Chapter 555 - Fourth Episode: Exploration of the Regnentes Mine (3)
As expected, a lot of centipedes came out. Since it's troublesome, I mostly drove them away with Fireflies, and once they gathered to a certain extent, we defeated them all at once with Harold-sama's Teleport and Over-Flow collaboration technique. Since I deployed Magic Reflection, the Wolf leader was also safe. I had him keep his eyes closed just in case.
"Somehow, I'm sorry. Even though I'm the vanguard."
It's the Wolf leader. It must be because he's not fighting even though he's a warrior.
"It's because of the opponent. Please don't worry about it. Please help us when a stronger one comes out."
Fighting centipedes in direct combat is too inefficient. We have four limbs. They have dozens. That alone is cheating.
"Is that so?"
"That's right."
The Wolf leader is suspicious, but that's how it is. If you're stuck by them one after another like that, you won't be able to move.
"That is so. They have too many legs."
"That's right, isn't it?"
As expected of a former hero, he understood.
We defeated centipedes three times, but a little further ahead, we stopped. It's a dead end. Moreover, there's a puddle at our feet. When I detect with Sense Living, there's a reaction like fish. There are no monsters. Naturally, there's no reaction in the soil. Among that, there are dotted fish reactions. They are moving roughly on a single line. In other words, there's a side hole. Since I can't detect everything, it's fairly long.
When I threw in a Firefly, the entrance to the side hole became visible. Occasionally, the bellies of fish illuminated by the Firefly glitter. When I ask the Wolf leader, they are apparently the type normally in the surrounding rivers in terms of shape and size. Since they haven't become monsters, the exit is close.
"Jeanne, give me one Firefly. I'll go and search."
It's Godwynn-sama. He held his sword in his mouth after drawing it from his back.
"Um, let's use Wind Barrier. We can all go."
It should be fine if there are two of us.
The Wolf leader can make a bowl without issue, but regarding movement, he can only do sudden starts, sudden stops, and sudden changes in direction. Since it's very dangerous, he ended up acting as the lid, and the lower half related to operation was handled by Harold-sama.
If we proceed while illuminating with Fireflies, we can secure visibility even in dark places.
"I didn't know it could be used like this."
Everyone is surprised.
"Because there are people like Eleanor-sama and the Headmistress... Bishop Catherine, who do new things one after another without any attachment to tradition."
There's Marcelo-san, Paul-san, and various others. Honestly, there are too many strange people in Sertoria.
"I wonder, I think Jeanne is also quite innovative."
"Hmm. Quite free."
It's the Wolf leader and Godwynn-sama. Harold-sama is laughing, Wa-ha-ha.
How rude.
"Hmph, rare for a priest."
Even the delinquent prince, who had hardly spoken until now, joined in. I don't want to be told that by you.
"There are many priests who have no attachments too. Isn't attachment to tradition something that's an individual's thinking or personality?"
I accidentally said it.
"Ho ho, for saying that, it seems to me that priests have too many useless traditional rules that they strictly follow, though."
"Then, Sawelyn-sama, are you ignoring the national laws of Regnentes?"
"There's no way I'd ignore them. What are you saying?"
"In other words, you are strictly following the rules, right?"
"This and that are different. Priests have too many useless rituals and manners."
"Priests' manners and rituals are not ignored because they have meaning for priests. Greetings are the same. If we show a friendly attitude from our side, the other party can also feel familiarity, and we can avoid being unnecessarily wary, right? Besides, we don't force manners on general people. We recommend them, though. If there's someone who forces them, that's just that person being that kind of person. It doesn't apply to church priests as a whole."
I don't want to be told this and that by a human who judges things like greetings, which fall within the range of human emotions, only by efficiency.
"Is that so? For saying that, there are many priests who are loud-mouthed about useless manners. By the way, this seems to be a common view in each country, though."
"Manners are to avoid giving discomfort to the other party. It's likely something those in a privileged position who aren't complained to even if they give discomfort to others wouldn't understand. In the first place, a person who gives discomfort to others acting so high and mighty just because of their bloodline..."
I got heated and accidentally tried to talk back with my true feelings, but...
"Jeanne! Stop it!"
I was scolded by Harold-sama in a loud voice.
"In Sertoria, where there is no class system, it might be one thing, but this is Regnentes. There is a clear difference in status, and that is our country's system. Even if you are a priest, I will not allow you to criticize our country's royalty in such a way!"
He grabbed my shoulders with both hands, but there's no strength in his fingers.
I heard Harold-sama is an illegitimate child. Originally he's from a bloodline that couldn't become something like the Military Minister. He must have worries. I see, that's why Price-sama is saying that so it can be heard by those around. In short, that was a sarcasm by Price-sama toward those who are jealous of Harold-sama. Come to think of it, the Headmistress said it was licking each other's wounds...
"S-sorry. It was an attitude unlike a priest."
A priest must always be calm... I have to follow Sianya's example more.
"As long as you understand. You must be careful. Do not increase the mental fatigue of the King of Sertoria. Your role will also increase by that much."
"I-I am sorry..."
Certainly, that's the most dangerous thing.
"Sawelyn-sama, Bishop Jeanne is not from our country. Her way of thinking from birth is different from those of our country. Please, have mercy."
"I see. Then, that's the end of this talk. It's a waste of time."
"I am grateful for your generous heart."
Uuuugh, I've even caused mental fatigue for Harold-sama...
"Then, shall we go!"
The Wolf leader makes an especially bright voice.
With a splash, we submerge. It takes power to dive. The Wolf leader suddenly released a part of the ceiling and we dove all at once.
We dove with such force we almost hit the bottom, and when we reached the side hole, this time Harold-sama released the rear, and we successfully entered the side hole with a zoom.
"Wolf, that's enough."
"Oh, then shall I loosen it?"
After all, it's a clump of air. When he loosened it, we began to float gradually, but since a downward force is working, we hit the ceiling and bounced back with a boing and sank a bit. And then we float gradually again. During that time, we proceeded forward with glug-glug due to Harold-sama's adjustment.
The side hole in the water is winding like a snake. Even though I'm illuminating with Light, I can't see ahead. Since there are normal fish, there must be a fair amount of exchange. Perhaps because of that, it's not very murky. Since I'm not chanting Sense Living, I don't know if there are living things other than fish. Since I'm chanting with the Light at maximum, even if there were monster fish, they would be fleeing. We just proceeded slowly through the water.
In less than half an hour, I saw a bright place on the right. The river flow became intense, and the bowl shook. It seems it's the exit.
The closer we get to the direction where the light is shining, the more intense the shaking becomes, but it should be a bit more. When we proceeded just like that, we came out into a wide place. The height of the ceiling doesn't change. It's just become deep. On the bottom, rugged rock protrusions are prominent. It's just like being inside a rocky shore. Fortunately, the ceiling and walls have relatively few undulations. It doesn't seem like we'll get caught.
It must be trout. Fairly large fish are also prominent. There are even more small fish. We should be able to escape safely.
"Hey, isn't that a monster?"
The Wolf leader said while looking at the bottom. I point the Firefly's light in that direction. A giant crab was in the shadow of a rock. Perhaps because it disliked the Light, it scurried sideways and fled. When I illuminated it as if chasing it, it entered a side hole. It must have a nest. It's the first time I've seen a crab monster.
"Ho ho, a crab."
The delinquent prince showed interest. Even if it's giant, it's not much different from a large centipede. A strong beastman might be able to lift it.
"It's likely a monster crab. It fled without attacking with magic, and since it's about that size, I don't think it's very strong."
It's Harold-sama. Certainly, with pincers of that size, it should be fine as long as we're inside the bowl.
"Can we defeat it?"
"Let's ignore it and go ahead for now."
We also have no means to attack. It's faster to consult the Otter later.
"Then it can't be helped, are there any others?"
He seems quite happy. Come to think of it, I heard he's liked exploring mines since he was a child. He might like exploration in general, not just mines. While thinking that, I illuminated here and there and there are surprisingly many. Since fish are also swimming, this place might be a crab nest.
"Wolf, is that edible?"
"N-no, the Otter might know, but it's the first time I've seen a crab monster."
"Then, make sure to ask the Otter later. If the taste is good, we can make it a target for trade. The shell might also be processed into armor."
"Yeah, I'll tell him."
Since the Wolf leader says he doesn't know, did we perhaps leave the beastmen's territory?
In any case, we should be able to go outside if we go to the bright place.
When we approach the bright place, a flashy sound of splash-splash could be heard. The water movement is becoming more and more intense. Along with that, it's becoming deeper and deeper, and the ruggedness of the rocks has also become prominent.
Crab monsters were no longer seen, but instead the number of fish increased. Somehow, I have a bad feeling.
When Harold-sama, despite struggling, guided the bowl toward the direction where the light was shining, a horizontal crack-like side hole was opening its mouth. The middle part has enough height for the bowl to pass through. If we pass through there, we should be able to go outside.
As we approached, a mysterious sight was spreading beyond the hole.
In the middle of a simply blue world, there was a place like a countless bubbling rectangle, and a part of it was extending like a thick pole.
"Is it perhaps a plunge pool?"
It's the Wolf leader.
A plunge pool... if you look at a waterfall from underwater, does it look like that...
"Can we go outside?"
"If we don't get caught in that deeply falling water and the surrounding water currents. If we get caught in that, we might not be able to escape from under the waterfall. If we can just take distance and slowly go around to the other side, then perhaps..."
The Wolf leader answers the delinquent prince's words.
In fact, fish can be seen swimming in places away from the bubbles.
"Harold, go."
"Understood."
An immediate decision. For being cautious, he's bold.
Just as we were about to go to the plunge pool...
"Jeanne! Below!"
The Wolf leader shouted. I hurriedly illuminate below with the Firefly. Almost simultaneously, an impact came from below.
"Uwaaaa!"
Since it's a round shape, it tilted with a thud. Everyone rolled around inside. The posture was immediately restored, but the lid shifted due to the reaction. Water flowed in all at once through the gap. Since the shape of the bowl itself was maintained, we weren't thrown out, but because it's being thumped from below, the lid won't return to its original position. The water is already up to our chests.
This is bad, I'll drown.
"Everyone, take a deep breath! Wolf! I'm counting on you for Sawelyn-sama and Jeanne!"
It's Harold-sama. He's holding the sword on his back along with Godwynn-sama. They intend to fight.
"Wolf-san! I'm fine! Don't look this way! I'll use the maximum-level Light!"
He might go bald, but I'll have him endure it this time.
"Light!"
I chant Light at maximum level while pointing my staff downward.
A giant crab was illuminated. The pincers alone are as long as a human's height.
The bowl was also deactivated. It bubbled grandly and went up as if surrounded by bubbles.
This will significantly reduce the effect of the Light. However, we should have been able to take distance. I maintained the direction of the staff and continued to illuminate.
When the bubbles disappeared, visibility was secured.
Harold-sama and Godwynn-sama are holding hands. When I look closely, the area around Harold-sama's face is covered with something like bubbles. He's securing air with Wind Barrier. In other words, he can speak. It's the first time I've seen a method of moving through water in a bowl. In other words, he must have been doing the method of covering the area around the face to secure air since before. Surely it's Eleanor-sama's influence.
He seems to have chanted Teleport and teleported behind the crab. They swung their swords horizontally together and slashed off both of the protruding eyes. Next, they let go of their hands and split left and right. The two slashed at the base of the pincers with the swords they held. They are silver swords. They are small swords as expected of scouts, but their power is absolute, and they slashed off both the left and right pincers. The crab, whose combat power was significantly reduced, fled sideways. The two didn't pursue further and, after holding hands again, came to my side.
Godwynn-sama extends his left arm under my armpit. Just like that, when he passed his arm in front of my chest to the opposite armpit, he grabbed my shoulder and pulled me. The direction I'm facing is different from the two, but I can do rear surveillance for that much. I tightened my armpits firmly and, making sure the tip of the staff was above my head, illuminated in all directions from the tip.
The surroundings became bright. While being held, I proceeded backward and entered the hole leading to the plunge pool. A vibration rather than a sound is transmitted from behind. While I was wondering what would happen, we floated up just like that.
"Phew!"
I can finally breathe. Harold-sama also deactivated the bubbles around his face and took a deep breath of fresh air. I twirled my staff and illuminated my feet. With this, at least monsters won't pursue.
When I look around, the Wolf leader and the delinquent prince were clinging to the rock face. They seem to be shouting something, but nothing can be heard due to the sound of the waterfall. However, everyone is safe.
I wonder if it's the back of the plunge pool. Presumably, isn't it a man-made object? It's surprisingly high. The width is about ten steps. The waterfall is a horizontally wide type, and one large pillar of water is formed in the middle. The amount of water in the middle waterfall is surprisingly large, and it's splashing with splash-splash. Suddenly, when I thought the visibility distorted and became dark, the next moment I was clinging to the rock face where the Wolf Man and the delinquent prince were clinging.
Something slid under my feet from the side and simultaneously rose up. It's the Wolf leader's Wind Barrier. Like a raft, it lifted everyone's bodies above the water.
"Is everyone safe?"
It's the delinquent prince. Everyone nods.
"I see, that's good."
A full smile. It's the first time I've seen it.