Ch.146146. Subjugation

The dawn broke after the first battle.

The subjugation team members forcibly shook off the persistent fatigue and drowsiness as they boarded their giant mechs.

Upon entering the cockpit, their relaxed vigilance tightened like a pulled string. Yesterday’s battle flashed back in their minds, naturally putting them in a state of tension.

[Today we’ll be entering the mountains. Unlike yesterday, unexpected situations may arise, so everyone maintain your vigilance.]

At Seraphina’s words, the tension among the subjugation members aboard the giant mechs increased.

Yesterday, they had fought monsters that came down to devour humans who had set up camp at the foot of the mountain, battling in an open field with clear visibility. The risk was lower with secured sight lines, but today the situation was different.

Today’s battle zone was mountainous terrain with densely wooded forests. Unlike the open field, the limited visibility and space dramatically increased the difficulty of combat.

The subjugation members gulped nervously as they cautiously entered the forest with scouts leading the way.

– Coo-coo

Bird sounds were heard as they entered the mountain. Well, not exactly bird sounds. Flying monsters with glaring red eyes were staring at the intruders who had stepped into their territory.

However, they didn’t recklessly charge at the massive giant mechs. Though these creatures were larger than ordinary birds, they weren’t big enough to attack the mechs.

[Why is everything so gloomy?]

[Just shut up and keep moving]

The two members serving as scouts kept their private communication magic channel open as they moved forward, cutting down trees that blocked their path. Perhaps due to the warm climate, they had to swing their iron swords to cut down trees with every step they took.

After advancing for about five minutes, something caught their attention.

[Multiple monster groups spotted ahead!]

[Combat ready!]

As soon as the monster sighting was announced on the public magic channel, members assigned to the rapid strike team rushed forward with their mechs.

The rapid strike team, composed of light-armored mechs, quickly dispatched the medium-sized monsters that hadn’t yet noticed them and returned to their original positions.

Perhaps yesterday’s real combat experience had helped, as their judgment and actions were swift and efficient. They even made sure to pierce the lungs of their targets to prevent any sound from escaping as they killed them—flawless execution.

Afterward, the subjugation team encountered several groups of medium-sized monsters and a few large solitary monsters.

The results were no different from their first encounter with the medium-sized monster group. The talents of the subjugation members who had experienced real combat began to bloom, and they excellently fulfilled their assigned duties.

Seraphina, observing the team operating cohesively, thought that this monster subjugation mission could be completed without any problems.

The cadets were adapting faster than Seraphina had expected. It was quite common for first-timers to freeze up in real combat, resulting in injuries, or to be unable to overcome the tension of battle.

In contrast, the subjugation members were handling the monster subjugation more skillfully after their first real combat experience. This alone showed how admirably they had grown.

She continued the monster subjugation, satisfied with the growth of her team members.

Meanwhile, Gilbert felt something off about the smoothly progressing subjugation. He couldn’t pinpoint it, but he had an ominous feeling. In his previous life, whenever he felt this way before entering a battlefield, he invariably experienced something unpleasant, so he had no intention of ignoring this intuition.

“Brynhild.”

[Speak. I’m listening.]

“I have a question. Are you getting any intuitive responses?”

Brynhild, who had strongly inherited the blood of her ancestor Sigurd, possessed intuition as a characteristic skill. Her intuition, developed to the point of becoming a characteristic skill, was so accurate it could almost be called future sight.

[I was actually debating whether to report this… Intuition provides a lot of information, but it shouldn’t be blindly trusted.]

“I see.”

As Brynhild said, intuition was information that couldn’t be blindly trusted.

Even future sight was merely the ability to observe one of countless possible timelines in an uncertain future. When variables intervened, sensitive timelines could shift and be replaced by others.

But that didn’t mean it was useless.

Especially Brynhild’s intuition, which had great versatility, could help in all aspects.

In situations like this, exploring unknown territory, her intuition demonstrated abilities superior to any other skill. Gilbert knew this better than anyone, which was why he trusted her intuition.

[It’s not good. I’m seeing warnings so intense that everything appears red.]

“Understood.”

After ending the communication, Gilbert examined the minimap linked to CT-777. Most of it was still dark as they hadn’t explored the surroundings yet, but the areas they had passed through were diligently illuminated.

“CT. Set alert level to maximum.”

[Setting complete. I will increase the search range.]

CT-777 carried out Gilbert’s order while simultaneously expanding the range of the detection magic that had been scanning only the immediate vicinity. Magic power quickly swept through the surroundings.

[Warning. Multiple monster reactions detected.]

[Unusual specimen confirmed among monsters.]

[Beginning analysis of unusual specimen.]

[Analysis of unusual specimen complete. Beginning cross-verification with registered samples.]

[Verification complete. Unusual specimen determined to be exposed to demonic energy.]

“Demonic energy?”

An unusual specimen exposed to demonic energy?

Gilbert’s face hardened at CT-777’s analysis results.

Even in Tactical Combat, monsters exposed to demonic energy occasionally appeared.

The demonic energy scattered by the last Demon King as he met his death had contaminated the land. The place where he died became so polluted it was called the Demon Realm of the middle world, and the demonic energy that spread across the continent didn’t disappear even after many years, seeping into the ground. The reason demonic beasts still appeared even after the Demon King’s disappearance was because of this demonic energy absorbed by the land.

But not here in Mount Njord.

Neither in the game nor in the reality it had become was there any mention of Mount Njord being contaminated by demonic energy. While it was known for having an unusually high monster population, that was all.

From Mount Njord to the Skadi Mountain Range, there were no traces of demonic energy contamination, nor any reports of demonic beasts appearing.

If that was the case, there was only one possibility to consider.

Gilbert hastily connected communication with Seraphina.

“Commander.”

[Commander Gilbert, what is it?]

“Wide-range detection has identified an unusual specimen among the monsters.”

[Unusual specimen?]

“It appears to be a demonic beast.”

[….]

Seraphina’s face hardened at Gilbert’s report, just as his had. She didn’t dismiss it as nonsense.

She knew that the artificial spirit Gilbert possessed demonstrated superior performance compared to next-generation artificial spirits. The wide-range detection magic was likely performed by Gilbert’s high-performance artificial spirit, so the appearance of a demonic beast was highly probable.

Seraphina’s deliberation was brief.

In situations like this, a commander’s quick decision increased the survival probability of their unit.

[Alert to all unit members! Perform wide-range detection magic and hold your positions! Demonic beasts have appeared!]

The subjugation members became agitated at Seraphina’s announcement of demonic beasts.

They had learned through academy education just how dangerous demonic beasts were. Demonic beasts, boasting power dozens of times stronger than ordinary monsters, were nearly impossible to face without experienced knights.

It was so serious that the Empire maintained units dedicated to periodically subjugating contaminated areas—demonic beasts were not opponents that ordinary cadets could handle. The subjugation members gulped nervously as they gripped their control sticks.

How much time had passed?

Something massive was detected by their general-purpose artificial spirits’ detection magic.

– Thud Thud

Despite still being quite far away, heavy sounds that shook the ground could be heard from all directions. At first glance, it sounded like the footsteps of large monsters, but it was even heavier.

Perhaps it was because Seraphina had announced the appearance of demonic beasts.

[Warning! Multiple life forms with demonic energy detected.]

[Shit! It really is demonic energy!]

[This is insane!]

As the artificial spirits detected demonic energy and issued warnings, the subjugation members could no longer contain themselves and cursed. The creatures that appeared, knocking down large trees, had skin dyed black and flashing blood-red eyes as they began to screech.

– Kieeeeek!

[They’re coming! Don’t think of demonic beasts as the same as the monsters we’ve faced so far!]

With Seraphina’s shout, the demonic beasts that had found their prey began to charge.

– Kwaaang!

The magic armaments of the giant mechs poured down like heavy rain on the charging demonic beasts. Rapid-fire fireballs showered down to block their advance, and explosions, the most powerful magic armament of standard giant mechs, directly hit the demonic beast groups sporadically.

The instantaneously formed firing line scorched the earth around the subjugation members, raising dust that obscured their vision.

[Did we get them?!]

Gilbert clicked his tongue at the words heard over the public magic channel and raised his iron sword.

– Keeeeeek!

After beheading a demonic beast that broke through the dust cloud in one stroke, he firmly shouted.

[Demonic beasts don’t die easily. Don’t let your guard down until you’ve confirmed they’re dead!]

With those words, Gilbert sprang forward.

When facing demonic beasts, if he didn’t take the front line, casualties could occur.

And so, golden magical light began to illuminate the dark mountain forest.