Chapter 116 - Nineteenth Story: Exploration ③
It was lunch time. It was the usual pot. Even though it's spring, it's still chilly. The greenery of the mountains hasn't fully recovered yet; the branches and buds are just starting to stand out. It's just right for everyone to huddle around.
"This is quite delicious again."
"Truly. To have this as field rations is such a luxury."
I received words of praise from Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama as well.
Since it's filled with plenty of wild plants that Beatrix and the others gathered, it has the flavor of the season and is well-received.
Mary had shrewdly been picking medicinal herbs, which I suppose is one of the perks of her position.
"This is what we used to lure the bears and Orcs."
"In that case, perhaps we should use it in the Higashinohara as well."
"Roberts. Once the King's permission is granted, please teach our country the recipe as well."
Roberts-sama and James-sama were saying they wanted to utilize it.
Right now it's limited to Nakanohara, but it seems to be spreading to the Royal Army as well. Eventually, it might be approved as official field rations.
I definitely have to tell Owen-san.
Maybe he'll even get a medal.
After the meal, we had a strategy meeting. I'll probably be diving into the hole anyway, but I have to hear the future plans.
"The lower part is as you can see. We've mostly dug out the shrine."
There was a large hole in the pile of earth and sand, and the dug-up soil had changed into objects like giant square bricks and was piled up in a different location.
When I asked Beatrix, she said that Paul-san manipulated [Skill: Clump Sand] with both hands simultaneously, and the soil was sucked up and moved one after another as if drawing an arch. After that, it seems he compressed it and reshaped it into square blocks. The current state is apparently the result of repeating that several times.
The large stones were supposedly blown away with gunpowder.
"How was it over there?"
"It was amazing. A lot of Orc Revenants appeared, but I saw James-sama's ultra-high-level fire magic that defeated them. The surface of the cave was melting."
"Could that be, by any chance, [Skill: Prominence]?"
"Yeah, it was an incredible thing that felt like a vortex of flames."
"I wish I could have seen it. A handsome mage looks the most picture-perfect using fire magic. I heard that with [Skill: Prominence], the flying flames look like the head of a dragon? How was it?"
"That's right. But I saw it from directly behind. I couldn't see the head part."
While we were chatting like that, it seems the policy for the afternoon was decided. I messed up. I completely missed hearing it.
"Priest Jeanne, I'll be counting on you this afternoon as well. Next, Henry-sama and the others will also be entering the hole."
"Yes. I understand."
"What about the stay-behind group?"
"I'd like the stay-behind group to help Paul-dono remove the soil from the shrine's cave."
"I see, then I'll be staying behind with Lyudmila."
Beatrix looked bored. She probably lost the coin toss. It seems Mary will be coming next.
"Leave some for me too," Beatrix said as she saw me off, but I didn't know what to say.
The stay-behind group consisted of four people: Stephens-san, Paul-san, Beatrix, and Lyudmila. Paul-san will probably be digging the hole single-mindedly. If things go well, we might be able to meet up underground.
For the second exploration, everyone descended into the hollow. The piloting of the Bowl was handled by Eleanor-sama, and Henry-sama and the others were to wait inside the hollow.
They lit torches grandly, and before I knew it, wine and mead had been brought in. It seems they're going to have a drinking party.
"Um, will it be alright?"
The sounds of the drinking party could be heard from behind the Bowl as it proceeded into the depths of the cave. Gladys-sama must surely be wide-eyed with surprise.
"You have to be like that to spend time in a place like this," Eleanor-sama said.
At Eleanor-sama's words, Roberts-sama laughed, and James-sama shrugged his shoulders.
Come to think of it, that's true. Just being on guard in total darkness would make one go crazy.
In the morning, everyone had been waiting in the narrow area at the entrance of the hollow.
"My apologies. I was somewhat lacking in consideration."
James-sama was apologizing to Eleanor-sama. It was James-sama who had called the medical team and had them wait at the edge of the hollow in the morning.
"Calling the medical team was the right move. Having more people puts the mind at ease. It couldn't be helped that we didn't include a mood maker because the absolute numbers are insufficient."
Speaking of mood makers, Paul-san was piloting the Bowl, and Beatrix was outside. This time, both are outside. In other words, Henry-sama is the trump card.
"Roberts. If you intend to defeat the Demon Lord as well, you should add at least one skilled mood maker to your companions."
"I will keep that in mind."
Eh?
I involuntarily look at Roberts-sama.
The fact that he and James-sama are both feigning ignorance—does that mean they both intend to go?
"How about it? Jeanne. Will you go with us?"
While I was staring at the two of them, they beat me to the punch.
"No, um, I can only use basic magic... I would only be a burden..."
I became incoherent.
"This morning, when I asked Beatrix and Mary, they both said they might go if Jeanne goes. It might be you all who succeed Roberts."
Roberts-sama and James-sama stared at me as if in retaliation. Moreover, both of them were smirking.
They say such unnecessary things. In the first place, why do I have to be the one to decide...
While I was being discouraged by all this, we reached the vertical shaft of the hall. Fortunately, nothing was caught in the pitfall trap.
"Well then, we're going up. Could you deploy a [Skill: Wind Barrier]?"
"Yes."
James-sama creates a wall of air overhead.
"Please turn the Bowl upside down and make it like a lid for the Bowl we are currently riding."
"Yes."
I was surprised. The two Bowls overlapped and became egg-shaped. Since the lid is vertically long, Roberts-sama's spear also fits inside.
With this, we should be able to withstand attacks from any direction—up, down, left, or right.
Eleanor-sama had already thought of an applied use one step ahead.
"With this, if something attacks from above, please point the lid upward and release it all at once to blow them away."
"Yes. I understand."
It seems we've completely returned to being teacher and students.
Some stones fell on the way, but they were all bounced back by the lid.
"What kind of mechanism is this?"
We didn't come into contact with the walls. The fact that it doesn't trigger even when Orc Revenants fall means it's a trap that only triggers for those who climb.
"It might be [Skill: Alarm]."
"Alarm?"
Eleanor-sama answers, but I don't understand.
"Yes. A magic circle that issues one warning if something passes below, and then if the magic circle above it triggers, it means someone is coming up from below, right?"
"In other words, there's someone monitoring us?"
Does that mean we're being ambushed?
"But would such a trap not break if set in a place where no one usually approaches?"
"It's fine as long as it doesn't trigger. It won't react if nothing falls."
"Then, the reason the Orc Revenants below didn't attack until we approached was..."
"Yes. They were probably ordered to do so. Otherwise, the traps set on the cave floor would trigger, wouldn't they?"
"Wouldn't Revenants stop listening to orders if the caster dies? This cave seems quite old. I can't imagine anyone could have lived and spent such a long time here."
James-sama's doubt is reasonable. However, the method to solve the problem of time has already been identified.
"Jeanne. You know, don't you?"
Presumably, a report had been sent to the Royal Capital from Adolf-san.
"Yes. If the caster is a Revenant, the orders remain valid until they are destroyed. At the same time, since the Orcs were also Revenants, they will follow orders until they are destroyed."
"Such a thing..."
"Actually, it seems it almost happened in Nakanohara. Since the method is established, it wouldn't be strange if someone somewhere was already utilizing it."
Roberts-sama took over the explanation.
"Setting aside the Church's claims, if you look at Revenants purely as a military force, they are extremely effective, especially as a defensive force. They simply have to attack anyone who intrudes into a specific area."
"That's how it is. There are probably many Revenants up there. Steel yourselves."
I can't use purification magic. I don't have scrolls either. In that case...
"Once we go up, we'll search for an exit by ramming through for a while. If it comes to it, I'll give the order, so please release the lid. If there's a big one, I'll settle it with [Skill: Prominence]. Roberts, you buy us time."
"Yes."
"As you wish."
This has become a serious matter. [Skill: Light] doesn't work on Revenants. I'm nothing more than a lighting person...
"Jeanne. You will be the key. Don't let the [Skill: Light] go out."
"Y-Yes."
Even if you say that, can I really illuminate a moving opponent properly in the middle of a melee...
"Jeanne, calm down. You held your own against that nimble Fenrir, didn't you? If you stay calm and do as you usually do, there's no problem. Trust us. We'll defeat all the enemies."
Roberts-sama pats my head.
His voice and gestures haven't lost a shred of his usual composed manner.
Somehow, I can feel at ease. I wonder if this is what a trustworthy general is like.
When I increase the intensity of the light illuminating above, the darkness began to come into view. It seems the upper floor is close.
"Here we go. Hold on tight."
The Bowl accelerated all at once. It rises through the cave as if flying off.
The load suddenly bore down on me, and I braced both feet so as not to fall.
"Jeanne. Kneel on one knee so you don't fall."
Roberts-sama presses down on the scruff of my neck.
While being held down, I knelt on one knee, put my right hand up and my left hand forward, preparing for the advance after we broke through.
We passed through the vertical shaft and came out into a place like a hall. The ceiling isn't that high.
I thought my body would float up because of the sudden stop, but since Roberts-sama was holding me down, I managed not to lose my balance.
I set the [Skill: Light] in my right hand above my head to omnidirectional and illuminated the surroundings. It seems we've come out in the center of the hall. The area seems to be twice as large as the hall below.
The stench of rot is terrible. I felt like vomiting.
Seeing that the floor is dry, it's not a matter of the location, but probably because there are many Revenants.
I increased the light intensity of my right hand illuminating the surroundings and narrowed the angle of my left hand illuminating the front. With this, I should be able to see a certain distance ahead.
Around the hole we came out of, there was a swarm of rotten Orcs.
"We're charging in."
Eleanor-sama charged straight in just like that. It's originally a [Skill: Wind Barrier]. Something like Orcs is nothing. Flying just above the ground, she collided with them from the front, sending them flying one after another.
Gago, dogo, dogo, gago...
Dull sounds echoed, and the Bowl shook. She seems to be searching for the next path by simply ramming into them. Fortunately, there are only rotten Orcs. If there were a big one, we wouldn't get away unscathed.
"There's no end to this. Release the lid. Roberts, it's a hassle, but defeat them one by one with your spear. James, please freeze them with [Skill: Ice Cube]."
The lid opened at the same time the two of them replied. Because it was released toward the front in a clever way, several Orcs were blown away.
"Not bad."
"It is thanks to your teaching."
Even during the exchange between the master-disciple duo, Roberts-sama was wielding his spear. Instead of thrusting, he swung it down over their heads, splitting them in half along with the spears they held using his long spearhead, instantly turning their entire bodies into soil.
Eleanor-sama was moving the Bowl along the wall, decelerating slightly. She was knocking away the Orcs in front by ramming them.
Roberts-sama neutralized the ones nearby, and James-sama neutralized the ones far away.
"Found it!"
By the time dozens of piles of soil and ice had been created, Eleanor-sama seemed to have found the exit.
Surprisingly, it was below.
"Can you defeat them all?"
"Leave it to us."
When I illuminated the surroundings with my left hand at Roberts-sama's voice, only about ten were left.
"It's a waste of magical power, so Roberts, you go and do it alone."
"If it is your command."
She's a strict mother.
However, without even changing his expression, Roberts-sama jumped down from the Bowl, ran up to the Orcs, and in no time at all, turned all the remaining ones into soil.
We went to pick him up with the Bowl.
Even when illuminating the surroundings, there were no more Orcs.
"You've improved. Your swing is sharper than before."
"Thanks to you, I've recently mastered the trick of relaxing more than before."
"How reliable. That's truly our son."
"I am honored."
I decided to ignore the fact that James-sama was looking on somewhat enviously.
"The fact that there's no caster might mean they just gave one or two simple orders and went somewhere else."
"Perhaps they are being controlled collectively from one place?"
Regarding Revenants, there are three casters in Nakanohara.
Adolf-san occasionally interviews them and gathers information, and part of that content is shared with us through the vigilantes.
"Just as Jeanne says, there's no doubt that something like a master is somewhere in this underground."
A master of the underground who is a Revenant...
I'd hate it if it were a Vampire like the ones in fairy tales.
After thawing the frozen Orcs and turning them into lumps of soil just in case, we descended into the second hole in the floor.
It seems to be a passage, and the ground soon came into view.
The passage became stone-built halfway through, making it clear that it was an artificial structure.
"What on earth is this..."
James-sama's eyes widened.
The stone walls were decorated with carvings in places, making it look like a passage in a temple or something.
"It seems the rumor that there are artificial underground passages in the Primal Ruins was true after all."
"What could this be for?"
I have no idea of the reason. Since such elaborate intrusion prevention measures have been set up, it must have been made by someone with considerable power. However, there was nothing at Dune's place. I don't think it's related to spirits.
"I don't know. We might find out something if we go."
At the end of the passage, there was a room with something like an altar.