Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 760: 356: Realm of the Dead

Chapter 760: Chapter 356: Realm of the Dead

South of Ustato Territory, bordering Raventon County and Bokuya County, lies an abandoned large old encampment. Around it, hundreds of simple huts and wooden houses form a settlement where thousands of Kantadar people live in a chaotic mix, both inside and outside the encampment.

The locals call this place “Oerhardt”.

The residents here include those who were former refugees, some even criminals or deserters, and others who fled internal wars, hiding in the mountains. Now they’ve returned to their ruined homeland, homeless wanderers with nothing left.

Even though there are legends of vampire monsters circulating in the south, most of them have no thought of heading north to Avim.

Recently, indeed some tried to leave out of fear of the undead in the south, but very soon returned here, for this place has neither lord nor tax officer.

Living here, though inevitably anxious and somewhat difficult, there are vast barren fields nearby. At least they can survive, what they harvest, they get to keep. Occasionally, daring traders pass by from the west heading to Avim City, allowing them to exchange grain for some necessities.

Initially, a group of thugs threatened the residents to surrender their belongings, aiming to seize control of the land and become self-appointed lords.

But ever since the arrival of over a hundred knights, mixed from Kantadar, Orland, and Dinexion people, those domineering thugs vanished overnight.

Now, flags bearing emblems of a sword-wielding Griffin wave atop the arrow tower of the encampment.

These knights, while stationed at Oerhardt’s encampment, did not occupy the place, nor did they pillage or demand taxes.

Apart from frequent trades and labor hires upon returning from the south, over a year passed with peace between outsiders and locals.

People in the border region gradually got used to the presence of these knights, as thanks to them, the area is significantly safer compared to the surroundings.

Not long ago, they saw another army, several times larger, advancing from the north into Oerhardt… A full contingent of Heavy Cavalry majestically entered the encampment, spurring numerous residents to speculate whether these mighty knights were King’s forces from Avim City, arriving to reclaim lost land. Those unfamiliar with the Griffin even mistook the giant creature in the sky for a Lion Scorpion.

“This is the last living outpost in the Ustato area, closest to Roslava Territory. Further south, you won’t see any living person.”

At the encampment’s battlements, David introduced this considerable village town to Leon.

When they first arrived, the population was only a few hundred. But after the Holy War Knights hunted down the rampant vampire monsters nearby, more and more refugees settled here, to the point where locals even offered grain, actively requesting the Holy War Army Knights to maintain order.

David had no intention of occupying or developing this settlement but couldn’t interfere with the spontaneous population influx from surrounding areas, nor could he ignore the chaos, thus this delicate relationship remains ongoing.

Leon gazed at this village settlement, serving as a temporary frontline outpost, contemplating the current state of Ustato Territory.

After the great war in Ustato, the Kantadar Royal Court was left with few troops and little wealth, with most of the population concentrated in the Avim area due to the internal conflicts and Undead War. Only a few scattered lords remain south of the Great River.

As for the original noble rulers near the undead border region, they’ve either perished or fled.

Previously hearing from David, he mentioned some ventured back to their lands, only to vanish without a trace within a year.

After Holy War Knights investigated, those returning family members of the Kantadar locals met with grim fates. A few died at the hands of post-war emerging bandits and robbers, but far more fell victim to vampire undead assassinations.

Kantadar nobles slain by vampires met horrifically gruesome ends; according to the knights, being drained dry and turned into mummies was considered the most presentable death.

Such tragic circumstances are the primary reason for the current power vacuum in southern Ustato. Nowadays, nobles in Berkway and Raventon Counties mostly refrain from hastily returning.

Considering this, Leon couldn’t help but understand why Ustato nobles have scrambled eastward into Sobonitz Domain over the past year.

Compared to the elusive vampire undead, at least the Holy War Alliance soldiers with their real swords and guns are within their comprehensible realm.

“Do vampires only attack local Kantadar nobles?” Olivia curiously asked beside him.

David glanced at the Golden Lion Knight and shook his head: “Not just nobles, civilians have encountered numerous cases involving vampires too. However, these monsters treat civilians differently, roughly in three scenarios.

Firstly, akin to the tortured nobles, some unfortunate commoners also faced cruel harm.

Secondly, much more fortunate, they merely fell unconscious after blood lost. We rescued some victims nearly burned by mobs. Through Master Weishan’s examination, they weren’t transformed into vampires… They’re now settled in Oerhardt.”

Upon hearing this, Leon glanced at the wizard from the Undead War survival, serving as an alliance magic consultant and member of Avalon Magic Academy from Baldim County.

The old wizard in the Crow Feather Robe, leaning on the skull Magic Wand, nodded. He strictly followed instructions from the Marshal and Master Cowis, examining the physiological state of the attacked without finding traces of undead curses.