CH 24

“Sirius. What’s the situation with the battle?”

“The western side of the wall is collapsing!　We’ve got Fayne out there, but it’s not looking good. Get over there now!”

“Yes, sir! I’ll be right there!”

Since the beginning of the defensive battle, the skeletons have taken advantage of their superior numbers and have been rushing forward without a second thought. One by one, the Beastman were by far the strongest here. However, there are only about 30 men who can fight in this village at most. The number of men who can be called warriors is even smaller.

They are gradually being pushed back by the wave of over a thousand skeletons. We are trying to reduce the numbers by jumping into densely crowded areas, but we are still outnumbered.

“…… Onii-san. Didn’t you just hear …… someone’s voices coming from the enemy lines?”

Sheila stops me while I’m heading for the west wall.

“What are you talking about..… Brother Ace wouldn’t bother to speak up and let us know where he is. It must be your imagination.”

“T-that’s right isn’t it. I’m sorry to trouble you at this time.”

“No, just let me know if there’s anything that’s bothering you. I’ll leave the distribution of the healing potions to you!”

Someone’s voice mixed with a skeleton – if it’s not Brother Ace, then it’s the boy who’s being held in chains.

I’m curious, but I don’t have time to waste on someone I don’t even know is a friend or foe. Maybe Brother Ace is there, but for now, the priority is the west wall.

“Understood! Um, please take this with you!”

Sheila hands me a bottle of healing potion that are labeled in different colors for different purposes.

“Thanks! I’m off then!”

I run.

I can’t spare even a second right now.

◇◇◇

When I reach the top of the earthen wall to the west, the Beastman and skeletons are still in the middle of a battle.

A raging bonfire reflects the warriors’ figures like a shadowy play. The situation is worse to what I had seen, but Fayne’s efforts are holding the line.

“You’re late, Henry! If you don’t hurry up, I’m going to kill all of these bones!”

Fayne, who had spotted us, shouts. I’ve had a few words with him since the Kaseyae ended, and he’s changed from calling me Human to calling me by name.

“Gahahahaha! Take this!”

Fayne swings an iron rod that’s almost as tall as he is. The skeleton’s head is blown off in the distance.

“Aaah! Aaahhhh!”

Some Beastman guy shouts. There’s no time to waste.

I rush over and smash one of them with a front kick. The remaining skeletons turn their hostility towards me.

“I’m sorry. I owe you one, Master Henry!”

“Ah! Get everyone together and fight as best you can!”

The skeleton swings its rusty sword down, but it’s broken in half by a light hit from the Hihiirokane’s scythe.

With the momentum from blocking the sword, I swing my scythe wide to slash the remaining skeleton. The skeleton falls to the ground, leaving behind a sharp part of itself.

“You’re good, Henry! Let’s compare the number of heads we’ve killed! I’ve got seven!”

“I’ve got a hundred!”

I don’t remember the exact number, but I’m sure I killed at least that many.

“Don’t be too proud, Henry! I’m going to be the first star of the Silver Crow clan and marry the most beautiful woman in the village!”

Fayne swings the iron bar in a chaotic way. The fearless skeleton takes a step back from the blow that comes from his huge frame. 

Suddenly, I see a Beastman sitting on an earthen wall, looking rather pale.

I run up to him and call out.

“Hey! Are you okay? I’ve got a potion for you, so hold on tight!”

“Henry! Save your potions, don’t use them!”

I don’t know what Fayne is talking about.

The healing potion made by Sheila can heal all kinds of wounds. Even this man should be able to be cured.

“It’s not to be used on dead people! Take a good look at him!”

I put my hand on his neck, but there is no pulse.

I rip off the clothes to check and find that there’s a lot of blood flowing from his abdomen. He’s already dead.

Was this man killed by the skeleton? Or was he killed by his friends after becoming undead?

“Guh……!”

I bite down on my teeth as if I’m going to break them. The sins of the Boesheit family have increased by one more.

“Don’t be frightened, you guys! What are we!”

Fayne shouts like a beast.

“We are the Silver Crow Clan! Descendants of the proud wolf!”

—A young man raises his spear in response.

“Yes! The Silver Crow Clan won’t back down and they won’t lose! Fight to the death to protect the village!”

The Beastman around me, who had begun to fade from the battle, take their weapons and shout. They begin to attack the skeletons in groups, steadily reducing the number of enemies.

I also find a group of enemies and charge at them.

They are small fry compared to the fierce ones I fought in the dungeon. The only thing I fear is their sheer number. That’s what scares me the most.

◇◇◇

After the earthen walls in the west, is the wooden fence in the south, and now the main gate in the north.

We raid the skeletons that are coming in like a cloudburst. The defensive battle began at midnight, but I could see the morning sun rising over the horizon.

My body feels strange because I’ve been fighting without resting.

Whenever I feel tired, I lick a little of the undiluted healing potion. It gives me strength, but something is wrong with my body as if it’s overflowing with stagnation.

“Guuuuuuuu…”

From time to time, I hear a sound like the rumbling of the sea in my head. I lose consciousness for a few seconds as I fight. The next thing I know, the skeleton has collapsed, so my body seems to be moving properly.

—Status Maintenance. This is a unique skill that does not decrease your status even with all kinds of injuries and illnesses. As long as you keep your mind strong, you can literally fight until you die.

“Mother…… this skill was for today, wasn’t it……?”

Right now, there is a lull between battles. You can hear the sounds of sword fights here and there, but there shouldn’t be a major skeleton attack anywhere.

“Henry! Are you okay!?”

Thor and Gabriel come running up to me.

I’m kneeling down, and they bend down and put their hands on my shoulders to support me.

“No….. I’m tired…… Do you know what’s happening with the war?”

“Sirius said that the enemy is pulling back a little bit. Once we’ve killed the remaining skeletons, we’ll find and defeat Ace!”

“Right. After I get some rest, I’m going to look for Brother Ace too.”

Thor looks into my face.

“Hey…..? You’ve done your best and you can rest now. If you keep going like this, Sirius will be able to finish everything.”

“No. It’s my family’s problem too.”

“Onii-san…… why? No, you can’t do that.”

What is a brother? Those scumbags have no family feelings whatsoever.

“Don’t steal it from me…….”

Thor’s kindness stabs somewhere in my heart, and it hurts.

“Eh…… what’s wrong with you, Henry? Hey, there are some grandparents waiting for us at Sirius’s house, let’s go there?”

“Don’t steal it from me!”

Don’t take it from me. All this frustration, all this hatred, it’s all mine.

It’s the only reason I’ve been able to live until today.