Chapter 716 - Chapter Sixteen: Testament Exploration
When I returned from the continent, I was told to stop by the Royal Palace.
I wondered what it was, and it seems they will start the Testament exploration in late November. However, it's apparently more of a reconnaissance than a full-scale conquest. After all, there's no information. It seems to be the idea that it's better to proceed with some exploration in advance.
The King said that I was chosen as a participant in that exploration, according to a contact from the Medioland Royal Capital Great Church.
I wonder why at a time close to December. Actually, politics are involved. It's the movement of the Engrio army.
The Engrio army that went out to the continent has returned. Although they are currently resting, they will be able to operate in spring. However, this was within the expected range because of the mercenary contract. But Duke of Roland Richard returned to his own country. This movement of the Duke of Roland was unexpected. They apparently assumed he would act together with the East Liber main army. He returned to the coast of the continent... not quite the opposite shore of the White Island, but close. In Engrio, the conquest of the cave where the Demon Lord is resurrected is over. At worst, the White Island might enter a state of war. So, they apparently thought to start the Testament exploration early, and moreover, to dabble in it halfway to attract King Seldic's attention.
However, currently East Liber won the field battle but hasn't achieved the results they hoped for. Most likely, the Duke of Roland's temporary return is a plan to take new action against the West Liber army when spring comes, so it shouldn't be related to the White Island, but they are apparently being doubly sure.
"From our country, the Henry Party, which has newly added Roberts as an extraordinary member, will participate. This is also a request from the church."
"Is Gladys-sama not participating?"
"She's probably expecting."
'Probably' means she just declined? I'm sure she was in Medioland until recently. I'll ask Mary later.
The participants in this operation are Price-sama and Sianya as church priests. Harrison-san as a wild one. The extraordinary members of the Henry Party are, in order from the north, Gwyn-sama, Eowyn-sama, Roberts-sama... he's joined the Henry Party before I knew it. Most likely, it's to squeeze these two into this exploration... and then Harold-sama and Edward-sama. Also, the King doesn't say it, but at least three ghosts will participate. Erikson-sama, the Wetlands Priestess... and in some cases many Wetlands Knight Order members... and Fiona.
"Is there no participation from Engrio and Morandine?"
"Yes, I don't know what will happen in the real thing, but since this is a preliminary investigation, they won't be included."
This part is likely politics. King Seldic wanted to participate. If the investigation within the year ends safely, I'm sure they will recruit participants from Engrio too. If King Seldic is made a party to it, there will be no war on the White Island during that time.
But that means Wilson-san can participate. If it's just reconnaissance, it's reassuring if the strongest mage is there. A total of fourteen people and three or more ghosts. It's more than a normal diversion for a Demon Lord subjugation battle. Moreover, they are all elites. I think we can manage somehow.
When the King's talk was over, next was Magdalena-sama. I have a general idea about this talk. It's likely the third meeting for disease countermeasures this year. The first was after the Council of Lords in June, and the second was in the height of summer in August. Actually, I was absent. Since I was involved in the secret book related investigation and the Demon Lord's resurrection cave conquest in Engrio, I was exempted from participating. Fortunately, the improvement in the infection status of the disease was seen to the extent that the war was resumed on the continent, and the things we had been discussing at the meetings started to be brought to the Council of Lords under the leadership of the church. Thanks to that, the main body of the meeting also... By the way, Sianya has perfect attendance.
"The third meeting is scheduled for the end of this month. Recently you've been going out here and there, and it seems you're often absent from Nakanohara too. Can you participate?"
"Err, where is the location?"
"Primordia."
That means if Sianya can participate, I can't be absent.
"Err, I think it depends on the reconnaissance of the Cave of Testament."
"I understand. The reconnaissance is expected to take about a week, so if you make it in time, please participate with Bishop Sianya."
"Yes. I understand."
I have to attend at least once a year. I'll do my best.
And, the recovery of the Northeastern Forest in November ended, and it was the day to go to the Ruined Town. The Sertoria group gathered in Nakanohara once, flew to the border fortress in a bowl, and early the next morning went into Engrio by carriage. We were surrounded by a cavalry unit for escort and surveillance at the checkpoint, went to the Ruined Town as we were, and met the members from each country at the checkpoint before entering the town. A church priest was riding in the carriage of every country.
When we arrived at the Ruined Town, we greeted the Church Leader. The Archbishop of the Engrio Royal Capital Great Church was also there.
There are no participants from Engrio in this exploration. It wouldn't have been strange if the church's monster subjugation team was there, but the Medioland Royal Capital Great Church specifically designated the priests. Those designated have their reasons. Hero, former hero, the guardian of the Wetlands Priestess who belongs to the Western Church and uses Dark, and the user of light magic. Those who protect those priests are the Henry Party, a multinational private organization including current heroes. No matter how I think about it, it's likely the result of coming up with reasons... or sophistry... to exclude people from Engrio.
We stayed one night at the prepared inn, and the next morning, after all exploration participants took the Vow of Silence in the presence of the Archbishop of Engrio, we finally infiltrated.
First, we go to the side of the pond where the Teleportation Circle is. When we went to the rock from which Erikson-sama had scraped off the stone he possessed, a figure jumped out from the rock.
"Begone! This is a cursed land. If you do not wish to be cursed to death, begone at once!"
You're doing that even though you know we're coming.
The sun is still high. Since there are people seeing it for the first time, the atmosphere won't come out, so please limit it to night.
The first-timers greeted each other. Even Erikson-sama was surprised to see the Crown Princes of each country lined up 'zura-zura'. Especially Edward-sama. After all, he's huge. Hearing he came from Primordia, he was comparing him with Sianya.
The first thing to do is the restoration of the magic circle. When we flipped them one by one with Clump Stone, they were covered in mud. When we washed them with Clump Water, it was confirmed that there were grooves on the surface of the stones, which must be the magic circle. However, it doesn't look like a magic circle.
"It's in pieces."
Eleanor-sama let out a sigh.
"Are we going to rearrange these into a magic circle?"
There are forty-nine stones in total. It's hard to rearrange them correctly. It will take quite some time. It would be good if there was some kind of marker, but according to Erikson-sama, there isn't.
"The stones actually needed are twenty-five."
There are almost twice as many unneeded ones. Why did they do such a thing?
"It's a trap. Some different ones are mixed in for a blind. It's made so you'll make a mistake on purpose, so you must be careful."
If the activation fails, that's one thing, but apparently you'll be jumped to a completely different place. It won't be understood unless it's someone who has actually entered. They really made a nasty trap.
"Is there a fake cave?"
"I don't know if it's fake. I don't think they'd go out of their way to make one. Maybe it jumps you to a natural limestone cave or something."
Erikson-sama doesn't seem to know well either. After all, he himself has never seen the magic circle of Testament.
"Is this a general Teleport?"
For Eleanor-sama, she's asking a very basic question.
"Probably. If not, people wouldn't move."
"By any chance, is there no magic circle at the destination if you jump with the wrong magic circle?"
"I wonder. I'm not familiar with Teleport. But, usually, aren't two magic circles paired?"
"Usually, yes."
Because they are paired, a magic circle like the simple magic circle that doesn't specify the destination can also be made. However, there is a weight limit. From the size of the magic circle, even with twenty-five stones, it's quite large. It can carry a considerable amount at once. If so, the location needs to be specified. However, that's 'usually'.
"Hmm. A special magic circle, huh. It's possible in an old era. But why do you think so?"
"Because if it jumps to some natural cave, there is a possibility that it will be discovered by someone else before here. If that happens, this place will be found out from there. I don't think there's a need to take such a risk."
"Hmm. Come to think of it, that's true. As expected of the mage who defeated the Demon Lord."
As expected of the great mage Eleanor.
I'd like to say that, but actually, not just Eleanor-sama but I also know. Actually, the magic circle Beatrix was taught by Gnome is like that. However, for example, if I said I knew, I'd be suspected of why I knew. At this point, the fact that Beatrix received guidance from Gnome is a top secret even more than Lyudmila's true identity. It's because it's Eleanor-sama, who had the name of the strongest mage on the White Island as she pleased, that it can be accepted without any questioning.
In the end, the first day of the Testament exploration was spent copying the grooves carved on the stones and searching for the correct magic circle while arranging them in various ways.
The work of searching for the magic circle was carried out right by the pond. The participants were Eleanor-sama at the lead, Erikson-sama, Harrison-san, Sianya, the Wetlands Priestess, and me. I can at least draw a Teleportation Magic Circle. The other people were to return to the church once in Wilson-san's bowl.
"My turn? Combat... doesn't seem like it. What am I doing?"
The Wetlands Priestess appeared. Actually, it was the Wetlands Priestess who created the opportunity to change the way of thinking about Translate and Teleport. The Priestess herself shouldn't have been able to use it, but since she challenged to learn it, she knows the conceptual things of Teleport from the era when it was under the influence of the swell of a thousand years ago.
"Teleportation Magic Circle? Rearranging these stones to make it? Hmm, it's easy. You just have to actually make one, find the same ones, and line them up."
She says lightheartedly.
"There are forty-nine stones, but apparently only twenty-five are actually used."
"Then, let's try making a magic circle by arranging all forty-nine appropriately. Probably, the circles and lines are fixed. The letters must be what's strange, so let's line them up and remove the ones that don't become correct Teleport wording."
Isn't she used to this? It's very reassuring.
It's natural she's used to it, because the Priestess used to draw Teleportation Magic Circles. Apparently someone else was the one to actually put power into them, but her life of training as someone from a low-ranking noble family was useful.
To start, we look for and line up the double circles and the straight lines that divide the inner circle into four, which are the basic shape of the magic circle. The magic circles on the back of the stones are well made, and the four places where the inner circle and the straight lines meet have four parts that are slightly different, and if you don't find the right combination with other arcs, they won't connect cleanly. Even if it looks okay at first glance, it's slightly off. It won't function if arranged roughly. But, in a sense, thanks to that, the correct parts were understood.
If the circles and lines are understood, the rest is wording and numbers. If it's a paired magic circle, the numbers for specifying the location can be removed. The rest is wording, but unfortunately it's in the language of a thousand years ago. It might be different from the wording currently used as ancient language. However, on that point, there's Erikson-sama and the Wetlands Priestess. Both can't use Teleport and don't seem to have memories of making scrolls or magic circles, so the wording itself is vague, but the template itself is fine in a modern style. If it's just drawing, I can draw it too. I drew one that would be a template on parchment, and Erikson-sama and the Wetlands Priestess changed it to a style of that time, and made what was thought to be the completed form. While looking at that, we gathered and applied the ones with letters carved. Roughly, three or four letters are carved on one stone, so a general correct answer was completed.
There was also a magic circle that used all forty-nine, including the extra letters. I wasn't useful at all, but the two ghosts lined up the ones with letters carved to make a sentence that made sense, and placed them on the outside. Moreover, even if that wording was put in, it's completed as a Teleportation Magic Circle. However, according to Erikson-sama, that's exactly the trap.
"Then, let's remove all this outer part."
Letters are carved on the outermost part. Removing them makes twenty-five. Something like a password is drawn in ancient language. Since the password for releasing the magic circle is just drawn so anyone can use it, it's fine without it.
"Probably, if you use this password, you'll be jumped to a completely different place... probably a place where you'll die as soon as you jump."
According to the Wetlands Priestess, it would be the bottom of the sea or high in the sky. They made a terrifying trap.
"But, why is it so strict when we're going to find the magic needed to seal the Demon Lord? Isn't it easier to defeat the Demon Lord if it's easy to go?"
"It's a countermeasure against the demon race who can speak human language and the Demon Lord worshippers who are blinded by money."
Erikson-sama answered the Priestess's question. I see. Now that you mention it, that's true. If the magic circle is broken, it won't be able to be activated anymore.
"Were there such people?"
The Priestess is surprised, but there's a living witness in Sertoria who has been active since two thousand years ago receiving requests from the demon race. Most likely, similar people have been there since even before.
Anyway, the magic circle was solved. The rest is whether it will activate safely, but Erikson-sama spoke up, stopping Harold-sama who was about to take Bonnie, saying he would take responsibility and check it alone.
"We cannot let the Grand Archbishop go alone."
The Wetlands Priestess stopped him with a serious face.
"What are you saying? How can I not go?"
"Then, I'll go too."
"No, you stay. If by any chance it doesn't go well, you'll be the one to rebuild it. Besides, if something happens to you, who will do the release of Testament with Jeanne?"
The Priestess was stumped by this. That's true. Maybe Wilson-san could do it, but he's never done it.
"Then, at least I'll provide an escort."
"No. This kind of thing is a ghost's job."
"Yes, that's why I'll provide a ghost escort."
"?"
"Sianya, the Knight Order is here, right?"
I see. This is where they appear.