Chapter 176 - Fifth Story: Church Underground Passage Exploration ②
The altar was made of stone, similar to the one I saw on the mountain, and various carvings were applied to the surface. Most of what was depicted were pictures of humans and animals.
"Jeanne. I'm sorry, but could you illuminate the lower part?"
The Archbishop pointed to a corner of the altar, so I illuminated it as I was told. The Archbishop hooked the fingers of both hands into the human carvings.
"If I shift this... shift it... hnnngh. Ugh, it moved."
He was wheezing.
"Umm, are you okay?"
"I am not okay. I thought a blood vessel in my head was going to burst. Kevin. I'm sorry, but could I ask you to do the rest?"
"As you wish," the secretary said, taking over and starting the work.
The Archbishop slumped down on the spot.
"I don't want to get old. What I could do five years ago is like this now. It may not be long before I go to the Goddess's side."
That's serious.
I asked Dune to help with recovery.
After having him strip to the waist, Dune took a little water from the barrel in her hand and patted him, and his skin's luster visibly improved.
His lower back seemed particularly bad, so she was focusing on that.
"What is the meaning of this? My body has become light as if by a miracle."
He stood up and was jumping around.
He was like Paul-san from some time ago.
"Your body is young for your age. Haven't you been overusing your body lately? You must let it rest properly."
When I asked based on the diagnosis results, he said he practices staff techniques against the secretary whenever he has time.
His daily life is apparently filled with prayer, desk work, and training.
"Shorten your training time and rest. Or do it every other day. Even if you train when you haven't recovered, it won't stick."
"I am ashamed. I will be careful from now on."
He was apologizing to the Great Spirit.
"That's nice. I want her to do it for me too."
"After the Headmistress, it's my turn."
The two of them were taking Dune's hands.
Teachers, please show a little restraint.
Honestly, they should follow the Archbishop's example.
By the time the Headmistress's and Priest Katherine's skin had become glossy, the work on the altar had finished safely.
Since there was no one who could use [Clump Stone], Beowulf and the secretary pushed the altar together, and it shifted, revealing a staircase.
Darkness gaped open like a mouth.
When I illuminated it with [Firefly], the floor below was not stone but a dirt cave.
The width and height were sufficient; three people could stand side-by-side, and it was fine even holding a spear upright. For some reason, it was damp. It wasn't muddy, but I wonder where the water came from.
After entering and walking for about half an hour, it was closed by a black, soot-covered iron door.
"From here on, it is unknown territory even for me."
Monsters will appear beyond this point...
"Are there no Revenants?"
"There was no such thing written in King Griffith's journal. I don't think anyone has intruded, so there probably aren't any."
In that case, if we have [Sense Living], we can detect everything.
"That should be the case. I will detect them, so please handle the monster extermination. Bishop Catherine. Could I ask you to command the battle?"
At the front were Bonnie, holding Flora's basket, and the secretary. Second were Beowulf and Priest Katherine. In the center were the Archbishop and the secretary. Behind them were the Headmistress, me, and Fiona. Beatrix, Dune, and Mel brought up the rear. There was an opinion that we should wrap everyone in Mel's bubble, but since we wouldn't be able to attack from our side either, we decided to save it for an emergency.
The secretary used [Mute] magic to silence the sound, and the Archbishop chanted [Sense Living].
I let one [Firefly] drift to secure light.
"They are beyond the door."
Right away?
"There should be a barrier a little beyond the door. I don't think we'll be attacked the moment we open it, so let's launch a preemptive strike first."
Hearing those words, I first had Fiona perform a door-pass instead of a wall-pass.
When she poked her face into the door, she checked the situation inside and turned her face toward us.
"There were several large slugs. The passage is completely blocked."
Right away... there's no way to escape.
When I looked at the Headmistress, she was crossing her arms, looking indignant.
"This is a problem. Shall we wait until they're gone?"
It can't be helped.
"Umm, I learned this from Priest Harrison. Soapy water is said to be effective."
"You met Harrison? Are you guys also doing evil spirit extermination?"
"No, umm, we were introduced by Eleanor-sama..."
I couldn't say that we had taken back the fortress together.
When I hesitated, she seemed to understand.
"I haven't seen him for a long time. Was he well?"
"Yes. He was well. And, he told me the story of how he defeated slugs..."
When I mentioned the soapy water, we decided to try it immediately.
I have the soap.
Just in case, we made soapy water using the water from the barrel Priest Katherine had carried, and decided to exterminate the slugs.
When Dune floated the water from the barrel in the air, she put the shaved soap inside.
While it was swirling in the air, it became cloudy white.
It seemed to be ready.
"Now, please open the door."
The secretary opened the door. When I illuminated it with [Firefly], there were slugs in the back of the cave. There were four of them, about the size of cows. They didn't seem to be able to get close to us, and were pushing and shoving each other slimily.
"Dune. Please."
When Dune pointed her right index finger at the slugs, a clump of soapy water flew toward them. When she drew a circle with her index finger, the clump of water swirled around as if scrubbing the body of one slug.
The slimy slug became clean and glossy like it had just finished a bath.
"[Holy], then. Kevin. Please."
At the Headmistress's instruction, the secretary chanted mid-level [Holy], and we were able to defeat one safely. The slug lay limp on the ground.
After that, we were able to defeat them one after another with Beatrix's and the secretary's magic.
The last one was defeated by Priest Katherine with her silver spear.
"That's amazing. The effect is outstanding, isn't it?"
I was praised. Well, it was originally Harrison-san's idea. It doesn't change the fact that I'm happy.
We decided to keep Dune's soapy water floating in the air and use it if there were more slugs.
When we tried to move forward over the slug corpses, the floor where the slugs had gathered was slimy. While I was walking while looking carefully at the ground so as not to fall, there was a small slug in the shadow of a rock. Even though it was small, it was much larger than a normal slug, so it must be a monster. One with many black spots on its brown skin had its two eyes out and was being slimy.
"I wonder if we can take this back."
Beatrix suddenly said something outrageous.
"What are you going to do with it?"
"Slug slime repels both magic and swords, right? In that case, if we smear it on shields or armor, we'll be invincible."
Can such a thing be done?
"That's interesting. It might be worth researching."
The Headmistress joined in, and the experiment began immediately.
We smeared the slime from the ground onto the leather-covered shield Beowulf held. When the surface was completely slimy, we were repelled when we fired [Holy]. When Beatrix fired a [Fire Ball], the magic didn't pass through and fell to the ground.
Even when Priest Katherine poked it with her silver spear, it didn't leave a single scratch. However, there was an impact. It's probably because the shield is hard, unlike a slug.
"Isn't this amazing!"
"Right?"
Beatrix was also beaming with pride.
"This might work. Shall we have Eleanor experiment with it in the Royal Capital?"
"If anything, if we breed slugs and increase their numbers, they might reach the entire kingdom's army. I wonder if we can make a business out of it at our place."
Octopus breeding is possible. Slug breeding might be possible too.
"Breeding? What do slugs eat?"
The Headmistress had a dubious look on her face.
"The slugs Priest Harrison defeated were eating mushrooms."
"Mushrooms..."
"Also, slugs are vegetable pests, Lyudmila said."
Beowulf also joined in.
"In that case, we can increase them with vegetable scraps."
"Could we make this a measure for the needy?"
"They're monsters. It's dangerous for mothers who can't use magic."
In the end, as the Headmistress first said, we decided to have Eleanor-sama be told. If we can find a way to breed them safely, we can breed them at the orphanage or use it as a measure for the needy.
If it goes well, an army with perfect magic and physical defense might be completed.
Even Dune couldn't seem to move the slime, so Priest Katherine put the slugs lying on the ground into the barrel she had carried, closed the lid tightly, and decided to take them back on the way home.
"You guys are truly something."
I was even praised by the Archbishop.
After that, it was easy.
Once the slug countermeasures were done, there were no insect monsters that could match the Headmistress. Spiders, house centipedes, and some brown guy that looked like a cricket.
The cave was winding, and there were several junctions, but fortunately, the ends of the forks were immediate dead ends. If we have [Sense Living], we won't be hit by their specialty, surprise attacks. Since we also know their numbers, we can easily take countermeasures. There are definitely no bad priests chanting holy magic.
When there's a monster reaction, I have Fiona go ahead and check the situation.
I was always the illumination person, so I couldn't participate in the battle, but since I could stop them by illuminating them with [Firefly], under the Headmistress's command, someone would add a preemptive strike with magic, and we would finish them off with spears or bows, steadily advancing.
If it was a dirt cave, Flora would read the subtle changes on the surface and sharply find suspicious places, telling Bonnie and the secretary.
We proceeded while triggering the traps Bonnie and the secretary identified, covering them with the air film Mel made.
Among the traps, there were some where swarms of ants came out, but after Beatrix froze them with an amplified [Freeze] and they became quiet, we all gathered dirt and covered them.
"Are there no big ones?"
For a hero, she seemed dissatisfied with only insect monsters.
Until now, she had only been commanding, and she herself hadn't used magic or her staff.
"It should be about time for one to appear."
According to King Griffith's journal, there seems to be a boss.
It's recorded that it appeared in the final stages and they had a great decisive battle.
"What will appear?"
"A centipede, apparently."
Speaking of centipedes, they should have poison.
If that long thing becomes a monster, it would be ferocious.
In the first place, centipedes have scary faces.
"A centipede, huh."
"Bishop Catherine, have you ever fought one?"
"There were several in the cave where the Demon Lord lived. I defeated them with [Holy]. For example, it would be difficult in a forest, but it's easy in a cave like this with no place to hide. After all, they only come straight forward with their heads pointed at you."
When it actually appeared, it was just as she said.
The centipede the Archbishop detected in advance was stuck to the ceiling, but when the Headmistress hit its head with a very thick basic [Holy], it easily fell with a thud.
She told Beatrix to practice and let her have it, and even after burning it with [Flame], it was still moving, but when Beowulf pierced its head with a sword, it was easily defeated.
"Well, it's something like this. It would be a struggle without high-level magic, but it's easy for a priest who can use high-level or higher [Holy]."
As expected of a hero. She's composed.
In the end, King Griffith's great decisive battle also ended in indigestion for the Headmistress, and we were able to easily reach what seemed to be the barrier.
Midway, it changed to a stone passage, and when we went to the back, it was a dead end. There was a rock door with various carvings.
"I see. A magical barrier is applied around this door."
According to the Headmistress, it's a quite powerful barrier.
"How about digging a side hole?"
When I asked just to try, it seems it collapsed in an instant at the mountain.
"What's beyond this?"
When the Headmistress asked, the Archbishop said there were magical beasts and a gatekeeper.
"Magical beast types, huh. If it's something like a Fenrir, it might be worth the effort."
Worth the effort...
Just how strong is this person?
"[Fire Ball]!"
Beatrix tried it immediately, but it hit the door and died out.
The secretary's [Holy] and the Archbishop's [Sense Living] were also neutralized. Not only that, but Dune's and Mel's magic didn't pass through either.
In that case, all that's left is my [Light].
I don't know what's beyond the door. A monster might jump out the moment I open it.
Just in case, with Beowulf holding the slimy shield in the lead, Priest Katherine and the Headmistress stood in the vanguard, Bonnie drew her bow, Beatrix and Kevin-sama prepared their magic, and the Archbishop kept [Sense Living] activated, all ready for a surprise attack.
I had Fiona hide inside the crystal. If the Headmistress's high-level magic was activated, she would ascend to heaven.
I also prepared a torch so that I could use an amplified [Holy].
With this, the light won't go out even if I turn off [Light].
"If the door opens on its own, fire your magic all at once. Just one shot is fine. Bonnie, fire an arrow. It's a preemptive strike. Got it?"
Everyone nodded as they waited for that moment.
I turned off [Light] once.
"Here I go. [Light]!"
It was an amplified version using both hands to the fullest.
When I illuminated it brightly, the door gradually became thinner from the bottom and finally vanished.
"Oh!"
The Archbishop and the secretary raised their voices.
The barrier that the investigation team dispatched by the Medioland Royal Capital Great Church couldn't break was finally released.
Ahead was a short stone passage. Beyond that was darkness. It was likely a hall.
"Now! Do it!"
At the Headmistress's signal, they chanted magic and fired arrows all at once.
The Headmistress also fired [Holy] from both hands alternately, probably mid-level, about twice as thick as Marcelo-san's [Holy Lance], two shots each from left and right, four shots in total.
They were all sucked into the darkness.
If a normal monster took them head-on, it wouldn't get away unscathed.
At that moment.
"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing all of a sudden!"
A booming voice echoed from beyond the darkness.