Chapter 158 - Sixth Story: To Uminohara ④
The mystery was solved, and the method for raising octopuses was to be made public.
As a result of talking with Fiona included, a new entrance was dug outside the church grounds, and the sundial and fish preserve were placed under village management.
Until now, whether an octopus appeared depended on the octopus, but from now on, the villagers can raise them systematically.
Everything is according to the wishes of Fiona, who inherited it, so kingdom law and everything else is irrelevant.
The islanders, guaranteed by Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama, were all delighted, and it was decided to transmit the news to other islands as well, sharing the stable supply of export items across all the islands in the bay. As a result, several more caves and fish preserves were newly discovered and similarly came under village management.
At the recommendation of the islanders, we stayed one more night on the island and then returned to the Royal Capital once.
"Regarding that crystal, can Fiona possess that crystal or something?"
On the way back, Eleanor-sama suddenly brought it up.
I ended up receiving the crystal that had finished its role as a key.
The thirty gold coins were split equally among six people, including the Bishop, excluding Henry-sama and the others who were also sponsors. It's a gain of five gold coins per person.
No reward was given for the octopus extermination since there was no report of damage, but no one complained.
"Hair is, so to speak, a memento. It's easily damaged and it would be terrible to lose it, so keep it carefully. If you can possess the crystal, I'll have a craftsman make a pendant that combines it with the other stones you're hanging from your neck. If you'll allow it, let's divide it into two and make it about half the size."
Come to think of it, there was such a conversation.
Since I've taken off the seashell necklace, what I'm hanging now are the stone of the wood spirit left by the first king, the stone I got from Flora, and the bag containing Fiona's hair.
When I showed the crystal to Fiona, she went inside easily.
After coming out, she said it was fine.
Perhaps because it's something passed down through generations of her ancestors, it might be easy to get used to.
When I asked Flora, she told me it was fine as long as the spirit stone itself wasn't processed.
Apparently, there's no problem.
I decided to accept Eleanor-sama's kindness.
In the audience chamber of the Royal Capital, when Marcelo-san reported the results to the current Majesty, he laughed heartily.
"So you decided to live together without letting her ascend. But then, I cannot give a reward, can I?"
For some reason, he asks me.
"That's true. But I found thirty gold coins and shared them, so it's fine."
"As expected of a priest, you have no greed. Is it fine with the others as well?"
It's the result of discussing with everyone. Fiona joined our group, so we considered it good.
"Instead, I have a request."
"What is it? You may speak without hesitation."
"Please give permission to transport Fiona's remains to the island. I intend to move her to the ancestral graves lined up at the island's church. She wants it too."
"Fumu. If that's the case, the connection with the fortress will be severed. Then, it can be considered equivalent to having her ascend. On the condition that the remains are entombed on the island, I will give the reward."
It became a generous story. Although she wouldn't be visible to His Majesty, the face of Fiona, who was standing right beside me, also brightened.
She had been worried that the reward wouldn't be given because she wasn't ascending.
"Thank you very much. Also, there is a request from the person herself."
"What is it?"
When I looked at Henry-sama, he nodded.
"Majesty. I shall speak."
It's about the preservation of the fortress.
As Paul-san said, if we switch to a method of protecting the fortress and the village as one and can preserve the fortress, the villagers and the ghosts of the fortress will all be happy.
"Evans. What do you think?"
"Wouldn't it be fine, Majesty? We can investigate how much difference there is in terms of the amount, and if it's not that different, we can go with that line. In short, as long as water and a place for the people to evacuate are secured, there's no problem. In the future, it might even be used as a second naval base."
The Prime Minister also agreed, and we received words that it would be considered positively.
"Pakin!"
A strange sound like the air cracking occurred.
The King also looked suspicious.
"I'm sorry."
Apparently, it was Fiona.
It seems she makes a sound when she's happy or angry.
The one just now seems to be the sound of when she's happy.
"Um, the ghost Fiona is also happy."
I said it and regretted it.
Henry-sama and the others can naturally see her.
His Majesty and the others probably can't.
"Is she here right now?"
Naturally, it became a commotion.
Starting with Hughes-sama, several soldiers surrounded His Majesty.
The Prime Minister is asking Henry-sama whether to call a high-ranking priest.
"Ah—no need to worry. Eleanor and I, and also Wilson, can see her. She's completely harmless, so it's fine."
Henry-sama settled the situation.
The Prime Minister suddenly showed interest.
"I would certainly like to see her. Is there any way I can become able to see her too?"
He came close to us and started examining us closely.
Fiona is scared.
"Prime Minister. The opponent is a young woman. Do you think you'll be liked with such an attitude? She's scared."
Scolded by Eleanor-sama, he withdrew dejectedly.
"Since there's a Prime Minister who scares ghosts, it should be fine. You all, that's enough. I thank you."
After dismissing the guards, he discussed the arrangements for the transfer of the remains, and it was decided that the reward money would be given at the time the transfer was finished. Apparently, it's enough to have the Bishop of the island write a certificate of burial.
Leaving that place, we immediately entered the transfer.
Eleanor-sama and the others are here. It was over in an instant.
Including the burial, it was finished in a two-day, one-night process.
The reward money became ten gold coins.
It's two gold coins per person. This time, Will is participating during her leave, so she can receive the reward money. I also donated the same amount to the Bishop, who was a special participant.
Normally, two gold coins for one ascension is the market price, but it seems they gave more including various things like the future of the fortress, the history of the island, interaction with the islanders, and the fact that the method for raising octopuses became official, allowing the islanders to fish for octopuses constantly and safely.
During the transfer, the stone I had entrusted to Eleanor-sama returned as a pendant.
I opened the box I was handed and looked.
"Isn't this amazing?"
Beatrix is surprised.
The crystal is embedded in the center of a silver decorative base, with spirit stones lined up on the left and right, connected by a silver chain.
It was designed so that the crystal could be removed if the clasp was undone.
The crystal was half its original size, and I was also given the other half.
If I put on a neck guard and wear this, it's like I'm attending a dinner party in plain clothes.
"Um. I'm happy, but as a priest, isn't it a bit flashy?"
I'm already wearing the ring of water and the bracelet of wind.
The Church might glare at me.
"It's fine. It seems it was modeled after an amulet, so the chain is long, right? If you let it hang inside your collar, it won't be visible."
"Also, isn't silver unsuitable for ghosts..."
"That's the problem. I think it's fine since it's through the crystal, but... Let's ask the person herself."
When we had her enter, it seemed there was no influence.
She said she hates touching silver directly because it feels like a burn, but since what she's touching is the crystal, it's apparently fine. I learned something new.
"What is it like when you're possessing an object?"
"I'm just staying still. I get sleepy right away, so I might fall asleep."
She's laughing lightheartedly.
"For example, if someone took it and went somewhere..."
"I might be able to return if I don't lose my way. But if I get lost, what should I do?"
Will she end up wandering?
That's bad. She might be exterminated.
"Basically, you should just stay outside. How about possessing it only when you can't be out for some reason?"
I guess that's true too. As expected of Eleanor-sama. Come to think of it, Marcelo-san also said that possessing an object is a temporary measure.
"Just how far can you be separated before it's no good?"
Beatrix asked a basic question.
"Umu. If anything, I want her to walk freely in the Ghost Mansion. Otherwise, no witnesses will appear."
Will, just who are you planning to have witness her?
However, in any case, it would be better to know.
It was decided to conduct an experiment.
The experiment started at the banquet venue.
When we are usually provided with a banquet, it's not in the building with the audience chamber or the large dinner hall, but in a small place with guest rooms in a separate wing.
"I wonder how far she can go from here."
Beatrix and I, wearing the pendant, wait with Dune and the other spirits. Once she returns, it's a banquet.
"Well then, try going as far as you can. Good luck."
I decided to have her walk through the palace just like that.
Since the doors are left open, screams are heard from time to time.
As expected of the Royal Capital. There seem to be people with strong spiritual sensitivity.
"Umu. She seems to be in quite good condition."
"I've wanted one or two ghost rumors in this palace as well. This is a good opportunity."
Because Eleanor-sama said let's experiment after the sun goes down, it's come to this. The people themselves are extremely satisfied, but it's incredibly bothersome.
Just in case, I told Hughes-sama, and he was smiling, saying, "I understand."
Moreover, even the King joined in, which is rare, saying he'd give a reward if she could reach the banquet venue.
In the end, it was decided to make a bet with the dignitaries on how far she could go, and Paul-san and Beatrix, who bit, both put out one gold coin, saying she could go outside.
The bookmaker is the Prime Minister, Evans-sama, and the proceeds will apparently be a donation to the Church.
Really, what is going on with this country?
It was good that there were no guests, but the servants, who were apparently deployed in larger numbers than usual, were pitifully kept in the dark and made into snacks for the drinks.
Well, it's good that we can tell where she's walking, though.
Victor-sama returned with a grim face.
He had bet she'd only make it to the entrance of the same building, but it seems she broke through.
Hughes-sama is walking the pre-set route, Fiona is walking a little distance behind him, and Marcelo-san and Evans-sama are walking behind her.
Eleanor-sama gave Fiona a scary makeup so she'd look like a ghost, and had her laugh, "Fufufu," if someone was there.
Marcelo-san is doubling as a rescue worker for those who faint, and Evans-sama is apparently going to explain the situation.
Of course, he's going to tell a made-up story.
Those who saw her will get a reward.
It's apparently a reward for passing a special training for future spiritual disturbance countermeasures, but it's probably a mistake for a nuisance fee.
After leaving the entrance, the midpoint is the audience chamber. The King and Queen are waiting there.
Even though they shouldn't, it seems they're going to have a formal audience.
Of course, Fiona already finished her audience at the time of the report, but she's going to do it in ghost makeup too.
There's no limit to the sacrilege.
But I wonder how they'll have an audience with someone they can't see.
After passing the audience chamber, she's supposed to go outside to the statue of Dune, go around the garden once, and come back, but she seems to be passing through smoothly, and the screams are getting closer.
"Is that the seventh person? I'll lose if I don't have her slow down the pace a bit."
"Oh. I'd like her to work a bit harder. Once she goes around and comes here, there are only so many left until the hill where the guards are stationed."
Henry-sama and the others seem to be betting on the number of witnesses before I knew it.
It's a problem.
In the end, she was able to go to the hill.
She kept walking after that, and according to Fiona, she can walk for about an hour one way.
Beyond that, her body apparently felt heavy, so she stopped.
Since the members of the Marcelo Company all bet she could go to the hill, it ended up being a situation where one gold coin was added.
The losers were the royalty and dignitaries, with a loss of six gold coins. The remaining one coin was given to the thirteen people who saw her, one silver coin each, and the remaining seven silver coins were donated to the Church by Evans-sama.
After that, it's a banquet.
Today, Victor-sama is drinking quietly without challenging Dune.
Will, who served as Hughes-sama's partner in place of Gladys-sama, danced beautifully with her usual footwork and received everyone's applause.
"If it's okay to be an hour away on foot, we can walk together in the town of Nakanohara."
Flora is looking happy.
If it's one hour one way and two hours round trip, they'll be a pair.
"Don't do it at night. It'll cause a commotion."
Just in case I say so, Flora also sleeps at night.
"I'll decide to possess the crystal and rest at night. But what should I do otherwise?"
Come to think of it, we hadn't decided.
"Let's be together. I have various things to do during the day, so I'd appreciate it if you came with me."
"That's fine. But you'll have times when you want to be alone, right?"
I was raised in an orphanage. I'm used to a large household.
However, Fiona was an aristocrat.
"Wouldn't it be fine to build a room on the rooftop? It would be easy if you use the money won in the bet."
I see. As expected of Will. Clever.
If we have three gold coins, we can build an extension. We might as well get the furnishings too.
"Is it okay?"
"It's okay, it's okay. We won because Fiona worked hard. Besides, it'll be crime prevention if you occasionally show your face from the rooftop in the middle of the night."
"Umu. It's just as Beatrix says. It must be so."
"Yes. I'll do my best."
Give me a break.
Just then, Eleanor-sama and the Queen came with a bundle.
"Fiona. Try this on."
It looks like clothes.
I wonder if she can wear them.
Just when I thought she was taken to a separate room, she came out wearing a beautiful white silk dress.
The makeup was also changed, finishing her with a refined feeling.
"It suits you. I've prepared three outfits including undergarments. I'm giving them to you, so you may wear them freely."
It seems to be fine. It seems she was fine even when trying on colored items. Apparently, things she wears are the same as her main body and are invisible to those who can't see her.
Before I knew it, the dignitaries also became able to see Fiona, and everyone was praising her one after another.
Perhaps because she died of illness, she feels pale and delicate, but she was originally a beautiful girl and an aristocrat. The elegant white clothes suit her well. She apparently likes white too.
Let's make the green marble embroidery white too.
"Can everyone see her?"
There is only one person who cannot see her. It's Victor-sama.
"What, Victor, you can't see her?"
"Victor, your faith is lacking."
"Go to the church tomorrow."
"Victor-sama. That won't set an example for the soldiers."
It's a barrage of words from the grinning royalty.
"Why is it that only I cannot see her?"
Victor-sama is also straining his eyes many times, but it seems no good.
"To think only I cannot see her... Is my discipline insufficient..."
He is depressed because he can't see the ghost.
"Fiona can drink, so why don't you have a drinking contest? If you deepen your friendship, you'll be able to see her."
Victor-sama, who fell for the whisper of the mage who says unnecessary things, was once again made completely drunk.
"Oh! I can see her! I can see her too!"
After shouting with his eyes completely gone, he fell asleep drunk, but I don't know if he really saw her or not.
The next day, since Marcelo-san and Paul-san were apparently called by the King in the morning, I decided to go out to the main street of the Royal Capital with Fiona.
Since it's my fourth time on the main street of the Royal Capital, I'm used to it.
First, I'll go to the church to offer a prayer.
The church in the Royal Capital is the largest in Sertoria.
The cathedral alone is worth seeing.
Since the doors are open during the day, when I went in, I was stopped by a priest who seemed to be in his late thirties.
"Um, excuse me. Are you perhaps walking around with a ghost?"
"Yes. I'm having her possess this crystal. It's Fiona."
I explain that she is a companion and introduce her.
Marcelo-san had said it would be fine if I explained.
"Ah, the one from the fortress. I've heard from the Bishop of the island. That means you are Priest Jeanne. And is that flower in the basket an Alraune?"
He already knew. Moreover, he even knows my name and about Flora.
Everyone gives their first greetings. Looking at the ring, he is a Bishop. I kneel and hold it up.
"We have both gained good companions. But, just because it's fun, you must not forget about going to heaven. Eventually."
He gently admonished us.
"Yes. I'll stay with Jeanne for a while longer, and eventually."
When Fiona replied, he nodded with a smile.
"Then, if you'd like, I shall guide you through the cathedral at least."
It's an awe-inspiring thing, but I decided to accept his offer and have him guide us.
Even in the cathedral alone, there are not only the large stone statue of the Goddess but also many paintings and stone statues with history. He explained each one carefully.
"Then, may the Goddess's blessing be upon you all."
When I said my thanks politely at the end, we received a blessing and parted.
"He was a good person. It took a bit of time, though."
It took two hours.
But it's fine because Fiona looks satisfied.
"He's someone who will become an Archbishop somewhere eventually."
"Is that so?"
"Those who serve as Bishops at the Royal Capital church are, so to speak, Archbishop apprentices. The Headmistress was like that too."
"Come to think of it, I heard the Headmistress kicked away the talk of being an Archbishop here and came to Nakanohara."
"It's a rumor. A rumor. Anyway, she was probably kicked out because she punched the current King or Roberts-sama too much."
"Don't say such things again. I won't care if you get scolded. Fiona, it's Beatrix's joke."
After all, there was a story about her suddenly trying to have her ascend before. Fiona also remembered. Hearing Beatrix's story, she is a little frightened.
"Um, is it okay? If possible, I'd like to stay with Jeanne and the others a bit longer."
I'll have to explain this first thing when we get back.