Chapter 425 - Chapter 9: Northeastern Western Plains
By the way, the original purpose of the Behemoth subjugation was my strengthening. It was to subjugate the Demon Race thought to be in the northern part of the Western Plains. Unfortunately, I didn't become an ultra-high-level magic user, but I acquired the triple volley. The fundamental difference between a triple volley of the mid-level Holy Lance and a single shot of the high-level Over Flow combined with Magic Reflection boils down to whether a chant is necessary for me at present. If the opponent is a single entity, it's more practical to fire a Holy Lance with triple power without a chant using the triple volley. Of course, pointing a triple volley of Over Flow in one direction with Magic Reflection is superior in power. However, if I'm not careful, I might faint in an instant, and in terms of sustained combat capability, it's significantly inferior.
Postponing the fourth investigation of Engrio by one month, I was called to the Western Plains Kingdom Army Garrison by Eleanor-sama through Adolf-san. There was a formal request for support.
A subjugation unit was organized, and it was formally announced at the garrison of the Western Plains Kingdom Army Garrison unit.
"The combat power will be based on the Western Plains Garrison, with one hundred cavalry, one hundred heavy infantry, fifty light infantry, fifty magic soldiers, one hundred archers, and sixty selected Paratroop Jaegers. The commander is the Western Plains Corps Commander. Next, regarding logistics, until halfway, the aerial transport unit will..."
While listening to the vice-captain explain the details of the organization and strategy while drinking the wine served, Roberts-sama arrived.
"Yo, you're in a nice position, aren't you?"
Saying that, he ordered a beer for himself too.
"Good work."
"How many from the Class of 175 are participating this time?"
"Um, six people including myself."
"One is Lyudmila. The other is... Matilda?"
"Correct."
Lyudmila is busy taking care of the giant earthworms. Matilda is apprenticed to a dwarf, so in addition to making prosthetic limbs, she has homework.
"Where are the others?"
"They're with Henry-sama and the others. Harrison-san arrived, so I think they're in a meeting."
"Is it okay for Jeanne to be here?"
"I was doing the consecration of Holy Water with Harrison-san, but after that, I've been asked to illuminate everyone."
He's laughing loudly.
I was directly requested by the captain of the Western Plains Kingdom Army. Originally, it was supposed to have been done as a joke by the bandits during the Nakanohara Jaegers era. Before I knew it, the rumor that we wouldn't lose if I illuminated them spread, and it became an essential ritual before setting out.
"If I recall, was it the Ritual of Invincibility?"
"I don't know."
It wasn't written in the secret books of the mountain that Light had such an effect. Roberts-sama should know that too.
"Every battle Jeanne has participated in has been a total victory. It's so few casualties that it could be called a miracle. You're just like a Goddess of Victory. Truly a Madonna, aren't you?"
"Please stop. I'll get scolded by the church."
"Well, don't say that. You ranked in again this year, didn't you? What rank was it?"
"...Eighth."
He's laughing lightly.
He definitely knew.
Since Roberts-sama's beer was delivered, we toasted.
"Was the first one a joint operation with the Nakanohara Jaegers?"
"Yes. It was the subjugation operation for the remnants of the Demon Lord's army that had fled."
"From there, it was the Eastern Plains."
"It was a defensive battle for the encampment."
I faced a Fenrir for the first time. I thought I was going to die, but I survived safely. In a sense, it was also a turning point. The series of battles at that time became the catalyst for receiving requests from the royal family.
"At that time, the Eastern Plains Jaegers opposed the operation itself. It was Lewis of Nakanohara who said it could be done if the Marcelo Company was there."
"Was that so?"
I didn't think such a thing had happened. I was being highly valued.
"As a result, in addition to Jeanne's Light, the Marcelo Company devised an interception method using Holy Water and magic circles boldly, and they actually won."
The true meritorious ones would be the trio of Marcelo-san, Angelica-san, and Paul-san. Thinking back now, they were more powerful than I imagined. That said, it was quite dangerous. I really thought I was going to die. I haven't forgotten the moment I faced the last Fenrir at that time.
"That victory is half-legendary. The fact that Jeanne drew in the Fenrirs that infiltrated the fortress is a legend among the Jaegers. Since then, whenever the Jaegers operate against monsters, they've come to suggest support from the Marcelo Company."
Come to think of it, we were often together. The company is private, and I'm a stray. Since it would be convenient for operations that don't come to the surface, I thought it was a sort of inseparable relationship.
"Well, that's how it is. If it puts them at ease, illuminate them."
Shouldn't it be enough if I just participate in the operation without illuminating them?
After the explanation to the squad leaders and above was over, it was the send-off ceremony. After the captain's pep talk, I get in Eleanor-sama's bowl to illuminate the soldiers lined up from above. Looking from above, there's a group in Green Marble besides the Paratroop Jaegers. When I asked Eleanor-sama, she said they were magic soldiers.
"On this occasion, Jeanne has newly learned the triple volley. Let's have her pray for everyone's invincibility with that new technique."
"Oh, a new technique? We're lucky."
"Did you hear? We can brag to the other guys."
Because she says unnecessary things, the soldiers raised a cheer and started a triple volley call. Even the moment I fire magic from my mouth, I've only shown it to a limited number of people.
"Then, please."
Damn, they're looking right at me. I'll take away their sight!
"Is it over?"
When the ritual was over and I entered a room in the garrison building with Eleanor-sama and Roberts-sama, Beatrix asked. In the room were Henry-sama, Hughes-sama, Wilson-san, Harrison-san, and the members of the Class of 175. In total, there are twelve people. The royal army scouts and Paratroop Jaegers have located the place thought to be the hideout. The royal army will attack from the front, and we will launch a surprise attack from the rear to crush them all at once.
"Yeah. I was made to do the triple volley."
"Isn't that amazing? A triple volley, it's only you."
"Even though you have no intention of learning it."
"Because, try doing a triple volley with fire magic. What do you think you'll be called?"
A Cerberus, no doubt.
Now, it's time to set out. That said, first is the movement.
The target location is in the territory of monsters. Since we're coming from the back, we fly to the navy garrison in Uminohara by Teleport. We'll set out from there.
"Now, it seems the preparations are ready. Everyone, I'm counting on you."
At the signal from Henry-sama, we set out in two bowls. In the squad where Hughes-sama and Beatrix are paired, there are Roberts-sama, Harrison-san, Beowulf, and Bonnie—a lineup of martial types. In Henry-sama's squad, in addition to the usual four, Mary and I are on board.
"Then, let's meet at the site."
Saying that, we flew up. We go high into the sky while hiding our presence. Since I've attached a Firefly to the back of the bowl, the squad behind should be able to follow us by aiming for that.
"Was the destination of the royal army the Ruins of the Insolent's Fortress?"
"Yes. We had demolished it, but it seems they made a secret base underground before we knew it."
"Then, are we infiltrating there?"
"That's probably a decoy. There's apparently a semi-underground mountain hut further north from there. The real target is that one."
A mountain hut in a territory where even hunters don't set foot...
"It'll be the Demon Race. If it's the Demon Race, other monsters won't attack."
As I thought, that's the target this time.
We fly aiming for the mountain range in the central part of Sertoria. After flying for about an hour and a half, we reached a waterfall cliff in the mountain range. The east and south are mountainous areas. There's a mountain hut by the waterfall, and smoke is coming from the chimney. Seeing how obvious it is, it must be a territory where hunters come and go. We descend just like that.
As usual, after an exchange of owl hoots and passwords, a man who looked like a hunter appeared from the mountain hut. A Western Plains Paratroop Jaeger. When we deactivated the Camouflage, the other bowl also landed next to us.
"There are no particular problems."
"Hmm. Good work. We brought food. Could you carry it?"
"Understood."
We brought four barrels per bowl. Eight in total. They contain bread, cheese, Owen-brand dried meat, vegetables, and wine.
"We'll spend four days here. Until the Western Plains Garrison reaches the fortress. Since it's a place directly west of Serena's forest, there are magic beasts, but it's not a monster territory. Rest assured."
We can't set out from Serena's forest and involve her. Since it's about an hour to the target in a high-speed bowl, it'll be over in an instant at ultra-high speed. We'll spend the time while taking turns scouting the opponent's movements.
"Are we going to hunt?"
"I'm sorry, but we are supposed to not be here. Except during scouting, please stay inside the hut."
"For four days?"
"Yes."
Beatrix, who heard that, was speechless. Hmm. We'll have time on our hands.
In conclusion, the four days of scouting were a good experience. Bonnie continued scouting every day with the hero Hughes-sama and the Paratroop Jaegers, and was taught scouting techniques. Beowulf and Will were taught how to fight in narrow spaces by Henry-sama and Roberts-sama in the basement of the mountain hut. And Beatrix, Mary, and I practiced. Two hours in the morning, two hours in the afternoon, and two hours at night—we spent that much time sitting and concentrating our consciousness. Setting aside Beatrix, who had been doing it since she was a child, it was unexpected that Mary was handling it.
"It's a condition for becoming a good priestess. When a priestess is confined in a temple, she's offering prayers except during sleeping and resting hours."
Mary came to the orphanage when she was twelve, so I had never practiced with her. No wonder she could become an ultra-high-level magic user.
I was separated from the two of them and made to practice firing magic from the tip of a silver staff in the shadow of a rock near the waterfall. The teacher was Harrison-san.
"Jeanne, you can fire magic from your mouth, can you not? Then it is easy. This staff is a part of your body."
Saying that, he fired a Holy from the tip and lent me the staff.
"Do not rush, take your time. I shall lend you that staff until we set out."
Saying that, he went back to the hut, and I was left alone.
Even so, a staff doesn't become a part of your body so easily. I looked at the tip over and over, created the image of magic coming out, and tried hard, but I couldn't do it.
I remember well the moment the Headmistress fired a Holy from the tip of her staff.
She had just thrust it out casually in front of an Orc.
I recall it was just like this...
I hold it with my right hand and thrust it toward the waterfall. I misjudged the distance and thrust it into the falling water, almost dropping it. I hurriedly gripped it and pulled it back.
Wait a minute.
This time I grip it firmly and thrust it into the falling water. It's okay. I won't drop it. The tip of the staff is clearly parting the water. When I weaken my grip, the tip suddenly drops slightly, losing to the force of the falling water. After repeating the same thing several times, I do the same thing in a place without water.
The sensation is different between when I grip it tightly and when I hold it gently so that a gap is created between my palm and the staff. I can feel the weight of the tip. I close my eyes and lightly shake my hand up and down. While resting occasionally, after doing it many times, I knew where the tip was despite not looking with my eyes. I concentrate my consciousness on that tip.
"Light!"
I did it! Light is being fired from the tip!
I unintentionally did a victory pose while holding the staff, and the moment I gripped it, it disappeared.
No, no, let's calm down.
When I went to show Harrison-san that I did it, Eleanor-sama also came to see. I had practiced several times, so I was okay even with my eyes open. I hold it gently and fire Light.
"You have done it. It is not even noon yet."
It must have taken nearly three hours. I really worked hard.
"It's wonderful. Jeanne. As expected of Catherine and Jennifer's student."
Eleanor-sama also praised me. As someone following in the Headmistress's footsteps, I'm proud.
"Then, please try it with this next."
What Eleanor-sama held out was something like the tip of a three-pronged spear. She must have brought only the spearhead. She tied it to the tip of Harrison-san's staff with a string.
It's the same. I fired Light easily.
"It's different. You can do a triple volley. Please fire from each of the tips of those three blades. If you can do that, we'll increase the number of blades to eight so you can do an eight-fold volley."
Um, aren't you saying something completely unreasonable?
After lunch, I was sent back to the waterfall alone.
No matter how many times I shake it, the sensation of the three blade tips doesn't reach my palm. It's the same even if I close my eyes.
Can you even know the sensation of three tips?
I sit on a rock and hold the staff with my right hand. To distract myself once, I looked around.
Even though it's September, the heat still remains during the day. The sound of the waterfall's water is pleasant. I reach out and scoop up the cold water and wash my face. The chilly feeling is also pleasant. While patting my face with my hands, I thought again that I know because there's sensation in my fingertips.
Yes, in the fingertips...
I see, I get it! It's because there are fingers!
Until now, I was doing it with my palm. There are ten fingers. If you exclude the thumbs, there are eight.
I raise the index finger of my right hand.
I try the sensation of concentrating magic power in my palm with my fingertip.
"Light!"
I did it! I was able to fire magic from the tip of my finger. Next, I try with the index finger of my left hand. I was able to do this too.
This time, two simultaneously. It's the same since I could do it with my palm. I was able to do this too.
It was the same. When I fired magic from my mouth, I opened my mouth enough to bite. That's how much my consciousness went to my mouth. In short, I just have to concentrate my consciousness on where I want it to come out.
In the end, it was the evening of the second day when I became able to fire from all eight simultaneously. The fact that the three of us were practicing together after being told not to go outside after the sun went down would also be a reason.
Since I became able to do an eight-fold volley, I went to show Eleanor-sama and Harrison-san.
"It's wonderful. I didn't think you would improve this much."
"Truly. An eight-fold volley is a record. Moreover, it is overwhelming. Even that Bishop Catherine probably never did it."
Are you serious! Could it be that I've overtaken the Headmistress in this alone?
"Then, a triple volley from the staff is easy, isn't it? Please, show us."
Wait. I had completely forgotten about that.
The Western Plains Garrison approached the target fortress. It seems they reached the mountain from which the fortress ruins can be seen. As planned, they arrived at noon on the fourth day. From now on, they will rest, march at night on the night of the new moon, and launch a raid at dawn on the fifth day—tomorrow. Our departure was also decided to be at tomorrow's sunrise.
"Jeanne. I give this to you."
Eleanor-sama brought something long wrapped in cloth. Mary received an oracle in the Royal Capital to learn the basic spell Change Color. She learned it successfully, and it seems she brought this along the way.
When I untied the string, a staff came out. It's silver.
"It's a celebration for becoming able to do an eight-fold volley from a staff. Please, accept it."
The tip has a large ring attached, and inside is a decoration modeled after the Star of the Class of 175. Each star is glowing faintly white.
"If it's Jeanne, surely you will be able to fire light from each of those eight stars. Just like everyone in the Class of 175."
"Th-Thank you very much."
Beatrix and the others gathered. We all look at the eight stars. It doesn't matter who is which star. At any given time, someone will be the central North Star, and the remaining seven will support them. There will be times when Lyudmila and Matilda aren't there, but that's okay. Everyone should just do what they want to do. The bond is firm, and the feelings are one.
"Jeanne. Try it."
In times like this, it's Beatrix's role to be the first to speak up. In other words, the other companions want to see it too.
I guess I have no choice. But, well, it's a debut. I've never done it, but since it's a special occasion, shall I do it with all my might?
While regulating my breathing, I close my eyes, touch the eight stars with my fingertips, and feel that sensation. I'll fire the magic power released from my eight fingers from the eight stars.
I hold the staff gently as if holding it with the tips of my eight fingers.
I thrust it out casually just like the Headmistress. The aim is straight ahead.
"Light!"
An eight-fold volley with all my might. Even though each shot is light, the instantaneous maximum when eight are combined should exceed ultra-high-level. If this were Holy Lance, it would undoubtedly be an over-log-sized shot.
The moment I fired it, an impact like when I was hit by lightning magic ran through my whole body, and from each of the stars of the Class of 175, light with all my might burst forth.
It's a success! However, in exchange, it seems I fainted.