Chapter 3:
Arc, the One-Man Army
Back in Saureah, the capital of the Nohzan Kingdom, it was the second day of the siege of the undead. Where they came from or who they worked for was still unknown.
The limited number of troops in the capital had so far done a respectable job using the towering defenses that surrounded the city to hold off the nearly endless number of undead soldiers.
The yells of the royal guards and the screeches of the half-man, half-spider creatures that led the assault could be heard all the way to the massive palace at the center of the capital.
The palace itself looked more like a military fortress, its very construction evidence of the decades of war the country had endured.
Despite its rough exterior, however, many of the interior rooms were lavishly outfitted for receiving important guests, allowing them to be entertained at a level matched by few other kingdoms.
In one such room, two people sat on large sofas facing each other.
One was a strict-looking older gentleman, dressed in rather reserved clothing, though it was apparent on closer inspection that he’d spared no expense on the materials and workmanship of his attire.
The man’s name was Asparuh Nohzan Saureah, the ruler of this kingdom.
He was well known for coming off as gruff to those he dealt with, though he was speaking in subdued tones to the man sitting across from him.
“And so you have chosen to stay here, Cardinal Palurumo?”
The other man, dressed in the elaborate robes of a Hilk clergyman, nodded as he took a disinterested sip of his tea. He offered a warm smile to the king, reaching up to adjust his delicately arranged black hair. The man, one of the seven cardinals serving the pontiff of the neighboring Holy Hilk Kingdom, was clearly a stickler for details.
Cardinal Palurumo Avaritia Liberalitas responded cheerfully.
“Why, it’s my responsibility to call out to our Great Father and ask Him to send the onslaught of undead running for the hills. The Hilk followers living here would doubt my faith were I to turn tail and flee, causing the capital to descend into even greater panic.”
Palurumo let out a heavy sigh and fixed the king with an intense gaze.
“Our Father watches our actions. This is just another trial, and we cannot allow ourselves to turn our backs on Him. I am confident He will award Nohzan Kingdom with great blessings for overcoming this challenging time.”
He brought his hands together and lowered his head in prayer. The king nodded, not looking completely convinced.
“This trial has almost certainly brought us in the capital closer together, but I worry about whether we can actually survive…”
The king cast his gaze toward the window, narrowing his eyes as if to try and see something off in the distance.
“I’ve sent my own children to try and muster up reinforcements, but I wonder if the walls will hold long enough for them to return. You say that this is one of God’s trials, but why would He test us so?”
The king steepled his fingers. He looked exhausted.
Palurumo watched with great interest, a glint of pleasure in his gaze. However, this went unnoticed by the king as he stared at his own reflection in the polished wooden table.
“I am certain that our benevolent God would not turn his back on the good people of Nohzan. That is precisely why I am here, to help keep them on the righteous path.”
The king looked back up at Palurumo. “I see…”
Cardinal Palurumo Avaritia Liberalitas offered a charming smile.
“Even we exalted followers of His Heavenly Father are human, no different from the other citizens here in the capital. But we are called to save those who have strayed from the path and offer a helping hand to those who need it. I have already sent my own servants to speak with the pontiff.”
A look of relief washed across the king’s face. It was as if God Himself had spoken these words.
However, a moment later, another question came to mind.
“But…how did you get a messenger out of the capital? It’s completely surrounded.”
Palurumo’s eyebrow twitched.
“Our templars are quite skilled. I sent some of my best men out late last night. Heathens like the undead are no match for them.”
The king appeared satisfied by this explanation. “I see, I see. I’ve heard reports that the undead lose much of their coherence at night and move about with reckless abandon. I should have guessed that you would have taken that into account.”
Palurumo’s finger twitched ever so slightly at the king’s words, but he quickly brought another winning smile to his lips, struggling to keep up the façade.
“Though they are large in number, I personally feel there is little to fear from the undead. We just need to hold out for His holy retribution.”
The king nodded at this, his eyes glimmering with hope. However, there was something strange about the way Palurumo reacted.
“Is there something wrong, cardinal?”
Palurumo coughed gently into his fist and brought his usual smile back to his face.
“Nothing to worry about, no. I was just distracted.”
Palurumo watched King Asparuh leave the room before closing his eyes and furrowing his brow, as if looking at something far, far away. Suddenly, his eyes shot open.
“I’ve lost touch with the specter warriors I sent after them. Apparently, her guards were much stronger than I anticipated. But this isn’t the first time something like this has happened. I feel like I have the worst luck.”
He breathed out heavily through his nose, looking at the empty space where the king had been sitting.
“So be it. I’ll just have to send more specter warriors after them. Whether they’ll even be able to catch up is another question entirely, however…”
His face contorted into a cruel, almost sadistic smile.
“I suppose it’s about time I encourage the people to find some holy enlightenment. After all, I have a front row seat to watch these hopeless sinners meet their fate. I might as well enjoy it while I can.”
His laugh echoed throughout the room.
***
The sun was heading steadily toward the horizon, bathing the sky in deep, scarlet hues. Long shadows cast by the surrounding hills stretched in front of us as we made our way south, joined by Princess Riel of the Nohzan Kingdom.
Despite being a mere eleven years old, she conducted herself with all the regality of a noble. She rode with her bodyguard, Zahar, as we made our way toward Count Dimo’s domain.
From time to time, the young princess would poke her head up from between Zahar’s burly arms to look over in my direction.
It wasn’t me that she was looking at, however. She was looking at the massive driftpus leading the formation of guards, and at her unconscious bodyguard Niena. Despite the distance between us, I could easily make out the worry on her face.
As head of the guards, Zahar had originally planned to carry Niena on his steed, but he and Riel were already a heavy burden, even for the massive war horse.
When it came time to discuss how to transport the princess, now that her carriage was in ruins, she’d immediately asked to ride with me on Shiden. There wasn’t even a hint of hesitation in her voice.
Zahar, however, would have none of it. There was no way he was going to leave his princess in the care of outsiders.
Using a rope, I’d tied Niena to my back. Behind her sat Ariane.
Four people would have been one too many to fit on the driftpus, despite its massive size, so Chiyome wound up borrowing one of the horses from the fallen guards.
Though she had little experience with horses, Chiyome was quite gifted when it came to all manner of sports. She was already holding the reins and riding like a pro.
Chiyome and the other mountain people boasted excellent physical strength and agility, allowing them to easily run through forests. As such, they had no need for horses or other working animals.
Since they lived in small villages hidden deep in the mountains and forests, I could see how horses weren’t really a necessity for them. However, once they finished their new settlement in the area beyond the Furyu Mountains, they’d have to get used to life on the plains. In fact, they were currently cutting down all the surrounding trees just to construct their buildings.
I started thinking that it might be a good idea to bring them some horses, so the people there could learn how to ride. The animals would allow them to travel long distances and carry heavy materials.
When we’d decided that Chiyome would ride on her own, I’d instructed her to gently stroke her horse’s neck to help it get used to her before showing her how to use the reins.
Looking over now, I could see that she was already riding like a seasoned professional. It seemed that animals took to the mountain people pretty quickly.
I glanced down to find Ponta curled up in Shiden’s white mane. It let out an exaggerated yawn. It had been said spirit creatures rarely bonded with humans, so it made sense that the cotton-tailed fox and Shiden had become fast friends.
Though Ponta had initially shown reluctance when I approached, it quickly grew close to me after I offered it some food. I wondered if that was because it could somehow tell I was actually an elf.
“Kyii?”
Ponta looked up at me curiously, as if it sensed my gaze. I shook my head and looked away.
Thinking back on when we first encountered Princess Riel and her envoy, I realized that Ponta hadn’t really acted skittish around them. It especially didn’t seem to have any issue with the princess herself, though it made no effort to get any closer to Zahar or the other guards than was absolutely necessary.
Niena, Princess Riel’s unconscious bodyguard, seemed to be an exception, though, as Ponta readily approached her and wagged its cottony tail across her face, as if teasing her. Ponta was a curious little creature, and had no problem playing the tough guy when up against someone unconscious.
I turned my attention ahead and began scanning the surrounding hills. Then I felt something jerk behind me.
“Wh-whoa! What’s going on?!”
Niena’s voice cracked as she yelled, apparently having just woken up.
Her faculties came back to her in bits and pieces. She started jerking around as she tried to process just exactly how she’d ended up being tied to the back of an armor-clad knight.
“Where am I?! And who the hell are you?”
It only made sense that she would be confused—anyone would be if they woke up and found themselves unable to see anything but metallic armor in front of them.
Zahar brought his horse up next to Shiden. “Calm down, Niena.”
“Let’s stop for a moment. It seems Niena’s woken up.”
Riel popped her head up from between Zahar’s arms. “Niena? Niena, I’m so glad you’re finally awake!”
“Princess! Just what’s going on here?”
Niena frantically looked around for the overjoyed voice of her young charge. Once her eyes found Riel, she calmed down and stopped struggling.
“How’s your arm, Niena? Any discomfort?”
I pulled to a stop next to Zahar and quickly undid Niena’s bindings. Her eyes went wide, and she looked down at her arm as the memories of what had happened came flooding back.
“That’s right… My arm. It was chopped off, wasn’t it?”
She moved her previously severed arm around, flexing all of its muscles.
Princess Riel hopped out of Zahar’s arms with a broad smile on her face as she explained what had happened to her bewildered bodyguard.
“Arc, that knight over there, used his healing magic to fix your arm!”
Niena slid off Shiden’s back and dropped to a knee to wrap the girl in a warm embrace.
“I’m so glad you’re okay, Niena! I was so worried!”
“My apologies, Princess. I didn’t mean to alarm you.”
Niena bowed her head slightly to the young girl buried in her arms. Princess Riel responded by burrowing her tear-soaked face deeper into Niena’s chest, consoling herself with the sound of Niena’s heartbeat.
The two stayed that way for a short time before Zahar called out to them from atop his horse. His head darted around, concern clear on his face.
“Princess, we don’t have much time. Now that we know Niena’s out of the woods, we need to hurry along.”
Princess Riel frowned. She slowly pulled away from Niena’s arms. “I know. You’re right. Fort Hill is just a little farther off?”
Zahar confirmed this with a nod, and Riel turned her attention back to Niena.
“I really am glad you’re all right! You should thank Arc here for saving you!”
Zahar hoisted her back on to his horse, and the two took off again.
Niena turned her attention to me. A moment later, she caught sight of Ariane, and her eyes went wide.
“An… An elf?!”
Her shock only grew when Chiyome drew her horse alongside Shiden.
“A beast girl too?!”
Riel called out from up ahead. “Niena, you owe these people a debt of gratitude for saving your life! Not only that, but they’re also escorting us to our destination, so try to not be rude, okay?!”
“My apologies, Princess!”
Niena turned back to us and bowed low. “Arc, I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done. Not only did you slay that monster, but you saved my life.”
Niena was much younger than Zahar, but she still conducted herself like a proper knight of the royal court. She had a feminine face with strong, stark features, brown skin, and piercing eyes. However, the look of surprise at the sight of Chiyome and Ariane was unmistakable.
Though she didn’t unleash any insults directly, it was clear that she felt the same way about other species as many who’d grown up under the influence of the Hilk.
That was just how things were, I supposed.
When you spent your entire life believing in a particular religion and its values, it wasn’t easy to just reset all that.
If anything, the fact that Princess Riel hadn’t seemed to react to this was impressive.
“There is nothing to thank us for. I simply couldn’t stand the sight of a young girl in pain. I did what I could to help. Anyone would have done the same.”
Niena bowed her head once more in thanks. “And what became of my horse?”
“Ah, over here!”
One of the guards came riding over, leading a horse behind him.
Since Niena wouldn’t be able to ride while unconscious, he’d tied her horse to his and rode the two together.
Niena took the reins and hopped up onto the saddle. It was hard to believe she’d even been injured in the first place. After collecting her sword and gear from another royal guard, Niena took after Zahar’s horse.
“Sorry for causing you such worry.”
Zahar dismissed her apology with a wave of his hand. “Hmph. I know you’ve just recovered, but I’m counting on you, Niena.”
With that, the procession began moving again as we continued on our way to Count Dimo.
***
The scarlet hues gave way to deep purples as night settled in, and the landscape around us finally began changing.
Just as we were beginning to lose visibility from the setting sun, we caught sight of a massive wall ahead, standing around ten meters tall.
It was difficult to make out the details amidst all the shadows, but the wall appeared to be made of stone, stretching far off to the left and right. So far, in fact, that I couldn’t see where it ended in either direction.
The sight reminded me of the wall we’d seen down on the southern continent that separated the rest of the peninsula from Tagent and the other human colonies.
“What’s this wall for?”
I tugged gently at Shiden’s reins to slow the beast down and looked over at one of the guards.
“That is the wall surrounding Fort Hill. On the other side is Count Dimo’s domain.”
My anxiety eased up instantly at this explanation.
“Looks like we’re finally here.”
Riel sounded relieved as well, but Zahar shook his head.
“The entrance is still a little farther east.”
He reached into a small bag hanging from his saddle and pulled out a folded piece of cloth. Riel watched him with great curiosity.
“Hey, what’s that?”
Zahar unfolded the cloth and held it out. It bore a majestic crest (the royal crest of the Nohzan Kingdom, perhaps?) sewn into it.
Zahar used twine to tie the cloth to his sheath, making an impromptu flag and marking us all as an envoy of the royal family. He then handed the flag to one of the other guards, who held it high above her head as we rode on.
I figured the reason they hadn’t displayed any crests until now probably had something to do with the fact that we were in foreign territory. With allies waiting on the other side of the wall, it was probably safe to identify themselves now.
It was nearly pitch-black now, and I had doubts about whether anyone would even be able to see the markings on the flag, but it was still best to signal ourselves as friendly before approaching a heavily fortified wall.
Ariane leaned up to look over my shoulder, taking great interest in what was happening ahead of us, her golden eyes scanning the massive wall of stone.
A question then sprang to mind.
“Hey, Ariane, do elven villages also have their own crests?”
She nodded. “Of course we do, but they’re rarely used by anyone other than soldiers outside the forest.”
Before I could ask for further details, Ariane pointed over my shoulder toward a shadowy figure atop the wall.
“I see movement.”
I looked in the direction Ariane had indicated. I could see torches placed at regular intervals along the top of the wall, along with small shadows moving against the night sky. Apparently, they had guards keeping watch along the entire perimeter. A few moments later, I heard voices shouting.
By the time we reached the wall, a contingent of soldiers had assembled atop a massive gate—the only path through the wall—and were staring straight down at us.
An older man called out. “Identify yourselves! Beyond this wall lies the domain of Count Dimo, entrusted to him by the Nohzan Kingdom.”
Zahar dismounted, leaving Princess Riel atop his horse, and approached the gate. He shouted up to the commander atop the wall.
“My name is Zahar Bakharov! I come here with Princess Riel Nohzan Saureah, heir to the Nohzan Kingdom, and a contingent of guards.”
He took one of the torches from near the gate, bringing it close to his horse. The guard holding the royal flag stepped into the light.
“I am Princess Riel Nohzan Saureah, and I have been sent as a messenger by my father to seek an audience with Count Valmuer du Dimo. I demand that you open the gate immediately!”
The young princess spoke clearly and with authority, causing the commander to immediately begin issuing orders to his men.
“Open the gate! Open the gate at once! Make way for Princess Riel! Hurry up, I say!”
I could only imagine how surprised the men must have been to see their very own princess out here in enemy territory, and with such a small contingent of guards.
The massive gate shuddered and slowly began creaking open. Before it even had a chance to open completely, the old man came racing down, already out of breath. Zahar took the reins of Riel’s horse and led it toward him.
“Please forgive me, Princess Riel. I never imagined that you of all people would be out here in the Salma Kingdom!”
The commander bowed low, practically touching the ground. Fortunately, Riel didn’t seem to mind.
“It’s fine. It’s your duty to stop any encroachment by the Salma Kingdom. However, we are on rather urgent business from the king.”
The commander looked on in disbelief at what he was hearing. Once he heard the reassuring thud of the gate opening behind him, he bowed again.
“Come in, please. We are but a humble outpost, hardly fit for a princess, but please make yourself at home.”
Zahar simply nodded and waved for the rest of his soldiers to follow him in.
Riel’s horse led the way, followed by the rest of her guards and then by Shiden and me.
Unfortunately, my giant lizard companion was scared by the flames and reared back as we approached the gate, causing a great deal of alarm among the nearby soldiers.
The commander’s eyes went wide as he turned to Zahar for an explanation. Zahar only offered a nod as he walked past, leaving the old man to hesitantly usher the rest of us inside the fort.
After passing through the gate, I could feel all eyes on me as I rode Shiden through the fortress grounds. I could only imagine how much worse it would be if I took off my helmet. I took a swig from my waterskin, just in case. If it came down to my helmet, it’d be easier to explain away being an elf.
“Kyiiii.”
Ponta let out a yawn and blinked heavily. It was already pretty late, the courtyard illuminated only by what little moonlight broke through the cloud cover.
Ariane and Chiyome kept their cloaks and hats pulled down low to avoid drawing attention to themselves as they took in their surroundings.
The fortress was, in a word, spartan. It seemed highly unlikely that Count Dimo was anywhere near this outpost.
However, without any torches nearby, I couldn’t see very far into the distance.
I glanced over at Ariane, and it seemed like we were in agreement: we’d stay here for the night and leave at first light. From the way she was rubbing her bum, it seemed she was done riding for the day.
“What’re you talking about, Zahar?! Fort Hill is only half a day’s journey from the count’s home in Keen. There’s no reason to stop here!”
Zahar shook his head at Princess Riel’s outburst. “We’ve had quite the journey since leaving the capital. You need rest, Princess.”
“We can’t just lounge about when our people are in danger!”
Niena approached Riel and looked her straight in the eyes. She spoke gently to the young girl. “The risk of you falling ill is just too great, Princess. Who could ask the count for assistance if not you? Besides, no matter when we arrive, it will still take time for Dimo to assemble his forces.”
Riel’s gaze fell to her feet, her shoulders slumping in defeat.
The commander of the fortress had been standing quietly by while this conversation played out. Finally, he spoke up.
“I understand that you have come to save the capital from a grave threat, so I took the liberty of sending one of our fastest riders to deliver a message to Keen. Please, rest here for the night, Princess.”
The older gentleman bowed his head.
Princess Riel looked down at him from atop her horse, then slowly turned to look at the bodyguards who rode on either side of her.
“Fine, fine. We’ll stay the night.”
The two bodyguards and the commander looked relieved.
We, still posing as Princess Riel’s guards, were then assigned rooms at the barracks. Ariane and Chiyome were given one room, while I was given my own. The rooms, obviously meant to house soldiers and maybe some higher-ranking officers, were simply constructed and sparsely decorated. My room had two beds that looked to be of questionable quality.
I sat down on one with my armor still on and it immediately let out a loud creak, as if crying for help. I ignored the sound and slumped over with a heavy yawn.
Ariane, Chiyome, and I were invited to have dinner with the others at Fort Hill, but we decided to beg off since we were merely mercenaries under the employ of the princess.
I was actually pretty interested in what kind of food a fortress sitting on the front lines might serve a princess, but the possibility of another mishap, like the one back in Chiyome’s village, was too much to risk.
They brought us dinner so we could eat alone. We carefully laid the items out on the table in Ariane and Chiyome’s room.
Judging by the smell wafting off the freshly baked baguette, it seemed to be made of wheat. It also came with a soup filled with a variety of boiled vegetables and beans, along with a piece of unidentifiable meat still on the bone.
I’d expected the food to be a lot simpler, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it exceeded my expectations.
According to the person who’d dropped the food off, a small market had sprouted up just outside the walls, to do business with the soldiers inside. They’d even started farming wheat nearby. Thanks to this, the fortress had access to relatively fresh vegetables and even bread.
“Looks like they’re able to make some pretty decent food here. And the guard wasn’t lying, there’s quite a bit of variety.” Ariane sounded impressed as she took a bite out of the baguette. Her hood was now draped around her shoulders, exposing her elven ears.
Chiyome nodded as she gnawed on the meat. “Seems like it. To be honest, the Jinshin clan doesn’t have much information on the land out here.”
Count Dimo’s domain was located on a peninsula that stretched out into the South Central Sea. Brahniey, once a province of the Nohzan Kingdom, had been invaded by the Salma Kingdom long ago, separating the peninsula from the rest of the Nohzan Kingdom. The massive wall served as their primary means of protection.
Thanks to this, there were relatively few monsters roaming about the peninsula side of the wall, which allowed them to have far more farms than in the countries to the north.
However, the wall didn’t close the peninsula off from the mainland entirely.
I asked the guard who’d brought our dinner why this was. As he explained, I could see him glancing at Ariane out of the corner of his eye.
According to him, the Ruanne Forest ran along the western edge of the peninsula. Due to a pact the count had formed with the elves, vowing not to interfere with each other’s business, the humans were unable to finish the wall.
If the Salma Kingdom ever attempted to pass through the Ruanne Forest in order to infiltrate the count’s domain, they would have to fight the elves first. For this reason, the lord of Brahniey found himself unable to advance.
The unfortunate side effect of this was that monsters were still able to travel through the Ruanne woods and thrive on the other side of the wall. Though there were fewer monsters here, settlements still needed defenses to keep them out.
To me, it seemed natural to just build around the Ruanne Forest, but apparently, it wasn’t that simple.
For one, there were already people living in the lightly wooded areas on the edge of the forest. Making matters more complicated, Ruanne stretched for quite a distance from north to south, so building a wall all the way around it would double the length—a huge drain on the count’s coffers.
After the soldier finished his explanation, I closed the door behind him, making sure the door was locked before sitting down to eat.
“Kyii!” Ponta had already polished off its soup and was begging for more.
I pulled my helmet off. “Well, it looks like we found the undead we were looking for, even if by accident.”
I could tell by the way my stomach grumbled that the effect of the mystical spring water I’d drunk earlier was still working. I hadn’t yet turned back into a skeleton.
Before I began eating, I tore off a piece of meat and dropped it into the bowl Ponta was urgently pushing around on the floor.
I felt two sets of eyes on me and turned toward Chiyome.
“There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you. That bandit Zahar was talking about, who entered the palace vault, do you think…”
“It was Sasuke. I’m certain of it.”
So, my hunch was correct.
“All they said was that it was a mountain person, though, right? At least, that’s what I heard.” Ariane sounded skeptical.
I found myself agreeing with her. “When I heard that someone was able to slip into the palace vault while under heavy guard and get away scot-free, I figured it had to be someone incredibly talented. Someone used to moving unseen, like a member of the Jinshin clan, seems like a safe bet, but we don’t have any evidence that it was Sasuke.”
Chiyome took another bite of meat and shook her head. “But they said that nothing was stolen. According to Hanzo, Sasuke had taken it upon himself to look for the clan’s long-lost pledge spirit crystal.”
A pledge spirit crystal… The name brought to mind the diamond-shaped crystal with a rainbow sheen that Chiyome had found at the ruined shrine on the other side of the Dragon Wonder.
These unique crystals had been brought to his world by Hanzo, the founder of the Jinshin clan, and they allowed a person to pledge their mind and body to a spirit—in this case, giving the magically disinclined mountain people the ability to use spirit magic.
All members of the clan were able to use spirit magic, which they referred to as ninjutsu, on some level, but the six great fighters of the Jinshin clan each had one of these pledge spirit crystals within them. Chiyome was one of the six.
My memory of the details was a bit fuzzy.
“This is the same one you spoke about at the shrine? You said that Hanzo had originally brought ten, but your clan only has nine of them, right?”
Chiyome nodded. “Sasuke must have gotten his hands on some information, which is why he snuck into the Nohzan vault. But, assuming we can trust what Zahar said, the pledge spirit crystal wasn’t there.”
I dipped a piece of bread into my soup and stuffed it into my mouth. “I see. But that means he must have snuck in there recently. It wasn’t much later that he showed up on the southern continent.”
Ariane’s ears twitched at this. “Meaning…he found something in the vault that sent him off to the southern continent?”
Chiyome paused. “Right. Though, I don’t know what that might be.”
“Well, if it’s a clue we need, I guess our only choice is to enter the Nohzan Kingdom’s vault ourselves.”
Ariane and Chiyome turned toward me in unison.
“You mean sneak in like Sasuke?”
Ariane was right to be skeptical. Though my Dimension Step ability was incredibly useful for sneaking into places unseen, things would get hairy fast if we were discovered.
But there was a better way to get in.
“Actually, I was thinking we could just ask Princess Riel to let us join the reinforcements she’s sending back to the capital. I don’t see why she’d turn us down if we ask her to let us look around the vault as payment.”
Ariane crossed her arms across her large chest and furrowed her brow. “That’s… You might be onto something. Do you think Saureah is under the same kind of attack we saw in Tagent?”
The mere mention of Tagent caused Chiyome to tense up.
We still didn’t actually know what was going on in Saureah, as no one had bothered to tell us anything. It probably wasn’t prudent for them to discuss the details with mercenaries.
This was the best we could piece together from what we’d overheard. The Nohzan Kingdom was under attack by some sort of bizarre monsters, including the man-spiders from earlier and a massive number of undead soldiers.
If we intended to look around the palace vault, we would need to ensure the capital’s safety first.
Assuming Saureah turned into a battleground, like Tagent had, the whole city would go up in flames, and there wouldn’t even be an intact vault to see.
“After we visit the count tomorrow, we’ll need to see if we can join the reinforcements. If the capital falls, so will the vault, and any chance of finding out what happened to Sasuke.”
Ariane nodded. “Agreed.”
Chiyome, however, frowned slightly. “I wonder about that, though. We won’t know if Count Dimo will even agree to the princess’s request until we get there.”
This elicited a puzzled look from Ariane. Elves were incredibly loyal, and would never think twice about rushing to aid their comrades. “But it’s the capital, right? Why wouldn’t he send reinforcements?”
Chiyome turned to Ariane. She was overlooking an important detail. “You know about the strained relationship between the elves in the Great Canada Forest and those in Ruanne, yes? It’s possible the same is true for Count Dimo and Princess Riel. Didn’t you feel a tinge of resentment over the idea of dispatching a rescue party from Canada when we were back on the ship?”
Ariane scowled and bit her lip. “I suppose you have a point.”
In the case of the Great Canada Forest and Ruanne, their connection started and ended at the fact that they were all elves. They didn’t have much else in common, unlike the situation we were dealing with here.
“We’ll head off to Keen first thing tomorrow and figure out where we’re going from there. Regardless of what happens, we need to head to the Nohzan Kingdom.”
If we couldn’t join Princess Riel on her way back to the capital, then we’d have to find our own way there. But the idea of having to travel there with my awful sense of direction was terrifying.
“Kyii! Kyii!”
I glanced down at Ponta. It was prodding its bowl with its nose again, urging me to give it some more food. I ran my hand through its fur affectionately.
“I can always count on you to be the same, Ponta. No matter where we go.”
***
We were up early the next morning, before the first signs of light.
Zahar brought the party south along the darkened road leading from Fort Hill to the town of Keen. A simple carriage, borrowed from the soldiers at Fort Hill, carried Princess Riel in the middle of our caravan, flanked on either side by guards.
Ariane, Chiyome, and I held up the rear on my massive driftpus.
We spotted Keen a little before noon. The trip had taken slightly longer than expected, due to several breaks we’d taken along the way.
The town was also surrounded by a massive, sturdy wall of similar construction to the one back at Fort Hill. Anyone wishing to assault the town would have their work cut out for them.
Multiple roads filled with carts of all sorts ran in and out of the town. From what I could see beyond the walls, the people appeared to be thriving. They didn’t seem to want for much.
The guards accompanying us looked surprised by what they saw. Apparently, this was the first time many of them were seeing this distant land split off by the Salma Kingdom.
According to one of the guards who’d been born here, the massive wall did a pretty good job at keeping out most monsters—other than those that slipped in through the Ruanne Forest—so the lands to the south were ripe for farming.
Much of the harvest was shipped from the port of Clyde to the Nohzan Kingdom, but there was still a great deal left over for the lord living in Keen.
Zahar led the party at a fast clip toward the town, eyeing the heavily stocked caravans. The princess’s simple carriage, surrounded by a contingent of well-armored guards—not to mention me on my giant driftpus—began drawing a lot of attention as we approached.
The closer we got, the more crowded the roads became, leaving us with little choice but to slow our pace. However, I could see through the carriage’s window that Princess Riel wanted nothing more than to get into town as quickly as possible.
At the gate, it appeared that they’d been expecting us, likely thanks to the messenger the commander had sent out the night before. Guards came out and cleared the road, allowing our party to easily pass through. Zahar offered up a salute as we rode past.
Once we entered the town, several mounted knights joined us to clear the way to the count’s manor. A crowd formed along the sides of the road, watching us with great interest.
Ariane, her hood pulled low over her face, muttered to herself as she scanned the crowd. “Well, we certainly stand out.”
“You can’t really blame them for staring.”
We stopped in front of the count’s manor. The entire building was surrounded by a sturdy-looking wall. Though shorter than the one that surrounded the town, it was still a good five meters tall.
The knights leading the way parted to flank the large entrance built into the wall. On the other side, I could see a large, U-shaped building standing three stories tall.
A well-dressed older gentleman stood outside the front entrance, along with a dozen servants. They were all standing by, waiting for the carriage’s arrival. Or, more specifically, the arrival of its precious cargo, Princess Riel. If I had to guess, I’d say the well-dressed man was the count.
Riel’s carriage came to a gentle stop in front of the building.
The man gave Shiden and me a quick look over. His surprise only lasted for a split second before he bowed low to greet the carriage.
The driver opened the carriage door, and out stepped Princess Riel.
Zahar and Niena appeared instantly next to the young girl, standing protectively by her side.
Riel took in the scene around her before turning toward the count.
“Thank you for coming out to meet me. I take it you’re Count Dimo?”
The man glanced up, still bowing low. He had a round face and a shock of white hair, styled in a manner reminiscent of pictures I’d seen of Bach.
“That is correct, Princess. I am Valmuer du Dimo, lord of these lands.”
“Unfortunately, we don’t have much time for pleasantries. I believe the situation has already been explained to you. I’m here to ask you to assemble an army to reinforce—”
“Apologies for cutting you off, Princess, but the message I received was quite different. I am to keep you safe until things have calmed down in the capital.”
Riel’s eyes went wide. She looked back at her two bodyguards.
“Just what’s going on here?! We were sent by my father as an envoy to seek reinforcements! Why would you send a message that I should be protected?”
Zahar took her accusatory gaze in stride and dropped to a knee. He spoke in a clear, even tone.
“This is what the king wishes. Terva and Seyval have been entrusted with securing reinforcements for the capital, while you have been sent here for your own protection.”
“What?! Father said no such thing!”
Tears were forming in the corners of the young royal’s eyes. Niena looked down at the girl sympathetically.
“Princess, your love for our people is well known. That is why the king couldn’t just tell you that he was asking you to secure your own safety.”
Riel shook her head, as if to drown out Niena’s soothing voice.
“I know that Father is always looking after me! But I refuse to stand by and wait here while my people need me!”
Tears were now flowing freely down her cheeks.
“Count Dimo! I beg you, how many soldiers can you bring together to come to the capital’s aid?”
The count’s round face tensed at this.
“Princess Riel, if our country is truly in peril, I would love to dispatch every soldier available to me. However, it’s simply not realistic to send troops all the way out to the capital from here.”
He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped at his brow before continuing.
“You see, I only have about 2,000 soldiers at my disposal—500 soldiers here in Keen and another 1,500 out in Fort Hill. But if the fort is abandoned, the Salma Kingdom could seize the opportunity to strike.”
After taking a deep breath, the count lowered his gaze and continued.
“What’s more, it would be no simple task to march such a large contingent of soldiers through the Salma Kingdom back to our homeland. A small number might be able to make it, but any significant troop movement would almost certainly draw unwanted attention. Sending a ship out from Clyde might also be viable, but that would take five, maybe six days to arrive, not counting the time needed to assemble our forces.”
A look of defeat washed over Riel’s face as Dimo spoke. Her head slumped. “I… I see. So all we can do is stand by and watch as the capital falls to ruin?”
Her eyes went dark, as if a gray cloud had passed overhead, and her shoulders shook as she started sobbing. The princess’s guards turned away, unable to watch their young charge in pain.
Riel was the first to break the heavy silence, a look of determination on her tear-streaked face.
“Well, I’m not just going to give up! The capital is protected by two walls, and I know Father won’t give in without a fight! I don’t care how many days it takes, we need to send reinforcements!”
Niena was taken aback. “Please, think this through, Princess! Even if we did send reinforcements, there’s no way you could lead them. We must respect the king’s wishes and keep you safe.”
Zahar spoke up next. “Listen to reason, Princess Riel. If we dispatch any soldiers, I will be the one to lead them.”
The princess shook her head, sending tears flying. Her shoulders continued shaking as she clenched her fists. “No, I refuse to just sit around and be coddled!”
Count Dimo and the others watched the pitiful scene unfolding. Was she just some selfish brat in their eyes?
Her two bodyguards, however, looked pained. They knew better than anyone just how much she loved her people.
“Besides, given the number of undead attacking the capital, we might also find ourselves in danger.”
The only people to hear the princess’s final concession were her bodyguards, along with Ariane, Chiyome, and me.
“Kyiiii…”
Ponta peeked its head out of Shiden’s thick mane, apparently having noticed just how tense the situation had grown.
I crossed my arms, unsure of what to do next. We were at something of a crossroads.
Chiyome and Ariane turned to me, their eyes asking the same question.
“Aaaah…”
The simple sound of me trying to organize my thoughts drew the princess’s attention. Riel and I locked eyes. She looked at me curiously.
“Hm?”
The young girl crossed the distance between us with several large strides. She stopped right in front of me and tilted her head back to meet my gaze.
“Arc, I would like to express my gratitude for ensuring our safety on the journey here!”
I found myself at a loss for words. I silently knelt in front of her.
“I can hardly begin to express my appreciation. Still, I would like to ask another favor of you.”
This sent a round of murmurs whisking through the crowd around us.
“And what might that be?” I had a good guess, but I prompted her to continue.
“I would like you to take me back to the Nohzan Kingdom so that I can find a lord willing to offer me assistance! I have heard stories of the elves’ superior fighting prowess and would like to ask you to serve as my guard once again!”
Looks of shock washed over those around us, including the princess’s bodyguards and Count Dimo. The count was the first to voice his surprise.
“What are you saying, Princess Riel? Are these people elves?!”
“That’s what you’re hung up on?” Ariane muttered.
I obviously understood how she felt, but the count’s reaction wasn’t entirely unreasonable. Considering that his lands shared a border with the Ruanne Forest, I could only imagine what he thought of elvenkind.
“The elves of Ruanne have sworn not to get involved in our matters. What are you doing here?”
Ariane yanked back her hood in annoyance.
“You… You’re not like those elves.”
Between her amethyst skin, golden eyes, and snow-white hair, Ariane looked quite different from the elves Dimo was used to dealing with.
“Of course not! I’m not even from Ruanne! I’m a dark elf, from the Great Canada Forest.”
The count turned to the princess’s bodyguards for an explanation.
“We were attacked on our way here and they came to our aid,” Zahar responded.
“What will happen if the church finds out we’ve had relations with the elves?”
Riel grew annoyed at how far off-track the count had gotten and reined him in. “That’s not important right now! I’m asking Arc and his friends to escort us back to our homeland!”
This sent her bodyguards into a frenzy.
“Please, consider what you’re saying, Princess!”
Zahar walked straight toward us as he spoke to Riel. The young girl stepped behind me.
Somehow, I found myself serving as the princess’s bodyguard on her way back to the Nohzan Kingdom. This was a rather fortuitous turn of events, given that we were hoping to get a look at the palace’s vault, but there was still one major sticking point.
Riel said she wanted to return to the Nohzan Kingdom in search of a noble who would lend his forces to save the capital, but what if the capital fell before we could make that happen?
Moreover, the princess’s guards and Count Dimo objected to her returning to the Nohzan Kingdom. If I took her up on her request, it seemed unlikely they’d hand her over without a fight.
I could always try explaining the situation to them, but we didn’t have much time.
One way or another, we needed to make our way back to the Nohzan Kingdom. Though, whether or not the princess would accept my terms for helping her was still in question.
I glanced back at the young girl before turning to Chiyome. She’d been watching the events unfold in silence, her face unreadable as usual. However, I could sense a tension in her azure eyes. I turned back to Zahar, who was fixing me with a steely gaze.
“Arc, return the princess, and I’ll pay you for your assistance.”
He extended a beefy arm toward me. I could feel Riel’s tiny hands grasping my Belenus Holy Armor. The feeling seeped straight through the armor and into my bones.
“I would like to take Princess Riel up on her request.”
Riel let out a cry of excitement from behind me. Zahar just stared at me, aghast. Before he could say anything, however, Niena exploded at me.
“Don’t be stupid! The capital is surrounded by an army of at least 100,000 undead! There’s no way I’ll allow you to bring the princess back to such a dangerous place!”
Her voice shook with rage. Everyone around her immediately tensed up, including Ariane, Chiyome, and myself. We had no idea how many enemies there were until now.
“The capital is under siege by that many soldiers?”
Count Dimo and the rest of his entourage had gone still. Apparently, they also hadn’t been informed about how grave the situation truly was.
“Is… Is that even possible? I’ve never heard of such a large number of undead in one place.”
He turned to look at Riel’s bodyguards, his eyes desperately seeking an answer. They avoided his gaze.
The look on Niena’s face was all the confirmation we needed. The number was hardly an exaggeration.
“I… I guess it’s impossible then?” Princess Riel’s weak voice called out from behind me.
Ariane leaned in to whisper to me. “Not even the strongest wall could hold up against a siege of 100,000 undead.”
Riel overheard her, and was quick to object. “Father wouldn’t give in so easily! Besides, my brothers are coming back with reinforcements of their own. I know the capital can hold them off. I just know it!”
“You have two brothers?” I asked. “Did they also request reinforcements?”
The young girl nodded. “Once my brothers come back, they’ll show those bad guys what for!” She shook her tiny fist in the air.
Even assuming her brothers were able to assemble forces large enough to face off against 100,000 undead, it would still take some time before they could mobilize.
But if we could rush back to the capital and reduce the enemy’s numbers a bit…
I wasn’t sure exactly how big the city actually was, but capital cities tended to be rather large and densely populated. Even with an army of 100,000, it seemed highly doubtful that the undead could encircle the capital entirely.
If we could break through where the invaders’ lines were thinnest and make our way to the capital, I was certain Ariane, Chiyome, and I could help hold it. I glanced at my comrades to see what they were thinking.
***
Ariane was certainly skilled in spirit magic, but swordsmanship was where she truly excelled. Chiyome was also able to make use of spirit magic in the form of ninjutsu. Shiden, my lizard-like driftpus, was built like a tank but ran across the open plains like a roadrunner. Ponta, my little furry eating machine, rounded out our party.
Lacking any real-world experience, I couldn’t say how long we might hold off the enemy, but I figured we could at least stall them for a while.
We all exchanged looks. Ariane seemed resigned, Chiyome nodded firmly, and Shiden… Well, I had no idea what Shiden was thinking. Ponta was almost certainly thinking about food.
“I guess that settles it, then. We’re off to the capital of the Nohzan Kingdom.”
Everyone around us, including Princess Riel, looked surprised.
“Before we do that, we need to visit several other lords and assemble an army!”
Riel hopped out from behind me. She started explaining her plan, but I shook my head.
“Princess Riel, I don’t know what kind of defenses the capital has, but I can say for certain that they’re in too much danger for us to waste our time traveling around in search of allies. Your brothers will need time to assemble their forces. Therefore, I’d like to bring whatever soldiers I can, no matter how few, straight to the capital in order to buy some time before reinforcements arrive. What do you think?”
Riel blinked several times as she let my words sink in. Finally, she nodded in agreement. “You’re right. It’ll do us no good to bring a massive army if there’s no capital left to save!”
Zahar butted in. “Please, don’t be so rash, Princess! A small party would be crushed instantly in the face of an army 100,000 strong! The best choice would be to break through the enemy’s lines where they’re weakest and reenter the capital. But even then…what if the reinforcements are late, or never come at all?”
His booming voice caused the young girl to flinch and go quiet. She looked up at me, and our eyes met.
“We will do whatever the princess deems best. As I’m sure you already know, the three of us are more than capable of holding our own on the battlefield.”
Riel nodded, her face serious. The rest of her guards look less assured. Meanwhile, Ariane looked annoyed, and Chiyome started blankly ahead.
This could turn out to be a great opportunity for us. Who knew? If we showed the humans just how helpful elves could be, it might even help improve relations out here in the Nohzan Kingdom.
Besides, if we were fighting against undead soldiers, I did have an ace up my sleeve that I could use to take them all out in one go. It wasn’t something I could practice, though, so I’d need to wait until I was in the middle of a real battle.
“Well, Princess?”
“Princess!”
Riel looked between Zahar and me, seemingly pulled in two competing directions. After a moment, she puffed out her chest, her mind made.
“It’s decided. Zahar, Niena, we’re going back to the capital! If the Nohzan Kingdom falls, not only will we be finished, but our neighbors will also be in grave danger!”
“What?”
“Huh?!”
Both of her bodyguards bit down on their lips to avoid saying something they’d regret. They each took a knee. It was all they could do now that the princess had made her decision. I could practically feel the hatred they shot my way. I was sure the way they saw it, they were taking their young princess straight into an inferno with a pack of kindling on their backs. Worse, they were going with elves and a cat girl—beings they’d been taught to disdain by the Hilk religion.
I would have loved to help improve interspecies relations, but this wasn’t the time or place.
I’d been hoping to avoid using my teleportation spells in front of humans, but if it came down to it, I was willing to use them to get Riel out of danger.
Riel cast her gaze across her kneeling bodyguards, then looked over to the count.
“Count Dimo!”
“Y-yes, Your Highness?”
“I want you to get us your fastest… No, wait, get us your cavalry! You don’t plan on letting us return to the capital without an escort, do you?”
Her entire contingent of guards all looked at the count expectantly. The pressure from their stares was palpable. Riel might have been small, but she was definitely a member of the royal family. It was evident in the way she spoke.
If the count allowed Riel to return without sending any kind of escort to ensure her safety, this could come back to bite him. Of course, the issue would be moot if the entire country fell, but if the Nohzan Kingdom overcame its current threat, he would almost certainly find himself at risk of losing his title.
Riel compromised and agreed to take only the fastest members of his cavalry. It made sense, considering he probably couldn’t muster many knights on such short notice anyway.
Losing a whole cavalry company would be quite a loss, but when weighed against having his title taken away, it was a small price to pay.
“A-absolutely. I’ll send up my cavalry at once. Someone, call the captain of the guards!”
Count Dimo practically fell over himself as he tried escaping back into his mansion.
“I wonder if we can really count on him,” Riel muttered under her breath.
As I looked at her stormy gray eyes, I felt a certain regret that I couldn’t quite put a finger on.
“I hate to bring this up, but I’d like to discuss our payment.”
A look of concern washed across her face.
A part of me felt like some cruel old man trying to get one over on a little kid, but ultimately, it was best to ask for whatever I could get from her.
“Aah, right. How much will it be for everything?”
She was clearly trying her best to stay cool, but I could see that her hands were shaking as she looked back up at me.
However, it wasn’t money I was after.
“I only ask that you pay us if we succeed. As for what I want, first off, I’d like you to give us free reign to look through the palace’s vaults.”
Behind Riel, her bodyguards eyed me with suspicion.
“You’re not after any of our national treasures, you just…want to look through the vaults in Saureah?”
Riel spoke the words slowly, as if trying to understand them.
I nodded. “That’s correct. We’re looking for something in the vaults.”
I saw Chiyome nodding out of the corner of my eye.
“That’s fine. I’ll grant you permission to enter the vaults. And the second thing you want?”
“For my second request, I would like you to release all enslaved elves and mountain people in the Nohzan Kingdom and pledge to make such trafficking illegal.”
Not only were Riel’s bodyguards taken aback by this, but so were Ariane and Chiyome.
Riel eyed me with suspicion and repeated my demand to herself several times, as if working her way through it. Finally, she smiled up at me.
“I assume you’ll be taking in everyone we release? In that case, I see no problem with…”
“Princess Riel, please, wait a moment!” Niena interrupted her before she could even finish speaking. “This is not a decision that you alone can make.”
Riel looked back at her bodyguard, confused. “Why not? Arc here is just asking that we hand over all of the elves and beastmen that are currently in prison. Balancing that against the survival of our kingdom, I think it’s a pretty easy choice.”
“You don’t understand, Princess. He’s asking for… He’s talking about the slaves!”
“Slaves? But aren’t there different types? Those who are in debt, those who committed crimes, and those who were taken during war?”
Niena hesitated for a moment, as if unsure how to proceed.
Judging by the way they were talking, I felt like I had a fairly good understanding of what was going on.
“So, in your opinion, would you say that there are no slaves, either elf or beast, in your country?”
Niena set her jaw and made no attempt to reply. It seemed like she was trying to hide the existence of the slaves from Princess Riel.
Considering that the Hilk teachings held a rather negative view of the elves and mountain people, my guess was that it was just an implicit understanding among the neighboring countries that they keep these people in enslaved.
After all, the Holy Hilk Kingdom was dispatching their own templar forces into foreign nations to capture mountain people. If it came to light that these nations enslaved them as well, the Hilk could very well demand that they hand their slaves over to the church.
The military gap between the countries would ultimately keep them from being able to say no to such demands.
“What’s going on here? I was told that we, like the Rhoden Kingdom, forbid owning elves or mountain people as slaves!”
Riel was clearly upset. She looked back and forth between Niena and me several times.
I was asking for them to release slaves that they didn’t officially own.
Assuming what they claimed was true, then making this deal wouldn’t change anything for the Nohzan Kingdom. But if some within Nohzan did, in fact, own slaves, then the country would need to take possession of the slaves from their captors in order to hand them over to me.
I had no idea how many slaves were out there, but Niena’s reaction suggested that it wasn’t a small number.
Moreover, the slaves were at extreme risk so long as the capital remained under siege. I wasn’t sure how many people lived in the capital, but they would need to start rationing supplies soon. The first ones to get their rations cut would be the ones at the bottom.
And the lowest of the low were almost certainly the slaves that no one admitted existed.
Elves were often bought and sold for harems or for breeding and could fetch a high price, but the mountain people were generally sold for manual labor and would probably be the first to go.
I looked at Princess Riel and her two bodyguards, standing by in silence. Maybe if I gave a little, I could get this tied up easier.
“Hmm, well, if what you say is true, and it’s illegal to enslave elves or mountain people in the Nohzan Kingdom, then there’s nothing to negotiate. However, you and I know that there are plenty of people out there willing to break the law.”
The look in their eyes confirmed that they knew what I was suggesting. Princess Riel was the first to speak.
“So, anyone who is found to be in violation of the law will have their slaves taken from them and sent on to you, correct?”
She was wise beyond her years.
This way, the royal family would maintain the moral high ground while also making it easy for them to liberate the slaves owned by their subordinates.
So long as the royal family did what was right and just, I would only need to give them a little helping hand to make sure the rest of the nobles knew about this policy.
Otherwise, the nobles would reject the royal family’s decisions as unjust and start a rebellion, sending the country to ruin and making all of this pointless.
I nodded in agreement before dropping to a knee and offering my hand. The young princess gripped it with as much strength as she could muster.
Behind her, her bodyguards held their heads in their hands in defeat.
If I ever hoped to see this promise come to fruition, I would need to make a show of force to convince people that her decision was just.
Just thinking about this caused me to crack a smile under my helmet. I could feel the young girl tense slightly, as if she were able to sense what I was thinking.
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