Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 46: Storm over the North (2)
The rain steadily intensified. Pitch-black clouds covered the sky, darkening even the daytime.
Mud impeded the party’s advance. The sun was setting by the time the red wall ahead loomed larger and clearer.
“We should reach the barrier tomorrow morning. Let us confirm several details while we can.”
Midway between Ziemeld’s capital and the barrier stood the ruins of an old church and fort. The roof had collapsed, the walls crumbled, and the interior looked ransacked. Finding a church so neglected near the capital was troubling, but with night approaching, the party could advance no farther.
Lionel addressed the group as they established camp among the ruins and pitched tents against the rain. Then he turned to the Knights of Ziemeld.
“Count Agreas is in the royal capital, correct? Has anyone informed him?”
“…Only low-ranking Knights of Ziemeld remain here. On my own authority, I sent several people carrying messages, but they weren’t official envoys. Most high-ranking knights in the chain of command are…”
The Ziemeld knight hesitated, drawing everyone’s gaze.
“They have somehow disappeared.”
“They’re gone ……? Did they follow Count Agreas to the royal capital?”
“No. I don’t know. Since the Royal Order departed, they have vanished one by one with each passing day.”
“At first, we assumed Count Agreas had summoned them elsewhere. But no one knew anything, and their horses almost always remained in the stables. It is… strange.”
Indeed, many Ziemeld knights in the group were young, some scarcely beyond recruitment.
“By the time we realized, no one remained who could explain the situation or assume command. We ourselves knew almost nothing. There was no superior left to question.”
“It’s as though we were all suddenly stranded here with the barrier. Everything happened within the last month…”
Confusion and anxiety had exhausted the Knights of Ziemeld.
A mercenary studying the barrier while listening stood abruptly.
“Sir Lionel! Something is wrong. The barrier is flickering!”
Everyone turned. The red wall faded and brightened irregularly like a dying flame.
Then, in the pouring rain, the light vanished completely, leaving only the black forest before them.
“This is bad…”
“Hey, there’s an undead beast inside that ward, isn’t there!”
Lionel, Gilbert, and everyone else sprang to their feet.
“What do we do?”
“Advancing in this darkness and rain places us at a severe disadvantage. We can’t assess the situation or identify what’s there. For now, we use the ruined church and fort to secure a refuge.”
If the mutant small undead beasts were among the creatures released, fighting in darkness would be still more difficult.
Judging the distance and likely speed, however, some time remained before anything reached them.
“What about the capital? Residents may still remain, and from what we heard, too few troops are left to protect them.”
Gilbert looked toward the territorial capital. The castle town appeared desolate despite its size, but a few lights remained visible through the rain.
“That’s our responsibility.”
Sydney of the Western Grand Church stepped forward with the other clergy.
“Large-area barriers are our specialty. Leave this to us.”
Unmindful of the rain soaking them, the clergy stood in a line facing the capital and raised their hands.
A broad arc of light spread across the darkness. It traced the Goddess’s ivy symbol as it floated in the sky.
“How long will it last?”
“…For such an enormous area, two or three days at most.”
Sydney answered Lionel with a bitter smile.
Dolph, silent until then, addressed Lionel and the others.
“Lionel, Gilbert, I shouldn’t need to say this, but don’t die pointlessly. You intend to exterminate the creatures, but we don’t know what awaits you.”
After a brief silence, Dolph chuckled.
“So let us fill our stomachs while time remains.”
Behind him, Flora and Barbara widened their eyes. They exchanged a glance, understood, and immediately began cooking.
Forced to camp suddenly in terrible weather, they prepared only seared salted meat and porridge with barley and vegetables. Everyone ate to restore strength and courage, then settled the division of duties.
They slept in shifts while awaiting dawn. By midnight, medium-sized undead beasts began appearing nearby, and the fighters lured and destroyed them.
The rain continued until morning whitened the surroundings.
What they saw then left everyone speechless.
Where the red barrier had stood in the forest, an eerie reddish-black mountain now loomed.