Chapter 244 - Chapter Twelve: First Mountain Investigation
=== CHAPTER 244 ===
The Water-Splashing Festival in the second week of August ended in great success with the appearance of Roberts-sama, who had returned for a temporary break. He apparently attended the ceremony in the Eastern Plains in the morning and came here in the afternoon. The knight who is always with him didn't show his face this time for some reason, and instead, a man and a woman called attendants were with him. The man had short black hair and hid one eye with a black leather eyepatch, perhaps from a war injury. As for the woman with long black hair fluttering, she hid from her nose down with a cloth. Both were silent throughout, and rather than attendants, they were bandits. I felt like I had met them somewhere, but regardless of mountain bandits or pirates, I don't know any bandits, so I decided it was my imagination.
Old man Henry and old woman Eleanor were joined by the Headmistress to lead the vigilante group's martial faction. The opposing general public was led by Roberts-sama, Gladys-sama, Harris-sama, and the two attendants, and in a surprising turn of events, even Jennifer-sensei joined the fray.
As a result, it secretly became a confrontation between the old and the new, but the match was evenly matched, and the judgment by the Archbishop ended in a draw.
During that time, while I was dragged by the Headmistress to participate in the Water-Splashing Festival, the shop of the Class of 175 set up a stall in front of the main gate as usual. When we newly provided clothing and small items made of Finis fabric, sales grew, receiving a reputation that they were becoming popular in the Royal Capital.
Unfortunately, the people related to the royal family had business with the Headmistress and went to the orphanage, so they didn't participate in the report meeting. Instead, Harris-sama was able to participate.
Since the number of people had increased, we changed the location to the Flatlands and made a fuss together with the usual members, the mountain bandits on duty, the veteran goblin scout team and the Elder, and several Alraunes.
In June, various things were built in the residential area and the farmland effectively became two plots, so we bought an additional plot of land between us and the agricultural experimental station. It was just the right length to fit one plot, but it seems Wilson-san had calculated it from the beginning. Thanks to that, the livestock shed is in the middle of the three farmland plots, so it's also perfect for grazing. Since we only had to move the fence and add the two shorter sides, it was done without much trouble. At the same time, we bought five sheep and five piglets each.
The residential area was originally surrounded by a stone wall, but since the banquets in the backyard were becoming cramped, Matilda and Bonnie had finished adding a blindfold wall made of wooden boards as a replacement site. It ended up looking like a fortress, but in exchange, we can call the goblins and Alraunes and make a fuss in the garden. We all agreed to have banquets here from now on, and with the cooperation of Serena and the Dwarf, the sawtooth oak tree also moved here.
Little Serena has also been running around with the piglets since the goblins became her playmates.
"It's finally starting to look like a sacred land of coexistence and co-prosperity."
Harris-san was laughing while looking at the various races lined up.
"Even after the development begins, as long as we're making a fuss inside the wall, I think Alraunes and goblins can also participate. If possible, I want to call as many friends as possible."
"No. It's quite something. Jeanne is the only one practicing it to this extent."
"No, it's only because of everyone's cooperation."
First it was Dune. That was also because the first King had built the foundation. Mel is the same, and Serena is the same. Thinking about it, I truly think the person called the first King was a truly amazing person.
"By the way, the heroes are currently back for a temporary break, right? James-sama from Medioland said he wants to try a test to see if the barrier on the mountain can be broken."
"A test? Are you going to break the barrier and fight monsters?"
He's a busy person. It's a break, so he should just take it easy.
"That's right. If it's the same as the underground passage in Nakanohara, we'll have to do monster extermination. That's the point. James-sama apparently insisted that the safety of those around cannot be guaranteed unless there's a powerful holy mage. However, the people chasing interests don't have enough faith, so they don't have a powerful holy mage. So, it's been decided that Archbishop Price, the former hero and deputy head of the Medioland Royal Capital Great Church, will participate. And I reported before that the number of people Jeanne can do a reading for at the same time is three at most. James-sama, Price-sama, and me."
"Um, my Thought Communication is..."
"I know. The range has expanded, right? Besides, there's no problem even if you speak aloud. However, there's no obligation to report that far."
He's grinning with a wicked face. It seems he intends to exclude the greedy ones.
"Are there no guards coming?"
"Of course there are. A vanguard is necessary. In addition to Roberts-sama and Gladys-sama, Sir Stephens, who has a territory at the foot of the mountain, will participate."
Why is everyone so diligent? Or are they planning to have a banquet with Mel?
"Also, it's top secret, but it's been decided that the Crown Prince of Finis will participate. This was apparently decided through discussions between the royal families without going through the church. Even within the church, only Price-sama and I know."
"In other words... the King of Finis... the Demon Lord..."
"That's right. He showed understanding regarding the seal of the Demon Lord. It seems the people of the northern Finis region have accepted sealing ghosts in orbs. Since the King is leading and the Priestesses and priests are fully cooperating, it will spread. In return, he said he would cooperate with our investigation. The Crown Prince's participation is the first step."
"Then, the Priestesses will no longer... in the orbs..."
"Whoa, Priest Jeanne, it's too early to shed tears. You're actually going next month, right? See the site with your own eyes before you do that."
"Yes. Thank you very much."
Even if it's to protect everyone's lives, I think living is what matters. I hope that those who threw away their lives are living leisurely with the Goddess. And I want the Priestess, who must have been tormented by self-reproach for a long time, to lead a peaceful life from now on.
We'll be going to Finis in September, but before that, we decided to go to the mountain once.
This is because the temporary return period for the new heroes is only two weeks.
Going itself is at the request of the Medioland Royal Capital Great Church, so I can't say no, but even though it's incognito, the Crown Prince of Finis is also participating. A special carriage provided transportation, so it was a very comfortable journey.
The place we stayed was Sir Stephens's mansion, and since I had been invited once before, I was able to relax sufficiently. On the first night, we called Dune and Mel and made a big fuss together.
"I thought the idea of coexistence and co-prosperity was naive, but thanks to Priest Jeanne, the attitude of the northern people has changed. It seems I was wrong. Thanks to you, I learned a good lesson. I thank you for Aira's matter as well."
Aira is apparently following the old guy from the barrel-drinking contest around, going here and there, finding fabrics and accessories that look like they'll sell, and working to make them into local industries.
Gwyn-sama laughed, saying that his sister, who always used to look down, has become quite bright.
That Gwyn-sama, for whatever reason he liked it, is still bald.
"What happened to your head? Are you going to go with that line now?"
"This time it's incognito. I came with this during the journey."
When Roberts-sama, who was a fellow bald person, asked, he took out a wig and put it on. It's long blonde hair. He's saying, "How is it?" while brushing his hair back with his right hand. He looks like a playboy at a tavern.
James-sama is bursting out laughing.
"Finis has many interesting men."
Roberts-sama laughed magnanimously.
Now, for the exploration of the altar. Since we connected the temple halfway up the mountain with Teleport in the previous investigation, there's no need to explore. When we moved the altar in front of the stone statue that didn't look anything like a Demon Lord, an underground passage appeared. Fortunately, Harris-sama and the others had already reached the barrier in the previous investigation, and even if bugs came out, there are four old and new heroes. It was settled easily.
The problem is what's behind the wall. Just in case, I brought alcohol and dried meat, but it's not necessarily a Dwarf. I don't think a monster will suddenly attack, but just in case, I had everyone prepare.
"Light!"
I chant with the intermediate version without amplification, which has become even brighter.
The stone wall vanished in an instant. People other than Harris-sama, seeing it for the first time, are surprised and gently extending their hands to where the wall was, but I illuminate all the way to the back as it is.
While waiting for a while, a small figure appeared.
"Yo. I've kept you waiting quite a bit. I was tired of waiting."
Good. It was a Dwarf. The alcohol I brought will be useful.
When we had a drinking session and heard the story, he's apparently living by digging iron in a mine near the mountain.
"What. Then aren't you the tribe cooperating with our country?"
"Are you a person from Medioland?"
"Yeah. I'm James, the Crown Prince."
"My companions are in your care. Recently, it seems you've been exchanging it for even better alcohol. Medioland's isn't bad, but alcohol should be that strong after all."
"It's Finis alcohol."
The bald head puffs out his chest. Trade has already begun. It's starting to gain a reputation even in Sertoria as a strong alcohol for heavy drinkers.
"Are you perhaps from Finis?"
"That's right. I'm Gwyn. Even though I look like this, I'm the Crown Prince."
"Well, that's been a while. It's been four hundred years since I met someone from Finis. Although, it's also been four hundred years since I met a human here."
Four hundred years... Is it the person who likes climbing high mountains that Mel met?
"Did you meet someone from Finis?"
"Yeah. It seems he found it while climbing the mountain and stopped by. Do you know him?"
"I know the legend. He was a warrior who used precious light magic. He went on a journey saying he would search for a legendary treasure and never returned."
There was apparently an oracle that one of the legendary treasures was on a famous high mountain. So it seems he was climbing famous high mountains one after another starting from the north.
"Unfortunately, he died here."
"He died here?"
"Yeah. To be precise, he was turned into a Revenant."
"What!"
That man broke through the barrier here. And he found documents that were thought to be the legendary treasure. However, he couldn't write enough characters. He had no choice but to build a hut at the foot of the mountain to copy the documents kept inside, and he apparently spent nearly a year staying there while being taught characters by the Dwarf.
One day, he suddenly stopped coming. Since he hadn't finished copying everything yet, they were wondering what happened, and then he appeared with people wearing black robes. And after releasing the barrier by casting Light, he cast Purification with all his might, and along with the people who came with him, he himself turned to dust.
"The Ruined Town..."
Gwyn-sama groans.
"Probably. He was likely being manipulated by magic. And the moment he chanted Light, the magic was broken."
The man was copying in the library inside the barrier. Since it would be a problem if he lost them, he apparently didn't take them outside until the work was finished.
It's the same as with Albert-san. Regardless of his own will, he was likely forcibly turned into a Revenant and enslaved. And he was made to guide them.
I didn't know Light had such an effect, but the man sacrificed his own existence to protect the documents inside.
"As expected of a man of Finis. He didn't let himself be manipulated for nothing. However, you people of the Ruined Town. Oh, just you wait. I will surely kill you all!"
Gwyn-sama struck the hilt of his sword with a 'gashan.'
In the end, what was it that they tried so hard to steal, and what was it that he protected?
After parting with the gatekeeper and arriving at the destination while protected by powerful guards, what was there was a book written about the system of magic, placed on a bookshelf similar to the one in Nakanohara.
Since time is limited, I can't do a reading of everything. However, what the person who came four hundred years ago copied onto parchment in ancient characters remained. James-sama, Gwyn-sama, Archbishop Price, and Harris-sama, who can read ancient characters, say that based on the number of pages, it's about a quarter of the total amount, but it seems a rough explanation of the whole is written on several of those pages as a preface.
"Magic is divided into three: magic that utilizes the power of the present world, magic that benefits the living, and other magic, and furthermore, beyond those, there are the two poles of Light and Dark, it says."
Archbishop Price explained it to us.
"In other words, it's likely attribute magic, holy magic, and then status change magic and movement-type magic."
While Roberts-sama, Gladys-sama, and Sir Stephens were tilting their heads along with the four, James-sama gave a simplified explanation.
"Does Light refer to the magic Jeanne uses?"
"Likely so."
James-sama answers Archbishop Price's words.
In other words, is the first King series I use not holy magic?
"No, that's not necessarily the case. If holy magic is included in the light magic that is one pole, then the Light and Thought Communication Jeanne uses might still be a type of holy magic."
"It's likely as Bishop Harris says. Of course, the possibility that there are things called light magic and dark magic and they are clearly separated from others cannot be denied either."
"More of a problem than that is the other pole, Dark."
"Umu. It's as James-dono says. Dark is something that cannot be ignored."
The four who understood the meaning nodded to each other and began further discussion, but the four on this side don't understand at all.
"Stephens. Is there that pie today?"
"The eel pie? Of course there is. I heard the opponent in this exploration was tough, so I have prepared enough for three meals for everyone. Of course, there's also the dried meat pot we learned from the people of Sertoria. If you like, shall we eat by the blue pond?"
"That's good. Let's do that."
"There's wine too."
Roberts-sama and Sir Stephens have completely given up and are talking about lunch.
Gladys-sama, after looking between the four and the two, came here while sighing.
"What do you think we should do?"
She looks completely at a loss at the attitudes of the men at both extremes.
"Let's take a break."
"Yes. Let's do that."
Leaving the six alone, while drinking diluted mead and eating Highway Cookies, Roberts-sama and Sir Stephens also joined in.
In the end, we called the Dwarf and everyone had a drinking session, and after that, we finished the investigation of the altar simply, and the first investigation ended.
The results of the person who came four hundred years ago were taken back to Medioland to be investigated. The person in charge is of course Price-sama, but since it's a document written about magic, the kingdom's magic scholars will also participate, according to James-sama. After that, it will resume as soon as the new heroes' pilgrimage ends, but from the volume of the book, it was predicted that it would likely end between mid-September and the end of November.
That night, we also called Dune and Mel and had a banquet at the Stephens mansion.
The lady of the house was the one who picked out Mel's first clothes. Mel also knew what she was doing and came properly dressed. The lady was also happy and presented her with new clothes.
When the banquet was in full swing, on the terrace, Harris-sama was quietly drinking wine with a melancholy expression.
"Does it seem related to the seal of the Demon Lord?"
"I wonder. However, if we can learn the details about the magic used by the Ancient Priestess, we might gain something."
"Humans, magic, next is monsters?"
"I don't know. However, even if that's the case, I wonder how it connects to the Four Great Spirits and the Primal Ruins."
"There was a hollow in the altar, right?"
"Yeah, I saw it. It's the mark representing wind with a ▽."
"The remaining fire was ○, and water was △, right?"
"That's right. And at the center of that is the Ruined Town."
"In the end, do we have to go to the Ruined Town?"
"Yeah, probably. And after the mountain is finished, it's Engrio."
"Is that why you had such a gloomy face?"
"You caught me. That's right. But that's not all. Dark magic. If the magic the Demon Lord uses is that, the Demon Lord might never be destroyed."
"Why is that?"
"The Demon Lord revives even if defeated. Monsters also keep appearing. I think there might be a powerful force that harms humans behind the monsters and the Demon Lord. And if that belongs to the opposite pole of Light... in other words, the opposite existence of the Goddess, Dark, then when Dark is destroyed, Light will also be destroyed. In other words, it cannot be destroyed."
It seems to be the idea of mutual conflict. If the light is strong, the darkness is also strong. Just like a shadow created by the midsummer sun. And if it's cloudy, the shadow also becomes thin.
"Harris-sama. Is the Goddess... Light?"
"She wouldn't be Dark."
Well, she wouldn't be Dark. If I said such a thing, I might be certified as a Demon Lord worshiper.
However.
"The Goddess preached coexistence and co-prosperity. Perhaps she is not Light, the opposite of Dark. Perhaps the Demon Lord and monsters aren't Dark either. If there is mutual conflict, there's no coexistence and co-prosperity with monsters either, right? A wolf attacks a deer, but both the wolf and the deer are the same animals. Humans are the same. We hunt. I think living together doesn't necessarily mean being on good terms."
Harris-sama opened his mouth wide in surprise.
"Beatrix and I are always together, but the catalyst was a big fight. Then we were scolded terribly by the Headmistress... But that's why we were able to become friends. It's the same as that, eventually we might be able to coexist and co-prosper even with the Demon Lord. If it goes well, we could even have a banquet together."
At that time, the Demon Lord laughed.
"Fufufu."
Harris-sama, while shaking his head left and right, gradually let a smile spill out.
"Jeanne. Perhaps I should have reached that way of thinking sooner. If I had, I might have made friends with spirits, ghosts, and monsters too."
"It's okay. Please rest easy. You had a banquet with us at our farm. You're already friends with everyone."
"Is that so. Thank you. From now on, I'll follow the example of Henry-sama and the others and try to participate as much as possible."
Harris-sama, with a smile, raised the glass containing wine toward me. And saying, "To Priest Jeanne and her companions," he drank it in one breath.