novelblue
Chapter 58: Black Death (5)
Chapter 58: Black Death (5)
Chapter 58: Black Death (5)
The highest level of a short iron tower with only 340 floors.
Even at this floor, when one reached the top spire a large door appeared. A metal door made of cobalt, nickel, and a bit of limestone greeted its guest with its maw opened wide.
Beyond the door was a round table. Rosemary and Blanton walked towards the nine thrones that were lining it. Duke Blanton sat relatively closer to the entrance, and Rosemary took a seat further away.
The ones who sat here were the representatives of the greatest sky, the Ninth Heaven. Only Cataclysms had the right to sit on these thrones and enjoy the meetings and refreshments.
These Cataclysms were gathered here for one ultimate purpose. That was to resurrect their King.
And this is what the people of Ahrens called the beasts with this very purpose.
The Great Nine Mechas of the Heavens.
“One, two, three... a rather poor attendance.”
“Can’t do much about it. Three of them are much too large to get over here.”
“Why are the chairs set up if you already know?”
“It’s just a formality, you know? They’re still working away right now so we should maintain their dignity, or else they’ll be upset.”
Not all Cataclysms were capable of human mimicry. Some reached kilometers of length in size. As soon as guys like those moved out of the center of the Demonic Lands, they’d be exposed to the enemy’s surveillance; hence, they couldn’t even dream of coming here and required warp circles to change locations.
On the other hand, it was much easier for humanoid types as they were smaller and looked human. The chances of being caught were considerably lower than non-humanoid beasts.
None of the Cataclysms with human mimicry had been found out yet. Not Jack Blanton who ranked seventh, and not Rosemary who ranked fourth. The only human mimicry types that had been caught historically were all Calamities.
“So, it’s been a while. Why were we called?”
With a lollipop in her mouth, Rosemary looked around the place.
“It’s me and Septimus... of course the towermaster is here. Then Sister Secundus and crow beak Quartus are here. Five out of ten total? My god, it’s a fifty percent attendance rate!”
“That isn’t a high number.”
“No, no, this is a lot! Isn’t it hard to even catch a glimpse of everyone?”
As Blanton and Rosemary exchanged words, someone on the inside spoke up.
“We don’t have a lot considering today’s agenda, Rosemary.”
The throne given to the second highest rank. The white-haired girl puffing mana grass on this throne had spoken with a calm tone.
She was the one who called for today’s gathering. Since this summoning order was given by the Second Brigade Commander, the beast in lower ranks had to obey.
Of course, the exception was those who were too big to attend. Primus also didn’t need to follow, being higher in rank than Secundus.
Everyone’s gaze focused on the white-haired girl. It was the perfect time to bring up the meeting’s agenda.
“You all know, right? The second line of defense was breached the other day.”
Bam!
A heavy thud resounded from the next seat over, and several pellets rained down. Rosemary, who had been sitting adjacent, picked up one of the lead bullets that dropped onto the table and crunched on it.
A moment of silence.
“... Is that true?”
“Ah, what’s the use if us comrades are this out of sync. How did you not hear about this when the Third Brigade is in charge of the north?”
“I didn’t receive a report since I was moving the tower back to its original place. Besides, our brigade prefers a mission command system.”
“Forget it.”
The white-haired girl waved her hand and got back on topic.
“It’s a serious matter that those human shits passed the second line of defense.”
“What was the reason? It wasn’t the Elementals, so how did those scums come onto our land?”
“It’s due to Flare.”
Blanton answered Quartus’ question instead after having been quiet all this time. When Quartus tilted their head as if not understanding, Rosemary started to explain.
“A little while ago, the Flare scroll was completed at the Academy. And the bitch who made it... no, let’s not go there. Anyway, the fabrication method was released for free so it seems these bastards are printing it left and right. We don’t even need to look that it’s probably the minions in the Third Brigade dropping like flies because of Flare. If it continues this way, then we’ll be in trouble, too.”
“You fear too much, Rosemary. A Rank Four like yourself is scared of a magic created by humans?”
“Because I’m not some hunk of armor carrying a Vulcan around on their head. A frail girl like me won’t survive a hit from something like that.”
At Rosemary’s playful words, the desk shook once more. This time, even more bullets fell down with a jangle.
Secundus sighed and swept up the ones about to roll off the table. She’d have to carry the discussion quickly.
“So, since we’re losing ground here in the north, we need a comrade to stir up an adequate commotion in the Empire. My thinking is that Quartus and Septimus should do it because they’re already undercover.”
“Can’t. We’re busy, too.”
Rosemary waved her hands back and forth. Blanton nodded while stroking his beard in agreement of Rosemary’s refusal.
“We’ve received news that the Lodestone of Fire will soon be transferred to Tilette. Neither of us intend to cause an incident within the palace until the Lodestone is in our hands.”
“Then except you guys. Let’s also exempt the Third Brigade since they’re protecting this place. Ah, and I need to go infiltrate where the elves are once this meeting is over.... Then I guess that just leaves one Commander?”
Including the white-haired girl, the attendees naturally turned their heads towards one direction. There sat a man with a mask in the shape of a crow’s beak.
A black mask, black fedora, black robe, and even black gloves. He was a man completely covered in black. If decay and plague were to be personified, this would be it.
“Quartus, this task will be assigned to you and your brigade. Go decimate the state without getting caught by the humans.”
“.... I suppose there’s no choice.”
The sacrifice for the team project was chosen. When he adjusted his mask, the smell of herbs wafted through the gap. There seemed to be many scents mixed together such as cinnamon, ginger, mana grass, etc.
When he exhaled, something began to wiggle inside his robe. Then many different variants of creatures crawled out of the Fifth Brigade Commander’s body.
Centipedes and snakes, large gnats and spiders. Various hideous things entangled in one place went in and out of the man’s body like it was their home. They weren’t living creatures but imitations made of metal.
There was only one technician in the Demon King Army who had complete control over such critters.
The Fifth of the Great Mechas, the Commander of the beasts of plagues and death.
“Yes, would the Black Death suffice?”
Entero Colitica of ‘Pestilence’.
“Roger.”
“There’s isn’t anything else, right? I’m leaving for real.”
Boom! Boom! Booooom!
“.... What was that?”
At the booming explosions, the iron tower swayed back and forth. Asbestos and metal debris dropped from the ceiling and littered the desk.
“It seems we have been hit from outside. Maybe it’s those humans....”
“You mean that the enemy was allowed to invade this far?”
“Are you trying to say that the third line was breached? Don’t be absurd. If that is the case, then it would mean that the reputation of the Demon King Army has plummeted.”
“You degenerate prattlers of poor pedigree.... Sure know how to run your mouths, don’t you.”
They all watched each other. Someone had to go check the situation outside but no one was in a hurry to move.
It wasn’t that they were weak but rather were hesitant to show their bare faces to the humans.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
Time was running out. The central weight of the tower was moving in big arcs.
It wouldn’t matter how human they made themselves appear. This was the third line of defense, a place where humans normally cannot return from. So if they saw a human-looking creature here? Then without a doubt they’d be pinned as human mimicry beasts.
Yet a Commander still needed to go. The white-haired girl quickly gave the orders.
“Rosemary and Jack, you two stay. If your faces are exposed to the enemy and they realize, then our plan will be set back by years. Ah, and you, Tertius, need to keep producing beasts in the tower so try not to go out.... Let’s see. The Plague Doctor should be okay since you go around with a mask.”
“You want me to take on two assignments? I’m not a fighter.”
“Ha, what a joke.”
The other beasts glared at the girl. All their expressions said that she could go herself if she had issues with it. In the end, she had to get up herself.
“I’m going, you dumbasses.”
The tower continued to crumble and its owner was occupied with repairing it.
It’d take too long going down every step. The girl opened one of the windows to the spire and jumped out of it. She sped up due to gravitational acceleration but at some point, she started to slow down until she was able to land safely on the ground.
The girl stepped upon the snow and pulling out a telescope, she searched the area.
There were humans. Hundreds of humans were almost flying toward the tower, and they were covered in various magic buffs.
It was a visual reminiscent of their King when he had invaded the realm of Elementals a thousand years ago. The corners of her mouth twitched and she snorted.
“Where do they think they are....”
Just then, a streak of light whipped by scratching her cheek. Shwoong, it went,_ _and the girl was unable to react to it in that instant.
“.......”
Her right cheek burned. The place where the beam had skimmed past was left with an intense heat. When she softly brushed her cheek, she could feel something sticky.
A black substance stained her hand. Tar, petroleum, and other black substances. When was the last time she had bled?
She didn’t know. And that angered her.
The white-haired girl chewed on her lower lip and brought a stick to her mouth.
It was the middle of the night and the snow was blowing around violently. But perhaps due to this being the polar regions, she could still observe the enemy.
The enemy count was a little over 300. They seemed to be a forlorn hope consisting of only veterans.
She looked to the closest of them.
Red eyes crackled with fire as they approached as if trying to illuminate the dark. And golden hair, bright and noticeable despite being covered in snow, fluttered in the biting wind.
There was one woman wielding a staff burning at 1500 degrees celsius as she neared closer to where she was. Her stylishly fitted uniform was decorated in different places with three national flowers symbolizing the Philiut Empire.
It was a face that the girl recognized.
“...I am sure I have told you time and time again to not come all the way here.”
So she couldn’t control her facial expression. The girl met the advancing enemy with a deep scowl.
? Commander, we can see a girl in front of the magic tower!
? Stay cautious! It could be a humanoid beast!
? I-is that.... a Golden-Eyed?
“Ah, right. Forgot to wear the color-change filter.”
The girl brushed around her eyes and relaxed her face.
“Whatever.”
If they’ve come this far, they weren’t going to make it back alive.
? Shouldn’t we help or capture her alive since she’s a Golden-Eyed?
? What kind of weak-willed thing are you saying! All creatures that live here are beasts! Attack!!
A distance of only 200 meters remained. The opponent started to ready their magic one by one.
The scrolls were activating. Light clusters forming Flare burst through the magic papers and fell upon her. They were going to take down the girl and the iron tower behind her all at once.
Not on her watch.
Jangling the lead bullets, the girl lit the end of mana grass. The bitter smell of mana made its round through her circulatory system. This brief feeling of regaining the ability that had been stolen by the Goddess long, long ago was exhilarating beyond words.
Countless Flares flew her way.
Watching them, she began to chant.
[Advanced Elec Magic ? Railgun]
Footnotes
1. From the bacteria 'yersinia enterocolitica'