CH 86

Chapter 86 – Demon King’s Trap

A tree golem with Brigadier Chelska on its shoulder straddle step scrambles through the forest.

One tree golem, five clay golems, and ten accompanying infantrymen.

This is a lineup that could overrun even 100 infantrymen of the kingdom.

“…It’s ridiculous.”

The field commander of the mounted golem unit, Commander Klein, let out a sigh.

He is now riding the clay golem himself and has his squire Zarpa seated in the front-opening chest hatch.

He was so disgusted with the self-satisfaction of the decorative commander Chelska that he took up the Golem that was to be boarded by Zarpa under the guise of leading the clay golem that was alerting the surroundings and was at the head of the following group.

“Forward, keep going!”

The incompetent Chelska shouted out instructions in a pompous manner that somehow he didn’t even have to provide. He wanted to make his brother, who was apparently packed in the base, hear it, and be proud of his heroic rescue mission.

――What a fool.

Although we don’t know what happened, at most, only about 15 members of the setup team have been out of contact. I can only think that they are not thinking about the battle after the fact to send such an excessive force to stay at the base.

Even if it was necessary to retrieve supplies, this was not the time to be doing such things before the attack on the enemy position.

What should be dealt with immediately is not the search for the missing but the defeat of the “Demon King.”

He is the one who united the subhumans who were gathering in Casemaian and defeated the Kingdom’s army. According to fragmentary information, he is said to be a mage from another world summoned by the kingdom.

He is called the “Demon King” in the kingdom, but his true identity is not yet known. The defeated Kingdom’s army is said to have numbered in the thousands or tens of thousands of soldiers, but the information is too mixed to be corroborated. The Imperial Army’s advance party, which went to investigate the situation, had been out of contact one after another, so the emperor, impatient, had sent out his strongest forces.

Since this is no time to play along with Chelska’s games, the main force of the mounted golem unit has been sent to besiege Casemaian. There are four ore golems, three tree golems, and 15 clay golems.

As soon as Klein and the rest of the detachment join up with them, they plan to launch their attack.

“If we don’t get this done quickly, Armie will take all the credit…”

“That would be nice.”

Squire Zarpa looked around nervously. He is a young apprentice rider, but he was born and raised in the western frontier territory and had experience in hunting monsters.

In fact, in the western region bordering the Dark Forest, the only way to survive is to keep on defeating the monsters that come from the forest.

“What do you think?”

“The forest is quiet, even though many golems and humans have entered. Perhaps there are no people in the base.”

“You mean they’re dead?”

“No, I don’t know about that. But if there is a corpse, the smell of blood should attract beasts and monsters. The fact that they have disappeared means that something got here before us. Something that would scare the beasts and monsters away.”

Klein ordered his men’s clay golems to spread out and be vigilant of their surroundings.

――But, hey…

There is nothing — no sign of living creatures, no magical response. Neither perception, search and rescue, nor detection magic has found anything that looks like it.

“There is no sign of lurking. Maybe they’re not here anymore.”

“Yes, probably. But I don’t see any reason to do so. Killing them, disposing of their bodies, and disappearing. That means this place has no use for them. And yet the most important requirement, that thing, remains.”

A tree golem with Chelska astride approaches the ruins of the church.

Lined up on the ground floor of the church is a “bursting shell projectile gun” developed by the Imperial Army. It is a revolutionary weapon, but its developer was lost in the collapse.

“Oh, shit… Hey, wait! Accompanying infantry, stop Chelska! Move away…”

It was too late. The tree golem moves to evacuate, and at its shoulder, Chelska can be seen trying to jump down in a panic. There was no way he would make it in time.

“All hands, retreat! Get down and brace for impact!”

Klein has the clay golem turn its back and brace for impact with its arms on the ground.

A sound like a lightning strike rumbles, the earth shakes, screams, and a high-pitched metallic clang. The surroundings instantly burst into flames.

It is a broad attack, like offensive magic, which is not caught by magic detection. This is what was reported.

“…The Demon King’s Army’s explosive fire magic!”