Mentioning dungeons and labyrinths immediately perked Frieren up. Her morale soared, eager to loot the chests within.
Ever since getting the Auto-Loot MOD, she just needed to focus intently on exploring; equipment previously easy to overlook would now be automatically collected. It was much more convenient, making her even more eager to try.
Edgar pointed to the center of the map.
"In the middle of the Weeping Peninsula lies the Ailing Village, entrenched and polluted by the Frenzied Flame. It separates many population centers; some villages find it difficult to coordinate with Castle Morne, and the local minor nobles are suffering greatly."
"It's time to make a decision and deal with them completely. I will clear out Ailing Village."
"Additionally, Morne Tunnel in the south-central area should be cleared out simultaneously. This will conveniently open a north-south route, unifying the peninsula and allowing us to fully mobilize its forces..."
He displayed intelligence regarding Morne Tunnel:
The strongest enemy was merely a Scaly Misbegotten; other monsters were insignificant. Focusing on clearing it wouldn't be difficult.
The Castellan's plan directly targeted the two sources of rebellion, the Frenzied Flame and the Misbegotten. He clearly no longer intended to remain defensive but to proactively eliminate these threats. Otherwise, they couldn't support future front lines, preventing the peninsula from becoming truly peaceful.
"Lady Frieren, this hinges on your willingness to commit forces. Besides Ailing Village, Morne Tunnel's terrain is rugged. Dealing with labyrinths is best done with strong individuals providing solid support."
"Agreed."
"Thank you. Then we can consider this southern half secured."
"Where should I take responsibility?"
"That's precisely what we need to discuss now." Edgar pointed to two locations: "The northern half of the central route is more troublesome. On one side is Earthbore Cave, with even more complex terrain; on the other, the Demi-Human Forest Ruins."
"The former is occupied by a Runebear – not exceptionally strong, but clearing the labyrinth requires caution. As for the Demi-Human Forest, it needs focused attention."
"My forces will handle the cave. After all, the Black Knife Assassin can handle a labyrinth alone, and the Farron Undead Legion can split forces. I will take responsibility for the Demi-Human monsters in the forest ruins."
No need to waste time on low-level dungeons.
Normally, Frieren would have eagerly wished to explore each one personally. But compared to Dark Souls, the various elements in Elden Ring's world were more interconnected. Opportunities were fleeting; dividing forces was necessary.
It would also allow the Farron Undead Legion to adapt to combat in the Lands Between; they would be needed for assaulting Stormveil Castle later.
Besides, the elven style leaned towards letting others handle tasks if possible, allowing her to indulge her laziness slightly.
Edgar continued, "Once the central route is open, we can connect to the western part of the Weeping Peninsula. There's a large lowland plain there with a considerable population – an indispensable source of strength."
"However, in the west lies an Evergaol that frequently blasts frosty gales affecting the surroundings. It seals the Ancient Hero of Zamor, a very troublesome entity."
"She was one of the heroes from the War against the Giants. Besides subjugating or recruiting her, there's no other option."
"Understood."
Hearing about a strong opponent piqued Frieren's interest. Only through more combat could she better gauge the power level of strong individuals in the Lands Between.
Otherwise, she still couldn't figure out where demigods like Godrick truly stood. Legends claimed he wasn't strong, but from a gameplay perspective, shouldn't he be stronger than early encounters like Bernahl and Gurranq? Unless those two were hiding their true strength.
The Hero of Zamor was worth a fight.
"Since you're willing, that's excellent. Through this, we can truly grasp control of the Weeping Peninsula, fully unleashing the power of the most peaceful region in the Lands Between... So, you're not worried?"
Edgar asked, puzzled, "Not worried that I might use you to unify the peninsula and then refuse to pledge allegiance?"
"Doesn't matter. I'm not seeking allegiance. Just restoring one corner of the Lands Between would be good enough."
"Your Ladyship's perspective puts me to shame. You are a true powerhouse."
"No need for pleasantries. Let's rest and prepare first. We'll set out on the subjugation campaign after recuperating."
"Very well."
Unconsciously, Edgar had already started deferring to Frieren's opinions. In reality, his actions had already made the choice; his mind just needed some time to accept it.
Moreover, as a castellan, he knew well that pledging allegiance meant participating in the Stormveil siege. Better to accumulate some forces before discussing future strategy.
The Weeping Peninsula would be unified under their generation.
After leaving the office, Frieren saw many Misbegotten corpses had vanished – either buried or dissolved into ash. The stench of blood in Castle Morne finally began to dissipate with the wind.
"An environment that allows one to calm down."
The silver-haired girl returned to the site of the Leonine Misbegotten battle on the coast and continued practicing her magic.
The general direction of soul research was correct. After all, the previous world she experienced was intimately connected to souls, one link leading to another. Immersed in that environment, she hadn't noticed, but arriving in the Lands Between sparked a burst of inspiration.
Is the elf-specific reflex arc just super long? Regardless, she had found the possibility. Repairing souls was feasible. Now, she summoned several more Hollows, experimenting on them one by one and managing some recovery.
Progress was smooth.
"Unfortunately, it currently only works on single targets, the efficiency is too low. Even if I research large-scale magic, I alone won't be enough."
"So, Teacher Sellen's Incantation approach is worth trying – allowing everyone to use restoration..."
Frieren wasn't anxious. The path of magical research was long, after all. And she had a premonition: soul sorcery was exceptionally profound. It might evolve into the kind of incomprehensible, rule-based magic wielded by the Seven Sages of Destruction.
One more tool meant a higher survival rate in reality too.
For the Lands Between, death merely meant returning to the Erdtree. What many truly feared was improper death. Now, she might have the power to change that.
If one included the Hollows, the remaining population in the Lands Between was still substantial.
Given time, if soul magic research succeeded, reawakening this population would surely bring vibrant life back, wouldn't it? They would gain new life, turning an 'ineffective' population effective, developing the world from its most fundamental logic.
And there was another crucial point:
"Melina, I will find a way for you to regain a physical body. Since I'm researching the soul, uniting soul and body should be possible."
"You needn't consider me so much. But thank you."
"Has anyone in the Lands Between researched this deeply? Or rather, who is the most powerful sorcerer?"
"Sorcerer? Starscourge Radahn likely counts, but he's not known for research, and his style tends towards a fusion of warrior and sorcerer... similar to you. Besides him, it would be the Full Moon Queen. Her Great Rune is said to be capable of creating life."
"I'll remember that. Conveniently, Stormveil Castle guards the path to the Liurnia of the Lakes region. That Academy of Raya Lucaria surely holds many exceedingly rare materials..."
So far, the various magics of the Lands Between hadn't disappointed Frieren. There were likely vast amounts of new knowledge she hadn't yet had time to uncover.
She continued delving into soul research.
The days of rest and recuperation at Castle Morne continued, the place growing livelier.
Forces from the eastern Weeping Peninsula gradually assembled here, linking up with Fort Haight via the Bridge of Sacrifice. The two sides had effectively converged.
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