A wide, open chamber spread out around the pure white Statue of the Creator God.
Shining Stones were arranged along the walls to illuminate the figure. I had carved each of these stones into the shape of a flickering flame, making it look as though they were burning with a steady white light.
"To think you would actually process Shining Stones..."
"It’s magnificent."
The Mountain Elves and Progenitor-san expressed their honest admiration.
Shining Stones were exactly what the name implied: stones that glowed. Since they emitted light constantly, they were used as a substitute for lamps. However, even pebble-sized ones were apparently quite valuable, certainly not the kind of thing an ordinary patrolman would carry. Their primary use was as lighting in the mansions of the wealthy.
Progenitor-san had brought these particular stones from somewhere. There were dozens of them, and each was roughly the size of a small child. I assumed they were meant to decorate the Creator God’s shrine, but considering that even tiny ones were precious... I figured I was better off not asking about the total cost.
The Mountain Elves had installed them as lighting in the specific spots they had calculated, but the initial result had been a bit rugged. Since they were basically just glowing rocks, the aesthetic left something to be desired. It didn't help that I had been quite particular about where they should be placed.
That was why I decided to process the stones into the shape of flames. I couldn't help but feel a sense of self-satisfaction at the design. Even with their shapes altered, the amount of light they emitted didn't change, and the brightness remained perfectly even. Once I finished one and confirmed there were no issues, I processed the rest of them. It certainly added a lot to the atmosphere.
I also designed the patterns on the walls. I had considered carving landscapes, but for a space like this, abstract patterns felt more appropriate. I avoided making them too symmetrical, though. While perfect regularity can be beautiful, it can also feel oppressive. On the other hand, if you deviate from the pattern too intentionally, the effort becomes obvious and the result feels unsettling. I aimed for a design that was elegant but retained the unmistakable warmth of something made by hand.
I think it turned out quite well. Progenitor-san didn't have any complaints; in fact, he was currently busy praying fervently.
"Is the work finished then?" one of the High Elves asked.
"I believe so."
For the entrance, I had tidied up the area around the diagonal spiral tunnel I’d dug and installed a proper set of doors. The walls and floor of the chamber were finished according to my designs. Finally, following Progenitor-san’s instructions, I had constructed an altar of sorts in front of the Statue of the Creator God. For all intents and purposes, the project was complete.
"The underground section is done," I declared.
The underground was finished, but the surface still required work. The main issue was the hole open directly above the statue. If it rained, the Statue of the Creator God would get dirty. We eventually decided to seal the hole from the surface.
As for how we would seal it, the plan evolved into building a temple on the surface as well. Fortunately, a wooden structure would suffice. I had more High Elves come from the village to help, and we handled the construction in one go. The building was designed to enclose both the hole directly above the statue and the tunnel I had dug to access the basement.
Following the instructions of the High Elves, I worked hard at gathering and processing the necessary timber. Soon, the wooden temple on the surface was complete. To be honest, it looked more like a large wooden house.
The structure was divided into two main sections. The front area was a living space, furnished with normal tables and chairs to give it the atmosphere of a rest area. The back area contained the door leading to my tunnel and the hole that looked down upon the Statue of the Creator God. I installed fences around the openings to prevent anyone from falling in. That would have been a disaster.
The roof featured a retractable mechanism. Because of this design, the central beams of the house had been removed, and the Mountain Elves had used several clever structural tricks to compensate for the lack of support. We would close it when it rained and open it during fair weather.
Still, I wondered if anyone would actually stay here. And now that it was built, I couldn't help but worry about it being crushed by monsters or Magic Beasts.
Progenitor-san solved that problem with Warding Magic. Magic really is incredibly convenient.
"Are you not going to set up those gargoyles here?" I asked.
He had installed ten of them inside the tunnel leading to the Giants’ home. I thought he might want some here as well, but he shook his head.
"I revere the Creator God, of course, but a statue is just a statue. That tunnel over there is a matter of life and death for the Giant Race."
"I see."
Incidentally, the soil soldiers who had assisted me while I was digging the access tunnel were now stationed in the basement to guard the statue.
"Truly, thank you," Progenitor-san said. "I am very grateful."
"It's no trouble. You've looked after me in many ways, after all."
He looked genuinely happy, which was more than enough for me. Well then, it was time to head back.
Wait. Why was he grabbing my shoulder?
"What about the other location?"
...Right. That was still on the list.
For the moment, we all returned to the village. I checked to make sure we hadn't forgotten anything and did a quick roll call. Once I was sure there were no issues, we set out for the site of the Second Black Rock.
There was a hole there as well, meaning we could enter from the surface. Progenitor-san knew the location, so we didn't have any trouble finding it. He and I went ahead to scout first.
The Second Black Rock was also located within the Forest of Death, quite far to the east. Since Rusty hadn't burned this area, it took some effort to navigate the dense woods. Eventually, we discovered a gaping hole in the forest floor. It was almost identical to the one at the temple. Did that mean there was another Black Rock waiting below?
Suddenly, I felt an intense presence. I gripped the Universal Farming Tool. Progenitor-san was also on high alert.
I looked around for something to throw into the hole to test the waters, but there was nothing nearby. I wished I had even a small pebble. Thinking along the same lines, Progenitor-san chanted an incantation and summoned a soil soldier. As the soldier approached the hole...
It was devoured in the blink of an eye.
A Giant Centipede came bursting out of the hole. It was followed by swarms of other insect-type monsters I had never seen before, all of them crawling out of the pit.
"R-Retreat!"
I clung to Progenitor-san, and he whisked us away with teleportation magic.
"Wait, are we in mid-air?"
Our destination had been the sky.
"I just moved us upward for a moment," Progenitor-san said calmly. He was floating in the air as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I, meanwhile, was hanging onto his waist for dear life.
The centipede seemed to spot us and stretched its head upward. Its massive fangs clacked in intimidation as it tried to reach us.
"Yes... this is no good," Progenitor-san muttered. He used teleportation magic again, and this time we returned to the village.
I felt a wave of relief at the sight of familiar scenery. My palms were slick with sweat. When we had encountered them in the Giant Race Dungeon, it hadn't felt this bad, but that centipede just now had been something else entirely. It was a problem having a place like that in the forest.
While I was wondering what to do, Progenitor-san was already taking action. He called Hakuren and had her fly us back to the hole. Once we were over the site, he had her breathe fire directly into the pit.
Dragons really are incredible. As I clung to Progenitor-san during the flight, that thought crossed my mind again. Apparently, Progenitor-san could have handled a centipede or two on his own, but the sheer number of smaller insects made it a hassle, which was why we had withdrawn initially.
While Progenitor-san charged into the hole, I worked on extinguishing the small fires in the forest caused by Hakuren’s breath and tilled the scorched earth. I offered a silent prayer for the monsters and Magic Beasts that had been caught in the blaze.
Hakuren stayed by my side as a guard, accompanied by Urza. Urza had insisted on coming along when Hakuren left. She had grown quite used to these outings, though I felt I needed to remind her that ignoring orders to stay home wasn't good behavior. I also made a mental note to tell Hakuren that she shouldn't just spoil the girl.
"Village Head, there's something over there," Urza said.
I looked in the direction she was pointing, but I saw nothing but normal forest.
Hakuren, however, seemed to see it quite clearly. "It seems conversation will be impossible," she said, stepping in front of Urza to shield her.
A moment later, I finally saw it. It was a figure in armor carrying a sword. It looked human, but the aura it gave off was anything but. It must have survived Hakuren’s fire. Progenitor-san later told me it was a Death Knight.
"He says he came to the surface and lost his way... He’d been scolded for doing the same thing before. Just as he thought he was doomed, he felt a familiar presence and came this way..."
I spent some time deciphering the Death Knight's elaborate sign language. Hakuren and Urza eventually got bored and started playing nearby. The Death Knight didn't have a shred of hostility in him. Apparently, his link with his master had been severed, leaving him a free agent. He gestured frantically to show he wasn't some madman who would attack anything in sight.
When I told him I’d prefer he didn't walk around with a naked blade, he explained that he simply didn't have a scabbard. I quickly fashioned one for him out of a nearby tree. By the time I was finished, he was gesturing that he wanted me to be his master.
"You want me to be your master? I'm flattered, but... you want me to ask those two as well? I don't think that's a good idea. Maybe for Urza..."
"It is impossible for her to employ a Death Knight as she is now," Progenitor-san said as he rejoined us. "That goes for you as well, Village Head."
He had delivered the finishing blows to everything remaining in the pit, so the area was now "safe and secure." That was a relief.
"So, what about him?" Progenitor-san asked.
I introduced the knight, who bowed politely.
"Given where we found him, he was likely a subordinate of some Lich King," Progenitor-san mused.
"Probably."
"What will you do with him?"
"What indeed?"
Taking him back to the village seemed out of the question. Could it work? No, I couldn't lie to myself. Unless we did something about his appearance and that ominous aura, it wouldn't end well.
"He says he has no intention of trying to join human society with this body, so don't worry about it... but that feels a bit cold," I translated.
"He’s a knight, even if he is undead," Progenitor-san suggested. "Why not give him a mission?"
"Oh, that's a great idea! Wait, can I give him a mission if I’m not his master? ...He says not to worry about the details. You're a pretty easygoing guy, aren't you?"
I thought about it for a moment. Eventually, the Death Knight was appointed as the Guardian of the Hot Spring. My first thought had been to have him guard the temple, but he had begun to suffer under the effects of the Warding Magic, so that was a no-go. The hot spring was the next best thing. We had visited the facility several times during the temple’s construction, so we knew it was in good shape. The Death Knight seemed incredibly motivated.
"I know I'm the one who asked, but are you sure you’ll be okay alone?"
In response, he gave me a firm thumbs-up. I see. I’m counting on you, then. I decided that the next time I visited, I would bring some things that might be useful for a Death Knight.
"It was quite a detour, but shall we head back to the hole now?" I called out to the others.
Progenitor-san, Hakuren, and Urza were currently relaxing in the hot spring. Voices drifted back from the men’s and women’s baths: "Just a little longer!"
I understood wanting to soak since it was cold out, but I wondered about them jumping in without any proper bathing supplies. Then they informed me that they had actually brought everything they needed from the village. I really wish they had told me that sooner.
Our departure for the next hole was delayed quite a bit.