Chapter 450 - Episode 11: The Black Wall
We succeeded in subjugating the Kraken. Perhaps because we focused on strike-type attacks and Holy to increase the profit, it was a struggle, but the condition of the corpse is quite good.
When magic is used, it inevitably gets charred or damaged. Even if we gathered experts, it's not an opponent that can be defeated with strike-type attacks alone. This time, we forced it into a land battle disadvantageous for the Kraken, and it was almost as if Harrison-san's log-class shots defeated it. The only parts that aren't sellable are the parts charred by the rod of light.
"Since not much time has passed since the last one, it's small. However, if we can obtain such a large amount of scales and meat in good condition, it will be worth a considerable amount of money."
"Umu. For a while, we don't even have to collect taxes from the islanders. We can even pay wages for corvée labor."
Sir Archer and the Count were all smiles. The islanders, who originally had no poll tax, will now have no income-based taxes by occupation or corvée labor. For those living on the island, it's nothing but good things.
"The proceeds will be divided into three parts. The island's share, the share to be paid to the Royal Family, and everyone's share."
The Count explained the division of the proceeds. He proposed dividing the sales of the scales and meat into three. In addition to that, the ten gold coins for the B-rank subjugation reward would be divided among the participants and paid.
"For our share, if you could send the actual scales corresponding to our portion, we don't need the meat sales. The subjugation reward is also unnecessary. However, please pay Harrison and Jeanne in cash."
It was Eleanor-sama. The scales aren't that large, about palm-sized, but apparently, if they are lined up and attached to leather shields or leather armor, they become comparable to Lindwurm scales. Since they're light, she'll probably pass them to the Paratroop Jaegers and light infantry.
"This time, it wasn't the Count's request. Therefore, the share to be paid to the Royal Family only needs to be scales as well."
King Seldic took the same stance as Eleanor-sama.
"Is that alright?"
"I don't mind. It's just that I came to this island. It's enough if I can get scales that sell at a high price and serve as good material for armaments."
"Th-Thank you very much. Your Majesty."
In the end, the subjugation reward was split between Harrison-san and me. I ended up receiving five gold coins and one-sixth of the sales from the scales and meat. According to the Count, my proceeds would be around fifteen gold coins. Combined with the subjugation reward, it's twenty coins. Even though it was small, Kraken meat sells for a high price. For the same size, it apparently fetches the same price as a single Hydra that doesn't earn a head count. All necessary expenses were covered, and I could even indulge a little. I'm grateful.
"Now then, next is the subjugation of the fish monster. Mother, why don't we at least check if the black mist blocking the hole can really be dispelled with Jeanne's magic?"
As if timing it for when everyone had recovered, Roberts-sama spoke up. This pattern is...
"That's true. What do you think?"
Eleanor-sama looked toward King Seldic.
"I don't mind at all."
Next, she looked at Harrison-san.
"Since I've only unleashed mid-level magic, even if something happens, I can still keep going."
Even if something happens... I can't think of anything other than combat.
The Count agreed, so we went straight to the cave where the fish monster lives. It's easy since we're going in Eleanor-sama's bowl.
The cave isn't that large. It's about enough for one person to stand and enter. If we enter side-by-side, one person has to walk sideways.
The formation became a single file. Roberts-sama was in the lead, I was second, Gladys-sama was third, Harrison-san was fourth, King Seldic was fifth with a bit of distance, and Henry-sama was sixth. Eleanor-sama was at the very back. The Count and Sir Archer stayed behind at the entrance. We mustn't accidentally hit them. However, if magic were to be sealed, the three mages would retreat, and the two of them would enter instead.
King Seldic didn't seem to mind having the former King and former Queen of a hypothetical enemy country standing behind him. He has guts.
I floated four Fireflies to serve as light.
From the start, Harrison-san deployed a Magic Reflection, and behind that, Eleanor-sama deployed a Wind Barrier. It's a countermeasure against Contain.
The cave is entered from an entrance facing the cove on the west side, but it turns north in the middle as if heading inland. After walking straight for about a hundred paces just like that, there was the black wall in question.
When Roberts-sama attached a fish he had poked with the spear in his right hand, it sizzled and became a grilled fish. Even though he shouldn't have, he pressed both sides and grilled it beautifully.
"Dark, was it? If we have this magic, it might be good since it doesn't use fire and we don't have to worry about fires."
If James-sama were here, he might have laughed loudly.
I temporarily extinguished the Fireflies.
I thrust my staff out over the Wind Barrier and illuminated the wall with an eight-fold volley of Light. I wonder if I can really cancel it out.
I illuminate it for a while, but there's no change.
Harrison-san reinforced it with log-class shots. When he unleashed three, something like mist came out from the wall. At the fifth shot, it became completely misty.
"It's a strange thing. At this rate, we might really be able to erase it."
It was when Roberts-sama said that.
Unexpectedly, a mass of water jumped out from the wall. It splashed against the wall made of Magic Reflection and Wind Barrier. It overflowed from the gaps at the top, bottom, left, and right of the wall, and I hurriedly pulled back my staff. If it were Fireflies, they might have been blown away somewhere.
If it were only Magic Reflection, it would have slipped through. The battle with the Lich proved useful.
However, the amount is large. Is it Maelstrom? Gradually, the wall was being pushed. Roberts-sama and King Seldic were bracing their shoulders against it. During that time, the water surged and reached knee-height.
By the time it finally subsided, I was soaked even inside my shoes. It's mid-winter now. Honestly, it's beyond cold. If Eleanor-sama hadn't made a roof with a second Wind Barrier, I would have definitely been covered from the head down.
"Let's pay them back. Jeanne, an eight-fold volley."
"Yes!"
As if for revenge, I unleashed Light. This time, Harrison-san reinforced it by seven shots.
The mist gradually thinned, and finally, leaving only a faint mistiness on the ground, it vanished. Almost at the same time, I reached the limit of my magic control. It was barely enough. Inside the place where the door had been, there was a tide pool. Rather than an inner moat, it's probably for Maelstrom.
"Yosh! We did it!"
"Yes!"
I replied energetically to Roberts-sama's words. We broke through.
Or so I thought, but about ten paces beyond the tide pool, a second one appeared. That's foul play.
"There's no end to this."
By the time we finally broke through the third one, I was out of breath. About ten paces beyond the tide pool, a fourth one was standing in the way. According to the Count, we've apparently only progressed about halfway through the cave.
I can't fire many eight-fold volleys. On the other hand, if Harrison-san reinforces a regular Light, Harrison-san will run out of breath. The monster is superior in a war of attrition. If we want to continue any further, we'll need the orb.
It wasn't just Contain. They had also thought of a battle of exhaustion.
"Can't we dig a side tunnel and bypass it?"
King Seldic asked. It's a perfectly reasonable opinion.
"It's impossible. This cave was made by hollowing out bedrock. To bore a hole in rock, the Curve magic is necessary, but I can't use it. Neither can the Count or Sir Archer. It's a rare magic. Besides, even if there were a caster, it would take days to make a large detour, and there's the danger of a cave-in. Preparations at the level of civil engineering work would be required."
A short detour would be meaningless. If there's a wall at the end of the digging, it's the same thing.
"For now, let's set up a barrier so they can't come out from the other side. How about we retreat for now and consult with the Count?"
It was Harrison-san. In any case, I'm at my limit. At this rate, we can't break through the fourth one. In the end, we had Harrison-san set up a barrier.
However, the opponent is B-rank. We ended up setting up the Guardian Formation, a grand technique combining a magic circle and magic. Even if temporarily, it will seal them in. After that, we decided to embed silver harpoons with the tips facing up.
The opponent is hunkered down behind the wall and won't come out. Harrison-san's barrier was successfully activated without being disturbed, and the silver harpoon abatis was also completed.
Assuming they wouldn't come out, we finished consulting with the Count, transported the islanders in the medium-sized bowl and carriages, and dismantled the Kraken's corpse to turn it into profit. During that time, I was allowed to rest and was able to recover considerably.
That night, we had a banquet on the sandy beach in front of the cave. Of course, the participating islanders were volunteers, and everyone was armed. It was a banquet with a sense of tension, but as if venting years of grudges in a spiteful way, they were singing loudly and making a huge fuss.
Even though she shouldn't have, Eleanor-sama cast Loud, so the amplified loud voices were echoing off the cliffs surrounding the cove, creating a terrible noise. No matter how you think about it, it's harassment.
Wait, hold on a second. Can't this be used?
I try asking Eleanor-sama.
"If we shout loudly with Loud, won't it reach the monster beyond the wall?"
"I made a fuss with Loud thinking it would reach."
So it was harassment.
Well, that's fine.
"How about we use this and shout in front of the door?"
"The Chant of Exorcism?"
There's that too. However, it was originally a fish monster. According to the Count, it's making tide pools here and there. In fact, there were tide pools behind the three doors we broke through. Of course, we've confirmed they aren't connected to the outside. If it dives into those, it won't be able to hear. Besides, it's not certain that the tide pool beyond the fourth door isn't connected to the open sea.
"Actually..."
When I said what I thought of, she said we should consult the Count and called him over.
When I explained to the Count, he said he'd at least listen.
It's still evening. It'll probably be in time.
We had the noisy islanders be quiet for a moment and entered the cave again.
"It's alright now."
When I called out, a face emerged from a potted flower in a barrel. It's an Alraune. Since they were forming a colony by the pond behind the Count's mansion, I had requested their cooperation.
It was over fifteen hundred years ago that the Count crossed over from the continent. At that time, some Alraunes lived near human settlements. Flora is one of them. Originally she was on the opposite shore, but rumors that her roots became expensive medicine spread from the continent, and she was targeted by unscrupulous people and fled to the mountains. The Count, being well-informed, saw through it as a lie, ordered the islanders to protect the Alraunes, searched for them, and protected them behind his mansion.
"So there's a fish monster beyond this black door."
"That's right. You're a spirit, so you must absolutely not go near it. You'll get a terrible burn."
"I understand. Thank you."
She emerged from the flower just like that and took a humanoid form.
"So this is the flower spirit Alraune."
It seemed to be King Seldic's first time seeing one.
"Yes. False rumors have spread and they are treated like monsters, but they are legitimate spirits."
"I know as knowledge that they are spirits. However, it's my first time seeing one."
They were exchanging greetings of "nice to meet you."
"In Sertoria, do they live together with humans?"
King Seldic asked.
"No, unfortunately, the situation is no different from this island. If they live in human settlements, they might be targeted by unscrupulous people, so I think most of them live in deep mountains."
"Fumu. It's a difficult thing."
"Your Majesty, according to Bishop Jeanne's story, in Northern Gram, those who harm spirits are strictly punished. Those who kill spirits are sentenced to death. How about our country also strictly cracking down like that with laws?"
"The nobility probably wouldn't lay a hand on them. If anyone's doing it, it's the commoners."
This part might be a religious issue. The origin of the Northern Gram Royal Family came from the continent, but apparently, it's close to the birthplace of the Engrio Royal Family. In other words, their religious views are similar. The nobility values the War God and the surrounding spirits rather than the Goddess. Poverty is likely part of the cause, but those Goddess worshippers who consider co-existence and co-prosperity to be right are so devoted to serving the Goddess that they treat spirits dismissively. It's an ironic story.
"Even if you decoct and drink Alraune roots, you'll only get poisoned. There are apparently cases where people feel better after drinking it diluted, but they've just fallen into a temporary state of excitement, and it shortens their lifespan. Just publicizing that fact should have a certain effect."
"That's true. I'll tell the Archbishop to spread it. The one on the Goddess worshippers' side."
He can't talk back. In a sense, that's a powerful irony.
Setting aside religious differences, it's the Alraune. She can converse with monsters.
We'll have Eleanor-sama cast Loud and speak out to give a surrender recommendation. In short, it's fine as long as it doesn't attack people. Fortunately, no stories remain of it attacking and eating people. It only stole caught fish and rummaged through cargo. If there's something it wants, it should be an equivalent exchange for items or actions. If not, we'll subjugate it even if it takes time.
As a result of having her talk along those lines, sounds of geh, geh, geh could be heard.
The result of the translation was that humans cannot be trusted.
Apparently, if it's going to be subjugated anyway, it's easier to understand and better to be hostile from the start. It's monster-like if you say so, but in this case, it takes too much time and effort for the human side. Besides, the opponent digs holes in rock. Even if we were to corner it with barriers, and even if there were no escape exit, it could dig a hole and escape at any time to make a new home.
"I am not a human. I am a monster. I am a Vampire."
This time it was the Count. He must be intending to talk monster-to-monster.
"He says he can't trust you because the Count came to subjugate him."
"That's because you attacked humans. You stole fish and cargo, didn't you? I am the lord of this island. I have a duty to protect those who live here."
It's a respectable attitude for a lord, but this will likely be countered.
"I didn't attack. The humans ran away on their own."
As expected, the answer came back. However, there's no need to steal cargo.
"What's wrong with picking up what was dropped?"
This part is monster ethics. The one who lost... in this case, the one who ran away... is in the wrong. The Count has lived with humans for a long time. Even though he's a monster, his way of thinking is different. However, no one would challenge someone knowing they would lose if they fought. The opponent is a monster that magic doesn't work on at all. Heroes aside, the islanders, who barely have even mid-level mages, wouldn't feel like they could win. However, at this rate, it's a stalemate.
"Where did you come from? You shouldn't be a monster native to this island."
It was Eleanor-sama. Was she intending to attack from a different angle, as she changed the subject.
"Anywhere is fine, isn't it?"
"There have been several sightings of your kind in the sea area northeast of the White Island in the continent. Isn't it from the northeast direction of this island? You probably followed a human ship..."
"That's right."
Eleanor-sama got into it as the opponent admitted it. Her eyes were sparkling.
"Were you or your kind hostile to humans in that sea area that could be called your home?"
"It wasn't friendly, but we weren't hostile."
"Wasn't it!"
She shouted as if triumphant.
"Unfortunately, the people of this island had never seen your form. As you know, unlike you, humans are weak and cowardly creatures. They get scared when they see a creature they don't know. Most likely, the first human who contacted you tried to draw your attention by throwing away what they had to buy time to escape. Imagining from the story I heard from the Count, you must have an appearance that is quite strong and proficient in magic. In fact, you are quite strong. It's unavoidable for those seeing you for the first time to be afraid."
For a while, sounds of geh, geh, geh echoed.
"He's quite happy."
At the Alraune's words, Eleanor-sama made a light fist pump with her right hand.
It seems he's been won over.
When I looked at the Count, the only witness who had actually seen the person himself, he was staring intently at a corner of the cave as if he had discovered something. No matter how you think about it, I can only think he's pretending not to hear.