Chapter 603 - Fourth Story: Ice Island a Second Time ②
Since the Vice-Demon Lord showed himself, I extinguished the fire with Shower magic and brought the bowl close to the entrance of the cave where the Vice-Demon Lord was. We waved from our side, and he waved from his, so it became like a ship docking scene.
"Jeanne. You have done well to come."
"It's been a long time. Have you been well?"
"Thanks to you. By the way, is that not an Arachne beside you?"
"Yes. She is the friend I told you about before."
Violet grabbed my sleeve. She must be nervous. I held her hand. She squeezed back tightly.
"In times like this, one is supposed to say 'Nice to meet you', was it?"
"In the human style, it is so. If it is troublesome, your own style is fine."
"I leave it to your judgment."
To leave it to the visiting side's greeting... he's quite broad-minded, isn't he?
"Nice to meet you. I heard the former right hand of the retired Demon Lord was here. Jeanne said she was coming to this island, so I had her bring me along."
"I see. It seems you have gained a good friend."
"Yeah!"
When the Vice-Demon Lord lightly tapped Violet on the shoulder, her tension vanished at once.
Just like last time, we started a party outside.
Last time, it was in the form of the humans facing the Vice-Demon Lord, but this time we sat in a circle. I was next to the Vice-Demon Lord, and Violet was next to me. On the other side, Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama sat side by side, then Wilson-san, Robinson-san, Will, and Bonnie was next to Violet.
We brought several barrels of wine and Finis alcohol as souvenirs. I also brought the mead I made. The snacks are, of course, dried meat. There's also salted cod. I asked the Bishop to sell it to me.
"My apologies. Strong alcohol like this is hard to come by. I am grateful."
The Vice-Demon Lord is drinking pleasantly with Henry-sama, saying it's been a long time. Since coming to the Ice Island, he's apparently been making fruit wine, but he probably can't make anything as strong as the alcohol from Finis.
Before long, he started asking about Violet's daily life and such.
"Usually, I'm a guard for the Goblins."
"A guard? What are you protecting them from?"
"Orcs from the former Demon Lord's army. But lately, the Ogres have become 'hornless' and quiet, so it's more like patrolling the territory than guarding. It'd be bad if something strange was there."
"What is 'hornless'?"
"Ogres. When their horns are removed, they become quiet and eat only fruit and nuts. Lately, they've been raising pigs with the Elves."
"What? What on earth are you talking about? Could you explain a bit more slowly?"
He's clearly confused, but that's no wonder.
When I explained this and that, he was greatly surprised. No wonder. Ogres, who were called man-eaters and were like a synonym for cruelty, became fruit-lovers surrounded by rabbits and squirrels just by having their horns removed.
"Hmm. Ogres were monsters that seemed to collect all the worst parts of humans, and I did not like them, but to think they would become the exact opposite if their horns were removed..."
According to the Vice-Demon Lord, Ogres are the type of creatures that stubbornly push through their own selfishness, fawn over the strong, and bully the weak. When they bully, they delight in tormenting someone to death in a group, and moreover, they are insufferable creatures who brag about such deeds to those around them. They didn't have a good reputation even among the Demon Race, but the executives apparently thought they were good for unleashing against humans.
"Do you know that humanoid monsters, including Ogres, are creatures synthesized with sorcery using human souls?"
Eleanor-sama asks.
"I know. Originally, several humans skilled in handling magic power must have gathered and made them to counter monsters. It does not reach ten thousand years ago. I think it was before five thousand years ago, but well, about that long ago."
If it's before five thousand years ago and doesn't reach ten thousand, it must be seven thousand or nine thousand years ago. I can only think it's related to the surge of magic power every two thousand years.
"The one Jeanne participated in the extermination of was an evil spirit."
"Oho, Jeanne was doing such things as well. Impressive. How was it, Jeanne? That evil spirit was originally human, was it not?"
"Yes. Apparently, it had taken in the souls of various creatures and become powerful."
"I do not know where the ones who first became evil spirits are or what they are doing, but I have heard they take in ghosts from battlefields to increase their numbers."
I knew it. As the population increases, the Demon Lord's army also needs numbers. They must have started making them all over the place.
"Do you know why it became like that?"
Eleanor-sama asks further. I thought he might tell her to look it up herself, but the Vice-Demon Lord answered properly.
"They made them, but they were more than humans could handle. They would not listen to humans at all. Before long, they were killed by priests who started saying it was against the Goddess's will. In short, they were made to take responsibility for increasing the monsters. It is no wonder. They were betrayed, after all. So, they became Demon Lord worshippers. They sold their technology to us. The Demon Lord's army was using humans' abominable technology against humans. In a sense, it is humans' own self-inflicted retribution."
I knew it. I thought it might be something like that, but it's disappointing to have it actually testified.
"I and the Demon Lord did not care, but the executives liked them, saying they would be a military force. Was that not the trigger for organizing the Demon Lord's army in earnest? I did not use them, though. Probably, the Demon Lord also disliked them in his heart. However, those creatures are, in a sense, human. Because the core soul is human. It was just right to have humans fight each other."
Somehow, the more I hear, the more I dislike the stupidity of humans. I feel like it can't be helped even if it's called self-inflicted retribution.
By the way. Violet has been pulling my sleeve for a while. I know the reason.
"Um, I'm grateful you're telling us... but, wasn't it that if you talk about things related to the Demon Lord's army, you'd be cursed to death by the Demon Lord? Is it okay?"
"Oho. Is Jeanne worrying about me, who was a great enemy of humans? How kind. Arachne... Violet, was it? I can see why Violet would take to you. But there is no need to worry. What I have told you so far should have remained in human legends as well. It does not count as telling. Though, the group that first requested the synthesis of Orcs and the like might have erased the records."
Judging from what I've heard so far, it would be a group of priests. It might even be the origin of the current church. A dark history, so to speak. It's a truly terrible story.
"By the way, what have you come for this time? Do you not have business with me?"
When the humans, who had heard the origin of the Orcs, fell silent, he changed the subject, perhaps out of consideration. For our part, that's more helpful. After all, this time Eleanor-sama told me to be the one to negotiate. Because we had a duel. Since I technically won, it's apparently more advantageous for me to negotiate.
I explained this and that.
"Hmm. So you want the frogs I keep for bait or their eggs."
"Can we ask that of you?"
"Adults are difficult. I do not mind the eggs, but I must also increase the frogs for myself."
"Then the eggs. I wish there was something we could give in exchange. For example, how about the alcohol we're drinking now?"
I don't know the value of frog eggs, and unlike the Earth Dragon, he probably doesn't need gold coins. I can only think of the alcohol from Finis. Eleanor-sama, anticipating that, has loaded a lot of what she bought onto the ship.
"Oho. This alcohol? That is most welcome."
When I look at Eleanor-sama, for some reason she's nodding while laughing.
"Then, is it okay to exchange it for the alcohol?"
For some reason, the Vice-Demon Lord is also laughing.
"Is it no good? we've brought quite a lot."
"I lost the duel with Jeanne. I must listen to what you say. However, shall I take what is given? To receive such a large amount of alcohol is a truly wonderful story."
He's grinning.
Eleanor-sama also burst out laughing.
"Since we've brought it, let's give it all to him as Jeanne said."
"My apologies. Then I shall gratefully accept."
I did it. I think there were about fifty barrels.
I'm still naive in these areas. It would have been good if Beatrix were here.
According to the Vice-Demon Lord, frogs lay many eggs every year once they become adults. However, the eggs of wild frogs are good food for fish and water birds, and few successfully hatch into tadpoles, and even during the time they become parent frogs of sufficient size, quite a few are eaten. So, the frogs the Vice-Demon Lord keeps are kept in an underground lake. However, he said that if food is insufficient, they will cannibalize, so breeding insects is also important.
"It is good to give slightly less food. That way, the weak will be eaten by the strong and eliminated. Those who survive such an environment are the ones worth keeping."
He's giving an enthusiastic lecture, but since they're for Amphisbaena bait anyway, isn't it all the same? Well, he must have his own particularities about his hobby. It's funny that Violet is listening intently.
In short, it means there are plenty of eggs.
"It just so happens they all laid them at once the other day. You may take them. However, could you leave half behind?"
"Half... about how many is that?"
"I wonder. I have never counted, but I do not think it stops at ten thousand or twenty thousand."
"Ten thousand!"
We don't need that many.
"Is that so? Your companions do not seem to think so."
Eleanor-sama hurriedly lowered her hand, which she had been pumping in a victory pose.
"Ah, just in case, I should tell you that you had better stop releasing the hatched frogs into the third layer of the cave where the Demon Lord is resurrected. Frogs that have been bred will just become good bait anyway."
"Is that so?"
Eleanor-sama is dejected. I see, she had that kind of aim.
"The frogs there are truly strong frogs that I have had a hand in; they are 'frogs among frogs' that have eaten quite a few young frogs. Even if you release many new ones, they will just become good food."
"I-I see. That's a shame."
"Well, the Demon Lord and the executives are not that stupid. Even if he is exterminated, the cave itself should be made so it cannot be easily conquered. You should just work hard and challenge it."
"I see, understood."
She's disappointed. She must have intended to pocket some of the eggs.
However, regarding cannibalism, it's different from Eleanor-sama's observation regarding mice. Mice didn't cannibalize. But I've seen centipedes cannibalize.
"Oho. You are researching in detail. Impressive, is it not?"
"Yes. I am doing a bit of research."
Eleanor-sama, who was praised, also looks happy.
"I do not know about others, but I am a bit knowledgeable about insects, frogs, lizards, and snakes."
Saying so, the Vice-Demon Lord began to explain about the monsters he has kept so far. Since he says keeping them is his hobby, he's incredibly knowledgeable. Since Eleanor-sama is also running a ranch for mice and Slugs, her interest is deep. They talk endlessly because they get along. If the Lich were here, wouldn't they have talked for a thousand years?
Finally, Violet looked like she was about to lose consciousness, and the Vice-Demon Lord, noticing that, wrapped up the talk.
To conclude, even among magical beasts, expressionless creatures without hair like snakes, lizards, and frogs normally cannibalize. Insects too. According to the Vice-Demon Lord, those that have hair and give birth to children instead of laying eggs form groups centered around families. From that point on, cannibalism becomes extremely rare.
"It is interesting, is it not? You all are aiming for coexistence and co-prosperity with various races, are you not? If you research, you might find out something."
"Yes. We shall devote ourselves to it. Next time, I shall bring someone more knowledgeable than me. I am sure you will get along."
"That is something to look forward to."
It's confirmed that the Lich will come for the third time.
The next morning, we went to the storage place to get the frog eggs.
The storage place is in a pond in the forest, in a completely different place from the underground lake. Apparently, once they hatch into tadpoles, they are raised there until they reach a certain size because it's meaningless if they are eaten by parent frogs. When I asked what the food was, the answer was the relatives of moss sticking to stones on the riverbed, chopped small fish, and then cannibalism. He said making them cannibalize is good because aggressive ones grow. That part is demonic. Around the time the back legs grow, they are moved to another place in the underground lake and given small fish to speed up the monsterization... the rate of gigantism, and after six months when they reach a certain size, they make their debut in the underground lake. After that, the young frogs that successfully escape from the current parent frogs without becoming Amphisbaena bait become magnificent parents themselves.
Eleanor-sama is copying what she heard onto a scrap of parchment. When we get back, we have to prepare the place to hatch them, the food, and so on.
We have him teleport us all at once. In the pond in the forest, countless black eyeballs are floating.
"We will use the bowl as a water tank to transport them to the ship. Since we have prepared a water tank on the ship, we should be able to transport them to the White Island."
"I see. You can move them along with the water with Clump Water, so you should just transfer them."
Wilson-san makes a large bowl, and Eleanor-sama transfers them along with the pond water as taught.
"Hmm. Did about two or three thousand go in?"
"That is enough. Then we shall take only this much."
"Umu."
I feel like it's more than enough, but we haven't decided where to keep them, and various things might be eaten while we're keeping them. It seems impossible to reduce the insects in the third layer of the Demon Lord's cave, but there are Demon Realms everywhere where insects are swarming, and there should be no problem with taking a lot.