Chapter 669 - Eighth Story: Magic And Spirit Arts ③
The name of the art the Queen released in magic is Phio Nefor. It's an ancient language. If translated into modern language, it would be Heaven's Roar. As the Lord who was commentating said, it hasn't been passed down to the present. It's an ancient lost magic. After all, the Queen and her group are people who already had the reputation of being evil spirits when the legendary eight heroes were alive. It's understandable that it's not listed in the secret books of the mountain recorded from three thousand years ago. Since it was before the Dragonewts withdrew to the Central Mountain Range, mana must have been dense too.
However, the spiritual power used is equivalent to Cumulonimbus, which means it's ultra-high-level.
Wait? That means my eight-volley is more amazing?
The Priestess is trying her best to imitate it, but she can't do it well. She hasn't even been able to do the part where the yellow light rises at the beginning.
"Queen, excuse me. If possible, I'd like to see it up close, could you do one more?"
"Oh? Did you grasp something?"
"Somehow, I think."
"R-Really?"
Eleanor-sama leaned her face in as if she were about to bite. She must want to learn it. If it's a new magic, it might be impossible at her age.
"W-Well, let's just say we'll see it one more time..."
"Y-Yes. That's right."
I managed to get her to calm down.
I see it again. As I thought. However, there are parts I don't understand.
"How about it? Jeanne. Did you grasp the trick?"
"Um, well. Principle-wise, I think it's like this."
I deactivate the Light. I raise my right hand and release Holy from each of my five fingers. A five-volley.
"I think it's possible if you can release this twice in a row without a moment's delay."
Suppose magic control capability for one ultra-high-level spell is needed for four high-level spells. Since full power produces more than fifty percent more power, even thinking roughly, up to six spells' worth is within the high-level range. If my high-level Holy eight-volley is barely over ultra-high-level, it might be seven spells' worth. In any case, a five-volley doesn't reach the power of an ultra-high-level. Moreover, if the interval between the volleys is long, even two volleys can't be said to be ten spells' worth. The activation itself needs to be almost simultaneous. Since it uses fewer fingers than my eight-volley which uses eight fingers, there should be less dispersion of consciousness. It's a magic that's been refined that much. The required magic control capability would also be larger than other ultra-high-level spells.
"Wonderful. That's exactly right!"
"Oh—!" applause rose from the spectators.
However, this two-volley is tricky. I wonder if it can really be incorporated into a single chant.
"I-I'll try."
For some reason, Eleanor-sama started doing it.
"Energy Bolt!"
Five bolts of lightning fell separately twice. It's two sets of single five-volleys. I think the overall magic control capability itself is on par with ultra-high-level, but she hasn't been able to do the rapid fire. Since it's high-level, the yellow pillar of light doesn't rise.
"H-How is it?"
"As a method, it's not wrong. However, you have to fire it in rapid succession in a single chant without a moment's delay. This, you see, isn't a magic that can be learned easily. For a human, it's because a chant that can incorporate rapid fire is necessary. Since there's no other magic like that, I think it'll be quite hard, but do your best. After that is the aim. At least one volley's worth must fall in the same place, or it won't produce power. You are already ultra-high-level, so I'm sure you can do it."
"I-I understand. I will devote myself!"
She's jumping for joy.
Now, for the important Priestess. In the Priestess's case, she started with the practice of releasing magic from her fingertips. She could do the index finger immediately. Next, she could do the thumb too. However, she can't do the remaining three. She probably hasn't been able to conscious of them enough.
"Hey, Fiona. Emit a little flame. Just a little is fine."
"Yeah, okay."
With a bowatt, her body is clad in pale blue flames.
"Hey, Priestess, come here for a bit."
"Eh, what?"
"Spread your hand and show me."
"Okay, but what is it?"
I flick her middle finger with all my might like a flick of the finger.
"Ouch! What on earth was that?"
She seems to be in pain.
"Try it with that."
"Eh? Ah, I see!"
When she tried it, it came out from the middle finger too.
"I did it! I understand what you mean. Thank you!"
In short, you just need to be conscious of the fingertips. Usually, the fingertips of the index finger and thumb are often used. The three fingers from the middle finger down aren't used with much consciousness. That's all.
"Honestly, teaching it so easily. It can't be helped."
I was flicked on the forehead quite hard by the teacher, the Queen. Since Fiona, who sensed it beforehand, turned off the flames, it was so painful my knees dropped.
As a result of the Priestess flicking her own fingertips, she could release it from all five. A five-volley. However, they fell separately. This is nothing but practice. After that is the two-volley, but like Eleanor-sama, she could do two in a row. Without a moment's delay was impossible. A trick must be necessary.
As a model example, I had her do it one more time, this time aiming at the target, and the huge rock was shattered into pieces. It's a tremendous power.
"As you can see, if you increase the number of volleys, it's over-ultra-high-level. The target is four volleys. The more you increase the number of volleys, the more the attack power increases. But a battle isn't decided by a single shot. Learn to use it by looking at your own strength and the overall flow."
"Yes. I will devote myself."
"Then, shall we challenge the limit of how far you can go? It's okay, ghosts don't fall into darkness. They just become unable to move."
"Heh?"
In the end, the basic line doesn't change.
The Priestess could be said to have done her best. Her aim wasn't steady at all, but while doing it many times, the interval between the volleys gradually shortened, and finally, the yellow pillar appeared. The Queen's passing grade also came out. In other words, she safely promoted to ultra-high-level.
After releasing it, she seemed completely exhausted, and she was standing, or rather, hanging her head, with both hands dangling, floating just a little bit from the ground. There's no rope, but she looks like she's been hanged and is dangling.
When I went to see her out of concern, her open eyes were pitch black. No, these aren't eyes, or rather, they look like nothing but two darknesses. She's opening her mouth sloppily and letting her tongue hang out. Her hair is disheveled, and her complexion isn't just bad. It's close to gray.
"It's okay. If you use up your spiritual power, you become unable to move and end up like that. You see them occasionally, don't you? Those blown by the wind and caught in a tree."
I've never seen one. I mean, if I had seen one, I might have ascended it without question. No matter how you look at it, she looks like nothing but an evil spirit.
"When you first start using spiritual arts, you don't know how to adjust the output, so you tend to become like that by putting too much effort even into basic ones. But it's okay. If you rest like this for a night, you'll recover."
It's still before noon. If a priest who doesn't know sees her, they'll ascend her.
By the way, the Queen's record is four volleys. Ultra-high-level.
"If I pushed myself until I was in the state the Priestess is in now, I think I could do about two more volleys. When I did four volleys, my knee hit the ground, so I stopped there."
The reason she stopped was that as a Queen, she couldn't show her form fallen into darkness to her subordinates. The Priestess became an evil spirit-wannabe with two volleys. It'll be a long time before she catches up with the Queen.
"As expected of my honey. Truly, a natural Queen."
"Ufufu, thank you, darling. I love you."
"I love you too."
"Oh, I'm so happy!"
Even though we were having a serious talk, they returned to their original sweetness. Harold-sama is sighing. Please scold them once.
"I also wanted memories of flirting like that with my honey."
Hey, old man. Do it properly.
Since we couldn't leave the Priestess as an evil spirit-wannabe, I asked for the treatment and was told to stick the stone she possesses to her skin.
I had Eleanor-sama hand over the one she had, took the Priestess's hand, and stuck it to her fingertip.
"Priestess. Look, sleep inside this."
"Hmm... sleep..."
Saying so, unlike usual, she went inside while being dragged in as if she were being pulled, getting caught here and there. Let's let her sleep until tomorrow morning.
"Heaven's Roar... Phio Nefor becomes more powerful the more you repeat the volleys. There is no theoretical upper limit. As you know, mages, perhaps because of their nature, always tend to aim for the top. That's why many, especially young users, challenged the limit and their brains broke and they became invalids. In a sense, it chooses its user. That is why it wasn't passed down to later generations. No, it could be said that it wasn't left behind. Because it's too dangerous. However, if you master it safely, it's one of the strongest magics. I think it's a necessary move to achieve the purpose after death you speak of. And I'm sure you can master it."
Eleanor-sama, who heard the Queen's words, bowed her head deeply in thanks. Normally, it's something that wouldn't be passed on. It seems the Priestess's sense of responsibility as a leader prevented her from falling into darkness. She expected the same from Eleanor-sama, the former Queen.
"I understand. I will master it secretly and not teach it to anyone."
Among those present, those who can be called mages are Eleanor-sama, Wilson-san, and Lyudmila. I am a priest. Harold-sama is basically a scout. He can't even use basic lightning. He probably won't learn it at his age. Wilson-san is a Revenant, and Lyudmila is a Vampire Quarter. I haven't told the Queen the details about Wilson-san or Lyudmila, but she probably understands everything.
When the Priestess finished, it was Fiona's turn. Fiona, who saw the state the Priestess fell into, was scared, but she unexpectedly easily promoted to high-level. She absorbed as much spiritual power as the Priestess did to become ultra-high-level. If you think about it that way, it's understandable. The task the Queen gave was Energy Bolt. Since the Priestess had been firing it all over the place until just now, she must have had a sufficient image. A one-shot clear.
"It's because you're storing spiritual power now. It's only after you use it all up at once that your spiritual power increases."
"Yes! I understand. Thank you very much!"
Fiona, who promoted, is rejoicing, but she's naive. From what the Queen said, she intends to train her until she uses it all up. The real thing starts from here.
As expected, after Energy Bolt, she moved on to training for Heaven's Roar.
In the spectator seats, the Lord is sighing.
"That's not about whether she can do it or not. The purpose is to squeeze out the spiritual power."
An ogre!
Fiona's face has also changed color, but she has no choice but to do it. My condolences.
As a result, a second evil spirit-wannabe was completed, but surprisingly, she even managed to do Heaven's Roar. She promoted to ultra-high-level all at once.
"She's good. I thought she had sense, but to this extent."
"Fiona, you're amazing!"
The Lord and McGuire-san are overjoyed. Fiona is here as the second trainee since the opening of the training ground, after me. In a sense, she's the poster girl. That poster girl became ultra-high-level. This will be a banquet for the whole training ground. The person herself will be sleeping since she became an evil spirit-wannabe.
"Queen! I'll do it too! I'll challenge lightning!"
McGuire-san got motivated. He's emitting pale blue flames. He seems to have put his spirit into it, and he's roaring. It's a little scary.
"Okay. But lightning? You hadn't even learned the basic one yet, had you?"
"No, I'll do it!"
"Alright! That's a man. Good luck."
"Yes!"
As a result, a third evil spirit-wannabe was completed. He didn't even learn the basic one, but well, it can't be helped. The initial conditions are too different. Unlike the Priestess and Fiona, he doesn't have a stone to possess at hand, so they'll tie a rope around his neck and pull him to the temple. If there's no stone, they say they hang them from a branch so they don't get blown away by the wind. It's something that can't be done in town.
"Since something small was coming out from his fingertips, there's a possibility. He might learn the basic one next time."
"Umu. There is nothing but devotion."
I also experienced swinging and missing many times. It doesn't go that well, does it?
By the way, Lyudmila and I received oracles in Finis.
Lyudmila, perhaps because attacking the Demon Race with wind magic was effective, learned the mid-level Clamp Air and the ultra-high-level Tempest. This is her second ultra-high-level. Moreover, even lightning, which she hadn't learned until now, she learned the basic Energy Bolt, the mid-level Lightning, and the high-level Energy Bolt. Her third ultra-high-level is also before her eyes.
And, apparently, her chest has developed by one stage. If she learns magic at this rate, she might surpass Miana, who is expected by the Grande, or rather, the over-Gladys-sama. I miss the days when we were matching.
"I'm sorry, Jeanne."
You don't have to apologize to me!
◆◆◆◆
While Jeanne was receiving an oracle in Finis, in the southeast direction, across the sea and in the interior of the continent, a pair of father and son were talking inside a field tent. The father was Seldic, the King of the Kingdom of Engrio, and the son was Richard, Duke of Roland.
"Congratulations on your victory, Father."
Since they were to pull out of the camp tomorrow, Richard had come all the way to Seldic's tent. They have already concluded a peace treaty with the enemy. The battle itself was over. They are to return home before the arrival of full-fledged winter. Since it's a talk between father and son, the people have been dismissed.
"Victory or whatever, it was just a small skirmish at the border of the territory, wasn't it?"
"That may be so, but since we were always in a superior position and could proceed with negotiations advantageously."
"That's true. Was it worth coming all the way across the sea?"
"Yes."
Originally, the opponent was a relative of the King of East Liber. Duke Boimel, a high noble in southern Kingdom of East Liber. He was the son of the younger brother of the previous King, and since the time of the previous King, he had been opposing the King in everything and starting rebellions. The ostensible aim is the throne itself, but in reality, it's like an expression of will when he doesn't like the King's way of doing things. Since the surrounding nobles also understand that, they sometimes side with Duke Boimel and use it as a means to put pressure on the King. If they win a concession from the King, the rebellion ends.
This rebellion was a criticism of the fact that the territories newly gained through the war with the Kingdom of West Liber last year became, one, the King's direct territory, one, the King's daughter's, and one more, the King's sister's son's, and many southern and western nobles sided with Duke Boimel. In addition, after negotiations with the West Liber side, it was decided to start a rebellion at the same time as the rebellion in the eastern region where many other tribes live. There were expectations that depending on the situation, the King might even abdicate.
For Richard, if the King were forced to abdicate and Duke Boimel took over, it's obvious that interference in his own territory would become intense, so he cooperated with both the King of East Liber and King Seldic, aiming for an early resolution. Fortunately, since there was a prospect that King Seldic would mobilize the entire Engrio Navy for the expedition, he requested that a large army of East Liber be sent to the east first to end the rebellion. At the point when a prospect was established, by rapidly invading the south up the river in late autumn with his father as the King's vanguard, he was able to catch Duke Boimel off guard. Until now, the lower reaches of that river were also the border with West Liber, and moving a large army by ship itself was politically difficult. That entire both banks of the river became their own territory. Moreover, they have completely grasped the local populace. With such circumstances, they used a route that had never been used for troop movement before, taking advantage of the mobility of the ships to move all at once, broke through the enemy front line where defensive facilities were not prepared, and solidified their camp. Most of the main army that went to the east has already returned to the Royal Capital. He succeeded in making the opponent think that if the main army came later by ship using the same route, it would be one-sided, and as aimed, he saw a resolution within the year. Of course, there are no rewards. It was a battle to gain the trust of the King of East Liber and win the safety of his own territory. And Richard won that battle. Of course, Seldic understands everything.
"By the way, Richard. You've heard that the maker of that magic water was almost kidnapped by someone from West Liber, haven't you?"
"Yes. I heard the exclusionists were the masterminds."
Both have sent people involved to the epidemic countermeasure meeting of various nations held in the Duchy of Germania. As every country does, the people accompanying are scouts. Since it was a sensational event, they had received a report detailing what happened.
"Did you get involved in something?"
"As expected, you saw through it."
"What did you do?"
"Both."
Both means, in short, instigating the exclusionists and at the same time manipulating information so that it would reach the ears of Theresia, the Duke of Germania.
"The aim?"
"I wanted to know the reactions of the Northwest Coast Treaty member nations and surrounding countries."
"Did you find out anything?"
"Well. That the Northwest Coast Treaty might conclude a non-aggression alliance with Duke Theresia of Germania, I suppose."
"Why do you think so?"
At Seldic's question, Richard made a surprised face.
"Is it not because they perceive you as a threat, Father?"
For Richard, at the stage where they were gathering as the Northwest Coast Treaty, it was already clear that they were anti-Engrio.
As for the continent, it's actually not much of a threat to the White Island. Because they can't use magic. Even if an army of tens of thousands without magic or anti-magic equipment were to land on the White Island, they would be no match for a thousand mid-level or higher mages. The Northwest Coast Treaty is naive in its current analysis. That's what Richard thought.
"Is it not so?"
"That's right. And their wish would be to conclude a non-aggression alliance with both East and West Liber."
"Yes. But since you are here, Father, they can't even do that."
"You..."
At the teasing way of saying it, his father gave a wry smile. Richard is probably the only one who can speak so bluntly to King Seldic, who is feared both inside and outside the country.
"Undoubtedly, Duke Theresia also wishes for that. However, the Northwest Coast Treaty is probably watching the situation, considering the possibility that the King of East Liber will turn his troops toward West Liber."
"It depends on whether Theresia can conclude a non-aggression alliance with West Liber, then."
"Yes."
"Through this incident, West Liber became indebted to the Northwest Coast Treaty. Since they were even told that the supply of magic water would be stopped. Isn't that your true aim?"
"I am impressed by your insight."
If Duke Theresia of Germania concludes a non-aggression alliance with West Liber, East and West Liber might clash head-on at the border with their main armies.
"Is the target the West?"
"No, the East."
"Will you gain merit and increase our ancestors' land? Won't the King of East Liber be suspicious?"
"If I say give me the land of the West, would the Liber people hand it over?"
"Impossible. It's the land of their origin."
Father and son laughed with each other.
"Do it carefully."
"Yes. I will do it within a range that is not forced."
The strategic meeting between them thus ended in secret.
Class of 175 business scale (excluding personal assets such as cash and jewelry)
・Stores: Main Store (Nakanohara, Kingdom of Sertoria), Store No. 2 (Village near the Sertoria border in eastern Regnentes), Store No. 3 (Royal Capital of Sertoria), Store No. 4 (Flatlands), Temporary Store (Primordia), Store No. 5 (Vectis Island)
・Right of Free Passage and Free Commercial Rights: Medioland, Regnentes, Finis, Northern Gram, Primordia, Engrio
・Special Passage Permit: Primordia
・Fields: Eight fields (including buildings with farm functions)
・Livestock: Goats, sheep, pigs, a few
・Contract Animals: Eight groups of honeybees
Chapter 27 End