Inheriting the Novel

Obedience (1)

We changed our appearances again right after escaping from the Atell Family's domain, shaking off the pursuers who had chased after us.

Once we changed our appearance, it became easy to avoid the attention of Holy Knights or soldiers chasing us.

'Polymorph really is a broken ability.'

It's such an enviable skill.

If the required plausibility had been easier, I would have added it to my abilities right away.

"It seems so much has happened while I've been confined..."

Michelle murmured in shock.

It was understandable.

Even just counting the major events, so much had happened while he was imprisoned.

"I never imagined Sir Clay would become one of the Seven Heroes. No, I should call you Count now."

"No, it's more comfortable if you just call me by my name."

"Heh, I see. Understood."

Michelle said that and glanced behind me.

Currently, two women were behind us, eyeing Michelle with some suspicion.

"Hello, I'm Michelle Atell. I've heard about both of you from Sir Clay."

"Ah, yes. My name is Kisea Varundark."

"... I'm Mersaya."

Both of them were rather shy around strangers, showing clear signs of discomfort with Michelle.

'That's a bit worrying.'

We'd be moving together for a while, and I wondered if we'd be able to work in sync at this rate...

"Clay, now that we've rescued the priest, are we heading straight to Ilishad?"

"Yeah, that's right."

I responded simply to Kisea's question.

Michelle looked at us, puzzled by this exchange.

"So, why do you want to go to Ilishad?"

"I plan to retrieve the remains of Saintess Grancesia, which are kept in Ilishad."

"The remains of the Saintess?!"

"Yes. Explaining why will take a bit..."

I briefly told Michelle the reasons we had to go to Ilishad, including what had happened so far and about the Divine Kingdom, Setram.

"I never thought Setram would be plotting something like that..."

As expected, Michelle was visibly shocked.

But he didn't try to argue.

"You're not doubting my words?"

"... When His Holiness took away the Saintess's remains, I thought something was off."

Given that such actions were forced without proper explanation, it was reasonable for the Atell Family to find it hard to accept.

But Michelle seemed to have another question and asked, looking puzzled.

"But didn't you tell me before that you received a revelation from God? Then why are you opposing Setram...?"

"I said I received a 'revelation from God,' but never once said it was from God Altair."

There was a time I said it was thanks to the blessings of Altair, but that was just the context for why I went to meet Michelle.

Michelle was a bit confused, but soon nodded.

"Since the Eye of Shimosha is still helping Sir Clay, I don't think you're lying. Besides, I've experienced some strange things myself."

"Strange things?"

"Something tried to interfere with my mind. It was... quite an unpleasant experience."

Michelle began to speak of what he had experienced.

A moment when something tried to dominate his mind—an unpleasant experience.

Hearing this, I immediately thought of the Inquisitors.

'So it doesn't even require special devices like the Inquisitors use?'

[He's a priest who borrows Altair's power to use holy power in the first place. If someone's holy power has been influenced by that guy's power, even without a device, interference should be possible.]

'That's quite a troublesome thought.'

In effect, that would mean every priest of Altair could be affected.

[But Michelle resisted, right? I guess without the device, it can't be fully forced. If the person's willpower is strong enough, they can hold out.]

Naturally, I fell into thought. There were so many concerning points.

'But holy power is the power of the gods, right?'

[Yeah.]

'Then how do you create holy power in your own body? If holy power is the god's power, shouldn't humans be unable to use it without divine help?'

[That's not it. Look at me.]

Grancesia continued in a serious tone.

[Holy power is potency received from the object of one's veneration. The more veneration a god receives, the stronger their power gets. That's the kind of race they are.]

'A race... So gods are ultimately living beings like us?'

[Frankly, the title 'god' is silly. They're the divine race... maybe that's more accurate. A race with properties extremely similar to beings we call gods.]

According to Grancesia, it was like this:

The divine race receive strength from those who worship them, and in exchange, grant holy power.

The more they're worshipped, the greater the power they can grant and the stronger the authority they gain and distribute.

[To acquire holy power, you must venerate. It doesn't matter who the object is. It could be something that you, yourself, imagine as transcendent, or even yourself.]

'So that's how holy power is formed in one's own body.'

[More precisely, it transforms.]

'What?'

[Holy power itself is magic power that has changed into a new property.]

That was an answer I hadn't expected.

[Magic power changes into many different forms for various reasons.]

Through special rituals, it becomes magic.

If dyed by intense desire, it becomes demonic energy.

Those who train for a long time can create ki.

[Holy power is one of those branches. It's a product created when magic power responds to human veneration and hope. That's what holy power is.]

I never expected to learn the true nature of holy power at a time like this, or that Grancesia would know such details.

'But doesn't that mean you're denying the mythology of this world?'

The myth that God Altair appeared and created the world, and that humankind gained holy power through divine providence.

Grancesia gave a soft chuckle at my thought.

[That's why I don't consider those guys gods. Beings who survive by extorting holy power from humans' worship—that's not a god in my eyes.]

For the first time, I felt the anger in Grancesia's voice.

[A god who creates humankind? Nonsense. It's the opposite. They were born in response to human veneration...]

According to Grancesia,

The divine race, like fae born out of the magic power of nature, were beings created as a response to human prayer and the holy power it generated.

'Then why are you only telling me this now?'

It's important information—I would have appreciated being told sooner.

[You never asked.]

'...'

[Just kidding. Really, it's something not easily shared anyway. Even if you did know, what would change?]

'I suppose that's true.'

[I just thought you'd worry. If you ever opposed or defeated the gods, I thought you might be concerned about all holy power disappearing.]

That hit the nail on the head.

It was something I had quietly worried about.

If we were to bring down Setram, and if I were to defeat God Altair, would the world's holy power disappear?

Holy power was very precious and important to humanity.

'Alright. Either way, for now, we should head to Ilishad first.'

I turned back to Michelle, who was quietly waiting for me to finish.

"In any case, priest Michelle, we need your help to retrieve the Saintess's remains. I've heard there's a place in Ilishad most people can't reach."

"... I can't believe you even know about that. Yes, I've been there once, actually."

That was really reassuring.

"Of course, I don't know everything about it..."

Though it was a little disappointing that he left that margin.

* * *

Divine Kingdom Setram's capital, Ilishad.

I'd only glimpsed it from afar when riding on Mersaya's back before.

A fortress surrounded by pure white walls.

Given the sky-high walls guarded by countless Holy Knights, breaking through didn't seem possible.

Of course, that didn't matter to me.

'The Sword of Boundary really is the best.'

We used the power of the Sword of Boundary to walk right past the entrance guarded by Holy Knights and slipped away through an alley where no one would notice us.

From a dark alley, I looked up at the blue sky.

Majestic holy power filled all of Ilishad.

'It doesn't look like just one or two are here.'

Angels.

Without even asking Grancesia, I could tell just how many angels were present in Ilishad.

"Sir Clay, are we entering the corridor right away?"

"No, first I want to gather some information in Ilishad."

"Information?"

There were a few things I needed to check in Ilishad.

"Michelle and Kisea, please check how to get into 'that place'. Mersaya."

"Yes?"

"See if there are any dragons in Ilishad, or even traces of them."

"Dragons? Oh... yes, alright!"

Since Altair and the dragons were on the same side, it was possible some were supporting the Divine Kingdom.

Better to be careful.

"Let's meet back here at eight o'clock this evening."

With that, we split up.

Grancesia watched me not moving right away and looked a little puzzled.

[What about you? You don't have anything to do?]

'I do.'

[Like what? You gave all the tasks to them.]

'I need to check the Synopsis.'

[Oh!]

Previously, I hadn't checked what Synopsis existed in Ilishad because I'd only seen it from afar.

'Finally.'

I entered the most crowded tavern and took a seat. Ironically, places like this were the most convenient for checking the Synopsis at leisure.

Plus, I might be able to pick up other useful information here.

[Currently, there are three episodes available for viewing.]

When I checked the Synopsis, the now-familiar words appeared.

'Three!'

I'd expected it, but this confirmed Ilishad was a major location for episodes.

And the moment I saw the stories, I realized what Pilla Ganest said was right.

'It's true.'

Pilla Ganest had said this:

Setram itself was likely a calamity.

He was right.

The nation of Setram itself was a calamity.

Specifically, the sixth calamity.

The Calamity of Obedience was the Divine Kingdom, Setram.