Chapter 72

Well then, with the troublemakers chased away, I can fully experience the sacred magic now.

The Eucharist ceremony began, and the priest started weaving his prayer words.

The others also closed their eyes and followed suit.

I closed my eyes as well, assuming a praying posture.

The time that felt like it could lull one to sleep finally ended, and next, bread and grape wine were brought to the table.

As everyone was eating, Eisha and Saria entered with a piano.

"Oh, it's Eisha."

"Saria is here too. It seems the concert is about to start."

With the arrival of the two, the people who had been enjoying their meal began to stir.

"Alright! We've been waiting for this!"

"We're here to listen to Eisha and Saria's performance, after all."

"Give us an amazing performance today!"

Amid the cheers, Eisha bowed politely.

Saria glanced briefly and then immediately headed to the piano.

For a moment, it seemed like both of them had sent a glance my way.

"Everyone, today we have our regular concert. Please enjoy the performance."

After the greeting, when Eisha cleared her throat, there was not a single person making a sound.

—♪

Beautiful piano music flowed through the silent chapel.

It started so beautifully that one hardly noticed it.

—♪

Then came the singing.

Saria's composition was incredible, but Eisha's singing was no less impressive.

The two voices and the music blended perfectly, creating a wonderful harmony.

—♪

Even I, who have no interest in music, was moved by the performance. No one was eating.

—♪

A tear rolled down Ren's cheek.

Many others were also moved to tears by the performance.

"What is this... It's amazing... It's beyond incredible... Ah..."

Grimo's voice was also hoarse from the emotion.

Yeah, it's definitely an incredible performance.

It wouldn't be surprising if it were said to be a performance imbued with divine power.

"Hmm..."

Suddenly, I noticed that a faint light was enveloping the people.

It seemed their wounds were healing.

Healing magic... No, it's slightly different. This must be sacred magic.

Now that I think about it, there were a lot of injured people among those who gathered.

I see, this was the main attraction.

Focusing my mana, I could see that healing mana was pouring down in a radius of several meters centered on Saria.

This light, upon closer inspection, was made up of materialized particles.

By concentrating, I could tell that it was like snow that would disappear after a certain time, and it had a healing effect while it was attached to the body.

However, this spell... It's not something that's used normally.

The spell formula, seen through mana, was written in a magical language I had never seen before.

It's no wonder my old self didn't notice it.

A spell formula written in an unknown magical language is like a pattern drawn on a carpet.

Sacred magic is said to have started when a god playfully gave power to humans long ago.

So it might be written in a language from a different world.

"...Hmm, what is this gaze...?"

A feeling of being watched by someone from somewhere.

It wasn't there before the performance started.

And it's not from anyone in this place.

I wouldn't have noticed without focusing my mana.

I tried to expand my range, but I still couldn't figure it out.

Where is it...? I traced the source of the gaze, which was mixed with a slight amount of mana.

—And then I found it.

Hmm, quite a powerful mana user. But where are they? I can't pinpoint the location.

However, if I use the slight amount of mana mixed in the gaze as a guide, I can probably teleport to that place.

Spatial teleportation is still difficult to control, but with a marker, it's possible to teleport there.

"Sorry, Ren, I'll be right back."

"Huh? L-Lloyd?"

I left a message for Ren and activated the spatial teleportation spell.

The view turned black instantly, and I was enveloped in a floating sensation.

I've tried spatial teleportation a few times, but I'm still not used to this feeling.

...It feels unusually long. It must be quite far. And I feel a strange sensation different from usual.

It's like jumping over a high step... After a while, the floating sensation disappeared, and I landed.

It seems I've arrived at my destination.

When I opened my eyes, I saw a completely white world.

"...Where am I?"

Even though I arrived, I still don't know.

"This place gives me a bad feeling. The air doesn't agree with me."

Grimo muttered unhappily.

The ground was covered with fluffy clouds, and there was nothing else but a blue sky.

It's like being on top of the clouds.

It's very intriguing, but first, I need to find the source of the gaze.

Looking around, I spotted a young man in a loincloth.

"Hmm♪ Hmm♪ Hmm♪ ...Hehehe, indeed, Eisha's singing is supreme. Combined with Saria's composition, it's truly a divine song..."

The young man was smiling creepily while staring at a pond at his feet.

His golden hair reached his waist, his blue eyes, and his white skin all had an otherworldly transparency.

Notably, he had wings on his back and a ring of light floating above his head, making him look like an angel.

"Excuse me..."

"What is it? I'm quite busy right now..."

When I called out to him, the young man raised his head with a complaint.

Then he blinked and looked me up and down.

"W-What!? You're a human!? How did a human get to heaven!?"

He stepped back in panic.

"Heaven? You mean the place where gods and their angels live, as taught by the church?"

"...Ahem, indeed! This is heaven. And I am the angel Zeriel, a faithful apostle and messenger of the 64 gods of heaven."

Wow, he's really an angel.

They really do exist.

Since there are demons, it's not that surprising.

"Son of man, this is not a place for mere humans. How did you manage to enter this divine realm?"

"I followed the slight amount of mana mixed in Zeriel's gaze and teleported here."

"Teleportation! I know there are humans who can use such power, but this is heaven, a different dimension from the human world! It should be impossible to cross the dimensional barrier without extraordinary mana... I can't believe it..."

Zeriel started muttering to himself.

"By the way, the sensation during the teleportation was a bit different from usual. Was that the dimensional barrier?"

"The dimensional barrier is something that a human with a physical body cannot normally cross. Only beings without physical form, like angels, demons, and spirits, can cross it. But with Lloyd's mana density, it's not surprising that he could withstand it."

"Hand in palm! ...So you're a demon? Who are you?"

"Right, I haven't introduced myself. I am Lloyd Di Sarum, the seventh prince of the Sarum Kingdom and a magician. Zeriel, I came here because I have a request. I want you to teach me sacred magic."

Well, coming here was purely by chance.

But from Zeriel's muttering and Eisha's words, it seems that sacred magic is literally granted by angels.

In other words, if I gain Zeriel's approval, I should be able to use sacred magic.

If that happens, I won't need to do the troublesome church work anymore.

"...I see, you came to heaven to learn sacred magic. Indeed, I can grant sacred magic to humans. But only to those I approve of. There's no way I can grant it to someone who barges into heaven, especially one who hosts a demon! I'll spare your life if you leave now. Return to the human world immediately!"

It seems it won't be that easy.

But I can't give up easily either.

"What do I need to do to gain your approval?"

"You're a stubborn boy! Fine, then I will follow the laws of heaven and expel you by force!"

A dazzling light gathered around Zeriel.

In the next moment, he was equipped with a sword, shield, and armor of light.

"Wow! Is that sacred magic!?"

"Indeed, it is the sacred magic 'Light Armament.' It is the divine equipment that pierces through evil and repels darkness. I will show no mercy even to a human."

That feeling, it's not a summoning spell.

It seems to be the materialization of mana into weapons.

From the healing magic earlier, it seems that sacred magic often materializes mana.

If I can apply it well, it could be very useful.

"Then if I win, you'll teach me how to use sacred magic."

"Instead of being afraid, you look delighted... Are you a demon's child? Ah, God, grant me your blessing..."

Zeriel, along with his prayer, charged at me with his sword.