Chapter 356 - The Heroine Arrives Late
"Whoa. Azure-san, this way."
"Okay."
They returned to the island's Large Transfer Room via the Transfer Magic Circle and immediately took the Transfer Elevator.
The next moment after pressing the button, they emerged upstairs, and he turned left at the crossroads just ahead.
"Woof!"
He chased Lupi, who was dashing… Azure-san can keep up, right?
"I'm fine~"
"Thanks."
He looks like an elementary school student, but they say he's older than Argenta-san and Vermilion-san, so it's hard to gauge his demeanor. Though now isn't the time to worry about that.
"~~~?" "Ryu?"
"Ah, Sweee and Pan. Sorry, I'm in a bit of a hurry."
""Bow.""
Sweee and the Fairies had come to eat Grapeful. Pan and the Urisks were doing field work, and Leda and Roy were diligently on guard duty.
"Shou-kun, you're amazing."
Azure-san seemed dumbfounded, but Shou ignored it. He himself wasn't sure how things ended up like this.
After opening the church door and entering, Azure-san noticed the wooden statue of the Jade Goddess that Shou had made, enshrined in the very back.
"Ohh! Are you taking that one?"
"Ah, no. We're going downstairs."
"Hm?"
Showing him the real thing was faster than explaining with words.
He moved the podium aside, opened the hatch to the basement, and descended.
He removed the Amama Fabric covering the long wooden box at the back and opened the lid.
"This is it."
"Ohh, I see. Shou-kun can turn this into a proper Goddess Statue, right?"
"Yes."
The only concern is whether I'll have enough MP, but if I take my time, I should be fine since MP recovers.
The only other thing is whether I can transport this…
It looks like it would fit in my inventory with spatial expansion, but it's made of some mysterious alloy and seems incredibly heavy.
"Then, I'll carry it."
"Eh?"
"I'm Dragon race, you know. The stairs are a bit annoying, though."
He smiled brightly and effortlessly lifted the entire box, then proceeded up the stairs.
Well, yeah, he's Dragon race, so that makes sense.
Shou-kun. Buchou and the others are about to go outside.
"Got it."
This is no time to be dumbfounded. I have to hurry.
Listening to Mion, he left the church and returned to the Ancient Ruins, seen off by Leda and Roy.
Apparently, those players who had gathered between the doors and were trying to lead the charge were swallowed up by the massive number of undead that spawned…
They apparently held out for a while using the barricades they had set up, but the undead kept coming, no matter how many they defeated.
They had also used the sanctuary provided by the Goddess Statue, but the sheer number pressing in was extraordinary, like a flood of muddy water, she said.
And what's more, the enemies attacked without concern for friendly fire…
"Alright, we're heading back."
"Okay."
The box containing the Goddess Statue was placed vertically, just barely fitting into the Transfer Magic Circle.
I wonder if Argenta-san or Vermilion-san would have had it sticking out? Well, in that case, they probably would have split it into two trips.
His vision blurred, and the next moment, he was in the tower room of the Necropolis. Now, all he had to do was place it in the church and turn it into a Jade Goddess Statue, and it should be fine.
However, the Dragonfolk guard, who greeted him as usual, looked surprised.
Ah…
Shou-kun. Your left shoulder…
"Eh?"
"~~~♪"
There, Sweee was giving a deliberately playful tehe-pero…
She probably just came along on her own, but it doesn't feel right to get angry.
Sweee must have been worried, and it's my fault for not noticing. Besides, now isn't the time to scold her.
"Sweee, don't get separated. If you get lost, I really can't come get you."
"~~~♪"
When he told her that, the Queen gave him a firm thumbs-up in reply.
Come to think of it, Sweee was always there when I transformed a Goddess Statue, so perhaps it was good that she came.
"Let's go."
"Ah, yeah, you're right."
Azure-san again picked up the wooden box containing the Goddess Statue, so they left the room and headed for the church.
Even so…
"The Dragonfolk-san were surprised to see Sweee, but are Fairies rare?"
"Fairies are especially rare among fairies. And that one is a Queen, right? It would be strange not to be surprised."
"Eh? Or rather, can you tell she's a Queen just by looking at her?"
"Yes, ordinary fairies don't have much presence, you know."
Indeed, Sweee's presence was completely different from other fairies, but to be able to tell she was a Queen just from that…
He glanced at Sweee, who had her arms crossed and a smug look on her face… Well, yeah.
Sweee-chan…
Mion, too, seemed somewhat exasperated.
The church, perhaps due to its basement, seemed to have strict security, and the Dragonfolk-san standing at the gate opened the doors for them.
They proceeded to the very back… The stairs to the basement were left open. Two Dragonfolk-san guards also stood there.
"Alright. I'll put the statue down."
"Please."
Azure-san opened the wooden box and placed what was still the "Nameless Goddess Statue" onto the circular pedestal. He then yielded his spot to Shou with an expression that said, "The rest is up to you."
"Hm?"
Just as he was about to begin, Sweee tugged at his pendant with a little gesture.
Spirit Stones? Ah, should I cast a blessing first? It was like that the first time too, so maybe that's better?
"Got it. Blessing."
The Spirit Stones currently on his pendant were Light, Tree, and Water. He also had a Fire Spirit Stone, but he still hadn't put it on; it was still in his inventory. I guess there might be compatibility issues.
"~~~♪"
Sweee nodded enthusiastically, so he must be right.
He took a deep breath, placed his hand on the Goddess Statue, and while infusing MP, visualized the Jade Goddess. Her image, of course, was…
"Amazing…"
A faint light enveloped the entire Goddess Statue, and then the light grew stronger, obscuring the statue's form.
I feel like it's consuming three times, no, even more MP than the small Goddess Statue did. I think I've used up all the Magic Wolf Fang's MP too, so now I'm worried if my MP will last until the end.
"Woofn."
Lupi's Mana Aid is a lifesaver.
With this, I might just make it to the end…
"…Phew."
"Woof!"
"~~~♪"
The light subsided, and what reappeared was an exquisitely detailed Goddess Statue. Yep, it's Mion… I mean, it's the Jade Goddess.
Now, I wonder if it will become a safe zone… Do I need to add more MP?
Ah!
"It's here!"
A pale green light began to overflow from the Jade Goddess Statue, and eventually, it passed them and spread further outside the church.
Now, I wonder how much of the outside it covers…
[True Jade Goddess Statue has been installed!]
[Apostle of the Jade Goddess: Acquired 3 SP]
""Eh?""
That first one just now was a World Announcement, right?
This happened when Goddess Statues were installed in other churches too… didn't it? He glanced at Mion…
I'll go check!
She's really a big help…
In any case, there was no undoing it now. The current priority was whether they could stop the undead from overflowing.
From what he'd heard of Seth's plan, the sanctuary of the Goddess Statue placed in the church was quite large and should reach near the building's entrance, but…
"Azure-san, outside. We need to check the extent of the sanctuary."
"Ah, yeah. That's right."
Azure-san was giving orders to the Dragonfolk guards to continue protecting this spot and to report anything unusual.
"Woof."
Chasing Lupi, who was urging him to hurry, he stepped out of the church…
"Whoa!"
"~~~♪"
"Shou-kun, just what are you…"
The church garden, which had been a desolate wasteland just moments ago, was now covered in lush greenery, and clean water was gushing from the dry fountain, creating a rainbow.
This must be because the Jade Goddess Statue was placed, right?
"And this, isn't it holy water…?"
Azure-san seemed to be scooping up water from the fountain to confirm.
The sanctuary created by the Jade Goddess Statue seemed to extend well beyond the church grounds, so it might be better to go check the central area.
"Azure-san, let's go."
"Okay."
"Ah, I don't want to be seen by other people, so I'll hide if there's anyone around."
"Okay. Then, stay behind me."
Azure-san went ahead.
I thought I'd have to explain why, but he didn't mind at all; in fact, he seemed to be considerate, which I feel bad about.
As they passed through the Transfer Tower and approached the central area, Argenta-san was giving instructions to the Dragonfolk-san.
At the end of her gaze was the entrance to the aforementioned building, but… huh?
"Argenta-san. How is the battle progressing?"
"Shou-sama, thank you. It seems the Goddess Statue you installed, and its sanctuary, greatly weakened the undead, allowing us to repel them."
She bowed deeply.
It actually helped, and it's good that I made it in time.
Come to think of it, where is the White Dragon Princess? He then noticed a gaze from inside the Transfer Magic Circle tower.
Tables and chairs had been set up in what was now a hall, and she was having tea there…
"~~~♪"
Sweee spotted her and flew over… Oh well.
That Torotoro Dried Papu Fruit, was it made by a Beastkin-san? She's probably going to ask for some.
"Are there any injured?"
"Since Vermilion was present, none of the Dragonfolk were injured. There were some minor injuries among the other races we rescued along the way, but they seem to be recovering on their own, so there should be no problem."
"Eh? Where are those people?"
He looked around, but there didn't seem to be anyone matching that description.
There's only Argenta-san, Azure-san, the White Dragon Princess, and the Dragonfolk-san, right?
"We have gathered them in the building across the path. Vermilion is watching over them, so there is no need to worry."
"Ahaha, thank you for the trouble."
I'd like to ask what the situation was like, but I also want to hear Mion's report, so what should I do…