CHAPTER 86. “You Want Me to Cut Off Your Head?”
After the talk with Riheim sunbae wrapped up, we immediately held a meeting with the chiefs gathered at the 4th Base Camp.
The main points were simple.
Operation name: Turn Undead
While splitting the personnel into a defense unit and a strike unit, how should we proceed with assembling the strike unit?
Honestly, it was a meeting with nothing much to discuss.
Because.
“Our firepower is enough.”
Either way, the Undead packed densely inside the barrier were going to end up swarming toward the 4th Base Camp.
The key was speed.
“How quickly can we reach the ancient ruins and smash Destrow’s seal vessel?”
They said a forbidden mage who had learned necromancy was holding the position, but breaking him was not something worth considering at this stage.
“It’ll be annoying, sure…”
But if we can’t even manage that, we should just die.
Of course, the forbidden mages’ unique curses were the problem, but for some reason, it seemed the Fire Seal was suppressing the curse.
So the only thing to consider was the Undead he controlled, and the Death Knights.
“The Death Knights… there were two left, right?”
According to the forbidden mage who had “turned nice” last time, there were three Death Knights he’d created in total.
One of them had been Shine, so that left two.
Anyway.
In practice, what the strike unit needed wasn’t firepower, but a pathfinder.
Naturally, the pathfinder role fell to our capable guide, Raileigh.
We didn’t have anyone else.
- I… even if I push myself, you’ll need to give me at least three days.
- If we go at full speed, I think two days might be possible… but I can’t be sure.
I thought the 4th Base Camp would be different somehow, but apparently only a handful of people had ever gone as far as the ancient ruins.
And among them, Raileigh was the only pathfinder who knew the routes inside and out. They said monsters had died out all the way to the ruins, but still.
Of course, it wasn’t completely without drama.
- Demon! Step back! How can you be born human and speak two different things with one mouth!
When I suggested he come with us to the ancient ruins, he practically had a fit.
- You beast of a man who doesn’t even keep his promises!
I was about to ask what promise I supposedly hadn’t kept, but when I thought about it, one offhand promise came back to me.
“When this is over… I said I’d make good use of him, didn’t I?”
In other words, I’d said I’d become his backing.
At the time, I’d tossed it out without thinking, but from Raileigh’s perspective, he seemed to have taken it pretty seriously.
And that wasn’t the only problem.
The definition of “this” was different for him and me.
At that moment, I reflected.
“So I… didn’t beat him enough.”
I’d thought I’d beaten him pretty solidly on the first day, but if he was shrieking like this, there was no doubt the correction had been insufficient.
But still.
“I can’t exactly drag along someone who doesn’t want to go.”
Of course, I could make him want to go.
As always, there was no heart that enough fists couldn’t coax out.
But no matter what, I didn’t want to use that kind of method on something where heads could come off. That was why I persuaded him calmly.
- If you just make it out alive, I’ll give you the highest position I can promise.
- You trash… what?
- You can think of it as an empty check, just words. But if you believe me… then above you, there will be no one but me.
- Then that means… I’ll be the mage’s right-hand man…?
- You could see it that way.
Raileigh’s face brightened instantly.
It was obvious what he was thinking.
That’s how people from the Black and White Zone were, by and large. It was like we had a thought circuit that only worked among ourselves.
He was probably thinking something like this.
“…He’s covering his face, so he must be doing something shady.”
Normally, that would be the end of it.
If you join someone doing shady things, it’s only dangerous, and there’s nothing good waiting for you.
But.
“Actually, when a strong guy does shady things, it looks kind of impressive. No, things come rolling in, too.”
Think about it.
With the same level of ability, the guy doing shady things lives a far more entertaining life than the guy living diligently.
And it’s not just entertainment. Wealth and glory, of course, and luxury and indulgence, too—he enjoys it all to the fullest.
“The problem is the ending usually isn’t great, but…”
Originally, the vagrant brats of the Black and White Zone don’t think about endings.
A single extra piece of bread to shove into your mouth right now matters more, and living thick and short for ten years matters more than living a hundred years long.
- I, Raileigh, your right-hand man. I will pledge my loyalty for life.
Raileigh’s reaction didn’t stray far from what I expected.
But there was one thing he didn’t know.
“I’m left-handed.”
Actually, I’m ambidextrous.
And.
“Of course there’s no one above me.”
Because there’s no one below me or above me.
Raileigh seemed to think I was some kind of boss—like the head of a huge cartel operating in the underworld.
A cartel, my ass.
“My name is Aster. I’m a first-year undergraduate in the basic class at Zenion Academy.”
If I’m giving him the highest position…
Sure.
If I ask the Headmaster sunbae nicely, could I get him a job as academy security?
“After the Hall of Trials, it looks like they’re massively expanding the guard force.”
That was all it was.
And so…
Strike unit: Mage, Pathfinder
We filled two slots.
Small, but the most practical composition.
Of course, next to “Mage” I should have put “+1 Death Knight” in parentheses, but you don’t count things that aren’t originally people.
Anyway.
The team assembly should have ended around there.
But.
In the meeting room, I requested one additional person.
- I’d like to bring Mage Oberon with us as well.
It wasn’t because of Overclock.
To be honest, Oberon was surplus manpower—someone who was there or not there, it didn’t really matter.
No, if anything, staying with the defense unit would let him shine more.
“Overclock, too… the cooldown isn’t up yet.”
So why?
Was I attached to him? No.
Oberon was the most stiff-necked of stiff-necked scholars—someone you couldn’t get attached to even if you wanted to.
It was just that.
Before the meeting started, Riheim sunbae had made a request.
- Even if this goes wrong… I hope at least Oberon will be safe.
Even a mage of sunbae’s caliber was still human, I guess.
I wondered what he was protecting by selling his convictions, and it turned out it was the safety of his one and only disciple.
That was why I placed Oberon in the strike unit.
“If things go wrong… it’s easier for the strike unit to pull out than the defense unit.”
Whether the defense unit can’t hold, or whether Destrow arrives, either way.
That was the reason Oberon joined the strike unit.
Anyway, so today—the next day.
“Everyone here?”
It was a question that didn’t need asking, but Oberon and Raileigh nodded with determined expressions.
“…Yes, sunbae.”
Oberon’s dark circles were pronounced, as if he hadn’t slept all night.
It didn’t seem like physical fatigue. How should I put it—more like the psychological burden was heavier.
On the other hand—
“Your loyal right-hand man, ready to proceed.”
Raileigh stood at my back like the most faithful knight in the world.
The tension was obvious, but his resolve was firm.
And that firm resolve was pretty…
“Annoying.”
Yeah. Annoying.
How should I put it. It was better than looking dispirited, but seeing him overflowing with determination made my insides twist.
Well, anyway.
“Preparation’s done.”
All that was left was departure.
I gave the two of them a quick once-over, then looked toward the people gathered in front of the gate.
Calling it a gathering was almost embarrassing—the number of people who came to see off the strike unit was tiny.
It was just Fixer, who’d been with us since the 1st Base Camp, and Plen, who we’d met along the way.
“Not taking another day to rest. You sure you’re fine?”
At Fixer’s concern, I shrugged.
“It’s not like we can rest for a thousand years. Isn’t sooner better?”
It did feel a bit sudden, but considering travel time, it wasn’t actually that fast.
Riheim sunbae could deploy Turn Undead anytime, but the strike unit had to head near the barrier in advance and wait.
“Now it’s truly farewell. I hope you return safely.”
His eyes were unusually deep, and I let out a small chuckle.
For some reason, “I hope you return safely” sounded funny to me.
“It’s not like anywhere is particularly safe…”
Then, suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.
“Do you have a fiancée waiting back in your hometown?”
“…What? At my age?”
“Right. Then maybe a pendant with a family photo. Or someone you can’t stop thinking about. Anything like that—some heartfelt story?”
“…?”
Fixer tilted his head, baffled. I nodded in satisfaction.
“At least you won’t die here.”
“…I don’t know what you mean, but I’ll assume it’s a good thing.”
Yeah. It’s a good thing.
Usually, the ones who die at moments like this are the ones with stories.
It was a kind of jinx I’d learned as a Troubleshooter, grinding like a dog.
The ones who recited their life story in detail right before an assignment always ended up as corpses.
So then, next…
“And you?”
“Me… sir?”
“Yeah. You got some story like that? A fiancée or something. Huh?”
Plen tilted his head at my question.
But only for a moment. Soon he realized what I meant, and he smiled with amusement.
“What… a nasty hobby you have.”
“Oh, so you know?”
“I’ve heard a lot of things.”
Seems like that jinx didn’t circulate only among Troubleshooters.
Anyway.
“You managing the command side?”
At my question, Plen gave an awkward smile.
“What command is there? I’m just doing my best to prepare, that’s all.”
“Humble.”
For the record, Plen was the overall commander of the 4th Base Camp.
I heard that before becoming a mercenary, he’d even commissioned through an advanced officer academy—an elite commander.
“Hard to understand why someone like that drifted all the way here, but…”
I wasn’t particularly curious.
Among mercenaries, who didn’t have a story?
When you can’t settle anywhere and drift like duckweed, each person has a tale they’ve tucked away.
As an aside, the reason Fixer had insisted we bring Plen along was because he knew that past.
“But why did you come out here?”
“It’s not a story… I just have a small favor to ask.”
“…?”
Plen suddenly drew the sword at his waist. He turned the hilt toward me and held it out.
“You want me to cut off your head?”
“…Of course not.”
“Then what?”
That was when Plen bowed his head deeply.
“I heard there’s a Black Mage in the ancient ruins. I beg you—if you have the leeway—then with this sword…”
“Cut off his head?”
“….”
He’d been speaking in a serious voice, but my sudden interruption must have left him speechless, because he clamped his mouth shut.
Then, after a moment—once he fully understood what I meant—he nodded.
“Yes. Not my head… I’d be grateful if you would cut off the Black Mage’s head.”
“…Hmmm.”
His expression was serious.
His eyes…
“Sharp with hatred.”
From those eyes alone, it looked like he wasn’t itching to join the defense unit—he was itching to join the strike unit and take the Black Mage’s head himself.
I glanced at the sword hilt, and then I spoke.
“Leech.”
Crackle.
Black lightning surged from the Bracelet of Subjugation. Black armor took form, and Shine manifested.
[Leech, leech! …Damn it. Could you at least cut down the entrance line a little?]
No chance.
“Do you have any idea how much mana you’ve swallowed?”
A full night.
Because the operation date got set faster than expected, I’d poured in all the Finest Elixir I had on hand.
Thanks to the Fire Seal’s function, the medicinal effect of the Finest Elixir was fully converted into mana, but my overall mana hadn’t increased.
Because.
“That leech of a bastard…”
That damned undead had eaten it all, completely.
And as if that wasn’t enough, even now, whenever my core’s mana climbed past half, he kept sucking it down greedily—if that wasn’t a leech, what was?
Anyway.
“You heard it, right?”
[I heard it, but… so you want me to take this sword and lop off that damned Black Mage’s head?]
“…Yes. It is Chief Hallig’s sword.”
[Hmmm.]
Shhink—
Shine half-drew the blade to check its edge.
[Trash.]
It was a brutally honest evaluation, but no matter how kindly you looked at it, the sword was not made of high-grade material.
However.
[…Not bad. The grudge is soaked deep into it. For me, it’s an excellent weapon.]
And he was right.
Ssssss…
As soon as Shine gripped it fully, the entire blade darkened and transformed into something new.
The transformed sword—truly—looked worthy of being called a famed blade.
This was one of the abilities Shine had realized as a Death Knight. I didn’t know the principle, and Shine didn’t know it either.
Anyway.
[Then I’ll go back and store up strength. This sword… use it well.]
With that, Shine exited.
Of course—
[Leech, leech! …Hey, f**k.]
He didn’t forget his exit line.
- You damned brat these days, if you’re a man…
I ignored the bullshit coming through the spirit link. That wasn’t what mattered right now.
“Then… I’m counting on you.”
“Yeah. The result… if I’m alive, I’ll let you know.”
“Yes.”
And with that, the farewell with Plen ended.
“Are you going now?”
“I don’t know when we’ll be back.”
“Until we meet again.”
I didn’t respond.
“Let’s go, you scraps.”
I just led the two pieces of luggage waiting at my side—Luggage 1 and Luggage 2—out through the gate.
I waved a hand behind me, trying to stage a stylish farewell, but it didn’t really look stylish.
“Ah, we need to go around. Not that way!”
It was because I’d headed in the wrong direction.
