Chapter 41
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Aquell was easily defeated.
Emma watched it calmly, but she was surprised when Aquell's companions turned sides and began attacking the soldiers.
(Aquell is an adventurer specialized in monster extermination. It's no wonder he lost to Kilga. But... what are his companions doing? Could it be some kind of brainwashing ability? If so, it's dangerous to approach him carelessly. Our warriors might end up becoming his pawns.)
Aquell's companions kill the soldiers one after another. Then, the Skeletons carry the bodies into the town.
(......What on earth is happening? I have a bad feeling about this......)
Eventually, Aquell's companions return toward the town. They must have killed hundreds.
If they're being controlled, that's one thing, but if they acted on their own will, then those three can no longer live in human society.
The Dark Lich on top of the wall disappears. Shortly after, an evil light shines from within the town.
(That light... it's the same as when Claire was turned into an Undead... Don't tell me, did they turn Aquell into an Undead? At this timing... were the soldiers' lives used as material for Undead Creation...? If that's the case, then those three really did betray us willingly.)
When Emma faced Aquell and the others, she could tell that those three women had special feelings for Aquell.
(Did they use Aquell's resurrection as bait to make those three betray us...? What a vile, cowardly monster. They said they wanted to avoid killing, but their nature is still cruel. I must... defeat them quickly...)
Emma solidifies her resolve, but the tide of battle doesn't shift significantly.
The front-line soldiers and Skeletons continue clashing, and gradually the number of Skeletons decreases. Apparently, if you destroy them about ten times, they vanish. But essentially, it's like fighting not thousands but tens of thousands of Skeletons, so the soldiers are outnumbered.
Moreover, monsters other than Skeletons are also attacking. It seems a large number of wild monsters are being commanded, and dealing with them is no easy task.
(......At this rate, we might lose. No, maybe the assassination squad will succeed in the subjugation. But how much can we really count on them...?
The Holy Knight Order also wants to take more action. If only there weren't those ridiculous orders to focus solely on defense...)
This battle is being led by Count Yuzef's heir. He's clearly trying to gain prestige by defeating the Dark Lich. He's not a good man, but since we're operating as an organization, we can't go against his orders.
However, at this rate, not only will we fail to subjugate the Dark Lich, but we might face total annihilation.
"Emma"
Hearing her name called by Commander Cardin up ahead, Emma turns her attention outward.
"Ah, yes. What is it?"
"......Can you defeat Claire?"
"......Um, what do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said."
(Is the commander trying to make me fight Claire...?)
To Emma, Claire is her closest friend after Emeralda. A fellow teenager in the Holy Knight Order, and also a fellow woman. They've spent more time together than anyone else.
"......I can. In fact, I don't want anyone else to be the one to defeat Claire."
"I see. Then... I'll entrust this to you."
What the commander handed to Emma was one of the Holy Knight Order's most treasured weapons, the Divine Sword of Exorcism. A sword meant solely for killing monsters, especially powerful against dark-attribute monsters, capable of slaying them in a single blow.
However, while it's powerful against monsters, it has the weakness of being completely incapable of harming humans. In human combat, it's nothing more than decoration.
Emma accepts the sacred sword the commander offers.
"......So, I'm to leave here and defeat Claire and the Dark Lich?"
"I never said that. You will take the sacred sword from me of your own accord, defeat the Dark Lich who is your friend's enemy, and return your former friend to God with your own hands."
"......I see. Understood."
(In other words, while placing all the responsibility on me, they want the Holy Knight Order to be credited with the Dark Lich's subjugation. If I don't do it, someone else will. If no one else does, the commander himself will go.)
Emma considers the priorities of the members.
(This person is needed in this Order. I can't let him go. Being held responsible is no big deal.)
"Emma... Are you going?"
Emeralda asks Emma anxiously.
"Yes. I'm going."
"......I see. I can't stop you, can I...? Please, be safe."
"Yes. Of course."
Even if she succeeds in subjugating the Dark Lich, there's a chance she won't be able to return to the Holy Knight Order. Emma understood that, but she didn't want to do nothing.
"Emma. I'll help too. Let's go."
Vin stands next to Emma. Since Vin can use Presence Block magic, it seems they plan to move while hidden. He must have discussed this with the commander beforehand.
Emma leaves the area with Vin, weaving through the gaps between the other soldiers.
"......Emma. I'm truly sorry for killing your friend."
"......Please stop. I understand that it wasn't your will."
It was Vin who, confused by the Dark Lich's magic, struck down Claire.
Emma doesn't intend to hold it against him. She knows all too well how terrible the Dark Lich's magic is.
"......Let's finish this, together."
"Yeah."
Emma thinks about what she must do from here on, and her chest aches terribly.