Thus, we had our tasks set for the next two weeks until the next defense battle began.
We fortified the defenses at the Crossroad main castle while pouring all excess resources and effort into the dungeon in District 10, the 'Abandoned Cathedral'. This place would effectively serve as our forward base.
Initially, we transported supplies physically using Dearmudin's flight magic, but eventually, we just set up a teleport gate.
Of course, access through this teleport gate had to be rigorously checked and secured. After all, it was connected to enemy territory.
Groaa...
Groaaaar!
Zombies kept pouring into the cathedral.
"More coming through the main entrance!"
"Activate the artifacts sequentially!"
"The east window is broken! Prioritize repairs!"
Thanks to the various defensive artifacts meticulously installed, the magic walls I regularly reinforced, and the efforts of the survivors,
Dangerous moments that were frequent at first gradually diminished as we became more adept.
'Indeed...'
By observing the battle here, I was also able to study the behavior of the zombie monsters.
Zombie monsters were practically brainless and charged straightforwardly at living beings.
One might wonder how they differed from regular monsters, but the key difference was that they didn't fall even when their bodies were damaged.
A regular monster would become incapacitated if it lost a limb or had a hole punched through its body.
But in their zombie state, they didn't. Losing a limb was trivial, and they would even crawl using their arms if they lost their lower half.
'They even keep moving for a while after their heads are blown off...'
So, for the survivors, the best strategy was to avoid direct confrontation and block them with sturdy walls.
After all, zombies swarmed endlessly around the cathedral. Killing them only brought the next wave.
Thus, the tactic was to block them with a strong wall, letting the accumulated zombies get stuck and unable to move, only cleaning up those desperately trying to break in.
While this couldn't be done indefinitely, it was manageable for the two weeks we had.
So I proposed this strategy, and the older demons followed my lead without complaint. They knew their best chance of survival lay in accepting my help.
The younger demons, however, were a problem...
"Human! Who are you to keep ordering us around?!"
"We can handle the zombies on our own!"
"When Lord Cromwell returns, you and your kind will be wiped out with humanity!"
Oh, these precious brats...
As previously mentioned, the demon race treasures their children and treats their elders harshly.
As a result, these kids were all spoiled and undisciplined, having been pampered excessively.
"Hey, you old guys! What are you doing? Have you no pride?! Kick these humans out now!"
"And I'm hungry! Cook us some food, quick!"
"Bring back the toys we left in our colony! Right now!"
As soon as things got a bit better, they started whining and throwing tantrums.
Still, I tried to ignore them, thinking it was part of their culture.
"You insolent, wretched brats!"
Dearmudin couldn't hold back and snapped...
"I'll teach you the proper respect, you ill-mannered demon children!"
I always suspected he had a lot of traditional sternness in him, but Dearmudin seemed to embody a strong Korean spirit...
Dearmudin, who had taught countless precious children in his ivory tower, activated his formidable etiquette enforcement mode, personally disciplining and training the rude demon kids with harsh yet caring rigor.
A few days later,
"Grandfather, Grandmother, did you wake up well?"
"Today, we will prepare breakfast. Please rest comfortably."
"We'll massage your shoulders and legs while you eat."
They had all transformed into respectful and considerate children, embodying courtesy and virtue.
'...Is this really okay?'
The demons must have their own methods of discipline and cultural patterns based on their life cycle. Is it right to change that arbitrarily?
Regardless of my concerns, Dearmudin was immensely satisfied with the transformed children.
"Ah, how pleasant~."
He stroked his beard with a contented expression, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
The children, too, respectfully addressed Dearmudin.
"We're glad to see you're comfortable, Teacher."
"Please continue to guide and correct our faults."
"So, Teacher, can we have a bit more of that candy as a reward...?"
"..."
Well, whatever. This is now the forward base of the Land of Courtesy, you brats.
"...Having some spare time, I scouted the area from the rooftop."
The Elder, who seemed uncomfortable receiving massages from the children, spoke.
"There are still other monster armies that haven't been infected by the zombies. I'll try to ally with them."
"Do you think they'll listen to you?"
"Isn't it better to join forces and hold out together against the zombie waves, rather than getting swallowed up? Just like how we joined hands with you."
The Elder chuckled as he watched the children enthusiastically massaging his neck and shoulders.
"...Before this crisis, I was just waiting to die, but being alive, I can see many things I couldn't before."
"True."
Dearmudin agreed.
"You have to live first, endure tirelessly, and then think about what else you might see."
Listening to the two elders, I silently reinforced the magic wall.
Time was passing.
***
Crossroad. City Center.
Today, Evangeline had come to the food district to order lunch for the melee unit's training.
She stopped at the entrance of a restaurant, feeling awkward.
"Oh."
"Ah..."
She had run into the waiter who had once confessed his feelings to her.
"..."
"..."
A severely awkward silence ensued.
Since that day, Evangeline had avoided coming to this cafeteria, making this their first meeting since the 'incident'.
Awkward as she was, Evangeline decided to go into the restaurant anyway. After all, the food was good.
"Um, I'd like to order lunchboxes. For twenty people. Can you deliver them by lunchtime to the barracks?"
"Oh, yes, of course! Absolutely! Right this way..."
The waiter took the order and relayed it to the kitchen.
"Alright. Your order has been placed, and it will be delivered by noon."
"Okay, then..."
Awkwardly exchanging pleasantries, Evangeline quickly tried to leave before the atmosphere got even weirder.
At that moment,
"Um, about that day... I'm sorry!"
The waiter bowed deeply, apologizing. Evangeline was even more flustered.
"Huh? No, there's no need to apologize..."
"I got scolded a lot after that. They told me how much of a nuisance a sudden confession can be... that I should think of the other person's feelings, not just mine..."
The waiter even teared up a bit.
"You told me to think it over that day, but I know you were being considerate. You could've just rejected me outright, but you were kind to me..."
"..."
Evangeline smiled wryly and waved her hand dismissively.
"It's alright. It wasn't a big deal. It made me reflect on my own feelings, too."
"..."
The waiter, looking at Evangeline in a daze, cautiously asked,
"Miss Evangeline..."
"Yes?"
"I know it's weird to ask this, but... can I keep liking you?"
"Haha. Do you need permission for that?"
Instead of answering directly, Evangeline turned her gaze southward.
"...This city no longer has proper walls."
The waiter looked south as well, where the wall, desperately being restored but still in shambles from Night Bringer's attack, could be seen.
"The next invading monsters are a horde of zombies. If they break through, you might end up becoming one of those horrifying creatures yourself."
"..."
"I appreciate your feelings for me. But, let me give you some honest advice."
Evangeline spoke sternly.
"If you're staying in this city just because of me, then forget it and leave. Before you get hurt or lose your life."
"It's fine."
But the waiter smiled nonchalantly.
"If I were going to run away out of fear for my life or the monsters, I would've left a long time ago. So, don't worry too much about someone like me."
"..."
"And, if you finish this battle well... please come to eat again."
The waiter hastily packed some snacks and handed them to Evangeline.
"And this is on the house!"
"..."
"Good luck with your training today, and the upcoming defense battle!"
Waving and bowing energetically, the waiter bid her farewell. Evangeline left the food district.
"..."
Munching on one of the snacks the waiter had given her, Evangeline muttered to herself.
"This restaurant does have really good food..."
Human emotions are so complex that even clear kindness from others can be difficult to handle.
Not to mention one's own feelings, which are even harder to understand...
Crunch!
Evangeline popped another snack into her mouth instead of sighing.
***
Corner of the Barracks. Closed Training Grounds.
This training ground, which had been half-destroyed by Night Bringer's breath attack, was now unused, but one person was diligently swinging a sword there.
"Hah!"
It was Hecate.
Sweating profusely with her broken body, she desperately tried to maintain her sword form.
Clang!
Eventually, she dropped the sword.
"Damn it!"
Gripping her trembling right arm with her left, she panted heavily.
"What am I supposed to do now... In a world like this, what can I even do..."
Hecate, overwhelmed with frustration, leaned her head against a training dummy.
From a distance, hidden behind a pillar, Lucas watched her silently.
"..."
Lucas, who had been observing with a blank expression, turned his gaze.
At the opposite entrance to the training ground, Junior stood, also looking conflicted.
"..."
Taking a deep breath, Lucas stepped away from the pillar and turned around.
Their intertwined feelings had not yet reached any resolution as time passed.
***
Southern Wall under Restoration.
Chain was idly perched here again today.
"Chain."
Heavy footsteps echoed.
He turned to see Torkel.
Torkel, who had approached, gestured southward with his chin.
"The next defense battle is soon. It's one of those large-scale monster offensives that come every five battles."
"..."
"The battlefield will be fierce again soon... Will you continue to stay here?"
He wasn't asking if Chain would keep sitting on the wall aimlessly.
He was asking if Chain would stay in Crossroad indefinitely.
"..."
Unable to answer, Chain remained silent. Torkel asked again.
"Have you sent a letter to your wife?"
"...A letter?"
"If you're afraid to visit directly, how about contacting her to let her know you're alive?"
Torkel explained awkwardly.
"I gathered the courage to write to my home island after a long time of no contact... Now we're in touch again. Once this battle is over, I plan to visit."
"..."
Chain, still silent, sighed deeply.
"Courage, huh..."
"..."
"I never thought contacting my wife would require more courage than facing monsters. That it would be more terrifying..."
Torkel nodded.
"But you can't hesitate forever, can you?"
"..."
Chain closed his eyes tightly and then opened them to look at Torkel.
"Torkel."
"Yes."
"I have a favor to ask... I'm not good with letters. Can you write it for me?"
A bashful smile appeared under Torkel's helmet.
"My handwriting is pretty crude."
"As long as it's legible. It's still better than mine, right?"
"Alright. Let's go."
Torkel gestured toward the temple.
"I'll do my best to write it beautifully."
"It's not just the writing. Make the words sound nice too. You know I'm not good at that either..."
"You're asking for skills I don't have either..."
Torkel supported Chain, who was on crutches, and they slowly made their way to the temple. The two men limped along side by side.
Time was passing.