episode_0041

After several minutes of discussion, we ultimately decided to choose a search unit.

Both the assault team and the search team were equally dangerous, so we chose the one that would at least be easier to retreat from.

“Whew… Why didn’t I know about this? If we encounter an Abyssal Priest, it could be a big problem.”

Of course, Amy, who had expressed opposition, continued to grumble until the end…

“A-Are you scared…?”

Before I could say anything, Freida stepped forward and covered Amy’s mouth.

“What…?”

“Oh, um, there’s no need to be afraid… Abyssal Priests aren’t all powerful.”

She averted her golden eyes and slightly raised the corners of her mouth as she spoke.

“We’ve prepared a lot… but we couldn’t kill the paladins. We’re lacking in strength… we’re weak.”

For someone stumbling over words, it was a surprisingly sharp analysis.

“So don’t be… scared. Or rather, don’t worry. You won’t die even if you meet them. Probably.”

“…W-Who’s scared!”

Enough to prick at Amy’s pride.

◆◆

As mentioned earlier, the mission of the search unit was to scatter into party units, thoroughly search the vicinity of the ruins, and exterminate any undead lurking in the forest.

Would they recognize us for bringing back the heads of the subjugated undead?

If we were to encounter the Abyssal Priest, our role as the search unit was to signal the paladins and hold the villain’s ankles until they arrived.

The subjugation of the Abyssal Priest was something the paladins would handle on their own.

We settled in a corner of the temporary barracks, took about an hour’s rest, then rose again and delved deep into the forest.

To search the designated areas assigned by the paladins.

It seemed they divided the areas among the parties to increase the efficiency of the search.

So, after examining the marked territory on the map, we returned to the barracks at dusk, sighed deeply, and prepared for the next day.

It should be an easy task, nothing difficult at all.

◆◆

We walked roughly thirty minutes into the depths of the tranquil winter forest.

As expected, countless hordes of undead welcomed us with open arms.

[The Undead Horde]

Bare skulls adorned with tattered rags,

Decayed creatures akin to bears and wolves,

Even the bald revenants, their rib cages and internal organs fully exposed, a sight resembling a comprehensive set of lower-tier undead.

“Groooaaar….”

Thud.

A revenant, its skull split vertically, collapses, oozing putrid brain matter. A nauseating stench brushes against my nostrils.

“Clack…!”

A skeleton, driven by fury at the loss of its comrade, thrusts its spear, clattering against my shield.

I casually wipe off the black ichor staining my blade before firmly seizing its shaft with my left hand and yanking it aside.

“Graaah….”

As a mere skull devoid of flesh, it possesses an irresistible force. It staggers, collapsing towards me like a child seeking refuge.

“Hah!”

With a forceful swing of my sword’s pommel, the skull shatters like a brittle sugar treat, accompanied by a sickening crack.

Its contents, typical of a skull, were hollowed out.

I kick away the collapsing bones, severing its spine, then pivot, dancing as I cleave through another revenant.

Swoosh!

The emaciated figure skids, rolling over the mixed ground of eyes and mud.

While I catch my breath, dispatching three undead in succession, my companions showcase their prowess, slaughtering the remaining horde without hesitation.

“Ha, haaaaah!”

Freedeh, wielding her greatsword, leaps forward, splitting a wolf zombie in half mid-air. Gerda targets and shatters the knee joints of skeletons and revenants.

“Graaaah!”

“Grrrk! Grrrrrr…”

Struck in the knees, the undead writhe, repeatedly attempting to rise, emitting unearthly screams akin to graduate students struggling after too much alcohol.

Until Amy’s “Flame Arrows” and “Invisible” hammer reduce their skulls to rubble.

It was an utterly smooth extermination.

White skeletons were already fragile, and the revenants weren’t strong undead, so we could easily bring them down by cutting off their limbs and splitting their heads.

After slaughtering about thirty undead in this manner, we decided to cease our search and return.

While Freide and I could have fought for much longer, Amy’s offensive magic was running low on uses, and…

“If we get more here, how are we going to carry all of that back?”

“Oh, right.”

To receive recognition for our extermination efforts, we needed to bring back the undead heads. However, if the number of heads exceeded thirty, it would be no easy task to carry them all.

Ugh, my inventory is full.

◆◆

Dragging the undead tied with ropes around their necks back to the temporary barracks.

“We only got thirty… more than expected.”

Gerda, walking cautiously and scanning the surroundings, suddenly blurted out as if she had just remembered something.

“If other parties are in a similar situation to ours, the number of those creatures could range from two hundred to three hundred at minimum. We can’t even estimate the maximum. It’s astonishing.”

“Is that so? It seems rather natural to me.”

Amy replied with a slight smirk.

“After all, the one who resurrected all the lower-class citizens around here into undead, isn’t it? Regardless of the quality of the troops, the numbers are bound to overflow.”

Considering the infamous reputation of the lower-class citizen slaughterer in this area, this number is nothing but a mere trifle, just an obvious and natural occurrence.

…Hmm, the number I’ve killed might have been just around a hundred or so.

I wonder if Abyssal Priestess has been up to similar antics?

Yeah, that makes sense.

Come to think of it, it’s only natural, isn’t it? Just killing a mere hundred or so wouldn’t earn the nickname “slaughterer.”

The number of victims killed by the lower-class citizen slaughterer is undoubtedly several times greater.

What I did was simply adding a few more to that count.

Probably.

◆◆

Finally back at the temporary barracks.

After handing over the heads of thirty undead to the paladin of the extermination squad for verification, we settled in a corner of the barracks for some rest.

The school provided military tents were set up on the ground, and a fire was lit in front of them.

Is this the advance party’s tent used inside the dungeon?

They said we should return it safely after they come back, but until then, we can use it as much as we want.

Thanks to that, there was no need to sleep outside and get dew on us. We just had to lay our cloaks and sleeping bags inside the tent and slip into them for a good night’s sleep.

We didn’t even have to take turns keeping watch. That was the job of the defense unit adventurers.

If only adventurers were gathered, we wouldn’t trust the watch duty, so at least one of us had to stay awake… But this time, I could sleep soundly without any problem.

Even those with their brains in their pants know better than to mess with a scary knight or priest wandering around with their eyes wide open.

“Today, let’s rest well, and tomorrow morning, we’ll go out again.”

I took off my cloak and spread it in the middle of the four-person tent, saying so.

“Um, can I sleep here…? If it’s not in a corner, I can’t really relax…”

Originally, I was going to sleep at the edge of the tent, but because Freida occupied one corner, my spot naturally ended up being in the middle.

“Hmm. Then, will this be my spot?”

Amy laid her sleeping bag next to mine and slipped inside, while Gerda also laid her sleeping bag next to Amy’s and lay down.

As usual, I lay down on top of the cloak with my armor still on.

“Are you going to sleep like that again this time?”

Amy glanced at me and asked, with a look asking if it wasn’t uncomfortable.

“Uh, didn’t you say it was because of anxiety symptoms? Will it be okay this time? There are knights all around.”

Anxiety symptoms?

Ah, I did say something like that. I can’t take off my armor or helmet outside due to anxiety symptoms.

A blatant lie.

“Well… I’m not sure how it’ll be.”

I trailed off as if unwilling.

When I don’t take off my helmet even when I sleep, it’s not because of anxiety symptoms, but rather the worry that others might recognize Brunhill’s face.

Seeing no particular reaction from Kikel or Routte even after seeing my bare face, maybe my concern was excessive…

Hmm…

I lay with my palm supporting the back of the helmet, lightly biting my lips as I pondered.

Honestly, sleeping with a helmet on was incredibly uncomfortable.

It’s stiff, cold, and suffocating steel.

In terms of pillows, it’s the worst material.

Moreover, due to the blood and sweat splattered while killing the undead, it also had a strong smell.

“Hmm…”

If I had been confident that there would be no problem revealing my face, I wouldn’t have forcibly tried to sleep wearing this steel helmet flipped inside out.

The lack of that confidence is the problem.

“Oh, but for now, it should be fine, right?”

Suddenly, such a thought crossed my mind.

Although we had set up a bonfire outside the tent, right now, I had entered the tent and closed the entrance, so it was pitch dark all around.

Even if I took off the helmet, there would be no way for my face to be seen.

So, if I wake up earlier than the other party members tomorrow morning and just put on the helmet again, there shouldn’t be any problem, right?

…That should be the case, right?