Gulp, gulp!
I kept downing the strong liquor while pressing down on my throbbing temples.
"Ah... damn. My head nearly split open..."
I grumbled without thinking, but I could afford to do that only because I'd managed to retreat most of the troops safely.
Just moments ago, I'd been commanding 120 squads without a moment to catch my breath.
...But honestly, it had been incredibly fun.
Not some psychopathic thrill from the superiority of deciding the knights' lives and deaths at my whim, but purely, simply fun.
It felt just like playing a game.
The duke's castle city's layout and structure floated vividly in my mind like a 3D map, down to every nook and cranny. Combined with the undeads' various intel, weaknesses, spawn points, the key points where Cambello had hidden altars and magic circles and the reasons why, the knights' traits and personalities... Piecing it all together in real-time to lead the extermination like a mobile game had been far more enjoyable than I'd imagined.
It was the first time since possessing Starnassila Alzen's body that I'd lost myself completely in something, forgetting reality.
Well, not seeing the actual fighting, having to yap like a maniac, and the street fighting's unpredictability had caused headaches, but it wasn't a bad experience overall.
And zero casualties? That was satisfying.
Gulp!
"Phew... The Duke's Family is no joke."
Truth be told, this wasn't my achievement—it was purely possible because the Starnassila Knight Order's level was overwhelmingly superior.
Handpicked talent, secret techniques that most could never even glimpse (degraded though they might be), constant elixir consumption, top-grade equipment splurged on with money.
I'd bet no other group invests in their knights like the Starnassila Duke's Family does.
"Heh heh, this really was the right call..."
And if I saved this duke's family, I'd have access to a chunk of their massive military and financial power as a solid backer.
The decision to save the duke's family was spot on.
To see the ending, I have to save the duke's family no matter what.
"Ughhh... ahhh..."
I shook my head, making weird noises to loosen my aching jaw and stiff tongue, but they wouldn't budge—like muscle cramps.
"G-Great work, sir! Starnassila Alzen!"
"Huh?"
At that moment, Ternien placed a red glass bottle and appetizing snacks on the table with precise movements.
"What, did Mother order this?"
"No, sir! I prepared it all myself!"
"Oh...?"
Looking up with bleary eyes, Ternien's pupils sparkled so intensely it was burdensome.
Her gaze brimmed with respect and admiration—it was hard to meet.
"It was incredible! Sir Alzen! Commanding 600 knights from your seat, piercing through the battlefield like a war god! And zero casualties after your commands? Unbelievable!"
"...You're good at flattery, Ternien."
Gulp!
I chuckled while swallowing the strong liquor, but Ternien shook her head firmly.
"Absolutely not flattery! I'm just stating the facts!"
"...Ease up. Ease up."
"Yes, sir! Please rest easy!"
"So, what's this red bottle?"
"A potion, sir! For your sore jaw and throat!"
"Oh. Good instincts."
Pop!
I uncorked the potion bottle and chugged it down.
My stiff jaw and tongue loosened up smoothly, like they'd been oiled, and my headache and fatigue melted away quickly.
"Whew. Works great... Huh?"
But it had one fatal flaw.
The pleasant buzz weighing down my whole body vanished in an instant.
"Ah, this is a bit..."
Gulp, gulp!
I immediately chugged more liquor, and Ternien, watching, gave a wry smile.
"If you're sober now, at least pretend to hold back. Sober from booze, then immediately pouring it down—really, you..."
Pitra let out a sigh as if she'd been waiting and unleashed a barrage of nagging.
"Mother. Can't you say something nice to your hardworking son?"
"Hee hee. I was just about to. Alzen, you've only shown astonishing sides today."
"Big brother... so cool!"
Pitra's amused smile and the youngest's pure, sparkling admiration made me turn away unconsciously.
"Feeling shy? You're the same as when you were little."
I sighed at Pitra's fond gaze and lit a cigarette.
"Hee hee. Anyway, things have settled for now, so we should rest a bit. You must be hungry—let's eat something..."
"No, that's not happening. I'll stay on duty, so Mother and little sis, eat first."
"Huh...? But isn't it a lull now? We've recalled most of the guerrilla knights. Attacks on the castle have dropped sharply too."
"That's just because they need prep time. The real thing starts now."
"...Prep? Starts? What exactly?"
"Forgot? Behind all this is the high demon Cambello. Soon, he'll step up for real, turning the 'undead horde' into an 'undead army.' They'll merge into formations, take positions by role, and attack with strategy and tactics."
"...!!"
Her face hardened seriously for a moment, then shifted to puzzlement.
"Alzen. How do you know that?"
"..."
I don't know. Nothing.
From here, even the setting document wouldn't tell me.
Because the Starnassila Duke's Family fell before Cambello personally commanded the undead.
Reasons were many, but the biggest was Starnassila Urtega's betrayal.
The continent's strongest Sword Master wiped them out before they could react.
But right now, that Sword Master was still on humanity's side.
Not certain yet, but Cambello, unable to use the Sword Master, would lead the army as originally planned—I was just guessing.
"Heh, who knows?"
"..."
Pitra stared piercingly as if peering into me, then smiled softly and nodded.
"Fine. That's not important now."
"Oh. As expected of Mother. Meanwhile, Father and big bro bully me to no end... Mother, rein them in a bit."
"That's your own doing. If you'd behaved, they wouldn't."
"Yes, yes. All my fault. I know."
Sip, puff~
Gulp, gulp!
I exhaled cigarette smoke and downed liquor. Pitra glared sharply, but I ignored her breezily and pressed the communication artifact.
"Scouts. Report."
-...Undead forming ranks, approaching the castle. Numbers... easily over 20,000.
"Sheesh, after all that killing, still that many left? Sigh... Got it. You retreat too. Don't get caught and die needlessly."
-Yes, sir.
I cut the comm and pondered briefly.
Barring surprises, a dull siege would start now.
Of course, fantasy world—tons of attack magic and artifacts—but the pattern wouldn't differ much from modern sieges.
I could take measures to tilt odds our way... but do I have to?
Sounds annoyingly tiring.
"Mother. Any word from our great Duke?"
He'd asked about 'definitely killing Cambello' amid my busyness, then vanished—no trace since.
A guy who's slain countless demons asking that felt odd, but I answered quick amid chaos.
Thinking back, his attitude had a weird vibe...
"Alzen. Can't you fix that tone?"
I turned at her scolding voice. Pitra eyed me with half-lidded glare.
"Gotta snark every time?"
"Oops. Sorry. Grave sin. Won't happen again. Yeah."
I grinned with exaggerated, servile apology. She flared briefly, endured, and sighed deeply.
"Haaaa... Just now, the Duke sent a communication artifact via servant."
She held out her hand, showing the artifact.
Like a modern Bluetooth earpiece, but crude and angular metal.
"Hm. Direct line to Father?"
"Yes."
"Hmmm..."
I pondered, smirked, and stuck it in my ear.
"Alzen? Something to say to him?"
"You could say that. A bit of check-in... and odd jobs."
"Huh...?"
I looked away from her tilted head, inhaled, and pressed the button firmly.
"Duke. Can you hear me?"
-Alzen? What's up.
"Where are you, what're you doing."
-Surveying the castle situation.
"Cambello lure going smoothly?"
-No reaction yet.
"Hmm... That's weird. Shouldn't be. Doing anything? Not just wandering, waiting for him to chat you up? Haha, that'd be funny. Like a dolled-up guy waiting for flirts in the market."
-.....
"Anyway, no reaction? Why not go straight to him?"
-Hm?
"His secret workshop planned for this, undead weapon depot, black mage workshop/base camp... I know all locations."
-...Tell me. Secret workshop first.
"No, no. Can't. He'd suspect you're sane. Plus, he's not there now. Siege starting."
-.....
"So first... yeah. Smash the weapon depot. Stealthily. Hold back your strength."
-Smash? He'll notice.
"That's why stealthily. You can, right? And if noticed, no biggie. Curse still in you is real—act tormented, conflicted. He'll rush over to recast."
-You... trying to dump odd jobs on me?
Already caught on? Quicker than expected.
"Hm? No idea what you mean."
-...Sigh. Fine. Location.
"Of course. Precisely."
I grinned and recited coordinates.
Moments later, crimson flames erupted from Terra Von outskirts, faint boom and heat rattling windows.
Faint gunpowder scent tickled my nose. I was dumbfounded.
"Cambello, that bastard. He was dead serious, huh?"
I let out a hollow laugh and downed my drink.