Chapter 637 - Chapter 3: The Demoness of Engrio ②
After the break, I was shown the other rooms. At Price-sama's request, it was only the girls. Privacy is important.
The structure of the dwelling itself was simple, with four doors from the first hall each leading to one room. Since she said there were no lights in the other rooms, Carla and Annabella put candles in lanterns. First was the bedroom. In the stone bed... or rather, a part of the room hollowed out from the wall remained rectangular and became a bed... several bear furs were laid out. On the shelves hollowed out from the wall, wooden boxes and leather bags were placed. Since it was hollowed out from rock rather than earth, there was a sense of cleanliness.
There were also a warehouse, a toilet, and a bathroom. For the toilet and bath, there was a long vertical hole below, which was apparently made into a culvert. Since she can use water magic up to the ultra-high-level, she probably has no inconvenience with water.
"Can you use fire magic?"
"No, I can't use wind and fire."
"Then is the bath a cold water bath?"
"Yeah. Obviously."
When I said humans use hot water, she was surprised.
"Do you want to try it?"
"Eeeh! No way. It's hot, isn't it?"
What are you saying after only having the tips of your hair scorched by Lyudmila's Flame.
"Now, now, don't say that. Just try it once as a test."
"Eeeh!"
The Demon Race woman was looking at Sianya. She's concerned about the princess's say.
"I take one every night. After dinner. It feels good and it's good for your health. Especially when you're tired from using your body or magic, I highly recommend it."
These words were the deciding factor and she decided to experience it.
In the bathtub neatly hollowed out from rock, we stored water with magic. At the bottom of the bathtub was a hole for drainage with a wooden plug. I threw in one Fire Ball produced by a hornless one to warm it up. Ideally, it would be better to have a water heater, but since the bathtub isn't large, we managed somehow. Once it reached a good temperature by adding more water, it was ready.
"Jeanne, you go in first."
"Eh?"
That said, I only have a hand towel. I can't hide myself with that.
"We're both women. You don't have to hide anything. If you're worried about the hornless ones, I'll kick them out."
When she snapped her fingers, the hornless ones left.
"This is fine, right?"
"That's certainly true, but..."
I think it's different from someone who is hairy and can hide themselves.
"Then we shall also refrain. Jeanne, take your time."
Sianya made her escape, and Carla and Annabella left together with her.
"What. Was it that you didn't want to be seen by those who aren't going in? Then there's no problem now."
Um...
In the end, we ended up going in together. In terms of size, two people can fit.
Since she said we could wipe with a large cloth after getting wet, I felt relieved. I took the plunge and took off my priest's robe.
The Demon Race woman, perhaps because it's hard to dry her body hair once it gets wet, became the same form as a human. She had skin so translucent and smooth and white. To be honest, I'm envious. She was originally a beauty, but her style was also outstanding. She might be even better than Will. As expected of someone who calls herself the Queen. She was curvy where she should be and really toned where she should be. She's truly part of the Demon Lord's army. If Keira is a rabbit and Difodor is a cat, then she's a wildcat... no, she's the Queen, so maybe she's like a lion I've heard of.
"Jeanne, you're thin. Are you properly eating meat?"
Don't say I'm thin just by looking at specific places!
"Heh, as I thought, you've received the protection of various spirits."
When I took off my priest's robe and undergarments, what I was wearing was in plain sight. Since I shouldn't lose them, I wear them even when bathing at expedition sites.
"I don't know this one. Which spirit is it from?"
She pointed to Fiona's crystal.
"This is the bed of a ghost I live with."
"Heh, a ghost, huh. What about this?"
Next was the Black Stone.
"Um, it's something people from ancient times left for us. I'm borrowing it and wearing it. It's a charm that increases magic power."
"Heh, what about these?"
The bronze bracelets I'm wearing on both arms. A wild boar is carved on the right one, and a rabbit on the left one.
"They're things I received from an Arachne and a low-level Demon Race member I live with."
"Eh? Who do you live with?"
"An Arachne and a low-level Demon Race member. Ah, please keep it a secret. People who know, know, but there are people who misunderstand various things."
"Misunderstand? Wouldn't you be killed by other humans if they found out?"
"I don't know what would happen, but that's why it's a secret."
"Understood. What we talked about here is a secret between just the two of us."
"Yes. Please."
I went in first, and took the hand of the hesitant Demon Race member and pulled her in. We sat side-by-side and soaked up to our shoulders.
"How is it?"
"It's unexpectedly good. It feels nice."
"Sometimes, it feels so good that I fall asleep and nearly drown."
"Ahahaha. But I might understand."
"You have to be careful when you're tired."
"Understood. I'll be careful too."
Since she didn't know about soap, I taught her. It would be good if there was a washing area, but since there isn't, it's troublesome to use. I showed her the actual thing and had her take a little in her hand and use it. She grimaced, saying it smelled, but once she understood how to use it, she laughed, saying it was interesting.
After that, she asked me why I was living with Violet and Keira. Regarding Keira, I explained that she was the gatekeeper of a certain ruin.
"Hmm, a contract, huh."
"Yes. It's been decided that we've formed a new contract and we're living together."
"What about other humans?"
"My companions all accept them. They usually have human forms, and I have them raise rabbits or mind the shop."
"Mind the shop? Is that okay?"
"She's very popular with male customers because she's cute!"
There are even those who come just to see Keira, let alone customers. Since Keira also talks to them sociably, it's probably just right for killing time during breaks. Lately, the shop manager Miana has also been joining the conversation, so especially during the weekday mornings, lunch breaks, and evenings, middle-aged men gather. The popularity of the two is about half-and-half. Of course, since we're fundamentally aiming for a shop for girls, on weekends, young girls living in the Flatlands come by carriage and take turns occupying the shop after driving away the middle-aged men.
"Heh, is that so."
It must have been unexpected that a member of the Demon Race was living with humans.
"What about the Arachne?"
"I met her in the cave where the Demon Lord was resurrected."
"Eh? Did Jeanne also fight the Demon Lord?"
"No, I was just supporting from a distance."
"Supporting?"
Well, normally there wouldn't be any support. I explained that it was like this and that.
"That Henry and Eleanor?"
"Yes. They gave me permission when I negotiated."
"Then Jeanne also has met the Demon Lord."
"Yes. Only a little, but I was allowed to talk with him."
"What kind of talk did you have?"
I told her everything, emphasizing that it was just between us.
"And so you're living with the Arachne?"
"That's right. She usually lives in a cave, but she stays in my room after banquets, and she was with me for the first few days."
"Heh, the Demon Lord, huh."
"Yes. He was laughing and saying to do as I liked."
"The Demon Lord laughed?"
"Yes. But is it really that rare for the Demon Lord to laugh? The Vice Demon Lord was also surprised, though."
"Vice Demon Lord?"
Come to think of it, Vice Demon Lord was a name humans gave him. When I said he was the former Demon Lord's right hand, was good at ice magic, and liked frogs, she seemed to remember.
"I know him. He should have retired."
"Yes, I was able to meet him by chance. I invited him to a banquet at our farm, but he refused, saying he couldn't because he promised the Demon Lord not to leave the island."
"You invited him to a banquet? At Jeanne's place?"
"Yes. How about it? Why don't you come if you like? The Arachne and low-level Demon Race member I mentioned earlier will also be there. And also the Four Great Spirits and such."
"Four Great Spirits?"
She's surprised. Was the name too big after all? I thought it would be fine since she knew I had their protection.
"W-Well, if I feel like it."
"Yes, please think about it."
That was a pity. Violet would have been happy if she came. I wonder if Keira would be intimidated?
"Sorry to have kept you waiting."
I finished before getting lightheaded and returned to everyone. I have to properly teach her about those things too.
"Was it a good bath?"
Price-sama asked with a chuckle.
"Yes. Right?"
"Yeah. From now on, I'll stop cold water bathing and use hot water."
"Don't fall asleep in the bath. Especially be careful when you've drunk a lot of alcohol."
"Ahahaha, that's true. I'll be careful."
Everyone else was laughing too. Everyone probably has experience with that.
In the end, it turned out to have nothing to do with the ruins. We went outside and started the exploration.
"Come to think of it, why are there no ants around here?"
It is said that the ruins where the secret books were until now had been purified. That's why spirits settled nearby.
"Because I'm ordering them. It would be a problem if the prey were gone."
"But there are bees, aren't there?"
"Bees don't target large game like wild boars or bears. They couldn't carry them even if they killed them."
I see. That was solved easily.
"Is there any place that you find particularly disagreeable? The ruins that have been explored so far might have been treated with holy magic or barriers so that spirits could easily settle there."
The fact that Price-sama didn't say "purified" was probably out of consideration for the Demon Race woman.
"None in particular."
"What about caves or stone-walled caverns that humans could enter?"
"There weren't any that large."
There are absolutely no clues.
Wait? Hold on a second.
"Conversely, is there any place that feels strangely comfortable?"
Price-sama said, "I see." He seems to have noticed.
The Demon Race woman said the Four Great Spirits and the Demon Lord were on the same level. The basis is subtle, but she also said spirits and the Demon Lord were the same. If so, a place comfortable for the Demon Race might also correspond. There were no traces of purification by holy magic in the ruins so far. It's just said that way.
"A comfortable place?"
"Yes. A place where you can relax."
"It's here."
Well, I guess so. It's her home.
"Ah, I have a favorite place."
"Please guide us there."
The second investigation site was decided.
The favorite place was a small waterfall. The western hills have many ponds connected by small streams on the eastern side, and after going up a stream connected to one of those ponds, clear water was falling from the top of a cliff. Since it's not a large waterfall, there's no plunge pool. It's a large puddle. The water that fell as if tracing the cliff hit a huge rock and splashed, and that water gathered to make a small stream. One end of the small stream was a slope, but the other side had a flat place about the width of one person along the stream, and you could go to the small stream. The edge of the puddle had the flat place protruding a bit and was wide enough for depth, so we landed there. Weeds were growing, but the bowl user mowed them with Wind Cutter.
It's a quiet and calm place. The chirping of small birds can be heard. Perhaps because it's further in than the bees' warning line, they aren't flying. Since it's the height of summer, the sound of water echoing among the deep green leaves is refreshing. As a favorite of the Demon Race, it's in the shade so it's also cool, and when I crouch and touch the flow, the sensation of the cold water is pleasant. Anyone would like such a pleasant place.
"What's it like above here?"
"Nothing. The water of this waterfall itself is flowing from a crack in the upper part of this cliff. It's spring water."
There are apparently no rivers or ponds. That's why the amount of water is small.
"It's a pleasant place."
It was Price-sama.
"Right? Try a sip of that water. It's tasty."
Price-sama, as told by the Demon Race woman, crouched beside me, scooped up a handful of water with his right hand, and brought it to his mouth.
"Phew, it really is tasty. It's especially so because I haven't come to places like this much lately."
He must be doing nothing but debating in meeting rooms. Thank you for your hard work.
"This is the original way of living."
"I am humbled."
I guess he can't help but be told that.
However, although it's pleasant, there are no clues to the ruins. There are no caves, let alone traces of human hands. In fact, it doesn't even feel like monsters would be here.
"Don't bears or wild boars come here?"
"No. Because I'm here all the time."
When she says it that way, it's true.
"However, if humans had entered, it feels like there would be some kind of trace, though."
I understand what Harris-sama means. If humans had entered here, I feel like it would have been a place for some kind of religious ritual. However, the fact that I think that way itself means it's not just an ordinary place.
"The back of the waterfall is in plain sight, there's no plunge pool, and there are no caves around. It feels like there should be something, though."
"That's true."
Even as the two of us looked around, there was only a calm landscape.
"I wonder if people really came this far?"
"Yes."
Water is abundant. If you go east, there are also plains. Even if they're called mountains, they're hills, so they aren't that steep. It wouldn't be strange if something like a temple or a small shrine were a bit further down.
"How long have you lived here?"
"I wonder how long. I think it was less than a thousand years ago, though."
The ruins are probably three thousand years old. Assuming they were around here, she would have started living here after they were completed.
"When you lived here, did you drive away humans?"
"Of course. Many hunters were entering."
"Were there mountain huts?"
"There were, but they were wooden. There were no stone ones like Jeanne is talking about."
"Where were they?"
"A bit further west. On ridges or slightly open places. You'd make huts in places like that, right?"
It's too commonplace a location. I still think it's more likely around here.
"Well, there's no need to rush. We'll search thoroughly."
Harris-sama, who crouched by the river, washed his face with water scooped in his hands.
"There aren't many places as pleasant as this. Strangely, my heart feels calm. First, let's search around here."