49 – Frontal Assault

Kidnapping, confinement, brainwashing, hypnosis, *training*.

This highly stimulating subject warranted further explanation, so I asked Siren to break it down simply.

Siren considered this for a moment, and explained what it all entailed.

“It means we can use the artificial sun to manipulate thoughts and consciousness.”

“So, it’s like brainwashing.”

“Yes. Kidnap and confine them, run various experiments, and then ‘train’ them until the brainwashing takes effect.”

“Intriguing.”

Pleased by my praise, Siren continued in a slightly more excited tone.

“Yes. So, if we use the artificial sun properly, we can plant false memories or even erase existing ones.”

The moment those words touched my ears, a single question bloomed in my mind.

The artificial sun I’d envisioned was merely a substitute for the true sun, a thing to warm the North.

But from what Siren spoke, it felt like something altogether different. A far cry from simple artifice.

‘Perhaps because black magic is tangled within it?’

The question gave birth to a dawning realization: the black mages were weaving some grand design. Lost in thought, I

eventually turned back to Siren and asked,

“So, is this artificial sun ready for use?”

“Not yet. More research is needed.”

“I see. Oh, just wondering, but do you need Daisy?”

Siren shook his head, answering.

“No. Once the mana structure crystal spits out, there’s no real reason for her to stay with me.”

“Bam?!”

“Bamji Bamji Bamji”

“Myamyamyamyamyamy! Myamyamyamyamya!”

Siren’s provocation sparked yet another brawl.

Leaving them to their games, I gazed down at the fallen black mage and Alicia below.

‘While experimenting, it might be wise to keep Lorein close to Siren.’

Siren’s safety was paramount, and the second reason was that Lorein stunted his ‘growth.’

‘Because with Lorein around, he grows complacent.’

That thought – that Lorein would simply solve any problem before him – was halting his advancement, I realized.

I decided it would be best to keep my distance until I ascended to at least the lower ranks of Sword Expert, and crossed my arms.

* * *

The night streets overflowed with those returning from hard labor.

I pressed forward, listening to the boisterous voices rising from every corner.

“That… what was it! That Northern Archduchess… something, something… apparently killed a lot of people?”

“Oh, that rift thing? Heard it was something no human should ever do.”

“Don’t know what kind of woman she is, but won’t they execute her soon?”

Perhaps because Dale proclaimed Alicia’s misdeeds at the Hero Appointment Ceremony, drawing all eyes,

even those who seemed indifferent to rumors were now engaged in heated discussions.

Hearing these rumors, I wondered if they had reached the isolated North. Just then, Lianna cautiously called out to me.

“Could I have a word, perhaps?”

Liana, not wearing her usual air of composure, but with a somewhat grave expression, called to me.

In a voice so small that others couldn’t possibly overhear, she whispered to me.

“I received word from the Saintess… the situation isn’t good.”

I’d thought as much, and had assigned Dale to her.

Perhaps because the story had diverged so much from the original, Dale alone hadn’t been enough to change things.

Wanting to hear the details, I questioned her about it.

“More monsters than anticipated have descended; she says she’s facing difficulties greater than expected.”

Considering Leuen’s nature – rarely showing when things are tough – that word “difficulties” likely meant a ‘grave crisis’.

I felt I should head to Pernoer Cliff as soon as possible, and opened my mouth.

“So, they need help right away, is that it?”

Liana seemed surprised I was being so direct, and nodded hesitantly.

“Yes.”

Then there was no point in dawdling; it would be best to depart immediately.

I resolved to leave for the cliff that very evening, quickening my pace.

*

As soon as I arrived at the Saintess’s hideout, I declared my intention to head for Pernoer Cliff, and Siren looked at me with a shocked expression, saying,

“…Are you abandoning me?”

“Abandoning you? It’s not like that…”

Perhaps it was because she’d been trapped for so long in the black magician’s laboratory, living in solitude, that she had such a deep anxiety about being left behind.

I could see her clutching tightly to my sleeve, refusing to let go.

I tried to calm Siren down by stroking her hair and gently stretching her cheeks, showing her small affections, but nothing seemed to soothe her.

“I want to go too.”

Siren stubbornly insisted on coming with me, and I was reluctantly considering whether I should take her, when…

Siren, watching my expression, hesitated for a moment, then spoke, her voice shrinking.

“…No, it’s alright. I don’t have to go.”

It seemed she’d stopped insisting, seeing how troubled I was.

That reaction made me feel even more sorry, and I was about to tell her that she could come along, but…

Siren fiddled with the hem of her dress and continued to speak.

“It would probably help Damian more if I stayed and continued my research… I think that would be better.”

Then, gathering some resolve, she tells me,

“In exchange, once your research is finished, spend that much time with us.”

It wasn’t a particularly difficult request, and as I nodded,

Lorraine presented me with a small jewel, saying,

“This is a pager. If you find yourself in a truly desperate situation, shatter it.”

“Ah, thank you.”

With this jewel, I could avoid the worst possible scenario.

Deciding to save it as a last resort, I tucked the jewel into my bosom.

“Then, I’ll depart immediately.”

There was no need to dawdle any longer, so I boarded the carriage Liana had summoned and set off toward Leuven.

*

“Myaaang. Myaang!”

I gazed at Daisy, tumbling about in my arms, lost in thought for a moment.

‘It feels like it’s about time I moved up to a lower-tier Expert, but how do I even get there?’

It’s not as if I lack combat experience, nor have I failed to experience high-level battles.

Of course, there were certainly aspects that fell short of being perfect,

But it was a matter of being *lacking*, not *deficient*, which made me somewhat hesitant.

‘Perhaps it’s because I haven’t fought desperately enough.’

Deciding to try everything I could, I was pondering what I could do when,

Liana carefully called out to me, reciting a briefing on the Pernoer Cliffs.

“Currently, approximately two thousand monsters are launching an offensive on the Pernoer Cliffs.”

“…Two thousand?”

“Yes. That’s a rough estimate of the number of currently appearing monsters, and if we add those that haven’t emerged yet, the number could significantly increase.”

Two thousand was even more than what appeared in the original work.

I didn’t know why, but I wondered if something like a snowball effect hadn’t been triggered by the events in the north.

Liana gave me a document with a rather grave expression.

“For your information, the majority of the monsters are undead. Most are low-level undead like skeletons, but… I hear there are also undead like Dullahan.”

The middle-tier undead, whose head and body are separated.

Unlike the lower-tier undead, recklessly created for sheer numbers, these monsters each possess considerable strength.

The tale whispers that one of those creatures is worth a lower-tier Sword Expert.

‘So, as the original story goes, Dale couldn’t possibly take down a Dullahan on his own.’

It was written that, while unleashing traps and holy water, he only managed to defeat it with the full support of the Saintess and the Holy Knight.

As such thoughts ran through my mind, I heard the fierce sound of rain battering outside the carriage.

As an eerie unease and a chilling atmosphere enveloped everything, Liana shook my shoulder and spoke.

“We’ve arrived.”

Stepping out, I saw a vast legion of undead surrounding the village perched atop the cliff.

Those desperately fighting the undead in the fiercely pouring rain.

I thought the scene was far more brutal than anything described in the novel, when Liana sent the carriage away and told me.

“They said they’d send a flying vehicle to pick us up from the bottom of the cliff, so let’s head that way for now.”

I was about to nod when a playful idea struck me, and I called out to Daisy, who was patting her plump belly with both hands.

“Daisy, can you help me out a bit?”

“Myaang!”

“Good. Can you lend me some strength?”

It had been several days since the incident at the auction house against the dark mage.

Judging that her power would have increased significantly since then, I grasped my mace.

Then, turning to Liana, who looked somewhat uncomfortable, I said.

“We’re going straight through, so follow me.”

I chuckled at Liana’s bewildered expression and dashed forward.

* * * * *

“Saintess! We can’t hold out any longer! Please, escape first!”

“It’s alright. I can endure a little longer… Don’t worry about me and prioritize your own safety…”

“That’s impossible! We can be replaced, but the Saintess cannot!”

“What do you mean…”

Lewen was taken aback by the Holy Knight, normally so kind, raising his voice in front of her.

However, the situation was so dire that she couldn’t even respond.

The Holy Knight, pushing back the onrushing horde of undead, shouted loudly.

“Horn! Take the Saintess and escape as quickly as possible!”

“Y-Yes!”

A knight, still youthful and pure white, rushed forward, intending to take her away.

But to follow him here would doom the paladins who trusted her, the countless souls in the village.

She refused, struggling to hold her ground.

“Holy Maiden, forgive me…!”

The paladin Horn hoisted her over his shoulder and began to sprint backward.

She pleaded with him to put her down, but to no avail.

“We are expendable… but not you, Holy Maiden!”

He spat the harsh words and ran faster.

“No, no! Daisy! Stop these people!”

“Stop? We’re about to die! Just go!”

“Without me, they will all perish!”

“Forgive us!”

Cries and screams echoed from all around.

Everything spiraled into catastrophe as the legion of undead, two thousand strong, closed in on the precipice.

Despairing at the hopeless sight, enraged by the Order that refused to send reinforcements, she screamed silently when…

A monstrous blaze erupted in the distance, followed by explosions so loud they hurt the ears.