Chapter 92
Pastel swung her sword towards the incoming bat swarm. The silver sword strike swept through the bats.
Hap-!
Hap-!
She struck down the evil monster group in one go and struck a cool pose. A sound effect came from her mouth.
"Pishung~"
Pastel who knows how to catch vampire bats!
Elsior who knows how to carry luggage bags blankly watched from behind. The bag straps slipped from her shoulders.
"Ah! Elsior! They'll fall like that!"
"Ah okay."
The silver-haired girl adjusted the bulging luggage bags.
"It's not a bad division of roles."
Melissa who was moving a quill pen on parchment smiled softly.
"There are responsibilities and duties given to each person. I draw maps, Pastel catches monsters, and Bellamont carries luggage bags."
Melissa rubbed away the excessive smile appearing by the last words with her finger.
"Yes yes!"
Pastel raised her arms high.
"I'm satisfied with this role division!"
Somehow my shoulders feel lighter and my heart is satisfied, it's very good!
I wish it was always like this!
Elsior looked alternately between them in a daze without speaking. She seemed to feel unfamiliarity at treatment she had never received being born a duchess.
Melissa added words as if feeling slightly guilty at that gaze.
"To begin with, this passage couldn't have wide space. It would be too crowded if you who uses a spear stepped up. Pastel entrusted the bags with that meaning too, so don't feel too disappointed. Surely she didn't hand over the bags without any meaning."
Pastel's eyes went round.
Huk.
Such a deep meaning...?
Pink eyes rolled.
Now that I hear it, it seems that was the case.
"Yes! That's right! That was my thought!"
Melissa understands Pastel's thoughts that even Pastel didn't know!
As expected of my best friend!
Elsior asked.
"Then will we redistribute the bags when a wide space comes out?"
Pastel met her gaze. She rolled her eyes for a moment then suddenly bent down and put her ear to the ground. Her index finger pressed her lips.
"Everyone shh."
She focused her mind and tried feeling the ruins' presence. Footsteps and ground tremors were transmitted through the earth. Hearing that transcended humanity from consuming magic stones allowed her to detect and grasp a wide area.
"Yes! There's no one! It's okay to talk!"
To think there's no presence even though we moved this far. The ruins must really be huge.
She got up from her spot and shook off the dirt on her hair.
"We should raise our speed. Since the ruins are even wider than expected, it'll be very tight before night if we're going to grasp where the main areas are and secure a campsite."
"It seems so. Though it's an area already cleared by the Knight Order, it's so wide that just walking takes considerable time."
Melissa pondered.
"I think the reason ruins exploration was sluggish is fundamentally because the ruins are too wide, besides cult interference. Though I'm not doubting your judgment."
"No, I think so too. It seems my evaluation of the Knight Order was a bit harsh. I made an excessive evaluation with personal feelings."
A level that can be corrected from incompetent incompetent Knight Order to incompetent Knight Order.
She moved quickly while exchanging opinions with Melissa. Elsior followed blankly behind.
"We'll redistribute the bags when a wide space comes out, right...?"
"Let's hurry and move!"
Pastel shouted vigorously.
"Let's do that."
When Melissa agreed too, the movement speed increased.
They continued busy steps with Pastel leading and catching bats while checking for presences, and Melissa observing magic stone torches to deduce the Knight Order's movements.
"Something's written here."
Elsior who was blankly looking around the passage with nothing to do pointed at a dark wall. Strange engraved languages were written.
"Oing."
A language I've never seen.
"It's sacred language."
Melissa's eyes shone.
"Sacred language?"
"Yes, sacred language."
Heeh.
What's that?
Melissa turned to Elsior. It was an attitude of considering someone less educated than herself.
"It's an ancient language used in temples until the Old Testament era. When religious reform occurred during the New Testament era after the blank period, it was decided to not use sacred language too difficult for the public even in temples."
"I know that common knowledge too."
"I thought you Bellamont might not know."
"I'd be a fool not to know as a noble."
Foolish Pastel was quietly there.
Actually I know.
Because I just heard.
"I'll try interpreting."
Melissa looked at the sacred language. She pondered for a while then turned around slightly embarrassed.
"I don't know. But seeing only one sentence is engraved without additional explanation, it's likely a commonly used idiom."
She turned puzzled.
"Pastel, do you know how to interpret?"
Why are you asking me that.
Pastel's expression became foolish.
"You don't know...?"
It was a gaze wondering if even a smart first place in written exams wouldn't study a language used too long ago with no practicality now.
Huet.
The pride of the grade's top intellect...!
"Of course I know how!"
Pastel shouted first then looked.
Then she tapped the magic sword.
Demon! Demon! Old demon!
Please lend wisdom as the ancestor generation for the new generation who didn't even learn because it's too old-fashioned!
『To think even the noble class can't interpret sentences that were common sense in the past. The temples have really declined.』
Demon clicked his tongue while making somewhat no quite considerably older generation remarks. It was a valid impression except for the fact that "past" was several hundred years ago.
『I'll interpret so tell me.』
Pastel put on an intelligent expression. She narrowed her brow and looked at the sentence as if repeating extremely high-level logic and reasoning.
"This is..."
Her finger rubbed the engraved language. She muttered the interpretation in a voice tone that seemed to know something.
"Quench your thirst with dew here."
I see.
She nodded.
Melissa smiled softly.
"You interpret without difficulty. As expected of you. What kind of idiom is it?"
Pastel put on a mysterious expression.
"It means there's a resting place here."
Smart me who immediately interpreted.
Nod nod.
Elsior marveled.
"Your usual foolish appearance really is an act."
Pastel felt along the wall while listening to the demon's explanation. When she pressed somewhere, the wall pushed open revealing a spacious interior space.
Water drops falling from the center of the ceiling created a natural spring. It was a rest area with even a drinking water source.
Pupu.
Smart me, competent.
"Let's investigate using this place as a base."
Pastel recalled contents she saw while examining the Knight Order's performance indicators.
"Since the Knight Order didn't request cooperation from temples for this exploration, there probably aren't any sacred language users. If we use areas like this, we can hide and investigate without being discovered."
It would be different if the cult has a purpose in the ruins itself, but accidentally encountering them is what we want.
No rather, searching for various sacred languages written in the ruins seems like the quick way to find the cult.
They unpacked luggage bags in the rest area and set up a base. There was nothing lacking since it was luggage prepared with resolve to camp for several days anyway.
Pastel examined the magic stone powder left in the pepper shaker. It's sufficient.
"Shall we do the rest after eating?"
"I'll prepare the meal."
Melissa took out a small pot from her luggage bag.
"Wow!"
Pastel's eyes sparkled.
"Is it Melissa's cooking time?!"
"I've often made camping food."
A confident smile returned.
Huk.
How delicious will the dignified cooking of a self-proclaimed noble lady be!
She followed Melissa pitter patter. Melissa scooped spring water with the pot then drew a magic circle on the ground with magic stone powder. When she placed the pot on the magic circle, the water slowly started boiling.
"Are you very hungry? It's almost done so please wait a bit."
Oing, already?
That can't be.
Even demon who's a cooking specialist took considerable time to cook.
Dried powder was poured into the pot. The scent of corn soup rose waft. The boiling water suddenly turned yellow. The soup boiled bubble bubble.
She took out jerky and cut it with scissors. The chopped jerky fell into the pot plop plop. Dark red jerky floated in the yellow soup.
"It's done."
Melissa poured soup into several cups. A cup was kindly handed over.
"Blow hoho and eat."
Pastel looked down at the soup she received.
Jerky soup.
Jerky that seemed like it would be chewy when chewed floated bob bob.
Dignified cooking is...?
Pastel who always enjoyed food thanks to demon became confused.
Uwee.
Somehow I want to violently complain about side dishes. I would have done it right away if it was demon, but I looked around first because it's Melissa.
Elsior who became unburdened after putting down all the luggage bags approached. She received a cup without saying much.
Pastel sent an expectant gaze.
Elsior you're good at talking without tact. Now is the time to show your talent! Hurry hurry!
But contrary to expectations, Elsior drank the soup without saying anything. The silver-haired girl's lips moved munch munch as jerky was chewed.
Why?!
Come to think of it, these are warlord families!
Uwaa!
Don't match only at times like this!
Sniff.
If it was demon, he would have gotten ingredients even if there weren't any and made something.
I should have had him accompany in human form instead of magic sword. He would have cooked, kept night watch, and carried luggage bags.
『Hmm? Some chilling sensation. Young Craft, surely you're not imagining something like insubordination right now?』
It's not insubordination, I just imagined usual demon.
Melissa was puzzled.
"What's wrong? Is it too much? Should I scoop less?"
"No no. I eat a lot. It just, looks hot."
"It will be hot. Blow hoho and eat."
The blonde girl held up her cup. Then she pursed her lips as if demonstrating.
"Like this..."
Her breath touched the soup.
"Hoho~"
Pastel followed along.
"Hoho~"
"Yes like that."
Melissa smiled softly.
"Then you won't burn your mouth."
Heeh.
Did she learn from her mother?
That Melissa.
Pastel sprinkled a little magic stone powder then sipped the jerky soup. A warm sensation filled her body.
Oing.
More delicious than expected.
"Give me another cup!"
"I'll give you more after you finish that."
"Okay okay!"