Chapter 403 - Eleventh Episode: The Demon Realm Forest Subjugation Operation III
When we scouted from above the forest riding Prince James's bowl, we saw Orcs hiding in the shade of trees and watching the situation. When I fired [Holy Lance], it hit the face and it fell flat. Those in the vicinity retreated all at once.
In that way, while scouting and pushing them to the east of the forest, the catapults seemed to have advanced. Since the signal flag was raised, we returned to the main force, and they began to fly jars filled with holy water toward the southwestern part of the forest. They are pushing them as far east as possible... far from the human fortress.
"Prince James, I am truly sorry to have troubled you. By the way, it was my first time seeing flight magic used in a field battle; is it always like that?"
It's His Excellency the State Prime Minister, the commander. Since the former King usually led, he apparently doesn't have much actual combat experience. Naturally, it's in the case of human opponents. In monster subjugation when the Demon Lord is not present, there isn't much personal leading by the monarch in any country, so the Prime Minister's turn comes once in a while.
"This time was special. Because three priests who participated in the Demon Lord Subjugation Unit, including Bishop Harrison, were gathered."
"To be precise, isn't it three brave priests who don't flinch at all even when plunging into the middle of a pack?"
It's Price-sama. He had wanted to ride the bowl, but the Royal Capital Great Church Head apparently had no experience participating in monster subjugation while leading a military force, and he was specially begged to lead the group of priests.
"Recently, the number of priests who actively handle monster subjugation has decreased. Naturally, that is true for every nation. Bishop Harrison, Bishop Sianya, and Priestess Jeanne. Truly, thank you for your hard work."
To be precise, Harrison-san and I receive money, so the ones who truly worked hard are Prince James and Sianya, but I decided it's better to pretend I didn't notice. I just said, "Thank you for your hard work."
"Prime Minister. I have a proposal."
It's Price-sama. It's when the four princes who were on horseback and the prince from Septanaquila, who successfully fulfilled his role as the guerrilla unit commander and had a flushed face, have all returned and everyone is celebrating the victory.
"I believe you will bury the monster carcasses from now on, but if possible, I would like to gather them in one place and offer a funeral prayer before that."
"A prayer? For monsters?"
Normally, they apparently just dig holes and bury them without giving monsters a funeral. Since monsters are also living things, I think it's fine to at least give them a funeral. And it turned out that human souls are also mixed in. Though as a church, they hadn't even given proper funerals to soldiers who died in battle. I can understand why the Prime Minister would tilt his head.
"Yes. Since they were originally living things, I want to send their souls to the Goddess."
"I do not mind, but is it alright from the church's perspective?"
When the Prime Minister looked at the Morandine Royal Capital Great Church Head, the Church Head looked at Price-sama.
"There are no specific rules. It's just that as a custom, we didn't do it because the opponent is a monster."
Well, monster subjugation and war between humans are different.
Price-sama's opinion passed, and after taking a break and finishing the recovery treatment for the wounded, it was decided to offer a funeral for the monster carcasses.
The work itself is not that complicated. Magic soldiers who can handle [Clump Sand] throw monsters into holes dug here and there, and a priest assigned to each hole offers a funeral. After that, they cover them with soil using magic and bury them.
In the meantime, we decided to scout using Prince James's bowl. It would be a disaster if we were hit by a surprise attack during the prayer. Naturally, there are escorts centered on cavalry, but this is Price-sama's strong intention not to let even a single priest suffer damage. If damage occurs, it will become impossible to do the same thing again.
Price-sama is also riding the bowl together.
"Jeanne, this series of events has truly been a good experience. If possible, I will also speak to the Grand Archbishop to make this a help for changing the church's policy in the future."
Changing the church's policy?
"You mean mourning those who died in battle?"
When I tilted my head, Harrison-san gave me a helping hand and replied for me.
"Yes. If the souls of those who died in battle are saved, the number of people lured to the Demon Realm and turned into monsters will also decrease. I do not know how many will be affected, but we should make an effort to reduce it even a little."
That's certainly true. What we had until now was strange.
"And, prayers for dead monsters?"
When Harrison-san replied further, Price-sama hung his head and said, "Yes."
"It's Jeanne's words. The soul of the Fire Dragon that became a Revenant was saved by a human's... Jeanne's prayer. Thinking back, the Goddess created all living things in this land. Therefore, she saves the souls of all living things after death. Even if it is a living thing created by a loathsome technique."
"The funeral Price-sama proposed this time, I hope it can save the souls that were turned into monsters."
"I hope so."
Hmm, Harrison-san rolled up his sleeves.
"In that case, Price-sama, why don't we try chanting [Ascension]? If it goes well, that's great; even if it doesn't, that in itself is a result we can understand."
Price-sama struck his right fist into his left palm with a thump.
"That is a wonderful idea. By all means, let's try it!"
Price-sama showed a look of joy, and the funeral ceremony was suddenly changed.
We fly the bowl and give instructions to gather the monster carcasses in one place. Since it's hard to carry, wagons were prepared.
The plan was to deal with the traces of the battle of the western base construction unit after the southern side was finished, but we decided to do it while the carcasses were being gathered.
When we went to the western side, Sir Edgar's base construction was progressing smoothly. The moat has become longer, and the base where the dug soil was piled has become accordingly high. The cavalry unit commanded by Seldic's Second Son is marching between the base and the forest as if patrolling. The monster carcasses were being buried in holes, but since Harris-sama had offered funerals before they were buried, the ones already buried had been given funerals.
We spoke with Harris-sama, went to Sir Edgar together, and explained the situation. The construction was suddenly halted, and under the protection of the cavalry unit, the monster carcasses were gathered in one place.
"[Ascension]!"
When Price-sama released the magic, a giant mass of light appeared above the carcasses.
Every priest present knelt and offered a prayer.
While praying, I watched the situation, and several small lights came out from the monster carcasses. The souls confined by the technique must have been released. They are invisible to the eye with just a prayer. It's only after chanting [Ascension] that they finally become visible to human eyes.
"Th-This is... Prince James, what on earth is this..."
"Umu. The souls of the monsters are returning to the Goddess's side."
Prince James replies to Sir Edgar's words. Normally, [Ascension], an ultra-high-level magic which is also said to be an attack magic against evil spirits and the undead, is not released toward monster carcasses. And a funeral is usually settled with a funeral prayer or an ascension prayer. At least among current priests, it would be so, unlike in the ancient past.
Looking closely, there are carcasses from which no souls come out. Perhaps they have already gone somewhere. According to the Ghoul's story, several souls were gathered and made to dwell in the monster's body, but whether they joined together inside, there was only one light per monster.
The lights that rose flickeringly stayed around their original bodies for a while, but they gradually moved toward the giant mass of light of [Ascension] as if being drawn.
The giant mass of light that gathered many souls absorbed all the visible lights, slowly rose into the sky, and finally became invisible.
When Price-sama, who sent the souls with [Ascension], lowered both hands that he had held high, he wiped his face with his right sleeve. His eyes were red.
"It has been over fifty years since I was ordained as a priest, but only now do I feel I have finally understood the meaning of co-existence and co-prosperity."
He looks bright.
"Price-sama, [Ascension] is certainly visible, but the prayers you have offered until now must have had sufficient meaning. There is no change in the fact that you have saved many souls until now, Price-sama."
"Thank you. Bishop Harrison."
He is bowing deeply at Bishop Harrison's words.
"It's Catherine, you see."
Suddenly, the Headmistress's name popped out.
I wondered what it was, and it seems he was scolded by the Headmistress back when he was a novice.
"She told me that since monsters are also living, I must offer a proper funeral."
He was apparently introduced to the Headmistress by Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama. For Price-sama, who came from a prestigious noble family in Medioland, the Headmistress, who had the nickname of Catherine the Apostate, was apparently an object of astonishment.
"Goodness, she was unconventional. She ignored old customs entirely. The necessity or lack thereof was clearly divided, and there was absolutely no consideration like 'I should do it because everyone else is doing it.'"
The degree of apostasy was apparently even greater than now. After all, she was a stray back then. She hardly went to church, did monster subjugation from morning, and turned the proceeds into money in the evening. At night, she would hold that money and drink alcohol, and sometimes she would challenge someone to a drinking contest, win, and make the opponent pay. She would sleep in a cheap inn or a rental in the lower town until dawn. Sometimes she would sleep outdoors. Every day was apparently a repetition of that.
"However, because she performed treatments for injured residents in the vicinity and funeral prayers for the poor for free as she was asked, she was quite a famous existence. To those people, she was called Catherine of Mercy."
On the other hand, it was the exact opposite behavior of Price-sama, who was seriously following the church's policy.
"It was when we did monster subjugation together for the first time. Monsters are the church's enemy. That was the grand policy. After defeating those monsters, Catherine was offering funerals. Normally, you'd just dig a hole and bury them so they don't become a source of plague, right?"
It seems that was when Price-sama was scolded by the Headmistress. He wondered why and asked why she offered funerals.
"After all, they are the words of a rare genius. While having doubts, I was properly offering funerals as I was told after subjugating them. Surely, Catherine must have understood. What co-existence and co-prosperity meant."
He is laughing brightly while saying he is still far from reaching her.
"Jeanne. The Archbishop of the Sertoria Royal Capital Great Church said. You have admirably inherited Catherine's good points. And Bishop Harris, who met you, has come to have an active way of thinking toward co-existence and co-prosperity with monsters."
At the end of his gaze, Harris-sama is lightly bowing his head.
Well, I've been in the orphanage since I was born. I heard the Headmistress's words, and I also heard Jennifer-sensei's words as she complained to the Headmistress. I believe I know which are the Headmistress's good points and which are her bad points. Naturally, I don't think I've been able to embody the Headmistress's good points, but I shouldn't be imitating her bad points.
"The way you released [Light] from your mouth when we fought together in the cave was reminiscent of Catherine in the past."
That is honestly embarrassing. I wish he hadn't said it if possible. Harris-sama is also laughing loudly.
"Jeanne, if you have any ideas, please tell me or Bishop Harris. Naturally, it can be through Catherine or the old couple who are always up to no good. If there is anything we can do to help, we want to do it starting from what we can."
I've been quite highly regarded. Honestly, I'm surprised, but since he's saying so, I'll take him up on his offer.
"Then, could you please visit that cave where the evil spirit that was making eggs was one more time?"
"That cave?"
"Yes."
"Could it be that you think part of the souls might have returned?"
Actually, I should search inside the forest, but it's too wide. Can't we at least save the souls that returned to that cave?
"I see. It's like salmon returning from the sea to the river where they were born."
Harrison-san says something subtle. Whether it's souls or salmon, I don't think they'd make a very good face.
"Very well. In any case, that cave was scheduled to be destroyed. Let's go before that and save at least what can be saved."
Price-sama said, and it was decided to go to the cave where the evil spirit was on a later date.
"And, one more thing. I have something I would like to consult with you about..."
In the vicinity, there are Morandine soldiers.
"I understand. I will listen once we return to the inn."
Perhaps he sensed something, as he easily agreed.
The funerals for the monsters on the battlefield were all finished, and the subjugation army led by the Prime Minister made a triumphal return to the royal palace.
They built a forward base between the two forests and also defeated a total of over three hundred monsters of the Demon Realm. In particular, it was significant that they defeated most of the large monsters like Cyclopes and Trolls, and monsters that deploy magic defense like Fenrirs and Ogres. For a while, monsters probably won't leave the forest.
The two knights flanking the Boy King were also praised for their courage in charging at the front, and they greatly saved face. In particular, the charge of Seldic's Second Son was called the mirror of a knight by Sir Edgar and Prince James, and as a result, the prickly feeling from when he first came to Morandine was no longer felt much. The other nobles, who were settled by just providing money, also rejoiced at the success of the mission with open arms, and the necessity of coordination between nations was reaffirmed.
In the evening, a dinner party hosted by the Prime Minister was held. I had a great time talking with Seldic's Second Son, who came to greet me again, about the time we did rat extermination in Engrio.
Late that night, Henry-sama's group came to the inn where we were staying on a bowl. Since there was a contact via the teleportation magic circle for letters provided in advance, I was waiting in a grove of trees secretly riding Prince James's bowl.
Since there was a contact saying they would arrive shortly, I rose into the sky and swung a lantern in a circle as a signal, and I saw a light swinging in a circle in the same way. It approached as it was.
"It seems the operation itself went well."
It's Eleanor-sama. The one holding the lantern is Will.
"Yes. We defeated about thirty percent. We should have defeated most of the large monsters, Fenrirs, and Ogres."
"Where are the monsters now?"
"I think they are gathered in the eastern part of the forest."
"I understand. It's as planned. Then, shall we go?"
Satisfied with Prince James's words, the operation was immediately activated.