Chapter 322 - Tenth Story: The Dullahan
A plan for the Dullahan subjugation was made. The opponent will come leading a swarm of Orcs. And he will come down from the mountains. However, we don't know when, or from which of the three mountains he will come down.
"Since Harris and Jeanne are here, attacks using holy water and [Light] are possible. Let's launch a preemptive attack during the day. He will definitely come for revenge at night."
Monsters hit back when hit. We'll lie in wait there and ambush him.
We leave the Dryad's Forest and build a base at the foot of each mountain. Eleanor-sama and Wilson-san carried trees that had been given power by the Dryad and were able to move using the bowl. It's the same as Serena's tree or Renata's tree at the farm in Nakanohara. By passing through there, we'll shorten our travel time between the three points.
Once the bases are ready, it's holy water making. We store water that Wilson-san produced with [Water] in Eleanor-sama's large bowl. Then, Harris-sama and I consecrate it. It's a bowl that can carry thirty people. It took time, but we were able to make a large amount. In a state where we were submerged in holy water up to our knees, we floated slowly into the air. We board it, and Wilson-san threw in a [Fire Ball] to make it hot water, so it feels good. On board are Harris-sama, me, Bonnie, and the Goblin army led by the Dryad's clone.
"They might attack from three directions all at once. To prepare for that, we'll crush two directions."
When we head toward the mountain and cast [Sight], Orcs can be seen here and there between the leaves. Since they aren't hiding, they are also pointing here and shouting something. Some are firing arrows, but since we're protected by the bowl, it's not scary at all. The Dryad's clone is shouting something in a loud voice. If you attack, we'll give you a holy water attack! she must be shouting. When the Goblins splashed the holy water they scooped up in buckets out of the bowl as if throwing it away, the Orcs ran away. It must have been like having boiling water suddenly poured on them. We, together with Harris-sama, fire off [Holy] repeatedly. It's basic, but the purpose isn't to defeat them. In short, we just have to scatter them.
Once the holy water is gone, we'll follow up with [Light]. We have Eleanor-sama fly around, and with Harris-sama strengthening us, we'll scatter them all at once. The threat isn't as effective as at night, but it'll be enough to scatter them. The Goblins, who usually fight together with the Dryad, also started firing holy water arrows together with Bonnie. We flew around for about an hour and drove away those we spotted. We return to base once and rest for half an hour. We move to the second base through the clone tree, replenish the holy water, and go to another mountain. This is one round.
We keep doing this while resting. We do it at night too. Of course, we can't cover the entire area, but it'll be enough of a threat. Although we're resting, we're attacking two mountains day and night and crushing two invasion routes. We assumed the monster Dullahan would come from the remaining one.
The remaining one is guarded by Henry-sama, Eowyn-sama, Will, the Dryad main body, and the Goblins using holy water arrows led by Flora. This is the main event. Dune, Mel, Alex, and Renata's clone will maintain neutrality. Since the opponent is the Demon Lord's army, they can't take a side. The problem is how to fight the Dullahan, but it's actually a one-on-one duel. Of course, it's not me. It's Eowyn-sama.
"Even if it's a mimicry, as long as he's a knight, he will definitely accept a one-on-one duel with a sword. And he won't accept if the opponent is a priest."
Henry-sama said he would do it himself, but Eowyn-sama stopped him.
"Henry-sama. This is Northern Gram, and the purpose is to protect the Dryad's Forest that our royal family has passed down for generations. Please leave this to me."
Henry-sama, having been told this much, had no choice but to step down. "Then," he said, yielding.
"Oh my, how handsome."
"It's lovely. The first King was like that too."
He's returning the Dryads' words with a knight's salute. He's an annoying person who says "Jeanne-sama, Jeanne-sama" at every turn, but Gwyn-sama said it. "Eowyn is like that toward Jeanne, but he's not someone to be made light of. He's a man you can trust with your back in an emergency." He participated in the Demon Lord subjugation war while pushing through his illness to lead troops. The reason he didn't participate in the subjugation unit was because Gram, who participated jointly, strongly opposed it even though he volunteered. They probably didn't want the hero candidate of their own country to catch the disease. The unit was nearly destroyed in the battle with the Demon Race. I wonder if it would have changed if Eowyn-sama had been there. The reason Henry-sama yielded without saying anything might be because he recognized his ability.
Since we ate lunch early, there's time until the sun sets. After all, since we use holy water, it hurts that Wilson-san can't handle the bowl. Eleanor-sama is working hard alone. I combined wine and [Recovery] with [Refresh], but after all, she's old. It's hard to get rid of fatigue. Seeing Dune would be best, but currently, the operation against the Demon Lord's remnants is in progress.
After returning from the second sortie, it was dinner. It's a pot. Together with the Goblins and Alraunes who participated in the operation, it became a light banquet with mead.
"As expected of a super-high-level mage. For the Class of 175, Beatrix, Lyudmila, and Mary have all become high-level, but we need at least one super-high-level."
While eating fruit gathered by the Goblins and Alraunes, Eleanor-sama said so. For now, those three should only be using agricultural magic. Their grade won't go up. After all, super-high-level mages are only four in all of Sertoria, excluding the secret weapon Wilson-san. Among them, two are from the previous generation called Eleanor-sama's generation. Two are from the current generation, but one is the priest Phillips-sama, and the only mage is Evans-sama. The next generation is our generation, but the Class of 175 is twenty years old this year. It's said that the age at which magic can be learned peaks in the late twenties. In other words, there are only a few years left.
"Jeanne will be trained by the Queen of the border, so the other three."
Before I knew it, my training has been decided.
"Since mages can fall to darkness, we can't force them to train like priests. If they fall to darkness, recovery takes time."
She's saying it as if it's okay to force me to train because I'm a priest.
"If only there were some trigger..."
Our triggers were the Demon Lord subjugation and the war. If possible, I'd like it to be something other than those.
"May I say one thing?"
It's Eowyn-sama.
"Thanks to everyone's efforts, a place for priests to train has been created at the border of our country and Finis. Currently, we are selecting about ten young priests from both countries who can use mid-level holy magic—in Finis they are called apprentice priests or apprentice priestesses—and sending them for a fixed period. Similarly, I believe it is possible to foster mages."
I'm listening, "Hmm, hmm."
"It's still just a personal concept, but how about establishing a school for mages where each country bears the operating costs in one location?"
It's not bad. It's not bad, but...
"But will each country consent? The instructors would be super-high-level mages, but as you know, each country's super-high-level mages hold key positions in their own militaries."
It's as Eleanor-sama says. Usually, they are high-paid brigade commanders in the direct army or under great nobles. Since they have many opportunities to touch military secrets, their own countries wouldn't want to let them out. Sertoria's Evans-sama is the National Chancellor.
However, Eowyn-sama smiled and shook his head lightly.
"The instructors are not active mages. They are spirits. For example, right now, here, spirits of water, wind, mines, trees, flowers, and those living in the forest are present. Except for the farm of Jeanne-sama I've heard rumors of, it's not something that happens often. However, what kind of person would someone who grew up being taught various matters by such various spirits since childhood—it could be hunting or agriculture—become?"
They would definitely respect spirits and be existences that are grateful to the forests, rivers, and the creatures living there. And they would touch various phenomena and magic that humans cannot do and increase their imagery.
"That's wonderful!"
The Dryad raised her voice.
"For now, it's just a personal future concept. Besides, even if I suddenly say to gather excellent children from each country, no country would take me seriously."
Well, it's human trafficking or brainwashing.
"At first, like the training ground at the border, we start from something like a training center for young adults, and gradually increase the scale. And eventually, it would be good if it becomes so that each country independently operates magic schools for children, with an international magic school as the model."
"Hmm," Henry-sama crossed his arms. He might propose it to the King when he returns home.
"But isn't a prototype necessary? At present, I believe priority should be given to coexistence and co-prosperity with spirits."
It's Eleanor-sama.
"Isn't the prototype already there? It's Jeanne-sama's farm."
Um, our farm isn't a school, it's just a place for banquets...
"I've heard about Jeanne-sama's farm from Saxburg. Saxburg is actually a basic mage. After she went to Jeanne-sama's farm, she learned wind and water magic."
Dune and Mel puffed out their chests.
"She wasn't particularly taught magic. Probably, she was inspired by interacting with Mel-dono and Dune-dono. She said she was able to form an image. She herself is only a user of two basic spells, so she seems to be keeping quiet out of embarrassment."
In other words, she was influenced by the powerful Four Great Spirits. If that's true, it's understandable that the Class of 175, which has eight members, produced as many as three high-level mages. The high-level magic each uses is: Beatrix uses fire and wind, Lyudmila uses fire, and Mary uses water. Since fire is the easiest to image, many people learn it regardless of grade. Excluding fire, it's wind and water. Each person went to battle while imaging the magic they wanted to learn and learned it as a result. It might be a coincidence... but they are used to seeing Dune's and Mel's magic on a daily basis. It might have been helpful for forming images.
"As you know, mages can fall to darkness. To prevent that, it would be best not to make it mandatory. If they can engage in hunting and agriculture every day and form images of magic within that, and if they can learn magic, that would be best."
As expected of the man Gwyn-sama trusts with his back. I want Eleanor-sama to follow his example.
Everyone agreed that Eowyn-sama's concept is worth considering. Specifically, nothing has been decided yet. Maybe Eowyn-sama is planning to start something together with the Dryads he met here.
After finishing dinner and taking a two-hour nap, the operation resumed.
After the meal and rest, Eleanor-sama also became energetic. By the time the fourth sortie was finished, it was a good time. It's close to midnight. Since we're in the mountains, there are no lights from houses. Instead, the half-moon has risen. It's not as much as the full moon, but it's monster time.
For the fifth sortie, since it's just a feint, Wilson-san can also participate. We board the high-speeded bowl, and with Harris-sama, the four of us manipulated strengthened [Light] over the crushed routes and drove away the monsters Wilson-san found.
"Can a human fight one-on-one with a B-rank and win?"
Since Roberts-sama is an exception, I was worried and asked Eleanor-sama.
"If it's no magic and limited to swords, he might win. What makes monsters strong is magic and magic defense. An ordinary human can almost never win. With a sword, he can compete with speed. With the silver sword Eowyn-dono possesses, it should be possible. The rest is physical strength."
I've returned the Wildcat's stone to Eowyn-sama. He shouldn't be inferior in terms of momentary speed. If it becomes a test of physical strength like wrestling, it'll be a problem, but with a sword, it seems okay.
Just as we were about to go on the sixth sortie, there was a signal. Apparently, the Dullahan has responded to the duel with Eowyn-sama.
When we rushed to the place where the bonfire was lit, a swarm of Orcs was forming a circle, and in one corner were the Dryads. Mel is flying around overhead, and Dune is also there. They probably won't be attacked suddenly.
"Has it started?"
"No, not yet. Henry-san is explaining to both sides now."
When Eleanor-sama asked the Dryad, she was pointing inside the circle. There, a pitch-black headless knight and Eowyn-sama were standing facing each other, and Henry-sama was between them. The Dullahan is wearing a black surcoat with red thread trim over black chain mail. He's tall. Even though he has no head, he's the same height as Eowyn-sama.
"Then, the rules for this duel are as I told you before. The loser will leave this place. Both of you, do not behave in a cowardly or unseemly manner. You are to swear to that right here and now."
Eowyn-sama swore to the Goddess, and the Dullahan swore to the Demon Lord. I wondered how he would speak without a head, but he's holding it under his arm. Does that mean a one-handed sword? For that, the sword he's carrying on his shoulder is quite huge.
"It's just a pretense."
Alex told me to look at the sword. The sword is wide and longer than the Dullahan's height. It's reflecting the bonfire's flames dully... wait? It's not a Demon Race sword.
"Since he says he serves the Demon Lord, he should have been granted a sword by the Demon Lord. But that was made by a human. I can tell at a glance. In other words, he's not a knight of the Demon Lord's army."
Apparently, he's a fake. The Demon Race members had pitch-black swords.
"But if so, why did the Demon Lord give him a request?"
"Probably because he's a strong monster. Same as the Arachne. The Demon Race's standard is only strength. Loyalty has nothing to do with it. Also, the reason he's strong is because he's hard. No matter how many of the opponent's attacks hit, he doesn't flinch. Eventually, when the opponent gets tired, he starts his counterattack."
I was stunned by Alex's words. Isn't that the worst pattern?