Chapter 830 - Chapter 3: Diana-sama
The walls inside the room are white. This temple seems to be black on the outside and white on the inside. The floor is also pure white and smooth. It's the same in that a red carpet with gold trim extends from the door to the throne. I walk straight ahead as invited.
The woman wearing the tunic is a tall person with golden hair and has a sharp, beautiful face. She's like Will. Though she's an inhumanly beautiful woman, unlike Will. Her age seems to be in her early twenties. Somehow, I feel like she's emitting an invisible light from her entire body. She must be a god-like existence. But, somehow, I feel like she's different from the Goddess.
"Are you the ones who activated Testament?"
She didn't say 'you' (singular), but 'you' (plural). That means she knows that not only human magic but also the spiritual arts of ghosts are effective for the activation.
"Yes. That's right."
Including Fiona, who gave the signal, the three of us activated it.
"Nice to meet you. I am Jeanne, a priest from Sertoria. My rank is Bishop."
Since I am the oldest, I introduced myself first.
"Ah, so you are Jeanne. I've heard various things about you."
Heard? Just from whom and what has she heard?
"Come here."
The woman stood up from the throne, turned around, and called out toward the back while raising her right hand.
From the back, just as I thought I heard a bird's 'gue-gue' cry, a black bird flew in. It's not an owl.
The bird that flew in tried to land in front of me, but it seemed to slip on the floor and tumbled over.
"Kuroko!"
It's Kuroko. It's been a while. Previously, it often went to stay at Dune's place, but recently I haven't been able to go because of the continuous expeditions. It's been a long time since I've seen Kuroko.
"Are you okay?"
When I rushed over and reached out my hand, it jumped into my chest. As I hold it, it's crying 'gue-gue'.
"What's wrong? Why are you in a place like this?"
No, wait. Was 'a place like this' rude?
"I am the one employing that child."
"Is that so?"
I was surprised. Since it's with Dune, I thought it was a spirit or something, but it really was that kind of thing.
"You were an amazing existence, weren't you?"
"Gue-gue."
Looking at Kuroko, it's nodding proudly.
"It's quite attached to you, isn't it?"
"Um, somehow it seems to have taken a liking to me."
"Ufufu."
Since she showed me a smile, it seems like we won't be going into immediate combat.
The Wetlands Priestess and then Fiona introduced themselves in order.
"I am Diana. The one who gives oracles to you all."
Oh boy. It's the real deal.
The eldest daughter of the Goddess and the Goddess of Wisdom and Arts, Diana-sama!
"A-a-a-um, I'm sorry for intruding so suddenly when you're busy."
"Di-Di-Diana-sama! To think I would be able to b-behold your honorable face."
"A-um, a-um, what should I do, Jeanne?"
I was too wary of the Demon Lord and such, and my response for when the Goddess appeared was neglected.
Kuroko makes a fuss with 'gue-gue'. Wondering what it was, I crouched down and let it go on the floor, and it poked the storage bag with its beak.
"Wh-what? Are you hungry?"
It shakes its head 'gue-gue'. It's not hungry... ah! I see!
"Diana-sama. I've brought offerings, so please accept them!"
"Oh? Thank you."
Thanks to Kuroko, I remembered. While taking out the Highway Cookies and the top-quality wine, I tore off a piece of dried meat, put it in my mouth, chewed it to soften it, and gave it to Kuroko as a thank you. Since it's happily going 'gue-gue', I stroked its neck with my fingertip.
While I was thanking Kuroko, the Priestess offered the top-quality wine and Fiona offered the Highway Cookies to Diana-sama. Since there's no altar-like thing, we hand them over directly. Perhaps because they're nervous, the box and bottle are shaking slightly. Well, that's natural. The opponent is the real Goddess.
"I'll have them in the back since I have the chance. It's rude to leave the gifts as they are, but would you three like to join me?"
She accepted them with a thank you! Moreover, she speaks to us kindly.
An invitation from the Goddess. There's no way we'd refuse. All three of us nodded our heads with all our might.
Behind the throne, there is an entrance without a door. Passing through there, it's like a wide passage, and there are doors on the left and right. This is also different. I'm sure there weren't doors on the left and right.
"This way."
Recommended by Diana-sama to go to the right, when we open the door, it's a room with several pieces of furniture lined up. It's quite different.
There are no windows. But it's sufficiently bright. The fact that there are no shadows doesn't mean the ceiling is glowing.
To the left of the door is a wall with one door that presumably leads further in. This wall and door were also not in the Demon Lord's Temple. If the basic structure is the same, passing through the door and going further left should lead to the room where the Demon Lord was.
"Sit anywhere."
"Ah, yes."
Where Diana-sama points, there are four chairs with the same pattern as the round table, white with blue trim. It's exactly for four people. On the table, a square cloth with a picture of a brown owl with its wings spread wide on a white background is placed, with the four corners hanging down.
As recommended, we go to the back and sit in the chairs. I, the eldest, am in the middle, Fiona is on the right, and the Wetlands Priestess is on the left. Fiona moves her chair a little closer to me. This way, we can hold hands under the table. We can fuse immediately. Seeing that, the Priestess also shifted her chair a bit.
Diana-sama, seeing that we were seated, placed the Highway Cookies and the wine bottle on a shelf like a cooking counter.
"Please wait a moment. I'll prepare them."
"Ah, please don't trouble yourself."
I never thought it would turn out like this.
Looking around the room calmly, I can see it's a place for entertaining guests, just without windows. A cupboard for simple tableware, a shelf with drinks, a water jar and a barrel. A cupboard containing something, and then a bookshelf? I don't know what kind of books they are, but... after all, she's the Goddess of Art and Wisdom. They must be quite difficult books.
Hearing a rustling sound, I look and see her opening the box of Highway Cookies at the cooking counter next to the cupboard. She'll probably move them to the plate on the counter.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Four cups and eight pieces of Highway Cookies cut in half on a large plate. There are four bite-sized pieces per person. There is dignity in this area too.
She opens the bottle cap and pours the wine. It's white wine. I've heard that the wine of the White Island is delicious when it's white.
A mellow aroma spread through the room. Just from that, the Wetlands Priestess made a gulping sound in her throat.
"It's quite a good wine."
"Yes! The Grand Archbishop let me have it. It's the highest grade on this island and is said to be a hidden gem."
"That's something to look forward to."
We make a toast and take a sip.
I can't help but close my eyes and savor it. To be honest, among all the ones I've drunk so far, it's the most delicious!
How should I put it, it has a sense of freshness. The sweetness tinged with acidity is pleasant on the tip of the tongue. And yet, it has the refreshing throat-feel common in white wine. Since it's white, I thought it would have a sharp dryness, but that's not the case. Because it's smooth, I feel like I could keep drinking it.
"Delicious!"
Fiona is also very satisfied. Fiona goes in and out of the border lord's place, so she usually drinks the tributes to the Finis or Northern Gram royal families. Setting aside the strong alcohol of Finis, the Northern Gram ones are first-class continental products. That Fiona is surprised.
"This is amazing, isn't it?"
The Wetlands Priestess too. The Priestess drank the continental top-quality wine that the Grand Archbishop provided when she went to see Egward-sama before. That Priestess is staring intently at the wine in her hand.
"Heh, so they've become able to make such delicious wine even on the White Island."
Even Diana-sama is surprised. This must be quite a gem.
"I know! This is that one. The Ruined Town? It's the one the current Southern Church prepared."
The Wetlands Priestess seems to have identified the manufacturer.
I see. Indeed, that place has become Church territory. Among the ones the Church is making on a large scale, it's the vineyard located furthest south. Moreover, during the Ruined Town era, it received the protection of Engrio. There might have been the introduction of techniques and varieties from around East Liber, and what was made shouldn't have been in circulation until now. Upon occupation, the Church confiscated it. Probably, this is the masterpiece among them.
Diana-sama wanted to hear about the Ruined Town and the new Southern Church, so I told her as much as I knew.
"Hmm. So the Forbidden Magic has been partially unsealed."
"Yes. It's Charm, limited to males, and Attract."
"Then, how did you release Testament?"
"That was by using a fusion technique..."
"Fusion technique?"
I actually show her. She was laughing with her belly held when I had three heads, but she praised it, saying it was wonderful.
"So, because ghosts are existences that shouldn't originally be there, it's tacitly permitted even if you chant Dark?"
"Yes. I think that interpretation is fine."
"But, Jeanne. You should be able to use several of what humans classify as Dark magic."
As expected. She sees through everything. No, that's natural. The magic bestowed by the Goddess is given through this person to the oracles.
"Um, I can't speak in detail because of the Vow of Silence..."
"Vow of Silence? Did you vow to my Mother?"
Ah, as I thought, she calls her 'Mother' because she's the eldest daughter.
"Yes. That's how it is."
"Then it can't be helped. You can speak within the range you can."
"Thank you very much. Actually, there are political circumstances, and on the surface, I am supposed to use only Holy magic and Light magic."
"Hmm. Humans are so troublesome. Even though it's magic Mother bestows."
I must convey these words to the anti-unsealing faction of Forbidden Magic by any means.
Diana-sama knew about the Highway Cookies.
"Recently, the quality of offerings has gone up."
Until about ten years ago, it seems it was just the standard set of regular wine and bread. That had apparently continued for a long time. I've heard that somewhere before.
"We are this kind of existence, so we don't particularly need meals. But it's fun, right?"
"I understand!"
The Wetlands Priestess and Fiona nod greatly. Even for ghosts, if you ask if they need food and drink, they don't.
"Wasn't it Jeanne who changed that?"
"Eh?"
It's Fiona. She's probably talking about the time with Dune. It was that time and the time of the secret book investigation. I remember saying in various places that it would be better to place sweets, starting with Highway Cookies, on the altar. Now, as a policy of the Church, the offerings in various places should have been upgraded. I don't remember spreading it around, but because there are people who say things regardless of whether they're true or not, now various people know.
The original offerings themselves were too meager. In the first place, offerings are the feelings of the person who offers them, so it's bad that the Church arbitrarily monopolized the sale of standard items. My argument apparently caused a stir within the Church, but in the end, the sales of the standard items themselves didn't seem to drop much, so it wasn't particularly made into a problem. Ordinary people use the standard ones, and Church priests and wealthy people use plus-alpha out of their own pockets; they've come to offer according to their respective financial situations.
"Is that so? Then, I have to thank you."
"Eh? No, that's... it's too much."
"It's fine. Since I was able to enjoy various sweets and delicious wine. Specially."
"Ha, thank you very much."
Diana-sama, after instructing Kuroko to move onto the cupboard, stood up, stood behind me, and placed her hand on my head.
"Let's see. I wonder what would be good."
Just what is going to happen?
"It's okay. Even if something happens, it won't be a bad thing for you."
"Ah, yes."
I was seen through in an instant. As expected, gods are amazing.
"Ufufu. What is a Thought Communication user saying? Even you could do this much if you used magic, right?"
That's also true.
Wait? Wait a minute. Does that mean... by any chance, is the oracle when receiving magic something like this?
"Oh? You're sharp. That's right."
"Th-thank you very much."
I was praised. As I thought, that's it.
The oracle-giver places their hand on the head of the person trying to learn magic. At that time, the Goddess reads the person's thoughts through the oracle-giver and knows their desires and cravings. That's why those with aptitude receive the magic they truly want to learn.
"That's right. The person's aptitude and strong desire. But that's not all. What other conditions do you think there are?"
Other conditions...
If I think of what I've been taught by Eleanor-sama and others so far...
First is lineage, and then personality. This would be aptitude. Since the Vice-Chieftain of the Dragonewts said that training in childhood affects magic control, the rank, type, and number of magics learned would increase with this. And, desire. This is an element after being born. After that... whether one has interacted with spirits and such was mentioned...
"You're getting close. What else is there?"
Is this by any chance a test? If so, if I get it right, she might bestow something good.
"Ufufu. Good luck."
Just what is it? Think. Haven't I been taught various things by many spirits so far?
"I wonder what the spirits are saying about you?"
She gave me a hint! I can't miss it.
Um, what everyone said was... 'Because it's Jeanne', or 'Because Jeanne is Jeanne'. I'm troubled, I don't understand at all.
Me being me is natural, isn't it? What does it mean?
Does it mean being like me?
My ideal is coexistence and co-prosperity. Getting along with everyone. Regardless of race. Everyone is a living being residing on the same White Island. Furthermore, living beings residing on the continent are the same. But I also hunt and fish. It's to live. That is also necessary for the Cycle of Life. Because humans are omnivorous creatures that are part of the Cycle of Life. Dune said that every living being has a role. Humans have a role, and furthermore, I personally should have a role. But she also said that what kind of role it is cannot be known unless one is an existence at least one level higher. That's why we have no choice but to live earnestly. Living earnestly... as a single living being residing on the White Island? As a human? As a priest? As me personally? What I can do regarding the Cycle of Life... Following the Goddess's teaching of coexistence and co-prosperity, listening well to the spirits, and being grateful for nature's blessings. It feels more like a hunter than a priest. Speaking of hunters, the first king was originally a fisherman. That's why he must have said to the royal army to fight like hunters, in other words, like scouts. Like a hunter... Ah! I see, I got it. That's why the King was trusted by Dune and Serena. I should become a priest who has thoughts like a hunter. Like a hunter, being grateful for nature's blessings and living with nature. If I do that, various races can mutually give good influences to each other. That might be it! No, it must be so. And, as a priest, I convey that to everyone. As much as I can. I just have to do that earnestly. What the Headmistress once tried to do but couldn't. I, a Stray Priest, will inherit that. Surely, that will also lead to the acquisition of magic learned by the Goddess's followers on the White Island. Because I am trying to be faithful to the Goddess's teachings.
"Good, you barely passed."
Without a moment to answer Diana-sama's words, I was enveloped in white light.