Chapter 825 - Chapter 1: The Oracle Descends ②
The news of the Demon Lord's resurrection reached Nakanohara four days after the wedding party for the three couples was held at the farm. The next morning, the Henry Party, who had seen off the royalty of each country who had participated in the banquet... though it was only to the port in the Royal Capital area where each country's ships were docked... came to Nakanohara and told me. Moreover, I was told to "get on for now" and was taken away in a bowl as if kidnapped, and was informed while on the way to somewhere.
"Where was he resurrected?"
I inadvertently asked Eleanor-sama.
"Medioland. It's that largest Demon Realm."
My prediction was right. In that case, is the Demon Lord resurrected for the purpose of reducing humans after all? We're in the middle of Black Rot countermeasures. Could it be that the Demon Lord also knows about the story of the curse and is trying to interfere with the human side's movements? I didn't think he would do something so petty.
"We're going to Medioland now."
"Eh?"
Surely we're not going to subjugate him just like that, are we?
"The Grand Archbishop says he wants to talk to Jeanne."
"With me?"
"Yes. From now on, the White Island needs your power for both Demon Lord countermeasures and Black Rot countermeasures."
Testament and Anti-Sepsis, then. According to Germana, it seems there's no point in releasing Testament unless the Demon Lord is resurrected. Even if it activates, nothing happens, and it just results in the birth of the spirit Germana as the guardian of the new magic circle.
"Since the place of the Demon Lord's resurrection is Medioland, there will be a request for subjugation from the Grand Archbishop to the King of Medioland. The church's monster extermination squad will provide support as necessary. However, in Jeanne's case, since you are a stray priest, contracts with some country or individual take priority. I'm sure the Grand Archbishop wants to sign a direct contract with Jeanne."
Directly with the Grand Archbishop? Until now, it was a contract with the church. It feels quite special.
I was able to meet the Grand Archbishop at Price-sama's private residence, as usual. So, as expected, Price-sama was also there. James-sama too.
"I'm sorry for having you come all this way."
"No. It is the Grand Archbishop who has had a hard time."
I've been meeting him often recently. He must be very busy, it's tough.
"Jeanne, there are several things I must inform you of."
Several? Isn't it just the Demon Lord's resurrection?
"There is good news and bad news, which shall we start with?"
He's quite lighthearted despite the Demon Lord being resurrected. Is he okay?
Since the bad news is definitely the Demon Lord's resurrection, I have him tell me that first. It's better to have the mood be even a little brighter at the end of the discussion.
"Then, I will tell you the bad news first."
"Yes. Please."
"As you know, the Demon Lord has been resurrected."
"Yes."
"As usual, it descended upon the Temple of the Water Dragon in Finis."
"Yes."
"That itself is not particularly different from usual."
"I see."
Not particularly different... could it be that that isn't the bad news?
"The problem is that the oracle is significantly different from those in the records until now."
Although he had a calm expression, the atmosphere changed. I also straightened my posture.
The bad news was worse than I thought. The oracle of the Demon Lord's resurrection was divided into two. The problem was the second one. The first one was the usual one that wasn't particularly different, and it contained the content of when and where the Demon Lord would be resurrected. On the day after that oracle descended, a more detailed content was given. The fact that there was a second one was a first in itself. The content was the conditions for confronting the resurrected Demon Lord. Considering those conditions, I will end up going no matter what. Moreover, probably as the main player. It's the worst. No matter how I think about it, I'm being targeted. If this is the case, I have to activate Testament immediately once he's resurrected.
The good news was indeed good. This has nothing to do with the oracle. It's a problem only for humans. The church finally took the step of partially lifting the ban on Forbidden Magic. The magics that were unbanned are Charm and Attract.
Charm was limited to males. It's for rat extermination and insect attracting. However, use is limited to priests. Furthermore, the use by former Revenants of the Ruined Town, who had become prisoners of war and were under the care of the Medioland Royal Capital Grand Church after the last great war, was also unbanned. Since several Revenants can use it, they are scheduled to be under the care of church priests and be active in Black Rot countermeasures. Up to now, there are no effective methods for rat extermination other than the secret art of manipulating rats in the two northern countries... the inner reality being the Demon Race's Charm... the Charm of Count Vectis and Sir Archer, whose existence is publicly recognized, and the spirit art of the ghost in Primordia's wetlands. It was stated that it was recognized to save Medioland, where the Grand Archbishop is based, as well as Regnentes, Morandine, and Sertoria, where it's officially considered that there are no Charm users. Incidentally, regarding use by ghosts, originally ghosts are beings that shouldn't exist and are to be laid to rest. However, unless they are evil spirits who attack humans, the church will not be concerned with what they do, and will not forcibly lay them to rest. They will patiently persuade them until the person themselves feels like it. That stance does not change. Therefore, ghosts other than those who are currently cooperating will continue to be outside the calculations.
Regarding Attract, currently, there is only the applied use of magic that only I use, and the spirit art of the Wetlands Priestess. Regarding this as well, it is as follows.
In short, it's a quibble. But the quibble was recognized by the Grand Archbishop and officially announced by the Medioland Royal Capital Grand Church. And the reason it was considered Forbidden Magic was to prevent misuse, including use in war. Now, it is an emergency, such as the epidemic that was rampant on the mainland the year before last and claimed many victims, or the vicious epidemic like Black Rot that is currently approaching the White Island and Sertogne from the Inner Sea. Emergency measures are necessary. It was considered that there is no problem in lifting the ban limitedly as a trump card against epidemics. Since it was originally magic bestowed by the Goddess, it should be used if it's for the sake of the world and the people.
Unfortunately, the decision on the policy of eliminating orphans using Undead was postponed. This is because it's not directly related to the epidemic. This time, it's said to be a limited lifting of the ban. However, it was decided that the original purpose of Forbidden Magic, including Undead, would be explained, and that effective uses such as eliminating orphans using Undead would be considered at the Royal Capital Grand Churches of each country. It's said to be under consideration with the claim that it's impious for humans to arbitrarily deny everything bestowed by the Goddess. It was a major step forward.
I think we have no choice but to wait for the right time.
◆◆◆◆
"I can't believe the Demon Lord is being resurrected again."
This time it's Medioland. The place is as expected, but the timing is not good. I didn't think there would be so little time until now.
"In a sense, isn't it exactly as they intended?"
I can see Mary's point. If the purpose of the Demon Lord's resurrection that Henry-sama speaks of is the annihilation of humans... I think the purpose is to reduce them, not annihilate them... then stopping the Black Rot spread countermeasures is the quickest way. Now, there are situation reports from the mainland every month. The three countries of Sertogne, Germania, and Roland. The information providers are Sertogne to Medioland, Primordia, and Sertoria; Germania to Primordia; and Roland to Engrio and Morandine; and each place that receives it is forwarding it to the Medioland Royal Capital Grand Church.
"That's true, but from what I've heard so far, it seems he was resurrected targeting times when there were no light magic users."
It's probably to avoid the activation of Testament. Surprisingly petty.
"But this time, Jeanne was nominated, right? I wonder if there's some motive."
"Even if there is, we won't know."
That's right. The oracle that descended upon the Temple of the Water Dragon didn't just announce the Demon Lord's resurrection.
Until now, the oracle only gave the time and place of the Demon Lord's resurrection. That was all. This time, other information... to be precise, conditions were attached. It says that without light magic, one cannot reach the Demon Lord. In other words, I will participate as the main player. The worst.
"And heroes and former heroes are forbidden. It's tough, isn't it?"
Truly. If anything, give us several more decades of time. Then I'd be able to give up. Knowing they couldn't go, Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama were frustrated. According to Beatrix, Harold-sama, who was eager to reunite with the Demon Lord this time, got rowdy and drank and was scolded quite a bit by his wife, what are we going to do?
"When do you use Testament?"
"That's when the Demon Lord is resurrected. Otherwise, it seems it has no meaning."
"I see, then until then, you'll be making beads and scrolls for Black Rot countermeasures here."
"Yeah. Black Rot has nothing to do with the Demon Lord, after all."
"Okay! Ah, my husband's come to call me, let's do our best."
"Yeah."
Hughes-san is walking over while waving his right hand. It's the end of the lunch break.
"Jeanne, shall we go?"
"It's for the afternoon portion, isn't it?"
"Yeah, one each for magic water and insect repellent water."
"Yes."
I'll increase the number of beads that make magic water in preparation for when I die. In any case, we must absolutely prevent Black Rot. The time that should come has come. I thought such a time would come eventually. Since Germana and the Wetlands Priestess are here, we can mass-produce dark magic scrolls. If things go well, we can increase the number of users. The priestess from a thousand years ago is also here. One of the Priestesses of the Ceiling was also a dark magic user. They are very powerful allies. And above all, Germana is here. Black Rot countermeasures no longer have anything to do with neutrality or anything once the Dragonewts cooperated. But for light magic, there's only me. Hughes-sama will always escort the work related to magic water, which is mainly done by the Class of 175. That said, Hughes-sama is male. There are times when only girls are needed. So, his wife Mary will also act together with us. That said, there's nothing particularly different in daily life. The couple of Mary and Hughes-sama are just always together with me. I didn't notice, but they had apparently been taking turns guarding me with Matilda's husband Jones-san in various situations until now. They must have been in disguise.
"Then, do your best."
"Yeah. Thank you."
I part with Mary and head toward the room where the Priestesses are. Inside the temple are Hughes-sama and Mary, and outside are Finis soldiers under Gwyn-sama, accompanied by two wolves. From the window, I can see the Water Dragon with its neck out of the water surface of the lake. At my feet is Poppy, whose belly has become large.
I make beads at the Temple of the Water Dragon.
"Jeanne. Have you taken enough of a break?"
When I entered, the Priestess was concerned for me. The Priestess is also in a five-person system. There are three times as many apprentice priestesses. The ghosts who enter the beads are also carefully selected. Since they will sign an extraordinary five-year contract, after talking beforehand, those who wished for it had a wrestling match to be selected. Their destinations are Northern Gram, Engrio, and Primordia. They are all patriots who love the land of Finis, but this time they are going to other countries to save the White Island.
I take a deep breath and enter the back room.
"You've come, Jeanne. I'm counting on you."
"Yes. I look forward to working with you."
I bowed my head properly to the ghost with an imposing build.
◆◆◆◆
Hughes, after seeing off Jeanne, went to the temple's guardroom. Mary is there.
"Good work. Do you want something to drink?"
His new wife is concerned for him.
"Wine diluted with water."
"Yes."
During a mission, Hughes never drinks alcohol as it is. He only drinks a little bit of wine diluted with water that he has in his canteen. Mary knows this, so she poured about three mouthfuls into a bowl from what she had prepared in advance.
"About two more weeks?"
At Mary's question, Hughes, who is usually a man of few words, gave a light nod.
The two do not talk much about themselves, or about their true feelings. Hughes, in particular, is so quiet that one might think he lacks communication skills. However, strangely, the two were able to understand each other's thoughts just by meeting their gazes. Sometimes Mary talked a lot. But for the two, conversation was for confirming the other's thoughts that they had read.
"Mary?"
"What?"
"Are you going together?"
He knows it's useless even if he tries to stop her, but he wants to stop her. They converse with their eyes. Hughes, who is a hero and a man, cannot go with Jeanne. In other words, he cannot go with Mary. Despite having promised to protect her for a lifetime.
"Hey, Hughes."
Hughes looked straight into Mary's eyes.
"When we come back, let's live together in the Eastern Plains. Let's have children and raise them. For work... I'll be at the shop while raising the kids, and you'll be hunting."
"..."
"I've been allowed to go to various places, and I found a wonderful husband. You see, I went to visit my mother's grave before I married you. At that time, I promised my mother. That I would make the family my mother couldn't make."
Mary has never lived with her father. She knew who her father was from hearing it from her mother. However, she didn't try to dare claim him. It's not about like or dislike. It's pride. Because she inherited the pride of her mother, who was a priestess and a prostitute. Instead, she, who was neither a priestess nor a prostitute, promised at the grave that she would make a happy family.
"So, I'm going to go with Jeanne for a bit, so please wait a little longer."
Hughes, who saw those eyes without hesitation, said nothing and just hugged Mary.