LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 75
Chapter 75
Inside the train heading to the eastern region, Yan briefed his gathered companions on the situation in the east. He shared the news of Kasa and the other trainees’ disappearance and their mission to rescue them. Moreover, he mentioned the endless undead awaiting them in the east.
“Undead? Shouldn’t that be a matter for the clergy to dispatch priests?” Cruel’s question was valid. Priests and paladins not only aid the troubled and heal the sick but are also specialists in vanquishing the undead. It was indeed strange that the empire’s priests were not being utilized.
Yan shook his head. “The priests won’t step forward due to political entanglements.”
“Those who claim to follow the gods… what do politics have to do with it…” Cruel scoffed in disbelief. The others seemed to agree with Cruel, each expressing their dismay or clicking their tongues. However, Yan, aware of the intricacies, found it difficult to curse the clergy.
‘The second test in the east involves investigating the Plateau of the Dead.’ The Plateau of the Dead served as a borderland between the Caballan Empire and the clergy’s homeland, the Holy Nation of Ludeil. To avoid direct confrontation, Ludeil refrained from sending priests or paladins to the border.
Moreover, with many empire citizens and nobles faithful to the clergy, there was no need to provoke Ludeil and sour relations. Above all, the emperor had no interest in subjugating the Plateau of the Dead. Had the emperor shown enthusiasm, power-hungry nobles would have volunteered for the campaign even before the emperor took action.
But without such incentive, the nobles saw no reason to risk danger. Thus, even the priests, who would normally be zealous in facing the undead, remained silent on the matter of the Plateau of the Dead.
‘No need to mention all this.’
“Hey, pass me a baguette.”
“I’ll take some jerky.”
“Um, do you have any cookies or candy?”
“Water is enough for me.”
Yan watched his companions buying snacks from the train cart and settled deeper into his seat. That’s when Momon approached him.
[Land of the Undead?]
‘Why, do you know something about it?’
[No, it’s just that if it’s the Land of the Undead, it might be a good place for me to regain my strength.]
‘Really? A place to regain strength?’
[The malaise (死氣) carried by the undead can be purified into an energy as clean as life force.]
A spark of interest flashed in Yan’s eyes. He had learned something new.
[When we get there, I’ll need your cooperation. It won’t be bad for you either.]
Yan smirked at Momon’s words.
‘Me? Why?’
[…You bastard.]
Considering all the times Momon had been a thorn in his side, Yan was reluctant to help. However, he decided to lend a hand. Despite Momon’s antics, his advice had mostly been helpful.
Besides, Yan had promised to help Momon regain his body while learning magic from him in the past.
Still.
‘I’ll think about it.’
[Hmm, any interest in learning new magic? Mental? Ice? Flame?]
‘Sounds good. I’ll consider it positively.’
Yan chuckled and closed his eyes. The time for jokes was over; now it was time to plan ahead.
‘Kasa survived in his past life even without a rescue team.’
However, that experience had changed Kasa’s personality by 180 degrees, according to the records.
‘Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen any cynical traits in this life.’
The Kasa of the future was cynical, cold, and distrustful of others.
People say one doesn’t change easily.
But considering what had happened, it was enough to turn one’s personality around.
According to Kasa, he and the trainees had been isolated in an abandoned fortress on the plateau for over a fortnight.
The undead, a race closest to immortality, would revive even after being killed repeatedly.
Initially, the trainees showed spirit under Kasa’s encouragement, but as their efforts became tenfold, then a hundredfold, their morale began to erode.
Eventually, some trainees started to resent Kasa for bringing them to this hellish place.
As time passed and resentment grew, conflict broke out among the trainees.
And right after the battle ended, a horde of undead attacked, killing or injuring most of the trainees.
Only about ten of the original eighty-four trainees remained.
These survivors would later become the swords protecting the Ifrain family.
Anyway.
‘Fortunately, we’re not yet at the point where resentment has grown that much.’
Currently, the trainees must be fighting the undead with vigor, spurred on by Kasa’s encouragement.
‘They’ll head to the isolated fortress in four days.’
Yan slowly began to formulate the plan for what would come next.
* * *
The Plateau of the Dead, haunted by the undead, was the eastern nobility’s greatest headache. Thus, the eastern nobles dispatched mercenaries and knights to ‘Gebareng,’ the closest stronghold to the Plateau of the Dead. It served as a bulwark, preparing for the unlikely event that the undead might surge exponentially and threaten the eastern territories.
Upon witnessing the scene at Gebareng, Yan and his companions were agape. Tents were strewn about as if ready for military maneuvers.
“…Are we in the right place?”
Soldiers lay scattered, snoring loudly, while knights seemed to be flirting with women who appeared to be locals. Despite it being night, there was no sign of discipline.
“I did warn you not to expect much.”
Cruel scratched his head in dismay, turning to Yan. Yan had indeed cautioned them on the train not to expect much from Gebareng’s frontlines.
“I never imagined it would be this bad.”
“It’s serious. These are the ones meant to protect the locals?”
“The Beowulf territory must have been something special.”
“…Don’t bother with empty talk.”
The group clicked their tongues or chuckled at the sight before them.
“We should meet with the commander here first.”
Yan strode confidently through the sprawled soldiers, with his companions following behind, faces filled with disbelief.
Passing through the undisciplined streets, they spotted a large tent, clearly the command post, much larger than the others.
“This looks a bit better.”
Cruel commented upon seeing a soldier standing guard in front of the tent.
From Yan’s perspective, having experienced wars and large-scale purges, even the guard’s posture was disqualifying, but it was still better than the sleeping soldiers.
Yan approached the guard with a deep sigh.
“Who are you?”
“Is the commander inside?”
“Who are you to seek the commander? I don’t recognize your face…”
“We are reinforcements, responding to a call for support.”
“Eh? You guys?”
The guard blinked in surprise, examining Yan and his companions.
He shook his head and waved them off.
“You must have heard some hero’s tale and come here. Just go back.”
At that, Cruel, who stood behind Yan, scowled and stepped forward.
“I’m Cruel Dwight. If you don’t want your head chopped off, stop the nonsense and take us to the commander immediately.”
Startled by Cruel’s shout, the guard jumped to his feet and saluted.
“Yes, sir!”
However, he seemed to have forgotten his rank and name.
The somewhat dim-witted guard scratched his head as if remembering something.
“But… the commanders aren’t here right now. They’re probably in a meeting.”
“A meeting? Where?”
“If you go to the end of the main road, there’s a fancy bar run by a madam. They’ll be there.”
“…What?”
“They always hold meetings there, so we direct guests that way.”
The expressions of the companions twisted at the guard’s words.
A person holding meetings in a bar.
And military meetings at that!
Unlike his companions, Yan turned around with an impassive face.
The group looked at Yan.
“Why aren’t we going?”
“You mean, we’re going there?”
“If the commander is in the bar, then that’s where we must go.”
“Is this really okay?”
Roman scratched his cheek, puzzled, while Lorena’s expression was as cold as a winter gale, and Charl looked uneasy.
* * *
Yan and his companions arrived at the location mentioned by the sentry.
[Midas Salon]
The place was dazzlingly lit by magic lamps, a testament to the fortune spent on it, and two burly figures blocked the entrance.
“…Ha! This is the place?”
Lorena asked with a sneer, breaking her silence.
“Yes, why are you so surprised?”
“I’m curious about what kind of person the commander is. It’s strange that someone would appoint such a person in the first place.”
“The northern territories are well-managed under Duke Beowulf’s vigilant eyes; such occurrences are rare there, unlike other regions.”
As Yan praised the Beowulf domain, Lorena’s lips twitched, though she didn’t seem pleased.
“So, we finally get to see the face of the commander?”
As Yan attempted to enter, the two hulks at the door blocked his way.
“Whoa there, this is a private space.”
“Without an invitation, entry is not permitted. Do you have one?”
Cruel, who was behind, lost his temper at their wobbly stance.
“Damn, who do these swine think they’re blocking!”
Cruel rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward, fuming.
The hulks looked down at Cruel, who barely reached their chests, and snickered.
Only ‘mana’ could overshadow natural physique, something only the esteemed knights could handle.
But Cruel looked too young and unlike a noble.
Moreover, a noble would have attendants, which he lacked.
So, the hulks thought Cruel was just a naive youngster.
Crack!
That was until one of them got punched.
“Ugh!”
As one hulk clutched his belly and fell, the other’s eyes widened in shock.
“Johnson?”
“What a pathetic name.”
Cruel, annoyed, kicked the standing hulk between the legs.
Thump!
“Arghhh.”
Having incapacitated the hulks, Cruel dusted off his hands, looking satisfied.
“What are you waiting for? Aren’t we going in?”
Cruel glanced back, and the companions looked at him in surprise.
“What are you staring at? Want me to gouge out your eyes?”
“That was the first action of yours I actually liked.”
“It does feel refreshing.”
“Are those guys dead? They’re foaming at the mouth…”
Yan chuckled and walked past Cruel into the bar.
The interior was so lavishly decorated it outshone the homes of many noble families.
The walls shimmered like gold, and each room was furnished with luxurious items and antique furniture.
“Looks like there’s only one place they’re feasting at for now.”
Yan’s senses pointed to one particular room among many.
They stopped at a point, facing a door much larger than the others near the entrance.
Yan pulled open the door.
“Hahaha! My lord, I’ve been thoroughly duped.”
“Tsk tsk, you should use your head when playing poker. Relying on luck will lead to ruin.”
“Hahaha, wise words, my lord.”
Inside, three middle-aged men in extravagant attire were playing cards.
Beside them lay entertainers, passed out from too much drink, and the table was piled high with expensive liquor bottles.
“Eh, what? Who are they? Hey, manager! Aren’t you going to get rid of these guys? They don’t fit in!”
One of the middle-aged men squawked like a pig, and the companions’ expressions turned icy.
Yan stepped forward and bowed lightly.
“Pleased to meet you, Lord Jeren. I am Yan, from the Special Missions Unit.”
At Yan’s introduction, the middle-aged men fell silent.
Especially Lord Jeren.
He unwittingly gaped, not expecting the emperor’s forces to find him directly.
Yan coldly glared at the corpulent Lord Jeren, reminiscent of a pig.
A document from the Special Unit’s records came to mind, detailing this very incident.
At the behest of Lord Jeren, the Eastern Nobility Coalition decided to abandon Kasa Ephrain for the third time.
Lord Jeren was a corrupt noble, notorious for neglecting his duties.