Chapter 57 (1/2)

Finished with the inspection of Village of the Pond, we moved on to Village of Medicine.

The Village Head of Village of Medicine turned out to be an old granny who was the herbalist for the previous generation. She is both popular with the residents and also quite sharp.

Having learned from last time, I sent Irudo ahead first to fully explain the situation before I arrived, so the negotiations with the Village Head went quite smoothly.

“Though our village is this small, we’ve also been frequently hara.s.sed by bandits. If you will protect us from them going here forward, then we would gladly accept your rule.”

“Indeed, let’s both do our parts well.”

The population of Village of Medicine is around 130, so their lifestyle is also pretty tight. Just like with Village of the Pond, I promised them safety and improvement in living standards, then also told them that I won’t be collecting tax for the near while.

Of course, the Village Head and villagers were all overjoyed.

“I’m really sorry, but we actually have one more thing to ask of you……”

What the small-statured grandma pleaded while shrinking her body was ‘subjugation of the undead.’

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Apparently, recently the dead bodies of soldiers have suddenly started to wander about the forest at night. There have been no casualties of yet, due in part to the location being quite a distance from the village, and also because they do not actively seek out and attack people. However, the place where they appear is right beside a precious medicinal herb gathering spot, so it is causing the village some trouble on the financial end.

“We have nowhere near enough money to hire adventurers…… and neither are we paying taxes to the city or Carbanera Knight Order, so……”

So well, after saying that much, of course it falls to me, the feudal lord, to take care of this.

♥♦♣♠

For someone used to a modern j.a.panese city, nighttime in the forest is almost frightening merely in how dark it gets.

However, I can still dimly see my surroundings. Part of the reason is due to the white moonlight filtering through the gaps in the foliage above. Also, our targets are also glowing faintly from phosph.o.r.escence.

There are about 20 of ‘them’ picking their way through the woods with uncertain strides. The fact that they are grouped into 2 loose columns only increases the creepiness of the sight.

They’re ‘wights.’

According to the Warrior Priest Torad, the yellow phosph.o.r.escence covering the bodies of the dead are the actual main bodies of the wights.

They’re equipped with ragged armor, s.h.i.+eld, and sword or spear. With their mummy-like dried up bodies, vacant stares, and intermittent moans, they are truly the walking dead.

“Oh army of the departed! This land is the territory of the living!”

Torad stands square in the path of the marching wights, then raises the holy symbol of the G.o.ddess he serves.

After he finishes chanting a pa.s.sage from scripture, a dazzling light descends upon the group of undead.

“In the name of the G.o.ddess of Winter, Ashuginea, begone, you wights!”

“Ga, a……”

“...... Fushuu…… Uguruu……”

“Ooo, it’s Turn Undead.”

Sedam, Jiruk, and I stand ready to support him at a moment’s notice. At the sight, my voice involuntarily slips out.

Bathed in the divine light, the yellow phosph.o.r.escence clothing the wights’ bodies seem to evaporate, growing ever thinner until eventually disappearing. Having lost their phosph.o.r.escence, the bodies crumple one by one as they return to being mere corpses again.

“...... I have finished confirming. All undead in this area have been wiped out.”

Without a moment’s delay, Leiha activated an area search for enemies, then reported to me.

I am a bit over-excited from seeing the power of a Warrior Priest for the first time, patting Torad on his burly shoulder several times.

“Well done indeed. With this, the misgivings of the inhabitants of Village of Medicine should be allayed.”

“Thank you. But well, it’s just that……”

The Warrior Priest looks tired but also slightly sad at the same time.

When he uses Turn Undead, it apparently causes him to come into contact with the memories and souls of the targeted undead.

“They were soldiers gathered 10 years ago to fight against Shadow Demons. It seems that the appearance of the nest several days ago was what caused them to reawaken.”

…… Even undeads think of Shadow Demons as enemies, is that how it is?

It’s true that if I compare these wights to Shadow Demons, I feel a lot more hatred towards the living from the latter than the former.

The answer to the question of “what exactly are Shadow Demons?” seems to have grown even farther away after tonight.

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The next day.

“Fuu, fuuu……”

“S-, so tired……”

“Ze ze…… ze……”

“You guys’ paces have become uneven! Irregardless of the speed, you can’t do that! One breath per step! Also, don’t change the distance of each step!”

We are going through a shortcut that leads to our final destination, Inner Village.

The three youngsters who were suddenly conscripted from Village of the Pond are currently being instructed by Jiruk while walking.

This isn’t really punishment or hara.s.sment. According to Jiruk, it’s the basics of marching practice.

He had apparently been in an army for a while, so for now, I’ve made him their commanding officer and entrusted their education to him.

“80% of a soldier’s job is to walk. However, if the entire army cannot walk the same distance in the same amount of time, then it becomes useless! Starting now, I’m going to pound this into your bodies!”

When I hear ‘a soldier’s training,’ images of a.s.saulting something with swords and spears come to my mind. The real thing turns out to be quite different.

At this rate, even if we increase the number of soldiers to around 50, I think Jiruk can still handle them,