Chapter 546 - Chapter 5: Northern Gram Wetlands (7)
Having taken sufficient rest, I wake up with the sunrise.
Looking out the window of the fort, the view is unexpectedly good. In the wetlands illuminated by the morning sun rising from the great eastern ocean, a grayish morning mist is rising from where there is water. The water birds that have woken up also began to flap their wings while chirping. Although the wetlands are treated poorly because cultivation is difficult, the activities of living things are certainly there.
Come to think of it, I've never heard Dune's story about wetlands. According to what Dune says, places where water gathers play various roles necessary for living things to live. I have to ask her next time.
The first stage, which could be called the battle for the fort, was a defensive battle based in the fort, so almost no damage occurred. After all, the activity of the ghosts is great. As a result of Eowyn-sama merging with the border Lord, Gwyn-sama with McGuire-san, and Sianya with the Queen, the royalty of the three countries could personally take the lead in commanding the defense. The morale of the soldiers must have risen too. We managed to dodge the attacks by the Demon Race and the two-heads with the Wetlands Priestess's Dark magic and the defensive walls of the ghosts, and the magic of Northern Gram's ultra-high-level mages.
The second stage is, so to speak, an offensive against enemy territory. Moreover, while searching for an opponent whose lurking place is unknown. In the end, we have no choice but to gather insects with Light, gather frogs, and wait for the two-heads to come out. However, they probably won't come to the front of the fort anymore. We decided to gather them at the high ground where we broke the Teleportation Circle and have only the bowl units subjugate them. Since the effect of Light is thin during the day, we'll be on standby, so Gwyn-sama decided to go and call the Finis bowl units. Of course, a high-speeded medium-sized bowl is necessary for the journey, but they'll apparently come on board, centered around Finis's ultra-high-level mages.
There's another problem, or rather, a challenge. The battle will be a night battle. As long as we use Light, the ghosts have to merge with someone or they won't be able to show their forms. Because they'll take damage. As a result of selection, in the case of a field battle, the border Lord will merge with Harrison-san, the Queen with Eleanor-sama, McGuire-san with Gwyn-sama, Fiona with me, the Wetlands Priestess with Sianya, and the Wetlands Knight Commander with Eowyn-sama. As a side note, Sianya will be staying behind at the fort with the staff members Eowyn-sama brought. The plain, fat noble will be the chief commander, commanding the soldiers who can't fit in the bowls, and will be prepared for any counterattack by the enemy.
During the day, everyone decided to do what they could by dividing the work. Eowyn-sama, along with Gwyn-sama, will investigate the high grounds with the Sertoria group. For some reason, Wilson-san and Will are staying behind. Beatrix and Bonnie will participate. I wonder if they have something to do?
At the fort where the two are staying, Sianya and Harrison-san will protect it along with the ghosts except for Fiona. Since there are ultra-high-level mages and magic soldiers who can use Teleport at the fort, we decided to ask for the analysis of the Teleportation Circle Beatrix copied.
Now, we depart in the bowl operated by Eleanor-sama.
Outside the fort, the Northern Gram bowl units are recovering the white silver arrows used in the previous night's battle. Seeing that only the arrows are floating in the air and landing on the hands held out by the soldiers in the bowls, the recovery work must be being done by the Wetlands Knight Order. Since they can even recover arrows submerged in water, their contribution is great. At first, Eowyn-sama, who heard that, was praising them greatly, but he seemed to have been told something by the Wetlands Knight Commander and went silent. He must have been told to stop praising them until the mission is complete.
Once, we ascend high into the sky and look over the entire wetlands.
Looking with the thought that there's a barrier, there are indeed two pentagons. To be precise, it's the five corners formed when drawing a star in one stroke and the regular pentagon formed inside it. There's one high ground corresponding to the five corners in the south, two in the north, and one each in the east and west. Last night, partly because it was dark, we tried to do them in order from the one closest to the fort, but while there's daylight, we decided to investigate the high grounds at the outer corners in order.
First is the re-investigation of the northwest corner. We dig further where the stone slab came out. When we dig about the height of a person, something like a large stone coffin came out. Just in case, while in the bowl, Eleanor-sama lifted the lid with Clump Stone, and it was filled with soil. When we dug the soil with Clump Sand, an altar appeared. Eleanor-sama cleans the water Beatrix put out with Clump Water. It's roughly the same as what came out in the investigation of the secret books.
When we got out of the bowl and investigated, the Sign representing the Moon was engraved. There's no doubt. It's some kind of barrier.
"It seems we have to dig up the ruins of the fort in the middle."
It's Eleanor-sama.
The fort in the middle was turned into a pile of rubble with Megiddo Fire and became fort ruins. Since there was no basement, we'll be able to dig easily.
"Jeanne, we might understand a little about what is in the basement of the Ruined Town."
Testament... I see, come to think of it, there was no mention in the previous secret books about barriers made with altars with Signs. Since we investigated three places, there are still two places where secret books are kept. Regnentes, and I don't know the other one.
Wait? Hold on a second.
Maybe, if there are altars in all five places corresponding to the corners, and if Signs are engraved in all of them, we can roughly know the location of the fifth one?
Fortunately, the members currently together are only those who reached the altars where the secret books are. I can talk to everyone...
Come to think of it, Wilson-san and Will went to the wall but hadn't reached the altar. To be precise, Henry-sama hasn't reached it either, but since he's royalty, he must have looked through the reports. I see, that's why they were staying behind. Eleanor-sama led the selection of people. The reason she even brought Eowyn-sama, who would normally be the fort's defense commander, was because she anticipated this kind of situation. As expected.
I immediately talk to Eleanor-sama about what I thought of.
"You noticed well."
"It is a wonderful discovery. As expected of Jeanne-sama."
I was praised by Eleanor-sama and one serious patient.
"Let's investigate in order. The full-scale investigation will be after we've defeated the insects, but before that, we have to at least investigate the positions of the altars and the Signs Jeanne mentioned."
If the altars also become factors for activating some kind of barrier, a large-scale investigation centered on the Church, including ancient documents, will be necessary. To make the investigation go smoothly, it's necessary to do monster subjugation with the momentum of rooting out the insects. Especially the two-heads must all be defeated. As a monster hunter, it'll be a place to earn, but it's too wide. It's the kind of place you do with national army units. Moreover, the opponent is insects. Because the footing is poor, there are only losses and little profit. I heard Eowyn-sama is entrusted with the governance of the Old Gram region by the King of Northern Gram. If he actually does it, he'll surely struggle. It's tough.
"How about it? To commemorate Jeanne-sama's discovery just now, I would like to name this wetland the Jeanne Wetlands."
"Please stop."
Gwyn-sama is laughing.
It was a waste of time to worry.
We dug up the entire high ground, but nothing was found except for the altar. Inside the stone coffin... or rather, it would be a box... of the altar, I had Fiona dive in. In King Griffith's tomb, treasures were sleeping, but it's not that sweet. Forget treasures, there aren't even clues to the barrier. Having no choice, we decided to investigate the high grounds at the other corners clockwise.
We move east as we are and go to the high ground at the northeast corner. The high ground here was surrounded by stone walls. The result is, after all, only the altar. The Sign of the altar is △, so it's a star.
"Is this a star? It's not a pentagon."
It's Beatrix. She's looking well.
"The Black Stone is a pentagon, but the Five Great Signs are △. Water is ▽, but it's confusing, right? So I think the Black Stone became a pentagon."
The Black Stone of the star is something I got from Gnome. The effect of Sight has also increased, and surely it's not a fake.
"Hmm. So, where is the storage place for the secret book that has that star altar?"
"It's the hot spring town. The place where Salamander was."
Yes, the hot spring town. The Sign of the altar at Nakanohara Lake was □, representing Earth. The altar on the mountain had ▽, representing Water, engraved. The altars in this wetland are Moon clockwise, then Star. Unfortunately, the one after the Sign of Water was not Star. In other words, there must be one more altar between the mountain and the hot spring town.
"In other words, is the fifth secret book in the Engrio Capital?"
Eowyn-sama shrugged his shoulders. It's no wonder, currently there isn't even a clue. Moreover, Engrio is in the middle of a war, and King Seldic is also out on expedition.
"Eowyn. I heard Northern Gram is involved in the negotiations for a ceasefire to prevent the spread of the epidemic on the mainland."
It's Gwyn-sama. After all, regarding epidemic prevention, Finis and Northern Gram are completely coordinating.
"Yeah, Father is handling that. It seems he's getting a good response."
That's a good thing.
"But probably, Seldic and Richard won't return from the mainland for a while."
"Is that so? Why?"
According to Eowyn-sama's story, as a prerequisite for the truce negotiations, a certain amount of war results will be necessary for the East Liber side. And those war results also include Engrio's war results. Currently, the places where the battle is continuing are the town in eastern West Liber that the East Liber army is surrounding, and the port town in northeastern West Liber that the Engrio army led by King Seldic is mainly surrounding. Among them, King Seldic seems to have reached the stage where he will soon take the port town. In other words, the area King Seldic occupied is likely to become Engrio's territory, and if so, King Seldic might not return home until he establishes a system of governance, or so he said. Regarding the matter of preventing the Demon Lord's resurrection in Engrio, it will be suspended until King Seldic's return.
Even the Engrio Royal Capital Great Cathedral, which is doing the search for likely ruins, says they can't send reports to King Seldic, who is out on expedition.
"Price of the Medioland Royal Capital Great Cathedral seems to intend to start the exploration in Regnentes when summer comes. He sent a letter saying that at that time, they will proceed with only priests."
Only priests? I see, so that's it...
"Why only priests? I'm free, you know."
It's Gwyn-sama. In this emergency, I also think it's okay for there to be a free Crown Prince, but I want to think of that as a figure of speech.
"It's a request from the Regnentes side. Since it'll be near the silver mine, they don't want to allow anyone other than priests to enter the surroundings."
As I thought, it's like that. It was quite strict when I went before too.
Gwyn-sama and Eowyn-sama were slightly disappointed, but it can't be helped. The other country dislikes it. As for Engrio, we went in secret. In the end, it was exposed.
"Probably, Harrison will be nominated by Price as the representative for Regnentes. After that, it seems the selection of people is finished up to Price, Sianya, Phillips, Harris, and Jeanne."
There are no warriors, mages, or scouts. Since it's Demon Lord-related, I can bring Fiona. The scout will be filled. Since Harrison-san is there, the warrior will be filled? After that, I wonder what to do about the mage.
The third high ground is the one closest to the river mouth. It's near the end of the sandbank surrounded by the two main streams of the river, and the surroundings of the high ground are already a riverbed. Stones are rolling around. As expected, Teleport came out. It seems to be the same as the previous two. Furthermore, the Sign of the altar that came out from under it was 〇, representing the Sun. With this, it was confirmed that the fifth secret book is in Engrio.
"If it's in Engrio, was it around the Royal Capital?"
Gwyn-sama asked. Eleanor-sama is nodding.
"How about we just refuse, saying we'll look for it ourselves, and thoroughly investigate suspicious places around the Engrio Capital?"
It's as Gwyn-sama says. Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama are also laughing. Looking at Eowyn-sama, he's nodding greatly. Apparently, the two of them consulted. (T/N: '二人で相談した' refers to Gwyn and Eowyn).
"Let's convey what Gwyn-dono said to Price. If it's okay, as a proposal from all of us."
The two princes agreed that Eleanor-sama's proposal was good. As long as the reports are sent properly, King Seldic might not say anything.
After investigating three, it became noon, so we decided to have lunch together. We set up on the high ground and make a pot. Speaking of field rations, it's got to be this. Some monsters might approach, but the fighting force is prepared. It should be fine.
"Speaking of monsters, it seems there are ponds of a certain size here and there on this sandbank where we are now. I wonder if something is lurking after all?"
Eowyn-sama asked. I was also curious about that.
"Isn't something there? Probably, that Amphisbaena."
Eleanor-sama answered. It's something that can be fully considered.
However, if the sandbank is the dwelling of the two-heads, I don't think they'd gather like they did during the battle for the fort. Nearly ten gathered in less than two hours. I don't know how fast the two-heads proceed through the wetlands, but it would be faster than the bowl's normal speed. Unless they fly in the sky, it would be impossible.
"The Amphisbaena in the mainland legends should have been larger. Perhaps the ones we faced were just children."
In other words, there might be a powerful parent. If they are lurking in the ponds, it's quite dangerous.