Chapter 623 - First Story: Ant Extermination in Engrio
Happy New Year.
I ended up going to Engrio. As usual, I was called to the royal palace and asked by the King to go.
Magdalena-sama, who is always smiling during audiences, was a bit tense, which bothered me a little.
The business is a request from King Seldic. To be precise, it's a request from the Engrio Capital Great Church, but Harris-sama's take is that that church would never do such a thing on its own.
What we're going to do is ant extermination. Since the opponent is ants, it's a participation reward.
In the Medioland Demon Realm, we defeated four ant Queens, and the ant countermeasures for the third floor of the Demon Lord's cave were done. However, things didn't go that way in the Engrio Demon Realm, which was proceeding simultaneously. They just discovered an ant swarm, made a wallow with water and earth magic to stall them, and safely withdrew. Originally, it would have been good if the heroes could have defeated them, but well, it was a wasted effort. Of course, given the number of ant hills, the probability of hitting a dud is high for the ones appearing in Engrio, and it seems the Engrio side was prepared for that to some extent. In short, since they haven't defeated the Queen, they can't say they've suppressed the forest no matter how much time passes. Of course, the bowl unit observed the ants and looked for what seemed to be nest holes, but they couldn't even find those. They found a large swarm of ants, but they were attacked by winged ants there, so they hurriedly flew up into the sky and escaped. Each one is certainly weak, but if you're spat on, your life is in danger. You shouldn't take on a swarm.
"The ants confirmed in the Demon Realm east of the Engrio Royal Capital apparently showed movements different from the information we provided."
They seem different from the ants on the third floor of the Demon Lord's cave.
"How are they different?"
Beatrix asked. Lyudmila was next to her.
Lyudmila goes to Vectis Island for agricultural guidance several times a year, but it coincided with the wheat harvest. Since she's going to Engrio anyway, she apparently wants to participate in the ant extermination and hopefully learn new magic. Lyudmila, who is already a user of two high-level magics, wants to defeat a B-rank Queen to learn Glaciate and use it for reclaiming wasteland. Does she intend to reclaim even rocky areas? I feel like something is different, but if she's motivated, it should be fine. However, for someone who only uses two, even if she learns it, the number of times she can use it in a day is limited, so before that, she wants to learn Curve as a substitute, and Sand Storm or Stone Pillar to increase her magic control. She's quite greedy, but I want her to do her best.
"It seems the ants in the Engrio Demon Realm might not have nests."
Eleanor-sama answered. This time, she's in a position where she's half-forced to take responsibility for egging on King Seldic. She wasn't told that the story was different, but she was told that the type of ants might be different. Since they couldn't defeat the ant Queen appearing in Engrio from Medioland, she said she couldn't refuse the request for cooperation. However, being a delinquent old person, there's a high possibility that curiosity is winning over a sense of duty.
By the way, this time the Henry Party has no non-regular members except for Harrison-san. Officially, Harold-sama is supposed to be living in the Regnentes Royal Capital. Since it would be bad if it were leaked to a potential enemy nation that he's turned into a delinquent old person and is wandering around here and there, he didn't come out.
But for ants not to have nests... how do they raise their young?
"You know there are people called nomads on the continent, right?"
I've heard of them. I've heard they are people who change their dwellings from place to place. They are also said to be people who change their whereabouts in summer and winter like migratory birds.
"There might be types of ants like that too."
"In other words, does one swarm patrol several nests in the Demon Realm?"
"It's not necessarily one, but that's what it means."
We can't pinpoint their location. In other words, we can't find the Queen's whereabouts. In Medioland they are fixed, but they escaped. Here, they basically move around and we have no idea where they are.
"How do we defeat them?"
Beatrix is also participating this time. She intends to learn new magic in preparation for the autumn boar hunt.
From the Class of 175, besides the Henry Party regulars Will and Bonnie, five people are participating: Harris-sama, Harrison-san, Beatrix, Lyudmila, and me. The transactions with Engrio are handled by the main shop. Mary, who has a different arrangement, has remained separated since we went to Finis to receive the oracle.
"I don't know. It might be better to challenge them with the intention of eradicating them completely."
A war of attrition in the forest, huh. I feel like the chances of winning are slim, but...
"King Seldic will apparently send us backup. The main force of magic soldiers and the church's monster extermination squad. It's quite a powerful lineup, so we can have expectations."
"Is King Seldic coming?"
"I wonder. But Falstaff will apparently come to meet us."
The watchdog is alive and well.
Even though the possibility of the Demon Race appearing is low, the fact that Harrison-san is the only active hero is probably to be wary of King Seldic's movements.
We went to the border fortress on a bowl and joined up with the baggage wagon that had gone ahead.
"These are the documents for this time."
The driver of the wagon asked Lyudmila to check the luggage to pass through the checkpoint.
"It's correct, right?"
"I think it's correct."
"Then, it's fine."
No, no, wait a minute.
"Lyudmila, that's no good."
"But I don't really get it even if I look. Jeanne, do you understand?"
"..."
The documents are usually made by Miana or Fiona. Since I leave it to them, honestly, I don't really understand either. Matilda, the main shop manager, might not understand well either.
"Let me see it for a bit."
It's Beatrix, the manager of the second shop. Better leave it to her.
Beatrix glanced at the documents.
"It's correct, right?"
"I think it's correct."
"Then, it's fine."
Aren't you the same!
"It's fine. The excellent third shop manager and the main shop's administrative staff made them. If we look and say this and that, we're much more likely to make a mistake."
Well, that might be true, but since they were handed over...
"Um, what do you usually do?"
"Usually, I just show that, this tag, and the documents to the person in charge. The documents can pass without even being checked."
The driver said while pointing to the emblem of the Class of 175. By King Seldic's arrangement, wagons with the emblem are allowed to pass. The tag is a wooden tally with a string around the neck, which is like an identification for passing through checkpoints. It's issued by Count Vectis, the lord of Vectis Island, and with it, one's identity is guaranteed from the Royal Capital to the opposite shore of Vectis Island. As for the person in charge of the checkpoint, having been shown the emblem of the 175, which is recognized for direct transactions with King Seldic, plus the tally of the famous Vampire Count Vectis, there's no reason to complain. Because a scout will surely follow.
"See, that's why it's fine."
Then, why did he request Lyudmila to check?
"Matilda-san, the shop manager, gave me this, but she told me to have Lyudmila-san, who joins up when crossing the border, look at it. Since I was told that, I have to at least have her look at it."
That's true.
"Ah, I see. I got it!"
When Lyudmila said that, she checked the documents again.
"Yeah, I got it. It's fine."
"What happened?"
What Lyudmila showed me was the inventory for the royal palace and Vectis Island. Lately, the destination for Anti-Sepsis has mainly become Vectis Island. This part is supposed to be checked by someone who can use magic. Since Matilda, the main shop manager, can't use magic or rather has no interest, she can't distinguish between scrolls.
"Um, let's see, I was supposed to confirm that this is here."
Just in case, I had Lyudmila show me the inventory.
"Let's see, one barrel of Thought Communication, two barrels of Anti-Sepsis, two wooden boxes of dried meat, two wooden boxes of cheese, two marble dyes, and then, let's see, one small box of accessories. Oh? Are you also putting in Repellent?"
Since I usually make scrolls as I'm told, I don't track where they are sold. Repellent is for limited sale since it's only used in places where the Class of 175 is involved.
"Yeah, it's for use on Vectis Island."
"Ah, I see. You have to use it at this time of year."
"Yeah. The Count said he hates mosquitoes and asked me to share some."
Lyudmila is an absolute mosquito hater. Apparently, the Count also hates mosquitoes. There's a pond behind the mansion, and apparently, mosquito larvae hatch every year. With Repellent, they'll be wiped out in one go.
"I see, you've applied for export, right?"
"Yeah, I had Fiona and Miana submit it."
"Then, it's fine."
"Yeah. I forgot I was told by Matilda to check this."
Since Lyudmila is busy with agricultural guidance, she's almost exempt from the shop. This time she did her share of work for the expedition, so she was particularly busy staying at the farm in the Flatlands. Since Matilda goes to the Royal Capital regularly, she probably asked Marcelo-san to send a message through the magic circle for sending letters. It's better to have the person themselves check custom-made items.
The check ended without issue, and we crossed the checkpoint. We separated from the baggage wagon there. We took the prepared carriage and arrived at an inn after heading south. It's the junction of the highway leading towards the Demon Realm. At that inn, Falstaff-san met us.
"Hey, Falstaff! It's been a while."
"Falstaff. It's been a long time. Any changes?"
"It's been a long time. I'm barely surviving."
He's saying something ominous.
Lately, he's tired because he's being worked hard by King Seldic as a monster extermination personnel. Apparently, the earnings from the tavern are also decreasing because the number of closed days has increased.
"Which is better, the monster extermination reward?"
Seeing how he started talking about the weather with Henry-sama and the others without answering Beatrix's question, I suspect he's earning quite a bit.
We entered the inn and were introduced to the people we'd be acting with. Carla and Annabella were also there. Since it's the first time for Lyudmila, they greeted each other.
"It's been a while. How are you?"
"I might not be very well."
"Yeah."
Both of them are looking downcast.
"What's wrong?"
"Because, the opponent is the ant Queen that hunters never touch... and there are several B-ranks, right? I don't think I'll make it back alive..."
"Yeah..."
Apparently, they were forced into the ant Queen extermination by Falstaff-san. Even the Demon Race we defeated last time was B-rank.
"Won't it be fine? More than that, if you hit them with magic once and deal damage, you'll learn new magic."
"Yeah. I was told that and came here, and I was just told the target. I was told they couldn't talk about it in town."
It seems they were deceived. Even so, I wonder what kind of intention it is to drive people who can only use basic magic.
"Until now, monster extermination was mainly done by the church's monster extermination squad, and the army was backup. It seems His Majesty intends to change that formation."
Falstaff-san, who finished talking about the weather, said.
"Change it to what?"
Eleanor-sama also poked her nose in. It's probably because it also involves the movements of the Engrio army.
"There's the church's monster extermination squad, right? Separately from that, they formed a monster extermination unit in the national army, mainly consisting of magic soldiers and light infantry, and they incorporated those who started from rat extermination into it."
Which means.
"Did both of you become regular Engrio army soldiers?"
"Yeah. For now."
"Isn't that great. Congratulations!"
If they achieve a feat, they'll be knighted. If that happens, marrying into a wealthy family will become a reality.
"More than 'for now,' their salary also went up, right?"
Falstaff-san said with a smirk.
"Ah, yes. Thanks to you."
"Subjugation rewards also come out, right?"
"Ah, yes. They do."
"Was the profit split by the number of people?"
"Yes. That's right."
Could it be that they're earning quite a bit?
"You've already graduated from rats, right?"
Beatrix is also poking in.
"Yeah. Now we specialize in bears."
They seem to be hunting in various forests, mainly in the forest where the bear appears. As for the Demon Realm we're going to, they've done bee and spider extermination and also defeated the Demon Race. As experienced people, they were apparently incorporated into the conquest unit led by King Seldic with priority. In short, they'll be directly under him.
"Well, Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama probably know, but the current Engrio army is about a four-to-six ratio between the direct army plus mercenaries and the units led by nobles. Especially around the Royal Capital, it's almost all direct."
When Falstaff-san said that, the old couple looked strangely composed. The fact that their expressions feel forced means they probably know.
"Since the opponent is a Queen who uses Charm, there's a high proportion of women this time. You guys were specially incorporated this time because of the past circumstances. Don't keep such gloomy expressions and do your best."
"Yes, I understand... sigh..."
Both of them are sighing. Falstaff-san has it tough too.
Regarding the high proportion of women, in short, they were scouts. The church's monster extermination squad consists entirely of men. This is probably a difference in policy. Except for Finis, the church's monster extermination squads in every country are all men. I heard before that it's a traditional thing. Maybe, like in Primordia before, the idea that women should be the ones doing childcare, housework, and farming still remains as it is.
"So, about two-thirds will be women. Except for the bowl users and magic soldiers, everyone started from rat extermination, so please guide them."
The main force consists of about a hundred people and is already deployed at the fortress near the Demon Realm.
The breakdown is fifty people from the church's monster extermination squad, including several ultra-high-level holy mages. There should be hero candidates who fought together. It's quite a powerful unit. The other half is the newly formed monster extermination unit. Twenty-five magic soldiers including five bowl users, and twenty-five archers who also serve as scouts. Apparently, there are several ultra-high-level mages too. They must be hero candidates. This is also a luxurious lineup. In addition, there are three hundred backup troops, mainly light infantry, on standby.
"The main force is led by King Seldic. From here, I, these two, and two people from the church's monster extermination squad will participate."
That's five people in total. Falstaff-san must be a warrior. One priest is a high-level mage, and the other is mid-level. Two are mage-scouts, and one of them is a holy mage. Combined with our side, it'll be fifteen people. If it's a medium-sized bowl at normal speed only, everyone can ride.
"I hate to say it, but there's quite a difference from the main force."
Beatrix immediately poked in. In fact, it's quite different.
"This side is like the instructors. One active hero, two former heroes, and experience in fighting the Queen. Plus, backup will come if needed. It's enough. Well, I'll have you engage in one battle, though."
I see. No wonder Carla and Annabella are sighing. In the worst case, there's a possibility that a quite strong high-level Demon Race member will appear, but it's better to keep quiet about that to those two.