For the next two days, La Mancha and the griffons poured diluted cure over the heads of the zombie horde.
At first, most of the zombies endured with little reaction, but as the cure application accumulated, changes began to appear.
The zombies' condition weakened, and the parasites controlling the hosts gradually lost their grip. The number of zombies unable to move swiftly grew like a snowball.
Some zombies even started showing signs of the parasites being completely eradicated.
And these 'cured' zombies were attacked by the still-infected ones.
It seemed the zombies judged friend from foe based on whether the parasites controlled the host. Every time a zombie was cured of its parasites due to the repeated application of the cure, the remaining zombies instinctively attacked and killed it.
A zombie without its parasite was merely a lifeless corpse.
Those whose parasites were eradicated by the cure were inevitably killed by the remaining zombies, who finished them off.
‘Such a grotesque sight...’
Watching the 100,000-strong mass of corpses attacking each other was horrifying.‘But if they reduce their numbers on their own, that's to our advantage.’
The zombie horde, steadily weakening and decreasing in number, continued to advance northward.
Watching the recorded footage from La Mancha, I nodded. The plan was working.
However.
"..."
It was becoming increasingly clear, even from the video footage, that Cromwell was growing larger.
At first, I thought it was an illusion. But as the horde came within a day's march of Crossroad, it became certain.
The leader, Cromwell, was enlarging.
Its horn, after repeated abnormal growths, now resembled a massive tree, and its body had become so bloated that it couldn't support its own weight. At some point, it began crawling on all fours, as if it had been a quadruped from the start.
Yes, like a giant reindeer.
A monstrous reindeer, with grotesquely twisted muscles, leading the zombie horde, its giant antlers shrouded in a ghastly pale green magic.
I suddenly recalled Rosetta's explanation.
- The parasite burrows into the host's body through the mouth, infecting the host's magical core and seizing control of the body.
- Upon the host's death, the parasite, using its demon-like ability to 'sacrifice,' siphons the host's remaining life force to its master.
The entire zombie outbreak was related to the demon-like ability to 'sacrifice.'
When zombie monsters die, Cromwell absorbs their last remnants of life force, strengthening itself... That must be the mechanism.
‘Is this some RPG raid boss tradition where the boss gets stronger as the minions die...’
Despite the growing burden of a giant Cromwell.
I can't avoid fermenting the soy sauce just because I'm afraid of maggots.
It's ridiculous to let the zombie horde roam free out of fear of the boss's growth.
‘The preparations are complete.’
I estimated the location of the zombie horde, which had advanced near Crossroad, on the map and thought.
‘I will definitely clear this.’
Stage 45.
The last boss stage before the final battle, Stage 50. The toughest hurdle before facing the final boss.
‘Nothing will change.’
Kill the monsters, save the people.
From the beginning until now, that's the only path I have chosen.
***
With just a few hours left until the zombie horde's arrival, the night at Crossroad was desolate.
Even normally, the city wasn't very populous, but with the non-combatants evacuated ahead of the monster horde's assault, it was even more deserted.
And in this empty city, in the likewise empty training ground of the abandoned barracks...
"Huff, huff!"
Hecate was still desperately swinging her sword.
Despite her broken body and lost swordsmanship, she kept trying, repeatedly losing her grip in the process.
"...Hecate."
Lucas, who had been watching her from behind, finally spoke.
"Why didn't you evacuate? Why are you still here?"
"Ha, ha..."
Hecate, picking up her sword again, replied bluntly.
"His Highness told me to stay in this city. So I'm staying."
"Don't act like a child. That's not what he meant."
"I know. But where else would I go?"
Hecate shook her head.
"Wherever I am, it's the same. I'm a useless person now, with nowhere to go back to."
"..."
"That's why I'm here. To find a reason to live, as His Highness said."
Clang—
The training sword Hecate had dropped rolled on the ground.
Staring blankly at her callused, bleeding hands, Hecate muttered.
"Lucas, if..."
"Hmm?"
"If I'm in danger of dying tomorrow, will you come to save me?"
After a brief silence.
Lucas met Hecate's gaze with his bright blue eyes.
"You're one of my best friends, Hecate."
"..."
"If it weren't wartime, of course, I'd drop everything and come to save you. But."
Hecate bitterly smiled at his rational answer.
"Now, I am the bodyguard of my lord and the lieutenant of the frontline commander. I have a position to uphold. So, I won't be able to come."
"..."
"If you were me, you'd make the same judgment. Right?"
"You're right. Even if I retained my strength and remained a knight, our judgments would be the same."
Letting out a long sigh, Hecate leaned against the training ground wall and looked up at the sky.
"I just wonder. If I hadn't been broken, if I had remained useful... Would you have ever looked back at me?"
"...Hecate."
Hesitating, Lucas cautiously asked.
"After this battle, would you like to go on a date?"
Hecate's eyes widened. Did she hear that right?
"A date? Did you just say a date?"
"Yes. A date. You know, having a meal together, walking around a bit."
Lucas tilted his head.
"Is that a no?"
"No... It's not that..."
Why is this stubborn guy suddenly proposing this?
Flustered by this unprecedented event, Hecate stammered. Lucas nodded.
"Then I'll take that as a yes."
"No, uh, okay..."
Lucas laughed softly and stepped back.
"Since you're staying in the city, wait in a safe place."
"..."
"Let's survive and meet again."
Lucas quickly left the training ground. Hecate stared blankly at his retreating back.
"..."
Even after receiving a date invitation from her long-time crush, Hecate's expression remained complex.
She couldn't help but think that if she hadn't been broken, Lucas wouldn't have been so considerate.
"It's difficult..."
As a child, her greatest wish was to get a date request from that stubborn guy.
Why wasn't she happy now?
Shaking her head slightly, Hecate picked up the training sword from the ground.
She didn't know what to live for anymore, but she didn't intend to die pointlessly to the zombies either.
‘I should live a bit longer.’
To see what that stubborn guy would prepare for a date.
And to find what or whom she should die for.
At least for this battle, she resolved to survive. That's what Hecate thought.
***
The expected time for the zombie horde to reach Crossroad was early dawn.
During the night, as she prepared for the siege with the melee unit heroes, Evangeline suddenly felt hungry.
"Shall we get something to eat and continue?"
"Let's do that, Captain Glutton!"
Laughter erupted among the soldiers. Evangeline retorted, "I'm still growing, you know!" as she led the way.
The melee unit heroes all headed to the field kitchen together.
In preparation for the early morning operation, the field kitchen was providing simple meals throughout the night.
The heroes were served cups of hot soup and simple sandwiches with large chunks of meat.
As soon as she took a bite of the sandwich, Evangeline happily puffed out her cheeks.
"Wow, this is delicious! A Southern twist on New Terra style... It's just my taste... huh."
Even she felt something was odd and opened her eyes wide.
Wait a minute. This cooking style... I've had it before...
At that moment, she noticed a cook standing awkwardly in the field kitchen.
"Huh?"
It was a familiar young man. Startled, Evangeline pointed at him.
"Huh? That waiter?!"
"Haha... Yes, that's me."
The waiter who had suddenly confessed to her at the cafeteria.
Evangeline was dumbfounded.
"Why didn't you evacuate? What are you doing here... And what's with the uniform?!"
"Well... I volunteered and enlisted temporarily. They said they needed more cooks, and on impulse... I've helped out in the restaurant's kitchen before, so I can cook."
Evangeline was at a loss for words. The waiter scratched his head in embarrassment.
"A few days ago, a soldier who visited our restaurant said something. He told me that even though I said I liked Miss Evangeline and lived in this city, I knew nothing about her or the city."
"..."
"I didn't know what fighting monsters was like, or what this city was protecting... So I felt a bit ashamed. I wanted to know. That's why I enlisted."
Evangeline slapped her forehead.
"Your heart is admirable, but this place is really dangerous. You haven't had combat training. You could really die! You should evacuate right now..."
"Don't worry! I won't do anything reckless."
The waiter waved his hands hurriedly and added.
"I just want to understand. What kind of battle Miss Evangeline is fighting."
"..."
"Whether I truly deserve to live in this city."
Evangeline sighed deeply and warned him earnestly.
"When the battle starts, hide in a safe place. Got it? Don't ever come out!"
"Yes, I will remember that."
The waiter smiled innocently.
Evangeline turned around and downed her cup of soup in one gulp, feeling frustrated.
She didn't have special feelings for the young man, but he was a resident of this city, and Evangeline was the heir to its lordship.
‘There's a lot to protect...’
If she became the actual lord, she would have to embrace the diverse hearts of many more people.
‘It's not easy.’
Monsters, and people's hearts.
None of it was easy.
Exhaling sharply, Evangeline finished her meal cleanly and headed back to the frontlines.
The melee unit heroes watched her departing figure with gentle smiles.
***
After a night of tangled emotions, dawn approached.
In the dark hours before sunrise.
Thud...! Thud...! Thud...!
Finally, in the distance of the southern plains of Crossroad, the advancing zombie horde appeared.
After two days of continuous cure bombing, their numbers had halved, and their speed and presence had diminished.
But they were still numerous, still fast, and still terrifying.
Breaking through the dark night, their ominous green eyes gleaming, the approaching zombie horde was eerie and horrifying.
Grrr...
Grrraaaah!
The terrifying screams of tens of thousands of zombies reached Crossroad.
And amidst the soldiers swallowing their dry throats in tension, Ash smiled confidently and spread his arms forward.
"Alright, let's get started!"
And he shouted confidently.
"Activate the 'wall'—!"
--TL Notes--
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