Chapter 357 - Backyard of Stray Priest ⑭
This is a story between Chapter 12, Part 11 and Part 12.
Between Finis and Northern Gram, there is a mountainous zone, and except for the plains along the eastern coastline, the border was generally determined by the ridges of the mountains. There were several passes on that border, and since ancient times long before both countries were founded, small-scale trade had been carried out between the settlements at the foot of the passes. The people on the current Finis side are called the mountain people, while the side south of Northern Gram is called the plains people.
Even though they were connected by trade, the mountain people and the plains people frequently had disputes. This became prominent after those who could be called settlers from the continent introduced new technology and culture and settled in the plains of the island, and in the founding of Northern Gram and Finis later, that boundary also became the border line as a matter of course, except for the coastline which was a source of dispute. Since both countries placed the settlements that had traditionally been living there under their control, the settlements that had been connected since ancient times kept in touch with each other. Of course, they kept it secret from both Royal Families.
Such trade routes were clearly different in nature from those of the major highways connecting the plains along the coast, and there weren't even border checkpoints. After the relationship between Finis and Northern Gram deteriorated, there are routes where overt relationships have been cut off. Near the villages at the foot, the forces of both countries were stationed, keeping a sharp eye on each other.
One of such routes—the Queen of a country that used to be influential as a settlement of a certain scale on the southern side had her body laid to rest and a mound made near the pass according to her will after her death. It was long before both countries were founded, but her ghost, through the rise and fall of small lords in that land of mountain people and plains people in each subsequent era until the founding of the current Kingdom, had gained the worship of the residents of the settlements south of the pass as a guardian deity preventing invasions from the Finis side, and therefore, it was viewed that there would be at least no invasion from the Finis side on that route.
In fact, the northern and southern settlements secretly maintained connections, and it also served as a base for so-called smuggling, being cleverly hidden and compensating for each other's poverty.
The ghost of the Queen buried in the mound protecting that boundary, from the teachings of coexistence and co-prosperity of the Goddess she believed in during her lifetime and her own experiences, was thinking if there was some way to achieve reconciliation between the north and the south, but time passed without any opportunity.
That Queen, after Northern Gram was founded, had been serving as an opponent for ascetic training, occasionally engaging in matches with priests representing the country, but one day she received a request from the Crown Prince of Northern Gram to give training to a female priest based on the agreement between the Finis side and the Northern Gram side.
This was, for her, an event that should be called an opportunity to achieve reconciliation between the north and the south who had been fighting for many years, and coupled with the fact that she could meet the man she had shared love with during her lifetime, she accepted and challenged it with great expectations.
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Eleanor crouches down, extends her right index and middle fingers, and places them on the neck of Jeanne, who is lying on the ground, to take her pulse. Eowyn, who is similarly crouching and looking at her sleeping face nearby, has hands that are shaking, probably because he's thinking of the worst-case scenario.
"She's fine. She's just sleeping."
"Thank goodness." He breathes a sigh of relief at Eleanor's diagnosis.
"Oh? Aren't you quite devoted to this girl? The opponent is a priest, you know." The ghost of the Queen, who was watching while hanging onto the right arm of the wicked lord with both hands, says teasingly.
"It is precisely because she is a priest. This person cured my Just a Disease... the Karmic Disease, and brought light to me and my Royal Family, literally. She is a person who will continue to save many who suffer from difficult diseases, starting with the Karmic Disease. Not even a one-in-a-million accident must happen to her." Eowyn said with a serious face.
"Curing the Karmic Disease? This girl can do such a thing?" When the Queen looked at Eleanor, she nodded.
"It's Anti-Sepsis. Do you not know of it?"
"Anti-Sepsis is magic to keep raw things from rotting, right? I've never heard of it being for treating the Karmic Disease... I see, because it's mid-level?"
"No, it was a coincidence, but a certain human man heard from her spirit friend that it was effective for athlete's foot... in other words, skin diseases. That was the trigger."
"A spirit friend..."
The Queen remembered the time when she was alive. Long before the era she lived in, there were five great Priestesses who not only subjugated the Demon Lord who possessed overwhelming power but also gave the power to live to those who were suffering from various misfortunes. It was passed down that they were worshipped by those around them, and the Queen wanted to be such a leader during her lifetime.
(That's not all. Jeanne... she made it so that I, who cannot hear... we, can have conversations with others through magic.)
This time it's Aira. She is sitting next to Jeanne, gently stroking Jeanne's head with her right hand.
"Is that, by any chance, Thought Communication?"
(Yes. That's right. You know of it, then.)
"Wait a minute. How many light magics can this girl use?"
(I believe it's five.)
When she confirmed with Eleanor, the answer was indeed so.
"You said earlier she has spirit friends, but is this girl receiving the protection of spirits?"
"Yes. Starting with water and wind, she has the stones of several spirits. Jeanne is, as the royalty of three countries are gathered here now, how should I put it... a person chosen by others."
When Eleanor answered, the wicked lord went "Hmm."
"I see. This girl..." The Queen let go of the wicked lord's arm and sat next to Jeanne with her knees together. She looks at the Ring of the Water Spirit and the bracelet of the wind spirit. The two stones are glowing quietly, filled with their respective colors of light.
"Do you know something?" When Eleanor asked, she smiled gently while shaking her head.
"It's not that I know something. It's just, I wanted to be like this. Living with spirits, reconciling with the Demon Race, and saving the people suffering from disease and hunger. However, I don't think I was able to do it sufficiently. Most likely, this girl was able to do it better. Of course, I would have had more experience as a Queen and been better at handling magic. However, I wanted to be like this girl." She gently touches Jeanne's cheek with her right hand. When the wicked lord knelt on one knee nearby and placed his hand on her shoulder, the Queen tilted her head and touched that hand with her own cheek.
"By the way, this girl... Jeanne? Is there anyone who guards Jeanne?" The Queen asks Eleanor.
"Anyone who guards her? If it's someone who protects her, as I told you earlier, various spirits..."
"No. Not spirits. A human who protects Jeanne from various dangers." The Queen interrupted Eleanor's words halfway.
"A human? She is a priest, and I believe that status will protect her. Besides, she has several companions, as is the case now. For example, in this place right now, there are royalty from three countries: Finis, Northern Gram, and Sertoria, which is in the southwest of this island." While saying so, Eleanor was racking her brain over what to do about the vigilance against Engrio in particular. Attaching guards is easy. However, that would significantly restrict the freedom of action of Jeanne and the Class of 175. Eleanor and the Sertorian King wanted to avoid that as much as possible. If such a thing were to happen, they thought it might create a rift in the bond between Jeanne and the spirits that Jeanne has built so far, and that will be built in the future. Furthermore, Jeanne makes a living as a monster hunter. They didn't want to do anything that would prohibit that. They wanted Jeanne to act with her own free will.
"You're being naive. What would you do if a powerful member of the Demon Race appeared in this place right now? What would you do if a country hostile to those three countries sent an assassin? Those with the power to draw people in are made into targets."
"In times of real danger, the spirits of water and wind will protect her."
"Listen. For example, Jeanne is unconscious right now, right? In the future, when Jeanne is not conscious... when she is sleeping, or when she is restrained for some reason and loses the freedom of her limbs, what will you do?"
"That is... nothing can be done." Eleanor hung her head. This was because the point she was most concerned about had been pointed out. To call Dune or Mel, Jeanne herself needs to call out to the spirit stones. As an exception, James, the Crown Prince of Medioland, can call Mel, but he wouldn't make it in time for an emergency.
"Then, Northern Gram shall provide guard soldiers. Actually, I want to guard her twenty-four hours a day myself, but since I am a man, that won't do. For the time being, how about twenty or so skilled female soldiers? I'll have them guard her day and night. Of course, my country will bear the expenses." Eowyn offered, but Henry declined. As expected, they couldn't leave the safety of their own citizen to another country. Besides, it stands out too much. It's like revealing her location to the opponent.
"Listen, Crown Prince. What would you do if the opponent was a member of the Demon Race, or if it was the Demon Lord? Could twenty people, or even two thousand people, win?" Eowyn was speechless at the Queen's words.
"D-Demon Lord? Is Jeanne-sama being targeted by the Demon Lord? No, certainly a user of light magic is the natural enemy of the Demon Race... if that's the case, we must protect her even if we mobilize the entire national army..."
"Well, the Crown Prince should just stay quiet for a bit." The Queen said as if exasperated.
They couldn't stay in the mountains on the border forever. They have to transport the unconscious Harris and the sleeping Jeanne. Eleanor proposed making a medium-sized bowl and temporarily moving to the village on the north side, which they are using as a lodging, along with the two ghosts, and everyone agreed.
The village head has already vacated his own mansion to use as a lodging for the royalty of the three countries. They decided to enter the provided sleeping quarters and rest. Eleanor was in the same room as Henry, but the ghost of the Queen appeared there.
"Oh! Queen-dono. You've come well." Henry calls out casually. Eleanor also gave up the chair prepared for her and sat on the bed herself.
"First, how about a drink?" He prepares wine and they make a toast. They briefly summarized Jeanne's challenge and its results and rejoiced together. After that, they talked about Jeanne's protection, which they had also talked about at the mound on the border.
"Is there any good method? Jeanne still has room to grow. She needs to continue monster hunting from now on. Besides, Jeanne herself should have various things she wants to do. If we protect her to the point of taking away her freedom, it's meaningless." Eleanor thought she could handle it if the opponent was human. Fortunately, Jeanne is a knight ordained in Medioland and Finis, and it has been informally decided that she will be ordained as a knight in Northern Gram soon. And they can strengthen it further by giving her a status in Sertoria. Organizations hostile to Jeanne will inevitably make the Royal Families of four countries their enemies. On the other hand, she was aware that they were defenseless against an attack on Jeanne by a powerful member of the Demon Race, except for the protection of spirits starting with Dune and Mel. Even for Dune and Mel, they cannot be called unless Jeanne directly speaks to the spirit stones. In Mel's case, James, the Crown Prince of Medioland, can call her, but he is from another country and is busy due to his position. He wouldn't make it in time for an emergency.
"Can you give me some advice?" Eleanor asks. Henry is staying quiet. He intended to leave it to the two of them. This is because he believes his role is to create an opportunity to work on others... depending on the case, the Royal Families of other countries, as necessary after the talk is summarized.
"How is the relationship between Jeanne and the spirits?"
"It is extremely good. Partly because Jeanne has a personality that doesn't discriminate, the spirits also adore her and frequently have banquets at the farm she runs with her companions."
"Banquets? That's amazing." The Queen burst out laughing. She thought there was no one who would have banquets together with powerful spirits like water and wind.
"Then, is she also getting along with goblins and Alraunes?"
"Yes. Since she's been inviting them or rescuing those who were caught by monsters, the number of spirits coming to the banquets is gradually increasing." "Hmm," she says, folding her arms.
"Consult with the great water and wind. Tell them that in case something happens to Jeanne, it's better to have someone else who can call the spirits. You should let the spirits choose the one who calls them."
"Is such a thing possible?"
"If it's not possible, it's impossible to protect her from an attack by the Demon Race."
"That is certainly true."
"And, keep it a secret that I told you this."
"Yes. Understood. Please continue to look after Jeanne in various ways."
"Hehe. You've been protecting Jeanne like that too, haven't you?" Eleanor only replied with a smile to the Queen's words.
After the Queen left the room, Eleanor faced Henry.
"What do you think?"
"The Queen was wary of an attack by the Demon Race, but I don't think the Demon Lord would do something like sending an assassin."
"I agree. But I think it's better to take some measures."
"Indeed. Shall we try talking to Dune and Mel once?"
"I'm thinking of asking them when we have a banquet at Jeanne's farm, but I wonder if Dune and Mel will have an opportunity to talk with us? If possible, I want to keep it a secret from Jeanne herself, as well as the others, of course." "Hmm," Henry folded his arms.
"Then, how about having Wilson tell Mel. If it's that, it should be fine. For Dune, we can have Mel talk to her. When it comes to Jeanne, Dune seems to intend to be a protector herself. Most likely, that stance won't change in the future." Eleanor nodded, thinking 'I see'. Even if Wilson and Mel left their seats together, no one would mind. It's a usual thing. "Understood. Let's do that." Eleanor poured wine into Henry's bowl.