Karnak, Monarch of Death

Thanks to Karnak’s group’s relentless efforts, the plaza had not yet fallen. But the people’s spirits had already crumbled.

”Ah...”

”Atima, please...”

Not just the civilians, but even the warriors and mages who had been fighting to protect them stood frozen in terror. Low-tier undead like zombies and skeletons were one thing, but against high-ranking demons like these, they knew their meager strength was meaningless.

All they could do was watch Karnak’s group and pray that, by some stroke of luck, they would manage to defeat the demons.

”Field of Mana Arrows!” Karnak unleashed a barrage of magic arrows, covering the entire western side of the plaza.

The spell had a wide range, but the arrows were slow. Avoiding them wasn’t difficult. Most of the demons easily moved out of their path.

But Karnak smiled. Success.

His target had never been the demons in the first place. The summoning catalysts used to bring them forth, the remnants of the undead army, had already been reduced to ash. However, their weapons had not burned away.

All around the plaza, scattered swords, spears, and shields once wielded by skeleton soldiers lay abandoned. And now, Karnak embedded his magic arrows into them. ”Marking!”

The barrage of arrows struck the weapons, adhering to them.

The next spell followed immediately. ”The grasp of magic that clears away the arrows! Hand of Sweep!”

A massive whirlwind erupted, lifting the enchanted weapons into the air. It was originally a defensive spell meant to deflect incoming arrows, but Karnak had repurposed it. He was using it to collect the battlefield’s weapons en masse. Dozens of swords, spears, and shields came crashing down in front of the gathered civilians.

”What... What is this?”

Confused, the people hesitated.

Then, a voice rang through the plaza, booming in their ears. ”Take up your arms, citizens of Harthol!”

Karnak’s voice, amplified by magic, echoed across the battlefield. ”Will you not defend your beloved city from these demons?!”

A murmur spread through the crowd.

”He wants us to fight?”

”Against those demons?”

”That’s ridiculous!”

It was easy for him to say. They were powerful mages. They were skilled aura users. They had the strength to stand against the demons.

But what about us? We’re just weak, insignificant people.

An old man, unable to contain his frustration, shouted, ”What do you expect us to do against such monstrous creatures?!”

A resolute voice answered. “You can struggle.”

The demons continued to advance.

”Do not sit and wait for salvation! Stand on your own! Fight to survive!” His voice carried over the burning city, over the shimmering heat and the hellish flames. ”And if you do, I will save you!”

The plaza burned, filled with smoke, with flame, with fire demons that loomed in every direction. But standing in the middle of it all, unwavering, was Karnak.

”I am Baron Karnak of the Eustil King’s Order!” His declaration rang out over the chaos. ”Follow me! I will carve a path for you!”

***

Varos muttered,

—Oh, young master. You’re doing a perfect impression of Sir Leven.

Leven grimaced.

—Are you telling me I will say such embarrassing things in the future?

—Yes.

Varos responded without hesitation. After all, no one had seen Leven more than him, back when he had been a wicked death knight Lord, driving terrified civilians into battle.

—And more often than not, it worked.

Someone picked up a spear. Someone else grasped a sword.

An old man, a woman, a child—one by one, they reached for weapons, their hands shaking, their legs trembling as they forced themselves to stand. A roar of defiance erupted from their throats. It was a desperate cry, as if they were trying to shake off the fear gripping their hearts.

Seeing this, the warriors and mages stationed above the plaza rose once more. If even ordinary civilians were standing and fighting, how could those whose very profession was battle remain still?

”We’ll fight too!”

”That’s right! Those damn demons!”

”We’ll kill every last one of them!”

The demons, who had been watching the situation unfold with mocking amusement, now surged forward once more.

As he prepared his next spell, Karnak shouted, ”I’ll break their momentum! Hold formation and keep your ranks tight!”

Blinding rays of destruction erupted, shattering the demons’ formation. The scattered demons retaliated, launching attacks from every direction.

The warriors and mages stepped forward to hold the line. Behind them, the old, the young, and the women—though trembling—gripped their weapons and maintained formation.

”Fight!”

”Don’t back down!”

The chaotic battle raged on. In truth, the civilians joining the fight didn’t make them an effective fighting force. Just because an untrained person picked up a weapon didn’t mean they suddenly gained skill.

And yet, their presence dramatically shifted the tide of battle. Mere moments ago, they had been nothing but trembling burdens, crouched and useless. But now, at least, they were moving burdens. For those protecting them, that made all the difference. They might not have been soldiers, but they were no longer dead weight.

With a sharp cry, Lapicel cleaved through a charging flame wraith. Sweating, she grinned. Wow, this just got so much easier. Lord Karnak really knows what he’s doing!

And then, an unexpected piece of good news arrived.

”Ugh...”

”Where... am I...?”

The guards from the Tecas mansion were finally waking up.

Blinking, they looked around, utterly bewildered.

”What... What the hell is going on?”

The last thing they remembered was fighting off intruders in the mansion’s corridors. Now, they had woken up in the middle of a burning city, surrounded by demons. Even the most level-headed among them couldn’t help but panic.

One of the citizens shoved a weapon into a guard’s hands. ”The demons have attacked the city!”

”What?”

”Baron Karnak is protecting us!”

”Excuse me?”

The guards turned, trying to locate this so-called Baron Karnak. And there he was, the very same man who had been sneaking over the mansion walls in the dead of night. None of this made any sense. The confusion was overwhelming. But it didn’t last long.

”Snap out of it! The demons are attacking right now!”

A sharp cry from a woman jolted them back to reality. That was right. Whatever had happened before, the enemy before them was clear as day.

They assessed the situation. On one side were a small, cute girl, a tall and elegant woman, two friendly-looking young men, and one guy who looked a bit mean but was undeniably handsome.

And on the other side... Demons. Demons. More demons.

The decision wasn’t difficult.

”Stop the demons!”

Ten fully armed guards grabbed their weapons and joined the fight. While the others were exhausted from fleeing, fighting, or trembling in fear, these men had been comfortably unconscious.

Well-rested and full of energy, they instantly became a significant force in battle. With their addition, the once-tilted scales of war began to even out.

Damn. Keeping them alive was a great decision.

While continuing to issue commands, Karnak’s mind worked quickly. Unlike before, everyone was now standing on their own two feet. That meant one more option was available. Now, they could all escape together.

”There is nothing but death if we remain here!” Karnak amplified his voice with magic. ”Citizens, carry the wounded! We are heading for safety!”

At the same time, he swung his wand and chanted, ”Rise, spirits of the earth!”

The ground erupted from various points in the burning plaza. In an instant, ten earthen mounds transformed into golems. Earlier, Karnak had no reason to waste mana summoning golems when his only concern had been looking for a way to escape. But now, the citizens had become part of their fighting force. That meant he could change his strategy.

”Follow the golems! Warriors and mages, cover the rear!”

The ten golems charged forward, breaking through the demons and clearing a path. The citizens scrambled after them, swinging their spears and swords as best they could.

”Run, everyone!”

”Follow the golems!”

Some hesitated. Not everyone who had sought refuge in the plaza had survived. Many civilians had already perished. Leaving behind the bodies of their loved ones was no easy task.

”M-My mother...”

”I can’t abandon my son!”

Karnak didn’t need to convince them himself.

”The goddess will watch over their souls!”

”The living must come first!”

The citizens supported one another as they fled the plaza, disappearing beyond the veil of flames. Though the demons’ assault continued, they no longer fell helplessly like before.

Fleeing with their backs turned made them prey, but forcing their way through the enemy made them part of a battle-ready force. After a grueling struggle, Karnak’s group and the citizen army successfully escaped the plaza.

As they caught their breath, Varos suddenly asked.

—Young master.

—What?

—Wouldn’t it have been easier to transport the guards earlier if you had summoned these golems back at the Tecas mansion?

—Huh. Guess I never even thought of it. Probably because I’ve never actually saved people before.

Perched on a golem’s shoulder, Karnak let out a dry chuckle.

***

At the heart of the burning city, blood, screams, and despair echoed through the streets. Barricades had been hastily erected, only to be reduced to ashes. The demons of hell pressed forward, relentless.

”This is the end!”

”Oh gods, no!”

Amidst the collapsed buildings, citizens wept in despair—until, suddenly, a voice boomed from above. ”I am Baron Karnak, Vice Commander of the Eustil King’s Order!”

A savior’s voice thundered across the sky. ”Rise and fight, citizens of Harthol!”

Weapons were placed in their hands. Shields were offered. A path forward was shown.

”Follow me, and I will carve a way for you!”

Powerful aura users struck down the demons. A massive army of golems protected the citizens. Those paralyzed by uncertainty were given clear orders.

”Get the women and children to safety!”

”If you can walk, help carry the wounded!”

”Do not fear! The goddesses watch over us!”

Their savior fought in the most dangerous place, standing at the very front of the battlefield. He did not waver. He did not falter. He commanded the battle with unwavering composure. And before such a figure, the citizens rose once more. They wiped their tears, summoned their courage, and gripped their weapons.

”Follow Lord Karnak!”

”Slay the demons!”

”Uwaaaah!”

Karnak saved people again and again, throughout the city. And with every rescue, the number of citizens following him grew.

This is going surprisingly well.

He had no talent for protecting people. But he was very experienced in commanding them.

This is no different from leading an undead army.

Set a goal, direct the forces strategically, assign tasks to those capable, and avoid unnecessary risks. The only difference this time was minimizing losses.

The ones fated to die will die anyway. What matters is reducing that number as much as possible.

So far, it was working. And it was only possible because the citizens had willingly become his army.

”This little act of playing Leven is turning out to be quite effective.” Scratching his temple, Karnak muttered with a faint grimace. ”I still don’t get why people fall for words like these, though.”