Lord of Disease (JP-GL) 183

183: An Invitation from the Undead Army

“Rebecca, let me confirm. What does the Fourth Army want from me?”

“Advice… I suppose. Dealing with a pack of over thirty Barghests will be difficult, and there will be casualties.”

“I imagine so.”

“Even the Barghests, outnumbered, should be useful for scouting. We’re a small, elite unit, so they probably think the more the merrier.”

“I see.”

“And they also seem to want to take this opportunity to talk. You’re the only supreme commander they haven’t had a proper meeting with.”

“Eldritch-san seems busy.”

Rebecca, as a veteran necromancer who had once been part of the Fourth Army, was familiar with their inner workings. Her explanation made sense.

The Fourth Army was the largest in the Demon King’s army. And while it was called an ‘army,’ many of its members were closer to civilians. The life force required to sustain the undead was a heavy burden on the Listrea Demon Kingdom, but they were also a valuable workforce.

Therefore, he was probably the busiest supreme commander.

“But the invitation is for some time in the future. The weather is bad in the winter, and if we were to head to the Badlands now, it would be a forced march. The letter was addressed to me for that reason.”

The Badlands were in the eastern part of Listrea. But since this country was in the northern part of the continent, it was cold. And east was not south.

“By the way, if we were to make a forced march, what would be our mode of transport?”

“…A carriage, most likely. Since our Master is human.”

It seemed there were other means of transport for a forced march. For some, walking with physical enhancement would be faster than dealing with a horse and carriage in the snow.

“Can the carriage be enhanced?”

“My master, may I have permission to answer?”

“Granted, Samarkand.”

Samarkand, who had been standing by as a servant—though since Liz usually did everything, his job was mostly to pick up dropped cutlery—spoke.

“There would be no problem. I am, after all, a greater demon. If I were to exert myself, it would be an easy journey, my master.”

“…So, impossible.”

Using a greater demon—a cute subordinate—as a means of transport… was insane, in every sense of the word.

“My apologies. That was a figure of speech. It is my greatest joy to serve my master, so I would not misjudge my own limits in peacetime. However, I would not be able to engage in magical combat during the journey.”

“I see…” It would be a very demanding journey.

“Rebecca, would you be too busy enhancing the horses?”

The horses we had used before had been skeleton horses. With Rebecca’s enhancement magic, they had provided a fast and comfortable journey. But with the snow deeper than it had been in Liverit Village, that might not be possible.

“That would be the case. If we were to be attacked, for example, in the latter half of the journey, our only guards would be Liz, Harken, and the Barghests.”

“Your opinion, Liz.”

“Within our borders, it shouldn’t be a problem. I doubt an elite force or a large unit could move undetected.”

“What about the ones who crossed the mountains before?”

I had once been nearly killed by a group of idiots who had bypassed the border defenses by crossing the Lital Mountains.

“That was a special case… and the distance is much greater. It would be difficult for them to procure a carriage and other supplies. And even with the ‘Dragon’s Blood’ potion, the threat level is much lower now. The border defenses have also been strengthened.”

“Hmm… Harken.”

“I agree with Liz-dono. I know Eldritch-sama well. He would not wish to harm the Lord of Disease. Therefore, none of the other five supreme commanders have a reason to kill my master. And if that is the case, then there are no more elite enemies.”

He clicked his jawbone.

“And if a fool were to still target my master’s life, then they are a traitor, and I will cut them down.” Harken declared, his voice calm.

…There was no longer any reason for my own allies to kill me.

That fact slowly sank in.

There were probably still those who wanted to kill me. But they were not the mainstream. They were, as Harken had said, fools and traitors.

“But is there a reason to rush? —Rebecca.”

“As I said, the Barghests are a troublesome opponent for the Undead Army, but the Fourth Army has members other than undead… we can’t just leave them, but if they were to attack, it would be a blessing.”

“I see.”

Black Hound Barghests were feared for their judgment and their ability to flee. Their skill in assessing their opponents was the source of the folklore about ‘harbingers of death’ and ‘seeing one means certain death.’

“By the way, Liz, you said you’ve fought them before…?”

It must have been a long time ago. But I couldn’t imagine a situation where a Barghest would target Liz, and where she would be forced to face them alone.

“I was ordered to exterminate a pack of about twenty. …By suppressing my mana signature to its limit and feigning weakness to lure them out.”

“What?”

“Who would willingly do such a thing… that damn superior…” Liz spat out the words with hatred, and my heart ached.

I looked down. I had never… thought of myself as a good superior. I had never even tried to act like a model superior.

I had decided to do the job I was given, perfectly, and to live the rest of my life as I pleased, as amusingly as I could.

Because life was short.

Now that I had lived longer than I’d expected, I had some regrets.

But the happy memories I had of spending time with beautiful girls like Liz and Rebecca were enough for me. But… to hear such words from Liz… it hurt.

“…Ah! I didn’t mean you, Master!”

I looked up at Liz’s panicked words. I opened my mouth.

“…But I…” My voice trembled, and I couldn’t say any more.

“…You know, don’t you?”

At Liz’s exasperated voice, I looked down again. My eyes met those of the Barghest at my feet. I ruffled its fur, and it closed its eyes.

I continued to pet the Barghest, pretending to be busy, and focused on the healing sensation of its fur.

“Well, I have my complaints, but our Master is a lot better than that bastard.”

“…Because it’s a woman, and not a man…?”

“Well, yes. —If a male superior had done the things Master has done to me, I would have slit his throat.”

Liz’s words were extreme. I instinctively looked at Rebecca.

“…I might have hit him with an attack spell. It’s too much. No matter what accomplishments he had… that’s a breach of discipline.”

“So, it’s safe if it’s a woman…?”

“Barely.”

I was glad I was born a woman. I thanked my parents, whom I couldn’t even remember, for the circumstances of my summoning to this world.

“And Master gives me proper written orders… and she plans her operations considering the risks and rewards… and she listens to her subordinates’ opinions… and she doesn’t just call me out and give me ridiculous verbal orders, using her authority to push me around… right?”

Liz’s gaze was distant.

“Wait, that’s too much of a shitty superior.”

I had decided, when I had decided to wield my authority as a supreme commander in my private life, that I would also ‘do my job properly.’ That was my bottom line.

“That’s why he was a shitty superior. He’s gone now, but at the time, that kind of thing was tolerated… It was about sixty years ago, so things are a little better now.”

Liz clamped her mouth shut.

“…I already had a rough idea of your age, you know?”

She stubbornly refused to tell me her age, but based on her military record, I estimated she was around eighty. Though it was possible she had enlisted late.

Liz’s long ears drooped a little.

“…To you, Master, I’m an old woman.”

I shook my head.

“No. What’s important is your apparent age.”

Rebecca spoke.

“…Hey. How old do I look to you?”

“Over eighteen.”

“…Why eighteen?”

“The age of majority in my homeland.” And an age that wasn’t dangerous.

In reality, Rebecca was undoubtedly over four hundred years old, counting only the time she had been undead. And whether the concept of ‘age’ even applied to an undead was questionable. Harken was about the same age, and while I didn’t know Samarkand’s age, as a greater demon, he was undoubtedly older than me. While there were no strict criteria, it was a title given to a demon who had accumulated power for at least a hundred years.

My preference was generally for ‘cute younger girls,’ so if I went by their actual age, my strike zone would be quite narrow in this country.

But as I had declared, I believed that apparent age was what mattered. And a certain level of mental maturity was a plus. In that sense, Liz and Rebecca were both perfect.

“Yesterday was fun. I slept well. Hey, Liz. Shouldn’t we just sleep together every night?”

“That is outside my job description.”

“Then in private.” I pressed.

Liz looked away. Her scarf twitched.

“…Sometimes.”

My heart skipped a beat. I had expected her to refuse.

The last time I’d asked, I believe she’d politely told me to ‘talk in my sleep.’ She had also said she was the type who liked to keep her public and private lives separate.

“…Yes.” I smiled and nodded.

“I’m motivated.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“So, I’m being asked to solve the ‘consultation’ from the Fourth Army regarding the Barghests, in a manner that is unusual, yet befitting of the Sixth Army?”

“…Rebecca, how did you jump to that conclusion?”

“I don’t know.”

“My master, is it your intention to have come up with such a method in this very moment?”

“Yes, Samarkand. That is correct.”

“A truly interesting person.”

“I’m not your master for nothing, Harken.”

I had to be a good master. Because I wasn’t willing to give up the pleasure of playing with my authority. I had to show them even greater accomplishments.

“Liz, first, I want you to list all the hot spring resorts and areas with good baths in the country. And the delicious local foods as well. Rebecca, I need your support.”

“Wait a minute, Master. This is a plan to cooperate with the Fourth Army, not a fun-filled sightseeing trip, right?”

“What are you talking about, Liz? Of course it is. This is undoubtedly part of the plan to cooperate with the Fourth Army, using the Barghests.”

At my smooth reply, Liz was at a loss for words. She seemed to be searching for the right words, then she looked at me and smiled, a strangely cynical smile.

“…I still don’t understand you, Master.”