Chapter 155. March of the Dead (2)
The Kingdom's National Cemetery.
A vast charnel house where the bodies of citizens were mostly enshrined.
Due to its nature, the probability of Undead naturally occurring was rather high.
Of course, cremating the bodies would drastically reduce that probability, but there was a reason why that could not be done.
In general, cremation was a method of execution reserved for great criminals, heretics, or Demons. No matter if it was just a corpse, tossing a family member's remains into the flames evoked deep emotional rejection.
And the opposition from nobles or royals was also fierce.
For a family, the body of a member bore a powerful symbolism.
It was only proper to enshrine them whole in the family tomb, hoping for their rest, rather than reducing them to ashes sealed in an urn.
Not to mention the cost.
Building and using crematoriums would obviously be more expensive than burying them underground.
For poor people, who struggled daily just to survive, that too was a burden. Surely, someone would secretly bury the dead in some remote land.
If that happened, Undead might appear in places no one expected. Gathering them all in one place and managing them was far safer and more reasonable.
Thus, the National Cemetery was born.
Calia slightly nodded.
"A national cemetery… indeed, it is a place where the Glory of the Dead could very well be hiding."
After all, cemeteries contained plenty of materials for black magic.
For vile black magicians, there could hardly be a better hideout. It was so obvious that it even seemed suspicious.
But the National Cemetery had its overseers.
Black magicians officially licensed by the state. Not only that, but to prevent abnormal situations, soldiers were regularly dispatched from nearby cities to patrol meticulously.
For it to be this quiet, meant the overseers had already been taken out.
'Or else they have joined the Glory of the Dead.'
Calia turned her gaze.
"Vespa, did you secure the internal blueprints of the National Cemetery?"
"Of course."
Vespa spread the worn blueprint across the desk and fixed it down.
Calia studied it closely.
The cemetery had many structures, but only one caught her attention.
The massive mausoleum at its center.
Beneath it stretched a wide underground charnel house with two levels. From the blueprint, it was an ideal location for the Glory of the Dead to use as their hideout.
And there was only one entrance leading into the mausoleum, no other exits.
Not ideal for a surprise raid, but conversely, it meant there was no path of escape for them.
After finishing her thoughts, Calia spoke.
"Good, I'll issue the plan now."
Everyone listened closely.
The eldest daughter of a Marquisate, who led her own knight order and whose strength was recognized across the realm. Even nobles were said to avoid facing her. What sort of plan would she devise?
Verden inwardly looked forward to Calia's words.
At last, Calia declared,
"We'll break through the front."
"..."
Calia was more headstrong than Verden had expected.
***
Thud.
A knight of the White Crest Order placed large bags on the desk. Inside were holy equipment borrowed from the Church of Luas.
A colorless oil that granted sacred effects to weapons.
And holy water, which, with a single dose, suppressed the wicked aura of the Undead and alleviated curse magic for a time. Tools highly effective against black magicians were prepared for the order.
Calia carefully stored away the oil and holy water assigned to her.
Lastly, she donned a necklace bearing the emblem of the Church of Luas, a true cross pendant.
Known as the [Holy Necklace].
Twice a day, it could dispel curses of the 4th tier or below, and constantly shielded the wearer's mind. It was meant to prevent one's psyche from being corrupted by black magic.
As precious items, their numbers were limited.
Calia handed the necklaces to Vespa and the order's mages.
The substitute commanders and mages who provided the main firepower were of utmost importance. Especially if a mage succumbed to madness and unleashed spells on allies, the damage would be irreparable.
Naturally, Verden, being a lightning-type mage, was included.
"Asher, you should wear one as well."
"Thank you."
Verden received the necklace.
Truth be told, mental protection was useless for him.
After all, from the Soul Tree, to 4th tier mind mages, Red Hats, and Elder Liches—no curse or spell that interfered with the mind had ever affected him.
To him, such sacred gear was nothing but a burden.
'Not that I can refuse it.'
Even if Verden explained, no one here would believe him at face value. With so many lives on the line, they would remain cautious regardless.
Rather than waste effort on such suspicions, it was simpler to just wear it.
He put on the Holy Necklace. The cross struck against his clothes with a clink.
At that moment, Calia spoke.
"Come to think of it, though I've only commissioned you before, we've never actually fought together. Not exactly a leisurely time to match our pace, but it won't be much of an issue for you, will it?"
After all, he had once joined in a subjugation alongside a mithril-rank party.
At the very least, it was certain he possessed the basics of group combat.
"Still, if you have questions, ask freely. As long as it concerns this Glory of the Dead subjugation, I'll answer what I can."
Questions, huh…
"Why are you, Lady Calia, standing at the very front line?"
Calia held the most vital position in this subjugation.
If she were to die, the order itself could collapse. There was no need for her to command from the front.
To that, Calia replied,
"Well, there are several reasons. First, doing nothing from the back doesn't suit my nature, and for morale, the commander must lead by example. But above all else…"
Her blood-red eyes met Verden's.
"…because I am the strongest among the order. For someone like me to merely command from behind would be a waste of our strength."
Rather than be protected while giving orders, leading from the front while fighting was far more efficient.
It was possible only because of her own ability and confidence in that ability.
Vespa and the knights seemed well-accustomed to it, offering no objections.
Verden nodded, as if in understanding.
But if Calia valued strength above all, then he too had something to say.
"Lady Calia, may I make a request?"
"A request?"
Calia tilted her head slightly.
To her, Verden spoke.
"I wish to stand in the front line as well."
***
From the city of Keben to the National Cemetery was about three days on horseback.
Led by Calia, Verden and the White Crest Order headed toward their destination.
The warhorses trained by the Marquisate of Esperanza possessed such stamina that they could run at full speed for hours. Moreover, with the strength bursting from their muscles, a single kick could easily crush a human skull.
Naturally, their speed far outstripped that of common horses.
As their hooves struck the ground, the scenery around them blurred into motion.
And so, taking only the bare minimum of rest, they arrived at the National Cemetery in less than two days.
The necklace given by Bishop Neviron reacted violently.
"Fortunately, it seems its location has not changed."
Afterwards, oil was applied to their weapons and holy water was taken. A sacred light settled upon the bodies of the subjugation force.
Once Calia confirmed everyone was ready, she gave the order.
"Everyone, advance."
Calia's plan was frontal assault.
There was no need to waste time with hesitation. They did not even need to dismount. Fearless and obedient to their masters, the warhorses were weapons in their own right.
They charged straight into the cemetery, drawing their weapons.
Calia gave the signal.
"Haille, Grannen! Break the gate!"
"Leave it to me, Lady Calia!"
"As you command!"
The two mages gathered their mana.
Staffs engulfed in crimson flames were thrust forward.
Kwaaaaaang!
The stone struck the iron gate, greatly damaging it, followed by an explosion that blew the entrance apart entirely. Thus, the order succeeded in entering the cemetery, where a chilling fog greeted them.
The scene was as eerie as any graveyard, their vision filled with a sinister landscape, with foul energy saturating every corner.
Calia and the order halted for a moment.
Narrowing her eyes, she revealed her killing intent.
"…as expected, we are not the first guests."
───Grrrrrrraaaaaghhh…!
From the fog, a horde of Undead emerged.
Zombies, Skeletons, of many types. Piles of corpses numbering in the dozens, and even Skeleton Mages wielding bows, swords, and spells.
At that sight, everyone was certain.
The Glory of the Dead was indeed hiding in this National Cemetery.
Now, only the subjugation remained.
But to kill every single Undead one by one was inefficient. Fighting on horseback in the chaos was hardly a good choice either.
The most important goal was to destroy the core of the Orb of the Undead.
Everything else was secondary. For now, they had to break through the Undead horde and secure the mausoleum entrance.
"Asher, I leave it to you."
Verden stepped forward.
By common sense, mages provided firepower from the rear. Their bodies and senses were less trained, and they could be killed or grievously wounded by stray arrows or blades.
It was only natural to place those skilled in close combat and defense at the front to protect them.
'And yet he wishes to stand in the front line.'
That meant he was confident in himself.
Moreover, he had once borrowed a staggering 2.5 billion Elk in cash from Dyna Bank to participate in an underworld auction.
Out of courtesy, she had not asked what he purchased, but it was certainly magical equipment of great aid.
The Verden Calia knew was not a man who wasted fortunes on useless luxuries like the nobles did.
'I wonder what kind of magic he will show.'
Calia was inwardly expectant.
She was far too curious about Verden's true ability. The other knights too seemed curious, casting sidelong glances at him.
"..."
Receiving those burdensome gazes all at once, Verden activated his mana circuits. Brimming mana surged through his body, and focused into the Oculus in his hand.
His role was to damage the Undead horde, creating an opening.
'But I have no intention of stopping there.'
He would open a path straight through the Undead, leading directly to the mausoleum. At his current level, he more than had the ability to do so.
4th-tier magic,
That fiery beam was further amplified into 5th-tier magic,
Five strands of flame coiled around the Oculus, intertwining, flaring with violent intensity.
"…!"
The threatening heat and oppressive aura made everyone, save Verden, widen their eyes. From afar, a Skeleton loosed an arrow, but it burned to ash before it could reach him.
Meanwhile, the magic computation was complete.
A beam of destruction.
The entangled flames erupted, unleashing a massive fiery ray that tore through the Undead horde.
Those within its range were obliterated without a trace, even the Grave Guardians approaching from afar were swallowed instantly without the chance to resist.
The gravestones of the dead were swept away, or melted down by the heat, dripping over the tombs.
When the destructive magic passed, nothing remained standing.
Only a clear path, wide enough for the knights to march through. With a single spell, the Undead horde was devastated, shattered, and scattered.
A heavy silence fell over the National Cemetery.
Haille, the White Crest Order's flame mage, muttered blankly.
"Whoa."
Her single word summed up everyone's reaction.