Kapitel 52: Story IV / Part L: The Red Dawn of Crimson Sky (XVII) / The Wicked Fate That Awaits Us (IX)
*Gallop*Gallop*
I rushed to the encampment camp with my horse, Nida. Beforehand, I asked Anna to tend our "fallen" friends by giving [Special Full Recovery] Potion that I had made for them. Well at least…it can lessen the effects of [Aracia Mushroom] in their body within 15 minerval. Somehow, I feel guilty because I forgot to tell them not to eat too much food that I made.
But what done is done, I will ask Queen Anne to postpone our mission as well as beg her not to punish my friends. If she is going to punish us, I hope I am the only one who will receive the punishment from her because I was the one who made my friends incapacitated right now.
The United Forces Main Encampment is located south of the villages or from our basecamp, I need go to north passing through the forest, now it has become a demonic forest already. When I reached there, I stored Nida back to my inventory and started jumping between the trees. As usual, I activated my [Anti-Gravity Walk], [Tumble], [Presence Concealment], [Detection], [Eagle Eyes] and [Acrobat] skill and passive ability before jumping between trees.
While travelling between the trees, I looked at my right and left side to check my surrounding and I found a lot of demonic monsters and beasts here. Moreover, I need to kill the monsters that suddenly appeared in my way or the monsters who chased me. Sometimes, they also tried to block my routes by wrapping spider web or using Treant's vines. It was sure hard to fend them off alone while evading without someone who can watch your back or watch your surroundings.
"I can't ride Nida in the forest…OH SHIT—!!!"
When I jumped from the last tree, a Forest Giant appeared and tried to catch me with his hand. I quickly evaded it and cut his fingers with my sword. After that, I run on his left arm to his neck while evading his other hand attacks. Since his movement is slow and easy to read, I can easily evade them and reach his nape.
I immediately activated my original skill [Refeakhia: Regaos Selviar] (True Slash: Silver Sword) to cut his neck and as I expected, my original skill cut through his neck cleanly. Before he can regenerate, I activated [Holy Fire] to burn his body. The fire should also prevent his corpse to rise as undead. After I finished, I continued my travel again.
I took almost 48 minerval inside the forest before I finally reached a vast grassland. Well, this grassland isn't a common grassland with green color and pleasant wind anymore, this beautiful grassland has turned into crimson colored grassland with very awful smell and eerie aura.
I quickly equipped the gears that I needed to use in such environment such as gas mask, eye protectors, boots, gloves, robes and armor that has enchanted by [Light] Element. I designed and created this equipment by myself because the normal equipment is kind of lame and stupid. Well, what I did is pretty normal, even the Dwarven Soldiers also created their own creation of [Chaos Gear] with cool looking shape and god-like STATs.
"Somehow…I kind of looks like an Assassin…wait, I'm actually an Assassin. Oh, whatever, let's summon Nida."
I summoned Nida from my inventory and equipped him with [Chaos Gear] that I made too, but why he looks like a warhorse, right now? Whatever, I need to reach the encampment as soon as possible. Otherwise, The Queen will hang me for sure.
Under The Red Dawn of Crimson Sky, I was galloping through this Crimson Grassland of Death to The Fortress of Humanity where The Last Bastion of Hope stands to protect the weak as well to protect the hypocrites. If they won, The Frozen Reign of Radiant Ice Queen will be glorious and The Sea of Praises will come to her.
I bet under The Maker's Holy Name those foolish people will always remember her glory but they won't even remember the people who became The Radiant Ice Queen's stepping-stones to reach her eternal glories. For that reason, I have always been wondering how can people easily forget and tolerate such miserable sacrifices in order to achieves her goals. They have been blinded by "Faint Light of Glory".
"Is this some sort of cruel joke or nothing but a cruel dream? If this is a joke, I can't even laugh at it yet this is reality."
…If they kept repeating those foolish mistakes, The Maker will say, "You are no better than those humans."
With that in my mind, I kept wandering on The Sea of Words until I didn't realize that I have passed through The Villages of Despair, The Rivers of Sorrow, The Bridge of False Light, The Canyons of Blindness and The Mountain Trails of Malice. Now, I am standing in front of The Grey Fortress of Hopeless Resistance.
As I walked inside, the cold wind came from north, bringing the smell of death to the people who are still breathing in this sinful world. They warned us not to venture there and foolishly throw away our precious souls into "The Jaws of Death" just because we are under "The Cold Hands of Merciless Lord" right now. Then, I asked myself, "Do these people can even retort when The Gallows of Fake Paradise are so close to their neck?"
Heh, such a foolish question that I asked to myself even though I have known the answer. At least, I praised their pride as Knights and Warriors even though you have "a large scar on your back" but you won't run, will you not? If you did, those "Cold Hands" will break your neck and steal your soul from your sinful body.
A guard stopped me and asked, "Are you by a chance [White Falcon] Party's Leader? Her Majesty has been waiting for you. Please go to Commanders Room on the end of hallway after you turned right from there."
I smiled and said, "Thank you. I will go there now."
I rushed there like a deer being chased by a tiger. Along the way, my innocent ears are deaf from those stupid yells of soulless courage. Why don't you scream before your death? Why can't you scream at The Radiant Ice Queen? Why you not scream to your fate? Why you not scream to your Holy Creator? As far as I can tell you, your yells only waste your precious time in this world. Better to beg to Your Maker for a mercy rather than yelling nonsense around.
"Haaah…why is there such a long ladder here?"
I sighed and I quickly climb upstairs because my time is short, and I reached the door of freezing land in no time. I reached out my hand to the knob of fool, trying to open it from my shadow. But suddenly a cold voice came from inside, telling me to walk in and leaving the fake paradise behind me.
…Now, I stand in front of The Radiant Ice Queen while the cold aura of death lingering around my neck, licking and biting it, like a wolf who biting an innocent sheep's neck. Whatever, let's begin my usual greeting to her.
I kneel in front of her and said, "Grevertin Micaer, Maey Lichtiashver el Liiycckaer An Cadhe MacQueenus Reffas Keinrubel an Vishdeemiar." (Greeting My Lord, May Light Dragon Gods Bless You with Bottomless Knowledge and Wisdom, My Queen)
"Del Illvetriater Ohntheria Estadracal." ("May The Maker and Dragon Gods Return Your Kind Prayer to You") She replied with cold tone and staring me with her usual cold gaze.
"You have arrived at time and we can begin the mission right away, but…where are your team members?"
"Your Majesty…" I started to explain everything happened to my party members a few moments ago to her. I explained everything without hiding a single lie to her with purpose to reduce the chance of her getting angry.
She listened to my explanation without glancing away. In the end of my explanation, first thing that she asked was about my party members' condition, which was surprised me. I thought she wouldn't bother to ask for something useless that only waste her time. Moreover, I was made surprised again by her because she offered me a generous offer to let Imperial Medic Team tend my party members.
Of course, I refused that kind offer by saying that I had given my friends an antidote that I made myself. Truthfully, I just don't want to owe her something that I couldn't return on the future and I also don't want because I afraid that she will use this to threaten me someday.
Before I return to my basecamp, she asked me whether our party could do this nomination quest or not, or similar like a confirmation question. I answered her question with a promise that our party might be able do this mission if my party members recovered from their stomachache, and she chuckled after hearing that.
(Queen Anne is chuckling, seriously? Did I see a miracle?) I thought that while bowing down my head. After she chuckled briefly, she quickly returned to her usual normal self.
I left the room and walked downstairs to the main hall. On there, I met Zack and Kenzia who were discussing something seriously but I just passed them without even greeting them. Time is short and I don't have time to chat with them right now. If I'm too slow, many people will die in this battle.
Kenzia noticed and asked, "Eh, was that Haru that just walk past us before?"
"Yes. But he looks like somewhat troubled right now." Okimura looked at the entrance with flat expression.
"Hmm? Did someone just pass by?" Zack glanced at Kenzia.
"Leader…really…" Daendles shakes his head.
I kept walking passing through the main courtyard and training ground. On there, I saw many soldiers were training hard while the others were preparing equipment, rations, and heavy weapons such as Catapult, Ballista, Greatbow, Battering Ram, Moveable Siege Tower, Trebuchet, Javelins, Explosive Flask, Cannon, etc.
I even had a chance to see my former military instructors teaching and leading the soldiers there. One of them glanced at me from afar and waved his hand. I responded that by waving my hand and smiling at him. After 15 minerval walking, I reached the outer gate and I quickly summoned Nida.
I pulled his rein and walked together to a big building near outer gate, or it called [Teleportation Station]. I tied Nida's rein near a wooden fence and entered the building. On there, I want to connect my base location to this fort as well as asking for [Teleportation Permit] that Queen Anne told me yesterday, so they can teleport from our base rather than riding from there.
"Excuse me sir, I would like to ask for teleportation permission for [White Falcon] Party."
"Oh right, are you by any chance Ishizaki Haruhisa von Alexandria-dono? I remember Queen Anne had issued one magical parchment for you. Ah, take this and assign your name here." The guard asked me to write my name in a magical stone slab and a [Teleportation Permit] menu shortly appeared in my [Status Screen].
"Thank you very much, sir." I bowed down my head and walked out from the room.
I left the fortress shortly after that, passing through the same route that I used before. Now, I got a clear look on the places that I passed before, from the mountain trails with smears of dried blood, rusted equipment, skulls, bones, and even rotten organs.
Along the way, I am galloping through the canyon and I can't see anything expect thick fog and a deep darkness that lurking below as if it's calling me to an eternal slumber. I almost fell into there for sure if Nida didn't take an initiative by himself. Nida even scolded me by neighing heavily and glanced at me with an angry gaze.
I rubbed his mane and said, "I'm sorry Nida! I will focus right now!" and he responded by neighing slowly.
It took a long time to reach the bridge that connects the villages that located on the south and the mountains trail. The bridge itself has many holes on the left and right side, and it dangerous for amateur riders. Queen Anne told me that the army would repair the bridge next daesh with maximum repairing duration only three daesh, such an amazing achievement if she could accomplish that.
…Somehow, the bridge looks gloomy and sad when I crossed it as if countless lives had fallen here and nobody was able to save them.
I continued my ride until I reached the first ruined village from the mountain. I saw neither life nor love in this village, only despair and death wherever my eyes can reach…
"Rotten dead bodies, burned houses, dried blood, black smoke, crimson sky, sinful water, gloomy wind…"
I casted [Holy Fire] on every dead bodies I found while praying for them. I pray to The Maker to give them a mercy for their poor souls while hoping The Maker could forgive their sins and misdeeds when they are still alive. They died in vain because they were weak and it is enough reason for me to pity them. Truly, this is the biggest humanity failure for those who speak such a cruel joke like, "I will protect everyone!" or "I will save everyone!". Didn't you know how cruel it is to give such false hope?
(Am I being overly pessimistic? No, I was just saying the truth…)
I left the first village and passed through other villages without visiting them, but by a chance, I saw a black smoke from eastern village. I wonder is that a distress signal or it just another burned house? Whether is it, I don't have time to come and pity for them. How merciless of me, but I willing to do for you, "The Dead" if I only have a chance in the future…O My Lord, please forgive the selfish side of mine, Dear My Maker in the Tenth Wina.
"Nida…am I being too cruel?" I asked Nida with confused voice and he responded it by shaking his head.
"Thanks, aibo (partner)." I rubbed his mane.
I passed the last village and riding straight to the forest, but to go there, I must pass the grassland again. Yes, the grassland itself is still same, emitting gloomy yet sweet aura of death, calling the travelers to their death. I must avoid carnivore plants and Treants' traps, sometimes there were Earthworms and Spiders that appear out of nowhere, trying to kill me with their bold yet pathetic attacks. But unfortunately, their attacks yet their appearances themselves are nothing in front of me, as the wielder of —————— weapon.
"Hmm…one will appear from behind…"
A Blood Tiger leaps from behind and it tried to bite my neck, but a spear emerged from ground and pierced its neck. I quickly stored it into my inventory and continued riding until the great forest. Yes, the great forest where I passed before, it located 2 KMe from me right now and probably, I need 30 Minerval or more to go there by riding Nida. Normally, it will take more than a heverra to reach that place, but thanks to the buffs that I applied to Nida, I can cut the travel time more efficient.
Along the way, I ignored the awful stench of the grassland, as well as rotten meats from animals and humans' dead bodies here. I even saw two Sylph Elves being devoured by The Blight Wolves from afar. Poor you, it's a better choice if you weren't leaving your secluded prison called "home" inside the forest. At least, you can live freely without worry being chewed by "them". What a joke….
"Oh, we've reached forest, stop here Nida." I pulled Nida's rein.
Well, I just need the skills that I activated before and jump on the trees while watching my surroundings. I need to be careful because there are still many demonic beasts and monsters inside the forest, as well as that shitty Forest Giants that appeared from nowhere.
"…Still…this forest has infested by many corrupted and demonic beings, but why they still haven't move to north? Normally, they will be joined "them" in the war…" Then, I rubbed my head.
I took the same amount of time to cross the forest and the river. Well, pretty much I can avoid the threats inside the forest because I have remembered every unique movements and behaviors from the demonic monsters from my [Detection] skills and abilities, except those Mothmen and Spiders that jumping out from nowhere. Seriously, they freaked out of me.
…Now, I have arrived at the base, I hope everyone have recovered and ready to depart.
"Hmm…why is it so quiet here…?" I turned my head left and right while walking in.
I walk from entrance to inner rooms. I passed the front corridor, rooms and I even checked all rooms inside [Tentriutum] but I found no one. I kept walking until I reached the main hall.
"Everyone are…EH?! WHAT HAPPENED HERE?! WHY ARE ALL OF YOU KNEELING DOWN?!"
"WE ARE TRULY APOLOGIZE…!!!" Every people here, even Claire's men kneeling down before me.
"E-eh…?! W-what?!!"
"WE ARE TRULY APOLOGIZE BECAUSE WE'VE MADE KAICHOU UPSET UNTIL NOW! MOREOVER, THOSE LIFE AND DEATH EXPERIENCES HAVE MADE US REALIZED OUR FAULTS!" said Luna with scared expression and voice.
(What's wrong with their head?! Are the antidotes not working?!)
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein