There was a saying that Einar often kept repeating.
– A warrior is not one who has fought and won against anyone, but rather someone who discusses whom they will fight and defeat next.
Thus, his introduction was quite different from that of other powerful figures. Instead of boasting about whom he had cut down or defeated, he simply spoke plainly.
– I am Einar of Drovian. Come.
– To fight, and either become a hero by living, or die, becoming a legend for eternity.
His demeanor remained consistent, whether he was addressing a mere soldier or standing before the Seven Dragon Lords.
The warriors of Drovian fought only for death—looking forward to the death of the enemy and their own.
No, even death would not be able to stop their struggle. Their faith promised an eternal war guaranteed beyond death.
Seeing this attitude, Enrique smiled at Ivan from that time.
– Are we any different?– Do not mourn those who have left us.
– Know that we too stand in the same ranks as them.
This, then, is about a methodology for accepting death.
EP40. The Line of the Dead (1)
“What the… what is this?”
“It’s a seal. Quite a high-level one… it has created a nearly vacuum state inside. It’s a spell used to store fragile artworks or something like that.”
Elpheira frowned in front of the ornate door that felt out of place in this dilapidated building.
In this dust-covered, poorly maintained ruin, it was the only thing shining brightly. It was sealed by magic, and there were signs that cleaning personnel had consistently come to tidy up the surroundings.
Did they create something like this in the ruins? For what reason?
Eugene spoke cautiously.
“Since it’s Counterintelligence Command, they might be hiding some amazing artifact.”
“Why leave it here? They should have taken it when they moved the headquarters.”
“It could be an artifact that’s impossible to relocate, or perhaps something they wanted to hide because it’s genuinely precious. The main office of the Counterintelligence Command is so famous that they must have been on alert for enemy attacks.”
“Then, what Yuri mentioned about the ‘chance of victory’…”
“Was it a suggestion to utilize the artifact in this place?”
It seemed quite plausible. They nodded together and gathered by the door.
The skeletons that had been inside the building had all been cleared away. Each had physical disabilities that made them easy to deal with. (At the same time, they tried to ignore the fact that so many disabled corpses had been buried there.)
“Can you break this seal?”
“That wasn’t directed at me, was it?”
At Oscar’s question, Elpheira chuckled softly.
“What do you take me for? I am Grykencos. I’m even an elf. Do you think I would struggle with a seal created by humans?”
She placed her hand on the seal and closed her eyes.
“I’ll be done in exactly five minutes, so just wait for me. I’ve even broken God’s seals before, you know.”
“Counterintelligence Command’s main office?”
Ivan furrowed his brow upon hearing Enrique’s explanation. Why had they gone there?
That place had become useless aside from its symbolism. The Counterintelligence Command had already relocated its main office to the outskirts, and the remaining building in the city was nothing more than a scheduled demolition site.
It was ridiculous for a reconnaissance agency to be located on a main street, so the old building of the Counterintelligence Command was positioned quite far away, even by Frechenkaya standards. Surrounding it were nothing but desolate slums.
He remembered that. They couldn’t have hoped for a good location. By the time the Counterintelligence Command was recognized as an independent department, the power of Crown Prince Alexander had been strong, making it difficult for the Counterintelligence Command—directly under Elizaveta—to set up a building in a favorable spot.
Thus, it was strategically and tactically an insignificant operational target. So why had they chosen it?
‘Yuri must be part of the party…’
Almost all of the party members had completed the tactical doctrine course of the Knight Department. Although city tactics at the departmental level were mere basics, even thinking along those lines, there was no reason to set the Counterintelligence Command area as an operational target.
So it couldn’t be another member of the party who suggested that area. In a life-or-death situation, only Yuri could confidently insist on such “irrational choices.”
The special trait of Yuri, [If there is a chance of victory, one will not be defeated], was highly likely to be in effect. This meant there was something in that area, regardless of the circumstances.
Ah, damn it. There was. Just one thing. There was ‘something meaningful’ in that building.
Ivan took off running immediately. A startled Enrique and Isabelle quickly chased after him.
“Why? What is it?”
“The Nameless Cemetery.”
“What?”
“The only value in the old building of the Counterintelligence Command!”
Ivan gritted his teeth as he raced forward.
It was where all the bodies of the fallen members of the Cleanup Unit were buried. The cemetery of the nameless—allowed only to those who had shared the same battlefield, unknown even to their families.
After demolishing the old building of the Counterintelligence Command, it was about to become a proper grave. If the situation had stabilized even a little, it would have already been done.
During Elizaveta’s reign, incidents had occurred month after month. She declared that she would take care of the fallen members of the Cleanup Unit as their last commander, but there were too many events in focus to dedicate herself to that task.
Thus, the old building had been left unattended. This meant it had effectively become a derelict structure, aside from the heavily secured internal storage facilities.
In forgetting that place, Ivan felt a deep-seated anger tinged with guilt.
If the timing had been missed. At that time.
“Was it still there?!”
Enrique also gasped in shock as she ran.
If the remains of the creatures had been turned into undead, they would become terrifying monsters. If the corpses of the knights rose as undead, death knights would arise. In essence, necromancy is greatly influenced by the material.
Even zombies raised from the corpses of ordinary citizens could be so persistent and powerful that civilians might find it hard to cope. Trained soldiers could manage to deal with them, but confronting them in the dark would leave civilians utterly powerless.
If zombies could do that, how much worse would it be if they were raised from the bodies of the Cleanup Unit?
The specialty of the Cleanup Unit was infiltration and sabotage. Since Enrique had personally trained them, all the members of the Cleanup Unit had inherited her strengths.
This meant they would be the strongest factor when facing the city. Their purpose was not war, but ‘extermination’. A city engulfed in darkness would be like a playground in broad daylight for them.
Enrique ran, halfway in despair.
If they arrived too late.
During the time she had hidden in fear, if they had already awakened the ‘those who went before’. If they commanded them to devour the city.
Then, all these events would be her fault. Enrique bit her lip and ran.
Ivan had memorized every block of Frechenkaya. This was basic knowledge, so it needed no elaboration.
Thus, the darkness of the city could not bind his feet. As long as Enrique was determined not to hide, it wouldn’t take long to cross the city.
Enrique transformed into a bat and flew into the sky. Her speed was overwhelming even by superhuman standards, but Ivan leaped from rooftop to rooftop almost at the same speed as her.
Isabelle, who was carried on his back, had to hold onto Ivan tightly and brace herself against the rushing wind without being able to open her mouth.
“Enrique.”
“I saw!”
Soon, the silhouette of the old building of the Counterintelligence Command appeared. Ivan made a great leap and cleared a tall wall without any foothold.
The noise upon landing was quieter than a piece of cotton falling. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he threw Isabelle and pulled out his axe.
Enrique, who landed next to him, sharply scanned the building.
“I smell blood. It’s Lucia’s scent.”
“Are we late?”
“No, it’s a fresh blood scent. Let’s go.”
A reply was unnecessary. They moved as if they vanished at the same time. Left alone, Isabelle watched their figures in awe before letting out a hollow laugh.
“They gave me a break when running with me, huh?”
The corridor was filled with traces of battle. Even while running, Ivan could deduce the situation of the battle from the evidence left behind.
Corpses of skeleton soldiers, the direction of the destruction, and the clear fragments and battle marks on the walls and floor told him precisely who had fought in what way and where they had headed, like fingerprints.
He had ‘seen’ the combat methods of all the party members. Trained agents seldom forget what they have seen once, so he could clearly see how the party had fought and advanced with what formations and strategies.
“That way.”
The direction Enrique pointed was the same. Ivan ran alongside her, biting his teeth in anxiety.
Soon, the sound of battle reached his ears. It was the muffled sound of a struggle, distorted by mana. Perhaps sound-insulation? Or some similar spell.
As they got closer, it became clear what the noise was. Oscar and Yuri were still fighting.
Thank goodness. They weren’t too late.
Ivan suddenly dashed ahead of Enrique and turned the corner of the corridor.
Beyond the shattered seal, a botanical garden unfolded.
At the entrance of the garden stood a solemn statue. He recognized the face—Sasha. The statue that resembled him looked down upon the entrance.
Did they even make something like this?
Beneath it, there was also an inscription carved in Elizaveta’s handwriting.
[Now, I willingly mourn for those who have gone before.]
[Those who stand before this. You are witnessing the price of peace, and should thus revere it.]
[Elizaveta Kirillovna Krasilov]
He felt he could understand what kind of heart she had while creating this place. Even indoors, everything was vividly alive, with tombstones lined up.
The epitaphs on all the gravestones were the same. [Nameless Heroes].
Approximately 700 members of the Cleanup Unit. This was their resting place. Once completed, it was to be more splendid than any national cemetery.
They had gone so far to create this.
Ivan reflected briefly before turning his gaze.
The time, originally cut to maximum speed, began to slow down. Only then did those who had been fighting notice his arrival and step back.
“Samchoooon!!”
“Sir Yeremov!!”
The party screamed. They were filled with joy and relief. Fortunately, those who were severely injured did not seem to be present.
Ivan shifted his gaze. He confirmed the face of the one who had just been attacking the party.
A pale face, sharp jawline, and slicked-back golden hair. The large, slender frame.
And,
A face filled with horror.
“A Widow… Ivan?! You’re alive, you’re really alive?!”
“It was you.”
Ivan took a step forward, gripping his axe. The creature staggered back. Ivan scanned the cemetery once more and then growled low. How dare, here. How dare, the undead.
How dare, to the comrades.
“Your death shall not come easy.”
In his eyes, filled with hatred, the vampire froze like a frog met with a snake.
It felt refreshing. Extreme anger calmed his mind instead. It was quite a suitable situation to fight.
Once again, time began to flow slowly for Ivan.
At that moment, when time was segmented, Ivan was already no longer there.
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