Chapter 441 - Seventh Episode: The Demon Realm of Engrio
The investigation of the hot spring town is also expected to be the last.
It might also be the last time I meet the Entrap Five. Eleanor-sama suggested that we should look after them since we're at it.
"Let's hunt with the Entrap Five one more time."
"Bears?"
"No, monster subjugation in the Demon Realm."
Uh, Serena is going to get angry.
If I am to participate in a Demon Realm conquest, I must guarantee that the forest where the Demon Realm is located will be left as it is. If that happens, I'll have to talk about Serena and the others too. Only those who were allowed entry to the farm know about that. Moreover, the opponent is the hypothetical enemy country of Engrio, and diplomatic relations between the royal families have not yet been restored. Henry-sama's scroll for full authority in diplomatic negotiations might not even be valid.
"The condition Serena set was for when Jeanne participates in the conquest of a Demon Realm. There's no problem if it's just participating in a simple monster subjugation."
Is that how it works?
"Besides, I don't know the conditions for conquering the Demon Realm in Engrio. If the cause is evil spirits like in Morandine, our combat power is fundamentally insufficient, so we will almost certainly be retaliated against. This time, our goal is to hunt one D-rank, and once achieved, we will withdraw immediately."
Hmm. Will we be hunting a snake? However, the invisible bowl, high speed, and ultra-high speed are still a secret. Moreover, Wilson-san cannot participate. Can things really go that smoothly? Besides, apparently they haven't spoken to King Seldic yet. If he refuses, it's over.
With endless doubts, we left three days earlier than planned and reached the border checkpoint.
Parting with Wilson-san and Will, Hughes-sama joined us.
Henry-sama, Eleanor-sama, Hughes-sama, Harris-sama, and I, the five of us, rode in a dedicated carriage.
Wait, huh? Isn't this strange?
"It has already been communicated to Engrio through the Church that Hughes will participate this time. It's not strange at all."
Hughes-sama nodded deeply at Harris-sama's words.
I see. It's just that the royalty like Henry-sama haven't said it; the Churches have already talked.
"Didn't I tell you after the Western Plains operation was over? Actually, our Archbishop has become keen on the Church's priests conquering the Demon Realm. I told him that without sufficient preparation, the damage would only increase, but then he said, 'then let's make those preparations.'"
The priests of Engrio participate in monster subjugation in the Demon Realm as part of their duties. He was apparently told to go and observe that.
The story is far too convenient. Most likely, that old couple who are always up to no good must have done something behind the scenes.
That old couple is observing the movement of the clouds from the carriage window. This pattern means these two must be involved.
"I don't know who they are, but apparently there were people who asked the Archbishop for a blessing, saying this might be the last time they go to Engrio alive. From there, the story spread."
At the end of Harris-sama's gaze, the two regulars of illegal entry were pointing at the clouds and divining whether tomorrow's weather would be good or bad. They aren't lying. No one knows about the future.
When I looked at Hughes-sama, he was nodding overtly. It seems it's been set up.
As proof, at the first night's inn, we were met by King Seldic and the Entrap Five.
"It's finally the last time. I heard you want to do monster subjugation in my country."
"We cannot express enough gratitude to King Seldic for accepting our sudden selfishness."
The old couple, the culprits, stayed in the back, and Harris-sama was giving the thanks.
"If you're going to thank someone, it's not me. It's the Royal Capital Great Church Head."
From among the attendants lined up behind, the Archbishop came out with a Bishop.
Harris-sama went to the Archbishop and greeted him. I hurriedly approached and gave my 'nice to meet you' greeting.
"Bishop Jeanne, is it. I have heard rumors of you for a long time. A student of that Bishop Catherine, who started being a monster hunter as soon as you were ordained. I heard you also participated in the Demon Lord subjugation unit."
The Archbishop spoke to me. Harris-sama said that both of them are the toughest of the tough; the Archbishop participated along with King Seldic and Falstaff-san, and the other Bishop was selected in Engrio for the Demon Lord subjugation unit we also participated in, both participating as the main force. Both are ultra-high-level mages.
In particular, the active Bishop was tanned and had his hair cut short. He's a muscle-type no less than Harrison-san.
After exchanging 'nice to meet you' greetings with the two of them, I was able to reunite with the Entrap Five. It seems they haven't learned magic yet, but they are still in their teens. If they participate in a D-rank subjugation, they might learn something.
King Seldic and the Archbishop returned to the Royal Capital, but the two scouts who acted as overseers during the bear hunt, one Bishop, and the Entrap Five will stay one night together. The hot spring town is to the west, but the Demon Realm we're going to this time is apparently to the east. It's exactly at the junction. Most likely, we'll stay here one night on the way back from the Demon Realm too.
We all entered the inn that was entirely rented out and went to our assigned rooms. I am in the same room as the two girls of the Entrap Five, Annabella and Carla. Both have pale faces.
"Hey, Jeanne. Are we really going to fight monsters of the Demon Realm?"
Carla, who complains a lot, asked with a face drained of blood.
"It seems so."
"What's going to come out?"
It depends on what kind of monsters appear. However, since it's a Demon Realm where the Demon Lord was resurrected, it wouldn't be strange if there were Demon Lord army remnants. Orcs, Ogres, Trolls, Cyclopes, and Fenrirs would be the basics. Since there are no high mountains, there probably aren't any Wyverns. No matter how strict Eleanor-sama is, she wouldn't take the Entrap Five to a place where C-ranks appear. They don't have silver weapons and have no means to counter them.
If it's a place with magical beasts like the Northeastern Forest, it will be bears, wolves, or higher. For D-rank, snakes, frogs, and spiders are the ones.
"Hieee! S-Spiders!"
The two of them screamed. Well, I understand the feeling. Even Fiona, the strongest scout against monsters, said she never wants to see them again.
"Spiders are bad news. Because, when the army that headed for Regnentes was wiped out by the Demon Lord's curse, the ones that attacked were Gargoyles and spiders, right?"
"Y-Yeah. I certainly heard that. That heavy cavalry died in a single hit."
The Demon Lord's curse, huh. Come to think of it, there was such a thing. I don't know if it was the Demon Lord's curse or Eleanor's curse, though.
"It's okay. With my magic, I can defeat them even if we're surrounded by spiders."
"Have you fought them before?"
I have. It was the case that led to meeting Robinson-san. At that time, I was still only a basic mage. But, I could use [Skill: Light].
"I have. It was when I was still a novice, so it was scary."
"Did you win?"
"I was a decoy. My allies defeated them."
The first spider subjugation was the battle with the goblins led by Robinson-san. So, I omit the details and explain that I used Light to blind them.
"Back then, I could only use basic magic, so I was doing nothing but blinding them."
"And now?"
"Thanks to being allowed to gain experience fighting many strong enemies, I am high-level now. Up to C-rank, I won't let them get near."
I show them the silver mace, saying it comes out from this tip. I don't mention the eight-shot volley.
"But, you said you failed during the mouse subjugation..."
Come to think of it, that's true.
"I-It's okay. Back then, I didn't realize they would charge desperately if they lost their escape route. This time, look, there are many powerful allies, so I won't make such a blunder."
"Then, I'll make sure not to leave Jeanne's side!"
"Me too!"
That won't work for monster subjugation.
The next morning, after being shaken in the special carriage for a full day after departure, a hilly area came into view. Even if I call them hills, they are about the height that could be entirely turned into fields if there were no trees, typical of the flat Engrio.
We entered the village that would be our base, and after dinner, we had a brief meeting.
The supporting Bishop said there are three Demon Realms in Engrio. East, west, and south of the Royal Capital. In particular, the Demon Realm to the west of the Royal Capital is a venerable place where the Demon Lord appeared in ancient times, with many humanoid monsters and magical beasts, and is under strict surveillance.
The monster subjugation we're doing this time is to the east. Forests where a Demon Lord would be resurrected are deep forests everywhere, with many powerful monsters. As expected, she didn't choose there.
The eastern Demon Realm is a strange terrain where the hilly area, with its base to the west in the direction of the Royal Capital, extends long to the east in a horseshoe shape. The center of the horseshoe is like a flat basin, with small forests and wastelands spreading out in patches. There is a fortress in the center of the basin, which apparently serves as a base for periodic monster hunts.
"It's a hilly area that extends in a long curve, but the interior is a valley. In other words, it's a triple structure of hill, valley, hill. The width is about two stations at the widest, which isn't much, but anyway, it's long. Consequently, the number of monsters generated is also high and doesn't easily decrease. And, of course, since those triple-structured hills are covered in forest, invasion by army units is difficult."
In a way, it's probably a structure like the north of Nakanohara with three parts—north, south, and west—stuck together. If the population is triple, the scale of the Demon Realm is also triple. Conquest won't be such a simple story.
"What method do you usually take?"
Eleanor of Tactics is asking. She'll probably think of some good strategy.
"We can't win easily unless we drag them out of the forest. We scatter bait at several points to lure them out, and attack them when they come out."
That means magical beasts or bugs.
"That's right. Bishop Jeanne. This place doesn't have Demon Lord army remnants, but it's a habitat for magical beasts and bugs no less than your country's Northeastern Forest."
The Bishop said, baring his teeth.
What a pain. I hope the Elves didn't do anything naughty.
The sunken part in the center of the hills has many ponds and wetlands, and apparently there are multiple streams flowing from there. Orcs live in many groups in that sunken part. There are also multiple monsters that would be the center of a Demon Lord's army, such as Ogres, Trolls, and Fenrirs. It's unknown if there are Demon Race members who would act as commanders or powerful monsters. The problem is the hilly areas on both sides that form the outer edge of the depression. We can't break through there. Not only are there magical beasts like bears and wolves, but there are also many monsters of a slightly different lineage from the Demon Lord's army, such as snakes, scorpions, frogs, spiders, centipedes, mantises, ants, and Chat-Palu. Those guys were in the third layer of the Demon Lord's cave, killing each other freely. Individually they aren't that strong, but their numbers are high. Moreover, they lurk in the forest and don't come out. Because their territory cannot be breached, we cannot reach the Orc groups in the center.
"What we especially have to be careful of are the Red Bees."
Red Bees are apparently bee monsters. The places where their appearance has been confirmed are only the third layer of the Demon Lord's cave and the Demon Realm to the east of Medioland; in a sense, they are rare characters. Along with the Red Ant monsters, they are apparently the twin peaks of the type that push with numbers.
"Their size is about the same as ants, so the striking power of their weapon, the large mandibles, isn't that strong. Rather, it's probably the same as ants. However, they have powerful poison stingers. If you are stung when they sneak up on you from above before you know it, you'll be paralyzed. If you are then surrounded by the gathering swarm, it's the end; you'll be carried back to the nest and made into food. Many people have been taken by them this year too. In that forest, you need to be careful not just in front, back, left, and right, but also above."
The tough guy who participated in the Demon Lord subjugation as the main force pointed up with his index finger.
Among the Entrap Five who heard the story, the three boys are swallowing hard. The two girls look like they're about to cry.
"Then, shall we crush that bee nest?"
As expected. Eleanor of Tactics has caught fire.
By the way, apparently Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama faced the bees in the third layer when they participated in the Demon Lord subjugation as the main force.
"To be precise, we didn't fight, so we didn't face them. We were just running away frantically."
Apparently ants and bees were especially dangerous. Even if each one is weak, their numbers are high. No matter how many of their allies are defeated, they attack without flinching. Against ants, it's fine as long as you don't do anything conspicuous like making loud noises or releasing flashy magic. On the other hand, for bees, it's fine as long as you aren't targeted. Sometimes, they apparently half-killed other bugs to use as decoys and just focused on not fighting.
In our time, after defeating the great ant army, everyone except the decoy bowl I was riding had disappeared. Roberts-sama and the others participated from the tower connected to the fourth layer. In other words, both the heroes and former heroes have no proper combat experience against them.
Is it really going to be okay?
"Can it be done? Reaching a nest whose location is unknown is not easy."
The supporting Bishop is also suspicious. Even if she is a former hero, she has no combat experience. On the other hand, the Bishop who has experience fighting them is apprehensive.
"What are you saying. Since we are fighting a subjugation battle with a veteran like you, we can't just end it by defeating one or two D-ranks."
Eleanor-sama's eyes were shining. She probably wants to get revenge for the time with the ants.
Besides, before I knew it, it has become a 'subjugation battle.' Originally, support from an ultra-high-level mage isn't necessary for one D-rank. Moreover, Hughes-sama is here too. They must have been aiming for this from the start. As proof, when I look at Harris-sama, he's averting his eyes.
"Hey? Wasn't it supposed to be over after defeating one monster?"
"That's right. I didn't hear anything about a subjugation battle."
The two girls clung to me. It's no wonder.
"It will probably be okay."
To Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama, the Entrap Five are their students. They won't treat them heartlessly. Besides, the goal during the Demon Lord subjugation was the discovery of the tower to the fourth layer. There's no need to be exhausted facing bees that attack in a great army. She must have a plan for victory, which is why she's going to crush the nest itself. Let's trust Eleanor of Tactics here.