Published: August 15, 2025
The next morning
The full-scale assault on the ghost town began with a deafening explosion that resonated deep within our bodies.
The Everdark Herb we sought could be harvested inside the tower standing at the center of the ghost town. However, there were two obstacles before we could gather it: a large gate that remained as a remnant of the prison, and the overwhelming horde of undead swarming beyond it.
So first, we destroyed the gate. Taking the opportunity, we decided to dispose of the stockpiled gunpowder all at once, using it all in a spirited blast.
"Though it was no use keeping it, perhaps we used too much gunpowder this time," someone remarked.
"The dust is thick, so visibility is poor... but the gate has definitely been blown to bits."
"Not just the gate—the undead beyond it seem to have been blasted away too. No problem there."
"I'm glad we kept our distance."
As we peeked around the bend a short distance before the single road to the gate to survey the situation, small stones tapped and fell from the protective barrier we'd set up just in case. Since this amount of explosives had originally been prepared for blowing up enemy forces in the abandoned mine or collapsing tunnels to bury them alive, this was expected.
If we relaxed now, the cleared area would soon be overrun with undead again. We needed to prepare while we still had the chance.
"Securing the entrance."
'Gob!'
The goblins we had summoned earlier from the dimension home and stationed in the rear suddenly dashed forward.
At the forefront were hobgoblins clad in armor, wielding tower shields made from hardened liquid plates and metal slime maces. Behind them were hobgoblins armed with spears, others carrying grave slimes, and goblins with ranged weapons followed.
Their movements were chaotic, far from perfectly synchronized, but they succeeded in taking position just before the destroyed gate before the undead could regroup. Between the hobgoblins holding shields side-by-side, the grave slimes being carried moved forward.
Today's operation consists of three stages, with the first stage centered on my familiars. Though we blasted the area in front of the gate, undead still lurked deep in the town. If only the five adults and I confronted the front line, we'd be outmatched in sheer numbers, so I decided to increase our forces with my familiars as well.
Still, even then, our numbers numbered less than a hundred. The enemy's total count was unknown, but judging from the town's size and the extent of the miasma, it was estimated to be at least ten thousand, putting us at an overwhelming numerical disadvantage.
"Coating Light."
So, I imbued the goblins’ weapons with light attribute mana magic, which is especially effective against undead. I still couldn’t do “parallel chanting of Light Balls” like Miss Remily, but by targeting the metal slimes they had contracted as familiars with the magic, I could send a concentrated burst of mana to their weapons.
This alone significantly improved our destructive power against undead and could synergize well with increased numbers. With more experience, I might even be able to cast enhancement magic on the goblins themselves, who are also my familiars.
Also, today, the grave slimes would actively devour enemies from the start, so the goblins’ role was primarily to mop up any stragglers who got past the slimes. Supported from behind, if they focused on this task, the goblins alone should be able to hold the advantage.
If the situation worsened, the adults and I had plans to intervene... though that would likely only be necessary for the first few hours, since the grave slimes that ate during the battle would multiply rapidly. More grave slimes meant a higher efficiency in dealing with the undead—a certainty.
Thinking of today’s operation as a “territory control game” where we increase the number of grave slimes and infiltrate the ghost town while establishing our own stronghold might make it easier to understand.
“Holy Space here; the resting area is set up as well. This will be a prolonged battle, so take it easy and fall back early if you get tired.”