Volume 6 Chapter 3
Volume 6 Chapter 3: Understanding the Situation
While sipping the floral-scented tea that Lorie had served us, I listened carefully as she explained the details.
「You mentioned earlier that the road to the Spring of the Spirit God is a difficult one. Is it really that far?」
At my question, Lorie nodded and waved her staff toward the bookshelf behind her.
Several books floated out, drifting down gently into her hands.
「It’s not just far. The path is filled with danger in the most literal sense. We’re heading to the place where the Spirit God resides—naturally, divine trials are involved. We’ll have to navigate rough terrain, harsh natural environments… it’s not going to be easy.」
She opened one of the books.
Inside was a map at the center of which was located the Spirit City.
「Yeah, the area around the city is all plains, forests, and mountains…」
「Exactly. And ever since the Spirit Path was damaged, no one’s gone that way. It’s likely deteriorated even further. Plus, since it’s connected to a god, there are unique complications to consider.」
Lorie let out a breath and met my eyes.
「Knowing that… will you still come with me?」
I didn’t need to think twice about my answer.
「Like I said earlier—of course I will. If someone who’s helped me is in trouble, the least I can do is lend a hand. It’s also a part of being a carrier.」
「You really are a kind person…」
Lorie cast her eyes down for a moment, then looked back at me.
「Then let’s go over everything together before we depart.」
「Yeah. Let’s start with what you said about gods being involved. What’s that about?」
「That’s the biggest hurdle, so we need to go over it thoroughly. The Spring of the Spirit God is, as the name implies, a place where the god visits. It’s treated as a quasi divine domain.」
「A divine domain… so, like a realm where gods live?」
「Right. And to enter such a place, one has to pass a ‘trial.’ You’ve heard that before, haven’t you? At the Job Change Temples?」
Her question made me think back about the past.
…Not so much when I became a carrier, but maybe when I became a dragon knight…
「I think I remember being told something like that… And when I met the Dragon God, I vaguely recall doing something…」
Lorie’s eyes widened.
「Wait… don’t tell me—you’ve actually been inside a divine domain?!」
She leaned forward across the table, eager to hear my answer..
「Yeah… it was during the war. I had to go for a reason. Though to be honest, I don’t remember much. I was exhausted at the time.」
Daisy, sitting on my shoulder, shook her head.
「No, buddy. You weren’t just exhausted—you were bleeding out and completely wrecked. You rushed into the divine domain alone, and when you finally returned, your arms were broken, half the flesh on your legs was gone, and you were barely conscious. Basically, you were half-dead.」
She spoke with a slightly exasperated tone.
Honestly, I didn’t remember much of it myself. All I could recall was how rough it had been.
「I guess I was more focused on the objective than on remembering the details.」
「Yeah, once you have a goal, everything else becomes secondary for you.」
Daisy nodded on my shoulder, clearly amused. She wasn’t wrong.
Lorie and Parum, watching our exchange, looked utterly dumbfounded.
「A-As expected of the Dragon Knight Hero… Not sure if it’s right to put it this way, but… You have quite a past…」
「Yeah, I’m quite surprised…」
「Sorry for derailing the conversation. Let’s get back to it—so this trial… what’s it like?」
「Well, not as extreme as yours, thankfully. The trial this time is: ‘In order to enter the spring, you must follow a specific route laid out by the god.’」
「A specific route?」
「Yes. You have to pass through designated checkpoints. It’s a form of ritual or offering required to enter the spring.」
「I see… and how are those points designated? Do we even know where the spring is?」
In response, Lorie traced a circle on the map with her finger.
「The location changes with the time. Based on past records, there are common patterns in the route and destination, and the final spring usually falls somewhere within this general area—roughly a month’s journey on foot.」
She placed the record book she was holding onto the table.
「As for how we get the designated route, we use this book.」
She pointed to the book with the map.
「This is the ‘Divine Codex,’ passed down by successive Spirit Kings since the age of the gods. With it, we can determine the path we’re supposed to take.」
「So this book’s that important, huh? Do Spirit Kings often go to the spring?」
「Yes. When the era changes, they’re required to go there at least once. That’s why all Spirit Kings are at least aware of how it can be reached. The Codex includes not only the designated checkpoints but also the rules. It’s indispensable for the journey.」
「Got it. Mind if I take a look at some of the other pages?」
I asked, hoping to find some hints. Lorie nodded readily.
「Of course. Though, only I can unlock it—so you might not be able to see much from over there. Come around behind me.」
「Sure.」
I moved behind Lorie’s chair to look over her shoulder at the book.
Then something struck me.
「This book… I feel like I’ve seen something like it before at the Job Change Temple… or maybe not?」
「You’re half right. The Codex is made of the same material as the skill sheets that descend from the realm of gods.」
「Oh, that explains it.」
I glanced at the skill sheet in my chest pocket, then back at the Codex. The texture did feel familiar.
「It was handed down from the gods, after all. There are a lot of similarities.」
Lorie flipped through the Codex. However—
「Huh? A lot of the pages are blank.」
Apart from the page with the map, most of the others were empty.
「This book updates itself when infused with my magic. But after each ritual, most of it resets to blank.」
「I see.」
「Yes. The only pages that don’t reset are the ones with general rules.」
She pointed to one of the pages.
【The use of transport bags or palanquins for carrying people is prohibited.】
「So this is one of the rules?」
「Yes, it’s something one of the previous Spirit Kings tried way back in the old time. Are you familiar with the High-Tier carrier job《Palanquin Bearer》?」
「I’ve heard of it.」
Back when I worked in the CIty of Stars I heard it being mentioned a couple of times, but that’s pretty much it. I have no idea about the specifics.
「One of its skills 【Palanquin】allows transporting living beings without any concern for the fight. They tried using that to proceed through the path, but the path didn’t even appear, and then that rule appeared.」
「So the gods are watching closely.」
「Yes. I’m sure they’re watching even now.」
As she said that, Lorie channeled a bit of magic through her hand into the Codex, a sort of a light appeared, surrounding her hands, and then went into the book.
A line of glowing text appeared:
【Of course I’m watching. by Spirit God.】
「See?」
Lorie looked at me after seeing that line.
「So the book is the means of communication with the gods, huh…」
「Well, it can only be used by the current-generation Spirit Princess, and it’s quite limited in scope. In any case, the rules written here are absolute, so putting it into your transport bag would be impossible.」
「I see… Then, is it okay if I carry you on my back or in my arms?」
「That shouldn’t be a problem. There are no rules prohibiting that. …Though, basically, I intend to move on my own.」
「You say move, Lorie, but can you actually walk?」
Next to me, Daisy spoke up, her eyes fixed intently on the Divine Codex.
Her gaze now rested upon crystallized legs.
Indeed, Lorie was barely able to walk even with a staff. As I pondered what she would do, she spoke,
「Well, in my current state, I can hardly move my legs. I can just about stand with the staff, though.」
「In that case, are you going to use the moving road from earlier?」
「No, that’s a magic limited specifically to this city—the spirit city under my control. Once we leave even a little bit from here, it’ll stop working.」
Having said this, Lorie tapped the floor in front of her with the tip of her staff.
「—But I have another way.」
Then, tapping the chair she sat on, she uttered,
「Construct Deploy—Magical Chair.」
In an instant, a light surged from the center of her staff.
The light rapidly expanded, shifting form. By the time the glow faded away,
「A wheelchair, huh?」
It had transformed into a chair with wheels.
「Yes. It’s a mana-powered chair called a Magical Chair. It can move easily along flat surfaces. Like this.」
Lorie demonstrated, transferring herself into the Magical Chair and lightly tapping its armrest with her palm.
Immediately, the chair moved forward by itself, smoothly performing a full spin.
Moreover, moving toward a wheeled step-ladder likely used for the bookshelf at the room’s edge, Lorie continued,
「It can even handle something like this.」
The Magical Chair’s wheels adhered to the steps as it effortlessly climbed up and down.
「Whoa, impressive. So it can manage small stairs as well?」
「Indeed. It’s a magic tool—or rather, a spell—developed jointly by the Medical Guild and the Magical Research Institute. It can handle slightly rough terrain too.」
「Oh, that really is remarkable technology. As an alchemist, I’d love to look into it—but is it recognized as acceptable by the gods?」
At Daisy’s words, Lorie nodded, opening the Divine Codex to show us.
Inside was written:
『Hmm… From the divine perspective, such human ingenuity is approved!』
「So it says.」
「The gods are surprisingly casual in their communication, huh?」
And in real-time, no less.
Though, admittedly, this straightforwardness was quite appreciated.
「Well, there are still paths this magical wheelchair can’t handle. As long as we follow the designated route properly, we’ll be fine… though there’s a limit to how many people can participate, and that’s a challenge.」
She showed us another section of the rule page.
「Ah, here it is… Participants in the trial must not exceed four」
And below that:
【No additional participants may join after the trial has begun.】
「So if anyone helps us mid-journey, it counts as a failure?」
「Right. That’s the tricky part—we can’t bring a large team. We’ll have to manage with what we carry and find along the way.」
「Then preparing beforehand becomes crucial.」
「Exactly. We can’t bring a supply unit, so each of us needs to carry as much as possible. Fill your transport bag to the brim. If you need anything, just tell Parum.」
Parum thumped her chest and nodded enthusiastically.
「Ask for anything! The Spirit City’s warehouse is massive. We can provide most travel supplies!」
「Got it. I’ll check the limits of my bag and start loading up.」
「Thanks. Now, as for the next rule…」
◯
「—Okay, that’s the last of the trial rules.」
After about an hour of reviewing everything, Daisy and I had gone over every rule we could.
「Thanks, Lorie. So, when do we leave? I’m ready whenever.」
「Same here!」
Lorie gave a small nod.
「Yes. Let’s get started today, then. No time like the present.」
A decisive answer—definitely fitting for someone who once fought Ouroboros.
「—Though I hate to say it after that, could you give me a few hours? I need to prepare.」
「For the trip? Yeah, we’ll be prepping too…」
「Well, yes—but mostly, I need time to ready the city.」
「You mean the Spirit City?」
「Right. I need to activate various automatic defense and concealment spells for when I’m gone.」
「Oh, I see.」
She was the princess of this city.
Naturally, she had the authority to initiate those safeguards.
Surrounded by plains and forests though it was, the Spirit City wasn’t immune to threats. Much like the Human Realm, it needed protection.
「Once those spells are set, the city can run fine even if I’m gone for days, weeks, or months. But they take time to initiate. I’m sorry.」
「Don’t worry. It’s important. I’ve got my own packing to do anyway.」
Between verifying the transport bag and checking supplies, I’d planned to take my time too. So I assured her not to worry.
「Thanks. …Oh, by the way, once you’re packed, would you mind relaxing in the hot springs while you wait?」
「Hot springs? They have those here too?」
Lorie shook her head.
「More like… the ones in the Human Realm exist because of these. The springs there are fueled by mana flowing from this realm.」
「Ah, that makes sense.」
「They’re incredibly effective for healing. Even though it’s been a while since the battle with the Ouroboros, this may be your first extended time in the Spirit Realm. You may not notice it, but your body might feel off, or just slightly strained.」
Daisy chimed in from my shoulder.
「Yeah, now that you mention it, the air does feel a little different here. I don’t think it’s affecting my movement, but the magic is definitely thicker.」
「Hmm. It’s subtle, but yeah… different from the Human Realm.」
Not enough to be suffocating or anything, but… it did feel like every breath was recharging my body—or making it a bit too lively.
「The Spirit Realm is much richer in magical energy. So soaking in the hot springs should help your bodies adjust—like optimizing your body for this world.」
「I see…」
If I wanted to do this job right, keeping my body in top condition was a must.
「Well then… sounds good. Let’s check it out.」
「I’m in too, buddy!」
「Yes. I know it’s a bit odd to send you off to the hot springs after giving you such a serious task—but at least enjoy it while you can.」
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