Chapter 12 - Episode 11: The Magic Otaku is Flustered at the Temple
"This is..."
In the headmaster's office of the Arcalai private academy, my father was staring at two pieces of parchment in his hands, groaning.
"It's parchment for practicing Visualization. Training with this will allow one to picture the manifestation of sigils and spells more quickly and accurately, improving one's spellcasting ability. The effects have been confirmed by myself, Ruria, and Roche. I truly believe this Triple Circle Method should be incorporated into the academy's curriculum."
At my words, Father merely gazed at the parchment with a troubled expression. Hmph. I would think the effectiveness of this method was made clear when Roche mastered his second spell the other day.
That's right. For nearly two years after first learning the [Light] spell, Roche had been at a standstill, unable to master any new spells. He seemed to think he lacked talent. But after starting this training, the precision of his [Light] spell improved, and just the other day, he finally succeeded in mastering his second spell: [Magic Missile].
Incidentally, I was watching up close when he cast that [Magic Missile], so I tried copying it later and succeeded. I immediately taught it to Ruria, and she, too, succeeded on the spot. As an added bonus, she cast eight [Magic Missiles] in a row and nearly destroyed the target at the magic practice range.
This caused quite a commotion, and the three of us received a thorough scolding from my father and mother. Apparently, they had intended to teach an attack spell like [Magic Missile] to Ruria and me much later. They said learning it on our own was unprecedented.
And so, a few days later, I alone was summoned to the headmaster's office to be questioned about my, Ruria's, and Roche's "training," which brings us back to the opening scene.
After a silence long enough for that entire flashback to play out, my father finally spoke, his expression still troubled.
"I understand. I will consider adopting this method at our academy... Now, is there anything else you're keeping from me?"
Amid his furrowed brow, I thought I saw a sharp glint in my father's eyes. Ah, um. Hiding, keeping secret... well, there are certainly things I haven't told him. And man, Dad, you're scary.
"No, nothing in particular."
But despite my internal trembling, I kept it from my face and answered as calmly as I could. The dice method is sort of an advanced version of the Triple Circle Method, so I can just claim I thought of it later. The Lesser Heavenly Cycle is hard to explain, and I doubt anyone but me can even learn the mana absorption method.
And as for ritual magic... that's not something I can talk about now. If he asked how I knew about it, I'd have to tell him I have memories from a past life. I can't imagine he'd believe me, and I'd be in trouble if he thought I was crazy. Revealing my knowledge of ritual magic must be done with extreme caution. Which means there's nothing I can say.
My father stared at me for a while with a stern expression, but eventually, he sighed.
"I see. I find it hard to believe you came up with this training method on your own... but if you say so, then it must be so. Honestly, it's enough to make me think you received a divine revelation from the Goddess of Magic."
"The Goddess of Magic? There's a deity like that?"
"Yes. She is the goddess said to have created magic and gifted it to us humans. Naturally, she is devoutly worshipped by all magic users."
Bingo! A target for my faith has appeared! Just the other day, I was lamenting my need for knowledge of this world's myths and legends, and now here's some timely information. All right, I'll use the flow of this conversation to ask Dad for permission to go out.
"In that case, I would like to learn more about the Goddess of Magic. I was wondering if I could visit the temple and speak with one of the priests..."
"Hmm, very well. I will send word to the temple on your behalf. As always, you are to take Laz and Hanna with you. And you are to stay out of trouble. Understood?"
"Thank you, Father."
"Good. I'm sorry to have taken up your time. You may return to your lecture."
"Yes, excuse me."
I bowed to my father, then gave a nod to the person beside him as well before leaving the headmaster's office.
...Why was Grandma standing silently next to Dad while invisible? I had a feeling I shouldn't bring it up, so I didn't.
The moment Saki closed the office door, Levi buried his head in his hands and slumped onto his desk.
"Oh dear, oh dear. I'd completely forgotten Saki could see me, too. It totally slipped my mind."
With that, Ester released her [Invisibility] spell and appeared beside Levi. On her face was the unapologetic smile of a child whose prank had failed. Levi looked up resentfully at his mother from his slumped position.
"Can you and Saki see a spellcaster even when they've used a spell to turn invisible?"
"I can't see their form, but I can see their magical power. I may not have mentioned it before, but unless they conceal their power by some other means, I can tell a caster is there, whether they're using an [Invisibility] spell or are behind a wall. There's hardly anyone with as much power as I have, so Saki probably knew from the start."
"...Even an [Unseen Servant]?"
"I can see the magical power that forms the spell, yes."
Levi fought the urge to tear at his hair. He thought he had arranged a security detail without the subjects even noticing, but there was a chance his son had been aware of it all along. He wondered what all his hard work had been for, and at the same time, considered whether it would be better to just tell them everything.
Just then, a discreet knock sounded, and the door to an adjoining private room—different from the one Saki had just left—opened, and Sarah entered. As he watched his wife greet her mother, Levi considered that Saki might have even seen Sarah waiting in the private room. It seemed he would have to explain a few things to Saki soon. It was not very commendable, as a person or a parent, to be probing into his son's secrets while keeping his own.
"Alright, let's sort out the situation. First, regarding Saki and Ruria, it's safe to assume that Saki is taking the lead and instigating various things. Ruria's exceptional talent is innate, but it was likely Saki who raised her to be so far beyond the norm."
"It seems certain they are doing something in their room. However, according to Hanna, who was actually present, they were just sitting on the bed with their eyes closed, perfectly still..."
Sarah added to Ester's words, and Levi nodded in agreement. The two had always had a relationship where Saki led and Ruria followed. It was highly likely that from a young age, Saki had been teaching and practicing with Ruria some training he had devised himself. Because her original magical power was so outstanding, Ruria stood out more now, but Saki's own power had also grown significantly.
Normally, a magic user's power was said to rarely fluctuate significantly throughout their life. It was more logical to assume that Saki, like with strength and intellect, had devised a method to train magical power itself.
"If that's the case, it would mean Saki came up with a method for magic training and imposed it on himself and Ruria from a much younger age..."
"But from the age of three, Saki's words and thoughts have been as mature as an adult's, haven't they?"
"Even so, it's abnormal that he could have thought of such a thing before he even began learning magic. It's not just a line from Levi; it really is enough to make you think he received an oracle from the Goddess of Magic herself."
The three voiced their opinions, then looked at each other and sighed. While it was wonderful to have a talented magic user emerge from their own family, their own bloodline, when it was this far outside the bounds of common sense, bewilderment came first.
"Saki may still be hiding a number of things, but for now, let's just wait and see. So, what will you do about this Triple Circle Method training?"
"I will formally adopt it at this academy. For now, I think I'll recruit volunteers from among the students learning magic and have them work on it individually under strict secrecy. If it were just those two, it would be one thing, but a student who was by no means exceptional has shown rapid progress after being taught by Saki."
"Lamed's son, wasn't it? Does it look like he'll be able to advance to The Academy?"
"He did enroll at a young age, but since he's mastered his second spell at his age, he should be fine. He himself is very sincere in his approach to magic, and his personality is straightforward."
"Sounds like Lamed's boy. He can be inflexible, but he's an honest man with no hidden agenda."
"It seems he intended for him to follow in his footsteps as a bureaucrat if he couldn't enter The Academy, so if he does get in, the Baron will be overjoyed. And I'm relieved that Saki seems to have made a proper friend. I do hope they'll remain close even after they go on to The Academy."
As Sarah voiced her motherly thoughts, both Ester and Levi fell silent, lost in their own reflections. The bond between those who had studied together at The Academy was strong, far exceeding the simple bounds of the word "classmate." It was a place where one could find acquaintances who would last a lifetime.
"I know we treat them as special cases, but they are still my precious grandchildren. It might be important to watch over them with love, just as a normal family would."
Ester murmured this, and Levi and Sarah nodded silently in agreement. And with that, somehow, the discussion for the day came to a close.
My father kept his promise. He had Gill, the steward, send a letter to the temple and obtain permission for a visit and tour. Not only that, but after arranging a date and time, he went to the trouble of clearing the carriage's schedule. Apparently, for the scion of a noble family to make a formal visit to the temple without arriving by carriage would be a matter of dignity. Wow, being a noble really is a pain.
And so, here I am, riding in a carriage for the first time in my life. Our family's carriage is a two-horse, four-seater, quite standard (for a noble, that is). In line with the Arcalai family tradition of avoiding extravagance in all things, the exterior has no conspicuous decoration other than the family crest. Instead, the use of wood like ebony in key places creates an elegant appearance.
To be honest, the inside of the carriage as it travels over the stone pavement is far from comfortable. It's probably better than a bumpy dirt road, but there's a constant stream of fine vibrations, and occasionally it jolts significantly. Laz, sitting next to me, told me that when the royal carriage travels down the main avenues, it uses specially cut ruts in the road, so there's almost no shaking. From what I know, the fact that nearly all the roads in the Noble District are paved with stone is a luxury in itself.
"So, does that mean ordinary people rarely go to the temple?"
Laz and Hanna both nodded at my question. That's surprising. I had the impression that in medieval or pre-modern societies, faith was at the center of life. Come to think of it, I'd reached this age without knowing much about gods or temples myself. We didn't have a custom of displaying idols and praying at home, either. Maybe this world, or at least this country, isn't very religious.
"I hear that the nobility, especially magic users, are devout visitors, but we commoners don't have much connection to it."
"On the few festival days each year, some people do go to offer prayers. In the countryside, services are held in conjunction with seasonal festivals like harvest festivals, so the temple is more deeply rooted in the villages compared to the royal capital."
Their explanation made sense. In short, it wasn't closely tied to daily life. And because a being like the Goddess of Magic my father mentioned is enshrined there, magic users are devout. Hmm? If that's the case, why doesn't our family worship the Goddess of Magic in a more obvious way?
I put the question that popped into my head to them, but both simply replied that they didn't know. Oh. I forgot to mention, Ruria is leaning against Hanna's lap next to her like a cat. Just because there's no one watching inside the carriage, this girl...
Just then, the carriage began to slow, and I knew we had arrived. I checked to make sure my appearance was in order and waited for the coachman to open the carriage door.
Said to be the head of all temples in the kingdom, the Great Temple of the royal capital was located just off a main street near the center of the Noble District. The grounds were more than spacious enough to contain the Great Temple, with high white walls separating the sacred ground from the secular world. The temple building itself was... well, the Taj Mahal from my previous life comes to mind. It wasn't as massive, of course, but the circular dome of the ceiling and the way it was built of stacked, immaculately white stone with intricate carvings reminded me of it.
The security guards were also different from the watchmen on the street corners; they wore gleaming white breastplates and carried halberds. This too was reminiscent of the Vatican's Swiss Guard and looked incredibly cool.
The temple was built on a considerably high foundation, with a staircase leading to the main entrance. The carriage circled a pond filled with clear water and covered with water lilies, dropping us off in front of the stairs. Laz asked a guard to announce us, and after receiving permission, we began to climb.
On the way, I saw a man in a robe descending the stairs, likely having finished his prayers. We exchanged nods as we passed. The man's robe bore an insignia indicating military affiliation. He was probably a magic user belonging to the kingdom's Magic Corps. Speaking of the Magic Corps, I wonder how Commander Azadh is doing. He seems to be busy lately and hasn't visited our home, but as we promised before, I should go see him once.
At the top of the stairs, a bald man in a white robe was waiting for us. I guessed he was a priest. I had the impression that magic users preferred black or dark brown robes, but maybe there was a rule that those in the clergy wore white. As I approached, pondering such trivial things, the bald man (pardon me) spoke to us.
"You must be the party of the son of Viscount Arcalai? It is a true honor to have you visit the Great Temple today. I am Moshe, the priest who will be guiding you today."
"I am Saki, son of Levi, Viscount Arcalai. It is a great pleasure to be granted your time amidst your busy schedule."
We exchanged greetings, and under Priest Moshe's guidance, we entered the Great Temple. The double doors of the main entrance were thrown wide open, leading directly into a spacious area that was a grand hall, or rather, a chapel. As I walked through the chapel, lined with intricately carved columns on both sides, I was captivated by the magnificent interior.
The chapel's ceiling was high and open, and the light pouring in from windows set in the upper part of the building and the dome enhanced the sacred atmosphere. The density of magical power within this chapel seemed to be high, and the sight of mana particles drifting in the air, illuminated by the sunbeams from above, was nothing short of fantastical. The floor was paved with polished stone, buffed to such a sheen that it reflected our images. The ceiling, from the tops of the columns to the dome, was covered in a mural depicting various figures with exquisite detail. Ruria, Hanna, and Laz, seemingly struck by the solemnity of the chapel, were looking around at the surroundings and the ceiling without a word.
Eventually, we reached the back of the chapel, before the altar. Priest Moshe turned to us and said in a solemn voice:
"Now, Saki-sama, how much knowledge do you possess about the gods?"
"I'm ashamed to say I know almost nothing. Would you be so kind as to grant this ignorant child your teachings from the very beginning, Priest?"
I said this with a hand on my chest, trying my best to adopt an attitude that would be taken as sincere. I was pushing the image of a boy earnestly seeking knowledge, not an arrogant noble's son. So please, Ruria. Stop clinging to my back and peeking at the priest, ruining all my hard work. I'm serious.
"Is that so? In that case, let me first teach you about the three deities enshrined in this temple. These three gods are widely worshipped throughout the kingdom."
As the priest indicated, three statues were arranged behind the altar. On the near left was a statue of a young woman. She was dressed in a robe similar to ours and held up what appeared to be a holy chalice. On the near right was a statue of a man, also in a robe. He wore his hood pulled low, obscuring his expression, and held up something like a lamp.
And behind them both, on a raised platform, was a statue in the form of a young boy. Unlike the other two gods, his attire was a tunic and leggings, like those worn by a commoner. Yet contrary to his dress, he wore a crown on his head and held a scepter. As I was thinking what an unusual statue it was, Priest Moshe's explanation continued.
"The one on your left is the Goddess Isis. As you might guess from her epithet, 'The Goddess of Magic,' she is said to have created magic in the distant past and gifted it to humanity. She is revered as a guardian deity by magic users and is widely beloved by the general populace as well."
Wait. No, I don't have to wait, but still, wait. I'm dying to interrupt, but I can't just cut off his explanation. Dammit, but I really want to!
"The one on your right is the God Jefuty. He is also known among his followers as 'The Gray Sage' and is considered the God of Hermits who imparts wisdom to people in the wilderness. He is devoutly worshipped by magic users, we of the clergy, and scholars—all who seek knowledge and wisdom."
"Finally, the god in the center back. His divine name has not been passed down and is generally known as 'The Nameless Supreme God.' There is a theory that his name was not lost to time, but that he never had a name to begin with. He is the King of the Gods, and also the one who presides over all phenomena, from the changing of day and night and the turning of the seasons to the bounty of the earth and the peace of the people."
Priest Moshe's explanation continued, but I was barely listening. With each card he turned over, my head felt like it was about to explode. Seriously, this is nothing but things to pick apart!
First, Isis! It's not just that she shares a name with a deity from Egypt in my past life, but more importantly, the Isis of my past life was also the "Goddess of Magic." She was considered the prototype for the renowned goddesses and great witches of various mythologies who governed magic—Ishtar, Cybele, Asherah, Medea—and was historically worshipped by magicians. A goddess with the same name as that Isis is the god of magic in this world, too? That's way too much of a coincidence. And that name, Jefuty, sounds familiar too. I've forgotten the specifics, but this is definitely related to my past life.
And the "Nameless Supreme God." It's not normal for a god to have no name. What are you supposed to do when you don't know what to call the object of your faith? Even the Tetragrammaton from my old world had a name, it was just a secret how to pronounce it.
And the domains of each god are too unnatural. Generally, in polytheism, you have a sun god, a sea god, and so on—gods with specific areas of responsibility that are closely tied to people's daily lives. Ah, now I understand why the temple isn't well-integrated among the common citizens. Two of the three main gods are for magic users, and the remaining one is an all-rounder. That's way too unbalanced.
On top of that, more and more things I wanted to say and ask welled up inside me, and I froze as if my neural circuits had overloaded. I must have been like that for quite a while, because I was finally rebooted by Priest Moshe's concerned voice, "Saki-sama. Saki-sama? Is something wrong?"
"Ah, my apologies. It seems that witnessing the great visages of the gods so overwhelmed me that I momentarily forgot the matters of the secular world. Please forgive my unsightly display."
"Not at all, not at all. You were struck by the divine presence and were experiencing it with a truly clear mind, Saki-sama. The gods must have been pleased by such a worthy sight."
I managed to talk my way out of it, but my mind was a storm of the questions that had just raged through it. I wanted to throw these questions at the priest before me, but I couldn't very well talk about my past life. So, what to do...
Ping!
"Coming into contact with the majesty of the gods has only strengthened my desire to learn their teachings. Priest-sama, does the temple have any books that describe the gods? If so, and if I were permitted to view them, there would be no greater joy."
"Hmm, we do indeed have such texts. However, the writings passed down in the temple contain many old expressions and archaic words, and I believe deciphering them would require a great deal of effort..."
As the priest fell into a pensive mood, I shot a glance at Laz. He understood immediately, swiftly approaching Priest Moshe and handing him a bag filled with coins. "This is a token of faith from the Arcalai family," he said. A bribe? Don't be ridiculous. As if a noble would visit a temple without bringing a donation.
Since the donation is technically to the temple itself, what happens to it afterward is no concern of mine or my family's. If someone pockets it, that's an internal temple matter.
"I see. I have witnessed your faith, Saki-sama. It cannot be at this very moment, but I, Moshe, will speak with the High Priest so that you may enter the library and be granted permission to view the texts."
"Thank you very much for your kindness, Priest-sama. If I am granted permission, I will be sure to return to express my gratitude."
I didn't forget to press the point with Priest Moshe, who smiled at me, his bald head gleaming. Good, now I can investigate this world's gods without arousing suspicion. After all, a temple library is one of the foremost sources of information in fantasy. Besides matters of faith, there's bound to be a lot of other things I can learn. Yes, perhaps even about ritual magic.
With that calculation made, I left the temple, boarded the carriage once more, and returned to the manor. Along the way, however, I ended up having to stop by the Dalet Trading Company to buy sweets to appease Ruria, who was giving me the stink eye for what she considered a boring talk from the priest.
Since there was a large gap since the last post, I did my best and managed to post this one in a week. I truly respect authors who post every day. I'd like to follow their example and somehow increase my own writing pace, but it's quite difficult. I can only keep trying. I'll do my best. 6/29 Addendum: I have rewritten the latter half of the temple section. I believe it is now easier to read.