Volume 10 Chapter 65 Death Soldier Pass Crossing
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Reporting! No signs of enemy presence in the immediate vicinity, and no fortifications have been spotted. We have scouted every possible approach, but there is no evidence of an army lying in wait.”
Klock had departed Conro, pushing westward with a force of two thousand six hundred. He had entrusted the remaining three thousand troops to Raki, directing them to move south. As planned, Klock had set out to intercept the Beast Demon Tribe¹ that should have been entrenched west of Conro, but the enemy had vanished.
(I had a hunch they’d gone quiet when they didn’t make a move on Conro. Did they actually tuck tail and run?)
He had been attempting to subvert the Beast Demon Tribe through clandestine maneuvers. That role, originally meant for Kispe, had been taken up by the Fairies, though the outcome remained a total mystery. No word had come from them, and Conro remained unmolested.
”The Demonkin have marched north in force. They surely would have contacted the Beast Demon Tribe to coordinate. Since they’ve disappeared, it’s safe to assume they’ve lost their stomach for the fight,” Klock said.
”At face value, it looks like a retreat,” Primlena suggested. “Otherwise, they’re biding their time. If they aren’t nearby, the most likely hideout is the Great Wolf Forest—the place they were rumored to haunt,” Suzette added.
Ada was spearheading the march today. Because of this, Klock shared the carriage with Suzette, leaving the interior packed with his inner circle.
”My Lord, shall I return to the Void² and request a report from the Fairies?” Flavia asked.
”No, don’t bother. If they’ve cleared out, that’s good enough for me,” Klock replied.
There had been talk of Flavia making a direct appeal to the Fairies in the Void, but if he sent her back now, there was no telling when she would return. Intelligence was vital, but today he couldn’t spare her. After this sweep, they had to pivot south to rendezvous with Raki for the impending showdown with the Demonkin. Every elite blade mattered.
”My Lord…!”
They had been pushing west for some time. Klock was just about to call the turnaround, figuring if they weren’t within a day’s march of Conro, they weren’t a threat—when the air changed.
”What is it?” Klock asked.
”I smell the Fairies,” Flavia said, her kindred blood sensing them first.
Meina’s ears gave a sharp flick, and Primlena’s brow furrowed. Suzette’s hand drifted toward her hilt. One by one, the others began to pick up on the anomaly.
”Hey, Klock! Get out here and look at this. Things just got weird,” Boit called out.
Boit was followed by Gonmi, who was munching on an apple. If even Boit was picking up on the shift, it was serious. When Klock leaned out of the carriage, his eyes nearly popped.
”What the hell is this? A wild apple orchard…?” Klock muttered.
It was a sight that defied logic for a narrow mountain pass. Apples. More apples. Strange citrus fruits and trees weighed down by clusters of berries. He saw unknown fruits, ripened to a deep, visceral crimson he’d never seen before. The entire pass was choked with fruit.
”This is the work of the Orchard Fairies,” Flavia said.
”Orchard Fairies?” Klock asked.
”Yes. They have the power to manifest the Void through harvest rituals. Their activity must have pulled the essence of the Void into this world, forcing this hyper-growth,” Flavia explained.
Klock stepped out and was hit by the sheer wrongness of the scene. The weeds underfoot had shot up to waist-height. In the gaps between the overgrown stalks—far too lush for a trodden path—lay a carpet of out-of-season acorns, chestnuts, and fruit. Klock briefly wondered if he could count this windfall toward their dwindling rations, but the thought died as Meina pointed toward the brush.
”Sir Klock,” Meina said.
Klock recoiled at what she had found.
”Is that… a body?” Klock asked.
A corpse lay half-buried in the soil. At first, he thought it was a dead horse, but a second look revealed a human torso from the waist up. He kicked aside the tall grass to reveal the face.
”A Beast Demon. It looks like a fresh Centaur corpse,” Primlena noted.
”There’s more over here. Wait—the whole ground is littered with them!” Suzette called out.
”Gods… look at this. These damn apple trees are rooting right through the Centaur’s armor,” Boit spat.
It was a scene from a nightmare. The Centaurs were clad in the distinctive plate of Nobdovef’s personal guard. Why were they all dead here? One or two might be an accident, but this was a massacre.
Hey, listen.
Hey, hey, listen, listen.
”Huh? Who’s there?” Klock barked.
No one answered. He’d heard a voice—high, airy, and cloying like a child’s—but the path was empty.
Giggle.
Tee-hee-hee-hee.
”…Who is that?” Klock asked.
He scanned the foliage. A tiny silhouette flickered behind a hanging apple and vanished.
”Sir Klock, the area is crawling with Fairies,” Suzette warned.
”Yeah. I just caught a glimpse,” Klock replied.
”It’s not just a few. They’re in every single piece of fruit,” Suzette said.
Klock looked up. Tiny, translucent faces peered out from behind the fruit. Small world-dwellers with gossamer wings were nestled against the red skins of the apples, watching the humans with wide, unblinking eyes.
Hear, oh hear, come lend an ear.
To the tale of the snake and the brave cavalier.
”The brave… Centaur?” Klock muttered.
Fairies swarmed above while the dead lay below. Klock’s jaw tightened as the voices overlapped.
The horse and the serpent were here, you see. But the horse and the serpent could never agree. They hated each other, they spat and they lied, yet they walked through the pass standing side-by-side. The snake was so quiet, so meek and so small, she followed the horse at his beck and his call. But that was a trap, a wicked design… she was waiting for a chance to snap at his spine.
The voices shifted, different Fairies taking up the story like a macabre theater troupe.
The Golden-Fanged Lamia bit the brave knight. He struggled and thrashed with all of his might. But he turned into gold, a statue so bright, while the snake laughed aloud at his terrible plight. He cursed her in gold as the sun turned to night!
And that is the end! The story is done! But the snake had a secret, a wicked one. A witch in the shadows had whispered a plea: ‘Betray them, and bite them, and set the curse free.’ Beware the dark witch and her spider-friend’s crawl. They’re scary, so scary, and watching us all!
”…Where is this ‘golden statue’?” Klock asked.
This way. This way, this way. Follow us.
The Fairies abandoned their hiding spots. A cloud of tiny, glowing figures rose from the orchard, beckoning him forward. (They’re practically tripping over themselves to show off,) Klock thought grimly as he followed the swarm.
”Klock… look,” Primlena whispered.
There he was. A Centaur turned to solid gold. He stood frozen in time, clad in scarred, ancient armor, clutching a halberd. He wasn’t alone. There were others—some fallen, some on their knees in eternal supplication. The central figure wore a helmet far more ornate than the rest.
”Is this… Nobdovef?” Klock asked.
”Looks like Ninfa, that Lamia, finally pulled the trigger. Kupira must have been the one in her ear,” Boit muttered.
It was the very plan they’d brainstormed. Kupira had simply beaten them to the punch. Whether she did it out of loyalty or some twisted game of her own, he didn’t know. The army of the Supé region—the legendary Centaur cavalry—had been wiped out without Klock ever having to draw his sword. After confirming hundreds of Centaur and Lamia corpses beneath the thick canopy, Klock called off the search. With the light failing, they withdrew a safe distance to set up camp.
”I did a sweep, but the scent of the Lamia is cold. They’re long gone,” Meina reported.
Night fell over the Great Wall Corridor³. The Brigante Troop huddled in the captain’s tent. Meina sat on Klock’s lap as the leadership gathered around a small map.
”The western route is wide open,” Ada noted.
”I wanted them out of the way, but a total internal collapse? I didn’t see that coming,” Klock admitted.
”Ninfa was a cancer in that army. Whether she had her reasons or not, Nobdovef is the one who let her stay. It’s his failure. We should just be glad we didn’t have to bleed for this pass,” Primlena said.
”The enemy is eating itself. With the Great Wall Corridor clear, we have a new hand to play,” Klock said, pointing to the map.
”A new hand?” Suzette asked.
”We’re going west. We’re going to bypass the Mostal peaks and hammer Sanrid,” Klock declared.
”Sanrid? You want to hit their main base of operations?” Flavia asked.
Sanrid was the lynchpin. If they seized the enemy’s logistical hub, the Demon Lord’s Army at Orrid would be cut off. No supplies, and no retreat. They’d be forced to break the siege just to survive a pincer movement.
”Whoa, hold on there, Captain. Just how many days do you think it’ll take a whole army to reach Sanrid?” Alard asked.
”That’s the crux of the problem. The Great Wolf Forest is impassable. Even if we take the long way around through Blessing Pass, it would take at least two weeks for the cavalry alone. Orrid might fall before we even arrive,” Klock said.
”Two weeks is definitely taking too much time,” Primlena replied.
”But I understand the strategy,” Klock continued. “The enemy is undoubtedly waiting for us. If we face them head-on, we’ll be hopelessly outnumbered. We’ve managed to grow our forces to five thousand, but they have tens of thousands of battle-hardened veterans. It’s entirely possible that Orrid will fall while we’re still bogged down fighting their interception force.”
Primlena was right; that was the primary concern. The Demon Lord’s Army⁴ was formidable. Unlike humans, the Demonkin were seasoned warriors who had survived countless wars. Without a tactical advantage, there was a high chance we would simply be overrun. A frontal assault was the last thing I wanted to authorize.
”If that’s the case, we can get there much faster through Death Soldier Pass⁵,” Ada said.
”Death Soldier Pass? Isn’t that trail basically unusable?” Klock asked.
”Exactly,” Ada replied. “It’s a mountain path that’s barely been maintained. If things go wrong, the accidents alone could cost us a significant portion of our forces. However, it would shorten the distance far more than Blessing Pass.”
Death Soldier Pass earned its name because it was a road that only allowed for forward movement. It was a path that could never be used for retreat. If you tried to cross in a panic, you would plummet from the cliffs to your death. It could only be traversed under the most controlled circumstances-a pass meant only for “Death Soldiers” who attacked with no intention of turning back, even in defeat.
Both Death Soldier Pass and Blessing Pass served as routes from the Great Wall Corridor to Bernsa, the Elenai region. However, Blessing Pass was the standard choice for travel. Death Soldier Pass was not a proper road; it was a lethal trail clinging to the side of a cliff. One slip meant certain death. It was so narrow that not even a carriage could hope to pass through.
”…How much faster do you think we could make it?” Klock asked, stroking his chin as he considered the risk.
”Once you clear the pass, you can take the trails through the Fork Mountains. You won’t have to detour around the Forest of Mist, so you’ll make incredible time. I bet we could reach Sanrid in less than a week,” Ada answered.
That was more than twice as fast as Blessing Pass. At one week, it became a viable gamble. In that time, they could either bypass the interception force to save Orrid, or they could use that week to launch a lightning strike on Sanrid. The one with the higher success rate was–.
”Alard. Lead fifteen hundred men and head to Raki as reinforcements,” Klock commanded.
”Say what?!” Alard shouted.
”I’m narrowing our group down to a thousand elite for a surprise attack troop. Take the carriages with you; we’re going light. I’ll take every horse we have left. We’re going to attack and occupy Sanrid while the Majin are distracted,” Klock explained.
He knew this was the moment to decide. Attacking Sanrid was the most effective way to resolve the crisis.
”Wait a minute. Only a thousand men? Are you serious?” Alard asked. “Even if the Majin are gone, won’t the place be crawling with Monsters?”
The Demon Lord’s Army was pushing north with their Demonkin units. That meant the Monsters would naturally be concentrated in Sanrid-and not just a handful. We were talking tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands.
”We’ll handle the Monsters. We have Primlena with us,” Klock said.
With the overwhelming offensive power of Primlena, our greatest asset, Klock believed a small force would suffice. That was the logic behind the thousand-man limit. Besides, Sanrid offered a unique tactical condition: it sat right on the coast.
”Primlena. If you attack from the sea, how much power can you output?” Klock asked.
”I won’t have to waste time gathering water like I do on land. I can move three times the volume at triple the speed. I’ll be able to hit much harder than I did at the Star Fortress,” Primlena replied.
”You’re a hell of a woman,” Klock said, slapping his knee.
With her firepower, taking Sanrid was no longer impossible. Even if the city didn’t fall, wiping out a massive number of Monsters would be a significant achievement. If word reached the front that Sanrid was in jeopardy, they might abandon the siege of Orrid to turn back. If that happened, the defense of Orrid would be a success. Klock and the others would win.
The next day, Alard began the march toward Raki, his face still etched with disbelief. Ada chose to follow Klock, acting as the guide for Death Soldier Pass. It was a group of only a thousand elites. They hauled their gear by carriage to the foot of the pass, where they abandoned the wagons entirely. Loaded down with as much food and water as they could carry, the soldiers set out on their desperate march.
”My Lord. Let me take the lead. I can’t let Primlena have all the glory,” Princess Flavia⁶ said.
Death Soldier Pass was every bit the nightmare they expected. It was the kind of path only a cornered bandit or a stray cat would dare to tread. When I saw the ledge-barely eight inches of crumbling earth where we had to shuffle sideways with our backs to the cliff-I nearly lost heart. Calling this a “road” was an insult.
”O Sword-Spada!”
But Klock had the Princess of the Forest People at his side. The sword-shaped magic he had seen during the battle with Viola manifested once more.
”Awaken-Apertura!”
An eye of pure magic opened upon the blade. This was the Forbidden Magic of the Void-an ancient power lost to history.
”Yellow Eyes-Occhi Gialli.”
On a path where falling seemed inevitable, roots began to take hold. Like iron veins reinforcing a dying body, the plants wove through the earth, creating a sturdy mesh of roots and handrails that covered the treacherous trail.
”Are you… for real?” one soldier whispered.
”Unbelievable. Is she literally growing the road as we walk? I’ve never seen magic like this,” another added.
In the end, crossing Death Soldier Pass wasn’t the ordeal they had feared. By reinforcing the ground and carving out new paths with shifting earth, Flavia proved her worth ten times over. They crossed the Mostal Mountains without a single casualty. Descending to the Elenai plains on the horses they no longer had to leave behind, they reached the coastline in a staggering six and a half days. Sanrid was right in front of them.
”What… what is this?” Klock muttered.
The report from the Golden Scout Cat was baffling. Sanrid was empty. The hundred thousand Monsters that should have been choking the streets were nowhere to be found. The city gates were swinging wide, the interior was in ruins, and there wasn’t a single sign of life.
Something was fundamentally wrong. But without knowing what, Klock and his men entered the city. Without losing a single soldier, and without drawing a single blade, they had successfully retaken Sanrid-left only to wonder what had happened.”
—
Summary:
Klock leads his army west only to find the Beast Demon Tribe has been annihilated by internal betrayal rather than combat. The Orchard Fairies have transformed the battlefield into a surreal, hyper-grown orchard where trees root in the corpses of Centaurs. Klock discovers that Ninfa the Lamia betrayed Nobdovef, turning him to gold under the influence of a mysterious ‘Witch.’ Realizing the path is clear, Klock decides to bypass the mountains for a surprise strike on the enemy’s logistical hub, Sanrid.
Klock decides on a high-stakes gamble to retake the coastal city of Sanrid by crossing the lethal Death Soldier Pass. Using Flavia’s ancient Void Magic to reinforce the path, the thousand-man elite unit reaches the city in record time. However, upon arrival, they find the city completely abandoned by the hundred thousand monsters that should have been there.
—
Trivia:
- The Fairies’ nursery rhyme mentions a ‘Spider’ lurking, which likely refers to Kupira’s ongoing interference.
- The transformation of the pass into a ‘Void’ influenced orchard suggests the Fairies’ power can terraform the physical world, not just provide intel.
- Nobdovef’s gold statue status indicates a petrification curse that might be reversible or hold strategic value later.
- The ‘Witch’ mentioned by the Fairies introduces a potential new high-level antagonist or a hidden faction within the Demon Lord’s forces.
- The nature of Flavia’s magic: It is described as ‘Void Magic’ from ancient times, which neither literature nor modern mages seem to recognize, hinting at her unique lineage and future power ceiling.
- Sanrid’s geography: The emphasis on it being a coastal city suggests that the ’emptiness’ might be related to the sea or that Klock’s plan involving Primlena’s sea-based power was anticipated by the enemy.
- The Golden Scout Cat: Its presence as a reliable source of intel suggests a sophisticated spy network that the protagonist has at his disposal
—
Character Insight:
Klock shows increased pragmatism, being willing to use the grotesque fruits for rations and quickly pivoting his entire strategy based on the enemy’s self-destruction. The inner circle exhibits a high level of trust, as Klock shares his carriage and high-level strategy with them exclusively. Alard’s questioning at the end highlights a lingering logistical skepticism within the ranks despite Klock’s momentum.
Klock’s trust in Primlena and Flavia is solidified; he refers to Primlena as a ‘hell of a woman,’ showing a deep professional and tactical bond. Flavia shows a competitive side, wanting to prove her utility to Klock to match Primlena’s contributions.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The concept of ‘Void’ manifestation through Fairy harvest rituals is introduced, explaining how supernatural entities can alter local ecosystems. The ‘Supé region’ is identified as the homeland or designation of the Centaur army. Sanrid is established as a critical logistical base, the loss of which would paralyze the Demon Lord’s Army’s northern operations.
The distinction between Demonkin (warriors) and Monsters (cannon fodder/masses) is established. The ‘Death Soldier Pass’ legend adds historical flavor to the world’s geography, emphasizing the ‘no-retreat’ philosophy of certain regions.
—
TL Notes:
The Japanese SFX ‘pikuri’ for ear movements was localized to ‘flick’ to maintain immersion. The term ‘馬Humans’ (Horse-Humans) from the raw was localized to ‘Centaurs’ to align with Western fantasy expectations while maintaining the raw’s distinction of them as a separate race.
The incantations ‘Spada’, ‘Apertura’, and ‘Occhi Gialli’ are kept as they invoke a specific aesthetic for the magic system. Centimeter measurements were converted to inches to fit a more immersive US English fantasy narrative.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Klock – Battle‑worn master of the Conro estate, purple‑eyed and bearing a healed gut piercing, commands a 2,600‑strong Brigante troop west of Conro. Pragmatic strategist, heir of the Opener, wields the Dominance‑based Stellar Skill ‘Authority’ (World Conquest). Surrounded by a succubus harem, he is aggressive, vengeful, famed as a street hero, and sports a massive, weapon‑like penis.
• Raki – a male burly warrior and squad leader under Ada, voicing concerns about the risks of engaging the Demon Lord’s Army, loyal to Ada’s group.
• Kispe – The Queen Kispe, also known as Succubus Princess Asura, is a winged succubus with long black hair, amethyst eyes, a petite slender build, and a one‑piece dress with black tights. She acts as Klock’s lover and healer, teasing him and wielding arousal as a weapon, manipulating him with a sharp, playful tongue.
• Primlena – Orange‑haired merfolk priestess, fierce yet elegant, sister of Sea General Primjune and former Demon Lord officer now in Klock’s inner circle. Calm, disciplined, she commands Obsidian Riders on giant fish, wields a trident, and seeks Klock’s downfall. A revenge‑driven siren bride delivering news of the Merfolk and jewel‑clam communication.
• Suzette – An older, confident maid who heads the Viscount Fennec household, known for her clear‑spoken professionalism. Also a warrior in Klock’s circle, fiercely protective of him and wary of outsiders such as Alard.
• Ada – Ada the Wild Wind, an A‑rank adventurer and scout of Death Soldier Pass, sports black‑red hair, fiery streaks, multiple earrings, and a tower‑height axe‑spear. Blessed with the ‘Wind’ skill for unmatched speed, she’s ruthless in battle yet negotiates when needed. Respected by peers, feared by criminals, and at odds with Klock, who stole from her and fled.
• Flavia – Younger sister of Avery (132), second daughter of Queen Isabella of the Forestier line. She is slender, pale, with refined features and pointed ears, bearing a servant’s mark and looking up to her mother. Quiet yet resolute, she wields ancient Void magic and can shape plant paths. As a marriage pledge to Klock the Chain Binder, she symbolizes Void loyalty to Goddess Teekua, cares for the Fairy realm, and serves as Princess of the Forest People (森人/Moribito, Vaulder), sensing Fairies and guiding travelers through Death Soldier Pass.
• Meina – Golden‑haired catgirl scout with twitching ears, employed at Larana the cat‑woman’s inn. She appears tear‑streaked and desperate while performing fellatio, her inexperienced yet earnest approach evident. Physically close to Klock, she blends animal‑like features with a vulnerable, working‑girl demeanor.
• Boit – Rough‑spoken troop member who first spots environmental anomalies; a merchant in human trafficking with a villainous face and booming, obnoxious voice. Pragmatic and loud, he offers Klock a way out of the country for a price, maintaining a business‑like, mutually aware partnership.
• Gonmi – A young Beastkin girl of the Tanuki tribe. Leader of a family-based bandit group. Has a plump tail and a surprisingly large bust. Naive and prone to being bullied by Klock.
• Nobdovef – An elder leader of the beast tribes mentioned as failing to coordinate with Viola’s forces during the Orrid raid. No personal ties shown. Unreliable commander.
• Kupira – A female Fairy outcast with white hair, porcelain skin, and cursed golden eyes, born from Palze’s (a Fairy Queen) obsession and abandonment, chosen by Kispe (a Succubus familiar) as a potential familiar for Klock (a male leader)
• Ninfa – a female defector whose allegiance Kispe (Klock’s familiar) secured, her shift potentially altering the balance of power between factions.
• Sanrid – The location where Roldi reportedly went the day before the attack on Portline. This movement is a key piece of strategic information Misha provides during her interrogation.
• Orrid – Southern pleasure town near Conro, known for its chaos and vice. Serves as Brigante’s next destination and Count Grasso’s sphere of influence. Rumored den of spies and mercenaries.
• Alard – Male squad leader under Ada, outwardly disciplined and traditional, he questions Klock’s logistical plans, leads reinforcements to Raki, and is surprised by Klock’s unconventional tactics. Openly hostile and dismissive of outsiders, he constantly undermines Klock’s authority yet proves a capable fighter in battle.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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