Volume 9 Chapter 17 General Grano Hosts a Drinking Party
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
In the depths of the labyrinth, specters lurked, preparing to devour the souls of the living as they readied their assault on McGaref. The First Emperor, their supreme commander, remained composed, endlessly indulging in the embrace of ‘Eternal Witch’ Cartera.
For-Elda, commander of the 4th Division, had offered the recently deceased yet still beautiful Naja Lesta and ‘Adamantine Witch’ Beria as concubines for the Emperor’s pleasure, but he declined.
That day, Cartera visited the 1st Division’s headquarters. Amid the silent, dutiful undead preparing for war, her presence stood out.
”Ah, Cartera. Come over here and have a drink,” General Grano greeted her.
”My, Grano, drinking in the daytime?” she teased.
”Don’t be a nuisance. His Majesty isn’t marching yet, right? So, we might as well drink. Agreed, Berhardt?”
”Yeah, the general’s right,” Berhardt grumbled.
”Hah! You just stick to swinging your sword, ‘Black Sword King’ Berhardt-sama!”
”And you, ‘Black Flame General’ Grano-sama, just do as the kid says,” Berhardt retorted.
”Berhardt, stop calling His Majesty ‘the kid,’” Cartera chided.
”It’s fine. When we’re alone, he calls us ‘Grano-dancho’ and ‘Berhardt-san,’” Grano chuckled.
The two specters, tipsy and talkative, bantered as Cartera sipped her drink gracefully.
”This is excellent liquor,” she remarked.
”Hah! It should be. I had the Quvar folks prepare the finest. We don’t need food, but this… this is what our souls crave,” Grano said.
”The taverns where you sold your services never had anything this good,” Berhardt noted.
”Please, let’s not bring up the past,” Cartera sighed.
”Apologies. You’re so sensitive, Berhardt. That’s why the kid calls you ‘all muscle, no brain,’” Grano joked.
The three reminisced about their days as the First Emperor’s trusted allies on the battlefield. Their stories were endless.
”By the way, have you checked Raphastia’s camp?” Grano asked.
”Yes, it’s a mess… as usual, he’s gambling. Almaria looked exhausted,” Cartera replied.
”Hah! Even ‘Witch of the Dead Arm’ Almaria-sama can’t handle Raphastia,” Grano laughed.
”That man never learns. Gambling destroyed his country, yet here he is,” Berhardt muttered.
”His statue should’ve been destroyed when the kid became emperor,” Cartera added.
Raphastia, leading the 2nd Division alongside Almaria, was one of the few who had served alongside the First Emperor. Known as the ‘Holy Corpse General,’ his true nature was lost to history.
”So, His Majesty’s leaving the labyrinth, huh?” Grano asked.
”My ears and eyes are sharp, it seems,” Cartera smirked, ignoring Berhardt’s blunt question.
She recalled their mercenary days in the Quvar Empire, where Berhardt was often the butt of jokes in taverns. Afterward, he’d buy her services, and the three would share intimate moments. In Quvar, where black hair was considered ominous, Cartera’s clients were rare.
”Half-skeleton, half-human escorts like us would stand out,” she explained.
”Hah! You’re right,” Grano admitted.
”Of course, I’ll go… a journey might spark some romance ♡,” Cartera added.
”Ah, so you’re here to inform us you’re leaving,” Grano realized.
”Yes. He wants to visit the Empress’s grave before burning the Imperial Capital,” Cartera explained.
”The little lady’s grave… he should go. There’s no rush,” Grano said, downing his drink.
”Should we proceed with the McGaref invasion?”
”Wait. I’ll fly back using my magic in two days,” Cartera assured him.
”The ‘Eternal Witch’ can do anything, huh? They say you’re the strongest witch in history,” Grano remarked.
”All thanks to the Empress’s blessing…” Cartera’s voice trailed off, her eyes distant.
”You two, prepare the troops by the time His Majesty returns. We’ll crush McGaref,” she ordered.
”Got it,” Grano acknowledged.
”Will do,” Berhardt added.
Cartera left, heading to Raphastia’s camp for a much-needed scolding. The First Emperor’s invasion of McGaref was just three days away.
* * *
”I envy you two,” For-Elda, commander of the 4th Division, remarked to Naja Lesta.
For-Elda oversaw the transport of the completed Magic Cannon to the mid-levels of the labyrinth for testing. Among her staff was Naja Lesta, now her vice-commander. Few specters retained enough will for conversation, so their exchanges were rare.
”It’s fine. You’re freshly deceased, your skin still vibrant… I look like a wrinkled old woman. At least I’m not a half-skeleton like General Grano. I wish I could’ve reincarnated young, like the First Emperor or Cartera,” For-Elda sighed.
Naje glanced at Tymis and Amira, who had surrendered and been executed. They, too, retained their beauty. Beria, the ‘Adamantine Witch’ from the Seron Duchy, was another example.
”Where’s Beria?” For-Elda asked.
”She’s scouting outside the labyrinth,” Naje replied.
”She’s so carefree… probably avoids us because it’s awkward,” For-Elda mused.
”Apologies for that,” Naje said.
Beria had been defeated by Naje’s forces. Though she claimed not to remember much, Tymis knew she simply didn’t want to recall killing her former ally.
”Maybe I’ll swap her with General Keirald’s ‘Clay Witch’ Rakw… but she’s useless, and I can’t break up their friendship,” For-Elda muttered.
She fine-tuned the Magic Cannon, then called a nearby specter soldier, slit its throat, and loaded its magic stone into the cannon. Such brutality was typical of specters, who viewed reincarnation as mere existence.
”Ready. Time to show them the power of the ‘Magic Bullet General’ For-Elda, the genius who made witchcraft obsolete,” she declared.
The cannon, a mortar, was aimed at a nearby structure. The magic stone converted into a bullet inside the barrel—a process too complex to document, ensuring the technology was lost.
”…Fire!”
The bullet spiraled silently, striking the target. Moments later, a deafening explosion reduced the structure to rubble. Naje was stunned by its power.
”Success! It destroys unenchanted structures easily. But McGaref’s walls… fortified with centuries of magic… having an insider open the gates would be a waste. Smashing through them is the true test of our reincarnation,” For-Elda gloated.
Naje and the others exchanged glances. Though they planned to betray the First Emperor for Takumi, they had to time their defection carefully to maximize impact.
(Can the Magic Cannon truly breach McGaref’s walls?)
Naje’s doubts lingered as she praised For-Elda’s achievement.
Notes:
• McGaref – Fortress city, adventurer hub.
• Cartera – Eternal Witch — The First Emperor’s mistress and a resurrected sorceress of immense power. Cruel and seductive, she takes pleasure in destruction and defilement. Her loyalty to the Emperor is absolute, and she shares his desire to end the world. First appears in v9c3.
• Grano – The Black Flame General, a legendary figure from Quvar’s past, now resurrected as part of the First Emperor’s ghostly host. Known for his ruthless tactics and unwavering loyalty to the Emperor, Grano commands a significant portion of the undead army. He is disdainful of the living, particularly those who oppose the Emperor’s plans, and shows no mercy in battle. His presence, alongside other legendary generals like Belhart, underscores the immense threat posed by the Emperor’s forces. First mentioned in v9c7.
• Raphastia – A once-renowned general who now serves the First Emperor in the underworld army. He is referred to as a ‘Holy Corpse,’ indicating his undead state. Raphastia retains his self-awareness and will, which is unusual for the undead, and his loyalty to the Emperor remains unwavering. He is described as having a raspy voice and is one of the key figures in the Emperor’s command post. First appearance in v9c8.
• Amira – Captain of the guard who complies with surrender terms.
• Tymis – Deputy commander of the Lesta Kingdom.
• Naje – First princess of the Lesta Kingdom and deputy commander. The tragic princess of the Lesta Kingdom who was executed for her country.
• Keirald – Once a commander in the northern wars, now a spectral soldier bound by a magic stone. Massive build, armored in living muscle. His voice thunders like iron against shield. Relationship – Loyal general to the First Emperor. Reminder: -His existence is sustained by the magic stone embedded in his armor. First appearance in v9c8.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply