episode_0045

After an evening-long meeting, the paladins and priests eventually gave up on the search operation.

Their reasoning was that if the adventurers who had been individually defeated were to transform into undead, it wouldn’t just bolster the enemy’s forces.

As they feared, the undead created from adventurers were likely to resurrect as significantly more powerful beings than the existing undead.

The freshness of the corpses and their equipment surely made a difference.

Just as selecting fresh, high-quality meat is essential for making a delicious steak, generally, using good corpses as ingredients for undead would give rise to stronger beings.

“So, what do you think we should do?”

“They’re planning to clear out the area near the dungeon entrance and hold their ground.”

I explained the outcome of the meeting, which the paladins had gathered and relayed to me, to the party members.

There wasn’t any particularly grand conclusion.

Seeing the Abyssal Priest persistently attacking without fleeing indicated that this dungeon was somewhat of a crucial stronghold for him, so setting up camp at the dungeon entrance and holding their ground was the plan.

Until the main force that descended below the dungeon returns along with the dispatched assault force.

In short, it meant disbanding the search party and reorganizing them all into a defensive unit.

It wasn’t a policy I particularly liked due to its excessive passivity, but… it seemed like the best option for now.

Venturing into the forest with mediocre skills would only result in becoming food for the undead or turning into their comrades.

“What do you think?”

“Hmm. Setting up camp at the ruins entrance and waiting for an attack? Not bad. Much better than wandering in the woods and getting hunted down.”

“Uh, is that, uh, okay? I mean, honestly, it doesn’t matter to me either way.”

Amy and Freide showed relatively positive responses to the subjugation team’s plan.

Well, Amy was never keen on the search party from the start, so her reaction was expected. However, Freide’s indifferent response was somewhat unexpected.

Despite her hesitant tone, it seemed she was overflowing with confidence in her abilities.

It implied that even if they encountered hordes of undead and Abyssal Priests in the forest, it wouldn’t be a problem at all.

Sure, it may be stronger than your average dungeon party… but even considering that, it feels a bit overconfident.

Well, given that he’s shown a promotion speed that surpasses even among adventurers, it’s not strange for him to become overconfident in his abilities.

To prevent reckless actions due to arrogance and overconfidence, it was simply a matter of me, as the party leader, controlling him well.

“If you’ve decided to focus on defense, it would be good to set traps at the formation entrance. It will be helpful in many ways.”

Gelda responded with an answer that was very much like her.

“Yes, it seems the paladins are also making that judgment, looking for skilled adventurers for such tasks. Are you interested?”

“I wouldn’t claim to be skilled… but it does pique my interest.”

Gelda nodded towards the tent where the paladins were gathered.

I told her the name of the paladin who was looking for adventurers capable of setting traps. I suggested she go and volunteer if she wanted to.

That’s how things work in a party.

◆◆

Anyway, the punitive force that had made a decision led all the remaining personnel back to the barracks and thoroughly cleaned the ruins connected to the dungeon entrance.

There was no need to use divine miracles.

The area around the ruins had already been swept once by the secondary raiding party, so there were only about ten undead left at most.

“We’ll set up defenses here! We hope the adventurers will cooperate!”

After organizing the ruins, the middle-aged paladin who was in charge of directing the scene of the punitive force issued various orders in a somewhat authoritarian tone.

He placed barricades around the outskirts of the ruins, set various traps between the forest and the barricades, and filled the inside of the ruins with large and small tents.

It was literally turning the entire ruins into a makeshift fortress. It was too crude and poor to be called a fortress, but still.

“Hermit, Ainar, Yon, Tofnir, Snori. You guard the dungeon entrance thoroughly!”

“Yes, sir!”

While others were engrossed in fortifying the ruins, the commander closed off the dungeon entrance with five paladins.

Since the entrance itself could not be completely closed off, it was more like a partial blockade set up with temporary barricades, behind which paladins were stationed.

“High Priest Hordric, how much holy water is left?”

“We have about five barrels left. Due to the large amount consumed during the initial engagement and even the remaining portion being extensively distributed to the frontline units….”

The priest known as Hordric sighed deeply, shaking his head.

“That’s regrettable. Can you make more?”

“It’s difficult. As you know, producing proper holy water requires considerable effort in consecration….”

“It seems it’s not impossible. Then strive for it!”

That nobleman should have joined the marines, not become a paladin. I never expected to encounter such an attitude of ‘do it or else’ in this world.

“Yes. I will do my best….”

Pushed by circumstances, High Priest Hordric could only sigh deeply without any rebuttal, appearing so pitiful and helpless.

In any case, after completing all preparations, we rested sufficiently while awaiting the undead’s attack.

Since the likelihood of their assault was high during the late night, even though it was not yet dusk, we took turns getting some sleep.

Several hours passed, and finally, night fell.

“Grrr….”

“Graaahh….”

“Screaaam!”

We waited, but unwelcome guests arrived.

“Undead! They’re swarming in! Everyone, to arms!”

The sentries, who had been keeping watch in the woods, woke those who were asleep by banging metal pots loudly.

“Damn it, why did they have to come out just when I fell asleep…!”

“If you want to sleep forever, then keep lying down, you brat.”

“My shield. Where’s my shield…. Ah, here it is.”

“At last, they’ve arrived!”

Adventurers who had been lying in their sleeping bags suddenly sprang up, while paladins and priests began chanting prayers and raising radiant blessings.

“Amy, fight while hiding behind walls or pillars. Don’t expose yourself.”

“Got it. Hilde, you be careful too!”

Our party also immediately sprang into action, assuming combat stances.

Amy pulled out a spellbook from her bag and dashed behind the collapsed wall, while Gerda crouched behind lower debris, nocking an arrow in her bow.

“Freide, just deal with the ones crossing the barrier. Got it? I can’t help if you rush out alone.”

“Leave it to me!”

I drew my longsword from my waist as Freide and I sprinted towards the defensive zone we were assigned to protect.

The enemies were at least several dozen, easily outnumbering us, and when accounting for those hidden in the darkness of night, they likely amounted to several times that number.

It was clear that the Abyssal Priests had poured most of their available forces into this ambush.

Against the fortified paladins, pouring in our forces would only result in a gradual erosion.

“Ugh…!”

“Karaak! Karalaralak!”

A foul stench wafted through the air along with bestial roars. Undead creatures emerged from the forest, revealing their decaying bodies under the moonlight as they brandished claws and spears.

Most of them were nothing more than skeletons or revenants wielding crude weapons, but scattered among them were undead equipped with fine armor and weapons.

Some of their faces seemed familiar. They were adventurers who had supported the search party but never returned, now back in a form worse than death.

Ah, they did return after all. Just their bodies, though.

“Oh, th-that…”

“Rud…! By the gods, he’s fallen too…!”

A faint unease spread among the adventurers who recognized them.

Seeing one’s comrades or acquaintances turned into monsters and returning was not something even the most experienced adventurers could easily brush off.

They might have already suspected it in their minds, but seeing it in person was a different experience altogether.

After all, humans are naturally like that.

Even someone convinced of their spouse’s infidelity would undoubtedly be shocked and outraged upon witnessing it firsthand during an attack.

Their reactions were not vastly different. While they were accustomed to seeing corpses, it was evident that their composure had been shaken.

“Do not be alarmed! Paladin Corps, prepare for battle-!”

The commanding paladin, having grasped this, erupted with a radiant aura and shouted.

The rays of his emitted radiance twisted and intertwined in the air, transforming into a long, sharp lance of light.

Representative attack miracle of the Goddess Sect, “Holy Lance”

The piercing radiance, symbolizing the paladin, shone brightly as if dispelling the darkness of night.

“Redirect the unjust that defies righteousness to where it belongs! As desired by the goddess, we are her lance and sword!”

With resolute determination, the commander hurled the Holy Lance towards the undead horde, shouting,

“As desired by the goddess!”

“What are you doing! Long-range attackers! Attack without hesitation!”

“Shoot! Scatter them all as much as possible!”

“Ignis sagitta!”

“G, Glacies térĕbra!”

Arrows and flames, ice thorns, and dazzling rays of light poured forth like a torrent.