Chapter 11 Part 4
I kicked the ground, activated my ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ x2 spell, and raised the sword towards the disappearing dead priest.
The sword is rather light. Lyle’s arm was trembling two hundred years ago as he held this sword up.
…Forgive me, my unworthy son.
I made you kill me, even though you hated the idea so much.
But what happened to you guys after that? Was there a fight with Remilia or Alice?
Since the pledge has been fulfilled, those guys in the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ didn’t kill you, did they?
I only hope that you guys were happy. Now and always.
‘A-AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!’
“What’s the matter? Why are you afraid? You wanted this holy sword, didn’t you!?”
‘N-No! Not like this! I wanted to analyze that sword and solve the puzzle of life. And create a new ‘Ancient Artifact’, that can revive my people.’
“Is that so.”
I waved the holy sword.
“Then I’ll let you do your analysis!!”
‘Gyaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!’
With the blade of the Holy Sword Rinkal, I slashed the dead priest in half.
Naturally, the blade was bathed in my blood. But, in the end, it was not necessary.
Because the dead priest has started to vanish without the need to activate the ‘Purification’ spell.
“…One last question. Do you know Lyle from the ‘Fila Village’?”
‘…I-I don’t know.’
“…Oh really!? I hope you didn’t bully or kill them, did you!?
‘…I-It’s true! Nobody gave that order. Really!’
“…Is that so.”
I mow down the dead priest with the Holy Sword Rinkal.
“I have no use for you anymore! Get lost!! Activate, ‘Purification’!!”
‘GYAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!’
With a vertical and a horizontal slash, the dead priest, whose spiritual body was ripped apart by the cross-slash, was annihilated.
Shortly after, his figure and voice disappeared ──
The holy sword’s cave once again regained its serenity.
“Good.”
“Yuuki!? Why are you putting the holy sword back!?”
“Well, I thought I would get scolded for using it without permission.”
“No one would complain in times of emergency. Besides, the holy sword, which had been sealed for nearly two hundred years and no one had been able to investigate it, is now awakened. They will definitely be curious about it.”
“Oops. Let’s keep this a secret between you and me.”
“…It’s no use even if you put your finger to your lips and act all cutesy .”
“Please don’t tell anyone.”
“…Ughh.”
“Pretty please.”
“F-Fine!”
Nice.
“Now that we are partners. I’ll keep it a secret.”
“Thank you.”
“But I think we should tell Her Royal Highness Princess Iris.”
“…Is that so?”
“If anything, I think it would be better to tell her about it and have her on our side.”
“Will Her Royal Highness keep it a secret?”
“You should believe in her. You’re going to become Her Royal Highness Princess Iris’s knight escort, remember?”
…I forgot about that.
I was so pissed off at the dead priest of the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ that I forgot about the examination.
Come to think of it, we came to this cave to be the knight escort of Princess Iris.
“There is a legend in my family about the holy sword.”
“In the Duke Sorey family?”
“Yeah, it is some kind of a legend.”
Odette tilted her head a little, as if thinking, and said,
“That holy sword is said to have been used only twice before. But my ancestors were convinced that the holy sword would awaken again.”
“What were your ancestors’ name, and their birthplace?”
“I don’t know that much. I just know that it was before the ‘War of the Eight Kings’. It’s just that…”
“Hm?”
“It’s just that my ancestors did leave a note saying that no one should touch the holy sword until the right wielder had been found.”
“The right wielder… means me?”
“I wonder.”
Were Odette’s ancestors also involved with this holy sword?
Or maybe they are from the same village as me.
“I think Odette should become a knight escort of Princess Iris.”
“Why is that?”
“If you become a knight escort, you will always be by Princess Iris’s side, which will come in handy in many ways.”
“Then what about Yuuki?”
“I’ll be Odette’s chaperon.”
“No!!”
She glared at me.
“It was Yuuki who passed the exam and defeated the dead priest. I will not be shameless enough to deprive you of that achievement!”
“Couldn’t you do something about that?”
“I am a noble! From the family of a Duke! Honor and pride are to be valued naturally!”
“No matter what?”
“…Are you trying to make me angry?”
It cannot be helped.
We agreed to keep quiet about the holy sword.
I’ll at least put up with being a knight escort.
“Hey! Yuuki-dono, Lady Odette Sorey! Guiel Wolfgang!! Are you hurt!?”
“Where’s the dead priest? Are you all okay!?”
“…Guiel… is fine, right…?”
Barnes, Demeter, and Gilvan Kiers appeared at the passageway that was blocked by the rock debris.
The unconscious Guiel Wolfgang is leaning against the rock wall of the cave.
We need to find out why he had summoned the dead priest.
Thus, the ‘knight escort selection examination for Her Royal Highness Princess Iris’, came to an end ──
The illegitimate son of the Baron Grossalia family, Yuuki Grossalia, was appointed as the knight escort ──
“…‘Erosion, Hacking’.”
Before I left the place, I hacked into the holy sword one more time.
I was in a hurry earlier, so I didn’t notice that the holy sword had a wielder’s history.
‘Holy sword Rinkal Wielders.’
‘My Lord: Dean Nosferatu: Used 200 years ago: Reincarnated.’
‘Temporary User: Alice Carmine: Used 199 years ago: Reincarnated in the same era as my lord.’
I knew it.
My blood and those close to me were on the blade of the sword.
It could not have been anyone other than Alice, the one who I once gave her my ‘Magical Blood, Mistel Blood’.
There are several things I have learned from this.
At the time of my death in my previous life, neither Lyle nor the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ knew about the effects of this holy sword. If they knew about it, there is no way Lyle would have cried like that, and there is no way the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ would have used this against me.
It is also possible that Lyle, who became a hero after killing me, was given this holy sword.
If Lyle and Remilia devote all their efforts together, they could analyze how to use the holy sword. Those guys were ridiculously hard-working, after all.
Then Alice would understand how to use this holy sword and was reincarnated in the same era as me.
If that was the case… then Princess Iris is not a descendant of Alice.
Alice used this holy sword one year after I died.
It is impossible for Alice to have a child in that short period of time.
Alice had just recovered from the ‘Death Crest Disease’ at that time. It would be impossible both physically and in terms of age.
In that case, Princess Iris’s resemblance to Alice may be a coincidence… or she herself may be the reincarnation of Alice.
Remilia did have Alice’s brother or sister in her belly at the time. If her descendants were the ancestors of Princess Iris, and Alice’s soul dwells in that family lineage, that would make things easier.
“…Seriously, that child is such a pain in the ass.”
In the first place, this is not right, Alice.
Even if I had died, why would you think of reincarnating yourself?
Was it because you think that you could reduce the two hundred years age gap to zero? You did not think you would fail, did you?
If Lyle and Remilia had found you, they would have stopped you… or not.
I cannot imagine those two stopping Alice. I feel like they’re sending Alice off once they know for certain that she can reincarnate.
Lyle and Remilia are ridiculously hard-working and talented, after all.
Had they acquired ‘Ancient Magic’ and ‘Ancient Artifacts’, they also could have destroyed the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’. By the way, ‘Fila Village’, where I was, had a 100 percent literacy rate. The literacy rate in the royal capital at that time was just 15 percent, and all the villagers had mastered common magic.
If Lyle had been recognized by the sanctuary church for his achievement in killing me.
And if the people of ‘Fila Village’ had used that to gain knowledge of ‘Ancient Magic’ and ‘Ancient Artifacts’.
── I have a feeling that they would send Alice to this era without hesitation….
“So you’re in this era. Alice Carmine.”
I will find you.
Whoever you are in this era, I’ll find you for sure. So wait for me.
Chapter 11 Part 3
“Guiel is saved! He’s all yours now, Odette!!”
“Affirmative!”
Odette simultaneously draws two crests with her fingertips.
She brought forth a flowing chant with her beautiful voice.
“‘Ancient Magic’!! ‘Earth God Boisterous Dance, Force of Earth’!!”
Several ‘Stone Spears’ are formed from the ground.
All at once, the ‘Stone Spears’ flew up and pierced the dead priest.
‘Arrggghhhh!! Y-You little girl…!!’
“‘Fire God’s Relentless Barrage, Ifrit Blow’!!”
I lay Guiel on the ground and drew a crest on the palm of my hand.
Immediately after, I strike the dead priest with another ‘Ifrit Blow’.
‘Gyaaaaahhhhhh!! Gaaaahhhhhhhh!!’
“Departed spirits possess the living to gain magic power. They feed on magic power to materialize. Now that you are separated from Guiel, you can no longer replenish your magic power!!”
‘Boy! How did you know so much at such a young age!?’
“You are one to talk. A nearly two hundred years old dead spirit in such a sorry state, what a shame!!”
‘── What!?’
“Don’t you talk about human evolution now! Even those ‘Demi Humans’ were eliminated for that purpose!! As a result, you started the war and annihilated them. But in the end, you have turned into a dead spirit and possess a child! I feel sorry for those who have perished because of you!!”
Seriously. These people started the war and messed up the world even after all the sacrifices I made.
“If you feel frustrated, evolve and fly off far beyond the stars. You incompetent priest!!”
‘DAAAAMMMMNNNNN YOOOUUUUUUU!!’
shouted the dead priest.
‘Give me the holy sword! If I study the sealed holy sword ■■ solve the puzzle of evolution, ■■ I can be reborn!!’
“Reborn, you say?”
Odette muttered to herself.
“What we have here is a holy sword that can destroy the wicked. Supposedly, the dead wouldn’t want it, but… just what is the secret behind it…?”
“Okay. Let’s check it out.”
“……What? Yuuki!?”
“Here goes.”
I grasped the hilt of the holy sword buried in the wall and pulled.
‘──── Welcome back. My Lord.’
A voice that I had heard before echoed in my head.
‘You are registered as a user of the Holy Sword Rinkal, My Lord.’
‘The Holy Sword Rinkal is currently sealed.’
With an unpleasant sound, the holy sword was pulled out.
The blade of the holy sword has bright red rust on it. It was as if ── the blood had dried on the blade ──?
“‘Erosion, Hacking’.”
I cut my fingertips and put a drop of blood on the hilt of the holy sword.
Magic power starts to flow into it.
I am going to use ‘Erosion, Hacking’ on the ‘seal’ of this holy sword.
Internals of the magic ── Analysis Begin.
Analysis of the magic structure ── Confirming the Sealing Magic.
Magic power patterns ── Analysis Complete.
I see.
It’s got the blood of a monster that died about two hundred years ago stuck to it, and that was what sealed it.
Unless someone with the same magic power as the monster appears, it cannot be removed from its scabbard.
The coarse, dried blood is stuck to the blade.
The blood carries the same magic power as that of Dean Nosferatu, the ‘Immortal Mage, Lord of Nosferatu’.
“This is… the holy sword that killed me?”
I continue the analysis with ‘Erosion, Hacking’.
Permeating the old magical blood ── Eroding the Seal.
Reactivation of the Holy Sword Rinkal ── Successful.
Analyzing its unique abilities ── Deciphering.
The ability of this Holy Sword Rinkal is ──
‘The annihilation of the soul of the wicked, and bestow reincarnation to the righteous. However, the power of reincarnation has been used up.’
…Wait a minute.
I was stabbed by this sword. So this is how I was reincarnated.
The sword’s ability is “If the person stabbed is a good person, they can be reincarnated”.
So it reincarnated me, the ‘Immortal Mage, Lord of Nosferatu’ and ‘Vampire King, Vampire Lord’? Isn’t its verdict a little too sloppy?
Moreover, we are linked to each other.
Because it was sealed with my ‘Magical Blood, Mistel Blood’, and the blood has seeped inside.
This sword can probably only be used by one other person and me.
“Well, that’s fine. Hear my call. Holy Sword Rinkal!!”
The rust stuck to the blade crumbled away.
The silver blade that appeared… looks awfully familiar to me.
Lyle was in tears at the time.
I thought the holy sword might know what happened to Lyle after that, but this sword only talks in systemic terms. It’s just a magic item without a will.
“Y-Yuuki!? What are you doing!? With the Holy Sword!!”
“Didn’t Odette say it just now? That this is a holy sword that can destroy the wicked.”
“But is there anyone who can just pull it out!?”
“I’m sorry. I was careless. I’ll put it back now.”
“Stop! Is there anyone who would just put it back!?”
“So what should I do?”
“You are just absurd! How did the sealed holy sword get……”
“We’ll talk later. I’m going to go get rid of the dead priest.”
Chapter 11 Part 2
“Stay away from him! Yuuki Grossalia, Odette Sorey!!”
“I will not have a dead man in Her Royal Highness Princess Iris’s knight escort examination!!”
Shouts were heard.
At the same time, there was the sound of skeletons being blown to pieces.
Beyond the undead horde were the mage, Demeter, and General Barnes.
Demeter casts her spell, and General Barnes swings his axe, as they head toward us.
“Please make way, General. I’ll stop the departed spirits myself!!”
“Affirmative!!”
General Barnes swings his long-handled axe and charges into the skeleton horde.
‘Gyaaaaahhhhhhh!’
With a scream, the skeletons and ghosts disappear, and a path opens up.
With that, Demeter took the chance and started to run.
“Stay away from my students, departed spirits! Activate!! The ‘Thorn of the Underworld, Darkness Thorn’!!”
Demeter’s magic activated.
Thorns made of magic power sprouted from the ground and surrounded Guiel’s body.
She tried to entangle him with the spirit ──
‘Foolishness.’
“── What!?”
The barrier created by the dead priest stopped her magic.
‘This is the extent of magic in this era, huh? The spell activation is slow and also not powerful enough.’
“…Ughh.”
‘I. Of the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’. Will have to be the guide, after all!!’
A windstorm swirled.
It was so strong that Demeter and Barnes were blown away.
Furthermore, the dead priest shot through the ceiling of the cave with his magic.
Parts of the cave ceiling collapse, forming a wall in front of Demeter and Barnes.
“Yuuki-dono! Odette Sorey!!”
“What are you going to do to the apprentices, departed spirit!!?”
‘I have no use for humans. Thus, my only wish is to take back the ‘Ancient Artifact’.’
The departed spirit laughed with a gaunt face.
‘Then we of the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’, will guide the people. For the sake of human evolution ──’
“Shut up.”
My dagger cut off the arm of the departed spirit.
‘── When did you get close!? Boy!?’
“The dead don’t disturb the living. Get lost. Departed spirit.”
Finally, I can move at last.
Odette and I are allies, after all.
I had to hold her and stay down until the windstorm died down.
‘To have cut off my arm, the mage of this era is not so bad…’
The dead priest laughed.
The arm I had cut off is slowly regenerating.
‘Still, this is not enough. I am the great Seventh Priest ──’
“Activate! Skill ‘Purification’!!”
A sizzling sound can be heard. And the spirit’s hand vanished without a trace.
‘Gyaaaaahhhhhh! Damn you! W-What is thi──!!’
The dead priest exclaimed.
My ‘Magical Blood, Mistel Blood’ can be freely manipulated for a certain period of time even after it leaves my body.
If I apply the blood to the dead priest and activate my ‘Purification’ skill, I can even wipe the dead priest from existence.
‘What ── are you!? N-No, just who the hell are you!!’
“You look pathetic. Aren’t you the Seventh Priest?”
‘……Huh?’
“You people who called me a monster and the king of vampires and then tried to get rid of me, yet now you look so pathetic. What are you doing, human!?”
‘What? What are you talking about!?’
“Silence! Departed spirit of the past, just get the hell out of here or go somewhere else where you won’t be a nuisance!!”
I kicked the ground, flew, and raised my dagger at the neck of the departed spirit.
‘SCREW YOUUUUUUU!!’
Blades of ice formed around him and flew towards me.
I dodged it just in time and landed on the ground.
“Yuuki!!”
“I’m fine, Odette.”
I just got a little cut on my left arm. But it will heal soon.
‘H-How is it? Don’t get carried away! Boy!!’
“── ‘Purification’.”
I activated my purification skill again and ‘purified’ Guiel Wolfgang, who was bathed in my blood.
‘── G-Gaaaahhhhhhhh!!’
The dead priest then left Guiel’s body.
At that moment, I took Guiel in my arms and moved to the depths of the cave.
I got hit by his magic earlier was for this exact purpose, and that’s to shower my ‘Magical Blood, Mistel Blood’ on Guiel.
Using ‘Purification’ in that state allows me to remove the possession.
I still have to extract information from this guy. So I can’t let the departed spirit devour his mind.
Chapter 11 Part 1
Chapter 11 – The Former Demon King, Draws The Holy Sword
“Haa… haa. I see that the other two haven’t shown up yet.”
“Is this really the end?”
“That’s right. Is there anything strange about it?”
It was a dead end.
The path stops here. There are no other branching paths.
That means we are at the end of the cave. But there was not anything that looked like a holy sword.
“Isn’t this supposed to be the holy sword’s cave? I thought there would be a pedestal with a holy sword.”
“It’s not on display, but the holy sword is there.”
Odette pointed to a corner of the wall.
The hilt of the sword was sticking out of the rock wall.
“This is the holy sword?”
“Told you it was sealed.”
“How did it get here?”
“It is said that the sword was sealed here by a priest who feared its power. No one has ever seen the sword itself, and it is impossible to pull it out.”
“Sounds like a pretty terrific ‘Ancient Artifact’.”
“The high-ranking mages have left it alone too, and it’s none of our business.”
Odette Sorey shrugged.
“More importantly, it’s our win.”
“Yeah. You did well, Odette.”
“…I didn’t do much, though.”
“The movement of the undead got strange all of a sudden.”
“Yeah… they had stopped moving.”
About halfway through the cave, the undead started ignoring us.
It was as if they heard voices that only the undead could hear.
“Anyway, that concludes the exam. Demeter-sama. Are you seeing this? The winners are Odette Sorey and Yuuki Grossalia!”
Odette is waving her hands all over the place.
Demeter’s familiar must be around here somewhere…
‘OOOOOOOOOOOOOOHH!!’
Instead, a roar came from the entrance.
Gilvan Kiers… no, Guiel Wolfgang, huh…?
“Oh? It seems the other two have arrived. What a pity. Yuuki and I have ──”
“Stay where you are! Odette.”
Who is that? The guy with such dark magic power?
“It’s neither Gilvan nor Guiel approaching.”
“What are you talking about!?”
“That’s a ghost. Or, more precisely, someone possessed by a ghost.”
“……!?”
Odette readied her sword.
She seems to know what I mean.
“What is this magic power? It’s too strong for a dead person.”
“I’m guessing it’s a high-ranking ghost… wraith or specter. If you can hear footsteps, then someone’s body has been possessed.”
A figure in the Magic Guild’s uniform appeared.
It was Guiel Wolfgang.
Behind him… is a floating shadow that looks like a skull.
‘I’m… the seventh priest of the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’, Roglelle──’
said the shadow.
‘I have ■■■ responded to the summons with the ‘Ancient Magic’ we left behind. Let’s have the holy sword we found ■■ returned to us.’
“A priest of… the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’!? Who summoned the spirit of the dead here!?”
“Get out of the way. Small fry mage. I will kill you.”
Blades of ice started to float around Guiel Wolfgang.
As expected of a spirit. The activation is fast.
Even without a body, he can supply magic power directly to cast his spell.
“Kyaa!?”
“Get back, Odette!!”
I activated ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ x2, and struck down the floating blades of ice with my enhanced speed.
‘Oh? I’m surprised. You can avoid my ■■■■■■. The mages of this era are not bad.’
“…The Dead doesn’t disturb the living.”
The seventh priest of the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’, huh.
…Come to think of it, Kachel was trying to use ‘Ancient Magic’ to summon these guys in the barony. He was trying to use Xellos nii-sama’s magic power for that purpose. But in the end, the spell failed, and the priest of the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ did not appear.
Did Guiel Wolfgang use similar ‘Ancient Magic’ in this place?
I have heard that people from the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ once lost their lives in this huge dungeon, the ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’. In other words, their souls remain in this place. It might be possible to summon them as ghosts by using the ‘Ancient Magic’ of summoning. The amount of magic power required to use the spell shouldn’t be that high.
But… why did Guiel summon this guy?
Was it an accident? Or did someone give him an order?
I do not recognize the face of the spirit. Although I was killed by the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ in my previous life, I have never met a priest.
I wonder if this spirit is from my previous life, or if he was appointed afterward…
Either way… this is troublesome.
The ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ ── the one that treated me like a monster in my previous life ── and hunted me down ──── is here.
Chapter 10 Part 4
“…He’s too fast. That bastard son of a Baron family. What the hell is he!?”
── Minutes before Demeter and Barnes were attacked by the ghosts.
Gilvan was shouting in the middle of the cave.
The Kiers family’s heir, Gilvan, and the Wolfgang family’s heir, Guiel, were going full speed down the detour with fewer undead, intending to get their hands on the holy sword.
However, Yuuki and Odette moved faster than expected.
They were ahead of the two of them, and in no time at all, they quickly moved on.
“Damn it… I didn’t have enough information. I can’t believe there was someone like that in the Baron family.”
“They slipped through the skeletons and ghosts… I could never do that. It’s really hard to believe it…”
“They won’t last with such recklessness.”
“…I know, right?”
“Before long, the undead will catch up and stop them. If we play it safe, we will win.”
“Gilvan-sama.”
“What’s the matter, Guiel?”
“Why did Gilvan-sama not approve of my plan to incapacitate Yuuki Grossalia with magic?”
“The one your father proposed?”
“Yes. If Yuuki Grossalia and I were disqualified, it would become a one-to-one fight between Gilvan-sama and Odette Sorey. I’m sure Gilvan-sama would have won the match.”
“How could we do such a terrible thing?”
Gilvan tapped Guiel on the shoulder.
“My goal is to become Her Royal Highness’s knight and to raise the name of the Kiers family. There is no point in making you disposable and thus bringing displeasure to Her Royal Highness.”
“…The Kiers family. Such nobility…”
“I was educated that way. One must be virtuous if one looks down on others.”
“The Wolfgang family… doesn’t have such a way of thinking.”
Guiel sighed.
“We are ‘Necromancers’ ── a family lineage that specializes in the magic of manipulating the dead…”
“That’s why you are useful to me. So there’s no need to feel inferior about it, you know?”
“…Gilvan-sama.”
“Come on, Guiel.”
Gilvan turned to Guiel and said.
“Use your magic! Lead me to victory!”
“I understand. I will activate my ‘Ancient Magic’.”
“Our victory was decided the moment the exam was held in this place.”
“Yes. Marquis Kiers-sama has been working behind the scenes to find out where the exam will be held in advance.”
“I’ll be on the lookout. So do it.”
“… Yes.”
Guiel stopped and began chanting a spell.
Gilvan chuckled as he watched.
This is a victory in information warfare.
A battle is fought from its preparation stage.
The Kiers family followed this teaching and did everything in their power to make Gilvan the knight escort.
Bribing servants to gather information was one of them.
Before Princess Iris explained the examination to them, Gilvan already knew of the location.
He also knew that the place was brimming with low-level undead and that the Wolfgang family of Necromancers had a boy his own age ──
“I have been… taught by an acquaintance of my father the appropriate ‘Ancient Magic’ for this place. It’s the highest-level magic that can be used in this huge dungeon, the ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’…”
“Good. Then use that power to control the undead!”
“……Yes, sir.”
Guiel begins to draw a crest in the air.
There are many who use the undead.
‘Vampire’, ‘Lich’ ── and mages are among them.
High-ranking mages can control hundreds of undead as if they were their own hands and feet.
That is why the Kiers family turned to the Wolfgang family, who had inherited the magic of the ‘Necromancer’. In particular, their eldest son, Guiel, although young, is quite talented.
It is as simple as directing the surrounding undead to the rivals who were going on a different route.
“Guiel is a dependable guy. When I eventually become a minister or prime minister, I’ll make him my close aide.”
Gilvan nodded in satisfaction.
Guiel had finished chanting and was about to activate the ‘Ancient Magic’.
“Hear my voice, O dead! Accept my wish and defeat my enemies!!”
*Woosh*, there was a sound.
The skeletons and ghosts that had been wandering around Gilvan and Guiel ran toward the other route.
“It’s a success. You did it, Guiel!”
“────”
“With this, Yuuki Grossalia and Odette Sorey are now in a pinch. It’s our win. Now, let’s head for the finishing line. Guiel…!?”
Gilvan’s speech was cut short.
Guiel, who was in front of him, suddenly grabbed him by the neck.
“…Gah!? What’s… the matter, Guiel…”
‘Who was it that has awakened me?’
A voice was heard.
A chilling voice that did not belong to Guiel.
‘……Who opened the door to the world of the living?’
“W-Wha… What… are… you……?”
‘I’m the seventh priest of the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’… The ■■ Great ■■… Roglelle ────’
The moment those words rang out, blackish magic power overflowed from Guiel’s body.
The skeletons began to quiver, their bones clattering.
The ghosts fly through the air and try to escape all at once.
Some small animals slammed against the wall and were crushed.
(……Sanctuary… Church)
Gilvan’s eyes widened in horror.
The ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ ── is a taboo for those who practice magic.
Anyone familiar with history knows that there was a man who perished at the end of his research in this ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’. And that spirit roams the lower levels of the ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’ ──
(……No way… don’t tell me… did Guiel’s magic summon this guy here…?)
The person in front of him looks at Gilvan with an inhuman expression on his face.
The spirits of the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ are not just mere ghosts.
They are called the higher kind of ghosts ── Wraiths and Specters.
If a low-level mage tries to use them, their mind will be taken over.
‘…Where is ■■■ it? Where is the ‘Ancient Artifact’ ■■■? For the ■■ Great me.’
“Erk!?”
A tremendous chill is coming from Guiel’s fingers.
The moment he felt it, Gilvan lost consciousness.
‘…With what we have found in our lifetime, we have created ■■ a new world ■■. With ■ this hand…’
The ghost, who called himself a priest, murmured in a whisper.
He then walked towards the depths of the cave, still possessing Guiel.
Chapter 10 Part 3
After Yuuki and the others entered the cave, General Barnes and Demeter were waiting at the entrance.
This is the upper level of the underground ruins, the ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’.
In front of them was a rock wall and the entrance to the holy sword’s cave.
The ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’ is a vast ruin that runs deep underground.
Only the upper level has been unraveled. What’s in the lower levels is not known. It is said that the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ once fled deep underground, but they were eventually wiped out.
“It may be another couple hundred years before this place is fully unraveled.”
General Barnes muttered absentmindedly.
He is an acquaintance of Princess Iris’s mother. Because of this, he sometimes helps out with work related to the ‘Magic Guild’.
And this is one of them.
“The ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’ is also a huge dungeon. The passageway runs along the rock wall, and there are countless caves in the wall. We have only reached the third level underground. We don’t even know what’s waiting for us in the lower levels. I wonder why the magic civilization of the past made such a thing.”
“We are in the middle of an exam. You might want to be quiet. General.”
“Excuse me. I was bored.”
General Barnes leaned against the rock wall and yawned.
“Do you know, Demeter-dono? That the spirits of dead priests of the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ is said to be haunting the lower levels of this place?”
“I know. But that doesn’t mean anything.”
The mage, Demeter, tapped on the wall of the passage.
“They won’t make it to the upper levels anyway. There are amulets in the passage. Unless they are summoned, it is impossible for them to come up from deep underground.”
“Then why did the undead appear in the holy sword’s cave?”
“That’s… it is currently being investigated.”
“Are you sure it’s safe to conduct the exam in a place like this?”
“The officer in charge checked the amulets of the passageway yesterday. There isn’t any problem.”
“How can you be sure that the undead in the holy sword’s cave is just low-level undead?”
“That’s for sure. We used a familiar to confirm it.”
“You can’t be so sure. There’s the case of Kachel Mieghem, who was a worshiper of the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’.”
Suddenly, General Burns picked up the axe he had left propped up against the wall.
“Besides, this place is also an old battlefield. There must have been quite a few deaths. It wouldn’t be surprising if some of them were lost.”
“… What is this fog?”
Demeter looked around.
In the shallowest area of the huge dungeon, the ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’, its passageway, there was a faint fog.
“… Well, well, it looks like we’ll have to take the exam, too.”
“… Please don’t joke around. General.”
Through the fog, there was something that looked like a shadow.
The shadow wavered when focused ──
“… Ghosts in the passageway!? No way. The amulets for protection against evil spirits were checked by the officer in charge yesterday…!!”
“I told you. You can’t be so sure!”
Dozens of ghosts emerged from the fog.
Ghosts are the departed spirits of those who have lingering attachments in this world.
Just touching them will cause one to be bathed in cold air, and if possessed, one’s mind will be taken away.
In addition, they are also difficult to deal with, as they can only be affected by magic or magical weapons.
“It may be that a higher level of the undead has emerged, one powerful enough to nullify the amulets.”
“I can’t believe it. There shouldn’t be such a thing…”
“I heard that the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ were fighting amongst themselves here, so it would be no surprise if ghosts appeared!!”
General Barnes starts wielding his long-handled axe.
A brave warrior of many battles, Barnes’s axe is covered with magic. The axe is effective against ghosts where physical attacks are ineffective.
“Lost ones! There is no place for you in this world. Leave!!”
General Barnes’s attack cuts through the ghosts like thin paper, obliterating them.
Meanwhile, the mage, Demeter, is chanting ‘Ancient Magic’.
“Leave, ghosts! Activate!! The ‘Thorn of the Underworld, Darkness Thorn’!!”
She drew a crest in the air, and the earth magic was activated.
With a thud, the surroundings shook.
Thorns made of magic appeared from the ground of the underground passageway, entangling the ghosts.
Their spiritual bodies were pierced, torn off, and dissipated into mist.
“At the end of the ‘War of the Eight Kings’, we held a ceremony to repose the lost souls. So why do they appear here!?”
‘… The activation…… is slow… O mage!’
The fading ghost murmured.
‘…… Our Lord, the Seventh Priest ──── would have been… faster.’
“… The Seventh Priest…?”
The ghosts faded before the muttering Demeter.
General Barnes breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’m not very good at dealing with ghosts. I can’t tell if it’s working or not because I can’t feel it.”
“That’s not something a general who has had many battles would say, though?”
“Are all the apprentices safe? You’re sending your familiar to them, right?”
“… I have checked. Yuuki Grossalia and Odette Sorey are doing well. Eh…? That’s too fast! They are already near the end of the cave ── !? Without even engaging the undead? How did they do that!?”
“Nothing to be surprised of. It’s just what that boy does.”
“He was also quick in activating the ‘Ancient Magic’. If he’s a skilled mage, that speed would make sense… but having that kind of power as an apprentice…”
“What about the other team?”
“They seem to have chosen the route with less undead. Personally, I like this one better. Rather than being reckless… wait… what is this!?”
Demeter closes her eyes and synchronizes her mind with her familiar.
Her familiar is a rat strengthened with magic. They are quick, can get into anywhere, and are small enough to be hard to spot. They are perfect for examination supervision.
Demeter closes her eyes and switches vision with her familiar.
She sees two apprentices running with all their might. They are Gilvan Kiers and Guiel Wolfgang. The taller one must be Gilvan and the shorter one is Guiel. They seem to be arguing about something. Shouting can be heard. Guiel is shouting back. And then ──
With a bonk, the familiar rat died.
“──── Wha-!?”
“What’s the matter, Demeter?”
“… My familiar was killed.”
“By the undead?”
“I won’t make such a blunder. A rat, strengthened with magic power, will not be done in by the likes of a skeleton or a ghost…”
Demeter shook her head and stood up.
She has a bad feeling about this.
“We’re going into the cave, too. Something strange is going on.”
“Mm! If there are any victims in this mere exam, Her Royal Highness Princess Iris will be saddened!”
The mage, Demeter, and General Barnes dove into the cave where the holy sword was kept.
Chapter 10 Part 2
“Please don’t ask any strange questions, Yuuki Grossalia.”
“I’m sorry, Odette Sorey-sama.”
During the strategy time.
Odette Sorey and I were in the corner of the passageway, forehead to forehead.
“Did you bring a familiar, Yuuki?”
“No, for I did not know what the ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’ was like. What about Odette-sama?”
“My familiar takes a long time to summon… and…”
Odette Sorey cleared her throat with a cough.
“… from here on out, let’s drop the honorifics.”
“Eh?”
“We are equal partners until we conquer the holy sword’s cave. Also, I have heard that honorifics slow down the transmission of information.”
“Okay, Odette.”
“Yes. I look forward to working with you, Yuuki.”
We looked at each other and nodded.
Then we checked the rough sketch given to us by Her Royal Highness Princess Iris.
This was given to all of us, and it depicted the structure of the holy sword’s cave.
“So, what’s the plan?”
“The layout of the cave is divided in two along the way. One is a straight path with many undead, and the other is a detour with relatively few.”
“There are lights inside so we won’t get lost. Which do you think is better, Yuuki? The detour? Or the shortcut?”
“I think the shortcut is fine.”
“Even with all the undead on the route… It will be fine…?”
“I can use ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’. The undead is slow. So I think I can get through in one go.”
“I can use ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ too, but only for a short time. Other than that, I can also use ‘Dark Serpent Summoning, Snake Summon’ and ‘Earth God Boisterous Dance, Force of Earth’ of the ‘Ancient Magic’.”
“There are only skeletons and ghosts here. I’ll take care of it, then.”
“Alright. And…”
Odette took my hand and said,
“If we win, please become Iris’s knight.”
“… Eh?”
That was not what we had discussed.
Were we not supposed to have a final later if we won?
“I told you that I am Princess Iris’s childhood friend, didn’t I?”
“Yeah.”
“She’s… I can’t go into details, but she has been looked down upon by other princes and princesses because of her constitution and the fact that her mother is an illegitimate child.”
“I know about her constitution. I heard about it in the Baron’s territory.”
“Iris really trusts you, doesn’t she? That’s why I want you to be her knight escort.”
Odette held my hand.
“I just want Iris to be happy. Therefore, I think that those who are strong enough to protect her should become her knight escort. Just becoming her adjutant… is enough for me.”
“Okay, but we’ll talk about that later.”
As for me, I am not particularly hung up on becoming Princess Iris’s knight escort.
Besides… it’s also weird to say, “Yes, Is that so? Thank you”, after hearing something like this.
Odette must have her own reasons.
“It’s time. Let’s go.”
The mage, Demeter, and General Barnes are calling.
“Let’s talk about it after we’ve cleared the exam.”
“Alright. Yuuki.”
Odette and I received a final note from Demeter.
We then headed off to explore the holy sword’s cave.
“Now then, let the exam begin. Both sides, give it your all!!”
Demeter swung her arm down, signaling the start of the exam.
“── ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’!”
“Wait a minute!? I’m still chanting ── Kyaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!”
I am not going to wait.
I start running with Odette on my back.
The ceiling of the cave is high enough to run with one person on my back.
“I’m going to cover the distance. You can do the chanting as I run.”
“E-Even if you say that! I’ve never had a man carry me on his back before… W-What are you doing to a lady!?”
“We are partners during the exam, remember? Besides, it’s not uncommon to give a child a piggyback ride.”
“A child!? You’re the same age as me. So that makes you a child, too!”
Odette starts chanting on my back.
When I turned around, I saw that Gilvan Kiers and Guiel Wolfgang had just started chanting.
As I thought, to be able to activate it by just drawing a crest is a big deal.
The speed of activation is very different.
“Mmm! Mmmmm!”
Odette pulled my hair while chanting.
“I can see them. Three skeletons ahead. They have no weapons. Maybe it’s because we’re on the upper floor.”
“Mmm.”
Stop ruffling my hair.
I had Martha wash and comb my hair before the exam.
“Back off. Unholy dead!!”
I swung my dagger as I ran.
The tip of the dagger grazed the skeleton’s finger.
The next moment ──
‘──── Hiiiiiiiiiiii!?’
The skeletons opened the way all at once.
“What? The skeletons backed off…? Why?”
“The undead hate silver weapons.”
“I know that. But they don’t react so strongly!?”
“Now.”
Za, zazazazaza.
The skeletons are giving way. It’s now or never.
I started running in my ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ state.
“Wait ──── ! Yuuki ── ! Please explain ── !”
I can’t. This is a skill I brought from my previous life, after all.
My ‘Magical Blood, Mistel Blood’ has the power of ‘Purification’.
That is why the undead are purified when they touch a weapon with my blood on it.
In my previous life, if I were bleeding even a little, the undead would sense the presence of purification and run away. Because of this, people have also mistaken me as “Since the undead were afraid of him, then he must be their leader”.
In other words, this is one of the reasons for the nickname ‘Vampire King, Vampire Lord’.
I thought about hiding it this time, but it would be the same thing if I got hurt in the battle with the undead.
In that case, it’s better to just use it from the beginning and finish the exam quickly.
“Hold on tight, Odette.”
“Hey ──── Yuuki ──── !!”
As it is, I headed straight for the end of the cave with Odette on my back.
Chapter 10 Part 1
Chapter 10 – The Former Demon King, Undergoes The Knight Escort Selection Examination
“Don’t worry. The only place that is warped is the entrance. From here on out, it’s just a normal space. We’ll move once you have calmed down.”
said the hooded mage.
Odette Sorey and the other two are seated on the ground.
But they all seem to be getting calmer.
“I’ll explain it to you now. As you were told, there is an undead outbreak in the cave we are heading to. There are only low-level ghosts and skeletons. Ghosts will not possess you if you have a strong mind. As for the skeletons, only weak ones appear on this floor. If you still think you are in danger, run towards the passageway. There are amulets in the passageway, so monsters almost never come out.”
said the mage as she took off the hood covering her face.
What appeared was a woman with green hair.
She looked to be in her late teens or early twenties.
“Let me introduce myself again. I am Demeter, a C-rank mage from the ‘Magic Guild’. Even if you are the children of nobles, in this ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’, that status means nothing. History has proven that ‘Ancient Magic’ can be very dangerous, depending on how it is used. You will be reminded of that here.”
“In short, don’t let your guard down.”
Barnes-san cuts in.
He looked at us and closed one eye while laughing. Maybe he was trying to make us feel relaxed.
“You will get used to the distortion at the entrance. Even I had gotten used to it.”
“That’s enough frivolous talk, General. Everyone should have calmed down by now. Let’s go.”
The mage, Demeter, pulls her robe together and starts walking.
Barnes-san shrugs his shoulders and smiles at us.
And so we resumed our journey towards the upper levels of the ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’.
“This is the ‘Holy Sword Cave’, and it’s the place where you will be tested.”
After we had descended the spiral passage for about ten minutes, the mage, Demeter, stopped.
“I’ll say it again. If you feel that you can’t do it, give up quickly. This area is also where the ‘Magic Guild’s apprentices come for orientation, but it is an ancient ruin with monsters here. There will be one person… who dies every few years. So let me warn you.”
“Are you trying to scare… the heir to a Marquis family?”
“If you’re so confident, try walking through the first level by yourself. Gilvan.”
said Demeter quietly.
“Even in the passageway, monsters can appear on rare occasions. If you fall into the pit in the center during a battle, you will fall to your death. In some places, there are also pitfalls to the lower levels. Even if you fall in, you cannot be rescued during the examination. Do you understand that?”
“… Ughh.”
“If you understand, then shut up and listen to my explanation.”
Gilvan Kiers was seething but backed down as if he understood that he stood little chance of winning the argument with the mage.
“Your purpose is to reach the holy sword at the end of the cave. As I said before, only low-level undead will appear. I’ll leave it to you to decide whether to fight or flee. The first to reach the end of the cave will be the victor of the examination. You’re free to use magic. That’s all. Any questions?”
“… Sabotage is not allowed, is that right?”
Count family’s Guiel raised his hand.
The C-rank mage, Demeter, snorted.
“Of course… but we can’t see everything from here either.”
“… That’s…”
“If you get hurt, we will heal you. If you give up, we will rescue you. This place is different from the surface. Remember that.”
“Who will confirm that we reached the end?”
Odette Sorey was the next to raise her hand.
The mage, Demeter, nodded.
“I will send my own familiar into the cave to confirm your location. You may also use your own familiar, but even if they reach the end of the cave, it will not be considered a clear. You must reach the holy sword yourself.”
“I understand.”
“What about you? Do you not have any questions?”
The mage, Demeter, looked at me.
“Then I have a question. The holy sword is an important ‘Ancient Artifact’, so why is it sealed up in such a place? If it is a holy sword, it should be in the royal palace, and if it is hidden, it should be in a deeper place, don’t you think?”
“Huh!? What are you talking about?”
“… I think you should read the air.”
I guess I should not have asked that.
I just wanted to know since I am here.
“Because the holy sword here is useless.”
But the mage, Demeter, answered my question.
“There are such ‘Ancient Artifacts’. You can look them up if you are interested when you become an official guild member.”
“Thank you very much.”
“That’s interesting. It’s as if you’re looking way beyond the examination.”
“… Eh?”
“The others are thinking about clearing the examination, but you, Yuuki Grossalia, don’t seem to be interested in clearing the examination. Am I wrong?”
“That’s not it. I’m here for my career and for the Grossalia family.”
“Is that so? I’m sorry. Forget it.”
After having said that, the mage, Demeter, looked at all of us.
“I’m going to give you five minutes to come up with a plan. You can think of a strategy on your own, or if you have friends, you can have a discussion. Show here that you have the wisdom and skill to be a knight escort of Her Royal Highness. That’s all.”
Chapter 9 Part 5
“I’m home.”
After a briefing at the guest house, I returned to my dormitory.
“Welcome back. Yuuki-sama.”
“I’m back. Was Remy a good girl?”
“I was.”
“Remy-chan is amazing. She learned to fold the laundry.”
“… But… I’m sleepy.”
Remy yawns next to Martha in her maid outfit.
“I’ve had a lot of naps, but I’m still sleepy.”
“Remy is still a child, after all. So just sleep when you’re sleepy.”
“Remy is Master’s familiar…”
“Just go to sleep, Remy.”
“Fuaaahhh, okay.”
Remy curled up in the corner of the living room and fell asleep.
Martha picked up her little body and moved her to the bed in the bedroom.
She then came back to me.
“So, what happened to the exam?”
“We’re going to investigate a dungeon with the undead in it.”
“… Oh dear.”
Martha looks sympathetic.
“That’s terrible.”
“I hate the undead.”
“Martha had seen them before when we visited the grave with Rumia-sama. The skeletons.”
“That was a really tough time.”
“Rumia-sama started crying, and Yuuki-sama had to deal with the undead alone…”
“That’s a secret.”
“I know. But please don’t overdo it, okay?”
“I have no choice. If I were to withdraw, I would trouble Father and Xellos nii-sama. So I’ll do what I can.”
“Yes. Martha will stay by Yuuki-sama’s side no matter the outcome.”
Martha then went to the kitchen.
“I’m going to make Yuuki-sama’s favorite pancake today. Honey was cheap at the market in the royal capital.”
“Tomorrow too, if possible. It’s the day before the exam. I want to feel motivated.”
“Yes~.”
That’s how Martha and I spent our time until the exam day.
And on the day of the exam.
The Duke’s daughter, Odette, the Marquis’s son, Gilvan, the Count’s son, Guiel, and I were standing in front of the ‘Magic Guild’.
In front of us were several towers.
Some were large, some were small, some were strangely twisted, and some were only a single story high.
In the middle of them was a cube-shaped building with many people coming and going.
That’s the guild’s headquarter, and the other towers are the mage’s research facilities. As told by General Barnes.
“… It’s been a long time.”
“… Yes, It’s been a long time.”
Just before entering the guild, Barnes-san whispered.
“I’m sorry to trouble you. The princess and I would have definitely recommended you.”
“But the other nobles weren’t convinced… weren’t they?”
“If someone else is chosen, I will do what I can. I promise you that in the name of Barnes. I owe you one, after all.”
Barnes-san laughed. He is a nice guy.
We were led to a single-story tower in the center of the guild.
Barnes-san and the mage wearing a robe at the head of the group opened the door to reveal a staircase leading towards the basement.
“Be careful. The place is twisted.”
“Until you get used to it, you might want to close your eyes and hold on to the soldier next to you.”
said Barnes-san and the mage.
As we began to descend the stairs, I had a strange feeling. Like I was going straight down, but sideways. When I think about it, it’s like… I’m going up the stairs in reverse.
“… What is this place?”
“… It’s creepy.”
Even though it looks like a simple stone staircase, it feels like I’m walking through some kind of large creature.
This seems to be the only passageway leading towards ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’.
If I join the ‘Magic Guild’, will I have to pass through here every time I do an investigation?
Odette Sorey is covering her mouth and clinging to my arm.
Gilvan Kiers is barely walking with the support of a soldier. Guiel Wolfgang is staggering down the stairs. He looks like he is about to fall anytime.
“… How can you be… fine… Yuuki?”
“… It’s nothing like that.”
I have been flying since my previous life, after all.
I would often flop around in the wind or fly upside down. So I am used to it.
“You’ll get used to it, Odette-sama.”
“… Y-Yes…”
“… At any rate.”
I never thought I would be coming to the ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’.
Two hundred years ago, it was controlled by the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’, and ordinary people were killed just for approaching it.
It is an unpleasant place, but… just thinking that this is the ancient ruin makes me feel excited.
Mages really do have a lot of bad karma.
“We will soon be inside the ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’. Take a good look at it.”
After Barnes-san said that, the stairs ended, and the view opened up.
What lay ahead was a huge pit.
It’s not… a volcanic crater. A spiral staircase-like passageway led to a grinding bowl-shaped terrain.
We’re at the top of the grinding bowl.
In front of us is a passageway with a railing that runs along the side of the grinding bowl. The passageway goes all the way down. It continued along the wall of the pit, forming a spiral passage. We cannot see what is at the bottom at all from here.
“This is the ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’.”
said Barnes-san, with a long-handled axe in his hand.
“It is an underground labyrinth that has not been fully explored in the 220 years since its discovery. You apprentices are only allowed to enter the upper levels. If you go below that, we can’t guarantee your life.”
“I-I’m the heir of a Marquis family! Even for a general, watch your mouth!”
“Such things are said only after you can walk properly.”
“… Ughh.”
“… You seem to be alright, Yuuki Grossalia. That’s impressive.”
No, I am not the only one who is unfazed. Guiel Wolfgang, too…
But then he was crouching in the corner of the passageway, quivering. I guess he was just enduring it.
“The cave of the holy sword is close by. Only those who can follow me should come.”
After saying that, Barnes-san started walking.
I lent my shoulder to Odette Sorey and followed him.
Chapter 9 Part 4
“Your Royal Highness Princess Iris, may I ask you a question?”
“Please do. Yuuki-sama.”
“Do you have any ancestors called Lyle, Remilia, or Alice?”
“… Lyle… Remilia… Alice.”
Her Royal Highness Princess Iris repeated the names and then stared at me.
“I’ve only known my grandparents, but… I don’t think there were any.”
“Is that so…”
“Why did you ask that, Yuuki-sama?”
“Er…”
Oh no, I had not thought of that.
As the village’s guardian deity, I’m worried about their news… No, this would not do.
Princess Iris looks exactly like Alice, who was a family member 200 years ago… No-no, this also would not do.
“… A dream.”
“A dream?”
“In my dream, the three of them spoke to me. They told me to protect Her Royal Highness Princess Iris.”
“Oh my.”
Princess Iris clapped her hands.
“Perhaps they were the ones who guided Yuuki-sama to meet me.”
“Perhaps.”
“It’s like fate, isn’t it? Hehe.”
Sorry, Lyle. I borrowed your name at random.
I will be sure to pay you a visit when I find your grave, so for now, you will have to excuse me.
“Unfortunately… There is no record of anything before my grandparents’ time. Even if those people are really my ancestors… there is no way to know.”
“That’s because of the ‘War of the Eight Kings’, isn’t it?”
The Duke’s daughter, Odette, continued from where the Princess left off.
“The Eight Kings fought each other in pitched battles. Because of that war, most of the old records have been lost. Along with most of the ‘Ancient Artifacts’ as well, and those that remain are still sealed.”
“That reminds me.”
Princess Iris clapped her hands again. It seems to be a habit of hers.
“It’s about the examination to choose a knight escort. I’ve heard that the ‘Magic Guild’ has decided on the examination venue. The location is the cave where the holy sword is stowed, on the shallowest floor of the ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’ ──”
“Please excuse us, we have visitors!”
A guard shouted on the other side of the door.
“The Marquis’s son, Gilvan Kiers-sama, and the Count’s son, Guiel Wolfgang-sama, are here to greet you. What would you like us to do?”
“… So much for our private time together.”
Her Royal Highness Princess Iris returned to her seat and took a deep breath.
“Please let them in. I’d like to talk about the examination together.”
“Very well.”
The guard answered, and the door to the parlor opened.
Behind it stood two boys about my age.
“This is different from what was previously said, isn’t it, Your Royal Highness Princess Iris? I was told that the selection of the knight escort was supposed to be impartial, but I was surprised that you’ve already met with two of them first.”
said the taller boy.
He was a red-haired boy, wearing gold embroidery clothes with the family crest of a fire-breathing dragon. While fixing his red hair with his fingers, he stared at Odette and me.
“In the first place, the selection ceremony is a waste of time. The one who deserves to be Her Royal Highness’s knight escort is this Gilvan Kiers. Isn’t that right, Your Royal Highness?”
“Please show your respect, Gilvan-sama.”
“Shut up, Guiel. Do you think that a member of a mere Count family is equal to me?”
“… N-No. I didn’t mean that.”
Behind Gilvan Kiers was a boy with gray hair
He is a petite boy with glasses. Looking all frightened, he hides behind Gilvan Kiers’s back.
This is the Count family’s Guiel Wolfgang-sama, huh?
Odette Sorey said that the other two knight candidates had formed an alliance.
So that is these two. I can tell at a glance who is in a better position.
The power dynamic of nobles. Humans really do like this kind of thing…
“The most incomprehensible thing is that a Baron’s illegitimate child is here.”
That is me.
I mean, is it a rule of the high-ranking nobles to point fingers at others?
“You should know your place, the illegitimate child of Baron Grossalia. How can an illegitimate child of a low-ranking noble be a knight of Her Royal Highness the Princess just because he dabbled a little in ‘Ancient Magic’? Why don’t you withdraw before you embarrass yourself?”
“Thank you for your concern, Marquis Kiers’s son, Gilvan-sama.”
“Hmm. You seem to know your place.”
Of course, I know.
In the first place, I’m the reincarnation of the ‘Monster, Nosferatu’. I cannot become a human no matter how hard I try.
This is probably the first and the last time I’ll be affiliated with a magic research institution in human society. It will be a very short memory in the next 200… or 300 years of my life.
That’s why ──
“I know that I will only be with Gilvan-sama for a short time. And… I also know that I will soon be parting with Gilvan-sama.”
“What?”
“And that’s why I’m not going to withdraw. It’s a good experience, after all. Whoever ends up embarrassed, it will be a sweet memory in the end.”
“Wait a minute. Whoever ends up embarrassed? You think I’ll end up embarrassed!?”
“So I’m convinced to take the knight selection examination. Please tell us the details of the examination. Your Royal Highness Princess Iris.”
I turned to Princess Iris and knelt down on the floor.
Odette Sorey does the same.
The Count family’s Guiel Wolfgang tries to calm Gilvan Kiers down ── Reluctantly, he follows suit and knelt down as well.
“The examination will be decided by the ‘Magic Guild’.”
Princess Iris placed a sheet of parchment before us, one at a time.
The parchment contained a sketch of the cave.
“Do you know that there is an entrance to the ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’ in this section of the royal capital?”
“… I’ve heard that there is a passage that only the ‘Magic Guild’ can enter.”
“… Guiel. You… I’m supposed to be the one answering here!”
answered Guiel Wolfgang, and Gilvan Kiers poked him in the back.
“Guiel Wolfgang is right. In the first place, this royal capital was built to manage the ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’. The ‘Magic Guild’ is responsible for the management of the city. And this time, the examination is for the ‘Magic Guild’s elementary apprentices.”
Princess Iris looked at me.
After nodding lightly, she continued.
“The purpose of this examination is to investigate the cave described on the parchment. It is located on the top floor of the ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’. There have been reports of undead appearing in the cave there. You will check if the holy sword in the back of the cave is safe. Demeter, a C-rank mage, and General Barnes will be accompanying you that day. The first one to reach the holy sword will be appointed as my knight escort.”
The holy sword, huh…
Two hundred years ago, the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ discovered a large number of ‘Ancient Artifacts’, including the weapon that killed me in my previous life.
I do not like it.
I am allergic to the long sword because I was stabbed with it.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Yes, Odette Sorey.”
“What happens if two people reach the holy sword at the same time?”
“In that case, there will be a final test. If there is mutual agreement, we’ll assign one of them to be the knight escort and the other to a similar role.”
“… Very well.”
Odette Sorey looked at me.
Confirmation of an alliance, huh?
If it is okay for both of us to reach the holy sword at the same time, I guess that means we should cooperate with each other during the exam.
“Other details will be provided later by the person in charge. Do you have any other questions?”
Princess Iris asked again.
No one had any questions. I do not have anything particular to ask either.
“The examination will start in three days. Please get in shape by then. I wish you good luck.”