Chapter 750 - Fourth Story: Dark Magic and the Voiceless Method ⑤
The training began the next morning. The time limit was two days. I was told that if I couldn't do it in the next two days, it would be impossible. Since I'm always hungry after training, I'll be attempting it before each of the three meals. In other words, three times a day. If I can't do it in six attempts, I fail.
In the end, the training was a pushing match with the tentacles controlled by Egbert-sama. In the midst of that, I have to reinforce the Light wall I released with all my might by adding Holy from my mouth myself. If I can do that, I pass the second stage and this training is over.
Until I get used to it, I'm allowed to vocalize, so that part is better. I usually create the image to be released simultaneously with vocalization, so it's just right. The problem is that the image of the additional Holy I'm releasing is so strong that I'm worried the Light wall I released first might be canceled.
The first attempt failed as a matter of course. I fainted as expected, and when I woke up, I was in the first King's room. Compared to the first time, the degree of the headache had lessened. I want to believe I've made progress.
After waking up and having breakfast, I saw off the busy James-sama. For the remaining five attempts, I was to be assisted by the Grand Archbishop and Price-sama. Naturally, both of them are very busy. I feel terribly sorry, so I want to finish as early as possible if I can.
"Shall we devise a strategy?"
After breakfast, Price-sama made a proposal. Apparently, my way of using magic has improved compared to yesterday. I don't know what's different, but judging by the feeling of the headache, it must be so.
"It's efficiency. Let's eliminate the waste when Jeanne releases magic."
"Waste?"
"Yes. Waste."
Even being told it's waste, I honestly don't quite understand.
"Do you remember how Catherine looks when she releases magic?"
"Well, somewhat."
The Headmistress's vocalization. I wonder if I can release magic like that.
I was made to stand in front of a full-length mirror in the room. My whole body was reflected. The fact that such a thing is normally present shows it's indeed a royal mansion.
"Please release magic toward the mirror. With all your might using both hands. Ah, Holy is fine."
I released it as I was told. Since releasing it at a mirror has no effect, it just showed my figure releasing a momentary white light from both hands.
Actually, it was my first time seeing it. I only have a hand mirror. I only use it to check my face or hair, and I can't use it for magic practice.
"How was it?"
When I asked Price-sama for his impressions, he tilted his head.
"Now, please release it normally with one hand. The level doesn't matter. Use the easiest one."
I released it as I was told.
"Um..."
"Did you understand?"
"Am I straining too much?"
"Yes. Please release it with a relaxed feeling like Catherine."
I thought I couldn't use that feeling as a model. I managed to do the Eight-Shot by imitating the way she held her staff, but the way the Headmistress releases magic is too far removed. Instead of shouting 'Holy!', it feels more like a languid morning greeting of 'Good morning' would suit it better. I thought imitating it was impossible and that a commoner should act like a commoner, but apparently that's not the case.
"Now, from the basic level."
The image of the Headmistress. With a languid feeling to the end. Like the way Beatrix lightly raises one hand toward me and gives a languid morning greeting...
"Holy!"
I think I did it with a languid feeling. However, no magic came out.
"Price. Does Bishop Catherine always release magic with that languid feeling like Bishop Jeanne just did?"
"It's a bit different."
Too bad. It seems the Grand Archbishop thought it was just languid. I think I'm close, though.
I tried to do it while imagining the languidness. Every time I released it, Price-sama tilted his head.
The reaction changed on the fifth, no, sixth time. Since Beatrix was too languid, I tried not to lean too much in that direction.
"That was good just now."
Price-sama praised me.
"Really!"
He nodded with a smile.
"Now, please try it with all your might in the same way."
A languid 'all my might'? I've never seen the Headmistress release magic with all her might. It might have been with all her might during Ascension, but she was far away. Well, but, it's languidness. I've seen the Headmistress looking languid countless times. I might as well try to become her.
Imagining the languidness sufficiently, I released it with all my might.
A shock hit my shoulders with a thump. It was just like the first time I released Holy toward a wild boar with the Black Stone attached.
"Was that it?"
I looked at Price-sama. I should have done it.
"Splendid!"
The Grand Archbishop applauded.
"You did it. It's wonderful."
Price-sama praised me too.
I never thought languidness was involved in efficient magic operation. And the languidness of a priest, not a mage... I've never seen a priest looking languid except for the Headmistress. In a sense, I must have been lucky.
I made my third attempt before lunch. The point is languidness.
"What's this, you? Your spirit isn't in it. Did you catch a cold?"
Good, the languid feeling is sufficient.
"No, no, I'm fine. Let's do this."
"I-Is that so?"
He seemed somewhat thrown off, but it doesn't matter.
"Here I go~. Light!"
I released the Eight-Shot Wall.
"Oh! You're quite good! All right!"
Eh? Did I accidentally fire him up? He came at me with full-power, extra-thick sea anemones.
When I came to, I was lying in bed.
Since no one was there, I drank some wine from my water bottle to perk myself up, then tidied myself up a bit and went out of the room. The lady-in-waiting was there this time too.
"Are you awake? It's almost time for dinner, so please prepare yourself."
I've completely gotten used to this.
After lunch, it was a strategy meeting for the evening.
Unfortunately, I fainted, but according to the Grand Archbishop, Egbert-sama was quite pleased, saying I had grown.
"That was close. You strained yourself during the additional blast after the full-power one."
Since opening my mouth wide for the additional blast naturally takes effort.
"Why don't you try stopping the one from your mouth?"
Should I release it from my feet or something? The Headmistress would probably release it from her eyes. I've never practiced with my feet or eyes.
"No, from your hands."
"While releasing Light, even more?"
"Yes, solidify the image. Let's see, instead of a single blast, try to release many blasts intermittently. I think that will allow you to relax more."
"By the way, are there any active priests who can do this?"
"Of course, there are. However, even priests who are ultra-high-level mages would faint just like you did earlier, so they can't do it in a practical situation."
When I looked at Price-sama, he nodded.
"I myself can do it. But since it's meaningless if I faint, I don't use it."
Um, am I supposed to do something that such prominent people can't do?
"Naturally. There are no levels for light magic. However, just like Holy or Heal, it can be used from basic to ultra-high-level depending on the caster's magic control, right? And it's something we finally understood after you appeared, but the Black Stones are the key. You have all five of those Black Stones."
"Probably, the mana Jeanne can handle now exceeds Catherine in her prime."
The two of them replied together.
Exceeding the Headmistress?
The number of spells might be so. I thought the mana was too. I thought the rest was barriers, but I never thought it would go in this direction.
"The rest is magic control and clarifying the image of activation. Have an image of naturally releasing Light and Holy simultaneously. This will require training as you must train your instantaneous concentration."
"I see."
In the end, a routine of training, fainting, eating, practicing, and returning to training was devised, and the strategy was decided to be solidifying the image of simultaneous release instead of adding Holy to Light. This evening, early tomorrow morning, during the morning, and in the evening. If I fail after four more times, I'm disqualified.
Hmm, it's difficult.
The second night was a failure, as expected. I could get to the Eight-Shot with a languid feeling, but when I tried to release Holy from there, the magic was interrupted. If it's interrupted, the Light wall disappears, so the tentacles attacked all at once and caught me, and Egbert-sama said I had to redo it and carried me to where the two of them were. That means a failure.
"I'd at least like you to hold out until you faint."
Price-sama said, knitting his brows. Isn't it strange that the premise is fainting?
"Let's hold the image of the Light wall more strongly."
When I tried that, this time the Holy failed to fire. On top of that, while I was trying over and over, my awareness of the tentacles thinned, and as a result, the wall was torn away.
I was carried away again.
This is just a repetition of the same thing. Let's hold a strategy meeting.
I asked Egbert-sama, who was hopping around in front of the stone monument as if warming up, to wait for a moment, and had the three of us form a huddle.
"Did something happen?"
"Did you think of something?"
I was questioned as expected.
"Um, I've never seen someone add an additional Holy blast to a Light wall they made themselves."
"That is to be expected. There is probably no one currently alive who has seen it. Most likely, not even among the ghosts of priests."
Price-sama said it as if it were obvious, but only Mary could create an image without even having seen it in the first place.
"Therefore, I'm going to do what I can do."
"What you can do?"
"Yes."
The two of them looked at me suspiciously.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
After the strategy meeting, I spoke to Egbert-sama, who was doing staff forms.
"Keeping an old man waiting."
He's grinning.
Since he's a ghost, the Grand Archbishop and Price-sama are probably older than him.
"Probably, tonight... will be... the last time..."
"Ho ho, have you steeled your resolve? A good determination. But what's with that relaxed way of speaking?"
It's an imitation of Bonnie, who prides herself on the high accuracy of her arrows. Paul-san said that her easygoing manner often indicates her excellence as an archer.
"Ufufu~, you can only laugh... for now~!"
I raised both hands.
"Here I go~"
Since I can't release it simultaneously if I vocalize, it's just the image. The sensation of releasing it itself remains in both palms. And if I apply the dialogue method used with Thought Communication, at least I don't have to vocalize.
I feel the sensation of mana gathering in both palms. The sensation of mana on the left and right is different. I can do this.
Bonnie, please. Lend me your strength.
"All right~, I'm releasing it~"
In an instant, I felt a sensation as if my strength left my hips. If I strain, I'll put too much effort in, so I just plopped down on my rear. I held the image clearly.
"W-What are you doing... W-What!"
He's surprised. I've got the sensation down perfectly. But the world in front of me is wobbling. On top of that, it's getting dark... I'll probably faint like this...
When I came to, I was lying in bed.
The Grand Archbishop and Price-sama were both sitting in chairs.
"Ah, you've awakened, Bishop Jeanne."
Both of them were smiling.
When I sat up abruptly, a pain shot through the back of my forehead.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch..."
"Heal!" "Refresh!" "Hand Over!"
Price-sama chanted spells one after another. Thanks to that, the sharp pain subsided.
"Rest slowly. Let's have dinner later."
The Grand Archbishop spoke to me, but I want to confirm just one thing.
"Um, did I... do it?"
I had the sensation of releasing it. But in a state where I was half-dizzy, my vision went dark. I couldn't see the result myself.
"It was a magnificent swirl of white and black."
Yes! I did it!
"Ouch!"
Since I'm afraid of the headache, I didn't move my head and just did a fist pump.
The sensation from practicing many times with the Wetlands Priestess remains in my palms. Even with vocalization, our voices would echo in each other's heads, so we couldn't distinguish the words. However, that sensation itself remains in my head. I remembered only that sensation and imagined the swirl resulting from the two of us releasing it simultaneously. We practiced many times to match the timing. All the sensations remain in my five senses.
"I never thought you would skip the second stage and complete the third stage all at once. Splendid."
"Thank you very much."
"It was my first time seeing it. One person releasing different spells simultaneously."
I'm glad I practiced many times with the Wetlands Priestess. Maybe if I combine with the Priestess and practice together, I'll be able to release even more varied magic. And if I also combine with Fiona, even if I can't, Fiona and the Wetlands Priestess might become able to simultaneously activate dark magic and elemental magic without vocalization. Once, the Wetlands Priestess said that if the three of us were together, we'd be the strongest. At that time, I thought it was a joke, but it might become the real thing.
"Only the fourth stage remains. You already know what to aim for, don't you?"
It's to manage without fainting. However, this might be more about training than practical application. I'll polish my magic control by simultaneously releasing various spells, even if they're just basic level.
"That is correct. You, who are recognized by the Four Great Spirits, have gained the trust of the dragons of the four elements, and are friendly with various races, will surely be able to do it."
"Yes. I'll do my best."
"Then, after you rest a bit more, we shall have dinner, and then visit Egbert-sama to hear what he has to say."
One more day. I've got a goal. I should.
The talk with Egbert-sama was just me alone. Egbert-sama didn't say anything. The Grand Archbishop and Price-sama exited as a matter of course after opening the door. They must have discussed it beforehand.
"You have done well to reach this level."
"Thank you very much. But it wasn't just me. I can't talk about the details because of the Vow of Silence."
"It's fine. It's the ghost you said you combined with, right?"
"Yes."
As expected. He noticed.
"Is that way of speaking also from that ghost?"
"N-No, that's one of my companions. A human. But she's a master archer, so I used her as a reference."
"A master archer? Wahahahaha! You're quite something!"
I don't know why, but he's cracking up.
After that, when I told him I used the dialogue in my head with Thought Communication as a reference, he praised me greatly.
"Even so, ghosts, master archers... it's quite interesting. You may truly be one who achieves coexistence and co-prosperity."
I see. There's that way of thinking too. I'll use it as a reference.
"You've heard about the fourth stage. You must manage not to faint. How do you intend to proceed with your training from now on?"
"I'll combine with ghosts and release various spells simultaneously. I think it's best to start steadily from the basic level."
"What an interesting girl. I've never heard of such a training method."
"Is it no good?"
"No, it's fine. You found the trigger with that method. You should do it that way."
"Yes. Thank you very much."
"Then, this training is over. I shall recognize you as my apprentice, second only to William. Come again in a year. I shall see the results of your training."
"Ah, yes! Thank you very much!"
Yes! I managed not to lose face for the Grand Archbishop who recommended me, and James-sama and Price-sama who cooperated with me.
Since I was told I could call them, I opened the door and invited the two of them in. When I explained the situation, they were very pleased. And then, Egbert-sama possessed a crystal brought by the Grand Archbishop and moved to the mansion.
That night, a banquet was held in the first King's room, which had been cleared of people.
"Thanks to Bishop Jeanne, the schedule has been moved up by a full day. Let's drink to our heart's content today."
"Yeah! Of course!"
I don't know, but is it okay even though it's someone else's house?
"Here, Jeanne, won't you drink too? I heard from Price that you can handle quite a bit."
Um, Price-sama. Please don't lump me in with the Headmistress. It's no good looking away. Are you listening?
Class of 175 Management Scale (excluding cash, jewels, etc., and personal assets)
・Shops: Main Shop (Nakanohara, Kingdom of Sertoria), Shop No. 2 (village near the Sertorian border in eastern Regnentes), Shop No. 3 (Sertorian Royal Capital), Shop No. 4 (Flatlands), Temporary Shop (Primordia), Shop No. 5 (Vectis Island), Shop No. 6 (Sertorian Royal Capital Downtown Shop), Shop No. 7 (Sertorian Royal Capital Magic Tool Shop)
・Right of Free Passage and Free Commerce: Medioland, Regnentes, Finis, Northern Gram, Primordia, Engrio, Morandine
・Special Passage Permit: Primordia
・Farmland: Eight plots of farmland (including structures with farm functions)
・Livestock: Goats, sheep, pigs, a few
・Contracted Animals: Eight swarms of honeybees
Chapter 30 End
Chapter 30 has finished posting. Thank you for reading this far.
This chapter mostly consisted of a series of low-key scenes in Morandine. While there have been such developments before, this is the first time a single episode has been this long. Given the previous chapter, I thought it might be quite unpopular, but the reaction wasn't as bad as I thought. (Of course, this is by my own standards.)
To those who read it, those who newly registered bookmarks, those who maintained them, those who gave evaluation points, and those who gave likes, thank you very much.
Now, for the next chapter, the protagonist will be in the final stage of her growth period as a mage. Or rather, she will leave the growth period halfway through. Therefore, I will post it under a different part. Finally. The growth period might have been too long.
The next chapter will start posting on Monday next week after posting one interlude as usual. The posting pace will be the same as before. Please look forward to it.