Chapter 465 - Seventh Tale: Gnome's Cave (2)
The remaining two were also Gray Wolves. I successfully captured them alive and threw them into the hole. When I proceeded further, I hit a dead end. Just in case, I illuminated it with Light, but there was no change. It's likely just a dead end.
"Jeanne. I'll go take a look above for a bit. I'll leave clones in the direction we came from, so if a monster comes, have the clones protect you."
"Yeah. Thank you."
She floated up just like that.
During that time, I was keeping the mini-Fionas company while crouching, and what Fiona saw was told through the clones' mouths.
"I can't get out through the top. It's not something thin like a wall that I can pass through. It's quite thick. Maybe we really are in a cave underground or inside a mountain."
"Eh? Is that so?"
"Yeah. I think so."
"I see. Then, I wonder why this moss is growing."
"I don't know. It's not like it was moved from somewhere, right? If that were done, it would probably wither."
Wait? Hold on a second.
"Hey, Fiona. Could you take a good look at the wall?"
"The wall?"
"Yes. Isn't there an unnatural boundary or something?"
The Earth Dragon moved a room of the labyrinth freely.
According to Eleanor-sama, that wasn't a normal Teleport. In a normal Teleport, it won't activate unless there's a space at the destination where the object is sent. But the Earth Dragon's magic moved freely through the ground. In other words, it seems it wasn't sent, but rather one space was connected to another space. Actually, when a door was opened, the other side was a storage room, the outside, or a room in the labyrinth. In that case, the space beyond the door was connected to a different place.
Maybe this underground passage is a place like an Interstice without a ceiling, moved by Gnome's hand. If so, there should be a cut where it was connected to a cave that has a ceiling part.
"I found it, Jeanne. Rather than a cut, the moss suddenly stops growing halfway. It's as if a line was drawn."
As I thought. They must have connected it there.
Which means this might be a labyrinth made by Gnome. If we clear some condition, we should be able to escape.
"Hey, Fiona. Come back. Let's think a bit about what to do next."
"Yeah. Understood."
I had her come back, and returning to the place where the wolves were captured alive, we all decided to consult.
First, I explain to everyone what I experienced in the Earth Dragon's cave. I had explained it before, but it was centered on combat, if anything.
"The Earth Dragon's Teleport was a movement of the place itself, wasn't it."
"Yeah. I could only describe it that way. Because when I opened the door, it was connected to a different place. And, you know, when Robarts-sama threw a piece of wood beyond the door, it disappeared."
"Disappeared? But nothing happened when I went to the cut. Is it because I'm a ghost?"
Come to think of it, that's true. Although I didn't notice, it was quite dangerous.
"Maybe this is the original place or somewhere not so far away, and it's been moved to a sunny spot."
I recall the piece of wood disappeared when it was connected to the Great Cave. In other places... when he himself came out, or when it was connected to the storage room or the labyrinth, we could pass through without problems and weren't given any warnings.
"Then, this place where moss is growing was nearby."
It was.
When we were heading to the Priestess's grave. At that time, since there was no light, there was only the feel of the moss on the ground. I didn't notice the moss on the walls at all, so I didn't realize.
Maybe it's underground of that passage.
When I use the Gnome Detection Stick just in case, it's pointing in the exact opposite direction from before. The fact that one side is sinking hasn't changed.
"Gnome is moving. They are in the direction opposite to before."
"Was it Gnome who moved? Or us?"
"Eh?"
I see, there was that possibility too.
"It seems better to use Sense Living one more time."
"Yeah. Understood."
The detection result was, as expected, a single reaction in the direction where we went to the dead end earlier.
"We're being tested by Gnome. Probably, as Jeanne imagined, these wolves are definitely Wolf Men. Maybe we can escape after catching one more."
I was wondering what to do, but hope suddenly became visible. However, whether it's the Earth Dragon or Gnome, they play with people too much.
The last one was a Fenrir.
I could have just captured it, but if we are being monitored by Gnome, it's a different story. I decided to appeal that I've noticed the Transform.
"Even if it looks like a Fenrir, if the inside is a Wolf Man, there's no lightning. The magic used would be wind or earth, and there's also Magic Reflection."
"But can they chant in that form?"
"Oh, come to think of it, that's true."
A Fenrir that doesn't release magic is just a huge wolf.
"Then, I'll go see how things are."
Saying so, Fiona once floated up and approached the growling Fenrir from above its head.
The Fenrir is just barking. Last time Fiona and I fought a Fenrir, it suddenly released lightning. Cerberus was the same. It released fireballs. In other words, the one in front of us is not a Fenrir.
Then, there's only one thing to do.
I take boar dried meat out of my supply bag. I have a few fragments left for emergency rations.
"Fiona. I'll have it eat this. It should remember the taste."
I hand over a piece I sliced with a knife to Fiona.
"Will it eat?"
"It's barking occasionally, right? When I approach with my staff, it'll surely bark, so at that moment, Fiona, teleport and throw it into its mouth."
"A brute-force method, isn't it. But it sounds interesting."
It was called a brute-force method.
It was brute force, but the effect was immediate.
Immediately after it was thrown into its mouth, it backed away and seemed about to spit it out, but the swarm of mini-Fionas wouldn't allow it. When they all appeared around the Fenrir by teleporting at once, they all pressed its mouth shut to prevent it from spitting it out.
The Fenrir was struggling with half-teary eyes to shake them off, but it must have remembered the taste of the dried meat spreading in its mouth, as it became quiet. It's chewing and eating just like that.
"It's alright now. Let it go."
"Yes!"
It seems it finished eating, as it's looking here with its mouth open. It's no longer growling.
"Want to eat another one?"
When I offer the fragment of dried meat I held in my right hand, it approached slowly and took it in its mouth.
It should be fine now.
"It's alright. I won't kill you. Rest assured."
While I was saying so and stroking its snout, that snout, or rather the mouth, became shorter.
"Eh?"
In the blink of an eye, the intrepid Fenrir became a middle-aged man. Too bad... I shouldn't say that.
"J-Jeanne Priest, huh. I was saved. I thought for sure I'd be done in by that incredible Holy."
It's the leader.
"What on earth is the meaning of this?"
"I-I don't know. I recall we were supposed to go visit the Ancient Priestess's grave. I remember that much, but after that, I have no idea what's what. When I noticed, I had become like a Fenrir and was facing a human. No, there was a ghost too..."
Saying so, he looked around and noticed Fiona and the others.
"Uwaa!"
Quite a greeting. You won't be popular with girls like that.
In the end, the wolves we captured were all Wolf Men. At the same time the leader's magic was dispelled, the mini-Fiona lookout informed me. When we all returned and looked into the hole, the Elders were piled up and groaning. Centered around the leader, we pulled them up with the help of the mini-Fionas who had entered the hole.
"W-What on earth is going on?"
Everyone is asking, but I'm the one who wants to know.
"Probably, this is the trial."
"Trial? This is?"
The Elder says it's likely a trial for the guiding Wolf Men.
"Wasn't the duty of the guides to fight monsters along with the Light user?"
"The duty of the guides is to assist the light magic user in fighting monsters. It must mean that we were the ones in the role of those monsters."
That's... That's too malicious!
"Bishop Jeanne, that is the sense of a human living today. A long time ago, this kind of ritual required blood. Honor and rewards were given precisely to those who conducted the ritual at the risk of their lives and cleared it brilliantly."
"Then, in other words..."
"Yes, Bishop Jeanne, maybe you were supposed to kill us."
I involuntarily exchange looks with the leader.
"B-But, Elder... even if you say that now... we can't fight."
"That's right. If it's a trial where I have to kill you all, I don't care if I can't clear it."
Why do I have to kill them. Even if their forms are monsters, there's no way I can kill them.
"Hey, Jeanne. I wonder how the first king of Sertoria cleared it?"
Since everyone had fallen silent, Fiona came to change the atmosphere. She's a clever girl.
"I don't know. I don't even know if he cleared it."
"Did he fight?"
"I wonder? Let's ask Gnome if we can meet them."
In the end, without really knowing, we decided to proceed with the exploration.
A somewhat heavy atmosphere is flowing, but somehow I don't care anymore. I've come to think it's fine even if the altar isn't found. Anyway, I want to return to the surface first. In the explorations so far, there were battles with monsters. First was insects. This time, the situation is different, so I want to secure safety first. I decided to proceed in the direction opposite to the one we had advanced so far.
I chant Sense Living, but there's no reaction.
Then, assuming nothing is there, I proceed while illuminating my feet with the lantern. After all, there are many around me whose night vision is effective. The mini-Fionas are following along, grabbing onto me, riding on my shoulders or head, or fluttering around. The Wolf Men are looking suspiciously, but the introductions are already over. I'll have them get used to it.
Without any particular problems, we reached a dead end. I had everyone step back and illuminated the wall, but there was no change. If it's come to this, it can't be helped. Wolf Men can use earth magic. It should be fine even in Gnome's barrier.
"Let's dig a hole. Let's just dig and get outside."
I don't know where or how much to dig. We just dig.
"Even if you say dig, will digging lead to anything?"
"We'll make it lead to something. It's no use staying in such a dark place and talking about dark things forever. Let's dig!"
Fortunately, Wolf Men are good at earth magic. Whether it's Clump Sand or Clump Stone, either is fine. Everyone will dig.
"Bishop Jeanne. There's no need to hold back for us. If you like, try to finish me off as a test. Something might change."
This! What are you saying despite being the Elder!
"That is absolutely not allowed!"
When I raise my voice, "not allowed, not allowed" echoes in the cave.
"Fighting among allies is a foolish act that I cannot permit as a priest! Is that clear! We're digging!"
When I put my spirit into it and glare at the Elder like that, for some reason, Fiona and the mini-Fionas started laughing out loud.
"W-What's wrong? Did I say something strange?"
I don't recall saying anything to be laughed at.
"Ahaha, s-sorry. Somehow, I just thought it was very like Jeanne. Fufufu, ufufu, ahahahaha!"
She's laughing while holding her stomach and shedding tears.
Um, what should I do. The Wolf Men are all taken aback too.
Fiona, who had been laughing for a while, finally stopped laughing while huffing and puffing.
"Ufufu, everyone, my deepest apologies. Ufufu."
That's really rude.
"But Jeanne is this kind of person. So, let's join forces and dig. Now, everyone, please stand up."
"A-Ah."
"S-So it seems. Understood. Then, let's dig."
For some reason, they obediently followed Fiona's words and stood up.
"What magic can you use?"
"In human terms, wind up to high-level, and earth up to super high-level. Of course, everyone."
Before I knew it, everyone was gathered around Fiona.
"Then, can you use Wind Barrier, Stone Pillar, and things like Clump Sand or Curve?"
"Yeah, we can. Our magic control is higher than humans, so the power is high too."
"That's reassuring. Then, do you know Flight Magic? It uses Wind Barrier."
"Was that it? Just the other day, I saw a human flying in the sky for the first time. It was Wind Barrier, huh."
"Yes, that's right. Hey, Jeanne. Teach everyone the Paul-style Flight Magic using Wind Barrier. I think just the principle is enough."
"Ah, yes."
"Then, I'm counting on you."
Strange. Before I knew it, Fiona has become the center.
I wonder if this is the result of the special education by the Queen...
While bewildered by the birth of a new leader, everyone put forward their opinions, and it was decided to dig diagonally upward.
Why upward?
Because I thought we couldn't escape by digging downward. We are likely deep underground. I thought so. That said, if we dig straight up, we'll bury ourselves. We'll dig diagonally upward to the extent that we don't get covered by the dug-up earth and somehow escape.
However, no one except Fiona and the others can fly in the sky, of course, nor can they float in the air. First, the practice of Paul-style Flight Magic began. It started with the Elder. He likely has the highest magic control.
I wondered if they could use attribute magic. This was a doubt, but if it was no good, we'd just dig upward from the wall. But it was easily usable. Apparently, only the bonds with the spirits are blocked. What a nasty guy.
But if they can use attribute magic, that's very fine in its own way. I'll use it without hesitation.
First, we make a disc. When I explained the approximate size, it was easily done. As expected.
"First, let's move the Wind Barrier."
He moves it easily.
"Then, please change the shape of the Wind Barrier to be like a bowl."
"Change the shape?"
Surprisingly, he didn't know.
When I conveyed the knack for deforming the wall of light, it became bowl-shaped.
The Wolf Men all raised their voices.
"Should I just move this?"
"Basically yes, but speed won't increase that way, so please dispel part of the bowl. If you dispel the outside of the bottom part, it will go up, and if you dispel a side part, it will move to the side opposite to the one you dispelled. First, please move it upward."
"Umu... like this!"
He went flying toward the ceiling. A 'dokan' sound was heard, and earth fell as if part of the ceiling had collapsed. This is going to take time.
"Um, I'll ride on that Wind Barrier, so please move it slowly. No dispelling, please."
It's already faster to just use the Wind Barrier as a foothold to dig the hole.