Whispers of the Crypt

The Vale, Gulltown. Night was about to fall.

The largest square near Gulltown's harbor had its bonfires lit earlier than usual.

A great many singers had gathered there, performing an unfamiliar song together. The chorus was larger than ever before, its rippling voices carrying across nearly the entire harbor. More and more people were drawn by the singing.

Some began asking the name of the unfamiliar song. It turned out to be called Whispers of the Crypt, and it was said to come from Crackclaw Point, across the strait to the south.

As the night deepened, the crowd finally began to disperse, still reluctant to leave, but the song seemed to linger in their ears.

Suddenly, cries of alarm erupted from the crowd.

To the west of Gulltown, a huge blaze shot into the sky, turning half the heavens red.

The next day, everyone in Gulltown learned that the manor of the merchant Ursur Meka had caught fire. Not a single person in the entire estate had survived.

Crackclaw Point, the Crabb's Lands battlefield.

"Roar~! Roar~! Roar~!"

"Roar~! Roar~! Roar~!"

"Roar~! Roar~! Roar~!"

Shouting their chant in unison, the Wildlings began advancing slowly toward Gryn's formation under the command of House Brune of Dyre Den.

When they were 300 yards away, Gryn raised his bow and nocked an arrow. With a whoosh, a knight tumbled from his horse.

Amparo rode back and forth in front of the ranks, shouting, "Hold steady! Hold steady! Wait for the command!"

Gryn loosed a second arrow, and another knight crashed from his horse, disappearing into the advancing formation.

After Gryn hit five knights in a row, the enemy knights dismounted and led their horses into the formation.

The two sides were now just over 200 yards apart.

After Gryn shot down the standard-bearer carrying House Brune's banner, he gave Amparo a slight nod.

"Fall back!"

"Fall back!"

"Fall back!"

Amparo carried out the order. Led by the Crabb Clan Soldiers, the "soldiers" turned and retreated, naturally heading for the entrance to Crescent Valley.

The change in Gryn's ranks immediately caught the enemy's attention, and they quickened their advance.

Everything was unfolding according to Gryn's carefully laid plan.

Just as Gryn was about to spur his horse and join the "retreat," a small accident occurred.

A figure as round as a ball suddenly entered the battlefield. With a round shield held before him and a warhammer raised high, he charged at House Brune's army and the Wildlings.

The enemy saw Gryn and his men trying to flee. To pursue them, they had already thrown their formation into disarray.

The charging ball soon collided with the fastest-moving portion of the enemy force.

The ball's massive frame slammed into two men with his shield, sending them flying. His raised warhammer came down in the same motion, crushing a nearby Wildling's skull.

The ball didn't stop. He swung his hammer again, viciously splitting another Wildling's head.

Despite his enormous size, the ball was remarkably nimble. His shield blocked every attack, while his warhammer easily smashed one skull after another.

The ball seemed to have an animal's instincts. After killing several men, he sensed something was wrong. During a lull in the fighting, he glanced toward where Gryn had been.

Where were they?

Why was there only one knight left?

He could have sworn there had been a whole crowd. Had he remembered wrong?

The ball finally began to panic. No matter how brave he was, he couldn't kill them all. He started consciously retreating.

For the moment, Gryn judged the mysterious powerhouse who had suddenly charged into the battle to be an ally, not an enemy.

Gryn spurred his horse forward, firing rapidly as he rode. The Wildlings near the mysterious warrior fell one after another.

Gryn took aim at a knight who was spurring his horse toward the warrior and shot him from the saddle. He shouted, "Mount up!"

The warrior heard Gryn's voice, rammed an enemy aside with his shield, and ran to an abandoned warhorse. His enormous body sprang nimbly into the saddle.

Gryn continued firing to cover him.

The warrior urged his horse closer. In a guileless voice, he said, "Lord Gryn, your fame has spread far and wide. I've long admired you, and I—uh, uh, I forgot my lines!"

"I heard—heard about the call to arms in the Crabb's Lands. I hoped I could serve you, but I'm a bastard. I didn't dare come to see you directly."

"I heard about the battle here and thought I'd show what I could do first, so you'd take a liking to me!"

Was this a wandering warrior coming to offer his services?

As he urged his horse to retreat, Gryn shouted, "Stranger, tell me your name!"

"Oh, right. Sorry, excuse me. My name is Mutton Waters."

As his horse galloped, Mutton Waters's belly, round as a giant watermelon, bounced up and down, rippling like water.

The corners of Gryn's mouth lifted slightly. "Welcome, my warrior!"

Hearing Gryn's affirmation, Mutton Waters's honest voice took on a hint of a sob. "You're so kind. I sincerely thank you. I swear I'll fight for you forever—uh, uh, I forgot my lines again. I—I—I'll try to eat less?!"

"My warrior, eat your fill. Don't hold back!"

Mutton Waters turned his head and stared at Gryn's profile, stunned.

Mutton Waters came back to his senses and raised his head slightly. Beneath his determined gaze, a guileless smile appeared. What a beautiful day!

[Gryn's lordship's first adorable general, Mutton Waters, makes his debut]

Seeing more and more weapons and armor left behind by the Crabb Soldiers on the ground, the Brune Family and the Wildlings shouted and cursed as they entered Crescent Valley.

Once all the enemies were inside Crescent Valley, they were met by fierce flames that suddenly rose at both the front and the rear.

Surrounded by merciless fire, screams and wails seemed to burst out of Crescent Valley.

Gryn had made every preparation he could, but there simply hadn't been enough time. On top of that, the heavy rains in the preceding days had hampered the fire.

Still, more than three thousand people were left in Crescent Valley forever.

The remaining enemies finally managed to escape the valley, but they had already lost all their strength. Most became Gryn's prisoners.

Five days later, near Dyre Den.

Holy crap!

Mounted on his horse, Gryn gazed at Dyre Den, which seemed to soar into the clouds, and remained speechless for a long time.