Chapter 563: Escape (2)
[Memory of Blood]
Oliver activated creation-type black magic based on data accumulated in blood.
A large volume of emotions pooled in Oliver’s hands and spread out, matching the number of corpse puppets. The blood, reacting to the emotions, began to cover the corpse puppets like a living organism. It constricted their necks, stretched along their spines, and wove around their limbs and torsos like a web.
Most impressive, however, was the blood eyepatch over the corpse puppet’s eyes, from which an eyeball emerged, scanning the surroundings.
“Everyone.”
Oliver called the creatures he had created. The creatures rose and responded in silence to his call.
“…Could you assist me?”
Nod.
The newly-born creatures nodded in response. Oliver couldn’t help but feel a bit awed by the sight.
The blood-creature puppets were different in nature from Child, but they were proving to be quite decent creatures. The most impressive part was the intelligence and dignity that could be felt from them. Considering that most creatures of this type didn’t rise beyond the level of beasts, this was indeed extraordinary.
It was likely because they had been crafted based on data accumulated in blood. This was very good news, as he could expect more proactive and adept responses from them.
‘Maybe I could even find some supplementary personnel to manage the forest in Zone X.’
This was also good news. After all, the reason for creating these blood-creature puppets was because the corpse puppet Bathory (Child-First) had been diverted to forest management duties alongside Seamus (Child-Third). If replacement personnel could be created to manage the forest, then both of them could be returned to full strength.
Of course, Oliver still had the corpse puppets Duncan and Durance, but that still left much to be desired.
‘Especially in a situation like this.’
Oliver looked over at Jane. Curiously, she was engaged in a secret conversation with Armand, though it was unclear when she had become close to him.
Noticing Oliver’s silent gaze, Jane and Armand looked in his direction. Oliver spoke.
“…When moving these corpse puppets, place them at the outermost perimeter and strike any creatures with magic before they get too close; this will make defense much easier, Your Highness.”
“While the firepower you assured me is good, are you certain it will hold them back as you say? The creatures will be swarming in from all directions.”
“I believe it will be manageable as long as I monitor the surroundings with the necromancer’s vision and issue commands accordingly. Some may slip through, but I trust that the paladin and the other guards will be able to handle those.”
Armand nodded. He hadn’t been genuinely worried; rather, he had asked to ensure Oliver fully understood the plan.
His subsequent question confirmed this.
“And the means of transportation?”
“Please wait a moment.”
With a polite gesture, Oliver approached Big Mouth, who was resting, and asked him to retrieve the next item. It was something Oliver had always kept on hand but had never once taken out.
Thud!
Thud!
With a loud retching sound, Big Mouth expelled two large flasks. Inside each flask was an enormous amount of emotion, which puzzled onlookers, who tilted their heads in confusion. While they knew emotions were valuable to necromancers, they’d never seen them used as a mode of transportation.
Ignoring their reactions, Oliver opened the flask caps and extracted a large amount of emotion with both hands. He then cast creation-type black magic toward the window.
Mimic-Wolf
The enormous volume of emotions, too large for his hands alone, burst forth in a black flash, shattering the window and shooting out.
“My custom-made window…”
Armand’s voice was tinged with regret, though it was soon drowned out by the echoing howls of wolves.
“Awoo━━!!”
“Aaaaahwoo━━!!”
“Kyahahahahahaa...!”
It was the sound of a hundred wolf-creatures, brought to life, howling in unison.
The guards and paladins stationed outside the villa were startled by the sudden appearance of so many creatures but quickly sized up the situation when Oliver and Armand emerged. They backed away, giving them space.
“So that’s the mode of transportation?”
“Yes. If it can be ridden to move, it’s a means of transportation.”
Oliver, who had once ridden a werewolf corpse puppet through a dense forest, answered concisely. Though that werewolf had been damaged in pursuit of Red Hood, it had allowed Oliver to learn Red Hood’s creation-type black magic.
“Riding these creatures will allow us to move faster than cars. Given their size, they can carry three people each, accommodating up to three hundred people in total... I never imagined using them this way, but life can be quite amusing sometimes.”
“Though it seems not everyone finds it so amusing.”
Armand gestured toward the nobles with his eyes.
Just as he said, the nobles’ faces had turned deathly pale, regardless of whether they were male, female, young, or old.
At first, Oliver couldn’t understand, but a little reflection made it clear enough.
While some of Gallos’s powerful nobles purchased the necromancer’s creations to fulfill their desires, they’d likely never encountered something like this.
Now, with a hundred wolves larger than any car before them, their haughty demeanor had shed away, leaving their faces white with terror.
“You’re expecting us to ride that thing?”
One middle-aged nobleman spoke in disbelief, his face glowing with fear and reluctance.
“Yes.”
“I don’t think I can do it…”
“M-me neither…”
Two women muttered, just as a wolf-creature, apparently sensing their unease, growled lowly, eliciting soft screams from them.
The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.
Oliver looked to Armand for assistance. He was the only person who could persuade the nobles here. Yet, for some reason, Armand pretended not to notice Oliver’s silent plea, leaving the situation as it was.
An incomprehensible attitude.
Because of this, the anxious nobles began to speak up, claiming it looked too dangerous, reckless, and that they simply couldn’t ride such creatures.
One noble suggested another plan: having Oliver and the guards go outside to summon the army instead.
The other nobles murmured in agreement, praising it as if it were the true solution.
“That’s it! Why should we go out ourselves? Someone else can go out and alert them about the situation here, right?”
“Yes, exactly!”
“Agreed!”
Voices of assent rose up. At that moment, Jane stepped forward.
“Forgive me, but that would be unwise, everyone.”
Her words were like cold water thrown on a fire, and all eyes turned toward her, glaring.
Under ordinary circumstances, such glares might have made someone shrink back. However, Jane met their gazes squarely and spoke confidently.
“A creature created by Pan is in the lake around this villa. It’s a strange hybrid that seems part fish and part human.”
“…”
“These creatures are digging into the earth, expanding the lake. I’m not sure exactly what they’re planning, but staying in the villa for too long will surely be dangerous.”
“Why are you only telling us now?!”
A man shouted furiously, his voice betraying his loss of composure.
The fact that they’d been attacked, the hundred wolf-creatures they’d have to ride—these unwanted situations were piling up and fraying his nerves to the breaking point.
Still, it was unfair to blame Jane for this. She had come to the villa voluntarily, despite being able to escape on her own.
Maybe it was for this reason that Oliver placed his hand gently on Jane’s shoulder as he stepped forward, hoping to calm the agitated nobles.
Jane flinched at the unexpected gesture, and the nobles, too, recoiled slightly.
Evidently, the impression of Oliver “licking” people’s minds at the party still lingered in their memories.
Jane, too, seemed to recall that moment, and tried to hold him back. But Oliver, recalling their earlier conversation, gave her a reassuring look, signaling that it would be fine.
‘…So, as I mentioned earlier, I’d appreciate it if you could avoid showing that side of yourself, like at the party. Personally… I just prefer the regular Dave.’
Surprisingly, Jane’s words had aligned with something Kent had once said: he had also liked the unique side of Oliver’s personality. What an amusing coincidence. With that memory in mind, Oliver began speaking.
“My apologies. Not mentioning the fish-people earlier was my mistake; I didn’t find the right moment to tell you.”
The nobles didn’t offer much reaction. Given his unsettling behavior at the party and the fact that he’d just summoned a hundred monstrous wolves, their wariness was understandable—even with a paladin present.
Still, Oliver persisted, striving to reassure them.
“Also, I apologize for my behavior in the party hall. Miss Jane is my friend, and I may have been a bit on edge… I think I may have become somewhat addicted as well.”
Addicted. This strange word left the nobles glancing at each other in confusion.
“Oh, another friend of mine once said that emotions like hatred or anger can be addictive. I’ve experienced some situations lately that tested my patience, and I think I may have gotten hooked on that feeling… It just slipped my mind for a moment. I’m sorry.”
To Oliver’s surprise, a few nobles who he thought wouldn’t listen actually appeared to soften, perhaps touched by his unusual voice, the atmosphere, or his sincerity.
“But apart from that, I believe it’s truly safer to leave here. I can’t be certain what the fish-people are planning, but it’s unlikely to be beneficial for us. We should move while we have time. I’ll do everything in my power to assist, so please, cooperate.”
Oliver spoke his mind honestly, without exaggeration or understatement.
“Thank you… and I appreciate the apology. But I’m curious: why is a necromancer going to such lengths to help us?”
The question came from a man whom Oliver had wounded in the chest back at the party. Now that some time had passed, he seemed somewhat calmer and asked with a respectful hint of sarcasm.
Oliver replied casually, as if it were nothing special.
“For one thing, I am a guest at this party, and more importantly, Miss Jane wants to help you all… since she has investments remaining in Gallos.”
Oliver pointed politely toward Jane, drawing all eyes to her once again.
This kind of response was atypical, and yet it conveyed Oliver’s sincerity.
Their interactions with him had been brief, but the nobles already had an inkling that he wasn’t quite ordinary.
Then, Armand, who had been observing, interjected.
“I’ll also ask for your cooperation… I understand how sudden and shocking this situation is, but what matters now is our immediate safety. Even as a knight who has long served, I too believe moving away from the villa is the safer option.”
For a man who’d been stern enough to face off against an earl, Armand’s softer tone seemed more natural, and this eased the tension among the nobles, who gradually relaxed.
Finally, Armand solidified the decision.
“More importantly, as this nation’s chancellor, a servant of His Majesty the King, and a Gallosian noble, I do not wish to leave you in such peril. To do so would harm the honor of His Majesty and the dignity of our nation. So, for His Majesty and the country, I ask you all to be courageous.”
...
Interestingly, once Armand took the lead, the reluctant nobles began to muster the courage to act. It made Oliver wonder why he hadn’t done so sooner.
However, they needed to make preparations for immediate movement, leaving Oliver without the time to ask. Instead, he began explaining the planned formation for the move.
The nobles and party guests they needed to protect would form the center, surrounded by their personal guards and paladins. Finally, Oliver and his assistant corpse puppets would complete the outer perimeter for a rapid advance.
It was simple but effective, as shown by Armand’s lack of objections and his decision to follow Oliver’s plan.
‘Of course, there are still some unexpected variables.’
Oliver murmured internally.
The first unexpected variable was that the guards left behind at the villa accepted this situation far more easily than anticipated, despite the creature shortage.
The wolf-creature count stood at 100, while the villa occupants, including guards and employees, totaled around 700.
With all nobles moving out, about two-thirds of the villa staff had to remain behind, risking potential dangers.
Though he’d expected resistance, the remaining staff accepted it with surprising calm, attributing it to their employment contracts.
Yet the most unexpected part involved Jane.
While Oliver was reinforcing the corpse puppets and creatures with his mana as a sort of armor in case of holy power use, Jane approached and spoke up.
“Dave, if you don’t mind, I’ll travel among the nobles.”
Oliver was taken aback. He had planned to escort her personally, but Jane’s attitude was resolute.
“I appreciate the thought, but, honestly, this is the best way. You’re practically responsible for everyone’s safety here, and if I ride with you… it just wouldn’t seem right, would it?”
Oliver couldn’t argue.
If Jane rode right behind him, the other nobles might feel uneasy, thinking he cared more about her safety than theirs. And, well, that wouldn’t be entirely untrue.
“Given the circumstances, this is probably best for everyone. So, I’ll go with the other nobles.”
“…Have you and Sir Armand discussed this?”
Jane smiled knowingly. “It’s not polite to pry into a lady’s heart.”
With that, their conversation ended. While Oliver didn’t particularly like it, Jane’s resolve was so firm that he couldn’t object.
After all, Oliver respected personal choices above all else. The only issue that lingered was the thought that Jane made this decision not for herself, but for his sake.
Though he was tempted to ask her about it, Oliver knew she wouldn’t give him a straight answer, so he let it go, albeit reluctantly.
“What are you thinking about?”
Armand called out to Oliver, pulling him from his thoughts.
As both a High Priest of the Pater Church and the chancellor of Gallos, Armand was one of the most protected individuals, yet he chose to take the front line, leading the paladins and guards. He had argued that his skills would be better used in action than in waiting for protection.
In response to Armand’s question, Oliver replied, “Ah, I’m sorry… I was lost in thought for a moment.”
“That could be problematic. Everyone is taking this risk because of you, after all.”
Oliver couldn’t deny it. This plan was indeed their best option, but it was still a gamble that carried considerable risk, and he was the one who proposed it, making him the most responsible.
“If you’re worried about Miss Jane, rest assured. I’ve told the paladins to guard her carefully.”
Armand seemed to read Oliver’s thoughts.
“So, it was Your Highness’s idea for her to move among the nobles?”
“You misunderstand. I simply answered her questions and offered my perspective.”
Sincerity. Oliver asked what Jane had inquired about.
“Nothing major. She wanted to know what sort of treatment you might receive if you managed to rescue the nobles and asked how to earn even greater recognition. I suggested it would help if you showed concern for everyone… I truly hope that you will. For me, that would be the best outcome.”
Seeing no reason to argue, Oliver remained silent.
“So, are you ready to proceed, or do you plan to keep questioning me?”
With that, Oliver glanced around.
In the magic-powered stable, the nobles rode atop the wolf-creatures in groups of three, with their guards and paladins stationed protectively around them.
It was indeed a rare sight—nobles trembling on monstrous wolves, paladins on creatures summoned through necromancy. None of this would have happened without Oliver’s influence.
The scene filled Oliver with a slight sense of responsibility.
“…I’m ready to begin.”
“I’m pleased to hear that. Shall we get moving now?”
Armand, seated comfortably atop one of the wolf-creatures, showed none of the unease felt by the other paladins.
“Yes, just one last thing.”
Oliver, murmuring to himself, began drawing forth the massive reserves of emotion he had stored earlier, casting his magic toward the sky.
[Call the Clouds]
It was a preparatory spell for large-scale lightning magic. Armand, observing, nodded in approval.
“Oh, that’s not a bad idea.”