Chapter 247 - Chapter 14: Finis a Second Time ②
In the northern lands, we received a grand welcome from the ghosts.
The people around here seem to have a very strong love for their homeland, and there were a certain number of ghosts who said they would actively enter the Orbs. Most of them were in check patterns and such.
Moreover, representative ghosts from all over northern Finis were gathered by possessing various things, so the hall became full of ghosts. The Lord has already been pushed out into the hallway outside the room.
The Priestesses from various regions, who had heard that we were coming, collaborated and showed us the results.
"Quite a number have gathered. Have this many gathered for the sake of Finis?"
Even Gwyn-sama could not hide his surprise.
"I was skeptical until I actually came to this land, but I never thought it would be this many."
The Priest-sama, who had been dispatched by the order of the King and the Church, was also startled by the steadily increasing number of volunteers.
The Priest-sama is someone who can use advanced holy magic; in short, he's support dispatched from the Royal Capital.
As expected, they didn't send out the few super-advanced mages, but once the work of charging the Orbs begins, they will apparently participate in earnest.
The ghost who likes to lecture also showed up.
"Ah, Priest Jeanne. You've come. Are you well?"
His manner of speaking was like the master of a fortress.
Seeing as he greeted me first after only a glance at Gwyn-sama, he probably wanted to appeal that he was the more important one.
I heard that the birthplace of the Kingdom of Finis is this region. In other words, the ghosts are Gwyn-sama's ancestors.
Gwyn-sama also seemed to understand this and introduced himself.
"Umu. The current Crown Prince of Finis, I see. Welcome. Is the current King well?"
"Yes. My father the King is also deeply moved by the strength of our ancestors' love for their homeland. We are truly grateful."
"It is nothing, nothing. We are ancestors, after all. It is only natural."
In contrast to Gwyn-sama, who offered his thanks honestly, he was laughing as if he'd pulled one over on him.
"Quite a lot have gathered."
"Those here are the ones who accepted Jeanne's proposal and gathered. Some were once enemies, but now we are in an aimi-tagai situation (T/N: 'Aimi-tagai' is an idiom meaning people in the same situation helping each other), so like this... oh!"
"Are you Priest Jeanne? Welcome. I wanted to meet you."
"You're Priest Jeanne, aren't you? Next time, you must certainly come to play at my territory... no, my former territory."
I don't know what was happening, but ghosts came one after another, pushing and shoving. Along with the lecturing ghost, Gwyn-sama was also pushed to the wall, and I could only hear voices calling my and Beatrix's names, but I could no longer see them.
They seem to be former lords from various regions. Since their eras are different, their clothes are also different, but you can tell at a glance that they were well-to-do.
"You. Being a priest means you must still be single. I shall introduce you to my descendants, so why not come to my land as a bride?"
"You scoundrel. Jeanne is a priest. You must be an apostate!"
"What are you saying? If she returns to secular life, there will be no problem."
"You scoundrel. Stealing a march is cowardly. Priest Jeanne. My descendants are better-looking."
"What! You're the one stealing a march!"
Arguments even broke out among several of them. Moreover, they don't even check a person's feelings. Since it involved ghosts, Mary didn't come, but if this was going to happen, I should have brought her.
"Aren't you popular? You might have been number one here."
"Shut up. I'm cursed anyway."
Beatrix was smirking.
In the provisional Madonna Ranking announced in June, the top ranks didn't change, but Bridget-san, who got married in May, fell out of the rankings. In her place, Mary appeared at fifth. However, she moved. Then, the provisional fifth in July was Will. She also moved. In August, everyone from the sixth candidate down moved up one spot, and I became the provisional seventh. Tenth was Bridget-san, who had been assigned to the Kingdom Army stationed in Nakanohara along with Beowulf.
When the real thing came in September, the sixth and seventh each moved up one, and Bridget-san was resurrected at seventh and became second in the married woman category. In the end, I remained at eighth for the fourth consecutive year, and Paul-san was lamenting greatly.
"Since there are so many Priestesses here, why don't you have them perform an exorcism?"
"No thanks. If I become seventh, I'll have to treat everyone."
I was forced to treat everyone even the moment I became provisional seventh. I really don't know what would happen if the curse were lifted.
This is no time for foolish talk. Since the ghosts started making a fuss, I was pulled by Gwyn-sama, who had escaped by weaving through the ghosts, and we evacuated to a separate room for a while. Then, the Priest-sama dispatched from the Royal Capital had also fled there.
"Are they always that noisy?"
"Usually they are a bit quieter. The people of this region believe that the strong are right, so when former lords from all over gather, they end up competing, and it inevitably becomes like that. Well, it's the same for the living."
Aren't they just like wild Orcs? Is that why they're always at war?
When I looked at Gwyn-sama, he was averting his eyes. He seems to be self-aware.
"In any case, the strong ones from throughout history have gathered. Once they've had a go at each other, they'll become friends. It will settle down eventually. It's just a matter of deciding on a leader. Even so, the Priests and Priestesses of various regions seem to have worked quite hard. Everyone is speaking fluently."
With a calm face, he was peeking at the situation inside through a gap.
I heard that Finis Priests participate in wars. Their level of experience might be different.
When we peeked together, a wrestling tournament among the ghosts had begun inside. A circle of ghosts had formed around two ghosts facing each other one-on-one, and they were going bakin-bakin.
Well, it's not like things are being broken, so it's fine, but it seems it will take a long time to reach a conclusion.
Leaving Gwyn-sama, who was excitedly cheering them on, I was resting when it seemed the matter was settled.
"It's okay now. Shall we go?"
Following behind the Priest-sama into the room, everyone was sitting quietly in a circle.
The lecturing ghost seemed to have won and was in the center.
"Priest Jeanne. A conclusion has been reached. In respect for you, who aspired to the priesthood, we have decided to wait until you are ready to return to secular life and come as a bride."
The lecturing ghost was smirking, and the ghosts from various regions were nodding with great seriousness.
Is that the conclusion you reached after all that fuss? Besides, even if I were to return to secular life, I never said a word about coming to this land as a bride.
"Until then, we shall gather those who share our aspirations and promise to join forces so that the souls of the living are not needlessly put into the Orbs."
Eh? What did you just...
"We, gathered in this land by the guidance of Priest Jeanne, swear that by the warrior's oath!"
They all stood up at once and struck their left chests with their right fists.
A particularly loud bakin sounded, and the ghosts' bodies glowed.
For a moment, a shock occurred, and the entire hall shook.
At the same time, the Priest-sama spread his arms wide and raised his voice.
"The sacred warrior's oath has now been exchanged. I, the Priest dispatched by the order of the King of the Kingdom of Finis, am the witness. The wish of this Priest Jeanne is the peace and development of the lands you protect with your help. The wish of the King of Finis is also the same. We Priests and Priestesses will also do our best, so shall we not all realize those thoughts together?"
War cries rose, and everyone drained the wine in the cups they held at once. Gwyn-sama was also draining his along with them, but I hope he hasn't been possessed.
"Jeanne. You have given a place of service to us, who remained in our homeland even after death. Eventually, we shall ascend, but until then, we shall firmly keep this covenant."
Starting with the lecturing ghost, everyone came to me in turn and gave a knight's salute.
The ghosts who had greeted me were lined up before me.
"Everyone. Your remaining in this land is, after all, a temporary form. It is hesitant of me to say this, as I am the one who proposed that you enter the Orbs, but I believe your activities will last until you safely ascend. And please, protect the Priestesses and Priests who have continued to watch over the souls of those who threw away their lives to protect this land, so that they may spend their time in peace of mind."
I bowed deeply.
I'm really glad I came.
"Oh, a lady priest who sheds tears for others is a fine thing."
"Umu. This youth is also good. A feast for the eyes, a feast for the eyes."
"You, do not say things that defile Jeanne."
"What are you saying? Your gaze is far more dangerous. You apostate."
"What! Shall we go another round? I fell behind earlier, but it won't go that way this time."
"The match is already decided."
"That's a different story from earlier."
"Hoho. Then, shall we?"
Give me a break, you guys.
The ghosts, laughing and saying it was a joke, decided to drink the additional alcohol that the living current Lord had brought by hand. Pulling Gwyn-sama, who looked like he wanted to drink with them, I had him guide us to the room where the Priestesses were gathered.
"Priest Jeanne. Welcome. Everyone wanted to meet you."
The Priestess introduced the Priestesses from various regions.
Of course, they are all experienced people who have actually charged Orbs.
"Using the method you taught us, we are visiting ghosts along with the Priest-sama, who say they want to be of help to their homeland. Fortunately, with the help of the King, advanced priests have been dispatched to various regions, and we are on track to create powerful Orbs by winter."
"That's good. With this, those who have entered the Orbs until now will also be rewarded."
"Originally, we should have been the ones to enter the Orbs. Now, we are making stone monuments engraved with the names of those who actually entered the Orbs and praying for their happiness every day."
It's as I thought. They regret that they are not the ones entering the Orbs.
"Priestess-sama. I learned in this land that thoughts save people. It's not much of a return coming from someone like me, but I will introduce the words of an excellent priestess I met in Sertoria. That person has already passed away, but when she was alive and I was still an acolyte, she told me this: A priestess is one who lives for the sake of people. That is why they are worthy of being respected by people."
It's the story of Mary's mother. It also applies to priests. I think that's why she told me.
The Priestesses all have their faces downcast.
"For a Priestess-sama, living a long life from now on might be a painful choice in a sense. But if, as a result, many people's lives are saved, is that not exactly the path of a priestess who lives for the sake of people? And I believe that inviting ghosts who want to protect their homeland into the Orbs according to their wishes is also a way to let people live. From now on, please have peace of mind and think of protecting your homeland with the same thoughts as before."
The Priestesses took turns hugging me and saying thank you.
"Hey, Priestess-sama. Are the Orbs used for war too?"
Beatrix was asking the Priestess. Actually, we had been talking about this on the way. If the Orbs were abused and used for war, it would be a disaster. Even if ghosts were recruited and put into Orbs to save people's lives, if they were used as powerful weapons, hundreds of times more people might die.
"They are used for defense. They are not suited for offense."
"Why?"
"Because it goes against the teachings of coexistence and co-prosperity. High-level holy magic can be put into the Orbs, but elemental magic, depending on the type, is at most intermediate level. The Goddess bestowed the sword upon the War God to subjugate monsters. It was not to strike down other living things. Besides, while reclaiming land where ancestors' graves are located is one thing, we Priestesses will never allow them to be used to suppress other lands."
I was relieved to hear that. If they were used in a strange way, I would also be responsible. It's not something I could fulfill even if I died.
"It is decided."
"There is a covenant."
"A covenant?"
There seem to be two covenants.
One is exchanged between the Priestess and the ghost before entering the Orb, clarifying the purpose of use and mutually covenanting that it cannot be used for other purposes.
"The other is the covenant with the Ancient Priestess. The secret art of making the Orbs was devised by one of the Ancient Priestesses... the Priestess who lived in the ruins of the lake where the Water Dragon lives. The chant recited during the secret art contains the wording of that covenant. The konpaku (T/N: 'Konpaku' refers to the two parts of the soul in Chinese/Japanese philosophy; 'Kon' is the spirit, 'Paku' is the physical soul) of the Ancient Priestess-sama still protects the island even now. Therefore, it is impossible to violate the covenant. It is said that there was once someone who tried to put advanced elemental magic into an Orb, but the Orb shattered on the spot and the soul ascended."
That is something I can't ignore. If the Orb Fiona entered were to shatter, what would happen? Would she ascend?
"In the case of Fiona-dono, she would likely become a stray ghost in the lake, but Obaba-sama is at the temple. We have spoken with her to protect her there. Of course, we have also told Fiona-dono."
Then, I'm relieved. However, there was one thing I wanted to confirm.
"Was the art not bestowed by the Goddess, but the art of the Ancient Priestess-sama?"
"Yes. An art devised by the Ancient Priestess-sama. Long ago, in this land... no, probably on this island, human sacrifice was a very common thing. Times have changed, and now it is forbidden in most places. However, it is said that the Ancient Priestess-sama used a part of her own konpaku rather than the souls of others. Priest Jeanne. Is the Black Stone you possess not perhaps such a thing?"
A stone where a part of the Ancient Priestess's konpaku resides...
"If all five are gathered, will something happen?"
"That... I do not know. Because such a thing has never happened before."
According to the Priestess, the Ancient Priestesses were people gathered from various parts of the island, and the five of them had never all been together except when they fought the Demon Race, so the Black Stones must have been dispersed throughout the island as a matter of course.
"However, the art of putting a soul into an Orb exists because there is an art to release the soul put into the Orb. If even a part of the Ancient Priestess's konpaku can be released, something might happen."
"Is there no one among the Priestesses who can do it?"
"Since we do not know the art of putting one's own konpaku into an Orb, we cannot do it. I am sorry we could not be of help."
I was flustered, saying, "No, no."
"Then. If that method is found, can it be recreated?"
Gwyn-sama, who had been listening silently, asked.
"Likely so."
He was nodding, umu.
"Now, including this Jeanne, Medioland and Sertoria are jointly investigating various things passed down from ancient times. Actually, I am also participating. If anything is found, I will tell the Priestesses as well, so I want you to cooperate as much as possible."
"Young Master. Everyone here understands. Please call upon us at any time."
Gwyn-sama, who concluded by saying he was counting on them, made eye contact with the Priest-sama and nodded powerfully.