Chapter 224 – Visit

Well then. First, the ritual site.

I compress the foundation with Earth Magic, then reinforce it by solidifying it with Petrification Magic. I carve grooves into the foundation, sprinkle finely crushed Magic Stones into them, and draw a Summoning and Barrier Magic Array to contain the Spirit.

“Please check it from above for now.”

“Understood.”

Claudia nods and ascends to a height where she can oversee the entire area along with Rosemary. Auria follows suit. I’m having them verify the Magic Array as a precaution. Since this is the core part of the ritual site, mistakes would be troublesome to fix, and when it comes to Summoning Magic, the three of them are more knowledgeable.

“Rise.”

I make the Earth Golems stand up and have them transport materials one after another.

I lay cobblestones in a circular pattern, build an altar facing the direction of the volcano, and erect walls and pillars.

Once that much is completed, the three descend from above.

Next is the roof. I create a dome-shaped roof, carve a celestial chart on the inside, and embed Magic Stones at positions corresponding to major stars. Changing the size of the Magic Stones according to the size of the stars is subtly tedious and complicated.

This is a celestial chart of the summer night sky—matched to the season for summoning the volcano’s Spirit.

It’s a reinforcement to create a pseudo-cycle of the stars, sustain the effect of the Summoning Magic, and keep the Spirit within the ritual site. Well… it does somewhat resemble a planetarium.

“How about this for the celestial chart?”

“Yes. It’s well done.”

After that, I add decorations to the walls and pillars to reinforce the Spirit’s power and weaken Curse Power. The Emblems of the Four Great Spirit Kings and the symbol of the Moon Goddess.

“What about the building’s strength?”

“It’s fine. Hmm. Somehow… I feel power welling up when I’m here.”

Seraphina nods and happily flies around inside the ritual site.

“I’d imagine so. I think this could almost be called a Temple.”

“The Magical Power and Spirit power gathering here are being Cleansed.”

Penelope and Auria say. Well… I’ll have to alter the Labyrinth’s system later on, so I need to be capable of at least this much.

“I suppose that covers the ritual site. Next, I’ll develop the area around it.”

“What else will you do?”

Penelope asks.

“I’ll recreate a scaled-down version of the terrain around the volcano in Marquis Zilbolt’s territory. The ritual site corresponds to the location of the mountain itself… and after that, I plan to create something like a garden surrounding the ritual site.”

I’ve grasped the surrounding terrain through interviews with Elmer and the others. This is also just a matter of building according to the Blueprint. I’m magically preparing an environment where the volcano’s Spirit can reside long-term without stress.

Once the garden is made, I plan to build facilities where Shrine Maidens and Clerics can stay, as well as facilities where their Escorts—Knights and soldiers—can reside. The temporary huts currently in place are actually positioned corresponding to locations in the Marquis’s territory, so it should be fine to proceed by renovating those temporary huts.

“Hmm… I would have liked to see it through to completion if possible, but I’ve seen enough interesting things already. I’ll save the rest for when it’s finished. I’ve already been treated to lunch as well. I must repay you in some form eventually.”

Auria seems quite pleased.

“Yes. I’ve thoroughly partaken of your hospitality.”

Penelope bows deeply. Since the two give the impression they’ll be returning to the city soon, Forestbird and the others also begin preparing to withdraw.

“Yeah. Theo-kun, Grace-san. It was delicious, thank you.”

The members of Forestbird also bow.

Lately, they’ve had work like escorting Justia and Dominique, so their income seems stable. They’ve also become acquainted with Auria and Penelope, and their adventurer business appears to be going well.

“Well then.”

“Yes. Please be careful on your way.”

With that, we part ways with Auria and the others. Well, even though “on your way” is said, Termwills is just a stone’s throw away.

“Is that the Witch’s bust?”

“Well, yes. I modeled it in 3D based on the portrait…”

Since the facilities around the ritual site that can be done with Magic Construction are completed, the rest is Alfred’s job.

While reporting the ritual site’s progress after stopping by the workshop, I’m creating the Witch’s bust from the portrait entrusted to me by Sheila.

First, I make a prototype sculpture from stone, have Elmer—who knows the Witch’s face—check it, and make adjustments. Then I create a mold, and after that, it’s just a matter of mass-producing plaster busts.

“You’re making quite a number of them.”

Viola says.

“Well… I plan to deploy them all over the place. Using Curse Magic for threats—if that happened to us, it’d be unbearable. It’ll have to wait until the hostages are protected, but I’ll make it so widely known within Verdgar that movement and shopping become difficult.”

Setting aside the connection with Silvatoria’s Crown Prince, I’ll publicize it openly so she can never operate in the shadows again.

“Theo-kun is as thorough as ever…”

“I plan to have Marquis Zilbolt take some with him after it’s resolved too. To the extent that even Silvatoria’s Crown Prince can’t protect her… or rather, I intend to do it with enough force to undermine the Crown Prince’s standing.”

When I answer, Alfred gives a slightly strained smile and says,

“It seems there’s been a reply from that Marquis Zilbolt too. In a letter, he says he’d be delighted to accept the invitation.”

“Then I suppose we can consider the preliminary preparations complete.”

“I need to prepare Magic Tools for the ritual site, though.”

Saying that, Alfred stretches. Things like Alarm Devices to install in the lodging facilities and setting up Defense Fields in the underground shelter rooms.

There are also Magic Tools for heating, cooling, and baths, but those areas don’t require relying on Alfred.

“Won’t that be quite tough starting now? You mass-produced the Amulets of Evil Repulsion too, right?”

Since the opponent is a Witch who can use Curse Magic.

While the Amulet of Evil Repulsion might not completely block powerful Curse Magic… there are parts where synergy with Blessing can aim for improvement.

“Not really. Talcott and Cindy are helping too, and there are Rosemary’s Dolls, so it’s relatively manageable.”

“I see.”

“What about reusing the ritual site? Can it be utilized as a facility for Summoning Rituals?”

“I haven’t decided on that yet. Since it’s specialized for accommodating the volcano’s Spirit, if we want to make it a versatile summoning facility, we’ll need to renovate it after the resolution.”

In any case, Marquis Zilbolt’s visit is coming soon.

The liberation of the Sealed Door is also schedule-wise close, and I must not neglect preparations like training.

And then—the day of Marquis Zilbolt’s visit to Termwills arrived.

The Marquis is said to be coming by ship, using the sea route. I wait at the port with Elmer, who has his hood pulled deep over his eyes. Mercedes from the Knight Order is also accompanying us as Elmer’s supervisor.

If we were ensuring absolute safety, we’d give Elmer a Disguise Ring or something… but that’s originally for the Verdgar royal family.

Once the incident is resolved, Elmer and the others will likely be returned to Marquis Zilbolt’s custody, so I can’t reveal the Ring. Lending it to me is truly an exception.

“He’s here.”

From beyond the horizon. A ship carrying Marquis Zilbolt approaches, bathed in the setting sun.

…Hmm.

I create a lens and tube with Light and Dark Magic, magically reproducing a telescope. Let’s magnify and scout the deck. It’s blurry, but I’ll adjust… is this good?

“Wh-what is that Magic…?”

“Th-this is…”

Elmer’s eyes widen. Mercedes’s too. Mercedes is also from the Knight Order, and Elmer is from a special unit, so they undoubtedly understand its utility. It would certainly be useful for Scout purposes.

“Hmm. Well, improvised. More importantly, any familiar faces?”

“Uh, well…”

Elmer watches the circular, floating image of the deck with a slightly strained expression.

“…It’s the Marquis.”

The man who came up from the cabin to the deck was well-built. A man of average height and build with white mixed into his hair. The one led out by Marquis Zilbolt holding her hand is the Marchioness. Next to the Marchioness is the Marquis’s daughter.

The Marchioness and the daughter look pale and not very healthy. The daughter’s hat is about to be blown away by the wind, but the Marquis catches it and, narrowing his eyes as if looking at something troublesome, returns it to the daughter.

The daughter, receiving the hat with a shy smile, clings to the Marchioness as if frightened of something.

I follow where her gaze is directed.

“…This bitch… this bitch is…”

Elmer gasps and grits his teeth. Who it is—I know without him saying. I know that face too. I mass-produced it in the workshop.

It’s the young woman dressed all in black who came up from the cabin. Glaring at the Marquis’s family, a cold smile plastered on her face.

“So she came aboard herself.”

I have Caduceus operate the Communication Device to notify all locations of the Witch’s visit.

I had assumed this might be possible. Since she’s bringing the two hostages along, it’s entirely possible that she herself—who can activate Curse Magic—would come as the supervisor.

The agents dispatched by Marquis Zilbolt—Donovan and Lionel—their objective was securing a base.

They seemed to have been told that their purpose was to disrupt public order within Verdgar—but it can’t be just that. Considering that the Witch is behind this and looking at the map… it’s known that there’s a dormant volcano near the town where Mihaela lives.

It’s highly likely they intend to do the same thing in Verdgar as in the Marquis’s territory, while also surveilling Marquis Zilbolt.

I can’t afford to be careless here. I’ll need to place surveillance on the Witch and move early, before she acts, to protect the hostages.

…It seems the Witch has a companion too. A man with a sword is standing by as if guarding her. I should put surveillance on him as well.