Chapter 822 - Chapter 7: Countermeasures in Sertogne ③
The ghost's identity was revealed. He was the last acolyte who served the person who built this place of worship. As I thought, he died in the war. After death, he had been protecting the tomb in the basement of the building at the back of the place of worship as a tomb guard. Fortunately, the war ended and peace arrived. The place of worship had been fulfilling its role as an ordinary place of worship. Or so it should have been. But, since it had been significantly damaged by the repeated wars until then, talk of rebuilding it arose. That would be reasonable in its own way. And the tomb guard ghost began to resist. Since then, he continued to exist as a dangerous ghost who did not allow living people to approach.
"Why did you resist? Is it not just moving them to a new tomb? Since a priest will handle it properly, there is no problem, right?"
The Grand Archbishop's words would be natural. I thought so too.
"You see, it's a deathbed wish. Not to move the body from here. He said he wanted to watch over the future of the settlement from here."
What a troublesome deathbed wish. He probably intended to say something romantic, but I want him to think about what comes after.
"This boy was a war orphan and was raised by the head priest—I think?—who built this place. Well, it's about the great person, but he was raised by that person."
As the last acolyte, he was taking care of the head priest who was bedridden due to old age. Whether by chance or necessity, he was the only one present at that death. And he heard the deathbed wish. Afterward, other settlements, knowing that the leader, the head priest, had passed away, attacked. The place of worship became a battlefield many times, and many people died. And finally, he also passed away. He became a ghost because he wanted to protect his benefactor's tomb.
"It seems to be something like that. You see, the underground cemetery collapsed and got buried, so it can't be dug out easily. He says if they do something clumsy, the coffin and the body inside might be destroyed. So, there's no choice but to leave it as it is."
Hmm. Something like that... Clump Sand... is middle-class, so it won't activate. In that case, with high-class or above earth magic... but there might not be magic for digging.
"It certainly is difficult."
"Right?"
The Wetlands Priestess apparently infiltrated the underground cemetery guided by the male ghost. The stairs are completely buried, and it's quite dangerous inside. It seems that if they do something clumsy, the coffin might be crushed along with the ceiling that is barely holding on. According to the Wetlands Priestess, since he can also use spirit arts, he must have originally had the aptitude of a mage, and if things go well, he might learn Charm. She wants to make him an ally somehow. For that, she says they just need to dig out the coffin safely.
I have to think about this carefully.
I asked Cadogan-sama and the Grand Archbishop, but no good ideas came to mind. For now, we confirmed that there was no ill intent on either side—at least on one side, I think it's the result of the Wetlands Priestess's threat—and withdrew. This is because I want to consult with Yorg-sama as well.
"Hmm. Shall we try asking a civil engineering expert?"
I think Yorg-sama's idea is reasonable.
"I have an acquaintance who is perfect for this on the White Island."
He should be doing civil engineering work with the Dragonewts in Morandine right now. He must be going to Regnentes too. He'll be busy, but it's worth consulting him.
"Please let me return to the White Island once. No, just to the range where the magic circle for sending letters can be used. I'll come back right away."
"I-I understand."
A plan should be set by tomorrow.
When I went north and contacted them using the magic circle for sending letters off the coast of the wetlands, the Henry Party came immediately. It seems they were waiting for me.
"Do you need reinforcements? If so, we have the word of the King of Primordia that we can mobilize the knight order members. With disguises like this, it's perfect. Why, if it's in the middle of a commotion, it won't be found out."
Eleanor-sama? You're quite eager to go. And even if you say disguise, it's your usual field clothes, and you'll introduce yourself if asked for your identity anyway, right?
"Um, I want to consult with Beatrix. Because civil engineering work is needed in Sertogne. So, I have to properly have an audience with the King of Sertogne and get permission for the work."
"I-is that so. That's a shame... no, we must contact Beatrix immediately."
Please don't be so blatantly dejected.
Eleanor-sama contacted Beatrix and brought the one who was doing work in Morandine. Lyudmila is also with them. A Dragonewt also came.
"I heard. We just need to take out the coffin buried underground, right?"
"Let's do our best."
Well, that's fine, but the Dragonewt?
"Hey! I'm the one who became Beatrix's disciple. My wife's having a baby soon, so I gotta earn more. This time the Master's using magic, so I came to watch."
It's the Dragonewt who wants to learn that Translate. So, he came this time too. If it's high-class Translate, it's on par with beginner class, but it can jump objects. No, since he's a Dragonewt, he can use earth magic as much as he wants.
"We have the Morandine side too, so let's just get it over with quickly."
Beatrix is also saying it as if it's easy. It seems fine to leave it to them.
We had a meeting with the King on the island in a hurry—so, the Henry Party withdrew—and it was decided to let us handle it. The King was greatly surprised by the existence of the Dragonewt above all and welcomed him. He had apparently heard from Yorg-sama and the Duke of Naonent that they were indebted to the Vice-Chieftain. And since the ghost of the place of worship ruins had apparently been a source of various worries, it was decided that rewards would be given to the two supporting humans if it was successfully resolved. Fifty gold coins each. Five times mine. And various treasures, so to speak, were to be sent to the Dragonewt.
The three supporters were in high spirits. Despite it being broad daylight, they departed saying let's go right now.
Perhaps because safety was secured, the King, the State Chancellor, and about ten escort soldiers. And the Crown Prince also came. The Crown Prince is in his late forties. He's a dignified person worthy of the name of a knight, and he's such a fine person that I don't know why he worries about a family feud originating from Beowulf's lineage.
"I also ask this of you regarding this matter. I'm counting on you."
He has a heavy feeling like a heavy infantryman. The King is also a man of large build. As expected, blood doesn't lie.
We moored the ship near where we stayed last night and walked along the path the Priestess had made by burning weeds. The lead was the guide, the Wetlands Priestess, then me, followed by Beatrix and Lyudmila, and the last were Cadogan-sama, the Grand Archbishop, and the secretary. The Dragonewt flew over our heads. The Crown Prince also wanted to participate, but he was held back by the King and Yorg-sama.
"I brought reinforcements!"
The Wetlands Priestess called out from in front of the main gate and went inside. She started talking immediately after passing through the main gate. Since the opponent's figure can't be seen, he must be on guard.
"It's okay. Everyone's trustworthy!"
"Eh? Dragon? It's a Dragonewt. You don't know? Eh? You've heard of Dragonewts? Then, it's fine, isn't it? It's the real thing."
The Dragonewt called by the Priestess flew over. He was saying something or other, and he was moving both hands over his head, fluttering them, but the moment I thought he said something, the rubble in the courtyard floated in the air!
"It's Clump Stone."
"That is?"
Normally it's one at a time.
"Dragonewts are really amazing, aren't they? Even though it's a place where magic power is thin."
"Truly."
Before I knew it, Beatrix and Lyudmila were thrusting both palms forward and fluttering their palms. Come to think of it, the Vice-Chieftain was doing the same thing before casting magic.
"You guys, that gesture. Could it be..."
It's a gesture to gather magic power. Beatrix was taught the technique to gather thin magic power by the Dragonewt, and Lyudmila by Count Vectis. For the two, it's the long-awaited place for practice.
"Ufufu. It's a secret. Right, Lyudmila?"
"Yeah. Maybe next time."
The Dragonewt is here too, so this can be expected.
The civil engineering work began. First was the removal of rubble that the Dragonewt did. They decided on a convenient place for reuse and moved them rapidly. Beatrix and Lyudmila also did it. It took quite a while, and they finally moved one at a time, but they were flying them properly. Middle-class magic, which shouldn't be able to activate, is activating properly.
"Well, we practiced, after all."
"Do you want to practice too, Jeanne?"
Can I do it right now if I practice?
"I wonder. It might be impossible."
Both of them are tilting their heads.
Then, don't say it.
The civil engineering work progressed rapidly, and after the removal of rubble, it was finally time to dig out the coffin. Beatrix is drawing a magic circle on the ground where the rubble was removed and became wide. It must be Translate.
When we go to the back of the place of worship, there are ruins of a shrine-like building. It's completely collapsed, so the original form is unknown, but it seems it collapsed after taking several hits from catapult stones.
As usual, the Dragonewt moves both palms and removes the rubble all at once. And when the stairs come out, this time he floated a large amount of soil around the shrine's foundation in the air. He moves it just like that.
The Wetlands Priestess went on reconnaissance, probably with the ghost who was here.
"It's okay. Just dig it out as it is."
The Priestess's GO signal was given. They dig it up all at once. They carry out rubble and earth from the stairs one after another. Even though an amount that could have dug out the stairs long ago was carried out, more still comes out.
"A Dragonewt of the earth attribute can grasp the terrain under the floor. That's why he can even dig out the soil burying the basement."
I finally understood from Beatrix's explanation. It's the one the Vice-Chieftain used when he made the base on the island in the Inner Sea. I see, that's why the earth spirit Gnome and the Earth Dragon can move freely underground.
The coffin was successfully dug out. It's a stone coffin. When the lid was opened, a skeleton appeared. Since he's wearing priest's robes, he must be a priest. They closed the lid, and the two Grand Archbishops, two priests, and the Wetlands Priestess offered a funeral service. I'm sure the ghost here was also praying.
When we flashed a light toward the ship, Yorg-sama brought the ship closer, and the Crown Prince, along with the crew and soldiers, came down in a row. For now, the coffin is to be moved. For the ghost of the place of worship, we picked up a piece of rubble and had him possess it. We put that inside the coffin and moved it to the ship.
After that was the removal of the place of worship itself. Beatrix, who drew the Translate magic circle, jumped all the rubble. As expected, she couldn't do it all at once and divided it up quite a bit, but still, since an amount exceeding Teleport's weight limit flew, she really had achieved magic power accumulation. Amazing.
The work finished before the sun set. The fortress ruins became just a vacant lot. Since they said the outer wall could be used if repaired, it was left as is. The coffin was carried to the Royal Capital Grand Church, and a discussion with the guardian ghost began.
"We intend to build a new facility on that land."
It's the Grand Archbishop. The King and the Crown Prince are also there. It will likely become a national policy.
"What do you intend to make? You're going to make a tomb for the Master too, right?"
You shouldn't be so cocky toward the Grand Archbishop. Since we've come this far, he can be forcibly laid to rest at any time.
"Of course, the tomb will be rebuilt with a commemorative monument. What we're building new is an isolation facility for epidemic countermeasures."
It's near the river mouth, and at a certain distance from the Royal Capital. They can check every foreign ship that goes up the river and approaches the Royal Capital.
He probably can't understand. He's looking blank.
The King bowed his head at that silly face.
"That place of worship is the land where the great leader who united those who moved to this land from the White Island and led them to the founding of the country sleeps. I hear that leader died of an epidemic. I hear he refused those who would tend to him due to the symptoms of the disease, but you were the only one who stayed with him until the end. From now on, would you not become the guardian of our country's land for epidemic countermeasures, while also serving as the tomb guard for the great leader? I, who have taken over the land the great leader protected, need your cooperation."
The King's words became the deciding factor, and finally, the ghost ended up accepting the Wetlands Priestess's proposal.
The Priestess, who returned to the wetlands, succeeded in using magic memory—Memorize—on the tomb guard ghost and having him learn Allure—Charm. And she practiced rat extermination several times with the Priestess. Of course, this secret art is a secret, and the Priestess became a successor in Sertogne as well. And it was formally approved by the King that he would become the guardian of the tomb and the isolation facility—rather, since the Dragonewt, Beatrix, and Lyudmila made the outline in no time, it's apparently already functional.
Afterward, we went to the Duchy of Harmonia and made one rat exterminator. He was also a priest and died after being infected with the epidemic himself. He was reportedly buried in the cemetery of the isolation ward where Anri-sama was. According to the Priestess, there are actually many such priest ghosts, they just don't show themselves. She says those who use dark magic need a hungry spirit and have a certain quirk. It's a nature unrelated to elite priests.
It certainly feels that way. So, average priests can't learn it. It seems light infantry is better, if anything. However, she says light infantry who are ghosts on their own are all evil spirits. It seems a priest is desirable after all. Fortunately, one person with that precious aptitude was found.
If we can handle it at the port of Harmonia and the port of Sertogne, there should be no problem for exports to the White Island for now. With this, a tentative system has been established.
Eventually, we plan to find promising ghosts in each duchy of Sertogne and make one rat exterminator in each duchy. That will become Primordia's role, and I, having finished my mission, returned to Nakanohara.
Next month is the May Festival. Three weddings are coming up. All three couples are reportedly having banquets at the farm. Epidemic countermeasures are going well, so let's all make a big fuss together.