Chapter 346 - The Voracious Fly

We left Mira’s main army and dashed west to the fortress.

On the way to the fortress, we found the soldiers of Mira.

It was already late at night.

As we approached, we noticed something strange about that group.

Their gait looked heavy.

Many of them were hanging their heads……

There also seemed to be many wounded.

Perhaps, these soldiers———–

[ ? Is that…… Fly King-dono?]

The other side seemed to have noticed us.

Soon after, the Count, who was the commander of this battalion, approached.

[Fly King-dono…… and also, Seras-dono…… I am Rohm, the commander of this battalion.]

[Excuse me for asking, but are you……]

[Yes……]

Without needing me to finish my sentence, Rohm answered.

They were, as I had expected, soldiers who had been attacked in the aforementioned Panuva Fortress.

[————-Then, when I was convinced that the fortress could only fall…… I heard a jarring and unpleasant loud sound, and I saw a purple light seeping out from within the fortress. Immediately after, like a precursor to a massive tsunami, the waves of enemies simultaneously receded…… There was such silence around us. And then…… Soon after, they attacked the fort———— Golden-eyed Monsters.]

Panuva Fortress is located almost directly west of Anti-Demon War Castle.

In short, it’s relatively close to the Demon Zone.

[In the fortress, even Human-Faceds have gathered…… At this rate, we would be annihilated, so we withdrew desperately and somehow managed to escape until here…… but the 500 or so soldiers I had before are now less than half……]

The faces of the soldiers, illuminated by torches, are lifeless.

Their faces are heavy with despair.

Looking closely, I can also see some bound Urza soldiers among them, and they too looked completely dejected.

From what I heard, after the invasion of the Golden eyes, they were no longer in a position to say anything whether one’s a friend or foe.

[The Human-Faceds…… appear to have been a considerable threat.]

When I said that……

[Yes, those things…… weren’t something people can handle anymore. They were eerie, cruel…… and made me think how puny we humans are in front of them. We are but helpless creatures…… that can only be trampled down by them……]

Rohm lowered his head, his face filled with frustration.

His hands that were clenched tightly were trembling.

[Count.]

[……Yes.]

[You have managed to keep your troops together this long without breaking, and have retreated this far.]

[Eh?]

[The expression on your face is one of frustration. It’s not something expressed by a person who is completely dominated by fear. Even in a situation where one’s spirit can be broken…… you have fulfilled your role as their commander, which I think is admirable.]

When I said so, Seras, sitting behind me, followed suit.

[I think so too. The reason why the troops are in such a precarious state, and yet are reasonably well organized as a unit…… is because their commander, you, didn’t completely lose his composure.]

Hearing our words, Rohm was so moved that tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.

[……I thank you for such kind words…… to this defeated general.]

Thereupon, seemingly realizing something, Rohm looked up.

[B- By the way…… The reason you two are here———–]

I explained to him my goals here and my future plans.

After listening, Rohm looked astonished……

[Y- You mean———- you were going to wipe out the Human-Faceds that gathered in the vicinity of the fortress!?]

The soldiers also responded to Rohm’s words, as their attention to us.

[The reinforcements from the Faraway Country heading through this route may be exposed to the threat of these Human-Faceds. They may be prowling around the fortress at the moment, but there’s no guarantee that they won’t come out any further.]

Yes, I just can’t look at this situation optimistically.

[I- In that case, we will also———–]

[No, we will go on our own.]

[T- That won’t do……. We are talking about Human-Faceds, you know!?]

[I have already fought———— and defeated several Human-Faceds with my black horse in the Demon Zone.]

[ ! T- That is……]

[It’s exactly for this reason that we came here. However, having to fight them while protecting multiple allies…… my worries would only increase, and I may not be able to concentrate on the battle.]

[Umu…… It is indeed as you say…… I understand. No, we too do not want to be a hindrance to Fly King-dono either……]

[Most of all…… You have your own duty. You are responsible for meeting up with the reinforcements from the Faraway Country, and leading them to His Majesty———— For the decisive battle that lies ahead of us.]

Rohm, who looked embarrassed about not being able to help us in our battle, lifted his head.

[Our own duty……]

[Yes. There aren’t many people who have the experience of surviving against Human-Faceds. Rohm-dono, who has the ability to gather half of your troops and withdraw to this point, even when being attacked by such Human-Faceds…… O soldiers who survived in the previous battle despite the overwhelming premonition of death…… I look forward to seeing you play an active role as my companion who I will fight together with in the decisive battle.]

Thereupon, seemingly struck by lightning, Rohm’s eyes widened.

[————————————Fly King-dono……]

Our exchange was made at a volume that the surrounding soldiers could hear.

Albeit only slightly, the soldiers’ faces were beginning to regain their vigor.

[Rohm-dono, can you give me some quick information on the topography of Panuva Fortress and its vicinity?]

[U- Understood…… At once!]

I’ve already sent out a magical war pigeon to the reinforcements from the Faraway Country.

They should have stopped marching at that moment.

If I don’t get rid of those Human-Faceds, they’ll be held up in their position.

……Even so……

I actually brought Erika’s familiar with me.

I thought I could ask her to do some sort of reconnaissance from the air but……

It’s just, Erika hadn’t contacted us at all.

[………………..]

This familiar is valuable.

I doubt if I can protect it from the battle hereafter.

Since we have been unable to contact her so far……

I think I should leave the familiar with this group’s luggages.

I guess I’ll have to give up on asking Erika for support through her familiar.

Getting the information I needed, after a brief exchange……

[Well then, we will now head to the fortress.]

[Fly King-dono, Seras-dono…… Please be safe. Also…… Thank you.]

Giving him a nod, I led Slei forward———- and had her running.

Once again, we dashed towards our target.

▽

[……………………]

Dawn is beginning to break.

We were now standing at a hill, one with a slope that isn’t so steep.

While riding on Slei, Seras and I looked around at the scene spread out beyond the hill.

Panuva Fortress was visible from the top of the hill we were on.

The Demon Zone extends to the north of the fortress. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

And as far as can be seen from a distance……

I can see that there are three of what appear to be Human-Faceds.

One is wandering around with slug-like movements.

One is walking on two legs, swinging its arms wide.

One is sneaking around like a bug in a bridge-like posture.

Other than those three…… there’s a good number of ordinary Golden-eyed Monsters.

……They’ve scattered quite a bit in the eastern and western areas of the fortress.

I encountered several Golden-eyed Monsters on the way here.

As expected, they aren’t showing any signs of naturally returning to the Demon Zone once they’re done with everything here.

From the impression I’ve got…… they instead seem to be out here in search of new prey.

But still————- looking at them again, there are quite a few of them here.

These three Human-Faceds might not also be the only ones in the area.

After we actually engage them in a fight……

We must be prepared to deal with all the Golden-eyed Monsters in this area.

From behind me, I heard Seras’ bitter voice.

[Touka-dono……]

From the way she spoke, it sounded as if she were gnashing her teeth.

[……As the Count told us, if we run a little to the left from here, there’s a sloping forest——— That would be a good spot. We can’t just charge from this hill…… so I think it’s best if we approach through that forest.]

We went back from the edge of the hill where we are now.

From there, we moved slightly around to the west and entered the forest we had just talked about.

It may not be a Human-Faced, but we encountered a Golden-eyed monster in the forest.

[Gigyeeehh————]

[.]

I paralyzed it……

Swoosh!

And with gentle movements, Seras slashed it in half as she passed by.

While dealing with the monsters just like that, we aim for the clearing in the forest———– the exit.

Through the gaps between the trees, I could see glimpses of the Human-Faceds near the fortress.

So far, it doesn’t seem like they have noticed us.

[……These piece of sh*ts……]

We could see them from the top of the hill earlier.

The bodies of the soldiers scattered around the fortress.

Occasionally, a scream could be heard resounding in the area.

Perhaps, there may only be a few of them, but there are still some people who are still alive.

No……

They are being kept alive.

As the Golden eyes———– the Human-Faceds’ toy.

The closer I got, the details of the scene became clearer.

It was an incredibly messed-up scene that’s hard to put into words.

If there’s such a thing as hell in this world, that scene would definitely be an example of it.

Malice……

Evil……

Were these things so nauseating to the mind?

Corpses all around.

Flies swarming everywhere.

The stench of death, seemingly drifting down to our position.

The flies that fly over the corpses are like the vindictiveness of the dead.

……I had already imagined this but……

Yes.

Seras sounding sad earlier……

Her tone that seemed to be spoken as if she was gnashing her teeth……

I guess it was because even from the top of the hill, she could somewhat see the scene that was happening there.

Back at the top of the hill, she had seen hell.

[……Hmph.]

[Touka-dono?]

Yeah, that was indeed the case.

[That’s right…… That really was the case————-]

Heroic Sword.

Alion’s Thirteen Cavalries.

John Doe.

Oyamada.

Kirihara.

Lately……

I’ve been more in touch with the wickedness of humanity.

Somehow……

My senses may have been blurred.

The acuity of my senses———– had been dulled.

The monsters of the Disposal Ruins.

Soul Eater.

And the black-heartedness of the Human-Faceds I encountered in the Demon Zone……

The Golden-eyed Monsters……

The Human-Faced……

[They were this kind of being after all.]

They were creatures who play and kill humans.

The soldiers who are still alive are but toys for them to play with before killing……

If we jump out here prioritizing their rescue, we’ll also be in danger.

By fighting in such a situation———– We won’t be able to deal with them as we originally planned.

Therefore, we will not be able to save them.

That’s why……

That’s why, at the very least————

[Seras.]

[Yes.]

Seras’ voice had a definite coldness to it.

Cold fury as chilling as ice, stretched to its limit————-

[No holding back.]

[Acknowledged.]

[We will kill them all.]

This situation……

It’s a bit like when we were going to Erika’s place with Eve and Liz.

It’s just like that time when we were in the Demon Zone, killing Human-Faceds.

What’s different from that time———– is the strength of the enemy.

This time, the Human-Faceds that inhabited the Northern Demon Zone were our opponents……

However……

The ones stronger than back then…… It wasn’t just them.

However, doing the same things as we did back then……

Yes…… Exactly as we did back then……

Just as Seras donned her Spirit Regalia behind me———–

[All of them shall be trampled down———–]

I declared.

[And fed to this Fly King.]

With those words————– we rushed out of the forest.