Chapter 462 - Chapter 5: Re-infiltration ③
We returned to the Fox Man's house for a moment. That said, we couldn't all go inside, so we sat down in the clearing in front of the house.
Since I had taken down the bear before it could bite into the pot, I had the Wolf Men do a taste test. Since it was a special occasion, I made it a cheese pot and put in a few oats.
"D-Delicious."
"Yeah, it's really delicious."
After one bite, they started eating ravenously.
"If you need seconds, there's more, so please don't hesitate to say so."
"A-Ah. My apologies."
Wilson-sama also knew what to do and brought out a bottle of Finis wine.
It became a banquet.
"Actually, there are two things I'd like to ask of everyone..."
Once their stomachs were full, I decided to bring up the requirements.
"What is it? Bishop. We were saved from a dangerous situation by you. We'll at least listen to what you have to say."
It was the Wolf Man who first called out. He's likely the leader. He's become completely softened.
"My name is Jeanne, so please call me that."
"Understood. Bishop Jeanne, then."
"Yes. Thank you very much."
I talked about last night. First, I want the two captured people to be released.
"Bishop Jeanne, I understand you want to save your allies. However, last night's matter won't be settled easily."
It was as expected. They were originally captured as material for negotiation. They won't be returned for free. However, my guess is that they purposely got caught as a trigger to establish contact with the beastmen.
"Yes, I understand. Since they tried to enter your residential area without permission, you must all be very angry. Therefore, I'd like to settle the talk so that you'll be satisfied."
When I looked at Godwynn-sama, he gave a light nod. Since it seemed he intended to negotiate from the start, I'm relieved.
"Hoho. You understand, don't you. Then the talk will be quick. First, put forward your conditions."
In cases like this, putting forward conditions first makes you disadvantaged, as Beatrix and Mary said. Those two usually just do a preamble and wait for the other side to talk. However, as a priest, I want to prioritize the safety of the hostages first.
I had the Wolf Men wait for a bit and consulted with the three humans, one former human, and the Fox Man.
"Godwynn-sama. Is it possible to sell boar dried meat to these people through the Fox Man?"
"Sawelyn-sama's approval would be necessary."
Hmm. That Prince. I don't think I'll get a good answer.
"He'll surely set conditions."
"Conditions?"
"Yeah, he'll tell us to teach the method of making it."
"That's..."
I got stuck. It's not something I can answer. Since I go all over the place, I'm entrusted with promotion and a certain amount of negotiation, but regarding the transmission of manufacturing methods, I have to get permission from Beatrix and Mary.
"In this case, it's better not to think straightforwardly."
It's Godwynn-sama. A twisted thought would be better, I suppose.
"The things made in that village are checked by Beatrix, who received guidance from the manufacturer in Sertoria, to ensure that low-quality goods don't circulate, right? Only items that pass inspection can be exported with the Regnentes royal crest. Other items are supposed to be turned into field rations for the army or stockpiled as local preserved food."
As expected of someone who commanded the scouts while based at the dried meat processing plant. He might know more than I do.
"That seems to be the case. Then, what should we do?"
"It's simple. The one who makes it is this Fox."
"Eh? Me?"
He's making a stupid face at the sudden nomination. No wonder. He only saw it for the first time last night.
"D-Don't say such reckless things! There's no way I can do it!"
Since the Wolf Men were looking suspiciously, I hurriedly poked him with my elbow.
"S-Sorry, Bishop Jeanne. But Godwynn, what on earth are you thinking?"
Lowering his voice, he muttered complaints. I understand his feelings.
"Well, wait until our talk is over."
Godwynn-sama restrained the Fox Man and turned back to me.
"The method of making that dried meat isn't exactly top secret. After all, many serfs from that basin are mobilized. However, only the people of that village are involved in several key steps of the process. Bishop Jeanne and Wilson-dono probably know, but since that processing plant is also a national food stockpile, the scouts under my command are stationed there as guards. In consultation with the Lord and Beatrix, those steps are kept secret from outsiders by placing guards."
Is that so? I didn't know at all. I recall it was supposed to be a stockpile for gunpowder as well as food, which is why guards were placed. Since they are pretending to protect only food, are they even protecting the method of making dried meat?
"But that's a story for humans. For example, what if the Fox makes it and sells it only to beastmen?"
I see. It won't be competition.
"B-But, will humans teach me? I don't even think I'd want to learn such a thing."
"Even if you don't learn it, what about your wife?"
"My wife?"
"Yeah, I was treated to dinner before, and it was quite delicious. She should be able to make at least dried meat, right?"
"N-No, but..."
Ignoring the grumbling Fox Man, he looks at me, asking, "How about it, Bishop Jeanne?"
It's not a bad idea. I know the method of making it too, and if the opponent is a beastman and the sales target is limited to beastmen, it should be fine to teach.
But. That wouldn't be a story with any benefit for the Wolf Men. And the number one person can make is limited.
"Exactly. That's why his wife will learn first, and then she'll pass it on to the wolves. Unlike foxes, wolves form packs. In fact, there's an Elder in the pack, who is practically the Elder of the beastmen in this area. There should be enough manpower."
I see! The Wolf Men will be able to secure winter food and bait for bear hunting on their own. Since they are wolves, they must be good at boar hunting. It will surely significantly improve the food situation of the village.
"That's good, isn't it. How about it, Fox Man? If you'll accept the condition of not selling to humans, I'll teach your wife. It's alright. If you practice starting from this season, you'll definitely be in time for the real thing in autumn."
"Eeeh? Bishop, even you, what are you saying. I haven't even talked to my wife yet."
"Then, let's go talk to her now. Come on, hurry."
I can't leave a hungry child alone. At the very least, they must be able to secure food for the winter.
"Hey. Bishop, is the consultation over yet?"
While I was trying to hurry the grumbling Fox, the Wolf Men called out. Oh right, originally it was a negotiation with the Wolf Men.
Even though I said negotiation, the conditions weren't finalized, so the negotiation resumed after making some assumptions.
"We have two proposals. I want to ask for the return of the two prisoners with one of them, and cooperation with the remaining one."
Cooperation...?
No way, could it be...
"Cooperation? What on earth are we supposed to cooperate with humans on?"
"Actually..."
Godwynn-sama, while keeping the objective vague, conveyed that we were searching for Gnome.
"And so, there's a tool that tells the approximate location of Gnome, and as a result of flying in the direction indicated by that tool, it ended up being last night's illegal entry."
Therefore, he's asking them to permit the search within the beastman territory.
"Gnome, you..."
Including the Fox Man, they all fell silent together.
"Hey, Bishop Jeanne. What on earth do you intend to do after meeting Gnome?"
The Fox Man asked in a somewhat fearful manner. Since the leader of the Wolf Men was poking him with his elbow while looking up at the sky, it felt like he had no choice.
I understand the feeling of wanting to ask, but I don't know how much I should answer. When I looked at Harris-sama, he nodded as if to say, 'Yes, yes.' I can leave it to him.
"Actually, I'd like you to keep this a secret; can you promise that? Also, I'm sorry, but I'd like the people from Regnentes, including Godwynn-dono, to temporarily leave this place if possible."
After clearing my throat, I brought it up while looking at everyone's faces, including the humans.
"Hoho, quite a grand matter, isn't it. And you're saying you'll only talk to us?"
The Wolf Man leader is smirking.
"Understood. Then, we'll leave this place and keep watch on the surroundings. I don't want to be glared at by Medioland for knowing too much."
"My apologies."
There's also the option of asking for a Vow of Silence, but perhaps they had been talked to by Henry-sama and the others in advance, as they withdrew easily and all three disappeared beyond the bushes.
"Is it okay? Bishop Jeanne."
"Well, it can't be helped. If rumors spread, Godwynn-sama and the others will definitely be suspected by Medioland. I think this is better than that happening."
"I-Is that so..."
The Fox Man became quiet too.
On the other hand, the Wolf Men became energetic. In other words, we were snubbing the son of a high noble of Regnentes and talking only to the beastmen. They seem very happy. They also cheerfully promised not to disclose it.
While watching that, Harris-sama began the explanation, but his expression gradually became strained.
"S-Sealing the Demon Lord?"
"Yes. We are looking for clues for that. For the investigation for that purpose, we are searching for ruins where Gnome might be nearby. I've heard that most beastmen live without any relation to the Demon Lord. If you have any memory of ruins, I'd like you to tell me. The clues are that Gnome is nearby, or there's a place that cannot be passed without using specific magic."
For a while, the Fox Man and the Wolf Men were silent.
Isn't this a good sign... If they didn't know about the ruins, they wouldn't stay silent.
"Wait a bit. I want to think."
The leader said so and moved away with the Fox Man. After that, they were whispering in a huddle among themselves, but they came back here once a conclusion was reached.
"First, tell me your second proposal. I heard about the dried meat from this guy."
It's a calm way of speaking. Including the Fox Man, everyone is silently looking at Harris-sama.
"Can you imagine how the prisoners from last night crossed the mountain stream?"
"No, I don't know. They probably used wind magic. Beyond that, I didn't know. However, seeing as it could be dispelled with the Magic Break we use, it's at most high-level magic. Does your second proposal involve teaching that?"
"Yes, but the order is different. Originally, it seems Flight Magic was planned to be taught in exchange for the release of the hostages."
"Flight Magic using wind magic, huh. Hmm. Which means. The dried meat matter is the second one?"
"That's how it goes. By the way, the second one is Bishop Jeanne's proposal. It's because she saw that this Fox Man's child was hungry because prey had decreased due to the winter cold and couldn't bear it. If you have dried meat, your families won't have trouble getting through the winter either, right? It's a masterpiece that's good to eat and good to use for bear hunting."
"I see..."
Harris-sama said it jokingly, perhaps intending to change the somewhat heavy atmosphere, but it was easily parried.
"Bishop Jeanne. Can I ask one thing?"
"Yes. What is it?"
The leader suddenly turned his face toward me.
"You seem to be able to use an incredible Holy, and your companions are quite the mages too."
He glanced at Wilson-san. He might have noticed his true identity.
"I want to ask you for reference, have you ever heard of light magic?"
Light magic... In other words, there's a wall?
"I don't know if it's the same as the light magic you all speak of, but I can use a spell called Light. However, it might be a spell that is harmful to you all."
"Oh!" voices were raised.
"T-Then, can you shine something and make a shadow? If you do that, we should know."
Despite saying he wanted to ask for reference, this was his reaction.
"Um, could it be that you all are the gatekeepers? The places I've explored so far were Dwarves."
"O-Our business doesn't matter. More importantly, we're counting on the light magic."
Seeing him flustered, I might have hit the mark.
Since there's not much point in pursuing the matter of the wolves, I shine the staff I held in my left hand with the Light I released from my right hand in the shade of a tree to make a shadow.
"H-Heh. It's the real thing..."
The wolves slumped down as if their legs had given out and were looking up at me.
"Was this magic alright?"
When I asked, they just nodded repeatedly.
For some reason, the Fox Man was just standing there with a solemn expression, so I asked about the circumstances.
"Bishop, it's just as you predicted. We are the gatekeepers. If you say you want to go to a place that can't be reached unless you use that magic, we have an obligation to guide you."
A hit! I involuntarily made a guts pose while making eye contact with Harris-sama.
"H-Hey! Fox!"
"What is it, Wolf? As you know, the Fox is the head of the guides. In this matter alone, my judgment should take priority."
"B-But..."
"No 'buts'. Bishop Jeanne proposed the dried meat matter out of concern for my son, because the food during our wintering was scarce. Moreover, the reward for that is only entering our territory. She can be trusted."
The Fox, who had been timid toward the Wolf until now, was staring straight at the Wolf leader. If he's the head of the guides, is there some kind of contract?
"Now, Bishop Jeanne. If a priest who uses light magic says they want to challenge the trial, we have an obligation to guide them."
"Ah, yes. Please do."
"However, only the Bishop. I'll ask the others to refrain."
Are you serious?
"Don't worry. We'll protect you."
"Um, the trial is..."
"It's simple. Fighting a monster. No need to worry, we'll go with you and protect you. It's our duty to assist the user of light magic. You're called a Dragon Killer and can use such powerful Holy, right? It'll be fine. However, be careful of accidental shots. If we get hit by something like that, we'll die."
What should I do. If I'm alone, I can't do the reading. Surely I don't have to memorize everything, right?
In the end, as a result of Harris-sama and Wilson-san negotiating, other people were allowed to participate in the investigation after the confirmation of whether the wall could be breached was over. This was in exchange for the method of making dried meat. Of course, teaching Flight Magic was also included. Godwynn-sama was also included and his consent was obtained.
"Then Godwynn. We'll borrow the Bishop."
"Yeah, I'm counting on you."
And so, I was taken by the beastmen and entered the forest.