Chapter 426 - Chapter 10: The Demon Race of the Western Plains
Even though it's dawn, since we're in the mountains, we can't see the sunrise. We set out at the time when the eastern sky started to brighten. Since we're hiding our presence, there's no worry about being found, but since we're also without the small flags we usually let flutter, we proceeded by splitting into a west-bound group and an east-bound group. The target is the semi-underground mountain hut.
The west-bound group will take position on the north side of the hut, and the east-bound group will take position on the south side of the hut to launch the raid. The groupings are different from when we set out. The west-bound group is in the bowl of Hughes-sama and Eleanor-sama, with Henry-sama, Roberts-sama, Harrison-san, and myself on board. The east-bound group is the combination of Wilson-san and Beatrix, with Will, Bonnie, and Mary on board. Since the east-bound group also plays the role of intercepting those who flee from the fortress ruins that the royal army is raiding, it is focused on magic power.
Separating from the branch unit, while flying away from the mountain surface and heading northeast, I could see Uminohara Bay shining in the morning sun beyond the trees of the forest. The early morning wind is a bit chilly. When the mist drifting in the valley cleared, I could see birds taking flight.
"The main force has launched an attack on the fortress ruins. It seems the Paratroop Jaegers who infiltrated have set gunpowder at the entrance to the basement and blown it up."
Eleanor-sama read the report sent via the magic circle for sending letters. It has begun.
"Will the Demon Race go to the rescue?"
It would be bad if we came up empty-handed. The royal army should be deploying magic defense and Magic Reflection, but the opponent is the Demon Race. It's better to think that ultra-high-level magic will attack them.
"I don't know. Since there might not be just one, they might be there from the start."
"A-Are they going to be okay?"
The main role of the garrison in peacetime is guarding the highways and borders. It's against humans.
"This is no time to be worrying about others. There's a possibility that multiple Demon Race are in the place we're heading to now."
Eh? Were they such powerful enemies?
If I recall, we defeated Number One through Five. Six is in the Northeastern Forest. According to Keira's story, there are about twenty high-level Demon Race. I don't know what number the earthworm user is, but as many as fourteen might still remain.
"I-If I recall, about ten of the ringleaders of the rebellion fled, didn't they?"
At worst, ten Demon Race might be in one place.
"That's right. But I don't think as many as ten Demon Race would gather in one place. It's more natural to think they are scattered in the Demon Realms in various places now. What we know from the history of past battles is that when the Demon Lord is resurrected, the Demon Race generally operate in pairs."
"In other words, there are two Demon Race this time too?"
"I think that possibility is high."
Then, are the remaining eight humans?
"Jeanne, rest assured. They are likely not humans. If the opponents were humans, this monk and you would not be here."
It was Harrison-san. Indeed, if humans were there, it would be strange for specialists in evil spirit subjugation to be called.
"Then, are they Revenants?"
"Likely."
The priest of the Ruined Town had an air of having made a deal with the Demon Race to increase the spiders. If that's the case, there might be ultra-high-level magic users like Wilson-san...
Eleanor's armor can withstand up to high-level magic, and the Lindwurm's Green Marble is one step below that.
This is bad... Indeed, this is no time to be worrying about others.
The target mountain hut came into view. That said, it only looks like a thicket under a cliff. The cliff is halfway down a deep valley, and the surroundings are covered with trees. There's a pond at the foot of the cliff, and in one corner of it, there's a flat area like a step. The thicket of shrubs and weeds there seems to be the mountain hut. It's not a place you can go on foot. You have no choice but to swim across the pond and crawl up into the thicket. Of course, it's easy if you have Flight Magic.
"It's quite clever."
It was Roberts-sama.
"The Paratroop Jaegers occasionally make those, but one that goes that far is rare."
They apparently dug a horizontal hole in the cliff and built a mountain hut at its entrance. Half of the hut is inside the cliff. Since the half that's outside is covered with soil and planted with grass and trees, the original form of the hut cannot be confirmed at all from the outside.
Before, when we fought the defensive battle for the encampment with the Eastern Plains Jaegers, they were making many similar buildings by digging into the mountain surface of the pass. Those were only covered with grass or vines on the roof and walls; no trees were growing on the roof. In the first place, I have no idea how to get inside.
"It's likely Teleport. If there's a Demon Race who can use Teleport like Alex, an entrance would be unnecessary."
I see. Alex can fly from anywhere to a place he's been once.
"But in that case, how do the Revenants get inside?"
"A signal."
"A signal?"
While we were saying that, we landed on the north side of the pond. Since we only deactivated the bowl and the Camouflage and Magic Reflection are still there, we are invisible. On top of that, since we've cast Mute, as long as we all stick together, our presence won't be detected either.
First is Sense Living. I experimented with Keira, and the reaction of the Demon Race is different from monsters. Of course, it's also different from humans or animals. If they are within the range I can search, I'll know.
"Th-They're here!"
The reaction is on a different scale. It's not size. It's strength. It's like firing a Light in the darkness. It's not a lantern, and it's not a torch.
"Then, I'll send the signal. The Demon Race will come out. Harrison and Jeanne, attack with Holy Lance as soon as they appear. Hughes and Henry with silver arrows."
Eh?
"The Paratroop Jaegers discovered it by chance while monitoring from the air. When a Revenant who was on this side of the pond gave a signal, a Teleportation Circle apparently surfaced on the ground, and a Demon Race appeared."
Eleanor-sama, saying that, used Clump Stone to lift a rock submerged at the bottom of the pond into the air and struck it dokan, dokan twice next to the thicket. The rock fell into the pond with a dobon and submerged to the bottom again.
"Here they come."
Just as she said, a magic circle surfaced by the pond. When it glowed faintly, the space above it distorted as if the scenery on the other side was distorted. When something like a fading afterimage appeared, its form became clear. It's wearing a black robe. It's clearly different from Marcelo-san's Teleport.
"Holy Lance!"
Harrison-san and I fire simultaneously. Since I'm doing an eight-fold volley, it's log-sized. Those two pillars of light, so to speak, pierced the black robe.
No, it absorbed them with both hands. Both palms are covered with something like a black mist. Next, two arrows flew, but these were also deflected by the mist on both hands.
"Quite a greeting."
The black robe raises its face. It looks like nothing more than a human man in his forties.
The man is probably looking at the area where the Holy was fired. He's looking this way, but judging from how his pupils are moving restlessly, it seems we haven't been found.
"Where are you hiding?"
We were all crouching as if hiding in the shadow of the trees, but Roberts-sama stood up. After moving while hiding in the thicket so his position wouldn't be found, he appeared before the Demon Race.
"I am Roberts, the brother of the King of this country. Who are you? What is your purpose in making a secret underground facility in a place like this?"
"The King's brother Roberts? Hoho. That hero Roberts?"
He knows Roberts-sama. Is he not a Demon Race after all?
"Whether I'm a hero or not is for others to decide. And you, are you human?"
"Hmm. It seems you are an unpretentious man, as rumored. I am as you see."
When he took off the hood he was wearing, his head came out completely. Messy, lightly wavy black hair. A face with deep features. Facing the hero Roberts with a spear in hand, he has a calm smile on his face. He spread both hands to show he had no hostile intent.
"Not human, then."
"Naturally. Do not lump me in with human scum."
"As I thought, a Demon Race. In that case, I have no choice but to subjugate you."
Roberts-sama levels his spear. In response, the man threw off his black robe. Black chain mail, and the scabbard of the sword at his waist is also black.
"Hmm. In addition to the hero Roberts, one ultra-high-level magic user, one high-level holy magic user, and I suppose a scout is lurking too."
As he said that, the man crouched and put his right hand on the ground. Or so I thought, but he jumped to the side. Because two silver arrows pierced the place where he was about to crouch. It was Hughes-sama and Henry-sama. They prevented him from escaping with Teleport.
Roberts-sama thrusts his spear, aiming for the moment the opponent's posture was broken. The man jumped further to the side, and after rolling with a goron, he jumped backward with both feet as he got up, and while doing a full rotation in the air, he drew the sword at his waist and already had it leveled in front of his body when he stood up. Or so Eleanor-sama taught me later.
The blade of the one-handed sword the man drew is black. It looks like something like a mist is faintly rising from it. A Demon Race's sword.
Roberts-sama unleashes his spear. The Demon Race is holding him off while jumping backward. Since Roberts-sama's pull-back is fast, he can't step in at all. The opponent has the pond at his back; he is gradually being cornered. Now, from our side, the opponent's figure is hidden behind Roberts-sama's broad back. Every time Roberts-sama takes a step forward, the opponent is being cornered into the pond.
Harrison-san is thrusting out his right hand. He must be timing when to fire a Holy. If he aims for Roberts-sama's body, it will penetrate, but since we're launching a surprise attack, he probably doesn't want to miss if possible.
Unexpectedly, Roberts-sama knelt on one knee and lowered his posture. The moment the opponent's face was visible, silver arrows fly. Simultaneously, Harrison-san fired a Holy Lance. Just as I thought the arrow would pierce the opponent's brow, the opponent jumped as if falling straight backward. It flies as if grazing the opponent's face.
It missed... Harrison-san's Holy Lance was at a lower position than the arrow, perhaps because he aimed for the legs, but it didn't make it in time.
With a dobon sound, the man fell into the pond. Henry-sama and Harrison-san have already started running out. When I tried to go, Eleanor-sama grabbed my arm.
"Jeanne. There is a possibility that the opponent has not noticed your existence. In a case like this, you must not carelessly show yourself to the enemy."
"Ah, yes."
In times like this, she really is a former hero.
"I am sorry. He escaped."
Roberts-sama is apologizing to Eleanor-sama. The opponent apparently dove to the bottom of the pond and activated Teleport.
"It cannot be helped. The surprise attack was a failure. More importantly, we're going to pursue. We'll challenge them from the front."
"Shall we call for reinforcements?"
"No, there is a fear that the Demon Race from earlier will call the Revenants. We must have Wilson intercept them. We'll do it by ourselves."
"There is no holy magic user over there; will they be okay against the Revenants?"
Harrison-san's point is valid. A battle against Revenants is also a battle for a priest.
"As long as Wilson is there, we won't lose in a magic battle. Even in a field battle, if it's a single entity, it's possible to seal the opponent's magic with Magic Break. In that case, the three of them—Wilhelmina, Beowulf, and Bonnie—have silver weapons, so they'll be fine. There's also the option for Mary and Beatrix to use ice magic while hiding their presence."
If it's holy magic, they'll be destroyed, but if they are frozen, they can be captured.
Eleanor-sama destroys the hut by repeatedly flying the rocks she used as signals. Next, when she blew away the earth and rubble with Tornado Wind, the entrance to the cave was visible.
"Jeanne. From here on, your Light will be the lifeline. The opponent is an existence that makes full use of Teleport. A hard battle is expected, but the Demon Race will not withdraw from their own territory. They will fight to the end, so please support us during that time."
"Yes."
I replied, but how are we going to defeat a Teleport user on par with Alex?
"Jeanne, this battle is, so to speak, similar to a battle against countless enemies. When using Light to support a battle against such enemies, what kind of method is effective? And think about why Sir Wilson is here."
I see. So that's how it is.
When I nodded at Harrison-san's words, Roberts-sama patted my shoulder, saying, "I'm counting on you."
I chanted Sense Living before going inside, but this time there was no reaction. They might be deploying magic defense. I've already searched once. It wouldn't be strange if they sensed the reaction and took countermeasures.
The one at the front is Hughes-sama. I handed him a Firefly and had him illuminate the front while proceeding. In short, it's left on. If we don't know where they'll spring from, we should just always have it on. So, I decided to have all five people except me hold a Firefly that illuminates the entire surroundings. The remaining three are drifting above my head. Since I had Harrison-san strengthen all of them with two log-sized Holys each, we can somehow hold them and the power is sufficient.
The cave is hollowed out widely where the hut was, but there must have been a door there. There's an entrance with a square-cut stone frame. When you go a little deeper from there, it became a vertically long oval cave. Looking at the walls, they are pressed firm and clean. In other words, it's not an earthworm hole. It must have been dug with magic.
Being a hole that could be called an artificial object, the conquest itself was not that difficult. No traps either. I don't know where the Demon Race is. They might have run away. What's troublesome is that many doors are lined up alternately on both sides of the passage. We have to check them one by one.
The first room is a place like a dining hall. Chairs are lined up on both sides of a long table. One at the end, and five on each side. If there are ten Revenants and one Demon Race, the numbers match. There was a food storage in the back. The barrels contained bread, cheese, and smoked fish. Not only water jars, but there were also barrels of wine and beer. Revenants basically shouldn't need food, but eating and drinking is one of the pleasures of life. They must have been eating and drinking as they pleased.
"We must tackle this conquest in earnest."
At Roberts-sama's words, everyone except me nodded. Every place we pass will become a base from which the enemy can fly in with Teleport and attack from behind. After investigating each room, we have to destroy and bury them.
At Eleanor-sama's suggestion, we go outside once. Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama went somewhere while hiding their presence, and returned after a while.
"With this, we'll be fine even if something happens."
They seem to have set up a Simple Teleportation Magic Circle. In an emergency, we can escape.
We infiltrate again. I deactivated the Fireflies once and produced them again. When we returned to the dining hall, Eleanor-sama spread the Simple Teleportation Magic Circle on the table.
"We'll requisition anything useful."
She places barrels on the magic circle one after another. It seems they can't be transported all at once, so they were transported in three batches.
"Isn't it congested over there?"
"It's fine. I dug a hole and pasted the magic circle on its ceiling. Things that fly over will keep falling down, so there's no congestion."
In that case, when humans escape, they'll fall head-first.
"Eh? Y-Yes. Please do your best in that regard."
Hughes-sama looked down, and Roberts-sama was laughing.
Could it be that when you said 'even if something happens,' you meant 'when there's something useful'?
When the requisition was finished, next we had to bury it. If Eleanor-sama collapses the ceiling with Clump Sand to make a pile of earth and rubble, it's complete. Since we could conquer one, we move to the next room.
From the second room onward, there are beds, tables, and chairs. They are likely places where the Revenants live. There was even a leather bag containing gold coins. There was also a library with bookshelves, where documents about magic, dogmatic books, and scrolls were stored.
"It's just like a hideout for Demon Lord worshippers. Let's investigate thoroughly."
Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama are scavenging as if this were the moment. They look just like thieves. I don't know which one is the Demon Race.
"What shall we do with the things on the bookshelves?"
There are precious magic books and, above all, dogmatic books.
"Requisition. We shall make effective use of them."
They are looking at the scrolls they took in hand with beaming faces. This country might want to think more about the execution of state power.