Chapter 460 - Chapter 5: Re-infiltration
We decided to descend to the ground for a moment.
It seems to be an emergency evacuation site. Clean water is easily available near a spring. It's pitch black since we're in the forest, but the leaves are rustling in the wind.
Considering the overall terrain of eastern Regnentes, the mountain stream likely flows from south to north, and then from east to west. The fact that we went west means he's also considering rescuing the soldiers who fell.
Anyway, I have to recover Harris-sama. It might be my fault.
When we descended into the forest and dismantled the bowl, Harris-sama rolled onto the ground.
"I heard he made a name for himself in monster hunting since he was young, but he was powerless against Jeanne's surprise attack."
"Wilson-san! Don't say such scandalous things!"
"Don't raise your voice. You'll be noticed."
"M-My apologies..."
I thought I had cast Mute, but I was careless.
"Bishop, Mute is active," the bowl-user whispered secretly.
When I looked at Wilson-san, he was ignoring Harris-sama and looking at the starry sky.
Dammit! He definitely knew.
Since Harris-sama safely regained consciousness, we all gathered in a circle to hold a strategy meeting.
We looked for a place where shrubs were growing near the roots and made a bonfire to keep warm. While passing around a canteen of wine, Godwynn-sama explained the situation to the unconscious Harris-sama. When he woke up, he was staring at me, but Godwynn-sama, who sensed the situation, immediately started explaining, so I was spared from being scolded.
With Harris-sama's consent, the operation began. The Gnome Detection Stick is safe, so when I immediately used it for detection, as expected, it was pointing north.
"We must go north of the mountain stream."
Wilson-san, who checked the direction with a wooden fish, said.
"Yeah, but the other side probably knows we're heading north too."
"Could there be something beyond that mountain stream?"
Even in Nakanohara, beyond the mountain stream is the territory of monsters. Since long ago, unless there was a reason, hunters wouldn't go beyond the stream.
In response to my question, Godwynn-sama looked down for a while, but then sighed as if giving up.
"It's too late to keep secrets now. It's an abandoned mine."
"An abandoned mine... a former mine?"
"Yes. Even though it's abandoned, the remaining buildings can be used."
"What are they doing with such a thing? Don't tell me they gave it to Engrio?"
"No way. It's true they gave it away, but the opponent isn't Engrio. It's beastmen."
I involuntarily exchanged looks with Wilson-san.
According to Godwynn-sama, beastmen have settled in the facilities of the abandoned mine and made it their territory.
"Actually, it's not something to hide. The royal families south of Medioland know about it."
In other words, Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama knew too.
"Yes. Those two knew we were heading north. In other words, they could have predicted it."
When I looked at Harris-sama and Wilson-san, both were sighing. They probably didn't know.
"Jeanne. It seems there might be a spy on our side."
Wilson-san said after clicking his tongue. Usually, the four of them, including Will, are illegally entering various countries, but they probably weren't told.
"Well, it's another country's business. It can't be helped. There are things only royalty knows."
Harris-sama, who is also in charge of the royal palace as the Secretary to the Archbishop in the capital, patted Wilson-san's shoulder as if to soothe him.
But the opponent is beastmen. I hope we can successfully infiltrate against opponents with magic power on par with Dwarves or Elves...
"Don't worry so much, Jeanne. We can't enter the territory where beastmen live, but they won't notice if we fly over the forest. We've done it many times in Sertoria."
According to Wilson-san, it's already been tested.
"Otherwise, I wouldn't have participated."
Since Harris-sama says so, it should be fine.
Shortly after restarting, we landed and reached a mountain hut.
"What is this place?"
"A place to monitor the beastmen. Beyond this is the mountain stream that serves as the boundary."
"Could it be that the mountain stream flows toward the northwest?"
"Yes. Wilson-dono, haven't you figured out most of the locations?"
"Not really."
Apparently, it's been found out that Henry-sama's group is flying all over the place. Well, Godwynn-sama has a connection with Harold-sama and is in the scouts.
"Hoo hoo hoo."
Godwynn-sama hooted three times. If I recall, it's supposed to be the signal of bandits.
While I was surprised, a response came from above the trees: "Hoo hoo, hoo-hoo."
"Umu. Good work."
"Godwynn-sama. Good work."
At the same time as the voice, a man jumped down from the tree with light footsteps.
He looks like a young hunter, but he's surely a scout.
"As I informed you just in case, I've brought the people from Sertoria."
"Then, you were flying with those who were dropped into the pool?"
Good. They were saved. They must have fled all the way here.
"Yes. I was careless, thinking it would be fine since we were flying in the dark of night. From now on, we'll proceed while hidden."
"Understood. Those who were dropped have all escaped here safely, except for two."
Except for two? Were they caught?
"What happened to the other two?"
"Those who escaped said they reached the opposite bank. They must be carrying out the infiltration."
"Hmm. I had given them scrolls of Camouflage and Magic Reflection just in case."
Harris-sama, who heard the conversation, whistled.
"No, I'm impressed. As expected of the renowned Regnentes scouts."
"Well, I thought they could manage at least this much."
Harris-sama and Wilson-san are laughing. In short, they were tricked by Godwynn-sama. At that time, even if they retreated to the fortress, it would just end as an infiltration, and some information might be obtained. Since he suddenly said they were going north, they probably weren't prepared.
"Well, it's only because we had the method of hiding ourselves that we learned from your country."
Godwynn-sama lowered his head slightly as if to thank the two.
The method of hiding was originally found by the bandits who were incited by Eleanor-sama to deceive Harrison-san, but it's probably better to keep quiet about it. Fortunately, neither of them is here.
Even so, it's reassuring that two Regnentes scouts are infiltrating. We must definitely rendezvous with them.
"Is there a base?"
Wilson-san asked. Since he usually acts with Henry-sama and the others, he might think it's normal to have a base beyond the boundary.
"Yes, in several places. The place those two are heading is likely the one closest to the mountain stream. Those who cross the stream are supposed to go there first."
The expected answer came back. Bandits are bandits everywhere.
"Are we going there?"
"Yes. If we can successfully rendezvous, it will be a help. I hope they've arrived safely."
What. I thought he had abandoned them, but I'm relieved it wasn't so.
"If humans enter their territory without permission, beastmen detain them and demand a ransom. Sometimes we purposely get caught and exchange various things during the handover negotiations."
What. For someone saying scouts have to manage on their own, it's not that serious.
"True. As long as you don't encounter a rough beastman during the first contact and get killed, it's fine."
Excuse me. It was plenty serious.
I have no idea at all, but it seems we crossed the mountain stream shortly after leaving the mountain hut.
"Is there a beastman village nearby?"
"Well, rather than a village, I should call it a settlement where they gather and live. Since they live separately by species, there are no villages or towns made by gathering dwellings like humans do."
Hmm. As expected, if individual strength is superior, they might not try to live in groups.
"Well, that's part of it, but those with characteristics of herbivores and those with characteristics of carnivores can't live together."
I see. You wouldn't be able to sleep at night if someone who treats you as food was next door.
Wait? Hold on a second.
"Um, do carnivorous beastmen eat herbivorous beastmen?"
If so, there must be constant conflict every day.
"Naturally, that's not the case. It's just that herbivorous beastmen live on the inside and carnivorous beastmen live on the outside, forming a circle."
"Oh, is that so. I'm relieved."
If they eat herbivorous beastmen, they might eat humans too. I thought so, but I'm glad it was a misunderstanding.
"They say they aren't inedible, but they taste bad. Apparently, the most delicious is boar."
I see. That part is the same for every species.
"By the way, beastman seems to be a very broad category, but what kinds exist in Regnentes?"
Wilson-san is asking.
After all, Violet, who has spider abilities, is also treated as a beastman. I thought spiders were a type of insect, but apparently not.
However, Godwynn-sama is tilting his head.
"Hmm, I think most of the prominent animals in the forest are there."
Speaking of forest animals, are there rabbits, squirrels, and boars too?
"There aren't many small ones. At most about the size of a fox. I've seen a Boar Man, but they are quite short-tempered, so you should be careful."
"Um, I've hunted plenty of the monster version of boars, but they won't get mad, right?"
I still have boar dried meat. If found, I might be killed.
"That part is fine. Beastmen take pride in their own forms and abilities. They want to be treated as fundamentally different from monsters or humans. They won't get angry. After all, beastmen with the abilities of wolves, bears, dogs, or foxes hunt boars and bears."
"I-Is that so. That's good."
"However, some humans treat beastmen as monsters and loathe them. Bishop Jeanne, I heard you properly offer funeral prayers even after hunting monsters under Bishop Catherine's teachings, so I think it'll be fine, but please be careful."
Hearing Godwynn-sama's words, Harris-sama and Wilson-san looked at each other and started laughing.
"What's wrong?"
Godwynn-san is looking curiously.
"It'll probably be fine. After all, Jeanne is Catherine-sama's student."
"Godwynn-sama, there's no need for concern. After all, Jeanne's spirit of coexistence was recognized by that Price-sama."
"Price-sama? Hmm. I heard from my father. Price-sama... Henry-sama's companion, had been seeking a path of coexistence including beastmen since the time he was an active hero."
"Hmm, hmm," he looks at me. Being stared at so intently makes me feel embarrassed.
While saying this and that, we must have reached the base beyond the mountain stream, as we entered the pitch-black forest. I can't see anything, but the bowl-user is a scout. Their daily training must be paying off.
We were advancing slowly, but eventually landed. Since I can see stars, we must have come out into a clearing.
It smells of water. Since there's no sound of water, there must be a pond or something.
"Hoo hoo hoo."
Godwynn-sama, who stepped out of the Mute, hooted three times.
After waiting for a while, there was a sound in the bushes.
"Stone throwing. They're checking our reaction."
It's Wilson-san. Where on earth are they?
"Diagonally to the right. I see a mountain hut. It seems they threw it from that window."
"Hoo hoo hoo."
He hoots again.
"Hoo hoo, hoo-hoo."
The response of an owl was heard. Apparently, we've successfully rendezvoused.
As I was led by a single rope handed over in advance, a sound like a door opening was heard. The feel under my feet changed, so we must have entered the hut.
The sound of a door closing follows.
"Godwynn. It's been a while."
A male voice was heard. He's calling him by name. Moreover, 'it's been a while'...
"Who is it? Who's with you?"
The man's voice. 'Who's with you' must refer to the three of us from Sertoria.
"My apologies. I've brought guests. Friends of Henry-sama of Sertoria."
"Henry's?"
Then, a lantern was lit, and the figure of the speaker became visible.
I involuntarily gasped.
Ears are growing on a human head with fox-colored hair. He's wearing clothes. The hand coming out of the sleeve is human.
"A-A beastman?"
Wilson-san's voice. It's high-pitched.
"Hmph! Quite a greeting. It seems you don't know manners."
The fox-like beastman narrowed his eyes and put both hands on his hips. A sword is tucked into his left waist.
"N-No, my apologies. It was sudden."
Wilson-san apologized immediately, but the sharp gaze remained.
"These three are here for the first time. Forgive them."
When Godwynn-sama signaled to the scouts behind him, a bottle of wine came out.
It seems the negotiation has already begun.
The fox-like beastman, who accepted it as a matter of course, placed the wine bottle on a nearby table and pointed to a bench, saying, "Well, sit down."
As told, we all sat on the bench. The two scouts were hesitating and standing, but Godwynn-sama ordered them to sit. Come to think of it, their ranks were different. They probably usually do that.
No introductions. Without even a toast, he's monopolizing the bottle he uncorked.
"I heard there were people flying in the sky."
"Yeah, they're my subordinates. Where did they go?"
"The patrol caught them and took them away."
"Wolves, huh."
The patrol is... Wolf Men beastmen, I see. Which means the one in front of us is indeed a Fox.
"They'll probably be interrogated."
"About Flight Magic? I wonder if it'll be material for negotiation."
"It will be. If we can use it."
"It's fine. Originally, I intended to use it as negotiation material."
"Well, I thought it was something like that. You're plotting something anyway, aren't you?"
"Yes. There's something I want to do. Will you cooperate?"
"Depends on the reward."
They're talking about something suspicious, but I hope it's okay?
"Hey," Godwynn-sama signaled, and one of the scouts took a block of dried meat out of a supply bag.
It must be for field rations. Since the Regnentes army is buying it, it's leading to stable income for the people in the basin. Though, since the most delicious ones hunted in autumn are sent for export, this is probably the cheaper, lower-quality stuff.
"This is the dried meat we eat as field rations in our army. The taste is quite good."
He was sniffing it excessively, but after seeing all the humans eat a piece sliced off by Godwynn-sama's knife, he seemed relieved. He put a piece in his mouth.
"I-It's delicious, isn't it. Boar, huh."
While drinking wine, he's chewing noisily. When Godwynn-sama reached for the knife placed on the table, he cut off a block about the size of a fist and bit into it.
Yes! A great victory. Nothing beats a delicious meal.