The Second Son of The Marquis Runs Away from Home ~ Lacking Talent, He Abandons Everything and Becomes an Adventurer ~ - 96

Chapter 96: Approaching Moment

(This completes the collection of all the sacred relics…)

I thought to myself as I watched Hinowa holding Kamtsuhi. With this, we had the means to prepare for the Yomi soldiers and to seal the Gate of Yomi.

(This allows us to take the offensive.)

I tried to focus on how to proceed, but then I heard footsteps, interrupting my thoughts. Someone was running in a hurry, calling my name.

“Lord Belk! Is Lord Belk here?!”

“What is it? Has Ozuma attacked?”

“N-no! But please, come quickly! Lord Zen has returned with serious injuries!”

―――――

I rushed to the infirmary where Zen was receiving treatment. Thanks to Serena, it seemed that he had passed the worst of it, and he appeared to be conscious.

“The poison had spread from the wound. If we had waited even a day longer, it might have been too late.”

“Yes… I tried to come this far, even at the cost of my life, to deliver the message. But I’ve been lucky to survive.”

“You were entrusted with burying Shion’s body. What happened?”

When I asked, Zen hung his head with a troubled look. However, he quickly began to recount what had happened.

“Shion-sama’s body was stolen.”

“What?”

“My subordinates and I were heading secretly to Shion-sama’s family home to properly mourn and bury him. But when we arrived, the house and other key locations of Ozuma were occupied by Yomi soldiers we had never seen before. Realizing the danger, we decided to turn back.”

Zen’s judgment was likely correct. I had heard from Dougen’s words that they planned to use the dead, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they tried to desecrate graves and use the bodies.

“However, on our way back, we were attacked by Mudou, who commanded the Yomi soldiers… In the chaos, we scattered to escape, but…”

“…You were the only one who made it back.”

When I said this, Zen lowered his head again. After he finished recounting everything he had seen and heard, he collapsed into unconsciousness, as though he had lost the strength to stay awake.

“He must have pushed himself too hard. The strain on his mind must have been immense.”

“Let him rest properly.”

After entrusting Zen to the doctors, I gathered Aria and the others. Fortunately, the important people were still in the castle, so they quickly assembled.

“Rakul, Fudou, how is the condition of the army?”

“We’ve managed to synchronize the forces. There shouldn’t be any confusion in the chain of command.”

“Our response to the flying soldiers is also proceeding smoothly.”

“Understood… Ilma, Hilko, are there any issues with resources or coordination with the other countries?”

“At the moment, there don’t seem to be any major conflicts between the countries. It looks like they are unified because of the common enemy.”

“As for the supplies, there shouldn’t be any problems for now. At least for the next ten days, we should be able to maintain the army.”

“I see. Then…”

I looked around at everyone gathered in the room and made my declaration.

“We are going to set out. We will stop Ozuma, stop Mudou, and seal the Gate of Yomi… We will put an end to this disaster.”