Lord of Disease (JP-GL) 207

207: The Greater Wraith

The castle of the Fourth Army was filled with the presence of death.

…That might have been a rude thing to say, but since almost everyone I saw, in the courtyard and on the ramparts, was a skeleton or a wraith… in other words, undead… I think my impression was justified.

It wasn’t that there were no undead at the royal castle or Fort Litalside, but they were a very small minority.

Liz, Samarkand, and I were being escorted by the undead griffin riders. Aithys had stayed behind to take care of Leaf.

I could feel the stares, hear the whispers, but there was no hostility, no malice.

Come to think of it, Harken had been the ‘property’ of the Fourth Army, and Rebecca had been something of an idol. To be the new superior of their former colleagues and their idol… they must have been curious.

I was a supreme commander, after all, and there were probably people who wanted to see me.

As I was thinking this, we arrived at our destination.

A heavy, sturdy door opened, and we stepped onto a red carpet.

“It has been a long time, Lord of Disease. Thank you for coming all this way.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Eldritch-dono.” I returned his greeting.

On a raised throne sat a skeleton in a purple robe… but his entire body was translucent. He was said to be the only known Greater Wraith, but I didn’t really know how he was different from a normal wraith. The emblem of the Fourth Army was embossed on the armored plate around his neck.

Eldritch, supreme commander of the Demon King’s army, Commander-in-Chief of the Fourth Army, the Greater Wraith.

Along with the Old One, Listrea-sama, and the Dragon Mother, Lital-sama, he was one of the founding members who had supported His Majesty and founded the nation of Listrea.

The Undead Army was the largest in the Listrea Demon Kingdom, in terms of sheer numbers. Since a certain number of the dead became undead, and they had no real lifespan, there were many elite among them. Along with the Second Army, the Dark Knights, and the Third Army, the Beastman Army, they were a symbol of this nation’s military might.

Two figures, presumably his aides, stood beside the throne.

To his right was a knight in black full plate armor. His face, and even his race, were hidden behind a menacing, horned helmet. He held a staff, wrapped in various old cloths, the same one Eldritch-san himself usually carried.

To his left was a wraith, in a loose, white robe. Even through her translucent form, I could tell she was beautiful, with wavy, golden hair that fell to her back, and skin that was as white as snow, even for an undead.

And her ears were long and pointed, like bamboo leaves.

This was the second non-dark elf I had seen since coming to this country, after Rebecca.

Flora, the vice-commander of the Fourth Army. I didn’t know the faces and names of many of the people in the other armies, but her high rank and her race had made an impression.

“Please, make yourselves comfortable until the others arrive… I would like to say.”

“Yes. A meeting before then.”

Flora-san stepped forward.

“I am Flora, the vice-commander of the Fourth Army. Shall we move to another room to discuss the matter at hand?”

I glanced at Liz. She, too, stepped forward.

“Yes. I am Lizlit, the vice-commander of the Sixth Army. I hope we can exchange information through this military council.”

And she bowed gracefully.

I was happy to see my vice-commander being so composed and professional.

…As I was enjoying this heartwarming moment from behind my mask, I noticed Eldritch-san’s gaze. Or rather, the direction of his gaze.

It was fine that he was looking at Flora-san, his vice-commander. But… there was something strange about it. A similar atmosphere to my own death knights…

“Then, this way.” Eldritch-san stood up, taking the staff from the black-armored death knight. And with only Flora-san, he led me, Liz, and Samarkand to a nearby room, which seemed to be a conference room.

It was a simple room, with a map on the wall and a large round table.

“If you would, please remove your mask. Whether you show your face to the members of the Fourth Army is for you to decide, Lord of Disease.”

“Yes. You already know, don’t you, Eldritch-dono?” I bowed and removed my mask.

I handed my staff to Samarkand and sat down opposite him. Liz stood beside me. Flora-san did the same, standing beside Eldritch-san.

“I have wanted to have a proper conversation with you for some time. When I go to the royal capital, I don’t have much free time. As an undead who does not require sleep, I am often overworked.”

At his soft tone, I, too, relaxed a little.

“The Fourth Army is a large unit, after all.”

“It is not a position I desired, but what’s done is done.”

“Yes, what’s done is done.” I nodded in agreement.

“…Hmm. May I ask you something?”

“…If I can answer it.” His voice had turned serious, and I straightened my posture.

“Lord of Disease, are you in love with your vice-commander?”

“Huh? Well, I love her, of course, but what about it?”

Liz’s mouth fell open.

“M-Master?! What are you saying all of a sudden?”

“Well, he asked…”

“Do you have to answer every question you’re asked?”

“He’s a supreme commander. If it were a difficult question…”

“Huh? Am I the strange one? Was that not a difficult question for you to answer?”

“Of course not.”

Liz was speechless.

“Let me ask you another thing. What do you think of Flora?”

“…Huh? She’s very cute.”

Liz sighed.

“Um, Master… I don’t think that’s what he was asking.”

“Really? But I mean, I can tell she’s competent from just this, but other than that, all I can see is her appearance. She’s a wraith, but she’s only the second elf I’ve seen, and she’d look great next to Rebecca, with her soft, golden hair.”

“Master.” Liz’s expression was one of exasperation.

“No, that’s fine. It seems we’ll get along. My vice-commander is so lovely, isn’t she—”

“Eldritch-sama?”

Flora-san smiled.

“Our esteemed leader of the Fourth Army, the Greater Wraith, are you familiar with the word ‘digression’?”

“I am.” Eldritch-san tilted his head.

Flora-san’s smile didn’t waver. “Then what is this? I was under the impression that we had moved to this room to exchange information smoothly, without being bound by ceremony.”

“Yes, that’s right. Though we lead different armies and have different duties, we are fellow supreme commanders. We must speak openly with each other.” Eldritch-san nodded with a grand gesture.

“I understand that, but…”

“Then the fastest way is for me to have you understand what I love most, is it not?”

Flora-san’s smile deepened.

“Our supreme commander is truly an airhead.”

And she cut him down with a smile.

“Hey, Liz. I don’t think Eldritch-san is a stranger.”

“I don’t think Flora-sama is a stranger either. And did you just say his name in your head?”

I covered my mouth at Liz’s words.

“Oops.”

“No, you may call me by my name. It seems you have come to understand Flora’s virtues in a short time. You may call me whatever you wish.” Eldritch-san laughed.

I had been quite nervous, but with our shared love for our vice-commanders, it seemed we would get along just fine.