The Cleansed Village

Upon reaching the village, the entire squad advanced with painstaking caution, each member feeling their way forward. The veterans among them knew precisely how to conduct reconnaissance.

After breaching a door, they wouldn’t rush in. Instead, they would deliberately toss stones inside, listening for any sign of movement. This method proved highly effective, flushing out many hidden threats within the houses.

Ghouls that hadn’t left were drawn to the doorways by the commotion, only to be met by sharp blades cleaving their skulls or spears piercing their foreheads.

“There are still many ghouls active here. Watch out for the corpses.” A voice called out. “This isn’t an exaggeration. Last time, we piled up the bodies, and one reanimated. Good grief, the soldier nearest to it had half his nose ripped clean off.”

“That sounds terrifying.” Another soldier remarked.

With veterans guiding new recruits, this team structure rapidly transformed novices into experienced soldiers—a common operational tactic for border legions. After confirming a house was clear of threats, they would enter and systematically gather any usable supplies.

“Iron tools, farming implements, knives, forks, even bedsheets and curtains—take everything that can be packed up.” The leading guard instructed, surveying the scene before them, then continued moving to one side.

‘It seems we won’t find anything valuable this time either…’

“Our primary objective remains the city granary.” The commander declared, consulting a map. “That’s where supplies are most likely to be found. However, it was also the site of the fiercest fighting, which means it’s probably teeming with ghouls. We’ll need to muster our full strength before we can attempt to clear it.”

“Understood.” Anto nodded promptly.

The commanding officer glanced at her. “Sister Anto, you will move under the protection of the knights. Do not separate from the main group. None of us know what truly lies ahead, so obey all commands.”

“Understood,” Anto replied.

A nearby heavily armored guard remarked, “Still, this village is truly massive. A population of five or six hundred—it could almost be considered a small town.”

“This was originally a military fortress, later abandoned.” Someone responded. “After the Great Cataclysm, all the villages moved inland. Most likely, they came here because of the complete defensive fortifications. Roughly seven or eight villages gathered here, forming a large village stronghold.”

“They probably thought such a stronghold would be difficult for enemies to breach. But they never imagined…”

“If only our reinforcements had arrived a day or two sooner…”

“It likely wouldn’t have made much difference. Don’t blame yourselves for this.” The commanding captain said, his gaze sweeping over the blood-soaked, mangled areas throughout the desolate village. He couldn’t help but shake his head.

“It’s unlikely there are any survivors in this situation. Blow the whistle and assemble the teams. We’ll advance in formation towards the granary.”

“No problem.” The messenger replied, then began blowing a whistle. One by one, the surrounding teams began to gather.

“There’s nothing of value here. It’s too strange; practically everything is gone.”

“Strange, you say?”

“Usually, villages like this would have at least some food supplies. But this place is too clean. Could they have moved everything into the granary?” A soldier speculated. “There aren’t even many knives or forks.”

“Perhaps they had simply run out of ammunition and food.” Someone suggested. “There aren’t many bodies here either. Though there’s a lot of blood around, it looks as if this place was cleaned out… Could it be that…”

“Cleaned out by someone?” A shiver ran through everyone. In such a place, besides ghouls, only *they* were present. If they hadn’t cleaned it, did that mean the ghouls and dark creatures had… cleared the area?

“This is not good news,” Ilivy stated. “If the Demon Lord’s army cleared this place, it suggests that, unlike previous incursions that only featured lesser demons, this ‘black tide’ is led by a force commanded by at least one high-ranking demon. Such destructive power would then be easily explained.”

“High-ranking demons, you mean actual devils?” Anto inquired.

Ilivy nodded. “The true inhabitants of the demon realm. Unlike ghouls, undead, and skeletons, which are mere expendables, demons possess their own consciousness and can execute complex strategic commands. If this black tide is truly led by a demon, then we must also prepare for…”

“The Demon Lord’s return to the mortal realm.”

A collective shiver ran through the entire squad as these words were uttered. Some of the veterans frowned, saying, “Don’t always make such grim predictions… The Demon Lords, those cursed Demon Lords, can no longer reach this continent. That’s thanks to the barrier established by the Hero King…”

The most formidable beings within the Demon Lord’s army are the Demon Lords themselves. These individuals, designated as Demon Lords, wield power far exceeding that of ordinary demons. A single one can often leave hundreds of thousands dead in its wake.

To contend with such terrifying beings is truly the nightmare of human armies. Casualties in battles against Demon Lords are invariably calculated in the tens of thousands. In an era like this, another demonic invasion would undoubtedly plunge the majority into widespread panic.

“Yes, I was just speculating,” Ilivy replied. “However, we genuinely need to prepare for the worst. A Demon Lord’s army, capable of coordinated command, is an entirely different adversary from the typical undead hordes we usually face.”

“Commander, the scout has returned!” At that moment, the scout who had gone ahead to survey the granary sprinted back. Standing before the commander, he reported, “Sir, I sense something amiss at the granary. There aren’t many undead, but the main gate is tightly sealed. I couldn’t discern the situation inside, but it’s highly unusual.”

“Shut from the inside?” The captain listened, then fell into thought. “That’s not right. The survivors claimed the city granary had already been breached. How could it be locked from within?”

“Precisely why it’s unusual,” the scout affirmed. “I recommend having the men prepare. Whatever is inside, we must open that door. I have a strong feeling this won’t be simple, and the village itself is far too clean—almost as if it’s been swept.”

“Understood. Return to your post. Everyone, prepare! We are all heading to the city granary. Move out!” Following the commander’s directive, the squad advanced directly towards the city granary.

Soon, massive double doors loomed before them. Everyone adopted a ready stance, awaiting the commander’s orders. They understood that in such circumstances, only by strictly adhering to commands could their safety be maximized. In the face of such unknowns, caution was paramount.