Chapter 643: Black Magic, White Magic, and Gray Sorcery - 2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 643: Black Magic, White Magic, and Gray Sorcery - 2
The Celsius prison was as surreal as a castle of ice. Dozens of statues—people frozen solid—were trapped motionlessly inside a cage of icicle bars. In truth, the bars were merely for show; the ice encasing their entire bodies was their true prison.
“It’s not that I don’t understand you,” Temperus began. “Those with superior intellect are prone to arrogance. Mages who seek deeper knowledge often dabble in black magic, believing they can control it.”
He was saying something, but there was something far more important right now. I quickly counted the number of ice statues.
There were twenty in total, a few less than the number I had taught. He must not have checked the entire Celsius territory. Most of the twenty were outcasts. The military academy had taught plenty of standard magic, but I wondered if they hadn't been able to arrest those people, or if they simply hadn't bothered.
“However, such arrogance leads only to ruin for yourself and those around you. Frankly, I don’t care if you destroy yourself, but I refuse to let the curse of black magic fall upon this land because of your ‘experiments’.”
Five guards surrounded me, all of them practitioners of Qi Arts. As expected of mercenaries from the great magical house of Celsius, they were all trained in Qi. Their proficiency wasn't high, as Qi Arts weren't highly regarded in this society, but they were professionals when it came to applying it. They had more experience with thuggery than anyone.
And the mages? There were a few guard mages, but they were similarly unremarkable.
Temperus, however, was exceptional.
“It would be better to eliminate such impurities, but I have a message from Lady Elisha… and more importantly, your achievements are noteworthy. Teaching and enlightening the ignorant is no easy task. The Celsius family has judged your abilities to be useful.”
Temperus himself was a considerable mage, but what was more noteworthy were the magical facilities of the Celsius territory. As an enforcer, he had the authority to use them.
A mage's power is proportional to their preparation. Right now, Temperus had the power of the Celsius family behind him.
My calculations were complete. I slowly opened my mouth.
“So, in the end, you're just telling me to keep doing what I've been doing? Did you bring me all the way here just to say that?”
“Of course not. The family requires two things of you. First, you will join the House of Celsius and teach magic to the students. Second, you will immediately cease teaching black magic and deal with the aftermath.”
“The aftermath?”
“Erasing the black magic you have sown in this land.”
He meant to find and kill them all. A rather troublesome and meaningless task. I asked again.
“Right now?”
“No. We cannot cause a disturbance during the important period of the Advent. You are to quietly identify the locations of the black mages, and we will eliminate them all after the Advent is over.”
“Seems to me you've already caused plenty of a disturbance.”
Aren't there already over twenty missing people in the territory? I said, gesturing toward the inside of the prison, but Temperus just scoffed.
“Them? They are outcasts. People who live like parasites in the empty lands between territories. If a bear mauled them or they fell through the ice and died, no one would ever know. I doubt anyone is even looking for them.”
“Hm. Is that really so?”
“Is there a problem?”
“No, it's just…”
It didn't seem like they had no one at all looking for them. Shrugging, I crossed my arms and said.
“It's just, there's one thing I don't understand.”
“I believe my explanation was sufficiently concise. What part do you not understand?”
“The reason I teach standard magic is because without it, those dunces would never even be able to touch upon the great mysteries of magic. It's a single ray of mercy for the fools who would otherwise live their entire lives as the ignorant. That is what standard magic is.”
Temperus didn't know much about standard magic, and he knew even less about mercy. His expression twisted, not understanding a word I'd said.
“I don't quite understand. You call black magic mercy? Are you sane?”
“If you try to describe the ocean to someone who has lived their entire life inland, they can only imagine a very large lake. It's the same principle. No matter how much you explain the greatness and ecstasy of magic, how could the ignorant possibly understand? I taught them standard magic to show even a speck of that sweetness to those who would otherwise live their lives excluded from magic, unintentionally incomplete.”
My actions in the Celsius territory had been simple.
If I could teach them white magic, I did. For those who couldn't learn it, I taught standard magic. In the end, everyone I taught became able to use magic.
That was my principle of action. What I wanted. No, I suppose it's what they wanted.
“Wh-what… what nonsense is this?! Black magic?! You spread that foul magic, which requires sacrificing one's own body, for such a reason?”
“You know as well as I do how much of a blessing magic can be.”
“Even so! Abusing black magic causes the body to rot from the extremities!”
“It's the same for them now, isn't it?”
The Celsius territory was better off, at least. Thanks to the abnormal freezing point, a little application of water magic could provide clean water and warmth. Because of this, they could even manage some small-scale farming in the Celsius territory.
However, such blessings did not reach the outcast zones.
The northern part of the continent, devoid of magic, is still cold. They melt ice and snow to drink, huddling together in shabby tents to endure the cold. They live a primitive life, clutching discarded magical tools from the Celsius territory as if for charity.
“In the outcast zones, it's common to see people who have lost hands or feet to frostbite. If a wound gets infected, the only treatment is to cut it off before it rots. What's so special about black magic? For them, every moment is black magic. If their limbs are going to rot and fall off anyway, wouldn't it be less unfair to tear them off by their own will?”
Temperus seemed deeply shocked by my words. After a long silence, he pressed a hand to his forehead and spoke.
“…Hah. I thought you'd merely dabbled out of curiosity, but this is a severe case. Are you saying you won't bend your will?”
“You're the one being stubborn. Everything is 'black magic, black magic.' A parrot would be a better conversationalist than you.”
“This won't do. You are ideologically dangerous. I was ordered to recruit you if possible, but…”
Shk. Temperus aimed his staff, and the temperature around me began to drop. Before I knew it, dozens of blades made of transparent ice were floating in the air, all pointed at me.
“It seems it would be better to dispose of you here. I am an enforcer of the House of Celsius. I will erase black magic from this territory. Along with you.”
“Are you sure about that? I thought you didn't want to cause a scene.”
“Don't be so smug. Aren't you just a wanderer kicked out of the Floating Castle? No one will know if I deal with you here. Just like these outcasts.”
Ice had already crept up to my ankles. I couldn't even move my feet. A situation of certain death.
However, Temperus's assumption was wrong.
“Is that really so? It's about time for them to arrive.”
“…You keep saying that. What is 'it'?”
“The outcast zone may be an abandoned land, but not everyone has abandoned it. If a child who visits every day suddenly doesn't show up, wouldn't someone naturally come looking for them?”
“Who would that be?”
I didn't need to answer. That person had already arrived.
The power is sufficient. The will is full. All that was lacking was a catalyst.
“In the name of the Sky God and the Saintess, I declare. The primordial dust cloud settled over seven days and nights, and the earth and sky were divided. All I require is time, for the wicked shall wither in its passage.”
The one who had protected the faith and the weak for long ages completed the holy chant. Resembling a mage's, yet entirely different, the baptismal incantation that recreated miracles by reciting a passage from the scriptures echoed through the air.
“Anoint the head of the young lamb with time.”
Magic is a technique that binds phenomena with the chains of mana and pulls them into reality. Because it is unnatural, if left alone, it will eventually dissipate. All that is needed is time.
Gospel, the Anointing of Time.
The ice melted and vanished. The mana scattered and faded. Scattering glittering dust, the binding ice used to freeze humans melted away in the light of purification. Bright sunlight shone where the ice had melted.
There was only one person in the Celsius territory capable of wielding such holy power. Temperus called out his name.
“Father Casas…!”
Amidst the scattering light, Father Casas appeared, holding Richard in his arms. With a rosary in one hand and a glowing scripture floating in the air, he shouted in a solemn voice.
“Enforcer Temperus. Stop at once!”
“How dare a lackey from the Sanctum interfere in the affairs of the family!”
“I should be the one saying that! To drag a pitiful child into your disputes. Have you no common sense, no compassion?!”
A hero appears. For me, and for Richard, too.
The Sanctum was, in name and in reality, one of the most powerful forces on the continent. The reason people often forgot this fact was that despite possessing such power, they rarely showed it.
They did not rule a great nation, nor did they wield powerful authority. The Sanctum simply was. In the hearts of the people, in the churches, in the monasteries, and in the holy lands.
But the Sanctum did have power. Father Casas, holding his scripture and rosary, was proof of that.
Just as I was inwardly cheering for the arrival of an ally, Father Casas pointed at me and burst out in anger.
“The one who spread this evil knowledge is that mage, is it not?! To punish him is one thing, but to capture and try to kill innocents! How can you call yourself an adult?!”
…Guess he's not my ally after all?