Chapter 668 - Eighth Story: Magic And Spirit Arts ②
"Jeanne, you really are amazing."
"Eh? You think so?"
The Priestess, who slipped out of Eleanor-sama, jumped at me. Since she was emitting pale blue flames and banging on my left shoulder, Fiona disliked it and was sticking out halfway on the right side. Three legs, three hands, and two necks. It became like a new species of monster.
"I mean, your name is remembered by the Demon Lord!"
"It wasn't just me, right?"
"And you made the Demon Lord laugh!"
I might be able to boast about that a little. Especially to the Vice-Demon Lord and the female Demon Race member in Engrio.
"Man, as expected, being under the protection of the Four Great Spirits is different. I'll do my best too."
I don't know what it is, but she reached a conclusion on her own.
"No, no, it's as the Priestess says. You are amazing!"
Even Harold-sama, who appeared before I knew it, got involved.
"Beatrix, who I'm indebted to, and Wilhelmina over there are the same, but the women of Sertoria have hair growing on their hearts." (T/N: A Japanese idiom meaning 'to be thick-skinned' or 'to have nerves of steel')
Is he praising us or insulting us, which is it?
"However, I messed up. I was still immature."
Because your location was exposed by the Demon Lord.
"I also wanted the Demon Lord to remember my name."
That part? Isn't having your face and name remembered by the enemy of humanity a failure as a scout?
"I've already retired."
Ah, yes. That's right. My apologies.
I don't know why, but while being pestered incessantly, I returned to the tower, and a bandit was waiting alone.
"The enemy has withdrawn. There was no raid from the ground either. The Royal Capital is the same."
As expected, it was just a diversion.
"Good work. Any change in the sky?"
"From what can be seen from the ground, there's nothing particularly noteworthy."
"Understood. We will go up to the sky now. I'm sorry, but please continue the alert for a while longer."
"Understood."
"Ah, also, please let me provide beer to everyone who participated in this battle. Let's see, about five barrels. I'll also raise your pay. I'll contact the palace myself."
"Thank you very much!"
The bandit who gained a special reward made a guts pose and jumped up via Teleport. I hope he doesn't hit his head on the ceiling when he arrives at the top.
We went up to the sky again, but the clouds of the barrier had disappeared.
"As expected, they moved it."
Eleanor-sama's shoulders slumped in disappointment.
"Can't we go to the world where the Demon Lord is?"
It was Harold-sama. Did he want to go that much?
"I think we could go if we knew where it was moved to, but..."
"I see..."
As expected, his shoulders slumped in disappointment.
After all, the sky is wide. For example, even if it was moved the distance of one station, searching would be nothing but a waste of time. Clouds are floating everywhere. Checking them one by one is an impossible task.
"I think it'll be fine."
It's the Priestess. Does she have some clue?
"It might be easy if there was a clue. But even without one, we can go."
"Is that true?"
"Can we go?"
They all bit at once.
"It might be impossible while we're alive. But we're going after we become ghosts, right?"
"Well, that's true, but."
"For example, I've been a ghost for a thousand years."
"So it seems."
"In other words, time is infinite, right? Whether it's a thousand years or ten thousand years."
Well, that might be so. However, I don't think there will always be someone who will carry the stone she possesses up to the sky.
They could go if they used Necromancy, but the delinquent old men with strong personalities would want to move by their own will.
"It's fine. If you die leaving a lingering regret for the sky. At that time, carry my stone. That's right, why don't you just die in the sky when you die?"
Die in the sky? How?
"Dying in the sky... How romantic."
I'm sorry, Eleanor-sama. I can't empathize at all.
Setting aside the miscreants who were getting excited about dying in the sky and becoming ghosts in front of a priest, we returned to the fortress. Since there was no change, the normal security system was restored.
Wilson-san also came down, and the beer Eleanor-sama mentioned was transferred from the Royal Army. It became a banquet including those on standby, and we had a debriefing.
Unfortunately, we couldn't crush the place where the Demon Lord revives, but we were able to delve quite deep into the mystery of the Demon Lord's revival, which was the original purpose. Until now, various theories had been discussed regarding the death and revival of the Demon Lord. There are two theories that were considered influential. One is the Demon Lord Vengeful Spirit Theory. One is the Demon Lord Reincarnation Theory.
The Vengeful Spirit Theory is that the Demon Lord is a vengeful spirit and does not perish even if subjugated. The soul that slips out of the corpse wanders out to somewhere, and eventually, the person it is taken into becomes the new Demon Lord. This is a theory that has been advocated since long ago and is widely spread among the general public.
The Reincarnation Theory is that the Demon Lord's soul ascends, but returns to the ground to become a new Demon Lord, which is similar to the way of thinking about life after death for humans. When a new life is lodged in a mother's womb, a soul is also lodged. It's unknown whether it's a completely new soul or the soul of someone who lived before. A deceased person's soul is not necessarily lodged in a human, and even if a reincarnated person is born, it's unknown because no one has memories of their previous life. However, it is interpreted that souls summoned to the Goddess's side are returned to this world for some reason. This part is not written in the doctrine books, so it depends on the sect or the leader. This theory is supported mainly by those who were involved in the subjugation of the Demon Lord and directly confronted the Demon Lord, like Henry-sama and the others, and the church's interpretation at the present time is close to this.
And actually, there is one more. It's the theory claimed by Demon Lord worshippers called the Demon Lord Descent Theory. It's an interpretation that there are several other worlds besides the world where the Goddess lives, and one of them is a world controlled by the Demon Lord. The Demon Lord is the general of the vanguard sent from there to try to suppress this world. The Demon Lord worshippers want to somehow curry favor with the Demon Lord. And they believe that the day the Demon Lord suppresses this world is when their spring will come. This is a relatively new theory. In short, it's a hobby for idle people. It has nothing to do with those who live their days earnestly.
What we found out through the exploration we called an experiment this time is a feeling of taking three-quarters of a mix of the Vengeful Spirit Theory and the Reincarnation Theory, and filling the rest with the Demon Lord Descent Theory. In other words, every theory had its own reason. Since the theory advocated by the Priestess's master is also like that, it might be the most persuasive at the present time.
"Maybe so. But I don't think there's any point in saying that. We ghosts are the same, but humans are like dust compared to the Goddess. I mean, we don't even understand the things of this world. Well, it's up to the individual to claim various theories, but even if they were right, it's just a coincidence. I don't think it counts as having understood it."
The Priestess's argument is that after death, everything should be left to the Goddess, and one should just do their best in their current situation. A thousand years ago, death must have been more familiar than in modern times. That in itself has sufficient persuasiveness.
"Thinking is important too, but you can't see unless you act."
As expected of someone who has been the Priestess for a thousand years. She's thinking about things very flexibly.
"So, let's live our best now, and when we die, let's go see the Demon Lord together with me."
Isn't that a line from a Demon Lord worshipper?
In the end, the prevention of the Demon Lord's revival by deploying the heroes was postponed. I think details will be included in the report to the Medioland Royal Capital Great Church, but it seems they will add the view that it's currently impossible. So, it seems we can spend from December to February as usual.
After reporting to the King, I thought we would disband, but we went to Primordia for one night, then went to the north and were taken to the border Lord's place.
The month changed and it became December. Since it's the north, and a pass at that, honestly, it's cold. Won't it start snowing soon here?
If it snows heavily around the end of the year, it'll be closed off. So, many people are coming and going, seemingly working hard on last-minute trade. It seems to have become an annual tradition.
By the way, regarding those who have come for training, all the mages will return home by the end of the year, while conversely, all the priests will remain.
"Long time no see! Have you been well?"
Since the Priestess said she wanted to meet the border Lord and the Queen, we flew the bowl here. She seems to want to share information about this experience among fellow ghosts.
It's the first time for Harold-sama and Lyudmila. The opponent is a Lord. Harold-sama gave a knight's bow, and Lyudmila gave a formal bow with her right leg pulled back, each giving their first meeting greetings.
"Oh, you... Fufufu, well, fine. Nice to meet you."
"Yes. Nice to meet you."
It seems she noticed Lyudmila's true identity at a glance.
We enter the temple and close the door. When talking about private matters, it's usually like that. To toast with Finis liquor, the Priestess dissolved her merger with Eleanor-sama.
"Oh, you. You've become quite strong."
"Right?"
"Hmm. Quite powerful. Isn't the spiritual power itself not much different from ours?"
"It's not just me. Fiona too."
The one who had been merged with me to surprise them slipped out.
"Your Excellency, Okugata-sama, how is it?"
She erupts with pale blue flames with a bowaa. They've become much larger than before.
"Wait a minute. It's definitely high-level spiritual power. No, maybe even more. What on earth happened?"
The Queen is surprised. After all, it's an event of only two or three days, including travel.
"Yay!" the Priestess and Fiona high-fived.
My colleague McGuire-san is dazed. If I recall, he was already high-level. Could it be Fiona overtook him?
"...And so, such a thing happened. I've come to tell you two by all means."
At Eleanor-sama's explanation, the Queen stared intently and compared the Priestess and Fiona, and the Lord crossed his arms. McGuire-san is listening with a solemn face.
"To think the Demon Lord was such an existence."
"As expected, you don't understand unless you confront him directly."
The two have no experience of fighting the Demon Lord. Because he didn't revive when they were alive.
"And so, as Eleanor-san said, I've also powered up, and I'm thinking of challenging the Demon Lord."
"I understand the feeling, but you'll only be destroyed if you're half-hearted. From what I've heard, it would be quite impossible in your current state."
"Right. So, I was wondering if I could also train here sometimes."
The border Lord and the Queen are the strongest ghosts I know. Since the former Lords of Finis admit it, there's no mistake. Moreover, their experience is completely different. After all, they lived in ancient times. They seem to know various lost secret arts too. The Priestess probably wants to train here and become strong enough before launching a raid on the Demon Lord's world. After all, she's eternally nineteen. She still has room to grow.
"I don't mind that. However, is the level we can teach enough? You'd want to become stronger... at least enough to surpass us, right?"
"Yeah. I want to. But I haven't caught up at all yet. And, I don't know a better place than here. So, until I can at least stand shoulder to shoulder with you, I'd be grateful if I could train here."
"What about your role as the Priestess?"
"Certainly, I have things I must do in Primordia as a leader. But, I was allowed to go on a business trip for about three days and two nights once a month. Of course, there are times I can't come, and even when I can, I'll keep in touch at all times. But, since Fiona is doing it, it's possible, right?"
The Priestess said so and showed Cadogan-sama's letter of recommendation. I also showed the second stone I had been keeping for the Priestess to possess. It's the second, smaller one used in previous expeditions. Sianya manages the large first one.
She's serious.
The Priestess has come this far after discussions with the King of Primordia, Cadogan-sama, and also Sianya and the Wetlands Knight Order.
"This was entrusted to me by the King of Primordia and Archbishop Cadogan, the head of the Royal Capital Great Church. They say if the Priestess is to be in your care, they will offer this as a contribution toward expenses."
Eleanor-sama placed a leather bag with a dosa. The weight is different. When opened, it's filled with gold coins.
"Also, regarding Finis and Northern Gram, we've talked to them privately through the Class of 175. If you approve, I have a letter from the King of Primordia, so I will go and greet them directly after leaving here."
No one would refuse after being shown such seriousness. It was decided that the Priestess would train, and everyone toasted in celebration.
"Then, shall we try learning one ultra-high-level right away?"
"Is it okay? Yay!"
Is it such a simple thing?
When I asked Fiona, it's about spiritual power, and if you become able to handle enough spiritual power to challenge a higher rank, you can challenge it. However, it's not just that spiritual power has increased; it seems images are important after all.
Come to think of it, the Priestess said that when she was alive, she would pay her master to see the magic she wanted to learn over and over again to learn it.
The Priestess is high-level in wind and lightning. The rest would be dark magic. It seems holy magic becomes unusable once you become a ghost, and even if you use it, you'll just self-destruct, so currently she's on the mage course. So, it's not the method I did of firing holy magic at the pale blue flames of a ghost until fainting.
We go outside to the training ground set up a little distance away. Since it's for mages only during training, Henry-sama, Will, and Bonnie weren't allowed in. On top of that, those who were allowed in were made to take a Vow of Silence. Usually, they don't do such a thing. I wonder what on earth they're going to do.
The training ground is a square surrounded by a circular stone wall about twenty large strides in diameter, with the ground packed firm. It was made for mage training. I also saw it once before.
The Lord brings a huge rock and places it in the middle. It must be the target.
Since there's also an evacuation area for spectators, we retreated there and blocked it with a Light wall. This way, it'll be fine even if it misfires. The Lord merged with Harold-sama, and Fiona with me.
The entrance gate was closed, and it began.
"Then, chant Heaven's Roar. The target can be the ground instead of the rock."
If it were magic used by humans, it would be Energy Bolt.
"Alright! Here I go—Heaven's Roar!"
A single bolt came with a dokan.
Next was the ultra-high-level model performance. Since it's probably Cumulonimbus, it'll be full of clouds. I'm worried whether I can see it properly.
"Watch closely."
"Yes."
When the Queen raised her right hand high, the Priestess was watching while leaning forward as if bracing herself.
"Now, here I go."
Yellow light rose like a pillar from the Queen's right hand toward the sky.
"Phio Nefor!" (T/N: Heaven's Roar)
About ten Heaven's Roars fell without a moment's delay with a dokan-dokan. Large holes are opened where they fell. However, I felt like I heard the sound twice. Perhaps she fired two volleys of five or six in rapid succession.
"T-That is..."
Eleanor-sama was dazed. She didn't seem to know.
"It's a single-target attack magic that hasn't been passed down to the present. I think the only one in the wide world who can master it, besides the Vampire Progenitor, is my honey. Unlike the cumulonimbus... Cumulonimbus, you can aim. Even if it looks like that, she's holding back quite a bit."
The Lord, merged with Harold-sama, explains. He came here as a commentator. Certainly, even the high-level Demon Race and the Demon Lord weren't firing anything that amazing. At most, it would be a series of Energy Bolts. Or do they fire it casually in the other world where they can show their true potential?
"Just to be sure, my honey doesn't use that kind of thing."
It's confusing, so please stay quiet, main body.