Chapter 690 - Chapter Six: The Demon Lord's Resurrecting Cave (Engrio) ⑥
While proceeding with the cutting and exploration of the third floor, the month changed.
In each country, they must be busy because of the Council of Lords, but King Seldic is acting as if it's none of his business. Today too, he is listening to the captain's explanation of the day's operation plan.
The conquest of the third floor is proceeding smoothly. The investigation along the wall has been completed all over. As a result, the positions of the ponds, which were not known from the conventional map, have gradually become clear. Regarding the ponds, the water draining of the first pond found has been completed. Today is the exploration of the pond where the water draining is finished. Of course, the monster extermination shop will be at the center. The reason the pond water looked turbid was, in the end, because there were more things like black algae than in Sertoria. As a result of inquiring with the Sertoria cave, information was received that they had confirmed frogs eating it. The pond here might have fewer frogs compared to its width, partly because they were keeping two-heads.
"The cutting team will proceed with the cutting around the tower connecting to the second floor as before. From today, we will put the iron rods with Light magic circles into practical use. The installation location is near the exit of the tower. Today is observation. Since it is said that as many insects as possible will gather, we will attack with Holy. We will release one frog at the right time and observe that as well."
The frogs from the second floor are finally making their debut. Since there's no Subordination, they will be free-range, but they will surely be active.
"Regarding the pond found by the monster extermination shop led by the vice-captain, we will explore it with the same formation plus two scouts. Please tell us if anything is needed. We will prepare what can be accommodated by the time of departure."
"Then, could you lend us several iron rods with magic circles? I'd like to use them as decoys during the exploration of the pond bottom."
That was Eleanor-sama. That would be more appropriate. If insects swarm during the reconnaissance, they'll be in the way.
"Then, shall we increase the monster extermination team as reinforcements?"
"Yes. Shall we show the people of Engrio the power of the defense combining Jeanne's wall of Light and Wind Barrier?"
Heh?
"Jeanne, let's show the people of Engrio the heroic figure of the decoy attribute mage."
Why does it turn out like that?
In the end, I ended up performing for the Engrio soldiers who have little actual experience using illumination. There was a proposal from King Seldic, and it was decided not to do it in front of the tower. The debut of the second-floor frogs was also put on hold. As a result, the original operation plan was forced to be significantly revised. However, from actual experience, if we're going to do it, it's definitely better to do it at the bottom of the pond. That's because safety is more easily secured. If we did it in a place where there's a forest nearby, those clinging to the trees might jump at us. I think Eleanor-sama's claim meant that. King Seldic must have perceived that quickly and revised it.
An ultra-high-level mage who can use Wind Barrier and a high-level mage pair up to make a medium-sized bowl with a lid, and as many scouts and priests as possible board. King Seldic, the captain, the vice-captain, and the head of the monster extermination team also board. Here, Eleanor-sama paired with Beatrix. Since we're decoys this time, we don't need the acceleration type. Just the lid is fine.
We divide into three medium-sized bowls and go to the pond where the water was drained. That said, since we're decoys, we're shining with full power Light. While we fly slowly through the tree trunks, our allies fly along the wall where the cutting is finished. They are at low altitude, flying with illuminators pointed at the wall so as not to collide, but it's hard to tell where they are flying because they are so inconspicuous. Consequently, all the moths came here.
When we reach the pond, we descend just like that to the bottom where there is no water. Because it was the bottom of the water, it's slushy. There are puddles here and there in the mud, and a nasty smell is drifting. I won't be surprised even if frogs crawl out.
Because we're illuminating grandly, a large amount of insects came. Naturally, a predation battle begins. Actually, our allies are inserting iron rods with Light magic circles into the mud during this time. Our decoy is temporary.
While I was watching the moths swarming being predated by various insects, I saw six lights. It's for six iron rods. While the bowl rises slowly and approaches the iron rods, we deactivate the wall of Light attached to the lid. We increased the speed just like that and moved away. After that, we left it to the predation.
Or so I thought, but from out of nowhere... they probably crawled out from the mud... frogs came out and, with a kingly air, began predating one after another. Mantises and spiders don't matter. It seemed a centipede was coiling around one, but it was fine. I wonder if the poison doesn't work?
I watch the dining scene that I don't even want to see just like that. That's because if something strange comes out, we have to subjugate it. During that time, our allies should be looking at the side of the pond. In the end, we spent time like that until the limit and then returned to base.
"That was splendid. To achieve the goal without exposing our allies to any danger at all by making the monsters fight each other."
Everyone, including the captain, praises me one after another. After all, just by illuminating the surroundings with Light, insects gather on their own and begin fighting each other... predation activities. Moreover, frogs came out in droves from the bottom of the pond where the water was drained and joined the infighting. Thanks to that, the exploration ended without any problems. As a result, a cave-like place wasn't found, but the conquest progressed in its own way.
Eleanor-sama is acting proud, but in short, it's experience. Sertoria has been proceeding with the conquest of the third floor using bowls and Light since the time of the Demon Lord subjugation battle. It was also then that we found out that insects somehow like the light of the Light, which monsters dislike. At that time too, the insects gathered on their own and were fighting each other.
"How is it, King Seldic? On the third floor, if there are Light magic circles, the monsters will decrease on their own. I think we should just relentlessly cut the trees."
"So it seems. By the way, in Sertoria, did you use the cut trees for anything?"
"Yes. We cut them small and transported them all out. They become kindling, and they can also be made into charcoal. Why not donate them to the church and have them make charcoal?"
"There's no worry of curses or poison?"
"There were no problems with our country's ones."
"Fumu. I'll try talking to the Archbishop."
"That would be best."
After that is what to do with the frogs. An opinion was put forward by Eleanor-sama that we should move the water from the outside river to the empty pond where the exploration is already finished and move the second-floor frogs there, and it was approved. I feel like the number might be too many, but it was decided to adjust that. I feel like it's better than just subjugating them.
"What about the insect eggs that might be mixed in the soil?"
"Basically, after turning the whole area into a vacant lot, we dig it up with Clump Sand and bake the topsoil with Flame. For the ponds, we buried them after the same treatment after draining the water. However, around the pond where the frogs are, it might be fine to leave some trees and leave it to the frogs."
"Come to think of it, in Sertoria, you were leaving frogs, weren't you?"
"Yes, it's not such a wide range, but we've left one pond. It's good for observing the ecology of monsters."
On that point, Engrio's basic policy was subjugation. It seems to be the intention of the church's monster extermination team.
"I'll leave the observation to Sertoria. Our country will do subjugation."
When King Seldic looked at the monster extermination team, the head nodded. This is probably because they don't have the actual feeling of having done insect extermination together with frogs. Subordination users must have been utilized when the priests of the Ruined Town teamed up with Engrio. There are rumors that Engrio is protecting and harboring dozens of priests from the Ruined Town. Perhaps those who set magic beasts and spiders on others before and during the war are mixed in, but they probably can't bring them out in public. Sertoria is the same in that regard. Both sides finished the discussion without touching at all on the magic that is most useful in the third-floor conquest.
From the next day onward, we continued the operation of setting up illuminated iron rods at the edge of the pond where the water was drained to call in surrounding insects and have the frogs eat them. More than twenty frogs from the second floor were also introduced. For the second-floor frogs, we cooled the temperature... or room temperature?... with a series of Blizzards, and when they became quiet, we fired lightning magic into the pond to knock them unconscious, and finished them off with Sleep to make them sleep. We covered them with nets, transported them in bowls, and jumped them to the water-drained pond with Teleport. I thought they might fight each other if the number increased too much, but it was fine as long as we were gathering insects twice a day, in the morning and afternoon. The support group helped only at the beginning when medium-sized bowls were needed for transporting frogs, and after that, they were involved in draining water from other ponds.
The magic circle that was jumping the second-floor frogs was found in one of the several ponds in the central part. Since it wasn't along the wall, we had put it off, but as a result of draining the water, an underwater cave connected to the mountains inside the cave a little distance away was found. Since it's near the middle of the entire second floor, they must have used Subordination or something to move the frogs in the other ponds toward the Teleport.
The magic circle was in a room at the back of the cave, and there was nothing else in particular. As a result of the analysis, it was estimated that there's a high possibility it's connected to the magic circle on the second floor, and with this, it was found that the frogs and two-heads of this cave are completed within just the second and third floors. It's a relief.
"Bishop Jeanne. I hear the investigation of that ruin is about to begin."
I was told by King Seldic during dinner.
Date-wise, the Council of Lords must have finished safely too. In this investigation, that will probably come up as a topic from Price-sama. Something related to Forbidden Magic might have been discussed too, and I'm interested if you ask.
"How about it? Thanks to Sertoria's monster extermination shop, the conquest of the third floor is also progressing more smoothly than expected. Why not leave here for a vacation and participate in the investigation? Just going back and forth between the cave and the fortress will make you feel depressed. I and the captain are going too, so I'll take you along."
I want to think he's saying it out of kindness. To be honest, I don't think a document investigation will be a vacation. Being able to stay at the female demon's house and have a girls' night is fun if you ask, though.
"It wouldn't be right for only me to have a vacation, would it?"
Everyone is working hard in the darkness.
"Fumu. That's true too. If so, why don't we all take a break for about a week?"
Eh? Does this mean it's a settled matter that I'll join the document investigation?
"Um, I told you in advance, but I have monthly duties and must return to Sertoria around the full moon."
"Ah, come to think of it, that was the case. Then, will you return just like that after the vacation ends? Please come again after your duties are over."
"Ah, yes."
The simultaneous vacation proposed by King Seldic received the full support of the soldiers. Those who participated in this operation receive a special allowance. Since the fortress is connected to another fortress by Teleport, they can also go to town with money and go drinking. Some will probably go to brothels. They've been working hard in pitch darkness, and it'll still continue for a long time. It's definitely better to spend the whole day basking in the sun and drink and make a fuss after the sun sets.
"How about the Henry Party and Beatrix spend time in the hot spring town? You can use the sanatorium."
"Oh, that's good. Is it alright?"
"Yeah, I'll contact them. I'll give you a letter if necessary."
"However, what will happen to Jeanne?"
"Bishop Jeanne is scheduled to join the investigation at the ruins along with Archbishop Price and the others."
"Fumu. That's a pity... no, no, it's an admirable thing."
"Then, it's decided."
"Umu. Then we shall enjoy our vacation to our heart's content."
Henry-sama was overtly happy. It wasn't just Henry-sama. Everyone is looking at me while grinning. They can have delicious food and alcohol, and relax slowly while soaking in the hot springs. It's the best luxury. Unlike me.
The next day, I ended up going to the Demon Realm in the eastern part of the Engrio Royal Capital along with King Seldic and the other executives of the Monster Extermination Unit.
"Ah, when the vacation is over, please go to the checkpoint at the border. I'll have them escort Bishop Jeanne to her house. You have to fulfill your monthly duties, don't you?"
When I went to see off the Henry Party and Beatrix who were heading for the hot spring town, King Seldic, who came along, said that.
"Understood. Then, after enjoying the hot springs, we'll join up with Jeanne at the border."
"Please do so."
"Well then, Jeanne. Please give my regards to Price. Ah, you don't have to buy souvenirs for Sertoria. I'll buy them here, including for you. Look forward to it."
Damn it, you don't have to look so happy.
When I went to the fortress, Price-sama was there.
"Ah, Jeanne. I'm glad you came."
The fact that he's not surprised means...
"I had told King Seldic to include you in this investigation if possible. There were various things I wanted to talk about, so it's perfect."
As I thought, it's so. I thought it would be something like that.
"The investigation is tomorrow. Will you be staying over as usual?"
Sianya is here too. Carla and Annabella are of course here too. Price-sama and Harris-sama probably have things to talk about with King Seldic.
"Then, I'll buy wine and such."
I can't do this without drinking.
"I thought you'd say that, so I've bought refreshments. Please take them with you."
In a well-prepared way, wine barrels came out.
"Ah, Jeanne. I bought Highway Cookies Deluxe. Take these too."
Harris-sama too. No matter how I think about it, wasn't this set up from the beginning?