Chapter 275 - Chapter 274: Retrieving the Evidence
Mika shook his head lightly while hanging it down.
From what he had heard so far, he understood that there were suspicious parts within the Church.
By comparing historical facts with the current Church, he could not deny the possibility that some force had taken it over.
It was a type of conspiracy theory, but indeed, there were many suspicious points within the Church.
However....
"I understand that the Church is plotting something. But how does that connect to the request made to me? Honestly, whether the Church goes mad or attacks, we will just crush them. If they want to drink blood, they can suck on your own blood; that is all I have to say."
When Mika said that, Warterelam's eyes widened for a moment.
Then, he smiled bitterly.
"That is true. For the people of the kingdom being invaded, they have no choice but to fight to protect themselves. But perhaps it will not be that simple."
"What do you mean?"
Even when Mika asked, Warterelam averted his gaze and hesitated to speak.
He reached for a glass once, but ultimately pulled his hand back.
"...This is the content read from a parchment fragment from 3,500 years ago. It includes somewhat absurd stories. However, I do not think it is impossible. Rather, I believe this is the core."
"What is it?"
Warterelam closed his eyes, as if asking and answering himself again in his mind.
Then, slowly opening his eyes, he looked straight at Mika.
"The "Cursed Child" will revive. Even if killed, they will take over another's body and revive time and time again."
"Revive...."
At Mika's whisper, Warterelam nodded.
"You may not believe it, but there are parts in the parchment that can only be read that way. This is the biggest factor that has troubled people in battles against the "Cursed Children."
No matter how many times they are defeated, they revive.
That means no matter how many times they are defeated, the power of the "Cursed Children" cannot be weakened.
Hearing Warterelam's story, Mika bit his lip.
Then, he let out a deep sigh.
"............I see. Thanks to you, I have a vague idea of what they are."
When Mika whispered that, Warterelam made a strange face.
"What do you mean? What are you talking about?"
Asked by Warterelam, Mika hesitated.
"I was dealing with those who seemed to have only revived. ...No, perhaps not just those. Since they were the same inside, after all."
Mika told Warterelam about the red-haired youth, Ecrease, and Hibujiza.
Warterelam, though surprised, listened and nodded repeatedly.
"............So they existed...! The "Cursed Child"......!"
"It seems that is the case. They claim to be Filius Dei... the "Son of God," themselves."
Hibujiza is highly likely to be a "Cursed Child" revived in the modern era.
Whether he is an existence from 3,500 years ago or someone who became a "Cursed Child" after that is unknown.
But the prediction that they cannot be defeated just by killing them was correct.
The one who likely sent the Chimera to attack the Royal Capital was probably this "Cursed Child."
According to Warterelam, the term "Son of God" does not appear in the parchment fragments discovered so far.
The word "Son of God" appearing in the Church of Light's scriptures is also only within the last few hundred years.
Mika closed his eyes and organized his thoughts for a moment.
The existence of the "Cursed Child" hidden in history.
And the reason for telling him and making the request.
"...So, you made the request to me to dispel the curse from the "Cursed Children.""
When Mika said that, Warterelam's face became even more surprised.
"You realized it on your own...! The "Cursed Children" cannot be defeated unless dispelled!"
"Yes, I suffered terribly. So did I."
Mika gently stroked his Tranquilizer to calm his heart.
Seeing such Mika, Warterelam nodded with a serious expression.
"I said I hadn't heard the details of the request. That is, my request is for you to make your [Dispelling] public."
"Huh...?"
Isn't this a request to defeat the "Cursed Children"?
When Mika looked bewildered, Warterelam made a troubled face.
"That is true. For you, who is called the "Dispeller," there is no merit in making the [God's Miracle] you have monopolized public."
Warterelam tried to show understanding for Mika's position.
"However, we do not know how many "Cursed Children" currently exist, and if you were to... well, if something unfortunate were to happen to you, we would be left with no hands."
Warterelam's persuasion went in one ear and out the other of Mika.
"Probably this is also the work of the "Cursed Children," but the [God's Miracle] of [Dispelling] has already been lost. We have searched the entire continent and are trying to somehow revive [Dispelling]."
Warterelam bowed his head and begged Mika, who looked dazed.
"If it is about the reward, we can add a little more. Please, let as many people as possible use your [Dispelling]—"
"Ah, no, wait a moment."
Mika, coming to his senses, interrupted Warterelam's words.
"I am in trouble if you say such things! This is—"
"I know! I fully understand your circumstances! However, this is for everyone living on the continent, and by extension, everyone in the world—"
I know!
You don't know at all!
"I cannot do it!"
"Please find a way! I beg you! If it is about the reward—"
"It is not like that!"
As Mika and Warterelam began to argue, the adventurers guarding the room intervened.
"Boss. Even if you beg and beg, the "Dispeller" will be in trouble. Right?"
"T-that's right!"
"However, people's lives are at stake!"
Even with Warterelam persisting, Mika told him with a sigh.
"My dispelling is not a [God's Miracle]."
"What nonsense are you saying!? If it is not a [God's Miracle], what is it!?"
"Vocabulum."
When Mika said that, Warterelam froze solidly.
"............What did you say just now?"
Blinking his eyes, Warterelam asked.
Mika sighed again and extended his left hand forward.
Then, he created a small Fireball on his palm.
Warterelam and the adventurers opened their eyes wide in surprise.
"Probably, it is the same thing called "Vocabulum." I have become able to do this myself."
Saying that, Mika extinguished the Fireball.
"I want to teach it if I can. However, I think one must have considerable talent to learn dispelling."
"Talent...?"
"Yes."
Mika nodded heavily.
"It seems I have quite strong perception power regarding mana. So, I could feel even slight flows of mana. And so, I first learned how to dispel weak curses. I noticed I could interfere."
Hearing Mika's story, Warterelam made a pained expression.
"Probably, many people will be able to use "Vocabulum." However, dispelling is impossible. Without the ability to feel weak mana, one cannot practice, nor can one perform fine operations. If the power to feel mana is dull, one can only feel large curses. One cannot think they will remain safe touching such things immediately."
Warterelam swallowed loudly and asked Mika.
"............Are you okay? That is... using "Vocabulum" means...."
"The "Cursed Children."
Mika took Warterelam's words and whispered.
Warterelam nodded heavily.
"How should I know? Isn't it quite dangerous?"
When Mika answered with a smile, Warterelam made a face as if enduring pain.
"...I do not know what will happen. Still, I will do what I can to protect what I want to protect."
"However, that is...."
Just like the people who stood by the people's side and used "Vocabulum" 3,500 years ago.
They might eventually become the opposing side.
"I do not care about the future. You want me to ignore current problems because I worry about the future? ...I am sorry, but I cannot do that."
This "I do not care about the future" is probably a symptom or influence of mana addiction.
The cause of Mika's troublesome personality, which he noticed belatedly.
Getting carried away while fighting is probably due to mana addiction as well.
Thinking such things, Mika stood up.
With the core becoming visible, he knew what he had to do.
So, he took a break again, calmed down, and resumed the conversation.
"...Anyway, it is confirmed that those suspected to be "Cursed Children" are active. And they have taken over the Church of the Gronoir Empire."
Speaking of which, there were signs that the Empire had plotted to assassinate Mika.
If the Empire had already been taken over, and those who took it over were the "Cursed Children," then the reason to bury [Dispelling] in darkness comes to mind.
However, there are still many mysteries regarding the "Cursed Children."
What Mika finds most puzzling is the girl named Lunesee.
Thanks to a girl who became a "Wraith" harboring a curse, Mika realized that the "Cursed Children" might be dispellable.
But Lunesee, whose appearance is clearly a "Wraith," and the "Cursed Children," which are the black mist of the curse itself, are surely different things.
He cannot think that Lunesee, who has a self similar to an ordinary girl, and Hibujiza, who does not care about human lives, are the same thing.
There seems to be something Mika and the others have not noticed yet.
"Warterelam-san. Please withdraw the request."
"U... hum. However...."
It seemed Warterelam was thinking about how to somehow pass Mika's dispelling to others.
"The fee will not be returned, but please use the reward given to me to hire people."
"Hire people? What do you mean?"
Not understanding the meaning of Mika's proposal, Warterelam asked back.
"I want you to continue what Warterelam-san and the others were trying to do. The revival of [Dispelling]."
Warterelam's face showed surprise for a moment, then he immediately began to think.
"I want you to use all possible connections and funds to revive [Dispelling]. You had connections with the Trade Alliance's council, right? Use anything to revive [Dispelling]."
Saying that, Mika took out his Guild Card from his Magic Bag.
"I will also provide funds. For now, five billion Rats is fine, isn't it?"
"Five billion!?!"
Not only Warterelam, but the adventurers listening around also raised their voices loudly.
Mika smiled bitterly at the reactions around him.
"I must focus on the kingdom's defense for now, so I cannot help with that. If Warterelam-san tried to spread [Dispelling] by giving me such a high reward, I can trust you to entrust it to you. Please revive [Dispelling] in my place."
"Haa... having a title is amazing."
One of the adventurers said with admiration as Mika casually dropped a large sum of money.
Warterelam nodded heavily.
"I understand your thinking. Thank you. I will move immediately."
"Ah, wait, Warterelam-san."
Mika, who had just said that, inexplicably put up a stop.
Everyone present fell over.
"Warterelam-san, I have one more important request."
"One more...? What is it?"
Warterelam, unable to read Mika's true intentions, asked back.
To such Warterelam, Mika smiled back brightly.
■■■■■■
"............This is ridiculous. Do not do unbelievable things, you...."
"Is that so? But it was as I predicted, wasn't it?"
Mika had brought Warterelam to Mihasnada, a town on the border of the Gronoir Empire.
"The mass migration of the Empire's crowds has already started. If it is now, this area near the southeastern edge is empty."
Warterelam had said he had lost the important evidence that was the basis of the request.
When asked how exactly he lost it, he simply put it in his Magic Bag and left it behind.
Probably, it had been confiscated by the knights protecting the town, but if the Magic Bag itself was not destroyed, there was still a chance.
Thinking that, he checked the town with a rough map and thought, "Perhaps I can get this back."
Warterelam and the others were writing down their knowledge based on memory.
When Mika visited, they were writing, and it seemed they wanted to leave even a small trace of the facts they knew.
Seeing the unfinished document he glanced at during the break, Mika thought that he must not let this important evidence be lost as is.
And now, they were looking for a house among the knight barracks in the town.
Searching through the room where confiscated items were stored.
Because it was dim, they placed several Lighting Balls near the ceiling.
Inside the room, shelves lined up, and various items tagged with dates and management numbers were placed.
"Well, I can get it back whether knights are there or not. But it is better if they are not there."
No matter how many knights were there, if he got serious, he was confident he could protect even just Warterelam.
Mika searched for the Magic Bag among the various confiscated items placed on the shelves.
"Many important pieces of evidence. I must not let them be lost."
However, Warterelam's theory included quite radical content.
Mika had no intention of overthrowing the Church or asking to return the scriptures to the correct content.
But he could not let this dark history be erased as if it never happened.
"Ah! Maybe the Holy Land in the Gronoir Empire will also become empty soon!"
"Do you intend to search even the Holy Land!?"
When Mika said it as if it was a nice idea, Warterelam was shocked.
"If they started taking over a thousand years ago, there might be various evidence left. It is the headquarters, surely a treasure trove."
Warterelam stopped his hand searching the Magic Bag and stared at Mika's face in silence.
Mika could not let go of his hands, and the Daburandoru Plains would become a battlefield from now on.
However, there were countless other borders with the Gronoir Empire.
Sending adventurers through mountain routes might be interesting.
Ideally, he would like to send people from the Church, but given the content, maybe it is better to stop.
Thinking such things, Mika hugged the Magic Bag and dropped it noisily in front of Warterelam.
"It seems to be all of this. Is there anything else?"
Well, the plan to steal from the Holy Land will wait; first, retrieving the evidence Warterelam collected is the priority.
Warterelam put his hand into each Magic Bag one by one and searched for his own Magic Bag.
Then, he threw away many Magic Bags.
"There it is! This is it!"
Mika took the Magic Bag from Warterelam.
Then, he prioritized testing the Magic Bags found around there, pulling hits one after another.
"Hyi... fuu... mi... yoo... ten, eleven. Is this all?"
"No, wait a moment... There it is! There it is!"
Warterelam put his hand into a Magic Bag and shouted loudly.
He showed a particularly great joy compared to the previous Magic Bags.
Warterelam hugged two Magic Bags and shed tears of joy.
"Is there something important in that bag?"
"Yes, it is important! Ah, I thought I would never drink it again!"
Never drink it again?
Mika tilted his head.
"Um... what is inside that?"
"What? It is obviously fruit wine! Ah, I will never let go of it again!"
Hey!
It's alcohol!
"How exaggerated for such a thing...."
"What is exaggerated! This is the last fruit wine made at my winery that I will never get again!"
At Mika's whisper, Warterelang became genuinely indignant.
Apparently, Warterelam was the owner of a farm and a winery.
He sold it to others when escaping the Empire, and since the Empire had become like this, he could never make it again, he insisted.
In tears.
Imagine the despair when he had to rush to escape and could not take this Magic Bag with him, but Mika could not imagine it at all.
"Because of the farm and winery made by my grandfather and father, I am who I am today."
He said that with deep emotion.
That... aren't you going back?
It seems that one of the regular customers who distributed this fruit wine was a merchant guild whose president was a councilor of the Trade Alliance.
The president of that guild was a big fan of Warterelam's fruit wine and had been doing large-volume transactions every year.
When he learned that Warterelam had escaped the Empire even at the cost of giving up his winery, he shed tears and regretted it together.
Who cares.
After telling him about the current state of the Empire and the Church and consulting about the revival of [Dispelling], this president did various things for him.
He used the faction he belonged to to move the council, made connections with the Guild Master of the Adventurer's Guild, and provided generous assistance.
At the stage of making connections with that Guild Master, he learned of Mika's existence.
There is an adventurer in the Kingdom of Ektrem who can use [Dispelling] and is called the "Dispeller."
He is also called an Apostle, and he has wings on his back.
"Anyway, let's get out of here quickly. I also need to return to the kingdom soon and prepare."
The reinforcement of the protective walls is not finished yet.
Preparations for the battle remain.
When Mika said that, Warterelam nodded while sniffing his nose.
No, it's okay, wipe your tears already, enough...
■■■■■■
Gronoir Empire, Central Region.
A hilly area near the Imperial Capital Karchi.
Crowds of people aiming for the Daburandoru Plains filled the land so much that the ground could not be seen.
Emperor-Pope Hildinlander was riding in a splendidly decorated palanquin carried by fifty men.
If unnecessary decorations were omitted, the weight would be one-tenth of the current amount.
However, thick pillars stood at the four corners, decorated with gold, silver, and gems.
A roof was also set up, and the weight of the pillars and roof exceeded five hundred kilograms.
And the throne.
This was also a luxurious item suitable for an emperor to sit on.
It was unnecessarily large, but rare furs were spread, and the seating comfort was wonderful.
Hildinlander looked at the millions of zombie-like crowds filling the surroundings with cold eyes and snorted.
"...Boring. With manipulated people, great resentment cannot even leak."
Even if forced to march risking their lives, they accept it.
Rather, they even mistake it for something wonderful.
It was truly laughable.
"They are puppets who cannot even hate anymore... Praise me!!!"
At Hildinlander's voice, the crowds filling the surroundings praised with hoarse voices.
"Oooooon...."
"Nnnnn...."
But those sounds were nothing more than roars like anger echoing from the ground, or growls.
One by one, they fell, yet still praised with hoarse voices.
With ground-shaking, beast-like growls that did not seem like human words anymore.
At the "Voluntas" that was squeezed out and overflowed, Hildinlander raised the corner of his mouth.
Indeed, the quality was better when they were on the verge of death than just squeezing them.
"Anger, hatred, resentment. You expect that from Ektrem...."
Without taking in higher quality "Voluntas," the "Son of God" cannot even maintain himself.
And "Voluntas" is also required to take over the body.
When he was gathering poor quality "Voluntas" and managing somehow, he really struggled.
"Hehehe...."
So, what is it now?
With just one word, this much "Voluntas" can be squeezed out.
"Aha hahaha!"
Unintentionally, laughter leaked out.
"Aha hahaha! Aaaaaa-hahaha-hahaha-hahaha-hahaha-hah!!!"
Hildinlander's laughter echoed forever and ever.