Chapter 101 – Deep in the Spirit Hall

Amid the rubble, I could see Luceriage lying on her back. A storm and lightning strike had exploded at close range. Her body was torn and charred in various places—was this the end? Or did she still have some strength left?

As I approached with Ouroboros at the ready, she smiled with an expression that looked almost serene.

“…That’s a commendable attitude. You win. This is the end for me.”

“You demons… always end up like this, don’t you?”

Doing all you can, then disappearing with nothing but self-satisfaction.

“A demon’s death should only be spoken of with joy. In my case, I’m just a bit disappointed that I ended up leaving something behind. Well… a promise is a promise.”

Luceriage closed her eyes and reached out as if trying to grasp something. Starting from her extremities, she began turning into golden light, dissolving into the wind.

“But still. You—will surely be able to go anywhere.”

With a smile on her lips, Luceriage scattered into golden phosphorescence in the wind.

Despite her meaningful words, nothing remained after Luceriage disappeared. …Did she do something before coming here?

“Theo!”

“Theodore-sama!”

While I was pondering, everyone came running with panicked expressions. Grace stopped halfway, holding her forehead, while Ashley was the first to reach me.

“Your injuries are terrible…! I’ll heal you right away!”

“Yeah… sorry.”

Well, I did push myself a bit too much this time.

The wounds on my arm and shoulder had stopped bleeding at least, but the toll from braking with Tempest Drive… if I stopped my magical power circulation now, the damage would be significant, so I remained as I was and sat down in a corner of the plaza, taking off my coat and jacket to receive healing magic.

“We’ll keep watch over there.”

Sheila and Irmhild stationed themselves near the entrance to the Spirit Hall. …Right. We still don’t know what might happen.

That black-haired girl—was nowhere to be seen. Was she still inside the temple? Or had she already gone somewhere else?

When I released the technique from the areas I’d been suppressing with Shield for treatment—there was considerable bleeding, but Ashley immediately applied healing magic. She prioritized the larger wounds, then moved to the smaller ones. Partway through, she drank from a small bottle of Magic Potion, then closed her eyes and continued treatment with magical light gathering in her hands.

“…Are you in pain?”

I lightly clenched my left arm and rotated my shoulder, but…

“No. Seems fine. Thank you, Ashley.”

“Yes…”

Her slender fingers traced over the closed wounds. It tickled a little.

She used life magic to wash away the blood from my body and clothes. If we left it like this, Grace would probably have a hard time.

“Theo.”

Just as the treatment and cleaning were mostly finished, Grace approached. Her cheeks were slightly flushed… her complexion looked feverish.

“Please don’t push yourself too hard.”

“…Yeah. Sorry to both of you. What about everyone else? Any injuries?”

“I have just a little. But it’s already closed. Everyone else is fine too.”

“Let’s… rest for a bit.”

“Yes.”

We couldn’t exactly return without collecting the Orb, but we had just fought a demon.

“What about Irm?”

Since that black-haired girl was here, I thought Irmhild must be feeling anxious too.

When I asked, Irmhild showed a slightly surprised expression before returning a happy smile.

“I’m fine. I think it’s better to properly prepare ourselves first. Because I know the path we’re on isn’t wrong.”

I see.

“Um… Theo. Could I ask you to seal me again for now?”

Grace said. Probably, she was experiencing considerable bloodlust. Even if we were to continue exploring, she wanted to convert the impulse once.

“Understood.”

First, I attached Caduceus to Grace to ensure her defense was perfect. Then I touched Grace’s ring and activated the cursed tool.

—Immediately, Grace nearly collapsed to her knees.

“Whoa. Are you okay?”

“Y-yes. Mm… I lost a bit of strength. Ah… Theo.”

When I supported her body reflexively, she embraced me.

Her fingers ran through my hair, and she caressed my cheeks and where the wounds had been.

Yeah… In Grace’s case, when she’s unsealed, we can’t casually do things like this. As I let her do as she pleased, Grace turned her gaze toward Ashley. Ashley smiled and nodded, then came and hugged me too.

“When we return, Marlene-sama too…”

“That’s right. Let’s all take it easy together.”

The two said such things and nodded at each other.

After settling down and resting with everyone for a while, we entered the interior of the Spirit Hall.

The interior structure of the Spirit Hall was extremely simple. There wouldn’t be any way to get lost even if it were complex. Because wind containing magical power blew from the depths.

Passing through the corridor lined with countless gargoyles, we emerged into a large hall with rows of pillars. At the far end of the hall was an altar. And on the altar, a shining Orb.

That girl was nowhere to be found. Not even a hint that she might come to interfere. I wondered if she might be the master of the Wind Spirit Hall…

Judging from how she connects to Irmhild’s memories, she might be more involved with the entire labyrinth.

A dense flow of magical power. As for the Orb’s role—it seemed to be gathering the power of spirits and sending it somewhere else. This must be what establishes the contract with the wind spirits.

“…Is it really okay to take this to the royal castle?”

I voiced this thought aloud as I approached the altar and picked it up… but nothing particularly unusual happened. A gentle breeze wrapped around me, but it didn’t feel unpleasant. It even felt like I was being welcomed.

According to King Melvin, the contract ceremony can only be performed at the proper time. Apparently, they borrow the power of the stars, summon the four great Spirit Kings, and have them replenish the Orb’s power so it doesn’t weaken.

Anyway, it seems important that the Orb itself is in Termwills.

Mechanically, as long as it’s in Termwills, the gathered spirit power probably flows to the seal at the Moonlight Temple.

From a security perspective, keeping it like this, placed deep behind the sealed door, is probably best during normal times… but that changes when the door is open. Especially in the current situation where demons have taken notice.

“…Seems fine. Well then, let’s head back.”

Holding the Orb, I turned around. At the hall’s entrance—standing there was that black-haired girl. I don’t know since when. Even seeing the Orb in my hand, she didn’t appear particularly angry.

“You are—”

Irmhild gasped. As elusive as ever.

When I tried to call out to her, as if affirming my actions, she nodded slightly, then closed her eyes and turned away. It seemed she was saying it was fine to take it… but from my perspective, I couldn’t just end it there. My role is also to act as a bridge with her.

“My name is Theodore Gartner. I came here as King Melvin’s representative, the Otherworld Ambassador.”

When I spoke, the girl’s body twitched slightly.

Was she waiting for me to say something? She remained standing still without moving.

The girl had guided the way and set the gargoyles on the demon. I should probably speak with that premise. That said, it doesn’t necessarily mean she’s on humanity’s side.

She has been cooperative, but she also seems reluctant to share too much information.

“If you don’t wish to say much, I won’t press you now. But could you at least tell me your name?”

“—Claudia.”

Turning around, the girl introduced herself with a bell-like voice. Her golden eyes captured me.

“…Claudia.”

Irmhild repeated the name. Claudia tilted her head slightly and said.

“As for that Orb—it was originally yours. Protecting the seal at the Moonlight Temple probably aligns with our objectives as well. So, I’m simply releasing the protection here… that’s all there is to it.”

…As I suspected. Claudia probably belongs to the labyrinth management side.

The “yours” she used likely refers not to “us” but to “humankind.”

Now, what is she? She doesn’t feel like a demon.

“…Do you know what is sealed in the Moonlight Temple?”

“Even I don’t grasp everything within the labyrinth, everything that happens. I only know that it’s a jewel containing calamity, and that the demons seek it.”

Probably because it’s a seal created by humankind.

Then Claudia narrowed her eyes and looked at Irmhild.

“…Irmhild. You.”

“Y-yes.”

Irmhild nodded with a solemn expression. So she knew her name from the beginning.

“You shouldn’t trouble yourself too much about your origins. There’s nothing you need to hold back about. You’re free to live your life as you please.”

“B-but I—”

Irmhild looked down. Then she raised her face and said to Claudia.

“Even so, I want to visit that village.”

“…I see. It’s an important place to you.”

Claudia closed her eyes. What was she thinking in her heart?

Her body began to grow faint and transparent.

“Ah… time’s up. Perhaps because I interfered with the protection here. You should leave this place quickly. The protection here will soon begin to fulfill its original role.”

“Time’s up?”

“Yes. For a while—I won’t be able to move.”

Claudia’s body grew increasingly faint. Her voice became indistinct too.

“But you already know where and when we can meet next, don’t you?”

Leaving those words behind, Claudia’s body hazed over and eventually disappeared.

Fulfilling its original role, huh.

There are various things to think about, but before the gargoyles attack us on the way back, we should probably make our exit quickly.