Chapter 6

006

Although they had reached an agreement, it would be foolish to naively believe it and go to sleep.

Everyone except Todd spent the night wide awake.

In contrast, the necromancer slept soundly and woke up to tidy up the loot and supplies.

As Todd rummaged through the miscellaneous items, his hand pulled out a light green necklace.

The fact that it wasn't used last night was a not-so-bad sign.

The necklace, which emitted a faint light, disappeared into Todd's clothing.

“Grr... Damn, my back is killing me.”

Soren got up, groaning like a dying man.

Seeing Todd moving around energetically, he shook his head.

“That guy must have an extra life.”

Holding a bell, Todd began to whistle softly in front of the dead horses.

Soren was alarmed.

“Damn, snakes will come out.”

Todd ignored him and shook the bell.

Ding—!

As the whistle that seemed to be calling someone stopped, the fallen horses staggered to their feet.

Their eyes were as empty as glass.

Even with flies buzzing in front of their noses, they didn't snort.

Todd gently stroked the head of a dead horse.

“Perhaps we can take them with us for about two days. How far is it to the nearest village?”

Piet, who had extinguished the fire, replied.

“If we follow the forest path, it will take five days. If we take the main road, it will take about four days.”

The time is quite tight. Livestock used for servitude usually have a short lifespan when maintained by necromancy.

“Then let's take the main road. Even if we detour, it will be equally dangerous. If the horses' legs rot, we'll be stuck here.”

Karina, who had put on her cloak again, got out of the carriage.

“Who will drive the horses? The old man is buried, you know.”

Soren raised his hand with a doubtful expression.

“I'll try. But I don't know this road. The old man will have to help me.”

“Hmm. Have you ever driven a carriage?”

“I've never not done something in my life. But it's been ten years since I last drove a carriage.”

Somehow, they had gathered a useful group of people.

Todd smiled contentedly.

Piet and Soren, squeezed into the narrow driver's seat, scowled. Soren was flailing his arms to shoo away the buzzing flies.

“Damn, the stench! I have to endure this smell the whole way?”

“There's no choice. Unfortunately, I had to temporarily revive these horses that died in yesterday's battle.”

Soren, gripping the reins, gritted his teeth.

“Will they follow my commands? I don't want them to bite me and tear my flesh off.”

“That won't happen. As long as I suppress them, they will mimic their former selves. Of course, after two days, I can't guarantee what will happen.”

“Damn! You should have told me that sooner! Hurry up! Old man, which way is the road?”

As Soren awkwardly whipped the horses, they let out eerie screams.

【Whinny—!】

Though not as deadly as the wails of the dead, the living instinctively felt fear.

Soren rubbed the back of his neck at the chilling sound.

“Damn, I feel like I've aged ten years in one night. By the time we reach Kehrling, I won't have any bones left.”

Piet, sitting beside him, was also speechless at the ominous aura of the dead horses.

The carriage, carrying four people, jolted roughly as it moved beyond the coast.

///

Perhaps due to Soren's determination not to become fodder for the dead horses, the carriage reached the village's boundary in just one day after a night of travel.

However, the fence at the village entrance was firmly locked.

Soren, who had been burned white, muttered with a weary face.

“Damn, they don't seem to be welcoming us.”

Todd, who had stuck his head out of the window, watched the area beyond the fence carefully.

The village wasn't very large, about twenty households. The young men on guard didn't look well-nourished and seemed unusually busy.

Todd got out of the carriage and stood in front of the fence.

“-Who are you?”

“We are merchants traveling from Bounhafen to Kehrling. We won't cause any trouble. Can we stay for one night?”

The man, looking at Todd, asked cautiously.

“...Which side are you on?”

“We serve no one yet. We are just merchants trying to make a living.”

Todd tossed a bag over the fence. It was filled with coins he had taken from the deserters' pockets. The man, after checking the contents, pursed his lips.

“Just three merchants?”

“There's one more inside the carriage. The others were attacked by bandits on the way.”

Though skeptical, the heavy bag of coins was convincing. Adding a few coins was more effective than just a few words.

“...Stay quiet.”

Todd smiled.

“Thank you.”

The fence creaked open.

As they entered the village, an uneasy atmosphere was palpable.

Luggage was scattered on the streets as if they were ready to leave at any moment, but the residents were still there.

Fortunately, there was a tavern in this small village, likely because it was on the way to Kehrling.

However, no one came to greet them warmly, and the surroundings were eerily quiet. There was no sign of life except for Todd's group.

Soren, getting out of the driver's seat, slapped his cheek. The flies were quite heavy.

Looking around, he whispered to Todd.

“Hey, Mr. Necromancer. Next time, use some preservatives. This smell is beyond human tolerance...”

“You've done well. I'll pay for the lodging tonight. Let's see if we can take a bath inside.”

Soren's face brightened immediately, and he laughed heartily. When Todd tried to pat his shoulder, he quickly moved away.

“Haha! As expected, our undertaker knows his manners! But I'd rather foam at the mouth than take a bath.”

Karina, who got out next, pinched her nose with a handkerchief. She glared at Soren with disdain.

“Wash yourself before drinking. Even a pig rolling in a dung heap would smell better than you.”

“Hey, you damned sorceress. You were just lying around inside—”

Piet quickly pushed Soren's back.

“Hurry inside.”

The tavern was quiet.

As expected of a rural area, it had a distinctive musty smell.

“Is the owner here?”

There was no response to Piet's question.

The tables and chairs were scattered haphazardly, making the place look eerie.

Just as they thought the business might be closed, a well-built woman walked out from the back.

“The man outside went to the town hall. What brings you here?”

Todd handed her three silver coins.

“We are passing through. We want to stay for one night. We need food and rooms for four people.”

The woman, looking Todd's group up and down, showed a displeased expression.

“What made you crawl here? It's not a peaceful place.”

The drawn-out accent of the eastern region was frustrating, so Soren stepped in.

“Hey, so what? Are you not doing business?”

“I am, but I've already packed my bags to evacuate...”

Todd quickly added another silver coin and a few copper coins.

The woman, whose cheeks twitched, rolled the coins in her palm and rolled up her sleeves.

“Sit down! You can use any room upstairs. There's a washbasin outside, so use that to clean up. We can't boil hot water, so you'll have to manage!”

The woman bustled around.

Thanks to her brisk movements, the fireplace was soon lit, and the pot began to boil. The cold atmosphere of the tavern was replaced with warmth.

That's real magic. Is there any other kind?

Todd smiled.

While they were washing up, the woman brought out the dishes. Soren, who had just dried his hair, chattered his teeth.

“Damn, the water was so cold it made my head ring.”

“Hurry up. A little grease in your stomach will help.”

The water was cold, and the ale was lukewarm, but the steaming dishes were mostly a mix of vegetables and a few bits of meat or unknown lumps.

This was a splendid feast.

Whether it was because it didn't suit her taste or because she was picky, Karina picked at her food and left more than half of it.

Piet, who was about to say something, was interrupted by the creaking of the tavern door.

A bear-like man was looking at Todd's group.

“Who are you?”

“Who are we? We're customers! What have you been doing all this time!”

The man's expression darkened.

“This woman, in this situation, brought in strangers?”

The woman, blowing a raspberry, hit the man's back.

“They're customers if they pay! Shut up and go open the windows upstairs! They're staying here tonight!”

Soren, seeing the bandit-like man flinch, whistled.

“Easterners are tough, I guess, because the land is barren.”

The woman glared at him, and Soren, despite being full, gulped down more ale.

After everyone finished eating and was resting by the fire, the owner spoke.

“I heard you're going to Kehrling?”

“Yes.”

The owner, groaning, shook his head.

“That's not a good idea. The conflict between the nobles is spreading like wildfire. You don't look like fighters...”

Piet asked.

“Aren't we a week's travel from Kehrling? Why are the villagers packing as if they're about to evacuate?”

“Dietmar. That bastard burned five villages. Everyone is preparing to leave at any moment, fearing the fire will reach here.”

Karina frowned.

“Burned villages? In a conflict between nobles?”

Vassals and peasants are, in a way, property. It was highly unusual for such villages to be devastated in a conflict over land ownership.

“I saw one of the villages with my own eyes. They deliberately burned the fields and houses. Who wants to leave their hometown where they were born and raised? We have to save what we can.”

Soren, looking puzzled, asked.

“Then why are you still here? Why not run away?”

“...The road is blocked. We should cross the Alesang River via the Osbaldwin Bridge, but it's now infested with monsters.”

“Monsters?”

“Four days ago, there was a battle by the river. The soldiers of Iri slaughtered the soldiers of the Margrave like cattle. All kinds of beasts gathered to eat the corpses, and eventually, trolls from the swamps occupied the Osbaldwin Bridge.”

How bad must the security in this area be for trolls to occupy a bridge?

“Did they have moss hats on their heads?”

The owner nodded at Todd's question.

Swamp trolls. They have the regeneration ability of trolls and high resistance to diseases and curses, making them difficult opponents for a necromancer.

“How many are there?”

“About a dozen, with a shaman among them.”

Trolls with a shaman... That would require a noble to issue a bounty to deal with.

Todd's eyes sparkled.

“We came through the forest. Can't you escape that way?”

Soren's thoughtless comment earned him a rebuke from the owner.

“We're different from you. There are children and the elderly here. We don't know what dangers lurk in the forest, and how can we lead such a long caravan through it?”

Soren, as usual, opened his mouth and created trouble.

The owner, with a deeply troubled expression, muttered.

“The war is almost over. The Margrave is on the defensive, while Iri is setting fires instead of governing.”

Karina's expression showed urgency.

The situation was worse than expected. This wasn't good news for Todd either.

Todd, who had been quietly resting his chin, spoke.

“Where is the village leader?”

“The mayor is at the town hall.”

“We'll clear the way for you. In return...”

Todd's condition was simple. Since they could only carry limited supplies during their evacuation, they would give the remaining supplies to Todd's group as compensation.

“Wait, do we really have to do this? I don't want to be a mercenary.”

“We are on a tight schedule. Following the tributary of the Alesang River is the fastest way to Kehrling. Piet.”

“That's true. We can save two days by following the riverbank.”

“Even a small amount of supplies will help the Margrave's forces.”

Convinced by Todd's argument, Karina couldn't refute it and closed her mouth.

Meanwhile, Soren, who had been floating, interjected.

“Cough, what... What about my opinion?”

“You, be quiet.”

Piet's firm answer made Soren shrink back.

///

Through the owner's introduction, they met the village mayor at the town hall.

The old man was hard of hearing, and the owner had to shout to be heard.

“What?”

“Sir! These people will clear the way for us! In return, they want the supplies we can't take with us!”

The old man, with eyes wide like a hawk, looked at Todd's group with distrust.

“Hmm... How can we trust that they'll clear the monsters?”

The owner immediately pointed to Karina and whispered.

“Well, this lady is a sorceress!”

Karina looked displeased, but at Todd's signal, she snapped her fingers.

As flames floated in the air, the old man's eyes widened.

The skeptical look quickly changed.

“Give them everything!”

Sorcerers are always highly valued wherever they go.

‘Indeed, even among lions, treatment differs.’

The social perception of judges and undertakers varies greatly, and the gap between sorcerers and necromancers is even greater.

The pain of being in a non-mainstream class.

Still, even if something like a [Class Change Right] fell from the sky...

‘I wouldn't change.’

An easy path is no fun.

A story needs hardships and adversities to be interesting.

For perverts like Todd, this is just a stimulating challenge.

Seeing him grin, Karina looked at him as if he had seen something terrible.

He ignored her.

How could a pampered brat who grew up in a magic tower understand the heart of a freak?

This is not a case of mental victory.

///