There was no reason to delay any further, so Hio moved at once.
“Will you be the only one going there, Lord Hio Pavlenko?”
Hio nodded.
“I’ll be enough on my own.”
Of course, Airaitz had offered a little resistance.
“What about me?”
“You wait with Legarda.”
“Tch.”
Even if she made her disappointment that obvious, there was nothing he could do.
Wasn’t it a place presumed to be the home of a divine mage?
Both Legarda and Airaitz had to be careful around places connected to divinity.
Kreutzwald’s necromancy was built on a completely different structure from existing necromancy.
Because it did not use death energy, but a new power called dark mana, their outward appearance was no different from that of living people.
Unless one possessed relevant knowledge like Hio, or exposed them to divine power, no one would regard them as undead.
But this was the heart of the Order.
And on top of that, the place they were headed to was highly likely to be steeped in divine power, so bringing them along was impossible.
—It is only because this is the present age that they can even come here at all. In the past, when divinity was abundant, they would not have been able to approach the capital, let alone the center.
As Furnel said, it was only because divinity had weakened to an incomparable degree.
The very fact that undead were walking through the capital of the Holy Kingdom was as good as proof of divinity’s decline.
“I will guide you there immediately.”
Legarda, Freyja, and Airaitz returned to their original lodgings, while Hio followed Herald.
Behind him, more than ten priests in pure white robes trailed after them.
When Hio casually asked Herald why they were all moving together like this,
“It is because of the particular nature of the place we are going.”
Well, so he said.
Even so, wasn’t it just a mage’s house?
What was so impressive that they had to swarm over in a crowd like this?
‘In any case, divine magic, huh……’
Hio’s divine power was something he had obtained when he evolved the 2nd Circle spell “Shield” through his hidden trait.
Strictly speaking, that meant its foundation was not divine magic.
Then what would happen if he became able to directly use divine magic, and even went further and evolved it as well?
At the very least, in matters related to divinity, would it not possess power surpassing “Celestial”?
As he thought that, a question suddenly occurred to him.
‘Come to think of it, there wasn’t any divine magic in the Tetradia Magic Tower, was there? Even though it has the word magic attached to it.’
Wasn’t it divine “magic”?
In the Magic Tower, where they said there was nothing related to magic that could not be found, he had never seen a term related to divine magic.
He asked Furnel whether that was because Hio’s realm was still low, or because it had never existed there to begin with, and true to Furnel, who was mad for old stories, the answer came at once.
—Divine mages were rare even in my time. Because of that, little was known about their houses, too.
‘Why only divine magic, of all things?’
—Though it bears the name divine magic, in truth, it is pure divinity transformed to be a little closer to magic. It cannot be called pure magic, and it is ambiguous to call it pure divinity. If one had to categorize it, it is closer to divinity.
‘Then…… are you saying divine magic doesn’t require mana?’
—Indeed. Divine magic is the use of divine power in the manner of mana. That is why there were many mages who did not acknowledge the term divine magic itself. They insisted it should be called divine arts, not divine magic.
‘……Even to me, that sounds right.’
Could something be called magic if it did not use mana?
Was it not largely no different from priests who handled divinity?
Magic, by its nature, was the art of engraving patterns stitch by stitch with mana, awakening its power one piece at a time as though completing a puzzle.
As he was thinking that, he quietly heard Furnel clicking his tongue.
Despite having no tongue.
—Tsk, tsk…… Do you know what we called people like you in my day? Magic old fogeys. Magic old fogeys. Still so young, yet your way of thinking is already so rigid…… tsk.
‘…….’
—Using only divine power to imitate magic was the early form of divine magic, and naturally it developed further. There were constant attempts to graft mana and divine power together and use them in combination, and there were results as well. Those who did so were finally recognized as divine mages.
‘……You should have said that first.’
—History must be traced upward slowly from the past. Tsk, tsk…… This is why young people these days……
Hio quickly cut off Furnel, who seemed about to begin with young people these days have no willpower, back in my day…… and asked,
‘Is it possible to combine divine power and mana into a single spell?’
—It was possible. By nature, orthodox mages are beings who do not serve gods. And yet, one serves a god while performing magic? They were oddities. To borrow the words of your world, they were MZ-generation mages. That is why divine mages were rare, and perhaps the war began before a floor related to them could be created in the Magic Tower…… That is what I think.
‘That’s fascinating…… Then how does divine magic manifest as magic?’
—I do not know that. What I hated most while I was alive were priests and divine power. Those wretches would toss out a few words, and my adorable undead legion, which I had spent months painstakingly crafting, would melt away like spring snow. How my heart ached……
For once, Furnel’s story had been rather interesting.
Since he had heard the most valuable parts, Hio shut his ears to the tear-jerking true story of Furnel and his undead that followed.
He felt this every time, but the man talked far too much.
“I trust Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress of Berden, is in good health.”
Just then, Herald spoke to him, making it much easier to ignore Furnel’s voice.
“There have been so many incidents and accidents lately that I am worried, but well, she should be all right.”
“Hoho. The two of you must truly be close. I can hear the concern in your voice.”
“Yes, well…… I’ve seen many sides of her, so I suppose I am worried.”
The current Sylvia looked every inch like an empress from a painting, but as Hio knew the face beneath the mask, he could not help but worry.
In these chaotic times, she must be suffering quite a bit at heart.
Seeing Hio like that, Herald let a faint smile bloom.
“Why, perhaps a great auspicious event may befall the Empire. Hohoho.”
“Pardon? An auspicious event, you say……?”
“Who knows? Hohohohoho.”
“…….”
He had no idea why the man was laughing like that, but since Herald seemed to be in a good mood, Hio did not ask further.
After laughing like that, Herald soon straightened his expression and spoke to Hio again in a somewhat concerned tone.
“But are you truly certain this will be enough? As repayment for protecting the city, this is somewhat…… It really is an empty space. It will be different from what you imagined.”
“It’s fine. An empty underground space. That is exactly the place I was looking for.”
“Even if you do not obtain what you wish, please tell us at any time if there is anything else you desire.”
“Hahaha. You don’t need to worry. I’m a mage. A mage. Hahahaha!”
Hio understood Herald’s worries, but from Hio’s perspective, how should he put it…… it was cute.
It was the gaze of a relaxed veteran looking at a worried newbie. That sort of cuteness.
Had he not received this kind of reaction more than once already?
Imagining Herald gaping in astonishment just like in Arilleia, Hio wore a confident smile.
“……Yes. I hope you accomplish what you desire.”
They left Hiberunia Castle and headed toward the building beside it.
A pure white structure, wide and long, stretching horizontally.
It was none other than the main headquarters of the Rifue Order.
Upon entering that headquarters, there were white tiles and white pillars.
And priests dressed in pure white robes bowed their heads to Herald’s group in their own manner of greeting.
“Let us go.”
Guided by Herald, they went deeper inside and came upon a massive stone wall.
A pale gray wall stretched all the way up to the high ceiling, blocking the group’s path.
A soldier of the Order guarding it confirmed Herald’s identity, then began opening the huge doors to either side.
“This is the place.”
Inside was the very center of the Rifue Order.
It was the place where Hio had met Irina a few days prior.
Like the Parthenon temple of Greece, great pillars surrounded the area, and in the empty center lay twelve rods.
However, unlike back then, when the battle with the dragon had been in full swing, the ceiling was now closed, and the sky could not be seen.
“That day, the ceiling had been opened for the sake of divine protection. We call it the Holy Sky.”
Herald’s explanation continued.
The Rifue Order had been founded around this place, and its history was exceedingly deep.
Throughout that long history, it had not allowed a single invasion by foreign powers.
Thus, this place was called a sanctuary.
“Most believe it is called a sanctuary because it is the center of the Order and has long-standing historical value, but the true sanctuary passed down from ancient times exists elsewhere.”
Herald moved not toward the empty space in the center, but toward a statue standing beside a pillar.
It was a device that could activate several functions of the sanctuary.
When Herald arrived before the statue and turned the statue’s hand like a doorknob,
with a rumbling sound, the floor split open.
The empty central floor encircled by pillars split apart, revealing a staircase leading downward.
Seeing it, Hio nodded.
Wasn’t this the sort of design and mechanism worthy of an MZ-generation mage’s house?
“Down there is the place that was called the true sanctuary.”
The staircase exuded an antique atmosphere.
“Let us descend.”
Herald led the way down, Hio followed behind him, and the other priests followed behind Hio.
After descending the stairs and fully arriving at the first underground floor,
“This is…… the sanctuary?”
The scenery revealed before them was truly a place that did not suit the word sanctuary at all.
It looked no different from a mage’s house.
In short, it was truly empty.
“It may look like this, but it is a place of legitimacy and has been regarded as sacred since ancient times. When one is formally appointed as a priest of Rifue, one stays here for three days and offers prayers.”
“……I see.”
Even after hearing that explanation, to Hio it simply looked like a wide underground space.
A space so vast it felt a bit excessive even for a mage’s house.
For a place called a sanctuary, there was not even the common statue of a goddess. It was simply a typical mage’s house.
“Well then, is it the place you wanted?”
And so Hio was certain.
“Yes. There is no doubt.”
That this was a mage’s house.
“Just wait a moment. I’ll show you something amazing.”
“Something…… amazing, you say.”
Herald’s voice was still mixed with disbelief.
This place had been verified for hundreds of years.
It was said that in the distant past, in an age overflowing with divinity, there had been something here. But now it was a place where nothing remained, a place with only symbolic significance.
What exactly did this mage intend to do in a place like this?
“Let’s see…… Where might it be hiding?”
Hio closed his eyes and focused.
Finding the path leading beneath a mage’s house was easy for him now.
First, he searched for the passage through which mana had once flowed.
If he followed that, he could roughly learn what sort of magic circle was hidden there,
and by what principles the underground space was protected and concealed.
Like that…… five minutes passed.
“Hmm…… The fellow hid it quite meticulously.”
The traces of mana were so faint that even Hio, a genius of mana sensitivity, could barely feel them.
No, it was to the point that he doubted whether there were any traces at all.
“Are you all right?”
At that, Herald asked again, but,
“Hahaha! Just wait a little longer. It won’t take long. Hahahaha!”
Hio merely hid his panic behind a loud laugh as he said that.
And so five minutes became ten.
Ten minutes became fifteen, and then nearly twenty.
By then, he had no choice but to admit it.
‘I’m screwed.’
This was not a mage’s house.
He could not feel anything, let alone traces of mana.
It really meant that this empty, wide underground space was all there was.
‘Why do these guys call this place a sanctuary? It’s just an empty room!’
—That is not the problem. The priests’ gazes are no ordinary matter.
Herald, who had been watching silently for twenty minutes, had at some point changed the look in his eyes considerably.
A contemptuous gaze that seemed to say, I knew it……
The priests behind him were no different.
Standing with their weight on one leg, they were looking Hio up and down with rather disrespectful eyes.
One might wonder whether priests were allowed to act like that, but thinking about it, what exactly would make it forbidden?
‘I was so confident and talked so big. What am I supposed to do now?’
—Tsk. Who told you to judge so hastily?
‘You said at first this was definitely the place too!’
—Ahem! In any case, you were barking up the wrong tree, so hurry and correct yourself before those priests and apologize. Say you are sorry.
‘……Damn it.’
It was extremely embarrassing, but what could he do?
In the end, he would have to admit that Herald had been right and look elsewhere.
“……Everyone.”
Just as Hio slowly opened the eyes he had closed and began his first awkward words,
—The pioneer has come.
A pure white light suddenly began to fill this underground space called the sanctuary.
A bright, white light so radiant that the lamps the priests held grew dim.
It filled the underground chamber.
The voice that rang out from afar was clear and sacred.
—Hope has come.
The faintly rising outline was beautiful as it revealed itself.
—Child.
The dazzling light and the figure of the goddess spread forth and seized Hio, drawing him in.
—Come over here for a moment.
With those resonant words as the last thing he heard, when he blinked his eyes shut and opened them again,
the pure white light,
the enchanting figure of the goddess,
the beautiful resonance,
and even Hio himself
had completely vanished.
This place was a space made for communicating with the gods from closer than anywhere else since ancient times.
A sacred domain.
Thus it was called a sanctuary.
“The Goddess, the Goddess has descended!”
“Uwaaaa! O Goddess!”
“Uwaaaaaaah!”
In a way, it was only natural that Herald and the priests, who had witnessed such a scene right before their eyes, collapsed in tears.