Chapter 779 - Investigation into the Ancient Priestess ②
The relics of the Ancient Priestess did exist.
However, since Cadogan-sama knew about their existence, we knew they were there. The problem was their content. It seemed no one knew what it was. This was because no one knew where they were. Even the State Chancellor, who was the head of the previous managers... that post is currently vacant, and Sianya has been appointed as an advisor instead... didn't know. The Priestess here had a strong personality, so she probably didn't make it so anyone could easily see them. However, we might find something if we illuminate it with Light. Unfortunately, the mansion we are in now is a newly built one, and there doesn't seem to be any place specifically storing such things. Since Cadogan-sama has investigated this, there's no mistake. Perhaps if we illuminate every nook and cranny with Light, somewhere might disappear.
After that, there's the house where the Priestess actually lived.
"The Priestess's house from that time has been lost. However, I have heard that the ruins are somewhere in the forest around this mansion."
The heads of the Western Church have passed down legends regarding the Priestess for generations. However, even the current Cadogan-sama only has this much knowledge.
"Then, please grant us permission to enter the forest to search."
Eleanor-sama is assertive. After all, we have Keira, who has knowledge of the area. She said that once we reach the house ruins, we just have to search the surroundings.
"Ev-Even if you say search, it's quite vast, and unless there are clues..."
The nobles became hesitant. They probably don't know what to do.
"Please rest assured. We have Jeanne here. She is the one who inherited the light magic used by the Ancient Priestess. Right now, the White Island is in a critical situation where a Great Terror might strike. To overcome this difficulty, I'm sure the power Jeanne possesses will guide us."
The five of them looked at me all at once.
I haven't heard about this. I haven't heard about you moving the conversation forward like that, Eleanor-sama.
Perhaps Eleanor-sama's threat worked, as the nobles agreed to let us enter the forest.
The search was set to begin tomorrow morning. Until then, we scouted from the sky and grasped the general shape and size of the forest. We created a simple map and decided to mark it there. The search party consisted of the Henry Party, including the non-regular Edward-sama who received the request from the Grand Archbishop, and myself, plus a witness from Primordia. The witnesses were to rotate every half-day, with Sianya being the first, Cadogan-sama the second, and the third and onwards being in the order the nobles drew lots.
The day dawned. It was the first group's search. Eleanor-sama, Henry-sama who had merged with Erikson-sama, Wilson-san, Edward-sama, Sianya who had merged with the Wetlands Priestess, Will, Bonnie, myself, and Keira who was possessing a field mouse and was in my storage bag, participated by riding in two small bowls... the one piloted by Wilson-san was for Edward-sama, and Sianya rode with him.
We set off, seen off by Cadogan-sama and the nobles. Since Keira had a general idea of the location, Eleanor-sama looked at the map, pretended to choose randomly, decided on a direction, and we proceeded into the forest.
In less than half an hour, we came across a small stream.
"Past this stream, there's a tiny waterfall where fresh water gushes out from the rocks. It's near that waterfall."
Since Keira in her human form was acting as a guide, things moved quickly. As told, we went up the stream and came out to a slope with rocks where fresh water was trickling down. The waterfall is truly tiny. There's a hole in the middle of the rock, and it flows from there.
"Umm, wait a bit. I'll remember."
Keira went to the waterfall and was looking around. It was five thousand years ago. Let's let her remember slowly. There's no point in sticking close to her. The others deactivated their bowls and took a break.
"She lived in a surprisingly inconvenient place."
It's in the middle of the forest. Lyudmila's parents were the same, but they were next to a river wide enough for ships. The stream here can be easily stepped over. It's enough for daily life, but ships are impossible.
"It is now, but I wonder how it was back then."
I see. If it was five thousand years ago, the appearance would be different.
Come to think of it, Keira and the Priestess met in front of the village's food storehouse. She might have stopped by the village, but for the Priestess, who lived far from the village, to be present when she was caught is a true coincidence.
Keira disappeared from sight while searching somewhere. Worried, I cast Sense Living, and there was a reaction beyond the rock face where the fresh water was flowing. Could it be that the Priestess lived in a cave?
"There's a reaction beyond the rock."
I told Eleanor-sama. I think it's Keira's reaction, but there's also the possibility of other Demon Race. It's better to be cautious.
"Is she inside this?"
"Probably..."
When I told Eleanor-sama, she created a plate and started investigating the rock with Henry-sama. If there were holes for light, there would definitely be a room inside.
However, perhaps they couldn't find it, as time was passing. Finally, Erikson-sama emerged from Henry-sama. He intends to break through by force.
"I found the house!"
Keira's voice could be heard.
There was no one where the voice came from.
Huh? The water isn't flowing.
"Here. Can you tell? The outlet of the waterfall."
When I looked at the hole where the water had been flowing, Keira was there. If I put one foot on the rock at my feet and stretch up, the height is just right. Keira's face is right there. She seems to be getting light from a candle or something, and her face is orange.
"How do you get there?"
"I possessed a field mouse and came in through the hole. So I don't think an ordinary human can pass through."
"Then, what should we do?"
"Umm. It would be good if you could use Teleport."
I see. Teleport allows you to jump to a place you can see. If she could illuminate the room inside the rock so it becomes visible, I could go.
"In that case, I shall go."
It's Erikson-sama. He can't use Teleport, but he can apparently draw magic circles. As long as there's a magic circle, it can be used if magic power is infused with a scroll. Since he's a ghost, he can probably break through the rock wall. How should I put it, this person is amazing. If Erikson-sama is here, he can send any number of people into even the most heavily fortified stronghold. The Wetlands Priestess said that with ghost soldiers, they wouldn't fear an invasion from the continent, and it's true.
"Keira."
"Yes."
"Is it possible for me to enter there now and draw a Teleportation Circle on the floor?"
"It's okay. The Priestess used to do that too."
I see. So it's a hideout connected by Teleport. As expected, the Priestess who was here had a strong personality.
However, just as I thought I heard some loud voice from the hole, the Erikson-sama who had disappeared reappeared immediately.
"Keira, what were you thinking!"
It became noisy with flashes and bangs.
"I-I'm sorrryyy~"
A voice on the verge of tears could be heard.
"Did something happen?"
"She wasn't wearing clothes! Is she always like that?"
It's because she possessed something. I had completely forgotten.
As a result of handing in several hand towels, the parts that should be hidden were successfully hidden.
He entered again after composing himself, but he didn't come out immediately. It seems it worked out. Good, good.
Since Erikson-sama connected it with Teleport, everyone except for Edward-sama, Wilson-san, and Bonnie, who were keeping watch outside, could enter.
Since Erikson-sama is illuminating it with a pale blue flame, the state of the inside is clearly visible. The side close to the mountain is made of stone. On the other hand, the opposite side has the rock carved... he probably used Curve, as the surface is smooth. After entering, I realized that this wasn't made by hollowing out the inside of the rock. It was made by carving the rock face where fresh water originally flowed to make half a room, and then attaching another rock to the side and joining them together. As proof of that, there was a gap-like line, and it was likely hardened with something like Elf Adhesive. From the outside, you couldn't tell at all that they were joined, but they probably filled the gap with soil and let the grass grow on its own. Eleanor-sama said it was a wonderful camouflage. We might apply it when making a secret base in the future.
There are only a few water jars. The fresh water that was flowing out of the rock flows through a groove and is sucked into another hole. By changing the position of the weir board in the middle, it was connected to the flow of fresh water we were seeing. Keira had changed the flow and called out to us while lying flat on the floor. Incidentally, the hole Keira entered through was a thin hole that a field mouse could probably enter. Since the part connected to the outside was filled with soil, it apparently took time to dig it out.
According to Keira, the Priestess's house was near the shrine, where the mansion currently stands. She made the Black Stone cave after taking Keira in, and she apparently made this place at the same time as a fresh water collection site and storage. Since the two places were connected by Teleportation Circles, she could go back and forth freely. Before her death, she left instructions to delete the Teleportation Circle connecting this place and the house, and to shut herself in the Black Stone cave. In other words, she concealed the various materials she had created until someone appeared to liberate Keira. She said that only to those trusted by Keira after her liberation could she be told about the Priestess's relics as needed. Fortunately, the Keira we liberated is living a fun life as an Associate Class of 175 and is having banquets with Henry-sama, Eleanor-sama, and the others. And she was asked about the Priestess's deeds that might be necessary to counter the Great Terror that might be approaching the White Island. She decided that it was okay to tell the location of the items the Priestess left behind.
According to Keira, there's a hidden room, and from there, you fly to the storage by Teleport. It's elaborate. Keira herself has apparently never seen beyond that.
"Umm, it should have been here."
Keira points to one of the stone floor tiles. It's two tiles away from the corner both vertically and horizontally.
"It should disappear with Jeanne's magic..."
"Understood. Keira, move away."
"Yeah."
When I actually illuminated it, it really disappeared and a vertical hole appeared. Both vertically and horizontally, it's the size of one stone from the stone wall. An ordinary woman could probably enter, but it might be impossible for the large-statured Will, Beowulf, or Matilda. Men would struggle unless they were small-statured. When I dropped a Firefly, it was about one floor down. Since it has to be kept illuminated, Keira can't enter. She would be fine if she possessed a field mouse, but coming back up would be difficult. Erikson-sama was also asked to refrain just in case. We decided to call Bonnie, who was on watch, and have her enter.
I made the dropped Firefly shine at maximum once, and after confirming there was no change, I had her enter. Bonnie, who had flattened herself on the floor beforehand, looked at the state of the inside with a mirror in hand. Since there was nothing, she jumped down through the hole as if slipping through with both hands raised and landed without a sound. A silver knife is gripped in her right hand. She disappeared from sight, perhaps having moved further in.
Then, she suddenly peeked her face out.
"There was a magic circle. I mean, it's a narrow room and that's all there is."
It was found easily. There might not have been a need to search cautiously.
The people who can enter are limited. Judging from the narrowness of the entrance, it's children, women, and small-statured men. Bonnie, Eleanor-sama, Erikson-sama who entered the possessing stone, Sianya who merged with the Wetlands Priestess, myself, and Keira who possessed a field mouse... she's in my storage bag... entered inside.
The Teleportation Circle was carved into the floor stone. It's for three people, but one is in a stone and one is a field mouse. If we leave Bonnie behind, the rest of us can jump. Since the password seems to be the same as the one for the Black Stone search, we all jumped.
The destination was a stone room with a stone statue of the Goddess in the middle. That's all. Even when illuminated with Erikson-sama's pale blue flame, there's nothing. It seems Keira doesn't know beyond this either.
It can't be helped. We just have to do what we can.
Erikson-sama stayed in the stone, and Keira remained possessing the field mouse, and each took cover while I illuminated it with Light. However, nothing happened.
In that case, this time I apply the mist of Dark to each and every stone. This also has no change. If that's the case.
"Eleanor-sama, please."
"Understood."
It's irreverent, but it can't be helped. Let's have her move the Goddess with Clump Stone.
However, even with Eleanor-sama's magic, it doesn't move. Front, back, left, right, up, down—it doesn't move in any direction.
What on earth does this mean? I had Keira climb it, but there don't seem to be any particular holes. Just in case, I tried simultaneous activation of Light and Dark, but it was no good. We all searched from corner to corner to find a clue, but there was nothing. Even searching with Sense Living yielded nothing. Furthermore, I had Erikson-sama try passing through the walls, but he couldn't. It seems we've come to a complete standstill.
"What should we do?"
I try asking Eleanor-sama. She really is a Priestess with a strong personality. It won't be easy.
Wait? Wait a minute. The Priestess who made this place hated men.
"Umm... Erikson-sama."
"What is it?"
"I am terribly sorry, but could you stay behind with the other male types?"
I explain the history of the Black Stone search. If there was a man, it was Keira's role to exclude him. That Keira is still here now.
"What. If that's the case, why didn't you say so?"
"I'm sorry. There was no sign..."
In the Black Stone cave, there was a sign saying 'No Men Allowed'. However, that was made later by outsiders who couldn't conquer it. There's no way it would be here, where it has been left abandoned until now.
I apologize again and start over.
"Sorry, Keira."
When I say that to Keira the field mouse, who peeked her face out from the storage bag, she winked at me.
The correct password was, 'Carry to the correct place'.
"I never thought there would be a Teleportation Circle that branches to two locations."
Even the great Eleanor-sama was fooled by this. Not just Eleanor-sama. Erikson-sama too. Both of them had properly investigated the magic circle before using it. Sianya, the Wetlands Priestess, and I also saw it.
While Sianya, the Wetlands Priestess... who is merged with Sianya... and I, illuminating our feet with the Firefly in hand, were staring at the magic circle as if to glare at it, Eleanor-sama spoke. She chanted both the wrong one and the correct one, and when the 'correct' one was spoken, there were glowing characters and lines. It's quite clever.
And the destination we jumped to had many clay tablets with characters carved on them, piled up on a shelf made by hollowing out the wall.