I Became the Commander in a Trash Game Who Copies Skills

Chapter 41. The Pale Moon (1)

I gained many things from the last subjugation.

Not just money and fame.

The approval of the Mercenary Band or the status of an honorary holy knight are more useful than money or fame, but these were like unexpected bonuses.

What I was originally aiming for were skills.

[[Snipe] is activated.]

Gaaargh!

‘Warlord Conquest’ is a fantasy game.

Unlike other strategy games, it was a fantasy game where you could frequently see heroes who were a match for a hundred, or even a thousand.

Even they would get swept away before the collective force of hundreds of thousands, but in any case, it was true that personal martial strength was necessary for survival on the battlefield.

That was why I bet on the ridiculously overpowered trait [Warrior’s Insight], thinking that remaining on the battlefield would be more beneficial compared to the risk.

Participating in the subjugation was based on the same judgment.

The result was as follows.

‘Twelve spell skills. Seven miracle skills. Two archery skills. One spirit art skill.’

Seven spells from the vampire school alone.

Five other intermediate-rank spells.

Miracles obtained from holy knights and priests.

And even archery and spirit arts copied from Karen.

I acquired skills that were normally hard to obtain in just a few weeks.

My judgment was not wrong.

[[Ranger’s Rapid Shot] is activated.]

Pewpewpewpew!

Arrows left my fingertips.

Five beastmen fell like leaves.

Every one of them had an arrow shaft stuck in a vital spot like the neck, chest, or head.

No matter how skilled one might be, shooting this many arrows should normally make one’s shoulder ache as if it would fall off, but what I gained in this war was not just skills.

[Tenacious Strength]

[Strength powerful enough to win a neighborhood arm-wrestling match.]

After all, I achieved quite a few accomplishments by defeating Calvenia.

The achievement system gave traits as rewards.

Among the traits I obtained this time, there were things I had needed for a long time.

A prime example was the improvement of my physical abilities, which had always held me back.

[Unblocked Acupoints]

[Increases maximum mana and the amount of mana that can be mobilized at once.]

Besides that, as a spellcaster who had learned even high-rank spells, there was also the mana capacity that I always found lacking.

[Priest’s Divine Power (Luark Church)]

[The divine power of a priest who has received the grace of miracles]

I was also able to obtain the abilities needed as an honorary holy knight who saved a city.

…By the way, that trait.

I wondered if it was right for me to have obtained it.

This was clearly a world with gods and divine power.

What would that fellow Luark think if some necromancer kept using divine power?

If I were a god, I felt like I’d strike him down with Divine Punishment just for being annoying.

Anyway, I did obtain several useful traits, but a luck-based shit game rarely gave only good things.

[Plant Language Interpretation]

[Sturdy Feet]

[Glossy Hair]

As always, about half of them were useless.

Especially [Plant Language Interpretation].

According to the description, I could converse with some plants.

I had no clue where on earth I was supposed to use it.

It was also a trait I'd never seen before.

“Oh, Luark, grant me the sharp judgment that pierces evil—!”

Just then, the prayer being muttered beside me reached its climax.

Alina parted her hands, which were held together as if in prayer, and spread her arms.

[Alina activates [Sacred Spearhead].]

[[Warrior’s Insight] is activated.]

[You have acquired a skill.]

[Miracle: Sacred Spearhead(Level 2)]

The forms of about twenty spears spread out behind her back like wings.

Kwoooaaaaah-

With a roar like a massive cluster of fireworks being launched, they shot out all at once.

Kwagwagwagwang!

Guwooooargh! Gack-

The divine power that exploded at the end of the pure white trajectories literally ground up most of the beastmen.

“…….”

I stealthily lowered the staff I was holding out.

If I hadn't confirmed it with [Warrior’s Insight], I wouldn't have believed it even after seeing it.

When did she learn an offensive miracle like that?

No, in the first place, was that even the [Sacred Spearhead] I knew?

Just looking at the range, it was on the level of an intermediate-rank spell.

“Um, did I perhaps do something wrong…?”

As I stared in bewilderment, Alina shrank back, sensing my gaze.

I hung my staff back on the saddle and drew my sword.

“No. You did well. Beyond my expectations.”

I guess a promising tree is different from the sprout.

I thought I would have to act as a nanny for a while, but if this was the case, the story might change.

[[Skilled Horsemanship] is activated.]

[[Imperial Knight Swordsmanship] is activated.]

I rode my horse and chased down the remaining beastmen who were fleeing in surprise, killing them all.

It was after the battle ended and we had set up a simple campsite a little way off the road that I heard her story.

***

Although I called it a campsite, we just laid out our sleeping bags and didn't start a fire.

It was a situation where we didn't know where the main force of the beastmen we just killed was.

We had to restrain our movements as much as possible and grasp the enemy's.

I only took out the sleeping bags after scouting the surroundings until almost midnight.

“While you were away on the battlefield, my lord, I learned several miracles.”

With no fire, I listened to Alina’s story while chewing on some simple hardtack.

It was a simple story.

While I was fighting in Wolfskrig, she had diligently prayed and trained following the advice of senior priests, and as a result, she was granted several miracles from Luark.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Thank you.”

Hearing about the miracles she learned, it was more than enough for her to pull her own weight, just as she said.

Even if they weren't high-rank miracles like [Divine Punishment], the [Sacred Spearhead] or [Miracle: Blessing] she learned in the last few months were skills that could be useful in various situations.

However, there was something questionable.

Leaving aside the power that far exceeded the normal range, miracles weren't originally skills that could be learned this easily.

Even for a priest belonging to the church, I remember it took a considerably long time and arduous effort….

“How I learned them, you ask? Well… one day, I just woke up in the morning and felt it. Ah, today Luark will bestow a new grace upon me, that kind of feeling.”

“…….”

Right.

So she's a talent-monger too.

Honestly, it wasn't that surprising.

Though she was a vampire-side hero, Alina was originally a being who would become a cornerstone of a faction in the latter half of the game.

The reason I accepted Viscount Pewin’s request was not only for the fee but also because I wanted to confirm Alina’s potential a bit more.

I just didn't expect her to show off her potential so quickly and so powerfully.

‘She must have a trait related to increasing acquisition rate. And probably a trait that enhances the power of offensive miracles.’

I had about five candidates in mind.

Among them, at least two or three were ridiculously overpowered traits.

The reason it was a guess was that Alina's situation was quite special even among named heroes.

Alina was a character whose fate was greatly twisted after the update.

I didn't know exactly what traits she had when she wasn't corrupted into a vampire-side hero.

It was a bit of a shame, but it was something I could find out over time.

After a simple meal, I got up from my seat.

“I’m going to scout and see where the mother pack is.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“If the beastmen come, use the miracle like before and then run down the road. I’ll come looking for you.”

I left Alina and went into the forest.

Of course, I had no real intention of going scouting.

Beastmen have senses, especially hearing and smell, that are far superior to humans.

There was a high chance they would catch my scent before I even discovered them.

‘It would have been a different story if Karen were here.’

She was currently managing the Mercenary Band in Wolfskrig.

By the way, I wonder if the Mercenary Band is running well.

Karen and Olif were trustworthy from the start, and old Brol also often showed excellence in interpersonal relationships, so I wasn't worried.

I cut off my thoughts and stopped walking.

This seemed far enough.

[[Small Subspace] is activated.]

Although I had obtained various traits and skills from the last expedition, one of the biggest gains was, of course, the subspace trait.

Unlike a subspace created by a spell, a subspace obtained as a trait could not be detected by detection magic or other supernatural abilities.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that it was all thanks to the subspace that I could safely hide my second identity while under the Emperor's watch.

Anyway, inside the subspace were newly purchased items for my Tribus identity.

Good quality leather armor, a red robe, a mask for both night vision and identity concealment, Kha’ulder’s Staff, emergency funds and rations, and….

Zzzzzing-

Ah.

Even the statue.

Zzzzzing-

Why is this thing vibrating?

***

The statue was vibrating.

This was a variable I had not anticipated.

Let's think.

There were two possibilities.

First, the Princess of Blood had followed me all the way here.

Second, someone from the church within the Empire had come nearby.

“…….”

It was highly likely the former.

If the information I got from old Brol was correct, the Marquis would be gathering his army near his own territory.

Then that meant the Princess of Blood had followed me to this vicinity.

Given the Princess of Blood's characteristic of moving alone, it wouldn't have been difficult to evade the eyes of the border guards, but that wasn't the important issue right now.

Zzzzzing-

The problem was how she followed me in the first place.

Among the skills or traits the Princess of Blood possessed, there were no special tracking skills or traits.

And I had already confirmed that the statues couldn't track each other's locations….

No.

Was the statue the problem?

Zzzzzing-

Come to think of it, for a simple calling and identification purpose, it was excessively elaborate.

It wouldn't be strange at all if it had some other hidden ability.

For now, let's pretend I don't know.

Even though I was quite far from Wolfskrig, it was still awkward to meet the Princess of Blood.

The fact that she hadn't come to find me despite coming within the statue's range meant that precise tracking was impossible.

That must be why she kept setting a location and summoning me to that place through the statue.

Still, just in case, I took out only the white mask and closed the subspace.

The mask's special function brightened my dark vision.

[[Warrior’s Binding] is activated.]

[Summons a bound enemy.]

The first one I summoned was a lesser vampire.

The one I had killed in Count Calvenia’s labyrinth before.

She, who had been a great help in the decisive battle against Calvenia, was lucky to survive and is now on the list of bound troops.

The summoned vampire immediately frowned.

“I smell the unpleasant scent of beasts.”

“Hmm?”

“It’s the smell of beastmen.”

Well, vampires also have sensitive senses.

For reference, the relationship between the Vampire Archduchy and the beastmen is close to that of sworn enemies.

It seemed [Warrior’s Binding] couldn't resolve the animosity between different races.

There was no time for idle chat, so I got straight to the point.

“Vampire, what’s your name?”

“It is Tisha.”

“Tisha, can you talk to the beastmen?”

“…I do not know how to exchange words with beasts.”

She got offended even though I just asked.

I only asked because some vampires are born with the trait of being able to communicate with other races.

The Princess of Blood was a prime example.

[[Warrior’s Binding] is activated.]

[Summons a bound enemy.]

Now for the main event.

It was time to interrogate the prisoner.

Fortunately, an interpreter was not needed.

Perhaps it was a hidden effect of [Warrior’s Binding], but I could understand the words of the beastman who became my subordinate.

“Grave Bat! One bite!”

“A mere beast…. If it weren't for my master, I would have flayed your flesh and made you my servant!”

…It was unexpected that the bound minions could communicate with each other.

Before it got noisy, I unsummoned the vampire.

“Wingless! Half-bat! Ugh…!”

“Calm down.”

I calmed the fuming Unhorned One's excitement and made him put down his bow.

Seeing the beastman obey me obediently even with a flushed face gave me a new feeling.

It was like seeing a bad-tempered but well-behaved sheepdog.

“Warchief speak! I listen well!”

Of course, one should not think of the popular fluffy, cute characters just because they are beastmen.

The beastmen of this world were a race that fit the description of beast-humans, no, beast-men.

Seen up close, the Unhorned One resembled the ‘Satyr’ from Greek mythology.

The lower body of a beast.

A hairy human upper body.

And a head that looked like a half-and-half mix of a goat and a human.

For reference, among the beastmen, those with short or almost no horns like this one, the 'Unhhorned Ones,' are of a low class.

This type usually serves in roles like slaves within the pack….

This one seemed to have been ostracized from the pack altogether.

Fortunately, he knew about the main force, that is, the mother pack.

“We! Kill! City! Burn! Eat!”

“City?”

“Rich city! Many people city! Burn five villages, then burn city!”

“…Gunterburk.”

The worst-case scenario.

I asked a few more questions.

Combining the words the Unhorned One listed with his slurred pronunciation resulted in the following sentences.

Their main force was a pack of beastmen between fifteen and twenty thousand in size.

Their destination was Gunterburk.

The beastman leading the pack was a Warchief named Rishubak, known as the ‘Beastpriest of the Full Moon.’

‘Beastpriest of the Full Moon. A guy who should appear later… but I'm not even surprised anymore.’

Beastpriest of the Full Moon, Rishubak.

The instigator of a crisis that was originally supposed to appear in the mid-game of the Empire playthrough.

He was also one of the five legendary heroes of the beastmen.

If it was true that the Beastpriest was targeting Gunterburk, then Gunterburk, which was less defended than other border cities, would have a hard time holding out.

That would cause a hitch in my long-term plan to grow based on the Empire.

“…….”

There was a way.

But time was short.