Chapter 517 - Chapter 11: The Entrance to the Dragonewt Village
The Dragonewt who came out of the wrapping is indeed tall. However, he's not muscular but rather slender. If the blue Dragonewt we met when we went to the Dryad's forest was Prince Roberts, he's just like the Elf Prince. Compared to other dragons, the Wyvern was also slender. Attributes might have something in common.
His hair and the wings on his back are yellowish-green. Having golden eyes is common. His clothing being a white tunic also doesn't change. His weapons are two short swords. He's the same as Magdalena-sama, who prioritizes speed.
While saying things like "Who are you lot," when we offered the alcohol we brought, he drained it without hesitation and requested a refill. Eleanor-sama poured it, saying "Please, please."
Since it was a good opportunity, I offered dried meat as a snack, and he began gnawing on it, saying it was delicious. He might have been hungry.
"A human, a Dwarf, an Elf, and an Arachne. You've brought quite a collection. Moreover, there's a user of Light magic?"
It's hard to believe he was fighting until just a moment ago.
"Yes. Otherwise, I don't think I would have been requested by the Gnome."
"I suppose so. So, what do you want with us?"
"There are two things I must convey, but I must convey them to the Chieftain."
"What, are you dissatisfied with just me conveying it to the Chieftain?"
"No, it's not that, but I believe I can speak to you if you promise to guide us to where the Chieftain is."
At Eleanor-sama's words, the Dragonewt smirked.
"You lot certainly captured me alive. However, to enter the Chieftain's village, you must enter by your own power. Even if you tried to enter with me as a guide, you would only be turned away."
"Then, can we enter your village?"
"M-My village? What are you going to do by entering my village?"
"We want to get closer to you all."
"That... is impossible. Give up."
His smirking face suddenly became serious. He didn't look away but stared firmly at Eleanor-sama.
"Why is that? I hear you Dragonewts had interactions and acted as mediators between humans and dragons in ancient times. There must have been a reason for that being lost, but by correcting the problematic parts, isn't it possible to interact like before?"
"It's just a repetition of the same thing. You humans make excuses like the generation has changed or the lord has changed, and immediately go back on your promises. It was fine when you feared dragons. However, before we knew it, you started fighting them, and eventually some even went so far as to kill them."
"That is, however, because humans must also survive. There are also records remaining that dragons frequently attacked human settlements."
"Of course! It's because you entered the dragons' territory without permission and cut down trees or hunted. Even you humans immediately wage war if people from another country do the same thing!"
He said bitingly while glaring. Likely, that's exactly how it is.
At this, even Eleanor-sama fell silent.
"Then, how about forming a friendship with us?"
After a slight pause, the Elf Prince brought it up while watching the Dragonewt drain his bowl of alcohol and gnaw on dried meat with a displeased look.
"I don't mind if it's with us."
Alex too.
To be honest, I didn't think the two of them would say such things.
"An Elf and a Dwarf? Why do you lot side with humans to that extent?"
The Dragonewt's words were likely our own words as well. As proof, Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama, who had been looking down, raised their faces and looked at the two.
"We aren't particularly siding with them. We have a need to expand our trade partners in our own way. And..."
He trailed off and looked at me. What is it?
"And?"
"There are humans in whom the spirit of coexistence and co-prosperity is soaked to the very marrow of their bones."
Marrow of the bones...
For an Elf, his way of saying it is vulgar. I don't know if I should be happy or not.
Alex is even laughing out loud.
"It's easy to say."
"Jeanne. Show him the spirit stones you usually wear."
The spirit stones are Dune, Mel, Salamander, Serena, and the male Alraune's too. I have the Cait Sith's as well.
Suddenly, the Dragonewt's expression changed.
"Do you receive the protection of three of the Four Great ones?"
"That's right. And I came here at the Gnome's request. Originally, it wouldn't be strange if I had been given the Gnome's stone. I don't know the details, but apparently things get quite bad if four are gathered. That's why I wasn't given it."
"T-That is certainly true."
"How about it? Jeanne has obtained the trust of this many spirits."
"There are quite a lot. What is that crystal?"
"Ah, this is for calling an acquaintance who is a ghost..."
"A ghost? Do you even call ghosts?"
He started laughing.
"It's not just spirits and ghosts. Despite being from a commoner background, this Jeanne has been knighted in four countries, and furthermore, is treated as an equal to a knight in one country. In her home Kingdom of Sertoria, calling her a knight is only nominal and the rank itself doesn't exist, so she hasn't been knighted, but she frequently enters and leaves the Royal Palace. You could say she's equivalent to the rank of someone who can have an audience."
This time it was Eleanor-sama. Being told this much is a bit embarrassing.
"And she has maintained the eighth place in the Nakanohara Madonna for several years."
That has nothing to do with it! It's truly embarrassing, so please stop. The Dragonewt's look at me has clearly become suspicious. Alex, you're laughing too much!
Eleanor-sama's explanation aside, the fact that I receive the protection of three of the great ones seemed to be persuasive, and we were to be guided to the village of the wind-attribute Dragonewts.
The problem, or rather the focus, was how to go, but it was nothing special. It was apparently a quick Teleport. No matter what, he doesn't want to show the entrance and exit. If so, in the future, to go to the village, we would need to be recognized by the guarding Dragonewt... likely by fighting and winning. It would be a hassle since the same trick won't work.
"So you can also use long-distance Teleport. Impressive."
Alex, who is also good at long-distance Teleport, said while we were clinging to the Dragonewt in the center.
"I'm sure you understand, but anyone who enters the village without prior approval will be forcibly removed as an intruder regardless of the reason."
"I know. Dwarves have at least that much manners."
"Then it's fine. Here we go!"
A magic circle emerged on the ground where the Dragonewt placed his hand, and at that moment, the field of vision distorted. It had activated.
"We've arrived. Let go of me."
The place we arrived at was pitch black. Um, where is this? Is it an underground cell with guards? Chilly air. The sensation at my feet is hard. Stone? The ceiling is quite high. When I illuminate the surroundings, it's unexpectedly wide. It's about as large as the Great Cathedral of the Nakanohara Great Church. In other words, several hundred Dragonewts could have entered and exited at once. When going to battle, this might have been the place of departure.
I don't see anything like a door. That means it's hidden, or it's up.
"No bats. At a glance, there's no exit anywhere."
Even when Violet, who has night vision, looked, there was apparently nothing like a door.
Are we trapped?
"Escape is possible anytime. Though, since I don't know the exact location, I won't be able to come here."
With Alex here, we should be safe. However, we won't be able to reach the Dragonewt Village that way.
"First, shall we look for a secret passage?"
"Is there a secret passage?"
"If there isn't, we can't get out of here. The Dragonewt clearly said this is the entrance to the village. If so, there must be an exit leading to the village."
I'll have expectations for the great spirit of the mines.
The exploration began, but first we had to scrutinize the place we were sent to. We divided into three groups: Henry-sama, the Elf Prince, and me in the bowl as the aerial reconnaissance team; Violet, who has night vision and can walk freely on vertical walls; and Alex, who explores the floor. I handed my staff to Alex. He says he can tell the location of a secret passage by tapping the stones.
When we finally flew up to the ceiling, first was magic detection by the Elf Prince. He confirms if there's a place where camouflage is applied. The opponent can fly in the sky. I don't know where the secret passage is, but it would be quickest to just descend straight down.
I thought so, but it wasn't that simple. We investigated slowly along the wall from the ceiling, but there was apparently no reaction. If the Elf Prince can't detect it, it's impossible for humans. Nothing was found on the floor Alex investigated either. We had him ride in the bowl and started investigating the walls with Violet, but as expected, nothing was found.
Since nothing was found, we all gathered to consult. In the pitch black, only the Fire Ball lit by Eleanor-sama was emitting red light.
According to Alex, this place has quite an elaborate structure.
"Likely, beyond the stone is soil."
"Normally it would be."
"If it's just a basement. Usually, a secret passage in a basement is where you remove a few stones and a passage comes out, right?"
Indeed, that's the image. Or rather, I feel like it wouldn't be a secret passage otherwise.
"If it's that kind of structure, no matter how large the stones used, the sound is different when you tap them, so you can tell. At least for us Dwarves. However, here, likely, there's soil firmly beyond the stone, and the passage is beyond that. That's how they're deadening the sound with soft soil."
It's apparently no problem if it's thin. If the thickness of the soil is above a certain level, the sound apparently stops echoing.
To make it function as an entrance and exit, the stones at the location of the secret passage must be removed and then the soil must be dug out. It's a hassle.
"It's not easy. Shall we retreat once, prepare sufficiently, and come back? We'd have to start over from calling that fellow, though."
According to Alex, if he has various tools, he can do a more accurate investigation. To do that, he must return to the tool storage in the mine once. However, even if we lure him out, the same trick likely won't work.
The Dragonewt's attribute is wind. Is there anything that can be done with wind magic?
"Wind magic, huh. Elf, is there anything?"
The Elf Prince, who was asked, remained silent with his arms crossed.
In a time like this, if Mel were here, she would find the location of the secret passage by passing a tiny bit of air through the gaps. And if we dig blindly just because we can't do that, the wall might collapse. If that happened, the Dragonewts might get angry and not let us into the village. Anyone would get angry if their front door was broken.
The movement of wind...
Wait a minute. In short, if you move air, it becomes wind.
"Hey, what would Mel do if she were here?"
I asked the Elf, who is good at wind magic.
"She would move a tiny bit of wind that we can't handle and find the gap to the passage."
"At that time, can Mel see the air?"
"She is wind itself. It wouldn't be a matter of seeing or not seeing."
"Can't an Elf do it without seeing?"
"?"
Air isn't something you can see originally. Besides, any magic produces something from nothing. It should be possible even without seeing.
"In other words, are you telling me to move the air in the passage beyond the wall?"
"Yes. Can't you pound it from the other side with Wind Barrier?"
If there's air, it should be possible. Alex should be able to tell the sound.
"What do you think?"
The Elf Prince asked Alex. While not to the extent of the Four Great ones or the Black Dragon Child, these two are the next best magic users. They have their strengths and weaknesses.
"I think it can be done. If you think there's space... in other words, air. I think our class can do it."
"Is it that kind of thing?"
"Yeah. Isn't it that kind of thing? For example, long-distance Teleport is about whether you can have a clear image of the place you want to jump to. In other words, you haven't seen it with your eyes. Even so, it activates, doesn't it?"
"However. As you know, we are different from Dwarves; we are not good at long-distance Teleport."
"Instead, you're good at camouflage. In short, it's imagination, right? If it goes well, it's a find. However, hold the image accurately. Well, it'll be pitch black just like here, so it shouldn't be that difficult."
"Hmm. That's also true."
So, we decided to actually try the experiment of activating magic in the space beyond the wall.