Chapter 476 - Seventh Tale: Gnome's Cave (13)
We cleared Gnome's trial. I wonder what the reward is.
The beastmen seem to be expecting the birth of a fifth spirit, but both Gnome and I are against that.
“Jeanne, were you looking for the altar?”
“Yes. You know what the purpose is, right?”
“Yeah, I heard from the Priestess.”
Gnome pointed to the ceiling emitting warm light. The soul of the Ancient Priestess is emitting light.
“However, the Priestess says that the thing you're looking for might be different.”
“Could it be this?”
I show the Black Stone attached to my left arm with the leather pouch with a string that the Priestess of Finis gave me. Is it my imagination, or did the ceiling glow strongly for an instant?
“What's this. You have it. Just that one?”
“No. Actually, I have four.”
The ceiling glowed a bit again.
“Do you understand what kind of things those are?”
To be honest, I don't really know. When I have them against my skin, my magic control power... in other words, the power of my magic increases, and basic magic becomes equivalent to mid-level. And the power of the corresponding first King series magic increases. I've understood that much. Also, I'll probably need them when using [Testament]. I only know about that much.
When I spoke honestly up to that point, he said that was fine.
“As I told you before, the Priestess who lived five thousand years ago worked in various ways to be a mediator between humans and other races.”
“She also fought the Demon Lord, right?”
“She also fought humans.”
Eh? I didn't know that.
“The Priestesses were, in short, those who guided the settlements. They lived together with humans, monsters, and spirits, and protected each land with their magic.”
They didn't fight together...
“I wouldn't say that. Since there was [Teleport]. They probably didn't fight all five together that often, but there must have been times when two or three cooperated.”
I see, that's why it wasn't in the annals. Putting aside the traditions created in various places, in terms of historical fact, it was just a battle between settlements. Now, kingdoms have been formed and transportation has developed, but in an era when there were hardly any highways and many forests remained in the plains, it would have been nearly impossible for an army to move from Finis to Primordia. Judging from the scale in the annals' descriptions, the number of soldiers following them must have been at most several hundred.
“And, unfortunately, there was no one who could succeed them.”
Probably, the five were prominent figures at the time. They fought the Demon Lord's army in various places, defeated and sealed powerful demons.
“That's right. Exactly prominent figures. Those exceptional talents appeared in this land at the same time five thousand years ago.”
I can't imagine how amazing they were, but they must have been a group of incredibly strong monsters.
“For example, Eleanor, was it. You are also quite powerful, but what do you think of the Priestesses of that time?”
“I succeeded in subjugating the Demon Lord together with my husband Henry and our companions. However, we struggled quite a bit. Many people took turns challenging him. The fact that we were able to successfully slay him was just because we happened to be there at that timing.”
“Hoho, how humble.”
“Even within the range of human legends, there are those who challenged the Demon Lord's cave and achieved the subjugation on their first intrusion. Probably, an era when there was no silver. Even if we met them in our prime, we wouldn't be able to stand against those legendary heroes.”
The legendary eight of Finis, probably. The priest among them subdued the border lord alone and defeated the Queen.
“Much less, we are no match for the five Ancient Priestesses.”
Eleanor-sama looks at Henry-sama. Henry-sama nods slowly.
Even though they were called the strongest in history while active, they have this attitude. How strong were the legendary eight and the Ancient Priestesses?
“Don't worry about it. It's basically impossible in this era.”
“Why is that?”
“You are a user of attribute magic and non-attribute magic, aren't you?”
“Is non-attribute magic, for example, magic like [Teleport] or [Camouflage]?”
“That's right.”
“If so, it is as you say.”
“Umu. The Priestesses of that time were also warriors who took up weapons themselves and fought, and priests who healed the injured and sick.”
“T-That is... certainly, it's impossible now. There is no one who uses such magic, as far as I know.”
I've never heard of someone who uses attribute magic and holy magic at the same time. However, there are those who use other magic and holy magic. For example, Marcelo-san is a high-level magic user in both movement-type magic and holy magic. Incidentally, there are quite a few holy magic users who are good at using weapons. It's probably because they learn staff techniques. A silver staff exerts considerable power against monsters.
“However, Gnome. Was that Priestess truly just a human? Henry and I, as you see, subjugated the Demon Lord with our companions and interacted with heroes from various countries, including the continent. However, I have never met anyone like the person Gnome just described. I'm sorry, but I can't quite believe the story just now.”
It's Henry-sama. However, in the case of non-humans, wouldn't it be difficult to use holy magic? Spirits are fundamentally different, and for monsters, using holy magic itself would cause damage to themselves.
“Of course, she was human. And, probably, while you are alive, you won't meet such a user.”
“Just why is that?”
“It's the cycle of time.”
“The cycle of time?”
The conversation has become somewhat difficult.
Gnome says that just as there are four seasons in a year, in the long flow of time, there's something like a large swell of magic power filling the island. There are two swells: the swell of the four elements and the swell of the five elements. Since it's four and five, the width or interval of the swells is basically different. And each swell combines once every twenty times to produce a large swell. In terms of years, it's once every twenty years. In other words, there's a relatively large swell of magic power once every twenty years, and the magic control power and magic defense power of humans and monsters influenced by it become stronger. And the difference in ability is apparently more conspicuous for humans who are originally weak.
“Let's say once every twenty years is once every forty years for the second time. Compare now and twenty years ago or forty years ago. Is there any commonality among human heroes? Of course, since time doesn't cycle that strictly, there will be a difference of several years.”
At Gnome's question, Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama looked at each other and then both looked down slightly. It must be hard to say it themselves.
“I believe the age difference between Henry-sama and Roberts-sama was about that much, wasn't it?”
“W-Well, that's right.”
Both look happy. Even if they don't reach the legendary heroes or Ancient Priestesses, they are the chosen strongest heroes within their generation.
“Who is Roberts?”
It's natural Gnome doesn't know. I explain this and that.
“Hmm. In other words, that person and his son are strong ones who gained power through the cycle of time. Besides, they seem quite strong for those born during a stagnation period.”
“I am grateful.”
“Thank you.”
The names of the strongest in history for both the current and previous generations were not for show.
Gnome further explains that rather than once every twenty years, the swells once every two hundred years and once every two thousand years are larger. That would be so. However, swells of once every two thousand years or more don't happen that easily. It's the limit.
“A swell once every two thousand years?”
“That's right. Now, it corresponds to a stagnation period. Exactly a thousand years ago was the peak.”
A thousand years ago, and further saying, three thousand years ago and five thousand years ago... It almost matches the dates of the ruins we're looking for...
“That's right. The Ancient Priestesses who existed five thousand years ago as you say, and the ones who built the ruins three thousand years ago that you're looking for, and further saying, the one who visited the Earth Dragon a thousand years ago. They would all correspond to those who gained the power of the swell.”
That's what it was. That's why even though the eras were far apart, there were parts that were somehow similar.
“By the way, Jeanne doesn't seem to be an ultra-high-level magic user, but what kind of magic do you use?”
While I was just listening to the large-scale story, the conversation was suddenly thrown to me. As I was asked, I explained that I'm a high-level magic user and can use holy magic and the first King series.
“Is that all?”
“Yes. I'm a priest, after all.”
“Hmm. I thought you'd do a bit more.”
“Ah, I'm sorry.”
For some reason, I'm a slow learner. I'm doing my best to hit with [Holy], but I don't know what's lacking.
“What do you think?”
Gnome said while looking at the ceiling. Whether he's having a conversation, he's nodding 'fun-fun.'
“Henry. How do current humans learn magic?”
“It is granted through the oracle delivered to the Priestess at the temple.”
“I see. The cause might lie around there.”
“What do you mean?”
“That Priestess who delivers the oracle is human, right?”
“Umu.”
“She's someone who gained the power to diagnose, not magic. However, she's not necessarily well-versed in magic. Therefore, there is magic that cannot be taught. Of course, it's also conceivable that some kind of social pressure or restriction is being applied.”
Social pressure... Could it be the Church?
“Such things certainly exist. And many things must have been lost in the conflicts between people.”
It's Eleanor-sama. She's also going around exploring things that were lost.
“That's a shame for humans.”
“Yes.”
When Gnome raised his bowl with alcohol, the two raised their respective bowls to match.
“Let's get back to the main topic.”
Gnome placed his bowl on the table.
“In my opinion, Jeanne has magic control power equivalent to an ultra-high-level magic user.”
“Yes. I think so too.”
Eleanor-sama agreed with Gnome's words.
Well, as you can see, I'm a user of eight high-level spells. An eight-volley shot is over-ultra-high-level. That's compared to a single shot, though.
“And, you know light magic. Do you know how frequently a user of light magic appears?”
It should be once every two hundred years. That means they appear in accordance with the swell once every two hundred years. Around the time Roberts-sama started being called the strongest warrior in history, I learned [Light]. And two hundred years before that, probably the first King learned [Light].
“You know well. Then, you also know that the first King of your country, who was the previous user of light magic, could only use light magic up to basic level.”
That would be so. The first King shouldn't have held a Black Stone.
“And, the user four hundred years ago, and the user six hundred years ago before that, and even the user eight hundred years ago before that, could only use basic level. Jeanne is the first user of high-level or higher in a thousand years.”
No, no, wait a minute. Please don't make me 'the first in a thousand years' on your own.
“The reason I became able to use high-level magic is because I had the Black Stone and...”
I hurriedly try to cover it up.
“I know. Your innate magic control power is at most mid-level.”
Ah, so that was the case. That's a bit subtle, but...
“However, those who can hold a Black Stone are limited. Because the stone has a will of its own.”
He's laughing 'wah-hah-hah.'
“Just what does that mean?”
Eleanor-sama asks with a dead serious face.
Oh no, because James-sama isn't here, no one is laughing. Gnome is coughing as if to gloss it over, but he's a bit displeased.
“What was the situation when Jeanne first held that stone?”
I got the Black Stone representing the Sun, corresponding to [Light] magic, from the ghost of King Griffith. Thinking about it, an ordinary person would never get it in the first place.
“Right? And, didn't you already know [Light] at that time?”
“Yes. I only knew [Light].”
“Right, right. That's why the effect of the Black Stone was activated. If you hadn't known [Light] at that time, it shouldn't have activated.”
Well, I thought about that much. After all, it was made by people who have become legends.
“Can you understand how rare it is for a person to encounter such an event?”
“Yes. That's right.”
I don't know how much, but it must be quite rare.
At that time, we defeated a snake. It was also revenge for Flora's companion, and I thought I'd protect the land we were going to buy.
“I see. You helped a spirit and defeated a magic beast. And now, you're living hand in hand with that spirit.”
He's nodding as if to say 'un-un.'
“Probably, that King named Griffith knew that Jeanne used [Light]. And, seeing how you used it, he probably thought that if it's Jeanne, she's worthy of being entrusted with it.”
No matter what happens, in the end, it is entrusted to the person it should be entrusted to. That is apparently the will of the Black Stone.
There's one strange one. The one stolen by mercenaries. Without knowing how to use it, it was eventually presented to the Morandine royal family and kept. However, that also represents the mysteriousness of the Black Stone in a way. It's obvious at a glance that it was processed by human hands, but something whose purpose is unknown has remained without being lost for many years.
“If you're of the Sertoria royalty, you should know. About the Black Forest.”
“Yes. I am aware. I heard that an Elf who was in that forest dug up a source of magic power, and as a result of a large amount of extremely dense magic power gushing out, all living things living in that forest turned into monsters.”
“Umu. You know well. Among spirits with power like ours, putting aside the newly born Fire, when I, Water, and Wind... I'm telling you, it's not the current ones, it's the previous ones... sensed that event, the gushing itself had mostly subsided. In other words, it was too late. We had no choice but to try to narrow the outflow area.”
The area contaminated by dense magic power is partitioned by mountains, rivers, and coastlines. The spirits held it back within that range...
“There were such things behind that event.”
“Umu. Now, the main topic starts from here. Can you imagine that that caused a disturbance in the swell?”
“N-No. Not that far... Is that so?”
“Yeah. It was an unfortunate accident, but at the same time, you could say it brought about a transformation.”
The accident was four thousand years ago. In other words, it corresponds to a stagnation period. Does that mean the interval of the large swell shifted by a thousand years?
“No. Not that much. The swell itself hasn't changed. However, in a period that should originally correspond to a stagnation period, a somewhat large swell started to occur anew. And, influenced by that new powerful swell, those with strong abilities started to appear. Humans are the weakest, so they are easily influenced by magic power. Probably, that is you, the heroes living in the present, and Jeanne.”
Um, I'm not that strong.
“A user of [Light] just uses special magic, they're not that strong.”
Ah, is that so. It's subtle when said so clearly, but I can understand.