Chapter 25 – Repeating Nightmare
Poro felt a heavy gloom settle over him as he stared at the burning torch in the darkness.
He could feel his sense of self wavering as he recalled the scene from earlier that day.
The strategist had said that their power was needed. That the desire to take revenge on the monsters was more important than anything.
However, he had not been given any information to help prepare him to face Keita. It had been the strategist and general who took care of things. Poro and the others could do nothing but run in confusion.
“What the…hell is this…”
As the night grew deeper, so did his doubts.
The reason that they had been chosen…
“In other words… I am merely a…”
<Emergency mobilization! All units, arm yourself immediately and stand at your designated positions!>
Shrill alarms sounded off throughout the tents. Poro hurriedly checked his sword belt and looked at his tag.
<Poro: Proceed to the Hero’s camp and conduct a perimeter patrol. Maintain maximum vigilance against a kobold ambush. Take two magicians with you use Magic Eye for reconnaissance.>
“What the…”
His eyes widened to a terrifying degree.
“What is…happening?”
During the day, they had crushed the Demon King’s army so thoroughly.
A powerful great spell had burned through their main forces, and they had been told that the enemy would not be able to mount a proper resistance.
Poro’s gaze was drawn to something that flickered beyond the camp.
“Ah…that…”
A mass of torches spread across the plains. A line that was advancing towards them.
And then there was a scream.
“AWOOOOOOO!!”
It was as if the night itself had turned into a monster.
There was no doubt that the sounds were coming from a horde of beasts. Not only that, but they were banging their shields and armor, stomping their feet, and causing a deafening clamor.
“He-hey! What is that!?”
“Have the monsters decided to charge at us madly and die?”
“Do not panic! Hold your positions! No one is to leave the formation unless ordered!”
The commander’s voice rang out. However, the soldiers continued to look unsettled.
“They are heading straight towards us!”
“What the hell is happening?!”
‘Silence, you fools!’
The voice suddenly rang from the sky, and all of the soldiers fell silent.
‘You will follow my will! That sound is their dying cry! Do not be misled. For your ranks!’
Poro looked up in shock.
He had never heard it before. And yet it was clearly the voice of a god.
The soldiers became calm again, and began to follow their orders.
But unlike them, Poro felt a great restlessness.
“Now the god is trying to encourage us…?”
After he met the Hero, he had a rough idea of the nature of this god’s manipulation.
It was a cold and merciless being. That was why it could snatch away Lindle Village from the Hero called Keita.
“Poro, did you hear that?”
“Aye… This sounds bad.”
Meshe and the others looked at him with worry.
“Fo-for now…all we can do is follow orders and stay on our guard.”
“But… On our guard? Just look at this. There is not even a gap for an ant to crawl through.”
Farnan gestured around them with a smile.
Each tent had a sentry posted and the defensive walls were lined with bright magic lights.
On top of that, half of the cavalry had formed an ironclad defense line.
However, seeing them in such a state only made Poro’s unease grow stronger.
“Why is this… Are we expecting giants… Or a dragon?”
As he muttered under his breath, Poro thought that he saw something in the distance.