Chapter 707 - Chapter Seven: New Model Behemoth ②
It's a relief that the New Model Behemoth's wariness has lessened. We split the work between labyrinth destruction and Magic Stone searching.
The destruction team, which had been throttling their output until now, decided to let loose and turned a wide area into rubble all at once with Ultra-High Level magic. It's much faster than digging holes steadily. If I use Light directly, I can illuminate a wide area, and I can also heal with Hand Over. We just created piles of rubble while applying Mute.
The Magic Stone search team was digging holes as usual. This side just kept digging holes with Curve while looking at the map. Since we just needed to dig narrow holes that the New Model couldn't enter, we did it without the bowl.
We spent July in that manner.
While we were steadily creating rubble and digging holes, and the New Model Behemoth started coming near the tower exit even before we teleported the boars, making 'bumo-bumo' sounds—which were definitely different from a dog's bark—to demand food, we finally detected the Magic Stone. The location was directly beneath the Behemoth's regular spot. Beneath the center of the passage where the Behemoth always sits, there was a black wall made of stone, and Beatrix's Curve stopped working. Crevice didn't work either. I was suddenly called and illuminated it with Light, but the wall didn't disappear. When Henry-sama struck it with the Silver Sword, it left a scratch. In other words, it could probably be broken with brute force. However, there's likely a Magic Stone behind the wall. If we break it suddenly, we'll be exposed to dense mana. We have to think of a good method.
"Let's leave it as it is for now and think of a plan."
Eleanor-sama proposed this to the Vice Commander, and after that, she joined the destruction team to finish the day's work.
What is the true identity of the wall?
Actually, I have a rough idea. It's surely slug mucus. However, I can't say that out loud. The secret of Eleanor's armor and helmet would be exposed. I'll just attribute it to a curse or something done by the demon race. After that, it's about how to destroy and take out the Magic Stone inside, but actually, there's already a solution for this too. It's only a problem because we are living humans; if it's a Revenant or a ghost, it should be fine. Eleanor-sama already had an idea.
"Do you have any acquaintances who are Revenants or ghosts? If you do, that person will be our trump card."
She suddenly asked King Seldic.
"What are you saying all of a sudden?"
For a moment, King Seldic's movement stopped. Normally, one would be surprised. However, he's quite something; his expression, which always contains a smile, didn't change.
"You aren't very surprised, are you?"
Was it my imagination that he clicked his tongue slightly?
"If I were surprised by every single eccentric word or deed of yours, I wouldn't last."
I accidentally laughed, and Eleanor-sama poked me with her elbow. I think it's the fault of those who are always doing strange things.
King Seldic's reply to Eleanor-sama's explanation was simple.
"I do not know."
"Huh?"
It was so blunt that I unintentionally asked back.
For Eleanor-sama, it was likely a question she threw out to confirm the truth of an old rumor... that before the Ruined Town was dismantled, dozens of Revenants escaped and were given protection in Engrio... but King Seldic truly seems not to know.
"Are there no ghosts in the Engrio palace? Generally, there are such rumors about any palace."
By the way, the rumor about the Sertoria palace would be Fiona.
"If it's rumors, there are some, but I have never met one. I haven't looked for them either. So I do not know."
"I see."
"I do not know, but there is someone the Church knows."
I see. Church priests in any country actively make ghosts ascend, except for those who died in battle. Some persist without ascending, but the Church keeps track of their locations. That's because a person in charge occasionally goes to meet them to persuade them to ascend.
"However, we would probably have to talk to Archbishop Price or someone like that first."
"Who is it?"
"A ghost named Erikson found in the Ruined Town. Apparently, he was the Grand Archbishop of the former Southern Church. Haven't you heard from Price?"
"I have heard, but would such a high-ranking ghost come?"
He would. With that personality, he surely would. I mean, he might even lecture King Seldic. Eleanor-sama knows that and intends to trap him.
"Could you lot and Archbishop Price persuade that ghost for me?"
Look, he took the bait.
"We don't mind, but it might take some time."
"I leave it to you. Will Bishop Jeanne be taken along?"
"Yes. I think that would be best."
"I understand. Then, among the party, let Henry, Eleanor, and Jeanne—the three of you—handle the talk. The rest will focus on the feeding and the labyrinth destruction here."
"We'll consult with everyone, so please wait a moment."
As a result of the consultation, it went as King Seldic requested, and for some reason, I ended up going to Medioland as well.
After persuading Archbishop Price, it will be the restoration of the Northeastern Forest. Since the Secret Book-related work is finished this month, I have relatively free time. After spending a whole day making many Light magic circles for illuminators, I ended up returning to Nakanohara for a while. I was escorted to the border by Engrio magic soldiers and met up with Wilson-san, who was waiting for me at the checkpoint. The place we flew to in the bowl was, as expected, the fortress in the forest.
"Are we going to meet him directly?"
"Of course. Erikson-sama is the advisor to the Henry Party."
"But it's Church territory, right?"
"It's fine. I've sent a letter to Price."
Then why are we moving so fast?
"Because there's a place I want to go first. It takes time to get there."
It takes time... I bet it's Behemoth-related.
"Could it be you're going to see the Vice Demon Lord?"
"That's right. You figured it out well."
"Will it work out if we ask the Vice Demon Lord?"
"I don't know. However, if we find a way to transport it somehow, I think it's better to hand it over to the Vice Demon Lord."
That might be true. However, will the Church permit it? The New Model is docile, so if we can get them to understand that, it should be fine.
While waiting for nightfall after arriving at the fortress, a reply came from Archbishop Price in the afternoon.
"It seems the Church will not involve itself with the Behemoth. Therefore, he says to come and pick him up."
Isn't the connection between those words strange?
"Even if they don't involve themselves with the Behemoth, they will involve themselves with the relationship between Erikson-sama and King Seldic. In short, it's politics."
It seems it will be another troublesome story.
"Jeanne. We're going to pick him up now, so you come too."
"Eh?"
"You've only been to the Medioland Royal Capital Great Church once, right?"
"That's true."
"You might even be able to meet the Grand Archbishop. You've never met him, have you?"
"Yes."
He's not someone a stray like me can easily meet.
"But we're going in the middle of the night, right? Wouldn't that be a nuisance?"
If we go now, it'll be a good time.
"Then let's make it a morning raid. If we make it in time for the early morning duties, Price will be awake, so it'll be fine."
Not a night attack, but a morning raid? As expected of a soldier, the way of thinking is different.
"Begone! This is a cursed land. If you do not wish to be cursed to death, leave at once!"
We were in a medium-sized bowl, and we had blinked Light several times from a distance. I thought he'd know the Henry Party was coming. He's acting just like a bandit at the destination of a Teleport.
"No, no, this kind of ritual is necessary."
"I understand. It's the atmosphere, right?"
"Yes, that's it. The atmosphere. As expected of a hero, you understand. Besides, if you shout at the suspicious lot, they'll run away. It's crime prevention, crime prevention."
I think just glowing pale blue is enough for crime prevention.
After Eleanor-sama gave a brief explanation, Erikson-sama was delighted that he could also go to the Medioland Royal Capital.
"How long will it take to arrive?"
"Before dawn, I believe."
"A morning raid, then. Those lot from the Northern Church will surely be surprised."
Are you misunderstanding something?
"Is it about the Behemoth?"
"Yes."
"If it's a ghost, there should be no influence from the Magic Stone, right?"
"That's what they say."
"Then it should be fine. Besides, even if I were to perish, it wouldn't be a problem for me."
What is this old guy saying!
"It's a huge problem! Since we're involved, I'll definitely make sure you ascend safely. Please don't just perish on your own."
"Sorry, sorry. Those were words unbecoming of a priest."
"Exactly."
In the first place, why is a priest a ghost... wait, huh?
"Come to think of it, what is your lingering regret, Erikson-sama?"
If it were the grudges from when he was killed, there would have been a real possibility of him becoming an evil spirit. But surely that's not it.
"Do you not understand?"
"Is it the oral tradition of the Testament?"
He hadn't told Cerberus everything. Surely he was wary of those so-called ambitions.
"That's it."
"But if that's the case, the Henry Party and I have already heard it."
"Humph. Come to think of it, that's true. However, I don't feel like ascending."
That's strange. All the ghosts I've met so far wanted to ascend once they achieved their purpose for remaining in this world. Some don't ascend no matter how much time passes, especially many in Finis, but that's because they haven't achieved their purpose.
"Erikson-sama, what was it that you put your effort into when you were young?"
It's Henry-sama. He and Henry-sama somehow understood each other.
"Me? It was monster extermination. Even if I look like this, when I was alive, I made a name for myself in numerous battles as an Ultra-High Level Holy Mage. Now that I've become a ghost, I can't use it at all, though."
Could it be...
"Then, let us fight the Demon Lord and the Demon Lord's army together."
"Umu. If possible, I would like to defeat the Demon Lord."
As I thought. He's the same type as the Wetlands Priestess.
"Then, will you ascend if we can seal the Demon Lord?"
"Then, Jeanne, you will take me along when you seal the Demon Lord, right?"
Oh no. I fell into a trap. Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama are grinning.
"That's right. A subjugation report would be too dry. We must have you come along."
"Yes. It's decided, then."
"Umu. I have found a second purpose in life. I'm counting on you, Jeanne. Tell the Bishop to prepare another stone for me to possess."
"Don't worry. We have already arranged for that. It will be finished shortly, so please wait a while. Let's see, let's have Jeanne carry it. Jeanne, lend me the amulet you're wearing on your chest. Since we're at it, let's combine the crystal for Erikson-sama as well."
Why does it turn out like that?
In the end, someone from the Henry Party would carry Erikson-sama's crystal. That's because Erikson-sama is strictly the advisor to the Henry Party. He said to put him in the Class of 175 since he got the mark, but when I said it's in principle for girls only, he gave up. I'm grateful for this kind of decisiveness. After discussing various things, it became Wilson-san.
"You are a Revenant, are you not? Can you merge with me?"
"I cannot. It seems merging can only be done with a living human."
"Humph. Then I have no choice but to stick to you."
"Stick?"
As he said it, Erikson-sama stuck to Wilson-san's back. He wasn't being carried. Wilson-san's hands were in front of his body, and his posture was correct. Erikson-sama's stomach was stuck around the center of Wilson-san's shoulders.
"I thought of it suddenly when I was practicing merging with the Bishop who manages the church. When I tried it, I could do it."
He's quite skillful. I have to try this with Fiona too, and if it works, I must teach Marcelo-san.
"And then, I do this."
With a 'bo-waa', he blew out pale blue flames, and Wilson-san's entire body was enveloped.
"W-What on earth is this..."
Because Wilson-san was surprised, the lid of the bowl shook. Since we were in an ultra-high-speed state, it was quite scary.
"If I do this, it should also block holy magic considerably."
"I-I see. That is convenient."
Convenient or not, if it burns this much, wouldn't it be fine even if I fired an Eight-Shot Volley at full power?
"It's wonderful."
Eleanor-sama is full of praise.
Wilson-san is practically the strongest mage on the White Island, excluding Count Vectis and Lyudmila, who will grow in the future. His breath lasts quite a while too. If he can counter over-ultra-high-level class holy magic, he's invincible.
"I know. You too must be quite a mage. Moreover, you are not very good at physical combat. How about it, why not form a tag team with me? We can do quite a lot in magical combat."
"I-Is someone like me truly alright?"
Rarely, Wilson-san is flustered. For a former low-ranking priest of the Ruined Town, it's a tag team with the former Grand Archbishop of the Southern Church. It would be like me teaming up with the Grand Archbishop of Medioland.
"It's wonderful. How about it, Wilson?"
Eleanor-sama is praising it, and Henry-sama is clapping his hands in joy.
"If it is alright with the two of you, then please."
"Umu. The formation of a new tag team for the Henry Party. Alright, let's go wild after a long time."
He's roaring with flames. It looks like Wilson-san is on fire.
"How about it? Why not meet the ghosts I mentioned before who remain from ancient times? They are users of various spiritual arts."
Surely, it's the Lord of the Border and the Queen.
"Spiritual arts, you say? That sounds interesting. I don't understand those things. Alright! I leave the details to you. Please, by all means."
"Yes. Leave it to us."
I don't know why, but isn't it getting increasingly dangerous?