Chapter 819 - Chapter 7: Countermeasures in the South ②
I returned to Sertoria with the Wetlands Priestess, but the place we went to was a farm in the Royal Capital area. It was Servetus's room. He was the former boss of the Ruined Town.
It goes without saying that I had the Wetlands Priestess take a Vow of Silence beforehand. And I told her that the person I was introducing as a candidate for her master was a Revenant survivor of the Ruined Town.
"Oho, so you are a ghost. Those robes... you must be a priestess. And young, too. Are you not yet twenty? Just how many years ago did you die?"
It happened the moment we entered the room. He was asking after glancing at the Wetlands Priestess, even before introductions were finished.
"About a thousand years ago. The conflict between the northern and southern churches? I was appointed as a priestess attached to a fortress shortly before that."
"W-what? Is that true?"
"It's true. I died of an epidemic after that conflict."
"Then, you are of the same generation as I... no, if you were already attached to a fortress, then you are my senior. I was a minor at that time. Would you not be my predecessor as a priest?"
"That's right. Nice to meet you, junior-san."
"I-I look forward to working with you."
As expected. She reversed the positions in an instant.
After proper introductions were made again, Servetus, upon learning that the Wetlands Priestess belonged to the Western Church and was acquainted with Erikson-sama, changed his attitude. As the former representative of the Southern Church, he was technically higher in rank than the Priestess, but he straightened his posture to face her.
And when the Priestess said she wanted to learn more dark magic and asked him to be her master, he showed sudden interest.
"I'm a dark magic user, but I haven't learned Charm. That was treated as a secret art, after all."
"Indeed, even back then, one could not learn it without obtaining permission from the church. Because it is dangerous. There are several such dark magics."
"There were criteria, weren't there?"
"Those who obtained special permission from the Grand Archbishop. With some exceptions, by the standards of a thousand years ago, it would be the leadership class dispatched to villages—what we would now call the head priest class. As a priestess attached to a fortress, you would qualify... but one could only be taught after accumulating a certain number of years of experience and obtaining a recommendation from one of the head priests of the East, West, North, or South."
"Will I be okay?"
"There should be no problem. Your years of experience are more than sufficient. Though I may look like this, I am the former head priest of the Southern Church. I shall be the one to recommend you. Furthermore, the purpose of learning it is not merely to capture outlaws. It is to save the people of this island, so there is no issue."
Her years of experience totaled a thousand. Moreover, she had been leading the ghosts and protecting the wetlands. As a leader, she would be beyond reproach.
"Can you use it?"
"In a manner of speaking. However, that is originally a method for a powerless female Revenant to capture a rampaging male Revenant. Since I am a man, I can use it, but the effect is weak. A man like me cannot manipulate people so easily."
It seems that even for Revenants with strong magic control, it is difficult for males to manipulate people with Charm or Doll. It's like Sleep. Setting aside states of heavy intoxication or sleep, if the target is clearly conscious, it reportedly doesn't work easily. To cast it in a normal state, one reportedly needs to master hypnosis to guide the consciousness.
It's a terrifying story, but it's said that ultra-high-class female Revenants can master Charm and Doll. However, they are repelled by Magic Reflection cast by a priest of the same ultra-high class. Dark magic used by a Revenant is easily blocked by a priest.
"The most I can manipulate by casting it without hypnosis is a field mouse or a wild rabbit."
That's more than enough. If we mobilize the Wetlands Knight Order and master it as a spirit art, it will be usable on the mainland too. Of course, since the premise is that ghosts should be laid to rest, we can't recruit openly like in Finis.
"But why do you go so far even after becoming a ghost? If you are a ghost, you could do many other things without learning Charm."
He naturally raised a doubt. In response, Eleanor-sama began explaining from the story of the Black Rot Disease. While Eleanor-sama was talking, he only nodded, saying "I see, I see," while letting out sounds of surprise, but when he heard that the expansion of the extremely vicious Black Rot Disease was gradually spreading here from the east of the mainland, he furrowed his brow.
"I have heard of that disease."
Surprisingly, Servetus knew about Black Rot Disease. Apparently, there is a history of it spreading on the mainland in ancient times.
"Is that true? Do you know of any cure?"
"I have heard that there is no cure. Just as the name Black Rot implies, I heard that those infected die as their fingers and toes rot and turn black. It is highly contagious, and I have heard of cases where villages were wiped out in an instant. I also heard that for villages where infected people appeared, the only choice was for the army to move in and burn the patients along with the village while they were still alive."
It's a horrific story, but it matches what I heard from Ancelotti-sama.
Then, Eleanor-sama spoke about the curse of the Demon Race she heard from the Dragonewt Elder. And she said that the threat coming from across the eastern sea might be the Black Rot Disease. She also said that Black Rot is rampant in various ports of the Inner Sea and is highly likely to begin moving north with the arrival of spring when traffic on the highways becomes active. Furthermore, she spoke about the barrier of the Priestess of the Ceiling and even the specific methods of how to prevent Black Rot using the magic water made with my magic. In other words, she told him everything.
"Is that the truth?"
Hearing this much, he couldn't hide his surprise, and his eyes were quite sharp. Even though he had cooperated with the war instigated by King Seldic in the Ruined Town, he was originally the head priest of the Southern Church. He had also spoken with Erikson-sama and Price-sama. Now, hearing Eleanor-sama's story, he must be genuinely worried about the White Island.
"Unfortunately, yes. Right now, we are in the middle of trying to take countermeasures by coordinating not only with the various nations of the White Island, including those on the mainland, but also with ghosts, spirits, and low-level demons."
"Is that it? Is the current Grand Archbishop planning to take measures with the restoration of Forbidden Magic in mind?"
"Yes. I have heard as much from Price. It seems he is negotiating behind the scenes to have the local churches recognize the partial lifting of the ban on dark magic as necessary magic for countermeasures, making this Black Rot countermeasure a blessing in disguise."
"Partial, eh. From what I've heard just now, it would be Charm and Attract. The day may come when those magics are restored and save the island."
"Yes. It will be limited, but eventually, all dark magic will likely be restored. That is a joyful thing for our country as well."
"The final injunction of the First King William, then."
"That's right."
Servetus and Eleanor-sama smiled calmly at each other. They might be surprisingly good friends.
"Henry-dono."
"What is it?"
This time he faced Henry-sama.
"I understand the details. Not just I, but those currently under Sertoria's care will also cooperate in the Black Rot countermeasures."
"Will you do that for us?"
"Yes. That said, our existence can likely not be made public yet. For now, it is a matter of teaching magic to this ghost priestess."
"I ask this of you."
The Wetlands Priestess was overjoyed.
"Thank you. I look forward to working with you, Master!"
This way of speaking really resembles Beatrix.
"However, Priestess. Is Charm the only magic you wish to learn?"
He was smirking. It seems the Master is enjoying himself as a Master.
"Are there others?"
"Wahahaha! What do you think, Henry-dono?"
"Since our country does not regulate Forbidden Magic, you may do as the Priestess wishes. Moreover, since it is the work of Revenants and ghosts who are outside the law, we cannot regulate it even more so. Well, as long as it doesn't come out in public, anything should be fine."
"Mm. You are understanding."
Henry-sama's last words are bothering me. Is it really okay?
Servetus is a prisoner and has his magic sealed by a Magic-Sealing Ring. Just how is he going to cast magic? That was my question.
"A Teleportation Circle has been set up in the basement here. From there, we will have you jump to a room that cannot be destroyed by magic. Jeanne and I will jump first. That room has a gimmick, so we will hide ourselves. After that, we will have Servetus-dono and the Priestess jump."
The role of jumping Servetus and the Priestess fell to Henry-sama and Bonnie, while Wilson-san and Will were apparently staying behind. It is Henry-sama who removes Servetus's Magic-Sealing Ring and puts it back on when they leave. Naturally, he applies Magic Reflection. It's quite complicated.
"It will be inconvenient, but I will have you restrict your actions as a prisoner."
"I do not mind. If it is not done strictly, it would be troublesome when explaining to the current King or Price."
"Thank you for your understanding."
It really takes a lot of effort. If Eleanor-sama and I jump together, we can hide ourselves. Moreover, since we apply Magic Reflection, Servetus's magic won't get through.
The place we jumped to must be surrounded by Anti-Magic Stone. The fact that they specifically set this up using precious stone means they must have built it in advance, anticipating such an opportunity. They are well-prepared.
In the Priestess's case, magic training involves seeing a model a few times and then doing it herself. If she doesn't learn it, she'll be shown about once a week. However, if she doesn't learn it within about a month, she gives up. That also takes quite some effort. The Priestess received special treatment from the Western Church and is treated as being on a business trip for roughly one month. Her place of stay is my room in the Ghost Mansion.
Upon hearing that the Priestess was ultra-high class and could use six dark magics, Servetus grinned for some reason.
"How about it? Why not try your hand at Memorize?"
"M-Memorize..."
For some reason, Eleanor-sama reacted. It's said that once you learn it, you can learn any magic. Eleanor-sama herself must definitely want to learn it.
"Is it okay?"
"I do not know if you can learn it. That is not a magic to learn magic, as is commonly said. It is a magic that allows one to skip the process of training to learn magic. Those without the aptitude cannot learn it. Still, it would be worth a try, would it not?"
"I'll do it!"
An immediate decision.
"However, it is a secret art among secret arts. Moreover, I am a prisoner. Even if I can show it, I think it will only be to the Priestess. You had best be prepared."
According to Servetus, he is the only one who can currently use it. There were others, but they have perished. If one can learn it, they can reportedly learn magic without an oracle by casting it on others as well as themselves. Of course, it's only magic for which that person originally has the aptitude. However, aptitude is not just something one is born with; it can also be developed through training and experience after birth, and even if one is born with excellent aptitude, it's no good if they are lazy. In the end, the person's own effort is necessary. However, unfortunately, it seems that if a living person tries to learn this magic, their brain will break. It's a magic exclusively for the dead, like Revenants. Therefore, before casting it, Servetus applies Mute so that Eleanor-sama and I, who are monitoring, cannot hear the chant.
We jump to the stone room by Teleport as Eleanor-sama said. We lit it with a lantern prepared in advance. It's a room with nothing but a Teleportation Circle. It's wider than I thought, about the size of a small church's sanctuary. However, the ceiling is extremely low. Someone of Edward-sama's class would barely have their head safe. You'd have to lay a spear down just to bring it in.
Eleanor-sama casts Camouflage and Mute, and I cast Magic Reflection to hide ourselves. When we moved as Eleanor-sama said, there was a hollow. I thought we were going to hide there, but she decided on a spot a little distance away from it. Then, when she sent the signal of completion via the magic circle for sending letters, the Wetlands Priestess and Servetus jumped in.
"Now, let us begin."
"Yes, Master."
"There is a hollow over there, so let us cast it in a different direction."
The fact that he specifically spoke aloud before turning sideways was likely to let us hear. If we were in the hollow, that would be fine. If we were in the direction he was casting, we could move. As proof of that, he waited a little after saying it. He considered the time it would take for us to move.
"Alright, I'm casting. First Mute, then Memorize with a chant, and finally Charm."
"Yes, Master!"
"Mute!"
After Mute, it becomes silent.
The Master raises both hands high, turns his face straight up, and directs his gaze to the ceiling. It's as if he's offering a prayer to the heavens. The disciple takes the same pose. Next, the Master moves his mouth several times, and the disciple listens with a serious expression. And while the disciple is moving her mouth, the Master is tilting his head or nodding. Magic is about imagery. Perhaps the mouth movements are conveying the image of the magic orally.
It was when both sides finished their mouth movements. Servetus's hand, which glanced toward us—likely the hollow—for a moment, moved slightly diagonally forward. Because of that, Servetus's face became invisible, blocked by his arm. The Wetlands Priestess followed suit. The Priestess's face also became invisible. She's probably moving her mouth just like before.
"Tch!"
Suddenly, Eleanor-sama, who was next to me, clicked her tongue.
"Like that, I cannot read what he is saying even with lip-reading!"
Um, what are you thinking? I won't be responsible if your brain breaks.
The Wetlands Priestess successfully learned Charm. The Memorize that Servetus first cast was for the Priestess, and because of that, the Priestess was able to learn Charm on the spot. Considering the original use Servetus mentioned, and the Priestess's personality—her devotion, her sense of responsibility, her aptitude as a good cleric—she was likely recognized by the Goddess as someone who would not misuse the dangerous Charm.
Servetus reportedly cast Memorize several times as a model even after the Priestess learned Charm. It seems one cannot learn Memorize with Memorize, so after that, if the Priestess has the aptitude to learn Memorize, she can learn it through training.
"I'll come back if I haven't learned it after a week."
"Mm. Devote yourself. However, if after a week there is not even a sign of magic power concentrating, you need not come. You cannot learn it."
"Is it no good even if I persist?"
"It is useless. In the past, I only let people persist to collect tuition fees. Besides, you haven't forgotten the sensation when you can learn it, have you?"
"That's true. Then, if it's no good, I'll come to report that."
"I see. In that case, either way, I look forward to reuniting with my disciple in a week."
"Yes!"
The smiles the two exchanged upon parting were refreshing.
The Wetlands Priestess shut herself in my room at the Ghost Mansion and practiced for a week, and she brilliantly learned Memorize. It's likely because she had trained under the Queen of the Ruined Town. The fact that her spiritual power was already on par with an over-ultra-high class even before learning it was a big factor.
The Priestess's training ended with a celebratory banquet. To my surprise, Price-sama also participated in the banquet. Upon seeing Price-sama, Servetus's eyes widened in surprise for a moment, but immediately after, his face broke into a wide laugh.
"I have said this many times, but even though I have passed on Memorize to you this time, do not use it recklessly. First, never teach it to a living human. They will die. And as for the undying, whether they are learning it or being taught it, do not teach magic that exceeds the person's own rank. As a guideline, aim to have them learn one magic of the same rank as themselves per year, and two magics of a lower rank per year. Even if an ultra-high class is teaching a beginner class. Our brains will not break, but if we exceed our limits, there is a possibility our bodies will collapse and we will be unable to maintain them. And never teach Memorize to others until I perish. You are already a successor. Use it only to save the White Island. Never, ever forget that. Understood?"
When explaining this, Servetus was glancing at Price-sama. He must have said it specifically for Price-sama to hear.
"I understand. But I will take your words to heart once again. Master."
The Wetlands Priestess also seemed to have caught on and replied after looking at Price-sama.
Price-sama met the gazes of the two but showed no reaction. I'm sure it will reach the Grand Archbishop.
"I believe you understand, but you are a ghost; never try to learn holy magic."
"Okaay! I don't want to perish, so I definitely won't!"
"Mm. Then we are finished. Come again if you have the chance."
"Yes! I'll come again."
And so the two parted.