Chapter 706 - Chapter Seven: The New Model Behemoth
The Priestess was happy that I had learned all five light magics. Even in legends, there shouldn't be many who have learned all five and use them at the High Level or above. And now, the Vice Church Head of the Northern Church... that is, the current Medioland Royal Capital Great Church, and I, the light magic user, and Wilson-san, who is a former priest of the Ruined Town even if he is a Revenant, are here with Erikson-sama. Furthermore, there are the fourth-generation couple of the country made by the previous light magic user. Both camps that were once split between north and south and fighting are now joining hands. Moreover, the witness is Gnome. I was asked to exert my efforts for the reconciliation and coexistence and co-prosperity of the entire White Island, which she could not achieve.
"Coexistence and co-prosperity are the Goddess's teachings, so as a priest, I want to do as much as I can."
It's an ambiguous answer even to myself, but the Priestess was happy.
"How about it? Why not try looking at the outside world like me? It is also good to watch the transition of the world as a ghost."
The Priestess's answer to Erikson-sama's invitation was no. It was transmitted painfully clearly that the Priestess's heart has been wrapped in sadness until now. Presumably, she doesn't even want to hope. That's because the sorrow becomes stronger when one is betrayed. Even as a ghost, she wants to spend her days offering prayers to the Goddess while praying for the realization of a world of coexistence and co-prosperity.
Ascension might not be possible. If it is possible, it would be when the island is reconciled. However, in the current political situation, it's impossible.
"I have a request for Gnome."
"What is it, Jeanne?"
"It's fine if it's once every two or three years, but could you guide me here?"
If the location is kept secret to this extent, and if it's better not to specify the location, it's better to have Gnome guide me.
"Why?"
"As one who inherits light magic, I want to talk with the Priestess."
"Humph. Shall we call the other spirits too?"
If we call them, it would only be the Four Great Spirits, right? Regarding that, I have to ask the spirits, not to mention the Priestess.
"If the spirits say it's okay, I want to meet them."
"Eh?"
Was that the Priestess's voice? Has she become able to speak?
When I looked at Henry-sama and the others, there was no change. Was I the only one who heard it?
When I looked at the Priestess, she was smiling. Apparently, only I can hear her.
"Humph. That is also true. Then, what about this time? I am the only spirit, but is that alright? You've prepared for a banquet anyway, haven't you?"
As a matter of course, I've brought wine and Highway Cookies. The Priestess also consented, and it became a banquet.
At the banquet, the history of the White Island over a thousand years was told by Henry-sama, the Great Southern Church after the northern invasion, which came to be called the Ruined Town, was told by Erikson-sama and Wilson-san, and the achievements of light magic... especially how Anti-Sepsis and Thought Communication have saved many people, were conveyed by Archbishop Price. And from me, I explained how I learned the five light magics, finally obtained the five Black Stones, and established friendship with the Four Great Spirits. During that time, the Priestess just listened with a smile.
"What, Jeanne has also gone through quite a bit of hardship."
You're not the one to say that. Gnome's trial was the toughest of all.
"I helped you properly, didn't I?"
"Well, yes, but. You were disguised as a barrel and checking things out, weren't you? The other spirits weren't like that, you know?"
"What, you're soft. To reveal my existence so easily. Shall I say something from my side at the next banquet?"
"Please stop. Most people don't know that spirits converse with humans like that. If they don't know your true identity, normally they'd be scared and wouldn't approach."
"It's better to be scared. Jeanne, you who created the opportunity are special, you know."
"Is that so?"
I'm often treated as special by the spirits. Since I don't know the reason, I'll try asking bluntly.
"Of course. In the first place, being able to use light magic itself is special, right? As you know, it's one person every two hundred years."
Come to think of it, that was the case. No matter how I think about it, I'm not normal.
"But is there some connection between light magic users and spirits?"
Barriers are dispelled with light magic. I haven't asked Dune or Mel about this part.
"What we use is so-called elemental magic. The rest is what humans call 'others'."
"Yes."
"And it also belongs to both the light and dark systems."
"I see."
Well, I thought it was something like that. After all, they emphasize neutrality. That's probably why both my Light and the First King's Light could break through the barrier. The Four Great Spirits reject both, and at the same time, accept both.
"In other words, we have good compatibility with both light and dark users."
Good compatibility...
"That's right. People who use light and dark magic are rare even among humans. Those rare humans have good compatibility with us, the Four Great Spirits. And Jeanne, you do not discriminate by race. Your standpoint is very similar to us, the neutral ones."
"And also..."
"Yes..."
"Jeanne, it's only you. Whether it's us, the Four Great Spirits, or dragons, or elves and dwarves, you're the only one who tries to associate with us with a genuine sense of friendship. Moreover, you call us to banquets one after another and win us over with food and alcohol."
He laughed loudly.
However. 'Winning over' is a bit rude, isn't it? In the first place, Gnome's favorite should be the mushroom pie made by Angelica-san, which won over the stomachs of numerous bandits. It's not me. I believe she also won over Salamander.
"Coexistence and co-prosperity mean becoming friends, and I think sharing delicious meals is the best way to get along. Besides, it's natural to entertain guests at a banquet."
I think it's common sense.
"What do you think, Erikson?"
"Goodness, as expected of one who was granted light magic by the Goddess. Even when I first met her, she approached me without being bothered by my soul-stirring performance disguised as an evil spirit. For her age, her liver is well-settled (T/N: 'Liver is settled' is an idiom meaning someone is brave or composed)."
That's because it was a terrible performance.
"She doesn't seem to be under twenty at all."
"Um, I'm twenty-four."
"Eh?"
"I turned twenty-four this June."
It's only July, so I just turned twenty-four. I don't know if I'm thought to have a baby face, but looking at me as a teenager is seeing me too young.
When I looked at Archbishop Price, he was nodding vigorously.
"I-Is that so. Then my apologies. My contact with living humans has been cut off for a thousand years. I misjudged. I am sorry."
"As long as you understand."
"By the way, what about Bishop Sianya?"
"She's one year younger."
"S-So that was the case. That one was according to my estimation."
Anyway, Sianya is more reliable. She's a royal advisor. And she's cute because she's a princess.
I felt that the Priestess was also surprised about my age, but it was a hassle so I ignored it. From now on, it might be better to state my age during first-time greetings.
At any rate, I was able to spend a pleasant time with the Priestess from a thousand years ago. After telling her I would come again when the time was right, I returned to the cave where the Demon Lord would appear via Gnome's cave. On the way, I stopped at Nakanohara and met up with Beatrix, Will, and Bonnie.
When we arrived at the fortress, King Seldic came out to meet us, and it immediately became a meeting. That said, until we find and crush the Magic Stone, it's basically the same as before.
According to what I hear, they haven't been doing the boar thing for the Behemoth. Well, the purpose is to weaken it and it's during the vacation. It would be like that.
"Has there been any change?"
"I do not know. We have not sent anyone out."
"I see."
"Ah, instead, we have caught some boars."
I was away for more than a week. The soldiers who took turns staying behind had caught them while also securing food. The boars are kept asleep in the fortress's dungeon, and they will apparently be teleported from there to the tower on the fourth floor. That would be easier and better. Since there were enough of them, we set out immediately.
Actually, I tried asking the ghost of the Priestess from a thousand years ago about the Behemoth. To be precise, the relationship between monsters and mana. Erikson-sama also joined in, so the conversation got lively.
I learned something from listening to the Priestess. It's that monsters are not much stronger now than they were a thousand years ago.
"I have heard that humans' abilities increased due to the surge of mana once every two thousand years. Why did the monsters' abilities not increase?"
Eleanor-sama's question is reasonable. I had the same impression. However, the Priestess's reply transmitted to me was unexpected.
"The Priestess says that monsters affected by dense mana existed as different monsters."
"Different monsters?"
"Yes. So-called B-rank monsters."
Even if we say B-rank, there are various kinds. In short, they are things thrown between C-rank monsters and A-rank high-level demons and called B-rank, and in reality, there might be B-ranks equal to or greater than A-ranks. Krakens, sea serpents, Tarasques, and two-headed things weren't originally on the White Island. Thinking that way, it wouldn't be strange if there were many more monsters we don't know about.
"The Priestess says that the Behemoth she knew was just a cow. So, it's a different thing from the Behemoth we know."
In other words, the Behemoth I know is already strange. Like the New Model Behemoth found here, it seems strange monsters appear as a result of monsters eating each other. The New Model Behemoth found this time uses Prominence, is strangely docile, and has two heads—it certainly doesn't seem like a Behemoth. I thought there was a Behemoth, so I've been treating it as a Behemoth, but thinking about it calmly, it might be strange to call that thing a Behemoth.
However, it would be fine if it changed depending on what the original monster was, but it underwent a mutation during the growth process even though the original monster was the same. It seems they don't know whether that should be called a different species. However, humans just gave them names based on their form when they were found. In the Secret Books regarding monsters, there were descriptions of monsters I've never seen, but thinking about it, there might not have been such a big difference. For example, the difference between a Cerberus and an Orthrus is whether they have three heads or two. Of course, it's a big difference, but for example, if an Orthrus ate many boars in an environment with dense mana, it might become a New Model Behemoth.
"Then, that New Model..."
"It might not be a Behemoth."
In the end, no one probably knows what the result of intentionally receiving dense mana and mutating will be. After all, the Lindwurm was made by a Lich by repeatedly improving a snake.
"At any rate, if the cause of the strange thing being born is the massive Magic Stone, she says it might return to normal if the influence of the Magic Stone is removed."
"I see. Then what we have been doing was not a mistake."
I don't know what the New Model Behemoth is, but what we do is the same.
As a result of consulting with the Priestess, I got a kind of confirmation for what I had been doing on a whim. I'll consult with the Lich and the Vice Demon Lord eventually, but for now, the search for the Magic Stone is the first priority.
When I contacted them using the magic circle for sending letters, the sleeping boars were teleported over. Since they are heavy, ten boars flew over, one at a time.
"Ten boars?"
It's the Vice Commander.
"Yes, ten. It must be hungry."
He's kind, considering it was left alone for a week.
"Ah, it will be more grateful if given food while starving. That way, we make it trust us so it won't lay a hand on us. That's the plan."
Isn't that becoming a carrot and stick approach?
"Of course. Isn't that how it is when using livestock?"
"Livestock, you say?"
"Yes. I don't know what will happen in the future, but until now, it has played the role of killing off the magical beasts on this fourth floor. We are now paying the food cost for that. So His Majesty said."
"But you'll kill it in the end, right?"
"I heard you lot keep pigs too. Do you not kill those?"
"I see."
That's an interesting way of thinking. The New Model is livestock? If it gets smaller after we break the Magic Stone, I might recommend it as King Seldic's watchdog... though it might be a watch-cow... and have it do magical beast hunting.
In fact, when we carried a boar, cut its neck, and spread the smell of blood, the New Model came. It came faster than last time. It's not looking around much.
We were all watching from the tower's exit, and after the New Model glanced at us, it sniffed the boar and started eating it just like a cow. After that, we flew quite close in the bowl, but it was just moving its eyeballs and looking at us. I can tell even without Robinson-san. There's clearly no hostility. On the contrary, there's no wariness. Has it become attached?
"It doesn't wag its tail much compared to before."
"True. Perhaps its wariness has thinned?"
The Vice Commander and I both looked at the Behemoth's backside.
"Shall we try approaching secretly from behind and petting it?"
Eleanor-sama was half-laughing, but it's probably impossible. I mean, it's impossible even with a normal cow.
"If you approach from behind, you'll be kicked. Besides, I think it's better not to startle it yet."
"That seems best. Let's watch it a bit more."
Apparently, the Vice Commander has also kept cows. He probably understands somehow.
"I understand. Then, let's do the Magic Stone search while also silencing our sounds as before."
"Yes. I think that's good."
Eleanor-sama shrugged her shoulders. When I looked at the Vice Commander, he met my eyes and grinned.