Chapter 749 - Fourth Story: Dark Magic and the Voiceless Method ④
Entering the excavated cave, it was made of stone. No matter how you look at it, it's man-made. It's not just a cave.
Illuminating it with Fireflies, a door is visible on the right.
"Now, James. Thank you very much for everything up to this point. Your way back is here."
"No, it was an honor to be able to help you, Uncle."
The Grand Archbishop unlocked the door on the right.
With a creak, the door opened, and a magic circle on the ground was emitting a faint light.
"Um, that is..."
"Teleport. It is connected to the basement of the shrine where the carriage was hitched."
Um, so... there was absolutely no need to do that dangerous stunt?
"That is true. But as a result of that dangerous stunt, you Awakened, so it was a very effective method."
He replied with a smile. No matter how I look at it, he's enjoying this.
Handed a key, we saw off James-sama as he jumped back via Teleport, and then closed the door. He's thorough enough to even have a spare key.
And then, I used Light to make the wall directly in front disappear. Entering, there was a room and a door. Waiting for the wall to return to normal, the air clearly changed the moment I opened the door.
Until now, there had been a musty smell, but no malevolence.
"This is..."
"Ho ho, you noticed quickly."
When I looked at the Grand Archbishop, he looked at me with an impressed tone.
Illuminating the path ahead with four Fireflies, I saw a stone monument in the back. The malevolent air was clearly being emitted from that monument.
To confirm, I dimmed the light of the Fireflies, and the sensation of the evil air increased as if it were clinging to my body.
Regarding this feeling, I've been quite trained by my experiences with Price-sama.
"This is... a pseudo-evil spirit."
"Who are you calling pseudo!"
The monument shouted.
With a whoosh, pitch-black tentacles swarmed out from the monument and came toward us.
"Hah!"
Not to be outdone, I turned the Fireflies to full power.
The tentacles retreated from where the light hit them, as if blown away by the wind.
"What! You little girl!"
More tentacles gushed out and started to push back. They were slowly approaching.
I temporarily canceled the Fireflies and used both hands with all my might. If this doesn't work, I'll use the additional blast from my mouth that I just learned.
"I may look like this, but I'm a twenty-five-year-old Bishop! Don't treat me like a little girl!"
It's not Eleanor-sama, but I'll fight with spirit.
I entered a pushing match with the tentacles that were clinging to the wall.
Strong...
If it were the tentacles of the evil spirit I fought before, the tips would be disappearing by now. But this time, the wall was being pushed. As much as the wall was being pushed back inch by inch, my feet were slipping.
"Price-sama! Please strengthen me with Holy!"
I turned back and shouted. If I can be strengthened, I should be able to push back.
"Price! No! No interference!"
Eh? Grand Archbishop, what did you just say?
"Jeanne. This is your training. Subdue that evil spirit with your own power!"
I knew it. In other words, this guy is a pseudo-evil spirit and my training opponent.
In that case, I'll do it even if I have to faint.
To avoid being pushed back by leaning too far, I put my right foot forward, lowered my hips, and changed my stance. I put all my weight on my front foot and kicked off hard with my back leg. Since I pushed back for a moment, I canceled the wall. The tentacles came at me with a whoosh from the excess momentum, but my surprise attack worked, and they stopped as if flinching for a second.
Now!
Using the effect of the Cat Stone, I jumped backward, readied my staff, and released the Eight-Shot Wall.
Gishii!
They clashed again, making a creaking sound. The parts where the tentacles hit were dented. In exchange, the parts that hit were dispersed into mist.
I can win. I'll push them all at once.
I closed my mouth and took a deep breath through my nose. After filling my chest, I opened my mouth wide and released the additional blast from my mouth.
"Ugaaaaaaaa!"
The wall began to advance. The tips of the tentacles were being dispersed and disappearing more and more.
I tried to push them back all at once, but I started to feel faint. This is bad. I'm going to pass out.
"What! You insolent...!"
Oh no, the tentacles increased. And they're thick. I can't keep up with erasing them, and I'm starting to be pushed back.
I have nothing left to give...
My memory cut off at this point.
When I came to, I was on a bed.
"Good work. Are you alright?"
The Grand Archbishop was sitting alone in a chair by the bedside.
"Where is this?"
"It is a room in James's private residence. Apparently, it was the room of Duke William, the first King of Sertoria."
Eh?
This is not a place where a stray should be sleeping. I jumped up instinctively!
"Ow!"
My head... a pain shot through the back of my forehead. For a moment, my vision went dark, and I saw stars.
"Ah, you mustn't overexert yourself. You must not get up suddenly, let alone stand up."
"Yes. I'm very sorry."
It's like a dizzy spell accompanied by pain. When I looked down, the pain vanished.
"It would be best to stay lying down for a while longer."
"Yes. My apologies."
I'm truly sorry, but I'll let myself lie down.
To my surprise, the Grand Archbishop tucked me in with the sheet. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude.
"You did well for your first time. Your opponent said so as well."
My opponent said so? Is it a ghost he knows?
"Yes, he is someone like a mentor to me. Furthermore, he is an acquaintance of Duke William."
An acquaintance of the first King?
"He is the one who was involved in the founding of the Medioland Royal Capital Great Church... formerly known as the North District Church."
Another important person has appeared.
The true identity of the evil spirit seems to be someone from about three thousand years ago.
The people who crossed over from the continent used iron weapons to seize control of the southern part of the island. At that time, magic could be used on the continent as well, so the outcome was decided by the superiority of weapons. And from there, it spread in many directions. Though the dates vary slightly, they became kings of various nations except for Finis. Northern Gram, Primordia, and Sertoria seem to have slightly different circumstances, but that's the general outline.
And as in the legend of Nakanohara Lake, as a result of those who went north encountering the Goddess, the worship of the Goddess became formally organized. Churches were placed in the east, west, south, and north, with the south and north in particular boasting great influence.
"Could it be... the person who made the Cave of Testament three thousand years ago?"
The timing and the wall both match.
"That may be so. But he tells us nothing. If Jeanne becomes an apprentice to that gentleman, he might tell you about the time when he was alive."
I see. He's secretive. Wait, eh?
"A-Apprentice?"
I'm to become the apprentice of a ghost whose name I don't even know?
"Yes. However, to become an apprentice, you must master the Voiceless Method."
I've heard about the Voiceless Method from the start. But becoming an apprentice... Will I be doing chores and taking care of a ghost? If I'd known it would come to this, I should have asked Fiona more things.
"It will be fine. Do not worry. Your senior apprentice, Duke William, the first King of Sertoria, headed for Sertoria after completing his apprenticeship. Only high-level mages who can use light magic can become apprentices. Therefore, I can never become an apprentice in my lifetime. That gentleman remains not my mentor, but someone like a mentor."
"So that's how it was."
If that's the case, there's almost no doubt he's the one who made the Cave of Testament. That's probably why the first King was able to go on a tour of the Caves of Testament. Otherwise, there's no way a mere hunter—though he was Medioland royalty—could have done such an exploration.
"For now, please rest. Let's go there one more time before dinner. Next time we'll jump with Teleport, so it will be safe."
"Yes, I understand. I'm truly sorry for all the trouble I'm causing you."
"Please do not apologize. For my part, I would like to thank you for allowing me to have such an experience. Do you understand? The pain of reading reports all day long."
Come to think of it, Beatrix said she drew so many Teleportation magic circles that she felt like running outside and screaming. I heard from Harold-sama that there was a time when she actually ran out and was blowing things away with her bowl. It's probably the same as that. Being an important person is not all it's cracked up to be.
After the Grand Archbishop cast Heal and Refresh on me, I slept as I was told.
When I woke up, the sun had tilted considerably. I sat up and shook my head lightly, but there was no pain. I didn't feel unwell either. However, I was incredibly hungry. My bag was placed next to the bed along with my staff. I got up, took out my water bottle, and drank some wine to perk myself up.
I also felt like going to the toilet, so when I opened the door to leave the room, I made eye contact with a lady-in-waiting-like person sitting in a chair next to the door.
"Jeanne-sama, are you awake?"
"Ah, yes."
Could it be that they stationed her here for me?
"Is your body alright?"
"Ah, yes. I'm fine. Um, I was thinking of going to the restroom. Oh, and you don't need to use '-sama'. Jeanne is fine."
"Then, I shall guide you. Bishop-sama."
She stood up quickly and guided me. When my stomach growled on the way, she guided me to the kitchen on the way back.
"Oh, are you here for a snack?"
There was a person who looked like they were in charge of the kitchen, plump with a round face and wearing white clothes.
"Just a little, do you have anything?"
He glanced at me.
I have to do my best here. Looking around the kitchen and seeing the ingredients for the dishes that would probably be served for dinner on the table, my stomach growled at just the right moment.
"And so, that is the situation."
At the lady-in-waiting's words with a chuckle, the chef burst out laughing. It seems it worked.
"Then, eat this."
"Ah! Thank you very much~!"
It's probably a regular occurrence. He gave me some bread, a piece of cheese, and some dried meat.
"I'm very sorry."
I couldn't help but grin while saying thanks.
"Is the Bishop-sama Jeanne-sama?"
"Ah, yes. Um, '-sama' is fine, so just Jeanne..."
"It's just as I heard."
"Eh?"
Am I being told all sorts of things again? Like being perpetually eighth place...
"No, you see, Price-sama came here. He said Bishop Jeanne would probably show her face, so I should give her something to eat."
Lady-in-waiting, you're laughing too much.
Since my stomach was moderately full, I was guided to the guest room where the Grand Archbishop and Price-sama were.
The lady-in-waiting who guided me exited immediately. I was offered a sofa in silence, probably because Mute was active.
"Bishop Jeanne, you have awakened."
"Yes. Thanks to you."
"Are you not hungry?"
"Eh? Ah, um, I had some in the kitchen."
This is a bit embarrassing.
"Price, it is just as you predicted."
"You're welcome."
I've become incredibly embarrassed.
The truth is, there was a reason; although the first stage was over, adding more on top of the Eight-Shot takes a lot of willpower and physical strength. It also puts a load on the brain. Until you get used to it and know how to adjust, you'll faint, have headaches, and get hungry. So, it seems it's better to rest sufficiently after being exhausted and put something in your stomach. It was just as predicted. Good.
"Now, shall we go again? I believe the timing is just right."
As announced, the second round began. This time James-sama wasn't there. Since Price-sama got on the driver's seat, I got on as well. Then, even the Grand Archbishop got on the driver's seat.
"Once in a while, this sort of thing is good, isn't it?"
Price-sama probably couldn't refuse. He was giving a wry smile. I can only think he's enjoying this.
When we went to the shrine and opened the back door, there was a magic circle. After bolting it from the inside, we jumped with Teleport.
When we went to the stone monument, the sea anemone-like tentacles were gone, and there was a middle-aged man wearing a white tunic. He must be a ghost.
"Oh! You've come!"
He spoke to me casually.
"You are the light magic user second only to William. Welcome."
He came to me first.
"My name is Jeanne. I am a twenty-five-year-old Bishop."
If I say it clearly like this, there won't be any mistakes.
The ghost's name is Egbert. He looks to be in his forties. According to himself, he's a lowly evil spirit. Apparently, he insists on being an evil spirit to the end. Well, if he's that attached to being an evil spirit, that's fine.
"You, how many light magic spells can you use?"
"Five."
"Are they all ultra-high-level?"
"Yes."
"Hmm. Then, what about dark?"
"If you include Lock, it's four."
"Besides Lock, what can you use?"
"Dark, Mold, and Undead."
"What other magic can you use? Ah, barriers are fine."
I listed the names of the magic as I was asked. It's tedious to list them all, so I only mentioned the main ones.
"For someone who can use that much magic, you're inefficient. You should be able to control mana more efficiently and increase the power."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, do you want to learn?"
"Yes."
"What about the Voiceless Method?"
I thought he meant the Voiceless Method, but is it different? I feel like they're the same.
"Can't I learn it together with the Voiceless Method?"
"Hmm. You noticed. It seems you're not a fool."
I am a Bishop, after all.
"There are those who do not notice. That those two are, in fact, the same sort of thing."
"I see."
"You, from what I hear, have obtained the protection of the Four Great Spirits, are friendly with the dragons of the four elements, and have cultivated close relationships with the Demon Race and ghosts."
"Yes. Thanks to everyone."
"I see. Good, I understand the extent of your power."
I don't know what it is, but he's satisfied on his own.
"What do you think?"
The Grand Archbishop asked.
"You did well to bring her. I shall train her. From tomorrow morning. You may bring her again."
"Thank you very much. We look forward to your guidance."
Um, without me really knowing what was going on, the Grand Archbishop gave the answer.