Chapter 67

After breakfast, I immediately retreated to my room and began practicing the magic concentration technique that Rhen had taught me.

I closed off the other magic pores, leaving only the palm of my hand open.

A single thread of magic extended from my open palm.

"Wow! You're amazing, Lord Lloyd! You've already got the technique that girl taught you down, haven't you!"

"...No, more of it leaks out than I thought. Magic concentration is quite difficult."

It may look like it's working, but since I can't completely close off all the magic pores in my body, magic leaks out from them.

Unlike spell control, which can be learned by studying spellbooks, this kind of fine magic control requires time and concentration.

After all, Rhen and the others have been exposed to this ability since they were young, whereas I have mostly focused on theoretical studies... spell formulas and the like.

Moreover, magic concentration is several levels more difficult than the preliminary step of magic blocking.

It will take quite some time to master.

When I released the magic concentration, I felt a wave of fatigue.

"Phew, it's quite tiring. But if I can use this magic concentration well, I might be able to perform large-scale magic on my own."

Large-scale magic that usually requires several people and a ritual to use.

If I can use this, I can perform strategic-level offensive magic or summon a spirit-class creature.

If I can apply magic concentration to magic, I'm sure I can do even more interesting things. Yes.

As I was thinking about this, Grimo started muttering.

"Lloyd has been putting even more effort into magic research lately... Ah! That's it, it's because of the confrontation with the demon the other day! His magic barely worked against the demon. He managed to win, but it was almost by chance. Normally, he wouldn't lose, but there was a high possibility that the demon would escape. Lloyd says he doesn't like fighting, but if he wants to master magic, conflict is inevitable. Whether it's a demon or anything else, he needs combat power. He might be thinking that...! Hehe, this is a good sign. If Lloyd gets even stronger, when I take over his body, I'll have a better time. If he can kill demons, he can conquer the demon world and become the Demon King! ...Lord Lloyd! If that's the case, I have a good idea, though it may be presumptuous!"

Then he raised his voice in a cheerful tone.

He's emotionally unstable.

"As you may know, there is a way to counter demons and demon races. 'Holy Magic,' which reproduces and performs the miracles of the gods through spell formulas. If Lord Lloyd uses his magic to perform Holy Magic, it will surely turn demons and the like into ashes in an instant!"

--- I, of course, know about 'Holy Magic.'

A technique that embodies the miracles of the gods and dispels evil with holy light.

Holy Magic has strong power against beings that do not belong to this world, such as the undead, spirits, demons, and demon races, but its use is strictly limited.

Only those who serve the gods can use it.

By making donations, cleaning, praying, reading the holy scriptures, and singing hymns for twenty or thirty years, the chosen ones will be visited by the angels of heaven and granted miracles... in other words, if you are recognized as a devout believer, you will be granted Holy Magic.

Magic, due to its constraints, can exert great power.

Holy Magic, to allow even those with weak power to exert great power, has strong constraints.

Therefore, there are very few users, and its use is also prohibited without proper reason.

So I haven't actually seen it in action yet.

"Holy Magic usually takes several decades to learn, but there are those who are granted it relatively early if they are favored by the angels of heaven. Lord Lloyd, you can surely learn it quickly!"

In contrast to Grimo's enthusiastic talk, I crossed my arms and grumbled.

"What's wrong? You look unhappy..."

"Well, actually, I'm banned from entering the church."

"Huh!?"

Grimo let out a voice of disbelief.

"About two years ago, I went to the church to try to learn Holy Magic, but the preliminary work was too troublesome. It was fine for magic-related things, but there were too many chores like cleaning, praying, and singing hymns... So I skipped them and searched the church's underground library for spellbooks on Holy Magic. I got caught."

"Y-You're serious...?"

"Yeah, I was young back then."

I nodded thoughtfully, recalling the distant past.

Back then, I was still inexperienced and got caught.

Now, I could probably enter without being noticed...

"Lord Lloyd, are you thinking of breaking in again?"

"No, no, I'm not. I already confirmed that there were no spellbooks of that kind. It would be pointless to go in again."

"You've already searched, haven't you..."

Of course, it's only natural to check while you're there.

In the end, my view is that I need to be granted Holy Magic by the angels of heaven.

But that probably involves some abstract process to make me a devout believer.

The actual method is likely different... but in any case, to learn Holy Magic, I need to go to the church.

"Thinking about it, it's been two years. The heat might have cooled down, and if I go and apologize, I might get the ban lifted."

Besides, they might have forgotten about it.

There's a chance I can enter and move around without being punished.

And if I can enter the church, I might be able to sense the essence of Holy Magic, which I couldn't feel back then.

I had other things to do, so I put it off... but now, thinking about it, I'm getting the urge to try learning Holy Magic again.

I've been studying other types of magic, and it would be interesting to expand my repertoire.

"Alright, I'll seriously try to learn Holy Magic!"

Learning a new magic will also help me improve the ones I'm already using.

Knowledge is always beneficial.

So, my next goal is to master Holy Magic.