Chapter 83: The Necro Knight

“In that area, a Dullahan appears once every few decades. The last time one appeared, I was still a novice knight. I remember feeling frustrated that I couldn’t join the subjugation squad.” “Ooh…”

Bianca listens intently to the Commander General telling stories of the past. As for me, I was vacantly watching the scenery flowing by from Oboro‘s back. The Commander General, who received contact via carrier pigeon that a Dullahan, a headless knight, appeared at the ruins at the foot of Spirit Mountain Eldora, tried to head to the scene immediately with the ‘Fast Running Bird’ he rode in on, but Father stopped him. Saying the ‘Fast Running Bird’ is useless now after running all night, and there is a vehicle faster than that. So, riding on the back of Ritsu‘s partner, Oboro, we headed straight for Spirit Mountain Eldora. Yeah, I thought maybe just the Commander General should go, too. However, when a Dullahan appears, I don’t know if they are guards, but apparently many Living Mails and Skeletons also appear. According to Kohaku-san, including the Dullahan, they belong to evil, so they can be easily defeated with my [Holy Sword]. Father grumbled again, but I think it’s okay as long as I don’t use physical enhancement. Kohaku-san is here, the Commander General is going too, and it’s a race against time, so I forcibly persuaded him. If the situation can be resolved quickly with my power, nothing is better. However, Bianca and Jean started saying they would go too. Bianca to guard me, and Jean for the reason of wanting to see a Dullahan. Well, naturally Jean‘s opinion was rejected by his father, the Commander General. With a thunderous scolding: ‘Your duty is to guard His Highness the Crown Prince, you fool!’. I said the same thing before, hasn’t that guy learned…? Riding Oboro means, naturally, its master Ritsu is also coming along. Then Estelle started saying she would go too. The Commander General was reluctant about this, but Father, knowing Estelle‘s ‘Gift’, gave permission. With Estelle‘s ‘Gift’ [Holy Miracle]’s healing magic, danger decreases. The Commander General, learning Estelle can use healing ‘Gift’, accepted it saying ‘If so’. Actually, it’s not just healing, but a more amazing ‘Gift’, but that’s a secret. Since just the Commander General and Kohaku-san can’t handle four girls, Commander Patrick, who has the [Small Barrier] ‘Gift’, and three of his subordinate knights came along as guards. Of course, my guard Tanya-san is with us too. So, ten people plus one animal are heading to Spirit Mountain Eldora like this. Explanation over! Eldora is closer than the elf village, so we arrive in less than two hours. Spirit Mountain Eldora itself has been visible for a while. The foot should be around here… While I was looking at Eldora squinting my eyes, Ritsu sitting in front pointed at a certain point. Nn? Is that…

“Lord Staccato, perhaps those are the ruins?” “Mu? Ah, yes. Put us down before that. There might be Skeleton Archers using bows and arrows over there.”

Following the Commander General’s words, Ritsu lands Oboro in an open area before the ruins. The ruins look like a destroyed small town, with stone walls and tower-like structures visible. Overgrown with moss and ivy, it looks painted in green. Since it’s summer, there’s still time before the sun starts to set. I want to obtain the ‘Fruit of the Heavenly God Tree’ somehow by nightfall and return to Harmonia. Something is moving in front of the ruins…? Eh, knights?

“No, those are Living Mails. Look closely. Can you see something like red-black flames coming from their bodies?”

The Commander General answers my question. Straining my eyes, certainly, I could see flickering red-black flame-like things from the wandering armor. That is Living Mail… armor of the dead wandering the living world, huh. Besides that, there were bone soldier Skeletons, and Skeleton Archers wielding bows and arrows that the Commander General mentioned. Even though they are undead, they aren’t that scary. Maybe because they aren’t zombies or rotting corpses. Also, maybe because it’s not night. In my previous life, I often watched horror movies, and in terms of scariness, the Dark Dragon was scarier. Well, someone might say ‘Don’t compare with that’. Ah, is that headless knight armor in the back the Headless Knight Dullahan?

“Dullahan is red, huh. Flashy.” “Red…!? Mu!? Tsk, a Dullahan Lord!”

Seeing the Dullahan, the Commander General clicks his tongue. Dullahan Lord? Not a normal Dullahan?

“A Dullahan Lord is a high-ranking species of Dullahan possessing blood-stained hard armor and shield, and a cursed flaming greatsword. Might be a little troublesome.”

High-ranking species means stronger than a Dullahan? I-Is it okay…? While I was feeling a little uneasy, Kohaku-san in small form snorted as if saying ‘Hmph’.

“What, just a different color of the headless knight. Not worth fearing. Even that Commander General or whatever should be able to defeat it.” “Fu, fufufu. Having received Divine Beast-sama’s endorsement, I have to do it now.”

Raising the corner of his mouth, the Commander General lightly tapped the Magic Sword Pesante at his waist.

“Let us down in that open area. I will take on the Dullahan. Can I leave the surrounding undead to Divine Beast-sama and Lady Sakuraile?” “No problem. With my little master’s [Holy Sword], they can be blown away just by touching.”

Blown away just by touching!? As usual, cheat performance, [Holy Sword]… Well, it’s a sword that defeats even a Dark Dragon… Following the Commander General’s instructions, Ritsu lands Oboro and first lets us down. After that, Ritsu takes only Estelle, who cannot participate in attacks, and soars into the sky on Oboro. Noticing us, the Living Mails come towards us as if drawn. Can hear the sound of armor clanking—gatcha gatcha. Movements aren’t that fast.

“Then, I leave it to you.” “Umu. Leave here to us. Go finish the headless one.”

The Commander General draws Magic Sword Pesante and dashes toward the Dullahan. The Living Mail that reached us first was split in two, top and bottom, by a horizontal slash released by the running Commander General as he passed. Other Living Mails also come towards us—gatcha gatcha. Noisy, that armor. Is it cheap stuff? Commander Patrick‘s sword catches the sword swung down at us. In that opening, I call out the [Holy Sword] and ready it in hand. The moment I lightly slashed the Living Mail engaged with Commander Patrick from the side with the [Holy Sword], with a dry sound like a paper gun—Paan, the Living Mail vanished in an instant. Just as Kohaku-san said… Isn’t this an outrageous anti-undead weapon…

“With this, wouldn’t the Dullahan also be one hit?” “The Dullahan is undead, but also belongs to the category of dark fairies. Might be impossible to blow away. No, with physical enhancement, it wouldn’t be difficult for my little master to defeat it, but────” “Yeah, let’s leave it to the Commander General.”

Cruel? Even I don’t want to be bedridden with muscle pain! If the Commander General can defeat it, that’s fine. Besides, he looks super having fun. Seeing the Commander General exchanging blows with the Dullahan while laughing, I realized various things: ‘Ah, this is one where interfering is forbidden…’ All I can do is blow away foolish undead that might dampen that battle.

“Yaa!”

Beside me, Bianca defeated one Skeleton with her sword. Skeletons have a magic stone in their sternum, and unless destroyed, they regenerate endlessly. A Skeleton’s magic stone is small as a pinky tip, difficult to target and break. A skilled swordsman would target that magic stone from the start, but generally, it seems they first smash the Skeleton apart, then break or stomp the magic stone to defeat it. Bianca is also defeating them that way. Beside her, who finally smashed a Skeleton and stomped the magic stone along with the dropped sternum—bakiri, I was blowing away another Skeleton with one swing of the [Holy Sword].

“………………” “…Somehow sorry…” “No…”

Being looked at with indescribable eyes, I apologized involuntarily. Unfair, right. I think so too. But it’s not a situation where we can talk about fair and square. Extinguishing attacking Skeletons and Living Mails with the [Holy Sword]. Troublesome ones are Skeleton Archers shooting arrows from afar. Tanya-san and Bianca are blocking arrows flying from afar with shields or knocking them down with swords. Far away, the Dullahan Lord and the Commander General continued a back-and-forth battle. The Magic Sword Pesante the Commander General wields increases in weight with each swing. The Dullahan is firmly catching that Magic Sword’s attacks with the shield in hand. Is it okay? If push comes to shove, I have no choice but to use physical enhancement to defeat it, but if possible I want to avoid that, so I want the Commander General to do his best.

“Mu…! Tsk, a troublesome one appeared.” “Eh?”

Turning my gaze to Kohaku-san’s mutter, something translucent was floating in the darkening sky. A flying skeleton wearing something like a tattered robe. In its hand, holding something like a Grim Reaper’s scythe. Or rather, just exactly a Grim Reaper though!?

“Specter. A type of evil spirit, physical attacks are completely ineffective.” “Eh, even Kohaku-san’s claws?” “If I use Divine Aura, ripping it isn’t impossible, but it is forbidden on the surface…”

That’s right. Kohaku-san’s power as a Divine Beast is sealed. Still, he says he won’t lose to magic beasts around here though.

“If I clad them in magic power, claws can tear it a little but…” “What about the shockwave-like thing you shot from your mouth before?” “That also has no effect on spiritual bodies. Among undead, I have bad compatibility with spirit types. I can intimidate it to keep it away but…” “Ugh…!”

Listening to Kohaku-san’s explanation, Bianca next to me knelt on one knee looking in pain.

“Bianca!?” “Being near that one drains vitality. Adults can still endure a little, but for a child like that girl, it is somewhat severe.” “Eh!? What about me?” “No way a wielder of the [Holy Sword] would have power stolen by an evil spirit. Or rather, for my little master, that thing is one hit. Would be happy if you finish it quickly though.”

Ah, as I thought? It’s the [Holy Sword] with evil-crushing power. Spiritual monsters are no match, huh. However, that guy is flying… Perhaps wary of the [Holy Sword], it doesn’t come here. Even though everyone’s vitality is being drained just by it being there.

“Kohaku-san, can you jump up there?” “I can jump but… probably will be dodged?” “From there I’ll do it. If I use physical enhancement, I think it’ll be fine.”

Even if dodged, if I jump from on top of Kohaku-san, the [Holy Sword]’s attack should reach. If it comes to this, I’ll endure a little muscle pain. Climbing onto Kohaku-san who lowered his body, I fix my eyes on the Specter glaring down at us from the sky.

“Then here we go!”

Kohaku-san kicks the ground, and with a run-up, heads toward the Specter with a huge leap. Kohaku-san swings claws clad in magic power, but as expected, the Specter moved smoothly in the air and dodged those claws. There, I, having activated physical enhancement, kick off Kohaku-san’s back and start charging toward the Specter like a rocket. As expected, the Specter’s reaction was delayed for this, allowing my approach. But immediately raising the large scythe in hand, it tries to cut me down.

“Unfortunate, but too late.”

I cut the Specter in two along with the scythe using the [Holy Sword] in hand.

“Gyoaaaaa!?”

Leaving a scream that was truly a shriek, the Specter vanished in an instant. One hit as Kohaku-san said. Or rather, umm, I am falling though!? What to do!? Just in case I’m using physical enhancement, can I land like this!?

“[Wind Wrap, Soft Embrace, Air Sphere]!”

Deciding to brace myself, I was wrapped in a mass of air. Falling as is, without crashing into the ground, I bounced once like an air cushion—boyon—and landed safely. Saved… Looking up, figures of Ritsu and Estelle on Oboro. Was the magic earlier Ritsu? With the meaning of ‘Thank you’, I waved my hand big… and Living Mails attacked me there. In the way! Read the room! Sweep away the attacking Living Mails with the [Holy Sword]. Thanks to the Commander and others’ efforts, the small fry here seem mostly cleaned up. …By the way, where is the Heavenly God Tree? Huh?