Chapter 846 - Chapter 6: Beyond That (7)
After the banquet ended, the magic warrior disappeared by making a magic circle float in the space around him, just like the Demon Lord. According to Beatrix, it wasn't Teleport but Translate. He moved along with the space inside the magic circle.
And Lyudmila, who received the judgment of being unable to continue fighting, was also sent back by Beatrix's Translate... this one was a flat magic circle.
There are two opponents left, and six of us. It's double.
We proceeded through the passage with the Demon Lord's guidance. Violet took care of all the monsters that appeared on the way. From the beginning to this point, quite a few monsters appeared. Without the Demon Lord's presence and Violet's swift attacks, we probably wouldn't have been able to proceed.
And we reached the next door.
"Beyond this are humans... they're different from the people we've faced until now!"
Fiona, who went out to scout, flew out from the door. She usually tries to pass through the door, but she hadn't even passed through half of her body. She must have just stuck her face out and come back. Moreover, her expression had changed. She was originally pale, but now she was ashen. She looked much more like a ghost than she usually does when we're with her.
"What was there? A spider?"
It's the only weakness of our strongest scout.
"It's an evil spirit! And a very vicious one at that. I almost got taken in myself!"
That's quite dangerous.
Why is there an evil spirit?
When the Wetlands Priestess asked the Demon Lord, he gave a blunt reply: "Evil spirits will settle anywhere." In other words, it's that kind of place. By the way, evil spirits naturally have nothing to do with the legendary eight. Since there was a room with two people, it's possible they settled in the vacant spot. Therefore, even if we defeat them, they're apparently treated the same as the magic beasts we encountered in the passages. It's irrational. If that's the case, they should have stayed in the passage. No, if they were in the passage, Beatrix might have been possessed immediately. Moreover, it would have been terrible if even Fiona was taken in. Considering that, it might have been better to find out in advance.
At any rate, since we're proceeding further, we have to defeat them. Those who can oppose an evil spirit are me, the priest, and Violet, who is raring to go, saying she'll take on any evil spirit. The Wetlands Priestess is also of the clergy, so she should be fine as long as she's merged with me. However, even if she can use Holy magic, she won't be able to use the prayers for exorcism. Since evil spirits are suppressed with barriers, Holy magic, and prayers, ghosts cannot participate. In the sense of being possessed and manipulated, Beatrix is no good, and since Edward-sama, the 'Prince of Loud Voices,' isn't here and we don't have talismans, Beowulf is likely the same.
"Alright! My turn has finally come!"
Violet slammed her right fist into her left palm with a bash! Despite having defeated all the magic beasts on the way by herself, she didn't seem to think she had been active.
"I have plenty of strength to spare. I'll beat them down, and Jeanne can finish them off with Holy at the end."
Finish them off... if possible, I'd like to have them ascend...
"It's hard to make them ascend once they've become an evil spirit."
The Wetlands Priestess snapped at me. Well, certainly, until now there have been many fakes, and among those I've faced, the only one I can call a true evil spirit is the former priest and user of Light magic I met in Morandine. At that time, despite Price-sama and Harrison-san being there, we destroyed him. We didn't have the leeway to make him ascend. I might have died too if I didn't have the stone Serena gave me.
"Evil spirits, you see. They hate everything other than themselves so much, especially if they were originally human; they're existences that can't help but hate living humans. They think, 'Why am I suffering like this while that person is...' and they're incredibly jealous. That's why they think they'll definitely kill living humans no matter what means they use."
"..."
"I faced them a few times when I was alive too; persuasion is out of the question, and conversation doesn't work at all."
That's certainly true. That's why there are specialists in evil spirit extermination like Harrison-san.
"Hey, when the Priestess faced them, how did you exterminate them?"
"I could use Dark, so I'd surround them with that to stop their movement and then use prayers of exorcism to subdue them. This time too, after Violet beats them up and weakens them, Jeanne can just stop their movement with Dark and offer prayers, right?"
The method of extermination comes out smoothly. As expected of a Dark mage.
"I see. But, can't we do it with that? Reverse Testament. What do you think?"
Normally, a magic circle would be used, but it activates even without one. It actually activated, and a wild animal spirit approached. I've never done it with an evil spirit that was originally human, but I think it might be possible. If it works, we might be able to have a conversation. I have practiced the simultaneous activation of multiple spells by one person. However, if I merge with the Priestess, it will be a two-person activation. If Violet takes the timing, we should be able to activate it. If it doesn't work, it'll be immediate withdrawal or subduing without prayers. It'll be Violet's plan, or I'll have the Priestess take refuge in the stone she possesses and offer prayers. If I use the Cat Stone, I can do it quickly.
"What do you mean, will it go that well?"
"I don't know."
When I glanced at the Demon Lord, he looked away as if he noticed the gaze of the Priestess and me.
"What is Reverse Testament?"
Since Violet asked, I explained while glancing at the Demon Lord what might be possible. No, rather than an explanation, it was just a guess.
"Heh, if that's possible, it's amazing. Hey, Demon Lord-sama. Is it possible?"
Good. Nice follow-up.
The Demon Lord let out a sigh as he was stared at by Violet.
"It is not impossible."
I knew it. That's a magic that allows communication with spirits.
"However, Jeanne. It is impossible for you. Since the opponent is an evil spirit, Almighty Guard will not work either."
"Why is that?"
"Jeanne is beyond reproach in terms of magic control. However, you lack spiritual power. Evil spirits... ghosts in general are the same, but they use spiritual power instead of mana. Mages are easily possessed by evil spirits because they rely on magic control and are compatible with the demonic, and therefore fundamentally lack spiritual power. Since Jeanne is a priest, her spiritual power is higher than an average human's, but the opponent is too much. Subduing them is one thing, but if you try to communicate, you will almost certainly be possessed."
I didn't know that... I see, so that's how it was.
"Then, would it be okay if I released spiritual power all at once?"
It's the Wetlands Priestess. Because she peeked into the world where the Demon Lord lives, she can now use the over-ultra-high-level Heaven's Roar.
"It is still not enough. This is that kind of place."
The Demon Lord is blunt.
"Then, then, I'll merge too and the two of us will put out as much as we can!"
It's Fiona. She might be taken in.
"Fiona, you're no good. You're not of the clergy."
"But if it's just releasing spiritual power..."
It's too dangerous. I don't want to subdue Fiona after she's been taken in. I want her to gain some sense of accomplishment and have her ascend normally. That's the promise I made when I met Fiona.
"Hmm. It might be possible."
What! Demon Lord! Don't say unnecessary things!
"See, it's okay. I was prepared for this from the moment it was decided I'd come here. Besides, Jeanne, the Priestess, and I are the strongest trio. We can do it!"
See, she's into it now. Demon Lord, what are you going to do about this?
"Alright! Fiona! Let's go!"
"Yes!"
Even before opening the door, the two of them released their spiritual power to the full.
It's already like the world has turned blue and we're in the middle of the sea. Since the gazes of Beatrix and Beowulf, who are standing there with their mouths agape, are pointing quite far up, it must be billowing up considerably. Actually, it's not hot at all, but it billowed up so suddenly that Violet instinctively jumped back.
"Alright!"
Because the two of them, whom I've left my legs to, stepped forward at the same time, I ended up falling on my bottom.
"Ah! Sorry, Jeanne. I got too excited."
"I'm sorry, Jeanne. Are you okay?"
Since my bottom is also covered in flames, it doesn't hurt, but what are you doing lowering the tension from the start?
I decided to move my legs myself and advanced to the front of the door. I pushed open the door with both hands. The moment I went inside, a chill went down my spine and I got goosebumps all over. This is truly powerful.
"It's certainly powerful."
Violet, who slammed the door shut, is relaxed, but my legs have stopped. I've ended up standing still.
It's not comparable to the evil spirit I fought in Morandine. The one I faced then was a mass of black mist with tentacles extending from it, like an anemone in the sea, but this one is even more gruesome. On the surface of a black cloud-like mass whose center glows red, various races' faces appear and disappear one after another. The faces are all in agony, as if they are souls that have been taken in by the evil spirit and can't escape, showing their forms for just a split second. Their voiceless voices echo in my head.
I don't feel fear. I'm just staring blankly.
"Alright! Jeanne, let's give it a shot."
Violet gave me a slap on the back with a loud voice, so I came to my senses.
"D-Dangerous, dangerous. I was about to be taken in. Are you two okay?"
"I was in danger too."
"Yes. I'm sorry. I'm okay."
It wouldn't be a joke if the strongest three were all taken in by an evil spirit.
"Here I go, Light!"
I regained my composure, got on one knee, put down my staff, and made a wall of Light with both hands. I concentrate on the hardness rather than making it glow as much as possible. Thanks to that, the ominous aura is blocked and the tension in my body is relieved. My face, which had become drawn, must have returned to normal.
(Guooooooooooooooooooooonnnnn!)
Perhaps noticing that I made a defensive wall, the mass charged as it was. Violet, standing behind me, extended four of her side legs to support the wall. The inside of the wall is surprisingly harmless, so sufficient support was possible.
I draw the mass in until it's about to crash into the wall, and release the light all at once. To the full.
(Guooooooooooooooooooooonnnnn!)
The surface of the groaning mass becomes thin as if the mist were blown by the wind.
Good! I'm dealing damage.
"Jeanne, it's okay."
Violet's signal came. I cancel the wall of Light. Just as I thought a wind blew over my head with a hyun, Violet, who jumped over my head and stood in front of me, began to stab the evil spirit with the claws of her side legs.
She's doing it at a speed that is truly invisible to the eye; to my eyes, it just looks like her legs are blurring. I knew she was doing it because I'd seen her exterminate magic beasts many times on the way here and Beowulf had told me.
(Guooooooooooooooooooooonnnnn!)
The red light in the center of the mass flickers intensely. It's like the red room I saw when I first met Salamander. Will called it hell.
"Now!"
Violet, who is keeping her side legs blurring, gives the next signal while facing forward.
Both my hands go up.
"Heaven's Roar!"
"Heaven's Roar!"
It's Heaven's Roar while billowing flames to the full.
Violet, who heard the two's shouts, jumped over my head again and stood behind me.
"Gagagagagagaaaaaannnnn!"
Lightning strikes the mass grandly.
This feeling... it's two people's worth of over-ultra-high-level.
I also quickly take my staff and fire an Eight-Shot with reflection plates.
"Light!"
I make the wall again. This time, it's at full power from the start. Violet again extends her side legs to support it.
"H-How is it?"
The Priestess's breath is rough.
Fiona is also breathing through her shoulders. Because of that, the wall I made is hitting the floor with a gan-gan.
(Guooooooooooooooooooooonnnnn!)
The mass began to retreat slowly. It's clearly working.
I close in according to the opponent and advance the wall to corner it.
"Can you go again?"
Violet asks, but isn't it tough? I'm okay, though.
"I-I'm okay. I can do it!"
"I-I can do it too."
Since the two say so, I momentarily weaken the light to give the opponent a chance to catch its breath, and then suddenly increase it to the maximum as a surprise attack.
(Guooooooooooooooooooooonnnnn!)
Perhaps angry, it retreats while flickering the red light in the center intensely. It's faster than before. Is it reaching its limit?
I close in and advance the wall, and suddenly change the wall into a vertically long shape. It's just enough to hide my body.
Violet extends her side legs from the left and right of the wall and stabs away.
I cancel the wall and Violet retreats, and the Heaven's Roar of two people echoes. I also participated in the attack by firing a reflection plate-equipped Overflow from my mouth. After the roar subsided, I made a spear of Light with all my might and stabbed away. And then, I pinned it down by making a triangular pyramid with the inside glowing with Light at full power. Furthermore, I fire a reflection plate-equipped Overflow from my mouth. It's the simultaneous firing of Light and Overflow. I shouted just in case, but I was able to fire while maintaining the triangular pyramid. As I continued to illuminate it while keeping it trapped in the triangular pyramid, the black mass gradually became smaller.
"Alright! Completely pinned down!"
Violet's 'OK' came.
"I see, that's good..."
Perhaps relieved, Fiona became like an evil spirit. I hurriedly ask Violet to have Fiona slip into the stone she's possessing.
"J-Jeanne, n-now, we might be able to do it."
The Wetlands Priestess is intending to finish it off.
"Are you okay?"
"Leave it to me!"
Then let's do it.
"Violet, please!"
I cancel the triangular pyramid. The mass, which has become completely quiet, is trembling on the spot.
"Understood. Three, two, one, now!"
"Undead!"
"Thought Communication!"
The Priestess from her left hand, and I from my right hand, each fire our magic.
Black and white fused and began to swirl.
In an instant, the black mist turned around and began to emit white light.
The mass of light divided into countless small lights and diffused, swirling around us. Finally, we were completely covered. It was like being inside a cocoon of light. Each small light is a soul. How many thousands, no, tens of thousands are there?
"Saved, saved."
Countless voices can be heard. But the words I hear are of one kind. Success!
"W-We did it..."
This time the Wetlands Priestess became like an evil spirit. I ask Violet to have the Priestess slip into the stone as well.
I'm the only priest left, but from here on is the real challenge.
"Can you hear my voice?"
If I can't have a conversation with this, I'll have to give up.
"We can hear, we can hear."
I did it! This seems like it'll work.
"Good. Then I would like to ask, have you all been released from the evil spirit?"
"That's right, that's right, thank you, thank you."
After that, the words 'thank you' came rushing in like a flood. Since it echoes directly in my head, there's no point in covering my ears. However, because too many voices echoed at the same time, it was more like a ringing in the ears than words. My ears temporarily went deaf with a waaan. But this was better. If each person's words were heard in order, I would have surely fainted and been foaming at the mouth.
For a while, there was a ringing in my ears, but in the meantime, I was able to hear several 'thank you's. And the ringing stopped and it finally became quiet.
"Then, I will have you all ascend. Is that alright?"
This time, it's a flood of 'it's okay'. They must have been quite suffering while being taken in by the evil spirit. I don't know how long the evil spirit had been here, but the old ones must have been there for a four-digit number of years. They must have accidentally wandered in while they were supposed to ascend.
"Then, I'm starting. Are you ready?"
The flood of 'it's okay' echoes again. There's a ringing in my ears again, but I don't need to listen to it until the end. I offer the prayer of ascension without listening to the end. The cocoon of light began to swirl and gradually faded.
It was around the time the cocoon became so thin that the other side could be seen through it. Violet suddenly stood in my way.
"Thump!"
Suddenly, something black, thick, and pointed like a rod protruded from Violet's stomach.
"!"
"Jeanne! Continue. I'm fine. This is the master of the evil spirit. I'll kill it, so Jeanne, please let those lights ascend."
Blood flows profusely from Violet's stomach.
She shielded me.
Violet is sweating profusely while gripping the rod with both hands. There's a sickening smell of something sizzling. She must be fighting. If I stop the chanting now, the souls that have begun to ascend will lose their way. If that happens, they might be taken in again. The only way to help Violet is to finish the ascension. I did my best not to let my breath get ragged and continued to offer the prayer.