Former General Is Undead Knight - Act 4-17 - The Fall of the Holy City①

Lambert ran around the holy city, killing every 『Enhanced Demonic Insect』 he could find.

The city was already littered with corpses; no living being could be seen around him.

The corpses of the insects that kept gushing out had already flooded the streets of the holy city.

Even though the caster 『Gu』 had already died, the 『Enhanced Demonic Insects』 never stopped propagating.

In fact, they looked even more lively since losing their master.

‘I guess 『Gu』 is still alive.’

『Knight of Blood Mist』 made his move in order to save 『Gu』. Then, the former left since he had already accomplished his mission.

Lambert was quite sure that he had smashed 『Gu』’s head.

But Lambert was already familiar with this kind of tenacity since it happened so many times during the Eight Countries Unification War. Sorcerers that should’ve already died by his hand reappeared again later.

The first on the list among them was Domiliune, who was obsessed with Lambert for some reason.

Upon closer inspection, the 『Enhanced Demonic Insects』 were completely fixated on devouring the corpses. Meanwhile, the inquisition squad was nowhere in sight.

”

”

Lambert judged that the sorcerers from the inquisition squad wouldn’t be defeated by the likes of 『Enhanced Demonic Insects』 that were weak enough to be beaten to death by a normal person.

‘Eight Wise Men… Letting that man in black armor escape was a huge blunder. That guy might’ve already eliminated the biggest hitters of the inquisition squad.’

The man in black armor—the 『Knight of Blood Mist』—could match Lambert in a frontal sword fight.

No one in Heinstia could stop that man’s sword or pierce through the defenses of his dalrite armor.

「My current priority is that man in black armor… And, I need to confirm the death of 『Gu』. I’m also curious about the people creeping in the underground waterway, but let’s forget about the last matter for now and focus on the first two.」

And, just as expected, Lambert had too much on his plate.

It would make things easier for him if he had more info like the number of Eight Wise Men, but he had no idea who was still alive—not to mention that one of the Four Great Sages, Philipo, had already been killed..

In addition, seeing that the number of angels fighting the 『Enhanced Demonic Insects』 had decreased, he assumed that Matai had already been killed, too.

Suddenly, a beast-shaped flame rushed at Lambert.

Lambert dispersed the flame beast with a swing of his sword, bisecting it down the middle.

「…You again, huh.」

Lambert glared at the man who stood before him. It was one of the Four Great Sages: Johann.

He could see Johann’s mouth moving through the gap in the latter’s broken mask.

「Look what happened to this holy city. Do you really think you can still waste your time chasing me around?」

「…」

Johann silently pointed his cane at Lambert.

「I already told you, but I will come for you again after I’m done with my business. Seeing you blatantly ignore the citizens of the holy city—are you telling me to dispose of you as soon as possible for being an eyesore who keeps bothering me?」

「…Think a little bit. You’re way too sinister. There’s no need for me to let you go since you will definitely kill Cardinal Zebedai after this incident.」

「I never said I was going to kill him.」

Johann smirked upon hearing that.

「No, you will definitely kill Cardinal Zebedai. With that righteous indignation of yours, you surely cannot overlook his deeds. However, his methods are necessary for the current Regios Kingdom. Tell me, how are you going to fight 『Devil’s Piper』 once we, the inquisition squad, are gone?」

「Are you going to burn the citizens of this city just to lure those people out?」

「…」

Johann fell into a brief silence before gripping his cane more firmly.

「…Yes, that’s the plan.」

Hearing Johann’s answer, Lambert lowered his greatsword.

Johann visibly stiffened upon seeing Lambert’s action.

「…Are you looking down on me for committing such cruel acts in the name of justice?」

「I’m not laughing at you. One who can talk about justice while murdering innocent people without even batting an eye is nothing but a madman.」

Lambert shook his head and returned his greatsword to its sheath.

「This is my answer to your previous worry. Having turned into a corpse long ago, I keep putting importance in the corpses that keep piling up. I have no right to judge you and your organization.」

The current era was different from Lambert’s era.

He definitely couldn’t appear in the forefront of history and exert his influence.

It was also a fact that the current kingdom couldn’t face 『Devil’s Piper』 head on.

For that reason, Lambert couldn’t just bring himself to get rid of a person who went as far as ridding themselves of kindness for the betterment of the kingdom.

「I’ll give you my promise: I won’t kill Zebedai if he turns out to be a man worthy of respect like you. Move aside, Johann. Your side already lost two of the Four Great Sages.」

「…」

At that moment, Johann was trying to find an opening to attack Lambert again.

But he already fell to his knees before he realized it.

From the very beginning, Johann had always suppressed his own feelings to complete his missions, earning him numerous achievements as the manager of the inquisition squad.

Being slandered as a group of terrifying devils, he couldn’t do anything but trust in the path he chose.

Being able to gain the approval from someone of Lambert’s caliber was truly a blessing for Johann.

‘B-but still, I have to eliminate this undead right here. That is what I’m supposed to do as one of the Four Great Sages.’

Despite already falling on his knees, Johann glared at Lambert.

This time, the tall figure clad in full-plate armor seemed to be far bigger than the first time they met. It was as if Lambert was such an unreachable existence.

「…Ah, let me ask one last question. I sensed numerous presences in the underground waterway. Can you tell me about that?」

Lambert asked such a question.

Lambert recalled the unpleasant presence beneath his foot, but seeing that the Eight Wise Men were rampaging on the surface, he was too preoccupied to worry about the matter that happened underground.

But if Johann knew what happened under the holy city, Lambert might have to change his priorities.

「Underground… Numerous presences?!」

At that moment, color drained from Johann’s face.

「So there really is something underground, eh?」

「…That concerns only the upper echelon of the inquisition squad. That’s not to say we are giving up on hunting you down. As long as you keep aiming for Cardinal Zebedai, we will surely meet again. And when that happens, I will hunt you down along with the last member of the Four Great Sages, Simon-sama.」

Johann retreated.

Seeing that, Lambert also turned around and went in the opposite direction of Johann.

After hearing Johann’s remark, Lambert had pretty much guessed the identity of the mysterious presence underground.

No doubt about it; there was a hidden passage in the underground waterway to escape from the holy city for this kind of situation.

Although it was nothing more than a guess, he had already confirmed the truth by seeing Johann’s reaction.

And now, as if to prevent Zebedai from using that route… One of the Eight Wise Men most likely had prepared a trap to corner Zebedai and kill him.

Rather than worry about Zebedai’s situation underground, Lambert’s priority was to hunt down 『Gu』, whose whereabouts were unknown, and the 『Knight of Blood Mist』 who might still be wandering around somewhere aboveground.

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