Chapter 748 - Fourth Story: Dark Magic and the Voiceless Method ③
What exactly does the training for the Voiceless Method entail, and where and when is it performed?
On the day I received the oracle, I practiced until late so that I could activate the magic, so after breakfast the next morning, the two of us went to the shrine and reported that I had properly memorized it and was able to activate it. That was when I was taught.
"In essence, it is the same as physical training. However, it seems to require considerable magic control until you get used to it, so it is best to train that first."
The training for the Voiceless Method is roughly divided into two steps. First, becoming able to activate magic without vocalization. Next, releasing two spells simultaneously.
To be more specific, the first is creating an accurate image. The second is training the mental strength to achieve instantaneous concentration. The third is the cultivation of magic control to activate a large amount of mana instantaneously.
In other words, it's about being able to control the necessary mana at the moment of simultaneous activation.
"Essentially, to withstand the load of activating powerful magic, you should simply cast the magic you can currently release many times over."
"Um, does that mean... activating magic until I faint?"
"That is correct. However, if you faint, most magic will be canceled even if it was activated, so it would be meaningless. While it may be unavoidable at the beginning, please try to manage without fainting eventually."
He said with a smile.
So I'll be completely exhausted by the time I can do it after multiple attempts.
"If possible, let's manage it today or tomorrow. Since Archbishop Price and I will use Hand Over, we can attempt it six times a day—three times per person—and twelve times over two days."
I understood perfectly. The Grand Archbishop is of the same ilk as Price-sama.
The sea is close by. And the coastline is quite rugged, battered by waves that grow particularly rough in winter.
The training location seems to make use of this rough surf.
"I believe this time of year is just right. The waves are appropriately rough, yet not excessively so."
"Could it be... at the bottom of the sea?"
"Close. It is a sea cave. I have never seen it myself, but from what I have heard, it likely resembles the place where the monster nicknamed the 'Bishop of the Sea' of Vectis Island resides."
I see. I have a general idea now.
Once the talk with the Grand Archbishop was over, we went out through the back exit of the shrine. Following the Grand Archbishop along the corridor connected to it, we passed through a stone arch and went outside the mansion.
A small carriage was waiting, with James-sama and Price-sama standing beside it. A small path continued into the forest.
"Good work. Grand Archbishop, Bishop Jeanne."
"Is it finished, Jeanne? Good work. You too, Uncle."
Since the two of them were waiting, I wonder if they're coming with us.
"Archbishop Price, James, thank you for coming."
"Yes."
To my surprise, Price-sama opened the carriage door for me, and James-sama climbed onto the driver's seat.
"Now, Bishop Jeanne, you shall board first."
The Grand Archbishop encouraged me. Is it really okay for a stray like me to ride? I feel somewhat apologetic.
I never thought I would ride with the Grand Archbishop in a carriage operated by the Crown Prince of a nation and an Archbishop on the driver's seat. Normally, I would be on foot. After spending half an hour in a state where I couldn't settle down at all, nearly trembling from tension, I heard a sound like a large drum being struck—thump, thump.
I felt like I had heard a similar sound somewhere before.
"That sound is..."
Anyway, since talking would help me calm down, I addressed the Grand Archbishop.
"It is the sound of waves crashing against the cliffs."
I see. I heard it when we were exploring the island where Fiona was born.
"Then, is the training ground on those cliffs?"
"Yes. You figured it out well."
As he smiled, the carriage stopped.
Before Price-sama could open the door, I opened it myself and jumped down.
The sea breeze hit my face with a whoosh. The sleeves of my priestly robes were flapping. Perhaps because the sun was still high, or perhaps because of the season, the sea breeze was quite strong.
The thump, thump of the waves sounded even louder now.
Looking at the sea, whitecaps were forming. If one were to set out in a small boat, they would surely be tossed about.
The cliffs consisted of two capes—or rather, long, thin rocks—protruding into the sea like horns, with a small bay-like area between them. The carriage was parked next to a stone shrine at the base of one of the horns. There was a small path along the horn that could be walked for a while. Walking along the narrow path while being buffeted by the wind, I was able to peer down at the cliffs on the inner side of the bay.
The waves surging into the bay were swelling higher than expected and crashing against the cliffs.
"Bishop Jeanne, I shall now guide you to the training ground for the Voiceless Method. Archbishop Price and I will accompany you."
I don't suppose James-sama only came along to drive the carriage?
"James, if you would. Just to the entrance is fine."
"Yes, Uncle. I understand."
Saying so, James-sama chanted Wind Barrier and created a single 'saucer.'
If James-sama is only going to the entrance... and if only priests can go...
"Come, let us go. Bishop Jeanne."
"Ah, yes."
When I stepped onto the saucer, the edges rose up to become a 'bowl.' Perhaps to block the wind, the edges were quite high. Only the front was indented. As it swayed and ascended, it once moved away from the cliff face toward the outside of the bay, then turned and entered deep into the bay.
As we descended into the bay, the waves were incredible. The waves at the entrance of the bay didn't seem that high, but the further in we went, the higher the crests became, crashing against the inner cliff face at more than three times the height of the outer waves, making a thump each time. We were quite close to the sea surface, so it looked as if a giant monster were biting into the rock face right before our eyes. If the bottom of the bowl were hit by something like that, we'd all be thrown into the air in an instant, or swallowed to the bottom of the sea along with the bowl.
"Bishop Jeanne, please release Light over there. Ah, I shall hold your staff for you."
The Grand Archbishop pointed to the very back of the cliff. There was a spot that was flat, as if it had been shaved. However, while it revealed itself when the waves receded, it was more than half-covered in spray when they surged in.
I handed over my staff and pointed both hands toward the wall. There was a distance of about ten paces. It might be a bit far, but if we got too close to the wall, there was a risk of being thrust upward by the waves as they bit the rock. We were at the limit.
The Grand Archbishop had said the timing was just right, but wouldn't it be better to do this when it's a bit warmer and the waves have settled down?
The moment a wave crashed with a thump, I thrust out both hands and released Light with all my might.
As the wave receded, the rock wall began to turn transparent from the top. Perhaps because it was wet with seawater, the pace of disappearance felt somewhat slow.
"James! Now!"
"Yes!"
Even though it hadn't fully disappeared yet, we moved forward and plunged toward the rock face. If we hit it, we'll fall into the sea!
The waves reached their lowest point. Below the flat surface, something like a rock shelf became visible. If that's the very bottom, it hasn't disappeared at all.
"Bishop Jeanne! Maintain the Light magic as it is and increase the output! We won't make it in time!"
"Y-Yes!"
If I'm to go beyond my full power, I have no choice but to add more from my mouth. If I vocalize, the current activation will cut off momentarily, so I have to somehow squeeze out the additional portion from my mouth while maintaining the output from my hands. I tried to add the image of releasing it from my mouth to the image of releasing light from my hands, but it wouldn't come out well. It's frustrating not being able to speak.
"Hurry! The next wave is coming!"
My knees began to wobble. I won't last like this. I have to settle this quickly.
"Ugaaaaaaa!"
I strongly willed the image of releasing it from both my hands and my mouth, and when I opened my mouth wide and screamed, it finally came out!
Somehow I made it in time; the wall disappeared, and the bowl slipped inside at the last second. Almost simultaneously, James-sama changed the bowl into a 'sphere.' Immediately, a wave came from behind, and we were blown forward as if pushed. Wind blew inward from the entire wall of the bowl, and thanks to that, our bodies floated in the air. The four of us were pressed against the center of the sphere.
What? Did he lose control?
The sphere continued to roll, and those inside were tossed about in a chaotic mess. I could no longer maintain the Light, and it became pitch black.
With a thud, we hit something.
As if the bowl had been dismantled then and there, we fell onto the ground with a clunk.
We were scattered, but the impact wasn't as bad as I thought. Since nothing seemed to hurt particularly, I sat up.
"U-Uncle, are you alright?"
"Yes, I am younger than my age suggests. Is everyone safe?"
"Yes, thanks to you, I am fine."
"Yes. I am fine as well."
"That was James's quick thinking. Thank you."
"No, not at all."
So that wind softened the impact of the landing—or rather, the crash. As expected.
It seems everyone is safe. When I released one Firefly to act as a light, everyone was already standing up around me. I was the only one sitting on the ground. This is bad. I stood up hurriedly.
"So this is the rumored Firefly. It truly is a ball of light."
I was grateful that the Grand Archbishop pretended not to notice and took the Firefly in his hand.
I looked around the area illuminated by the Firefly, but there was nothing. It was just a room. I thought there would be a deep cave, but that wasn't the case. I could still hear the thump, thump of the waves. Perhaps because it was echoing inside the cave, it resonated quite a bit.
"A warm light that repels evil. It is a wonderful magic."
With the Firefly still in his hand, the Grand Archbishop asked the two of them. Three men's faces floated in the darkness. When the Grand Archbishop brought the Firefly close to his own face, he opened his mouth wide and laughed, "Wahahaha." Because the surroundings were dark, it looked like something that would scare a small child. James-sama was stifling a laugh. He's a playful person. You say it repels evil, but you look like a Demon Lord from a fairy tale.
"James, Price, what did you think?"
After gazing at the Firefly for a while, the Grand Archbishop asked the two of them.
"It should be sufficient."
"I agree with James-sama's opinion."
What are they talking about?
"Jeanne. First, you have passed the first stage of training."
Eh?
"You produced an output even higher than the Light you released with all your might. This is precisely what makes the instantaneous maximum output of mana possible."
"I-I see? Is that so?"
To be honest, I didn't quite get it. It wasn't rapid-fire, but I had managed to add an additional blast from my mouth while continuing the activated magic for the first time, and I thought I had done well in my own way. However, I didn't think that was the training.
"It seems you don't quite follow."
"Yes. I'm sorry."
Price-sama noticed.
"It is no easy feat to further increase the output of a spell released with all one's might. It requires being struck by a sense of crisis as if encountering an emergency. Among some mages, this is a phenomenon called 'Awakening'."
Um, could it be that earlier was a farce... I mean, a staged performance?
"No, if Jeanne hadn't Awakened, we would have been swallowed by the waves. If it came down to it, I intended to make us surface even if it cost me my life."
If James-sama is prepared to die, that's nothing but an emergency.
"My apologies, Jeanne. As a result of inquiring with the Henry Party, we could not obtain information that you had Awakened, so we had you go along with this a bit. It was the third or fourth attempt, was it? You successfully Awakened."
"Awakening..."
I've never heard of it. Does such a thing exist?
"I do not know the details, so I shall leave the rest to Price."
After saying that, the Grand Archbishop prompted Price-sama for an explanation.
According to Price-sama, Awakening is essentially like 'superhuman strength in a crisis.' Normally, magic control is something you gradually heighten by casting magic daily, but in an emergency, you might be able to do things you normally couldn't. However, he said that only those of priestly rank, who daily observe the precepts and cultivate self-control, can do such a thing; if a mage tries to do it, there's a high possibility they'll fall into darkness.
This time, I was desperate in an extreme situation—the fear of being swept away by waves while being rushed by the Grand Archbishop, and the fact that if an accident occurred, the Grand Archbishop, the Vice-Church Head of the Medioland Royal Capital Great Church, and the Crown Prince of Medioland would all be in danger. As a result, I apparently Awakened successfully.
But still, isn't the risk too high? If things had gone wrong, there's a possibility that the greatest accident since the history of the church organization began could have occurred because of me.
"It was because a user as skilled as James was present. Besides, life isn't fun without this much thrill once in a while, is it?"
Um, weren't priests supposed to wish for a peaceful life...
"Due to my position, I cannot have experiences as rich in tension as Bishop Jeanne, you see."
He grinned. Is this mischievous side his true nature?
James-sama stifled a laugh, and Price-sama let out a sigh.
How did this person become Grand Archbishop by a unanimous vote?
Anyway, thanks to that, I seem to have successfully Awakened. Does that mean I passed? No, he did say it was the first stage.
"Now, the real thing begins from here."
Ah, I knew it.
He told me to illuminate the surroundings with Light, so I sent out four Fireflies to act as lamps. The Grand Archbishop was quite pleased.
"Now, James, if you would."
The Grand Archbishop was pointing at a section of the wall. The side opposite the sea—in other words, toward the land. It was somewhat protruding.
"Understood. Then, Clump Sand!"
He dug up the soil from the wall more and more, piling it up against the sea-side wall we had just made disappear.
The protruding part vanished, and more than that, it became a hollow, until finally, something like bedrock came into view.
After that, it was like excavating a cave. It seems it had been intentionally buried. As he continued to dig further and further, the sound of the waves gradually grew quieter due to the mountain of piled-up earth and sand.
It was just when I thought we should probably move forward.
The soil ahead crumbled away, and a cave appeared.