I Became the Commander in a Trash Game Who Copies Skills

Chapter 31. Wolfskrig (5)

The battlefield is a mass of variables.

No plan is perfect.

In this battle, every situation had unfolded just as I had predicted.

Until this very moment.

“O Luark-!”

“In the name of the one who bestows the grace of light upon all-”

I'll be honest.

Encountering the paladins was an unplanned variable.

Because in this battle, most of the church-affiliated troops were deployed on the complete opposite side, the eastern wall.

Especially in the southwestern sector where I was deployed, there were mages and priests, but not a single paladin.

‘Andarin. Pepe. Gulliver.’

These are the paladins I know.

The faces of the squires standing beside them are also familiar.

They, along with Tember who was deployed on the eastern wall, were the ones I had gone on the last reconnaissance with not long ago.

‘The deployment location for those gentlemen was definitely the southern wall.’

The southern wall is where Archduke Gabir’s private soldiers are the main force.

Those three paladins were part of the few church troops deployed there.

I had heard from Olif that they were even instructed to hold their ground even if the nearby walls were in danger.

That’s why it makes even less sense.

It means they threw themselves into the veil of fog, disobeying their orders.

“Necromancer, before I kill you, I have something to ask.”

Andarin took a step forward.

“I’m looking for someone. Answer properly, and I will send you off without pain.”

“…….”

“A young man with ashen hair and black eyes. Average build. He uses both swordsmanship and spells, and would have been leading a mercenary band that includes knights and archers.”

I hadn’t expected this.

For my story to come up here.

Could it be that they threw themselves into this unknown space to find me?

Does it mean they took a life-or-death gamble on an unknown spell, even disobeying their superiors’ orders?

“…….”

I had always thought about saving someone, but I had never considered the possibility of being saved.

I should express my gratitude.

But that's not something I can do right now.

I discreetly turned my body to hide the sword tucked into my belt.

Then, tilting my masked face, I answered.

“Keehee.”

I imagine it in my head.

How would Tribus have answered?

“Well now. I’m not so leisurely as to remember the faces of insects one by one, keeheehee.”

I feel sorry for deceiving them, but it can’t be helped.

Ash, the mercenary captain and commander, must be a clearly different existence from the human necromancer, Tribus.

“A gray-haired young man? Has he grown a lot of gray hair? Let’s see… would he be among these zombies here?”

“Cursed being, you shall receive divine punishment!”

“For the glory of Luark!”

The acting seems to have worked perfectly.

Seeing as the paladins are charging at me with fire in their eyes.

I immediately turned and fled.

“He’s running away! After him!”

There’s really no need to run away.

This is a battlefield advantageous to a necromancer.

The mana of necromancy is densely infused in this labyrinth created by Count Calvenia.

And for me, with my skill proficiency at 100 percent, the only limitation as a caster is my mana capacity.

It means that here, I can freely use spells up to the 5th level, one level higher than usual.

“In the name of Luark! Charge!”

“We will punish that wicked traitor and bring back our brother!”

But the opponents are paladins.

They are the polar opposite of necromancers.

Just by brandishing their holy aura, the undead melt away in an instant.

It means it’s impossible to fight them moderately.

‘I don’t have the strength to waste in a place like this, with Calvenia still to deal with.’

The only silver lining is that the combat prayers of those three have been sealed for a while since the last reconnaissance.

Using the characteristics of this labyrinth, it’s entirely possible to shake them off.

[[Bone Net] is active.]

[[Banshee’s Scream] is active.]

[[Cursed Grasp] is active.]

I ran while casting spells that are highly effective at hindering movement rather than direct attacks.

After turning a few corners, the sound of footsteps gradually grew distant.

The curse of the labyrinth.

Unless you are a necromancer, you are bound to lose your sense of direction.

Thump. Thump. Thump….

After successfully shaking them off, I continued to run and assessed the damage.

Three zombies. Two skeleton archers and two spearmen.

‘Tsk. I’m grateful they jumped in to save me. No… is it right to be grateful?’

Well, it’s true that they jumped into this battlefield because of me….

Anyway, my forces have been considerably reduced due to the clash with the paladins.

I need to manage what’s left well or replenish my troops.

Before long, I encountered another small group of undead.

“Hmm? We’ve finally met an ally? Come on in. These are freshly hunted humans!”

This time, there’s something peculiar.

It’s a group led by a lesser vampire.

They must have just fought, as the corpses of nameless mercenaries were scattered at the bastard’s feet.

Without delay, I ran towards him.

The bastard, who had been smiling brightly, momentarily looked flustered.

“Huh? Wait. You’re not a vampire. Don’t tell me, a human…?”

This works out perfectly.

* * *

[[Warrior’s Binding] is active.]

[You have bound the defeated enemy.]

[Lesser Vampire Necromancer (1), Skeleton Swordsman (1), Zombie (1)]

* * *

THUD! CRACK!

A skeleton soldier is crushed under the heavy weight of the Necro Ogre.

I climbed onto its shoulder and examined its forearm.

Blood was flowing from a torn wound.

It was an injury sustained in the battle with the vampire a moment ago.

[[Miracle: Lesser Healing] is active.]

With a tingling freshness, the wound healed as if it had been washed away.

As I was clenching and unclenching my fist, I felt a strange gaze from the side.

A woman in leather armor with red eyes and long, flowing black hair.

The very person who had inflicted this wound, and the lesser vampire who had been leading the small group of undead.

“What, you bastard.”

“It’s nothing.”

“First time seeing a necromancer use miracles?”

“…Yes.”

“…….”

Well, I guess so.

It’s my first time seeing it too.

Anyway, she, who had mistaken me for a fellow vampire and let her guard down, offering me blood, was now dead to me and had become my subordinate through [Warrior’s Binding].

By summoning her as a subordinate, I was handling a living being for the first time.

This is a chance to learn about the unknown trait, [Warrior’s Binding].

As I didn't have much time, I conducted a few tests while riding on the Necro Ogre.

“What do you feel when you hear my command?”

“I feel as if I am bound by a powerful will. It is stronger than what I felt when I had an audience with Duke Yulister in my previous life.”

“What thoughts come to mind about me? Something like unlimited loyalty? Or respect blooming just by looking at me? Or feeling unbearably lovely? Anything like that?”

“…You are my lord.”

“Ah, be honest. Do you suddenly develop feelings you didn't have before?”

“……You are the only one I will obey. That is all.”

Well, it’s certain she has no tact.

It seems her memories and self-awareness are maintained from her previous life.

Controlling the troops reaped through [Warrior’s Binding] is a very strange sensation.

I can give commands with words, gestures, or even thoughts.

It’s not like they are puppets.

However, it feels like a loyalty towards me is programmed at their core, making them obey any command.

“Can you use necromancy?”

“I can, to the extent of my abilities in my previous life. However, I feel that any further growth or development is impossible.”

Okay.

This is enough for now.

Through various tests, I additionally learned that this trait has a cooldown.

Once a unit is unsummoned, it takes time to summon it again.

I got off the Necro Ogre’s shoulder and moved with the undead horde.

The necromantic mana flowing through the labyrinth’s passages is getting thicker and thicker.

It means I’m getting closer to the central cavity.

‘Thirty minutes at most. I’ll arrive within that time.’

I composed my breath.

It’s a long-standing habit of mine to check two things before an important battle.

About the enemy I’m about to face.

And about myself, who is facing him.

I already know the enemy perfectly.

Naturally, I have experience clearing the game as the hero, Count Calvenia.

‘Count Calvenia. Nickname, Corpse Cart Count. A necromancer specializing in magitech, a rarity in the vampire school. He can process corpses and use them as primitive soul cores.’

If the second Duke, Tribus, achieved precise dwarven-style magitech based on improved soul cores.

This one is a more primitive type of magitech engineer who uses the corpse itself as a soul repository.

The rumor that he piles up the harvested corpses on a cart after a war is not a lie in the slightest.

The cart piled with corpses was also operated like a tactical weapon in itself.

A weapon called the so-called ‘corpse cart’, it has a totem-like effect that gives buffs to the undead.

If necessary, it’s also possible to easily deploy high-circle spells by extracting souls.

One of Calvenia's ultimate weapons, so to speak.

“My lord, I feel enemies up ahead.”

The vampire who had become my subordinate said.

Before long, the passage widened, and a four-way intersection appeared.

As she said, there were enemies.

A large number of them.

Three lesser vampires. About seventy skeletons and zombies. One Necro Ogre. Several corpse carts.

“Go first.”

I had a plan in place for a time like this.

I sent the vampire and hid in the Necro Ogre's shadow.

She, who went ahead, waved at the enemies as per my command and shouted.

The so-called….

“Be careful! Behind you!”

“Huh? What’s there?”

“Behind us?”

…Cry Wolf tactic.

[[Lightning Brand] is active.]

[Shadow Blade] is active.]

[[Lightning Arrow] is active.]

“Keo-heok!”

“An ambush…!”

Taking advantage of the moment their heads reflexively turned at their kin’s shout, I poured out a series of spells.

I took down one with a speed-focused lethal spell combo.

I delve deep into the enemy lines and shout.

“Attack!”

[[Black Thunder Veil] is active.]

The spell Tribus had used as a trump card.

A storm of black lightning rages, sweeping away one vampire and about twenty undead.

It means I started the battle by eliminating two vampires and thirty undead before it even began.

GUOOOOH-!

THUMP! THUMP!

Soon, the Necro Ogres clash and begin a power struggle.

KIIIIING!

The undead, led by the Grave Knight and Wight, charge at the masterless enemy undead.

The dead swing swords and spears at each other.

Unlike the struggles between the living, it’s a fight where no blood is shed.

Because I had eliminated two vampires from the start, the battle was not difficult.

Masterless undead have no concept of tactics.

Dealing with them is easier than dealing with the untrained fanatics of the Theocracy.

“Betrayal… Bloodline… how…….”

The battle that began with a surprise attack ended before long.

With the last vampire being killed by my subordinate vampire.

“Good work.”

“I am only following orders.”

Some of the masterless undead were bound to her necromancy and came under my command.

I myself lost a few skeletons and zombies and gained a pretty decent harvest.

[[Warrior’s Binding] is active.]

[You have bound the defeated enemy.]

[Necro Ogre (1), Skeleton Spearman (1), Skeleton Archer (1), Zombie (1)]

If you count the undead that my subordinate vampire subjugated, it would be several times the gain.

It’s a shame I couldn’t get another vampire, but that’s in the realm of luck.

Based on my experience so far, the probability of [Warrior’s Insight] activating seems to be less than 5 percent at best.

“Let’s go.”

I uncorked a potion and chugged it, then moved again.

The necromantic mana densely infused in the labyrinth also began to quickly replenish my consumed mana.

I feel it once again, this is a battlefield advantageous to me.

Under conditions where mana is supplied from the outside like now, my combat power rises significantly.

KIIIIK!

CLACK! CLACK!

Before long, I encountered another small group of undead.

They were wandering around without a vampire, Count Calvenia’s direct undead.

I tried to pass by quietly if possible, but they charged at me first.

I quickly dispatched them and moved on.

[[Warrior’s Binding] is active.]

[You have bound the defeated enemy.]

[Zombie (1)]

‘I need to speed up.’

The reaction of the undead, which I had previously ignored, had changed.

It means that while I was dealing with the two groups of vampires, word had spread among them.

Information about me must have spread within the [Bloodline], their shared consciousness space.

Probably by now, a considerable number of troops would have started to pursue me inside the labyrinth.

It doesn’t matter.

I’ve almost arrived.

I check my hand one last time.

‘Sword, staff, armor all good. Potions are two regeneration, one mana. Exposed forces are most spell skills and subordinate undead troops. Unexposed are swordsmanship and miracles.’

The information shared in the [Bloodline] would not just be the existence of a human necromancer like me.

All the nearby vampires would know the spells I used, my abilities, and even my equipment.

That’s why I didn’t use swordsmanship or miracles in the successive battles.

They are important cards in my hand.

Of course, the most important key card is separate.

It’s a spell I acquired not even a few hours ago.

[Calvenia’s Waning Moon Labyrinth (Level 6)]

I thought I might not be able to get it even with [Warrior’s Insight].

Because this was the first time I had seen a unique skill in this playthrough.

If so, this plan would have had to take a much longer detour.

But with this, a direct confrontation became possible.

KIIIIK!

The cry of a wight can be heard from somewhere nearby.

I ignored it and ran.

Soon, a wall blocking the passage appeared.

It looks like a dead end, but it's a trick.

If you have learned necromancy, you can feel the flow of ominous mana coming from beyond that wall.

Unlike the other walls of the passage, that one is a very thin wall.

I raised my staff.

[[Fireball] is active.]

KABOOM!

My vision clears up.

Before my eyes, the full view of the central cavity of the labyrinth, which I had only seen through a monitor, unfolded.

KREEEAK. KREEK….

A huge cavity.

Almost fifty meters high.

About two hundred meters in diameter.

Besides the place I broke in through, there are dozens of passages leading in all directions, and through those passages, the corpse carts I had seen before are entering in a line.

“Welcome.”

A hill of corpses piled up like a mountain.

Dozens of Necro Ogres and Grave Knights are lined up around that hill.

“So, you are that famous necromancer. The one who dropped an Infernal Meteor spell on the heads of my army sent to capture Burken. The Princess of Blood estimated you to be an 8th-circle high mage.”

On the throne atop the hill, a vampire with white hair was sitting.

He stood up.

“I’ll ask you one thing.”

Pale skin.

White hair.

Eyes glinting with a blue, ghostly light.

Count Calvenia had a slightly flustered expression.

A face that said he couldn’t quite understand.

However, he wasn't flustered by the intrusion of an unfamiliar human necromancer.

It was the opposite.

“Why did you betray me?”

He knows me.

“I thought we shared the same will, Tribus.”

He knows Tribus.