Chapter 28

The heated breath caressed his skin, and the armor shook in sync with his lungs' desperate need for oxygen. Worm moved only his eyes behind his mask, searching for movement in his field of vision. The only sound in the area, enveloped in chaos, was his own breathing. Those who approached the church had all vanished.

"Huff, haa—"

Steam and a foul odor rose from the ground, which was adorned with a red carpet. Tracing the gazes directed at him from a distance, he found only the residents of the mining town. However, he couldn't let his guard down. After all, this was an attack by the old Ferius soldiers he had supposedly integrated into his control. Even citizens who seemed harmless could be potential enemies.

"Jusitan, can you hear me?"

While calling out inside the building, Worm lowered his gaze. A dead attacker, still clutching a mace, clung to the door as if unwilling to let go. His posture was like that of a gatekeeper. Despite the chaos, Worm remembered the faces of those he had killed. This unfamiliar corpse must have been hit by a counterattack through the gaps in the door he was breaking down.

"I can hear you. It seems to be over outside."

The response came immediately. Just as Worm was searching the room, Jusitan was observing the outside.

"From what I can see—there might be a few stragglers."

There was a significant difference between being prepared for total annihilation and actually experiencing it. Some of the soldiers must have fled in defeat.

"Leaving leftovers isn't like Haiselk."

A sarcastic remark about the empire's nature. Worm responded with a sardonic tone.

"Playing the mother hen? Anyway, how about your side?"

"One was stabbed in the neck through the armor, and two more were stabbed from behind."

Worm frowned at the unacceptable answer. At least the main entrance was under control. Though the door had been battered and ice spears had pierced it, the hole was too small for a person to pass through. Only a rat could squeeze through.

"From behind? Did they get in through the back door or the armor?"

"Spies had infiltrated before the attack. One injured person and one healing mage each."

"How are the ones who were stabbed?"

"This is a building with a legendary healing mage. Unless they died instantly, it's hard for them to die... Anyway, something is stuck to the door, making it too heavy to move."

"Some stubborn soul—let me clear it away."

The main issue was the human weight holding the door. Worm grabbed the neck armor and dragged the obstacle. A significant amount of blood was visible on the throat. The cause of death was likely hemorrhage from a stab to the carotid artery. The lifeless body, heavy like water-soaked straw, left a trail of blood on the ground, resembling faded letters.

Finally, they faced each other, but they were not in a position to embrace and share their joy of reunion. They only scanned each other from head to toe, checking for injuries.

"What do we do next?"

A little dirt was to be expected. He asked his intact colleague for instructions.

"I'd like to move to a clear ally's position."

The hesitant response from the former guard. Worm continued his risk assessment, knowing it was impractical.

"The mining town's forces can't be relied on. Without defensive positions, can we protect our charges?"

"It's impossible. We already have too few guards to spare for messengers. The mountain fortress has a significant number of Myard soldiers. With all this commotion, scouts will surely be sent to assess the situation. It's best to fortify ourselves until then."

Jusitan's opinion was reasonable. The thought of this man turning against them sent a chill down his spine, but it was too late for him to do so. Overthinking would only create unnecessary discord. Worm quickly adjusted his mindset.

The plan was taking shape. The only thing left was how to defend, but the strange odor was distracting. The smell of decayed earth overlaying the familiar scent of death.

"What's that smell... a corpse? No, earth, perhaps?"

"Hey, what's with you all of a sudden?"

The knight, acting like a one-man show, was called out by Jusitan with a puzzled look. Lost in self-questioning, Worm waved him off, trying to recall the memory. Smells are closely tied to memories, and if they are associated with harsh experiences, they are unforgettable.

The light infantry of the Haiselk Empire was versatile. From dense formations to construction, they sometimes even built shacks like carpenters. The smell he had encountered during such harsh experiences.

"It was at the forward position of the Sarevo fortress."

Before the fortress assault, the earthworks were built to force the enemy into combat and bleed them out. The construction reached deep into the ground. The foul odor of the exposed sediment was etched into his mind and body along with the fatigue. The question was why this strange smell was present now.

"Have you noticed this smell of decayed earth since we came to the mining town?"

Jusitan, who had been quietly observing, shook his head after a moment of silence.

"No, not this strong."

"Could the first landslide have been artificial?"

The target was clearly Ayane. The attack was too well-coordinated to have been planned after gathering information on-site. It would be more natural if they had known in advance that the main tunnel would collapse.

"Hey, what's going on!?"

"It means the second one might be coming."

A distant memory from a past life, perhaps a morning news report. The commentator had mentioned a moldy and earthy smell before the landslide. The shrill voice and gruesome images had made Worm stop and watch.

Worm and Jusitan exchanged glances and ran outside, staring at the mine. The surface of the bald mountain began to tremble slightly. The movement intensified and then collapsed all at once. What had been a solid form turned into a fluid, as if the mountain itself was melting.

"Debris flow!? Is this a prelude to confirm the VIP's position and prepare?"

"Evacuation—"

"Is impossible."

It might have been a two-pronged strategy, but that wasn't the issue now. Worm, with a sense of urgency, negated the former guard. The black wave had already reached the edge of the town, swallowing houses without slowing down. The sounds of destruction were mixed with the screams of the residents. If they stayed, they would meet the same fate.

"That black wave is faster than a horse. Get to higher ground!!!"

Churches are often built to withstand emergencies. Even in rural areas, they serve as a last line of defense against monsters and bandits. The treatment facility in the mining town was no exception. After checking the walls for strength, Worm announced to those inside.

"Get to the bell tower immediately!!!"

As they moved deeper into the building, Ayane stopped her emergency treatment and asked Worm.

"Worm, what's happening outside!?"

"It's a debris flow!! It's coming to the mining town. Get to the bell tower."

"There are people who can't move—"

Mya pointed to over a dozen severely injured people lying in rows, with more behind them.

"Every second counts. Move!!"

Ayane, who had experienced a form of triage on the front lines, understood the value of time in emergencies.

"Help them, quickly!!"

"Those who can move, help!!"

Ayane and the others carried the patients up the stairs to the bell tower. Other guards also helped, but there weren't enough hands. They intended to save as many as possible, but they didn't have the strength or time to save everyone. Worm, carrying two injured people on his shoulders, urged them on.

"Ugh, gah, gahh"

"I can't stand."

"Move your feet, push yourself."

"It, it hurts."

"Pull yourself together!! You don't want to die from something like this, do you!?"

The sound of crumbling houses was getting closer. Faces turned pale, and fresh wounds reopened, bleeding through the bandages. Despite his frustration, Worm continued to urge and pull them along.

"Aaaah!? It's coming, it's coming!!"

One of the cavalry, who had reached the bell tower first, shouted. The meaning was clear. The screams and shouts spread like a chain.

"It's the limit, get up!!"

"Wait, wait!!"

"Pack in tight!! Gain height!!"

Something was approaching from behind the half-destroyed door. As they stepped onto the spiral staircase, soil and debris began to flow into the room. The debris-laden debris flow, which had ravaged the mining town, had increased its destructive power.

"Guardian, help!!"

"Help, help!!"

Screams rose from the rear. Some of the injured who couldn't fit were scattered in other rooms. The soldiers who tried to save them were swept away by the debris.

"You, crawl to safety!!"

Worm, having set down his burdens, turned back to the spiral staircase, but the water had already risen to near the ceiling of the first floor. The sound of countless collisions was deafening. It wasn't just water; the debris-filled water was like a blender. The human voices had already faded.

"Damn it!"

Worm turned on his heel. The soldiers who had risked their lives to save the residents and the knights who had abandoned them were both fools, but there was no need to think about which was worse.

The water level continued to rise, as if demanding more sacrifices. Picking up those who were crawling, Worm raced to the top. The people crammed into the bell tower pressed against each other. A miner, having nowhere to go, clung to a pillar, awkwardly ringing the bell. It was a bell that announced the destruction of the mining town.

"The town is sinking."

"Haha... It's no good. This is it."

A miner, deflated, laughed as if it were someone else's problem. No one scolded him. Mixed with the ringing of the swaying bell were the sounds of sobbing. The mining town, helpless, sank into the dark and deep abyss.