Novel Full Chapter 217 : Chapter 217
Chapter 217. Excluding That Guy…. (2)
Patrick gathered all the necessary people in the mansion of the Schneider family.
And then….
“Then, we will now begin the first meeting for the Great Forest Pioneering Project.”
The figures gathered at the meeting were….
The 5th Sage of the Tower of Truth.
The king of the Elves, Kirioth.
Baron Schneider and the knight commander of the fief, Sanson.
Tutan, who came as the representative of the Orc warriors.
That was all.
In fact, he had tried to call his mother, Ava, as well, but she excused herself, saying she had a more important meeting.
And Patrick naturally presided over the meeting in this place.
“First, I will talk about the pioneering route, which is the most important aspect of the pioneering.”
Patrick spread out a map showing the surrounding terrain of the fief and said.
“There is still much we do not know about the terrain inside the Great Forest. However, I believe that the most important thing for survival is securing a water source.”
At Patrick’s words, the 5th Sage nodded his head.
Securing water was certainly important.
Not just humans, but Orcs and Elves also could not live without water.
“So, we will establish the pioneering route along the Moana River, heading into the interior of the Great Forest.”
The Moana River was a river that flowed down from the Great Forest, passed through the Schneider fief, and continued to the southern sea far away.
The width of the river was not very wide.
About 10 meters?
But since Patrick was born in this world, the Moana River had never once revealed its bottom.
In fact, it had overflowed and flooded before.
It was a river with that much abundant water.
Patrick followed the river on the map and pointed to a spot about 100 kilometers northeast of the Schneider fief and said.
“This will be our first destination. We will build the first pioneer city here.”
At Patrick’s words about establishing a base in a location quite far from the fief, Baron Schneider said.
“Aren’t we going in too deep? Even if we secure a base there, it will be difficult to transport supplies.”
“That’s why we are building a road along the river. If we build a waterway along the Moana River, we can transport supplies by boat. Then, it will be much safer than transporting by land.”
Then, this time, the 5th Sage interjected.
“Building a waterway is not as easy as it sounds. It’s not just about widening the river; you also have to do construction to stabilize the riverbanks.”
“That’s right.”
“You’ll need an expert’s design, and the materials and laborers for the construction will be no joke. Building that while fighting monsters will not be an easy task.”
“Usually, that’s the case. But we have reliable mages, don’t we?”
At that, the 5th Sage was flustered.
“Are you saying you intend to use our mages for civil engineering work?”
At the 5th Sage’s words, Patrick nodded his head and said.
“Of course. The magic of the mages is essential not only for securing the waterway but also for the process of pioneering the city.”
Then, the 5th Sage frowned and said.
“I don’t think that’s right.”
“What is?”
“I find it hard to approve of using noble magic for civil engineering.”
“Why?”
“Think about it. If you knights were asked to shovel with your swords, would you do it?”
“Yes. We would.”
“See, that’s what I… what?”
“I said we would.”
“……”
The 5th Sage looked at Sanson with a ‘really?’ expression.
As the knight commander, do you agree with this?
At the 5th Sage’s gaze, Sanson silently nodded his head.
‘If the Young Master orders it, we have to do more than just shovel with a sword.’
Because if we don’t, we’ll get beaten.
And toward the dumbfounded 5th Sage, Patrick said.
“Whether it’s a sword or a shovel, they’re just tools made for people to use, so what’s the problem?”
“You don’t care about the honor of a knight?”
“Does shoveling with a sword tarnish a knight’s honor? Who said that?”
“……”
There was no such saying.
There wasn’t, but….
Still, there was public perception, wasn’t there?
Seeing the 5th Sage at a loss for words but unable to admit it, Patrick said.
“Anyway, this is the problem with people who were raised delicately. Whining about their precious reputation.”
“Pa-Patrick.”
Baron Schneider was suddenly startled.
Who did this kid think he was taunting?
A 7th Sage of the Tower of Truth was a figure who could be said to have authority equivalent to that of a king of a nation.
He was anxious about his son who was speaking recklessly, without distinguishing what should and shouldn’t be said, to such a person.
But….
“We made a contract. You haven’t forgotten that, have you?”
“Kuuuh…”
The 5th Sage still seemed to have complaints, but he did not show his displeasure.
On the contrary, Patrick frowned and said.
“If you’re going to break your promise already for something as trivial as reputation, then just go back.”
“Now, who said I wouldn’t do it?”
“……”
“I’ll do it. It’s fine if I do it, isn’t it?”
As the 5th Sage waved his hand and made light of it, Patrick glanced at him as if to let him off the hook once.
And he spoke to Kirioth and Tutan next to him.
“The Orcs of the Red Rock Tribe are used to living with people through our fief, but it would be better for the elves to build a separate residence, right?”
At that, Kirioth nodded his head and said.
“I would be grateful for that.”
This was something that was difficult for Kirioth to bring up first.
It was not easy to say to Patrick, the benefactor of his tribe and the one who held the seed of the World Tree, ‘we need a separate place to live because we cannot trust humans.’
So, he was grateful that Patrick brought it up first.
“Find a suitable area in the middle ground connecting the pioneer city and our fief.”
“Understood.”
Even if they built a pioneer city and proceeded with construction using the waterway, they couldn’t just abandon the intermediate area.
To push back the monsters and secure the territory there, the elves, who could move freely through the forest and had a wide reconnaissance range, were a perfect fit.
“Good. Then, we will enter the Great Forest from tomorrow. Everyone, be prepared and follow me.”
The full-scale pioneering of the Great Forest had finally begun.
* * *
Northeast from the Schneider fief, following the stream of the Moana River.
Less than an hour after the pioneer army had set its course and entered, monsters began to appear.
“It’s a troll.”
“Leave it to us!”
“Uooooooh!”
Five trolls appeared before the pioneer army.
As soon as they appeared, the knights of the fief and the Orc warriors rushed forward.
Trolls were the epitome of tenacious large-sized monsters, but they were nothing before hundreds of aura users and, likewise, hundreds of Orc warriors.
The party, having dealt with them in an instant, moved forward again.
And 40 minutes later….
“A pack of werewolves. Over 100 battle wolves have been confirmed.”
At the report of the elf warrior in charge of scouting the surroundings, the party once again formed a battle formation.
“Don’t let your guard down and respond calmly.”
“We just need to kill the werewolves. Then the battle wolves will retreat too.”
Battle wolves were a type of subordinate monster led by the bipedal monster, the werewolf.
If you kill the leader, they naturally scatter.
The party responded calmly, and after the werewolf that revealed itself was pierced in the forehead by an elven arrow, they were able to move forward again.
And 20 minutes later….
“A horde of goblins. The scale is over 500. It is estimated that there are over 50 hobgoblins as well.”
At the reappearance of monsters, Riman Ciera, who was leading the magic swordsman unit, let out a sigh.
“What kind of forest is this.”
It was impossible to move forward.
And they came to experience firsthand.
Why the Great Forest was called a demonic realm that humanity could not conquer.
「A Certain Mage’s Logbook
1523. October 25.
First day of the pioneer army’s expedition.
Our army advanced 7 km.
There were a total of seventeen battles during the advance, and the biggest one among them was an ogre.
Currently, there are no casualties in the pioneer army, and most of the battles were concluded by the Schneider fief’s knightly order and the Orc warrior band.
And the rear support of the Elves.」
「Logbook
1523. October 26.
Second day of the expedition.
Our army advanced 3 km.
The pace of our advance has slowed down a lot compared to yesterday.
The number and quality of the monsters appearing have increased even more.
Today, ogres appeared twice, and even a mythical beast type monster, a lamia, appeared.
A few Orc warriors were almost charmed and killed, but fortunately, they were rescued in time.
After the battle, the Double Dragon called over the Orcs’ war chief, Tutan.
And a short while later.
Tutan’s eye was bruised black and blue.
And the Orc warriors of the Red Rock Tribe began to foam at the mouth and roll on the ground.
[Big brother told me to mess you all up because you’ve all gotten slack! You green-green bastards!]
Why does that look like he’s taking out his anger?」
「1523. October 27.
The expedition army’s advance speed has increased.
We advanced a total of 15 km.
The Double Dragon personally stood at the front and led the army, and as soon as monsters appeared, something flashed, and he just smashed them all.
At this rate, it seems we can reach our destination quickly.」
「1523. October 28.
The expedition army retreated 3 km.
An insect-type monster called the Quicaros appeared.
Individually, they are insignificant insect-type monsters, but their numbers were enormous.
They covered the area in black, so there must have been at least several hundred thousand of them.
No matter how much the Double Dragon smashed them to reduce their numbers, there was nothing to be done about this.」
「1523. October 29.
The expedition army exterminated the Quicaros’ base.
The elves found their base with spirit arts, and the mages concentrated their firepower there and annihilated them.
Once the Quicaros queen was killed, the creatures also scattered.」
「1523. October 30.
We advanced 10 km again.
Monsters still appeared frequently, but at this point, there are no casualties in the expedition army.
Except for the humans whose faces are swollen from being beaten by the Double Dragon.
I had heard the rumors, but is he really human?
There was a theory that he might be a demon sent to bring chaos and destruction to the middle realm.
This author believes there is a high possibility that it is true.
A peculiar note is that the width of the river is gradually increasing.
It’s common sense that the width should narrow as we go upstream, so I don’t know why this is happening.」
「1523. October 31.
The expedition army advanced 8 km.
We were a little less than halfway to our destination, but we stopped for a while.
The reason was that there was a rather large lake here.
I thought it was strange that the river’s width was increasing as we went upstream, and it seems there was a large water source here.
The lake was quite huge.
At this point, the casualties of the expedition army are 0 dead. 73 injured.
It can be said to be going smoothly.
However, 50 of the injured were from being beaten by the Double Dragon.
That fiend is a demon.」
「1523. November 3.
The expedition army has thoroughly investigated this area for the past three days.
It was to investigate the geographical reason for the formation of the large lake, but the investigation was about to end without much result. But on the third day….
[Something is coming!]
[Everyone, to battle stations!]
We had awakened a monster that should not have been touched.
This giant lake was the nest of a legendary monster called the Anacondict.
Anacondict.
A giant snake monster over 100 meters long.
Its scales are so hard that aura is needed to penetrate them, its fangs contain a corrosive poison that can melt even steel, and it can also spew that poison in the form of smoke.
The appearance of this giant monster, which could swallow an ogre in one bite, was a great crisis for the expedition army.
The knightly order and the Orc warriors stood at the front and formed a line, and the elves all called upon their spirits and drew their arrows.
Normally, it was a powerful monster that would require the mobilization of a nation-level force to confront. The elite expedition army fought on par even while facing the legendary monster.
This tense battle was broken when the Double Dragon, who had briefly left the area to scout the vicinity, returned to the scene.
[Where does a snake bastard think it’s running wild!]
[ Twin Dragons Eight Sword Forms: Fourth Form: Twin Dragons Wild Dance ]
The Double Dragon, with giant Aura Blades over 3 meters long drawn in both hands, sliced the Anacondict to pieces with countless slashes.
According to literature, an Anacondict can revive even if its body is cut in half, as long as its head is intact.
But it is useless if it is cut into hundreds of pieces like that.
He is indeed a great man.
[Is there no core? None? Really none? Ahem! The ways of the Jianghu have fallen to the ground. The ways of the Jianghu!]
Although he said some incomprehensible, strange things while rummaging through the Anacondict’s stomach afterward, it is a fact that he is a great man.
PS. I have learned new academic information about the Anacondict. It is delicious.」
「1523. November 4.
The expedition army set off again.
In fact, there was a leadership meeting about whether to build an intermediate base here where the lake is, but it was decided to prioritize moving to the target destination first.
To be precise, the Double Dragon insisted on it.
On this day, the expedition army advanced 15 km.」
「1523. November 5.
The expedition army advanced 12 km.
There were about ten battles with monsters. The number decreased, but the quality of the monsters that appeared gradually increased.
It was the first time I saw a General Goblin in person.
It was a goblin, but it was using aura of a 6-star level, and the hundreds of hobgoblins under its command had the power of at least a 2-star human knight.
On this day, two knights of the Double Dragon Knightly Order almost died, but fortunately, they survived.
No, should I say unfortunately?
[Hoh… getting killed by a goblin out of shame? Why? Don’t want to live anymore? Then you should have just told me?]
Wouldn’t it have been better to just die? I felt a sense of pity.」
「1523. November 10.
I could not write in the logbook for the past few days.
There was a reason.
First, there was a large-scale raid.
A horrific raid befitting the infamy of the Great Forest.
Cyclops, Twin-Head Ogre. Even a Manticore appeared.
I saw several monsters that an ordinary person might see once in their lifetime in less than a month.
And this author, too, was petrified after looking directly into the evil eye of the Manticore.
Fortunately, the 5th Sage and other high-ranking seniors broke the curse, but I could have died.
And I experienced it too.
[You bastard. You’re a mage, and you get yourself cursed like an idiot? This is all because you have no guts. Guts!]
I thought I was going to die.
He put me through some ridiculous training, saying he would build up my guts.
What do guts have to do with a curse, you demon bastard! I will curse you. Double Drag….
…No, let’s not curse him, since he saved my life in the end.
I found out later that it was this monster who chopped off the head of the Manticore that had petrified me.」
「1523. November 10.
The expedition army has arrived at the target destination.
Humans, Orcs, Elves, Mages, Knights, all embraced each other and rejoiced.
[It’s over. We’ve finally arrived.]
[Hoorayyy!]
[It’s a festival today.]
[Let’s raise a toast!]
This feeling of achieving something after everyone worked together towards a single goal was truly thrilling.
It felt like everyone had become one, transcending race and profession.
[What’s with the festive mood already for doing something so trivial? You’ve all gotten slack.]
Excluding that guy….」