Chapter 96

Today, March 27th, the third volume of this comic, drawn by Mr. Hanjiro Abe, is on sale!

"Is this... the spirit sealed within the coin?"

Ericia looked up at the countless lights ascending into the sky and said,

In the midst of this fantastical scene, Rahn also spoke up.

"A peaceful atmosphere... It seems they were indeed sealed by someone."

"Please rest in peace..."

Yuri, still frightened, said with her eyes closed.

Selena remained silent, watching the spirits ascend.

Can we really think that we have saved them?

However, to seal souls in coins and make them work forever...

The woman in black must have harbored deep resentment.

I said to everyone,

"There might still be something set up in this town. Besides, it still seems we can't use [Transfer] in Ars."

However, it seems we can use [Transfer] within the town, and it worked just a short distance away.

Ericia brought her gaze back from the sky and said,

"There might be a device that unfolds walls somewhere. Like the one we saw on Teal Island a few days ago."

"There is a possibility."

Selena looked at the mansion and said,

"If so, it is likely placed in the central part of the town. It might be inside the mansion."

I nodded and searched for the mansion's magic.

"Right... but there is no magical reaction inside the mansion. All the spirits were from the coins. It seems difficult to rely on magic to find it."

"The mansion... inside the building..."

Yuri whispered anxiously.

"We can't retreat. Everyone, please be more cautious than usual."

With that, I started walking towards the mansion again.

No new reinforcements of coin spirits appeared, and we arrived at the mansion without any trouble.

The spirits were still ascending, and the surroundings were bright.

We entered the mansion through the entrance without a door.

In front of us, a large hall similar to the Ars government building spread out.

"The ghost armor is..."

Yuri looked around the dimly lit hall.

Ericia made the holy magic float, illuminating the hall.

"There are no slimes or rats. Again, it's eerily clean."

The mansion was meticulously cleaned. There wasn't even a spider web or a speck of dust.

Selena pointed to the entrance at the back of the hall.

"That might be the office. There might be some information left there."

"Right. Let's search each room together."

With that, we decided to search the mansion.

It must have been about an hour.

The result was – nothing found.

There were no documents or tools.

We even checked for hidden doors, the backs of furniture, decorations, and carpets, but there was no information left.

Yuri said in shock,

"After all this, we found nothing...!"

"Not even a single book. Perhaps the device is somewhere else?"

Rahn muttered, and Ericia asked Selena,

"Is there any other place to check?"

"Well, in a wealthy town, there should be a library. The books might be gathered there. The device could also be in a sturdy place like a barracks. However,"

I nodded at Selena's words.

"If the information is so thoroughly erased, other places must also be thoroughly erased."

"Then, in the end, it's the same as Ars?"

Yuri's words made Ericia shake her head.

"Considering we can't use [Transfer], the situation might be even worse."

"That's right... What should we do?"

Yuri's face darkened.

I also couldn't find a solution at this point.

"Well, it's not decided that there's really nothing. Let's investigate suspicious buildings."

"Right. Then, let's leave the mansion for now."

Ericia nodded deeply.

With that, we left the mansion.

It wasn't because we came out of a dark place or because it was a clear day.

The spirits of the coins were still moving around everywhere.

Yuri looked up at the sky in surprise.

"They're still here!?"

"Do they still have lingering ties to this world...?"

Rahn also tilted his head and said.

Ericia observed the spirits and said,

"No... they might not be able to leave the town."

"Really? Spirits can't leave the town?"

Yuri's surprise seemed to be justified, but Ericia's guess seemed to be correct.

The spirits stopped at a certain height.

Some spirits even returned to the square as if giving up.

From them, we could hear voices of despair, saying they couldn't leave.

Ericia, seeing this, said,

"They seem to be at a loss too..."

"But, this is a chance to talk to them, isn't it?"

Rahn was right; it was a rare opportunity to talk to spirits.

Normally, we couldn't talk to spirits.

Yuri said with a disbelieving face,

"Talk to spirits? Seriously?"

"Now, Yuri. Lord Alec, please be careful."

Ericia's voice made me nod, and I approached a spirit.

First, I called out to a spirit that was looking down.

"Sorry. Can you talk?"

"Can't leave... No matter what... Can't leave forever. Until that day, can't leave."

Although I couldn't see the expression, the despair in the situation was clear.

Repeating that they can't leave, it seemed I couldn't have a conversation with this spirit.

That day... it's intriguing...

So, I called out to another spirit, but most of them either didn't recognize me or couldn't understand what they were saying.

However, I noticed one spirit looking at us.

That spirit recognized us –

I approached and called out,

"Can you understand us?"

"Yes, I can. Who are you?"

"I am a man named Alec. Who are you?"

"I am... I am...? ...Who am I? I am, who? My name is...?"

The spirit said this, holding its head and repeating, "Who am I?"

"Can't do it..."

"Ah, Lord Alec, I'm sorry... I'm about to faint."

Yuri, who said this, looked completely drained.

Selena, seeing such a Yuri, said worriedly,

"There was a usable washroom in the mansion we just left..."

"Selena, come with me later..."

Ericia whispered, looking troubled.

"This... They have spent the same days for centuries, and their memories and personalities have become distorted."

"I also had memory loss..."

Selena nodded and looked at the spirits sadly.

This way, we couldn't gather any information.

However, one thing became clear.

There seems to be a day, a promised day, or a day when their duty ends.

The Melbels on Teal Island also mentioned a coming day...

There might be a connection, but for now, that's all we know.

In the midst of this, Rahn spoke up.

"Everyone. Can you hear that person's voice?"

In the direction Rahn pointed, there was a spirit looking up to the sky.

"O gods... We have indeed committed grave sins. We were arrogant and greedy, and it is fitting that we are punished... But, how long must we be punished? Please, release us."

The spirit spoke as if in prayer.

The silhouette of this spirit was different from the others.

While the others looked naked, this one seemed to be wearing priestly robes.

The voice and appearance were clear. This spirit might be able to communicate.

Ericia said,

"The spirit of a priest."

"Let's talk to him."

I approached the priest's spirit and called out,

"Sorry to interrupt your prayer. Can we talk for a moment?"

"You... You are...!?"

The priest looked at my hand and was shocked.

"The mark of darkness... Ah, forgive us... We were foolish, please forgive us!!"

The priest bowed, seemingly afraid of the mark of darkness.

"I won't harm you, so don't worry. I am Alec. Who are you?"

"I am... Levin. I have served the gods since my birth."

"Levin. Why are you all trapped here?"

"Because we were ordered to, by the woman in black."

"The woman in black?"

I exchanged glances with Selena.

Like Ars, it seems this place was also affected by the woman in black.

"You mentioned punishment. Were you imprisoned here as punishment by the woman in black?"

"I didn't say 'punishment.' We were ordered to stay here until that day and maintain the town."

"Then, this is just a prison?"

"No... She said we wouldn't be allowed to do any proper work. This place is a stronghold for the woman in black on that day."

"A stronghold..."

This is also a term I heard on Teal Island.

They said they were ordered by the gods and the holy beasts.

"What is 'that day'?"

"I don't know. I didn't believe it existed. But since the woman in black said it, it must be coming. Life and death will lose their meaning... I believe that both the living and the dead will cease to exist."

It seems a great disaster is coming.

There might be such a teaching in the woman in black's faith.

"Understood. Do you know where the woman in black is?"

"Who knows. She hasn't returned since sealing us."

"I see... Who is she, exactly?"

"That is clear. She is of the royal bloodline that ruled this land before our empire arrived. She is a priestess of the Night Worship Cult."

"The Night Worship Cult... I've never heard of it."

"I also didn't know much about it until I came to this land. They believe in the coming of that day and respect and protect the bloodline of those who bear the mark of darkness... That's all their teaching. The royal family of this land was revered, and everyone had the mark of darkness."

I was speechless.

I never thought there was a faith that revered those who bear the mark of darkness...

It's the opposite of the faith of the Holy Church, which now holds power.

Levin continued to tell us his story.

"I denounced the Night Worship Cult as heresy and advocated for their conversion."

"You couldn't tolerate heresy?"

"At least, that's what I believed. The teachings of the temple were absolutely correct... Everything else had to be eradicated."

"Did you preach this in the temple?"

"Yes. Everyone agreed to suppress the Night Worship Cult. The governor and the lords were also troubled by their resistance, so they didn't object to our actions."

Levin looked at the spirits and continued,

"But in reality, most people were attracted to the magical items the Night Worship Cult possessed. It was easier to steal than to mine... My followers plundered and destroyed the towns and villages of the Night Worship Cult. I just wanted to guide the poor heretics to the right path."

The ruins of the city we saw first... That must have been the town of the Night Worship Cult.

"Trying to impose your faith, and the result was theft and murder. What a arrogant and foolish story..."

"Yes, it was indeed foolish. The priestess changed her form and instantly destroyed us. She took possession of our souls and turned us into tools for the Night Worship Cult."

"For that day."

"Yes... I recognize my sins. I have no complaints about being killed. But most of the people here were not involved in the plundering or destruction. Some even tried to get along with the Night Worship Cult. It's too harsh a punishment to keep everyone here forever just because they are from the empire."

Levin bowed to me.

"Please, please forgive us. You, like the woman in black, bear the mark of darkness. If you change your form, you should be able to break this wall."

"Change my form..."

In other words, he's asking me to become a demon.

"I can't do that... But, I'll think of a way."

"Really!?"

"Yes. But, I need to know more. There's too little information about the wall."

"I'll tell you everything I know."

I continued to listen to Levin's story.

Today, March 27th, the third volume of this comic, drawn by Mr. Hanjiro Abe, is on sale!

There are extras on the back cover that can only be found in the single volume, making the third volume a book full of charm.

I hope you will read it!

Here is the cover image!

Product information! (KADOKAWA official website)

https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322312000757/