Chapter 827 - Chapter 1: The Oracle Descends ④
On the day before the Demon Lord's resurrection, the Henry Party arrived. It wasn't in the usual bowl. They came in carriages. And three of them in a row. While the lead carriage flew the church's flag, the second and third had the Engrio Royal Family's crest.
"Jeanne, we've come to support you."
When I went to meet them, the Grand Archbishop was the first to come out of the carriage.
I hurriedly knelt and kissed the ring he held out.
When I stood up because he told me to, he patted both my shoulders.
"As the Grand Archbishop, I have come to see the activation of Testament."
Is it a sightseeing trip rather than support?
"Jeanne, the time has finally come."
It's Cadogan-sama. Is it my imagination that he seems happy?
Price-sama was also in the carriage flying the church's flag.
"Um, is the Demon Lord's army okay?"
While the Grand Archbishop and Cadogan-sama were greeting the head priest, I tried asking Price-sama. The church is supposed to take overall command of the Demon Lord countermeasures. Is it okay to be in a place like this?
"There is no movement in the Demon Lord's army. The remnants in various places are not coming out of their territories. Therefore, the human side is also refraining from poor provocation and is limiting itself to monitoring from a distance."
Apparently, not a single battle has occurred. Furthermore, it seems neither the Demon Lord's side nor the human side has even moved their armies.
Since he sent quite a few high-level demons, he might have run out of manpower. I heard that the strange guy from the Northeastern Forest was summoned as an executive, but the Demon Lord would be troubled by that.
"What about the eastern part of the Engrio Royal Capital?"
There's a female demon I'm on good terms with there. On the human side, there are Carla and Annabella. I don't want them to fight if possible.
"Please rest assured. King Seldic has made a request for non-aggression for that land. They stopped hunting and pulled all the soldiers from the fortresses at both ends of the river. They also seem to have dropped the bridge. It seems they intended to fight if there was an instruction to invade from the Demon Lord. However, at this point, although that female demon is occupying the fortress, she doesn't seem to be trying to cross the river. Probably, as usual, no instruction to invade has been issued by the Demon Lord."
He's smiling. When King Seldic arbitrarily signed a pact with the female demon and made it public, it seems there was quite a lot of trouble. In the end, the Grand Archbishop ruled that he wouldn't interfere with what the heretic did, and as a result, it was settled.
"I see. It's a good thing not to have to fight uselessly."
We can get along. The captain of the monster extermination squad must also be happy. Probably Sir Archer, who is auditing the compliance with the pact.
In the second carriage, King Seldic was riding with Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama.
"Good work."
He has the same余裕 expression that seems to contain a smile.
"No, King Seldic as well."
The war between East and West Liber... though it's only a battle for one city... has not ended yet. In other words, the provision of magic water is not being carried out. I'm sure King Seldic is working hard to funnel it through the black market.
"Jeanne. The day we've been waiting for has come."
This is it. There's another person here who's misunderstood. Who would look forward to the Demon Lord's resurrection!
"I shall observe it thoroughly."
This person too. Although he's a former hero, when he says it so blatantly, I suspect his character a bit.
In the last carriage were Wilson-san, Will, and Bonnie. The reason the carriages were separate must be due to status difference.
The three regulars seem to be sticking to accompanying Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama this time, and said they would basically act separately. It would be reassuring if Wilson-san came, but the Southern Church is protected by a barrier. It would be difficult.
First, only the priests were shown to the guest room. It's a meeting with Germana, the master of the cave.
"Oh! Is it not the current and the Western Church head!"
Since it was only priests, and only those he was acquainted with, Erikson-sama, who had been lurking, immediately came out.
"Welcome indeed! I am sorry for the considerable supplies last night."
"It's Jeanne's fine appearance. It was to celebrate it as well."
"Indeed, that is so."
Fine appearance? Are you misunderstanding something?
The Priestess of the Ceiling is meeting the Grand Archbishop for the first time. The Grand Archbishop didn't kneel before the two priestesses, but he bowed his head first to introduce himself. The priestesses were flustered by this.
"I am sorry for not being able to greet you properly when you came all that way before."
It's the priestess who makes the ceiling glow in the cave of the secret book of the mountain. Did the Grand Archbishop go to the cave of the mountain?
"It is I who should apologize for barging in so suddenly. Thanks to you, I was able to gain a very precious experience."
He even goes to meet the Vice-Demon Lord, he's quite a person.
As a result of the discussion with Germana, it was found that observation itself is possible. However, it seems no one knows what will happen as a result of activation while the Demon Lord is resurrected.
"At worst, it's a collapse and being buried alive."
"Eh?"
Everyone was startled all at once. The priests were saying let's all go. The three royals are also eager to go.
"Wait a moment, Germana. If that's the case, the magic circle itself won't remain after it's released."
"But four thousand years have passed since I last released it. I really don't know what will happen."
"That's true, but..."
"I am also a being that exists to protect that cave and magic circle, so I will use as much power as possible, but I have never released it while the Demon Lord was resurrected."
It's certainly not a mistake, but if you always assume the worst, you can't do anything.
"In other words, you're saying to challenge it with that much resolve. I understand well."
The Grand Archbishop summarized it, so everyone's expressions finally settled.
"Then, just in case, let's have Eleanor think of something. Like making a bowl over the observers' heads to make a roof. On top of that, prepare a Teleportation Circle at their feet to prepare for escape."
In other words, am I being left to die? Price-sama.
"Germana, are there any other restrictions? For example, the process before reaching the magic circle, or the number of people."
Hearing him ask about the number of people, it seems he's eager to observe with all the participants.
"If Jeanne is there, you can basically use the door that goes straight to the magic circle. The number of people will basically be the number of people who can enter the anteroom of the magic circle with Jeanne. Let's see... if there are no extremely large people, ten people will be the limit. Since I will enter first and release the seal, you don't have to include me in the number."
Ten people, eh. Fiona and the Wetlands Priestess will merge with me, and Erikson-sama will merge with someone; so it's me, the Grand Archbishop, Cadogan-sama, Price-sama, and the head priest for the priest group, plus the Priestess of the Ceiling, making seven. Since there are three more, it's King Seldic, Henry-sama, and Eleanor-sama, making ten. It's a selection of people as if targeted.
Since they heard that ten people could go, voices of joy arose. All three said they were prepared for danger.
"We are fine since we are retired, but what will happen to Engrio if you die?"
Truly. If the current King dies, the citizens will be at a loss. Or rather, if the Grand Archbishop dies, most people living on the White Island might be at a loss.
"The Grand Archbishop is here, right? They must not let him die. Let's have Jeanne do her best."
"Eh?"
Am I the one to bear the responsibility? Maintaining the cave and magic circle is Germana's job.
"That's right, let's have Jeanne do her best."
"Jeanne, we're entrusting our lives to you."
"Do your best."
Wait, these delinquent old people, what are they saying...
"I'm counting on you, Jeanne."
Even the Grand Archbishop is going along with it...
"Do your best, Jeanne."
Hey, Germana. It's foul play for you to go over to that side.
The arrangements for the activation of Testament were finished... though it's better to say the arrangements for sightseeing. Afterward, the Grand Archbishop explained the movements of the Demon Lord's armies in various places. Currently, there is indeed no movement.
"The cave where the Demon Lord is resurrected is likely blocked at the entrance by a wall that cannot be passed through except by extinguishing it with Light."
Hey, from the entrance it's that!
I was surprised by Eleanor-sama's report. I'll be participating from the start. Diversion, main, rear, none of that matters. It's everything.
"Is that true?"
"Yes, it was immediately after entering. It was made in a passage where there was no wall until now."
He's doing it, that Demon Lord.
"It seems there was no change in the cave where the Demon Lord is resurrected in our country."
King Seldic apparently ordered the monster extermination squad to go check. That place was blown up using a large amount of explosives. Now, even the first layer should be buried in soil midway. It seems there was no change in that state. Incidentally, according to Eleanor-sama, Sertoria is the same, and they have further surrounded the area with at least the minimum of Anti-Magic Stone. Unfortunately, the Demon Lord's resurrection was too fast and they didn't make it in time for the completion of the fortress, but if the opponent doesn't come out, there's no problem.
"Even in the forest of Medioland where the Demon Lord is resurrected this time, there was no movement of organizing the Demon Lord's army. If possible, I would like to achieve the subjugation of the Demon Lord in this state."
It's exactly as Price-sama says. It's best to have little damage.
Finally, the talk turned to Black Rot Disease. The war between East and West Liber... though it's only a battle for one city... is still continuing, and there's no prospect of it ending.
"That will continue until autumn."
According to the information King Seldic obtained from his son, Duke of Roland Richard, the attacking West Liber army doesn't seem to want to withdraw.
"If there's a ceasefire, many of the mercenaries will have to return to the port towns of the Inner Sea. However, those towns are already infested with Black Rot and have suffered considerable damage. If they return, they'll just die. But if the war doesn't end, they don't have to return. They have a justification."
The attacking side seems to be intending to stick around until autumn, so the offensive is dull. And it's highly likely that the mercenaries will disband before winter. In other words, they're intending to escape north after earning money by spending time on a safe battlefield... it's clearly a different purpose now. Is that even called a war anymore?
"However, the infected area is spreading right behind that army. And there seem to be infected people in the West Liber army itself. They might self-destruct before autumn."
People from the surrounding settlements are also in the city, but they all seem to be united in keeping Black Rot out of the city. Since they can use magic water that cures Black Rot for free if they are with the Duke of Roland, they must be desperate. On top of that, they are also receiving support from East Liber behind them. Furthermore, the surrounding West Liber nobles are also secretly supporting the Duke of Roland. The Duke of Roland is also not slacking, declaring that he will be a breakwater and sending magic water where it can be sent. In the surrounding area, they are already blocking the highways regardless of friend or foe, implementing spread prevention using magic water with insect repellent and Insect-Attracting Water, and washing using strong alcohol, so they are taking almost the latest spread prevention measures. Fortunately, there is water transport on the river that has its mouth in the territory of the Duchy of Roland. Supply is possible under the escort of the East Liber army, and goods are reportedly being sent in one after another. I'm sure what Engrio and Morandine funneled is being carried.
Now, the Duke of Roland is treated like a leader of Black Rot countermeasures and reportedly has a very good reputation. And the East Liber King who supports him as well. In contrast, the reputation of the West Liber King is as expected, and the great noble who is fighting the Duke of Roland is reportedly being criticized even by his own King and other nobles. Some even say to the West Liber King that he should subjugate him. Though they only say it and don't seem to send troops.
"At this rate, it will eventually come to the opposite shore. West Liber is wide, after all."
My heart darkened at King Seldic's words. It feels like we can make it if the Duke of Roland holds out, but realistically, there are not enough breakwaters.