Chapter 31: Strange Events in the North (3)

　Upon entering the village, Gilbert and his companions first used weapons that still carried holy water’s blessing to secure an evacuation route.

　The undead beasts now covered half the village. Lacking sight and hearing, they instinctively attacked moving creatures by following their scent. Since they ignored inanimate objects, they probably sensed body heat as well.

“I heard their ability to kill is limited, but how limited?”

　Gilbert watched undead beasts clinging to the roof of a nearby house as he questioned a private soldier.

“They have neither sharp fangs nor claws. Instead, their saliva carries a mild poison. It won’t kill immediately, but it gradually paralyzes the body and clouds the mind until the victim can’t move.”

　A mercenary listening nearby grimaced.

“Even without fangs, a bite will cause trouble. Still, if the clergy treat us before we become immobile, we can manage.”

　The accompanying clergy nodded.

　A mercenary who had searched for remaining residents returned carrying a barrel.

“Let’s use this. It’s probably whey left from making goat cheese. The smell is strong, so it’ll make a perfect lure.”

　Cloudy yellowish liquid filled the barrel. It had presumably been meant for disposal, but fermentation had given it a piercing odor.

　The men grimaced and used a ladle to pour it over their heads.

“Now we lure the swarm as far as possible in the opposite direction from town and keep crushing the creatures so they can’t move.”

“Rarely does one encounter a plan so simple and idiotic. This is a valuable experience.”

“Is that a compliment, ……?”

　Trading jokes as they went, Gilbert and the others charged toward the swarm reeking of fermented dairy.

　◆◆◆

　The wagon raced toward town carrying the village’s evacuees.

“Will Gilbert and the others… be all right?”

　Anxiety plain on her face, Flora peered through the small window behind the driver’s bench at the receding village, clutching Gilbert’s brooch.

“They have blessings. All that remains is to pray.”

　After the brief reply, Barbara removed the small statue of the Goddess hanging on the wall and gave it to Flora, who held it with the brooch. The village children had presented the statue on the day of their departure.

“And think about what you want to feed him tonight. At a time like this, that’s far better than frightening yourself. Perhaps we can borrow a kitchen in town.”

　Barbara spoke lightly and laughed.

　◆◆◆

　Gilbert and the others who remained as decoys stood panting in what had become an eerie dark-red swamp.

“Damn, they’re regenerating too fast.”

　A breathless mercenary smashed his club into the densely packed undead beasts.

　Nearby, Gilbert swept his battle-axe through several medium-sized creatures.

　The froglike undead beasts were more troublesome than they appeared simply because there were so many.

　Once a mass of them clung to a person, shaking them off was difficult. Worse, paralyzing poison entered the small wounds inflicted during battle and gradually slowed the victim’s limbs.

　The men were already in terrible condition, coated with reddish-black pieces of putrid flesh thrown off whenever a creature was crushed.

“So, what are we going to do after this?”

　Still fighting and too exhausted even to catch his breath, Gilbert answered in broken phrases.

“The old man will bring spare weapons and holy water from town when the wagon returns. We’ll use them to withdraw one by one from the outer edge.”

　If Dolph was correct, the wagon could force its way in and retrieve everyone together in the worst case.

　As he considered this, Gilbert drove his battle-axe into the ground and burst apart a dense heap of small undead beasts. Their reddish-black carrion scattered, but rather than dissolving into the earth, it bubbled and regenerated.

　The mercenary beside him swayed. The paralyzing poison was taking effect.

　The clergy sheltered behind a barrier near the village entrance. Reaching them for healing was difficult while countless regenerating creatures surrounded the fighters.

　Rotten flesh covered Gilbert’s body except around his battle-axe and Flora’s braided cord. Thanks to the cord, his hands hadn’t slipped.

　—Perhaps soaking it in holy water made it effective…

　While he considered that, the wagon returned.

　The clergy raised a barrier at the village entrance, and the fighters leaped inside one after another.

“This is the largest barrier I can maintain! Protect my flanks!”

　The private soldiers who had withdrawn nodded at the priest’s shout and purified their swords with the holy water Dolph’s party brought.

　Gilbert guarded the rear. When only two men remained outside, the other mercenary stumbled to his knees, the paralyzing poison finally overwhelming him.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

“We’re almost there!　Get up!”

　Several men rushed forward at their comrades’ shouts, but the collapsed mercenary was too powerfully built for them to drag easily.

　While brandishing his axe, Gilbert glanced toward them, seized the nearby barrel of whey, and emptied it over his head.

“I’ll buy you time!”

　He ran in a circle to attract the creatures, then sprinted away from the entrance. Countless undead beasts writhed like a dark-red wave and pursued him.

　Gilbert tried to decide what to do next as he ran. He moved as quickly as he could, but an extraordinary number chased him. In such numbers, their limited lethality meant little; if they caught him and piled on, their weight alone would crush him.

　—This is bad. What can I do? No—if I die here, my brother will kill me. More importantly…

　Fatigue, poison, and danger tangled his thoughts. It was remarkable that he could still run at all. Flora’s braided cord swayed at the edge of his vision.

　Looking back, he saw Flora leaning anxiously from the wagon’s roof hatch in the distance.

　Gilbert circled the houses to increase his lead, then shouted toward the wagon with all his strength.

“Flora!”

“……!　Yes!”

　Flora replied in surprise.

“What are we having for dinner?”

　The poison must have addled his mind. For a moment Gilbert wondered what he was saying, yet he felt compelled to ask.

“Beef stew—with plenty of meat!”

　Flora answered brightly at the top of her voice. It felt like a promise that he would return safely.

　—That’s right. If I die here doing something foolish, I’ll accomplish nothing and only make everyone I care for grieve. I can’t allow that.

　Gilbert measured the distance, stopped, and raised his battle-axe.

　If one opening strike reduced the swarm pursuing him, he could break for the wagon.

“I have too many things to protect. I can’t afford to die.”

　As he murmured the words, an explosive sound rang in his ears.

　There was no time to investigate. A huge reddish-black wave of undead beasts surged before him.

　His battle-axe split the wave. At the same instant, countless small arcs of white lightning crackled through the opening.

　The flashing lightning enveloped the mass of creatures.

　Their decayed flesh fell, dissolved, and vanished into the earth. That sight became Gilbert’s last hazy memory before he lost consciousness.

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