Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Proof Ritual (2)
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An evil Druid who practices impure sorcery.
A con artist who constantly lies about being a descendant of the ancient elves.
"Um, I think there might be some misunderstanding here..."
I couldn't hide my bewilderment as I looked at Blanche. Her long silver hair was neatly braided, and her glass-like blue eyes quietly met mine. Just gazing into those stern eyes made me feel guilty even though I hadn't done anything wrong.
"I've never practiced sorcery, nor have I ever claimed to be a descendant of the ancient elves."
"......"
To begin with, it was Darión who went around saying I was a descendant of the ancient elves! Darión!
Blanche ignored my words and continued with her own.
"Tonight, at the hour when the moon rises highest, the 'Proof Ritual' will take place."
"Proof Ritual?"
"If you have ever practiced sorcery, it would be wise to confess it now. The 'Proof Ritual' is a painful ordeal."
No, I haven't practiced sorcery.
Is it okay to slander someone like this?
Just because you're elves?
"Who's the informant?"
"......?"
"I'm not walking around with a sign on my forehead saying I'm an evil Druid who practices impure sorcery and a con artist who lies about being a descendant of the ancient elves, so there must be an informant."
"......Hmm."
"Is this a trustworthy source?"
"Of course. They serve Lüset with utmost loyalty."
"And if they're not?"
"What do you mean?"
"If I've never practiced impure sorcery and never gone around lying about being a descendant of the ancient elves..."
"......"
"Then wouldn't someone who claims to serve Lüset with utmost loyalty be spouting 'lies'?"
Blanche's handsome face twisted. I pressed on without concern.
"If I pass this 'Proof Ritual' unscathed, promise to punish that person."
"......"
"Because what they offered Lüset wasn't loyalty."
Blanche glared at me sharply, then swirled her silver cloak and stormed out.
Ah, this pisses me off. As I paced the room, my head feeling like it might explode the more I thought about it, someone knocked again. Why knock when I can't even open the door myself? Everything was starting to irritate me. I glared at the door in a slouched posture.
"Theodor!"
The one who opened the door and entered was none other than Darión—the only elf in Lüset who might be friendly toward me, Darión Silvanus.
"......Darión."
"You look worn out already."
......Is this a jab? Anyone could see my face hadn't changed.
Darión pulled out a small box and placed it on the table. The box must have had spatial magic on it, as it poured out far more food than it appeared to hold.
"Eat something first."
"I don't have an appetite."
"I heard you're undergoing the 'Proof Ritual.' It's an infamous trial. You should fill your stomach beforehand."
......An infamous trial? Even an elf of Darión's caliber seemed worried, so it wasn't just bravado. I let out a deep sigh and picked up a fist-sized white bread.
Since he's here, I should pry some information out of him.
"By the way, what exactly is this 'Proof Ritual'..."
"Ah, this is your first time in Lüset, so you need an explanation. The 'Proof Ritual' is..."
What followed was Darión's long, drawn-out lecture.
The Proof Ritual was a ceremony to prove the purity of one's mind and body using holy water drawn from the 'Lake of Life' in the continent's heart.
The subject undergoes three trials in total.
The first: washing one's hands in the holy water.
The second: drinking the holy water.
The third: immersing one's body in the holy water.
Usually, the first and second trials reveal any 'corruption' in the subject.
Anyone who has ever used sorcery or black magic even once, or consorted with demons, cannot endure it.
"If you're pure, your mind and body will only become clearer and more cleansed. Some even gain enlightenment through the 'Proof Ritual.'"
"......And the corrupted?"
"They suffer excruciating pain. The holy water from the Lake of Life has purifying power. They might endure the first trial, but most fail the second. The holy water burns away impure mana. Depending on the subject, they might lose a finger, an arm, or even half their body."
"......They could vanish completely?"
"Haha. It rarely goes that far. But those overly reliant on sorcery or black magic might die."
"......"
"But little brother, you're not one of those, are you? Don't worry. Your innocence will soon be proven."
"Uh...... yeah."
Damn. Even though I haven't done anything wrong, hearing I could burn up made me feel uneasy as hell.
'Ah, this isn't the time.'
Since Darión's here, I should clarify the 'ancient elf descendant impersonation incident' once and for all.
"Darión, I need your help."
"Anything. Isn't that why I'm here?"
"Testify for me."
"Testify?"
"Yeah. Think about it. I've never once claimed with my own mouth to be an ancient elf descendant, right?"
"Well...... that's true."
"I've never impersonated being a descendant of the ancient elves, not even once. I swear on Rinshaka's name."
For a Druid to swear on Rinshaka's name is a grave vow, done only with firm resolve. Fortunately, Darión nodded.
"I'll vouch for that."
Damn, who knew claiming to be an ancient elf descendant would come back to bite me like this? What a hassle...
'Someone must have overheard those stories at Katarina's banquet.'
The problem is I don't know who. It could be the elves with Darión, or non-elves entirely. Excluding the dwarves, anyone at that banquet could be a suspect.
'They said a "trustworthy person," so probably an elf.'
For now, the most suspicious is the elf priest who was with Darión.
A priest would have connections to the Elder Council.
'Even if they're not from the home country, the idea of an elf priest being a Crow is shocking.'
I let out a deep sigh and started eating something mango-like from the box Darión brought. Huh, it looks exactly like a mango but tastes like green grapes?
Anyway, eating something made me feel a bit better. I shared pieces of the green grape-tasting mango with Ppippi.
-Ppiii!
In the meantime, Darión prepared to leave. He said I could return the box later and that he'd put one of his favorite books at the bottom for me to read if I got bored. He might be the one who dragged me into this mess, but his thoughtfulness softened me a bit.
"It might drag on longer than expected, so take care of my companions."
"Don't worry. Your servants are resting comfortably at my estate."
At least that's a relief. Darión bid me to take care and left the solitary room. I ate the food he left while pulling out the book he'd placed in the box and reading it. It was in Elvish, but with my [Interpreter] trait, it was no trouble at all.
Nothing special. It seemed aimed at young elves: one book adapting elven myths into simple fairy tales, one explaining Lüset's regions, and a recent issue of what looked like a newspaper. Books or papers, most contained knowledge I already knew from the game.
'Wait, this...'
Except for one thing.
-The decline in new elf births began about five hundred years ago. We are already a prosperous race, blessed with lifespans incomparable to other species, so it wasn't a major issue at first. But over the past century, with no new elves being born, it has become a grave problem for elven society...
I closely examined a short article. No new elves born for a century?
Isn't this a huge problem?
'Maybe this is connected to the Origin God quest...'
Suspecting everything ties to the Origin God quest is exhausting, but better than missing a clue. I reread the article a few times, then carefully cut it out and tucked it into my pocket.
No new elves being born. That's why Darión, relatively 'young' among elves, was so thrilled calling me little brother and such. Now it makes sense.
I hadn't planned to stay in Lüset long, but I might end up staying longer than expected.
'For now, the priority is to get through this Proof Ritual quickly.'
Passing it properly would turn everything around. Proving my innocence would grant freedom, and I'd be able to track down and deal with the one behind this bullshit.
Time flew by, and soon it was midnight.
"Follow me."
The elf soldier guarding my solitary room opened the door. I quietly followed him. The room he led me to had a small portal, beyond which an unfamiliar landscape and a high moon were visible. Stepping through brought dizziness and nausea. When I opened my eyes, I was in that landscape I'd seen from outside the portal.
Before me stood a massive ancient tree. Its trunk was deeply hollowed, like a boat, filled with water that glowed faintly in the moonlight and overflowed downward. It looked like a spring bubbling from the tree itself. I could sense the purifying power emanating from it.
"The first trial."
As Darión had said, a small wooden bowl of 'holy water' was prepared before me. I washed my hands without hesitation. Nothing happened.
"The second trial."
Now to drink the 'holy water.' Most fail here. I downed the contents of the crystal cup in one go. Naturally, nothing happened.
'The purifying power is strong. Actually feels good?'
While I admired the taste, preparations for the third trial finished. Blanche, with a cold face, spoke to me.
"The third trial."
Fine, let's do this.