Intermission: A Gathering Storm

(Harb is a Paladin Lord from the Circle of Light, and the group of Paladin Lords under the "Hero's" leadership is known as the Circle of Light.)

(Harb POV)

A paladin was giving his report on Gerald's secret mission in the south region. Apparently, nobody gave him this mission. He just wanted to hunt down a certain undead.

Harb: "Is this report accurate?"

Paladin: "Yes, Lord Harb."

I sat now since I was lazing around in the conference room of the Circle of Light.

They beat Gerald's unit—unbelievable! Hmm. And with him missing! He could have returned if he were alive.

His failed return means someone there took out a Paladin captain.

Harb: "Prepare five legions."

Paladin: "Sir?"

Harb: "Did you not hear my order?"

Paladin: "R-right away, sir!"

A Skeleton Duke or a large group of Dread Knights was the only thing that could've taken him down. It might be a new entity or race, but we can't be sure yet.

I better go out there and find out. This event could be an advantage for me.

I was left out here because the other lords didn't trust me. I'll show them now.

And I will finally exact my revenge.

My knuckles and shield are ready. I equipped them and made my way to the Holy Knights' headquarters.

I'm going to meet with Lord Yuan, the leader of the Holy Knights.

Harb: "Hey. I want to meet with Lord Yuan."

Holy Knight Captain: "Lord Harb? Come in. I'll inform him right away."

They guided me into an audience room. The room was impressive.

Some parts of its walls were made of mythril and gold.

Where did they get these materials? I thought the Holy Knights didn't have a share in rare metals.

Yuan saw me inspecting his room.

Yuan: "We bought them from the market, Lord Harb."

Harb: "Oh, Lord Yuan. Is that so?"

Yuan: "You looked so interested in it. Even though we couldn't get our hands on them on the battlefield, we are allowed to buy them. Right?

Harb: "Of course, of course. I was merely intrigued."

Yuan: "Hmmm. What brings you here?"

Harb: "I'm planning on launching an invasion of the South Region."

He stared at me suspiciously.

Yuan: "To what end, may I ask?"

Harb: "We have received confirmed reports of an undead army there. Ancient living trees helped them."

Yuan: "Trees and undead?"

Yuan scoffed. Even though I was annoyed, I continued without letting it show.

Harb: "If we let them build their strength there, who knows what more they'll get or scrounge up in that region? It was the original land of the Skeleton King after all."

Yuan: "We don't see a reason for us to raise our armies in response."

Harb: "What!?"

Yuan: "We lost a lot of men in the war. Also-"

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He sat, seemingly unconcerned with the proposal I had for him.

Yuan: "Our contract was to follow the hero's orders, not yours."

We stared at each other with hostility.

Harb: "Hmmmf! I see. Don't think you'll get away with this, Lord Yuan!"

I angrily rushed out of the room.

That cocky little bastard!

It's a good thing I left early. Yuan's head would have been struck in the face with my knuckles had I persisted for an additional minute.

Harb: "Now... the Holy Knights are out of the picture. I'll check the magician's guild in the meantime."

I traveled there by horse since the magician's guild is in another city.

I was previously in Orgen.

The Magician's Guild is in Yosit.

Yosit was only a few hours away by horse. I didn't use the skill since it would cost valuable Holy Crystals.

These holy crystals are crushed at will to send us to places we have in mind. It has to be somewhere we've been before or somewhere visible, at least.

One holy crystal is enough to teleport a legion of Paladins.

However, I can't waste it on myself. Especially since the maker of these, the Hero, isn't here.

Harb: "Good evening; I want to see Headmistress Ebaba."

Magicians Guild Secretary: "Lord Harb, is it? I'll tell her right away. Please wait here."

She led me to an empty seat. Hmm. This guild is very much like a school. I could hear girls and boys giggling when passing by.

A student with a large pile of books would sometimes pass by.

Headmistress Ebaba arrived. She's as beautiful as ever. She's kind of an old character that won't age anymore and will stay beautiful. Hahaha.

Ebaba: "Ah, Lord Harb. Let's go to my office."

Harb: "Yes, ma'am."

I followed her.

Ebaba: "So, what brings you here, Lord Harb?"

Harb: "I need a group of elite mages. If possible, wizards."

Ebaba: "For what reason?"

Harb: "We would be fighting a group of living trees in the South Region. We're not well versed in fire magic. We need a group to beat them."

Ebaba: "Hmm... What do we get in return?"

Forever the businesswoman, aren't you?

I knew she wouldn't accept unless we paid her.

Harb: "The tree's materials are yours to keep."

Ebaba: "How much of it?"

Harb: "All of it."

She had a smile on her face now.

Ebaba: "I see..."

She picked up a book of what seems to be a registry of mages and wizards.

Ebaba: "I'd like to get my hands on those living trees, so... I'll give you the dragon's wrath."

Harb: "Oh! Is that the large group of fire mages led by the famous Flame Wizard Agarif?"

Ebaba: "Yes."

Harb: "Thank you very much. You won't regret this."

Ebaba: "You're welcome. Just protect the wizards, and they'll do their job nicely. Also, put in a few good words for me when you speak with the hero."

Harb: "Oh, of course. (Smile)"

Ebaba: "Ehem. You can go now."

Harb: "Thanks again. I'll be leaving then."

Hehehe, even without the Holy Knights, we can take them down now.

I don't know how they manage to recruit those living trees, but we'll burn them both in the same pit.

The army was ready in a week.

It would take us a few months to get there by foot, but it will be fine. We'll purge some undead on the way while traveling in the Dead Lands.

I gave them an inspiring speech before we started our expedition.

Harb: "Men, this campaign will be an invasion of the South Region! There is an undead army there that we need to obliterate, and mountains of resources too. I want no survivors this time, you hear!?"

Paladins: "Yes, sir!"

Harb: "Also, we are going to ask the dwarves to work for us, and if they don't, we'll take them out too."

This order made some paladins wince and ask their fellow paladins if they heard it right.

Paladins: "Yes, sir."

It is inevitable. If the dwarves reject our offer, they won't let us mine the resources there.

We can't risk hitting ourselves in the back while we are exterminating the undead there.

We didn't get anything on the dwarves while Gerald's legion was there. I wonder how they are faring against the undead.

They are revered blunt-weapon users. They have hammers that are much more durable than ours in terms of materials. I believe they won't have much of a hard time against them.

Maybe they would even beat them before we got there! Hahaha. That would be great.

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(Hero POV)

They were on a small island just some distance away from the Orclands.

There were hostile sea folk living there.

Paladin Captain: "Hero! We have broken their third line of defense! They only have two fortresses right now."

Hero: "I see. Good work, men."

Ganz approached me.

Ganz: "Is there anything bothering you, boy? You look restless."

Hero: "Do not call me boy, unless you are ready to beat me, okay?"

Ganz: "Hahaha! Sure, sure."

Hero: "I am just thinking about Harb. Can he take care of the North Region? I keep having this dream of them being overrun by the undead."

Ganz: "That's the funniest thing I've heard today, B-Sir."

Ganz did that to mock me. He has a huge smile on his face now.

Hero: "Hmmph."

I decided to use to check on him. It's been a few years since we started this campaign. Our goal is to defeat the Orcs on the continent north of Haven.

It's a vast continent, and the Orc Warriors will put up a good fight.

They have decent fighters, too. I might even consider recruiting some of them.

Message Crystal: "......"

It channels for some time before connecting.

Hero: "Harb? Are you there?"

Harb: "Huh? Oh!? Hero! Sir, Uh. Ah. What is it?"

Hero: "What are you doing?"

Harb: "Nothing, sir. You know me. It's my favorite thing to do."

There was a long silence after that. The hero was waiting for him to say something.

Hero: "Hmmm. Just make sure to send me a message right away if something unexpected happens."

Harb: "Of course, sir. Of course."

Then the spell ended. Hmm. Harb looked suspicious, but he's always like that.

A Paladin captain came into the tent where we are located.

Paladin Captain: "Sir, we are in position."

Hero: "Good. Any casualties?"

Paladin Captain: "As usual, sir. There are none."

Hero: "Keep it up. Tell the soldiers that they can start the assault on the fortress."

Paladin Captain: "Yes, sir! In the Holy Elemental God's name!"

Hero: "Yes, yes."

These paladins and their beliefs are foolish; some are overzealous at times.

Ganz: "Hehehe. Pff. God..."

And there are these guys like Ganz.

Hero: "You get a move on too, Ganz. The other Paladin lords are busy. Earn your keep, will you?"

Ganz: "Right away! Hahahaha!"

Finally, I will have some peace for a change.