Part Three, Section Two: “To the Kingdom of Dalbhat”
Chapter Ninety-two
One week after Klaus showed us around the capital, today the Pope’s funeral would be held at the holy site of Lukmabathos.
Attendees from neighboring countries had gathered at the venue where the Holy Grail, which contained the blood of God, was enshrined.
I entered this sacred place with Prince Oswald and Elsa by my side.
"I had always wanted to visit this holy site at least once, but I never imagined it would be under these circumstances.”
"Yeah. It’s as Bishop Bjorn described. As soon as I entered this land, it felt like the temperature changed. And it’s hard to explain, but it’s like the air clinging to my whole body grew sharply cold.”
In the vast wilderness to the south of the Dalbhat’s capital where grass and trees grow sparsely, there was a place like an oasis, exuding a vibrant breath of life.
In that region called the holy site, there was a small temple where generations of departed Popes had been laid to rest in eternal sleep.
As Prince Oswald described, all who visited this land were said to sense its mystical atmosphere.
"The ‘mana’ here is incredibly dense. It exceeds even the Interstice.”
The true identity of the air Prince Oswald felt was probably "mana".
Perceiving the faint "mana" flowing in the natural world was the cornerstone of ancient magic, and noticing it without training was difficult. However, the density of "mana" in this area was such that anyone would feel some sort of discomfort.
"I’m not sure about ‘mana,’ but this sacred place, Lukmabathos, is where a god slumbers. It’s not surprising that there’s an inexplicable power here.”
“You mean the legend of a god sleeping in Lukmabathos? It’s on the first page of the scriptures, so of course I’m familiar with it.”
"I know it too. Or rather, it’s something everyone on this continent would know.”
The legend of a god sleeping in Lukmabathos was described in the introductory part of the scriptures and had been made into children’s books, so even kids knew this famous tale.
Since most gods reside in the Heavenly Realm, we offer our prayers skyward, but with a god slumbering below in this land, prayers offered earthward also became customary here.
"What I’m talking about isn’t the legend, but the fact it’s true.”
"As I said, I believe the legend is true.”
"Well, you’re a saint, so maybe. But can you even believe what that sleeping God is like and in what state the god is in?”
"What do you mean?”
It was true some didn’t believe the myth-like tales in the scriptures, but I offered prayers believing them. Was that not what Elsa meant by believing?
"In the distant past, the Heavenly Realm, the Surface, and Demon Realm were connected. The Heavenly Realm and Demon Realm used the Surface as a battlefield.”
"That was before the era in the scriptures, correct?”
"Yes, that’s right. Our history as exorcists predates the Clamu religion.”
Elsa started talking about an ancient time.
From their long practice of using exorcism magic resembling ancient sorcery, I’d guessed exorcists had quite an old history, but I never imagined it went back that far.
"The war between the Heavenly Realm and the Demon Realm lasted over 100 years. Fearing the Surface would be completely annihilated if it continued, one of the gods severed the connection, isolating the Heavenly Realm, the Surface, and the Demon Realm. But unfortunately, the three gods who had descended to the Surface were left behind.”
"The gods left behind? So, the sleeping god you mentioned earlier is…”
"The god described in the scriptures, the god of life and death, Hades. By the way, the whereabouts of the other two gods are unknown even to us exorcists.”
I see, so that’s why it was passed down in the teachings of Clamu.
As a Clamu believer, I did believe the myth of the Heavenly Realm, the Surface, and the Demon Realm were connected.
Furthermore, the findings of archaeologists also suggested that this theory held considerable weight. However, it was surprising to hear from Elsa that the history passed down among exorcists was deemed as factual history of this continent’s past.
"There is a legend that Hades is a terrifying god capable of freely resurrecting the dead and extracting the souls of the living. He’s enshrined and sealed in this holy site because of his dangerous power, as I have also heard.”
"Yes, the church headquarters has Hades securely sealed and sleeping here underground even now.”
Hades with the power to overturn the concepts of life and death, a power exceeding human wisdom. If such a god awakened, this land would surely fall into chaos. The headquarters controlled the holy site to keep Hades’ power sealed. We show reverence to the gods, sometimes in fear, and maintain our faith.
"Hades’ seal is heavily reinforced, yes? I believe only a limited number at the headquarters even know the sorcery to undo it. Of course, I don’t know it.”
"You would learn it if you became Pope. Well, even if you knew it, ‘Awakening Magic’ is one of the ‘Divine Spells.’ In other words, since nobody can handle it, knowing how to do it wouldn’t matter.”
So, the Awakening Magic was a Divine Spell. It was a type of magic used by the gods, commonly known as Divine Spells.
It was said almost no humans in history could handle them. Neither could I and I have never even thought to try.
"The Divine Spells… First, there’s the challenge of generating divine magic power within one’s own body.”
“Is divine magic power different from normal magic power?”
"Divine magic power refers to the very power wielded by the gods themselves. For humans to handle it, they must elevate their mind and body to the realm of the gods, and compress the magic power within their bodies to an extreme degree.”
"Hmm… Is that so difficult?”
"Elevating the mind and body requires a significant expenditure of life force, and handling it is delicate. Even a slight mistake could result in the loss of life.”
The Divine Spells, which carry even the risk of death, far surpassed the difficulty of ancient magic. The risk was too high, so there were hardly any who would even attempt to challenge it.
There was no point in practicing something that could kill you just to satisfy curiosity. And there was no particular merit in becoming able to use it either.
"So in other words, no one can actually use such spells. Considering even you can’t, Miss Philia, no one should be able to.”
"I can’t say for sure, but I stopped without attempting it after just a bit of research. The ever-present risk of death from the training methods was frightening. Master scolded me just for researching the Divine Spells.”
"Naturally. It’s foolish to risk your life merely to satisfy your curiosity.”
As Prince Oswald said, the extremely risky "Divine Spells" offered no meaning even in attempting to learn them out of mere interest.
In the first place, in terms of practicality, ancient spells were more useful, and considering contributing to the country as a saint, there was no benefit in mastering magic used by the gods.
For me, that was what Divine Spells were all about.
"However, this may be just amateur musings, but if you could use that Awakening Magic to wake a god, wouldn’t they get angry?”
"They would. A country on another continent was obliterated in an instant by incurring a god’s wrath long ago.”
"A whole country was obliterated? That’s frightening. Even Asmodeus didn’t do anything like that.”
"So, just in case, in this holy site, there is a sacred artifact called the ‘Staff of Divine Shackling,’ which can appease and even subdue the wrath of a god.”
Sacred artifacts were known as legacies of the gods, bestowed with immense power. A carpet that could fly freely through the air, a sword capable of slicing through anything; items that defy our common sense had been discovered all over the world, and they were treated as national treasures in every country.
"And only a Pope can handle the Staff of Divine Shackling. That’s the rule.”
"I see. Sacred artifacts are not to be treated lightly and should be meticulously managed.”
"To master the Staff of Divine Shackling, one also needs divine magic power, and there hasn’t been a foolish Pope throughout history who attempted to use Awakening Magic. So, accurately speaking, the staff’s just under the Pope’s management.”
Since divine instruments were the gods’ possessions originally, naturally many required the gods’ power to handle. According to Elsa, it seemed no Popes in history used the Awakening Magic, and there was never even a need to use it…
“The funeral for Pope Ilmuska will now commence!”"Oh, it’s about to start.”
"Yes, let’s take our seats.”
The magnificent and splendidly luxurious funeral of the Pope had begun. His coffin was placed atop a pedestal, and bishops and priests used the "Extraction Magic" to draw out the god’s blood from his body, returning it to the Holy Grail.
Inside the Holy Grail, a milky-white liquid emitted a mysterious radiance, narrating the completion of the Pope’s duties.
The ritual of papal succession would be completed when the next Pope-to-be consumed that divine blood. Until that day, the divine blood would be securely stored.
In other words, I had to settle everything before the succession ritual. Yes, that was why there was one appointment coming up.
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