Ch.108Chapter 108. Let Me Give You a Piece of Advice

An excavation zone spanning the entire mountain range, where dragon bones are being unearthed.

In a secluded corner of what’s commonly called the Dragon’s Grave, they were regularly holding modest funeral ceremonies after cremating recovered bodies.

Since there were casualties among soldiers and adventurers while clearing out the Undead, it was necessary to honor their sacrifices.

“…They say a funeral expresses the life one has lived.”

Unlike usual when comrades from the same party or unit would attend, today’s funeral had only a single mourner.

Though it was unusual that this one person was the Legion Commander who controlled the garrison area, what he uttered while looking down at the urn wasn’t commemoration but something closer to reproach.

“Jean Cleo, the life you sent was truly empty.”

If only those who had come to the garrison area with him had attended, he wouldn’t have felt such resentment.

In reality, far from attending the funeral, they had left a single note and departed somewhere.

[If you go to the place written on this note, you should be able to recover his remains. Please hold his funeral in place of Hyoseong…]

A cold affair, if one could call it that.

But if the reality was to resolve the lingering attachment of a foolish comrade, one couldn’t simply blame them.

Even though they knew that in these times, obsessing over past heroes was meaningless.

“…I’ll watch over things, but don’t expect anything more.”

Yes, they were probably continuing their mission even after his departure.

Though Marcus had mixed feelings about his death, he ultimately suppressed them all, determined to pursue his own path.

What was needed to protect humanity wasn’t exceptional heroes, but an army so powerful that even such heroes would be just a small part of it.

This belief remained even after witnessing his death, leading to a commitment to coldly evaluate what he had left behind.

“You seemed to see some potential in that man, but to me, a hero is nothing more than just one capable soldier.”

For now, it would be enough to watch over and support from behind.

With that, Marcus finished his brief condolences and was about to turn away from his place to focus on his mission.

“…So you’ve left after all.”

Until he heard someone’s sudden murmur, as if taking his empty place.

“What…”

Yes, by then, a woman had taken a seat there.

The apron she wore and the tools hanging from her belt indicated that she was one of the artisans working in this garrison area.

“Just the other day, this youngster was waiting for me to die, and now he’s gone before me… Is time passing too quickly, or did I take too long and end up like this?”

But what stood out more was the cigarette in her mouth.

The strong smoke spreading with her indifferent murmurs was intense enough to swallow even the faint smell of ashes permeating the funeral hall.

“…Do you know him?”

It was concerning that someone with such a presence had visited a funeral that no one else was attending.

With that thought, he stopped his departing steps to ask, but she merely continued to silently look down at the urn.

As if he wasn’t even worth her attention.

“Hey, can’t you hear me…!”

Just as he was about to raise his voice in irritation, her gaze moved.

The moment he met it, his breath stopped, and his frozen gaze became fixed on the two eyes staring at him.

“…Did you call me?”

A voice stained with fatigue and eyes tinged with decadence.

Just facing them made his urgent feelings subside, and he felt the military discipline he needed to maintain as Legion Commander breaking.

Though it was just for a moment.

He thought that perhaps all forms of authority might be meaningless before the person in front of him.

“…Please refrain from smoking at a funeral.”

Marcus, dismissing that momentary sense of discomfort as an illusion, carefully spoke while avoiding her gaze.

Was his voice lower than usual because of some inexplicable sense of alienation?

Despite his attitude seeming dubious, she merely removed the cigarette from her mouth and exhaled the strong smoke.

“Doesn’t matter, does it? It seems like there’s no one else to hear it now except me.”

“It’s a matter of basic courtesy. Showing an impure attitude at a funeral is disrespectful to the deceased.”

Courtesy.

It seemed laughable even as he said it.

After all, more disrespectful than smoking would be coming to mock the dead.

“…What a funny thing to say. To act respectfully before ashes.”

But the woman’s sneer was aimed not at his attitude, but at his words themselves.

Fixing her gaze on the urn, she removed the cigarette from her mouth and muttered bitterly.

“Well, I suppose the funerals performed by humans are ultimately a culture of the living. If we don’t cherish even these ashes and reflect on the past, the times we’ve gone through would become meaningless.”

“…Humans?”

A meaningful murmur along with the smoke.

Feeling suspicious about it, Marcus took a step toward her, sensing that the discomfort he had been feeling was becoming reality.

“What exactly are you saying? You…”

Perhaps the person before him was not just an acquaintance, but something dangerous.

“Commander! Commander, are you here?!”

Just as he was about to voice his suspicion, a shout was heard.

Following it, a loud bell rang throughout the garrison area, and Marcus’s expression immediately hardened.

This wasn’t a simple notification.

This sound was designated to ring only when there was a major invasion from outside.

“Commander! Currently, the Undead are forming an army and approaching here! We need your command quickly!”

‘So it has finally come.’

Having recently annihilated the enemy’s advance party, it was anticipated that the opposing side would feel threatened and engage in all-out war.

Hearing his adjutant’s shout from afar, Marcus composed himself and prepared to head to the front line.

“Hey, youngster. Let me give you a piece of advice.”

The voice came from behind him at that moment.

In contrast to her previously detached attitude, the woman, now alert to the alarm, spoke to him with a sharp voice.

“If you can’t stop that, everyone here will die, so do your best to block it.”

“What…”

What did she mean by that?

Certainly, if they failed to stop the invasion, they would be annihilated, but why add the word “advice” to such an obvious fact?

“Commander! We must hurry!!”

The adjutant shouted, as if not allowing even a moment’s delay.

In the brief moment his attention was diverted, the woman who had been at the funeral hall had long since disappeared.

Had he seen a ghost?

No, the stirring in a corner of his heart was telling him that he had strongly recognized her presence.

‘Jean Cleo. You…’

He wondered if Jean would have known the identity of that woman, but the dead don’t speak.

Feeling that no proper answer would come from pondering alone, Marcus finally suppressed the discomfort he felt and moved to follow his adjutant.

Though he couldn’t deny the possibility that she might be a dangerous entity, dealing with the immediate threat to this land was the priority.

“Report the situation. Where are the enemies?”

“Currently, a large-scale army has been confirmed entering the eastern ridge. From their subsequent movements, it appears they are attempting to establish an encirclement centered on the eastern barrier.”

“Judging by their quick movements, they seem to have already finished reconnaissance. Tell me about the number of troops and the key enemies.”

“The scale is roughly division-sized… Although it’s much smaller than our forces stationed at this excavation site, one Undead with powerful magical energy has been detected at their forefront.”

An Undead with powerful magical energy. Does that mean a high-ranking leader like the lich that killed the hero recently?

No, a single lich can only control units of hundreds.

If multiple Undead haven’t joined, there’s only one thing it could mean.

“…Which of the Four Knights?”

The Four Knights of the Apocalypse.

Four knights serving the Lord of Corpses, each one a walking calamity capable of turning a city into a wasteland.

“Though we haven’t directly confronted them yet, judging by the unusually high power of each Undead, it’s presumed to be the ‘Red Knight of War’.”

“…Of all knights, the Red Knight. It seems they’re determined to conquer this place.”

Of all things, a calamity that embodies war itself in a garrison defense battle.

Anyone who knows her prowess would naturally be tense in this situation.

“Commander, judging by the numbers confirmed so far, it seems possible to overwhelm them with our forces… What will you do?”

Of course, the difference in military strength is absolute in war.

Given the advantages of barriers and terrain, this defensive battle would be overwhelmingly favorable for them, but that’s only if this fight develops into a pure frontal battle.

After all, the opponent is a specialist in war, as her name suggests.

The fact that she, despite being an Undead, with her high understanding of war, has brought a smaller force to a relatively disadvantageous offensive battle must have a reason.

“…For the east where the Red Knight has appeared, focus on defensive battles using the barrier as the main axis to buy time.”

Though not certain yet, it’s better to be cautious.

Marcus decided to postpone an all-out battle and prioritize buying time to understand the enemy’s intentions.

“And direct any available heroes currently outside the barrier to head north as much as possible.”

“North, you say?”

“The north is used to transport excavated dragon bones to the empire. Since the path is kept open, the barrier there is relatively weaker compared to other places.”

If they were to attack, the north would be more suitable than the east with its solid barriers, both in terms of strategy and achieving their objective.

Assuming the enemy is aware of this, displaying their presence in a relatively disadvantageous position is likely a ‘distraction’.

And if someone of the Four Knights’ caliber is creating a diversion, it’s highly possible that an equally powerful entity has come with them.

“And inform the entire army. The Four Knights targeting this place might not be just one, but two.”

Two of the Four Knights, each of whom alone would be cause for tension, are targeting this place.

Though it’s still speculation, even a slight misjudgment could lead to annihilation, so it would be wise to proceed cautiously with the battle situation.

‘The fortunate thing is that we have over ten heroes on our side.’

The recent death of one person was a painful mistake, but combining the remaining heroes would still provide military strength at the legion level.

If all of them move according to his command, they should be able to safely defend this place against any enemy.

If all the heroes follow his instructions well.

“C-Commander! We have a problem! Currently, one of the heroes has deserted the unit without permission and is rushing toward where the Red Knight is!”

“Damn it! Bring them back immediately!”

A core force ignoring orders and going rogue.

Isn’t this the worst possible start to a war?

*****

Of course, not all heroes are inherently selfish.

Though they’re prone to develop arrogant personalities due to being intoxicated with their power, such arrogance can often lead to a sense of justice and heroism.

Junyoung Lee was someone who, after coming to this world and becoming a hero, had developed such heroism.

‘I’ve been tired of catching small fry lately, so this is perfect timing. I’ll achieve merit in this battle and be recognized as a proper hero!’

Yes, becoming a hero comes with tremendous achievements.

Recalling the times he had acted as a carry machine in games he played in the past, Junyoung stood alone before the Undead army and proudly declared:

“Come at me, you corpses! I am Junyoung Lee from Anyang, Gyeonggi-do!”

-KWAAAAA!!!

The subsequent torrent of power released from the Red Knight’s sword.

Exposed to it, Junyoung’s body vanished without a trace.