Episode 14
Veins bulged on Kudan’s forehead.
He had already heard the story from Aum.
They had met one named Loki; Aum returned cursed, and Pereu returned with his right hand cut off.
Thanks to that, word was going around in the Rinia Tribe that Balhal must be condemned.
Aum had spoken to Kudan.
“…Loki, he spoke. He said that he was taming Kankun himself.”
Upon hearing those words, Kudan nearly lost his reason.
Only because Aum calmed him down and held him back could he listen to the rest of his story.
“He said he is protecting Kankun. Kudan.”
“Protecting? Did you not just say he is taming him?”
“That is his scheme to provoke you. Kudan, calm yourself.”
“Aum, did you not just say it? He is a fraud pretending to be a god! And did he not place a curse upon you? That monster filled with arrogance cannot simply leave Kankun be. He must be keeping him locked in a cage, raising him like a parrot.”
“…….”
If that too was protection, then it was protection.
Even if it meant suppressing his freedom and using him like a slave.
With the shaman’s prophecy in mind, that fraud would surely try to exploit Kankun to the utmost.
Aum had been unable to confirm Kankun’s safety.
However, he conveyed that according to circulating rumors, Kankun seemed to be living in relative peace.
‘But perhaps he only appears that way because he is beguiled by the false Constellation.’
When such doubt arose, it was Roden, elder of the Raguna Tribe, who came to find him.
He looked up at Kudan with an expression full of fear.
“Kudan, that demon must be eliminated or sealed!”
“……”
“Only then can Kankun be protected!”
Roden looked at Kudan and thought,
‘Kudan must hold that demon back!’
As long as he was leaving this frozen land, or even after leaving, that being might come for him.
So when that sinful Constellation turned his gaze elsewhere, he had to flee as far away as possible.
And the bait was the Rinia Tribe and Kudan Raguna.
Kudan had fought Loki once and survived.
If so, he should be enough to buy time.
“…Roden. Thanks to you, my hesitation has vanished.”
The elder, Roden’s expression brightened.
“Then…!”
“I shall kill that demon and reclaim Kankun.”
“Kudan! You are truly an honorable warrior of Nodeu! Show that strength to all!”
“But your sins do not disappear.”
“……!”
“The elders who tried to kill Kankun—.”
Kudan raised his axe and glared at Roden.
“I shall kill them all.”
“Uu… uuaaaack!”
As Roden turned to flee, Kudan threw his axe at him.
Kwajik-!
Roden collapsed with the back of his head burst open, and Kudan approached him and pulled out the axe.
“Kudan Raguna.”
Kudan turned his head to the side and found himself face to face with a warrior of the Rinia Tribe.
“Great Chieftain Aum summons you.”
“…….”
“Please lead the army.”
Kudan gripped his axe and moved his steps.
A war between tribes that had built great power on the frozen land of the northern island had begun.
***
Throughout history, while there had been minor skirmishes on the frozen land, records of large-scale ‘wars’ were not so numerous.
However, there remains a historical record that ten years ago, Elron von Ronia, the Steel Sovereign who ruled one of the powerful kingdoms on the continent of Britain, the king called the Iron-Blooded King, led a great army of one hundred thousand on a punitive expedition to the frozen land.
The reason was his desire to claim the mysterious land that no one had conquered. And it was an achievement that would widely spread his name to later generations, along with countless mineral resources.
It was merely that.
But that great army of one hundred thousand was annihilated not by the Nodeu people of the frozen land, but by other causes.
The first was the extreme cold climate.
Unaccustomed to the extreme climate where even flora and fauna struggled to survive, the Ronia Kingdom’s army suffered thousands of deaths from freezing simply because they had ‘slept’ for just one night.
The second was supply.
On the frozen land, it was difficult to procure not only food, but also water and firewood.
The trees scattered about possessed a property that made them impossible to ignite, so they could not be used as firewood, and the raging cold winds caused body temperature to drop continuously.
Even if they tried to obtain animal pelts, all the animals there were agile and swift. Moreover, they were clever as well, making them difficult to catch, and their numbers were naturally sparse, so it was utterly insufficient to overcome the hunger and cold of an army reaching one hundred thousand.
Because of this, thousands starved to death.
The third was monsters.
The more extreme the region, the harder it is for life to survive. But the organisms that adapted and survived there grew stronger and more agile.
Especially the monsters adapted to the cold all had thick skin and large builds.
The problem was that because the land was barren, the monsters were always starving, and in comparison, humans were incomparably weak.
The monsters attacked the army without distinction between day and night, and because of that, the kingdom’s army could not sleep day or night and grew exhausted.
Hunger, cold, and the fear that they might fall to monsters.
Because of this, the kingdom’s army withdrew just two months after entering the frozen land, and without even fighting a proper war, about half of the one hundred thousand army was sacrificed before they returned.
After that, the frozen land was called the ‘Hell of Extremes’ or the ‘Region Where Survival Is Impossible’.
But humans who maintained their livelihood even on such frozen land existed….
The savage tribes who plundered one another even while hunting monsters.
Each and every one of them was of the Nodeu race, possessed of superhuman strength.
The continent’s people feared the Nodeu and considered them the strongest existence among humans.
And if thousands of such beings gathered, they would possess a force that not even an empire could ignore.
“Kiritia Tribe, one hundred fifty elite warriors. We have arrived!”
“Herareu Tribe, two hundred elite warriors. We have arrived!”
“Bereuni Tribe, one hundred twenty-five elite warriors. We have arrived!”
…
Such Nodeu were gathering in the Rinia Tribe, numbering close to five thousand.
The chieftains of the allied tribes were reporting on the soldiers they had levied.
Their military branches were diverse as well.
Nodeu wielding weapons developed to suit each tribe’s characteristics were gathering under a single command.
Aum Rinia.
The Great Chieftain of Rinia.
He looked at the warriors gathering atop the hill.
And he shifted his gaze to the ‘Ultimate Weapon’ deployed in the open field.
‘I traveled the continent to obtain that thing.’
That ‘weapon’ had become the Rinia Tribe’s strongest weapon, and now it would serve as the decisive move against that demon!
“Do you truly intend to fight him?”
To Pereu’s question from beside him, Aum spoke.
“Yes,”
By now, that one called Loki in Balhal must have surely grasped their movements as well.
And he would surely step forth himself.
In fact, he had heard word that the undead army had begun to move in the city called Balhal.
‘He will come to strike at me and Kudan. Then we must lure him to terrain advantageous to us.’
This is war.
They had to make use of every environmental advantage.
And that place was atop the frozen lake.
The firmly frozen lake was as good as flatland. Above all, because it was covered in snow, it was not slippery, and they planned to train to adapt to that place.
Overwhelming numbers, diverse branches, and training utilizing the terrain.
Even though he had prepared every condition for victory, Aum was seized by an inexplicable sense of unease.
Many warriors. And if appropriate strategy was used, no matter how strong the foe, crushing them overwhelmingly was the most basic of the basics of war.
But… if it was an enemy who could shatter even such common sense?
‘No, he said he was not a Constellation. Do not fear.’
“…The shaman’s prophecy comes to mind.”
Long ago, a shaman had prophesied to Aum.
“You must die. If not, calamity will befall this world, and the Rinia Tribe will disappear!”
It was a simple and easy-to-understand statement, but its contents were absurd beyond belief. Aum had been merely fifteen years old at the time.
When Aum muttered softly, Pereu, who was beside him, approached.
“…Is that not a matter of the distant past?”
“It is. But if that prophecy refers to now… I will die, and all these warriors will depart this world because of my foolish choice.”
“…You once said, Elder Brother. That religion is the will of humans made by faith, and if one forces it, it is no longer religion but superstition.”
“…….”
“I believe the shaman’s prophecy is superstition. I… shall believe in and follow Elder Brother.”
Aum smiled bitterly at Pereu’s words and then shifted his gaze to the side.
A man carrying a giant hammer stood there.
“Still, it is reassuring to have him.”
Aum smiled bitterly, recalling the contents of a fairy tale book from the south, from the continent of Britain.
It was the story of a hero who killed the Demon King that had descended fifty years ago and became king.
“Kudan is like a hero straight out of a fairy tale.”
“He must be. Only if he is a hero who slays the demon can we survive….”
“Indeed.”
Aum nodded.
“Now, it is about time… to send a letter and summon that demon, is it not?”
Preparations were nearing completion.
Now, all that was left was to call forth that demon.
***
The splendidly decorated Palace of Balhal, and at its end, the king’s audience chamber.
Seated on the throne, Loki unfolded a letter.
It was a declaration of war.
—No matter how much I think about it, I cannot simply hand over Kudan. We shall wage an all-out war. Come to the Frozen Lake. The time limit is one week. Kudan shall meet you alongside five thousand soldiers.—
After skimming its contents, he narrowed his eyes.
“…The deadline is one week, the place the Frozen Lake?”
Loki clenched the letter. Fire ignited on the letter, leaving ash as it disappeared.
Next, what Loki saw was a map the Nodeu had investigated.
Among it, he examined the location of the frozen land’s lakeshore connecting to the southern continent that Aum had spoken of.
After confirming the battlefield’s location, Loki tapped his fingers on the armrest as if unable to grasp the meaning.
‘Why did they choose this place as the war zone? From what I see, this place is flat land without any obstacles. Why such a place?’
Could it be that they were relying solely on numbers?
If so, it was an exceedingly foolish choice.
The undead monsters Loki commanded numbered over five hundred.
Each and every one of them was strong enough to slaughter dozens of Nodeu.
If the Rinia Tribe pushed forward with sheer numbers, they might have a chance, but that was only possible under the assumption that morale did not drop and they did not flee.
Humans are creatures swayed by emotions and intoxicated by atmosphere. On a battlefield, a place where that influence is extreme, they are prone to fleeing, unable to overcome the pressure of death approaching in real time.
Especially if their opponents were the dead who did not fear death, it would be all the more so.
In words it was hundreds versus five thousand… but in reality, Loki’s army held overwhelming superiority.
“…Well, whatever. I just need to prepare thoroughly as well. And there’s something I wanted to test anyway.”
Loki looked at the dwarf before him.
The muscular dwarf of short stature was waiting with his head bowed for Loki’s command.
“Is the city construction going well?”
“Of course!”
“It is not difficult?”
“We are merely grateful that you have given us this opportunity!”
“I see. Then… I shall ask two things of you.”
“Ask, you say…?”
“I would like you to make an armor.”
“……?”
“It is a young girl’s armor.”
Loki waved his hand in the air. Then, in his hand was grasped a lump of metal the size of an adult’s face, and in his other hand appeared a large scale hide.
Those chunks boasted a subtle sheen in a blue-green hue.
“W-what is that…?”
“Eltera metal. The dragon hide of Nidhogg.”
“…!”
A metal name he was hearing for the first time. And a dragon’s hide? Reuran’s eyes sparkled.
He had never before seen a metal radiating such a subtle sheen.
Loki tossed it mercilessly.
Reuran cried out in alarm and threw his whole body to catch it.
Despite holding the object, Reuran could not help but marvel once more at its feather-like lightness.
Loki looked at Reuran and opened his mouth.
“Make it.”
A single word.
Reuran understood the meaning contained in those words perfectly, but for now, he stared blankly at the ore and hide as if his soul had been stolen by the first-of-its-kind mineral, without even answering.
“…You may have what remains after you finish making it.”
“R-really?”
Only then did Reuran’s face snap toward Loki.
“If you wish.”
“T-then I shall do my utmost to make it…!”
“Naturally. If you make it sloppily, I shall exile you.”
“…….”
Reuran clamped his mouth shut.
“And one more thing.”
Loki spoke in a playful tone.
“Make what I requested using cheap scrap iron.”