TNZKMA 131

１３１

 

Saine returned, and together with me and Dole, we headed to Olphynn. Two other Dauntlesses accompanied us. Loop and Vyrs, both veterans with 20 years as bodyguards and 10 years as Dauntless.

[A passage underground? I’ve never heard of such a thing.]

[It feels like something someone made. The ground was paved with stone, just like the square, and there were huge pillars too.]

Olphynn looked a bit tired. If it’s the third day since the monsters appeared, that means Olphynn has been maintaining a strong barrier for three days straight.

[A passage, huh… Is the forest you reached via that passage as safe as Saine says?]

[Yeah. There’s no sign of monsters there. It’s definitely a meaningful place. Whether it’s important for people or monsters, though, I’m not sure.]

[Is there anything that indicates its significance?]

[Well, the forest had trees and rocks, so it wasn’t like a square. But in one part, it resembled a square, and where you’d expect a fountain to be, there was a single tree.]

I didn’t mention that the tree was my mother. I had a feeling that if I said my mother had turned into a tree, the conversation would get complicated. The biggest issue right now wasn’t the tree, but the monster in the town.

[I’m not sure, but we can leave the mystery of that place for later. The important thing is that there’s a passage under the town leading to the forest, right? And that forest has some significance. A passage leading to a meaningful place… If that’s the case, then the passage might connect to the town’s central area as well.]

[The central square, huh. It makes sense. That area is inhabited by those who are drawn to significant places.]

[Exactly. Though it may not be the people of today, but those of the past. Did the passage feel old?]

[Yeah. Some of the pillars had collapsed, and when I reached the forest, the exit was covered with moss that had grown to the same height as the surroundings. It felt like it hadn’t been used for a very long time.]

The main road running from the central square serves as a divider between the sections. Each section also has smaller main roads, and at the center of each section, where those roads intersect, is a square. Similarly, the place where the main roads of the town intersect is called the central square.

[Hey, Olphynn. What’s going on with the town? What about the people in the other sections? Aren’t the guards and priests from the western and northern sections coming to help?]

At my question, Olphynn furrowed his brow, and Dole fell silent. When I looked up at Saine, his pitch-black eyes had a slightly sharp edge to them.

[It’s the same. Monsters have appeared in the western, northern, and southern sections too.]

[The same? Did they all fail their rituals?]

[The monsters only appeared during the ritual in the eastern section. They first appeared here, and after that, they started showing up in the other sections. The monsters outside the eastern section came from outside the town… But monsters don’t band together, do they?]

Olphynn asked the question, and Saine nodded.

[They move in groups if they’re small fries, but even if a bunch of them come in, they won’t cause much damage.]

[That’s right. There are just a lot of them, that’s all. This time, though, the monsters are mid-tier. They probably got lured out by the one in the east. They saw the confusion when monsters appeared in town and took the chance to come in. That’s how I see it. But the one in the east is exceptionally strong. I’d say it’s top-tier.]

[H-How are the other sections doing?]

Olphynn furrowed his brow but answered anyway.

[The west took the biggest hit. There weren’t enough Dauntlesses, and many of them were already working. There are many priests in the west, but they’re mostly specialized in rituals. They couldn’t even put up decent barriers, and the damage spread. Those in the south and north who were close to the east section managed to escape, but those near the west… it’s going to be tough for them.]

The town was silent and desolate. There were no collapsed houses or fallen people. No signs of struggle, let alone bloodshed. That’s why I thought the only people killed by the monsters were a few priests and officials.

But the town isn’t just the east section. The people who lived half a day’s walk from here…

I gripped Saine’s hand tightly. His large hand squeezed back with strength.

[What about the central plaza? Did the Heroes escape?]

[The monsters that came from the west, south, and north headed straight for the central plaza and then flowed into the east section. It’s said that the heroes protected the heads of the eight priest families and fled the town. If that’s true, they should be in Thor Town by now.]

[Thor Town?]

[It’s the neighboring town past the east section.] 

Saine answered.

If you leave the east section and follow the road, you reach the monster forest. If you go deep into that forest, you enter the mountains, and beyond those mountains lies the town. Saine would escort clients there—it’s the neighboring town. I just learned it had a name.

[There are eight priest families, so there are eight leaders, right? And there are seven Heroes… does that mean all the Heroes left the town?]

[If the rumors are true, probably.]

Olphynn crossed his arms, pondering for a moment.

[Information is scattered, to say the least. No one’s at the priest guild in the central plaza, and many officials have lost their lives. The officials’ bodies have been confirmed, but neither the chief priests nor the Heroes have been found. That’s why it’s said they fled.]

The word “bodies” that Olphynn uttered made my heart race, but the bodyguards seemed used to it, ignoring the comment about the dead Heroes and priests and reacting coldly.

[They ran, didn’t they?]

[Wouldn’t put it past them.]

[Don’t rely on Heroes.]

[Let them be, they’re trash.]

All four Dauntlesses spat out their words at once. Hmm, I guess the Heroes here aren’t really “heroes.”

[Did you trap the monsters that appeared in the other sections too?]

[Yeah. We took care of the monsters that came from the south. The ones in the west fled the town but should be gravely injured. The monsters in the north and east can change their shape. They both transformed and hid in the east section, but we trapped them within the barrier. They haven’t slipped through, meaning they’re in my grasp.]

[Unless they fell below.]

[Olphynn, when you say the monsters changed their form, do you mean they got smaller?]

[The northern monster shrinks. It’s about the height of your waist. The eastern one changes its shape—it can turn humanoid or become smoke, or a kind of black mist.]

I placed my hand on my waist to gauge the height of the monster. I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the monster that turns into smoke, so I focused on the one that shrinks to about half my height.

[If it’s about this size, then the lower path is probably impassable. The path I came through, the one leading to the plaza, is blocked by a collapsed ceiling. But if the other path is clear, it should lead to the central plaza.]

I don’t know why the path was built, but if Olphynn’s guess is right, it connects to the central plaza.

[Alright. Let’s check that path.]

Olphynn started walking toward the plaza.

[What about the barrier?]

[It’s fine. The others should be able to monitor and strengthen the barrier I set up.]

The barrier must have been built along the path. As we headed toward the plaza, I stood at a crossroad. In the path that extended to the sides, priests were stationed at equal distances from me. From where I stood to the nearest priest was about 25 meters, and between the two priests on either side of me, there was roughly a 50-meter gap. I could see more priests further along, standing at the same intervals.

[Are those people priests from the east section?]

[Not just from the east. We didn’t have enough, so priests from other sections who escaped are also helping. Of course, some came from the central plaza as well.]

　

In the priest guild at the central plaza, there were several priests besides the chief priest. There were the heads of the eight priest families, their assistants, and people who seemed to be caretakers.

[The priests who were at the central plaza, they’re important people, right?]

[Exactly. They’ve lived their lives flaunting their authority, so in times like these, they should be the first to take action. Even so, it’s not enough, so we’re using all the priest apprentices too.]

The other priests were following the orders of Olphynn, who had said he was still a rookie priest of the east section. I couldn’t help but clap, thinking how impressive that was.

[Olphynn, that’s amazing! You’re kinda cool!]

Olphynn brushed off my praise as if it were nothing and gave a curt “let’s go” before starting to walk. I moved to follow Dole and Saine, but I stopped in a hurry.

[What are you doing?]

Saine looked at me curiously. I gently stroked Kyui through my clothes and whispered to Saine.

[What about Kyui? Won’t it get caught by the barrier?]

Kyui was still asleep in the usual pouch under my clothes. It must’ve been really exhausted, having been asleep since we arrived in the forest.

Saine stopped as well, thought for a moment, and then called out to Olphynn.

[Can you make a small hole in the barrier, just for a moment?]

Olphynn furrowed his perfectly shaped brows but seemed to understand and nodded with an “Ah.” He recited a short spell.

[Pass through.]

I wasn’t entirely sure if it was really okay, but I gently cradled Kyui through my clothes. Saine grabbed my hesitant arm and pulled me along.

[Alright. Let’s go.]

Olphynn recited the spell again and began walking briskly. The barrier must’ve closed behind us, though I had no idea, no matter how closely I looked.