'....Is it possible?'

The idea seemed feasible. However, I wasn't sure if I could actually do it.

What if there was a limit to the second leaf? A limit that prevented me from using it on those who had died for far too long.

What then...?

Xiu! Xiu!

The thunderous echoes of ballistae firing resonated in the distance as I stood atop the city walls, gazing down at the unfolding spectacle below.

'The goal of this expedition is to find the necromancer. So far, in the thirty years that the attacks have started, they hadn't been able to find a single thing.'

Was the necromancer that hard to find?

....Or was it simply because they were too weak?

I turned my attention towards the knight's captain.

"Reload! Reload!"

"Someone has fainted again! Replace them quickly! Reload!"

He was barking out orders left and right as he ran around the entire walls. The organization amongst the knights was impeccable.

However, looking at their exhausted and haggard expressions, I could tell that they were on their last legs.

They were weak. Far too weak.

Even the knight captain was weak at only Tier 3. He was just about the same strength as us.

In fact,

I turned my head to look at Leon beside me.

'....This guy is probably stronger than the knight's captain.'

It was a bit of an odd realization.

"What?"

As if noticing my gaze, Leon flinched slightly. Yes, flinched.

"Hm?"

"...."

He stepped away too. Realization soon dawned on me and I sighed.

"I'm not going to call you stupid."

There was a time and place for such a thing.

"You won't?"

"Yeah."

I calmly nodded to reassure him.

"Your face does that for me."

"....."

"Ah."

I covered my mouth upon realizing what I had done. I was just about to apologize when...

"They're coming! Second battalion move out!"

The loud shout of the knight's captain echoed throughout. Finally turning his attention towards us, he pointed towards the horde of zombies who had nearly reached the perimeter of the walls.

"Cadets! Help out the second battalion! Please help us control and manage the undead!"

Growwllll!

"Wh, what...!? We're fighting now?"

The cadets were astonished by the sudden command.

At the same time, the gates beneath opened, and a group of over a hundred knights charged forward.

"Fight!!"

"Uwoooo!"

Clank

Sparks instantly flew in the air the moment the two sides clashed. What was most shocking was the fact that the zombies were able to keep themselves upright as their flesh remained intact.

It was as if their skin was made out of metal.

"The hell..."

Besides me, Kiera watched the scene with astonishment.

"What are these things even made out of? Not only are they immortal, but their skin is also as tough as metal. What kind of..."

"Don't worry about that now. Attack first."

Aoife stood on top of the wall.

As her red hair fluttered, she extended her hand forward.

Her expression quickly distorted as she focused her attention on the horde of zombies beneath.

"Ukh...!"

A groan escaped her small lips as over a dozen zombies clamped up together.

"What the...?"

"What's going on? Ah!"

The Knights, who had been in an intense fight with the zombies, halted for a brief moment as they noticed the zombies suddenly freezing on the spot and moving back.

Swoosh

Shortly after that, a figure jumped down from the wall.

It was Leon.

Thump!

Softly landing on the ground, his sword glowed, illuminating the surroundings. Stomping his foot on the ground, he slashed.

SHIIIIING!

His sword drew a beautiful arc in the air. At the same time that he slashed, Aoife compressed her hands together, clumping up even more zombies together.

And...

Bang!

The impact of his attack and the zombies resonated loudly in the air, the sound mimicking that of a bat hitting against hard steel.

It resounded throughout the air and spread throughout.

"Did it work?"

"Look! It worked!"

When all was said and done, over a hundred zombies scattered across the ground with their bodies cut in half.

Just as everyone was about to rejoice, a shocking scene occurred.

"Ah...!"

"They're getting back up!"

"What the hell is this...?!"

Indeed, it was just as they said. Seconds after Leon's attack, a purple glow basked over the zombies, forcing their bodies back together.

Groooowl!

Getting back up, they stood up and proceeded to head for the walls. It was as if Leon's and Aoife's combined effort had done nothing.

"Fuck, even that didn't work?"

"Just how sturdy are these zombies?"

Kiera and Josephine shouted from the walls with incredulous looks.

Not far from them, the other cadets stared at the scene with a little apprehension. They were probably intimidated by what they had seen.

One could say that Kiera's personality was handy on these types of occasions.

".....Get the fuck out! Let me try!"

Jumping out of the wall, two orange magic circles floated on each of her palms. The mana condensed to her side as she pushed her hands forward.

Swoooo!

The world illuminated as brilliant flames shone. They spread throughout, engulfing the incoming zombies like an avalanche of fire.

I stared at the flames that lit up the world for a brief moment.

They were gorgeous.

But even they had no effect in the end.

"What the hell?!"

This time, even Kiera was at a loss for words.

Given the power of her flames, I also thought she'd at least do something, but in the end, the zombies appeared completely unharmed, walking out of the flames at the same speed.

"Get back! Get back!"

The commander's voice reached us from beside us. His face was pale, and sweat continuously dripped down his face as he ran around the walls giving orders.

"Hold the undead back!"

"Prevent them from entering the city! Stop them at all costs!"

"Cadets! Conserve your mana! Just try your best to hold the undead back! Try to resist until the sun comes up! There is no use going all out against them!"

Stopping, he waved his hand.

"Fire!!"

Xiu! Xiu!

The arrows shot forth.

Thump!

Alongside each arrow, a soldier would fall from exhaustion. They'd quickly be replaced by another soldier who carried on their burden.

"Fire!"

Xiu! Xiu!

I stared at the scene unblinkingly.

"....Hey, what are you doing?!"

Before I knew it, I was standing on top of the walls of the town. My body was still in terrible condition, and Aoife was tugging at my clothes from behind.

"Are you going to try something too? Didn't you hear the captain's words? We need to contain them. Leon's and my attacks combined had no effect. We sho-"

"....No."

I shook my head while staring at the zombies beneath. The number seemed endless. They stretched for as long as the eye could see, and they were all headed towards the town.

For what reason?

I wasn't sure.

But...

"....."

Extending my hand, a thread flew out. My core burned at the usage of mana, but I didn't mind the pain and watched as one of the threads circled around one of the zombies's necks.

Making sure it was all secured, I pulled with my hand, flinging the zombie in my direction.

"What are you doing...! Are you crazy!?"

Aoife's surprised voice echoed from beside me.

I ignored it and opened up my palm.

Plak!

Closing my palm and grasping its neck, I stared at its hollow eyes and pale skin.

Groowlll!

It squirmed under my grasp. But I kept my grip form. Staring at it for a good moment, I activated the second leaf.

My world turned dark.

.

.

.

The sun shone brightly.

A group of four stood before the city walls. They stood tall, and towered over the surroundings.

Before them was a young teen. He looked familiar.

'Where have I seen him...?'

"Are you all ready?"

Ah.

It was his voice that gave it away. It was young, but it was also familiar.

'The captain.'

The young teen in front was Captain Travis.

....So this was from decades ago.

"We are ready!"

They looked nervous, but they held conviction as they stared into the distance. A burly man pounded his chest.

"Do not worry. We will come back and avenge our fallen comrades."

"That's right!"

They were young, and they were brave. The group of four seemed to be just a little bit older than the captain.

"Travis. Make sure you stay here. We will be back before you know it. With your sister too. You don't need to worry about our safety. We are the best knights in the village. You know of our abilities."

"...."

The young boy nodded his head.

"....Okay."

He appeared to be hopeful.

And with such thought, he brought his hand towards his forehead in a salute. His back stood straight.

"Subjugation force number twenty-seven. I wish you all the best of luck!"

The four saluted back.

"Subjugation force number twenty-seven will be departing!"

"Subjugation force number twenty-seven will be departing!"

"Subjugation force number twenty-seven will be departing!"

"Subjugation force number twenty-seven will be departing!"

The quartet embarked on their journey, striding forward along the road. I trailed behind, content to observe their progress from a distance.

"Let's do this!"

".....Let's avenge our predecessors. With our strength, we will defeat that darned necromancer."

They were all smiles along the way. They, who had been stuck in their town for their entire life, were finally on an adventure.

Along with the nervousness, was a strange sense of excitement.

I watched them laugh.

I watched them struggle.

I watched them help each other.

And I watched them bask in the sceneries that their adventures brought them.

"Amazing...!"

"Wait until we return and tell Travis about our journey. He'll be so jealous."

Amidst the struggle was a joy that one couldn't explain. But I felt it all as I followed them from behind.

The journey was a long one. I didn't know for how long they had walked. However, the scenes around all made up for it.

From waterfalls to rivers to rocky surfaces.

It was a breathtaking sight.

Sights that I wasn't able to enjoy for much longer as a large dome of purple appeared in the distance.

"What's this!?"

"The necromancer!"

Within the dome, a veiled figure stood. The moment I laid my eyes on it, I felt a sense of oppression coming from it.

"Ah...!"

"That!"

But it wasn't the necromancer's appearance that startled the group of four.

No, it was...

"Mom!"

"....D-dad! I see them again!"

The numerous figures that stood in front of the necromancer. Each one of them, they were a figure that the group was familiar with.

Lvl 1. [Anger] EXP + 0.2%

I felt their anger.

Lvl 2. [Sadness] EXP + 0.4%

But I also felt their sadness.

"Attack...!"

The group of four charged. Their target was none other than the necromancer. With their weapons drawn, they attacked.

"Ahhhh!" That was the last thing I saw before the world turned black. That was when I understood.

Their journey. The one that I had followed from behind.

It had come to an end.

"Julien!"

When I snapped out of it, I found myself in a familiar environment.

"What are you doing with that thing?! Have you lost it!"

Aoife's voice was still echoing from behind me.

Groowlll! In my grasp, the zombie struggled. I stared at it again. This time, an image overlapped with the zombie in my grasp.

It looked much younger and had a smile on its face.

Groowlll! Opening up my palm, I let go of the zombie and flung it back into the distance.

As I did, I stared at the numerous zombies that were approaching.

"Thirty years."

For thirty years, this town; Ellnor, had sent its best knights to fight against the necromancer.

For thirty years, they failed.

"...."

Yes.

These thousands of zombies in front of me.

They were an accumulation of the thirty years of fallen soldiers who had died trying to fight the necromancer.

They...

Were the brutal reality behind the smiles of the citizens.