99 – Land of the Ghosts (5)
The sun had risen. However, we still rested.
It was still too early for the ghosts to roam about. There were certainly ghosts active under the sunlight, but compared to the night, their number was significantly lower.
After the sun rose, the scenery around us was presenting a completely different picture from what we had seen last night.
“…It’s oddly peaceful, isn’t it?”
“Well, it is daytime… It’s not like there are no ghosts that are active during the day, but they are quite rare.”
That’s right. We felt like we had arrived in a secluded village. There were no traces of ghosts, as if the gloomy atmosphere of last night was just our imagination.
But then, Lina turned her head around with a slightly troubled expression.
“Something feels off…?”
“Why?”
“Well, you see… Although the ghosts around me have become quieter these days, they still exist. The ghosts that used to cling to me exist even during the day, and I always had to keep them under control, but now they’re not showing up at all.”
In other words, it’s even stranger because the ones that should be visible are not.
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It means that something unusual might happen. It’s good to take a rest, but we shouldn’t let our guard down too much.
* * *
-As expected, she noticed.
Umbra smiled, looking at the investigation team. It seems that the familiar girl who was friendly with ghosts noticed because of the ghosts that were usually around her.
Even before Lina noticed, Umbra had been summoning ghosts around me. All the ghosts in the land of ghosts.
The reason she summoned ghosts around me. That was because…
-To attack them.
It was to command the ghosts to attack the investigation team. Well, wasn’t there such a saying? They must surpass the trials to be qualified.
The ghosts that roam in the land of ghosts that have erupted in the empire right now all hold deep grudges. That’s why they have a great hatred for humans, and they have no hesitation in attacking them.
These creatures, who have lost their humanity, devoured by despair and hatred from their previous lives, are even suitable as enemies for the trials.
Umbra thought so and summoned all the ghosts existing in the land of ghosts at present.
…Of course, it became a sum of also summoning ghosts that didn’t roam in this land, but it doesn’t matter. Because they are ghosts anyway.
Since the birth of the ghost queen, no ghost can resist her will, so how can they resist her words? Instead, they willingly follow.
Umbra pities all the ghosts. Even if those ghosts committed great sins in their previous lives. Isn’t it natural for each person to have their own twists and turns, and their own hardships in life?
What is there to not pity those who resolved such hardships by committing sins against others? They are the ones who have been defeated and surrendered to the world.
Of course, she has no intention of advocating for the lives of such ghosts. She just pities them. After all, their end is either being thrown into the fires of hell or simply becoming dust buried in the ground.
And that is called rest in other words.
Umbra hopes for all the ghosts in the world to find rest. She herself feels the same way. She doesn’t remember her past life. It’s been so long that it has faded away.
The hatred and resentment she held at that time… all those things will gradually disappear like weathered rocks and scatter like dust. Even her emotions.
She hoped that the ghosts wouldn’t face the same fate as her.
There was nothing good about lingering as a ghost in this land. Forgetting and losing everything from when I was alive, only leaving behind engraved hatred to remain in the world, isn’t it a sad thing?
So.
-I hope the one who will give us rest comes quickly.
Umbra said quietly, looking at the investigation team. With a faint sense of anticipation.
* * *
As expected. Somehow, I had a feeling it would be like this.
I looked around the surroundings, which seemed even more desolate than yesterday. There was no need to go out for an investigation.
Since ghosts have already appeared near our base.
It wasn’t simply that there were many ghosts. The problem was that all these ghosts harbored a deep hatred and resentment towards us.
It seems like Lena’s unease earlier was not unfounded. Especially since even familiar ghosts were hostile towards us… It can be considered worse than I thought.
And such thoughts were not limited to just me.
“…It’s serious.”
Adrian and all the members of the investigation team were looking at the ghosts surrounding the base with a tense expression.
They each raised their hands, emitting a light, or brandishing their swords, confronting the ghosts.
“It seems like quite a strong ghost. Considering that they can materialize, it is likely they can even exhibit their abilities from when they were alive.”
As Neah spoke, a ghost that looked like a commander radiated a dark magic tainted with shadows.
“…As they say, words have weight.”
“I’m just stating the facts. By the way, doesn’t it seem like a very powerful commander has become a ghost?”
When I grumbled, Neah only shrugged her shoulders. Just as she said, surrounding that particularly powerful-looking ghost were soldiers made of skeletons, armor that moved, and finally a ghost knight riding a skeletal horse.
It made me think that it was an extremely, extremely powerful commander from when they were alive.
However, the problem wasn’t just that ghost commander. There was a particular aura that felt strangely familiar.
What should I say… It was the corrupt sacred power that had greatly troubled me when facing Estelle.
When I first introduced the corrupt sacred power, it wasn’t such a common power. But ever since I entered the novel, I strangely encountered the corrupt sacred power frequently.
No, is this power really encountered this frequently?
Damn it.
Certainly, it wasn’t completely implausible to say that among the ghosts in this land, there were holy maidens and saints from the front lines.
The entire investigation team, including priests and paladins, grabbed onto their weapons and entered combat stance. It was not for no reason that these proven fighters were brought to this investigation team.
Adrian believed that a battle would inevitably occur, and I agreed. After all, it was the land of ghosts. It was already a well-known story what kind of emotions ghosts held towards the living…
Corrupted sacred power materialized, and even though it didn’t reach the purification light, lower-level sacred magic rained down. Well, calling it sacred magic was no different from calling it evil black magic.
What’s fortunate is that this time, the situation is considerably different from the previous confrontation with Estelle.
If I were to point out the biggest difference between the battle with Estelle and the current battle, it would be that now Adrian has “this” power. In other words, it means that he can sufficiently counter the fallen divine power of the saint or saintess of the Legion.
Even Estelle can’t hold a candle to the specters of the saint and saintess they are facing now.
This means that Adrian can effectively suppress their attacks.
Adrian’s hammer, Deus’ Judgment, radiates brilliance. The light that starts from the end of the hammer engulfs the allies. It is a wide-ranging defensive divine magic, Heavenly Sanctuary.
Kwaaang!
Although the corrupted divine magic strikes Heavenly Sanctuary, not even a single crack appears. This means that Adrian’s divine power overwhelms their corrupted divine power.
If safety is guaranteed, it means that the priests can freely unfold their divine magic. Despite the gloomy night, a dazzling brilliance spreads near the base as if it were day.
It can be said that it feels like night turning into day.
Anyway, with the morale lifted by Adrian’s success, the knights charging forward one by one surround themselves with divine power and march forward.
“Sweep the floors――!”
With a loud shout, the one charging forward is none other than the Third Knight Commander, Arse. One must wonder if his previous powerlessness against Estelle has left him with a strong desire to prove himself, as he recklessly charges toward the Phantom Knights summoned by the magical tactician with a brute and fearless attitude.
Kaaang!
Starting from the clash between his battle hammer and the Phantom Knight’s greatsword, a full-scale large-scale battle begins. Of course, I also join the battle.
There were skeletal soldiers and living soldiers rushing towards me, but my abilities have already risen as high as they can after experiencing various struggles. If they weren’t Phantom Knights, they would have easily ended up buried in the ground.
Instead of dealing with the small fries, it’s probably better to target the magical tactician directly. Luckily, the attention of the Phantom Knights seems to be focused on the knight commanders, including Arse, so it was right for me to target the magical tactician.
I continue to gaze at the magical tactician, who is summoning skeletons and Phantom Knights from a distance. Moreover, I see that the corrupted divine power permeates the undead summoned by the magical tactician this time.
…I see. The former Saint and Saints who fought each other as if they were going to kill each other and the magical tacticians are cooperating. There truly is no shortage of surprises in this world.
“Asti.”
I call Asti straightforwardly.
“Yeah. How do you want me to assist?”
“However you want.”
“Do you want to go wild?”
“That wouldn’t be a bad idea either.”
“Okay. Then let’s focus on support and strengthening.”
Asti smiles mischievously and casts various enhancements on me.
Last time, when I faced Estelle, I could definitely rely on Asti’s help, but I deliberately didn’t ask her for assistance because I wanted to test myself. I wanted to see if I could overcome adversity with my own strength.
…Of course, that made it even more dangerous.
But now it’s different. The specters running wild here aren’t of much help to my growth, so it’s better to quickly deal with them and welcome the Queen of Spirits.
Energy flows through my body, and power surges throughout my entire being. I feel like I can put the magical tacticians, as well as the former Saint and Saints, to rest right away.
“Come, Prach.”
With Asti’s casual words, my body sprung forward.
