Chapter 470 - Seventh Tale: Gnome's Cave (7)
I tried to infer Gnome's location from the place we were jumped to, but it seems impossible.
According to Salamander, Gnome isn't that easy.
“What should we do?”
Salamander asked. Since he was still on my shoulder, the beastmen were keeping their distance.
“Um, apparently we have to fight monsters in the cave we're jumped to, win, dig a hole, and reach Gnome's house.”
“What kind of monsters?”
“Apparently C-rank or higher.”
“'Or higher' means there's a possibility of SS.”
SS-rank? That's a Demon Lord.
SS was apparently a joke, but come to think of it, they won't necessarily get stronger in order. In the first digging, we didn't die, but it's true it was dangerous.
“Shall I go with you partway?”
“Eh? But it's inside Gnome's barrier.”
“It's fine. I'll just be unable to use my power as a spirit.”
“Do you call that 'fine'?”
“Of course. I fight with my intellect. I'll see through everything and set up the initial strategy for you, so just feel like you're on a sinking ship.” (T/N: A play on the idiom 'being on a big ship,' meaning to feel safe. Salamander is being self-deprecating.)
“Intellect...”
“Hey, hey, that's the wrong place to nitpick. I made a funny joke using my overflowing intellect, so laugh, will you?”
Dune didn't even go to the mountain. I can't really laugh at that.
As a result of Salamander joining, the Horse and the Wildcat withdrew. I understand the Horse. Eleanor-sama and Wilson-san... who doesn't count because he's dead... can use Wind Barrier. Their abilities overlap.
Why did the Wildcat, who is good at lightning, withdraw? It was Salamander's instruction.
“It wouldn't make sense without the Fox.”
“M-Me?”
“Of course. You're coming, right?”
“Ah, yes...”
There's no way he could go against Salamander. He joined reluctantly.
“Is there a reason?”
“When you think of a Fox, you think of foxfire. I'm a fire spirit. It's obviously better to have more fire users. What, are you doubting me? Trust me a little.”
I really hope I can trust him.
To be honest, I was doubting him, but...
At the destination, I realized I was a fool for doubting Salamander right away.
The place we jumped to wasn't a mossy cave; a hard sensation was transmitted to the soles of my feet. Just as Alex said, we were jumped to a completely different place from the first time.
“Alright! It's a foxfire festival! Do it flashily!”
Receiving Salamander's words, who was for some reason getting excited, the Fox sent five fireballs flying. The surroundings brightened at once, and the situation became clear at a glance. It seemed we were jumped into a long, narrow cave, but one end appeared to be widening.
Salamander said let's go there, so when we went, it was a junction of large caves. From the wide room, four caves extended, including the one we came in from. The ground underfoot was hard, as if it had been trodden down. The ceiling wasn't very high, and judging from the color of the walls behind us, it was soil rather than rock, so digging might be easy.
“We just passed through the place where the spaces were connected. Did you notice?”
I didn't notice at all.
“As expected of a fire spirit.”
She must not have noticed either. While looking around, Eleanor-sama was also impressed. Only Salamander had noticed.
The Fox's flames were pale like the ones Fiona produces, but since he can manipulate several at once, they're perfect for light. After all, [Light] can't be used. Besides, in addition to the two who can use fire magic, Fiona can use her techniques at any time. It's a big deal that these three can use magic or techniques whenever they want.
“Alright. Next is Jeanne. Use [Sense Living].”
“Yes. [Sense Living]!”
To extend the detection range, I thrust both hands out in front of my body and release it with all my might. If I narrow the detection range, I can detect further. I learned this while practicing detecting schools of fish for the Great Shark hunt. If it's a place with a shelf, I can reach the seabed this way. I slowly turned and detected in all directions.
I chose one passage at random and slowly turned from there to detect the entire surroundings.
It was when I detected toward the wall behind us.
“T-There's a huge reaction!”
B-rank... no, it might be even bigger than that.
“A monster?”
Henry-sama drew his sword and faced the wall. It's silver. The beastmen were startled and jumped back.
“N-No. It's a spirit!”
“Is it Gnome?”
“P-Probably.”
Eleanor-sama asked, but I couldn't answer accurately. Come to think of it, I might have never detected a spirit other than a Goblin.
“No, it's not Gnome.”
Salamander said.
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. Humans can't detect our class.”
Is that so? I didn't know.
“Then, who is it?”
“It's probably Alex.”
“Alex?”
That's unexpected. He's certainly a powerful spirit, but I didn't think it would be such a huge reaction.
“I told him to release his magic power with all his might after we jumped. I thought we'd be able to detect him that way. The fact that the spaces were connected means they're connected now. Besides, Gnome didn't say we couldn't make an escape route, right? This is a place close to the grave from earlier.”
Impressive...
[Sense Living] apparently can detect not only the life signs of living things but also the magic power they release. In other words, if someone with powerful magic control releases magic with all their might, it will be known.
Eleanor-sama apparently didn't know either and was listening to Salamander's explanation.
“Ah, it's getting smaller.”
“That guy, he's starting to tire out. He's got no guts.”
Could it be that it's quite tough for the person doing it?
“He's a Great Spirit of the mine. He's gotta try a bit harder.”
“Ah, it disappeared.”
The reaction disappeared as if it were moving away from us.
I hope he hasn't fainted or something.
For now, securing an escape route is important, so we dig toward Alex's reaction.
With the Wolf leader digging and Wilson-san solidifying, we came out at the original grave in about half an hour. Somehow, the previous hardships seem ridiculous.
When we went outside, Alex was snoring and sleeping in a sunny spot. He was lying with his back to us.
“He's hopeless. He's way too defenseless.”
With a 'phew' of a breath, the Alex's butt caught fire.
As expected, he's running around holding his butt. Eleanor-sama, unable to watch, sent water with [Water] magic and it finally went out.
“B-Brother, that's too cruel.”
He's looking resentfully. Pitiful.
“What are you talking about? Sleeping in such a defenseless posture. Your ancestors who fought with hammers would cry.”
“Even if you say that, wasn't it you, Brother, who told me to do it with all my might because it's safe even if I faint?”
“Did I say that?”
“Give me a break, already! Aren't you guys driving me too hard?”
“Well, don't say that. I'm sure something good will happen.”
He can say that without even apologizing.
Now that the escape route is secured, it's time for a strategy meeting. Alex, who had exhausted all his strength, went back to his nap after asking Salamander.
“In my opinion, beyond the passage is a different place.”
Salamander started. Apparently, Gnome is connecting spaces.
“Then, it might be meaningless even if we conquer one or two.”
Eleanor-sama says that if he can connect to other places as much as he wants, it will be endless if he just keeps connecting to different places one after another.
“If Gnome feels like it, that's what will happen. But Gnome won't do that.”
“Why do you think so?”
“Just a hunch.”
It's extremely vague, but for some reason Eleanor-sama seemed convinced, said 'I understand,' and ended it there.
“Can you tell the direction inside the hole?”
Since he asked again, I replied that I could. I have a wooden fish that tells North and South.
“How many underground passages extended from that underground hall?”
“Four, including the passage we were first jumped to.”
“Then, in which passage is Gnome?”
I see! West! In the position of the altar left by the first King in the Sertoria Royal Palace, the place corresponding to Earth was in the West.
“West.”
“That's right. To be precise, that's Southwest. Then, which way is the monster?”
I don't know that.
“Bishop Jeanne, how was the first time? As you know, we were being manipulated by Gnome and have no memory.”
The Wolf asked. It's true that right after being jumped, I was alone.
“Um, I didn't look at the direction at that time.”
I only used the [Gnome Detection Stick]. I thought it was meaningless since we were underground.
Salamander asked what the [Gnome Detection Stick] was, so I explained.
“Heh, with the Earth Dragon. So, how was its reaction?”
At first, it was pointing in a direction where there was no reaction from the monster... which was actually the Wolf whose form had been changed. When we captured that monster alive, this time it pointed in the opposite direction, and the last monster appeared there.
“At that time, I thought Gnome had moved, but...”
“To be precise, it was the entire space Gnome was in.”
That means...
“Do you understand the strategy?”
“Yes. While observing the direction and the [Gnome Detection Stick] in the hall, I'll detect monsters with [Sense Living]. As soon as we find them, we defeat them and go West.”
“That's right. Do your best. Listen, trust the fire.”
Salamander, sitting on my shoulder, patted my head.
The strategy was decided. As expected of a fire spirit. He always seems like he's drunk, but he's really reliable when it counts. However, that Salamander withdrew midway. He said if he helped with everything, Gnome might make the content of the trial stricter. Instead, the Wildcat joined.
We return to the hole once more. When I pour water into a bowl and float the wooden fish, it points to one of the passages.
“That's the western cave.”
“If it's not curved, that is.”
It's Eleanor-sama. She has become the original tactical lead in place of the fire spirit.
Come to think of it, this is quite a reliable composition.
Just in case it's straight, after placing a marker at the western cave, we head toward the eastern cave.
Relying on the foxfire, as we proceed, it gradually turns toward the Northeast, and there's a gentle cliff. There are protrusions here and there, so we could climb without problem, but beyond that, it looks like it's turning sharply to the right.
“As expected, it won't be straightforward. Jeanne, is there a reaction?”
“None so far.”
“Then, it might be connected to another space beyond that turn. Everyone, just in case. Prepare for combat.”
Does the space connecting mean it will also be a surprise for the opponent? It's tough to suddenly force an unexpected encounter.
Just as Eleanor-sama predicted, there was a reaction as soon as we passed the turn.
“Front! Distance, ten steps! Probably C-rank! I'm using [Light]!”
I switch and illuminate the front. If the opponent is C-class, I can stop them.
“Leave it to me!”
The Fox nocks a silver arrow. Since he's a beastman, he should have been able to see from the start. At the same time, Henry-sama braced himself on one knee in front of me and drew his sword. Today, perhaps out of consideration for the beastmen, he doesn't have a spear. A sword is fine since he can just keep it in its scabbard.
The Bear stepped diagonally in front of me and readied a long-handled axe. Both of them are acting as a wall for me.
“[Favorable Wind]!” (T/N: A variation of Wind magic.)
Immediately after Wilson-san used wind magic, the Fox released his arrow. The arrow increases in power by the amount it accelerates. At the same time, yellow light surged, and the Wildcat released lightning horizontally.
“Jeanne, it's a Cerberus.”
Fiona, who is merged with me, told me.
“That felt solid.”
“I stopped its movement.”
Both apparently hit. By then, Fiona, who is merged with me, manipulated my right hand to send a fireball flying to illuminate the area, so I was also able to secure visibility.
The Cerberus, with an arrow stuck in its chest, was standing with its four legs spread wide, barely holding its ground, perhaps paralyzed from the lightning magic.
“Bishop Jeanne, [Holy]. Finish it off.”
“It's weakened, so hitting it should be easy.”
I'm quite busy.
With four volleys from the staff in my left hand, I finished it off. Though, since the Wolf leader ran up and cut off its head with a two-handed sword right after it was hit, I don't know which one actually finished it.
“That was splendid. Wonderful movement.”
It's just as Eleanor-sama said. Putting aside the monster-like Henry-sama, the speed at which the Fox nocks his arrows and the Bear's closing speed are things ordinary humans could never imitate. Wilson-san's wind magic and Fiona's fireball for light were also not inferior.
“Well, yeah. Thanks to the warning, we were prepared. It's thanks to you. Besides, the other companions responded immediately. Impressive.”
As the Wolf leader said, the coordination has also improved. We might be fine no matter what comes out.
“The coordination between Bishop Jeanne and Fiona is also impressive.”
The Wildcat Sister also praised us.
“Thank you.”
“U-Uwa! You startled me. Don't suddenly show your face.”
Apparently, Fiona peeked her face out from around my nape.
“You're skillful. You have two heads. You can see both front and back.”
It's as the Wolf leader said, but even if we can see, our reaction is slow because we can't communicate our intentions to each other.
Eh? Wait a minute.
“Hey, Fiona. While we're completely merged, you don't take damage even if you're bathed in holy magic, right?”
“Yeah. Instead, because I'm clad in fire, Jeanne's body glows pale blue.”
“That much is fine. More importantly, what would happen if I used [Thought Communication] while we're merged?”
“What do you mean, what would happen?”
“I've never done it so I don't know, but maybe what Fiona and I are each thinking will be transmitted immediately.”
When merged, Fiona can freely move my limbs. She can even change the direction of my head. Of course, that's only when I'm completely leaving it to Fiona; if I try to resist, I can resist immediately, so if our intentions differ, she can't manipulate me. For example, if I'm trying to step forward with my right foot, Fiona can't stop it. She could if she wanted to, but that would be possession and apparently different from merging.
Of course, what Fiona sees and what I see cannot be shared. The sensations themselves are different. But, if we're bathed in the first King series magic through my body, the effect of the magic might come out.
As a result of the experiment with Eleanor-sama's mouse, I know that [Light] aside, the other spells are not magic that damages monsters or ghosts. Of course, since it's magic that doesn't work on monsters, even if I use it on a mouse, I won't know the mouse's thoughts.
“If Jeanne says so, let's try the experiment.”
Fiona agreed, so I'll try it.
That said, it's just using [Thought Communication] on myself while completely merged.
“I'll tell you first, everything you think will be transmitted, so it's better to try not to let some things leak.”
“There's nothing I'm troubled by Jeanne knowing. Besides, you're a priest, so you're not supposed to talk about personal matters to others, right?”
“Yeah. That's true, but if the state of everything leaking continues, it'll be distracting. Look, there's combat.”
It won't go through unless you try to talk. Conversely, if you try to convey something, it will go through easily. If you think of a monologue in your head, it'll be found out immediately. I told her those things and actually used it.
(How is it? Fiona. Can you hear me?)
(It's amazing. It's like it's echoing in my head.)
(Is your body okay? Does it hurt or feel painful?)
(Yeah. I'm fine. Thank you.)
Good. It was a success.
After that, I had Fiona put her head out on the back side.
(The beastmen seem to be tilting their heads.)
(They probably don't understand what's going on.)
It was a success. When I told Eleanor-sama it worked well, she was happy.
(But this sensation is similar to communication between ghosts.)
Communication between ghosts... I've seen it several times. When Fiona talks to a ghost that can't converse with us, no voice is heard.
“Is that a conversation with the soul... in other words, communicating heart to heart?”
Eleanor-sama's explanation was somehow convincing.
“Jeanne. Perhaps the true purpose of that magic was communication with the dead.”
Communication with the dead... It's very priest-like. Maybe I'll be able to do it when I reach ultra-high-level. I'll try talking to the Priestess of Finis next time.