Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: I Need to Upgrade the Shrine (1)
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A shrine dedicated to the gods is the most important place for a shaman.
It must always be tended with utmost sincerity, with a pure heart free of corrupt intentions.
But after giving the shrine a thorough cleaning, I couldn't contain my skyrocketing blood pressure.
Wa-gl wa-gl—
Murmur murmur—
"It's certain. This isn't a phenomenon caused by faulty magic."
"As expected!"
"Look here. You can see the runes on the surface of the edict are intact."
The spot where the viscount had stood.
A long fence had been erected around it.
Mages were lined up outside the fence.
No fewer than ten of them.
"This incident, too, is a phenomenon that cannot be explained by magic."
"Amazing."
"This place is full of such things."
Murmur murmur—
Mages were appearing out of nowhere, as if on some kind of holy pilgrimage.
All of them were prominent figures with substantial mana reserves.
"That must be the statue we've only heard about."
"They call it the general's. It only drinks undine's water."
"Let's investigate that this time."
Rumble—
"...."
I wanted to seriously chase them all out.
I'd hoped to rest a bit, but with the courtyard this crowded, what could I even do?
If it were just mages, it might be tolerable.
- ....
- ....
"Hey, Headless."
- ...?
"What are all these guys?"
Stray spirits were swarming everywhere.
The courtyard felt like a marketplace for stray spirits.
Stray spirits here, stray spirits there.
"And why are those ones like that? Knight-originated stray spirits?"
On one side, stray spirits were lined up with their heads bowed.
In front of them, the cemetery elders were squatting and waving their arms.
"Once a knight, always a knight, even in death? Something like that?"
Murmur murmur—
Swoosh—
It wasn't a joke—the number of spirits had grown so large that yin energy was thick around the shrine.
Places heavy with yin energy like this often saw strange occurrences.
Like perfectly sane people seeing things that weren't there.
This was exactly the vibe of a haunted abandoned house.
Suddenly, a fireball floated in the air.
"Whose mage was that touching my shoulder just now?"
"....?"
"Interrupting a mage during important research? No manners or professional courtesy?"
"Magic at such a crucial site? What if it damages the scene?"
It was a scene that naturally drew a sigh.
Was there ever such a mess?
I considered asking Old Man Closel to clear them all out, but...
The man himself was right in the middle of it, so that wasn't happening.
"Bring those friends who watered it last time."
"I'll contact the Magic Tower."
"I want to see how deep it goes. Squeeze it until not a drop comes out."
What did he mean squeeze a spirit mage like a rag?
According to Old Man, the title I was to receive was viscount.
A viscount, no less.
No fief was being granted, but it would probably be one of the northern villages from the battle.
Not that it mattered anymore.
"What are you doing in someone else's place of business?"
"Lord Chris! I have urgent news."
"What now?"
Alard's attire had become bizarre.
He'd ditched his proudly worn silver armor for shabby priestly robes.
To approach people more casually, perhaps?
"They plan to build a temple nearby for Luna's education."
"....?"
What had I just heard?
Building a temple next to a shaman's house?
"Absolutely not."
"...Pardon?"
"You trying to ruin my business?"
Already stressed, my blood boiled again.
A temple next to the shrine?
"Just try it. I'll burn the damn thing down."
"Lord Chris...?"
"So bright and holy, freezing everything."
If you hate the temple, leave the monk, or something like that?
I couldn't stand this marketplace anymore and turned toward the village.
I had business there anyway.
"Luna? Gonna give me the rattle now?"
Chuuup—
"Aww...?"
Luna was sucking on the rattle like it was candy.
Cute, but then a weird sound came.
Crunch—
Chuuup—
Crunched—
"....?"
A scratching sound.
"No way?"
I snatched the rattle from Luna, unwrapped her swaddle, and turned her forward.
"Awoo! Aw! Baw!"
I gently parted her tiny lips with my fingers and witnessed something astonishing.
"Teeth already?"
"I-Impossible! Luna has teeth...! I'll report to the Church immediately!"
"Kyarruk!"
Tiny teeth were sprouting from her little gums.
"...Growing fast because she's the saintess?"
"That child being carried is the saintess? Teeth already?"
"Is the saintess the issue now? This statue grows, you say. Babies are supposed to grow."
It seemed better for Luna's education to get out of here quickly.
"Luna, don't learn from people like that. They're weird."
"Kyarruk."
I rewrapped her and continued down the road.
It had been a while since I'd walked around home.
Serena had gone off to plant flowers, so it was a rare quiet time.
"Awoo!"
"We're going to get stuff for the shrine."
It was time to get proper items.
All we had now were cheap bowls, candles, one long sword used as a ritual platform, and the holy sword.
"Near the count's estate, he said..."
I'd asked Old Man Closel to introduce a skilled blacksmith for ceremonial vessels.
But the one he recommended was beyond expectations.
"Dwarven-made ritual items..."
Astor territory was famous for magic.
Dwarves brought for artifact crafting, apparently.
Friends with the old men, so excellent work was guaranteed.
"Bowls, candlesticks, suck..."
"Jaw!"
"No need for a ritual platform; we have a good one."
"Baw!"
"Rattle's the same."
She was just mimicking words she knew.
"Let's get some crackers for Luna too."
"Kka?"
As I walked leisurely, the bustling village came into view.
It had been ages here too.
"Might spread out a mat soon."
Coming from a yin-heavy place to one full of people felt warm.
Bright energies were flowing everywhere.
Thanks to the shrine blocking the cemetery's yin energy, it was a comfortable sight.
"Hey? Isn't that you!"
"Hm?"
"The fortune-teller from before? Haven't seen you lately."
The woodcutter uncle?
I'd read his fortune a couple times.
"There was a reason! Congratulations!"
"Pardon?"
"Becoming a dad is tough."
He patted my shoulder encouragingly.
Luna answered with a laugh.
"Ppa!"
"Smart kid. Jealous, so jealous. Wish I had a daughter."
"Um..."
"I only have sons."
"That's not—"
I'd been sensing it clearly for a while.
A strong intuition.
Not divination, but natural knowledge.
That the daughter he wanted was coming soon.
"Looks like a daughter found you, Uncle."
A dazed sound escaped him.
"Huh?"
"Go check. Feels like a girl."
His expression shifted rapidly.
Frowning, then relaxing, a smile bloomed.
"If you say so, I have to believe it! Gotta go check."
He stopped as he started to run.
"Wait, don't I need to give an offering fee?"
"No need."
It wasn't a reading or divine revelation.
Not something requiring a fee anyway.
Maybe because it was child-related.
"What luck. Hope we get a daughter like that too."
"Ours will come soon, right?"
A passing couple.
The innkeepers, I think.
But.
"...Huh?"
A faint presence in the auntie's belly.
Vigorous life force.
Strong temperament.
"A boy?"
"Hm?"
"Talking about me?"
It seemed very recent.
Early enough not to know yet.
"Know any priests?"
"Pardon?"
"Go see one quick. Feels like your son arrived...?"
"....Pardon?"
Their faces soon mirrored the woodcutter's.
Strange expressions turning to bright joy, as if they'd gained the world.
Smiles brighter than any priest's.
"Not the daughter you wanted, but a son. Strong energy; he'll grow sturdy."
"Gasp...!"
"Daughter or son, who cares!"
The ecstatic couple ran off somewhere.
Probably to verify if I was right.
"Wonder if there's a priest nearby."
Pregnancy signs would show soon, but a priest was the sure way beforehand.
"Amazing. How long since I got here, and already twice..."
I looked up and froze.
"....?"
A young woman passing by also had life in her belly.
Not just her.
In the crowd, I sensed it everywhere.
Clingy couples.
Working couples.
Smiling couples—all radiating life force.
"...What is this?"
Not everyone, but noticeably more than last time.
"...No way?"
There had to be a reason for this sudden occurrence.
And I wasn't the type to miss it.
"So that's why the divine presence feels heavy."
I spat blood before the words fully left my mouth.
The scene before me justified it.
"This world needs a grandmother most, huh..."
A continent half-devastated by war.
A world where countless lives had faded.
"Gotta set up a big Three Gods altar."
"Kyarruk!"