Chapter – 70
Gwahk, guwaaaaahk!
Valhallaaaaaa!
The surroundings were completely filled with enemies.
Horrifying undead monsters and fierce, cruel barbarian warriors were killing our allies indiscriminately.
It was a one-sided slaughter, a massacre.
In that terrible hellscape, the soldiers ran for their lives.
R-run away!
Retreat, retreat!
There was no need to stoke their fighting spirit.
A battle where defeat was predetermined from the start… the difference in strength was so vast that a fight couldn’t even be established in the first place.
Hahk, hahk, hahk!
Gwen ran, and ran, and ran with her comrades.
Her breath caught in her throat, and even as she fell, scraping her knees and arms raw in the process, she never stopped running.
She had to survive, no matter what.
She wanted to survive and return to her family back home.
She didn’t want to die like this.
But she didn’t have the ability to escape this worst-case scenario, and luck wasn’t on her side either.
Hahaha! Run away to your heart’s content! Go on!
A sinister laugh echoed.
Suddenly, a mage in black robes appeared.
Crack, creeeeak!
Kwaaaak!
The ground split open, and pale skeletal hands shot out from within, grabbing the ankles of the fleeing soldiers.
Kyaaaahk!
Gwen barely managed to escape the grasp of the skeletal hands.
Although she lost one of her combat boots, Gwen could still run.
I, I have to run!
The moment Gwen gritted her teeth and tried to get up and run.
H-help me! Please!”
A comrade’s desperate cry pierced Gwen’s ears.
Hesitation!
Gwen’s footsteps halted.
Please don’t leave me! Gwen! Save me! Pleeeaase!
…….
Gwen hesitated for a moment.
She wanted to live.
She wanted to run away like this.
But Gwen didn’t.
She wasn’t cold-hearted enough to abandon a comrade in danger.
Get up quickly! I’ll help you!
Th-thank you.
Hang in there!
Hnggg!
Gwen pulled her comrade with all her might, but the shackles of the White Bone Bind weren’t something that could be broken by mere strength.
Hehe. Foolish wenches.
The dark mage approached Gwen.
Do you little girls think you can escape my bindings?
……!
A startled Gwen hurriedly picked up a pickaxe and swung it at Crowley.
But no matter how much of a dark mage he was, there was no way he would be hit by an attack from a combat engineer, a non-combatant unit.
Swish! Crowley dodged Gwen’s attack and his dagger stabbed her heart.
Stab!
……!
Gwen trembled as if struck by lightning.
Struggling futilely, I see. Hehehe.
Thud. Gwen collapsed.
I’m sorry……. For not…… saving you…….
G-Gwen……!
My leave…… was so close…… My family…… I want to see mom…….
That was the last memory Gwen left in this world.
[Notice: You have read a Residual Will.]
[Notice: You can absorb the Residual Will.]
‘If she had run away alone…… she might have lived.’
Carlyle unknowingly clenched Gwen’s combat boot.
‘Why did she have to be so kind…….’
[Notice: You have absorbed the Residual Will!]
[Notice: You have learned the <Mutual Aid> skill!]
‘This is…….’
[Mutual Aid]
“Get up quickly! I’ll help you!”
Effect:
When retreating or returning, all party members’ movement speed +50%
When retreating or returning, all party members’ HP/Stamina/Mana recovery +150%
[Mutual Aid].
That was the name of the power Gwen left in this world through her Residual Will.
Although she wasn’t a war hero with illustrious feats, her final moments were no less heroic.
‘I won’t forget your last moments.’
Swish. Carlyle carefully tucked Gwen’s combat boot into his embrace.
Shortly after recovering the bodies of the fallen allies.
“Wait a moment.”
Carlyle spoke up as if he had remembered something.
“What is it?”
“Since we’ve come all the way out here, I thought we might as well loot everything before leaving.”
“What are you planning to loot?”
Begman tilted his head.
“That dark mage bastard’s dungeon.”
“Ahh.”
“Since we’re here, let’s go loot it.”
“I don’t mind that… but do you know where that bastard’s dungeon is?”
“I know a way to find out.”
Carlyle looked back at Evangelin.
Actually, Carlyle knew the location of Crowley’s dungeon, but he couldn’t just say that outright.
However, with Evangelin by his side, there was no need to make excuses.
“Can you guide us?”
“Of course.”
Evangelin nodded and cast [Memory of the Earth], recreating Crowley’s form and replaying the situation at that time.
“That son of a bitch.”
“Just looking at his face makes me angry.”
The scouts growled at the earthen form of Crowley.
It was just a shape made of dirt, but still…
“Let’s follow it.”
Carlyle followed the earthen form of Crowley.
“It’s here.”
Crowley’s dungeon was located in an abandoned public cemetery about 2 kilometers from Bowden Fortress.
It was a place used for hastily burying unidentified corpses found by chance.
Even that was only used in the past; now, as no one visited, the place was overgrown with dense foliage.
“It was here?”
Begman made a face as if he’d been hit.
It’s dark under the lamp, as they say…
Crowley’s dungeon was located under a stone slab in the very center of the public cemetery.
“Let’s go in.”
“Wait.”
Begman stopped Carlyle.
“Why?”
“Isn’t it dangerous?”
“That bastard is dead, there’s no way the undead are still functional.”
“Huh?”
“When a Necromancer dies, the undead stop functioning.”
“Is that how it is?”
“Yes.”
Carlyle nodded and explained.
“Even if there are guardians in a Necromancer’s dungeon, they’d just be undead. There shouldn’t be anything particularly dangerous.”
“I, I see.”
“Even if a dangerous situation arises, we are absolutely safe today, so don’t worry.”
As he said that, Carlyle glanced at Maranello.
With the Grim Reaper of the North by their side, it was no exaggeration to say that Carlyle’s group had nothing to fear.
Meanwhile, Maranello watched Carlyle with a pleased smile.
‘To think the young master is leading the scouts.’
How much had she suffered because of Carlyle’s waywardness?
From Maranello’s perspective, she felt like bowing down to him.
The northern scoundrel had grown so splendidly in just two months since enlisting…
‘Ha. As expected from trash, there’s nothing but trash here.’
Unfortunately, in Crowley’s dungeon, there were no usable items to be found even if you searched desperately.
Of course, since it was a dark mage’s dungeon, it was filled with various items and materials related to dark magic, but most were so utterly evil that one wouldn’t want to touch them.
The only saving grace was that they could at least gather various potions and money-worthy items like gold coins, gold ingots, and various gems accumulated over decades.
“Let’s just take what we can and get out.”
“Let’s do that.”
Carlyle’s group left the dungeon, taking the money, potions, and a few corpses of Decaron soldiers that hadn’t been turned into undead yet.
Whoosh, whoooosh!
They didn’t forget to set the dungeon on fire before leaving.
Thus, the dungeon that the vile Necromancer Crowley had cultivated his entire life, along with all the dangerous items and dark knowledge stored within, turned into a handful of ash and disappeared.
‘You seeing this?’
Carlyle thought of Crowley, who was probably suffering in hell by now, and smiled coldly.
‘Now there’s nothing left of you in this world. All the research materials and belongings you spent your life studying. All burned to nothing. This is the final punishment I give you.’
By not allowing anything to remain, negating his entire life, his very existence.
That was Carlyle’s final revenge against Crowley.
After returning to Bowden Fortress, Carlyle put the boot back on Gwen’s foot and saw her off completely.
Rigor mortis should have set in, but being able to put the boot on so easily was probably thanks to [Breath of Purification].
The next night.
“Is everyone here?”
“Yes.”
At Helen’s question, the scouts answered.
“Then let’s begin.”
As soon as Helen finished speaking, Begman stepped forward and pointed at Carlyle.
“Rookie.”
“Yes?”
“Stand up.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean ‘why’?”
Begman glared.
“Don’t you want your promotion? If you don’t, just say so. We’ll let you keep rolling as a Private.”
“Ah, that’s what this is.”
Carlyle’s expression became nonchalant, as if he finally understood.
“As you all know, our rookie is a direct descendant of the Sigmund family. A fresh, new Sigmund who just completed his succession ceremony and commissioning ceremony two months ago.”
“Hahaha!”
“You all know, right? The Sigmunds must pass the Noble Proof. I counted his combat participation over the last two months; it was exactly ten times. So, now it’s time for us to evaluate this guy.”
Begman swept his gaze over the scouts.
“The evaluation is simple. We just need to judge whether our rookie has the qualifications to become an officer, a commander, in our army. You’ve all watched him from the side, so vote honestly without hesitation. Understood?”
“Yes!”
“Then… those who think the rookie is not qualified to become an officer?”
“……”
No one raised their hand.
“Then, those who think the rookie is fully qualified to become an officer?”
This time, all the scouts raised their hands one by one, expressing their opinion that Carlyle was qualified.
Unanimous.
All scouts judged that Carlyle had the qualities to be an officer, a commander.
Ding!
A notification window appeared before Carlyle’s eyes.
[Notice: Unanimous!]
[Notice: Congratulations!]
[Notice: You have completed the <Noble Proof>!]
Clap clap clap clap clap!
“Yay!”
“He’s getting promoted the fastest among us! Haha!”
“Wheee!”
“You’ll be an officer now, Private Carlyle.”
The scouts congratulated Carlyle sincerely.
Sniff…
Maranello, who was watching, took out her handkerchief again and wiped her tears.
Just a year ago, she couldn’t even imagine that Carlyle would pass the Noble Proof…
“Congratulations, Private Carlyle. No, I should call you Second Lieutenant Carlyle from now on. Although you’ll remain a Private until the promotion review is officially processed.”
Helen also offered her congratulations to Carlyle, plain and calm.
“Thank you.”
Carlyle bowed his head in gratitude to Helen and the scouts.
And that was it.
Carlyle just stood there blankly, not saying anything special or doing anything else.
“What’s that? Is that all?”
“Don’t you have anything else to say?”
“What’s with his reaction?”
The scouts tilted their heads in confusion.
It was because Carlyle didn’t seem particularly happy.
Helen quickly stepped in.
“As a celebration, I’ll specially permit a little drinking tonight.”
“Ooooh!”
The scouts’ eyes turned white with excitement.
Not remembering when they last drank, being allowed alcohol made everyone go wild, which wasn’t strange.
“Private Carlyle.”
“Yes, Captain Helen.”
“Come out for a moment. I need to talk to you separately.”
“Alright.”
Carlyle promptly agreed and followed Helen.
It was because being in such a noisy place and receiving everyone’s congratulations made him feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.
And…
‘Do I really have to get promoted?’
Carlyle held a rather negative stance on the promotion.
