Chapter 442 - Seventh Episode: The Demon Realm of Engrio (2)
Morning came. We left the village and headed for the hilly area, entering the fortress built for lookout and monster subjugation.
The fortress is, to be blunt, small. A single water moat, a single wooden fence, and only one tower that doubles as a beacon station; honestly, it's not a sturdy fortress. There are only two guards at the main gate, and since they were flying the flag with the lion crest of the Engrio Royal Family, the inside of the carriage wasn't even checked.
Apparently there aren't that many people inside the fortress. News must have arrived from the Royal Capital; everyone came out at once and lined up. Judging by their appearance, they are light infantry.
The captain of the fortress is also not a national army soldier, but apparently a local free farmer who serves for a five-year term in rotation. One current hero and two former heroes have arrived. The whole family came out to greet us. Meanwhile, even the soldier on the tower was looking this way to watch. There was no sense of tension typical of a Demon Realm.
"Basically, the monsters of this Demon Realm do not come out of the forest. As a result, rather than a base for monster subjugation, it's a reconnaissance base. In the unlikely event that monsters show signs of coming out of the forest, their role is to inform the surrounding villages and the Royal Army with beacons."
In the supporting Bishop's explanation, there was no particular monster offensive even during the last and the time before last Demon Lord resurrections. The captain is a former Royal Army soldier, and if he serves his term safely, he apparently receives a medal and a reward. In other words, it's just an honorary position. Well, it's a good thing it's that peaceful.
However, the bugs that appear in the third layer of the Demon Lord's cave are mostly there. Maybe this forest itself is a ranch for the third layer.
After greeting the captain and having a light drink, we set out on Eleanor-sama's medium-sized bowl. The fortress soldiers apparently didn't know about flight magic. They pointed at the bowl and their mouths stayed wide open.
The supporting Bishop naturally knew. However, it seemed it was his first time riding; he offered a prayer to the Goddess before boarding. He was in a state of trepidation, but he started sightseeing with the Entrap Five. Since high speed and ultra-high speed are secrets, we don't use them. I'm relieved too.
By the way, I cast a maximum [Skill: Calm] on Harris-sama, who has a fear of heights. He's breaking out in a greasy sweat and clenching his teeth, but he has to do his best.
After enjoying the aerial tour for a while, we searched for locations with many Red Bee sightings from above using [Skill: Sense Living], and found reactions of monsters clustered in swarms. When I cast [Skill: Sight] on everyone to search, we could see bee monsters coming in and out from the shadows of a cliff rock.
Rare [Skill: Sense Living], and even rarer [Skill: Sight]. The supporting Bishop was sighing.
"I had heard the story from His Majesty. That you are a user of very rare magic."
"I was just granted them by the Goddess by chance."
On the other hand, the Entrap Five are in high spirits. They aren't looking at the bee nest, but at the distance and making a fuss.
"Amazing, there's magic like this! Look, I can see the fortress we left from!"
"As expected of a high-level mage."
The two overseers watching Carla and Annabella were laughing. It seems they knew about the existence of [Skill: Sight] itself. Maybe these two are directly under King Seldic.
"Bees will call their comrades if you kill one. Also, they will attack all at once if you carelessly approach the nest hole. Please be careful."
"In that case, let's use that to kill one, lure the rest out, and wipe them out in one go."
Eleanor-sama says something reckless in response to the supporting Bishop's words.
Normally thinking, we could be surrounded by the swarm and wiped out. A single large one is scary, but countless small ones are equally scary. If we are attacked by hundreds or thousands, our stamina and magic power will be exhausted. The complexions of the two overseers changed. They must know what's going to happen.
"Hmm. Let us see the handiwork of Eleanor of Tactics."
The Bishop is calm. He's a hero who would be chosen for the main force of the Demon Lord subjugation. He can probably use no-chanting Over-Flow, and his support magic would be top-notch. Even if we are surrounded by a swarm, he has the confidence to break through. Since the supporting Bishop is calm, the Entrap Five are also calm. Maybe they just don't understand well, though.
"Entrap Five, please release arrows and stones while maintaining the image of releasing magic."
"Y-Yes!"
Henry-sama, the two scouts, and the Entrap Five aim at the bees with holy water arrows and slings. The priest group, of course, uses [Skill: Holy].
"Then, Hughes, Jeanne, let's go."
We dive rapidly and attack all at once. The [Skill: Holy] from the Bishop and me, along with the holy water arrows, drop the bees one after another. The Entrap Five are each releasing arrows while vocalizing the magic they want to learn. This pattern is a first, but if it works well, we might put it in the textbooks. The magic is [Skill: Fire Ball] for Carla and [Skill: Holy] for Annabella. For the boys, it's [Skill: Energy Bolt], [Skill: Wind Cutter], and [Skill: Fire Ball]. Since the Bishop looked suspicious, I just gave him a wink.
"H-Here they come!"
The scout shouted. The bees came out in a swarm to counterattack.
"[Skill: Favorable Wind]!" (T/N: 'Favorable Wind' is a wind magic that controls air currents.)
The high-level mage Hughes-sama uses Favorable Wind to obstruct the bees' approach. They are trying desperately to get close, but they are floating in a stopped state in mid-air. We use slings to fire stones soaked in a bucket of holy water at them. We are upwind. The power of the stones increases, piercing the bees they hit.
"[Skill: Magic Reflection]!"
I deploy a bowl-shaped [Skill: Magic Reflection] above and slightly behind the supporting Bishop. Sensing the aim, he smirked.
Once the numbers gathered, the supporting Bishop released an Over-Flow from his right hand held high. It's reassuring because it's no-chanting. Moreover, even the light released backward is directed forward by the [Skill: Magic Reflection]. Two or three hundred bees dropped together.
"A-Amazing... as expected of Engrio's strongest Bishop."
The Entrap Five are stunned.
"More are coming."
"O-Oh."
When I warned them, they hurriedly thrust their hands into the bucket and took stones in their hands.
"Jeanne!"
"Yes! [Skill: Light]!"
I cover the bowl with a wall of light. The swarming bees are just flying around with a buzz, seemingly hating the light released from the wall. Unlike the time with the mice, we haven't completely cornered the opponent. There's no need for them to charge with death-defying resolve. Even if they did charge, if they are the same as the ants, we can repel them.
"This is... what on earth..."
The Bishop is touching the wall.
"There is magic like this too. Arrows and stones won't pass through, but [Skill: Holy] will. To avoid running out of breath, please shoot them down with basic [Skill: Holy] as much as possible."
"Y-Yes..."
We temporarily retreat upward, change locations, and descend. After that, it's repetition.
After repeating it many times, the number of flying bees also decreased. Since arrows and stones were exhausted, we gradually lowered our altitude and approached the nest. Since the Bishop and Harris-sama were releasing [Skill: Holy], the wall gradually strengthened and began to carry heat. The bee swarm cannot approach. They either fly above the light lid and get shot down by [Skill: Holy], or they are stuck to the bowl and gnawing on it.
When we pull up alongside the nest hole, a giant brown nest is visible. Bees are bristling all over the surface of the nest. Is the constant moving of their wings a threat?
"I'll make a gap here, so please fire [Skill: Holy Lance] into it."
Eleanor-sama skillfully dented the edge of the bowl. It's exactly the size of a human palm. The Bishop fired log-class [Skill: Holy] toward the nest relentlessly.
When the mopping up of remnants ended, the [Skill: Sense Living] detection results were also wiped out.
"No, I am truly impressed. As expected of a national character that has subjugated the Demon Lord for two generations."
The supporting Bishop also completely took off his helmet. (T/N: 'Kabuto o nugu' means to admit defeat or be impressed.)
It's no wonder. Starting with flight magic, it's a series of magic that normally cannot be used.
"To think Bishop Jeanne also uses such rare magic. Especially [Skill: Sight] and [Skill: Light], was it? It's my first time knowing them."
"I was just granted them by the Goddess while I was doing nothing but decoys and feints."
"You are being modest. You deployed [Skill: Magic Reflection] behind me. You used magic originally meant for defense for offense. It's precisely because you are used to battle."
I first learned it from Marcelo-san. Come to think of it, starting with the Headmistress, I learned from good teachers. I must have been blessed.
"As I thought, people who participate in the Demon Lord subjugation are amazing."
The Entrap Five are moved. A current hero, two former heroes, and a priest who can challenge the Demon Lord; they saw the battle of such tough guys up close. The opponent is also different from a bear caught in a pot. It's over a thousand bee monsters that seriously came to kill us. It's an emotion precisely because they know they are immature. I've tasted it many times too. Since the two girls were teary-eyed, when I said 'good job,' they slumped down and started crying.
"We couldn't be very active, but since we participated in a battle where we defeated so many D-ranks, I wonder if we learned magic?"
After passing around wine and calming down, Carla finally showed a smile.
Wait? Hold on. Are bees D-rank... were they?
"When did we defeat many D-ranks? Bees don't exist around human settlements, so they are unranked."
"U-Unranked?"
This is it. Eleanor-sama just wanted to get revenge for her time as an active hero.
"Yes. Since everyone seemed to be in trouble, we just took a little detour."
Come to think of it, there was a time when we completely destroyed a fortress where scoundrels were holed up just by taking a little detour.
"A-A detour?"
Carla and Annabella look at me. When I nod slowly, they start laughing with 'Ahaha.' Their eyes are hollow. Even the Bishop is laughing.
"D-rank is from now on. Let's see. When I had Jeanne cast [Skill: Sight], I saw a spider web. Let's defeat that."
"S-Spider..."
My condolences.
Spider subjugation with bows and arrows from above is difficult. It's because they are holed up inside the nest. To be blunt, we should just burn the nest with fire, but since there's no one to play the role of water-sprinkler, it will cause a fire. How to let the Entrap Five deliver the finishing blow. This has become quite a challenge.
"Do you want to descend to the ground with Jeanne?"
At Eleanor-sama's words, Carla and Annabella shook their heads so hard they made a sound.
"Then you won't be able to become good light infantry. Archers, mages, and scouts are all light infantry branches. Given the build of you two, heavy infantry doesn't suit you."
They probably have only about half the weight of Beowulf. Well, so do I.
"My [Skill: Light] won't let D-ranks get near. Unlike mice, spiders run away. If it comes to it, we'll just drive it away and withdraw."
"R-Really?"
"Is it okay to run away?"
Oops. This was Engrio. In Sertoria, it's fine to run away without fighting if you hit a strong enemy, but in other countries, you might be slandered as a coward.
"I don't mind. Light infantry is different from heavy infantry. Especially we scouts, we're all about surviving. Besides, you guys aren't regular soldiers yet. His Majesty won't be angry even if you run away."
One of the overseers said it for them.
"I'll go with you."
It's Hughes-sama. A hero in the present tense. If it's Hughes-sama, he can use [Skill: Camouflage] and [Skill: Mute]. If the opponent is a spider, he probably won't even need [Skill: Magic Reflection].
"Then, let's divide into upper and lower squads. Of course, all five of you are in the ground squad."
The three boys, who had a moment of expectation, dropped their shoulders.
The girls are going. Do your best.
The spider web Eleanor-sama said she found was easily found.
It had made a nest involving several trees. The silk is white, so it stands out more than anything.
"That kind of spider spreads silk around the exit of the nest onto the ground. If a creature walking on the ground gets caught, it comes out of the nest and pounces. There are multiple exits, but one of them is the emergency exit. That one over there."
Eleanor-sama is pointing toward a long white tube extending out. Beyond that is a thicket.
"You are well-informed."
"It's the result of daily research."
She's puffing out her chest at the supporting Bishop's words. She must have been taught by Violet.
As a result of detecting with [Skill: Sense Living], it was found that one spider is inside the nest.
Now, let the operation begin.
We once crossed the mountain zone to the central basin, and Eleanor-sama caught a boar by knocking it out with lightning magic. It's bait to lure out the spider.
We place the boar so it gets caught in the spider web. The boar, which woke up after being splashed with water, tries to move as it is and gets caught in the net. Then, the spider will come out thinking bait has been caught. I don't know if it will go that well, but in any case, the operation has begun.
Hughes-sama, Harris-sama, the Entrap Five, and I go around to the back door. Before setting the boar, we were dropped off near the spider's emergency exit. The Entrap Five are looking around everywhere, pale. Hughes-sama cast [Skill: Camouflage] and [Skill: Mute]. The figures of the seven of us disappeared, and the spider shouldn't be able to see us. The Entrap Five, having received the explanation, seemed relieved and their complexions improved somewhat. Since Harris-sama secretly cast [Skill: Magic Reflection], even if there's a Demon Race member, they won't know.
"Is it okay over there?"
Carla asks, but there's no need to worry. Eleanor-sama should block the exit by blasting [Skill: Glaciate] as the first move. After that, there's no problem as long as the Bishop fires [Skill: Holy] wildly without hitting.
"Two former heroes are with a priest representing Engrio, you know. It's fine even if there are a hundred spiders, let alone one. More importantly, you'd better be prepared so you can flee here at any time."
Hurriedly, they each notched one silver arrow borrowed from Henry-sama to their bows.
"It's started."
Hughes-sama was the first to sense it. It's a forest to begin with. Hidden in the thicket, I didn't understand at all. Henry-sama would have told them to follow Hughes-sama's instructions.
The Entrap Five draw their bows tight.
"Jeanne."
At Hughes-sama's signal, I increase the light intensity of the four fireflies I had floating around the emergency exit all at once.
The black shadow trying to come out of the emergency exit stops moving for a moment. Almost at the same time, the four hind legs of the spider were cleanly cut off. It's Hughes-sama's [Skill: Wind Cutter]. The spider, having lost the parts beyond the second joints, can no longer support its huge abdomen and is just wriggling, unable to walk.
"Fire!"
When the Entrap Five fire arrows along with the vocalization of the magic they each want to learn, all five pierce it. They are silver arrows. It's likely instant death.
"D-Did we do it?"
"Is it dead?"
"You defeated it. It's your achievement."
At Hughes-sama's words, they are making a big fuss with 'we did it, we did it.'
I can't say it out loud, but no matter how you think about it, it's Hughes-sama's achievement. All instructions were perfect. Especially, after I stopped it with Light, he released magic without a moment's delay and accurately cut off the four hind legs, stopping the spider's movement. It was a timing that didn't seem like he released it after visual confirmation.
"Good job."
He's silently bumping his own fist against the fist Harris-sama is holding out. As expected of a hero, he's more than just cool.