It would be fine to record a crystal sphere and send it to Heinri.
What if I displayed to the whole world the Crown Prince's pathetic spectacle of being crushed while presumptuously trying to take on the duties of the Resurrected One? Could there be a more laughable sight than that?
Or, I could slander him, saying that while he gathered troops under the pretense of a monster subjugation, he didn't seriously engage in the actual extermination.
If I could even frame it, saying this subjugation force is a decoy and he's secretly diverting elite troops to plot rebellion, that would be truly excellent.
"Can you record it well?"
"That's no trouble at all. But where are you going?"
I had just handed the crystal sphere to Xenon and was turning to descend the slope when I paused at his question.
"Where else? To fight."
"...With whom?"
"With the enemies?"
Xenon, who understood that the 'enemies' I pointed to were the subjugation force, jumped up with a serious expression.
"It's dangerous!"
"I don't want to be caught off guard and hit from behind, relying solely on the Dullahans and letting my guard down. It should be fine if I just provide support from the rear with magical artifacts."
Once the Dullahans appear, everyone's attention will be drawn to them anyway.
I planned to appropriately demonstrate a few wide-area magical attacks on the terrified subjugation force using magical artifacts.
It was a choice more to increase their confusion than to defeat the subjugation force.
They would be flustered if fireballs suddenly flew at them from somewhere while fighting the terrifying Dullahans.
By doing so, I could maximize their fear of the Dullahans, and it would be even better if they lost their will to fight.
"Then move with me."
"You have to record."
I entrusted him with it precisely because it was important.
What I wanted wasn't simply holding a crystal sphere and recording normally. I wanted him to capture the entire scene of Maxel's defeat from an aerial vantage point where the battle situation was clearly visible.
For that, Xenon's magical manipulation was necessary.
"Do you think I can't do other things just because I'm manipulating one crystal sphere?"
"I heard magic is such delicate work that you can only focus on one thing at a time. Regardless of the type of magic being performed."
So, in my own way, I was telling him to focus, but upon hearing my words, Xenon instead let out a hollow laugh.
"You have no idea what it means to be the successor to the Tower Master, Lady Anelli."
It wasn't so much mocking me as expressing pure astonishment at my ignorance.
Moreover, for some reason, Xenon looked extremely excited. To me, it was an inexplicable shift in mood.
"It's fine. You'll know from now on."
I couldn't understand why his mood was on an upward curve, but it probably wasn't for a bad reason, so I decided to let it go.
Seeing him speak so confidently, it seemed he wouldn't make a mistake.
And shortly after, I was able to clearly confirm Xenon's words.
* * *
Lizardmen were monsters with robust stamina and thick, rough skin.
Moreover, because they inhabited swamps, they were particularly troublesome to deal with.
Amidst this, the subjugation force had to struggle even before reaching the habitat due to the poisonous herbs growing around the swamp.
When they first charged recklessly into this swamp, they inevitably paid the price for their recklessness. So this time, they prepared for the poisonous herbs and the sticky terrain.
'......Damn.'
Although it bothered him that Lilia had chased him down and nagged him relentlessly, Maxel made an effort to erase the incident from his mind.
In truth, just the fact that he couldn't heed Lilia's words made him feel as if a thorn was stuck in his throat.
It felt like he was making a huge mistake, and it felt as if someone was reprimanding him.
It seemed like a disaster would strike if he didn't turn back now and follow her words.
That's what he had always done. He already knew that following Lilia's words made his anxiety wash away.
But this time, he didn't do that. Because lately, he had been feeling sudden impulses to confront his anxiety head-on.
'Lilia is just being oversensitive.'
To shake off the uncomfortable feeling, Maxel checked the scout's report he was holding once again.
It seemed to serve as proof that his judgment was correct, which gave him some relief.
How long had it been since he acted with his own conviction, without relying on someone else's advice?
In the imperial palace, he was busy serving the Emperor's words, and for a while, he couldn't act as he wished because he was listening to Lilia's prophecies.
This was a sensation he hadn't felt in a very long time. The awkward feeling still hadn't completely subsided, but...
Maxel forced himself to find comfort. The eldest son of the Ruejak barony had withdrawn, but other families who heard the news had sent reinforcements. The empire's valiant nobles and soldiers were following Maxel.
"According to the report, only a few Lizardmen remain, and the Dullahan is also weakened, so our valiant subjugation force should be able to handle it easily."
Moreover, this time he had even brought mages. He had prepared thoroughly, learning from his first experience.
At Maxel's words, the noble scions standing beside him rushed to praise his bravery and greatness.
"Beyond that hill lies our target!"
Maxel gripped the hilt of his sword. The scouts had already searched the area, so all that remained was to seize victory.
"Advance!"
That damned Dullahan—if he dragged its corpse and displayed it on the imperial capital's walls, no one would ever look down on him again! It wouldn't be long before he saw Heinri's arrogant demeanor crumble.
Maxel's eyes gleamed as he stared ahead.
"Hmm?"
A look of puzzlement crossed Maxel's triumphant eyes.
"What is that...?"
Beyond the sloping ridge, dark shadows seemed to flicker.
They weren't clearly distinguishable due to the bushes and trees, but they were definitely shadows. They were too strange to be people, and yet too... to be Lizardmen?
The Lizardmen's habitat was still further ahead, wasn't it?
It was said the battle between the Lizardmen and the Dullahan took place in the habitat. Both sides suffered heavy losses from it, and the scouts said they couldn't even get close without being noticed.
So what on earth is that?
"Du, Du, Dullahan!"
"Dullahan?"
A black horse raised its front legs high. Above it, heavy black armor and a dangling greatsword were visible. Also, the empty neck above.
"D-don't panic!"
Maxel, who almost instinctively stepped back, barely regained his composure. The Dullahan must be greatly weakened after fighting the Lizardmen.
Maxel quickly gestured toward the mages. As instructed beforehand, the soldiers and knights adjusted their formation.
Yet even then, they couldn't move an inch.
"Eeek!"
A black aura seeped and rose from the Dullahan slowly descending the ridge. The energy spreading in all directions made their skin crawl and sent chills down their spines.
"Killing intent...!"
A thud sounded as someone who had been frozen stiff collapsed. The stench of urine wafted from very close by.
The Dullahan was merely dangling its sword from atop its horse and slowly approaching, yet everyone was overwhelmed by the killing intent it emanated.
Clenching his teeth, Maxel, who was as oppressed by the killing intent as the others, squeezed his constricted throat and barely managed to shout.
"It's just one!"
But Maxel's shout was quickly drowned out by someone's terrified muttering.
"Th-there, there are more!"
*Whinny!*
The rough whinnying of horses echoed among the quiet subjugation force. Shadows began to increase one by two beyond the ridge.
Pitch-black Dullahans were revealing themselves one after another.
"Good heavens."
One of the trembling soldiers, plunged into shock, let out a groan.
The killing intent grew even thicker, and at some point, a hazy mist began to rise around them. The atmosphere grew even more desolate because of the mist.
Whenever the pitch-black armor moved through the thickly settled mist, the clattering, grating sounds overlapped with the heavy hoofbeats.
From somewhere, a crow let out a long, eerie cry and flew away.
"O Goddess..."
As if someone's despair-filled mutter was a signal, the horse of the Dullahan riding at the very front raised its front legs high.
The blade of the raised greatsword glinted sharply.
* * *
The battle turned into more of a chaotic melee than expected.
Because the Lizardmen, deeply resentful after being attacked by the Dullahans, launched a surprise attack from behind.
[Kyeek!]
If Xenon, who was with me in the rear, hadn't blown away the Lizardmen with magic, the Dullahans might have been in trouble.
[You filthy intruders!]
"Uwaaak!"
Thanks to the Lizardmen who flew into the midst of the subjugation force and rampaged excitedly, the situation became a complete mess.
*Crunch!*
The moment a soldier screamed, bitten by a Lizardman's sharp teeth, Pallides's sword struck the Lizardman's nape.
*Thwack!*
[Pallides! Don't penetrate too deep!]
At Nadav's warning, Pallides's body, which seemed about to leap forward, swiftly pulled back.
The Dullahans didn't bother chasing the subjugation force if they didn't come toward the ridge. It seemed as if they were guarding their territory.
'This appearance will make Maxel even more frantic.'
As evidence, Maxel still hadn't ordered a retreat. Because the Dullahan's swords hadn't reached him in the rear yet.
While recording this scene with the crystal sphere, Xenon also skillfully used magic to conceal the ridge where the Dullahans and I were with mist.
With just transformation magic and invisibility magic, hiding within the mist, they wouldn't be able to see me no matter how hard they tried.
To the subjugation force's eyes, wouldn't it seem like fireballs suddenly shot out from thin air and ice spears poured down?
"W-we need the Goddess's protection!"
"Cursed creatures!"
"Aaah!"
Seeing them calling upon the Goddess here and there, it seemed my intention had hit the mark, which was fortunate.
[Hahaha! I am the terrifying knight who stands at the vanguard and delivers fear to the enemy, Zigore!]
Zigore, who had been the first Dullahan to reveal himself earlier, seemed utterly excited to be standing at the vanguard as he wished.
Even Mori, who stood at the very back among the Dullahans, called out to Zigore with concern, showing just how carried away he was.
'I only thought he was cute.'
It seems it's time to acknowledge that Zigore is a fledgling capable of delivering terrifying fear to the enemy.
I let out a hollow laugh but didn't lose my tension, staring straight ahead.
Screams, the stench of blood, a chaotic mess of swords, arrows, and magic.
The noble families who joined that subjugation force will regret today's choice for a long, long time.