Chapter 41 Coordination

“Hm… Since there are three of us now, I believe I will take command as the leader.”

I suggested it to them.

Regardless of why, we’re still a group.

Every group requires a leader to coordinate properly.

Without a proper leader, the group will have quarrels with one another and will decrease the efficiency of the group.

Therefore, a leader would be necessary.

In my travels, I often took mercenary missions with others.

It was in the start of my journey but I had difficulty in those early years.

I took easy missions along with mercenaries starting out.

We took simple tasks of obliterating monsters, small groups of bandits, escorting merchants… etc.

In those times, I often grouped up with mercenaries.

I noticed that during battle, individual mercenaries focused only on the fight they have in front of them. They don’t coordinate properly although we did set up roles in advance in certain tasks…

At times, we also had difficulty in maintaining morale in dire situations and some people panic and make wrong decisions individually resulting in graver situations.

It was fortunate that I survived such situations but I also learned the value of having a leader who focuses on the objective and views the battlefield as the commander, not merely as some soldier.

By doing so, we increased the efficiency of our work.

In other words, cooperation is important to accomplish tasks.

Although I’m a prince, I’ve lived as a mercenary at times so cooperation is second nature to me.

Clovis is a leader of a troupe, cooperation should be simple for him…

As for Llednar, he might have been a thief and acted individually, but he was still a famous merchant.

Therefore, cooperation should be obvious to him.

“I’ve got no problem with that.”

“Hahaha, I place myself at your command.”

As the one who first started the task to end this curse and the one who convinced both of them to join me in battle, it’s natural that I take the lead.

Therefore, I expected little to no resistance.

“Then, for our formation… I’ll be taking up the frontlines as the vanguard. Clovis will stay at the back and launch ranged attacks along with Llednar.”

As a former knight and mercenary, I’m skilled in battling at the frontlines. Furthermore, I have plenty of knights to fight alongside me. Clovis should be skilled in acrobatics and is good with agile movements so his skill with a dagger should be quite well but not as good as Llednar. Clovis will use his magic to defeat foes while Llednar should act as support to either side in a pinch.

“Llednar, please act using your own judgement in battle. Since I’m in the frontlines, I will have some difficulty noticing the overall situation in the field.”

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“As you say, Your Highness.”

Clovis said while bowing.

“Got it lad…”

Llednar answered in his usual rough voice.

Despite their attitudes, they’re comrades who will fight by my side. The enemies ahead are bound to be stronger thanks to the miasma.

They’re absorbing it like us after all.

After some light talk, Clovis showed us a way further downwards.

Recalling the map, I’m assured that this is the correct path.

After some idle chatter to improve our coordination, we went further below.

At present, I’m at the front as the vanguard carrying a torch.

Llednar is behind me while Clovis is the last one behind him.

Llednar is carrying a torch like me and Clovis has some fireballs floating around him.

On a side note, Clovis lighted up the torches we currently have.

We found some unlighted torches and Clovis lighted them up.

We’re currently proceeding forward in this cold and dark hallway similar to the dungeons in the prison where I was once imprisoned.

…

I felt slightly cold despite being a lifeless undead as I reminisced the past.

Despite that, I was still focusing on what’s ahead.

As the one in front, I have to be the most careful.

…

After thirty minutes, we encountered some undead fiends.

They seemed much more humane and seemed more stronger than the ones above.

I would have mistaken them as humans at first glance if not for the soulless eyes they possessed similar to the ones those ghouls I faced before.

“Look ahead!”

I warned.

Llednar and Clovis immediately prepared for battle.

I gazed at the enemy numbers and counted their ranks…

“Hm… About several ones there… They should be Reanimated Corpses.”

Reanimated Corpses are similar to zombies.

However, they are far stronger and faster than regular zombies.

Furthermore, the miasma they absorbed allowed their flesh to regenerate.

They’re fearsome foes who should be burned to a crisp as being cut down would only delay them for a short while until they recover fully.

Although, we’re a far higher class then they are since we possess intelligence and memories of the time we were alive.

I determined that we must be cautious and summoned four knights for battle.

If we just cut them down, they’ll eventually regenerate. We must burn or purify them to end them.

It’s impossible for undead to purify other undead, therefore, we must burn them.

Either with torches or magic.

But before that…

“Cut them down!”

I commanded my knights.

Llednar moved quickly at the side and waited for opportunities in battle.

Clovis began hurling fireballs towards the undead.

As for me, I charged towards the nearest Reanimated Corpse and sliced it in half from below the crotch.

The Reanimated Corpses began to notice.

“Too slow!”

I roared as I cut down another one.

Clovis appeared behind me and began burning the two corpses.

“Burn to ashes, departed souls!”

Llednar wields two knives.

“Sigh… These bunch are too thick…”

Against these opponents, his weapons would deal too shallow attacks.

Not enough to chop them.

The ones who wield effective weapons here are me, my knights and Clovis.

“Watch the surroundings for enemy reinforcements.”

I gave that order as I hacked another one to pieces.

By now, my knights have routed some of them leaving only three standing.

“Clovis, focus on burning the corpses.”

I ordered my knights to charge.

As they rushed…

“Not good lad! There’s some coming from above!”

Llednar’s words reached my ears.

I immediately gazed above to see…

Bats?

But they were too large.

They had dark pale skin and dark fangs. They were the same size as adult dogs and I could hear their screech as they beat their wings.

They’re mutated beasts! Similar to the wolves I fought in the surface.

I grabbed my crossbow and began firing bolts.

“Knights, fend off the Reanimated Corpses!”

I gave the order.

I fired three bolts and watched them fly through the air.

I struck down three of them.

“Good work lad!”

Llednar laughed as he threw several daggers.

“Time to help out a bit!”

Clovis laughed cheerfully as he finished burning the last corpses.

My knights apparently finished off the last three Reanimated Corpses while Clovis burned them.

A strong gust began to gather around Clovis and took the shape of ) as they flew out towards those bats.

The wind blades cut down several at once and didn’t stop after cutting the first one.

He took down nearly two dozens at once.

“Excellent!”

I roared.

I began to aim more carefully.

I looked at the enemy ranks and found that they merely number around a few dozen or so.

Despite their weakness, they’re difficult to face by melee users using swords and they have numbers too.

Fortunately, Clovis is here with his Wind Blades so they shouldn’t pose too much of a problem.

“Hohahaha! Leave this to me! Perish before me!”

Clovis laughed with good cheer as more Wind Blades took form and cut down more of them.

Eventually, all of them were cut down.

I recalled my undead knights.

I went over to the two of them and began to discuss the battle.

“That went well.”

“Umu.”

“True.”

They agreed with me.

“We will deal with these types of enemies this way.”

Chop down Reanimated Corpses then burn them and deal with Dark Bats by ranged attacks.

It’s common sense to strike down birds with bows.

I began some idle chatter with both of them.

Of course, I didn’t let down my guard.

The same goes for the rest of them.

“Now then… The types we encountered were those bats and reanimated corpses. The reanimated corpses have regenerative abilities, therefore it’s best for Clovis to engage them. If Llednar and I have a torch, we’ll chop them then burn them with torches. As for those bats… It’s best for Llednar with his throwing knives and me with my bow.”

I gave a summary analysis of the combat.

Given that analysis… We performed splendidly for our first cooperative combat.

My coordination with Llednar was quite well already thanks to previous battles but Clovis performed well by following the arranged formation.

“With that said, we’ll deal with these types the way we’ve dealt with them just now. Is everyone in agreement?”

They both nodded.

Good… No problems with our teamwork.

Hm…

I just remembered something.

“I mentioned some beasts I encountered a while ago earlier… We may encounter some of the same kind as we proceed as well. Given my experience and my armor… It would be best for me to deal with them.”

“Alright… You’ve beaten them once already so it should go well.”

Llednar responded.

“Well then, my companions, let us proceed now!”

Clovis has already acknowledged that point and nudged us to go.

Well, we’ve spent enough time here… We’ve finished everything we should.