NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 75
#075
Black-stained earth, thick black smoke.
Grotesque plants growing there, and horrifying monsters that feed and grow on those plants.
This land, like hell descended upon the mortal world, was the product of the Great Rupture that wiped out half the continent’s population.
A land of death where just stepping on the ground allows black poison to seep into one’s body.
Squelch- Squelch-
However, there was a group of humans traversing that unspeakably repulsive land.
“Huff-“
Gas masks shaped like bird beaks.
Triple-layered protective suits covering their entire bodies, and barriers wrapping those protective suits once again.
After checking the contamination density meters on their wrists, they signaled to each other.
Swoosh-!
The one at the front drew the machete from their waist, while the rest formed a circle to scan the surroundings.
Meanwhile, one person in the center slowly lowered their body and reached toward the blackened ground.
“Hmm……”
“How is it?”
“Indeed. The texture is different from normal contamination. It’s not just that the concentration is higher. This is……”
As he wiped away the dust accumulated on his gas mask lens, the man’s eyes became visible behind the lens.
An old man’s eyes, deeply wrinkled.
After examining the soil in his hand with an unreadable expression, he soon frowned and spoke.
“This contaminated area wasn’t created by monsters.”
“……!”
“Your Grace. Does that mean……”
“Yes. This confirms it.”
When the two guards beside him asked that way, the old man nodded with a grave expression.
“Some fool who deserves to be torn to pieces is playing around in my territory.”
When he squeezed the soil in his hand, the contamination permeating it disappeared into smoke.
Crunch-!
The old man’s demeanor clearly showed his anger.
As a similar atmosphere flowed among the others with him…
“Your Grace. The sky.”
At the words of the man beside him, the old man’s gaze slowly turned toward the sky.
“Hooh.”
An airship flying at low altitude, sending light signals toward their castle.
The old man’s eyes deepened as he confirmed the emblem engraved on the gas bag.
The figure of an armored woman, and the spear she held forward.
The flag fluttering at the spear’s tip, and the emperor’s seal engraved there.
It was an assault airship operated by the Imperial Special Magic Forces.
“So these are Freddie’s new hunting dogs.”
Referring to the Imperial Emperor’s name like a friend.
Hearing that, low voices trying to restrain him came from around him.
“……Your Grace.”
“I know.”
No matter how old I’ve gotten, my judgment hasn’t become clouded enough to show such an attitude in front of the Emperor’s faithful hounds.
Adding that like a joke, the old man gave the withdrawal order with practiced gestures.
The knights formed ranks and returned to the castle under the order.
Even while receiving their escort, the old man’s gaze remained on the sky.
“…Still, it’s surprising. To think that green cadet officer I met back then would grow this much.”
Looking at the airship approaching his castle,
Margrave Gloucester smiled faintly.
“Eugene, Lorentz.”
What kind of incident would that flame that stirred both the Empire and Republic bring to this land?
With a strange anticipation unfitting his age, Count Gloucester quietly muttered.
“Welcome to Gloucester.”
***
“What the hell is with these clouds……”
“There’s heavy turbulence! Hold on tight!”
Though I heard the tense voices of the pilots, looking around the cabin, I could only shake my head as if it was already too late.
“Urgh… Urk……”
“So dizzy… I’m, I’m dying……”
“Hehe, mommy… I’ll be there soon……”
1st Company Commander Guille hugging a trash can in one corner of the cabin while repeatedly vomiting.
Adjutant Leopold clutching his chair while suffering from acrophobia.
And our imprint specialist Rennie who had lost consciousness and was calling for her mother.
“Complete annihilation.”
“Eugene! I’m fine!”
“Yes, as expected, you’re the best, Irene.”
“Right! Right?!”
While patting Irene’s head as she clung to me happily, I looked at my subordinates sprawled across the airship cabin.
Two days from departing the Eastern Front until arriving at Gloucester territory.
In that short span of two days, the officers of my Special Magical Power Unit had suffered near-devastating casualties.
‘These good-for-nothings, worse than sunfish……’
When we get back, I’m putting them all through reinforcement training.
Especially you, Guille.
The unit members are playing fine on the lower deck, but you, a company commander, get airsick?
Bump-!
“Kuhuk?!”
“Kieek?!”
“Khing?!”
“What a diverse range of sound effects, you bastards. Aren’t you going to prepare for disembarkation?!”
At my outburst after finally losing patience, the half-dead officers one by one returned to their positions.
The Special Magical Power Unit members disembarked one after another as soon as our tumultuous landing was complete.
Being the first to exit the airship, I observed the surroundings while confirming the soldiers moving in formation.
“Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Lorentz. Is that correct?”
As expected, someone was already waiting.
Thinking that, I turned to see a young man about my age extending his hand.
Neatly swept brown hair and a pure white face.
Though he had the impression of an innocent country youth, there was an undeniable intelligence in his bearing.
“I am Harpel Gloucester, second son of the Count Gloucester family. It’s an honor to meet a hero of the Empire in person.”
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