Chapter 364: Tear It Out by the Roots
It was noon.
The Saintess sat calmly across from the elf man before her; no, the orc whose skin had merely changed to look human, and she poked at her salad while studying him closely.
’He’s handsome.’
If he hadn’t been a giant towering well over two meters and had been a more reasonable height just over 180 centimeters, his face would have been enough to conquer the world. With the orc’s green skin peeled away, even the slightly blunter ears characteristic of orcs, not quite as pointed as an elf’s, looked rather endearing.
’No. This is the Goddess’s meddling. Get a grip.’
The Saintess treated the voice of the Goddess screaming "Yes!" inside her head as the Devil’s whisper. No matter how closely his appearance had changed to resemble an elf, his genes were still orc.
"What are you staring at so intently?"
"I’m curious why you received the Goddess’s grace."
The Saintess recited the line she’d prepared in advance. She could hardly say she’d been staring because he was handsome, so she’d come up with an excuse to scrutinize his face.
"Even if you are the Hero of the Holy Sword, you’re still an orc. Why on earth...?"
"Who knows.... I don’t know that myself."
Brug shrugged and deftly cut his meat with a knife. The way he sliced his steak, grilled from a monster hunted in the snowy mountains, was the spitting image of a nobleman. Even the way he held his water glass was beginning to exude elegance.
"Where did you learn your etiquette?"
"Hmm... let’s just say I learned it during my time as a slave."
"A slave? Why were you a slave?"
Pink-tinted fantasies began blooming in the Saintess’s mind. A noblewoman with a taste for strapping orcs dragging one into her bedroom every night....
’No, that can’t be right. Someone strong enough to overcome the holy sword’s trial wouldn’t just become an ordinary slave.’
"I fought and lost. The one who beat me said he won because of the difference in our weapons, but preparing such a weapon in the first place is part of battle preparation, so it was my defeat."
"I thought you believed in the supremacy of skill?"
"Skill matters, but equipment matters just as much. If someone compensates for a lack of combat ability by preparing the right gear, that too is part of their ability. If the body can’t keep up, use the mind. In the end, the one who survives is the one who wins."
"...Hmm, I see. So about becoming a slave?"
"I was defeated by him and became his slave. He only ever called me a guest, but one who loses an honorable fight and fails to die becomes a slave. After learning many things under him, I reclaimed my honor."
The Saintess understood Brug’s way of thinking, at least a little. Which made her curious about something.
"Now that you have a holy sword, can you beat him?"
"I lost because of the difference in weapon quality to begin with. Under the same conditions, I would have won, no question. He admitted that himself."
"Hmm...."
The Saintess couldn’t quite guess who this "him" that Brug spoke of might be. But from the swordsmanship she could sense in Brug’s blade, she had a rough idea.
’Margrave Aries.’
A man with skill on par with or slightly below Brug’s. But one who had won through the difference in weapons. The refined etiquette of a distinguished noble house that she sensed from Brug. Having observed Brug up close, she concluded that he had been defeated by Margrave Aries.
"...So what will you do now? An archangel descended and acknowledged you, so no one can deny who you are. Unlike that cardinal who threw a fit starting at dawn."
"You want me to go to the front lines?"
"That’s right. Now that there’s an additional Hero of the Holy Sword, they’ll ask you to fight against the Demon King’s Army. Free of charge. For the greater cause. For the sake of the human alliance, go deal with those wicked monsters."
The Saintess laid out the cardinal’s intentions from an objective standpoint. In reality, the cardinal had sent countless people to the battlefield in the name of the greater cause. Thinking about the cardinal immediately killed her appetite, and the Saintess finished her meal and set down her utensils.
"Of course, it’s ultimately your choice... so what will you do?"
"I’ll follow the Goddess’s will."
Brug set down his utensils. As if he’d been deliberately matching the Saintess’s pace, his plate was perfectly clean the moment she finished.
"The Goddess’s will?"
"...She commanded me to seek out the holy swords. To find the ones that haven’t yet awakened, besides mine."
Brug placed the holy sword on the table, sheath and all.
"The holy swords are connected to one another. Just as the one who guided Taurus to me did, I also have a duty to go awaken the other holy swords. And as I search for the holy swords, I too will...."
Brug trailed off. It seemed that what came next was an oracle he couldn’t share, even with the Saintess.
"In any case, I’m going to search for the holy swords. What will you do?"
"Me?"
"If you’re willing, would you come with me? It may be a rather long journey, but it would be lonely on my own."
Brug smiled and extended the offer to the Saintess. She gently closed her eyes at the sudden proposal.
Thump, thump.
A one-on-one journey with a man. An extended trip with a handsome man. Whether it took a month or two, perhaps they’d even share the same bed...
[Yes! A free trip alone with a hot guy! Kyaaaaa!!]
"...Hold on. Something demonic has crept into my thoughts, so I need a moment to think."
The Saintess pressed her hand to her forehead and sank into thought. Could she really resist? She was human. She was the Saintess.
"...Alright. Here’s what we’ll do. A holy sword can find other holy swords? Then which holy sword are you looking for next?"
"Holy Sword Gemini."
Gemini. The woman quietly murmured to herself and counted on her fingers. One, two, three, four.
"Fine. I happen to have something to find as well, so I’ll join you. If I just left you alone, you’d probably get dragged off to some front line like an idiot. Guiding a hero is the Saintess’s duty, after all."
The Saintess stood up with a proud air. Brug also rose and extended his hand to her.
"I look forward to working with you, Saintess."
"...When it’s just the two of us, you can call me by my name."
Purely to build rapport, so the cardinal couldn’t drag him off to the front lines without her say-so. Absolutely not because she genuinely wanted to get closer to him.
’I must not fall for him.’
The Saintess vowed to herself over and over again.
***
Creeeak, clunk.
"Reporting in. All ten trebuchets have been deployed."
"Well done. Rest at the outpost, then you’re free to head back."
Levis Ann gave a heartfelt, grateful smile to the young men saluting her, drenched in sweat. They may not have been able to wield swords, but they had willingly volunteered for rear support in order to retake Zabiyaba and clear the dungeon.
Transporting the siege weapons.
After the subjugation force’s hasty march, the trebuchets hastily assembled in the barony had rolled their wheels nonstop until they arrived at the outpost.
One might wonder why siege weapons were necessary to attack a town of just over a thousand people, but the subjugation force had learned a bitter lesson from the previous failed campaign.
The fences needed to be destroyed. The walls needed to be destroyed. Without access to large-scale magic, siege weapons were essential.
"Well done. Thanks to your efforts, humanity will prevail."
"Commander. We want to fight too."
"That’s not happening."
Levis Ann firmly shut down the young men’s desire to join the battle.
"The enemy is monsters. You aren’t yet prepared to face them in combat. So for now, follow my orders."
"...Is there truly no way?"
"None. Drawing a sword on courage alone is suicide. The trebuchets you transported are already more than enough of a contribution. You should be proud. May the Goddess’s blessing be with you."
Levis Ann moved to send the young men home. She’d put it gently, but they were simply too young and inexperienced to fight with swords and shields.
"If you really want to contribute, would you deliver this to the Baroness?"
"Wh-what is this...?"
The seal on the letter Levis Ann handed over bore the emblem of the Goddess Church. Even if the young man was a commoner, the letter would be delivered to the Baroness without question. The seal was unique to the Holy Knight Commander.
"One is for the Baroness, this one for House Pisces, this one for House Cancer, and this one is a letter to be sent to the Leo Marquisate."
There were several letters. Each was addressed to noble houses adjacent to or involved in the conflict near the Virgo territory within the Zodiac Kingdom.
"Ask the Baroness to see that these letters reach the houses."
"What on earth are these letters...?"
"They’re classified, so I can’t tell you. ...But it might be best if you spread the word."
Levis Ann patted the young men on the shoulders.
"A request for knight order deployment. And... a mobilization order for the Holy Knights."
"...!!"
Levis Ann grinned fiercely.
"This dangerous dungeon needs to be torn out by the roots. With full force."
***
Rumble rumble rumble.
The Slime Dragons formed a quadruple-bladed formation and rotated clockwise. Right behind them, another group of Slime Dragons formed the same quadruple-bladed formation and rotated counterclockwise.
The Slime Dragons led by Clian at the front bored through the earth, expelling some of the soil behind them. Then the Slime Dragons following under Nifran swallowed the debris and cleaned the tunnel spotless.
The ceiling was so low I had to crawl on all fours, but the height didn’t matter right now. What mattered was getting to Meri immediately.
’The speed is pretty impressive.’
Even an industrial drill would probably be slower than this. I was moving at a low crawl, but considering this worming pace was carving a path dozens of feet underground, the speed was phenomenal.
"Lime, I think we’re getting close to the destination?"
"...Yeah. We need to go up from here."
Lime, crawling ahead of me, directed Clian and Nifran to change course. The tunnel began to slope gently upward.
"...."
I buried my face in Lime’s backside swaying left and right ahead of me and kept pushing forward. There was absolutely no ulterior motive; it was purely a desperate measure to advance even a little faster.
’Please don’t become the holy sword’s master... Meri!’
If she became the holy sword’s master, she might have to remain a virgin for life. But knowing Meri, she might try to become its master, saying it was to "help her father."
Meri and I had made a promise. A promise known only to the two of us, one we’d never told anyone. If Meri became the master of the holy sword, the one that only a virgin could wield, Holy Sword Virgo, she would be breaking that promise.
’Goddess, please!’
Did my prayer reach the heavens? The Slime Dragons stopped spinning. I launched myself through the gap opening on either side and burst out.
"Meri!! Are you alright?!"
"D-Dad?!"
In the middle of a basement practically oozing with eerie energy, a holy sword floated before my daughter Meri, scattering a bewitching pink glow. I quickly slammed my fist into the ground where I’d emerged.
"Seal the entrance, now!"
Lime hastily collapsed the tunnel. Just being in the same space, the stinging divine power felt like it would peel the skin right off me. If I hadn’t built up a tolerance thanks to Luna, I’d probably be covered in burns from head to toe by now.
Hummmm...!!
The holy sword began trembling violently at my appearance. I’d never seen a holy sword before, but the blade, saturated with divine power even more intense than Luna’s stigmata, sent an involuntary chill through me.
It could kill me.
In that instant, I understood why the Demon King’s Army could never defeat the human alliance even if it grew its forces by 720 monsters a day. The holy sword before me put me more on edge than Forneus, more than Luna, more than Halphas.
That was the death of demonkind.
The divine power filling that blade was a force instilled solely to slay demons.
But I had to overcome it. Just as the humans had charged all the way from Spica Castle to the dungeon to save the families I held hostage, I too had to protect Meri.
"...Don’t tempt Meri, you cursed blade!"
Hum, hum, hummm...!!
The holy sword began shaking violently, as if it understood my words. Its movements seemed to deny being a cursed blade, and it gave me goosebumps. Was the rumor that holy swords had souls dwelling within them actually true?
"Meri cannot be your master!"
Hummmm!
Why could I hear its voice? It might have been my imagination, but the holy sword was clearly crying out to me.
That there was no maiden as pure as Meri.
That it had already become a sword that could only be awakened by Meri.
That if not for Meri, it would spend eternity gathering dust in a museum, stripped bare and gawked at by visitors.
"Don’t make me laugh! Meri will share her love with someone she cherishes! Until that day comes, I will protect her!"
The holy sword cried out. Who are you? What is your relationship with Meri? Are you trying to violate Meri? And so I declared proudly.
"Meri is my daughter!!"
At my shout, the holy sword suddenly erupted in a massive burst of pink light.
"Forgive me for the late introduction, Meri’s father!"
When I regained my senses, a woman in a flowing pink dress was bowing before me. I’d never seen her before in my life, but her face somehow resembled Baroness Virgo. Between strands of vivid pink hair, her eyes shimmered with a deep silver light, glowing with an air of divinity.
"Father-in-law, please give your daughter’s hand to me!"
"...Who are you?"
I had a rough idea. But it was so unbelievable that I could only ask like an idiot. The woman, still kneeling with her hand over her chest, a bosom comparable to Meri’s, smiled brightly.
"My name is Virgo."
