Chapter 742 - Third Story: The Demon Lord's Resurrecting Cave's Demon Realm ⑬ (Morandine) Outpost
In the end, a night passed and nothing happened until dawn. The Orcs returned to the forest by the time the eastern sky turned white. Because of the barrier Beatrix... and probably Wilson-san... made, the edge of the forest is no longer visible from the village. Only by climbing onto roofs or watchtowers can you finally see it.
"This is a splendid thing. It's just like a castle wall."
The defense commander is impressed.
The height is about two stories. The width can be said to be vast, drawing a large arc in front of the village. Since it's a time when permanent snow remains, it probably won't melt until spring.
Actually, I acted as the lighting person because they told me to come back midway and help.
"I don't understand well because I can't use magic, but to do something like this, does it require a so-called ultra-high-level class?"
"No, she is high-level. However, even at high-level, if you're a four-element user, you have magic control on par with ultra-high-level, so you can fire many spells. If you can control it well, you can do it efficiently."
"Is that so. No, wonderful."
Because Beatrix can use various magics, she can fire a high number of them. Even at the same high-level, she has more than Mary.
"You see that protruding part? That's a staircase. That part is made so people can climb up and wait. Could you lay down some non-slip boards on the staircase part?"
I have him actually see it.
As you climb up the staircase-like part, a room has been made by carving into the ice in a square. Because you go to the left after entering, you can stand watch while being protected by ice on four sides and overhead. Once inside, it's comfortable because it's not exposed to the wind. It's quite spacious, and two people can easily stand side-by-side. There's a horizontal hole in the front, so you can sufficiently scout ahead while keeping your head tucked in. It'll be usable during the winter.
The commander and the soldiers who stand watch were delighted by this.
"How did you make it?"
"I melted the ice with Fire Ball and Flame to make it. For the stairs, I added ice with Ice Cube, I guess. At first it was just the stairs, but I thought I'd try making it. I did it while Jeanne lit the way, but it unexpectedly took time and I could only make one spot."
Making one high-quality one like this is enough.
"No, wonderful. What a splendid construction. I must have the Lord see this and definitely inform His Majesty. If it goes well, a reward might be given."
"Really? Lucky! Shall we make another one tonight? It's easier to do when the temperature is low."
"Is it okay? I'll tell you now, I can't guarantee a reward, you know?"
"It's fine, it's fine. Instead, can I ask for alcohol with dinner? Just about one cup per person. See, it's cold, right? It would be a problem if everyone caught a cold."
"You're very understanding. Is that really okay?"
"It's fine. If anything, shall we use this route too? If it's a request from that Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama, His Majesty probably won't be able to refuse."
"You're quite reliable. Is it okay?"
"I'd like to do it happily with everyone if possible."
A knight is being seduced by a wicked mage. Don't blame me if you get scolded.
When Wilson-san took Beatrix and the unit commander to report to the Lord, they returned immediately, perhaps because he said he wanted to see it.
"This is a fine thing. Have you prevented monster attacks with this until now?"
This part is complicated. In reality, there's a possibility it started from a human misunderstanding. It's better to have a person of renown speak here, so I had Harrison-san explain.
On the other hand, it turned out that Eleanor-sama was also making a vast barrier.
When we all went to see it immediately, it was five or six times longer than the one Beatrix made. However, whether it's because of the haste or her rugged personality, I don't know, but it's just long.
"Did you make a watchtower?"
"Well, yeah. It's easier to keep watch that way."
"You've thought about it. In that case, shall I make the barrier and have Beatrix make the watchtower? That way, we can also reduce the number of soldiers deployed to some extent."
"If the budget is left over, I wonder if they could use that money to distribute alcohol so everyone can keep warm. Standing watch outdoors on a cold night... you'd freeze."
"That depends on the Lord."
The two mages, and even both unit commanders, are looking at the Lord together. How nasty.
Beatrix's wish, as a result of the lords of the East, West, and South consulting, was conveyed to the Boy King as a proposal from the Henry Party. And it was brilliantly accepted.
Eleanor-sama's barrier proposal had already been conveyed to the Boy King by Price-sama. Perhaps because the Boy King experienced a crisis by fighting himself... falling into the river and nearly drowning as a result of giving a hasty instruction... he might have become cautious about losses. He reportedly showed interest in the barrier proposal out of consideration for the soldiers' safety. There, the plan to make ice barriers, albeit limited to winter, surfaced. He seemed to feel like giving it a try. If it goes well, the villages can prevent monster attacks, and the number of soldiers dispatched throughout the winter can also be reduced. It's all good things. Moreover, they've exterminated the big brutes and Ogres of the swarms near the outer edge. There are no Fenrirs. He must have thought they could manage if it was just Orcs. It was decided that not only alcohol, but also charcoal and firewood for cold protection, and furs would be sent. And it was decided that three magic soldiers who can use Glaciate would be newly dispatched, and both personnel and materials were sent to the southern fortress via Teleport.
Eleanor-sama was greatly pleased by the Boy King's measures and immediately held a meeting to consider the ice barrier construction plan.
Since that day, the barrier continued to grow every night. The group composition for the East and West also swapped. Beatrix makes watchtowers on the long wall Eleanor-sama worked hard to make.
In the morning when the monsters are sleeping, the villagers also participated in support, shoveling snow between the village and the watchtowers to make paths.
At first it was just a screen for the village, but it gradually stretched sideways and became a fairly long barrier. Of course, it's far from encircling the forest. However, the central part extends long and jaggedly in front of the village, and both wings drop diagonally, so it's shaped like it's largely covering the entire village. In terms of length alone, one far longer than the outer walls of the towns in that area was completed.
During that time, the Orcs have been playing in the snow almost every night. Taking advantage of the fact that this side does nothing, their numbers increased day by day. They've even come right up to the barrier, but since the humans are holding their breath, there's no sign they've even noticed they're being watched. They tried to climb it several times and failed, then gave up and returned to the forest.
In the eastern village we were in charge of, several wild boars chased by Orcs fled to the barrier in broad daylight. They were squealing, but our policy is basically to leave them be. The Orcs who cornered the boars against the wall reportedly returned to the forest in high spirits. The Orcs received the benefit of the wall. Apparently, the strategy of making a barrier they can't cross and making them give up worked.
And then, we welcomed the end of the year.
This year's end was spent with a village headman in a certain village in Morandine, sitting by the fire of an irori. The barrier construction is done early after the sun goes down. After that, it's reconnaissance from the two bowls and the ice watchtowers. Unless the monsters show behavior like crossing or going around the barrier, we just watch.
"It's a peaceful year-end."
The headman of the eastern village says feelingly. Every year-end was spent with a sense of tension. People had died in battles after the snow piled up. Apparently there were times when they made barriers with Glaciate, but in the end it was judged ineffective considering the possibility of being bypassed. Surely, they didn't think that because the Orcs were playing in the snow, the possibility of them coming to the village even by detouring was low.
In contrast, this year, we just listen to the voices of the Orcs in the distance at the watchtower. Of course, the guard bowls are flying, and although in shifts, soldiers are guarding the village. Because it feels like they won't come if there's a barrier, the villagers also have a strong celebratory mood. They can't make loud voices, but instead, they are spending the first peaceful year-end since being born and raised in this village. Perhaps because firewood and charcoal were distributed per household, the lights of family gatherings after the sun went down were lit in more households than usual. Now, they don't spend nights unable to sleep in fear of monster attacks.
"In Engrio, they reportedly made a non-aggression pact with the Demon Race."
"It seems so."
I've been told not to touch on this topic too much. It would be fine if Harrison-san were here, but he's currently out on reconnaissance with Beatrix.
"I don't understand well, but I hear there are those who say it's fine to make a pact with the Demon Race if it means not having to fight. I wonder which one is correct."
He's asking something difficult to answer. I heard Morandine is in the camp that tolerates co-existence and co-prosperity with the Demon Race. The headman says it like he heard it from others, but it might actually be his own true feelings.
"I'm a stray, so I don't know the details. I hear the Church hasn't sorted it out yet. It must be a difficult story."
"I hear King Seldic was an infidel, so it was overlooked."
"Interfering with an infidel's thoughts goes against the spirit of co-existence and co-prosperity."
"Then, if the King of Morandine were to convert, would such a thing become possible?"
"I think it would be faster to ask the King that."
"That's true. As long as we can spend such a peaceful winter, anything is fine. Ah, no, I'm not particularly criticizing the Church."
"Yes, I understand well."
"I'm just saying there are those who say such things, so I wanted to confirm if it's correct."
"As a village headman, you must have discussions with people other than the villagers. It's hard work."
"Yes, as you see, there are various things. Hehehehe."
I think it would have been simple if King Seldic were the King of this country. I can't say it, though.
The monsters return to the forest by dawn. When that happens, it's our turn to rest.
"I'm back. No problems."
Beatrix returned with Harrison-san.
"Did you see the first sunrise?"
"Yeah. Just a little bit of ascending. I saw it come out of the sea. You?"
"Yeah. I asked Wilson-san."
I rode in the medium bowl and saw the first sunrise rising from the sea. I've seen it rise from mountains many times, but it was my first time seeing it rise from the sea. As a result of recruiting from the soldiers of the eastern fortress, hunters, and villagers, there were quite a few people who wanted to see it, so I rolled dice and recruited ten people, and we all saw it. I had cast Warm, so it wasn't cold. I had him go up quite high, and the moment the light shone, everyone cheered and clapped, and we toasted with the alcohol we brought.
"That's quite lavish."
"When I asked the headman, he said he'd never seen it either. Right now, the second group that lost the dice roll is going up."
I point overhead. Wilson-san's bowl is up there. Since most people had never ridden in a bowl, Wilson-san proposed it as a New Year's celebration. The third group through the twentieth group are waiting. By the way, from around the twelfth group, children are mixed in.
"Are those the third group and below?"
I look in front of the headman's house. In the place where a bonfire is lit, there's a crowd of people.
"It can't be helped. Shall I help? I can make a medium one if it's just going up and down."
"Is it okay?"
"It's fine. But no aerobatics. You help too."
"Got it. I'll talk to them."
When I went to the bonfire and talked to them, the villagers who had been waiting in the cold for when it would be their turn were very happy.
Originally there are no aerobatics. It ends once we go up to where the sea can be seen and look for a while.
"Up to seven people at a time. Get in and sit down in order. Don't stand up."
Once they're on board, we depart. Just in case, I made a ceiling with a Light wall and ascended.
By the time everyone was finished, I was quite tired. Beatrix is also close to being exhausted. I cast Warm for everyone and made a ceiling each time. I cast Refresh three times and Hand Over once for Beatrix. Because we went up and down many times, even after coming down, I'm swaying. It's like when you get off a ship. Somehow, just that makes me tired.
"Good work."
"You must be tired. Please rest well."
When we returned, Harrison-san and Wilson-san thanked us. Harrison-san cast Refresh for me.
The room is in a room in the church. Since there's only one bed, we sleep together. Before sleeping, the church head gave us a bottle of wine, so the two of us toasted.
"Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year. I'm counting on you this year too."
I felt settled after one sip.
"Ah, I'm twenty-five this year."
"Right. Beatrix in April, me in June."
"Somehow, I'm getting impatient."
"Right."
It's said that once you're in your late twenties, the possibility of learning magic drops significantly.
"Ultra-high-level, I wonder if it's impossible."
Beatrix is stalled at high-level. Instead, because she can use many high-level magics, her magic control is on par with ultra-high-level. No, she's superior to a single-element user.
"You're like Adolf-san."
"Right. Because I was aiming for that."
"Is that so."
"Yeah. Because, see, I'm a child of a serf from the lower village who can't use magic. I started with the feeling of somehow getting high-level magic. Adolf-san, who can use lots of high-level magic, was my goal. I wonder if I've caught up thanks to Gnome."
"A goal. I wonder if those kinds of things have an influence."
"I don't know. But your goal is the Headmistress, right?"
"Yeah. I still can't use Ascension and such, so I haven't caught up."
"Isn't the opponent too bad? She might not be human."
"Well, heroes are all monsters, aren't they."
The two of us laughed together.
This time, the battle against the weak Demon Race and Harpies was at its peak. The mages who participated were Mary and I. It's Mary. She might really learn Magic Break. What about me? After this matter is over, it would be good if I could learn high-level barriers.
"Well, next is probably Medioland."
Beatrix is aiming for promotion to ultra-high-level. She'll probably go.
"Probably. Eleanor-sama said we might clash with the Demon Race a few more times."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah."
Since we subjugated one this time, it'll be the twenty-first. However, I have the impression it was quite weak. It hadn't completely grasped the Harpies.
"Resurrection can be done anytime, but the sub-Demon Lord said it takes several years or more to be able to exert sufficient power."
"It means it resurrected in a weak state?"
"Um, I told you there are low-ranking Demon Race who aren't executives, right?"
"The ones that fly?"
"Yes. In Eleanor-sama's speculation. There's never been a complete conquest of a Demon Lord's cave or Demon Realm until now, right? We've started doing that. So, she thinks they might use low-rankers to some extent to interfere."
"Hmm. Then, there might still be plenty of chances for Demon Race subjugation."
"Maybe."
"Alright! I'm getting motivated. Let's work hard aiming for ultra-high-level!"
"Right."
Has she cleared her mind? It must be so.
"Then, I'm going to sleep to store up strength. Goodnight!"
After draining the wine, she crawled into bed.
"Ahahaha. Goodnight."
I should sleep too.