Chapter 789 - Chapter 7: Expedition to Southern Liber ④
The number of guides increased by four. It's reassuring since they are all locals. We are invisible thanks to the Vice-Chieftain's Camouflage. We flew at a fairly low altitude so we could confirm our current position. A pleasant flight combining reconnaissance and sightseeing continued, with talk of how that town was such-and-forth and this river was this-and-that.
As a result of the increase in local people, a course correction was made. We flew east-southeast. It was unexpectedly far, and after flying for two hours, there were mountains. Good for a break. Since we had talked from the beginning about taking a break after about two hours, the three nobles apparently consulted and guided us to the mountains. Having the advantage of the terrain is truly helpful.
During the break, they showed me a map and said we were roughly halfway. In other words, it was much further than expected. However, we'll apparently arrive at the planned base site in another half. The Vice-Chieftain also seems to find two hours of flying to be nothing and looks energetic.
After the break, we fly again. And then, I saw a sight that one would absolutely never see on the White Island.
A cluster of pure white rocky mountains that literally pierced the heavens—they looked like nothing but mountains of ice—came into view ahead. It must be the mountain range that was mentioned as a landmark before departure.
"How enormous..."
Will, who is usually composed, is watching with her mouth half-open. I was surprised too.
The Vice-Chieftain is flying at roughly the same altitude as the summit of the Central Mountain Range. Despite that, the peaks of the rocky mountains are many times higher. Moreover, it's not just one or two. There are countless. It must be perennial snow. They are pure white. Surely, the Earth Dragon and Gnome here haven't been debating for a thousand years. No, that height and size... it might be ten thousand years.
"The mountain range is long from east to west, but its length is said to be roughly the same distance as from the north to the south of the White Island."
I was surprised a second time by the trivia Eleanor-sama taught me. If those incredibly high mountains were vertically in the center of the White Island, the east and west would be completely cut off. Surely, there would be no history like Engrio invading Sertoria.
"No, a long time ago, there was a famous general who crossed the mountain passes of that giant range to invade from the north to the south. He apparently lost many personnel, but as a result of completely catching the opponent off guard, he was reportedly victorious in every battle thereafter."
I'm surprised a third time. To think someone would even consider such a thing. It must have been an era when magic could be used even on the continent. Otherwise, they would freeze to death.
Someone suggested going to the summit, but the Vice-Chieftain stopped us. If we went up that high, Dragonewts aside, humans wouldn't be able to survive. The air is thin and it's definitely cold. Warm can't be used either. I don't want to die, so we decided to just sightsee and head south.
As we headed south with the white mountains on our left, the sea came into view. It must be the Inner Sea. If I recall, that huge mountain range is the border with East Liber and West Liber, and south of the range should be South Liber. We've finally come this far. There's a large port town, and the church Ancelotti-sama belongs to is apparently there. The lord who rules that port town is said to be the de facto leader of the Inner Sea coast. He is apparently a devout follower of the monotheism prevalent on the continent and is said to be reluctant to use heathen magic water.
"It's quite a bright coastline."
What's different? It feels quite different from the White Island. Is this brightness the difference in humans depending on the region? I felt that the people I met in Sertogne and West Liber were more cheerful compared to the people of the White Island and East Liber.
"That's right. Even in West Liber, people living on the coastline of the southern Inner Sea have a particularly bright impression. South Liber and further south are even more cheerful."
The noble from across the river told me. I wonder what kind of people those in southern West Liber, whom these people call cheerful, and the even more cheerful people of South Liber are.
While keeping the base of the peninsula on our left, we head south along the coastline. Before long, several small islands came into view. There's a huge island on the right, but the destination seems to be the small island. It's Yorg-sama's instruction. He's pointing to one of the several islands. It's a rugged rocky island, and nothing like a sandy beach can be seen.
"It is that island. That island is uninhabited, so ordinary humans do not stop by. Near the central mountain would be perfect for lurking and making a temporary clinic."
Yorg-sama sends ships to the Inner Sea for trade. He's familiar with the sea routes. Most likely, this operation was predicated on lurking here from the beginning. On the opposite shore, a large town can be seen. It's a port town. It must be the town where the epidemic patients appeared.
"Currently, my subordinates have secretly crossed to the island, and there should be some preparations made. Could you fly around the summit of the central mountain about twice while slowing down?"
We circle widely as specified. It's an island full of rocks. Or rather, it's like a giant rock is jutting out from the seabed. There's one small bay where something like a sandy beach can be seen, but otherwise, the entire coast where cliffs drop into the sea is like a rocky shore.
The reconnaissance ends and we head for the central mountain. As we fly slowly, the craggy rocky mountain surface comes into view.
"Ah, that's it. Please land in the shadow of those rocks."
There's a place where two rugged rocks are lined up. There's also moisture, though I don't know if it's a pond or a puddle. There's no sign of people, but I heard there are some preparations. They might be digging a hole somewhere. The Vice-Chieftain operated the bowl and descended between the two lined-up rocks.
When we actually landed, it looked like just a rock no matter how you thought about it. However, perhaps because we are between the two rocks, the sea cannot be seen. In other words, the fact that we are here now won't be discovered from the sea. That's convenient.
"It's here. There's a mark."
Yorg-sama points to a corner of the rock. It feels like there's a scratch, but I can't really tell.
"Judging by this mark, it's this way."
Eleanor-sama is looking at the rock on the opposite side.
"That's right. It's that one."
"Ah, is it this? Wilhelmina, if you please."
"Understood."
When Will placed her hand on a corner of the rock, she moved it as if pulling it off with a heave. When the corner of the rock rolled away, a hole could be seen. It's like the entrance to a bear's den, but there wouldn't be bears in a place like this. It's a man-made hole.
"Please wait a moment."
Saying so, Yorg-sama got on all fours and went inside. From behind, the Jeanne of Sertogne is illuminating with a lantern. After Yorg-sama went inside, he turned toward us, took the lantern, and started rummaging around inside. The rattling sound—is he collapsing some piled-up stones?
"Ah, I found it. Please take this."
Saying so, he held out a leather bag. Will quickly helped the Jeanne of Sertogne pull it up. Three leather bags came out, so Bonnie helped too. Finally, a tent came out with a thud, and that was it. Apparently, it contained tools for camping.
What came out was one tent, a roll of rope, three leather bags filled with water, dried meat... apparently made in Regnentes. They reportedly purchased it from the Class of 175's Primordia temporary shop... oats, three bags containing herbs, and a pot. Incidentally, since there's something like a reservoir made by carving out rock, we could use that to wipe our bodies and such.
"Since the patient we're snatching was for one person, we could only make this much preparation. Especially since the number of people participating from this side has increased. I am sorry it is only this much."
He's apologizing, but since there are three chunks of dried meat, we can live well enough as long as we get water from the opposite shore. If the pond water is drinkable, there's no need for water supply.
"Hmm. Shall I make it a bit better?"
The Vice-Chieftain, who can use magic, offered.
"Is that alright?"
"We've come this far. I'll help out a little."
"We appreciate the trouble."
"Don't worry about it. More importantly, step back a bit."
The Duke of Naonent, the three nobles, and Ancelotti-sama, who heard the exchange with Eleanor-sama, raised cheers. They are delighted, saying they can see Dragonewt magic. They must be happy.
Perhaps emboldened by the audience's voices of joy, the Vice-Chieftain unleashed his magic with a broad smile on his face.
The stone Will moved earlier was put back in its original position, and on top of that, mud was stuffed into the gaps, and grass pulled from around there was planted along with soil, making it look like just a protrusion.
And the means of entry is Teleport. After drawing the magic circle, the Vice-Chieftain turned it into just the ground with Camouflage.
Everyone enters inside in order.
The Wetlands Priestess, who entered first, unleashed a pale blue flame to illuminate the inside.
"This is amazing!"
I can well understand the Priestess's excitement.
The Vice-Chieftain used Curve to hollow out the rock, creating a secret base that could be called perfect. Partly because the original rock was huge, there's a hall in the center. The hall has two rooms lined up on the left and right, connected by a passage at the back. The size is comparable to a small inn in town. Moreover, there are even places that become beds by carving the walls. Since there are two, top and bottom, on three walls, it's six people per room. In other words, twenty-four people can stay just with that. There are also several holes for light, all pointing diagonally upward. Grooves are dug in those holes, so that if it rains, the water passes through the grooves and collects in the reservoir. What's clever is that it passes through places filled with sand and pebbles, so the water that collects is clean water without trash or anything. Water produced by magic is about half full. It can be drunk at any time in any room.
It's just like an inn. There's even a toilet. And at the very back, there are two things that look like bathtubs. We can put the magic water we brought in there and bathe. Moreover, they are designed so they can't be seen from the passage.
He accomplished all that in less than an hour.
Everyone inspected while marveling, laying the furs they brought on the beds and lying down. Those who came from the White Island were surprised by the scale because they've seen the rock secret bases Alex made, but the Duke of Naonent and the three nobles are making a fuss, pointing at everything.
"Won't smoke come out if we use fire?"
Eleanor-sama asked, pointing to the fireplace at the back of the hall... the wall shared with the passage. The answer was astounding.
"The chimney runs behind this wall. Since soot will stick to the wall surface inside the chimney along the way, it's not a problem."
The chimney apparently runs horizontally along the wall where the fireplace is. Moreover, because it folds back three times along the way, the entire wall warms up, and the winter cold is reportedly fine.
It's like this and like that, he explains the path of the chimney running behind the wall, pointing at the rock surface.
Even those from the White Island were horrified by this. If you were making a blueprint and piling up bricks, it would be one thing, but to hollow out rock, and in an unseen state... can you even do that much?
"Oh? Can you not do it? There is almost no mana around here, so I am not even at half my usual form."
He's smirking triumphantly.
It's not "Oh?" There's no way we could do it even in places on the White Island where mana is dense.
"What incredible magic control. It is utterly impossible for us humans."
Eleanor-sama, who has tried various applied magics, looked up at the ceiling and sighed. When I peeked at Wilson-san, he shook his head as if to say it's impossible.
"It is because our childhood is long. We excel in magic control by that much."
"Is that how it works?"
"Indeed. Did you not know?"
"I am sorry."
"You would do well to remember. If you wish to raise an excellent mage, childhood is the deciding factor. I hear that Beatrix and Jeanne were doing magic training since they were young. That is why they are what they are now."
Come to think of it, I heard Eleanor-sama was also made to work quite hard. Or rather, Eleanor-sama's entire lineage is like that, which is why they have successively held the post of Magic Corps Commander.
According to the Vice-Chieftain, among the races living on the White Island, excluding the Four Great Spirits who can be called the principles of this world themselves, the strongest as individuals are undoubtedly the Demon Lord, high-level demons of the executive class, and dragons. However, if one were to dare determine the strength as the degree of prosperity of the entire race, the names of humans, the demon race, and Dragonewts would still come up. Among them, the Dragonewts apparently have the longest period from birth to the age considered adult. Incidentally, the shortest among the three is humans, and because of that, their magic control is reportedly weak. However, their original lifespans are different. Only humans are extremely short. It can't be helped. As a result, like mice, they acquired a survival strategy of high fertility and excelled in collective tactics utilizing that. Unlike mice, they sometimes used ingenuity called science that surpassed magic to enter the struggle for hegemony. However, did they work too hard? Perhaps because of that, their numbers might have increased too much. Serena says that because humans have increased too much and are cutting down the forest more and more, disrupting the Cycle of Life, epidemics spread all at once and cause mass deaths.
"But, according to Gnome, I originally only have middle-class ability."
Beatrix and I might be different cases. In my case, I don't even know why I was able to become ultra-high-level.
"Now that you mention it, that was so. I indeed heard it from Gnome."
"Right? Why is that?"
While I'm at it, if the reason can be known, I want to hear it.
"You seem to think individual magic control is an innate talent, but that is not all. There are cases where it is acquired as an addition as a result of training from childhood. The original ability Gnome spoke of is that kind of thing."
"I see."
"And then, there are other factors. In addition to those individual abilities, for example, it can be amplified by communicating with the Four Great Spirits and wearing spirit stones. However, one must be chosen by the spirits for that. For some reason, Jeanne is chosen. Not just by the spirits. By dragons too. The reason is because Jeanne is Jeanne. I can understand that well too."
When he finished speaking, he smiled gently this time. It's a smile that's surprisingly kind.
But you know, that ultimately leaves me not understanding at all.
The reason I was able to reach ultra-high-level is unclear, but a more than sufficient base has been created. After everyone frolicked for a while and enjoyed the tour of the renovated base, we began to finalize the future operation plan.
"If such a wonderful base is created, we can perform treatment here. Even if we use this one room exclusively for patients, we can treat six people."
Ancelotti-sama says with great joy. In other words, we're snatching six people.
"Then, is the infiltration as early as tonight?"
The Duke of Naonent is even drawing his sword and inspecting the blade. Even though he says snatching, it seems his purpose is something else. He's wearing the shoulderless fur Paul-san often favors, tied with leather thongs, looking like a bandit leader.
"First, Priest Ancelotti and I will cross to the opposite shore. Then, we will contact my subordinates who should be in the town and gather information on where the epidemic patients are together."
It's Yorg-sama. Hearing that, the Duke of Naonent and the three nobles won't listen and insist on going together. Are they misunderstanding something?