Chapter 643 - Lyudmila ②
The house where Lyudmila was born is said to be on the banks of a river flowing through the eastern part of the Royal Capital region.
In the Royal Capital region, there are two relatively wide rivers, one in the east and one in the west. The western river flows beside the Royal Capital, and the eastern river flows past the fortress where Fiona used to be—which is currently a magic water production facility—and it seems to be upstream from there. It is quite a remote location.
Due to the schedule of Price-sama, who participated in the Harvest Festival rituals at the Medioland Royal Capital Grand Cathedral, the implementation took place four days after the Harvest Festival. Our transportation was a medium-sized bowl piloted by Wilson-san. Departing from the Royal Capital were the five permanent members of the Henry Party, the Headmistress, and myself. We met up with Price-sama, who arrived on a church ship, at a port near the fortress.
We moved to the fortress once to rest, and from there, for some reason, we flew westward away from the river. During that time, Price-sama told us about Lyudmila's mother.
"Lyudmila's mother was a person named Olga, who came from the continent. She was from a region even further east than East Liber."
According to Price-sama, she apparently chose to seclude herself in the forest of her own volition. Even if only half, she has monster blood flowing through her. She probably likes the depths of the forest.
When we actually went there, it was quite deep, close to the eastern edge of the Central Mountain Range. Looking at the map, you could say it's directly north of the Flatlands where our farm is located. It's more of a stream than a river. At best, it's somewhere between the upstream and midstream. If you cross the mountains visible far to the south, you'd reach the place where wild orcs engage in territorial disputes on full moon nights. It seems that if you follow the river upstream, it hits the mountains at the edge of the Central Mountain Range, curves east, and reaches the headwaters; the house was inside that bend.
The bowl, which headed south from the fortress along the river in one go, landed on the water near the bend and became like a boat. As we proceeded slowly, a wooden pier extended into the river, and a small boat with a mast was moored there. Beyond the pier, there was a place with stairs on the riverbank cliff, and a single house stood atop the cliff.
"This house is the one Olga built after her marriage. It's the place where Lyudmila was born and raised until she went to the orphanage."
After getting off the bowl and climbing the stairs, there was an unexpectedly large field and a house the size of a large mountain hut. Since there's a chimney, there must be a fireplace. In winter, it must be cold, perhaps closed off by snow. Building a house by the river was a good choice. If one felt like it, one could go to the village by boat even in the dead of winter.
However, the weeds around the house seemed to be properly pulled, and the fields were well-maintained. Is someone else living here?
"There was a possibility of the Demon Lord's army attacking from the Southern Mountains or the Northeastern Forest, but thanks to Hero Olga living here, the villages in the northern plains could feel safe. After she passed away, following Olga's will, it has been under the management of the Royal Family. It's a base for the Royal Capital Jaeger Unit... the current Paratroop Jaegers."
Was it not purchased from the owner?
"This forest originally belonged to the Kingdom. Building a house without permission was, so to speak, illegal. However, we turned a blind eye because it served as a countermeasure against the Demon Lord's army. Now that it's a base for the Paratroop Jaegers, it's legal."
I see. The title of Hero is useful in many ways.
The door of the house opened, and a person came out from inside. A mountain bandit. Likely a Royal Capital Paratroop Jaeger. We might have met somewhere before.
"Henry-sama, Eleanor-sama, we have been expecting you."
"Umu, good work."
"This is a gift."
Wilson-san sent three sake barrels and three wooden boxes flying over on a plate.
"Thank you as always."
"No, don't mention it. Are the other nine on reconnaissance?"
Are there ten people stationed here alone?
"Yes. Three are in the south, three are deep in the forest, and the other two are stationed at the place you are heading to this time."
One person is missing.
"Over there."
He pointed to the opposite side of the river. Just as I thought there was nothing, there was a sound like a stone plopping into the river.
"Good placement. From there, one can monitor boats coming up from downstream."
It seems they sensed our arrival in advance and, while listening to Eleanor-sama's explanation, were timing when to come out. If the opponent were an unknown person, depending on the numbers, they would respond by pretending not to be there and letting them pass, or launching a surprise attack from behind the door when they entered, or ambushing from a tree while they were outside. As expected of the Paratroop Jaegers.
We went inside and were allowed to rest.
There was a table right after entering, but it wasn't very large. There were chairs for four people of appropriate size. However, there was a bench against the wall where five or six people could sit. Beyond a partition in the back was another room, and the fireplace was there. That room was covered with bear and boar furs so that one could spend time rolling around. It was likely a bedroom-cum-living room. Bypassing the table, we all crouched down in that room. Perhaps because the furs were laid in multiple layers, it was comfortable to sit on. A portrait of a man and a woman hung on the wall. Having made a name for herself as a hero, it was of a suitable size.
"That's them, my Papa and Mama."
The mother wearing a blue robe was truly a beauty. She had the same grey eyes as Lyudmila. Her long black hair was flowing. She stood dignified like a hero... but with a gentle feel. Her facial features didn't give off much of the strength imagined from the image of a Vampire.
The man dressed as a hunter seemed to be the father. He had the same red hair as Lyudmila and was a calm-looking handsome man. Somehow, the atmosphere of the Lyudmila siblings seemed to fit them perfectly.
By the way, Lyudmila was looking around the room restlessly. No, she was clearly pretending to look around while being concerned about one specific spot.
"Did you remember something?"
"Umm, can I check something for a bit?"
When I looked at Eleanor-sama, she gave a nod of permission.
She stood up and went to a corner of the wall.
When Eleanor-sama looked at the bandit, he gave a slight nod with a smile before immediately returning to a serious expression.
"Found it!"
She stood up and showed us a small box.
"Lyudmila, what is that?"
"This, it's a memento from Mama that I hid."
Looking at her feet, there was a hole in the wall, and a small piece of wood had fallen. It must have been fitted in to plug the hole.
The bandit changed his expression as if he were truly surprised. It seemed his daily training was being put to use; it didn't look like acting.
"A memento?"
"Yeah!"
She ran back and showed us the contents of the box.
"So pretty!"
There were gold coins, rings, and a pendant. The rings were all gold, and some had large gemstones. The pendant was connected by a thick gold chain, and the gold setting held a large piece of amber. There were about ten gold coins with engravings I had never seen before. She's suddenly rich.
"I gave half to my younger brother. But I hid my portion there."
The mementos from her mother were apparently things Lyudmila's grandfather had given to her mother. Incidentally, the younger brother who received half is a hunter. He can't use magic at all, but his skill with a bow is said to be certain. I occasionally see him at the Mountain Bounty Pavilion. He is a calm and unshakeable handsome man. According to Bonnie, when choosing a scout instructor, unmarried women flocked to volunteer.
"Olga always wore this amber during her lifetime. She even wore it during the battle to subjugate the Demon Lord."
"I heard it's something famous in Grandpa's country."
If it's her Grandpa, then he's a True Ancestor. It might represent a legitimate bloodline.
Looking closely, there was a black pattern inside the stone. It didn't look unlike a dragon sleeping with its tail curled up.
"I'm glad it remained."
"Yeah. Thank you for leaving it as it was even though you found it."
Following Eleanor-sama's words, she thanked the bandit.
The bandit gave a wry smile. She truly does have Vampire blood in her. It seems she saw through them.
The grave was apparently a little further into the forest. Since it was said to be connected to the house by a small path, we walked there.
"Papa and Mama's grave is inside a cave. They said it was to make the ritual easier."
According to Lyudmila, her mother had dug a hole in the cliff to make it.
"I was taught by Olga how to use [Clump Sand] to make earth blocks."
It seems Eleanor-sama was taught the applied use of magic itself.
"In truth, the best mage on the island was Olga. However, she hated standing out. She wanted to stay in my shadow. Therefore, I consulted with her and made it so that I was ostensibly the best."
I see. So it wasn't just that she wanted to stand out.
But then, what would happen if Lyudmila inherited that much power?
"I don't know. But I think she will become an ultra-high-level mage."
"Really?"
The person in question didn't seem to know.
"According to Olga, for example, among the techniques and magic unique to Vampires, particularly powerful ones... like the ability to influence the weather and call forth storms, are lost at the half-blood stage. Also, special abilities that half-bloods had, such as temporarily turning the body into mist or possessing small animals, as well as immortality, physical capabilities, and magic control, are lost at the quarter-blood stage. However, because she has a lot of human blood, she can receive the blessings of so-called holy magic. And by undergoing the Ritual of Succession, she will gain physical capabilities and magic control that an ordinary human could never hope to acquire. In that regard, I was told she would probably be about the same as Olga."
"How strong was Mama?"
"Let's see. Olga's magic control itself exceeded mine and Catherine's. Perhaps about the same as Wilson's. The types of magic she used were almost the same, but the frequency and maximum power were different. I think her physical capabilities were a little weaker than Catherine's in her prime."
That's more than enough. Couldn't she have claimed to be the strongest in history on her own?
"Just so you know, the result of the hand-to-hand combat and staff technique sparring between Henry and me is about six to four in my favor. In other words, Olga's physical capabilities can be said to be on par with Henry's."
In other words, the Headmistress is also quite a monster.
Ouch! I got smacked on the head.
"What Olga excelled in were fire, lightning, and wind. On the other hand, she was poor at earth and water. Even though I say poor, she had learned ultra-high-level for both of them, though."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, Lyudmila, weren't your high-level spells fire and wind?"
"That's right."
"Blood will tell, won't it?"
"But I want to learn earth and water too. I hope I can learn them this time."
"Probably, for fire and wind, you must have had a clear image of the magic Olga used. That's why you acquired them preferentially. There are also the examples of Beatrix and Jeanne. Magic is not something you learn by lineage. It depends on the individual's effort."
"Yeah, I understand. If I can't learn them this time, I'll work myself to death!"
"Well said. That's the spirit."
This is something to look forward to. The third ultra-high-level mage of the Class of 175 might be Lyudmila.
We reached the entrance to the grave. There was a stone building like a shrine, and two bandits were in front of the entrance door.
"Henry-sama, Eleanor-sama, we have been expecting you."
"Umu, good work."
"I've delivered the gifts. Please share them among everyone."
"Thank you as always."
"We are going inside."
"Yes."
Eleanor-sama opened the door with a key she took from her bosom. Stagnant air flowed out. It was pitch black inside.
Lyudmila held my hand.
"Jeanne, please provide the [Firefly]."
"Yes."
I put a [Firefly] on the tip of the staff I held in my left hand and went inside.
The inside of the shrine was hollow and empty. From the exterior, I thought there might be a stone statue of the Goddess, but there wasn't. There was just the entrance to a cave.
The door closed, and as Price-sama set the bolt, I heard the sound of the key being turned from the outside.
It's quite heavily guarded.
Wait, huh? None of the Henry Party who came with us are here. It's just Price-sama, the Headmistress, Lyudmila, and me—four people.
"From here on, only Lyudmila-san herself, who will receive the ritual, and the priests will proceed."
At Price-sama's words, Lyudmila's grip on my hand tightened.
"Lyudmila. From here, it will be a contest with your mother. Are you prepared?"
"Y-Yes."