Chapter 695 - Chapter Seven: The Ruined Town ⑤
The next morning, I woke up before dawn.
It was to watch the sunrise shining into the church together with Erikson-sama.
After clearing everyone out, we closed the front entrance. Those present were Erikson-sama, Price-sama, the Church Head, Harris-sama, Sianya, and me.
As the eastern sky grew brighter, the scenery seen from the window regained its vivid colors. Since it's the beginning of June, the green that jumps into sight is soft. And then, it began to illuminate the Goddess.
"This way."
We all gathered near the stone statue of the Goddess. The stone statue of the Goddess is the front half of her figure carved into the stone material. Since about half of the head is sticking out, the back of the head is part of the figure. This is also unusual. Normally, the stone material continues to above the head. It is placed on a high pedestal that seems to be sunk into the floor stone, and the height of the head is about the level of the second floor. Behind it is a window above a high wainscot, and from around the back to above the head is illuminated by sunlight. Since the back of the stone statue is a stone slab, if you look from behind, you see a rectangular stone.
"Now, look at this sight and think. What kind of mechanism do you think there is for the sunlight to shine into the basement?"
Erikson-sama is smirking, but... I've already experienced this pattern when I met Keira.
"Um, isn't there a hole in the stone material behind the Goddess?"
It would be disrespectful to put a hole in the statue itself, but there's no problem if it's the stone material.
"H-How did you know!"
I'm sorry. I've been through a lot of things, you see.
However, that alone won't solve it. Because there is no skylight. Unless the sun shines in from an angle close to directly above, there's no way the light will reach the basement. It would only illuminate the entrance of the hole. In other words, the light shining in from the skylight alone is insufficient.
"In order for the light to shine into the hole, wouldn't you set up a mirror somewhere to reflect it?"
It's Sianya. A convincing opinion.
"At any rate, let's look at the top of the stone material."
That's also convincing. The Church Head went to get a ladder. It's too awe-inspiring to lean it against the statue, but there's no problem if it's the stone material. As the first person to climb up and look at the top, Price-sama found a hole directly above. Being directly above, it ends up being close to the back of the Goddess's head, which is quite awe-inspiring. It's not a very desirable thing.
"There is a hole, but this cannot carry light to the basement. It is only illuminating the vicinity of the entrance."
"Does the hole continue further in?"
"It seems to continue toward the front... that is, toward the window side."
In other words, does the hole continue toward the east? It's too early for the afternoon sun to shine in.
"Then, can we not use this?"
Sianya said, taking out a hand mirror.
"A mirror, is it? To reflect it. Then, could you please lend that to me?"
"Yes."
He is using the one handed to him. While standing on tiptoe and reaching his hand above the Goddess's head, he is checking many times, but he seems to be tilting his head as it's not going well. A serious priest would frown if they saw this.
"I am sorry, but do you not have one more? With only one, I cannot confirm whether the light was actually successfully shone in."
"Is it no good from the front?"
"From the front, I would be blocking the front of the Goddess. It is too awe-inspiring for me to do."
Hmm. When you put it that way, it's true. It might be better to have the three delinquent old men do this kind of thing. Should we just cover the Goddess's statue with a cloth?
"Church Head. Do you have any memory of a mirror?"
It's Erikson-sama. Is there something?
"A mirror?"
"Yes, you checked the things that were left in the Grand Archbishop's office when you became the Church Head here, didn't you?"
"A mirror... ah, come to think of it."
"Umu. Go and get it."
"Yes!"
What the Church Head brought back was a strangely shaped mirror. A rectangular mirror is embedded horizontally in a wooden board, but it has a strange handle. A normal hand mirror is shaped like a spatula, with a rod to hold in your hand on the extension of the wooden board. This one. The handle is attached perpendicularly to the lower part of the wooden board attached to the back of the mirror, and it's even curved. It's a shape like a horizontally long hoe with a short, curved handle. It's not at all suited for putting in one's pocket.
"That's it, that's it."
Apparently, that strange mirror is fine.
"This has quite a strange shape, doesn't it?"
Price-sama is also wondering.
"Church Head. How do you use that mirror?"
"This?"
For some reason, the Church Head is looking a bit awkward.
"I was holding it and using it like this."
He is holding it so that the mirror comes around his forehead. At that angle, what is reflected is his head. Because there's a handle, it's easy to see.
Is it for checking bedhead?
"Embarrassingly, if I hold it like this, I can see the top of my head very well. I have been checking the top of my head, which has become a bit lonely recently, before going to bed."
It was an unexpected bald spot checker!
"Umu. That is fine. I also used it like that when I was alive."
Seriously? I heard that worrying about it makes it easier to become lonely.
"However, try holding it up to the hole above the Goddess's head."
?
The strange mirror was passed into Price-sama's hands.
"Hold it above the Goddess's head, from the side so as not to block the light. Put the handle on the side of the figure, the mirror in front of the hole, and put the reflected light into the hole... yes, yes, that is fine."
Apparently, the strange handle is placed above the Goddess's head, which is awe-inspiring.
"Wait a moment. Archbishop Price, keep it just like that."
While I was sympathizing with Price-sama, who was apologizing to the Goddess, Sianya raised her voice.
"The crystal of the Goddess's staff!"
When I went around to the front, the crystal was glowing...
"Umu. It has been successfully activated up to this point. Price, can you maintain that angle?"
"Yes. Since the handle is acting as a support. It is awe-inspiring, but I have no choice but to ask the Goddess for forgiveness..."
"Good. Then, leave the mirror as it is and you come down as well. We are going to the basement."
"The basement, is it? Understood."
The basement this time. It's busy.
When we went to the basement, there were five spots on the floor where light was hitting.
"This is... could it be representing a pentagon?"
If you connect the five points, it becomes a pentagon. In the center, there was a space for one stone slab, and there was one stone slab that the light didn't hit.
"Ah, it's disappearing... It has disappeared."
The points of light disappeared.
"The sun has risen and the angle has changed. It can no longer be seen today. However, this is fine."
What on earth does it mean? I won't understand at all unless he explains it.
We went back up, took the bald spot checker down from the top of the statue, and everyone gathered in the Church Head's office. There was an explanation again from Erikson-sama.
"Inside the statue of the Goddess, there is a large crystal cut in a seemingly mysterious way."
Hmm, hmm.
"When the light of the rising morning sun is reflected by that mirror and shone into the hole above the head, the light shines into the crystal inside the Goddess's body, and it becomes like that."
Apparently, mercury is painted on part of the crystal's surface. In other words, light reflects inside the crystal like a sort of mirror. There are parts where mercury is not painted, and it seems the light leaks from there to the place where the light shines in from above, the place connected to the crystal at the tip of the Goddess's staff, and the place connected to the basement at the Goddess's feet to illuminate the floor stones. The Goddess's crystal glowing is apparently to confirm that the function is being activated successfully. In other words, if you dig deep, deep into the places where the basement floor was illuminated, you will reach the place where the magic circle of Testament is located.
"Which means, we just have to peel off the floor stones that the five points illuminated and dig."
When Price-sama asked, he answered, "Umu."
"The stone you should peel and dig is basically only the stone in the center of those five points. If you dig that, you will hit a vertical shaft halfway through. Testament should be at the end of that vertical shaft."
"What happens if we dig stones other than the center stone?"
"It will collapse halfway before reaching the vertical shaft. Testament will also end up being unknown."
They really thought of such a complicated system. If it's to seal the Demon Lord, couldn't they make it more open?
"I also thought so at one time. However, there is probably some reason for it. We will not know until we actually go and see."
I see. But with this, the location and timing are known. Finally, the day of activation is drawing near.
"By the way, it is also said that in order to reach Testament, one must break through a basement passage like a labyrinth."
"Umu. That hole of light is small. A single human would not be able to enter. Therefore, humans must walk and break through the basement passage after jumping with Teleport."
"What is the size of the basement passage?"
Erikson-sama apparently was guided by the previous Southern Church Head to the place where they jump with Teleport. Through the exchange with Price-sama, it was found that a bowl would be impossible, but they could go if they sat on a plate. It doesn't have height, but it has width. There are said to be many traps, but they can probably clear them with a plate.
"Occasionally, one must pass through extremely narrow places, but I have heard that it is fine to shave them with Curve."
If civil engineering work is allowed, it seems they could break through immediately if the delinquent old men are there.
"Is there a danger of collapse?"
"Of course, there is."
I wonder if I should ask for the cooperation of the Goblin Scout Unit.
"Are there monsters or anything?"
"I heard there are no monsters seen on the surface. There are said to be monsters that only exist underground. Also, there may be members of the Demon Race."
Will it be nothing but first-time encounters? It's going to be tough. Will the cooperation of heroes be necessary?
"Is there a limit on the number of people?"
"I have not heard of any. I think it is fine for any number of people to enter."
Good. That's really good.
Phew—I unintentionally let out a sigh, and Harris-sama spoke to me, saying, "That's good."
"Yes. If I am with allies, it should be fine. If it were just me, I would probably not be able to break through at all. I am truly glad."
My mouth unintentionally broke into a smile. Price-sama also patted my shoulder, and Sianya held my hand.
"Hmm. Jeanne."
"Yes."
"If there were a limit on the number of people and it turned out that only you could go, would you go?"
I wish he wouldn't ask that kind of thing.
"I think I would have no choice but to go. So, I think I would go after gaining quite a bit of training."
If it's underground monsters, maybe I can do something if I ask the Earth Dragon. Aim for the silver badge... no, a solo breakthrough.
"Price."
"Yes."
"Is Jeanne your disciple?"
"No, Jeanne is the disciple of a bishop named Catherine... no, she is a former student. She is a comrade who defeated the Demon Lord together as a member of the party I was once part of."
"Did you defeat the Demon Lord?"
He is quite surprised. As expected, even a thousand years ago, the defeat of the Demon Lord was a major event.
"It was not just me. If you include the battles with the Demon Lord's army, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands were mobilized."
"I see. And the student of that Bishop Catherine who fought with you is Jeanne."
"Yes. If Catherine were asked the question Erikson-sama just asked, she would surely answer that she would go alone."
In the Headmistress's case, she would probably go without doing any training. It was like that during the Revenant incident in Nakanohara too. She went with a light feeling as if she were going shopping. Whether the opponent is the Demon Lord, a monster in an underground labyrinth, a wild boar, or a mouse, it would be the same for her.
"Like master, like student, eh?"
"Yes. I think so."
"You are overestimating me. I am far from reaching the level of the Headmistress... Bishop Catherine."
Not just monster extermination, but drinking capacity too.
"I see. You are also humble."
"No. It is thanks to the Goddess's protection and everyone's guidance."
"Hmm. Then, Jeanne."
"Yes."
"I shall also give you guidance. In the exploration for the release of Testament, will you not take me along as well?"
"Yes?"
Is it okay? When I look at Price-sama, he is laughing. So are Harris-sama and Sianya. Only the Church Head is leaning back slightly, perhaps because he was surprised.
"Erikson-sama."
"What is it, Price? Surely you are not going to stop me."
"No, that is not it. Actually, there is an interesting group called the Henry Party..."
I hope he's not going to recruit Erikson-sama as a non-regular member.
In the end, Erikson-sama showed strong interest in the Henry Party. However, as for whether he would become a non-regular member, since the talk with the leader, Henry-sama, was not finished, it was left as under consideration. He will probably join. Sianya also seemed very interested, but after all, she is the current King's Advisor. This was also left as under consideration.
And the Testament exploration was decided to be after the investigation of the currently incomplete materials is finished.
"Can it be done in autumn?"
It is currently June. After the investigation of materials is finished and a report including the contents of the secret book is made, it will be considered at the Medioland Royal Capital Great Church, and after the Grand Archbishop's OK is given and adjustments are made, the exploration will finally begin. Erikson-sama predicted it would be around early October at the earliest.
"Since we do not know what kind of things the underground monsters are, even if we start the exploration, it will likely not go easily. I think it will be an operation while preparing sufficiently and considering the political situation."
"Political situation?"
"Yes."
In other words, it's probably the movements of the Engrio army. It also depends on whether the war on the continent will end once before winter and they will come back. I'm also concerned about the spread of the disease.
"Hmm, then does it depend on how Engrio moves when spring comes?"
"Yes. If possible, if we start this operation from spring when the Non-Aggression Alliance is effective, the war on the White Island will disappear during that time and the heroes of each country will be able to move more easily."
"The opponent is the Demon Lord. It is no time for humans to be fighting among themselves."
"It is exactly as you say, but since there are those who think of various things, we must challenge it while eliminating all difficulties."
"Call the King named Seldic here. I shall give him a lecture."
"I ask that you reconsider that. Because of the results of the previous war, our church has forbidden him from entering this land. Besides, he is a pagan. I cannot guarantee that our guidance will be effective."
"What a complicated situation it has become."
"I am sorry. However, I shall at least speak with him."
"Umu. Do as you see fit."
Somehow, Price-sama seems to be acting quite humble. Is this the prestige of the Grand Archbishop?