Chapter 618 - Tenth Story: The Demon Realm in Northern Medioland ②
It took nearly a full day, but we defeated one Queen.
I didn't pay much attention to the worker ants, but since I used various spells, I must have caught a lot of them in the crossfire. However, if you include the eggs and larvae, a considerable number remain. I asked Eleanor-sama what we should do about them.
"I have a bit of an idea..."
Apparently, she's going to conduct an experiment she put together after consulting with the Lich.
Previously, when we did the Behemoth extermination, we obtained a large quantity of Magic Stones. It seems they've been using them little by little for magic tools, but now the Lich is managing most of those Magic Stones. In short, by adjusting the amount of mana released, it's being used for everything from breeding earthworms and slugs to helping with the declining birthrate of the Dragonewts. Referencing the story I heard from Renata the other day, they planned an ant extermination using Magic Stones. Essentially, they're going to make the ants go crazy with a large quantity of Magic Stones. However, the stones were originally large but have been crushed. Since the ants would carry them away as they are, they'll be placed in silver cages near the entrances so the ants can't touch them. That way, as those coming out of the nest approach them repeatedly, they'll become corrupted and turn into strays. If the number of strays increases, they'll stop caring for the Queen, eggs, and larvae, and eventually, the nest will be wiped out. Of course, since there are many ants, it will take time. So, for now, we defeat the Queen to cut off the source of eggs. In other words, we have to defeat all the Queens.
"So, are we leaving this place as it is?"
"Let's at least get the Magic Stones set up before the ants that went out on sortie return."
When Beatrix asked, Eleanor-sama answered.
Eleanor-sama returned to the Midway Base, sent instructions through the magic circle for sending letters, and then spread a Simple Teleportation Magic Circle on the floor. It seemed the arrangements were already made, as silver wire mesh came flying through. After that, barrels filled with Magic Stones came flying in about three separate trips, so I placed them on the bowls.
The floor is frozen solid with Glaciate, but since it's not Cocytus, it will melt if canceled. I dried it with Prominence and crumbled the wall slightly to make a foundation. I placed only the Magic Stones on the bowl and lowered them; once the bowl is canceled, they'll just be left there. When it's time to take them out, they'll be manipulated and removed with Clump Stone. Fortunately, since the Midway Base is at a low position, it's not that difficult.
However, the results of the experiment won't be known until some time has passed. After the ants that went out return, if they go crazy, they'll probably head outside on their own in search of food. If such movement can be confirmed on the third floor, it will be a success.
"If it goes well, we can completely eradicate the ants."
"So, are we going to repeat this many times from now on?"
"There's a limit to our stockpile of Magic Stones. Therefore, we can only conduct the experiment for the four holes connected to the third floor."
For the previous nest hole, they had built a foundation and hardened the floor to create a water tank. Since then, they've apparently been repeating the process of luring out ants and reducing their numbers. Once the numbers decreased to a certain extent, they planned to build the tank and fill it with water, but they changed it to installing Magic Stones. However, if the experiment using Magic Stones fails, they'll do the same to this nest hole, so the construction itself was probably useful.
"What about the other holes?"
"We'll defeat only the Queens. After that, we'll leave them alone until the results of the experiment are out. We'll have no choice but to lure them to the third floor and steadily reduce their numbers like last time."
According to the Lich, it will take over a month for the results of the experiment to show. It would be fine if we could lock the ants in the place where the Magic Stones are installed, but that's not possible. Since they're only placed in the passageways, the amount of exposure will be small. If they were large Magic Stones like the ones in the Behemoth's cave, it would be faster, but such things aren't easily obtained, and even if they were, if someone tries to use them while they're large, the user will go crazy. In the end, it seems we have no choice but to build up progress bit by bit.
By the way, I have one question.
Why don't the ants go outside to hunt?
I don't understand the reason why they only go out to the third floor.
"It seems they dislike sunlight. Therefore, they appear to be active at night for unavoidable cases like nest repairs or expansions."
Then, wouldn't it be better to just crumble the mountain and let the sunlight hit them? That way, they'd only go to the third floor at night.
"Please rest assured. James-dono and the others will be doing things flashily at another hole."
"?"
I wondered what that was about, but it seems that from the second day onwards, the heroes will destroy an ant hill to lure out the Demon Race. That hill is one at the edge of the ant hill region, and it's unknown where it connects to. However, it has already been confirmed that it's not connected to the third floor where the sortie was confirmed.
They will crumble the mountain while the four heroes show themselves. It's a decoy. However, there are three other ultra-high-level mages besides James-sama, and they'll be waiting in ambush on hidden bowls along with archers carrying silver arrows and holy mages. Of course, they're probably lurking on the ground as well.
"Does that mean the Demon Race won't appear here?"
Beatrix spoke as if the Demon Race were something like ghosts.
"The possibility is low. We'll have them do things flashily over there, while we defeat the Queen here as if hiding in the shadows."
I see. Well, originally this was an ant extermination, and to be honest, a Demon Race member close to an executive would be a heavy burden.
"But the enemy is clever too, so they might see through that as a trap and come here. Please don't let your guard down."
"Honestly, I have my hands full with just the Queen."
That's certainly true. After all, Wilson-san was quite exhausted from today alone.
Since the first day's work was over, we returned to the watchpost. The four heroes were also there.
When they explained while looking from the watchpost, it seems they'll try shaving off about half of the top of the mountain at the very edge tomorrow. Since the inside is hollow, a large hole will be opened right above the nest. They plan to keep shaving it down until the sunlight shines in properly.
"Will the Demon Race come because of that?"
Beatrix was asking Eleanor-sama. She's probably doubting the effectiveness.
Conquering the ant hill is fine, but it's unknown how much interest the Demon Race has in the ants. In the first place, the ants are not part of the Demon Lord's army. In the war against the Demon Lord, the most casualties occur in field battles or raids on villages and towns by the Demon Lord's army. Once they're cornered in a cave, there's not much damage other than to the subjugation unit. Of course, it's obviously better to subjugate the Demon Lord as soon as possible, but if you compare simply by the number of deaths, there's a world of difference.
"I don't know. However, if something flashy is done, the Demon Race will take notice. King Seldic of Engrio is proceeding with the conquest of the Demon Realm that Beatrix and Jeanne have also visited, and actually, it includes ant extermination."
Is that so? I hadn't even thought of that.
"Could it be that you also reached out to King Seldic?"
"Yes, through the Church. Ants appear in that Demon Realm as well. If we can coordinate with this operation and identify which mountain it is, we'll get closer to conquering the entire Demon Realm."
"Did we defeat all the bees and spiders?"
"I wonder. But since we exterminated them together with the priests of Engrio, the conquest method has been passed on. Even if a few remain, it should be fine to leave it to them. If we can eradicate the spiders, bees, and ants in that Demon Realm with this operation, we'll have a prospect for conquest. It seems King Seldic was very eager to accept the joint operation."
I thought so. King Seldic is seriously considering the conquest of the Demon Realm. In a sense, I think he's more eager for that than for the situation on the continent.
"Then, I wonder if Engrio won't be going to war for a while."
"I wonder about that. The soldiers King Seldic led for the Demon Realm conquest this time are mainly magic soldiers. After all, magic isn't used in battles on the continent."
"But it's not the White Island, right?"
"I'd like to hope so."
The two of them were smirking together. I knew it.
On the second day, combined with the previous operation, it would be the conquest of the third nest hole.
It'll be easy since we're repeating the same thing. Or so I thought, but it turned out to be unexpectedly difficult.
The Midway Base was attacked.
The Medioland scout who jumped ahead came back in a hurry to report. He said they hadn't been invaded, but the one who returned was injured. The injury was caused by being splashed with the ants' saliva, and he had a burn on his arm. He had protected himself with his shield in an instant, but the surface of that shield was scorched and the clasp had melted, so it was quite powerful. Eleanor-sama produced water with Water to wash the wound, and I treated it with Heal. It might have been bad if he'd taken a direct hit.
Apparently, one person is still remaining there now. Fortunately, that scout is not injured.
As the first squad, the three of us—Henry-sama, Harold-sama, and I—jumped.
When Harold-sama covered us with a Wind Barrier and illuminated the area with Fireflies at reduced output, there were indeed ants.
The Midway Base made by Medioland is designed so that ants won't enter from the nest using a monster-repelling barrier and silver gratings, but there were swarms of ants beyond that. I don't know the reason. Moreover, they were the ones with big heads, like guards or soldier ants. When I searched with Sense Living, there were surface reactions around the entrance and in the downward direction. Probably, worker ants are mixed in too. In short, they are clearly targeting the Midway Base.
"Unlike when we came, they are spitting saliva all at once. Won't they eventually dig another hole and break through the barrier or the gratings?"
Just as the scout said, sticky liquid was flying and hitting the Wind Barrier. Something with a nasty yellowish stickiness was clinging to it. Since the Midway Base is made as a side hole of the passage, we won't be showered directly, but we can't go out like this. Everyone is looking this way. Since they're clinging below, to the sides, and above the passage, it looks full of ants, and besides, I can't see well beyond that.
In the meantime, Eleanor-sama, Wilson-san, and Bonnie jumped in, followed by Beatrix, Will, and Mary.
I explained the situation.
As a result of the former heroes' consultation, they decided to protect the Midway Base at all costs.
First, Harold-sama rapidly canceled the Wind Barrier and blew away the swarming ants.
Next, Wilson-san performed expansion work on the hole with Clump Sand. Otherwise, it would be terrible if we even touched the saliva clinging to the floor or walls. During that time, Eleanor-sama kept blowing away the ants trying to enter with Favorable Wind, keeping them at bay.
With a Wind Barrier and a wall of Light, we can prevent invasion. However, the opponent is ants. We don't know where they'll dig a hole from.
"Let's take the initiative. For now, let's block this hole with soil and dig a vertical shaft upwards. Wilson, please."
The ants shouldn't be above the entrance. Eleanor-sama's plan seems to be to dig an escape route upwards first and invade the hollow area while hidden.
The operation began.
After digging upwards for about half an hour, we went up on a Wind Barrier plate and made a new base. We also brought the Simple Teleportation Magic Circle from the old base. We turned the dug-up soil into blocks, using some to pile up in the passage as a barricade against the ants, and using some to make walls and a ceiling so the new base wouldn't collapse. From there, we dug a side hole towards the hollow.
Since we brought the silver rods that were used as gratings in the hole below, after moving from the base to the passage, we made similar gratings here to keep the ants away.
I searched with Sense Living, but there was no reaction as we hadn't been noticed. We should be fine if we get on a medium-sized bowl with holes and a hidden wall of Light attached to the bottom.
It was when Eleanor-sama activated the Wind Barrier to make the bowl.
Suddenly, there was a sensation like my back was being scratched, and a sound like metal rubbing together echoed in my head. Oh no, I haven't cast Magic Reflection!
"E-Everyone, run... My body won't listen! This is the real thing!"
I heard Henry-sama's voice.
I saw the men, illuminated by the work lanterns, slowly drawing their swords. All three were clenching their teeth. Their hands were trembling, probably because they were resisting. Among them, the Medioland scout seemed to have weaker resistance and started moving relatively quickly, and his blade, which he swung at Eleanor-sama, was stopped by Will, who stood in his way. His eyes were hollow. He was completely taken over.
"I'll handle this! Everyone, run!"
Will shouted.
"E-Everyone! Pull yourselves together! Hold on to yourselves strongly! Please chant with me!"
Price-sama was chanting the Chant of Exorcism with his arms crossed in front of his chest, but his hands were trembling violently. The remaining two priests seemed to have fallen easily and attacked me with their hands raised.
"Magic Reflection!"
"Light!"
I quickly dodged one, then the other, and chanted in double succession. I cast Magic Reflection on Wilson-san and released Light at full power in all directions above my head.
Within the light of the Light, the six men's bodies twitched.
"W-What? What happened?"
It was Harold-sama. After looking at the sword he had drawn along with Henry-sama and the Medioland scout, he sheathed it awkwardly. Thanks to Magic Reflection, Wilson-san was also safe. I was able to do it quickly. This must be the effect of the cat's stone. I'm grateful to the Cait Sith.
I canceled the Ice Cubes that Beatrix and Mary had released to stop them, and the two priests were able to move. They knelt before Price-sama and begged for forgiveness.
"Did you cancel the Charm?"
It was Eleanor-sama. Come to think of it, I might not have mentioned it.
"Actually, it seems that Dolls and Charms can be canceled with Light."
It's a story I heard during the investigation of the mountain before. The Light user from Finis was turned into a Revenant while being controlled by the people of the Ruined Town with either a Doll or a Charm. And he was forced to erase the wall of the mountain. As a result of releasing Light, the magic was broken and he regained himself. After that, he released Purification in all directions and turned to soil along with the accompanying Revenants.
"So such a thing happened."
It was Eleanor-sama. She was looking a bit pale.
I guess I hadn't told her. But Harris-sama should have been there too...
"You saved us. I thank you."
"Umu. To think you'd suddenly remember something from years ago. This time was truly dangerous."
I was thanked by Harold-sama and Henry-sama. Actually, when we defeated the first one, I saw Bonnie illuminating it with a lighting device. I remembered it after it was over, but I'll keep quiet about that.
Separately from that, the Medioland scout was kneeling before Eleanor-sama, whom he had tried to slash, and was begging for forgiveness through tears. I was distracted by that.
"Stand up. It was my mistake for not anticipating it. You are not at fault. Rather, please thank Jeanne."
Well, I'm glad things worked out somehow. I also managed to avoid getting scolded. After all, if two former heroes turned into enemies, there's no way we could win.