Akatsuki Translations

“There’s a high likelihood that a ‘portion of the bandits’ are already dead.” -Diz

This topic came up during the strategy meeting for the fortress’s capture. Diz, who had been glaring at a large amount of documents brought into the room, suddenly made this declaration.

“They’re, dead? So, are you saying the bandits are now undead soldiers?” -Ur

“Possibly. Though I think they might be more like a type of living dead.” -Diz

Unlike the skeleton soldiers, these have flesh. Either it’s a corpse that hasn’t decomposed, or a body made by patching up rotted flesh with the blood and meat of other creatures.

Because they still have flesh, their movements are stronger compared to the undead soldiers. Furthermore, sometimes instead of using fragments of the practitioner’s own soul, the original soul of the corpse is utilized.

Therefore, the living dead can move to some extent with their own will, and there are times when they “don’t realize they’re dead.”

“But what’re you basing this off of?” -Ur

“Here, it’s a past 【quest】 I received from the Adventurer’s Guild.” -Diz

“All of this…” -Ur

Ur, while memorizing that such information could also be gathered from the Adventurer’s Guild, checked its contents. Flipping through it, he found a report on a robbery that occurred outside the city two years ago.

“The perpetrators were criminals from the nation of Aruto, exiled several years ago. After several small-scale robberies, the Merchant’s Guild requested the Adventurer’s Guild to subdue them. Around the Fortress of Canaan, exiles with similar characteristics were found, ambushed, and after confirming 5 casualties, they retreated due to a monster attack…” -Ur

Reading further, he found the point Diz probably wanted to highlight.

“The Adventurer’s Guild deemed it a successful subjugation and paid out the reward…” -Ur

In other words, the Adventurer’s Guild believed they had successfully subdued the bandits. But then the incident with the Island-Eating Turtle occurred. Was the Adventurer’s Guild’s judgment wrong? Of course, mistakes can happen. But considering it’s a judgment from the world’s largest guild, there’s a certain level of trust.

This “successful subjugation” should be taken as if they truly succeeded.

“So, it was a small group?” -Shizuku

“That’s part of it, and probably, after suffering five casualties, the group could easily have collapsed. After all, it’s outside the city. Ur, do you think you could survive outside the city for several years?” -Diz

“It’s impossible.” -Ur

Ur immediately replied. Indeed, it’s impossible. Preparations could be made, and one could move between cities, but building a life outside is out of the question. Every day you’d be attacked by monsters, unable to sleep, and struggling to find food. The end result would be exhaustion and getting eaten.

Even if 10 or 20 people gather, living outside the city without the【Barrier of the Sun】 is difficult. That’s why humans in this world build city walls, cast barriers, and live within these confined spaces.

“A group of exiles composed of bandits. The thievery was probably a desperate measure for survival. Furthermore, this was disrupted by the adventurers, and they suffered casualties. The group’s collapse was inevitable, and indeed, after that, there were no reports of thievery. Until the incident with the Island-Eating Turtle.” -Diz

“So, are the bandits this time different from the ones at Canaan Fortress previously?” -Shizuku

“Incidentally, I heard an intriguing story from that sham hobbit merchant you caught.” -Diz

Apparently, the sham merchant testified that he had known the bandits for quite some time.

They were the bandits who had been using Canaan Fortress as their base for more than two years, and he had been supplying them with goods since then. They had disappeared for a while, but suddenly reappeared, demanding business. That’s what he said.

It was desperate testimony to reduce his punishment for betraying the city-state. Diz believed there was probably no lie in it.

“… So, they’re the same people?” -Ur

“Most likely. The reason they disappeared was probably when they were attacked by the adventurers. Then, after a gap, they reappeared. And now, there’s a necromancer with them. Given all this information, it would be strange not to suspect they are undead.” -Diz

Diz added that it might not be all of them. At least, based on the reports from Greed, it seemed the bandit that Akane had captured was truly alive.

“But even if they are different from skeleton soldiers and are dead, how did they deceive the fake merchant?” -Ur

“It’s probably some kind of illusion magic. Necromancers use it quite often. Not just for the living dead, but even regular undead soldiers can be made to look alive.” -Diz

“So, it’s hard to distinguish at first glance. Well, whether they’re alive or dead, we won’t have the luxury of holding back…” -Ur

As Ur was pondering, Shizuku, who was listening next to him, looked a bit troubled. When Ur asked her what was wrong, she said,

“We might need to be cautious not just of the bandits, but also the hostages.” -Shizuku

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And now presently

『Oh 』-Middle-aged man

“…?!” -Ur

Ur, while managing to block the slashing attack easily unleashed by the middle-aged man’s long sword, was shaken. He had instinctively defended using the shield of the crystal golem, but the man’s swordsmanship clearly surpassed Ur’s skill. Even though he should have completely blocked it with the shield, the impact reached his feet. He trembled, and sweat poured out.

This was completely different from the bandits he had faced earlier. This was the technique of a master swordsman.

However…

『You endured it. Surprising. I had intended to completely catch you off guard. 』-Middle-aged man

Ur had completely defended against the man’s surprise attack.

“W-what…?!”  -Hostage

“That person, their body…?!” -Hostage

Amidst screams and confusion from the hostages, the man’s appearance changed. The harmless-looking, wrinkled face of an old man disappeared. Perhaps some illusion magic was at play. What appeared was not rotting flesh but a skeletal body, similar to the skeleton soldiers. But this one was a size larger and donned armor made of human bones.

“Ur-sama.” -Shizuku

“Maintain the barrier and move away from the courtyard. I’ll fend this off with 【Holy Water】.” -Ur

“Please mind the time.” -Shizuku

Sending instructions to Shizuku, Ur took out a potion bottle from his pouch and drank it.

Holy Water, a type of protective charm; essentially a magical potion that hides the presence of magic. It’s meaningless if seen directly with the eyes, but it’s effective against those like the skeleton soldiers that don’t rely on sight but rather detect magic to sense humans.

It’s expensive, time-limited, and since the knights of Aruto also needed it, they couldn’t prepare much.

『Hmm, you’ve become harder to see. Did you do something? 』-Skeleton

“Not really.” -Ur

However, it wasn’t very effective against the skeleton soldier in front of him. It wasn’t just a regular skeleton soldier. From a while ago, the clattering of the skull could be heard, and a voice was being transmitted. The skeleton soldier in front of him was speaking. Unlike the other mindless skeleton soldiers, this one had a will.

“You’re not a living dead. What are you?” -Ur

『It seems I’m called a Skeleton Knight. I don’t know the details. 』-Skeleton Knight

Skeleton Knights. While skeleton soldiers are soulless puppets controlled by the souls of mages, knights, like resurrected corpses, utilize the original souls imbued within them. They use strong souls that haven’t returned to the world, making them formidable monsters.

Among the monster ranks, of which there exist thirteen classes, they belong to the tenth class — the same as crystal golem. Ur heightened his caution.

『However, you surprised me. I’ve been watching your movements, and you’re still new to combat, aren’t you? Quite unpolished. Yet you blocked a strike… Did you notice? 』-Skeleton Knight

“I had anticipated that among the hostages, there might be one who was dead. Among them, you were a man, with a good physique, and you didn’t look like a hostage. It’s natural to be cautious.” -Ur

With his tongue almost tied in knots, Ur skillfully bided his time. If Diz could successfully assassinate the necromancer, all their current predicaments would vanish into thin air. Essentially, once the necromancer disappeared, both the horde of lifeless bodies before them and this formidable skeleton knight would be set free.

《Hello, Ur. Can you hear me? 》-Diz

Then, Diz’s voice reached him through the magical item by his ear. Suppressing his mounting anxiety, Ur responded.

“I can hear you. What about the necromancer? What happened to Rose? She wasn’t here. “ -Ur

《Let me be straightforward. I saved Rose, but it was too late for the others. I haven’t defeated the necromancer. 》-Diz

At that answer, Ur held his breath, and after a few moments of thought, he let out all the words he had been holding back.

《You can be angry, you know? 》-Diz

“… It was Diz who pushed us and the Knights. If even you couldn’t make it in time, then probably no one could have. So, what do we do now?” -Ur

Restraining himself from making unnecessary comments, Ur posed the question. The mage didn’t annihilate them. The exact situation remained unclear, but it was unlikely the skeletons in front of them would suddenly collapse like broken puppets. If that’s the case, they need to think of the next move.

《Take as many hostages as you can and escape this fortress immediately. 》-Diz

“What are you planning to do?” -Ur

《Of course, I’ll escape later. I’ll leave the rest to the Knights. There’s no reason to hold on any longeh. 》-Diz

Ur frowned at the voice he heard.

“… Did you just stutter?” -Ur

《I didn’t. 》-Diz

“Why are you hesitating? Are you planning on just having us escape?” -Ur

《…..》-Diz

“You found Rose, didn’t you? If we escape with everyone, our mission is accomplished. So, why can’t you escape? What will happen if you do?” -Ur

Ignoring Diz’s evasiveness, Ur continued. Diz seemed to be pondering for a while. During that time, through the magic item, there was a loud noise, like metal scraping, echoing repeatedly.

《You’ll regret it, you know? 》-Diz

“I’ve been regretting it for a while now. Just tell me.” -Ur

《At least three satellite cities will be destroyed. At the very least, Aruto will perish. 》-Diz

Ur held his breath again, and a flood of thoughts raced through his mind. He finally managed to squeeze out some words.

“… Tell me what needs to be done, and I’ll help.” -Ur

《I told you you’d regret it. 》-Diz

Shut up, he groaned internally. After hearing that, there’s no way they’d just say “Alright, we’ll escape then.” Thanks for trying to make us escape without letting us know! Ur sarcastically thought.

“So, what should we do?” -Ur

《―――Okay fine, help me out. Did you see the reddish-black magic stone over there? 》-Diz

Ur immediately remembered. He looked at the mass that had now become a giant cluster of undead soldiers.

“I saw it. Undead soldiers and living dead are flocking to it, merging into one mass.” -Ur

《Destroy it. 》-Diz

“Seriously?” -Ur

How the hell are we supposed to do that?

《That reddish-black magic stone was once the ‘necromancer’. Unless it’s destroyed, the undead won’t collapse. 》-Diz

“Can we defeat it?” -Ur

Originally, Diz was supposed to fight the necromancer since they couldn’t handle him. Ur wasn’t sure if they could suddenly take on that role.

《The necromancer himself is dead. That magic stone is made using the ‘soul clinging to the remains’. It’s a power source that can’t use his exceptional necromantic arts. Think of it as the same as a monster’s magic stone. 》-Diz

“The core of all the undead soldiers?” -Ur

In essence, that’s what a necromancer is. If you think about it as becoming exactly that, it’s easy to understand.

《Additional info. The magic stone likely has the protection of the 【Dragon】 of 【Gluttony】. 》-Diz

“Gluttony… 【Dragon】?!” -Ur

Ur was about to ask for clarification, but Diz quickly continued without giving him a chance.

《Its characteristics are 【Predation】and 【Expansion】. It will expand indefinitely as long as it has something to consume. It will head to the city in search of food. Crush it before it consumes something. And don’t get close to the command tower. 》-Diz

Towards the end, she started speaking rapidly, and then communication was abruptly cut off. Just before it ended, a particularly loud noise, like metal scraping, intensified. It was clear that something unfavorable was happening on her end as well.

Destroy the magic stone and the Dragon of Gluttony, before it consumes something.

Ur shook his head, trying to process the information given to him one after another. When he looked ahead again, he saw the skeletal knight he was confronting.

『Are you done? 』-Skeleton Knight

The knight asked in such a manner, casually observing the long sword he held and practicing a few swings. At a glance, with such a mundane gesture, he looked as if he might be a knight on city wall duty, idly keeping watch.

“You waited on purpose?” -Ur

『I have no interest in interrupting human conversations. Besides, I don’t appreciate being treated as a mere tool by that sorcerer. 』-Skeleton Knight

“Yet just a moment ago, you tried to kill me by surprise.” -Ur

『A sudden order intervened, and I couldn’t resist. My apologies. Hah hah. 』-Skeleton Knight

The knight rattled his bones and turned to face Ur. Immediately, a heavy, oppressive aura enveloped Ur.

『And it seems that resisting any further is going to be difficult for me now. It’s quite infuriating. 』-Skeleton Knight

“What kind of order is it?” -Ur

『’Devour.’』-Skeleton Knight

The knight’s well-aligned exposed teeth clinked together. In this context, it’s unlikely that providing him with meat and vegetables would suffice. Above his head, the reddish-black magic stone, the core of the necromancer, pulsed even stronger.

『ＫＡＫＡＫＡＫＡＫＡＫＡＫＡＫＡＫＡＫＡＫＡＫＡＫＡＫＡＫＡ!！！！！』

The gathered skeletons were drawn to the magic stone and subsequently formed into one mass. At first, it looked merely like a sphere made of numerous bones. But then, something began to grow from it. Arms, legs, a body, and finally, a head.

It was a surreal sight. At the same time, the skeleton knight pointed his sword towards Ur.

『By the way, do you taste good? 』-Skeleton Knight

“I wouldn’t know. I’ve neither eaten nor been eaten.” -Ur

『Well then, let’s find out. 』-Skeleton Knight

There was a rumble. Behind him, a humanoid form took shape and descended. It was the same creature that had attacked the Island-Eating Turtle: the Gigantic Skeleton made of countless piled bones. And standing as if commanding it was the Skeleton Knight.

『If you don’t want to be devoured by the undead, fight for your life, boy. 』-Skeleton Knight

“You’d do better to kill yourself if you’re so concerned.” -Ur

— The Battle against the Undead Army begins —

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Command Tower, Necromancer’s Room

“…Alright, I kept you waiting, didn’t I?” -Diz

『Gugehgehgeh!! 』-Dragon

“Oh, right, you didn’t wait for me at all.” -Diz

“……!!” -Rose

A fierce battle was unfolding in front of Rose.

Diz, standing in front of Rose as if to shield her, continued to defend her. The relentless assault of that bizarre and grotesque creature did not let up, even when Diz was trying to communicate with someone.

『Gehgehegeh!!!! 』-Dragon

Rose had no idea what that creature was. All she knew was that with every attack, it gradually enlarged its body.

『GeggGeggGEGiiiGIIgigighihihHI! 』-Dragon

Every time its eerie tongue lashed out, its infant-like limbs grew longer, and its nails gleamed hideously. Its torso grew even larger, and bat-like wings sprouted from its back. With each transformation, its attacks grew faster, becoming stronger in the blink of an eye.

“Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch!” -Diz

Diz desperately fended off its attacks. Swinging her sword at blinding speeds, she deflected the relentless assault of the creature’s tongue coming at her from all directions. Her sword’s speed was in no way inferior to the creature’s swift tongue. However, even then…

“Mm…!” -Diz

Parts of Diz’s body were getting gouged. With every thud, blood splattered. The storm of violence she couldn’t fend off was certainly taking a toll on her. And Rose knew why. Diz wouldn’t take a single step back from where she stood, determined to protect Rose.

“Diz!!!” -Rose

“Don’t move. The formation will be disrupted.” -Diz

Rose couldn’t help but cry out. Amidst the loud noises, Diz’s voice reached her ears. Rose then noticed that from the tip of Diz’s crimson armor, thin needle-like extensions were carving magical symbols in a circle around them. A meticulously intricate magical circle constructed by overlapping symbols.

“【White Barrier】” -Diz

With a sharp tap of her heel on the edge of the magic circle, Diz swiftly rolled into its center. The completed barrier emitted a faint light, wrapping around both Diz and Rose to protect them.

『guGIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!! 』-Dragon

The creature, displeased by the barrier, stretched out its tongue as if refusing to let them escape. But the tongue, which should have surely slashed Diz’s back, passed right through her, only gouging the wall behind.

“It’s not hitting?” -Rose

“It’s being ‘shifted’. Now…” -Diz

As she held up her palm, the crimson armor dissolved, and from it poured countless magic stones. It seemed she had gathered these stones during the battle from the rituals being performed. She piled them up in the center of the barrier.

“With this many magic stones, this barrier should hold for a while. Rose, don’t move from here.” -Diz

“….But, what about you?” -Rose

“Once I’ve healed, I’ll head out. We need to move before it gets bored and goes somewhere else.” -Diz

Saying this, Diz pinched the crimson armor with her fingers and stripped it off. It slid off her like a liquid. The body it revealed bore far more wounds than Rose had previously seen. Exposed injuries began bleeding profusely.

《Diz! Hey! 》-Akane

“I’m fi~ne. I can heal with magic.” -Diz

The discarded armor itself seemed to be speaking. Was it some kind of “Intelligent Weapon”? Rose didn’t know and didn’t really care.

What mattered was that despite her injuries, Diz had protected her. Rose, who had nothing but contempt for Diz…

“…Why are you doing this for me?” -Rose

“Hm?” -Diz

“I have no reason or right to be saved by you.” -Rose

Rose felt she had no reason, right, or qualification to be saved by Diz, especially after getting her so injured. She remembered being despised, loathed, and scorned. She had constantly provoked Diz, spread rumors about her, and even harassed her. Why then, would Diz defend her to such an extent?

“Ughh, why does eeeeveryone ask the same thing? Okay then.” -Diz

“What are you…” -Rose

“Sure, I took your family heirloom using unscrupulous means. You resent me, and I’ve endured countless harassments from you. I don’t exactly harbor warm feelings towards you either.” -Diz

However, said Diz, placing a gentle hand on Rose’s head, treating her like a child. Rose tried to shake it off but stopped when she saw Diz’s face.

She was smiling warmly, with affection.

“No one needs to die, right?” -Diz

It was compassion, a selfless love, similar to that which a parent has for a child.

“Di….z” -Rose

“God is in His Heaven, all is right with the world. Despite this, even with the One True God, the world teems with turmoil, where the vulnerable are callously toyed with, tossed about, and trampled upon.” -Diz

Even so, said Diz as she gently caressed Rose’s cheek and planted a kiss on her forehead. In an instant, her eyelids grew heavy, and her consciousness began to fade. “Wait,” Rose whispered, stretching her hand out, but the woman before her had already donned her armor once more and raised her sword.

“You don’t have to die. You don’t have to be lost. That’s what I believe.” -Diz

《So you’re gonna risk your life? 》-Akane

Stepping out from the boundary, Diz confronted the monstrous creature as Akane called out to her.

“It’s not really me risking my life or anything, it’s just what I want to do. Just me being selfish.” -Diz

《That so? 》-Akane

“Yes, indeed. Now, Akane.” -Diz

Diz readied the sword created by Akane. In front of the prey that had just leaped out from an impenetrable barrier, the monster sneered. In those clouded eyes, there lies only the desire to torment and devour their opponent.

There was an unmistakable malevolence that should never have existed.

“Give me your everything, or else we’ll die.” -Diz

《Nii-tan, too? 》-Akane

“Ur, Shizuku, and the residents of Aruto, if we don’t stop ‘it’ here, everything will die.” -Diz

《Okkkk, it’s a cruel ‘world’  after all, right? 》-Akane

That’s right, Diz smiled.

“But I kind of like this world. Well, to some extent.” -Diz

Saying this, she erased her smile and focused on what lay ahead. She readied her sword and directed the back of her left hand toward the dragon.

“I, the protector of the world, one of the Seven Heavens, the【Hero】.” -Diz

Through her crimson armor, emerged mana that shone. The marks that signified her existence extended from her hand to her arm, circled her body, and floated like wings on her back, as if protecting the sleeping girl behind her and everything beyond.  The dragon, glaring resentfully at the dazzling light, roared in challenge.

“I shall sever the ominous star and protect the peace of the world.” -Diz

— Decree of the Wise Heavenly King, Zerudia. The Quest to Slay the Dragon Begins—

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I would expect nothing less of Diz-sama

(here’s some fanart of Diz holding Akane in her snake form)

Artist: https://twitter.com/MzNo32