Chapter 710 – Kuon’s New Powers and Preparations for the Chase

000

“So. “Is that proof that you have your feelings for Cleon engraved on your entire body?”

When Kuon arrived at the temple early the next morning, saying she would only take a day off from her training, she found a bracelet on her wrist that had not been there before.

The problem is that no matter where you look, the bracelet looks like a regular rope tied together.

When you look at the rope tied to the wrist like that, without any other decorations, you get an uneasy feeling.

But Kuon nodded her head so brightly that the surface of her face sparkled.

＂Yes, should I say this is proof that Cleon and I truly gave up everything and shared love…?＂

When Tokoyo heard that it was Kuon’s love story being shamefully told with her hand on the back of her head, she couldn’t help but worry a little about whether she should be envious or wary.

“Heh, heh… I see. Cleon, you had devilish tendencies as expected…”

Thinking back to the way she had been mixing her body with her own instructions before, she had thought that if Kuon’s sexual desire ran rampant, not even Cleon would be able to stop it, but it seemed that that perception was half right and half wrong.

What is of concern is, of course, the clear rope marks that can be seen all over her body, which is somewhat exposed thanks to the shrine maiden uniform.

What on earth did she do with that rope yesterday? Even as she was thinking about the same thing, Tokoyo shook her head and decided to shake off the distracting thoughts for now.

“So, can we show the results of that special practice?”

＂Oh, yes!＂

For Tokoyo, it wouldn’t be a problem if Kuon could somehow show the power she showed before.

… She watched as Kuon slowly began to perform a sacred dance, thinking that when she went outside in her shrine maiden uniform, she should at least give her clothes to wear underneath.

Close her eyes and gently lift her arms so that they are level with her shoulders.

As if wrapping something around her, she uses her arms to create a ring shape that seems to be cut off in the middle.

The magic flowing through her body flows from her left heart, flows down her left arm, and finds its way into her right hand, even though the tip of her hand is broken. 〈 Br〉

Then, through her right arm, the magic flows back to her shoulder and circulates towards Kuon’s body.

However, in the middle of the ring – the gap between the hands – the magic power that did not permeate into the right hand remains, and naturally a lump of Kuon’s magic power is formed outside the body.

The mass was like a lighthouse for the natural spirits that existed around it, and when they saw its magical power, it made them come closer to the shaman who was performing the sacred dance.

And through that mass, the people gathered at the shrine maiden enter the ring on her arm created by the shrine maiden.

The ring made of the shaman’s body and magic becomes a space for the natural spirits that come inside.

When the voice of the nature spirit is transmitted to the shaman who serves her, the boundary between the two souls gradually disappears, and the shaman enters a kind of trance state that occurs when she accepts the spirit of the nature spirit.

After that, even if her ring is released, her shaman will stick to the shaman’s body and not fall off, and by borrowing the power of her shaman, she will be able to use spells that are much more powerful than the power she possesses on her own.

That is the basic principle of ‘Shinmu’ for shamans to bring God to their bodies.

However, the most difficult part of this process would be the first part of creating a ring with magical power and summoning the natural spirit.

If sincere prayer, high-quality magical power, and the shaman’s own natural spirit are not compatible, the natural spirit will not appear even if you dance in a ring for an hour or two.

In addition, there are natural spirits that refuse to come down for ridiculous reasons, such as the dancing’s footwork and tempo, or the height of her arms being low.

There is even a theory that there is a reason why the arm muscles of shamans are stronger than expected, and perfect shinmu is one of the difficult spells.

In the opinion of Tokoyo, who has been practicing Shinmu for over 10 years, Kuon’s Shinmu is still a bit clumsy, but considering the growth in less than a month, it was surprising.

＇But what I want to see is the strong sensitivity that Kuon showed when she was not dancing her sacred dance, so strong that it revealed the definite form of her age… ＜

While Tokoyo thought so, while quietly watching Kuon’s divine dance, Kuon released her arm that formed the ring of her magic, even though her age had not yet come down. 〉

Naturally, the magic ring disappears and Kuon’s body becomes incomplete as a vessel to contain the spirit of nature.

However, Cuon does not move her body, and as she continues her sacred dance, she recalls the memories of Cleon that are engraved deep in her heart.

All the things she shared with Cleon through the weight of the rope bracelet tied to her wrist.

His touch, his body temperature, his voice, and the promise from last night when I firmly swore to accept it all.

At the same time as his happy mood, even all the pain he received becomes material that imprints his existence more clearly.

It was normal for Kuon’s body temperature to rise and his breathing to slow down due to the movements of his body, but now he was very calm, and his heart wasn’t even beating faster.

His heart is like a fire that burns hot and intense.

The body that embodies the divine dance is like the flowing wind.

The spirit is like a firm ground that cannot be shaken.

Circulating magic power is like water flowing through a river.

Self as a part of nature – and Kuon as a part of nature.

All that exists within it is the love to protect the one you love and the pure determination to become stronger.

This was the moment when Kuon’s sacred dance came to an end, along with a vow that this feeling would never change.

[Yes, that is enough.]

The voice that reached Kuon’s ears was a voice he had heard before.

Or should I say the voice, or the will itself, is a sensation flowing through the head, not the ears.

Normally, when telepathy that has nothing to do with your intention forcibly enters your head, you are bound to feel a strong sense of rejection.

Strangely, this voice was one that warmly embraced me without any resistance.

That voice, like a gentle breeze, was the voice of a nature spirit heard more clearly than in the past, when he had exerted all his strength to protect Cleon.

It sounded like the voice of a playful and bright boy, and also like the voice of a kind and compassionate mother.

At that time, she remembered calling the being by its name – but it was only one of the many names he or she had.

It is called a sacred tree by some, an incarnation of the spirit of nature by others, and a tree of life by others.

[Another Great Priestess, Kuon, your fate has awakened me, your determination has called me, and your heart is allowing you to hear my voice.]

＂This is…! That’s it, Kuon!”

Tokoyo’s surprised and excited voice was heard.

In her eyes, she saw a green light appear around Kuon’s body.

The flame, which was not as small as before but similar in size to Kuon’s body, seemed to have the shape of a human being.

Kuon did not question him or her about her age.

Just by hearing that voice, it felt like all my will was being conveyed to me.

[I wish. I am life. I am the earth and the sky. The touch of a star that is rooted in the ground and reaches up to the sky.]

The vitality felt from that natural spirit was similar to that felt from the fruit of life seen previously in the desert tomb.

[Please lend me your power to save this land. As my shaman… And as the companion of the magic swordsman who connects the stars.]

If the term ‘magic swordsman who connects the stars’ refers to Cleon, and if he can purify the ley line of this land – Asteris.

He had already made up his mind that he could do anything.

Therefore, without Kuon nodding her head, she stopped her dancing body, lowered her raised arms, and took her strength out of her body.

Then, the green lights that had gathered in front of her Kuon slowly gathered around her Kuon’s body and began to be absorbed into her body.

The center of it all was the rope she had wrapped around her wrist – an object imbued with a strong heart that was also a symbol of her determination.

“I’m accepting the natural spirit… Kuon, with this, you too have become a full-fledged great priestess.”

Tokoyo stood back a little as she watched the scene, because even Tokoyo could not easily imagine what Kuon would look like when he became completely one with her self for the first time.

And when the light surrounding Kuon’s entire body began to seep into her, her appearance looked quite different from before.

Would it be better to say that her body changed to accommodate her age?

Her blue eyes had changed to green and blue odd eyes.

The hair of the sidetail was made into a ball on one side – the tip of the tail was shining and fluttering in emerald color, like Lila when she used the incarnation magic.

Additionally, a pattern based on green that did not exist before appeared on her shrine maiden uniform that she was wearing.

What stands out most of all is the green silk-like thing that runs from her shoulders to her back.

Just like the winged clothes that fairies in folk tales wear, the powerful elemental magic of nature spirits can be felt in it, which floats in defiance of gravity.

By blinking her eyes two or three times, Kuon seemed to have come to her senses after the transformation, and as she looked down at her own body, she felt something strange about her.

Even though it must have looked different from before, it felt natural.

And suddenly, what caught my eye was a change in the rope wrapped around my wrist.

What was originally an ordinary brown rope had been changed into a solid bracelet full of mysterious patterns that seemed to have been made using jade.

“… How is it? Kuon, can you handle that power well?”

When Tokoyo, who had confirmed that her Kuon had completely merged with her self, asked, Kuon looked back at her and answered.

“Yes, naturally… An idea of ​​how to use it comes to mind. A method of using the excess magic accumulated in the sacred tree… This will definitely be able to purify the ley line!”

When Kuon holds Tokoyo’s hand in a confident voice.

Woe! And, as if fire were spreading, her magic flowed through Kuon’s body towards Tokoyo, and a change similar to Kuon’s occurred in Tokoyo’s body.

The tips of her hair are shining, the silk on her back is like a robe, and the color of her eyes is changing.

＂Eh!?＂

＂Wow…!＂

If Tokoyo was startled by something unexpected and fell away from Kuon, it would return to its original form within a few seconds.

＂…＂

Tokoyo and Kuon looked at each other in silence for a moment, then Kuon held Tokoyo’s hand once again…

The same change as before occurred, but when she took her hand away, it returned to its original state a few seconds later.

＂… I guess they’re great shamans of the same lineage, so if they stick together, their power seems to be contagious…”

“Yes. And if it falls, it returns to its original state. But with this, I will be able to respond to a ritual performed by two great shamans without any problems!”

＂The ceremony is quite long… How many hours do we have to hold hands…?＂

Tokoyo sighs as she remembers the fact that she has to be stuck like that for a long ritual just imagining it.

However, Kuon smiles and turns around, appearing to be in a good mood at the thought that he will be able to protect everyone and help Cleon with this.

“That’s it, now all that’s left is to adjust your power! Jo-ass! Because we can’t just borrow Kuon’s power!”

＂Yes!＂

With little time left until her upcoming celebration, Kuon, who had acquired her new powers, continued her training as a shrine maiden.

001

＂Fool.＂

When Lila, who had placed a small bottle of potion down in front of Cleon, turned her head with a blush on her face, Cleon drank the potion she gave him in one go with a tired expression on his face.

She never thought she would use the replica of the banquet she made for Cleon, who had to stay up all night to help Amelia with her dawn patrol while he was staying in the royal capital, in Asteris.

Moreover, when Lila remembered how he suddenly came to her room yesterday and touched her until she couldn’t move, her face became as red as her hair.

＂Sorry…＂

After Cleon regained his senses and calmed down, he felt guilty because he felt like he had used Lila in his actions with Kuon.

Of course, for Lila, there was no such thing as rejecting Cleon, even if it was sudden.

Anyway, today, leaving behind Amelia and Sasha, who woke up late for some reason, Lila and Cleon, who had finished the breakfast Kuon made, needed to continue yesterday’s story.

“As I said yesterday, Cleon’s familiar is needed to send the automata. … Well, since I was with Kuon for so long last night, I don’t think he was prepared…”

“Ah, it’s here.”

What Cleon took out of her pocket as she said that was the familiar’s medium that she created by carving the core of the familiar that she had received from Lila yesterday.

The shape is a small bird with wings outstretched. It doesn’t seem to be a specific type of bird, but it has wings, a beak, and claws, so it can be said to be a bird.

Normally, carving using magic would have been the mainstay, but in Cleon’s case, he probably used his own carving tools.

It wasn’t as smooth as magic, but I could clearly see his sincerity.

“Uh, when did you do it? It’s fast…”

“Before I leave Kuon’s room and enter your room… I thought I should do this too.”

＂Like an academy student who does homework during class breaks…＂

Lila spoke as if she was dumbfounded, but she opened the scroll she had placed next to her.

On that scroll, a magic circle to create a familiar that Lila had prepared in advance was drawn, and on it, Cleon was told to chant the core of the familiar that Cleon had created.

After listening to the not-so-long chant, when Cleon nods his head, he first bites his thumb’s cheek to draw blood.

Before it hit the table, the dripping blood touched the familiar’s core – the magic stone, and the magic circle beneath it began to glow.

＂Wake up, you who were not given life in the first place. There is value prepared for you. Create Familiar.”

And the moment I uttered the chant as instructed, the blood seeped into the magic stone and the bird in the crystal began to move, making a squeak sound.

＂Test the function.＂

When Lila says that, Cleon nods his head.

“Good. Fly.”

Originally, it was not as light as a bird as its body was made of stone, but when Cleon gave that command, the bird flapped its wings and rose into the air on the spot.

Because the magic circle was engraved with spells that could give the familiar the necessary abilities, it was connected to Cleon through the magic of farsightedness, eavesdropping, telepathy, and flight.

When Cleon closes his eyes, his familiar’s vision comes into view.

It was a refreshing feeling to see Lila in front of me look like a giant.

“I don’t think there’s any problem.”

“Good. Then I’ll activate Arnia and come. With that, let’s track down the base of the Exiled Church. If you make the Aine sisters wait for a long time, they will make the first move and go to the place where the church is located.”

＂Ah…＂

Cleon nodded as if he couldn’t leave it like that, of course.