Chapter 236: It’s A Ghost! (2)


    “Eek!! It’s a ghost, Brother!!!”


    Helena reflexively drew her mace, generously imbuing it with divine power.


    Why does she always grab her weapon first when she’s scared?


    Of course, ra’s residual thoughts were confined within the medallion, and the current translucent form was merely an image projected by light.


    It wouldn’t hurt even if she got hit by the mace, but… no matter how you look at it, if a mace is flying toward you, anyone would instinctively flinch.


    -Wh-what is this?!


    <em>Buzzz!</em>


    The medallion vibrated, and the stored divine power formed a familiar barrier.


    Though Helena came to her senses mid-swing and altered the mace’s trajectory, ra had already set up a solid barrier, resulting in a slight collision at the edge.


    <em>Bang!</em>


    …Calling it a slight collision might be an understatement, given the noise it made.


    Wait. Noise?


    Everyone, including myself, Helena, and ra, looked startled as we turned our attention to the barrier.


    “Did ra just do that?”


    -Oh, yes. Probably…?


    “What do you mean, probably?”


    Shaking her head, ra carefully ced her hand on the barrier she had created.


    The surface was soft but hardened instantly when pressure was applied. It felt as though it was imbued with a resolute will to prevent anything from entering.


    It’s certain. This is a tangible form of divine magic.


    “Wow. This is possible.”


    As I marveled at the barrier, others approached one by one to touch it.


    “Hm. This is fascinating. Priests say they use divine power through faith, but isn’t that also a form of will?”


    “Yes. But residual thoughts shouldn’t retain such a strong will. Just like how you can’t exert great force while floating, fragmented consciousness without a body shouldn’t have much power.”


    “Elisha is right. However, there’s one thing you might be overlooking. Although I’ve never spoken to her directly, I have observed Saintess ra’s battles from afar. She was incredible. Given how exceptional she was in life, it’s not surprising she can still do this.”


    “Well, I agree ra was remarkable. A seasoned saint isparable to a grand magician or sword master, after all. But even considering that, there should be limits to the power a residual thought can wield.”


    “…I’m not a magician, so I don’t know much about this, but I do know one thing. Divine power isn’t used; it’s borrowed. It’s true that the stronger your faith, the more the God of Righteous Radiance responds. However, if the Lord responds, even a residual thought like ra can wield enough power.”


    “Haha… Helena, you’re right, but don’t forget what the God of Righteous Radiance said earlier. Since the power of the God of Cyclic Life is involved, it seems like a moreplex reason.”


    The women, filling in their curiosity, stepped back as Helena and Gilbert provided additional exnations.


    Even ra herself seemed mystified by how this was possible.


    …Am I the only one concerned that Helena almost hit the former saint?


    The previous saint was unsure of her God’s whereabouts, and the current saint nearly swung a mace at her predecessor. What a harmonious order.


    Is this… normal?


    Amidst the collective intellect and ra’s serious nodding eptance, I sighed deeply and interrupted.


    “Let’s stop here for now. It seems to me that everyone’s arguments are valid. Until the first drop of the World Tree’s dew was sprinkled, there was only slight trembling. The exact principle is unknown, but it changed after the dew was sprinkled, so it’s likely the influence of the God of Cyclic Life. And, of course, ra can handle divine magic so well because she’s exceptional.”


    Everyone nodded in agreement as they looked at each other.


    “Right. As Yandel suggested, let’s discuss this moreter… Shall we head back?”


    When Iona waved her arm lightly, arge magic circle appeared beneath our feet.


    As we waited for the magic toplete, ra raised her hand slightly and spoke.


    -Oh, I’ll take my leave now. It’s a bit tiring…


    With that, ra’s form faded away. However, she hadn’t disappeared somewhere; she had simply stopped the projection.


    Her essence remained in the medallion, softly glowing.


    This would make a perfect mood light.


    Lost in that indulgent thought for a moment, I met Helena’s pleading gaze, her hands sped in front of her chest.


    She looked like a cat waiting for its meal, so I smiled slightly and handed over the medallion.


    Of course, I didn’t forget to check the status window first.


    <em>Ding!</em>


    【Roaring Lion Medallion+】


    Arge medallion carved in the shape of a roaring lion.


    Though it has lost its original radiance after being neglected for a long time, some qualities remain.


    A warm touch that reassures the holder. And whose trace is this faint bloodstain?


    Remember.


    In the most desperate moments, people cling to something.


    …Even if it’s a prayer that won’t reach.


    Also, remember this.


    Salvationes to those who believe.


    -Divine power rechargeable (Current Charge 12%).


    -Automatically consumes charged divine power to heal the wearer if health drops below 5%.


    -Divine power efficiency increased by 20%.


    -All divine magic receives a 20% positive modifier.


    -Once per day, can release all charged divine power at once to cause a divine explosion.


    -Can borrow the power of the memories contained in the medallion for a short time.


    A slightly extended description, with a doubled efficiency increase option and a new divine magic enhancement option.


    And most notably, the ominous final option to borrow the power of memories.


    Quite a lot of enhancements for just adding a plus sign.


    The weapon had gone from being useful in the early to mid-game to being effective even in theter stages.


    More importantly.


    “Even if ra doesn’t appear like she did just now, you can still talk to her. She said she’d teach you various things as a senior saintess, so learn well.”


    “…I will. This is a connection that Brother has provided, so I will cherish it. And I will strive to be of more help to your great work, Brother.”


    Helena said this with a resolute expression, then leaned her head slightly towards me.


    Does she want me to put it on her instead of just handing it over? Sure, why not?


    I pulled Helena into a hug-like position, reaching around her neck to ce the medallion on her.


    The medallion blinked as if questioning what this was about… well, Helena will exin it well from here.


    I tapped the lion’s nose engraved on the medallion and let go.


    Helena, who had lowered her eyes with a gentle smile, suddenly looked startled, her face turning bright red as she began to stammer towards the medallion.


    I didn’t know what conversation they were having, but watching Helena’s changing expressions was amusing for a moment.


    Meanwhile, Iona’s magic waspleted.


    “Then, let’s depart!”


    <em>Whoosh!</em>


    A dark red sh filled my vision. When I opened my eyes again, the open space where we had first started greeted us instead of the desert.


    We had leaped back that great distance in just a few minutes. Magic is truly amazing.


    However, Iona seemed exhausted, staggering from the excessive mana consumption.


    “Are you alright, Professor?”


    “Ugh… maybe if I drink some of Yandel’s blood…”


    Iona had been recovering intermittently through blood drinking, meaning she had fought without holding back on mana use.


    Teleportation was usually a tactical magicpleted by multiple magicians working together.


    As I was about to lower my cor, thinking it was time for a drink, Iona clung to me quickly, whining like a child.


    Not needing a potion in the bright sunlight, I asked Iris, who was shaking the sand off her clothes.


    “Iris, Iris.”


    “Hmm? What is it, Master?”


    “Can’t you do teleportation like that?”


    “I can.”


    “Oh! Then next time, let’s take turns teleporting.”


    “…But it takes about 30 minutes to prepare.”


    “…Iona took 3 minutes.”


    “That’s because Iona is weird.”


    Puffing her cheeks, Iris shook her head firmly. She’s not wrong.


    Even in H&A, teleportation was something you could only use freely as a grand magician.


    As I nodded in understanding, Iona, who had been listening, slyly pulled out her fangs.


    “You know, you know. Actually, I just poured more mana into it to shorten the time! Mana recovers quickly as long as I drink blood anyway!”


    “Ah.”


    Direct bloodsucking was the most efficient, but even a blood pack was more effective than a mana potion for vampires.


    Iris, with her risk-averse, methodical magician mindset, gaped at this.


    Then, trembling, she started saying something strange.


    “If I could suck Master’s mana, I might be able to do it too!”


    She said, lifting one of my fingers roughly into her mouth.


    Due to the ve mark, she couldn’t bite hard enough to draw blood and just started sucking on my finger.


    I just yed with Iris’s tongue inside her mouth for a moment.


    Helena, who had been talking with Gilbert, approached us.


    “Then, we’ll head to the Pope now.”


    “Ah, right. There’s a lot to report.”


    “Indeed. Would you like toe with us, Brother? You can rest if you’re tired. All the important information is here anyway.”


    Helena shook the medallion around her neck with a soft smile.


    Right. With ra there, and the God of Righteous Radiance summoned if needed, there’s no need for many of us to go.


    “Then I’ll take the opportunity to rest. Let me know if you need anything.”


    “Yes. See you at dinner.”


    “Sounds good.”


    I briefly greeted Helena and then returned to the VIP room with Iris and Iona hanging on me.


    Having traveled far, it was time to give Faye a souvenir.


    Looking at the various chimera corpses in my inventory, a satisfied smile spread across my face.


    …Actually, I’m looking forward to seeing Faye jumping around joyfully upon receiving them.