Chapter 737 - Third Story: The Demon Lord's Resurrecting Cave In The Demon Realm ⑧ (Morandine) Outpost
It was evening when we returned to the fortress. This was because we met Eowyn-sama and Saxburg at the herb garden and had a light banquet while giving a simple explanation of the circumstances as a thank you.
Saxburg and others in Northern Gram are seriously considering coexistence and co-prosperity with spirits and monsters. As proof, not only the Dullahan but also Goblins, Alraunes, and Dryads who had dispatched their clones participated in the banquet.
"To think Harpies were living on the White Island, it's wonderful."
Saxburg is entranced, pressing her joined hands to her right cheek. She must be imagining a beautiful bird-human.
Since I must not destroy a maiden's dream, I'll keep quiet about the fact that it defecated right in front of me.
After that, I was asked various things, like the color of the wings, the stature, and how the wings grow.
The next time I see her, she might be wearing clothes with wings for arms. At that time, Duke Hexham will probably be forced to go along with it.
"So Eleanor-sama intends to build a breastwork in the Demon Realm and make it the boundary line with monsters."
On the other hand, Eowyn-sama, who heard the explanation, easily saw through the essence of Eleanor-sama's thought.
"If possible. Ideally, natural terrain should be utilized so that it exists as a tacit understanding between countries, but it doesn't always work out that way."
Eowyn-sama glanced at Price-sama but immediately looked away. It was a sign of his intention not to ask, considering his position.
"Previously, I heard that in Sertoria, you intended to build a fortress around the Demon Lord's cave to prevent the Demon Lord's army from coming out, but is this different from that?"
"That's only for the area around the Demon Lord's cave, so the scale is quite small. My personal conception this time is a breastwork that surrounds the Demon Realm itself, so it will be quite long."
"Then, will you surround the Demon Lord's cave separately on top of that?"
"In that case, it would be difficult to maintain, so I think just conquering the cave would be enough."
"Is it possible?"
"Yes. Once we enter, we can connect it to the outside with Teleport."
"Won't monsters enter from the outside?"
"I'm thinking of blocking it. Currently, the first floor is humanoid monsters, so it won't be dug out. And I don't think monsters on the second floor and below will come up to the first floor."
"I see."
Infiltrate the first floor while hiding our presence, and once we create a bridgehead to place a Teleportation Circle, the entrance will be blocked with a large amount of earth and sand. This also became possible as a result of the evolution of Beatrix's Teleport. As for the monsters on the first floor, as long as we can hide our presence, we should be able to defeat them without much trouble. Judging by the patterns so far, as long as there's no Behemoth on the fourth floor, only D-rank or below should have survived.
"As for our country, we believe that how other countries deal with it should follow that country's thinking. Therefore, we have no reason to oppose Eleanor-sama's proposal regarding the countermeasures in Sertoria or Morandine."
"Thank you. Then, how about in your country?"
"The Demon Realm spanning our country and the Finis border is just a place where the Demon Lord's reviving cave exists, and the entire mountain range dividing the north and south must be called a Demon Realm. Moreover, the terrain around the cave is extremely rugged, and especially in winter, even the forest near the plains is not easily approached. Even more so for an army unit. For the time being, we have no choice but to say it's impossible to conquer."
"For now, it's the Amphisbaena." He said so and laughed. In their case, the Dullahan's forest and the Dryad's forest are right next door. It won't be easy. He effectively declared that they would leave it untouched, but the Dullahan, who was listening silently, only nodded at Eowyn-sama's claim. Neither Eleanor-sama nor Price-sama asked anything more.
Achieving coexistence and co-prosperity while leaving it untouched. Ideally, that's the best way. Naturally, Eleanor-sama knows that much. Finis and Northern Gram have achieved it through rugged terrain that humans cannot easily approach and the ice and snow of severe winter. But it's not so easy on the plains. It's quite difficult.
From the morning after returning from the north, we continue the reconnaissance. The content is a more detailed investigation of the Demon Realm itself. After all, they say they will raise a subjugation army next summer. We must investigate various things, such as the assumption of invasion routes and the construction sites for field camps. To be honest, I'm of no use even if I'm there. However, Price-sama and Harrison-san told me that priests are Holy-users in case something happens, so I should go along.
The investigation composition was a two-group formation using two bowls.
Group 1 is for terrain investigation, with Price-sama, Bonnie, Mary, and the brat on Wilson-san's bowl. The role of this group is to investigate the terrain and draw a detailed map. They will grasp the positions of undulations, ponds, and rivers, and use them as aid when the army invades. Investigating not only the forest but also the wasteland is likely for the breastwork creation. This group basically does not enter the forest. Since it's enough to know the terrain, they investigate from above using Sight scrolls. The map itself will be drawn by Bonnie and Mary. The reason the brat rode along is that since he is the commander of the fortress monitoring the Demon Realm, he must thoroughly grasp the terrain, and Eleanor-sama's opinion was adopted with the agreement of Henry-sama, Price-sama, and Harrison-san. The brat also participated in the role of drawing the Harpy that attacked the fortress during the previous exploration of the central part. He seemed really happy to be able to participate in this investigation as well. This is because he was treated as an equal by the famous former heroes and the hero. The brat's staff were also happy and offered congratulations to him. It's probably because Eleanor-sama's habit of educating motivated young people came out, but I think that's a good thing in its own way.
Group 2 is for monster reconnaissance. The opponent is the former Demon Lord's army. We must investigate various things, such as the number, composition, placement, and equipment for each type. The composition is Eleanor-sama's bowl, with Henry-sama, Harrison-san, Will, and me. This group is basically low-altitude flight, and since we also enter the forest, we must also consider the possibility of combat.
In actual fact, we don't know how many Orcs there are. The type is also important. Especially the number of Fenrirs will influence the damage rate of the subjugation army. We investigate such things as much as possible across the entire forest. It's probably what scouts usually do. When we received the request, the King said he didn't know if it would end by the end of the year, and I understood why. There's no way it would end in a month or so. However, the royal family is at the Royal Palace for the New Year. I don't know about Eleanor-sama, who has a body double. But Price-sama would be the same. He should be able to return at least for the New Year. Besides, there's the restoration of the Northeastern Forest. We have no choice but to do it patiently.
Regarding the monster investigation, first is the overview.
We know they are swarming around the ponds. We attacked the ponds once. According to Henry-sama's feeling at that time, there were about a thousand. The ones waiting at the edge of the forest to invade the northern fortress were also about a thousand. At that time, we waited near the shore of the closest pond as a countermeasure against Harpies, but there wasn't a single one around the pond. In other words, those around the pond can be seen as one unit. There are six ponds in total. So six thousand is almost certain. Since there might be others, we checked that. If we asked the Harpies, it would be a betrayal, so we investigated ourselves.
As a result of the investigation, including those around the rivers flowing into the ponds, it was found that the number roughly exceeds ten thousand. And the placement was different on all four sides. It was found that the south, where the Royal Capital is, is the thickest, and the north side, which is the border with Northern Gram and close to the tidal flats of the river mouth where the Amphisbaena is, is the thinnest. The placement of the ponds is also related, but there were some ponds with such beautiful shapes that they could only be thought of as artificial... though it would be the Demon Race, not humans. It was thought they were probably made considering the number of monsters to be placed.
On the morning of the fourth day after starting the detailed investigation, we reported the results of the three days as an overview at the meeting.
The figure of over ten thousand was enough to silence the soldiers of the fortress. There are only a hundred people in the fortress. On the contrary, the quota for the Morandine national army itself is about the same. Currently, it's being rebuilt and is completely insufficient. Especially the training of magic soldiers has to wait for a generation change. Once it suffers a devastating blow, it takes ten years to rebuild. Knights are fine. There are mercenaries. Since every country is eager to secure magic soldiers and welcomes them with good treatment, there would be very few mercenaries.
In the first place, if a subjugation army is raised next summer, although reinforcements will come, there's no doubt the Morandine army will lead the way.
"As we have already told you, fortunately, the commander class has been defeated. Therefore, it is thought that there will be no organized offensive. On the other hand, since military discipline as an organization will be lost, there is a possibility that the frequency of attacking surrounding villages will increase more than before."
Here, the expressions of the brat and the staff changed. The ones being attacked would, needless to say, be their own territories.
"However, in many cases, I hear it's after sheep released in the grazing land. How about in winter?"
The brat looked at one of the staff, perhaps not knowing.
"Farmers around this forest move their sheep to the fields away from the forest in winter. Turnip fields."
"Monsters don't come that far, do they?"
"No."
"Then it's safe in winter, isn't it?"
"No, because the prey in the forest decreases in winter, some come out of the forest. In the villages, we organize defense units primarily consisting of soldiers and hired hunters to conduct intercepting battles."
Although they ambush them before they come to the village, it seems a certain amount of damage occurs.
"How about from spring onward?"
"Sheep give birth in early spring, but for a while, the mothers and lambs are kept in the sheds. It's after that that it's dangerous. We send out patrols, but because the manpower itself is insufficient, there are times when we don't make it in time..."
It's probably too wide compared to the number of soldiers. It's no wonder.
Morandine is also a production area for wool. It's the same for all countries on the White Island, and it's been encouraged in every country since the Duchy of Roland was founded. Morandine, which is geographically close, is particularly prominent. Because so many soldiers died, it's even ridiculed that there are more sheep than humans. If there are many sheep, larger grazing lands are also needed. To be honest, it would be better not to do it around the forest, but there must be such circumstances.
Eleanor-sama is listening to the explanation while nodding. If even just the earthworks are completed, wouldn't the surrounding farmers feel at ease?
The investigation itself continued after that. This is because the target forest is vast. We hit it with a fine-toothed comb to see if there were caves or places where monsters might be lurking. And it took time to create the map.
During that time, there were changes in personnel.
In the middle, I returned for the restoration of the Northeastern Forest. Since bowls cannot be used freely in Morandine, it takes time, but I had them send me back and forth to the checkpoint and the farm in an ultra-high-speed bowl of the Medioland army via Medioland.
Price-sama, who returns to the Medioland Royal Capital Grand Cathedral for the year-end and New Year ceremonies, was replaced by a bishop dispatched from the Morandine Royal Capital Grand Cathedral.
Mary also left the mission because she's busy during the year-end and New Year. In her place, Beatrix came with me and took over. During that time, too, the Henry Party continued the investigation daily.
It was after late December that I returned to the investigation with Beatrix. I happened to cross paths with Price-sama at the border checkpoint. Price-sama apparently cannot return until after the first ten days of January. When I greeted him, he told me that there had been various changes, so he was counting on me. Wilson-san came to pick us up at the Morandine border.
"Those two are apparently going to spend the year-end and New Year here as well."
"Is it okay for them not to be at the Royal Palace?"
"I don't know. But they were saying that by the party being out of the country during this year-end and New Year, they can appeal that the Henry Party is truly in a private position."
No matter how you think about it, that's a stretch. They're former royalty, after all.
Wilson-san is also laughing, so he must not believe it either. I find myself pitying the King.
"How far has the investigation progressed?"
"The investigation itself is almost finished."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah."
"Then, even if I return..."
If I'm just going to turn back immediately, it's meaningless.
"Then, is there anything for me to do?"
Beatrix, who was supposed to be the map-making personnel, would be a swing and a miss.
"Right now, they are preparing for a monster subjugation."
"Subjugation?"
The Henry Party reportedly went to the Royal Palace once under the guise of an interim report and talked with the Boy King. The content of the talk was roughly the same as what I know, with the number of monsters being the main point.
On the spot, there was a certain request from the Boy King of Morandine. He said that if the party were to conduct a subjugation battle even to some extent, the Morandine army would also cooperate. And he wants to make this the Boy King's first combat experience. Human-to-human war is impossible and better not to have. If so, he wants to make monster extermination his first battle. There's no way the Henry Party would remain silent after hearing such a story. Saying the Boy King's spirit was good, they reportedly agreed with both hands raised.
Thus, it was decided to subjugate monsters to some extent in coordination with the Morandine army led by the Boy King.
"To some extent... how much exactly?"
"It's reportedly within a range where they won't be counterattacked. Monsters who have lost their commander are, so to speak, strays. It was judged that they just need to diligently strike those coming out of the wasteland."
Now it's just like bear/wolf extermination.
The targets of subjugation are reportedly Cyclops, Trolls, Fenrirs, and Ogres. In other words, they will kill and reduce the numbers of the big eaters, the prolific ones, and those with bad personalities. It was reportedly said that big eaters especially should be defeated preferentially. The combat force is, naturally, the Henry Party.
"Then, we're doing monster extermination. What's the reward?"
The greedy mage became motivated.
"All expenses are covered by the Morandine Royal Palace. The reward is the market rate. It'll be until Price-sama returns, so it should be in time for your bear extermination too."
"Alright! Let's do our best. We're already turning twenty-five next year. It's a pity there are no B-ranks, but we should at least learn some mid-level magic we haven't memorized yet."
I see. It's... it's already going to be that age. It'll be almost ten full years in another half a year.
"You should at least learn a barrier too."
"That's right. I'll do my best."
That's right. It's as Beatrix says. I have to steadily aim for it.