83 - A Step Toward Reconstruction
Ray headed into the mountains to the east surrounding Nordende. It was the garrison he had seized after annihilating the Kingdom of Laurel's mobile force.
The 'Forest of Bewilderment' had been an option, but he judged it impossible to go there with Cecil. For Ray, the 'Forest of Bewilderment' had become quite easy to live in, but that was because he had acquired abilities suited to the environment. For a normal human like Cecil, a long-term stay would be difficult. It wasn't that she couldn't live there, but she would end up cooped up in her residence, just as Ray once had.
Besides, Ray's goal was not to live in hiding. He had not given up on his revenge. He needed a place to hide until the heat died down, or at least until preparations for his next move were complete. He was seeking a base of operations. In that regard, the mountains of Nordende were suitable. If it was a garrison used by the Kingdom of Laurel's mobile force, Cecil should have no trouble living there. It couldn't be said that there were few magic beasts, but the garrison had been built to protect the soldiers. There was no need to fear being attacked while sleeping.
The question was whether the Kingdom of Laurel's army had already sent another unit. However, Ray judged that possibility to be low. He knew that the forces were regrouping on the front lines. The time for the decisive battle was near. If that were the case, they shouldn't need another infiltration route. In the first place, Ray knew that the mobile force's operation was intended more to disperse the Demon King's Army than to create an infiltration route. In that sense, the Demon King's Army had moved exactly as the Kingdom of Laurel's army intended. Even though the mobile force's operation had ended in failure, the Demon King's Army had dispersed on its own, allowing the Kingdom of Laurel's army to defeat them piece by piece. If they were going to disperse, they should have done so over a wider area, creating a situation where the Kingdom of Laurel's army would also be spread thin. Knowing the current situation, Ray thought this. But it was too late now.
"Alright. We've arrived."
Ray announced their arrival at the destination. Even without being told, Cecil could tell. The garrison, surrounded by high walls, had come into view a short while ago. The gate built into those walls had opened, and they had entered.
"I'll leave the horses to him. If you're tired, shall I have him carry the luggage as well?"
"Yes..."
In reality, Cecil was exhausted. Moving with Ray was different from what she had experienced with the Kingdom of Laurel's army. They didn't set up campsites. They slept lying on the ground, or if they disliked that, they slept leaning against a tree. Furthermore, since they moved at midnight, they slept during the day. She couldn't get a deep sleep. In the latter half, her fatigue became so severe that she could fall asleep immediately upon lying down, or even if she didn't, but that seemed different from recovering from fatigue; her head felt foggy all day. Because of this, Cecil didn't notice that Ray had said something strange.
"...Eh?"
Seeing the horse she had ridden being led away and the luggage being carried, she finally wondered. She wondered who was doing it. If she looked closely, she could tell. They were not normal humans. Those people had neither flesh nor skin. They were only bones.
"The stay-behind group. Since we've managed to get a base, I thought it would be a waste to leave it empty."
"...I see."
The skeletons Ray called the stay-behind group were not just one or two. There were so many skeletons that they couldn't be counted immediately, moving about inside the garrison.
"Are you alright? Would you like to go inside a building and take a nap?"
"No, I'm fine."
When Ray spoke to her like this, she felt as if she were a burden. In reality, she was a burden. If Ray had been alone, he would have reached this place much faster. Cecil knew that. That was why she tried to push herself.
"I think it's better to recover from your fatigue early. From tomorrow, every day will be training."
"...Yes."
Feeling embarrassed that Ray had seen through her effort to push herself, her face turned red.
"Ah, you don't have to push yourself, but if a nap is enough, would you like to take a bath?"
"A bath?"
"Yes. It's good when you're tired. However, I think it will take a little time to prepare. If you want to sleep, you should sleep."
"...I want to take one."
This was her honest feeling. She wanted to sleep soundly. But she was also very concerned about the dirt from the journey. Even if she had to endure some sleepiness, she wanted to clean herself up before resting.
"Then... I'll call you when the preparations are done, so please rest until then."
"Yes."
◇◇◇
The night sky was filled with stars. Ray gazed at them while soaking in the bathtub. It was a sight that could be seen anytime as long as it was clear, but it had been a long time since he had gazed at the night sky in such a calm atmosphere.
(Man, this really is the best.)
The open-air bath here was Ray's favorite. He considered it the ultimate luxury.
(Haa, it's nice for you. I can't even feel that a bath is pleasant.)
The one complaining was Kamui. Not possessing a human body, Kamui could not feel the sensation of hot water being pleasant, even while coexisting within Ray.
(Is it the same if I soak while being a sword?)
(You... do you think a sword feels that a bath is pleasant?)
(...Isn't it pleasant when you're polished clean?)
(I don't have that kind of sensation. To tell you the truth, I thought this bath felt pleasant. But it wasn't actually pleasant; that was a memory.)
(A memory?)
(Taking a bath is pleasant. I was under the illusion that that memory was a current sensation.)
Memories from when he shared Ray's body. Or perhaps the remaining memories of Ray himself. That had brought about the illusion as if he had bodily sensations. Now, that was fading.
(...What about the sensation when you cut a person?)
(Ah, that's not there either. It would be the worst if that existed. Not having sensations isn't all bad, is it?)
(Well, yeah.)
In the first place, becoming a sword was the worst. But talking about it only made him depressed.
(...What will you do from now on?)
A question that had been repeated an uncountable number of times. He had been thinking about it even until he came here. But a conclusion had not yet been reached.
(For a while, training here. There's no change to that.)
(That's normal, isn't it?)
(...Maybe it's because she's a mage, but...)
Regarding Cecil, it was a bit of a miscalculation. Since she had experience with marching, he thought there would be no particular problem with moving, but in a few days, she had visibly lost her energy. He had shortened the daily travel distance, but there was a limit to that. Being viewed as an enemy by both the Kingdom of Laurel and the demons, they were not in a situation to enjoy a leisurely journey.
(Well, it's because you're not normal.)
Human common sense did not apply to Ray. Regarding basic physical strength, he was already close to a demon.
(...Was the Third Generation always fine with it?)
The Third Generation had accompanied Ray's marches without any problem. They were not a normal human. But the Third Generation didn't seem to have much physical strength.
(Since they were a Lich, they didn't get tired... or did they complain with their mouth?)
I'm tired, I'm hungry. As if it were a habit, the Third Generation was always complaining. Kamui remembered that.
(Yeah, quite a bit... that incomprehensible guy, no, girl, woman?)
(Who cares? The Third Generation is the Third Generation.)
(True...)
The Third Generation, who had died while leaving mysteries behind. No matter how much he thought about those mysteries, it was meaningless. For Ray, the memories of the days they spent together were everything. The Third Generation in those memories was the Third Generation.
(Listen.)
(What?)
(...No, never mind. It's too late now.)
The Third Generation's feelings. He decided against conveying this. Even if he tried, Kamui didn't know the Third Generation's true feelings. He must not convey the wrong feelings.
(Strange guy.)
(Shut up!)
It wasn't just the matter of the Third Generation. He was also hiding the fact that Princess Ekaterina had a child from Ray. It was out of consideration for Ray, but to Kamui, the fact that both secrets involved women seemed ridiculous.
(Why are you angry?)
(I'm not angry. I just mean, she probably wouldn't understand either.)
(Cecil-san, huh... I wonder what she's thinking?)
The madness he felt from Cecil. Recently, it had been lying low. That wasn't a bad thing, but he didn't know the reason.
(It's not because she's tired, right?)
(She became quiet even before we started moving.)
At first, Cecil had greedily sought a relationship, but from a certain point, it stopped abruptly. She also stopped saying words that revealed possessiveness. For Ray, it was a relief. But if he didn't know the reason, he wondered if she was plotting something.
(...Isn't it just a sense of security?)
(What's that?)
(Being able to be with you without anyone interfering. The current life is what she desired.)
(Because there's no need for jealousy. I see.)
(What do you mean, 'I see'? Stop acting like a popular guy.)
(I'm not acting. But would she change that much because of that? Even just now.)
As planned, Cecil was also bathing. The bathhouse in the garrison was a complete open-air bath. Ray, who had thought the Third Generation was a boy, had not considered blocking the view of the surroundings at all. The sight of her bathing was completely visible. Cecil was bathing while looking very embarrassed. Even if it was completely visible, the only ones in the garrison were Ray and the skeleton soldiers. They weren't opponents she needed to worry about. However, Cecil was worried even about Ray's gaze. Compared to her bathing figure, Ray was exposing a far more obscene appearance.
(...Do you think Charm is involved?)
(I haven't concluded that Charm is the cause. But unnatural reactions are the fault of something special, right?)
(The fact that she becomes more normal the longer she's by your side isn't the effect of Charm.)
(That's true...)
It wouldn't be strange if the effect had worn off; she was more intense when they first reunited after a long time. It was hard to think it was because of Charm.
(There's nothing to do but watch for a while, right? If you watch for a long time, you might understand something.)
(What if being together has a negative effect?)
(That's... then, can you leave her behind?)
(I can't be that heartless. Since it's my responsibility that she became like that, I want to do something about it myself.)
Even if he left her behind, there was no possibility that Cecil would give up. She would burn with obsession and try to find him again. Considering Cecil's behavior so far, Ray thought so. That too was an unhappy thing for Cecil. If possible, Ray wanted Cecil to lead a more peaceful life. He wanted her to obtain ordinary happiness.
(If she's happy, isn't that fine?)
Kamui thought that the current life was Cecil's happiness. Only the owner had changed, but the current situation was the life Cecil desired.
(...She can't be happy. All the women around me died.)
(I see... you were worrying about that.)
Kamiira and Rui died. Ray killed them. Kara was killed by the Kingdom of Laurel. And this time, the Third Generation. All the women and girls who were with Ray had passed away.
(Even if you tell me not to worry, it's impossible.)
(There are women who are alive.)
Princess Ekaterina was alive.
(...She must be going through a painful time.)
(That... I don't know.)
Kamui didn't know what had become of Princess Ekaterina, who was pregnant with Ray's child. But he knew it was not something permitted for a princess.
(Besides, she's a target for revenge. She's different from Cecil-san.)
(That may be true, but...)
Princess Ekaterina, the target of revenge, was alive. Ray was saddened that she had likely become unhappy. How would Cecil, who was told she was different, receive this fact? Kamui wondered about that.
(...I want to investigate Charm more.)
(How?)
(Ask someone who knows.)
(Are you planning to torture them?)
As for someone who knew, it would be the Vampio race, who possessed that ability. Those Vampio were enemies who had betrayed them. That's what Ray and the others thought.
(If necessary. Will they come?)
(I wonder? It took too long to get here. They might have already come and gone.)
If they had doubts about Ray's death, they should have come to investigate this place first. But Ray arrived here today. If they had finished investigating here by yesterday, they might not come anymore.
(If I let them know I'm here... it'll be a pain if they come in large numbers.)
Conversely, if it was just a few people, there would be no problem. Since obtaining this place, he had created various traps. They were preparations for when the Kingdom of Laurel's army attacked, but they should work against demons too.
(...Can you kill Kai?)
(There's no need to kill him. I'm not thinking of exterminating the Vampio race.)
He couldn't think of exterminating them. It wasn't a matter of whether he could or couldn't; it must not happen that Kamiira's race was wiped out.
(Then, what about King Dracul? He's the king of the Vampio race. He must take responsibility for the betrayal.)
(Don't ask unpleasant things. He's certainly the one responsible, but he's Kamiira-san's husband and Rui's father, you know?)
Setting aside the point of whether he could kill Dracul, the king of the Vampio race, with his current strength, he didn't feel like aiming for his life. He thought such a thing must not be done.
(...It's impossible. In that case, only the ones who betrayed us.)
Kamui also didn't feel like killing Rui's father.
(Even if she was the one who gave the false information, the one who ordered it... that's difficult.)
The possibility of Dracul, the king of the Vampio race, was high. In that case, the revenge of the Third Generation and others would be quite incomplete.
(...Isn't that fine? The Vampio race aren't the only enemies. Surely you're not planning to be killed quietly, right?)
(That's true. There's no such obligation.)
Even if he didn't aim for their lives from his side, if the opponent attacked, there was no reason to remain defenseless. No matter who the opponent was, he would have to kill them.
(There's also a possibility they'll die on their own.)
(I want them to put up a good fight, though. I wonder how it will be?)
(...Against the kings of various races, I don't think it'll end simply.)
If they were people with top-tier strength among the demons, they should be able to fight well against Fumiya. Kamui judged so.
(Unless they use a stupid fighting style like one-on-one. The more I know, the more I wonder if the demons want to be destroyed.)
(They should be at a significant disadvantage. Shouldn't they throw away such stubbornness?)
(I hope so.)
If they could easily throw away such stubbornness, the demons wouldn't have been pushed this far. Ray thought so.
(What if the Demon King's Army is utterly defeated?)
(I'll just kill the remaining enemies.)
(How?)
The Kingdom of Laurel's army was powerful. Even if he revived the Undead Legion, the possibility of annihilating them was extremely low. If possible, he wanted them to suffer great losses in the battle with the Demon King's Army, but Kamui also knew that was naive thinking.
(Just having power doesn't mean you're strong.)
(That's true, but overwhelming power blows away a little difference in skill, right?)
(An overwhelming difference in skill might fill an overwhelming difference in power.)
(...When can I acquire something like that?)
Overwhelming skill. He might be able to create a gap against Fumiya. But could he do that against Geel? Even if he could, would that be years or decades from now?
(I'm not talking about individuals. For example... that.)
(...A crow?)
Where Ray pointed, there was a crow perched on the fence surrounding the garrison.
(Yes. That.)
Several small wind-cutting sounds ran through the darkness. They were pebbles launched by Ray. They brilliantly shot through the crow. The crow fell from the fence it had been perched on.
(...I failed.)
(Hah?)
(It fell beyond the fence.)
(...That's obvious, right?)
If he shot it from the inside of the fence, in most cases, it would fall backward due to the momentum, meaning it would fall outside the fence.
(I didn't think about it. I'll go outside.)
(Are you an idiot?)
(Shut up!)
Ray went outside the garrison to find the crow he had shot down. The crow was found immediately.
(What are you trying to do?)
(Well, just watch.)
The crow he found didn't move a muscle. It was dead. Ray began to weave an incantation toward the crow's corpse.
(...A crow?)
What was he planning to do by casting necromancy on a crow? Kamui didn't understand.
(The failure this time. It was because I entrusted information gathering to an opponent I couldn't trust.)
He had been given false information. That was because the Undead Legion had no reliable intelligence organization. He had heard that the Vampio race was good at it and had left it entirely to them, Ray thought.
(That was because there was no one else... you're not seriously using a crow?)
(Yes. I don't know how far it can be used. But it's worth trying.)
(...Is this 'skill'?)
They had originally been talking about skill. It was said that an overwhelming difference in skill could fill the difference in power. Kamui didn't understand how that connected to a crow.
(Birds that can fly in the sky can investigate situations over a wide area. They can do things I can't.)
(...Can you understand what the crow sees?)
(That's why I'm testing it. If it succeeds with a crow, then other animals too. For example, rats. They can't cover a wide area like crows, but rats should be superior for exploring the inside of buildings. No one would find it strange if there were rats in the ceiling, right?)
Animals each had their own characteristics. Ray was thinking about how to make the most of those characteristics.
(...You're really something.)
(What?)
(Why do you think of such underhanded things?)
(Don't call it underhanded!)
(No, I mean, shouldn't you be thinking about making demons into undead soldiers instead of animals?)
Demons were enemies. If so, there was no problem with using their corpses. There was no need to fear criticism.
(I'm thinking about it. But the Vampio race is impossible. Not even bones remain.)
(...That's true.)
Kamiira and Rui had crumbled into pieces like ash. He didn't think they could be turned into undead soldiers in that state.
(Other demons might be the same. But I won't know until I try.)
(How will you try?)
(After a little more time passes, I'll go to the battlefield and try. That's the easiest way.)
Killing various races one by one would be nearly impossible. Even if he could defeat them, it would be inefficient. In that case, it would be faster to try with corpses that might be sleeping on the battlefield.
(True. There's also the difference in rank.)
The Third Generation had said that turning demons into undead was quite difficult. Even if bones remained, it didn't necessarily mean they would become undead soldiers.
(Yes. That's why I don't have high expectations. I'll execute the most certain methods first.)
(That's true... but I can't help but have expectations.)
Undead soldiers made from demons. Kamui thought they would undoubtedly become a force that surpassed the former Undead Legion.
(You think so?)
But Ray's reaction was dull.
(...Don't you think so?)
(Undead are considerably weaker than when they were alive. If it's the same for demons, their individual strength would be just above a general soldier. At best, about the level of a plain knight, right?)
(Still, they'd be stronger than before.)
(What if they're bad at collective action?)
Experiences in life affect them after becoming undead. He already knew that. Ray was concerned that the demons' lack of unity would be inherited even as undead soldiers.
(...It's no use.)
(That's what I mean. The individual strength of the Undead Legion is weak. Compensating for that by uniting is our way. Demons aren't suited for the Undead Legion.)
(I understand.)
A fighting style that relies on the strong is not the way of the Undead Legion. Compensating for the lack of individual strength through a group, and making the most of specialized abilities, was the way of the Undead Legion. Kamui understood that too. The reconstruction of the Undead Legion. Before he knew it, Ray had decided on it. The will to do so had welled up within him. As a result, the newborn Undead Legion would undoubtedly be stronger than the previous one. Ray's enemies had not yet noticed that.