94 - New Undead Legion
The cheerful voices of children echo through the garrison. At the center of it all is Ray. They are practicing the exercise of batting back pebbles that Ray and Kai had been doing. However, it only looks like actual training for the older children. The smaller children are simply chasing after slowly launched pebbles, trying to catch them. In other words, it is play. In the midst of their tedious daily lives, the children are overjoyed to have finally found some entertainment. Hinata sits near the entrance of the building, watching them.
"What are you looking at?"
"Eh? Ah..."
Startled by Cecil's voice behind her, Hinata is slightly frightened.
"It is rare for Hinata-sama to go outside. What has piqued your interest so much?"
Hinata had been shut inside the building. She only went outside in the middle of the night or when taking a bath. If Cecil was listening to her voice, she should know what was happening inside the building. Just as it was when she was in the Laurel Kingdom army's camp, she is frightened by the gazes of those around her.
"...The children."
"It seems discipline is required, then?"
Hinata knows this is a lie. Cecil asked, already knowing the answer.
"...I was watching Tsukitani-kun playing with the children."
If it were Cecil, it wouldn't be strange for her to start right here and now. Thinking this, Hinata answered honestly, though she still hesitated to do so. Hinata knows that saying she was watching Ray would stimulate Cecil in its own way.
"I see. Ray-sama..."
"A-Ah... I don't have any strange feelings... I just thought they looked like they were having fun..."
Reacting exactly as expected, Hinata rushes to clear up the misunderstanding.
"That is also a lie, isn't it?"
"............"
"As I thought, discipline is required."
"N-No. Please, stop, not here."
"I have no intention of disturbing Ray-sama while he is happily playing with the children."
She cannot destroy the cheerful atmosphere of the garrison. Cecil possesses that much discretion. Moreover, the one at the center is Ray. She does not want to do anything that would erase Ray's smile. For Cecil, like Hinata, had also been watching Ray and the children this whole time.
"...It is the first time I have seen it. Tsukitani-kun acting like that."
For now, a sigh of relief. Following Cecil's words, Hinata voices what she was thinking. Hinata feels that this is the first time since coming to this world that she has seen Ray smile. Though it was not a smile directed at her.
"I feel the same... Come to think of it, there was something I wanted to ask Hinata-sama."
"...What is it?"
The moment of ease was brief. Tension spreads through Hinata's heart once more.
"You heard yesterday's conversation, didn't you?"
"............"
At Cecil's question, Hinata's face stiffens. Even without saying anything, it is the same as confessing.
"Eavesdropping. How unladylike."
"I-I'm sorry."
"And so you are looking at Ray-sama like this. What are your feelings?"
The reason Hinata came outside was because she had been listening to their conversation. The situation where Hinata, who had been shut in her room until now, came outside to look at Ray, makes Cecil wary.
"...I just thought, Tsukitani-kun is indeed Tsukitani-kun."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I heard that his heart was controlled by demons, but I'm sure that's not the case."
Ray had a reason to seek revenge. A reason sufficient to make him resolve to do so. While she does not agree with all of it, that is what Hinata thought.
"That is obvious. I knew from the start that it was a fabricated story."
The story that Ray's heart was controlled by demons was a tale created to justify the actions of the Heroes. Cecil knew this.
"...But I didn't know."
"So you're saying you aren't at fault?"
"But I wasn't involved in their deaths! I even protested when the girls were killed!"
It is slightly different from saying she doesn't deserve to be treated this way. From Ray's reaction, Hinata knows that her current situation is not directly related to his revenge. What Hinata fears is Ray's revenge, in other words, her own death.
"...If you raise your voice, the children will be startled. We can talk in the room, you know?"
"I'm sorry. I won't raise my voice anymore. But... I have no responsibility for the deaths of the people Tsukitani-kun held dear."
"No responsibility. To be able to say that, you must be someone who cannot perceive the feelings of others, aren't you?"
"Eh?"
Without raising her voice or threatening, Cecil spoke words that Hinata had not expected in a quiet tone.
"You were close to Ray-sama in your original world, weren't you?"
"That is..."
"I have no intention of blaming you. I simply want to know what Ray-sama was like in the original world."
Past memories had made Ray desire death. Cecil was curious as to why that happened. This wasn't the only thing she wanted to ask, but she believed this was a good topic to make Hinata willing to talk.
"...He was a bit of an odd person. He was, well, hated by the people around him, but he spent his days without seeming to care. I thought he had a strong heart."
"Why was he hated?"
"That... there seemed to be various reasons. Because he was an odd person."
Hinata does not say it was because of his appearance. She feels resistance to putting into words that Ray was that way. It is not out of consideration for Cecil, but because she hates herself for speaking of such things.
"...But you and Ray-sama became close. Why?"
"That's... Tsukitani-kun isn't interested in others, or rather, his sense of distance is good."
"I don't understand at all. Could you explain more specifically?"
"...Because he never treated me specially."
Prompted by Cecil, Hinata rephrased her reason with some hesitation. It was still a vague explanation, but her opponent was Cecil.
"In other words, is this it? Ray-sama did not fawn over you like other men. That was refreshing, so you drew closer to him."
"...There was a part of it like that."
That was almost everything. She didn't feel the ulterior motives she felt from other boys from Ray. That was refreshing to Hinata, and she felt at ease being with him.
"But was it always like that?"
"That is..."
It wasn't. At first, Ray was wary of Hinata, who spoke kindly to him despite him being hated, but eventually, he opened his heart and came to harbor feelings for her.
"That is it."
"What do you mean, 'that is it'?"
"I feel as though I can understand Ray-sama's feelings. I believe the reason Ray-sama did not treat you specially was because he had no expectations. Because he had given up."
"...Given up on what?"
"Please do not play dumb when you know. He thought that a beautiful woman like Hinata-sama would never associate with him. He thought that if she approached him, there must be some ulterior motive."
There is no reason to be kind to a girl who is trying to deceive him. If he was to be betrayed and hurt, it was better not to expect anything from the start. It wasn't that Ray had no interest in people. He was afraid of taking an interest in people and being betrayed. He didn't have a strong heart. He had simply closed his heart so as not to be hurt.
"...I wasn't thinking such things."
"Is that so? You chose Ray-sama as someone you could be comfortable with. What did you do for that Ray-sama?"
"That's why Tsukitani-kun and I weren't that kind of relationship."
"For you. It didn't have to be Ray-sama. Can a man remain without expectations when a woman approaches him with friendliness?"
Most boys cannot help but have expectations. Fumiya was one of them. He had always been under the impression that she had feelings for him.
"That is up to the other person."
"That is how you cut off the emotions of others. You approach someone for the purpose of gaining your own benefit, letting them have expectations, and then you distance yourself once you realize they have become that way. You don't even think about how much the other person is hurt."
This is what Cecil meant when she called Hinata someone who cannot perceive the feelings of others. Even if the person intends to be kind to others, how that is received depends on the other party. Hinata's correctness is not necessarily the same for the other person.
Hinata hasn't even thought about that.
"............"
Having understood the meaning of Cecil's words, Hinata cannot think of a rebuttal.
"You cannot understand Ray-sama's feelings. That even if he expected something, he would only be hurt. What it means for a person who lived thinking that to still have expected something. How great the sense of loss is when that is gone."
Cecil had also lived her life pessimistically. Only hell awaited her in the future. A helping hand would never reach her. She had told herself this.
But after meeting Ray, those thoughts vanished. She began to expect a 'maybe' in her own life. She cannot afford to lose that expectation, that hope.
"You betrayed Ray-sama in the original world. You hurt Ray-sama in this world too. Do you still believe there is no reason for Ray-sama to resent you?"
"............"
Even if she could understand Cecil's argument, she could not fully accept it. It was not a crime worthy of being killed. This feeling is not something that can be erased by another person's words.
"You go silent as soon as you're troubled. I don't particularly want to hear an answer. Because there is only one answer I will accept."
From now on, no matter what, she must never betray Ray. This oath is all Cecil demands. Unless that oath is made, she recognizes no value in Hinata.
"I..."
Hinata is thinking about what the answer Cecil seeks is. The fact that she is thinking means she hasn't reached it yet. Even if Hinata swore now, Cecil would not believe her. It would not be an oath from the heart, but words calculated for benefit in her head.
Besides, it was no longer the time for such a conversation.
"...Something happened."
A crow alights beside Ray. It is an information crow of the Undead Legion. For it to come all the way to the garrison means it has come to convey something. And it is undoubtedly bad news.
"Cecil-san!"
Ray's calling voice. Before it was even uttered, Cecil had already rushed to Ray's side.
"Gather the children in one place! The mothers too!"
"Understood."
The one who moved upon Ray's instruction was Barbari. Following her lead, the other women began to move. The garrison suddenly became hectic.
"What happened!?"
Dracul King also approached Ray.
"Enemies. Approximately five hundred."
"Five hundred..."
Whether to call that many or few. In terms of numbers, there was no problem. Provided the allies weren't just women and children.
"Cecil-san. Just in case, prepare for relocation to another base. I will have the children and mothers go first, so please lead them."
"I understand. But..."
What Ray intended to do concerned Cecil.
"I cannot assign many guards. Therefore, please begin the move immediately once the signal is given."
"What about you, Ray-sama?"
"Me? I'm going to intercept them. There's no need to let them draw this far in."
"...Will you be alright?"
Saying there was no need to let them draw into the garrison meant he had the confidence to repel them on the way. That should be the case, but Cecil could not fully believe it immediately.
"Some level of response is necessary, but I don't think the enemy consists of elites. It's fine. Most likely, it will end with just waiting."
"I see... Understood."
Cecil judged that this was not a lie to reassure her. Ray is not the type to tell such lies. If it were dangerous, he would have instructed them to flee at this point.
That didn't change her worry for Ray's safety, but if she acted selfishly here, she would only be disliked by Ray. Cecil's feelings were complex.
"Now, I'll take the Undead Legion. I won't let down the guard of the surroundings, so please be at ease."
"I shall fight as well."
Thinking that Ray was finally heading to the front line, Dracul King offered his cooperation.
"No, that's quite alright."
"Do not act tough. Facing five hundred alone is reckless."
"I'm not acting tough, and I'm not alone. I intend to annihilate the enemy, so if anyone other than the Undead Legion is there... to put it bluntly, they'll be in the way."
"What did you say!?"
Dracul King had confidence in his abilities. He possessed power in the highest class among the Vampio race and was evaluated as strong even among all demons. He could not accept being told he was in the way.
"Everything around us is the enemy. That is how I fight. There is no time to judge whether they are friend or foe."
The Undead Legion is under Ray's complete control. In that state, friendly fire is impossible, but if an alien element like Dracul King were mixed in, it would no longer be so.
The brief moment to judge friend or foe. That is what Ray hates.
"I am not so foolish as to be taken down by an ally's attack."
But Dracul King did not understand. He did not understand the way the Undead Legion fought, nor what kind of existence the Undead Legion was.
"...Fine then. In that case, I'll go without holding back."
"What?"
Dracul King was bewildered, not understanding the meaning of Ray's words. Without paying mind to Dracul King, Ray began preparations for battle. If he couldn't understand through words, he would simply make him understand with his own eyes. That was the thought behind his actions.
The Magic Sword Kamui appeared in Ray's hand. He thrust it into the ground and began to mutter an incantation. The surrounding air trembled due to the influence of Ray's magic power.
Seeing this, not only Dracul King but the other people were surprised. No one had thought Ray's magic power was this immense.
Suddenly the ground shook, and simultaneously, Skeleton Cavalry appeared one after another from underground. In the sky, large birds such as eagles and hawks—Undead Beasts—gathered.
"This is..."
"The New Undead Legion. To be precise, I'm told the old Undead Legion is mixed in as well, but I cannot tell the difference."
Cecil explained to the surprised Dracul King. Having been with him all along, Cecil naturally knew of the existences lurking underground.
"Still, there are only about two hundred."
"Do you think he would do all that just to awaken the Undead Legion within the garrison?"
The Undead Legion lurks everywhere around the garrison. As a surprise attack force for when enemies appear. Ray was awakening them all at once, except for the direction from which the Laurel Kingdom army had appeared.
"...Now, this place will become a hollow shell. When the enemy attacks here, I'll leave it in your hands."
Once the Undead Legion's deployment preparations were complete, Ray left the aftermath to Dracul King. He used that as a reason to leave him behind.
"...A-Ah."
Dracul King accepted this. It was no longer a situation where he could say he would accompany him. He now knew that the Undead Legion would certainly repel the enemy.
"Now, shall we go. The goal this time is also the annihilation of the enemy. Do not let a single one escape. Kill the enemy and create allies. Undead Legion, deploy!"
Following Ray's order, the Skeleton Cavalry galloped away from the garrison. Ray followed them, leaving the garrison.
The commotion that had been heard from the surroundings—not actually heard with ears, but felt—faded away.
"Now, let us prepare to flee. I don't think it's necessary, but it is Ray-sama's order."
"...Yes, you're right."
Dracul King was not the only one stunned by Ray's deployment. Barbari and the other demons were the same. Barbari came back to her senses when Cecil spoke to her.
"It seems five hundred or even a thousand wouldn't be a problem. Though if it became two thousand, it might be tough. He'd probably be angry if I said this, but it would be a problem if he weren't that capable."
Dracul King calculated the combat power of the Undead Legion, which could not be understood just by thinking. It would be a problem if the combat power were so great that the help of the Vampio race became unnecessary.
――On this day, the Laurel Kingdom army would lose another five hundred allies. And beyond this. Until the Nordende garrison forces gave up on the subjugation, the sacrifices would continue to increase.
In the mountains of Nordende, there is an impregnable fortress that does not let the Laurel Kingdom army approach. It did not take long for this rumor to reach the ears of demons wandering without a place to go.