Chapter 821 - Chapter 7: Countermeasures in Sertogne ②
The sight of the Priestess brilliantly exterminating the rats seemed to be shocking to the people of Sertogne. Messengers were immediately sent to the Sertogne Royal Capital Grand Church and the Royal Palace. Then, from the church, the Royal Capital Grand Archbishop-sama, and from the Royal Palace, the King himself, along with several high-ranking officials, came from the riverbank on a shuttle boat.
The King of Sertogne is a large man, but quite elderly. He must be nearly seventy. Even boarding from the shuttle boat, two people who seemed to be attendants were supporting him from both sides. No wonder his attitude toward Beowulf is cold. If Beowulf were to claim the right of succession to the throne after the King's death, a family feud could occur. I'm sure the successor is also on guard. I think it would be fine if he retired like Henry-sama and the others, but a normal King remains in office until death. It probably isn't that easy. The reason Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama stopped themselves from coming after consulting with Yorg-sama this time was likely out of consideration for such things. Come to think of it, past visits to Sertogne, except for Yorg-sama's managed land, were not to the Sertogne mainland. Even if it's incognito, there must be hesitation.
Perhaps because of that, it seems it was the right choice for only the priests to come. The King gave even a stray priest like me words of appreciation for coming.
"I heard that the famous Wetlands Priestess has mastered a technique to drive rats out of ships."
At the Grand Archbishop's words, the Priestess was proud.
"Yes, thanks to you. Since I was able to learn it only because I was a ghost, I can't talk about it in detail."
It's not a lie. If you use Memorize on a normal human, their brain will break.
"That was hard work."
"No, this is also the protection of the Goddess."
"And I hear you will use that method in our country as well."
According to Yorg-sama, the King and the Grand Archbishop had, of course, heard the results of the Great Unity Conference from Yorg-sama and the priest in charge. And they reportedly also want to implement the epidemic countermeasures for export cargo to the White Island that Yorg-sama had offered, if Sertogne can do it. That's only natural. Ships carrying cargo that originally had nothing to do with them would enter the port. The royal family can earn port fees, and the church can earn processing fees. There might be cases where crew members replenish drinking water, food, and daily necessities. There must be things that can be sold. It could be on the island, but in any case, if it's processed in a place isolated from the town, the spread of disease can also be prevented. However, even if magic water can be obtained, rat extermination is extremely difficult. It's obvious that there's a limit even if you mobilize several cats. They're saying that will be realized. If it goes well, they can also do rat extermination for the town and work on Black Rot countermeasures for the entire town. For that solution, Archbishop Cadogan, who is well-known for epidemic countermeasures, came with the Wetlands Priestess, who is achieving results in epidemic countermeasures, under the guidance of Yorg-sama. They must be very welcome.
"Yes, if possible, I'd like to teach it to the ghosts here. That way, you can do it in your own country, right?"
"What! Is that true?"
The Grand Archbishop took the Priestess's hand. It's best to be able to do it yourself.
"Priestess, is what you just said true?"
The King was also leaning forward. He slowly approached the Priestess.
"It's true. I'm a cleric, after all. I don't tell lies."
The King's level of seriousness was high, and it was decided that if the rat extermination technique could be successfully passed on to the ghosts of Sertogne, a donation would be made to the Western Church as a thank-you to Cadogan-sama and the Priestess, and a reward would be given to me, the stray.
According to the Priestess, there was a sign of a ghost in the fortress... rather, the ruins of the place of worship... that was on the way to the island. Yorg-sama also said there were sightings of a ghost. If it's a ghost of a place of worship, it might be a cleric. It might be a soldier who died in the middle of a battle, though.
"That place of worship?"
The Grand Archbishop didn't look very pleased. Is it an evil spirit? But if so, I should be able to tell too.
"Is there something?"
When the Priestess asked, the Grand Archbishop looked at the King.
"Hmm. Those ruins of the place of worship, eh."
The King's expression also darkened. This might be a tough one.
Since it wasn't the place for it, we were guided to the Royal Capital Grand Church after the entry procedures were finished. The Royal Capital Grand Church is, of course, not on the island. We crossed the river on a shuttle boat with the King. Yorg-sama, with a somewhat cramped face, said he had to unload the cargo and remained on the ship with his wife. He probably doesn't want to get involved with the ghost of the place of worship ruins.
"The ghost of that place is a bit troublesome."
According to the Grand Archbishop, every time they tried to tear it down and build a new one, it reportedly interfered with the construction. Even when priests went, they reportedly couldn't drive it away. It must be hiding in a stone or something somewhere.
"Did it not work even when you offered prayers for laying it to rest?"
I roughly knew the answer, but I tried asking anyway.
"The interference was intense. Stones that were lying around would fly, or the ceiling would seem about to collapse, and we had no choice but to flee in a hurry. You saw that high wall, didn't you? Now, stones fly just by trying to enter that wall. It's dangerous, so we're keeping away."
As I thought. It's the same as the ill-natured lord who was somewhere. It's the same everywhere.
"Then, the two of us will go tonight. Right? Jeanne."
Is it already decided?
The Grand Archbishop tried to stop us for form's sake—it really was just for form's sake—but when the ghost Priestess said it was okay, he quickly backed down and left it to us. Since I'm a foreigner, I thought he would normally hold me back, but I was naive. That's the hardship of being a stray. Well, it's in a sense natural for a priest to challenge an evil spirit, and even if I lose my life, it's my own responsibility. As long as I don't belong to a church, it won't become an international problem. Instead, if I solve it, I get money.
According to the Wetlands Priestess, it's probably the ghost of a cleric, and he must be protecting that place for some reason. She says that if she and I—and for some reason me—go out at night and listen to his story, he might become an ally.
"I'll go and talk to him. Once the talk is settled, I'll go call you, so Jeanne, wait nearby."
She says it so easily. This is another country where I have no sense of the land at all. It's bound to be in the middle of the night when we go. Where am I supposed to be while waiting?
"Then, let's have Yorg take the ship out. He won't launch attacks even on ships passing through the river. It should be fine as long as you don't dock or anything."
The King's instruction was given. Poor thing. Yorg-sama, who hated it so much, got caught up in it.
Since the place of stay this time is the church, we depart in the middle of the night after having special meals for guests and top-quality wine from the mainland at the Royal Capital Grand Church. The participants are the Grand Archbishop, the Bishop who is the secretary, Cadogan-sama, the Wetlands Priestess, and me. I said the Grand Archbishop didn't have to come, but since Cadogan-sama was participating, he said he would go and came along.
We go to the opposite shore of the island by carriage and board a shuttle boat. When we board Yorg-sama's ship, which is moored at the island, there was Yorg-sama with a deathly pale face.
"Please, I beg of you."
He was almost bowing to the Priestess. I see a charm hanging from his neck by a string. Doesn't he usually stay in mountain huts or something when collecting medicinal herbs? The Jeanne of Sertogne next to him looks unconcerned. It's the reverse of normal men and women.
"It's okay. I'm probably stronger."
That's only natural. After all, she's ultra-high class. Considering the techniques she can use, she's over-ultra-high class. Normally, she's not an opponent an average middle-class mainland ghost can match. On top of that, the Priestess uses attribute magic and dark magic. She's fundamentally different from a priest who mainly uses holy magic, which ghosts can't use.
On top of that, two Grand Archbishops, two Bishops, and four active priests are on board. Even if there's a middle-class evil spirit, it should be fine.
"You don't have to go right next to the place of worship. I'll tell you the right spot, so dock there and wait with the Grand Archbishops."
"T-thank you."
Hearing those very reassuring words, Yorg-sama, who regained his composure, instructed the departure.
When we actually went, it was pitch black and nothing could be seen, perhaps because it was close to a new moon. The crew only lit the water surface with torches and lanterns, and the actual instructions were given by the Wetlands Priestess. Fortunately, the riverbank is a cliff and has a corresponding depth. Yorg-sama's ship is for travel to the Royal Capital and has a shallow bottom. It docked at the bank with a thud, and the Priestess flew off just like that.
We have to wait for a while. Did she intimidate him at the start? A massive pale blue flame, presumably the Priestess's, flared up, but nothing happened after that. In the silence, only the hooting of an owl echoed from the forest.
"What kind of person's ghost is the ghost over there?"
I tried asking the Grand Archbishop. Since there are sightings, his identity must be known.
"He is a person from quite a long time ago, and it is passed down that he was a cleric."
A cleric's ghost, eh. I wonder if he died in an old battle. I heard that ancient priests also provided war leadership, just like the Priestess.
"I wonder. Since it's passed down that he was a young person in terms of age, he might not have been to the extent of being a leader."
"When you say young, about how old?"
Younger is better. There's a prospect of learning new magic.
"There are rumors that he was not yet twenty, but I wonder?"
He meets the conditions! I can have expectations.
More than two hours after departure, the Wetlands Priestess returned.
"How was it?"
"Hmm..."
She's crossing her arms. Did the negotiation fail?
"He's a young male ghost, and it seems he's never left Sertogne."
"I see."
"So, I told him everything, but he didn't believe me."
Well, that might be so. I myself couldn't imagine magic that cures epidemics. He probably wouldn't believe magic that manipulates rats even more.
"He wants to meet Jeanne."
"Me?"
"Yeah. Somehow, he doesn't know light magic itself. He says he won't believe it unless he actually sees it."
Well, if he says that, that's also true.
"And so, he wants to see light magic."
"Then, should I go?"
"That's right."
If I'm nominated, it can't be helped.
"I understand. Let's go."
"That's the spirit!"
When I said I was going to meet the ghost, Cadogan-sama, the Grand Archbishop, and even the Bishop who was the secretary all started saying they would go together.
"T-then, I guess I have to go too."
Yorg-sama has a deathly pale face. His right hand, which is clutching the charm, is shaking.
"Sorry. I think it's limited to priests, so everyone else, please wait."
"Ah, is that so? I understand. Then, let's stay behind."
I think it's a bit much to break into a blatant smile.
The Priestess merges with me. Since she flared up her flames just like that, it's sufficiently bright at our feet. We hopped down to the bank, and the four of us ended up walking and proceeding together.
To be honest, weeds are overgrown because people haven't approached for a long time. The Priestess cast Dark there and made a path while burning the grass. Since she burns it with Dark, no flames come out. The grass, which turned discolored and shriveled as if burnt, crumbled just like that and turned into pitch-black ash. It looks scary, but it's more convenient than Wind Cutter, which leaves the stalks around the roots. We proceeded while crunching through the ash.
Thanks to the Priestess, we reached the place of worship ruins without much trouble. When we passed through a hole that seemed to be the main gate in the mossy, cracked outer wall, it was a courtyard, and from there, a group of buildings that could be called ruins could be seen.
Following the Priestess's guidance, we entered the largest building ruin. Rubble is scattered on the floor, and it doesn't seem like we can go to the back. When I looked up at the ceiling, part of it must be collapsed. The starry sky could be seen.
"I brought her!"
When the Priestess called out with my voice, a stone flew. The Priestess deployed Dark and deflected it.
Then, a figure enveloped in pale blue flames appeared on top of the rubble.
But, he just appeared.
"Hmph. To come to this cursed place of worship. You are daredevils. ...He says."
I see. Since he doesn't have contact with humans, he can't converse.
This pattern again. Why do they like bluffing so much? It makes me sigh.
Since it was a hassle, I lit him up grandly with Light, and a voice that seemed to be a scream could be heard. You can do it if you try. However, he vanished.
"Um, that was light magic."
Since he said to come show him, I showed him. What's he doing running away?
He threw various things at us, but the Priestess deflected them all. On top of that, she flared up her flames grandly.
"Are you picking a fight with us? Shall I perish you right now?"
The left hand I entrusted to the Priestess rose.
"Heaven's Roar!"
Gagagagagaaan!
It's four consecutive shots all of a sudden. She's powered up before I knew it. She really became over-ultra-high class. No, she learned Memorize easily. It wouldn't be strange if she had that much power.
As a result of the lightning falling four times in a row, the ceiling that was still remaining came crashing down. Clouds of dust arose. Since the Priestess is flaring up her flames, it doesn't come toward us. It must be being blown back midway. Since the three behind are hiding behind me, no one should be injured.
"Come out quietly!"
When the Priestess shouted in a loud voice, a pale blue flame glowed faintly beyond the dust that was settling.