Chapter 13: The Strongest Onmyoji, Also Considered

“What…?”

Not understanding, I asked again, and the Holy Knight said with a somewhat triumphant expression.

“Let me explain it in a way even foolish humans can understand. It seems those are like corpses. Naturally, if they’re moving, it means they’re being controlled by someone. In other words, that army is entirely made up of corpses controlled by a necromancer—undead soldiers.”

“Undead soldiers…? All of them?”

The technique of manipulating souls into corpses using necromancy was a common practice even in my past life. 

Well-known examples include the jumping corpses technique used by Daoist priests in the Song Dynasty, but various magical systems around the world had similar techniques.

Having participated in martial arts competitions in the imperial capital, I was aware that necromancers existed in this world too. 

The fact that the poison gas didn’t affect corpses could also explain why.

But…

“To control an entire army of three thousand like that… it’s unbelievable.”

“The spirits gathered in them are mostly of the dark attribute. Such a thing is impossible in a normal human crowd. They’re typical undead soldiers. And…”

Without stopping his hand from swinging the short sword, Ren continued.

“It’s not just three thousand. It’s probably not just the portion we encountered either. I’m sure the entire rebel forces… tens of thousands of corpses are being controlled.”

“…”

I involuntarily lost my words.

But indeed, if that were the case, it could explain various phenomena.

The convergence of two completely different groups, the mob of slaves and believers.

The existence of an organized command structure with enough order to operate separate units.

However… if that’s the case, the one who accomplished this must be a skilled sorcerer.

Even though it is shrouded in poisonous mist, as long as the spell is being maintained, the sorcerer is not present at that location. They must be manipulating it from somewhere far away. Perhaps even controlling forces from a different location simultaneously.

As necromancy goes, it’s on a scale unparalleled even in the previous life.

Ren said with a composed smile,

“What will you do? Foolish humans. If there’s no other option, I’ll escape. The foolish humans’ city may be trampled, but it’s none of my concern.”

Even as he spoke, the elven knight of the forest people did not stop his hands. The army of undead soldiers was gradually being diminished from the front.

However, it seems impossible to completely annihilate them. In fact, little by little, the distance between us and the forces was decreasing.

I clicked my tongue and conjured a new talisman.

“There are plenty of options.”

I then sent it toward the swarm of corpses in a trajectory that crawled along the ground.

If I just wanted to neutralize them, I could dispel the magic and return them to corpses, and that would be the end of it. 

However, in that case, I might also erase the magical traces along with it. Given the possibility of finding clues, I would prefer to avoid that.

So, I’ll just physically destroy them.

The humanoid figure that flew as if sliding slowed down just before the front line of the rebel army and stuck to the ground.

Forming a seal with one hand,

《Golden Phase――― Needle Mountain Technique.》

Countless spikes protruded from the ground at the feet of the army. 

A large cluster of cone-shaped spikes made of dull gray steel pierced through the group of corpses, halting their advance.

Whether it was due to not feeling pain or not, every corpse still seemed to be attempting to move forward, but it was impossible. For now, the invasion should have been stopped.

The technique was activated over a considerable area to ensure no entities escaped, turning the surroundings of the rebel army into a needle mountain hell.

“Huh…”

Seemingly overwhelmed, the young elven knight from the forest people was struck speechless.

I spoke to him,

“After this, we’ll investigate that. Don’t run away, holy knight.”

****

“Let’s return to the capital.”

On that night.

Gathering Amiyu and the others in a room at the inn where we were staying, I delivered this message.

I explained the situation thoroughly, but the content was quite shocking, and it was doubtful whether they could fully grasp it.

Nevertheless, I continued to convey what needed to be said.

“The premise has changed. We can’t continue suppressing the rebellion in this situation. The entire rebel army has been replaced with corpses. No matter what, it’s better to return once.”

The enemy is not a mob of rioters but a powerful sorcerer with malicious intentions toward the empire.

Just that fact alone changes the appropriate response significantly.

“Tomorrow, as soon as preparations are ready, we’ll leave this place. Is that okay with everyone?”

When I emphasized this, Amiyu hesitated and said reluctantly

“But… even if they’ve turned into corpses, they might still attack other towns, right? Someone needs to stop them.”

“That’s our job.”

I started to say more but stopped. There’s no use speaking reason to Amiyu in her current state.

“The enemy is a highly skilled necromancer. The empire is unaware of this. We can stop the undead soldiers, but we don’t know the necromancer’s location, so we can’t strike them. If we continue fighting here, the damage will only spread elsewhere. It’s better to return, report, and let the imperial intelligence find the necromancer’s location.”

“If it’s just reporting, we could use Fiona as a messenger. There’s no need for us to go back, right?”

“Amiyu…”

I wore a bitter expression.

Certainly, that was true… but how could I convey it in a way that would persuade them?

“…If we had heard rumors of the rebellion ourselves and came here on our own accord, that would be one thing. But the reason we’re here now is that we were asked by the Emperor. Once we’ve been asked and accepted, we can’t act on our own. If we’ve obtained information significant enough to overturn our initial assumptions, we should report it and seek instructions.”

I added casually,

“The Emperor must be expecting that.”

“…”

Upon hearing this, Amiyu pressed her lips together and fell silent.

After a moment, she muttered.

“…I understand.”

I let out a sigh of relief.

I didn’t explicitly mention it to Amiyu, but regardless of what was said upon returning, I had already decided to withdraw from this matter. This situation might not have been anticipated, but Fiona and Yuki’s concerns had unfortunately come true.

How to persuade Amiyu… I’ll think about that when we get back.

At that moment,

“I’m against it.”

Suddenly, Ren raised his voice.

With a composed smile, he continued speaking.

“Don’t even think about going back. Don’t cause trouble for the princess.”

“…Huh?”

I glared at the holy knight and said

“I don’t understand what you mean. In this situation, how does us going back become a disadvantage for Fiona?”

“The premise has changed. Do you really think that’s true?”

Ren looked at me with a half-smile.

“Foolish and quite a naive human. You trust the king of this country quite a bit. Do you really think he was unaware of the undead army? Seriously?”

“…No.”

I stumbled over my words.

The Emperor, in fact, knew everything.

It wasn’t an impossible scenario. Rather, it seemed unnatural to think that the Emperor didn’t grasp what we found out almost immediately upon our arrival.

However,

“…Knowing everything, he sent us here? Why would he… What was the need to conceal the information?”

“I don’t know. I have no idea what the king of this country is thinking. But if you return to the capital now, you’ll find yourselves in a somewhat unfavorable situation.”

“So, what do you suggest?”

“Abandoning the battlefield while under the Emperor’s decree—everyone will perceive it that way.”

Ren’s argument made me furrow my brows.

“Everything is different. Without going through the parliament, it’s not a decree. We’re not running away; we’re just returning to report.”

“That’s just a fact. Facts are easily overturned in the political arena.”

“Nonsense. The imperial judiciary is not under the Emperor’s control. Without a basis in fact, they can’t impose any punishment. Even if they try to fabricate a failure, it won’t…”

About to say, “won’t amount to anything,” I stopped.

Can’t do anything… Is that really true?

“There’s no way we can’t do anything. In fact, we can do anything.”

Ren’s smile darkened as he spoke.

“Under the pretext of washing away guilt, you can be ordered to do anything. The hero will be placed under the Emperor’s control. Voices claiming innocence will be drowned out by the condemnation from those around. That’s how things work in the political arena.”

“…”

“If it’s bad, the repercussions may even reach the princess with connections. That’s why I’m telling you not to go back.”

“…If you follow that logic, the outcome would be the same even if we don’t go back.” 

I replied in a low voice.

“Knowing an important fact and deliberately causing harm by hiding it. That’s a picture we can paint as well.”

“Yes. However, there’s one crucial difference.”

“What is that?”

“If you stay here and continue fighting against the undead army—lives can be saved. Foolish human.”

Ren continued with a smile.

“Lives are the lord’s property, and you could say they’re also the empire’s property. Defending that fact becomes a trump card against baseless accusations. Even if you possess such a thing, it might be of no use to you, but the princess could use it skillfully. Save the subjects, and the lord feels gratitude; the lawmakers feel obligated to the hero. By ingratiating yourselves with such individuals, you can gain support. In the end, it might even help you save yourselves.”

“…”

“Do you understand? Foolish human. The hero has no choice but to become a hero.”

I responded to the half-smiling elven knight with a sigh.

The situation was worse than I had thought. I wasn’t sure how much of what this holy knight said would come true, but it was too logical to dismiss as mere jest.

Ren continued,

“Furthermore, by continuing to fight against the undead army, you might obtain decisive information to overturn the situation.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s obvious. The location of the necromancer.”

The young holy knight deepened his smile.

“Once you defeat them, the suppression of this rebellion is complete. The hero who fulfills the Emperor’s wish will not only escape blame but will actually gain considerable fame.”

“…It’s not realistic.”

I lowered my gaze and shook my head.

“I couldn’t find anything from the corpses. It’s likely the same for the undead soldiers from elsewhere. I doubt we would find any clues to locate the necromancer.”

The enemy indeed seemed to be a powerful sorcerer. 

Despite examining the impaled corpses while they were still moving, we found no traces leading to the sorcerer. Even the flow of power was disguised in a natural form. If Ren hadn’t noticed an abnormality in the behavior of spirits, the revelation might have been even more delayed. It was meticulous to an extreme.

It would be easy to defeat them head-on, but magicians like this don’t engage in straightforward battles.

Finding and defeating them seems quite challenging.

Ren, with his usual composed smile, says,

“Someone who gives up so easily, a foolish human. I don’t think it’s impossible. Luck might come around, too. Anyway, I’ll say it again, don’t even think about going back.”

“…”

I contemplate in silence.

It seems I have no choice but to stay and fight.

Since there are no undead soldiers left here, I’ll have to head to another city. It would be easier if I could use the Kōryū Mizuchi (a mythical serpent)… but I can’t do such a thing in human territory. Constant movement must be tough for these kids, too.

“Seika… you can go back to the imperial capital. Even Leefa and Mabel.”

At that moment, Amiyu suddenly spoke.

Looking down, but continuing as if with determination,

“No one else has to die, right? It’s not your concern anymore. Everyone is already dead. I got you all involved because I foolishly agreed to it… I think I can handle it on my own somehow. I don’t really understand, but that’s how I feel.”

Without making eye contact with anyone, Amiyu says

It was clear as day that she felt a sense of guilt.

However, on the other hand… the words “I can fight alone” don’t seem to carry the weight of burden or bluff.

“So, you guys should go back.”

“No.”

The one who said it firmly was Mabel.

“Even in Lakana, I said so. That we’ll stick together until the end. Besides, Amyu is missing the crucial factor, so it’s dangerous.”

“I… I’ll stay too! Maybe I can’t do much, but…”

“You guys…”

Leefa  also continues, and Amiyu looks at the two of them.

Then, with a somewhat hesitant gesture, she looked at me.

I couldn’t help but smile.

“…You’re foolish. Leave it to me.”

She seemed startled by the words that slipped out of my mouth and momentarily closed her mouth.

However, she quickly regained her smile and continued.

“…Leave it to me. We’re party members.”

“…Sorry. I’ll do what I can as well.”　

And Amiyu, with a small smile, says.

I also smiled, but deep down, there was still a disturbance about the words that almost slipped out.

—Leave it to me, you’re my disciple.

Unconsciously, I was trying to trace the words I once said to her.

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