Chapter 644 - Lyudmila ③
As we proceeded through the winding cave illuminated by [Light], we saw a door. When we opened it, there was a circular room with a magic circle carved on the floor. It was [Teleport].
The magic circle was activated by the Headmistress's incantation, and where we flew to was a round stone room. There was one door that seemed to be made of iron, and for some reason, the bolt was on this side. Moreover, it was a heavy double bolt, top and bottom.
"Lyudmila, could you remove those bolts?"
"Ah, yes."
Told by the Headmistress, Lyudmila put her hands on the top bolt, which looked very heavy. Since she's short, she held the center with both hands and tried to lift it. I thought it wouldn't go up with just one person, but contrary to my expectations, the bolt went up smoothly, and Lyudmila, who looked only like a twelve-year-old, easily removed the bolt.
"This door is..."
I couldn't help but ask Price-sama.
"Yes. It is made of white silver. To be precise, white silver plates are attached to wood and thinly painted with color."
In other words, there are monsters beyond this door.
"Lyudmila, after the Ritual of Succession is over, the white silver of this door will be yours."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, Olga made it with the assets she left for you. She told Eleanor she couldn't let a small child have a large amount of money. Olga made the cave itself, but the door was ordered through Eleanor."
White silver plates... They are attached to the entire surface of the double doors and the two bolts. If converted to cash, just how much would it be?
"It should probably be worth about two hundred gold coins. It's all Lyudmila's."
"Is there none for my brother?"
"There isn't. As you know, your brother is just a human child. They took in a child whose parents died in battle. However, it is your discretion whether to give a portion of the money obtained from selling this to your brother."
"I understand. Then, I'll take it all for now."
"That's for the best."
Knowing Lyudmila, she'll probably give half to her brother. However, so she has no blood relation with that brother. I didn't know that. Although, if they were blood-related, then the brother would also have Vampire blood flowing in him.
"Sorry for keeping it a secret. But there's no doubt you are family."
"That's right. So don't worry about it."
"Yeah. Thank you."
The farm's certification results will come out the year after next. Depending on the situation, we'll buy our land anew and full-scale management will finally begin. It's helpful for us too that the reliable Lyudmila will get a large amount of money here.
"As you may have realized, there is a barrier beyond this door, and there are many ants."
Battle starts as soon as we open it.
"Jeanne, what would you do?"
The Headmistress asked me.
"Is it an immediate [Ascension]?"
With [Ascension], it would be settled in one shot.
For example, blow away the Ant Revenants in front of the door with Lyudmila's [Favorable Wind] (T/N: A variation of wind magic), and prevent their approach with my wall of [Light]. If the Headmistress releases [Ascension], it'll be a clean sweep.
"It's not bad, but it might not be a clean sweep."
The Headmistress sent four thousand Revenants to their rest all at once during the Revenant incident in Nakanohara. Are there more than that?
"It's more about the space than the number. The inside is a burial chamber, but it's unexpectedly narrow. The ants come out through holes they can pass through from several other rooms. Even if we wait for the room to be full of them and release [Ascension], I don't know how many times it would take."
I see. That's tough. If the Headmistress's and Price-sama's mana runs out, it's all over. However, to remove the door, we have to defeat them all.
"It's not guaranteed that thieves won't use holy magic. It must be one of the measures to protect the remains."
I was surprised by Price-sama's words. One shouldn't be able to use high-level or above holy magic unless they are a priest. Let alone [Ascension], which is ultra-high-level.
"There are strange people even in the Church."
That may be true, but she probably wouldn't want to be told that by the Headmistress.
Ouch, I got smacked again.
"Olga was a hero, possessing magic control that surpassed Eleanor's and physical ability that allowed her to fight on equal terms with Henry and Catherine. Moreover, she was immortal. She could also obtain the cooperation of Henry and Eleanor, that is, the Sertorian Royal Family. That Olga judged that she couldn't protect Lyudmila unless she staked her own life. Do you understand what this means?"
Rather than being killed, she apparently feared her being kidnapped as a child and brainwashed. Her mother made the decision when her partner, Lyudmila's father, fell ill and his death was finally approaching.
"That's right. If Olga had fought the forces of that time, it might have been the priests of the Ruined Town. They've been dismantled now, but they must have been quite powerful back then. Living priests who use ultra-high-level holy magic, and Revenant priests who use other ultra-high-level magic or dark magic. There might have been only a few of each, but there would have been more high-level and mid-level or below, and they were probably stronger than a nation's Magic Corps."
A small child might have been targeted by such people. It's scary that Price-sama is nodding with a serious face.
To fulfill the wishes of Lyudmila's parents, we must defeat the ants in front of us.
We can't win in a war of attrition. Then what should we do? Release magic until our magic control holds out and then retreat. Repeating that would work, but we don't know when it would end. Then what?
"I think blowing them away with [Favorable Wind] and securing a place with a wall of [Light] is good. For now, let's go with that."
"And after that?"
"Something will work out, won't it?"
Aren't you being too irresponsible? Price-sama, how can you agree to this?
We ended up fighting the Ant Revenants with the Headmistress's extremely haphazard plan... or rather, a method that defies description.
"Well then, here we go."
We threw open the bolted door. Chilly air flowed out. In the darkness, countless ants illuminated by [Firefly] could be seen. The ants were probably instructed to repel intruders. They swarmed toward us.
"[Holy Overflow]!"
"[Favorable Wind]!"
"[Light]!"
A significant number of Ant Revenants that had turned into dust were blown away by the Headmistress's [Overflow] and [Favorable Wind]. There, I deployed a wall of [Light] with reduced output to secure a place. I made the wall into a rectangle, excluding the floor and the side with the door. The size was enough for four people.
We all entered the wall, and Price-sama closed the door. The bolt could also be set from the inside, and he used the outer bolt bar to bolt it from the inside.
When I increased the output of the wall to maximum, those that came close turned into dust while emitting smoke. Including those whose body parts had partially turned into dust, they began to retreat sluggishly. When I reduced the output, they approached again. Those far away spat at us, but it was fine. The ants never touched the wall, but once they gathered close, I increased the output again. Those nearby turned into dust. I blew them away again with [Favorable Wind]. If I change the shape of the wall and also make a side on the door side, we should be able to advance as is.
Thanks to increasing the output, I was able to see inside the burial chamber. It's not as narrow as said. It's not as big as the Grand Cathedral, but it's about as wide as the sanctuary of a small church. There was a burial mound against the far wall, and two things that looked like gravestones were lined up. The distance was about thirty steps. Since the width was about fifteen steps, they certainly wouldn't attack in units of thousands.
"This is fine, isn't it? Let's add one more side to the back and proceed to the grave like this."
"Is it okay not to defeat them all?"
"What do you want to do, Lyudmila? Do you want the white silver plates? They're worth two hundred gold coins."
"Umm, later is fine."
"Then, it's decided."
Wait? Hold on a second.
"Um, is it okay if we step back outside the door once?"
"Did something happen?"
"There's something I want to check."
I opened the door and entered once more. Leaving the door wide open, I moved the wall of [Light] further back than the door and reduced the output. If the ants felt like it, they should have invaded to some extent.
"What are you doing?"
"I think they probably won't come in."
In fact, the ants came up to the front of the door, but they didn't enter. They didn't even spit.
"They're not coming, are they?"
"What is the meaning of this?"
Neither the Headmistress nor Price-sama had noticed.
"Probably, those Ant Revenants were instructed to attack those who entered the burial chamber?"
It would be the simplest and most effective instruction. If an intruder who saw the numerous guardians with high magic defense gave up, the Ant Revenants wouldn't decrease.
"They don't attack because we're outside the burial chamber?"
"Yes."
"In other words, we can rest here?"
"That's right. And I can use [Hand Over]."
Not only the Headmistress but also Price-sama can use [Ascension]. If I restore their mana with [Hand Over], they can release it multiple times. It's fine even if we take breaks, so we might have quite a bit of stamina. Besides, we don't necessarily have to release [Ascension]; [Overflow] would be fine too.
"What? Then let's have them bring some wine."
Price-sama started laughing. The tension vanished all at once.
After that, it became quite lighthearted. Even when the Headmistress or Price-sama released [Overflow], or Lyudmila released [Tornado Wind], the ants came to the front of the door but didn't enter. After confirming the safety several times, the Headmistress actually went outside and came back rolling a barrel of wine.
"This should be enough for today. Eleanor said she'd treat us, so let's do our best with this today."
Do you intend to empty a whole barrel just today?
"They've gathered."
Lyudmila called out.
"Look, she says they've gathered. Whose turn is it next?"
"Lyudmila cleared the dust just now, so it's the Headmistress's turn."
Have you already forgotten?
"Eh? It's already my turn?"
"Please do your best."
"What number was it?"
"It's the fourth time from now."
"That's a lot."
"It is, isn't it?"
While saying "I guess I have no choice," the Headmistress stood up, released a reflected [Overflow] toward the gathered Ant Revenants, and came back with a "Heave-ho." As soon as she sat down, she reached for the bowl and took a sip of wine.
"Next is me. I'm sorry, but please let me know when they've gathered."
It was Price-sama. It takes a little time for them to gather once. I tried counting them once, but since it was less than half even after exceeding five hundred, I gave up. Since there's no target to attack, they're probably taking it easy. It's convenient for adjusting the wall of [Light].
"Yes. I understand."
I gave honey water and a lantern to Lyudmila, who can't drink much alcohol, and had her keep watch. Although, that's because she looks like a twelve-year-old now; I don't know how much she'll be able to drink after the ritual is over.
Basically, we defeat those that gathered with reflected [Overflow]. I act as the wall and lighting, constantly increasing and decreasing the output of the wall. After attacking in the order of the Headmistress, Price-sama, and my output increase, Lyudmila blows away the accumulated dust with [Tornado Wind] and defeats them in the process to complete one round. Even when the room is filled with ants, it's less than a few hundred, so assuming eight hundred are defeated per round with two hundred per person.
"It looks like they've gathered."
When they started pushing and shoving in front of the door, it was the right time.
"Lyudmila released it just now, so it's the Headmistress's turn."
"Already? That's fast. What number was it?"
"It's the seventh time this time."
"So far, it's about five or six thousand. Well, the wine is running out, so it's about time to wrap up."
Hasn't the purpose changed?
"By the way, why is it that only priests are allowed?"
So far, it seems like it would be perfectly fine even if there were mages.
"Jeanne, haven't you noticed?"
"Eh?"
"Didn't you feel a chill the moment we opened this door?"
"I felt chilly air, but... could that be..."
"Yes, ghosts."
I didn't notice. They're different from the evil spirits we've seen so far.
"You can't see them, can you?"
"Yes. The chilly feeling wasn't the unpleasant kind that makes your back crawl or gives you goosebumps."
"It's because you're a priest. If you weren't a priest, you might have lost consciousness."
"Where are they?"
"They have no form. Let's see, to be precise, rather than ghosts, they might be called their remnants, or perhaps spiritual energy."
Remnants of ghosts... There's such a thing...
Remnants of ghosts are something a ghost leaves behind in that place, and they apparently cause various psychic phenomena. For example, making sounds, showing scary scenes, or causing fainting by inducing a state of panic due to fear. Since the ghosts themselves aren't there, they don't attack, but they affect the mind. Since Lyudmila is a Vampire quarter-blood, she isn't affected much, and since priests have the power of the Goddess, they aren't affected much. In my case, I only felt a slight chill.
"Normally, they're left by ghosts who left behind quite intense grudges, like evil spirits or wraiths. But this place alone is different. Olga, who was a half-Vampire... that is, connected to the kin of darkness, intentionally left them."
This also seems to be part of the plan to protect her father's remains. Various things are amazing. I feel something like her mother's obsession.
"Um, you know, Mama was scared that I would die before her. Ever since she found out Papa got sick and wouldn't get better, she became like that."
Lyudmila suddenly said. She kept her head down.
"So that was it."
"Yeah."
When I put my arm around her shoulder, she clung to me.
"Lyudmila."
The Headmistress stroked Lyudmila's head.
"From here on, it's up to you. And you must inherit and connect the home that Olga made with your father and you, which was irreplaceable to her."
"Yes."
Lyudmila replied while peeking only half her face out from my sleeve while still clinging to me.
Connecting the inherited home... I see, if Lyudmila becomes a woman in both mind and body, it will become possible for her to marry and have children.