Chapter 831 - Chapter 3: Diana-sama ②
The reward for barely passing was an over-ultra-high-level holy support magic called Almighty Guard.
It includes the support magics Defend, Shield, Resist, Increase Defense, Increase Agility, Increase Offense, and surprisingly, it has the same effect as Magic Reflection, covering the body centered on the face and torso, excluding the tips of the limbs. In other words, it's an outrageous technique where you can release elemental magic from the tips of your limbs. Though, there probably aren't many people who release magic from their feet. Moreover, Recovery and Refresh are applied. Furthermore, for some reason, even Clean Up can be applied simultaneously; it's an excellent magic. It's my first time hearing of it. It wasn't in the secret book either. In other words, just like Heaven's Roar, it's a secret art that has been lost for at least three thousand years. Moreover, because it's over-ultra-high-level magic, it can repel all magic. Of course, it can't repel the pressure of stones or the heat or cold of fire or ice released by elemental magic, but boy, there are a mountain of support magics applied. Especially, being able to apply Defend, Shield, Resist, and Increase Defense at over-ultra-high-level would make one invincible. It might not even flinch at the Demon Lord's attacks. Moreover, it seems my magic control has also improved by learning it. However, I was told that with my current self, even if I put intervals between shots, I can only do it five times a day at most. But, since it was about three or four times until now, it has increased by one. If it's about ten allies, it can be done in one go if they huddle together. In other words, in the subsequent battle, I'll be able to fire four rounds of eight-fold volleys. If I push myself to the point of fainting, it's five times. It's quite powerful.
Wait? Wait a minute. The fact that I was bestowed such an incredibly powerful magic...
"Um, by any chance, is the fact that I received this magic the effect of Testament?"
If I can repel all the Demon Lord's attacks, won't I just win? The one who activates Testament is supposed to seal the Demon Lord by harboring a part of the Goddess's power in their body. I can only think of such an amazing magic as being for Demon Lord subjugation.
"Eh? No, that's not it. I am just a judge. As I said earlier, it's a thank-you for the offerings."
"A judge..."
"Yes. A judge of whether you were truly worthy of activating Testament."
"Ha, I see. Then, what does 'barely passing' mean?"
"For now, you are recognized as someone worthy of activation. In other words, at this point, Testament has not completely activated."
"Um, then do I remain human?"
"Of course you do. You remain human. Why?"
I'm troubled by being asked why, but for now, I tried telling her the stories I've heard so far. My will leaves my body and the Fifth Spirit is born, harboring a part of the Goddess's power to seal the Demon Lord. And the duplicate of that spirit becomes the guardian of the magic circle to connect to the next generation. The human who activated it ends their life as an ordinary mage. To put it simply, that's how it should be.
"Hmm. That's a bit different. What happens depends on the activator's will and ideology, or more accurately, their personality."
"Is that so?"
It's quite a complicated story. Just because the magic circle glowed doesn't mean it has activated.
"What will happen in your case? Will it result in something like the legend you heard? You might not know until it activates."
Saying that, she laughed mischievously. She's more worldly than I thought. However, she surely knows what will happen. She's saying to try it if I want to know.
"Don't you think Almighty Guard is an incredibly powerful magic?"
She suddenly changed the subject. It's a cutoff. And the answer is already decided.
"I certainly think so."
I can only agree. Even if I can't win against the Demon Lord, I probably won't lose easily.
"Whether you are worthy of being bestowed that magic is what 'barely passing' means."
I see.
In that case, is it that? If I had passed with flying colors, would I have been bestowed an even more amazing magic?
"It's a secret."
She returned it with a light laugh.
Rewards were bestowed not only on me but also on the Wetlands Priestess and Fiona.
What the Wetlands Priestess received was an ultra-high-level wind magic. It's Saits Gwints, which fires many arrows made of air toward the enemy... I wonder if Wind Arrow is the modern translation? In spiritual arts, it's called Wind Arrow Volley... that's the one.
Fiona received the ultra-high-level status-altering magic Gweledygais... I wonder if Vision is fine for the modern translation? In spiritual arts, it's Dream Illusion... that's the one. Vision is, in essence, long-term Camouflage. It can maintain the Camouflage effect for nearly two weeks. In a sense, it's apparently a magic specialized for humans; Elves and Dragonewts, who have high magic control, can use it without specifically distinguishing it. Humans, because their magic control is weak, apparently learn it in stages. It seems the range of effect becomes wider the greater the magic control, and surely the Dragonewt Village and the Vice-Demon Lord's hobby garden are hidden by that.
Both are magics I'm hearing of for the first time. They are lost secret arts.
The two who were bestowed ultra-high-level... and ancient secret arts at that... are overjoyed. Moreover, the Wetlands Priestess also learned Tempest... in spiritual arts, it's Storm... which is apparently a lower rank of the same wind attribute ultra-high-level, and in Fiona's case, since she couldn't even use the high-level Camouflage, she learned those high-level magics at the same time. Both of them might soon be able to use the four-fold volley of over-ultra-high-level Heaven's Roar.
"The three of you will fuse into one and fight, right?"
"Yes. That's the plan."
The strongest three. I can't say it out loud, but if I release two types of magic from my mouth, we can release four types of magic simultaneously.
"With the Demon Lord, too?"
For some reason, she's giggling. Is it impossible for the three of us? I become anxious.
"If necessary."
"Please devote yourself."
This time she smiled gently.
"Thank you very much!"
It's a genuine Goddess's smile. Just looking at it, I'm somehow feeling energized.
After being bestowed the magic as a return for the offerings, she told us to actually try releasing it.
"What should we do about the wording of the incantation?"
"Ah, that's right. You all need incantations. Wait a moment."
When Diana-sama placed her right hand on my head, the wording of the incantations kept flowing into my head. Since it's support magic in general, it's similar to what I've learned so far. At the same time, the image of the magic to be released flowed into my head.
This is how an oracle-giver learns oracles. However, the oracle-giver themselves doesn't learn the magic. They must receive the oracle anew. In other words, they deliver the oracle in a state of unconsciousness. That might, by any chance, be Theurgy.
By the time the wording of the incantation had flowed into my head three times, the hand placed on my head was removed.
"With this, you should be able to do it."
It's a mysterious thing; when I try to release it, the wording comes out of my mouth on its own. At the same time, the image comes to mind. Amazing, with this I really feel like I can do it in one go.
"Almighty Guard!"
When I point my right palm toward myself and speak, a yellow mist-like light wells up from my palm and envelops my body.
"How is it?"
Even if I'm asked how it is, I don't know myself.
"Put out your right hand."
When I put out my right hand as told, my wrist was suddenly grabbed. She slashes at me with a knife she must have pulled out at some point. The Priestess and Fiona gasp. I reflexively pulled my hand back, but even though she's gripping it lightly, it doesn't budge. The blade hit me just like that, but it just made a sound like it hit a rock or something and didn't cut at all. However, I certainly felt the blade hitting, and it was incredibly painful. I thought I had been sliced to the bone.
"Did it cut?"
"N-no, not at all."
Far from cutting, there isn't even a single scratch. Furthermore, when Diana-sama placed her hand on the painful spot, the pain subsided just from that.
"Right? I cut with the intention of at least leaving a scratch. But it didn't cut."
"Y-yes. Um, th-thank you very much."
I'm too surprised by various things to answer properly.
According to Diana-sama, even with a silver sword, it would only be a scratch for an ordinary person. Regarding heat, it's fine even if I take a direct hit from Prominence, and regarding cold, I won't die even if I'm frozen by Cocytus. Of course, it easily repels ultra-high-level magic. I'm no longer human.
"If there's a weakness, it's that you still have the sensations themselves."
In other words, instead of not getting a single scratch, it's incredibly painful, incredibly hot, and incredibly cold.
"It's to the point where you might faint. In the case of humans, mental disturbance affects the physical body, so it might feel like you've truly taken damage."
In other words, if I take a direct hit, I'll eventually be killed. As I thought, I'll use it while hiding my form.
I did it for Fiona and the Wetlands Priestess's portions too. In the Priestess's case, it's Storm and Wind Arrow Volley. It wouldn't do to do it indoors, so we went outside the temple and released them.
We also did it in the three-person fused state. It's the complete fusion state, not the three-headed one. If we're completely fused, even the holy magic Almighty Guard is fine. As for the order, first I cast Thought Communication. With this, we become able to communicate without using words. Next, Fiona casts Vision. This allows us to exert the Camouflage effect. Furthermore, I cast Almighty Guard. This makes us sturdy and allows us to hide our form. In this state, the Priestess releases Wind Arrow Volley. It's perfect.
"You were able to use it practically right away, weren't you? You're used to fighting. It's wonderful."
I was praised by Diana-sama too.
But actually, it doesn't work on Diana-sama. Why do I say that? Because even though I moved while secretly hiding my form, Diana-sama followed me with her eyes. I was found out. It's the same as the Demon Lord. Spiritual arts, unlike magic, have a fast activation timing. That's why the location isn't found out before activation. That said, if the location is found out, it will be dodged unless the magic is released from zero distance. In the three-person fusion, we can't expect much from physical attacks. Well, since the cat stone has the effects of Increase Agility and Increase Offense, if I swing the staff and it hits, I could probably win against a human. However, I can't win against the Demon Lord with that.
"Why don't you two ghosts try Heaven's Roar?"
Diana-sama laughs mischievously. To top it off, she came close and normally patted our heads. Somehow, she sees through everything.
"Shall we do it? The four-fold volley?"
The four-fold volley is over-ultra-high-level. It's a performance for Diana-sama. It must be the strongest. However...
"But is it okay? Both of you just released the magic you just learned, right?"
The Wetlands Priestess even released two ultra-high-level ones. Isn't over-ultra-high-level impossible here?
"I think it's okay. Earlier, Diana-sama patted our heads, right? I think that probably had the same effect as Hand Over. I had that kind of sensation."
"Is that so!"
When I look at Diana-sama, she smiled. Somehow, gods are amazing in various ways.
"Fiona, shall we do it? The four-fold volley for two people."
"Understood. I'll do it."
"If we're doing it, it's in this state, with simultaneous vocalization."
There's only one mouth. If it's the same magic, we should be able to do it in one go.
"Understood. It's my first time, but let's try it."
"Yes! We'll do our best."
Right is Fiona, left is the Priestess. This is decided by the three of us.
I take a deep breath and send it down to my belly. The signal is me.
(Three, two, one, now!)
"Heaven's Roar!"
"GA-GA-GA-GA-GA-GA-GA-GA-GA-GA-GA-A-A-A-A-N!
I certainly heard four shots. The loudness of all four was the same. It's the power of two over-ultra-high-level shots.
Both of them successfully learned it. Looking at our feet, we haven't collapsed or had the fusion come undone.
"I-I did it!"
"Jeanne! I did it too!"
It's complete!
I don't know how much spiritual power is left, but they haven't become evil-spirit-like. From the sound of their voices, they seem quite energetic.
"Wonderful. You worked hard. Congratulations."
"Thank you very much!"
Becoming three-headed, we each thanked her again, and then returned to the room once more.
"You must be tired. Let's rest a bit. This is a return for that wine."
Saying that, she took a bottle from the shelf and poured a mysterious golden liquid into the bowls she newly took from the cupboard, half in each.
"All three of you, drink that. You will recover."
It seems to completely recover magic control and spiritual power regardless of whether one is human or ghost.
Accepting it reverently, we gratefully partake.
"Haah, it's delicious..."
The three of us can only sigh. A taste like mead and a throat-feel like white wine... The Elves' drink was also incredibly delicious, but this goes even further. If we drink something like this, in the end, we might not be satisfied with anything else we drink.
"Eat this too."
She gave us something like hard-baked bread in a basket. It's not that big. It's about the same as a Highway Cookie.
When I put it in my mouth and bite, it makes a snapping sound and the crust breaks. And then the fluffy texture inside is transmitted. It's not just delicious. Is it okay for bread to be this delicious? In the first place, how on earth can this fluffy feeling be made? To top it off, I feel like power is surging through me.
I even received a leather bag containing twelve of those breads and a leather water bottle containing the golden drink. Is it okay?
"You can sufficiently recover your physical strength, but it has no healing effect, so when you are injured, use Heal or Mold properly."
"Yes. Thank you very much."
"The guideline is one bread for one meal, three meals a day. This alcohol is about half a bowl at a time. It should contain about ten servings. Only once a day. So, no more for today. If you consume it all at once, it will conversely be poison for your body, so follow the usage instructions properly."
She said that while putting the bread and alcohol back on the shelf.
It's just like medicine. No, it might be the god version of a recovery potion. If I sold it, I might get an incredible amount of gold coins.
"Don't sell it."
"Yes. I know."
She placed her hand on my shoulder.
And then, the time came to take our leave.
She told us to fuse, so we became three-headed.
"I'll have you return to the original place for now."
"Ah, yes."
The original place means in front of the magic circle of Testament.
"Raise both hands like when you released Testament."
"Ah, yes."
"You'll return the moment you released the magic, so don't be surprised."
"Eh?"
"I'm stopping time."
Just what kind of...
Before I could ask back, I was enveloped in white light again.
When I came to, I was in front of the magic circle. The magic circle is emitting a yellow-green light.
"What should we do, is it okay to just watch?"
The Priestess also doesn't seem to know what to do.
"I don't know. But it's activated, right?"
"Everyone is staring intently this way."
I don't know what to do, but I can't walk around. Even though Testament has activated, its effect hasn't been exerted yet.
If Testament activated, my will should have left my body and become a spirit, but it's not coming out at all. I'm troubled. Does it come out of the magic circle? I watch the situation intently, but the magic circle is just glowing yellow-green.
"Nothing's changing."
The Priestess gets impatient and crosses her arms using my body. I understand the feeling.
Maybe time is still stopped?
"What should we do? Maybe they got tired of waiting, everyone is trying to come closer to see the situation."
Eleanor-sama is pointing at the magic circle and saying something, but I can't hear because Mute is on. In the meantime, she's moving her right index and middle fingers downward and moving them alternately. She seems to be trying to convey something...
"Isn't that a sign to walk toward the magic circle?"
The Wetlands Priestess said to me. When I look closely at Eleanor-sama's mouth, I feel like she's saying 'walk'.
When the left hand I entrusted to the Priestess points at the magic circle, she's nodding exaggeratedly.
I see, just like Teleport, I have to enter the magic circle.
When I take one step forward with my right foot, everyone watching nodded. As I thought.
"I'm going into the magic circle."
I don't know what will happen, but let's try it.
"Okay. It'll work out somehow."
"Yes!"
The three of us are in agreement. Let's try entering.
I entered the magic circle just like that, and the moment I reached the middle, it went pitch black.