Chapter 414 - Chapter 2: Exploration of the Silver Mine ⑧
Worms laying eggs of various types of monsters...
Just what is this memory thing saying? Did it get strange because I illuminated it too much with Light? Or is it because it’s a memory?
“I get it, I get it. You don't have enough sake, do you? I’ll treat you to a barrel, so first, let’s get outside.”
One of Alex’s brothers says while waving his right hand.
“Ahahaha. Our ancestors also have a nasty sense of humor.”
The Elder is laughing loudly while remaining expressionless. It’s the first time I’ve seen it, but honestly, it’s scary.
“What. Was it a joke? D-don't scare me like that.”
Alex lets out a sigh of relief.
“I thought my heart was going to stop.”
The reason his heart almost stopped surely wasn't the face the Elder made when he laughed.
It’s beyond having a nasty nature.
“Hey, Jeanne. Is an ancient elf’s joke like that?”
Will asked in a small voice.
Please don't ask me. It’s true that I’ve met various races who have lived for thousands of years and they’ve befriended me, but I don't know everything. For one thing, this is surely a special case.
Just as we all thought “good grief” and were about to head back.
(I would not say such a pathetic joke. There is a limit to making fun of me. That worm certainly lays eggs of various monsters!)
The incorrigible elf memory said it.
“Don't say stupid things! A worm lays worms!”
“Look, I understand you’d have various delusions after being in a place like that for five thousand years, but keep them to yourself.”
The dwarves raise their voices. Of course. It’s beyond being absurd.
Wait? Hold on a second.
“Um, excuse me. What kind of things are the eggs?”
Alex looked at me with strange eyes, but I suppressed him with a “now, now” and a raised right hand.
“Could it be that, depending on how you say it, it could be interpreted as monsters coming out of something like an egg that the worm produced from inside its body?”
(Well, one could say it like that. It produced them from the tail side wrapped in soil, so there should be no mistake.)
Here, everyone except the Elder and the Prince... that is, everyone except the elves, gaped with their mouths wide open in astonishment. I guess the refined elves didn't know how worm eggs are born.
When I saw the eggs in Morandine, I first thought the magic circle stuck to the bottom was Teleport.
In short, it’s not that the worm is making monster eggs inside its body, right?
(I haven't dissected it, so I don't know. We’ve merged many times, but it’s not like I understand its body structure or thoughts, and unless the opponent entrusts its movements to this side, I can't even control a part of its body. In short, I don't know.)
It’s not reliable, but it can't be helped. It was the same when I merged with Fiona or the Queen of the border. I probably can't possess it like in James-sama’s case. Moreover, it’s a memory, not a ghost.
“Then, what happens to the monster eggs that worm laid?”
(It lays the eggs in the back of that passage. After they are born, they hatch on the spot and go somewhere. I do not know the details.)
It turned its face away as if to look elsewhere. Since it looks like flames, the front and side are the same, though.
“Then, let’s go to the back of that passage.”
One of Alex’s brothers says, but there is no reaction.
“What’s wrong. Let’s confirm the truth.”
(We are not going. You should go with just the dwarves and humans.)
“You don't intend to prove what you said?”
(I want to, very much... but I do not want to go.)
“What’s that?”
It’s like a child throwing a tantrum. Alex’s brothers are also all exasperated and voicing complaints.
Wait? Hold on a second.
“Um, could it be that there is an enormous resistance to going to the back of the passage?”
(Th-that is it! For a human, you understand, don't you. That is exactly it. One would have such a painful, painful experience that it would be better to die.)
It should already be dead, but it must be that painful.
“Jeanne, do you have something in mind?”
Alex asked.
“Yeah. Probably a barrier. And a barrier for spirits.”
“A barrier for spirits?”
(Aah! That might be it!)
The memory rushed over at high speed, so I unintentionally ran away.
There are three types of barriers. Barriers you can't enter, barriers that trap you, and barriers that have some kind of influence on those inside. Usually, they are used against evil and evil spirits. In contrast, barriers of the forbidden magic type act on spirits. The barrier Wilson-san used to trap Mel is like that. Though, I only heard the details from Wilson-san.
“Is such a thing set up? Then even we dwarves can't pass, can we?”
Regarding forbidden magic, even dwarves can't use it even with magic. Only humans who worship the Goddess can use it. This is probably the same as spirits not being able to use holy magic. They recover by other methods, just like monsters. When I first met Robinson-san, even when a Goblin was injured, it couldn't be recovered with Heal. Incidentally, Holy didn't work either. It just fainted.
However, this is a problem. Without Alex and the others, we can't escape with Teleport. But then I thought, why not just jump over the barrier with Teleport, as Roberts-sama said as if it were nothing, and in the end, we all decided to go see.
There are five passages. Apparently, the worm dug them. The memory, which thought it was an escape route, followed the holes, but was blocked by a barrier. The barrier had been there since then.
“Can elves not use Subordination?”
“We cannot.”
When I asked, the Elder answered. There must be a division of roles. Elves are apparently strong in state-change types, starting with Camouflage. It’s because they live in the forest. Inside a hole, various things are inconvenient. After all, even if they can use elemental magic generally, it was a mistake to dabble in silver mining.
We decided to follow one of the five passages. Even if something happens, there’s Teleport. Perhaps relieved, the memory changed from the form of flames to something like a round ball. It’s glowing faintly.
(Umm. I tried to imitate the ball of light you made, but it does not glow well.)
Apparently, it had been posing as blackish-blue flames like an evil spirit with magic.
Apparently, there is a room in the back of the long passage.
According to the memory, it once worked hard to go as far as the limit and saw the moment the eggs were laid. It said that from the side opposite the head, it laid many giant brown soil-clump-like eggs, and monsters came out from there.
Hmm, I don't want to think about it much, but...
“Eggs, huh. I think they’re something else, though.”
Alex doesn't say it all, but that’s more likely the correct answer.
(That’s it, that’s it. Those are the eggs.)
There are several things rolling around that Lyudmila would likely be happy about. Did its stomach condition get bad while it was hurriedly running away?
When Alex’s brothers crushed them with hammers, several wolf babies really came out from one of them. The babies are wrapped in something like a single cocoon. Even if they are monsters, babies are cute things.
(Look, see. It is as I said. Elves do not tell lies.)
Well, if the person himself believes they are eggs, it’s not a lie.
“They’re alive.”
“Yeah. Probably in a state of suspended animation.”
“Wolves were E-rank, right?”
“Yeah. But if there were any that became strong by being exposed to dense magic power here, they might become D-rank.”
“A Gray Wolf, or perhaps a Fenrir...”
Fenrir...
“In other words, are you saying the Fenrir was born here?”
It’s Roberts-sama. He’s been fighting monsters in the Northeastern Forest every day. He should know well what kind of monsters are there.
Violet had said it before. No matter how you think about it, Fenrirs aren't normal. In short, they aren't monsters that were originally on the island. At those words, Dune and Mel had also agreed.
“As a result of dense magic power overflowing, various beasts, insects, and plants became monsters. If that’s the case, it wouldn't be strange even if monsters that were originally there transformed and powerful monsters were born.”
In Alex’s words, there is the evidence of, so to speak, the Black Dragon Child.
However, if that’s the case, won't monsters be strengthened more and more?
“That’s a possibility. For example, a Fenrir is a wolf monster. And among the wolf’s relatives, there are dogs. What strong ones are there among the dog types?”
“C-rank Cerberus and Orthrus.”
Roberts-sama answered.
Could such a thing really be possible?
“However, within the range I’ve fought, there were no C-ranks in the Northeastern Forest. Are you saying they were there before, by any chance?”
“I don't know. They might have been. Dwarves haven't set foot around here, and elves wandered after the magic power outflow. In short, there are no witnesses. But you know, the period when dense magic power flowed out in large quantities shouldn't have been that long, actually. In fact, the damage was limited to just the Northeastern Forest, even though it’s wide.”
“In other words, are you saying there wasn't enough time to undergo that much transformation?”
“It’s all talk of possibilities. Now, the magic power itself has already thinned out considerably. Even if they gained power equivalent to C-rank, it’s nothing more than a difference in size, physical ability, and defense. They won't fundamentally transform. There’s no way to confirm it.”
Then, why the worm?
“They’re inside cocoons, right? Worms swallow soil whole. If there’s a cocoon, they swallow it cocoon and all. Maybe they were thrown into its mouth. And the cocoon isn't digested by the worm and comes out of its body like that. If that wolf cub continued to be exposed to dense magic power and grew, it might have become D-rank. (T/N: The 'eggs' are actually the worm's excrement, containing undigested monster cocoons.)”
“In other words, someone was trying to create powerful monsters here?”
“Maybe. Assuming that’s the case, the one who would do such a thing is...”
The words Alex swallowed in response to Roberts-sama’s words must be either the Demon Race or humans.
As we proceeded further, the spirits stopped. There is no change in appearance, but for example, if a magic circle is buried in the ground, the barrier is active. Actually, the Great Cathedral is protected that way.
(How is it? You do not want to go ahead of here, do you?)
“Certainly. How should I put it, I have a really bad feeling.”
Roberts-sama walks ahead alone.
“Fumu. It seems it has no effect on humans.”
All the humans tried going, and it was nothing. However, the elves and dwarves wouldn't even try to get close.
“Sorry, but could you dig the ground a bit with this?”
Finally, they threw two pickaxes over.
When Roberts-sama and Lewis-san dug vigorously, a faint yellow light welled up. It’s a barrier. As expected, it was buried in the ground. Surely, a giant clay tablet or stone slab is buried.
“That’s it. That must be the barrier for spirits.”
(See. Do you understand now?)
“Yeah, sorry for doubting you.”
(As long as you understand.)
When the two put down the pickaxes and removed the soil with knives so as not to break the barrier, the clay tablet became visible.
“Let’s stop here for today. It’s better to bring iron tools, not silver. Besides, it’s a good time. That collection of memories must want to go outside, too.”
(That is right, that is right, get me out quickly.)
At Roberts-sama’s words, the memory greatly agreed, and it ended for the time being. The exploration beyond the barrier that blocked spirits was set for the next day. Regarding the handling of the memory, it was decided to take it back to the elf village for now. Presumably, the Elder will inherit it, and eventually the Prince, and then it will be passed on to the next generation. The Elder has inherited the memories of the former King. In addition, he will also inherit the memories of the lower-level elves who were oppressed, so he’ll be perfect for creating a village without class differences.
(Oh! The outside world I have seen in my dreams. The sun is truly a dazzling thing.)
When we arrived at the Northeastern Forest with Teleport, the collection of memories, which had taken the form of a faint ball of light, began to frolic. It rejoiced saying there are trees, rejoiced saying there is a pond, and rejoiced saying there is a sky. It’s fluttering and chasing after small birds as they fly. As a result of moving away from the magic circle for conversing with memories, we became unable to communicate and everyone panicked for a bit. It would be a problem if it went missing.
In the village, contact had already been made that the memories from the time of the magic power outflow had been saved, so it was a full-force welcome. Usually, they disperse and are lost. As a result of spending time huddled in one spot, they were miraculously saved. It turns out it was the correct answer not to leave that hole.
(What, this village is remarkably small.)
“No, this is currently all the surviving elves.”
There are about thirty people. In Sertoria terms, it’s about the size of a single cluster of houses in a village away from the highway with a post station.
(Only, only this many...)
The rasping voice of the collection of memories, which had taken the form of a faint ball of light, is transmitted.
Formerly, there were thousands of elves. Just because they were impatient to build a kingdom superior to other races, the digits dropped by two.
“Ancestors. There may be descendants of your families. Could you please name yourselves one by one?”
The Elder’s request was readily accepted, and as a result, one pair of relatives was able to reunite. Unfortunately, it wasn't a direct parent-child relationship, but they should rejoice just at finding a relative. Because although more than a hundred elves died in the shelter, there were only enough for about forty people because some memories were lost along the way. After five thousand years, the memory transmission finally ended, and at the same time a young man inherited them, that elf began to wail loudly.
“Will that person be alright?”
Eleanor-sama asked with concern. It’s no wonder. An elf, who is usually expressionless, is crying with his face all crumpled like a human.
“Eleanor-dono, I am sorry for your concern. Could you please watch over him for a while longer. Inherited memories do not mix with emotions or instincts. However, the most important things are inherited vividly. Presumably, the circumstances of his relatives’ deaths have been revived in his mind as memories.”
Apparently, it’s not that everything they knew is inherited. It’s like an oral tradition for humans, and it seems things they want to transmit, like personal matters, family matters, rituals and manners in the village, magic, and weapons, are inherited.
(Elder, all of us intended to inherit the final moments of our comrades, but let us stop. It is enough just that he cried like that.)
“I shall inherit them all. And eventually, pass them to my son. The tragedy that occurred to you all is something that must never be forgotten. Do not worry about this person. I shall surely show that I can accept them.”
(...I see. Thank you.)
The Elder’s smile, seen for the first time, was truly kind and gentle.
The collection of memories rescued from the depths of the silver mine was safely inherited after the banquet. It seems it was impossible for the Elder alone, so they selected several people to inherit them. Among them, it seems magic and techniques whose tradition had been cut off were also inherited, and Eleanor-sama, who seeks the truth daily, was biting onto the information. For the elves as well, this rescue drama would not have been established without the efforts of humans and dwarves. It was decided to be shared among the three parties: elves, dwarves, and humans. Of course, the humans are only Sertoria Kingdom citizens.
Incidentally, the wolf babies were entrusted to the Cait Sith through Serena. Apparently, a Fenrir with many cubs will look after them.