Chapter 90

A small tavern exists in the imperial capital of Aldar. Despite its desolate atmosphere, it has private rooms available.

The owner is someone who has connections with the underworld.

In the private rooms, people from the underworld frequently visit and hold discussions. The anti-eavesdropping measures are perfect, and even bosses of criminal organizations sometimes use this place.

"Good flow, isn't it?"

"Yeah, things are going well for now."

Shu, Iris, and 'Hawk Eye' were also having a secret discussion in this tavern.

"The capital is in chaos due to the moving corpses I created. Since I turned the nobles into moving corpses first, power has concentrated in the emperor."

"Yes. And the concentrated power is too much to handle. Power comes with corresponding responsibility. The current emperor and dukes are probably struggling just to run the country."

"The invasion by the revolutionary army has also begun at this timing. So, how about the others?"

Shu asks 'Hawk Eye'.

By the contract, 'Hawk Eye' provides information to Shu for free. In return, Shu assists with 'Hawk Eye's plans.

"It seems that Sheilart has disappeared in the Holy Grinia area."

"Sheilart?"

"That, I know!"

Iris, who was drinking a light drink, interjected.

"Sheilart is also known as the Prison City. It is a city created solely for capturing and torturing dangerous criminals."

"Dangerous criminals?"

"For example, necromancers. The church captures them to find out the locations of research facilities and hideouts, in order to completely eliminate such research."

As a former holy knight, Iris is well-informed about the church's affairs. Since Sheilart is a city with information control, Shu did not know about it.

"So, Sheilart has disappeared?"

"It seems that an ancestral vampire appeared and destroyed it."

"Is that 'The King'?"

"From what I can confirm, no magic was used. It remained at the level of sorcery. However, the ancestral vampire has gone missing and is attacking nearby cities, gathering considerable magical power. It will likely mutate into 'The King' soon."

"Is the church taking action?"

"While not confirmed, it seems they are sending S-rank holy knights... that is, awakened magic knights."

If a true destroyer is born, it will be impossible to defeat with an army. In other words, ordinary holy knights cannot handle it. It makes sense to deploy the trump card of the Demon God religion, the awakened magic knights.

Information about awakened magic knights should be kept secret, and even 'Hawk Eye' cannot easily obtain it. However, Shu believes this is quite close to the truth.

(If the ancestral vampire becomes 'The King', it might be useful, but if not, it will be eliminated. I don't need to go out of my way to help it.)

Shu has no intention of helping a completely unrelated monster. If it can be useful, that's one thing, but he has no time to spare for a monster that might not even awaken as 'The King'.

"By the way, what caused the birth of the ancestral vampire?"

"Unknown. However, considering the circumstances, it could be artificial."

"The appearance of a monster in an important city at this timing...?"

"Perhaps it's the awakened magic knights of the Subarokia Empire."

It's a plausible scenario.

Shu ponders for a moment.

(... It's fine to leave it alone. Ultimately, it's better if the revolutionary army wins. What's important is my actions, not the Holy Grinia.)

As 'The Reaper', Shu has taken on several jobs from the revolutionary army. One of them is to destroy the second regiment of the great empire's army. Specifically, his job is to assassinate the commanding officers.

By systematically weakening the great empire's army, it is certain that the Subarokia Empire will fall.

"The ancestral vampire can be ignored. I'll finish the previous request first. However, gather as much information as possible about the ancestral vampire."

"Understood. And about the second regiment you're heading to..."

'Hawk Eye' pulls out a map from somewhere and spreads it out. The map is of the area around the great empire and is quite accurate. 'Hawk Eye' places a red marker.

"This is the current position of the second regiment of the great empire's army. And this is the first regiment, this is the third regiment, and the last fourth regiment is here."

"The second regiment... It's no wonder they requested it to be destroyed. It's a crucial point."

"Yes. This is the northern main road, connected to the metal mines. The revolutionary army cannot afford to let this fall. The first regiment is guarding the road leading to the imperial capital of Aldar, so this is also important."

"The first and second regiments have awakened magic knights...?"

"Yes. Confirmed information."

In other words, Shu's job is to assassinate the commanding officer and the awakened magic knight of the second regiment.

If the revolutionary army can control the mines, it will weaken the great empire and deal economic damage. Additionally, the current great empire has lost many nobles. The more extra work there is, the less leeway the emperor has.

Destroying the second regiment alone has multiple advantages.

"If the revolutionary army wins, how quickly do you think the Demon God religion will infiltrate the Holy Grinia?"

"Very quickly. The revolutionary army is negotiating with several countries to make the Demon God religion the state religion after the war."

"Then, I don't need to spend extra time...?"

It's better to quickly eliminate the great empire and achieve his goals.

Shu calculates the future developments and deduces the optimal actions.

"I'll destroy the second, third, and fourth regiments. The third and fourth regiments, for which I haven't received requests, will be free work."

"In that case, I'll negotiate with the revolutionary army. I'll make it a formal request to generate funds."

"Then, I'll leave it to you."

"Also, I'll request 'Ash Rat'. She can break into the banks in the capital and deal economic damage. The money she obtains will be sent to the revolutionary army."

"That's a good idea."

The black cat's executive is a specialist in crime.

The scope of his evil plans expands.

"Then, I'll ask 'Red Hare' to transport the stolen money. Since they've joined our side, we should make good use of them."

"Five people, 'Young Branch', 'Phantom Book', 'White Snake', 'Scales', and 'Raging Dragon', have joined the great empire's side. They will likely interfere in some form. Be cautious."

"Understood."

The conditions for victory are in place.

There are enemies to be wary of, but they can be overpowered with force.

"First, I'll kill the awakened magic knight and the commanding officer of the second regiment. Iris, follow me."

"Okay."

"'Hawk Eye', I'll rely on you for information. Also, find a place for us to hide after the war."

"I'll do my best as per the contract. I'll send you to the battlefield between the second regiment and the revolutionary army."

Shu and Iris stand up.

As an awakened magic knight, 'Hawk Eye' can teleport with high precision and range. There are no distance limits for marked locations, and there is no limit to the number of people based on magical power.

"Let's go."

'Hawk Eye' stands up, takes a pouch from his pocket, places it on the table, and activates the teleportation.

In an instant, the three of them disappear.

The room is left with three glasses and a pouch containing gold as payment for the drinks.

◆◆◆

Shu and Iris blend into the revolutionary army's camp after teleporting. 'Hawk Eye' will negotiate with the revolutionary army's joint command.

As an assassin, it's better for Shu not to be seen. The same goes for Iris.

'Hawk Eye', who has disguise skills, goes to negotiate.

"It's gloomy."

"It's a sure defeat."

Iris seems uncomfortable with the camp's atmosphere and is unusually quiet.

If she makes a fuss, she will surely receive resentful glances.

"Well, I think it will be fine by tomorrow."

"Because Shu will assassinate them?"

"Exactly."

There are many injured, and many are sighing while eating a bad dinner. Even the alcohol served to boost morale is only touched by a few.

Shu approaches the few who are drinking.

"--- So, I managed to survive somehow!"

The man drinking boasts.

It seems he fought on the front lines and is spreading his tales of bravery. Shu thinks it's a good opportunity and sits next to him.

"Can you tell me too?"

"Huh?"

"You fought, right? What was it like?"

"Yeah. They were pretty tough."

Iris also sits next to Shu and listens.

Perhaps because a beautiful woman is next to him, he starts telling his tales of bravery again.

"My name is Galvario. Call me Galba. I launched a frontal attack on the great empire's guys. I killed ten... no, twenty of them."

"Wow."

The great empire's army is mostly composed of magic knights.

If he killed ten elite magic knights, he is quite skilled. It's hard to tell how much is true, but if he killed twenty, it's a good boast.

Shu is not like a monster that can destroy a city.

"What kind of battle was it?"

"At first, we were winning. But as soon as they appeared, the atmosphere turned bad. The guys who touched the red mist died one after another. We had no choice but to retreat."

"Red mist?"

"Rumor has it that the 'Crimson Poison' general appeared."

Shu has heard of the Crimson Poison army.

It is the most disciplined army in the great empire, perfectly controlled by the empress. The general has the emblem of a golden dragon, symbolizing a grand general, and is undoubtedly a top-tier magic knight.

"Then... there was a golden giant."

"Golden?"

"A giant?"

"Yeah. Twice the size of that girl."

Galba takes a big drink of his alcohol.

Perhaps he was terrified, or perhaps the cold drink affected him, he shivered.

"I hit him too. But he didn't even flinch. And his attack power was insane. Just a punch created a huge hole in the ground."

"Wow, you survived?"

"Yeah. I'm pretty tough. But if it was a direct hit, I might have died..."

He whispers the last part to Shu.

He is likely a defensive-type magic knight. Even the aftereffects of an attack that creates a huge hole in the ground are not something a magic knight's usual magical defense can handle. The golden-armored giant is an awakened magic knight of the great empire.

Since he experienced the attack of an awakened magic knight, it is useful information.

"Was it a powerful attack?"

"The guys hit directly didn't even leave a corpse. As soon as he attacked, our allied army collapsed. The commanding officer immediately ordered a retreat."

"Has this been happening in recent skirmishes?"

"Yeah. As soon as they appeared, the battle was over. We had to retreat, which is boring."

At first, the revolutionary army, or the allied army, had the upper hand. With their numbers, they had an advantage at the start of the battle. However, as time passed, the Crimson Poison spread its poison, and the golden awakened magic knight wreaked havoc, giving the great empire the upper hand.

The long-range attacks from the support magic knights are also troublesome.

The great empire has a lineup of high-quality magic knights.

As time passes, the quality of the great empire's army becomes evident in the battle results.

The revolutionary army, which had been winning, is now showing signs of decline.

"I see. Thanks."

"What? You're leaving already? My tales of bravery are just starting!"

"Maybe another time."

"That's a shame."

"Relax. A better tale of bravery will be born in tomorrow's battle."

Because tonight is the end of the second regiment of the great empire's army.

Tomorrow, the great empire's army will fight without a commanding officer. If they try to retreat at night, they will be detected and pursued. A retreat without a commanding officer means death.

Galba, a single magic knight who knows nothing, just turns red and tilts his head.

Shu and Iris stand up.

"See you. Good luck."

"Indeed."

"Yeah."

Despite the situation, Galba continues to drink, his mood lifted by the alcohol.

Shu leads Iris to a desolate part of the camp. A masked man approaches, clearly 'Hawk Eye'.

"How was it?"

"As expected, 'Reaper' sir. The job is to kill the commanding officer and the awakened magic knight."

"Then, I'll finish it tonight. Iris, go to the medical tent and help with the treatment."

"Okay."

"Don't get lost before I return."

"Be careful."

Occasionally, Shu forgets that Iris is directionally challenged.

Shu emphasizes this and disappears from the revolutionary army's camp.