Chapter 225 - Chapter Twenty-Five: The Demon Lord's Cave ②
The terrible smell of burnt ants hangs in the air.
Having finished the funeral prayers and looking around once more, a disastrous scene spread out before us.
No matter how you look at it, it was a fire.
Wilson-san is firing off several [Glacio: Blizzard] spells, and Mary, riding in Paul-san's bowl, is extinguishing nearby fires with [Water: Shower] magic.
Since it's the hole where the Demon Lord lives, one could say it doesn't matter, but even if there are air holes, it doesn't mean the smoke escapes. If everything burns up, we'll be engulfed in smoke and die.
"I might have overdone it a little,"
Even the great Eleanor-sama gave a wry smile, and Harris-sama's shoulders shook as he stifled his laughter.
It was then.
"There is a reaction. One entity, straight ahead."
Wilson-san's voice rang out.
It survived in those flames? It must be considerably strong.
Everyone braced themselves. Eleanor-sama and Wilson-san began their incantations. It seems to be gradually approaching.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
A dark-skinned woman wearing a black-purple one-piece dress with two gray lines on the hem and sleeves emerged from behind a smoldering tree.
Her height was about the same as Will's. She's tall.
"It's an Arachne,"
Flora said.
"If I recall, isn't that a spider monster that seduces men?"
Since no one got angry, it seems I'm right.
Long black-purple hair reaching down to her waist. From her sides, two black, pointed leg-like appendages extend on each side.
Her hands are the same as a human's. She wears black shoes on her feet.
Are those black round things lined up on her forehead eyes?
Her apparent age, if applied to a human, would be in her early twenties.
"Oh, an Arachne. It has been a long time. Were you still in a place like this?"
When Eleanor-sama called out familiarly, Henry-sama and the Headmistress also said, "It's been a while."
"It hasn't been a while, Eleanor! I was taking a nap when you suddenly blasted me with [Prominence]! Thanks to that, my nest is completely burnt down, and I almost burned to death!"
It's a wonder she didn't die. Is her magic defense that strong?
Using "I didn't know" as an excuse, they apologized profusely. Henry-sama and the Headmistress stepped in, and after giving her some Owen-brand jerky I brought and a bottle of high-quality wine Henry-sama brought, she finally seemed to forgive them.
We all sat down for a break that doubled as a drinking party.
"Pardon me, but would you mind introducing her?"
Harris-sama tilted his head.
She should be a monster. It's strange that she's speaking human language, and it's also strange that the three heroes are being so friendly with her.
Flora also says she is definitely a monster.
"She is an Arachne living in this forest. She is certainly a monster, but since she likes human alcohol, we formed a non-aggression pact last time."
"It might not necessarily be valid this time, though."
The Headmistress soothed the Arachne, who was drinking wine while gnawing on jerky, with a "Now, now."
"Why did you stay in a place like this? I thought for sure you had gone to the surface."
"The surface isn't bad, you know. But I have no place there. In the end, well, I'm a monster, right? This is where I feel most at ease."
"Was there food during the time until the Demon Lord was resurrected?"
"Well, yeah. Bats and stuff. They didn't taste very good, though."
"You should have come to our place. It is a kingdom, after all. We can support at least one Arachne."
"I can't exactly be supported by the ones who defeated the Demon Lord who provided me with a home, can I?"
She seems surprisingly loyal. Come to think of it, the wild Orcs living north of the Flatlands might also be loyal.
"This time, we are merely support. Would it not be fine then? If once a month is enough, I shall give you a barrel of wine and one live cow."
"A... a cow?"
I heard the sound of someone swallowing saliva. Apparently, she's been won over.
Even though she's a monster, the Arachne doesn't seem to be part of the Demon Lord's army. She supposedly acts independently, like the Lindwurm. Among B-rank monsters, there are those who speak human tongues, such as Vampires and Werewolves. It's not that the Arachne hates humans, but since humans hate her, she was hiding deep in the mountains. She was scouted by the previous Demon Lord with the offer that she only had to come and didn't have to fight unless she was attacked.
The Demon Lord might be surprisingly kind.
"Last time, when we were running around in this forest, we found a relatively safe place to rest, and she came lured by the smell of the wine we were sharing."
The exhausted heroes apparently accepted the offer of a non-aggression pact and had a drinking party.
"Because the Arachne was there, other monsters didn't approach. It was a great help. We had to retreat once, but thanks to that, on the second round, the previous vanguard successfully broke through this forest and reached the fourth layer."
The Arachne looked down at the three heroes with a smug "Hmph."
"Bishop Harris, Bishop Catherine. What is the Church's stance on this?"
Priest Williams asked. Monsters are supposed to be enemies of the Church.
"As long as they do not harm humans, there is no problem. The basic principle of coexistence and co-prosperity takes priority. However, we do not know how other countries might interpret it, so if it becomes public, living in the Royal Palace might be an issue."
At Harris-sama's words, Henry-sama crossed his arms with a "Hmm," and the Arachne looked down, her mouth curving into a frown.
It would be fine if it didn't become public, but it probably won't be that simple.
However, if she wants to get along, I want to do something for her.
Looking at everyone's faces, they nodded with smiles, even while sighing.
I was about to speak up, but...
"Flora. If we were to live with the Arachne, what would the Goblins think?"
Robinson-san asked Flora.
"I knew it. I thought you'd say that. I won't know until I ask, but it'll probably be fine. Arachne is kind even to low-ranking spirits like us."
Flora looked happy. The Arachne apparently specializes in animals and magical beasts. If a Goblin gets caught in her web, she supposedly lets them go.
"She might be perfect as a bodyguard. It would be very reassuring to have an Arachne around if something happened."
Robinson-san, having obtained Marcelo-san's consent, said that if it was alright with the Arachne and Henry-sama's group, they could take her in.
The Arachne's eyes sparkled.
"As for alcohol, the quantity is small, but I have a drink every night. For food, it won't be a cow, but I'm always hunting. It would be on the condition of living with Goblins, but I believe she would be sufficient military strength as a defense against the north."
"Is that alright? If you like, I shall tell His Majesty the King to provide the expenses for one barrel of wine and one cow."
Henry-sama pulled out the parchment for full authority in diplomatic negotiations.
From the Arachne, the conditions were set that she would not participate in any offensive regardless of the opponent, and she would maintain strict neutrality in battles with other Arachne. This is only natural. One should avoid fighting one's own kind. However, it seems this excludes cases where she is attacked without provocation. This is also unavoidable. It's the same as human conflicts. There's no reason to be killed in silence.
The Marcelo Company is currently being paid a reward by the Royal Army for scouting north of Nakanohara, and the amount minus a ten percent cut becomes Robinson-san's salary. The Arachne is, so to speak, like a bodyguard for the nest; she won't participate in scouting but will be a powerful defensive force. It was decided to add that portion and change it to a payment from the Royal Palace. In other words, she would be upgraded to a scout directly under the Royal Palace.
"Hey? Does Arachne not eat human food?"
When Beatrix asked, she replied that she had never eaten anything other than jerky.
"Want to try eating some? It has things other than meat in it, is that okay?"
"Eating plants directly is impossible. If it's completely mixed in, it might be okay. I like flower nectar and tree sap."
As a test, I offered her a Highway Cookie, and after taking a bite, she said it wasn't bad.
"I don't want to eat a lot. But I'm fine with just a snack."
It was my third defeat, following Mel and Flora. I had no choice but to eat the rest while being laughed at.
"Then, how about... this?"
This time, Beatrix pulled out some Regnentes beef jerky.
"Delicious! Raw is good, but this is also quite great!"
She was full of praise. Putting a piece in her mouth, she closed her eyes with a "Mmm," and slowly shook her head while chewing and savoring it.
As a result, Robinson-san decided to buy three pieces a week, including the Goblins' portion. This meant the number of customers had increased.
Bonnie put the jerky and a little oats into a small pot she took from her item bag and made a single serving of porridge full of meat. When she served it in a bowl and poured plenty of broth over it, the Arachne ate it all up.
"Is it tasty? Is your stomach okay?"
When Bonnie asked, she nodded with a shy "Yeah."
"I wonder if she can't take a human form like Flora. If she could, we could have a banquet together."
When Beowulf said that, Flora slipped out of her flower and took a human form.
"Is this no good?" The legs extending from her sides shrank and stuck to her stomach.
Will took off the black-purple garment she was wearing over her armor and put it on the Arachne.
Mary took out a marble-dyed hand towel that had recently gone on sale, folded it, and wrapped it around her forehead. It didn't seem to hurt.
"It looks good! Let's have a banquet at our place next time!"
"That's fine. But I'll stay loyal to the Demon Lord. All of this is only if humans win against the Demon Lord, though."
When Beatrix spoke, the Arachne muttered while looking down.
"That's cool. I like that kind of thing."
The Arachne smiled brightly.
It seems she and Matilda would get along well.
"Given my position, you don't have to say anything if you can't answer, but actually, the Demon Lord's army was breeding spiders..."
Eleanor-sama explained the details of the executive's elimination.
I'm worried if this counts as aiding the enemy.
"I don't know. I'm just here, and I only repel those who attack me. I basically have nothing to do with the army's movements. More importantly, isn't that Dryad dangerous?"
Even though she has the form of a half-spider, she doesn't have any particular connection with other spiders, which is a relief, but she seems terrified of the plan to grow mushrooms and cause mass infection deaths.
"I'm, you know? Strong? So I'm fine. But the method is dangerous. If you're going to do it, it should be with strength against strength."
She smacked her right fist into her left palm.
Matilda nodded vigorously.
No matter how you look at it, they're of the same kind.
"Even you, who says such things, use [Charm], do you not?"
"A female charming a male is the law of nature, right? First of all, I don't kill humans unless I'm attacked. I don't eat them like Ogres do. I'm a pacifist."
Mary nodded vigorously at the words she gave in response to Eleanor-sama's question.
There was another one of the same kind.
"Are there males?"
"There are. A female transforms into one."
When Beatrix asked, a surprising answer came back. They are basically female, but if there are two, one half becomes male. Since their population is extremely small, it seems they became that way.
"Th-That's amazing. It's convenient in its own way, I guess..."
"You can come to like such a partner. Isn't it unpleasant?"
"Not really. The gender of the heart or body doesn't matter."
While Matilda and Mary were impressed, Lyudmila nodded vigorously.
Apparently, we are the ones who want to become friends.
"I've dug a hole in the mountain ahead and live there, so don't come by, okay?"
Saying that, we all watched the Arachne as she returned to the forest, walking along the traces of the [Prominence] Eleanor-sama had fired as if it were a road, and then resumed our exploration.
Looking at the candle in the lantern, only one line's worth remained. In half an hour, we must rendezvous with the first group of the vanguard.
"We have informed them that we will be burning trees on a large scale. They likely know we are here."
When we contacted them via the magic circle, a reply came saying the flames were confirmed, along with a map showing their approximate current location.
"Then, it is simple. Let us go from here."
Leaving a caretaker at the cave, we set out. Eleanor-sama, Harris-sama, Wilson-san, and Priest Williams, along with Fiona and me, joined the bowl controlled by Paul-san.
While keeping watch with [Sense Living] and illuminating the entire surroundings with [Light], the bowl flew on. Eleanor-sama and Wilson-san took turns mowing down the trees blocking the way with [Wind Cutter]. As usual, the bowl was under [Camouflage]. There was no [Magic Reflection], but if it came down to it, Harris-sama would likely deploy it like a shield to protect us.
On the way, we passed through a place surrounded by mountains on both sides and grazed the edge of a swamp, but fortunately, we didn't encounter anything in particular and successfully rendezvoused with the first group resting at a simple magic circle.
The first group is a unit from Medioland. Everyone had apparently advanced slowly through the forest. Each person had one lantern. Without [Camouflage] and [Magic Reflection], they would have been surrounded by insects in no time.
We don't know where the passage leading to the fourth layer is. Regardless of the entrance, we must search thoroughly on the assumption that the exit will be different from last time.
The Demon Lord has truly built a nasty underground passage.
"Did you encounter any monsters on the way?"
"Yes. Several times. However, thanks to the disguise of [Camouflage] with [Magic Reflection] that you taught us, we managed to avoid being noticed. Since receiving word from Eleanor-sama that she would set fire, we haven't even encountered any. Perhaps even the monsters have been struck with fear."
"It might have something to do with those red ants."
"Then?"
"Yes. We used our numbers to annihilate them."
Cheers arose. This is because they can now fight openly using high-level magic.
The first group seems to have moved along the outer wall to grasp the general terrain. Since we were predicted to be in the southeastern part, they started from the tower-like entrance to the layer at the western end, moved north along the wall, moved east along the northern end, hit a mountain and moved south along the mountainside, and found a swamp. They moved south along the swamp, and timing it for when they reached the front of the entrance, they returned west, and at the point where they attached to the mountainside, they joined up with us.
"Do you know the location of the tower at the entrance?"
The Medioland vanguard spread out a map. It was cross-referenced with Eleanor-sama's map, and the mountain ridges and the swamp were newly drawn in.
"I believe it is likely behind this mountain."
"From where were our flames visible?"
"They were visible when climbing the mountain near this swamp."
A drawing of the tower was made at the western end of the map, and the actual path taken from there was drawn in. Currently, we are on the eastern side of the westernmost mountain.
"Likely, there will be no exit in the western half where the entrance is, nor in the southeastern part where we came out. If there is one, it would be around here..."
She pointed to the north-central and northeastern parts.
"Regarding the north-central part, when we saw the flames, the view to the north was obstructed, so it is thought that there is a mountain to the east of this swamp. In other words, there is a possibility that the north-central part is surrounded by the swamp and mountains."
"That is valuable information. Since it is easy to advance along the walls and mountainsides, it is likely not near there. However, it might be on the far side of the swamp."
"In other words..."
"Yes. The other side of the swamp you found is suspicious."
The Medioland vanguard broke into smiles and slapped each other's shoulders.