"Don't even get me started. It didn't feel like much when I sent these things down there, but pulling them back up is a real chore."
In the deep crater blasted by the Wyverns she commanded, Jeanne chatted with the people around her as she surveyed the massive haul of weapons.
Had the transport of these supplies not been such a logistical nightmare, the others likely would have found a way to haul them out themselves rather than asking for Jeanne's help. It wasn't that they were lazy; the problem was the sheer pressure of having the Wyverns standing right there. It was so suffocating that they couldn't even focus on their tasks.
It was understandable. When a beast of that magnitude is standing before you, even if you know for a fact it doesn't eat people, you can't exactly act like it's not there.
As for how "exhausted" Jeanne claimed to be... shouldn't those words come from her summoned beasts instead? Weren't they the ones doing all the hard labor of hauling everything back and forth?
Despite their internal grumbling, no one voiced it. The soldiers were far more interested in the gear being pulled up. This was high-end weaponry reserved for the regular Ursus army—firepower they had never had the chance to use before. After all, the people who typically carried such gear had no interest in wandering into these parts.
Several ropes were secured around the Wyverns. At Jeanne's command, the dragons beat their massive wings and took flight. The sudden downdraft turned the small space into a whirlwind of dust, blinding everyone for a moment.
Jeanne sat on the back of the lead dragon, ascending into the sky with the haul. She intended to return to the village early to settle these supplies.
Watching the Wyverns depart, everyone felt as if a great weight had been lifted from their chests. Being near those creatures was a strange experience. Even for battle-hardened warriors, standing beside them triggered a primal, instinctive fear—the feeling of facing a natural apex predator.
Thinking back to how the Ursus soldiers had managed to trade blows with these creatures despite that same paralyzing fear, they had to admit the enemy had indeed been elite. Unfortunately for them, they had been unlucky enough to run into Jeanne—someone even the most elite forces were powerless against.
Thank goodness Jeanne is on our side, they thought. If she were an enemy, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night.
On the nearby wasteland, Reunion was distributing food to the miners rescued from the camp.
Those who had initially refused to leave with them had seen the camp fall and took the opportunity to slip away before Reunion fully secured the perimeter, fleeing without even taking rations.
As for those who remained, though they didn't fully trust their rescuers yet, the sight of food overrode everything else. It had been far too long since they had eaten actual grain. Setting aside their fears of being harmed by the Infected, they crouched on the ground and ate ravenously.
When Talulah came over to tell them they were free to choose between leaving or joining the movement, they looked at her with disbelief. Had they heard correctly? These people were actually allowing them to walk away?
Some villagers were skeptical but worked up the courage to leave. They had been kidnapped by the soldiers from nearby villages but, fortunately, had not contracted Oripathy. Though Talulah had saved them, they had no desire to associate with a group of Infected. In their eyes, they were "proper" Ursus citizens—completely different from the diseased.
"Give them three days' worth of rations. It doesn't matter where they go," Talulah said to her comrades, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear. This sparked the desire to return home in many others.
Soon, the first person left, followed by a second, and a third...
However, far more chose to stay than to leave. Some knew that going back was pointless; their villages had been stripped bare. Even if they returned alive, how would they survive? It was better to follow the group—at least their safety was guaranteed.
Others joined for a different reason altogether: revenge. They wanted to strike back at those who had made their lives so miserable.
Alex was one of them.
He wanted revenge against the Chernobog military and police who had dragged him here, and against his cowardly father who had abandoned him at the critical moment. The flames of hatred filled his soul. As he sat there brooding, someone approached him.
"Should I say 'long time no see,' or something else, Alex?"
Alex looked at the red-haired figure before him, unable to recognize her at first. He didn't think he knew anyone in this place. He searched his memories, but there was no face that matched the person standing there. For a moment, he was afraid to speak, unsure if she was there for a grudge or something else.
Lyudmila saw his silence and shrugged. "Don't recognize me? Understandable. I'm Lyudmila—from Chernobog."
Hearing the name, Alex vaguely remembered knowing such a person. But they had only met a few times many years ago; he never would have remembered if she hadn't mentioned it.
"Looks like you remember. No need for pleasantries. I just wanted to ask what your plans are. If you want to go back, I'll find someone to send you."
Lyudmila had no intention of reminiscing. Her primary wish was to send him as far away as possible—at least then she wouldn't have to deal with the annoyance of seeing him. While she wouldn't take her anger at his father out on him, "forgiving" him and "seeing him" were two very different things. Sending him back or giving him a chance to live was enough of a favor. Whatever he chose to do next was none of her business.
"I... I want to stay. There are some things I need to settle with my own hands," Alex said after a long silence.
Lyudmila shrugged and turned to walk away. "Suit yourself."
By now, Jeanne and her Wyverns had arrived near the village. As they approached, she spotted something concerning: crimson blood staining the pristine white snow.
"Did something happen after all?"
Jeanne's expression turned grave. She had anticipated this possibility, but seeing it manifest made her heart sink. She hadn't expected these people to be so low as to raid the village for supplies while the main force was away.
Jeanne descended immediately. The commotion naturally attracted the village's defenders, who initially thought another group had found them and come to raid.
"What's the situation? Are any of our people hurt?" Jeanne asked as she landed. A group quickly gathered around her, and the sight of her and the Wyverns brought a wave of relief to the defenders.
"Nothing serious. Those groups didn't even know the exact location of the village. They were just wandering aimlessly in the woods. We ran into them and dealt with them easily."
Hearing this, Jeanne let out a sigh of relief. Since the rendezvous point for the other squads wasn't actually in the village, the raiders must have inferred the general area from the army's marching patterns.
If they have the skill to track us, why not use it for something useful instead of this?
"Jeanne, now that you're back, is the battle over?"
Everyone was curious about the fight. They knew the opponent was supposed to be tough and had been worried. But seeing Jeanne's state, it was clear they had won.
"Yes, it's over! A total victory! Let's get these weapons settled first; the others will likely be a bit slower getting back."
Hearing the news, everyone stepped up to lend a hand, eager to see what kind of spoils they had brought home.