Chapter 132 - Sixth Arc: Meeting
In June, the monster hunting in the Flatlands began in earnest.
Our assigned area was the southwest corner of the five sections (the four corners and the center), and we were to pair up with another group.
Until the Northern Fortress is ready, twice a week is sufficient, so once a week per pair is fine. For the monster hunting around Nakanohara, since the foxes have settled down, we decided to set up a rotation for rats, boars, and house centipedes... or rather, the Flatlands monster hunting.
The execution team consisted of Paul-san, Bonnie, and myself as the base, with Beatrix and Mary alternating in. Beowulf and Matilda participated as members of the town guard, and Will as a member of the town hall. Everyone except Lyudmila, who was busy with agriculture, seemed to be involved.
The pair we were to work with consisted of Angus-san, Mabel-san, and Lowry-san. Apparently, upon hearing that we had volunteered, they specifically stepped forward. We immediately decided to have a meeting in Nakanohara.
Monday is rat extermination, so there is no catch. For the first time in a while, we had a dinner at the Bird's Head Tavern where we paid for more than just drinks. Though, the three combat-oriented members always add something extra, so they are always paying.
Participants included Angus-san's team of three plus Hanna-san, and on the Marcelo Company side, Paul-san, Beatrix, myself, and Bonnie.
On the table was a warm vegetable salad with steamed pigeon meat and lamb steaks, which the owner said would be a nice change of pace. There are shops that use livestock as ingredients, and they occasionally exchange ingredients with each other.
Usually, we only eat what we've hunted ourselves, so lamb was a rare treat. Perhaps because livestock has more fat, it was tender. When I pressed the knife against it, it sliced through smoothly, and the pinkish-red meat, combined with the sweetness of the sauce made from crushed onions and wine, melted in my mouth. It was apparently lamb, but I didn't think it would be this tender and delicious. I'll try making it once.
"Angus, sorry for the trouble. It feels like I've dragged you into this. There might be nothing but non-reward house centipedes in that area."
"Nonsense, we're always in your debt. Boars and foxes are plenty for the Flatlands."
During the bear hunt, using Robinson-san's information and the high-speed transport of the pot and bowl, we defeated one in half a day. Moreover, the whole thing went into storage. They are grateful that things have become much easier than before.
"But how will we move? We'll fly from the Nakanohara Jaeger fortress in the bowl, but you guys can't do that, right?"
"That's actually fine. There are five areas in total, right? For the east, the Eastern Plains Jaegers, and for the west, the Nakanohara Jaegers have agreed to lend us horses. Since it's only about once a week, there's no problem if each area decides on a day. We actually went last week."
The development of the Flatlands is a national policy, so it's special.
"The Jaegers have really opened up. Lowry, you were surprised when we went to the mountain fortress, weren't you?"
"Yes, I was suddenly yelled at... but since they were all acquaintances of Mabel-san, it was okay."
Mabel-san winked at me.
The bandits, as usual, gave a rough greeting and then approached with smiles.
"Those boys were my husband's former subordinates. I used to cook for them often."
She calls those bandits "boys."
"Are they already tamed by food?"
"I suppose. During the war, those boys were young too. They were quite innocent."
After all, she managed to get a handsome younger man. She must have been very popular.
In exchange for borrowing the horses, they apparently stay one night at the mountain fortress on the day of travel to cook dinner and breakfast. If Mabel-san lived in Nakanohara, Angelica-san's votes might be in danger.
"By the way, how should we allocate the days? You guys have rat extermination and such, so we'll adjust to your convenience."
"Sorry about that. Then, Jeanne. What does our schedule look like?"
"Until the foxes appear, it's rat extermination on Mondays and Fridays, and boar hunting on Thursdays. We can have someone take over the rat extermination, but Tuesday or Wednesday would be perfect."
"Paul. We'll probably have to stay overnight."
"?"
Angus-san said that a town hall investigation would be conducted. Along with that, the town guard would participate as escorts, and it seems a mountain hut will be built for that purpose.
"Paul. In our assigned area, they're going to investigate the silica, right? Apparently, investigators coming from the Western Plains will see if it's profitable. Mayor Adolf said so. We're serving as escorts."
"Then, can we stay overnight in that mountain hut?"
"Seems so. If the Marcelo Company takes Tuesday and Wednesday, and we follow up on Thursday and Friday, we can do the hand-off in Nakanohara, which is perfect."
"On odd weeks, the Marcelo Company goes north and Angus's group goes south, and on even weeks, we do the reverse. How about that?"
"Sounds good."
The talk was settled easily.
The southern part includes some of the mountainous terrain leading to the plains. Since there are foxes and boars there, we let them have it first.
"When is the next time we'll hunt a bear?"
The mage, who had ordered red wine diluted with juice, asked. Next to her, Bonnie was eating lamb with all her might.
"I want to make it in time for the Harvest Festival in September, so August. After the middle of the month."
"What about the Water Splashing Festival?"
"That's mainly the church's thing. We don't have much to do with it."
Even though he's an outsider, he was pulling the float Hanna-san was on last year. He has a lot of nerve saying that.
"You're going to pull the float Hanna-san is on anyway, aren't you?"
"Well, yeah."
His face crumbled into a grin.
"It hasn't been decided that I'll be on it yet, Dad."
"You're the second place winner. Of course you'll be on it. Our eighth place winner might be on it too."
"That's right. Jeanne-san, you should definitely be on it. You've become a knight, so shouldn't you be at the front this year?"
Why is it coming to me?
"True. In addition to last year's puppet show, there might be a puppet show where Jeanne is the protagonist."
He's grinning suggestively. Paul-san, did you set something up?
"Well, you see. The other day, we showed the dragon-revenant subjugation to the town guard, right?"
I was made to wear my ceremonial robes and hold my Knight's Staff.
"That was quite well-received. After all, Roberts-sama and Gladys-sama appear, plus the Crown Prince of Medioland. A puppet show owner asked me to write a script."
Wait a minute, Director! I haven't heard about this!
"Did you write it?"
"Well, yeah. I was treated at the brothel, after all. I'm thinking about the climax now."
How did it come to this!
"That's something to look forward to. I must see it."
Please stop, Hanna-san. No one needs to see it.
"Roberts-sama and Medioland will be angry. What will you do if it becomes a diplomatic issue?"
"No need to worry. I've changed all the names except for Jeanne's. No one will be angry."
You didn't change my name! I'm going to protest strongly!
"The catchphrase for now is this: 'Behold the holy magic of Jeanne, one of the Nakanohara Madonnas!' Then a powerful light. The death cry of the dragon. And the curtain falls once. Finally, it's just Jeanne alone. Then the ending narration: 'Thus, the evil dragon was destroyed, and Jeanne became a Knight of Medioland.'"
"Please change it!"
As a result of my strong protest, the names were safely changed, and the climax became the dragon being defeated by the efforts of Roberts-sama and the others. I was knighted for supporting them throughout. Good grief.
"Why don't Paul-san's or Beatrix-san's names appear?"
"In these kinds of stories, Hanna, it's better to have fewer characters. Roberts-sama, Gladys-sama, the Crown Prince of Medioland, and then Jeanne. If there are more than that, the audience will be too busy trying to remember them and the story won't get into their heads."
Paul-san was explaining to Hanna-san, but I'd really like everyone to participate in the actual performance.
"Hanna. You'd better be careful, or Jeanne will overtake you."
Angus-san was worrying unnecessarily.
"I don't mind being overtaken. Lately, it's been getting a bit bothersome."
"Right, right?"
As expected of the second place winner. She understands well.
"So, Jeanne-san. Please do overtake me."
Why does it turn out like that?
"But Jeanne is eighth place, so it might be hard to move up."
That's right, just as Beatrix says. You can't easily overtake the second place winner.
"The eighth place is cursed, isn't it?"
Bonnie, what does that mean? Am I cursed?
"That's right. The eighth place is cursed. Unless you break into the top ranks suddenly like Hanna, you stay cursed."
Paul-san even started saying it.
"What is that?"
Since a curse is concerning, I asked. It would be terrible if I suddenly died or got a strange disease.
"The top seven have stable popularity, so unless they move or get married, they don't easily drop. It's no ordinary feat for someone below eighth place to move up. That is the curse of the eighth place. The people who dropped out of the rankings last year to make room for Hanna and Jeanne were both below eighth place."
My strength left me...
What nonsense... This is too much even for an old man's hobby.
"I pledged with the puppet show owner over drinks. For the sake of those who will be eighth place in the future, we will use our support to somehow break the curse of the eighth place and push Jeanne up."
Please stop. What are you thinking? Are you bored?
"Jeanne is the advertising icon for the Class of 175's shop, so work hard to aim for the top ranks."
Beatrix was grinning.
You aim for it. In the first place, if old men gather at a shop for girls, the customers will run away.
"Show me your Knight's Staff next time. If I make a wooden replica, I might be able to sell it to kids."
"That's a good idea. I might buy one too."
Bonnie, Hanna-san, stop it. Medioland will be angry.
After being teased mercilessly, the topic finally changed.
"By the way, did you hear about the Western Plains?"
Angus-san lowered his voice slightly.
"Yeah, I heard they're struggling quite a bit. What happened?"
Paul-san also lowered his voice. Hanna-san went back to being a receptionist, straightening her posture and looking down.
Fifteen hundred Kingdom Army troops went to the Western Plains to suppress a group of bandits. Some of the town guard also participated as perimeter security.
"Apparently, five hundred of them had built a fortress and were defending it."
"Five hundred people with military experience in a fortress against fifteen hundred. Didn't that cause a lot of casualties?"
"Well, the thing is, the opponents even had ballistae and catapults. They managed to surround them, but couldn't launch a proper offensive."
"That's practically a war."
They must have underestimated them as just criminals...
"I heard minor skirmishes continued for a while. Then, two or three days ago, the two former monarchs and a mage suddenly showed up to help."
"Henry-sama and the others?"
"Yes. Apparently, Eleanor-sama unleashed a super-high-level magic at night. The front wall of the fortress was completely destroyed, and they surrendered easily to the surrounding Kingdom Army. Paul. That mage supposedly arrived on something similar to your bowl. Do you have any idea who it was?"
I have more than just an idea. After all, Paul-san taught him directly, and we climbed the mountain together. The other mage is surely Wilson-san. It seems they took a detour on their way back to the Royal Capital. They conquered a fortress with five hundred people with just the three of them. That's incredible.
When Paul-san said he had shown it to the King and others in the Royal Capital, Angus-san was convinced.
"Angus-san. Did they catch all the bandits in the Western Plains?"
"Apparently, about ten of the ringleaders escaped when the fortress was surrounded."
"What! Then won't the same thing happen again?"
"Even if they escape, it'll be to the north. They'll likely end up as monster food."
"I see, then maybe it's okay."
Thanks to Beatrix's casual laugh, everyone's expressions relaxed.
The next day, when we went to the Flatlands, two mountain huts had already been built near the hole where the house centipedes had been, and people were coming and going. Beowulf and Will were there.
The town guard was there for protection, and Will seemed to be there as an attendant and guard.
Two squads of the town guard were out, and there were three people from the town hall, including Will.
"Good morning. You're early."
"We've been here since yesterday. We stayed overnight here."
"Yes. It's a silica investigation. Apparently, they're seeing if it's profitable."
At the end of Will's gaze was the rock face of the hole where the house centipedes had been, and two priests in work clothes were looking up at the entrance. They seemed to be investigators from the Western Plains. They had already entered the hole yesterday.
When I went to greet them and introduced myself, they knew my name.
"Are you the Priestess Jeanne who was knighted in Medioland?"
"Ah, yes. That's me."
Just in case, I had reported it to the Archbishop and the secretary of the Nakanohara Church. I didn't think it would spread this quickly.
"I heard you defeated a dragon that became a Revenant and reformed a Demon Lord worshiper. That is a wonderful achievement."
"No, I just happened to be there."
It's true. James-sama was the one who dealt the finishing blow to the dragon, and Henry-sama's talk was effective for the reformation.
One of the priests was signaling with his eyes.
I wonder if something is wrong.
"If you don't mind, could you show us the Knight's Staff as a memento?"
I left it in my room. After showing it to the town guard, I've kept it in my storage bag.
"Um, I left it in the storage at home. I don't usually use it. I wouldn't want to lose it."
Suddenly, both of them smiled.
"I see. Among the priests who have received honors, there are some thoughtless ones who show them off to people, so I was hoping that wasn't the case, but I'm glad."
That was close. They must have heard that I showed it to the town guard. If I had it today, I might have been summoned by the church. I broke into a cold sweat.
Since it's already out, I confessed that I had worn my ceremonial robes and shown it to everyone because they begged me, and that there's a possibility of it being made into a puppet show. I emphasized that I strongly opposed the puppet show.
If things go well, the puppet show might be canceled by the church's intent.
"You are honest. It shouldn't be a problem to show it to the locals once. Everyone would want to see it."
Good. It seems I won't be scolded. That leaves one thing.
"It would be better to stop the puppet show, right?"
I looked up at them.
If they told me to stop it, I'd immediately call Paul-san and have him get scolded.
"No. By all means, please do the puppet show."
Huh?
Did I mishear? Isn't it bad to show off or boast?
However, I hadn't misheard.
Apparently, a puppet show where a priest participates in dragon-slaying is a good opportunity to show the power of the Goddess and the church. It's not good to boast about it yourself, but it's fine if others do.
What a disappointment. I didn't think the church would recommend it.
As I hung my head in disappointment, they laughed and told me that showing the prestige of the Goddess and the church is also one of a priest's duties.
I have to keep this a secret from Paul-san. If he finds out, the content of the climax might go back to how it was.
"Does it look like silica can be harvested?"
I asked, perhaps a bit boldly. Even if we were to buy the land, we can't buy it until the results of this investigation are publicized, and after making a claim, we have to wait for a month to see if anyone else claims the same land. There's no harm in asking a bit early.
They asked if I was interested, so I took the plunge and told them that I learned about the existence of silica during the house centipede extermination and that I was thinking of buying land outside the mining area to raise sheep.
Priests must not disclose the privacy of others. They shouldn't tell anyone.
"The road hasn't even been built yet, you know?"
"Yes. But since we're contracted for monster extermination in this area, I think we can prepare for grazing."
"Which area are you considering?"
They asked quite a pointed question.
But I might as well. Since they had a map, I had them show it to me. I told them I'd start by buying about three fields near the forest, away from the expected road and the mining area, to raise sheep and bees.
"It's not decided, but for example, around here."
I pointed roughly on the map to the area Flora had recommended.
It was to the west of the house centipede hole.
The two priests talked about something and then turned back to me.
"Priestess Jeanne. Regarding your plan, we think it's not bad at all."
Saying so, both of them gave me a smile.