Chapter 397 - Chapter 9: Cave of the Demon Realm ➂
While chasing the light of Ascension as we withdrew, everyone began to laugh.
After having Edward-sama stop singing, I made a full-power Light wall, and after reinforcing it with Price-sama's and Sianya's Holy Lances, we all ran away. On the way, for some reason it became funny, and without anyone starting it, we chuckled, and finally we all burst out laughing.
"What? Did something funny happen to everyone?"
Edward-sama asked with a dead serious face.
Hearing that voice, it became even funnier, and I laughed even more.
"No, it was a magnificent Chant of Exorcism. Your grandfather also had quite a voice, and it seems that blood has been firmly inherited."
Price-sama said while laughing.
Edward-sama's grandfather was a former hero and Price-sama's companion.
"I see. Like grandfather, like grandson, indeed."
Harrison-san said. Harrison-san is the next oldest after Price-sama. It's not strange that he's close with all the former heroes.
"Even so, to have neutralized the power of such a powerful evil spirit, it's quite something."
"Indeed. It's as Roberts says. Driving away that Scorpion was not a coincidence."
"However, to have noticed that and had Edward sing, as expected of Lady Jeanne. You thought of a magnificent withdrawal method."
The three princes also seemed amused. One was saying something different, but that's a kind of illness, so I'll just have to leave him be.
We ran quite a bit and reached a point where we thought it was enough. Most likely, we passed over ten side roads. We've come nearly half the distance to the entrance.
Perhaps because I ran while adjusting to maintain the wall made of Light, I wasn't out of breath despite running at a decent speed. Sianya was being carried on Edward-sama's back halfway through, but I ran the whole way on my own. Until now, I had only recognized the effect of the Cat Stone as an instantaneous power boost, but it seems I can run fast even without putting in much effort. It was a good experience.
"Jeanne knew the effective way to use the Chant of Exorcism."
Price-sama said while breathing hard. The Chant of Exorcism, as its name suggests, has the power to repel evil.
"Yes. After I was ordained as a priest, the Headmistress taught me."
"The effective way to use the Chant of Exorcism?"
Gwyn-sama was asking. He didn't seem to know.
"Yes. The Chant of Exorcism, as its name suggests, has the power to repel evil."
"I had heard that, but I thought it only had a strong effect when chanted by a high-ranking priest."
At Eowyn-sama's words, all the princes nodded.
That is certainly true. So, normally, one joins in the chant of the highest-ranking priest. Only normally, that is.
"I heard from the Headmistress that it's most effective when someone with a large voice volume sings. So, I thought that with Edward-sama's roar... no, voice volume, it would be sufficiently effective."
Of course, I did it anticipating that Price-sama would have to release Magic Reflection or Overflow. Harrison-san had to lead the light of Ascension. Sianya also used Overflow. I used Light. Since the candidate was the person with the largest voice among the warriors, I asked Edward-sama, but I never thought it would have that much destructive power.
"Hearing Edward-sama's chant reminded me of his grandfather. At that time, we didn't have Jeanne's Light. The one who played the role of shouting loudly to intimidate monsters and create gaps, instead of the priests who had to release Holy or Magic Reflection, was Edward-sama's and Sianya-dono's grandfather."
Of course, they all struggled on the third floor where they couldn't make loud noises. However, in other places, the war cry while swinging the silver spear that Edward-sama has inherited even now, when a strong enemy appeared or they were surrounded by a pack, was apparently enough to make monsters flinch and they escaped crises many times.
"What. If I had known that, I would have called him as the eighth member of the Demon Lord subjugation unit."
"At that time, I was still before my coming-of-age."
Seeing Edward-sama complaining to Roberts-sama who was saying something silly, we all had a big laugh.
The enemy also seemed to have given up pursuit, and we reached the entrance without any particular problems.
While watching the clump of light from Ascension ascending into the sky, Henry-sama's group's bowl descended.
On this side, since monsters are normally not around and Violet and the Gigant are keeping a lookout, there were no problems at all.
On the contrary, as support for the diversionary unit, they had secretly flown in the bowl and were apparently attacking monsters... especially Ogres, from the air.
"How did it go?"
When everyone took a breath while passing around wine, Eleanor-sama asked. Unfortunately, I can't make a very good face this time.
"Well, we withdrew in a way that we were driven away. I'll talk about the details after we return, so let's just go back for today."
I thought there would be a discussion, but it was decided easily to withdraw for now.
I called Violet and the Gigant over. When I said we were withdrawing for tonight, the Gigant's shoulders slumped.
"It's okay. We'll definitely conquer this place."
To be turning that many ghosts into monsters with sorcery is not something I can overlook as a priest. And we have such a luxurious lineup of members. This time was no good, but if we have the tactician Eleanor think of some good method and try again, it'll be fine.
"A good resolution. Let's at least conquer this place, by all means."
Eleanor-sama smiled for me.
At least here?
"Yes. This is the place with the fewest monsters among the places called the Demon Realm. If we can't even conquer here, the conquest of the Demon Realm in various places might be forever impossible."
Come to think of it, even the successive heroes couldn't conquer the Demon Realm.
Um, I might have said too much.
The diversionary unit was contacted, and it became a total withdrawal.
We returned all at once on the large bowl Eleanor-sama made.
On James-sama's side, they had no intention of invading the forest from the start. They just approached the wasteland that serves as a passage between the two forests. They'll abandon the spoils prepared to prevent pursuit by monsters and withdraw to the fortress just like that. In that case, I'll leave it to them and head for the inn where we're staying. Since Henry-sama's group is also staying as traveling merchants, it's just right.
Once we returned to the inn, it was immediately a strategy meeting.
"It seems the opponent is not just an evil spirit, but also has monsters that use powerful magic with them."
Surprisingly, Price-sama was calm. He's not depressed even though we were forced to withdraw.
"Eleanor, it seems your prediction was correct."
"Eh?" everyone was surprised.
"So that was it. That's why even when we were active, we couldn't conquer it."
Eleanor-sama said with a sigh.
Even the previous heroes couldn't conquer the Demon Realm.
"Above all, it's the mental attack that breaks our hearts."
Even though they were clattering with tags, it was no good. The effect of preventing possession is probably high, but the sense of terror echoing directly in the head couldn't be wiped away. In fact, that brave Gwyn-sama had put his knee to the ground. A mage would have easily succumbed. Furthermore, there were long-range magic attacks. There's a limit to Magic Reflection. If the warriors and mages are neutralized and the priests are only on the defensive, they are no match.
"However, there are two bright spots. No, maybe three."
"Hoho."
At Price-sama's words, Henry-sama bit.
"One is Jeanne's Light. As a result of spreading the wall in front, we were able to almost prevent the mental attacks."
I had released it on impulse, thinking that if Light could counter evil spirits, but it had more effect than expected. In fact, since the wall was deployed, the warriors regained their usual complexions.
"The other is Edward-sama's chant."
When he explained this and that, smiles appeared on everyone's faces. The veterans of many battles were saved by the singing voice of the youngest warrior, who had no notable achievements other than the Sea Serpent extermination. Edward-sama was blushing and looking down. When Sianya, sitting next to him, reached out her right hand and stroked his head, he turned even redder. I feel like I understand why he's so cute in this childish way. I feel like I understand why Beowulf has been treating him familiarly as a matter of course since receiving the de facto proposal.
"We were also saved quite a bit by your grandfather. Of course, he was a hot-blooded person, so he preferred swinging a spear to countering with a song."
According to Eleanor-sama, he was someone who always took the first spear, and even if they won the battle, he'd be in a bad mood if he couldn't lead the way and swing his spear. The leader Henry-sama also anticipated that and always left the vanguard to him. Fighting while singing would be impossible. This time, because he was the youngest, he was being reserved. If he had been leading the way like during the Sea Serpent extermination, it might not have turned out like that.
"What. If I had known that, I would have called him as the eighth member of the Demon Lord subjugation unit."
"At that time, I was still before my coming-of-age."
Seeing Edward-sama complaining to Roberts-sama who was saying something silly, everyone had a big laugh.
"Edward-sama, I'm sorry, but this time we'll have you concentrate on singing. Your singing voice with its great volume will rob the evil spirits and monsters of their power and inspire us. We're counting on you."
In any case, it even prevents the activation of the allies' magic. I feel like saying it inspires us is subtle, but I shouldn't say that. Edward-sama also seems to have gotten into the spirit. Although he's bright red, he raised his face.
"Excluding the legendary eight of Finis, we will accomplish the conquest of the Demon Realm that even the Henry party of previous heroes, called the strongest subjugation unit in history, could not accomplish. Edward, we're counting on you."
"Indeed. It depends on your perseverance."
"Exert the talent discovered by Lady Jeanne to the fullest."
"Edward, do your best."
One person was saying something different, but it's probably fine. Edward-sama also seems to have gotten into the spirit. Although he's bright red, he raised his face.
"Next, there's one more thing, but for this we must obtain the cooperation of the people of Sertoria."
At Price-sama's words, Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama looked in a completely different direction. Roberts-sama was laughing.
"Isn't it enough? How long do you intend to keep it top secret?"
When you say top secret, it's probably that.
"I demand a Vow of Silence."
"I don't mind. I will be the witness."
At Eleanor-sama's words, Price-sama responded.
Since it was a Vow of Silence for those other than Sertoria and Medioland, Gwyn-sama and the others looked at each other and tilted their heads, but they agreed.
Once the Vow of Silence was finished, it was finally the unveiling.
"Actually, among us is the strongest class of mage on this island."
Everyone looked at Eleanor-sama. For some reason, only Eowyn-sama was looking at me.
"It's not Eleanor, who is striking a victory pose there. Even if she's called the strongest Great Demon Lord user, she can't beat the passing years."
Sharp-tongued as ever. Eleanor-sama was clenching her fist.
No wonder. Usually she moves energetically, but that's because she's a monster, and normally it wouldn't be strange if she were dead at her age.
I mustn't, I mustn't, I've been glared at by all three former heroes together.
Finally, the ultimate weapon Sertoria boasts was unveiled. It's Wilson-san.
"Well, I didn't think he was just a bowl user."
"Indeed. At the time of the decisive battle at Revenant, there was a rumor that James had cast super-high-level magic on the Engrio army, but since he was with us at that time... I thought there was one more person."
Gwyn-sama and Eowyn-sama were poking Roberts-sama's shoulder.
"I wasn't asked by anyone."
In this case, Roberts-sama is just a victim. In any case, it must be the scheme of Henry-sama or Eleanor-sama. As expected, the two delinquent elderly people were talking about the weather while looking at the starry sky.
"However, even if he is a super-high-level mage, if he is a Revenant, won't he become unable to use holy magic?"
Sianya was asking with a calm attitude, as if she had no resistance to forbidden magic.
"Isn't there Eleanor's armor? He just needs to wear the one Henry is wearing. And if he has that ring, it's okay to cast Magic Reflection, right? That's why he's always hiding his presence and illegally entering various countries, isn't it?"
It's completely out. Well, no wonder. He's the person who predicted Henry-sama's group's actions in Engrio.
"What will I wear?"
"Henry and Eleanor are staying at the entrance, so just wear a chainmail sold around there."
With this, Henry-sama and the others' non-participation was confirmed. Eleanor-sama spat. She doesn't seem like a former Queen.
After that, it was decided to try again tomorrow morning.
The diversionary unit will also have to work hard one more time, but with James-sama there, it should be fine.
"Then, I'll stay at the Gigant's place tonight too."
Violet early on offered her cooperation. The Gigant also seems to have high expectations for the migration to a place where there's plenty of prey and water, and no disputes with humans.
"Then, tomorrow, let's add Wilson-dono to today's formation and try again!"
At Price-sama's words, everyone raised a cheer. Two people had sour faces, but it can't be helped.