Magic Caster of Destroy

Nobody knew who started it. It might have just been the wavering of a single knight. The terror which filled them all to their limit would burst out easily, after all.

“Aieeeeeeeeeeee!”

The soul-wrenching scream echoed throughout the ranks and shook the Imperial army.

The knights abandoned their horses, which could not move, to flee on foot. This senseless move was born of their fear of one of those monsters —the same monsters which had trampled the Royal Army underfoot— drawing near. They had seen too much of those hellish sights. Even those who lacked vivid imaginations knew exactly what would happen when it was their turn under that beast’s hooves.

And of course — fear was contagious.

While less than a hundred people fled at first, it soon swelled into an exodus of sixty thousand.

Yes.

The imperial army had fallen into a rout, their vaunted military discipline in tatters.

It was a disgraceful retreat.

The knights had obviously been taught how to fall back in good order. However, there was no longer time to obey such superfluous rules. If it would let them leave this place one second faster, if they could move one step more in flight toward a safe place, they would push their comrades down with all their strength and run.

When shoved from behind, it was unavoidable that people would lose their balance and fall. And once they fell, the panic-driven throng behind them would not give them the chance to rise.

The ones who fell would be trampled by the ones behind them.

Although they all wore metal armor, everyone else wore metal armor as well. It would not take long to crush steel and flesh into a single, gore-caked lump.

Scenes like this were happening everywhere.

The Imperial army’s casualties were not caused by the enemy, but by themselves.

Not knowing what to do, Nimble hesitated uneasily.

He wanted to run as well. However, he was not allowed to, and not all the knights had escaped anyway.

As he looked back toward the Imperial army, he saw a scant few of them, remaining stock still atop their horses.

The reason they had not escaped was not because of fear. Rather, it was because they were mesmerized, in the same way that humanity was fascinated by overwhelming power they could not do anything against.

For instance, normal people would flee when they saw a huge tornado sweeping in toward them.

However, there were certain beings who admired the beauty of the tornado and stood still even though they realized it would claim their lives. Those that remained could be considered deviants.

The Dark Young arrived before Ainz, bent its knees, and lowered its tentacles. It was probably displaying its submission to its master.

Nimble smiled, his face twitching, as the monster acted in a manner more fitting of a puppy.

The Dark Young’s front was bathed in fresh blood, and what could not be seen had already been absorbed by its skin.

It wrapped its tentacles around Ainz’s waist, then extended several more to firmly grip his body before raising him up. Then, it placed him on its head.

“I believe the original plan was that I would cast a spell to make a breach, and then the Imperial army would charge in behind, but there doesn’t seem to be any movement from the Imperial Army.

Nimble had nothing to say.

Just like that. The Empire had broken the terms of the agreement which they themselves had made with the King of their allied country.

However, one could not blame the knights for losing their nerve. Nimble would probably defend them even in front of Jircniv, because he knew the extent of the terror which gripped them.

“Ah, I have no intention of rebuking you. I am aware that if you decide to launch an assault, there is a chance you may be trampled along with the enemy. Truthfully speaking, if that happened, I would be hard-pressed to explain those deaths to your Emperor. Well, in that case, I guess I will handle your part of the job as well.”

Nimble looked to the company of the undead, which had remained still.

“Will... will... will the undead troops make an assault, then?”

“Oh, no, these dear little lambs have done most of that already, I simply intend to clean up. Mare, do not lower your guard.”

“Yes, yes! Please leave it to me, Ainz-sama!”

Nimble could not speak.

He still wanted to continue the assault, even after all of this. The one who had cast the spell himself.

Does he intend to personally exterminate everyone on the battlefield?! Does his appetite forslaughter know no limit?!!

“To think… it’s not enough. Is he a devil?”

Although he was muttering to himself, Nimble’s words were louder than he thought, and Ainz turned his terrible visage on him from where he was seated atop the Dark Young.

He shook his head at the quivering Nimble.

“Do not be mistaken. I am undead.”