328: The Fall of the Holy City
If I were to choose a magical attribute to represent a nation, I would probably choose holy magic… the light attribute.
Many healing spells were of the light attribute, and it was the most effective countermeasure against the disaster-like phenomenon of the undead. Everyday magic was a general term for spells that were not specialized in any attribute and were diluted to be usable by the majority, but [Cleansing] and [Preserve] were, if anything, of the light attribute.
And if the purpose was to ensure the survival of the nation and the happiness of its people, and to use religion as a guide.
The religion of the Holy Kingdom of Etrantal was a religion that I, too, might have created.
It was convenient. It condemned theft and adultery, praised poverty as a virtue, and fostered a sense of unity through prayer. And according to Rebecca, reading the scriptures was equivalent to an elementary education in magic.
If there were people who could use this level of magic, the world might be a peaceful place. Holy magic… no, ‘divine miracles,’ ‘the grace of faith,’ appeared from time to time. Indeed, if you were read this as a child, you would probably believe that if you prayed, God would answer… that if you wished strongly enough, any miracle could come true.
The Holy Kingdom had a higher rate of everyday magic use than the other two nations. Incidentally, the Empire was said to have a high rate of [Cleansing] use, on par with the Holy Kingdom… but that was probably a result of their struggle with the fine sand that got into everything.
And thanks to the power of the widely used everyday magic, the holy city was kept beautiful… or had been.
The pure white city, which seemed to sparkle in the sunlight even from a distance, was probably a little dazzling for its inhabitants, but it was beautiful enough to make you believe in the grace of God.
But that was in the past.
Since the objective was not destruction, it was not worth the effort. But as a result of the spilled blood and the continued elimination of the stubborn resistance, sometimes with offensive magic, the beautiful cityscape was a shadow of its former self.
“Samarkand, make sure this scene can be reproduced.”
“As you wish.”
Only the cathedral of the Central Church had been completely destroyed. We had used a lavish amount of firewood and oil (looted, of course), which were now precious commodities, and had piled up the furniture as kindling, and had set it on fire with Samarkand’s offensive magic.
The writhing, snake-like flames had engulfed the cathedral, which had been the whitest and most beautiful building in the holy city, along with the martyrs who had fallen there, and had reduced it to ashes.
It was a strangely captivating… yes, a beautiful, moving sight. The sound of the stonework collapsing, of the remaining stained-glass windows being caught in the flames and shattering, was almost solemn. It was a symbolic scene, as if a part of this world was breaking.
Even I, who had no connection to this cathedral and did not believe in this religion, felt that way, so for the people of the Holy Kingdom, and for the people of the Kingdom, who had many believers, it must have felt as if the very foundations of their world were crumbling.
The holy city had fallen.
In the end, since the enemy had come out to fight, Plan B, to fight outside the city walls, had been adopted, but Plan A had also worked without a hitch. The plan had been to concentrate our forces on the main gate, with about three hundred death knights, including the Lord of Disease, as a decoy, and to have Rebecca lead another three hundred death knights and about three hundred Barghests to break through the back gate.
In the end, the gate had been opened by Liz and a few wraith assassins who had descended on a griffin, and the rest had poured in and finished the job. A fortress city was well-defended, but for that very reason… there was nowhere to run.
And for some reason, the cathedral, not the royal castle, had been chosen as the final stronghold… and with its many beautiful stained-glass windows, which I would have considered leaving intact if it hadn’t been an enemy nation, the religious building, with its many windows, was not at all suited for a defensive position.
There were only a handful of living beings left. And they were all from Listrea, including myself.
There had been casualties, but considering that the main force was completely absent, and that we had taken a nation’s capital by force, the number was small.
Liz and Rebecca were also safe.
I had entered the royal castle, which had been suppressed a little earlier, and was now touring the interior with Liz and a few death knights. There was no sign of human life, but a group of Barghests and death knights were scouting ahead.
“I was surprised that the main gate was open.”
“Well, a lot happened. They came out to attack us…”
“What did you say?” Liz frowned. And when she saw that I wasn’t going to correct myself, she closed her eyes and shook her head.
“…You never know what will happen on a battlefield.”
I didn’t really know what had happened. It wasn’t worth keeping someone alive and interrogating them just for that, so in the end, it was a mystery.
“I think it was because they saw me… the Lord of Disease…”
“Well, you are the Lord of Disease. Especially for the people of the Holy Kingdom, you are the most unforgivable enemy, so it can’t be helped.”
“I’m not a demon or an undead, you know.”
According to the doctrine of the religion of the Holy Kingdom, humans were supreme, and demons and undead were impure beings, the enemies of God. In fact, the scriptures did not mention elves, dark elves, beastmen, or dragons, so it was possible that at the time the scriptures and the doctrine were created, only the two races of demons and undead, which were unpredictable due to their natural emergence, were considered the enemies of ‘humanity.’
Even setting aside the dragons, if they had incorporated the elf and beastman races, which were close enough to have children, the power balance of the continent might have been different.
“You’re crazier than a demon, and more resilient than an undead. It can’t be helped.”
“What kind of a strange assessment is that? I’m a very human-like human.”
Liz’s eyes narrowed, as if to say, What are you talking about? The fact that she didn’t say it directly was probably a sign of her restraint, but since her eyes were saying it so eloquently, I didn’t think it made much of a difference.
As we reached the central district, the level of luxury increased slightly.
One of the death knights who had been guarding us spoke.
“Our master, this seems to be the royal residence. Shall you rest here for the night?”
“Huh, I’m not a king.”
“Oh? But you are the King of Disease and Poison.”
“Honestly, it’s just for show.”
“What, the ruthlessness and the mercy of our master are both worthy of a king, so there is no problem.”
“I don’t know if I should be happy, to have those two things spoken of in the same breath.”
A ripple of laughter spread through the death knights.
Well, even if it was a joke that I was worthy of being a king.
The canopied bed in the center of the room was, as expected of a royal family of the Holy Kingdom, a magnificent piece. My bed was a king-size, in Earth terms, but this was… a god-size? A bed that could probably sleep ten people, with a high canopy. Luxurious, deep red velvet. The frame of the canopy was a dull gold, which I had a feeling was made of real gold. And I was touched by the craftsman’s playful spirit, when I found a carving of a bird, hidden in the intricately intertwined vine pattern.
If this had been a suite in a hotel, it would have probably cost a million yen a night.
Liz walked around, occasionally tapping the walls. She seemed to be satisfied with the security, and she nodded.
“As expected, it’s sturdy. It’s almost in the center, so offensive magic won’t reach, and there don’t seem to be any secret passages.”
“I’d like an escape route and a self-destruct device, just in case.” Incidentally, the Lord of Disease’s mansion had no such things.
“Self-destruct…? Why would you need that?”
“To take the attackers with me, and to blow everything up. And if possible, to escape ourselves.”
“I don’t know what kind of a self-destruct device you’re imagining, Master, but something that can blow everything up in an emergency is a scary thing to have. Do you want to sleep on top of a [Fireball] trap?”
“Wow, that’s scary.”
“What kind of a carefree conversation are you having?” Rebecca’s voice, filled with exasperation, came from the hallway.
“—The city has been suppressed. It is complete.”
“Rebecca, good work. Your report.”
“Basically, we divided into squads, assigned them to districts, and wiped them out. No living being can escape the senses of the Black Hound Barghests and the undead. The patrols are ongoing, and we have also deployed troops on the outer walls. I don’t think it will happen, but we are prepared, even if a nearby force comes to retake the holy city.”
“…I see.” So, I was the only human left in this city.
“By the way, your popularity with our knights seems to have risen again. What did you do?”
I tilted my head at Rebecca’s words.
“Nothing special. I did supply mana to one who was in danger.”
“I heard that… but you injured your hand?”
“Yes.”
“You were injured? How?”
“That’s the thing, I haven’t heard the details of the injury. They won’t tell me.”
“…What did you do?” Liz glared at me.
“I just supplied mana.” And Liz looked at the death knights who were with me, and they all looked away, in a perfectly synchronized movement.
“…Let me see your wound.” At Rebecca’s words, I held out my gloved hand.
“Hmm? Bite marks? —Hey. You didn’t stick your bare hand in a skeleton’s mouth, did you?” Rebecca’s eyebrows furrowed, and her tone dropped.
“You do remember… the procedure for supplying mana to an undead, don’t you? —Hand-to-hand contact is the basic. To absorb it internally is for predation. And with the added force of the jaw… damn it.” Rebecca clicked her tongue. It was the first time I had seen her, who was always so polite and logical, even when she was complaining to me, click her tongue.
“And this is with defensive magic… you all. Don’t tell me you didn’t know. Why didn’t you stop her?” The warmth was gone from Rebecca’s voice. Her crimson eyes narrowed, and the death knights, who were being questioned with a cold voice and a cold gaze, fell silent.
“Rebecca, they tried to stop me, but I ignored them. That’s all. Don’t blame them.”
“…My healing magic is only for first aid, and it can only heal minor wounds. And medical supplies are precious. If you or Liz were to be seriously injured, our options would be limited. —Remember that.”
“Yes. Be careful, Liz.”
“If someone was saved, then Master’s choice was the right one. But it is our job to put our bodies on the line for you. Please do not forget that.”
“I’ve never forgotten. …But if one of my subordinates, who has put their body on the line for me, is in danger, then I will put my body on the line, if necessary. —That, I will not compromise on.”
Not always. I was a decoy, at best, and I wasn’t on the front lines. Today, my hand had not held a sword and killed a person, and I had not been cut down and died. I had my role.
…But if one of my subordinates, who had believed in me, was on the verge of death, and if there was a chance… then I would do it again, and again.
“…You’re soft on your own.” Rebecca sighed.
“But we must draw the line. —You all. As a punishment, you will be on watch tonight. Secure the perimeter of this residential area.”
“““Yes!””” The death knights clicked their heels and chanted in unison.
If a guard had been entrusted with a protectee and, as a result of their own judgment, had put that protectee in danger… then it was not at all strange for her to order a ‘punishment,’ in accordance with military regulations. As she had said, a line had to be drawn. Especially in the army.
But…
“Hey, Rebecca, since they’re undead, isn’t being on watch all night the norm?”
“Even if you notice, you should keep it to yourself.” So, it had been a formal punishment.
