Chapter 76

Chapter 76 - Reorganization

Several spare doors were prepared in the monastery. As manufacturing technology advanced compared to the past, the sturdiness of the doors was far superior.

Marbas imbued one of them with the most powerful sealing spell he knew.

- I shouldn't have done that back then.

The emotion contained in that magic is regret. The most intense yet long-lasting emotion of humans, who are like reeds. Thus, it might be a catalyst that suits a seal even better.

The magic the great summoner refined through 30 years of regret perfectly severed the other world from the present world.

"It's a success. No evil energy can be felt at all."

"It also blocks grudges from being drawn inside from the outside. Misfortunes like this time won't repeat in the future."

"Indeed, you are amazing!"

The priests admired Marbas's skill.

Seeing that, Eugene disarmed his subordinates' combat readiness.

"Good work. Now pack your shares."

It's time for the sweat they shed and the blood smeared on their hands to be rewarded.

The subordinates helped the priests, who were busy with purification work, move the corpses. While taking rings worn on fingers, necklaces hung around necks, and loot in their embraces, that is.

While everyone relaxed, only Eugene harbored a speck of vigilance and looked around.

"You seem to have some worries."

"Because it seems like we saw something we, as outsiders, shouldn't have seen."

Valda, who thought for a moment, realized the target of Eugene's vigilance was the priests.

"Is it because of the miserable end of the expeditionary force?"

"Yes. To think the truth of the expedition recorded as a noble sacrifice was actually becoming corrupted undead. Doesn't the religious order definitely want to hide it?"

The radicalness of medieval religious organizations Eugene thinks of. The oppressive appearances he had seen while growing up in the main god's monastery.

That prejudice made him unable to relax, thinking 'What if?'.

"If it's about that, there is nothing to worry about. No matter how much of a shameful secret it is, it's not just one or two people who saw it."

"I also think it's needless worry, but."

"In their long history, there are quite a few shameful secrets they want to hide even more. This much is nothing."

"Then that's a relief."

Valda shook her head.

He was a knight who ran wild without fear in battle, yet strangely had a lot of petty worries in non-combat situations.

Of course, it was a hundred times better than the common knights whose eyes flipped over thoughtlessly to boast their war merits.

* * *

The Lasta Monastery is a modest place compared to other monasteries.

Since it is managed closed off, there are few external activities, but combat training for priests and equipping silver products cost a lot of money.

So there is no victory banquet like Baron Est's. A worship of gratitude and the priests' own way of serving were everything.

"Here seems to have combined only the terrible aspects of a monastery and a barracks."

Rex said while holding up a piece of rye bread and flipping it around.

He seemed to barely restrain the urge to throw it like a discus because it was a hard yet flat bread.

Perhaps feeling sorry for the terrible treatment, it is food the Abbot blessed himself.

"Endure it. Supplies were cut off due to the sudden chaos, and they even went through a siege, so only preserved food is left."

"When will we return? I miss Northfork's abundant food."

"Soon, as soon as the outside cleanup is finished."

Eugene and his subordinates helped repair and clean the monastery damaged by the battle.

"We have already done enough, isn't it too much to even clean up the aftermath?"

"When making someone indebted to you, it is profitable to make it thorough."

Eugene tore the bread on the plate Homi held out into bite-sized pieces. What wouldn't even let a knife go in well tore like rotten leaves at Eugene's fingers.

Nod.

Homi, who expressed her thanks, brought the plate to her sharp nose. It's her habit of smelling food before eating.

Eugene found it cute as if watching a small wild animal, but Valda is trying to correct it, saying it looks uncultured.

"A report on this incident will go up to Duke Ismar. To the Hospitallers and the religious order as well."

"Naturally, it would."

"If we compare that report to a punch, eradicating the pirates is like a strong hit to the cheek first."

Smack!

Eugene punched his palm.

"Another hit for eradicating the undead, and one more for manufacturing the seal door. Even though this one is thanks to Sir Marbas."

Marbas declared, 'Let it be your achievement.' Aside from the debt, it was because he was excited about the artifact extracted from the Death Knight's body.

It's a gem of hell that looks similar to sarira, and is said to be one of the best treasures for a summoner.

"If anyone takes 3 hits in a row, they'd be dizzy, but what happens if they take a 4th hit?"

"Is that 4th hit the cleanup?"

"Right. Actually, compared to the first 3 hits, it's a light punch. Since it's merely doing some manual labor. But when hit repeatedly with strong ones, it feels different."

"Certainly, even if we do the same work, it feels like they would appreciate it much more than usual."

Rex agreed with an interested face.

Most knights do not complete requests considering even down to such parts. If they made a great contribution, they wanted to be treated more proudly, and that was their natural right.

"Is it edible after soaking it in the soup?"

Rex stuffed the bread soaked in the soup into his mouth while conversing.

"It's still terrible."

"Then give it to me."

The mercenary captain intervened and tried to take the bread.

"Uh-uh! Hands off! When would we ever eat bread blessed by the Abbot again?"

Mercenaries' faith fluctuates depending on the situation.

When they need to be ascetic, it becomes thin like a crescent moon, but in front of a chance to be blessed, it shone brightly like a full moon.

To think it's bread directly blessed by the Abbot. Everyone enthusiastically tore into it saying eating it would wash away sins and be good for the soul too.

* * *

Eugene also paid attention to grasping the surrounding situation. If they just cleaned up and left, but another group of pirates struck, it would all be for nothing.

"It's truly clean."

Scouts scattered everywhere inquired with passing travelers or merchants as well. The answer that came back in common was 'Haven't seen a single one.'

"Sir. The number of pirates punished in the meantime is close to 500."

Hind unfolded a small map distributed for officers to Eugene. He drew a line with his index finger between the Est Barony and the Lasta Monastery.

"The region our army went back and forth in the North is only a part. With 500 people in this narrow place, it's safe to say the seeds of pirates nearby have dried up."

"Rather they swarmed an unusually large amount. It would be fine to say it is truly safe."

Marbas took over Hind's words.

He was currently ailing because he poured out too much power making the seal door.

The monastery is an area deeply seeped with holy energy and faith. It's a very bad place for a summoner, who gains power from the other world, to recover. He looked like he wanted to hurry up and leave this place.

Eugene nodded.

"Let's conclude the journey here. Let us return to Northfork."

A commander must know when to step back. It is a fact that they obtained far more wealth and honor than what they pictured when setting out. Even if they get greedier, there won't be anything to gain nearby.

The army left the monastery receiving a grand send-off.

"The remains of the old expeditionary force were recovered well and given funerals. May there be rest for their suffering souls."

Andrew decided to stay in the monastery a bit longer to collect his mind.

"No matter how much we thank the grace you have shown our monastery, it won't be enough."

The Abbot launched carrier pigeons to Duke Ismar, detailing the relief army's active roles in detail.

Perhaps it could be seen as a greater outcome than the loot obtained while subjugating the pirates. Since it's effectively properly making an impression on the ruler of the North.

* * *

Eugene returned through a different route from when he came from the Est Barony to the Lasta Monastery.

Because Marbas wasn't the only one among the party who needed to recover strength.

When they set up camp by the forest in the early evening, Valda took walks in the woods and took in the spirit of nature.

"Do the soldiers have any complaints? I feel sorry for making them take a detour because of me. It must be colder here too."

Winter, which had its world taken away by Spring, is staging its final resistance in the forest.

"Not at all. If anyone even expressed a complaint, they would be trampled into pieces by the angry mercenaries."

"Fufu. That's a severe exaggeration."

"It's true."

The moss-covered slippery paths were covered by weeds, trees moved their branches away, and bushes withered on their own to clear the path.

The forest fairy performing miracles at the vanguard, her brilliant blonde hair fluttering.

That sight didn't just end with the mercenaries thinking 'Ah! Our magician is competent.'

"If not for Lady Valda, we wouldn't have been able to perfectly annihilate them like that."

There were quite a few mercenaries walking around with three or four necklaces won in the camp. That sight made Valda's heart feel much more at ease.

"You don't necessarily have to follow along. Just walking must be boring."

"It's not boring at all. We must prepare for any 'just in case' dangers."

"The army is right nearby so there's no need to worry. Even if you meet unexpected danger, there's no existence in the forest that can catch an elf."

Valda made a posture of making a fist and hopping in place. It was quite different for the always elegant lady to act like this.

"That's a story for ordinary times, but aren't you barefoot right now? Can you run at your original speed even barefoot?"

"..."

It was an even cuter appearance especially because she was barefoot.

To quickly recover forest magic, just walking and breathing is not enough.

The soil and the grass seeds sleeping beneath it, ascending sprouts, traces of footprints left by wild animals coming and going over thousands of years, tree roots communicating with the energy of the earth.

The method of pressing skin against the spiritual energy carried in all of those and absorbing them is effective.

That didn't mean she could strip naked and roll around, so she came to use the method of barefoot walks.

It's said to be a traditional secret method commonly used by magicians of the forest or druids.

"Step carefully. Try not to get any thorns stuck."

"If there were an Elf who hurt their feet walking in the forest, that would be a disqualification for an Elf."

"Is it not cold?"

"Not at all."

Valda took a deep breath in and exhaled, Fuuq!

"It's drinking the energy of the forest through the feet like breathing. The coziness contained in that spirit wraps me more warmly than any fur shoes."

Actually, her clean insteps overflowed with the reddish warmth of life. It wasn't the appearance of being turned blue by the winter cold.

Babble babble.

"Is here alright too?"

"Hmm."

However, she stopped at the water's edge where the winter stream spread and flowed.

"It seems this cannot be overcome."

"Because water is a mystery belonging to a domain separate from the forest."

Her long ears twitched with trouble.

"Leave here to me."

"What...? Kyaak!"

Eugene lifted Valda in a princess carry playfully, holding the back of her knees and her waist.

"W-Wait."

Before the flustered Valda could say anything, he skipped around nimbly and crossed the area where cold water flowed.

The elf lady, having gathered her hands to her chest, tried to chatter about something but closed her mouth. Her long ears only trembled in place of her heart.

* * *

"You came?"

Returning to the camp, the mercenaries welcomed them. Barbecue dripping oil was cooking with a sizzle.

A little ways off, a tribe warrior stabbed a bloodletting dagger into the heart of an animal he just hunted.

Gush!

At the blood pouring out like a fountain, the mercenaries made disgusted faces.

"Are those guys not afraid of curses?"

The mercenaries were frightened by the evil magic dagger and didn't even touch it, but the tribe warrior didn't mind. Because they were familiar with even more bizarre shamanisms than that.

"Pull your shoulders back, keeping your legs a bit further back."

Nod nod.

In the clearing next to the camp, Homi, who received a spare bow, was learning horseback archery from the tribe warrior.

"As expected of a former hunter, her posture for the bow is set."

The appearance of Homi driving the horse and shooting arrows was quite stable even to Eugene's eyes.

"Is it to the level of working in actual combat?"

"Yes. She rides horses well and her senses are so good, it will be enough if she just builds up more experience."

Eugene's army is acting earnestly centered around the cavalry. Homi, who did not receive orthodox knight training, needed to change her primary weapon to a bow.

Since her sharp senses, vision, and sense of smell were also more suitable for assisting Eugene with a ranged weapon anyway.

Crucially, Homi had a tremendous advantage to becoming a horse archer.

"To think of using the tail like that, I never even imagined."

The tribe warrior stroked his chin with an amazed face.

Homi used her thick tail to support herself against the horse's body and balance.

"It's a talent possible because she's a snow leopard beastman."

"It certainly is extremely long and thick."

Homi's tail is 1.5 times longer and more than twice as thick as other beastmen. Naturally, the muscle mass is also incomparably large.

"When I lived in the countryside, it was super popular. When I arm-wrestled the neighborhood kids with this tail, they all liked it and fell over laughing. In the winter, I even served as a scarf for the clinging children."

Imagining that sight, a smile automatically formed on the tribe warrior's face as well.

Homi, who quickly picked up the knack, utilized her tail freely in horseback archery.

When she turned her body sideways to shoot the bow, she hooked her tail like a hook on the opposite side to fix her body position.

"Oh my God!"

When she even reached the point of taking arrows out of the quiver with her tail, the two spectators' faces became dumbfounded.

"Is that a talent possible for other beastman tribes as well?"

"No. Their tails have weak strength. It's at the level of a pinky finger, so it's impossible to grab and pull something on horseback."

Honestly, since she was Eugene's squire, there were parts that were wrapped up nicely.

However, this amazing lady was an evolving fighter. Teach her one thing, and she realized two, showing new possibilities.

Homi, returning while driving Sandy, held an arrow in her tail and swayed it this way and that. It's an appearance boasting a talent only she could do.

Ping!

Then she spun her waist in a flash and shot at a tree behind her.

Ping!

Immediately loading the arrow held in her tail, she fired a 2nd shot as if rapidly firing.

"Amazing?"

"Heh!"

"Next camping time, let's go hunting together. Trying it in actual combat is the best."

Homi smiled brightly and nodded.

Her liege's fame growing and the army he leads becoming powerful was what she had hoped for.

But she felt regretful that the parts she could assist with in battle were decreasing by that much.

The hope that she could fight alongside her liege on future battlefields. That was sweet like a welcome rain during drought to Homi.