Let’s Finish This Quickly and Go to Sleep.

Pepper Ziegler.

The old man known to the world as Dr. Pepper was someone whose hometown was in the most treacherous place on this continent.

In some ways, even more so than the place beyond the barrier called the demon realm.

At least in that treacherous place, there exists a justification called ‘survival’, and one wouldn’t face meaningless malice like in his hometown.

“Captain!! Undead are swarming in from underground!!”

Well, compared to the ruffians of Leninslieve, these corpses might be considered cute.

It’s just that there are disgustingly many of them, making it a headache.

“Good, we’ve got more cadavers to load onto the carts.”

“Those are too decayed to use even as cadavers!!”

Undead rushing in from the sewers with their mouths gaping greedily.

While armed individuals faced off against them and blocked the way, Pepper, positioned behind them, adjusted his gas mask and shouted to his team members.

“Recovery team, listen up!! From now on, we’re stopping all existing operations and focusing on reinforcing the defense line! The tasks are rescuing the injured and emergency treatment! Escort those who can’t return to the battlefield immediately to the rear as quickly as possible!!”

“Yes!!!”

As team members immediately split up at the sewer junction, troops were accompanying them at various passages to block the incoming corpses.

Soldiers setting up shields to block the passages, relying only on the light emitted by lanterns in the underground where not a single point of light penetrates.

“White Guard!! Hold on until reinforcements arrive!! Focus on defense unless a situation arises where you can eliminate them for sure!!”

“We can’t hold any longer! There are too many of them!!”

“Everyone, get out of the wayyyyy!!!”

At that moment, a current of flame bursts out from the adjacent passage.

As soon as the shield bearers who felt the light from it retreated, a wave of fire that crossed between them swept the incoming undead, turning them into ashes.

No matter how tenacious their vitality, it’s impossible to recover when the entire body is burned. Facing the soldiers who had just breathed a sigh of relief were mana users emanating heat haze all over their bodies.

“Combat Mage Unit from Hares’ Magic Tower, just joined.”

The pointed hats and capes with magic circles drawn using ancient characters symbolize a long-established group that has settled in this city.

But the situation is not good enough to feel reassured by their presence.

What’s needed is more manpower,

Enormous manpower enough to block all the passages of the sewers connected to the entire city.

“Rose Knights of the Duchy of Veneris have arrived!!”

“The Karel Mercenary Group has also joined. Since you called us in a hurry, you’ll pay us plenty, right?”

“Terrius’ Ranger Unit assembly complete! We’ll take charge of support from the rear! Those on the front lines, please focus on defense as much as possible…!!”

Forces gathered to protect the city, regardless of country or affiliation.

While all of them attached crystal balls with communication functions and received contact from the leadership, those carrying massive loads also began to enter the sewers behind them.

Supply officers with more effective armaments that could overcome this situation.

“Support from the Magic Workshop has arrived! Let us know right away if you need equipment!”

“Supply team from Wesson & Colt Trading Company is here, we’ll put the cost on credit!!”

As necessary equipment was generously supplied to the forces spread throughout the city.

The amount far exceeds what’s used in professional military operations, but there was no hesitation in supplying it.

-Boom, boom!

The vibrations felt from deep underground even at this moment.

Were teaching that this is not the time to spare support for those fighting with their lives at stake.

“Oh, damn. What’s that now?”

As those vibrations gradually became more distinct, changes began to occur in the undead appearing at their location.

The numbers increased even more, and monsters that clumped together or underwent abnormal mutations also joined in.

Some moved irregularly by sticking to walls and floors, and there were even individuals that split the terrain itself, making the defense line meaningless.

“We just got contact from Exit 3! They say they’re about to be breached, and if there are any hands left, please send reinforcements!”

“We’re busy here too! Tell them to contact elsewhere!!”

“The defense line at Exit 62 is also on the verge of collapse!”

“Then collapse it to block the entrance and guide the route elsewhere!! We’ll gather them with the ones here and wipe them out in one fell swoop!”

“Before that, tell them to contact the surface!! Issue a disaster alert around the area and order an evacuation first!!”

“There will be many people who won’t cooperate because it’s late!”

“Tell them to make any excuse to evacuate!! Did I come here to fight or to give such instructions!?”

The person in charge shouting while gripping the crystal ball.

His voice seemed more like a wail rather than simply a rebuttal.

A space dug about a dozen meters into each passage. Even undead taking positions as if escorting under the mass of corpses clumped together to the point of reaching the ceiling.

Anyone could understand what would happen the moment such a horrific monstrosity goes out to the surface.

“The moment even one is discovered, the impact will reach the entire continent. We must stop them at all costs!!”

It’s not an exaggeration.

This place has emerged as a symbol of peace.

As such, it attracts the attention of many, and even the slightest danger is fatally applied to trust, as more investment flows here than in any other country.

Therefore, we must prevent this place from falling into chaos at any cost.

Money and beliefs, and further, even lives that can’t be recovered once lost.

“Warriors of Valhalla, cast aside your fear!! Even if we bury our bones here, the god we serve will open the path to heaven for us!!!”

The Valhalla Order settled in Maris.

They, who seek to protect this land purely for honor, prepared to rush towards the army of corpses with no armor except their weapons.

“For Valhallaaaaaaa!!”

A halberd swung with a battle cry. Although the passage is too narrow to swing such a long weapon, the power they possess digs into the walls and accurately cuts out the target.

Debris dancing as if tracing the trajectory behind the blade.

The spirit heightened by the spreading smell of blood was turning even the sense of crisis felt as their bodies were bitten while alive into fighting spirit.

“Graaaaaaahhhh!! You think you can kill us with just this much!!”

“We have teeth too!! Bite and kill!!”

“Valhallaaaaaaaa!!”

Warriors crushing corpses with axes and spears, and if even that’s not enough, using their trained fists and legs.

Their battle cries, preserving the primordial barbarism intact, made even their allies shudder.

The only one who didn’t feel moved was Dr. Pepper, who was tending to the wounded.

“Adjutant, tell those exuberant friends over there. That now is not the time to be unafraid of death.”

“…I’ll tell them euphemistically to try not to die as much as possible.”

Team members rushing to support the Valhalla Order in response to his casual words.

But even Pepper, who was tending to patients, was aware that the situation wasn’t good.

‘Corpses raising corpses, what nonsense is this.’

Medically, I’ve heard it’s theoretically possible to do such things using viruses or parasites, but that’s only when there’s a life response.

To directly raise corpses themselves. They say it’s a power that recalls the records of objects, but is this holy power, an unknown force, capable of even this?

‘No, the corpses coming in must be a precursor.’

Perhaps something even larger might come after this.

“…Dr. Pepper.”

He’s not the only one feeling anxious about this.

“Since your body is decayed, please don’t open your mouth.”

The patient he’s treating.

As the officer in charge of defending the passage area trembled in pain, Pepper took out a syringe from his pocket and inserted it into his body.

A drug containing analgesic and antibiotic components.

It’s not easy to recover body parts decayed by the undead without holy power, but at least it will slow down the progression of decay for a while and prevent shock from pain.

At least it should buy time until they’re escorted to the rear.

“Do you think the Empire’s Sword can win?”

But the fallen officer was more concerned about the one existing in this underground than his own well-being.

The Empire’s Sword.

As a figure that only a very few among those participating in this battlefield have confirmed to have participated, Pepper was also aware of her existence as he was in charge of the important recovery team.

And having directly faced her, he had personally felt her strength.

Although it’s a story from decades ago, if she has been steadily training her sword since that day, he thinks she wouldn’t lose even against an army without exaggeration.

“It would be too much alone.”

But what’s built down there is probably a being that could be called a god, and moreover, a being that has grown in power not from pure faith but from the strange power of ‘lingering attachment’.

Unless one pours out enough power to completely destroy the Halo in a short time, it would never be easy to attack with just physical attacks.

Even before discussing power, the compatibility is not good.

“Then, should we go to support now, even if it’s risky…”

“No, it’ll probably be fine.”

Unlike the worried officer, Pepper’s treatment was unhesitating.

As if he doesn’t think there’s absolutely no hope, even if he’s not certain.

“My disciple is already carving a path and advancing by the shortest route.”

“…Disciple?”

“Don’t you know the one who even took charge as the captain of the Red Cross unit?”

“Ah, yes. If it’s the Red Cross, wasn’t that the unit dedicated to rescue on the front lines?”

“Well, yeah, a friend you might have met once if you went to the front lines and came back alive like you.”

Because the front lines of the war at that time were a place where even the top-class strong couldn’t guarantee their survival.

Countless people either died or returned with amputated limbs, living on borrowed time that even holy power couldn’t help.

For those who survived from such places, it was almost common sense among those from that side that they were usually rescued by rescue units.

“I certainly received help before, but… Isn’t the high evaluation limited to aspects outside of combat?”

Having directly faced such a person before, the officer couldn’t find comfort in this encouragement.

Because no matter how excellent they are, they’re ultimately just a rescue unit.

At best, they could only save and bring back the Empire’s Sword if she was pushed into a disadvantage.

But that alone won’t be of any help in calming the situation.

So they should advance even if it’s risky…

-Rumble!

At the moment he felt impatient, a vibration struck the passage. Turning his gaze, he saw a giant standing out among the mass of corpses approaching them.

A giant with a height that far exceeds twice that of an adult male, even by rough estimate.

Even the Valhalla warriors, whose entire bodies were clumped with muscle, couldn’t help but be intimidated by that overwhelming presence for a moment.

“Do not be afraid! We are…”

“Just stand there with your axe, will you?”

At that moment, Pepper, who had finished treatment, rushed out immediately.

Passing by the Valhalla Order members, he soon threw a bandage infused with mana at the arm about to swing towards him.

-Whoosh!

The bandage manipulated by telekinesis wraps around the arm, and the opposite end cleverly tangles among the surrounding undead, restraining its movement.

When the hand swung, the body’s balance greatly staggered due to the entangled undead.

-Bang!!!

The kick that swept the lower body at that moment further disrupted the balance, and simultaneously, the thrown bandage pulled the neck, causing the upper body to fall downward.

Right in front of the Valhalla Order member who had raised his axe.

“Swing it.”

“Valhallaaaaaaaaaa!!!!”

-Crash!!!

The moment the neck of the giant made of clumped corpses was cut off by the axe strike.

As the blade imbued with holy power cut off the vital point, despite its enormous physique, its body went limp and collapsed.

The moment a danger capable of breaching the defense line was subdued in mere seconds.

“Let’s believe.”

Pepper, who stomped on that corpse, turned to look at those watching the scene blankly and revealed his face.

Although it had decayed hideously due to continuous drug use, he revealed a smile that was still vivid despite such an appearance.

“Seine… That child is my disciple, and the one who inherited the blood of the revolutionary who changed the Empire.”

It’s a story known to those who should know.

That the one who assisted at the side of the emperor who overturned the Empire was the figure who heralded the beginning of the spread of medical science in this era.

Given that such a figure has come to assist none other than the strongest known as the ‘Empire’s Sword’, wouldn’t it be strange not to have expectations?

---

Yes, it’s an opportunity.

Now is the perfect chance to split this woman’s skull.

-You, damned youngsters who don’t know your place!!!

But the upper body of the giant made of corpses shouting at the top of its lungs over there…

If we let that former emperor guy run wild like this, let alone mitigating the situation, we must also consider that the entire city might be destroyed.

That absolutely must not happen.

“Seine!!”

“I know without you saying it!!!”

Chunks of flesh rising as they split from the sword strike he swung.

What writhes from those cross-sections were things made by sticking together arms, heads, and other human body parts.

No matter how strong, that’s probably the limit of separation possible with physical sword strikes.

“I have to see the kids tomorrow too, and it would be awkward to greet them with a sleepy face.”

But no matter how big the size, no matter how many in number, they’re ultimately just corpse scraps.

Wouldn’t it be shameful to the god I serve to be scared of those that can’t even be used as cadavers?

“Let’s finish this quickly and go to sleep.”

The hand blade imbued with such will is forged with mana.

The afterimage like a crescent moon drawn by the light formed at its end as it swings.

-Slash!!

The moment that flash of light split the huge mass of flesh flying towards me, my gaze was fixed precisely on the target visible through that gap.

On the neck of the one called a god.

On the blood vessel pulsating inside it.