Chapter 561 - Chapter 5: The Fourth Secret Book
At the very end, the trump card was active. After all, they are invisible. Moreover, they can use High-level magic and can also use silver swords. Furthermore, at least the opponent's attribute magic will not hit them. Weapons will also not hit them unless something extraordinary happens. Since the enemies are Demons and Revenants, there is no Holy magic either. It's much stronger than a living human clumsily fighting a Demon. Originally, they were scheduled to defeat the bugs on the way to the wall and the magic beasts inside the wall, but with the appearance of the Demon Race, they were designated as the final battle force by Price-sama.
While Harold-sama told a big lie to deceive and lure the Demon out, the ghosts came out of the stones for movement placed in the leather bag held by Sianya, who was hidden by the human wall everyone made, and waited in an invisible state. This plan was formulated by Harold-sama and Sianya... or more accurately, the Wetlands Priestess... while the first squad was advancing.
Of course, Fiona was also active. She monitored the situation behind us while merged with me and transmitted information to Harold-sama and the other humans via [Thought Communication].
The plan itself was transmitted from Sianya to the humans via [Thought Communication] when we formed the circle, and to the Beastmen from the Deer Man. Harold-sama explaining in an unusually loud voice was, of course, a smokescreen.
「Yay! We finally took down one Demon!」
The Wetlands Priestess was frolicking. Three knight order members were so happy they ascended to heaven, but well, that's fine.
「Good work. It was a wonderful performance.」
「Grateful for your words.」
「Thank you very much. Priest.」
At Price-sama's words, the Knight Commander and Vice-Commander also looked happy. The Vice-Commander is a person from an era when there were no rank names like Archbishop or Bishop, so he calls everyone 'Priest' indiscriminately, but I suppose that's part of his charm.
「Commander, what shall we do with these Revenants?」
The Wetlands Knight Order members successfully captured the remaining three Revenants. There are three heads and three headless bodies.
As expected, they were hiding in a hole they had dug, but the knight order members appeared inside that hole. It seems they gagged them and twisted off their heads with knives. It's a great victory.
「You have separated the heads and torsos, but do you know which head belongs to which torso?」
At Price-sama's words, the three meritorious knights tilted their heads in realization.
The Beastmen were laughing loudly.
Well, we'll probably find out if we actually try to stick them together.
We successfully defeated those who tried to interfere with the sealing of the Demon Lord. As a result of contacting Godwynn-sama, who was guarding the altar, the answer came back that there were no abnormalities. There seems to be no problem.
We had the ghosts return to the stones and once again illuminated the wall with [Light].
When the wall became thinner from the bottom up, the Beastmen stirred.
「Hoho. This is the disappearing wall, then.」
The Wolf Man asked. Harold-sama, who had told a big lie as if he knew everything, was crossing his arms and just watching.
「You leave it on, don't you?」
「It seems so.」
「Ah, it's disappearing all the way to the top.」
「It seems so.」
「Do we enter in a hurry?」
「I do not know.」
The priest group started laughing at the exchange between the Wolf Man and Harold-sama.
「Harold, how could you tell such a lie so brazenly?」
「I am a scout, after all. Deceiving is my specialty.」
Is that something to say with your chest puffed out?
In any case. The wall was fully opened, and the Dwarf gatekeeper came out.
「Ah, you're the one from the mine...」
It was the Dwarf who had found the entrance to the altar cave. In other words, the one who knew everything was right nearby.
「Oh! You've arrived safely. Congratulations, congratulations.」
Honestly, without knowing people's hardships.
「What do you mean, congratulations. You knew everything and kept quiet, didn't you?」
The Beastmen were surrounding him.
「That's the contract. Besides, I wasn't asked about this place.」
「Didn't you say there was no altar in the mine?」
「This is a mine site. It is not a mine.」
It's not a lie.
「Kuh!」
They were frustrated, but it couldn't be helped. I thought it was probably something like that, but I didn't ask because it would be useless. Moreover, because of the Vow of Silence, I couldn't tell the Beastmen.
「Now, now, isn't it fine? Thanks to everyone, we've come this far safely. Thank you very much.」
Price-sama, who most likely noticed everything just like me, bowed deeply.
After that, it was extremely simple. The Beastmen, who had nowhere to put their anger, fully demonstrated their combat abilities and defeated all the magic beasts the Dwarf had brought. The humans did almost nothing, so the Prince even gave all the gains to the Beastmen as their share.
In that way, at the place we reached, there was a bookshelf where the fourth type of secret book was placed, a table for viewing, and two long chairs. As expected, the ceiling was glowing softly.
「It looks like the Gnome's dwelling.」
The Wolf Men were looking up at the ceiling. The ceiling of the Gnome's cave was lit by something like the soul of the Ancient Priestess. Previously, when I was laid on the altar in the basement of Nakanohara Lake and made to act like the Priestess, I heard a woman's voice. At that time, I was granted [Thought Communication]. At that time, everyone got excited thinking it might be the words of the Goddess, and since then, a monthly altar pilgrimage has been held at the Nakanohara Great Church. From the experience in the Gnome's cave, I also think that voice might be the Priestess, but since everyone from the Archbishop down believes it's the Goddess, I haven't been able to say anything.
However, the Ancient Priestess should be a person from about five thousand years ago. This place is estimated to have been built three thousand years ago. I can't say for sure it's not the Goddess. Of course, there's also the possibility of a Priestess from three thousand years ago. Besides, the thing that made the ceiling glow in the Gnome's cave might be special. I have told Price-sama about that as well. This time, we had discussed whether to confirm it.
The Prince, the two scouts, and the Beastmen, who were looking around restlessly, were asked to sit on the long chairs and rest, and the priest group, including the Horse Man, gathered in the room with the altar next door.
「Suddenly, excuse me. I am Price, who came from a country named Medioland located to the northeast of here. The one next to me is...」
After the introductions of everyone were finished, we bowed together.
「We are priests who serve the Goddess. We have something we would like to ask, and though it is impolite, please allow us to ask questions.」
There was no reaction.
「Is it the Goddess who is making this ceiling glow?」
There was no reaction.
「Then, is it the Priestess who built this altar?」
There was no reaction.
「Jeanne, it seems it's just glowing.」
「It seems so. Then, shall we take back the sweet Highway Cookies and high-quality wine we brought as offerings?」
For an instant, the light became stronger. Twice, even. It's quite worldly.
After that, no matter what we asked, there was no reaction, but there was a reaction regarding the Highway Cookies and wine. When I asked if we should make it bread and wine, it became a little darker. It probably means no.
We ended up without knowing its true identity or anything, but it will manage the secret books. We placed Highway Cookies Deluxe and three bottles of high-quality wine on the altar as offerings.
「In the future, a fortress jointly managed by humans and Beastmen will be built at the entrance to the underground passage leading to this altar. We would like to offer such offerings once a month, is that alright?」
It glowed once.
「At that time, we intend to bring a Priestess, who is an oracle, to receive an oracle.」
After a short pause, it glowed once.
「Of course, if there is nothing to entrust, that is fine.」
It glowed once. Well, I understand the feeling.
After making the offerings and saying thank you, we decided to do the reading of the secret book.
This time, only priests will participate in the reading of the secret book. For the humans, it's Price-sama at the head, Harris-san, and Sianya. In addition to the three basic people, one Beastman representative joined under the pretext of observation. It's the Deer Man, the recovery personnel. Since it's an observation, he can hear the content I read, but it won't be included in the report. Normally, the Elder presides over the ceremonies for coming-of-age, weddings, and funerals in the Beastman Village. It seems the Horse Man assists at that time. A Church priest will come soon. At that time, they will probably change roles.
During the reading, the other people were to have a banquet with the Dwarf gatekeeper.
Now, as for the secret book, we've come through chronicles, magic, and barriers. I thought the mystery of the Testament would finally be revealed, but it was an explanatory text about monsters. What was written in the summary was the fact that creatures affected by magic discovered on the White Island were classified by strength.
They were divided into eight groups in total, and as examples, the names of about three types of monsters were written. The weakest ones listed were rats and such. They would be F-rank. By the way, the house centipedes that have been a problem in various ways until now were the second from the bottom, meaning E-rank. I definitely want the subjugation reward table to be changed.
The current subjugation reward ranks are roughly the same, from the SS-rank Demon Lord to F-rank rats and others, with eight levels.
What's interesting is the definition of the ranking. Those that do not habitually eat things that have turned into monsters... in other words, those that normally eat ordinary living things, their carcasses, or remains, were at the bottom, meaning F-rank. And the second from the bottom... E-rank... were those that habitually eat ordinary living things or the lowest-ranking monsters. Those that use weapons or magic, those with special abilities like poison, or those with remarkably large bodies were the third from the bottom... D-rank. In other words, things like mantises, which are a type of bug, eat bugs that have turned into monsters but have no magic or poison, so they are equivalent to E-rank. I don't really know how much "remarkably" is, but since mantises are E, and Cyclopes and Trolls are D-rank, it would be about as tall or as long as a tree. The ranks above that were the difference in magic control. The highest rank was blank, and the second was dragons. To my surprise, Arachne, which would include insect-men, dragonewts, and Vampires (Progenitors) were listed in the place corresponding to the third rank from the top, A-rank. As expected, Violet is strong.
And in that list, surprisingly, humans were also listed. Humans had evaluations spanning multiple ranks, and in subjugation reward style, they were from E to C. The fact that evaluations span multiple ranks was the same for the Demon Race, spanning SS-rank, A, B, and D-rank. SS-rank is the Demon Lord, A-rank is executives, B is underlings, and D would be lower-ranking Demons. It seems insect-men and dragonewts are clearly distinguished from Beastmen. By the way, Beastmen were B-rank.
「Why are humans listed? This is written by a Dwarf, right? Does it mean that for a Dwarf, humans are monsters?」
Sianya asks. Well, she would ask.
「Isn't it because humans are also affected by magic power? This book was probably not written only for humans.」
Price-sama answers.
「Is that so? But I heard the chronicles are a record of the history of the humans on this island. Is the intent different?」
Hmm, I wonder. Isn't it a matter of whether it's necessary as a record rather than intent?
「Jeanne, what do you think?」
While I was tilting my head, it flew over to me.
「Probably, but I think humans are the only ones whose changes must be recorded.」
I think there is a decisive difference between humans and other living things. They form groups and create fine status differences. They develop technology and economy, and conduct politics including diplomacy and war. And they kill each other among their own kind in areas not directly related to life and death. Humans are the only ones doing such things. Monsters also have conflicts, like a pack of wild Orcs. But it's a bit different from killing each other. Though, since Orcs have human souls in them, they might fight in pack units.
「Recalling what is written in the chronicles, Jeanne's explanation seems correct. In a sense, humans are special living things. And sadly, they frequently cause wars and fight each other. The records in the chronicles should be accepted as enlightenment. Perhaps some people might start saying that it's because humans are special beings chosen by the Goddess. If possible, at least we priests should try to keep such things in mind.」
When Price-sama said that, Sianya also seemed convinced and said, "I understand," with a bow.
After the summary and list, there were individual descriptions of monsters in order of weakness. The first is rats. After all, rat extermination might be the origin of everything. Characteristics such as the place where they usually live, size, color, appearance, and what they eat are written surprisingly finely. It is written that any attribute magic is effective, and since they can only attack with things like body slams and bites, it's fine as long as you aren't attacked by a group.
Furthermore, according to the explanatory text, rats were originally in forests and woods. They were omnivorous, starting with insects, and were merely prey for foxes. That changed around the time humans started farming, and they began to be seen around human settlements. Settlements have food warehouses for storing grains and such. Rats aiming for those began to settle around the settlements. Near human settlements, they could also avoid foxes and wolves to some extent. Small human settlements became larger, became towns, and finally, they began to build fortresses, underground passages, and underground warehouses. From around that time, rats began to appear. Now, there are many towns with complete sewage systems. Rats would be the strongest in the sewers. As a result, only rats became prominent. The idea that there is only one type of monster in one environment is not an accurate story; the one that adapts to that environment most quickly and becomes a monster ahead of other animals will rule that environment. Rats are stronger than foxes. And they could live hidden in the sewers.
Furthermore, wolves are stronger than foxes, but foxes are weaker than wolves. The deep forest is the territory of wolves, and near human settlements is the territory of foxes and boars. Stronger monsters are in deeper forests. The truly strong ones are in the depths where humans cannot enter. It's probably because the magic power is dense. In a sense, those who could not occupy the dense magic power territory and were pushed out are near the plains where human settlements are.
The two-hour candle burned out, and the investigation ended. From the experience so far and the number and thickness of the secret books here, it was predicted that the reading of all of them would take until the end of autumn.
「Shall we end here for today? Everyone, good work. Today's investigation portion will be summarized as a report in the coming days. Regarding the next investigation, I will contact you again. Also, since there is a table of contents, next time, let's prioritize investigating humans, the Demon Race, and the Demon Lord.」
Closing with Price-sama's words, the first investigation at the altar in the mine site ended.