kscans

Chapter 780 - Investigation into the Ancient Priestess ③

I switched the light to a lantern and had Keira turn into her human form.

"Sorry, Jeanne. I couldn't say."

"You had a promise with the Priestess, didn't you?"

"Yeah."

"It can't be helped. But the Priestess really did hate men, didn't she?"

"Maybe. She was always complaining."

Hmm. After all, it's a region that didn't recognize women's social advancement for five thousand years. It must have been even worse than now, so after talking with the bigwigs, she probably had a lot of pent-up frustration.

Eleanor-sama? Your breathing is getting a bit heavy.

According to Keira, once women alone have managed to enter, it's okay for men to enter after that. However, it seems only women can inherit the legacy. There's apparently a clay tablet that says that too. So, I had Erikson-sama enter, and Eleanor-sama, the Wetlands Priestess, and the three of them skimmed through the contents of the clay tablets.

According to Eleanor-sama, it seems difficult because ancient languages that have become undecipherable today are also used. However, Erikson-sama and the Priestess are reading them fluently.

"Hmm. I generally understand now."

"Is that true?"

It's Erikson-sama. As expected of someone who was a Grand Archbishop during his lifetime.

"Is it about the curse of the Demon Race?"

"No, it's why she is so obsessed with being female-only."

That? In short, she just hates men, right?

"That is true, but that is not all. That secret art, the secret art to leave one's soul in this world. That is female-only."

"Is that so..."

Why is it female-only?

Erikson-sama told us about that as well.

Egward-sama said that the Priestesses who make the ceiling glow are human sacrifices. What is a human sacrifice? The answer is an offering. An offering made to a god must not have any impurity. In other words, a virgin. I don't know why they are considered impure if they aren't virgins. I think it's a prejudice from the male perspective. However, even now, it is said that priests must not engage in affairs with the opposite sex. On the other hand, the sisters at the brothels are priestesses who receive important oracles. No matter how you think about it, it doesn't make sense. The Priestess who lived in Primordia tried to correct that. However, it didn't change. Men are warriors and laborers. There are those like Beowulf and Will, but they are a minority. The reason why knights and heavy infantry are still more prized than magic soldiers is probably for this reason.

"Then, if they put their mind to it, could even a man become an existence that makes the ceiling glow?"

Eleanor-sama pressed him. It's a natural question.

"I do not know. However, the priestesses who receive oracles are all women. Men are not chosen by the Goddess. In fact, it seems there were those who aspired but could not become one. It is said to be a difference in original aptitude. Furthermore, if one tries to become something other than human using secret arts, if they fail, one person who stands on the front lines in war dies. Considering that, men cannot be easily used."

"But the Ancient Priestess thought it was possible, didn't she?"

"That is true. If we investigate a bit more, we might understand the details of the secret art. That will be after confirming its content."

"Understood. Let's continue the investigation."

I feel like something is off, but oh well.

In the end, we didn't find out during the morning. However, since we understood about Puppet, Black Stones, and dark magic, we can say there were results. After returning to the mansion and talking about it, the topic of whether we could transcribe them came up. They probably want to keep the location of the stone tablets a secret. It was a proposal from Cadogan-sama. The five managers also agreed to this. And it seems the Western Church will take charge, including the report to the Grand Archbishop. Regarding this, it seems Price-sama had already told them to follow the Western Church's judgment, and Eleanor-sama readily agreed.

Now that they've been found, the nobles also said they wanted to see them. We boarded the medium-sized bowl, and since it's narrow, we had them look in order. Sianya and I acted as guides inside and showed them the clay tablets. The five of them can read ancient languages to some extent. Seeing what was written about Puppet and Black Stones, they were voicing their admiration.

"Sianya-sama, these are extraordinary relics."

"Yes, they are the eternal treasures of our Western Church."

"Truly. However, it seems the Ancient Priestess really did hate men quite a bit."

"That's right."

"Lately, thanks to His Majesty's wishes, it should gradually be becoming otherwise. I wonder if the Ancient Priestess will forgive us even a little."

"That's right."

When Sianya giggled, the nobles scratched their heads.

Since there's no point in a large number of people loitering inside and outside the cave, we had the nobles go home. After that, those requested by the church conducted the investigation.

Unfortunately, there were no clay tablets written with the details of the secret art. However, according to Eleanor-sama, Erikson-sama, and Cadogan-sama, there were helpful descriptions. It's about the Black Stones.

Black Stones strengthen magic control. Such effects were apparently present in other things within the scope of legends. What's characteristic is that the grade of a fixed magic increases. It should be called the lifting of a restriction. For example, if there isn't a Black Stone corresponding to Light, Light remains at the beginner level even if the caster is advanced. If activated while wearing a Black Stone, that restriction is removed, and they become able to cast magic of the same grade as the caster's grade. It seems neither Eleanor-sama nor Erikson-sama knows how to make magic tools with such selective functions. We understood the principle to some extent. It's the soul. A fragment of the soul is sealed in the stone. In other words, Black Stones seem to possess a part of a human heart.

"In other words, it's the same as a Revenant?"

The detailed investigation will be handed over to the Western Church in the future. Cadogan-sama is asking Erikson-sama.

When turning a corpse into a Revenant, it is said that a fragment of the soul that should have ascended—or a soul that is drifting as a ghost—is called back and lodged in the corpse. When becoming a Revenant while still alive, the soul remains as it is. It's a bit different.

"That is true. It might be similar. That is probably why it is even said that Black Stones choose their possessor."

In a sense, it's a seal. A part of the soul is sealed in a tool. That is a Black Stone, and a part of the Priestess's power dwells within it. That apparently leads to the increase in magic control and the lifting of the grade of specific magic.

"However, for a single Priestess to have obtained such power, it is truly formidable."

Everyone nodded at Cadogan-sama's words. I think that's exactly right. Even Germana, who became a spirit two thousand years ago, didn't understand Black Stones well. Even though she's a spirit...

Wait? Wait a minute.

If Testament is what severs the connection between the Demon Lord—or rather, the Demon Race—and this world so he can no longer be resurrected, wouldn't it be the opposite? Because the souls of people who have passed away go to one of the three worlds, the place of the Goddess, right? If what stops or attracts that is undead magic...

"Umm, can I have a moment?"

"What is it, Jeanne? Did you think of something?"

Since Eleanor-sama reacted, I tried saying what I had thought of.

"In other words, are you saying that undead magic is involved in the creation of Black Stones, Jeanne?"

"Yes. I don't know if it's exactly undead magic, but in order to seal a fragment of a soul into something, you need to call over a part of the soul, right?"

"I believe so."

"I wonder if undead magic is exactly the kind of magic that can do such a thing."

"I see."

"And among dark magic, undead magic has magic that pairs with light magic, like Light and Dark. If, when activated simultaneously with that light magic, it has the opposite effect of Testament..."

"Is there such magic?"

Eleanor-sama's voice became loud, and everyone looked at me all at once. I didn't think they would be so surprised.

"I think it wouldn't be strange if there was. Elemental magic is paired, and light is paired with darkness. It would be fine if there was magic that pairs with Testament."

"That is true, but..."

Since it's called a secret art, I think it's something comparable to Testament. The West has Puppet, the North has the Voiceless activation method for multiple magic, and the South has Testament—the secret arts are all there, but every secret art only uses magic we've seen or heard of until now. If the secret art of the East uses a completely new magic that we've never seen or heard of before, there's a high possibility we won't be able to learn it due to our age. If that happens, we have no choice but to hope for ghosts who died young or the next generation.

"It is not unthinkable."

Erikson-sama acknowledged my idea.

"The simultaneous activation of light and darkness is not limited to one. Why not try combining various things as a test?"

Since the Wetlands Priestess is here, the experiment can be done immediately. So, we decided to try it.

After the day's investigation was over, the investigation team gathered on the way back to the inn to experiment. The location was a certain sandy beach, and we moved there by bowl.

Withdrawing into the pine forest, the Priestess and I try simultaneous activation of light and darkness. With five light and five dark magics each, among them, there is no combination of Dark and Light. And probably, we won't use Light and Dark. Furthermore, presumably, the dark side smells like undead magic. Even without a magic circle, Dark and Light created a vortex. There should be some reaction.

Just in case, I had everyone move away. It would be a problem if it affected their souls. Erikson-sama merged with Henry-sama. To also serve as a lookout for the surroundings, I had them split between Eleanor-sama's and Wilson-san's two bowls. I cast Sight on everyone, and it became a viewing while protecting them with Magic Reflection.

However, only Germana was right by our side. It must be because she's a spirit and won't be affected. She took on the role of giving the signal.

"It's magic that pairs with undead magic, right?"

"Probably."

The Wetlands Priestess asked, and I can only answer 'probably'. Because my idea might be wrong.

"Dark is Light, right?"

"Yeah."

There's no mistake about this.

"And Blind is Sight."

That's probably so too.

For the rest, Attract, which gathers insects, is Repellent, which drives them away. Mold, which restores monsters and Revenants, is probably Anti-Sepsis. This is because it was originally used as magic to prevent decay. Probably, curing athlete's foot... I mean, curing diseases is a secondary thing. If that's the case, the one that pairs with undead magic would be Thought Communication.

"Hey, Jeanne. If you think about it like this, isn't it amazing that Thought Communication is what pairs with undead magic?"

Now that she mentions it, that might be true.

If undead magic is magic that attracts souls, perhaps we can communicate our thoughts with the souls we've attracted through Thought Communication.

Maybe, true necromancy...

"Y-You're right. It might be amazing..."

"I hope something happens."

"Right. Let's do our best."

I was half-doubting myself, but I've suddenly become motivated!

"Then, are you ready?"

Thought Communication from my right hand, and undead magic from my left.

It's the same as Testament; there is no target. I hold both hands above my head.

"Yeah."

"Yes!"

Preparation complete.

"Three, two, one, go!"

"Undead!"

"Thought Communication!"

The Priestess spoke slowly, and I spoke quickly, filling the difference in the number of characters with the time of utterance.

There's a response of the magic being activated in both hands! It activated even though there was no target.

A white mist comes out from my right palm, and a black mist from my left.

The two types of mist rising from my palms mixed above my head and slowly began to form a vortex.

"I-It worked!"

"Really! Amazing!"

I didn't think a mere whim would actually activate...

"Hey, the direction of the vortex is reversed."

"Ah, you're right! I felt like something was different, but the direction of the vortex is opposite."

"It's true. I didn't notice at all."

I see. If you say that severing a connection and connecting are opposites, then it makes sense.

"It's coming."

Germana sensed it. Looking in the direction she pointed, ghost-like things are floating over. There's still a bit of distance.

"They're animal spirits. If you leave them alone, they'll attack living humans."

The ghost Priestess must be able to tell.

"Should I let them ascend?"

"Yeah."

I deactivate the magic. I have the merged Priestess quickly enter the stone. Germana crossed both hands above her head. It's a signal to the companions on the two bowls not to approach. We can't let Erikson-sama and Wilson-san be caught in it.

"Two more have come."

Thinking 'what if', I tried calling out to them, but nothing was conveyed. Originally, Thought Communication cannot communicate with ghosts or animals that are not merged. It must be even more so with animal ghosts.

"Then, I'll let them ascend all at once."

It would be good if I could use Ascension, but I haven't learned it yet. Having Germana tell me that my allies have taken sufficient distance, I continue to chant the prayer for ascension.

The animal spirits that had been slowly approaching increased their speed and closed the distance all at once, but they suddenly stopped and clung to the ground as if crouching. Then, they turned into small white lights, circled around me, and disappeared into the sky.

"A wild rabbit and a field mouse."

After successfully letting them ascend, I called out the Priestess. It seems the Priestess can tell what kind of spirits they are.

"They must have been chased around by a strong carnivore and finally caught."

While they were circling around me, I saw a landscape like the perspective of an animal racing through the grassland as if running away. After a moment, it went dark. They must have been caught up to. It's the hunt in the wild. The weak are hunted and die. Humans, and of course I, have killed many living things. It's to live.

"Hey, Jeanne."

"What?"

The Priestess asked.

"When you send monsters away, do you sometimes see the scenery just before they die too?"

"Yeah."

Priests are like that. There are times when an image flashes through your head for a moment.

"I see, so it's the same after all."

"Yeah. It's the same."

"Jeanne."

"Yeah?"

"You're strong."

"Am I?"

"Yeah. I think so."

"Why?"

The Wetlands Priestess just laughed lightly with a 'fufufu' and dodged the question, refusing to answer.