Chapter 585 - Sixth Story: The Demon Realm East of Engrio's Royal Capital ②
According to the villagers, when the Demon Lord was resurrected last time, the Red Bee nest was exterminated.
A guard unit was placed in this village near the demon realm. However, the Demon Lord's army itself apparently couldn't break through the bugs' habitat and didn't come out. A noble's son who came hoping to earn merit became impatient with the monsters that didn't come out no matter how long he waited, and ignored the warnings of those around him to set out. He took a local hunter as a guide and went into the forest. There, they were attacked by several Red Bees. Since silver-white arrows had been distributed, they worked hard together with the magic soldiers and defeated them. Then, on the way back, they were attacked by a large army that came for revenge. While suffering damage close to total annihilation, the son who managed to escape cried to his father. The father called for a general mobilization within the territory and set out for bee extermination, and while also suffering great damage, he somehow crushed the nest. However, both he and his son died in that battle. The one who was enraged upon hearing this was King Seldic. Even though they just had to stay on guard, they went out of their way to invade and suffered great damage. More than half of the territory was confiscated, and now this area is apparently a direct territory.
"Then, since then, there have been no sightings of Red Bees in this land?"
"That's right. There were bees and spiders, but they were exterminated. There were no ants from the beginning. Since all three are gone, magic beast hunting has become much easier. Of course, now we have the pot those two over there taught us, so we don't have to enter the forest."
Carla and Annabella are looking proud. If bears can be hunted in a safer place, the contribution would be large.
"Could it be that the bugs themselves have decreased?"
"That's right. Most of the monsters are magic beasts. The former lord and his heir both passed away and the family fell, but to us, he is a benefactor."
It seems they went from about middle-upper to lower-upper. Since they were exempted from military service, they are apparently managing their lives somehow.
"Then, shall I tell King Seldic from my side? That it was worth the loss of soldiers. If they are lucky, that noble might be able to get their original territory back."
The villagers all shake their heads.
I see. King Seldic's direct territory is better, huh?
After thanking the villagers and sending them back, we had a strategy meeting.
"The magic circle that should be around here might have already been removed."
"Bees... is it?"
Falstaff-san replies to Eleanor-sama's words. The two seem to understand, but I don't know what's going on.
"It's just a hypothesis, but if bees, ants, and spiders are making nests, humans cannot easily approach. That's how dangerous they are."
"In other words, because the bees are gone, humans can enter the forest, and the possibility of the magic circle being discovered has become higher?"
"That's right. You understood well, Beatrix."
She's proud to be praised.
But, thanks to that, I also understood. In other words, the magic circle might be in a place where there are nests of bees, ants, or spiders.
Which means.
"T-Then, the place we went before is..."
Carla and Annabella also noticed.
"That's right. It's one of the places where the magic circle is suspected to be. Moreover, we crushed a bee nest and defeated one spider."
At that time, the ones who finished off the spider were the Entrap Five.
"Which means..."
Entrap Two also noticed.
"Carla, Annabella, at that time, you defeated a spider. Even if it was by chance, you might have already achieved a great feat."
"I-Is that true? Yay!"
The two high-fived after jumping up.
As a result of everyone consulting, we decided to go to the place where we crushed the bee nest last time first. If the magic circle is still there, there's a possibility the Demon Race will come out if we crush it. However, it was last December that we crushed the bee nest and exterminated the spider. And it was this June that we broke the magic circle in the Northern Gram wetlands. Haven't they noticed?
"It will likely be alright."
"Is that so?"
Eleanor-sama seems confident.
"Likely, moving the bugs will be from winter to early spring. I don't think bugs breed in winter. It should be better to catch them while their movements are slow in winter, send them over there, and then have them breed. At least, the exit magic circle was alive as of June. I don't think they removed the entrance."
It's October now. We'll be in time.
We set out when the sun was sufficiently high. Since Eleanor-sama remembered the location, the bee nest site was found immediately. I once canceled Light and tried chanting Sense Living, but there was no particular bee-like reaction.
We search by flying at low altitude. According to Eleanor-sama's instructions, we first decided to look for spider webs.
Looking for spider webs is not that difficult. If you try to look for them while walking on the ground, by the time you realize they are there, you're already caught in the web. It would be impossible unless you are a veteran skilled in spider extermination. However, if you look from above, you can see them immediately. Because the fluffy white webs are in plain sight. The reason why ant and spider nests don't overlap, which can be called human-repellents, is likely for that reason. They are making sure ants and spiders don't crush each other. In other words, there are no ants in the place we are currently searching.
We draw the discovered spider webs onto the map. When we do that, we find they are arranged to draw roughly a large double semi-circle. The opening is deep in the forest.
"The bee nest was on the west side of this semi-circle. The magic circle is in the place that opens toward this forest. The east side."
The Demon Race are also quite tough. The bugs that were flown from the place they were used to would be killed by spiders if they went anywhere but east. Well, if they can't break through that much, they might not be able to survive.
Anyway, the place to search was narrowed down further. After that, if we find a cave, a grove of trees, or a crack in a rock, it'll be a hit.
The target was easily found. Because there was a place where trees were clearly growing in a circle, as if surrounding something.
"That's it. We'll descend and investigate. Carla, please transmit that to the upper-air unit."
"Y-Yes..."
In contrast to the brisk Eleanor-sama, Carla's reply clearly lacks energy. She also understands. From here on, it will be combat with the Demon Race.
Annabella clings to my sleeve. Beatrix is nestling next to Carla. The fingertips of Carla, who is writing the letter for transmission according to Eleanor-sama's instructions, are shaking, so the characters are wavering. But, she is writing them down properly. Because she is growing as a scout.
"It's okay. Don't worry. We have such powerful allies. We'll definitely win. It's okay."
I spoke to Annabella so Carla could also hear.
We descend into the middle of the grove. The grove is made up of tall trees with shrubs planted between them, and the middle is an open space with tall weeds growing. From above, the unnaturalness is obvious, but if you walk on the ground, it likely won't be easily understood. Beatrix cut open the weeds in the open space to the same width as the bowl with Wind Cutter, and we landed right in the middle. We all get off the bowl. The bowl is flipped over and floated overhead. With this, we should be able to withstand attacks from above to some extent.
Beatrix mows all the weeds. When she blows away the mowed grass with Favorable Wind, the clearly leveled ground came into view. We all gather in the middle.
"Is the magic circle here?"
"Likely so. Shall we try digging it up?"
Just as Eleanor-sama canceled the Wind Barrier overhead to use earth magic.
Dokkaan!
The roar of thunder was heard from overhead. Moreover, several shots came in succession. Magic rained down one after another. We were completely targeted.
The trees surrounding the open space are burning because of the lightning.
The magic circle Carla is holding emitted light.
"W-We've accomplished it. Yay! We wonnn! Ouchhh!"
Carla tried to jump up and hit her head on the wall of Light.
"You still lack training. You shouldn't frolic just because you defeated one or two of the Demon Race."
Eleanor-sama admonishes Carla with a calm expression.
No, she won her first battle against the Demon Race. Normally she would frolic.
The cancellation of the Wind Barrier was the signal. At the same time, I made a quadrangular pyramid with the wall of Light and surrounded everyone. Magic Reflection would have been fine too, but Magic Reflection can only be made in the shape of an arc. No matter what, it would flashily bounce back and be noticed by the opponent. So, I made it a wall of Light that can create sharp angles.
Knowing that we weren't using Magic Reflection and getting carried away was their undoing. There's no way the upper-air unit would miss them firing five or six spells. After a rapid descent, it was a thick Holy and Cocytus, and furthermore, a series of silver-white arrows fired by Falstaff-san.
I cancel the quadrangular pyramid and head toward where the allies descended.
The poor Demon Race was sewn to the ground with their abdomen pierced by the ice pillar of Cocytus. A silver-white arrow is stuck in their right eye, and their waist is gone and their two legs are torn off. A pitch-black pool of blood has formed around them. Seeing us, they tried to raise their right hand, but their shoulder only moved a little.
"Ugh..."
Carla looked away. Annabella knelt and offered a prayer to the Goddess.
"K...ill... me..."
They are already at their last gasp. We won't even be able to interrogate them.
"Carla, Annabella, deliver the finishing blow. Carla, lightning magic; Annabella, Holy."
"Eh?"
The two were speechless together.
"B-But..."
"This is what battle is. If you feel pity for the opponent, all the more reason to deliver the finishing blow quickly and let them be at ease. And, by defeating the strong, make that power your own."
It might be hard for the two of them. However, it's as Eleanor-sama says.
The two also seemed to make up their minds and began chanting with their hands raised. They intend to fire with all their might. The Demon Race also seemed to make up their mind and closed their eyes.
"Energy Bolt!"
"Holy."
The aim was true and hit the chest. Immediately after, Henry-sama flashed his sword and beheaded them.
After picking up the rolling head and lining up the two torn-off legs near the waist, we offer a funeral service. The Demon Race's corpse crumbled like ash and disappeared into dust.
To be sure, when I searched the open space surrounded by the grove, as expected, a magic circle came out. Teleport. Since it's too dangerous to analyze on-site, after taking turns drawing it, we destroy it and withdraw.
"Hey, how did you know it was a trap?"
While resting after the drawing work was finished, Carla asked, but it's easy. The magic circle wasn't visible. The fact that it was covered by the open space itself was already suspicious. The fact that weeds were growing means, no matter how you think about it, soil has been put over it. That alone tells you it won't function.
However, it's not that I knew for sure it was a trap. It was just in case. It worked out well that the opponent fell for the ambush.
"Hey, Jeanne. Do you guys always do this kind of thing?"
"Well, yeah. But rats, foxes, boars, and bears, the basics are the same."
Become a decoy instead of bait and have the allies attack. In short, it's fine as long as a certain amount of safety is secured.
"A certain amount?"
"Well, danger is always a part of it, right?"
She has a twitching expression, but something called compensation is necessary for anything. No matter what you do, a risk occurs. For example, even if you stay cooped up at home, an extremely large risk occurs where you won't be able to eat.