Finally, I can Retire, Or so I Thought

The airship continued its flight over the mountain range, taking a direct shortcut toward the capital of Northgard instead of sweeping around the peaks. Once they cleared the summits, Dion and the others spotted a warm glow illuminating the distant horizon. Dion grabbed a pair of spyglasses and peered through the lenses toward the light, which marked the capital city of Northgard.

Having never laid eyes on Northgard’s capital before, Dion marveled at the sight ahead: a city constructed inside a massive canyon, flanked by twin stone mezzanine terraces built directly into the opposing cliff faces that climbed steadily upward. Atop the right cliff stood a sprawling, colossal royal palace, towering over the gorge like a fortress guarding the entire city.

Connecting the mezzanine terraces were crossing bridges that allowed travel and carriage traffic between both sides of the canyon. Furthermore, every structure looked carved directly into the sheer stone faces, while a wide river split the city down the middle along the gorge floor below. As twilight faded into night, warm lights flickered to life from the homes built into the cliffside terraces, casting a festive and stunning radiance over the landscape when viewed from afar aboard the approaching zeppelin.

”Wow... So that’s the capital of Northgard, huh? I’ve never been here before, haha,” Dion remarked, handing the spyglasses off to Luna beside him.

”It’s completely different from our capital and other cities, isn’t it? Ages ago, a short-stature tribe with half-beast traits worked the mines down at the bottom of the gorge and formed an alliance with us barbarians,” Sheila explained. She turned to look at Nala beside her. ”Right, Nala?”

”Yes, that’s right,” Nala replied curtly, her eyes fixed straight ahead. Her face looked pale and gloomy as she stared at the city, her grip tightening around her staff.

”This is my first time visiting Northgard, too. I’ve only ever heard stories about it from Sheila,” Luna said while peering through the spyglasses.

”Hey! Pass it over, airhead princess! I’ve never been to Northgard’s capital either, even though they say it’s home to tons of master blacksmiths,” Aria said, nudging Luna’s side.

”Learn some patience, you spoiled, stubborn princess. Learn to wait your turn,” Luna shot back loudly.

”Whoa... This looks like it’s gonna be so much fun! Right, Gina?” Harumi squeaked, hugging Gina close to her chest.

”Kyuuuuu!” Gina chirped happily, throwing one tiny claw into the air.

”Don’t forget, you aren’t supposed to leave my side. Got that, Harumi?” Mei reminded her in a stern voice.

”I know, Big Sister! Stop nagging me,” Harumi replied snappishly.

”Hah! Don’t call me a nag! You’re the one who snuck aboard and dragged yourself along without permission! I ought to smack you,” Mei barked.

”Fine... fine... I’m sorry,” Harumi muttered, turning away with a tone twice as snappish as before.

Watching the two sisters bicker, Dion merely let out a quiet sigh. He turned to look at Cleo beside him, who stood completely silent, squinting through her own set of spyglasses with a dark, pale expression.

”What is it?” Dion asked seriously.

”Look... The main thoroughfare leading to the palace is completely blocked... And why is there a purple haze surrounding the palace and the upper district?” Cleo answered, handing her spyglasses over to Dion.

Dion peered through the lenses toward the spot Cleo indicated, and sure enough, a thin purple mist clung around the palace perimeter. The bridge connecting the upper mezzanine terrace to the left side of the city was completely blocked off by heavy barricades, while the noble quarter situated just beneath the palace sat eerily dark. Dion felt a sharp knot twist in his gut, his expression darkening as he turned to Cleo.

”According to the intelligence reports on the situation in Minatheras’s capital, a thin purple haze is a dead giveaway for an undead army,” Dion said in a low tone.

”Right... This is deeply alarming,” Cleo replied softly.

Dion looked over at Sheila and Nala, who both seemed to notice the anomaly as well, while Luna was still arguing with Aria, and Mei was busy scolding Harumi with Gina stuck in the middle. Dion placed a reassuring hand on Sheila’s shoulder.

”Are there usually barricades cutting off access to the palace?” Dion asked.

”No, never. That’s why I’m so confused... What’s going on? Why is the quarter where the tribal chieftains and foreign nobles reside completely pitch black?” Sheila answered, her face dead serious.

”Something awful is happening in the capital,” Nala added, clutching her staff tightly with both hands.

”We’ll find out soon enough once we get closer. We’re almost there,” Cleo said.

The group fell silent, their vigilance spiking dramatically as the ship glided forward toward the heart of the capital. Once they drew close enough to inspect the city in detail, Dion raised Cleo’s spyglasses once more. His face instantly stiffened. The city watch guarding the barricades and the bridge leading right toward the palace weren’t normal soldiers, they were a sea of barbarian guards staggering forward with lurching, limping strides. Many were riddled with arrows or thrown spears, tumbling off the edges into the river far below, yet the horde never stopped advancing.

”Undead,” Dion muttered, handing the spyglasses to Cleo.

Cleo took a look, her face draining of all color before passing the spyglasses to Sheila. Sheila’s jaw clenched tight, her expression twisting into sheer fury. She watched in horror as citizens fled frantically toward the city gates while the remaining barbarian city watch rallied behind the barricades along the bridge and upper right sector, firing ballistas to stop the undead horde from pouring down into the lower districts.

Meanwhile, Luna, Aria, Mei, and Harumi, who had been squabbling moments prior, finally noticed the battleground unfolding below, even though no buildings were ablaze. It dawned on everyone that the radiant lights they had admired from afar were not festive city illuminations, but the chaotic flashes of an active war between the city watch and royal forces that had been turned into undead.

”This is... really bad,” Luna stammered out.

”Yeah... Turns out Northgard’s capital has already been overrun by the undead,” Aria added grimly.

”Indeed... This is extremely bad,” Mei noted, turning her head toward Sheila. Sheila’s hands gripped the deck railing so tight that every muscle in her arms bulged, her jaw clenched tight and her eyes burning with intense anger.

Harumi couldn’t bring herself to say a word. She simply snuggled Gina tight in her arms, causing the baby dragon to feel cozy enough to fall fast asleep. Suddenly, Luna turned to look at everyone with a proud expression on her face,

”Don’t worry, as long as I’m here, undead aren’t an issue,” Luna boasted, proudly patting her chest.

”Hah? You’re an unholy paladin now, not a holy saint anymore... Use your brain, you dumb princess,” Aria retorted, gently pushing Luna’s head away.

”Oh... You actually have a point, you spoiled, airhead princess,” Luna mused, pausing to think.

”Can you two please stop arguing for two seconds? We’re in a critical situation here,” Cleo snapped, getting annoyed.

”Yeah, you heard her,” Mei added, backing Cleo up.

Shortly after, the ship’s captain, a male elf, hurried over to Dion.

”Your Grace, should we maintain our approach? Or should we halt outside the city perimeter?” the captain asked nervously.

Dion stared ahead, lost in thought for a brief moment before turning to Sheila and gently taking her hand. Sheila turned to face him, her eyes betraying the storm of emotions swirling inside her. Dion offered a faint, reassuring smile before looking back at the captain.

”Steer the ship straight toward the palace, Captain. Don’t land, just drop low enough for us to jump off. After that, pull back and help evacuate the citizens,” Dion commanded firmly.

Hearing Dion’s orders, Cleo, Nala, Luna, Aria, Mei, and even Harumi whipped their heads around, staring at him as if he had grown a second head. Sheila’s jaw practically dropped. The captain went completely pale. Sensing their collective shock, Dion clarified his reasoning.

”We cut off the source of the infestation so it stops spreading, and then we clean up the rest... Or I could just obliterate the palace from a distance, but then we’d never find out what actually happened inside, right?” Dion asked the group calmly.

Cleo, Luna, Aria, Mei, and Sheila paused to process Dion’s words. Realizing the logic behind his decision, they locked eyes with him and gave firm nods without saying a word. Seeing their agreement, Dion turned back to the captain.

”Alright, Captain. Take us straight to the palace,” Dion said smoothly.

”A-At once, Your Grace!” the captain stammered out.

The captain turned on his heel and rushed downstairs, shouting orders for the crew to push the zeppelin directly into the heart of the city toward the royal palace sector. High above on the deck, the group stared up at the looming palace with tense expressions. As the airship crossed into the city limits, they kept their eyes fixed forward on their target, ignoring the chaos unfolding below. Dion glanced at everyone with a faint smile before looking back toward the palace, his face perfectly composed.

”This is actually pretty exciting... It feels just like those zombie apocalypse movies I used to watch back on TV on Earth, eheh,” Dion thought to himself, watching the purple mist-shrouded palace draw near.