Chapter 162 - Chapter Ten: Tomb Chamber Investigation
Happy New Year.
The next day.
I ended up assisting with the investigation of the tomb chamber. To be precise, I was the lighting assistant for the Secretary-sama's assistant, but a stray priest rarely gets such an opportunity. I gratefully participated.
Adolf-san was present as the guard in charge, and the guard unit also participated. There were ten people from the second specialized assault squad, all well-built. Unfortunately, it wasn't Beowulf's squad.
Five other priests, including some juniors, came besides the Secretary-sama. Three of them seemed to be recorders.
First, the Archbishop-sama sprinkled holy water around the entrance hole and offered a prayer of purification. I stood beside the Secretary-sama, who was chanting while sprinkling holy water from a small bottle, and I joined in the chanting while sprinkling holy water as well. Next to me, a recording priest was drawing a picture of the tomb.
When that was finished, it was the mages' turn.
The work was undertaken by the Marcelo Company.
It was Angelica-san and Paul-san.
They widened the entrance hole so that people could easily go in and out.
From here, the investigation began.
We went inside and offered another prayer of purification in front of the tomb chamber. This was followed by a prayer praising the Goddess, and the ritual was over.
The Archbishop-sama continued with the purification prayers, the Secretary-sama chanted along, and while I illuminated the area with Light, Paul-san and the others gradually removed the soil piled up from the floor. After clearing about half of it, a stone slab appeared. It must be the lid of the sarcophagus. When I had Paul-san lift it with magic, the inside was filled with soil.
The sarcophagus seemed to be formed by setting up four stone slabs on the front, back, left, and right to create a space, paving the bottom with round stones, filling it with soil, placing the body and burial goods inside, burying them further with soil, and then covering it with a stone slab. It was different from a so-called coffin.
The Archbishop-sama seemed to know this, and after explaining it to the junior priests and me, he gave instructions to dig out the soil little by little, and Paul-san and Angelica-san used magic.
As expected of high-level mages. They dug out only the soil so cleanly that even if there were burial goods, they wouldn't be damaged.
A bronze shield and sword appeared, and finally, a set of bones wearing a jangling necklace emerged. The bones also had bracelets and rings. The recording priest drew pictures and meticulously copied their patterns. He measured the sizes and wrote them next to the drawings. Once the digging and recording were finished, the excavated soil was returned to the sarcophagus and reburied. The burial goods were also put back in their original positions and everything was buried. The stone lid was placed back on, returning it to its original state.
Next was the excavation of the treasure.
To avoid collapsing the sarcophagus, they dug a hole directly beneath the feet of the remains.
Angelica-san dug the hole, and Paul-san inserted a Wind Barrier shaped like a cylinder into the hole to support it so it wouldn't collapse. As they dug out the soil that way, a black box came into view. It looked like it was made of iron and seemed quite heavy.
The strongmen of the guard unit were called, and two went inside, working hard with the three above to pull it out. After digging to a certain extent and confirming there was nothing else, they threw soil back in while compacting it, and finally returned the mound of the grave to its original state.
"King Griffith. This tomb chamber shall be preserved in the name of the Archbishop of the Nakanohara Parish of the Sertoria State Church. Management will be handled by this church. Please be at peace."
Since he has already ascended, the person himself isn't there, but I suppose it's for the sentiment. When the Archbishop-sama's words ended, we all offered a prayer.
Finally, the entrance to the tomb chamber was plastered with soil and stones were piled up to prevent people from easily entering, and the investigation was over.
Because we were taking records of the burial goods, it took quite a while. When I looked at the candle, more than two hours had passed.
Good grief, it's over. Just as I turned off the Light, switched to a torch, and was about to head outside—that was when it happened. A fluffy white object descended from the ceiling.
"Jeanne. I am glad you kept your promise. I am Griffith. The king who once ruled this land."
Um, were you still here?
I can hear the voice of the ghost who was here yesterday. I've been teased again. The reason the atmosphere feels different must be because he's a king today. Unfortunately, since I was using Light during the investigation, Fiona is outside. It's a shame I can't see his face, but I'm sure it's painted blue just like yesterday.
"Do not say that. I took a liking to you, so I wanted to give a word of greeting. You defeated the snake, protected the Alraune we lived with, and purified this tomb chamber. I thank you. I am also indebted to the priests."
In our doctrine, they are bishops, not priests, but well, that's fine; the Archbishop-sama didn't nitpick that either.
"King Griffith. The records you left behind will become a treasure of the church—no, of the world. It is we who should thank you."
The Archbishop-sama bowed respectfully, and everyone followed suit.
"Umu. Since I had plenty of time, I tried writing them down. If they are of use to you all, that would be good."
After that, he went on and on, explaining how he came to write those records. In short, since he couldn't write them while he was alive, he seems to have written them after becoming a ghost. The Archbishop-sama was also well-practiced, saying things like "I see, I see" or "That is amazing," so the ghost got more and more carried away with his talking. The candle was even replaced.
Finally, one of the guards suddenly collapsed. He was foaming at the mouth. Everyone except the priests was staggering. Beatrix was even sleeping while standing.
"Oh, are you alright? My apologies. I suppose it was unbearable for those who are not used to it."
Seeing him flustered, he seems to be a kind person.
"Now then, Bishop. It seems a long stay is forbidden. One last thing. Jeanne, I shall give you this."
He took out a leather bag from his bosom and handed it over. Since the Archbishop-sama nodded, I gratefully accepted it.
"Now then, Bishop. I wish to ascend soon. I leave it to you."
"I understand. Then, shall Jeanne help you with your Ascension?"
"Oh! Is that alright?"
There was no way I could refuse.
"If I will suffice. I shall assist you."
Since he looked satisfied, I offered the prayer for Ascension before he could change his mind. If it were the Headmistress, she would use the spell Ascension. To my surprise, the Archbishop-sama chanted along with me.
"Farewell then. Jeanne. I have put you to much trouble..."
The white mist turned into a ball of light and slowly went outside. As I followed while chanting, it rose high into the sky and finally disappeared from sight.
"Priest Jeanne. Thank you for your hard work."
"No. The same to you, Archbishop-sama."
"We were completely fooled by that gentleman, weren't we?"
Honestly, the nature of old men doesn't change regardless of the era. When I asked Fiona later, it seemed she had been fooled as well. The Archbishop-sama was somehow praising him, saying it was quite something to be able to pretend to have ascended even as a ghost.
"Well, it must have been a good experience for our junior priests."
Looking at them, two of them had dazed expressions as if their souls had been pulled out. How weak, for men.
"You were magnificent. Setting aside the ghost Fiona, you listened well for two hours yesterday and two hours today. Thank you."
I was actually thanked.
Now then, the treasure. Since there were items I could receive even though they were donations to the church, I was allowed to see the box being opened. After hacking through the wrapped chains with an axe, the box opened easily as it didn't seem to be locked.
"Ooooh!"
"S-Stunning... it truly is treasure..."
It was a dazzling, glittering sight.
Bracelets, cups, rings, and lumps that looked like mysterious ornaments. All of it was gold. As expected of a king who would build such a large tomb. He must have been wealthy.
According to Flora, the people who ruled this area were a tribe centered on hunting, so they must have had combat power as well. As proof, there was a golden statue of a god that was likely an object of worship, and no matter how you looked at it, it was a male god.
I hear that since ancient times, tribes that worship male gods are rough. They might have taken it by force. For example, the people at the northern tip of the island are like that. I hear they are constantly challenging the neighboring country.
I don't know why they perished, but perhaps that is just how nations are.
While I was thinking the Archbishop-sama was clattering around, several leather bags came out. Looking inside, there were gold grains.
"Now then, Priest Jeanne. This is the reward for you from King Griffith."
When I held it, it had quite a bit of weight.
"It's roughly thirty gold coins' worth, I'd say."
When I had Paul-san look at it, he spoke while measuring the weight with his hand.
"Is this alright?"
"They are King Griffith's own words. Your using it will be the best memorial service."
I decided to gratefully accept it.
"The other thing is this."
I opened the leather bag that was handed to me directly. Inside was a Black Stone. It was a flat circular shape, like a sphere crushed from above, with one side being flat. It was about the size of a silver coin. There was a hole at the edge. I don't really understand it, but it's probably an ornament. Black is quite a somber choice.
Neither the Archbishop-sama nor Adolf-san seemed to know what kind of object it was. However, it was a precious gift. I immediately threaded a leather cord through it and hung it around my neck.
"I am sorry, but I do not know what that object is. However, Bishop Catherine, your friends, or perhaps the elderly lady who occasionally visits from the Royal Capital might know."
He was smiling broadly. It seemed everything had been found out.
After seeing off Adolf-san's bowl carrying the Archbishop-sama and the treasure, and eating our lunch, we returned to the boar extermination.
Angelica-san said she wanted to try it too, so she joined the fray. Apparently, she had specially set bait in three locations.
First, I was shown a demonstration.
"Glacio!"
All seven boars were frozen in a single lump, involving several surrounding trees. As usual, it was incredible. Even with the output significantly throttled, it was this much.
"Could you try it with mid-level magic next?"
Leaving the mountain of ice as it was, we moved to the next spot.
"Ice Cube!"
As a result of chanting three times alternately on the left and right, six blocks of ice were created. As expected, it was a total wipeout. Beatrix can also use Ice Cube, but she can't use it in such quick succession. She can freeze one whole, but since the second one wouldn't be a surprise attack, it would get away.
"As expected. You all must become able to do this much soon as well."
"By what age should we learn high-level magic?"
"Twenty is the benchmark. If you want to become like Eleanor-sama, you'll have to be a user of at least one super-high-level magic by then."
"Three and a half years left, huh..."
Hmm, Beatrix furrowed her brow.
Setting aside Eleanor-sama, it seems both Paul-san and Angelica-san had become users of one high-level magic by the age of nineteen.
"Magic isn't a slope; it's like climbing a staircase with long widths. One day, you suddenly go up a step. Besides, even with basic magic, it depends on how you use it. As Eleanor-sama said, you must have a strong image."
I try to imagine myself at the age of twenty. Holding a silver staff and chanting Holy Overflow at a dragon—I might look a bit cool.
No, no. It's no good to imagine us matching even in our twenty-year-old forms.
At the third location, we decided to do our best. I used Holy. I've become able to target and finish off one boar by chanting along with Beatrix's lightning magic.
"Just like always. Ice Cube first. Jeanne uses Holy to stop its movement, then the finishing Energy Bolt. We're aiming for the big one on the far right."
It must be because food is scarce in winter. As we sneaked up above the herd that was eating single-mindedly, using Bonnie's arrow as a signal, I first attacked with Holy. It was with both hands and at full power.
The moment I released it, my arms went numb and the shock reached my shoulders. A thick beam of light was released from my raised hands, piercing through the boar. It was a single hit.
Huh?
"What? Had you learned mid-level magic?"
No, that's not the case.
"You. What happened? That was like Marcelo-san's Holy."
"Jeanne. That's amazing."
While everyone was surprised, Angelica-san had a serious face.
"Paul. Let's withdraw for today. Let's go to Bishop Catherine's place."
The Headmistress's place?
"The Black Stone!"
"That's right. I heard from Marcelo before. About Magic Stones that increase the power of magic. If the stone Jeanne received from the ghost is one of those, we have to check it properly, or Jeanne will be in danger."
Danger... has it come to such a situation?
"Of course, it might be something safe that purely increases the user's magic power, but if it forcibly uses magic control power, then a basic magic user is being forced to use mid-level magic. In the worst case, Jeanne's brain will break."
That old man... no, I thought King Griffith was a good person, but...
"Jeanne. Lend me that stone for a bit."
I took it off my neck and handed it to Beatrix.
"I'll hold it, so try chanting Holy one more time. Not at full power, throttle the output."
I see. If it doesn't have an effect when I'm not holding it, I just shouldn't carry it around.
"Holy!"
Thank goodness. It's the same as always. Even when I chanted at full power, it was the same as usual. At least it seems I can choose when to use it.
"It doesn't seem to be a curse. That's good. But let's still withdraw for today."
As Angelica-san said, we decided to collect the boars and withdraw early.
After returning to town, we explained the situation to the Headmistress and had her examine it.
"Hmm. Basic magic becoming mid-level magic, huh..."
She was tilting her head.
"Jennifer. Do you know anything?"
It seemed Jennifer-sensei didn't know either. However, she said it wasn't a curse. That part was good. After staring at it, she suddenly released a Holy. It was extremely thick.
"It doesn't change."
What! Was that basic level?
When you get to the Headmistress's class, it seems the effect is doubled even without a stone.
"I'd like to test high-level magic too, but that's impossible here."
No matter how you think about it, it would cause an uproar. Besides, Fiona would be in danger. She might be destroyed.
"I'll keep it for now. Angelica. I want to show it to Marcelo when he gets back. Tell him to come here."
"I understand. He should be back by the weekend, so I'll let him know."
"If Marcelo doesn't know, I'll ask Eleanor."
"Yes. Please do."
The Headmistress and Jennifer-sensei know that Henry-sama and the others go in and out of the Ghost Mansion. Besides, if they come to Nakanohara, they'll probably stay at the orphanage. I decided to leave it to them.