RMA 56

chapter 56

Do you know what it feels like when the ground turns soggy beneath your feet?

When you walk along a path corrupted like bubbling tar, it’s like trudging over a giant slug.

And the stench—gods, the stench.

The rotting smell of food waste and corpses fills the air, so thick that just breathing it in makes you gag.

When fighting undead, one of the greatest challenges isn’t their strength—it’s the filth.

If bare skin touches the muck, the toxins seep right in, and even the sweat that follows feels poisoned.

“Up ahead.”
“Let’s move in immediately.”
“If anyone shows even the slightest sign of infection, purify them without hesitation. Understood?”

Since this was an extermination mission against the undead, the operation followed the paladins’ methods.

It was a small village, but the animals and villagers alike had all turned into undead.
The goal was to wipe them out as swiftly as possible, minimizing the spread.

“Advance—mages first.”
“By the way, besides your iron spells, do you know any other magic?”
“If it’s first- or second-circle spells, we can manage just fine.”
“You probably think we’re just muscleheads, but we are mages, you know.”

Though their specialty was close combat, that didn’t mean they couldn’t use elemental magic.

The mages began chanting fire spells, while Lawrence reached into his subspace storage and drew out a piece of holy meat.

He recalled the artifacts he had just configured.

[Attribute-less Boost]
[Warrior’s Agility]
[Mana Boost]
[Negative Energy]
[Holy Bomb]
[Wave of Healing]
[Fireball]
…and so on.

‘These engravings are eating up way too many slots. I really need to find a way to fix that soon.’

Right now, each artifact could only hold one effect, but someday he’d manage to layer two, maybe three.

By the time the mages finished chanting, Lawrence advanced with the soldiers.

“I’ll take the front.”
“I’ll go with you.”

Beatrix was beside him. Together they charged forward.

Behind them followed the paladins, knights, and regular troops.

Lawrence activated his artifacts.
Here—this was where his true strength shone.

[Wave of Healing]
[Remaining Charges: 10/11]

Vwoooom—!

A massive wave pulsed outward from Lawrence’s body.

The radiance carried both healing and destruction—light that mended the living but scorched the dead.

The weaker undead caught in the wave screamed in agony.

[Kieeeek!]
[Graaaargh—!]

The wails rose from deep within their chests—some sounded like cries for mercy, others like relief at being freed from torment.

Their pitiful shrieks made Lawrence’s brow crease, but he pressed on, facing the horror head-on at the front lines.

“Holy magic?”
“And on that scale?”
“How in the world is that man using divine power…?”

The soldiers from the Holy Nation were stunned.

Even high-ranking priests and paladins were shocked speechless.

Only the most devout believers of Seikria could wield divine power—what they called Grace.

Yet this man was using it casually, and even while moving?

“Could he be… an Apostle candidate?”
“What—?”
“No, nothing. Begin the operation! Purify this land, everyone!”

Prayers rose from all directions, and a flood of white light rained down.

It didn’t take long to reclaim the village.

But every soul that once lived there was reduced to ashes.
A hollow victory, leaving behind only silence and a bitter taste.

“All clear. No undead remaining.”
“That was faster than expected. No casualties, either.”
“It’s because they were low-grade undead… and because that mage played a huge role.”

Everyone turned to Lawrence.

Watching him melt undead with fragments of sanctified meat was… sensational, to say the least.

No one had ever imagined using meat like that. Their jaws hung open in shock.

His battle method was bizarre—but incredibly efficient.

“There’s a lot to learn from him.”
“Ahem… though it’s a bit odd to use food that way.”
“If the method works that well, why not? I suspect meat simply channels holy enchantments better than most mediums.”

That wasn’t the reason at all.

They had no idea it was just the result of endless trial and error—pure grind.

Meanwhile, Lawrence scanned the aftermath with a grim expression.

‘Not even a corpse left behind… this is what I hate about holy magic.’

When undead are purified by divine power, they literally burn away—body and soul—until only ashes remain.

A single gust of wind, and their existence vanishes.

They hadn’t been born just to become dust in the wind, had they?

Yes… it was time to pay back the ones responsible for all this.

“Nothing left of them, huh?”

If at least they’d dropped some usable materials, he could’ve avenged them through their remnants—but no.
Nothing.

After a long silence, Lawrence turned to head for their next target.

That’s when his fellow mages approached, clapping him on the shoulder.

“Well done, man. That was insane.”
“Your first cleanup operation? Once someone turns undead, there’s no going back.”
“Toughen your heart. You’ll see worse before this war is over.”

Their words were casual, but the warmth behind them was real.

Lawrence felt a dull, forgotten part of his heart begin to stir again.

Unlike in his previous life, this time there were people around him—encouraging, steadying him.

That alone made his spirit stronger. Even in the face of trauma, he stood firm.

“We move out immediately. We plan to form a siege around the fortress by sundown.”
“Yes, sir.”

Their mission was only just beginning.

And the person Lawrence had been waiting for—was finally arriving.

#2

“Oh, there they are.”
“Looks like the battle’s already over.”
“Come on, let’s hurry. Even Commander Freya can’t hold out forever.”
“Think he’s okay?”

Loria and Ades jogged as they chatted.

For long-distance travel, light jogging burned less energy than walking.

Thanks to that, the two reached Lawrence’s frontline sooner than expected.

“Lawrence… he’ll be fine, right?”
“You’re worrying about that monster?”
“Shut up. He’s still my little brother.”

Ades laughed for real at that.

Unlike the venomous Venoman family, who glared at each other like they were ready to kill, these siblings actually shared affection.

He smiled wryly and joined the formation assembling ahead.

“Suspicious individuals approaching!”
“Wait, that emblem… MonteMer!”
“Oh, they’re here.”

Someone recognized the crest of MonteMer.

Lawrence, hearing the shout, spotted Loria immediately.

She looked like a bedraggled rabbit that had been rolling through the woods for days.

“I’m Loria MonteMer. I was forced to withdraw from the field.”
“Why did you retreat?”
“A group targeting me was lying in ambush. I had to divert them.”

She declared she was being hunted—proudly, even.

Maybe pride ran in their family.

But the officers’ faces grew serious.

“So you were being chased…”
“Who would dare target a MonteMer?”
“Likely a cabal of dark mages.”

A low whistle rippled through the ranks.

If that was true, it meant the dark mages were heading this way.

Argon Bradley, the Imperial Central Academy’s chief instructor, turned to the Iron Tower Master.

“Your decision, Tower Master?”
“Hmm…”
“The Holy Nation insists that dark mages must also be eliminated immediately.”
“With our forces already thin, splitting them further could delay the siege…”

The Tower Master rested his chin on his hand, thinking.

Marching ahead recklessly could mean getting crushed from both sides.

Dark mages were dangerous even in small numbers—their undead summons multiplied their threat.

But dividing their forces too much would cripple their advance.
Balance was critical.

“Send me, my sister, and Cadet Beatrix as an independent unit.”
“Just the three of you?”
“Uh… adding one paladin and one priest would be ideal.”
“Five in total? Will that suffice?”

Lawrence nodded.

If it didn’t work, they’d make it work.

With this lineup—and with Ades included—they had nothing to fear.

“You don’t even know their strength.”
“They’ll be coming for us anyway. We’ll just turn the tables and ambush them. Dark mages are predictable.”

‘Dark mages? Those freaks always skulk in groups, solving everything with undead.’
‘At least the ones I’ve met did. Every single one.’
‘They think undead are the answer to everything—idiots.’

Those were Ades’s exact words—and his experience wasn’t wrong.

Lawrence’s brief encounters with them had been the same.

They had more than enough of a chance to win—especially since they could anticipate the enemy’s movements.

“Leave it to me.”
“…Very well. The Tower grants permission.”
“Beatrix, will you go?”

Beatrix nodded silently.

This was another chance to prove herself—a real battle that forged strong knights.
So she volunteered without hesitation.

“The Holy Nation will send two of ours as well.”
“I’ll go with Priest Luchi.”
“Good. Go deliver the goddess’s judgment.”

Thus the special strike team was formed.

Appointed as leader, Lawrence was tasked with hunting down the pursuing dark mages.

“Come back safely.”
“Don’t worry—we’ll be quick.”
“Then go.”

Loria glanced at her brother.

Things were unfolding exactly as he’d predicted.

Just what kind of scheme was her little brother planning this time?

“You knew this would happen, didn’t you?”
“Hmm… to some extent?”
“So you’ve got another grand plan, huh?”
“Uh… maybe?”

Lawrence just gave a cryptic smile.

Loria, staring at him, couldn’t help but chuckle softly before turning away.

“Hmph. Fine. I’ll trust you again. They dared to target me—let’s make them regret it.”
“Ooh, so you do have a plan, right?”

With Ades teasing, Lawrence only smiled faintly.

Truth be told, the real reason he’d volunteered was something else entirely.

‘If I said it’s because I want the materials those dark mages carry… she’d kill me, right?’

He decided to keep his mouth shut.

With this team, they’d manage somehow.

‘Anyway, you bastards are enemies of both me and my sister.’

Better to quietly become experience points—and loot.

Their fates were already sealed.