Chapter 753 - Second Story: Magic Talk with Dune
In April, when we no longer had to worry about the mud from the melting snow, the Engrio army set out for the continent. The destination across the sea was the Duchy of Roland. This time, King Seldic himself led the force. The Engrio army remaining on the White Island consisted of the minimum garrison, the monster extermination unit, and the Magic Corps. Among them, nearly half of the monster extermination unit and the Magic Corps have been dispatched to Morandine. Most of Margrave Mortimer's forces, which had been deployed alone in important theaters until now, have also gone to the continent along with the Magic Corps. Engrio is said to be almost empty.
"They went without hesitation, having eliminated any concerns about their rear."
After the recovery of the Northeastern Forest in April was over, Eleanor-sama spoke at the celebratory banquet.
As Eleanor-sama said, it must be exactly as King Seldic originally intended. After all, Engrio has completed its measures against the Demon Lord's army within its own country. King Seldic's target is clearly humans... in other words, other nations. It is predicted that once the campaign on the continent is over, a war on the White Island will begin. Against this, the Northwest Coast Treaty intends to seriously proceed with the conquest of the Demon Realm while the Engrio army is away.
The last time the Demon Lord was resurrected, various nations fought the Demon Lord's army and suffered not a little damage. It is said that this time, the possibility of resurrection in Medioland is particularly high. If he is resurrected in the near future, the damage to the Medioland army will be great. We have to reduce it even a little, or it might interfere with the subsequent war with the Engrio army.
"In contrast, Medioland intends to proceed as much as possible with the conquest of the Demon Realm that Roberts and the others are currently participating in. It will be in two locations: the place where monster hunting was done in winter and the cave where the Demon Lord will be resurrected. Especially for the Demon Realm around the cave where the Demon Lord will be resurrected, exploration must be done before seriously starting the conquest, and a request for support has come to the Henry Party."
Perhaps reflecting the sense of crisis toward Engrio, the conquest of the Medioland Demon Realm has become serious. It was expected, but getting a formal request for support gets me fired up.
"Exploration means flying around in the bowl?"
Beatrix, who successfully became an ultra-high-level mage, asked. As a result of digging trenches single-mindedly, she learned the high-level Sand Storm and the ultra-high-level Crevasse. As Mary predicted, it must be the Gnome effect. It has been decided that she will join the encirclement of the Morandine Demon Realm at the request of the Regnentes Royal Family and supervise the practical practice of earth magic as a temporary advisor to the Magic Corps. She's highly motivated as she's found a foothold for learning another earth attribute ultra-high-level spell, Colossus Collapse, and will even receive a reward.
"Basically, yes. However, since we will be exploring inside forests and canyons, we cannot predict what will happen."
Eleanor-sama's prediction is that there might be low-ranking members of the Demon Race. Like the one who tried to manipulate the Harpies in Morandine, new ones might have been dispatched.
"How strong was the Demon Race member we fought in Morandine?"
Mary, who learned Contain as planned, also asked. For status-changing types, Transform remains. It's a rare magic that Jennifer-sensei can use. She said she wanted to learn it. However, she doesn't seem to have any intention of changing her own appearance. She said that if she's going to do it, she wants to learn it to the end.
"It's treated as B-rank, but in terms of actual strength, it's about C-plus. However, the subjugation reward is given for B-rank. Mary, can you participate?"
"To be honest, it's difficult to participate until completion. If there's a place where I can participate for a short period, I would be grateful if you could call me. I'm sorry for being so selfish."
Apparently, trade is busy. However, if it's northern Medioland, the sea route is close. For example, when going to Finis or Northern Gram, they also stop at Medioland ports. Especially, they always stop at the port in James-sama's private territory, so at that time she might be able to participate and then rejoin after the ship moves to another port. Of course, she'll need to be picked up and dropped off, but if the Henry Party is there, it won't be a problem. After all, I'm picked up and dropped off at Nakanohara every time for the recovery of the Northeastern Forest once a month. This is because connecting Teleportation magic circles across borders is a major undertaking.
In the end, it was decided that Mary would exchange location information via the magic circle for sending letters, and would contact us once the schedule for stopping at James-sama's private territory became clear.
The day after the banquet, we set out early. After meeting Roberts-sama and Gladys-sama at the Eastern Plains Corps fortress, we accelerated all at once to go to Stephens-san's mansion. We'll stay here for one night, and a pickup from Medioland is scheduled to come.
When we went to the mansion, the owner, Stephens-san, had somehow aged considerably. The hair on the top of his head was gone, and the sides and back were pure white.
"Hahaha, I don't want to get old. The hair on my head has mostly disappeared."
Since the part where it's gone is glowing with a healthy complexion, there's no doubt he's energetic.
"I was just thinking of having Bishop Jeanne illuminate it with Light."
Wait a minute. Who said hair grows if you illuminate it with Light?
"Previously, Bishop Harrison said so. That since he had Bishop Jeanne illuminate it, the number of those departing has clearly decreased."
Now that he mentioned it, I feel like he's been trying hard to maintain the thin balding state he's had since I met him. It should have been more gone by now.
But even if it could be maintained, isn't it impossible for what's already gone?
While a great doubt wells up, he is perfectly serious. He knelt on one knee and thrust out his head while muttering words of prayer. As a priest, I can't just ignore him, so I held my right hand over his head and illuminated it with Light.
When I illuminated it, to my surprise, it reflected the light quite a bit. It was almost dazzling. I hope he hasn't chanted Magic Reflection. Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama, who were watching with interest, as well as the wife and the mansion's servants, were all letting out voices of surprise. Could it be that it really has an effect?
I went all out and performed a prayer praising the Goddess while illuminating it. But can hair that's gone be restored with Light? At least if it were Ascension, I'd understand... no, either way, it's probably impossible.
After it was over, everyone stared intently, but there was no particular change.
"I feel as if my head has been wrapped in something warm. I'm sure it will be revived."
Everyone, including the wife, is tilting their heads, but since he's satisfied, well, whatever.
Um, servants. Please don't form a line.
That night, we had a banquet and called Dune and Mel too. The dwarf who teaches ancient languages also came, so we had a good time. Just in case, I asked if there was any magic that works on bald heads, and all three of them made strange faces.
"Are you okay? Aren't you tired? You shouldn't push yourself."
"The banquet the other day was normal, wasn't it?"
"I'll examine you right away."
Since they were acting so worried, I told them about the talk during the day.
"Hmm. The bald head glowed?"
Mel, that's a bit different.
"You don't seem to have a fever. You're not drunk on wine either..."
Dune touched my forehead, but there should be no abnormality.
"Water sister. Just in case. Shouldn't you examine the bald head?"
"That's right. Bring that bald guy here."
She has no mercy even though the opponent is a noble related to royalty. If she were human, those words alone would land her in prison.
"H-How is it?"
Dune patted Stephens-san's bald head.
With a diagnosis from the water spirit, Stephens-san's eyes, which were blinking rapidly while he was tense, couldn't hide his anxiety and joy. If Dune said it's okay, or that it'll grow again, he might even ascend to heaven.
"Heh, so it has this kind of effect."
"W-Will it return to normal?"
The male servants all leaned forward. Stephens-san seems to be thinking of passing the headship to his eldest son soon, so many of the servants currently there are elderly. The men must all be sharing the same worry.
"It's too late. The parts that become the source of hair are completely dead."
"D-Dead..."
As a result of the diagnosis, the opinion was given that his brain might be becoming energetic. Unfortunately, there's no prospect of hair growing. Well, that's expected. But if it weren't too late, would there be a prospect of recovery?
Ah, Stephens-san, who received the diagnosis of no prospect, is depressed. He started muttering 'dead, dead' toward the wall. When the wife stood up and gave his back a good thumping, he straightened up in surprise and returned to his seat.
I'm sorry for doing a verification. Но, I heard your brain is becoming energetic. It'll be temporary, but you're energetic now.
"It's an unexpected effect. Even if hair is impossible, something good might happen."
Something good?
"Yes, if the brain becomes energetic, for example, the speed of judgment will increase. If that happens, you'll be able to make faster and more accurate judgments than before, right? For example, dodging an enemy's attack, or getting the upper hand by being faster in instantaneous judgment. That sort of thing."
That's incredible. The effect of support magic goes to the brain. I've never heard of such magic.
"It might have something to do with the legend of Light's invincibility."
It was Eleanor-sama, who was watching nearby.
"Does it really have an effect before a battle?"
"Based on what Dune just said, I can only say it has an effect."
I thought the bandits were just saying whatever they wanted for fun, but their claim was the correct one.
"The elite Paratroop Jaegers were all saying it's necessary before a sortie. I thought there was something, but..."
"I never thought it would have such an effect."
"Please continue to do so in the future."
"I see."
According to Dune, it's an effect similar to how you wake up and your consciousness becomes clear when you bathe in the morning sun. It's the same reason monsters hate sunlight. Since it's magic, the instantaneous effect is stronger than the real thing. There's a limit to the duration, but if it lasts for two hours, for example, it will have a considerable influence on the early stages of a battle.
"Light is fundamentally stronger as light than candles or torches. The color is also basically colorless, just like the sun, right? It's the same as that."
In other words, Light is like a small sun.
"Yes, I think that's an accurate analogy."
I see. That's why it's warm. And if reinforced with Holy, it becomes hot. Sunlight is also hot in summer. If that becomes even stronger, of course it would be hot.
Dune said that there's an upper limit to the effect on the human brain, and the effect doesn't increase even if you illuminate for a long time, nor does it change if you reinforce with Holy. At most, if you illuminate with all your might, you can illuminate evenly even if there are many people. Until now, I'd been doing it with all my might out of half-desperation, but as a result, it might have been working out well.
But here, I have one question.
Then, what about Dark, which should be the opposite? Light is warm, but Dark isn't cold or cool. I've surrounded my body with a wall of Dark before, but there was no change in temperature. Since I did it in winter, perhaps because the cold wind was blocked, I felt it became warmer instead.
"Hey, Dune. I'm asking for reference, but does Dark also have that kind of effect?"
Actually, the spirits of the five elements found out immediately. However, they asked by saying, 'The magic you newly learned is quite unusual, isn't it?' Since there's the Vow of Silence, I can't say it, but when I whispered that I'd found common ground with the Wetlands Priestess and Germana, they were satisfied. To a spirit, dark magic is not forbidden magic. They probably don't care, but I was grateful they asked indirectly out of consideration for my position.
"I don't know. I can't use it. Но, from the look of it, it's neither warm nor cold, is it?"
I knew it. It's just a wall. Although, if a human touches it, that part will be scorched as if they suffered a terrible burn.
"What do you call that? I wonder if it's 'taking.' It takes various things from what it touches. If light is completely gone, it becomes darkness, right? It's that kind of feeling, I guess."
This has become a difficult conversation.
"Is it okay to understand it as Light gives and Dark takes?"
"Roughly speaking. It's not that simple, but as a concept, that might be fine."
Eleanor-sama, who can follow the conversation, is amazing.
Anyway, it seems certain that Light makes the human brain energetic. I didn't know because I'd never consciously illuminated myself before a battle, but if it has an effect, I should do it actively.
"I wonder if scrolls are okay too."
If scrolls also have an effect, they might sell like crazy all at once.
"They might have some effect, but for the light magic system, it's better to release it directly."
"I see."
"Light magic prioritizes the mental strength of the person releasing it over mana. So a magic circle can't properly reflect the additional effects."
"Additional effects?"
"Yes. Magic has additional effects besides the intended effect. Those additional effects wake up the brain and make it energetic."
I didn't know that. There's such a thing.
"The additional effects are determined by mental strength. Scrolls mostly end with the manifestation of mana, so they don't reflect the additional effects."
"I see."
She's smiling.
"Is that mental strength different between a priest and a mage, after all?"
It was Eleanor-sama. She leaned forward and bit. It's a rare magic lecture from Dune.
"That's right. It seems mages can't master it. Isn't it because they're selfish?"
"I-Is that so..."
"Humans say 'daily training,' right? It seems there's a difference from priests, after all."
It was a flat-out rejection.
"In exchange, mages have richer images. That's why I think they can use various magic. Priests might be stuck in a mold."
In other words, it's a division of roles. Eleanor-sama also looks relieved.
"But, it was good."
"Eh?"
"Because Jeanne learned both. Now you're neutral in the true sense."
Somehow I was hugged by Dune and had my head patted.