Defected Dark Healer’s Rise to Wealth
The beast unit led by Urklow set out from the forward base after nightfall.
While the mission was technically a reconnaissance in force, what was expected from Urklow , a high-ranking officer of the demon nation, was to wield her overwhelming individual strength and push the front lines forward with sheer ferocity.
Naturally, as the vanguard, she moved silently through the dense forest, where visibility was poor.
We followed her, our backs concealed even from the faint moonlight.
“──Hey, you holding up, Kiwi?”
An hour had passed since our operation began.
With no contact yet, Urklow took the opportunity to turn around when the vanguard briefly halted.
“Your unit keeping up?”
“Yes, no need to worry.”
I responded without hesitation.
Walking through a pitch-dark forest might not be an issue for demons with night vision, but for an ordinary human, it would be a grueling task. However, after spending two months in Westwood, I no longer had any blind spots.
After all—
“My Zombie Soldiers are quite used to carrying me.”
I wasn’t even walking on my own feet to begin with.
To be honest, traversing the forest on foot was already beyond me.
Even in daylight, I’d trip over tree roots and fall.
“Swan is also being carried by a Zombie Thief, and the rest of my squad consists of those with the stamina to keep up.”
When I looked back, four glowing eyes, reflecting the faint light in this space, stared at me—those of our military medics, Goliath and Pignetz.
──Among the nine demon medics assigned to our guerrilla medical unit, only four, including myself, were accompanying Urklow ’s squad. The rest were ordered to assist at the forward base’s medical camp.
“If we increase our numbers and slow down, it would be the same as weakening the main force. We’re doing our best not to be a burden to you, Urklow .”
“That’s what I like to hear. And with a <Local Guide> on hand, we’re even better off.”
Urklow ’s gaze turned to Anemone, who was holding up her sacred staff.
“…Hmm. Straight ahead, I think.”
Bathed in moonlight, Anemone frowned slightly as she approached me and spoke.
“As far as I can tell, it’s the only route without elves.”
“Oh?”
I carefully slid down from my Zombie Soldier’s back, making sure not to fall.
“And what do you mean by ‘as far as I can tell’?”
“Well, something feels off. It looks like the elves’ movement patterns have changed.”
“Movement patterns?”
“Remember when I told you before that elves usually operate alone in skirmishes?”
“Yeah, I remember.”
“But now, for some reason, sacred staffs are clustered together in certain areas.”
Anemone had just performed the <Sacred Staff Locating Ritual>. Almost all elves carried their wooden sacred staffs with them at all times, and those staffs had a simple enchantment that allowed them to detect each other’s presence.
It was thanks to this very spell that Anemone and I first met.
“If sacred staffs are clustering… that means the elves are moving in groups?”
“That would be the most reasonable assumption. Maybe Mallow changed their orders because of what you guys did a month ago.”
“Hmm…”
That was certainly a possibility.
Especially considering Urklow , a key figure in the northwest front, had defeated Mallow’s vessel. Their wariness would be at an all-time high. The elves may have been instructed to patrol in teams rather than alone.
“Or maybe it’s a trap…”
“A trap?”
“Mallow knows that <you all> are in the demon army.”
“…!”
Understanding dawned in Anemone’s eyes.
“Mallow is predicting that we’ll use sacred staff tracking to avoid combat…?”
“Exactly. The elves are strong enough on their own, but if they’re in groups, it’s only natural that we’d want to avoid them. Mallow is no fool—he’d see that coming.”
“Then what do we do? Do we cut through the elf groups?”
“Hmm…”
What to do…
I could only think so far in these situations.
I had no idea what the best tactical decision was.
So—
“Urklow .”
I decided to leave this part to our squad leader. After all, she had the final say in our actions.
But when I turned to her—
“Ah, that kind of detailed stuff? I’ll leave it to you, Kiwi.”
She waved a hand dismissively, as if it was the most trivial thing in the world.
Huh?
“Uh… I was hoping to hear your thoughts, Urklow .”
“My job is to find the enemy, charge in, and wreak havoc. That’s all.”
“…”
Wait, no, seriously?
The vanguard can’t possibly operate on such reckless tactics…
Just as I was thinking that—
──Tap, tap.
“Boss Kiwi, mind if I have a word?”
A low, slow voice murmured near my ear. It belonged to one of the beast unit members, a hulking, hippo-like beastman.
“See, us beastfolk, including Lady Urklow , we’re more beast than man. We ain’t exactly the sharpest bunch, and we’re a band of wild brutes, through and through.”
“I can hear you, Hipopo. Who the hell are you calling a beast?”
Urklow ’s sharp ears picked up on it, but Hipopo ignored her and continued.
“So, our whole thing is that we <can’t really coordinate properly, so we just follow our instincts, rampage, and turn the battlefield into a mess>.”
“…And your battle plan?”
“The units behind us are the ones who adjust their movements to match our chaos.”
“…I see.”
I found myself looking up at the sky.
Now that I thought about it, even back when we had rescued Urklow , she had fought alone and ended up isolated because of it.
No wonder her tactics were so… crude.
Was I supposed to be impressed or just dumbfounded? Either way, it was clear that no one here would guide me through orthodox strategy and tactics.
“So I have to decide, huh…”
“Don’t overthink it, Kiwi. Sooner or later, we’re gonna fight those elves anyway.”
Urklow laughed heartily, but unfortunately, I wasn’t as optimistic.
Still, it was true that agonizing over it wouldn’t help.
Both options—facing the clustered elves or risking a potential trap—were equally dangerous.
“…We’ll go straight ahead.”
“Oh? The way that might have traps?”
“Yes.”
“Any particular reason?”
“No deep reason.”
I let out a small sigh.
“I just figured… might as well step on it and find out.”
“Gyahaha!”
Urklow threw her head back in laughter.
“That’s even more reckless than me! So, what if it’s a trap?”
“If it’s a manageable trap, we crush it and move on. If not, we run.”
“Guhya—run!?”
Urklow howled with laughter, her mouth stretched wide.
“Gyahahaha! What kind of warrior says that… oh, right! Kiwi, you’re no warrior!”
“I’m a Dark Healer, after all.”
“Gyaha!”
Urklow clutched her stomach in amusement, but I was entirely serious.
I saw no shame in retreating.
If fleeing rendered the enemy’s trap ineffective and allowed us to re-engage in a more favorable position, it was a perfectly valid strategy.
…Dying in battle was not in my plans. My priority was always survival.
“Alright, let’s move. The trap might be eagerly waiting for us.”
“Sounds good.”
Urklow clapped a firm hand on my shoulder.
“If that trap’s got a neck, I’ll cut it right off.”
“I’m counting on you.”
And with that, I mounted my Zombie Soldier again, while Anemone took her place at the front.
