"Because I'm keeping you frozen in ice."
"...Is that for the treatment of the burns?"
"No. To keep Ray from escaping."
"............"
Despite having been apart for a while, Ray judged that Cecil's madness had only grown stronger.
"I'm glad you recovered. I thought it was the end, but it's not, is it?"
Cecil began to move her hips again. At first slowly, then gradually faster. Knowing it wasn't the end, she was trying to intensify the stimulation to Ray.
"...If possible, I'd like my hands and feet to be free?"
"No. If I set you free, you might run away again."
"But I can't stay like this forever."
"You'll stay like this forever. It's okay. I'll take care of everything for you. You just need to lie there."
"...Then I'm just a sex organ."
Ray felt irritation at Cecil's words. His tone became a bit harsh.
"No! I don't mean that! I just want to be with you forever! I want you to become mine!"
Feeling Ray's anger, Cecil showed panic. She stopped moving her hips and clung to Ray as if pleading.
"...Cecil-san. I still have many things left to do."
Ray did not desire a life of just living and repeating sexual intercourse with Cecil. There were many things he had to do. They had increased since before.
"No. I won't let you go anymore. I won't give you to anyone. My own Ray. You are mine."
"...That's impossible."
Cecil's pampered attitude changed back to a forceful one.
"It's not impossible! I will never let you escape!"
"That's why it's impossible."
"Eh?"
The moment he thought Ray had moved, Cecil was surprised to find herself lying on her back. Ray's hands, which were supposed to be restrained, were pinning her arms to the ground.
"Cecil-san. It's impossible to restrain the current me with your magic."
"............"
Cecil fell silent with teary eyes. Finding burn marks on Cecil's both arms that he was pinning down, Ray's heart ached. She had saved him while he was in flames with no escape. She couldn't remain unscathed. On the contrary, he thought it was a miracle she got away with only this much.
"Thinking of making me yours is also useless. As I said before, the current me still has many things left to do. I can't stay cooped up in a place like this."
"...I don't want to. I won't allow you to go anywhere. Ray must be with me."
Cecil appealed to Ray, her eyes filled with tears. He knew it was her true feeling. But Ray also knew that Cecil's emotions could change in the very next moment after thinking so.
"I won't allow orders to me. Never order me again."
He tried changing to a stronger way of speaking.
"...Are you angry?"
In response to that, Cecil showed a timid attitude again. Cecil changed depending on the emotions Ray showed.
"If Cecil-san honestly listens to what I say, I won't be angry."
"What should I do? I'll do anything."
Why did this person become like this? Such a thought arose when talking to Cecil. He also had responsibility. That was certain. Then, what should he do for her?
"...Become mine."
After thinking for a bit, Ray uttered this.
"Eh...?"
"Your heart and body, everything of Cecil-san is mine. If you accept this, we can be together."
"I'm so happy."
A smile appeared on Cecil's face. The one who accepted was not Cecil, but Ray. That was how it was. Seeing that smile, Ray buried himself in Cecil of his own accord.
"Ah... aah... Ra, Ray..."
Just by accepting Ray, Cecil began to let out moans of pleasure. It was different from normal pleasure. He was connected to Ray. Just that made Cecil's body tremble.
"I won't allow selfishness. Obey me in everything."
He wouldn't let her interfere with his revenge. Even if he accepted her being by his side, he had to make her follow this. He didn't know what the current Cecil might do.
"Nn... I'll, obey... ah, aahn... Ray... I am your... ah, aah!"
Cecil clung to Ray with a cry. A pathetic action. But Ray did not loosen his feelings yet.
"You came on your own, didn't you? I haven't given you permission."
"...I'm, I'm sorry."
"Listen, Cecil-san? I won't run away from you. But where I go is my freedom. If you want to be with me, you are the one who follows."
"Of course. I'll follow Ray anywhere."
"I won't allow interference with me either. Since Cecil-san is mine, there's no way you could do such a thing. You must use your heart and body not for yourself, but for me."
"Yes. My everything is yours. I'll dedicate everything to you."
He felt the same madness in these words as before, but now Ray gave up, thinking it couldn't be helped. To prevent her from interfering with his actions, he would direct Cecil's madness not toward satisfying his own desires, but toward living for another, in this case, Ray. He thought he would start from here.
"...Ray... Ray... I am yours... I'll dedicate my entire life."
"Thank you."
"Ra, Ray... ah... a, aah... I can't... I... if it's not you... I can't... ah... no... please... please, forgive me..."
Cecil moaned painfully. The latter words caught in Ray's heart.
"...Cecil-san... you... um... can go now."
He timidly gave permission.
"Ah... ah. Aaaaah!!"
Clinging to Ray's neck, Cecil cried out in his ear. He could feel Cecil's body, which was pressed against him, trembling. Just as he thought, Cecil had been waiting for Ray's permission. That Cecil was a bit pathetic, and as expected, frightening.
(...You, making her obey even this much, isn't that going too far?)
(...I just let it slip a bit. I'll gradually correct it.)
(I hope you can.)
Regarding these things, Kamui knew that it never went exactly as Ray wanted. Ray might have a destiny of being plagued by women. Or perhaps he was destined to be loved by women to make up for his original world. In any case, Kamui felt that because of this, Ray would taste only suffering and pain rather than happiness. To be loved by the person you love. Is it a luxury to worry about not having that? Now that he had lost the person he loved, should such feelings be erased from his heart?