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“Fred! Speed up preparations for withdrawal! The moment Lisa and the others finish their work, we’re moving out! Tony! Norman! Get the surviving horses lined up!”

Once the wall had been completed, the knights moved swiftly. Cedric Meyer barked orders to the leaders of each unit, pushing everyone to prepare for the retreat as quickly as possible. By now, the deep curtain of night had fully descended. In an ordinary town, this would be the hour when people began preparing for sleep, resting from the labors of the day. But here, deep within the forest, not a single person could afford to relax.

“Sir Cedric, do you think we can make it?”
“Lord Cloud! Sir Conrad! Thanks to the three professors, it looks like we actually have a chance.”

Cedric answered Howard’s question without the slightest hesitation.

“Indeed. The fact that we can even consider retreating is a miracle in itself.”
“No kidding!” Conrad laughed loudly. “Who would’ve imagined they’d completely seal that whole mess away? Never crossed my mind!”

His booming laughter echoed through the camp. Howard found himself smiling as well. But a moment later, he straightened his posture and addressed Cedric seriously.

“Once we return to the village, the temple’s Grand Protective Barrier will shield us. Against such a powerful and holy ward, creatures of impurity cannot enter the village, whether there are hundreds of them or tens of thousands. If we can reach the village, this will no longer be a one-sided defensive battle. We’ll be able to fight head-on without worrying about our rear. Remember this. Our only victory condition is to return safely to Amukham.”

Cedric met Howard’s eyes directly and silently nodded.

“The rear guard will be left to the three of us.”
“But Lord Cloud! If you do that…!”
“Hah… Guiding the knight order safely into Iroshio and bringing them home again is our duty. You focus on reaching the village. Leave your backs to us. Or what? Do you not trust us to guard your rear?”
“Of course not!” Cedric answered immediately. “There is nothing more reassuring than having all of you protecting our retreat!”
“Then entrust your backs to us and keep moving forward without hesitation.”

At those words, Cedric took a step back and bowed his head quietly.

“Then naturally, I’ll be joining you.”
“And please allow me to come as well, Sir Conrad!”

Kyle Irvine and Tony Easton stepped forward from behind Cedric. Kyle spoke as though it were only natural that he would stand alongside Howard and the others. Tony bowed toward Conrad, asking permission to accompany him.

“Gahahaha!” Conrad laughed and slapped Tony repeatedly on the back. “You’ve gotten a lot tougher these past few days, haven’t you, Tony?”
“L-Let’s drive the enemy’s main force from behind and catch up to your friends who went ahead!”
“Y-Yes, sir!”

Conrad’s laughter rang out even louder. A short distance away, Howard and Cedric watched the exchange with quiet smiles.

A faint metallic sound echoed somewhere nearby.

Behind Howard and the others, dozens of people hurried about in preparation.

The sounds of horses stamping their hooves. The clanging of weapons and armor carried by the logistics corps. The scraping of heavy objects being dragged across the ground. Countless hurried footsteps. Voices shouting instructions and answering one another. Amid all of it, another familiar conversation could be heard.

“Can you really not move at all?”
“This is terrible! At this rate, poor old Nosori, who’s already frail, is going to become extra-frail!”
“What nonsense are you spouting? You’re the one falling apart, Morris! Your back must be in terrible shape after forcing yourself like that!”
“I-I really can’t move at all… but honestly… being carried like this is kind of nice… I’m very happy…”
“Hm. No signs of mental confusion. Their bodies won’t move for a while, but they’ll recover.”

The three professors and Joseline were being carried on stretchers by members of the logistics corps, still bickering as usual.

“Lisa, are you already finished?”

Kyle called out to Lisa Tuttle as she walked toward them with the silver wall at her back.

“Yes, it’s done.” She smiled. “This wall is incredible. It absorbs holy energy extremely well. The entire thing will become a fully sanctified relic before long.”
“Good work, Lisa,” Cedric said. “I’m sorry we can’t give you any proper rest, but we’ll need you to begin preparing the unit for departure immediately.”
“Don’t worry, Lisa. As long as we’re holding the rear, none of those impure creatures will ever lay a hand on you.”

Kyle flashed a bright grin. Howard and Conrad exchanged glances and shrugged at Kyle’s obvious attempt to impress her.

Lisa looked at Kyle for a brief moment with her large dark eyes. Then she chuckled softly.

“I know, Kyle. Thank you, and please…”

THUD.

Something struck her violently from behind.

“Guh?! …Ah…?! H-huh?!”

Her body lurched forward.

Startled, Lisa instinctively looked down toward her lower abdomen, the place where she had felt the impact. And there, something impossible protruded from her stomach. A thick, rust-red chain slick with her own blood emerged from her abdomen like a serpent raising its head. It swayed slowly. Almost as though it were alive.

“Ah… Ah… H-Hi… ah! Kuh!”

Lisa’s eyes widened so far they seemed ready to burst. She could not understand what had happened. Her hands repeatedly opened and closed, grasping helplessly at empty air as though trying to seize an answer. The chain continued to emerge. Without the slightest mercy. Link after thick link dragged itself outward. As the massive chain forced its way through flesh and muscle, widening the wound with every movement, agonized cries escaped from the depths of Lisa’s throat. Each new length of chain brought another tortured scream. And still it kept coming.