Chapter 109 – The History of the Saint

“…Now then. Where should I begin?”

Auria seemed quite eager to share memories about Mother.

I didn’t mind hearing stories about Mother, but I wanted to take care of my reason for coming here first. When there’s something weighing on my mind, I can’t relax properly.

“Before that. There’s something I’d like to ask you.”

“Hmm? Something to ask me? What might that be?”

“Are you aware of the spirit disturbances happening around town?”

“Indeed. We received a Request from the royal family. They’re offering rewards for anyone who provides substantial information.”

“That’s it. I suspect these so-called spirits might actually be Spirits.”

“Oh?”

Auria’s eyes widened slightly.

“The eyewitness accounts are somewhat unsettling. I wanted to get an expert opinion on that point.”

“Meaning?”

“There are reports of them appearing with agonized expressions. Yet they disappear when approached. I think that’s probably why they’re being mistaken for spirits.”

When I explained the key points of the eyewitness accounts, Auria closed her eyes and made a pained expression.

“It does happen that powerful Spirits are forced to materialize when they have something they want to say to humans.”

“…Originally, Spirits avoid human attention, correct?”

If someone could see them, it would be either because they could synchronize with the Spirit’s wavelength like a Shrine Maiden, or because they had contracted and were employing them like a Summoner, or perhaps—because they belonged to a race naturally close to Spirits like Elves or possessed magical aptitude. Some adventurers can handle Spirits. That’s probably how they recognized them as Spirits.

“Indeed. They dislike having their appearance and nature fixed by human thoughts.”

According to Auria… Spirits are like spiritual entities, so they’re apparently influenced by the image others hold of them.

“In that regard, wouldn’t you say this current approach was good?”

“How so?”

“The fact that we could call them back to a neutral location by suggesting they might be Spirits rather than ghosts.”

Hmm. Well, I suppose it was good that I didn’t interfere either.

That leaves the question of why this is happening.

“So you think they’re materializing against their will? Running away from humans?”

“…Indeed. As for possible causes…”

“—Magical Energy Pools.”

“In the middle of the city?”

Auria’s eyes widened.

Whether it should be called a phenomenon or geographical—in nature, places where Magical Power tends to accumulate can form naturally.

Monsters naturally gather in such Magical Power-dense locations. For monsters who accumulate Magic Stone components within their bodies, it makes activity easier.

“I’m considering the possibility that some item emitting Magical Power has been brought in.”

An item that adversely affects Spirits. That seems like a plausible story for something brought by a Demon.

“I see. In that case, we’ll need to summon the Spirit, contain it with a Barrier so it can’t escape, and hear what it has to say.”

She said this as if it were obvious. Auria must have the means to do so.

“So we identify the cause and eliminate it? Is it possible to summon a specific Spirit and contain it?”

“The time would be night when that Spirit is active. After that, we just need to choose the location.”

Location, meaning—

Perhaps sensing my confusion from my expression, Auria said,

“Considering what’s happened so far, the Spirit is likely over-activated, and if we trap it, it will probably attack. Either way, we’ll have to suppress its power. Since the Guild will pay the Request fee, I’d like to ask for your cooperation as well… What do you say?”

“It might turn into a fight?”

“That’s how I see it. I’ll be busy maintaining the Barrier to prevent its escape.”

Well, in that case. It helps that it’s straightforward.

That leaves—selecting the location. We can just evacuate people from a suitable square.

“Then I’ll prepare the stage. Let’s meet in front of the Guild at night.”

“Indeed.”

Auria nodded. After taking a deep breath, she settled back into her chair and said,

“But still, I’m glad you’re willing to take the Request. There aren’t many people who have the correct understanding about Spirits and can also fight a rampaging Spirit.”

“Is that so?”

“Indeed. As expected of Lisa’s son.”

Auria laughed with a softer atmosphere than before.

“I’m afraid I’m much more self-centered in my actions than Mother was.”

It would be troublesome if people expected me to have too many of Mother’s qualities.

“Is that so. Well, let’s set aside the Spirit matter for now and talk about when I first met Lisa.”

She placed her elbows on the table and clasped her hands.

“That was—when Guardians appeared in the Labyrinth, and many injured were brought to the Guild. It happened right when a large mineral vein was discovered and things were bustling, so it was truly a terrible sight.”

It seems Mother just happened to appear there then.

The moment she saw the injured, she continuously used Healing Magic until she collapsed from Magical Power depletion. Well, it’s a typical anecdote about Mother.

“She was quite the benefactor for the Guild. We expressed our gratitude and became acquainted. …I heard she was also hoping the Great Labyrinth of Termwills would help improve her constitution.”

Ah. So that’s why she came to the Great Labyrinth.

“Her magical skills were certainly reliable… but I was worried about her overly kind nature, so I recommended she attend Peresford Academy with the reward money from that time.”

“And that’s where she met Father and Rosetta-san.”

“Indeed. The next time I saw her, she was working as an adventurer teamed up with Rosetta.”

She said with a wry smile.

“So I’ve heard.”

“Hmm—how much do you know about your mother?”

Then she asked me that.

“I know she was called the Saint. When people had troubles, the locals would come to Mother for help, and she’d respond. She seemed to enjoy traveling and often helped people along the way.”

“Indeed. That’s how she was when she came to the Guild too. That epithet came from that time.”

But if you ask whether I really knew Mother well… in the end, I’m not that familiar with her past. I think if I’d been a bit more aware, she would have told me various things or talked with me about them.

Father seemed pained to remember, and Grace probably knows about as much as I do about Mother.

“I have some idea about Lisa’s origins from her magical style. I think she might have come from the north—from the Kingdom of Silvatria. If you wish to know your lineage, seeking it in that country might be best.”

“Silvatria—”

That northern island nation. Though small, it’s a country prosperous in Magic.

It has a magical research institution called the Sages’ Academy, and like Peresford Academy in Termwills, it’s a mecca for Magic.

No… when it comes to Magic alone, they’re more specialized there.

They say magical research thrives in Silvatria because it’s connected to the lineage of the fallen Magic Kingdom Beriondora.

The survivors of Beriondora, whose capital was burned to the ground in the war against Demons, apparently fled to Silvatria.

Well… now I know where Mother learned Magic and where she came from.

Auria said if I wanted to know my lineage…

She must be thinking that if we trace through magical lineages and Magical Power aptitude, we’d eventually find relatives.

“I should add that around that time, there was a political upheaval in Silvatria. She might have been the child of nobles or famous Magicians. Well, Lisa herself denied that part, saying she was just an ordinary Magician, but she used quite special Magic.”

“…That’s helpful information.”

I could only smile wryly. Indeed, it is.

For a Magician… there’s little benefit, though not none, in leaving Silvatria where the Academy exists to come here. Even with the goal of improving her constitution.

She probably wouldn’t have left Silvatria without some circumstances. Conversely speaking—one could view it as she chose Termwills because she had left Silvatria.

If that were the case… well, it’s obvious she wouldn’t broadcast it to others.

“She was an unconventional person. She’d rush to rescue adventurers who got lost in the full moon Labyrinth while carrying a Red Transfer Stone. And also—she made items with strange designs. Here. This Staff was made by your mother.”

She showed me something… a spiked iron ball decorated with a Skeleton connected to a Staff by a Chain—something hard to describe whether its purpose was as a Morning Star or a Staff. What is this?

“When you swing it, non-directional Magic flies off in random directions. It’s interesting but limited in use. She said she aimed to enable Magic to be fired from various directions but it was a Failure. I found it interesting so I asked her to let me have it.”

“Ah ha ha.”

It seems Grace’s Axe wasn’t made by Mother… but there might be some influence. Ashley choosing a Long Mace… that might have come around full circle in a way. My, my. I feel somewhat responsible for this.