Chapter 374 - Chapter 13: Preparations for Engrio
When we parted with the Fire Dragon, Salamander, and Gwyn-sama at the mountain hut and returned to Northern Gram, everyone was drunk.
On the surface, we were supposed to have been there too, so they had continued the wedding reception party grandly, but it seemed they had been seriously drinking and making a fuss.
The only one who wasn't drunk was Duke Hexham, who was taking care of the rabbits.
"My, my, how luxurious. Even though people were going through all sorts of hardships."
It was as Beatrix said, but since we had told them to make a fuss on purpose, it couldn't be helped. Since Eowyn-sama, one of the guests of honor, had returned, that night we called Dune and Mel again and made a great fuss.
(Good work. It seems you've successfully achieved your goal. I heard from Eowyn.)
Aira called out to me. She glanced at her husband, Eowyn-sama. Eowyn-sama was surrounding a table with the Dullahan and Keira. Next to them, Edward-sama, the Cask Wine Old Man who had become Aira's direct subordinate, and Beowulf were drinking modestly. Since Dune was there, they were likely trying not to stand out.
"What did Eowyn-sama say?"
After all, he's the person who dreams of my appointment as a rogue Grand Archbishop. If he said something strange, I have to put a stop to it.
(He was full of praise. He said you were quite adored by the fire spirit and the Fire Dragon.)
"Saying 'adored' is an exaggeration. We just became friends. Anything else?"
(He said Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama were amazing. Of course, Roberts-sama too.)
"Well, they're a former hero and a current hero, after all."
(He said the people from Sertoria treated the dragon they met for the first time just like a human acquaintance. He said you were like that from the start too, Jeanne.)
"Was I?"
(You were like that with the Water Dragon. Also, I heard from my brother that even with the Wyvern, you weren't scared at all in a situation where an ordinary woman wouldn't have been surprised to have fainted.)
If you say I was scared, I was, but at that time the Wyvern wasn't bloodthirsty. Besides, I firmly believed that James-sama would bring Mel. I didn't think I would die. I didn't think he hadn't even contacted her.
(Look, even Keira, who is making a fuss with the Dullahan over there, said she thought she could trust you because you weren't wary of her at all. After all, you proposed living together from the start, right? You're the only one who would think of living together with the Demon Race, Jeanne.)
That might be so.
Fortunately, starting from mouse extermination, I've faced various aggressive monsters. From that experience, I've somehow become able to tell if an opponent has hostility toward us. Besides, at that time Eleanor-sama had cornered Keira, so I think she was in a state of surrender.
(The Dullahan said this. About when he first met Henry-sama and Eowyn. The Dullahan was full of fighting spirit, but Henry-sama and Eowyn weren't so much, so he said he was disappointed. That's why, when they said various things, he felt like listening for once.)
I see. That kind of thing happens too. Well, a priest can't be bloodthirsty.
(Look, Eowyn, together with Saxburg and Duke Hexham, is thinking of making this villa and the isolation facility a place where humans, spirits, and friendly monsters like the Dullahan can live together. They admire your farm, Jeanne. That's why, I think they were all the more impressed by the attitude of the people from Sertoria.)
That's a good thing. It also leads to the goal of the Class of 175. If the royalty of a country works hard for coexistence and co-prosperity, it will be easier for us too.
The next day, we ride in the ultra-high-speed medium-sized bowl operated by the duo of Eleanor-sama and Wilson-san to go to the fortress in northern Finis. The fellow passengers are Sianya, Beatrix, and Mary, and the purpose is to receive an oracle. This time, on the surface, after participating in Aira's wedding reception in Northern Gram, we are supposed to participate in a meeting for plague countermeasures and measures for the needy held in Finis after the Council of Lords. We can't meet the oracle master in Nakanohara. And if an ultra-high-level mage is born, it's to treat it as a top-secret matter, especially toward Engrio.
As a result, Mary learned Cocytus, and finally, an ultra-high-level mage was born from the Class of 175.
Eleanor-sama was overjoyed, throwing her hands up.
"You have refined yourself well to this point. I learned various important things from your mother, and I feel like I've finally been able to repay that debt."
"My mother would be happy to hear that. Besides, it is thanks to your guidance."
The two of them were teary-eyed.
"Was that so?"
Beatrix and I met each other's eyes.
"Yes. Even now, Magdalena and I rent out a brothel several times a year to make a fuss, but the one who created the opportunity for that was Mary's mother."
It seems the first time Eleanor-sama met Mary's mother was shortly after Henry-sama ascended the throne and Eleanor-sama became Queen. A first-class priestess in the Royal Capital receives an oracle and reports it to the Royal Family. In other words, Eleanor-sama also meets the priestess. And she met Mary's mother, who was the number one at the best brothel in the Royal Capital at the time. Until then, although she had subjugated the Demon Lord, she was nothing more than the commander of the Magic Corps, so she wasn't royalty. A woman like Eleanor-sama wouldn't go to a brothel, and they wouldn't have met. Anyway, the two met and hit it off. And they held a banquet just as Mary's mother invited them. She liked it very much, and since then it became a pastime for the royal women. Eleanor-sama liked Mary's mother's intelligence very much and wanted to appoint her as an advisor to the Queen by calling her to the Royal Palace, but she was flatly refused. As a result, she simply set up a seat for an advisor and left it vacant until she abdicated. It seems it's still vacant now.
"Mary, how about it? Won't you serve the Royal Family? Since you've already achieved sufficient results in trade with various countries, why don't you work as a close aide in charge of diplomacy with various countries? Magdalena and I will recommend you."
A close aide to the King! And in charge of diplomacy! Far from a wealthy marriage, she could become someone who can make a luxurious palanquin herself!
"I am grateful for your words that are more than I deserve. But if I become directly subordinate to the Royal Family, I won't be able to do free business with various people in each country at the trade sites like I do now. I am fine being behind the scenes, so to speak, not out in the open. Please, could you let me stay in my current status?"
"As expected of Emma's daughter. She too didn't give a single thought to public honors and lived freely, fulfilling her life as a priestess. That spirit seems to have been passed down to you as well. Understood. Let's give up this time."
"I am honored."
I feel like it's a waste, but it's very Mary-like, whose motto is to live happily, freely, and peacefully. When I looked at Beatrix, she was giggling.
"Then, let's change the subject. Which magic are you aiming for next? Since two generations of mother and daughter have turned down the Royal Family's invitation, I'll at least have you become an existence that represents the country regarding magic."
This time Eleanor-sama was giggling. Surely, being refused must have been factored in from the start.
"Let's see. I'll master water with single-minded devotion. Maelstrom, then."
"Understood. I'm looking forward to it."
She said that and smiled at Mary, who bowed.
Next, Beatrix learned the advanced status change magic Camouflage. With this, she became a user of four advanced magics. She already knows Wind Barrier and uses a bowl. Since she can make a scroll at any time, she can fly while hiding her presence when she teams up with me. Eleanor-sama was again quite pleased.
"How reliable. I think I'll be asking you for various things, so I look forward to working with you."
No matter how you think about it, it must be a suspicious request. Surely, it's related to illegal entry.
"We're, look, civilians. We can do things that people in public positions can't, right? I guess that's a strength. Well, it depends on the reward."
Things that people in public positions who only do illegal things can't do must be illegal.
"I can have high expectations, then."
"Okay!"
I wonder if it'll be okay? Being caught and executed would be no joke for a priest.
Sianya learned Increase Offense. If anything, it's a magic that few people use. If she casts it on Edward-sama, he might become matchless.
And I, surprisingly, learned Sense Living. It's advanced holy magic. Lately, I've especially had trouble finding the sea snake. The Goddess must have rewarded me for that hardship. With this, it should become a little easier. Especially, the Great Shark has to be subjugated two or three times a year. I don't know how far it will be effective against enemies in the sea, but I can expect a little.
The joy of learning new magic was short-lived, as we returned to Northern Gram, and the Sertoria group was to return. Parting with Roberts-sama who was on board, we hunted together with the Black Dragon Child and restored the Northeastern Forest.
When we had a party to celebrate our hard work after returning to the farm, I told Alex about the Fire Dragon's spear.
"The Fire Dragon is going to use a silver spear?"
"Yes. We did the Hydra subjugation with an ice sword Mary made, and he seems to have liked it. The general shape can be the same as Roberts' spear. Please make the handle out of silver too, so it can be brought into lava. How about it, can your brothers make it?"
"'Can you make it?' you say. You're quite underestimating us."
I got caught by Eleanor-sama's smooth talk. He won't be able to refuse now.
"We can make it, but it'll be quite a valuable item. What's the size?"
When Henry-sama, who had been giving spear lessons to the Fire Dragon, told him the size, Alex said the amount of silver needed. When I heard the price, there were too many digits to imagine. It was no longer an amount, but just a number. However, fortunately, it was within the range of the stock, and the OK was given.
Next, the problem was the reward. Even if it's a human weapon, he's probably never made a dragon weapon. I thought he would overcharge considerably, but surprisingly, that wasn't the case.
"One month to make a prototype. Have the Fire Dragon check the condition, and then one month for the finishing. Two months in total. Just cover the drinking and travel expenses during that time. Let's see, for seven brothers, one cask of Finis wine a day will do."
"Is that enough?"
Even Eleanor-sama was surprised. She surely thought he would overcharge for the first shot.
"We can make a weapon that a dragon holds. It's the first time since the history of the dwarves began. It's a great honor. If we get greedy for rewards, it'll drag our pride through the mud. Just a bit of wine to get tipsy is enough. In exchange, make sure to tell that Fire Dragon that dwarves are making it."
Is that how it is?
"Heh, what's wrong? You're quite cool."
Renata was poking his shoulder.
"Think about it. Living together with the Black Dragon Child, hunting and drinking wine with the Water Dragon and Wyvern, and now making a weapon for the Fire Dragon. It's all against dragons. This kind of thing has never happened before. That's what's happy."
He said that and gulped down the honey wine in the bowl.
The busyness continues; I have to go to Medioland.
Joining up with Stephens-san and Harris-san, we're going to infiltrate Engrio. This time, since it's an exploration directly related to the sealing of the Demon Lord, Fiona is participating for the first time in a while.
After staying in Nakanohara for two days, I ride in the bowl of Henry-sama's party along with Beatrix. Since it's been speeded up, it's easy.
Wait? Isn't it strange?
"Um, are Henry-sama and the others also participating?"
When I asked Henry-sama, he replied, "Of course."
"In the King's request, I recall Hughes-sama, Harris-san, Captain Lewis, Bonnie, and I were participating."
"That is correct."
"Then, those Henry-sama and the others..."
"It's incognito. Don't worry. His Majesty is on his way from Northern Gram to the Council of Lords venue. It won't be found out."
There's nothing but worry!
I was told by the King that Henry-sama and the others might intervene midway, but what do they mean by intervening from the start?
"This is the only way. Even for a great noble of Medioland, to cross the border into Engrio, you'll have to undergo an inspection. At that time, Stephens will provide the explanation, and Harris and you were just supposed to bow silently, right?"
"Yes. That's what I've heard. That it's a request from Price-sama."
"That's naive. You'll definitely be suspected."
Indeed, we might be suspected.
"Therefore, at the inspection, please tell the truth yourself."
Um, far from being suspected, isn't it a total giveaway?
"Don't worry. We'll accompany you as Stephens' attendants. Please stay at the inn closest to the border. Near there, Bonnie has already infiltrated ahead with Hughes. We'll have you switch with Bonnie, who has transformed into Jeanne, at the inn."
"It's misrepresentation of status, right? Won't it be suspected?"
"Don't worry. We've practiced several times. Besides, Bonnie herself won't identify herself. The opponent will just make the mistake on their own."
P-Practice... It's going to be a secret entry into a hostile country... How bold are they being?
"Then, how should I..."
"It's simple. Stephens' party will go to the hot springs with Bishop Jeanne, who Bonnie has transformed into with Transform. Surely, the Engrio scouts will monitor. In the meantime, please infiltrate Engrio with Wilson, Wilhelmina, and Beatrix via the route we went the other day. Hughes and Lewis should be waiting there. After that, you know what to do. Meet the Salamander and first confirm the presence of the wall."
What a well-thought-out plan. They intend to have Wilson-san speed up Beatrix's bowl and achieve the infiltration. It should be possible for Beatrix, a user of four advanced magics.
"Beatrix, don't you have to go to the village where you're the landlord?"
When I asked Beatrix, she grinned.
"About the reward this time, I got a special bonus. Surprisingly, that Great Mage Eleanor used agricultural magic for me for free."
I see. If Eleanor-sama joins, all sorts of things can be done. While I was doing various things in the Northeastern Forest, she seems to have finished most of it. Since it's now past mid-May, it should mainly be plowing where the turnip fields were, watering the barley and oats, and mowing and plowing the uncultivated land. For Eleanor-sama, it would be finished in a day.
"As expected, she's amazing. Ultra-high-level. I want to become ultra-high-level soon following Mary."
"That's the spirit. Since Beatrix seems to be learning magic from various systems in order, don't rush and stay calm. If monsters appear this time as they have until now, make sure to create a clear image when you use magic."
"Okaay. I'll do my best."
She seems to have been completely taken in, but oh well. It's better to have many allies.
Wait? Wait a minute.
"Um, during the stay, where will I be staying?"
"Now, where would it be. I think it's probably a mountain hut, but I think Hughes knows, so please ask him."
"Ah, yes..."
It's fine. I'm a priest, so I live in honest poverty...
But, just a little bit would have been fine; I wanted to experience the feelings of those who are being extravagant.