Chapter 728 - Episode 1: Autumn Feast
As late autumn approaches, the north wind grows stronger. The sea becomes rough on many days, and the waves rise high. In the depths of winter, the days when fishing boats can set out for coastal hunting are fewer compared to other seasons. The wind blowing against the Medioland Royal Capital Grand Cathedral, built near the sea, also gradually intensified.
The search for the sealing magic Testament to seal the Demon Lord, conducted in the area formerly known as the Ruined Town, was concluded as a success. This was after Jeanne and the Wetlands Priestess reached the magic circle and were recognized by the guardian of the cave as those possessing the means of release.
Because many members of various royal families were involved, the news reached the Medioland Royal Capital Grand Cathedral as an urgent report even before the formal report was drafted. After the exploration ended, those involved began their journey back to their respective countries, passing through Engrio due to geographical reasons. They had received aid in terms of supplies and other matters, and they provided a brief report to King Seldic, who had come to hear the results under the guise of offering appreciation for their hard work.
Some of them then traveled to the Kingdom of Sertoria with Jeanne to observe the forest restoration operation being carried out in the Northeastern Forest. The observers included Erikson, Sianya, the Wetlands Priestess, and the Priestess who serves as the administrator of the Cave of Testament. By now, they should be having a banquet at the farm managed by Jeanne's companions.
The Archbishop's office is located at the eastern end of the Medioland Royal Capital Grand Cathedral... behind the altar. Since the cathedral itself is built on a hill, the view from the window is excellent, and beyond the coastline running from northeast to southwest at a not-too-distant distance, the sea could be seen.
"So, in this exploration, you have succeeded in making preparations so that Testament can be released at any time."
"Yes. Since we were recognized by the duplicate of the spirit who is the guardian of the magic circle, there is no doubt about it."
"Is the security also perfect?"
"Yes. With the cooperation of the local church's head priest and Erikson-sama, we have reviewed the security system along with the guards. And we have moved the Teleportation Circle back to its original position. It is inside the church. Even if someone were to jump in via Teleport, they could not reach the magic circle without Jeanne's Light magic, so it is secure. We plan to carry out preservation work under the guise of church repairs in the future."
"Security for Jeanne will also be necessary."
"Yes. The Sertorian Paratroop Jaegers... or the scouts in our country. Basically, they are watching over her at all times. And while not always, during monster exterminations, the Henry Party, which I am also a part of, joins in. And above all, she is protected by the blessing of the Four Great Spirits and multiple other spirits. With this much power protecting her, I believe we can rest easy."
"Fufu, she is more secure than the king of any nation."
Price bowed to the Grand Archbishop, who was chuckling.
"By the way, what are the plans for future countermeasures against the Demon Lord's army?"
At the new question, Price straightened his posture.
"Actually, there is something I would like to consult with you about regarding that matter."
"Oh, it's rare for Archbishop Price to seek a consultation. Is it perhaps related to diplomacy?"
"Your insight is keen."
"Is it Engrio?"
"Yes."
"What exactly is it?"
Price spoke to the Grand Archbishop about the details he had discussed with the Henry Party.
Currently, countermeasures against the Demon Lord's army are in a state of suspension, except for the extermination of the Amphisbaena in Northern Gram. This is because winter is approaching. Setting aside operations with small units, launching large-scale military actions in winter is costly. It was hard to imagine Engrio invading another country. Or so he thought.
"Actually, there has been a proposal from King Seldic of Engrio."
"What kind of proposal?"
"He suggested that we proceed with the suppression of the Demon Realm in Morandine during the winter."
"Morandine... you say?"
Engrio and Morandine dissolved their alliance during the previous war. However, as neighboring countries and long-time allies, their economic ties remain strong even now.
"The King of Morandine is still a minor, isn't he?"
"Yes. I believe he comes of age next year."
"Is the country still divided internally?"
"Yes. However, the conflict doesn't seem as intense as before. If anything, they seem to have leaned toward Engrio."
"The two heads of the Royal Guard should be the son of the former King of Septanaquila and the son of King Seldic. The two of them must have united in their anti-Medioland stance."
"Most likely."
"And so, this proposal?"
"Most likely."
"In that country, the Church and the Royal Family are not supposed to cooperate. How is it this time?"
"It seems the Royal Family made concessions."
"Then we cannot refuse. If we refuse here, the state of severance will continue. That is not desirable for us. In other words, King Seldic's proposal likely comes with that understanding."
Price said nothing and simply bowed.
"But it is winter. Will we be sending an army?"
"No, it seems it will be a reconnaissance mission in preparation for a full-scale invasion in the summer. He suggests that for the full-scale invasion, we should deploy a Multinational Force, including Engrio's Monster Extermination Unit."
"A Multinational Force?"
"Yes. He suggests adding the three countries that have already conquered the Demon Lord's caves: Sertoria, and Regnentes and Primordia, which have no Demon Realms. He plans to lobby each country to reach a conclusion at the Council of Lords next June."
If the invasion takes place after summer, war on the White Island can be avoided until the suppression is complete. In other words, he intends to participate in the war on the continent from next spring onward.
The Grand Archbishop thought so, and Price agreed with that thought.
"Then it wouldn't be bad to go along with King Seldic's intentions. Archbishop Price, do you intend to request this of the Henry Party?"
"Yes."
"Jeanne as well?"
"Yes."
"Then you will be participating as well, I assume?"
"If you would grant me permission."
The Grand Archbishop stood up and walked to the window. He looked outside.
"Price."
"Yes."
"I sometimes find myself envious of you."
"Grand Archbishop..."
Occasionally, the Grand Archbishop would make such remarks, troubling Price. Moreover, since Price seemed to be the only one troubled in this way, it made it all the more difficult to respond.
"It was a joke. I'm counting on you."
"Understood."
Thus, it was decided that the countermeasures against the Demon Lord's army in Morandine would be carried out primarily by the Church.
◆◆◆◆
The exploration of Testament ended safely. After finishing the restoration of the Northeastern Forest, a banquet was held behind the farm in the Flatlands.
Usually, the banquet after a restoration operation would be held around Serena's tree while looking at the Hornless Ranch, but this time was special.
"To think all five would finally be gathered. Gnome, has such a thing ever happened before?"
After the Four Great Spirits, excluding Gnome, finished their initial greetings with the Priestess from 4000 years ago, Salamander spoke.
This time is different. Having heard that the duplicate of the Fifth Spirit would participate, the five of them and, for some reason, I am sitting together. Gnome gathered us. Due to elemental compatibility, there is some distance between us. In terms of positioning, we are roughly in the same directions as our respective dwellings, with the Priestess from 4000 years ago in the middle of the Four Great Spirits. I am beside Dune.
The other spirits and humans have already started the banquet. The five greats and I are in a place away from everyone else.
"It is not in my memory. I do not know of those before my predecessor."
"Did your predecessor deal with humans?"
"I wonder. It might have been even before that."
He and Gnome are talking about unfathomable things. Before human history... just when was that?
"Even if you say we're all here, we've just gathered. There's not much point in just sitting around like this, so once the introductions are over, can't we just join the banquet over there?"
It's Mel. True to her wind nature, her reactions are quick.
"Now, don't say that. We've finally met like this. We can at least talk slowly for a bit."
"There's nothing for the five of us to talk about. Dune, Jeanne, and I will look after her."
The Priestess is startled by Mel's sudden words.
"Hey now, no fair getting a head start. Gnome aside, it's the first time I've met her."
"Why am I being neglected?"
"Ehh, Gnome, you've known her from before, haven't you?"
"That's right. You go over there and talk with the old guys."
Mel, that's a bit pitiful for the Paratroop Jaegers. Those guys are being made to debate with Gnome as part of their mission.
Looking toward the Paratroop Jaegers, they are laughing loudly and sharing drinks. It's quite different from when Gnome is around.
They usually take care of me. I should repay the favor once in a while.
"Hey, Priestess. Gnome's sake is running low. Pour some for him."
"Ah, yes."
She stood up smoothly, sat beside Gnome, and poured sake into his bowl. Salamander, after glancing at me, grinned and went to Gnome's side. It'll be a pain if he starts grumbling, so let's have him get dead drunk.
Since Salamander's position changed, I moved toward Mel along with Dune so we would be diagonally opposite.
"Hey, what's going to happen to that girl from now on? Is she going to live with us?"
Mel, who was sitting on a rock, perched on my shoulder.
"Eventually. Right now, they're doing preservation work on her dwelling? The Cave of Testament. Until that's finished, Gnome is supposed to bring her here every time we have a banquet."
"Has a name been decided?"
"She has her original name. She introduced herself, didn't she?"
"That won't do. Even if she's a duplicate, she's a spirit now, so it's better if she has a name as a spirit."
"That's true. It would be better."
Not just Mel, but Dune said so too.
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Because she's neutral. It's not right to keep a human name."
"That's right. It's better to change it."
Eh? What does that mean?
"Hey, by any chance, does the Fifth Spirit not necessarily have to be a human?"
"Isn't that obvious? Why are you limiting it to humans?"
I get a light flick on my temple. It doesn't hurt. If it were Alex, it would be agonizing.
Mel is right. For someone who is supposed to be a priestess devoted to the Goddess, I was being arrogant.
"You're right. I was mistaken. I'm sorry."
"As long as you understand."
Dune strokes my head.
By the way, what else is there besides humans? If the fifth attribute is lightning, would beastmen be included? Like the lynx lady. Beastmen are neutral, so there's no problem there...
No, wait. If it's necessary to use Light and Dark magic...
Could it be, the Demon Race...
No, it's a strange story for something like the 'will of the Demon Race' to become the Fifth Spirit and for its duplicate to protect the magic that seals the Demon Lord from the Demon Race. In the first place, if the previous Gnome lived in an era before humans appeared, there might have been races that are now extinct. There are Dragonewts and such, after all. I don't know about the ancient past, and it's best to stop thinking about things I can't confirm.
Gnome got dead drunk much earlier than usual. The Priestess must have worked hard.
"Well, the old man has fallen asleep."
"Then let's leave him and go over there."
Leave him... Mel. What if something happens? If one of the Four Great Spirits were to die in the gutter at our farm, everyone in the Class of 175 would have no choice but to flee in the night.
In the end, Alex was called, and he carried Gnome and jumped away. This kind of job usually falls to Alex. He was grumbling, but well, it can't be helped.
"Then, shall we go to everyone and think of a name?"
Mel calls out to the Priestess with a full smile. It's probably because she's the hero who got Gnome drunk so quickly. It seems she's been fully accepted as a companion.
"A name? I already have one."
"That's a human name, right? Since you've become a spirit, you need a name like one."
"But, I am a duplicate."
"Whether you're a duplicate or the original, it's the same. You've already been chosen by Jeanne and joined this banquet. We're already friends."
"Friends..."
"Yep, friends."
Mel perches on the Priestess's shoulder, and Dune gives her a hug.
"Is that how it is?"
She asked me.
"That's right. Anyone who comes here and joins the banquet, whether they are spirits, demons, animals, or humans regardless of status, are all friends."
She seems dazed, as if it hasn't quite clicked.
"I... have never had such a thing as a friend until now."
I see. As expected of a noble lady. She was raised surrounded by vassals, and after that, she probably belonged to the Church... what we would call the church organization today. That must have been a workplace for her. Gnome... she called him with an honorific, so he wasn't exactly a friend.
"Then, I'm your first friend."
"No, Mel. The first is Jeanne, right?"
"Ah, right, then I'm the second!"
"It's a tie. Between me and Mel."
The two of them must have really taken a liking to her. It might be good to teach the Paratroop Jaegers the technique for getting Gnome drunk.
"Sisters, no fair getting a head start. We're all tied for second, aren't we?"
Alex has arrived before I knew it.
"What's with you? You're being cheeky."
"There's no such thing as being cheeky between friends."
"Shut up! Friends or not, you're just cheeky!"
"That's harsh. I only came to call you because everyone was asking."
"Oh, is that so? Then let's go."
She flies off toward Wilson-san. As usual, she's so unreasonable.
In the end, the Priestess from 4000 years ago was named Germana. The godparent is Will. The source material comes from Salamander. Since he said something cool about her being like a sister to them, Will chose something that sounded like that from the continental language for her name.
"Now this has nothing to do with being a duplicate or a former human. You are you. Germana. Like Salamander said, you're our friend and like a sister. Got it?"
It's Mel. I see. So that's it. That's why she was so insistent on the name.
"Nice to meet you, Germana."
"I'm counting on ya, Germana."
"Yes. I look forward to working with you."
The person who went from being a duplicate to a spirit named Germana looks shy but happy. When Dune hugged Germana, the way she gently brought her fingers to the corner of her eyes was an act of kindness.
"Well then, it's time to award the badge. It's a cheap thing I made, but wear it if you feel like it."
When Matilda stood up and spoke, everyone gave a grand round of applause.