ch71

A storm had passed, and it was time to sort out what to do next.

I had been away for half a year, but my position as a priestess of the Immigration Church was more symbolic than anything, and I didn’t have any particular duties. So, despite the long absence, there weren’t any major problems.

I hadn’t arrived before the spring expedition’s departure, but I wasn’t too far off the originally planned return date.

Therefore, I could immediately focus on other matters.

Prigos’s southern expedition beyond the Takla Desert and his defeat, and the Einherjar Algul of the Orcs who had crossed over from the East Continent.

It was a response to one of the main culprits who had devastated the East Continent crossing over to the West.

After the commotion, Saras and Anya had taken Pallas away to calm him down, leaving only Gal, Aliya, and Antirea at the heart of the World’s Womb Throne.

Gal didn’t seem to care what we said and was only examining the barrier, so the three of us had to discuss what to do next.

“Let’s start by assessing the situation. First, Prigos was defeated. Right?”

Aliya and Antirea nodded in agreement.

“What’s Prigos’s current situation?”

“Until I lost my left arm and had to withdraw due to loss of combat power, he had been defeated in several clashes, but there wasn’t much damage after the first battle. Right now, he’s probably waging a delaying action against the enemy that crossed the desert, evacuating people from the villages and cities in their path. There are soldiers who survived the battle, but considering the increasing number of refugees and the consumption of food, rescue is essential.”

“What happened in the first battle?”

Antirea recalled the battle, then stroked the severed area as if her severed left arm was aching, and continued.

“At first, the army led by a Bayatur named Muktuk, just like King Prigos does in the South, was quite impressive, but even when we first faced them, I didn’t pay much attention. They had more soldiers riding camels, which are easier to use in the desert, but as you know, Master, I thought it would be impossible for ordinary humans to stop us and King Prigos’s army.”

I nodded at Antirea’s words.

Not only ten years ago, but even now, most of the soldiers outside the capital, Poheln, were just groups of men with metal weapons who had grown up reasonably well and swung them according to their instincts.

In comparison, how could a mob of ordinary humans stop an army that was systematic, experienced in battle, well-equipped and supplied, and even trained in martial arts, even if at a low level?

Even within Pohelnia, there was a difference between the capital, Poheln, and other places, like the difference between civilized people and barbarians.

“In fact, as the army of the one who unified the entire South, they were more elite than the armies we had met in past expeditions, but we still overwhelmed them. The problem was after the initial clash and the ensuing melee. The anomaly appeared in the shadows created by the entangled armies.”

“Shadows?”

“Yes. Shadows. Orc armies sprang up from the shadows created by the entanglement, wherever they were fighting.”

A technique to hide the body in shadows.

Considering that it was impossible to imitate, it was a power close to authority.

It was one of the specialties of the succubi, including Lamiya, who had fought me in the past.

“Is the technique of riding shadows common in the East Continent?”

“…Riding shadows is the authority of my father, who was the Roa of Night and Death. We inherited it, but the Orcs did not.”

Aliya shook her head at my question and said firmly.

“So, do you think there are other helpers besides Algul and the Orcs?”

“…It’s not impossible, but Algul probably wanted to completely take my father’s core in the West for himself. I doubt that greedy being would join hands with another being and share it.”

“Then?”

“Algul, as an Einherjar of the Orcs, is not only an excellent warrior himself, but also a shaman who appeases the souls of dead Orc warriors. I think he overcame the curse my father carved and turned it into his own power.”

“Hmm…”

A veteran warrior who has lived for hundreds of years, skilled in grappling and the supernatural.

It was a serious situation that could change the history of the West Continent if we lost, but I felt a surge of competitive spirit.

‘Oops.’

It was only half a year ago that I had suffered humiliation from wandering around without knowing the terrors of the world.

The opponent was born as an Einherjar like myself, committed patricide by joining forces with his siblings to kill his own parents and seize their power, and was presumed to have overcome the curse left by the Elder Loa, Ul Kanadiel, and made it his own power.

Moreover, in Gal’s case, it ended with just that much humiliation, but if I lost this time, there was a high possibility that I couldn’t guarantee my own life.

I honestly didn’t think I would lose, but I needed to be careful.

“So, the reason for the defeat is because the Orcs appeared?”

“I think that’s the main reason. But not the only one.”

“Hmm?”

“Orcs don’t have long lifespans like us. They’re probably similar to humans. They grow quickly and are inherently strong, but… they live until they’re somewhat strong and then die of old age, so there’s a generational change… Orcs themselves are strong, but our soldiers were able to respond. Considering that they were also suddenly ambushed, they fought well enough.”

“From what I’ve heard so far, there seems to be no reason to retreat in a rout, even if there were defeats due to momentary disadvantages.”

“The problem is what came next.”

Antirea sighed, frowned, and continued.

“The balance was completely broken when Algul and those three strangely shaped pig bastards he always carries around, called the Three Commanders, and the crazy bitches called the Witches of Takla joined in.”

“Your tone is a bit strong.”

“…You’ll understand when you see them, Master. You’ll understand my feelings a little? They laugh and giggle all the time, bring fog to the battlefield, or cast illusions on the soldiers fighting and make them kill each other… I beheaded those crazy bitches several times with my sisters, but there are still quite a few left.”

“…That must have been a disaster.”

It didn’t seem to be a lethal spell, but in the chaotic midst of war, such spells might be more fatal.

“And while barely recovering the soldiers who survived the melee, taking care of Prigos, and getting out of there, I was cut by one of the pig bastards called the Three Commanders.”

Antirea stroked her bandaged left shoulder with a bitter look.

Aliya also looked at her sister, who had lost a limb in the war, with pity.

“…Were the other children not hurt?”

“They have minor injuries, but fortunately, no one else was seriously injured except me.”

“Hmm… I see.”

I scratched my cheek in a slightly awkward atmosphere and asked about the rest of the situation.

“How many soldiers who didn’t die were recovered?”

“I didn’t have time to count properly, but excluding the support troops, there probably aren’t even a third of the combat troops left from when we first set out on the expedition.”

“…That’s a terrible number.”

Judging from the initial response, the enemy must have suffered damage due to the difference in the quality of troops, but considering the effort put into each soldier, it was truly a crushing defeat.

I tapped the throne with my index finger and summarized the story.

“The Southern army, which suffered some losses but is still intact, and the Orcs that Algul seems to have brought from the East with the magic of shadows. And the sorcerers called the Witches of Takla. Hmm.”

The tapping continued as I pondered for a while.

“Aliya.”

“Yes, Araya.”

“We’ll take care of Algul and the Orcs as promised.”

Aliya’s face brightened.

“But you have to deal with the rest of the humans and those called the Witches of Takla.”

“Of course.”

“And Antirea, don’t push yourself to go to the battlefield. You may be a succubus who is twice as strong as a human, but if you miss the time to heal, your remaining life as a swordswoman may be in danger.”

“…Yes.”

“Aliya, come to me when you’re done recruiting and organizing the soldiers to rescue Prigos. I’ll move with you. Let’s end this story here.”

At those words, Aliya hurriedly went outside, and Antirea bowed to me and followed Aliya. I watched Antirea’s back as she walked with a slightly unbalanced gait until she disappeared, then I got up from the throne I had returned to after a long time and headed to my room.

◈ ◈ ◈

“Some riffraff came over from the East, it seems. Are they remnants of those guys from the past?”

“Did you hear?”

“I didn’t intend to listen, but I’m not deaf.”

When I left the room, Gal, who had been examining the Deus Ex Machina, stopped what he was doing and followed me.

“Well, that’s roughly what happened. I’m worried about Terato’s matter, but this is more urgent.”

“Shall I help?”

I was so surprised at those words that I stopped walking and looked up at Gal.

…Did he just say he would help?

Gal, who is arrogant, lazy, only sees me as a toy, and has no interest in anything other than his own amusement, a personification of self-love?

When he saw me looking up with a shocked expression, Gal looked down at me blankly, as if wondering what was wrong.

I stared at him for a moment, then chuckled and expressed my intention to refuse.

“…No, thanks. Like you said, those things from the East are riffraff. It’s too much for you to move personally.”

“I see.”

Gal didn’t offer twice.

When I started walking again, Gal, who had stopped, also started walking again.

For some reason, Gal, who was sticking close behind me and following me like a large dog, was sure to get angry if I said it out loud, so I didn’t say it.

“I’ll guide you to my room first, so would you mind staying there for a while?”

“Do you have somewhere else to go?”

“As I said earlier, I need to ask my siblings for help.”

“I’ll go too.”

“…If you go, you’re sure to fight again. I don’t want any trouble, so stay in the room and wait.”

“It’s impossible for my actions to be restricted by the feelings of insignificant beings. Unless it’s the other way around.”

Gal frowned and said.

I had felt grateful until just now, but before that feeling could be maintained, was he being stubborn again?

Thinking of Pallas from earlier, taking Gal there was like adding fuel to the fire.

I wondered if there was a way to persuade Gal, who would never listen to anyone, and then an idea came to my mind.

Something I had heard when the priestesses living in the temple gathered to chat among themselves.

Hmm…

Putting aside the shame I would feel when I did what they said, I wondered if it would work on Gal, who wasn’t human and didn’t really have a gender.

‘…Well, I have no other choice.’

I took a deep breath and quietly called Gal.

“Gal.”

“Hmm?”

“Could you wait in the room for a little bit? I’ll be back as soon as I’m done talking.”

I felt a little ashamed even after doing it myself.

I looked up at Gal at an angle and said in a tearful (I think it was as tearful as possible) voice, unlike my usual tone, which I don’t easily use even with my family.

Gal just looked down at me with the same blank expression as usual, without saying a word.

The sight of me looking up at an angle and Gal looking at me was maintained like a statue, and an uncomfortable silence continued.

‘Is this not working? They usually like it when I do this. Well, Gal isn’t human and doesn’t really have a gender.’

A flush of shame crept up my face, and I was about to concede defeat, back down, and look for another way.

“…I’ll be waiting. Come back soon.”

Surprisingly, Gal gave his permission in a voice that was uncharacteristically stiff.