Ch.1274I Only Interfere When Necessary to Protect What Matters

I have no interest in commanding a ragtag army that can’t be controlled, but I can’t stay silent before the forces I’ve gathered.

“I don’t know who you all are. And you probably don’t know each other either.”

So before giving the order to advance, I delivered a brief speech as their representative.

“Well, my command won’t be particularly effective since I can’t properly lead you, and I don’t know what you’re capable of.”

Instead of the typical pre-battle rhetoric meant to boost morale—obvious talk about reasons for fighting, justifications, or promises of rewards—I focused on more important and practical matters.

“So there’s no elaborate strategy. Just fight in whatever way you’re most comfortable with, and do your best. That’s enough.”

A commander-in-chief declaring his refusal to command.

If a superior in my unit had spouted such nonsense when I was on active duty, I would have seriously considered desertion or usurping their authority. But here, this was the best approach.

While I’ve gained considerable combat experience in this world, that’s only within the bounds of common sense.

How could I possibly know at a glance how to deploy races I’ve never seen before, with abilities I know nothing about?

So I had no choice but to order them to fight as they saw fit and leave them to it.

Interfering without proper knowledge would likely lead to worse outcomes than simply letting them be.

“If I could make just one request… try not to die. It seems that death on this battlefield won’t just mean a loss of our forces, but will increase the enemy’s numbers.”

The power most commonly associated with the word “undead”—the ability to resurrect and control the dead on the spot.

The old Garmerlic didn’t have such an ability and only used those who were originally his subordinates as troops, but…

‘I don’t know how, but he clearly resurrected those giants as undead. He must have acquired such power.’

Whether he grew stronger and awakened new powers, or whether he became stronger because he gained new powers.

I wasn’t sure which came first, but it was certain that the current Garmerlic possessed the ability to resurrect the dead as undead.

Just like the goddess of death he was trying to resurrect.

“So don’t stupidly throw your lives away and die foolishly. That’s not a brave end—it’s treason.”

I’d have to experience it firsthand to know the performance, efficiency, or range of his power… but the mere possibility warranted extreme caution.

That’s why I specifically warned these guys who might not even listen to me. Even if they had to die, I begged them not to die like idiots.

Whether that warning would be effective… we’d soon find out.

“That’s all. Any questions?”

“……”

A moment of silence. Then, someone in the crowd cautiously spoke up.

“…What will you do after winning this battle? Where will you go, what will you do?”

Not a question about the battle, but one looking beyond it.

It was somewhat amusing that these guys, uncertain if they’d even survive, were thinking about what came after… but it seemed important to them.

“……”

“……”

Everyone was staring at me intently without saying a word, waiting for me to speak.

…I couldn’t just brush this off.

“As you know, Garmerlic wants all of you dead. And… as you can see, he’s quite actively working to make that happen.”

Reluctantly, I decided to reveal at least part of my true thoughts.

“I’m not as extreme as him, but I do have something I want from you. I want you to give up. Forget your foolish ambitions and live as you’ve always lived.”

It wasn’t appropriate to say before battle, but judging by their expressions, half-truths wouldn’t suffice.

“Whether you wage war against each other, join hands and live peacefully, or come under my command seeking protection—that’s entirely up to you. I have no intention of interfering.”

Truthfully, I had little interest in Naraka’s political situation.

Personally, I thought it would be convenient if they all perished together, but I wouldn’t mind if they unified or formed alliances for peace.

Whether they fought and killed each other to extinction, or formed alliances and achieved peace—if it happened within Naraka, it wasn’t my concern.

Why interfere with beings who’ve lived that way for thousands of years and intend to continue? Whatever they chose was their freedom.

With one exception.

“But there’s one thing you must abandon.”

Glancing up at the ceiling riddled with holes where moonlight seeped through, I calmly declared:

“Do not covet the surface world. I’ll leave you free to do whatever you want within Naraka, but abandon any thoughts of ascending to the surface.”

If you’re not satisfied with life in Naraka and covet the surface, then I’ll have no choice but to interfere.

Either persuade you to give up through words, or force you to abandon the idea through harsher means. That was the role and desire I had set for myself.

“…!”

“Hmm….”

From their perspective, it wasn’t a welcome statement—I could sense some agitation and antipathy—but this was non-negotiable.

The surface world was already chaotic enough without these creatures barging in—that wouldn’t just be disaster-like, it would be a disaster itself.

“Don’t like it? Then run to Garmerlic right now. Beg him to resurrect you as undead so you can be the vanguard for the surface invasion.”

I smirked as I made them face reality.

If you don’t want to follow my will, go over there and become half-rotted corpses. In the current situation, it was a very effective threat.

The undead army arrayed below Agnita Fortress looked repulsively half-decayed and rotten.

Moreover, most appeared to lack intelligence, and even if some retained it, they were clearly slaves under Garmerlic’s control.

No matter how desperately they wanted to reach the surface, no one would accept such a fate.

“……”

Indeed, those who heard my words remained silent, looking at each other rather than protesting that it was tyranny or whatever.

[Look at them rolling their eyes. Every single one has a face that says they’d stab you in the back at the first opportunity.]

‘Well, that’s to be expected. If they were meek enough to simply accept what I say, they wouldn’t be here in the first place.’

They might quietly accept it now, but the chances they genuinely agreed with me were slim.

Especially the ancient dragons who didn’t feel particularly inferior to me—or at least thought they weren’t.

For creatures that could fly, a world with a sealed ceiling must feel like a cramped prison cage.

For now, they remained huddled in Naraka due to Heaven’s Wall’s lingering influence, but if the barrier disappeared, they’d immediately try to escape.

Not to mention the races below demigod status who weren’t affected by the barrier at all.

Except for those whose leaders were demigods and couldn’t leave them behind, and those gathered here, it wouldn’t be surprising if the rest were already crawling up to the surface.

They weren’t many in number and had no demigods among them, so the surface forces could handle them—I was just letting it be for now, planning to exterminate them later.

Since I too would find it difficult to ascend to the surface now, I’d have to rely on acquaintances or subordinates rather than acting directly.

“Is that all the questions? Good. Now then…”

Anyway, that was a problem for after this battle. What needed to occupy my mind now wasn’t uncertain future concerns or conflicts.

Death was waiting for us.

“Let’s go. Time to put these reanimated corpses back in their coffins.”

A calm, quiet declaration of war as I pointed my sword tip toward the fortress in the air.

“UWOOOOOOOOH!”

With someone’s obviously forced roar setting the mood, tens of thousands of disorderly troops began charging forward.

“KYAAAAAAAK!”

“The time for revenge has come! Follow your king!”

“DOLGYEOOOOK! Don’t fall behind-!”

Countless warriors of all races advanced with thunderous battle cries like newborn babies.

Light footsteps gradually became faster and more intense until they shook the earth like thunder, and the kicked-up dirt spread like silver mist in the moonlight.

【 KRAAAAAAAAH—! 】

【 Grrrrrrr…! 】

Two ancient dragons soared into the air with wings spread wide, followed by winged warriors forming formations behind them.

Black mist containing nebulae writhed and lightning-filled storms whirled, slashing through the atmosphere. It was a majestic yet intimidating sight.

“IRIRIRIRI!”

The scene on the ground was equally impressive.

The Ain race with horse-like lower bodies charged fiercely with bizarre cries, while the few remaining Werebeasts Caliburn had brought ran on all fours like beasts beside them.

These warriors from two races with exceptional mobility among the many gathered here.

They charged relentlessly as the vanguard of the 40,000-strong army, with a destructive momentum like heavy cavalry sweeping across plains.

‘Those bastards, they’re not going to crash into a formation and get wiped out, are they?’

[…Surely not. They’re not lemmings rushing toward a cliff.]

Their relentless charge was reminiscent of lemmings rushing toward a cliff, which was somewhat concerning, but it was too late to stop them now.

Hoping they still remembered my order to at least avoid dying stupidly, I soared high to follow the two dragons that had advanced ahead.

– Guuuuuuung…!

The Undead Duke’s aerial fortress approached with a heavy vibration in response to our advance.

And so, the war that would separate life from death began.