Chapter 693 - Chapter Seven: The Ruined Town ③
Even though it was taken over, the teachings regarding Forbidden Magic remained for a long time. After all, there were petitions from lords all over the island, excluding the remote Finis. I think it was also bad on the Southern Church's part that they didn't listen to what those people said. However, resorting to military force and, to top it off, destroying the church is out of the question.
"Based on those reflections, currently, the momentum to accept the Southern Church's claims is increasing."
Hearing that the kinsmen of his hated enemies were destroyed or exiled, the ghost is quietly listening to Price-sama's story.
"Especially regarding the treatment of Forbidden Magic, opinions are being put forward and currently under consideration that it should be restored with restrictions so that people are not mobilized for war or labor."
The ghost is still silent.
"As you probably know, I hear that the magic Testament, which seals the Demon Lord, sleeps in the basement of the Southern Church. And Jeanne, who uses Light magic like this, is here with us."
As expected, he's silent.
"If you cooperate with us, there's a possibility of making great progress toward the restoration of Forbidden Magic."
This is the critical moment. If it's still no good, there's only one thing left to do...
Price-sama was also silent for a while. He's watching the opponent's reaction. As long as he is a priest, he won't be governed only by emotions. In fact, the priest in front of us hasn't become an evil spirit. He's probably just a monitor. Surely, he must have the duty of protecting Testament, which requires the use of Forbidden Magic, and at the same time, declassifying it depending on the changes in the world. I want to think so.
"You, are you called Jeanne?"
"Ah, yes. I am Bishop Jeanne."
The third 'sonata' (you) user has appeared.
"Hoh, you are a Bishop even though you haven't aged much, and as a woman at that."
"Yes. Thanks to everyone."
A female Bishop younger than me is right next to me, but I shouldn't say that.
"How many Light magics can you use?"
"I can use five for now."
"The rank?"
"I'm ultra-high-level, for now."
"I see, then you have five of the treasures... the black flat stones... don't you?"
"Yes. Including the ones I borrowed, I have five."
He tells me to show them, so I show the ones I'm wearing. He told me to tell him the circumstances of how I obtained them, so I explained everything. However, since the Engrio Archbishop is here, I glossed over the Water Dragon and the Purification Orb and said the Priestess of the temple lent them to me.
"Fumu. Then, you. Did you read the Secret Books managed by the dwarves?"
"Yes. It wasn't just me, though."
Not all of them, but everyone here was involved.
"Is that so. Then, you read all five books, didn't you?"
"Yes. It seems they can't even enter beyond the wall or read the books unless I'm there."
"Is that so."
The ghost was thinking with his arms folded, but he said 'I understand' in one word.
"Will you cooperate with us?"
Price-sama asks as if relieved. Since he said he understood, he'll probably tell us what he knows.
"Yeah, but there's a condition."
"What kind of condition?"
"I will talk only to Jeanne and that girl from the Western Church..."
"I am called Sianya."
Sianya, who perceived quickly, answered for herself.
"Was it Sianya. I will talk only to you two."
Um, talking only to two girls is not a calm situation.
"W-What are you saying! Even though I look like this, I am also a priest. Do not have strange thoughts!"
"S-Sorry."
This is bad, I made him angry.
"Are the people of the Northern Church still no good?"
"Yeah, I myself think that emotional grudges are not worthy of a priest, but as expected, it's impossible."
"Understood. We shall retreat. However, is it alright if the two of them talk to us later? If necessary, I'll have them make a Vow of Silence, but."
"No need. If the user of Light magic and the priest of the Western Church judge that it's alright to talk, then talk. The fact that I cannot talk to the people of the Northern Church is my personal petty emotion. Overlook it."
"I apologize for being an immature person who cannot even perceive your feelings."
"It's fine. If you had been in charge of the Northern Church at that time, such a thing would not have happened."
"I am grateful for your excessive words."
And so, I and Sianya ended up dealing with the ghost by ourselves.
After confirming that the two Archbishops had returned to the boat, we moved onto the stone pavement, saying a place where we could sit would be better. Since I have a water bottle with wine, Highway Cookies, and dried meat, I offered them all, and he chose the Highway Cookies. High-ranking priests tend to choose Highway Cookies. Surely this ghost is also an Archbishop-class in today's terms.
Since Sianya had a bowl, we toasted.
"Come to think of it, I haven't named myself yet. First, we must get to know each other well. I am Erikson, the Head of the Southern Church. My title is Grand Archbishop. Though now 'former' would be attached. Ah, since I am a ghost, I don't have the ring that indicates my rank."
Of all people, the most important one came out!
If I recall, the rank of Grand Archbishop at the time was held by the South, and I heard the North took it over after the conflict between the North and South. The one in front of me is the top of the White Island from a thousand years ago.
"I am Sianya of the Western Church. My rank is Bishop."
"I-I am Jeanne of the Kingdom of Sertoria. I am unaffiliated with any church. My rank is Bishop."
I don't know the reason why Sianya is so composed.
"Fumu. You are a stray."
"Yes. I chose to be a stray for a reason."
"How is it, having tried it?"
"I think it's good because it's carefree. Also, I can meet various people."
"For example, me?"
"That's right."
Since he said it while laughing, I accidentally laughed along.
"There aren't many who try to have a drink with a ghost like me. Moreover, the way you do it is practiced. Not only that, you're even prepared. You must have met various people. This is just between us, won't you tell me a little what kind of people you met? If you like, I'll even make a Vow of Silence."
When I requested a Vow of Silence, he raised his eyebrows as if surprised, but after breaking into a smile, he did it properly. Sianya did it too.
"I'm looking forward to it. I wonder what kind of people's names will come out."
Um, the biggest ones would be the Four Great Spirits. Next would be dragons? The Ice Vice-Demon Lord would be about after that? After that... spirits, dwarves, elves, dryads, alraunes, goblins...
"W-Wait a moment! The Four Great Spirits and the four attribute dragons? Moreover, the Ice Vice-Demon Lord? Is that true? Is that?"
Sianya put her hand to her mouth and burst out laughing.
"Yes, it's true. But I've only been able to have a banquet with the Vice-Demon Lord twice."
"Only twice? Isn't it 'as many as twice'?"
"But I've had banquets with other races many times."
"You, just who are you?"
Who or what, I'm just a stray priest.
Sianya even started laughing out loud.
"According to the spirits, Jeanne is special, you know."
I don't want to be told that by a princess.
I surprised Erikson-sama, but thanks to that, his attitude changed. The thought of coexistence and co-prosperity is the same. He seems to have recognized that we are different from the scoundrels who destroyed the Southern Church as a result of the conflict. While I was telling the story of how I got to know the Four Great Spirits and the four attribute dragons as I was asked, we became quite close. It seems he took a liking to me.
"Well then, is it about time. I understand your thoughts well. And probably Price's thoughts too."
"Thank you very much."
With that, what Erikson-sama began to talk about was Testament.
"Since you said you read the Secret Books, you must know that various materials were brought in too."
"Yes. We are currently investigating. I think it'll be over in one or two more times."
"Fumu. Was that so. Well, fine. Did you see the scrolls in the wooden boxes?"
"I saw some of them."
"I see. Then, I shall tell you what is not written in those."
"T-Thank you very much."
This has become a big deal. I have to have Sianya remember it.
"First, the place where Testament is."
"Y-Yes."
I gulp down my saliva.
"It's deep in the basement of the church at the time."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, I heard from the head of the neighborhood association... or council... that the church itself still remains. I think he called himself Servetus or something. I forgot his real name. I think he's the king's son."
I recall he's the person the Henry Party captured and made a prisoner.
"The church exists. I saw the building that was explained as such. But I heard they didn't find an entrance to the basement."
Of course, it's already been investigated. Regarding whether it's a wall that can only be erased with Light, they apparently tried scratching every single stone with tools. I heard there were no stones that weren't scratched. Even if it's a wall sealed with both Dark and Light attributes, it wouldn't be scratched by steel tools.
"That is precisely why the secret is a secret. Because you use Teleport to go to the basement of the church."
"Was that so."
If you say so, that's true. The Priestess who was in Primordia protected the black stones by giving the Teleport scrolls to Keira. It's natural that the same mechanism exists. I didn't think that far.
"Then, is that Teleport around the cliff on the opposite bank of the river?"
"Cliff? The cliff has nothing to do with it for now."
'For now' means it'll have something to do with it eventually.
"The stone pavement you are sitting on. This is it."
"Eh?"
I look down in a panic. This is the magic circle? Nothing is drawn on the surface. Even if I stroke it, there's no feeling of something carved in. Don't tell me it's been erased by a thousand years of wind and snow?
"No need to worry. It's the opposite side."
"The magic circle is drawn on the back of the stones."
The back means we just have to flip them over?
"That's right. Otherwise, the magic circle carved into the stones would be worn away. These stones are placed on soft soil. It's a mechanism where if you flip these over and line them up, the magic circle appears."
I see. That's why they were keeping people away from here.
"Which means, the execution ground is..."
"A complete lie."
Is it alright for a priest to tell a lie?
"I am not the one who spread it. It's the surrounding residents."
He's grinning. Pretending not to know isn't forbidden.
Anyway, the place was found. To be precise, I found it... or rather, the way to go was somehow managed.
"By the way, regarding the activation of Testament, it's said that you have to shine the sun's light on the magic circle, but."
"Umu. It's explained that way."
"How do you bring the sun's light into the basement?"
"There's no way you can bring the sun's light into the basement. Put that aside for a moment and try to infer from other conditions."
"Other conditions?"
"Yeah, the place was found. Next is the timing."
"By timing, for example, would the summer solstice or winter solstice be fine?"
"Why would the summer solstice or winter solstice be related?"
"Is it different?"
"Different. Anyway, I don't understand the reason why the summer solstice or winter solstice would be involved."
Well, that might be so. Originally, to investigate the timing accurately, the position of the sun is the most accurate, and among those, the noon of the summer solstice or winter solstice is the easiest to understand.
"It's not such a simple thing."
"Sorry."
If so, I have no idea at all.
"Then, when is it?"
Sianya asked for me.
"When do you think?"
Saying that is what makes you disliked by young people.
According to Erikson-sama's ghost, the timing itself is not written in the materials brought to the Cave of Secret Books either.
"It's not written directly, but it's written indirectly. The point of materials, and legends, is how to read the background of what is written in characters."
Before I knew it, it's become like a lecture!
Now, I have no choice but to have Sianya work hard.
But, written indirectly...
"Do you know the alias of Testament?"
Alias... Was there such a thing?
"Is it Theurgy?"
Sianya answered. Come to think of it, Harris-sama was saying that. Was that an alias?
"Umu. You have studied well."
As expected of someone belonging to the Western Church.
"Then, don't you understand? The timing when the Goddess appears before the caster through the magic circle... in other words, the timing."
The timing when the Goddess appears... I see, I got it!
"Is it the time of... the Interstice?"
Oh boy, Sianya said it first.
The time of the Interstice means, in short, dawn and dusk.
"Umu, correct. And when the Goddess appears?"
"It's at dawn."
Once the night breaks, it becomes daytime.
"Very good. As expected of someone belonging to the Western Church."
Oh boy, he has the same impression.
"Then, what do you think about the sun's light earlier?"
"Does it mean the light of the sunrise shines into the basement?"
"Umu. That's right. And for the light of the sunrise to shine into the magic circle in the basement, what is necessary?"
What would it be? A hole for the light to pass through? Is this where the cliff gets involved?
"A hole... huh."
He's sighing somehow.
"Did I make a mistake?"
"Can't you at least say 'pathway of light'? Wouldn't that have more of an atmosphere as a priest?"
Sianya put her hand to her mouth.
I'm sorry for not being poetic.
The place where the pathway for the sunrise sunlight is was not a cliff. Regarding the church, speaking of the light of the sunrise, it's the glass window behind the altar. Apparently, the light shining from there reaches the basement if a certain mechanism is applied. I was told that I'll understand what is necessary if I actually see the site.
Then, what is the cliff?
"You just have to dig on top of the cliff. You should understand if you dig."
Fumu. I'll ask Price-sama and go digging tomorrow.