Near the coachman seat of the undead-operated dragon carriage, Duma's back swayed as she sat in the luxurious seats.
A large dragon carriage, with Suzuki, Nephira, and Excella in the back seat, was heading for the harbor east of Leirune.
In the seat in front of Excella, Nephira was poking the Hero with her elbow.
"Hey Suzuki. Perhaps we should have brought more candies?"
"…No need."
"I see. There is a rare preserved food made from compressed grains. You like that kind of thing, don't you?"
"I said I was fine!"
"You have no appetite? You must be dragon-carriage-sick. If you feel ill, just let know. I have a puke bag."
"I'll be fine!"
The Hero looked out the window with a sulky look on his face.
(Fufu. They're like mother and son, aren't they?)
Excella had such a heartwarming thought. At the sa ti, she recalled what she had said to Nephira earlier and reflected on it.
(It would be better for world peace if the demoness Lady Nephira and the Hero beca closer to each other. And yet I…)
Her own reasons for offering to accompany them were clear and simple. She did it because she didn't want Nephira to be the one with the Hero.
(As the Princess of Leirune, my foremost priority should be to bring peace to the world. I should have known in my mind—— I should not let my personal feelings get in the way…)
The sll of the sea soon interrupts Excella's train of thought.
(Ah–! It's been a long ti since I've been to the port of Coure!)
It was a port that Excella had fond mories of. Orneo and her visited many tis in the past. However, when she looked out the window, her eyes widened in astonishnt at what she saw.
The port of Coure was shrouded in a deep fog. On the coast, with an ominous atmosphere hanging in the air, decaying ships that resembled ghost ships had gathered.
(T-This is, the Demon Lord's Army Immortal Fleet…!)
After descending from the dragon carriage, not only Excella but also the Hero beca breathless at the imposing sight of the Immortal Fleet. Nephira touched her chin with her hand, admiration on her face as she watched the fleet fill the harbor.
"It's always a spectacular sight."
"Kikekeke. M-rely a fragnt! Th-This ti, just ca to pick up Suzuki."
It was said that the Immortal Fleet, an armada with 13 warships, including a huge mothership, destroyed three nations in the last great war. The immortal fleet sailed at speeds unthinkable for ordinary ships and the human soldiers it defeated beca its undead companions, making them stronger and stronger.
"C-Co on. M-My Ship. L-Leaving soon…"
Pointing at a black ship so large that one had to raise one's eyes to look at it, Duma laughed eerily.
(Ugh… I still have a bad feeling about this…!)
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
As soon as Duma ascended to the deck of the huge ship, the dozens of undead that had been roaming around the vessel knelt in unison. Takashi, who was walking behind Duma—
"Ugh…"
—Put his hand over his mouth.
The sll of rotten flesh, mixed with the sea breeze, hit him in the nose. There were many skeleton soldiers in the Thunder-Lance Charge, but few undead with flesh. From up close, he could even see the bones protruding from the skin and the internal viscera. Feeling nauseated, Takashi tried not to look the undead in the eyes.
The ship had already departed and was sailing through the foggy sea. The port of Coure behind them was moving away from them quickly. Takashi and the rest were on a large, old sailing boat. Yet, they are sailing at the sa speed as ships with propellers or internal combustion engines. Takashi thought that this was probably due to magic.
"D-Down here, is the cabin!"
Following Duma down the creaking staircase led to a cabin about the size of the King's Throne Room in the Syness Castle. Undead and skeletons were still kneeling on both left and right sides.
"Only possible for an Immortal fleet. All skeletons and undead."
Takashi muttered, and Duma laughed happily, "O-Oh you! You're embarrassing !"
(N-No, I didn't an it as a complint!)
"Th-This are only low-ranked soldiers! S-Suzuki, I-I'll show you my collection…"
Duma clapped her hands with a dry sound. Then the door opened, and a few undead ca waddling in.
"F-From all over the world, I-I collected, t-the corpses of beautiful n!"
Duma proudly boasted. Takashi looked at the undead once again. Although their skin color and height were slightly different from each other, they all had similar facial features. It must be Duma's preference. The skin of each undead was partially ripped in places, revealing dark flesh, suggesting that they were beautiful n before their deaths. However…
(Guh–! The stench of decay!)
Takashi gagged with a strong feeling of nausea. Nephira rubbed his back with concern.
"N-Not to your liking? T-Though immortal, the undead will eventually rot and l-lose the use of their limbs. S-So here is the next collection…"
When Duma clapped her hands again, the beautiful male undead left, and three white-skinned n entered through the doorway. Almost naked, their skin looked like white wax.
(This... they don't stink, but they look like mannequins…)
Duma snapped her fingers. Then those n got down on all fours in front of Duma. Their backs were covered with a brown carpet.
Takashi was surprised to see Duma sit on the back of one of the n as if it was natural.
"W-What the HELL are you doing!?"
"Ke ke kikeke. I-Is a 'Human-Chair'. A-Abducted living humans, t-turned them into puppets, skinned their backs, and i-implanted animal hair on them. S-Suzuki. Y-You too, sit down.
"Who would SIT DOWNNNNNNNN!!"
Takashi scread.
(This bitch, what the hell does she think humans are!?)
Anger welled up, boiling inside Takashi's heart. However, next to Takashi, Nephira was already sitting as if it was natural on a different human-chair.
"Ooh, Suzuki! It is soft and fluffy!"
"Nephira!? Why, are you sitting there nonchalantly!?"
"Didn't you once say sothing like, 'I want a fluffy' sothing?"
"I didn't an I wanted this creepy, fluffy otherworld life!!"
"N-Not to your liking either? T-Then, here's collection number three."
Do you want more free chapters? CHALLENGES are active. You can participate by leaving us either a rating or a review on Novel Updates (or better yet both). Every ti we clear one of the challenges an extra free chapter will be released. Happy reviewing.
Reviews
All reviews (0)