Chapter 30

In the center of the town, the residents gathered with various containers to transport the spring water, while the clergy performed purification prayers to transform it into holy water.

Beside them, not only the private soldiers and mercenaries but also the men of the town, including those who had just finished being treated for injuries, collected as many weapons as they could from around the town and purified them with holy water.

Gilbert, too, was soaking a cloth in holy water and carefully cleaning and applying it to the crescent-shaped blade of his battle axe.

"Gilbert, soak this in the holy water and let it absorb it. The blessing of the holy water might come in handy for something."

Dorf placed beside him the braided cord that Flora had been making in the carriage and the chain he had brought from the village, which were connected.

The battle axe had anchor claws extending downward from the crescent-shaped blade, curving to connect with the handle, allowing cords or chains to be threaded through. The axe head was adorned with rings in various places, through which cords could also be passed. This was a modification that Dorf had prepared and processed before they left the village to address the issue of Gilbert's dominant hand.

Dorf squatted down, meeting Gilbert's eyes, and his expression turned serious.

"You know, as we discussed in the village, your battle axe, which you handle with your injured dominant hand, is not suitable for fighting against monsters or undead monsters. However, if the opponent is large, you can still generate sufficient power using your core and centrifugal force. On the other hand, you are at a disadvantage when facing smaller opponents that require quick movements."

As a blacksmith and an old acquaintance, Dorf's words were meant to remind Gilbert, who nodded with a reassuring smile.

"I understand. I won't do anything reckless. I'll just do what I can."

However, Dorf laughed mockingly.

"You know, I can't quite trust you on that..."

"What? What's that supposed to mean..."

As they exchanged light-hearted banter, the outside suddenly became noisy.

"Another undead monster has appeared in the northeastern settlement! They are small, but there are many of them."

A man who had rushed into the town gasped out the news. Upon hearing this, the lord and everyone around him immediately wore grim expressions.

"They are in the opposite direction from where Sir Lionel went to contain the situation. This is bad... Those who can move, head there!"

At the lord's command, the private soldiers and mercenaries grabbed the purified weapons and rushed out. The clergy also headed in the same direction.

Dorf, frowning, asked Gilbert.

"What will you do? Will you stay here and wait for Lionel?"

"No, if I do that, I won't be able to face him."

Saying this, Gilbert stood up with his battle axe. Dorf smiled knowingly and called out to the distance.

"Barbara! Flora! Prepare the carriage!"

"Wait, what? Are you coming with us!?"

Turning back, Gilbert's eyes widened in surprise. Dorf nodded with a smug look.

"Of course. Didn't I say I need to know what you're fighting against?"

"Well, that's true, but... you promised to stay in a safe place..."

Without immediately answering, Dorf patted Gilbert's waist to urge him to move, and the two of them ran off together. Ahead, Barbara and Flora were waving, having prepared the carriage.

"That carriage is blessed by all the craftsmen and mages from our village. It's the safest place anywhere."

"Is that so..."

Though skeptical, Gilbert climbed onto the driver's seat with a troubled smile.

"The clergy are also on board. And... in a time like this!"

Turning to Flora's voice, he saw a bagel with cheese and meat being offered. Gilbert relaxed and smiled.

"Thanks, I appreciate it. You have to eat in times like these. You can't fight on an empty stomach."

Taking the bagel from Flora, Gilbert set the horses in motion.

---

After passing through the town's fortifications and the wheat fields to the southwest, they reached the target settlement after passing through four forests.

From a distance, it seemed normal, but as they approached from a high point, the abnormality became clear. About a third of the northern part of the settlement was covered with a red-black, bubble-like substance.

Children and the elderly who had fled from the south side were walking toward the town, looking around in fear.

Upon reaching the settlement and taking a closer look, what had appeared from a distance to be bubbles were countless frog-like undead monsters. They ranged in size from as tall as an adult's waist to as low as a child's knees, all covered in a red-black, decaying flesh.

"It's no good, there are too many of them."

"Fortunately, they have low killing power, but they don't decrease in number no matter how many we kill."

The private soldiers, who had taken the lead, frowned as they rinsed their weapons with holy water after the blessing wore off.

"Is it possible to contain them with a barrier?"

"No... the only cleric capable of a wide-area barrier is with Sir Lionel. It would be difficult for us to cover the entire settlement..."

One of the private soldiers sighed after asking the cleric.

At this point, Gilbert and his group joined them.

"Shouldn't we prioritize the evacuation of the residents first? We have the carriage."

"No, the problem is the original monster that created these undead. They originate from a swamp much further north, and they follow scents. If the residents all flee at once, the monsters will chase after them."

Understanding why the children were not running during their evacuation, Gilbert frowned.

"In that case, for example... the undead monsters can't die without the blessing of holy water, but if their bodies are severely damaged, it will take some time for them to return to their original state."

At Gilbert's suggestion, the private soldiers and mercenaries looked up.

"Meaning, if we lure them and crush them so they can't chase, we might buy enough time for the residents to escape to the town?"

"You must have a brain made of muscle."

"But honestly, that's about the only thing we can do right now."

The tough-looking mercenaries laughed and agreed with Gilbert. The private soldiers and clerics also nodded with wry smiles.

"...The problem is, how will we escape after the residents are evacuated?"

Gilbert muttered, and a burly mercenary patted his shoulder, laughing.

"Let's think about that later. For now, let's prioritize the safe evacuation of the residents."

The plan seemed to be set. Entrusting the evacuation of the residents to Dorf and the others, Gilbert, the private soldiers, and the mercenaries walked into the settlement with their weapons.

Dorf, left behind, sighed deeply from the driver's seat and called out to Flora and Barbara, who were looking worried from inside the carriage.

"Those fools, they've completely forgotten about their own safety. We need to get the residents evacuated as quickly as possible before they get seriously injured."

At his words, Flora and Barbara nodded with unusually serious expressions.