Free Web NovelChapter 162: Chapter 99: My Dear Mom [Pale Elegy]
Red Ridge Mountain, Lakefront Town, Lester’s legacy, the Draenei Brotherhood, and that high-and-mighty... Demigod of the Netherworld...
The path ahead was long and filled with challenges.
’I still have to take it one step at a time.’
Lynch firmly believed that as a Transmigrator, he would sooner or later reach the same level as Pale Elegy, perhaps even surpass her and bring her to her knees.
******
「The next day.」
For a change, Lynch didn’t begin training immediately after waking up. Instead, he gathered a few things and prepared to head out.
’My ambitions are grand, but I still have to face reality.’
Although the immediate threat to the townspeople of Lakefront Town had been dealt with, their food supply issue remained unresolved.
Fish and Fishman meat could certainly fill their bellies, but as the population continued to return, food would inevitably become scarce.
Besides, while fish was tasty, a long-term diet lacking carbohydrates was unsustainable. It would lead to fatigue and make it difficult to train elite soldiers.
’So, securing a source of carbohydrates and restoring agricultural production is imperative.’
Leaving the garrison, Lynch assembled all his Skeleton Guards, mounted Red Rabbit, and left town with a dozen or so militiamen, heading toward the nearby abandoned villages and farmlands.
Lakefront Town was once considered a rare patch of fertile land in the Red Ridge Mountain region. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
A total of seven villages were scattered along Mirror Lake and the surrounding mountain hollows.
The villagers had cleared vast swathes of farmland, mainly cultivating "Black Rye," "Ash Potatoes"—which had a stable yield despite their poor taste—and some "Oilsun Flowers" for oil and animal feed.
In terms of yield, it couldn’t compare to the major grain-producing provinces in the central Empire, but it was enough for several thousand people to be self-sufficient, with even a small surplus each year for sale or storage.
Now, however, what lay before Lynch was a scene of utter desolation.
Most of the village houses had collapsed, leaving only crumbling walls and ruins.
The fields were choked with weeds. More alarmingly, they were pocked with holes the size of washbasins. A foul, acrid stench wafted out of them as one drew near.
"My lord, these are Demon Rat Caves."
An old militiaman familiar with the area couldn’t hide the resentment on his face at the sight. "After the villagers fled, these damned Demon Rats migrated here from who knows where. Their numbers are staggering, and they’re bold. Sometimes they even attack lone people or livestock."
’Tsk. This is a bit much.’
A flicker of surprise crossed Lynch’s eyes.
He’d heard about a rat infestation in the farmlands, but he hadn’t expected it to be this severe.
’Judging by how dense these holes are, the ground underneath must be completely hollowed out.’
’It would be a miracle if anything could grow in a field like this.’
Lynch didn’t say much. He simply directed the militiamen to work together and hunt down a few of the Demon Rats.
As it turned out, catching the Demon Rats was a real pain.
Though numerous, they were very alert and extremely fast. At the slightest hint of danger, they would immediately flee back into their holes. Even with preparations, it still took the militiamen a great deal of effort to take down just a few.
Lynch approached the Demon Rat corpses to inspect them. They were much larger than ordinary field mice; each one was plump and round, weighing over ten pounds. Their fur was smooth and glossy—a clear sign they were well-fed.
The old militiaman wiped the blood from his sword. Seeing Lynch come over to inspect the Demon Rat corpses, he remarked casually, "My lord, the meat of these Demon Rats is actually quite tasty. And their fur is good quality, too. After tanning, it can be made into coats or blankets. They’re good for warding off the cold and sell quite well."
Clearly, they had tried to deal with the Demon Rats before, but had ultimately failed due to their sheer numbers and rapid breeding.
"Mm."
Lynch nodded and ordered his men to skin the Demon Rats and strip the meat.
The militiamen immediately swarmed forward. In an instant, the Demon Rats were reduced to piles of bones, picked clean of every last scrap of meat.
Next, Lynch cast his Skeleton Resurrection Skill, raising several Demon Rat Skeletons.
He then had the militiamen bring out the fish oil, pitch, and cloth strips he’d told them to prepare. They soaked the strips in the oil and pitch, wrapped them around the Demon Rat Skeletons, and set them ablaze.
Then, at Lynch’s command, the burning skeletons scurried into the burrows.
Instantly, the tunnels filled with scorching flames and billowing smoke.
The smoke spread quickly through the interconnected rat tunnels.
The militiamen were prepared. They quickly split into pairs and fanned out, guarding the smoking burrow entrances with fishing nets and spears.
Before long, Demon Rats unable to bear the smoke and fire began pouring frantically from other exits.
"Over here! They’re coming out!"
"Over there, too!"
"Quick! Net it!"
The waiting militiamen sprang into action. They threw nets over the Demon Rats, then ruthlessly stabbed with their spears and harpoons, piercing skulls and spines.
"SCHLICK!" frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
"SCHLICK."
One by one, the plump Demon Rats were slaughtered on the spot.
And every time a batch was killed, the militiamen would quickly skin and butcher them. Lynch would then cast his spell to transform them into new Demon Rat Skeletons, which were wrapped in oily cloth, set alight, and driven into new burrows.
And so the cycle repeated.
In a single morning, they had completely wiped out the Demon Rats from this sizable patch of farmland. They had killed two to three hundred in total; the harvested meat filled a large flatbed cart, and they had collected two large baskets of pelts.
