“Hmph. What a petty affair. I had my doubts, but I suppose it wouldn’t turn up that easily.”
The leader of Starlight, Lapis Fulgor, was muttering discontentedly as she watched the ritual proceed. Hearing her, Kris looked on in fascination.
“But it’s pretty interesting. Madam. You’d never see guns like those used on a curse in the forest.”
“It’s barbaric. They’re up against a curse, in case you haven’t forgotten. Though I suppose those things might work against one produced by a human.”
Even Noble Spirits generally knew of the Church of the Radiant Spirit. The magic they used was different from that of Noble Spirits, but the Radiant Spirit they worshipped very clearly was a powerful one. There were also situations in which the Radiant Spirit’s powers were more useful than those of Noble Spirits. The spell they were preparing was unfamiliar to Kris and Lapis, but they had no doubts as to its function.
It wasn’t known how strong the malign energies of Marin’s Lament were, but there was a degree of sense in the church’s calculations. If Lapis and her kin were carrying this out, they would have taken a route that leaned into individual strength a bit more, but that was a matter of cultural differences. There was no need to interject over something so minor.
Still, they had been disappointed when it came to their real objective. The prophecy had gotten their hopes up.
Kris blinked as she intently watched the ritual go forward. “Maybe it really isn’t among humans. Madam.”
“It was definitely taken by a human. It yearns for human blood.”
“That was over a thousand years ago. Madam. And it hasn’t caused any harm recently.”
The legend of the Cursed Crimson Spiritstone was known even among humans. However, not many of them knew that it wasn’t a legend, but something that really existed. This was because Noble Spirits weren’t eager to talk about it and humans lived very short lives.
Long ago, when a bond of friendship still existed between humankind and Noble Spirits, a large war broke out between the two. A forest was burned, the queen of the Noble Spirits was killed, and the proof of her stature, the Crimson Spiritstone, was stolen. Extreme enmity turned that stone into something accursed.
Now imbued with a curse by regal blood, the stone went from owner to owner. In its wake, it left a trail of human corpses that dwarfed the number of Noble Spirits that had been killed by mankind. Up to the present day, the stone continued to travel about.
A Noble Spirit would never kill one of their own over a treasure. They knew the strength of will found in those who weren’t far from death. This was exactly the sort of tragedy a covetous human would cause.
As the years went by, the war between the humans and the Nobles came to an end. It was hard to say the two races were now on good terms, but there were Noble Spirits descending to human settlements. But the stolen stone was still lost. The return of their gem was something all Noble Spirits yearned for.
“You think it would just disappear on its own?” Lapis snorted at Kris’s naive thinking. “Our lives are long, as is our rancor. The malign energies in that stone are like desire given form.”
A desire that would not be satiated. The grudge against those arsonists wouldn’t fade even if thousands upon thousands of them were killed. To cleanse this ill will would require destruction or bargaining; interference from the outside was impossible. Something like the purification being performed on Marin’s Lament would never work.
“Hm. I imagine if it ended up in the church’s hands, they would send it back to us. They know how dangerous it is.”
If it hadn’t caused any harm recently, that was because a seal had most likely been placed on it. But the Spiritstone wasn’t something that could be kept at bay so easily.
“But,” Kris said, “we’ve all searched for years without finding it, so it’s probably not just going to show up— Ah! What are you doing up there?! Sir?!”
Kris’s voice instantly shifted from serious to bewildered. Atop a large arch, the Thousand Tricks was sitting like an ornament, his legs dangling over the side. He looked down at Kris as she waved her arms at him.
“I thought I’d have a good view from here,” he said casually.
“Quit screwing around! Sir! Everyone’s taking this seriously, and that should include you! No wonder Franz is always...”
That man. I doubt he knows anything about what’s going on.
That was a look of genuine confusion he wore when Kris brought up the Spiritstone. It appeared even a Level 8 hunter couldn’t be good at everything. Honestly, why did Eliza the Vagabond find him so enjoyable to be around?
Several people from the church entered carrying a box tightly secured by chains. That must be what they stored Marin’s Lament in. They set the box in the center of the magic circle, not far from Lapis and her party. Seeing the humans grow tense, Lapis uncrossed her arms.
It wasn’t what she had hoped for, but she figured she may as well take this chance to observe a curse made by a human.
✦ ✦ ✦
There was a palpable tension in the courtyard. The magic circle on the ground was surrounded by knights, hunters, and priests. Despite these extensive preparations, they didn’t display any hint of complacency. Though she had just been barking about this and that, Kris was back with the rest of her party, focusing on the circle.
I watched all this from atop the gate, where I was perched on an ornament, my legs dangling over the side. I wore a hard-boiled smile. While I had asked Lucia to put me up here so I could have a literal bird’s-eye view, it was also because this was the best place to be out of the way. Down there, a stray bullet might come my way, and I didn’t want to potentially be a hindrance to the purification.
The layered barrier magic circle consisted of a magic circle drawn on the ground surrounded by thirteen pillars. As I understood it, those pillars added an extra dimension to the circle because they had magic words engraved into them. They were thick enough that I could barely wrap my arms around one, which made me think they wouldn’t be easy to collapse. The gaps between them were big enough for Ansem to pass through, but from my vantage point, the circle still looked like a prison cell.
“What an elaborate ritual...”
Very good. Very good. Now that I think about it, I haven’t been able to watch one of Ansem’s or Ark’s fights in a good while.
At the Father’s command, the chain-wrapped box was placed in the center of the magic circle. I pulled out my Smartphone and snapped a photo, then sent it to Little Sister Fox. “Cursed items RN,” I wrote.
“We will now commence the purification of Marin’s Lament. Remember to stick to the plan, everyone.”
The Father suddenly looked up, making eye contact with me. I gave him a meaninglessly meaningful smile, then nodded, intending to convey my gratitude for all his efforts for Ansem. The Father’s eyes widened.
Then the priests surrounding the pillars raised their arms in unison. Then I felt it: a wave of energy emitted from the center of the circle. The pillars became connected by a net of lightning, and a bizarre pattern floated in the air. Magic circles were a form of magic that utilized a form of writing, as it were. Under different circumstances, I would have found the otherworldly scenery captivating.
Outside the circle, Ansem waited, still as a boulder. The seal hadn’t been broken yet, but the box began to rumble, its chains rattling. It was an eerie sight, the way it moved, almost like it was writhing in pain.
“Ready arms!”
Hearing Franz’s order, the knights raised their guns. Almost like a choir, the priests began chanting an incantation, and the hunters got into combat stances. It felt like all hell could break loose at any moment. The only one not bracing themselves was me. But I kept my smile on.
The Father raised a rod and shouted in a voice that carried, “Release the seal.”
Almost as if waiting for that moment, the chains sealing the box broke at once. The sanctified ambience of the church was gone in an instant. As the box opened, it was accompanied by a chilling scream, like the mournful wail of a dying woman.