第６４３堀：だがやっぱり一筋縄ではいかない (Part1)
### Chapter 643: But, as expected, it’s not that simple
**Side: Yuki**
"Did you confirm the footage? Dressa just bisected the chimera that attacked, and with the same motion, severed the arm holding the core and retrieved it. We’ve secured RS as well."
I had heard the report, but I couldn't respond because another situation had just unfolded.
"Boss? Are you listening?"
It took Steve’s voice calling out a second time for me to snap back to reality.
"My bad. I heard you. But it’s too late. Or rather, were we played?"
"Too late? Played?"
"The dead have crawled out of the catacombs beneath the Cypel Cathedral."
"The dead? You’re not making any sense. Please explain properly. Undead can’t survive in this region, right?"
"The principle is the same as the method Hifie used on the Holy Sword users."
"Ah. You mean the ones powered by shoving a Dungeon Core inside? So, the Cypel Cathedral is in an uproar? The town is in total chaos?"
"No. I have Britt tracking them, but judging by their trajectory, their destination is the Grand Headquarters."
"Excuse me?"
"It seems they prepared this after hearing the rumors—the advance notice—that Princess Carrie and her group were heading there. Though, it seems the situation with RS resolved faster than they anticipated."
In that sense, telling Princess Carrie and Kagura that Enora had been captured might have been the right call. Had we tried to negotiate with those people, there’s no doubt the dead ones currently on the move would have joined up with RS, leading to an even greater catastrophe.
However, I hadn't yet conveyed the most critical information to Steve, so he didn't grasp the true nature of the crisis.
"When you say 'the dead,' you mean zombies or ghouls, right? If so, isn't it fine even if they launch an assault?"
"In terms of combat power, sure. But that’s not the problem. I’m sending you the details on these 'dead'—living dead, zombies, whatever you want to call them."
I decided not to explain it in words and instead sent the compiled report directly to Steve. I didn't know how to put it into words, and the potential consequences were still an unknown variable.
"Uh, let’s see..."
The moment Steve began to scan the report, a voice that sounded like RS came from the background.
"Hahahaha!!"
"What is so funny?!"
"Archbishop!! I’ll give you credit for defeating the chimera and capturing me!! But!! You are all about to sink into the abyss of despair!! It’s a pity I won’t be able to see your faces when it happens!!"
"I won't let you."
After that exchange, I heard some scuffling sounds.
"Is everything alright?"
"No problem. The person called RS tried to pull out a knife to end it all, but Vilia knocked it out of her hand just in time. She’s unconscious, but she’s not dead."
So, we prevented the cliché "villain suicide." It was a good thing I had instructed Vilia and the others to watch for that pattern.
"So, did you read it?"
"Ah, hold on a second."
In the meantime, I contacted Agil, the leader of the escort team.
"How is it? I heard from Steve that the main culprit tried to pull a knife and was suppressed by Vilia."
"No issues. The idiot is safe. Just out cold. I’m impressed by the skills of Vilia and Dressa. I’d love to have them as my subordinates."
"Unfortunately, I can't spare them. We’re stretched thin as it is."
"I suppose so. Besides, it’s madness to deploy such young children to a battlefield like this."
"Are you implying I’m to blame?"
"Who knows? As someone who commands an army and has subordinates, it’s natural to use whoever is capable. But as a human being, my conscience stings. It’s my own selfish thought, I know—I’m well aware they stand on this field precisely because they want to be useful to you, Yuki."
"It’s complicated. Anyway, let’s leave that aside. A headache-inducing problem is heading your way, so I’ve forwarded the detailed report. Find a private room later and discuss how to handle it."
"A problem? Heading here?"
While we were talking, Steve, having finished reading the document, cut into the communication.
"Yo. Since you’re talking to General Agil, that’s perfect."
"Ah, good work. It’s strange that I can’t see you even though you should be nearby. So, what’s this trouble in the report Yuki sent?"
"..."
Steve hesitated for a moment after being asked by Agil, but then he spoke.
"The dead have begun moving from the Cypel Cathedral catacombs, left the city, and have started moving toward the Grand Headquarters."
"The dead? Ah, undead. I see. Is this what RS meant by the Archbishop sinking into despair? But are there really that many of them?"
"Nope. The lineup of the dead is the problem."
Exactly. The reason I sent a report instead of speaking orally was because the composition and identities of that unit of the dead were, to put it mildly, disastrous.
"Lineup? I don't usually associate 'strong' with the dead. What do you mean? And why didn't they deal with it at the Cypel Cathedral?"
"That would be impossible. If we—or rather, Princess Carrie and the Archbishops at the Grand Headquarters—don't handle this, it’s going to cause even more chaos."
"You’ve been avoiding the core of the issue. This is a hassle, so send me the data too. From what I’m hearing, it sounds like we have to deal with this ourselves."
"Understood."
As requested, I sent the report to Agil. He read it immediately and, just like us, fell into a heavy silence.
"…Is this for real?"
"As you can see, it comes with photos."
"What proof is there that these are the actual people?"
"You know one of them well, don't you? And for the other, I confirmed it with Georgin. There’s no mistake. In fact, Georgin was absolutely furious."
"…Naturally. To think they would use the remains of Sota-dono and Aju-dono—desecrating the dead and treating them like soldiers? Anyone would be angry. Is this something a human would do?"
This was the reason we were speechless, and why Britt’s squad couldn't handle it alone.
"Well, the mastermind doesn't call themselves human, but a god. The culprit right there is—"
"Hah. No wonder you’re disgusted, Yuki. These 'gods' are nothing but trouble."
"Not all of them, but yeah."
"To each their own—or rather, to each god their own. That doesn't make it any better, though. …I see. So that’s why you can’t just dispose of them."
"Yeah. Even just knowing who they are—the remains of Sota and Enol, the founders of the Haiden Three Houses, and Aju of Findar—it’s a star-studded cast. I can’t just dispose of them on my own authority."
"…You certainly can’t dispose of the remains of royalty and nobility from various countries on your own. If someone were to see that, you’d be framed as the culprits. And even if you just left the bodies, it would lead to massive condemnation from every nation, citing the Haire Church’s negligence in managing the remains or accusing you of grave robbing."
"On top of that, they’re mobile. To an outsider, they look like ordinary people. The troublesome part is that they are all 'Lich' types with full intelligence and decision-making capabilities. There’s probably some cultist leading them. They didn't cause a scene; they just walked out of the gate like normal people."
"That’s a pain. So that’s why you couldn't dispose of them secretly."
"Exactly. They’ve already been witnessed, so there’s no way to process them."
They acted as if they were alive, walked out the gate as nobles, and declared they were heading to the Grand Headquarters. We considered an ambush along the way, but once I saw Sota’s remains and confirmed the others—including Aju’s—Georgin got involved, and the conversation shifted to how we could possibly dispose of them.
Georgin even bowed his head, begging us to please, somehow, bring back their remains safely.