Chapter 275 – The Sealed Shrine Maiden

The Sages’ Academy apparently also serves as a living space for the magicians who belong to it. For the members of the seven families led by the elders, it’s practically like their own home, which is why Valentina brought us tea.

“Please tell me about my mother.”

“…Hmm.”

Old Sigmund nodded.

“Where should I begin? When speaking of Patricia, our own stories inevitably come up as well.”

When I nodded at his words, Old Sigmund continued after saying “Well then” as a preface.

“We are said to be the descendants of the seven sages who served the magic kingdom of Beriondora. Though the bloodline has thinned since Silvatoria was founded. Still, there’s no doubt that our ancestors were among the Seven Sages.”

So that’s why there are seven elders representing seven families. The group of magicians who sealed the demon lord in the Termwills Labyrinth might have been them too.

“But… when Beriondora later fell, the family heads died in the battle against the demons, and the inheritance of several precious magics was lost. The bloodlines remained, but there were problems with passing down the techniques.”

One of the elders spoke.

“…Like teleportation magic and magical power circulation?”

At my words, Old Sigmund gave a wry smile.

“Hmm. Theodore. You were in Verdugal, weren’t you? Given that you knew about the Sealing Shrine Maiden, you seem quite familiar with our internal affairs…”

“About the Sealing Shrine Maiden, His Majesty Eberhart said that when he learned of my origins. As for teleportation magic… a demon I defeated before said it was a lost magic.”

A magician who had been sipping tea choked on his words at that.

“Y-you defeated a demon?”

“Verdugal is currently engaged in covert combat with demon groups. It involves labyrinths and Beriondora.”

“Just what have you been doing…? I’d like to hear about that too, but it would derail the conversation. Let me first tell you about us. Regarding teleportation magic, while the family head who could use it lost their life, it wasn’t completely lost.”

“I see. So you secretly passed it down.”

And that was inherited by my mother? But wait…

“It’s slightly different to say we passed down teleportation magic. We found the research materials of the user and were trying to analyze and study them to restore the spell formula. We didn’t know if a user would appear due to the relationship between magical aptitude and learning difficulty… but the seven families promoted marriages among ourselves, trying to return to the ancient sages. We believed it would bear fruit eventually.”

“And my mother might have been able to become a user?”

“That’s right. And Patricia responded to that. But the user’s research materials were from before the spell formula was completed. Patricia was trying to improve and research the spell formula, thinking she could make the revived teleportation magic more efficient.”

So even after leaving Silvatoria, my mother continued her research. The Sages’ Academy wasn’t just aiming for the return of magical power circulation users, but also the revival of other techniques, I suppose.

“However… if teleportation magic were to fall into the hands of demons, you can easily imagine what would happen, can’t you? Therefore, while it could be a powerful weapon, we positioned spell formulas that must never fall into demon hands as secret arts, keeping them hidden while still passing them down.”

If teleportation magic fell into demon hands… barrier-type seals would become meaningless, indeed.

So that’s where their secretive nature comes from. They wouldn’t reveal secrets even to the crown prince. It wasn’t just paranoia that ambitious power-seekers might ally with demons, and so on.

Superhuman power and long lifespans. Being able to approach demons… would be attractive to those seeking domination or immortality.

“What about the Sealing Shrine Maiden?”

“This is a tradition that has continued since the time of Beriondora… but while the ritual procedures remain, their original meaning isn’t clear.”

“Perhaps due to battles with demons and disturbances like what Zadias caused in the past causing them to be lost…”

“It might also be because too much time has passed… but yes, that’s about right.”

Old Sigmund said this to me with a somewhat awkward expression.

Hmm. Verdugal had similar things happen in its past too. Claudia being bound to the labyrinth is one example, and a previous Verdugal king turning the mines into a labyrinth is another.

Claudia had a distant look in her eyes. She might have been remembering old times.

“Anyway, the most magically talented daughter from our seven families is chosen to inherit the title. After undergoing the ritual, she becomes a shrine maiden protecting the four directions… or so it’s said. The seal… probably refers to the ancient demons pacified by the royal family. It really makes you think… our connection with them runs deep.”

“We must select the Sealing Shrine Maiden and complete the ritual soon. Before the next full moon night…”

“The young ladies of the Wilcloud family have often become the shrine maiden through the generations…. Patricia was such a brilliant magician.”

When one person said this, the elders nodded… and the atmosphere suddenly relaxed as they continued talking about my mother.

“…But aside from her magical talent, she was a gentle, good-natured girl.”

“That’s right. Though I had my doubts about the strange magic tools she sometimes made.”

“She was using the crystal paperweight in my study as reference for those. She was quite fond of it.”

“Ah… that skull-shaped one?”

“Yes.”

Well, this is probably just normal conversation about my mother.

…Hmm. It must be similar to the staff Auria had. Now I know where it originated from, but I’ll refrain from probing deeper.

“Now then. You said something quite concerning earlier.”

“Ah, about defeating the demon?”

“Yes. Including that, I’d like to hear your story. What have you been doing?”

“Understood.”

Well now… where should I begin? It’s difficult for me to explain everything from start to finish. I don’t understand the cause of my memories of past life myself, so I can’t explain it.

That said, I plan to tell them to some extent. I should explain the current situation first.

“First, about the present. I serve as the Otherworld Ambassador in the Kingdom of Verdugal, a position directly under His Majesty Melvin, working on labyrinth-related matters…. I have obligations and things I must do, so regardless of future exchanges, I want to make it clear that I will definitely return to Verdugal.”

If I mentioned being able to use magical power circulation before explaining this, it would likely become complicated. I should make my stance clear first. I’ve already shown King Eberhart my magical power circulation, so hiding it here would be meaningless.

“…Hmm. If you were a free person, we’d want you to remain with the Wilcloud family. But well, we’re in your debt for your help. We’d like to accommodate your wishes.”

Old Sigmund said.

“Thank you. Now then… about when I went to Termwills. The matter is already resolved, but there was a period when I didn’t get along well with my stepmother and her son. So… I learned magic through self-study and used being able to use chantless magic as leverage to negotiate with my father.”

Well, I’ll avoid mentioning the content of my self-study.

“Chantless. Indeed, immature magicians occasionally have magical outbursts due to emotions…”

Valentina nodded.

“That’s right. I used that as my reason. I said I wanted to learn more magic and attend Peresford Academy, so I went to Termwills.”

I met Ashley along the way, there was the Cardiff kidnapping incident where I met Sheila… lots of things happened. I’ll explain the circumstances from the kidnapping incident up to when I fought Linette in some detail.

“—And so when the overeager police stormed the Cardiff mansion, the demon who had infiltrated was exposed. This was probably my first battle with a demon.”

“First, you say?”

“No… I’ve had several battles with demon groups since then.”

“Why you? Well, considering Patricia, I can understand the sentiment somewhat…”

Old Sigmund furrowed his brow.

“Because I can fight demons. I can use magical power circulation.”

“…What!?”

After a few moments, almost everyone from the academy present, starting with the elders, either widened their eyes or rose from their seats.

“I-is that true!?”

“Yes. Let me show you.”

As I circulated and heightened my magical power, the elders’ faces lit up with joy.

“O-oh…! This is…!”

“Our goal has been achieved too…!”

“…And using this circulation, the new flight technique, the Moon Goddess’s Blessing, and the magic my mother left me, I’ve defeated demons several times with everyone.”

“…I no longer know where to begin asking questions.”

Old Sigmund gave a wry smile while touching his forehead.

“To think magical power circulation would revive away from our hands. How ironic.”

“Theodore-kun. Are you… returning to Verdugal?”

“As I said earlier. I have obligations to everyone and work that I started myself. As for magical power circulation… well, I might be able to cooperate in some ways.”

“…I see. Well, that makes sense.”

At my response, one of the elders looked somewhat dejected.

“But you said ‘regardless of exchanges,’ right? We don’t know Theodore-kun’s situation or Verdugal’s situation. We should proceed calmly so everyone can be satisfied, don’t you think?”

When Valentina said this to the elders, Sigmund nodded.

“The problems have piled up because we’ve been asleep until now… but since we made Patricia bear a difficult role, we can’t make unreasonable demands of her memento. But, yes indeed. The demons appearing in Verdugal seem deeply connected to Beriondora too, so it might be good to approach His Majesty about offering technical cooperation with Theodore and Verdugal.”

“I see.”

“That’s certainly true.”

The elders nodded as if convinced.

Technical cooperation? Well, that would probably be classified as something that can be shared rather than secret arts, but would that include airships and the creation methods of those golems? Are those part of the Sages’ Academy’s technology too?