Ritzy, Gerhart, and Maklin weren't technically in a rush, but they still arrived at Mirrae in less than a day. Ritzy, out of slight pettiness and because he wanted to separate from Gerhart as quickly as possible, had pushed on at a decent pace.
However, when they arrived in front of the city, even Ritzy had to stop and gawk. Vestor and Mirrae were both towns or cities close to the border of an enemy kingdom, but the difference between them was like night and day.
Vestor had been an ordinary countryside town with a bunch of farmers and ordinary civilians without higher education or skills. Lenny had been one of the few with more than Novice-level mana. It might have had walls around, but an athletic person or monster could easily climb them.
Mirrae, on the other hand, was a fortress.
The thick stone walls were just shy of ten meters tall, and they had square embrasures on top to let soldiers on the wall defend against any possible attackers. The sturdy portcullis and wooden drawbridge looked at least as impenetrable as the rest of the walls and watchtowers, which wasn't strange considering it was the only way across the moat.
The moat was filled with wooden spikes instead of water, so it wasn't completely impassable, but it would be difficult to cross and climb without getting killed.
"I have a feeling I know which side has an edge in this war, Gerhart."
It was the first time Ritzy spoke to him since their discussion of where to go after Chitron, so Gerhart was a little surprised.
"Yeah, at least around the Banta Forest. I doubt Baron Michmond has even thought of preparing something like this."
As if he had remembered that he was supposed to be mad with Gerhart, Ritzy didn't say anything again.
"Ahem. Let's not disparage Shiria too much. If they weren't proper enemies, there wouldn't be a need for us to prepare defenses like this."
Ritzy and Gerhart nodded as they fell in behind Maklin, who spoke as he took the lead toward Mirrae, the fortress town.
"Halt!"
A guard, whom Ritzy and Gerhart had previously not noticed, shouted from atop the wall once the trio got close. Gerhart was almost surprised they hadn't started with a warning shot, considering the two Deathbeds floating behind them.
Maklin fished out a badge from within his coat.
"Maklin, sub-scout of the Fox Squad, reporting for debrief with the Commander."
"The Fox Squad is supposed to be out on a mission. Explain."
"I only report to the Commander."
"Affirmative. State the identity of your company."
"Harmless fugitives."
"Affirmative. Please proceed."
Following the guard's words, the drawbridge lowered, and the portcullis rose just enough to let them inside.
"Do you think you could park your beds outside, Ritzy?"
Ritzy shook his head.
"I would prefer not to. If it's any comfort, Maya and Talia are currently immobile."
"Oh, it's not because you're a threat if that's what you were worried about, Ritzy. They will take up a lot of space inside."
Ritzy was a little miffed about Maklin so easily dismissing the danger he posed, but he couldn't refute it.
"It's fine. My Deathbeds won't be affected by something as trivial as physical matter."
Ritzy bent down and picked up a stone that he tossed through the edge of Maya's bed to demonstrate.
"Sorry, Maya."
The stone didn't hit Maya, but it was still impolite to throw a stone that close to her.
Maklin's eyes widened in surprise as the stone passed right through the bed of bone.
"I see. Wait, can't you hide them underground?"
Ritzy's head whipped around to look at Maklin.
"What?"
Ritzy's intense stare made Maklin wonder if he had asked something ridiculous.
"You're a damn genius, young Maklin!"
Ritzy turned back to the Deathbeds and used his mana tether to control them and lower them into the ground. He held his breath in anticipation since he wasn't sure it would work.
But it did.
Ritzy's Deathbeds fazed into the ground without trouble.
"Woah! Very nice!"
Ritzy cheered with excitement as he could still feel that the Deathbeds were following him like obedient puppies.
"Wait, with this…."
Ritzy's excitement controlled his body, and before he, Gerhart, or Maklin knew it, the bones that remained from their meals were emptied out of Ritzy's bag and onto the ground.
"Hmm. Let's hope it works like this."
Ritzy scrounged up all the bones in one neat pile before holding his hand above it. He roused his mana and moved it according to the instructions in his spellbook.
"Deathbed!"
Following Ritzy's shout, the pile of bones jumped up in the air before landing on a bed of bone that had practically blinked into existence.
"Nice."
The pile of bones stayed together on one bed, which was exactly what Ritzy had hoped would happen but feared wouldn't happen. He wouldn't have been surprised if only one bone got the bed or if he managed to split up the bones on separate beds.
That was partially why he hadn't conjured another Deathbed to carry the bones. Regardless of what happened, he would have another Deathbed floating around him and obstructing his view or disturbing those around him.
Ritzy wouldn't have been that bothered by the Deathbed since he thought it looked cool, but it was inconvenient to constantly have a bed float around him and the other two. It was also easy to carry the bones in his almost empty bag, so it didn't matter that much.
But now that Ritzy had discovered that he could store the Deathbeds underground, he had no reason not to use one or several to carry his bones.
"Thanks for the suggestion, young man. Let's go."
Ritzy gave Maklin an appreciative pat on his shoulder as he turned around and walked toward Mirrae. Making progress with his necromancy made Ritzy excited about going to Drychness. But first, he had to clear the hurdle that was Mirrae and Chitron. He also had to give Maklin credit.
Maklin hurried to catch up to Ritzy and take the lead. He hadn't spent that long with Ritzy and Gerhart, but he could already tell that Ritzy, if left to his own devices, was a maker of trouble.
Although he didn't think anything bad would happen, Maklin didn't want to give Ritzy too many opportunities to interact with the strict soldiers or mischievous mercenaries of the outpost unattended.
Maklin gave Gerahart a look, and Gerhart nodded in understanding. Even if nothing happened, it would be better to keep a close eye on Ritzy as they passed through the fortress city.
A guard awaited them on the other side of the gate. He bowed to Maklin.
"The Commander awaits."
Then, the guard led the way with a march-like pace.
Right on the other side of the wall, there were mainly soldiers and mercenaries milling about, either patrolling or just wasting time, training, or resting. But after that, it was almost like an ordinary city with residential buildings and shops.
Ritzy and Gerhart only got a glimpse of that part before the guard led them and Maklin into a fancy building on the border between soldiers and civilians. Chitron's national emblem of two swords crossed over a shield was on the building's door, signifying that it belonged to the Chitron Military.
Surprisingly, the Commander brought in Ritzy first instead of Maklin.
Maklin and Gerhart both thought Maklin or all three would be brought into the seemingly soundproof office. So, they were left confused and wondering what was happening with Ritzy inside, especially when nothing happened for quite a while.
But eventually, Ritzy came out with a thoughtful expression.
"What happened in there, Ritzy?"
Ritzy gave Gerhart, who asked because he was worried, a pointed look. Ritzy was still upset with Gerhart.
Ritzy just shrugged.
"Nothing much. But she wanted you to go inside."
Gerhart sighed in defeat.
"...Okay."
And he entered the office. After a short conversation where the Commander asked Gerhart about what had led him and Ritzy to this point and where they would go next, the Commander sent him out before he could ask what she and Ritzy had talked about.
Finally, it was Maklin's turn to give a debrief. He entered the sparsely decorated office with slight trepidation.
The Commander behind the sturdy, document-covered oak desk was always slightly intimidating despite her prim and proper appearance. Her straight, shoulder-length black hair never seemed to be in the slightest of disarray. Her back was as straight as the sword leaning against the desk, and her face was stiff like cut from stone. But it was nonetheless beautiful for that. She just seemed unapproachable, which was fitting, considering her position was above everyone else's in the city.
"They aren't spies, at least. But I understand why your captain sent you with them, Maklin."
Maklin nodded. His body was ramrod straight, and he had his arms crossed behind his back. He usually slumped his shoulder since he towered above most people. But doing so in front of the Commander was a sign of a lack of respect. And while he was slightly scared of the Commander, his fear was dwarfed by the respect he had for her.
"I agree, Commander. Gerhart is a promising Ranger with a solid foundation. He was also the one who made sure the two survived the journey through Banta Forest. And while Ritzy might seem harmless, I think it's best not to leave him unattended."
"You think Ritzy seems harmless?"
Commander Ryter raised an eyebrow as she looked up from the document she had been reading and at Maklin.
"Seems like you still haven't developed an eye for detail, Maklin."
Although Commander Ryter's words seemed reproachful, Maklin could tell that she didn't blame him for anything, so he dared to voice his curiosity.
"...How so, Commander?"
"Ritzy started looking for ways out and ways to fight back as soon as he stepped into my office. And that skull he was carrying was doing the same while taking Ritzy into consideration. His necromantic skills seem a little unconventional, what with the lone skull and the beds of bone underground. But considering he can do that without breaking a sweat while still being a Novice, I think Ritzy is the greater threat of the two."
"I see."
"Of course, now, he's just a cute kid. So, what do you think we should do, Maklin?"
Maklin couldn't help but feel that the Commander's words were ominous as she looked straight at him with a smile while resting her elbows on the table.
"What do you mean, Commander?"
"Naturally, I am asking if we should take this opportunity and kill him right now or if we should let him go. He did say he was going to become the second Dark One. And you know how powerful of a fighting force necromancers can be. What if he becomes a threat to our country in the future? Kill him or spare him."