Chapter 713 - Chapter 13: New Model Behemoth's Transfer
When it became near the middle of September and the heat had softened, the destruction of the Magic Stone finally came into view. The labyrinth has also mostly become a vacant lot. When I go to the tower to the fourth floor at the scheduled time, there's the New Model Behemoth peeking inside from the entrance. When we show ourselves, it has started to make 'bumo-bumo' sounds.
"It's becoming attached. Isn't it about time you could pet it?"
Eleanor-sama's love for magical beasts has also been refined quite a bit.
"It seems possible."
"It's about time, I suppose."
When I asked the Vice Commander, he gave an OK with a laugh.
"I think it depends on whether you can give it food directly."
"Then, let's try giving it this boar meat."
Lately, except during work, we've been using many torches lined up as lighting. Because of that, it shouldn't dislike it. We've prepared two hind legs' worth of butchered boar meat for food. We all consulted and thought that if it takes it when we hold it out, it should be fine to pet it.
"Until yesterday, it went toward the feeding area before we could try. If we can get close, I think it'll be fine."
The Vice Commander is also enthusiastic.
"Then shall I try it as a test? It shouldn't be wary of me approaching, right?"
It's Erikson-sama.
Since Wilson-san is not participating in this operation, Henry-sama is holding the stone.
We've had Erikson-sama be active for many days. Basically, monsters ignore ghosts. Taking advantage of that, he approached many times. It seems it turned its eyes toward him when he got too close, so he hasn't petted its head yet, but he seems to feel it's promising.
By the way, the meeting with King Seldic was also realized. As a result of Erikson-sama saying he wanted to hear King Seldic's intentions for cooperating, he was satisfied after hearing the reply.
King Seldic's thinking is as follows: that at this point, he is prioritizing measures against the Demon Lord and the Demon Lord's army above all else; that he is currently in the middle of the period of the conditional Non-Aggression Alliance with various countries; and that because he is a pagan, he respects the teachings of our religion but doesn't reflect them in policy. On top of that, he claimed that he recognizes the commoners' and serfs' faith in the Goddess, is positive about lifting the ban on Forbidden Magic, and above all, has achieved peace with the female demon, so he is achieving coexistence and co-prosperity more than other countries. Erikson-sama is a person from before the era of the modern Church's style of expressing absolute opposition to war. He showed understanding for King Seldic's claims, and stopped at only requesting that he maintain the current situation without particularly trying to lecture him. As long as I heard King Seldic's claims, there's no room for complaint. On the contrary, I think he's one step ahead of other countries.
That Erikson-sama, his title as former Grand Archbishop is not for show, and he's succeeding in winning awe and at the same time respect and trust from the soldiers, who are originally commoners. Of course, those who are informed of his existence are limited to those under King Seldic's direct command and those who act with the Henry Party, and everyone has taken a Vow of Silence. They are the Commander and Vice Commander of the monster extermination unit, the fortress's commanding general, the Magic Corps Commander and the Ultra-High Level mage and several others, and the heads of the treatment unit and monster extermination unit dispatched from the Church. Since they are also informed that Archbishop Price is in the background, he is being relied upon. As a result of the meeting with King Seldic, he didn't deny Engrio's claims, so the favorability toward him is also high.
"May we trouble you?"
The Vice Commander is also taking a low posture.
"Umu. I was probably called for this. I shall somehow achieve peace with that fellow."
Already, through Eleanor-sama's explanation, King Seldic's permission has been obtained to teleport the New Model Behemoth to the White Island... ostensibly to the far distant sea. (T/N: 'White Island' here refers to the island where the story takes place, but the characters are using it as a general term for the world/region.)
As a result of Beatrix's daily training, Gnome gave an OK. Of course, that fact itself is a secret from King Seldic, but in short, he got a ruling that it's fine as long as it's gone from Engrio territory. I don't know exactly how she'll do it, but when she actually does it, she's supposed to show it to King Seldic too.
Erikson-sama, holding the boar leg meat in his hand, floated up just like that. He brings it near the mouth that's making 'bumo-bumo' sounds.
When it sticks out its long tongue and wraps it around the meat, it opens its large mouth and takes it in. It started munching on it just like that. Everyone stirs.
"I did it!"
Erikson-sama made a fist pump.
We also sent applause as if responding to that. Since we must not startle the Behemoth, the sound itself was modest.
"C-Can you pet it or something?"
Eleanor-sama, if you're that tense, you'll be made wary.
As a result of teleporting boars as usual, the New Model Behemoth let us pat its shoulders with a 'pan-pan', but it disliked it when we put our hands toward its head. It might have just prioritized eating, but it didn't go as far as becoming attached. Incidentally, among those who tried, those who succeeded were only Henry-sama, the Vice Commander, and the priest. When others approached, the Behemoth stopped eating and raised its face, so we stopped further attempts.
"Since it's undoubtedly gotten used to us, eventually everyone here should be able to do it."
The Vice Commander says that composure is important. It seems its wariness toward overly hot-blooded warriors or pointlessly curious mages is severe. Since scouts are also light infantry, Bonnie was also no good. A gentle behavior like a seasoned farmer is preferred. In that regard, priests always train so they can do that. Regarding why Henry-sama was okay, it was said it's probably because he's not an ordinary warrior. The Vice Commander was apparently a farmer until he was plucked out by King Seldic, and was used to taking care of livestock. Perhaps the members of the monster extermination unit could do it better than Eleanor-sama.
"Let's continue the feeding like this. Then, eventually, it should let us pat its shoulders."
Eleanor-sama said while looking enviously at Henry-sama, who was grinning.
Next after the Behemoth observation is the Magic Stone.
We have Erikson-sama go to the other side of the wall that doesn't let magic pass through.
He was staring intently at the black wall illuminated by the torchlight, but as soon as he thrust his right hand toward the wall, he went through smoothly.
The Vice Commander and the Engrio soldiers stir. The Henry Party and the priest are used to it, so they don't particularly react.
We wait for a while.
If the wall isn't that thick, he should be able to go to the other side immediately, and conversely, if it's too thick, he'll return immediately because he can't pass through.
"He's late."
Compared to Fiona, it takes time, perhaps because he's not used to it. We asked Erikson-sama for the approximate thickness of the wall and the size of the Magic Stone. Even though he's not doing an accurate measurement, it's taking too much time; is he sightseeing the large Magic Stone?
"Is he late?"
It's the Vice Commander.
"Yes. I think he's late. Did something happen?"
"It's worrying."
"Yes."
We wait further.
He still hasn't come out.
"Something might have happened. Let's break the wall."
"Isn't it dangerous?"
"It is, but we can't just leave him like this."
"Are you worried?"
"Yes."
Eh? Whose voice is that?
I unintentionally turned around at the voice I didn't recognize.
"Baa!"
"Hya!"
I unintentionally fell on my backside, and in front of me was Erikson-sama floating while pinching his nose.
Everyone started giggling all at once.
Dammit! He got me again.
"I see, Jeanne is worried about me. How kind."
Grinning like he's looking at a grandchild. Shall I illuminate you with Light!
Actually, Erikson-sama apparently passed through from the place where the Magic Stone was toward directly above. And he came around from the ground part to confirm that it came out at the Behemoth's regular spot. Inevitably, he comes from behind us. Our side's arbitrary assumption that he would come out immediately after entering was wrong.
"For a monster exterminator, your rear is soft, but in consideration of your worrying about me, I shall forgive you."
I can't say a word back.
"It wasn't much of a gimmick. This wall... to be precise, it's like a very narrow basement. Beyond this, there's a narrow room surrounded on six sides by stonework, and the Magic Stone is there. Above that is the Behemoth's regular spot."
The stonework has something like paint applied to the surface and the inner surface, but apparently, the ceiling part isn't painted. Since the Engrio soldiers are there, he doesn't say it clearly, but the paint would be slug mucus.
"About how large was the Magic Stone?"
Everyone's interest is there. The larger it is, the larger the earnings.
"It's quite large."
Everyone's mouths relax.
"Let's see, about the size of a human torso. Without the limbs and head."
If that's the case, it's quite different from the time in Finis. About six times the size of a human head? It's remarkably smaller compared to the time in Finis.
"That is indeed quite large."
The Vice Commander and the Engrio soldiers are happy. Well, normally it's like that.
At any rate, we understood the situation. We confirmed the steps and withdrew, spent time watching the New Model eat its food, and then withdrew.
The next day, we aim to destroy and take out the Magic Stone with King Seldic present. We brought in the tools prepared by the Engrio side for this day, and after finishing the Behemoth's feeding and the patting of its shoulders by the few blessed ones, we went to the black stone wall surrounding the Magic Stone.
"Well then, let's begin."
The Vice Commander's instruction was given, and Henry-sama, Will, and the Commander pushed a thing that looked like a bronze cylinder on a wooden cart with a 'goro-goro', and the bronze cylinder was pressed against the wall.
The cylinder is not that thick. It's just enough for the handle of a hand spear to fit perfectly inside. The length is also about that of a hand spear. Therefore, it's not heavy. The cart is a support.
We insert a spear made of Light into that cylinder. When it's pushed in until it hits the stone wall, the Vice Commander and Will swing war hammers and strike the spear of light with a 'gatsun-gatsun' alternately. Every time it's struck, the spear goes inside, and around the sixth time, it was pushed in all at once with a 'sukon'. It penetrated the black wall.
Erikson-sama goes inside and checks the situation. If the spear is heading toward the Magic Stone, good; if not, we correct the angle and redo it.
The steps from the previous day seemed to have gone well, and the direction was apparently good. We kept pushing it in just like that, and when there was a response, we tapped it lightly with a 'kon-kon'. There was a signal from Erikson-san, and we struck it again with all our might.
"It broke. It broke nicely, with the top third breaking off and rolling away."
If the top third broke, we just have to lower the position of the spear. We once pulled out the spear, corrected the position of the cylinder, set it up again, and did the same thing. This time, it seems the middle part broke and rolled away, leaving the bottom third.
Next, we made a thicker spear and widened the hole. We slanted it from the outside toward the inside so he could roll the small broken Magic Stones to us. Magic Stones about the size of a child's fist came rolling out. We mixed the secured Magic Stones with soil and packed them into barrels, and every time one barrel was finished, we teleported it to the fortress with a simple teleportation magic circle.
With this, the influence of the Magic Stone should have become smaller. After that, we hammered in wedges to make a fairly large hole in the wall. And we recovered all the remaining Magic Stones. Since Erikson-sama picked up even things the size of small pebbles like a priest, we could recover everything except for truly tiny ones. Because we mixed them with soil, the number of barrels also increased to about ten.
As for the Behemoth, since it could get food, it didn't pay attention to the mana of the Magic Stone. Since we had experience with the Water Dragon in this regard, we weren't worried. As we thought, it normally returned to its regular spot and was sleeping. If things go well, it will gradually become smaller. With this, even if Beatrix's training ends in failure, we can manage if we just take time.
And after several days had passed, Beatrix finally mastered the improved version of the magic Translate.
"I'm thinking of trying to teleport the Behemoth to the far distant sea soon."
On a day near the end of September, Eleanor-sama finally proposed this to King Seldic at the morning meeting.
"Have you found a prospect?"
"Yes."
"How do you plan to do it?"
"Beatrix will do it. She'll teleport it while it's approaching and eating its food. However, originally, Translate is an extremely dangerous magic. We use a magic circle, but it's too dangerous for a living human to approach and activate it. Basically, please make sure no one goes out to the fourth floor from the tower exit."
In reality, Beatrix trained under Gnome so there wouldn't be such danger. For Eleanor-sama, she doesn't want the Engrio magic soldiers to analyze the magic circle. That's why she explained that Translate is originally dangerous. It's not a lie. It's a well-known story. However, since there are very few people who actually use it, almost no one has seen it. Of course, King Seldic and the people of Engrio don't even dream that Beatrix is being taught magic by Gnome. Therefore, they think it's fine to teleport it, but the Behemoth will die.
"Is it fundamentally different from Teleport?"
"It's different. It's a High Level magic with no weight limit. Because the mana gathered at the time of activation is enormous, it's dangerous for a human body."
When King Seldic looked at the Engrio Magic Corps Commander, he nodded in agreement. He seems to understand because he's an Ultra-High Level mage.
"Is there no Translate user in our country?"
"None has been confirmed at this point."
"Is it that rare?"
"Yes. As Eleanor-sama said earlier, it's extremely dangerous. And the destination is unstable, and it's said that the one being sent won't escape unharmed due to the influence of mana. Of course, humans cannot be transported. Usually, it's a magic used when throwing a large amount of earth and sand into the sea."
King Seldic, having heard his subordinate's explanation and being convinced, told them he would leave it to the Henry Party.
We went straight to the fourth floor. Since it can't be done if a large number of people gather and startle the Behemoth, we limited the participants. Only the fourth floor conquest team and the Magic Corps Commander. Even then, since they would be in the way of the work, we had them wait while in the bowl. We illuminated part of the ground with Light, and there Beatrix dug a ditch using Clump Sand. She couldn't see the whole picture sufficiently. It's not something that can be done easily.
She continued bit by bit while taking breaks, and finished it in half a day. Since sweat was beaded on her forehead, I chanted Hand Over twice just in case.
When it came to the actual implementation, King Seldic, the Magic Corps Commander, and the Commander came to watch. However, since it would startle the Behemoth and it's dangerous, we had them stay inside the tower.
"Well then, we will implement it."
By the time the Vice Commander's instruction was given, the Behemoth had arrived. Erikson-sama was in the center of the magic circle, which had several torches placed around it. Perhaps because of that, it wasn't particularly wary. As the recent method, we've been lowering boars suspended from the bowl to the ground. We immediately lowered four. It started eating while making 'bumo-bumo' sounds. Since it has a docile personality, it didn't do things like breaking the magic circle. Though, since a magic circle that requires enormous mana is protected by mana, it probably wouldn't be broken easily.
Erikson-sama patted the shoulder of the Behemoth that was eating its food, and returned just like that, floating.
"Well then, bye-bye. Translate!"
When Beatrix's keyword, amplified by Loud, rang out, the entire field of vision seemed to become distorted, and the Behemoth disappeared.
"Is it a success?"
"I suppose so. Since the magic circle has also turned pitch black, it should have teleported safely."
"I see. Good work."
While everyone fell silent as if they had lost their words, only the voices of King Seldic and Eleanor-sama rang out.