Chapter 486 - Eighth Episode: Small Island off Sertogne
The target small island was smaller than I thought, with no hills, let alone mountains. Of course, since there are undulations, it's not like the island would be submerged in the sea on a stormy day. Well, it's a small island that makes you have to think about such things.
According to Eleanor-sama, the three islands, which are separate at high tide, are connected by shoals at low tide. Since it's high tide now, there are three islands. Those three islands are arranged in a triangle, centered on the island at the western end, with islands to the northeast and southeast. Since there is a fortress and several wooden buildings connected to it on the middle island, that must be the treatment center and prisoner of war camp.
The ship went around the northeast island, advanced to about the middle of the three islands, anchored right beside the hospital ship Edward-sama was on, and dropped anchor there.
There's no quay. The coast of the island is a mix of rocky and sandy beaches.
A board was passed from the hospital ship to this ship, and the large Edward-sama came walking over heavily.
"Henry-sama, Eleanor-sama, Magdalena-sama, and even Miana-sama. Thank you for coming all the way to this island by sea."
"No, no, we are merely peddlers. No need for formalities."
"That's right. It's fine to speak to us normally."
Even if they said that, it would be impossible for Edward-sama, who has an even more rugged feel than Roberts-sama.
As expected, after bowing with a bewildered expression, he looked at Miana as if troubled.
"Edward, the Henry Party are peddlers who are good at magic. That's why they have a special interest in this experiment and are cooperating. First, tell them about the state of the experiment."
When Sianya said this while half-laughing, he decided to guide us to the ship's water tank.
When we went to the treatment center, the director was there.
"Well, well, the Henry peddler party, you've come well."
He welcomed us while laughing loudly.
The fact that he has grasped our setting is impressive.
It bothers me that even I have been lumped in with the Henry Party before I knew it, but I pretended not to notice, deciding it was just for this time.
"At present, the experiment is a success. For the first one, I thought the water would overflow and the ship would flip over."
The room with the water tank is at the stern. It's a narrow room that could be said to have nothing but a water tank, and it was probably made specifically for this experiment. It seems they had anticipated to some extent that it would become full all at once. The front and sides of the water tank have high walls, so even if it becomes full, the water is designed to flow out into the sea from several windows at the back. However, because a larger amount of water than expected was teleported, the room with the water tank was temporarily filled with water, and Edward-sama and the director, who were inspecting it, apparently almost drowned. When all the doors were opened, a large amount of water flowed into the ship. They had no choice but to jump into the sea from the back window.
"We finally crawled back onto the ship and then contacted you. Because of that, the contact was delayed, and because of the water that leaked from the closed doors in the meantime, the whole ship was almost flooded."
As Edward-sama's explanation indicated, the inside of the ship is damp. Especially in the room with the water tank, there are traces of water wetting even the ceiling.
Eleanor-sama has an expression that says it's only natural. Maybe she experimented somewhere once.
"But the second one was just right. Can you see the two slits in the water tank? I sent a messenger to inform the ship offshore after it reached the bottom line, but in the meantime, it only filled up to here."
The water has filled up to a point past the top line. The top line is effectively full, and there is a distance of a hand's tip to the elbow. Since the ship shakes, it's apparently just right if it's covered.
"I see. So it's better if the outlet is at beginner level?"
"It seems so. But only after leaving the White Island."
"No, even on the White Island, it might be possible with some ingenuity."
"With some ingenuity? Is such a thing possible?"
Edward-sama has a dubious face at Eleanor-sama's words.
That's only natural. Teleport is originally mid-level. Even if one were to hold back when imbuing magic into the teleportation circle, the magic itself wouldn't activate.
"That's true. Then, why did it activate here? When you come this far, the rank drops by one, so it's practically beginner level."
"That's because originally mid-level magic was imbued... ah, could it be?"
"You've noticed. That's right. You just need to make the teleportation circle here."
So that's it!
If you leave the island, the rank of magic drops. However, since the magic itself is the same, you should be able to make mid-level scrolls or teleportation circles that only have beginner-level effects.
Wait? Hold on a second. What's the point of intentionally making weak scrolls or teleportation circles? Using Teleport to store water in a water tank isn't worth the cost.
"That's true. But have you forgotten? That there is one level above Teleport."
Translate! When Marcelo-sama teleported the border fortress of Primordia along with everything else, it turned into a pile of stone. If that dangerous magic could be controlled...
"Yes, it's the only uncontrollable advanced magic, but it might be possible here."
If you make a teleportation circle for that magic here and activate it, you might get the same effect as mid-level Teleport. For example, being able to teleport from ship to ship... wait, is there any meaning in that?
"There's no need to teleport from ship to ship, is there? It can't be used for normal logistics because the price is too high, but for example, if you can accurately teleport from a ship to a designated location on the White Island, it might be useful in an emergency. For example, when a hospital ship is attacked by a West Liber warship."
I see. For emergency evacuation.
"Then, Eleanor-sama. For example, would it be possible to load straw dolls and gunpowder onto a ship for about ten people, and teleport a torch to blow it up all at once when an enemy ship comes for inspection?"
"It should be possible. But it might be more effective to throw a teleportation circle onto the enemy ship and send in gunpowder with a lit fuse."
"I see. There are such ways to use it. Quite interesting."
"It's all about ingenuity. If you think of various ingenuities, you can take the opponent by surprise. Neither your country nor our country maintains such a powerful army, but with ingenuity, you can repel a large Engrio army single-handedly like your father did."
"I-I see. That makes dreams expand."
Edward-sama's cheeks flushed, and he listened with clenched fists.
He's having quite a violent dream.
Beowulf, you shouldn't be laughing either.
Edward-sama's dreams aside, a small boat came from the island to pick us up, so we decided to board and land. Usually, we would go by bowl, but even for a super-advanced mage, if the rank drops by two, they can only use mid-level magic. Wind Barrier is advanced magic, so it becomes unusable on the coast of the island.
The place where the ship anchored is like a bay surrounded by the three islands and the reef area that would connect them at low tide. The waves are also calm. Inside that bay, the Primordia Navy soldiers rowed a small boat with great effort and ran it onto the sandy, or rather gravelly, beach.
Beyond the beach is a small shore, and beyond that is a cliff. On top of the cliff, a cylindrical tower that appeared to be part of a stone fortress could be seen, with soldiers visible here and there on the roof.
A single male priest, led by a young male priest and a soldier, descends the narrow path carved into the cliff. He seems quite elderly. Moreover, perhaps because one of his legs is impaired, he is dragging it, and his footing is unsteady. Occasionally, he takes the hand offered by the younger one and descends carefully so as not to fall.
Edward-sama ran over, crouched down, and showed his back. The priest seemed hesitant at first, but in the end, he climbed on and they began to descend. After all, he's huge. The elderly priest is by no means small, but it's like he's carrying a child on his broad back. On the way, the soldier who was with them apologized to Edward-sama, but he said, "I don't mind."
When I glanced at Beowulf, she was smiling, but when she noticed Miana's and my gazes, she blushed slightly and looked down.
The priest riding on Edward-sama's back was an Archbishop. He is apparently the person in charge of the temporary wartime treatment center on this island. If one is an Archbishop, they usually serve as the head of a large church in a big town. He apparently volunteered, but why is he in a place like this?
"Are you Bishop Jeanne? I am Lloyd. Please to meet you. I have heard rumors of your activities from Archbishop Cadogan for some time."
Archbishop Lloyd of Sertogne, who got off Edward-sama's back, thanked Edward-sama and then took my hand.
It seems he came down to the beach despite dragging his bad leg just to meet me.
"Archbishop Lloyd is a researcher of plague countermeasures, starting with Just a Disease, who is well-known not just in Sertogne but on the continent. He has truly worked hard for many years. And thanks to Jeanne's magic water, the treatment method was established. When I told him Jeanne was coming this time, he said he definitely wanted to meet you."
That's a big deal. For him to come all the way here despite his bad leg, it's nothing but humbling.
I knelt once more, finished the first-time greetings.
Following behind Archbishop Lloyd, who was again carried by Edward-sama, we climbed the narrow cliff path and the stone wall of the fortress was in front of us. Advancing while seeing a fence on the right, there was a gate, and we entered through it.
As for the scale of the fortress, it's not that large. A tower and a main building. Several buildings. All are made of stone. The perimeter is surrounded by a stone wall, and soldiers are standing here and there.
We were guided straight to the main building and led to a hall with a large table.
Opening the entrance leads directly to the hall. No one is sitting in the chair in front. Archbishop Lloyd seems to be the de facto master. Standing next to him is probably the garrison commander. At first glance, he looks like Archbishop Lloyd's guard.
We sat in the chairs as invited, but as expected, no one sat in the chair in front. To the left of the front chair sat Edward-sama and Sianya, with the Henry Party following. To the right sat Archbishop Lloyd and three priests, followed by the soldier who looked like the commander.
A soldier acting as a server brought beer, and after a toast, we entered the meeting.
Archbishop Lloyd didn't only have business with me.
He fully understood how much this water teleportation experiment would be a salvation for this small island and seemed to have been looking forward to the discussion with Edward-sama, the leader of the experiment.
"The replenishment of water was truly a major challenge. Of course, the home country and the Primordia Royal Family promised support. However, when it comes to not just drinking but also making and using Bishop Jeanne's magic water, a considerable amount is needed. I was racking my brain. If this experiment goes well, we can use it to our heart's content. Moreover, since no expense is required, I don't know how to thank the Primordia Royal Family. I am truly at a loss for words."
He has his hands gathered in front and is bowing deeply.
"Archbishop Lloyd, do not say such things. Our country is an ally of your country, Sertogne. In this war between East and West Liber, we have made a pact to support your country. This matter is also just in accordance with that pact."
"No, no, the pact only covers the transport of the wounded and water by ship. To push that forward and try a powerful support method... please convey my regards to His Majesty the King and Cadogan-sama."
"Understood. I have certainly received your message."
I feel like this is something we can't fail, but will it be okay?
When I looked at Eleanor-sama, she was smiling. She must be confident.
After the general discussion between Edward-sama and Archbishop Lloyd ended, there was a detailed explanation of the experiment once again from the Henry Party, who play a leading role in this experiment.
We have brought teleportation circles on this voyage. Since there are five, we can start the experiment by installing them in the water tank and also installing the Anti-Sepsis teleportation circle I drew.
As a result of Gnome giving me a trigger, I became a super-advanced mage. I can't actually cast Heal or Holy like the Headmistress, but it's more powerful than advanced. You could call it quasi-super-advanced. I sealed this Anti-Sepsis teleportation circle with that quasi-super-advanced power. When you come to this island, it drops by two ranks, so I should be able to use magic of a power that should be called... beginner-mid level... between beginner and mid-level. If things go smoothly, it might take some time, but we should be able to make reasonably powerful magic water.
When I was shown the water tanks in the basement of the main building, there were three sturdy stone ones. The size of each is about the same as the one on the hospital ship. Of the three, one is full, one is about half full, and one is empty. That empty water tank is apparently for magic water.
"These three are for daily use. The one installed in a place one level higher in the back is the receptacle for the water teleported here."
The place Archbishop Lloyd pointed to was, no matter how you looked at it, the wall of the room.