58 – Gentle Touch of Evil

The wind makes Silverin’s skirt flutter above her knees.

I felt like I could see through, so I flattened the blanket and put it over her legs.

Then she kicked the blanket away like a bad sleeper.

I stared at the blanket pushed away by the sand in dismay.

“I do not need. I have a lot of heat in my body.”

“… .”

“Lie down quickly.”

I picked up the blanket again, let go of my thoughts, and lay down next to her.

Pieces of cloud slowly move in the sky. It’s perfectly fine.

“Eternia is a great place to practice spiritism. ”

“Teacher, I have a question for you.”

“Tell me.”

“Is there no winter in Eternia?”

I thought it would be just a warm area, but it’s a little strange. It was now December, and this place was farther north on the map than Wiesel.

“right. doesn’t exist. Plantera’s movements slow down in winter, so I deleted it.”

did i hear wrong Erasing the season?

“Is that possible?”

“Ordinary humans cannot. No one other than Elizabeth can do it.”

Can you control the seasons in a region? Beyond magic, it feels like the realm of the gods.

“Is that possible with one person’s power?”

“It is impossible with the power of one person. No matter how great a mage is, there is a limit to the amount of magic power. However, if you use the power of nature and spirits, it will be different.”

This is a really tricky area for me.

“You can become a great wizard if you know how to use external transcendental powers such as the earth, nature, spirits, and divine power beyond using the powers inherent in your body.”

“… .”

“Are you a little interested in spiritism now?”

“… What can I do?”

“Feel the wind. Feel the sunlight and the flow of the river. sand texture. Both warmth and coolness are imprinted on the skin.”

It sounds like you just need to lie down and relax.

“I think every single hair on your skin has eyes, nose and mouth.”

“It’s hard to imagine.”

“It is to develop sensitivity to nature and spirits. There are people who become like this from birth, and there are people who can’t until the day they die. You are closer to the latter, so you have to work hard.”

Well, I’ve heard many times that magic or spiritism is a terrible talent.

When I tried to put into practice what Silverin said, I only thought of a mythological monster with eyes all over my body, but I didn’t feel anything special.

I’m not inspired how to approach it.

I slowed my breathing and focused on the sensations in my whole body.

The sun is warm and the wind is moderately cool. The sand is soft and gradually gets languid.

After a few minutes, my eyes slowly loosen up and I fall asleep little by little.

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Just as I was about to close my eyes, Silverin’s hand pinched my cheek.

“…?”

“You can’t sleep.”

Whoops, I’ve been watching you all.

I said while losing control of one ball.

“I don’t know what to do.”

At Wiesel, when I practiced with a log, took an entrance exam, or lay down in a place surrounded by nature, I got tired of it. What on earth should I do differently?

“It is not good that the sensitivity is open, and it is not bad that it is closed. I’m not in a hurry Just feel comfortable.”

What’s the point of saying it’s not good?

“But why isn’t it good to have your senses open?”

“Well… . Imagine a person with very good hearing. The footsteps of ants. mosquito’s wings. A person whose hearing is so sensitive that he can even hear the sound of a person’s heartbeat. Do you think that with such extraordinary hearing you can make good use of it and live a good life?”

“… I don’t know.”

“Imagine hearing all the sounds in the world. I won’t be able to sleep comfortably. There will be serious problems in everyday life. At worst, you could go crazy. If the sensitivity to the spirit body is extremely high, you can say that you go through something similar. You have to forcefully accept unwanted stimuli.”

It makes a little sense now. There must be a reason why a child like Luna was so sensitive.

“Your sensitivity is at the opposite extreme. It’s like a rock or a lump of iron. To put it bluntly, even if you train for the rest of your life, it’s too much to deal with even one intermediate level spirit. Well, with my help, things will get a little better.”

“Then what’s good about not being able to handle spirits?”

Seeing my disappointed expression, Silverin smiled and said,

“That is your talent. Firmness that is not easily shaken by surrounding circumstances. He has the potential to become mentally stronger than anyone else.”

Mental strength, I don’t think it’s a huge advantage compared to the ability to handle spirits freely. Aren’t you forced to tell good stories?

“It’s like two sides of a coin.”

Silverine released her pinched hand and gently caressed my cheek.

“right. Even if this is a cursed land full of evil spirits, you can take a nap if it’s safe. In fact, in a place like that, people like you are the safest. Kids with good sensitivity won’t be able to last even an hour.”

“Luna said something to me before. When you come suddenly… My kids are avoiding me. Does that have anything to do with it?”

Silverin cut her arm and turned to me, then said.

“To some extent. But that’s not all. The spirits hate you and fear you. Spirits rarely have the feeling of fear. As long as you don’t face the same power as me.”

It is said that what the spirits hate is a strange species that is equipped with everything. Still, I wanted to deal with at least one elemental, but when she said this, it felt far ahead.

“I can’t do any harm to the spirits, so why are you afraid?”

“Well, I have a rough guess that it might be related to your sword, but I need to do some research to know for sure.”

“Listening to the teacher’s story, I feel that the spirit is so far away.”

“You worry about everything in front of me. If I’m determined, I can even get the neighborhood dog to sign a spirit contract, so just do what I’m told. disciple.”

“… .”

Silverin touched my cheek with her index finger as if she were handling a mysterious creature and said,

“And I like your traits. It’s the complete opposite of me. Maybe it’s because it’s a trait that I don’t have, so if I’m with you, I’ll be neutralized… … just put your mind at ease Your talent is enough for that. I passed as a disciple.”

I don’t think it’s better to be a disciple if they’re similar. well, it’s fine it’s pass I like Silverine, what more could I ask for?

***

Priest Colt’s expression as he read the Romeda Forest Keeper’s report was not so good.

Reports of large-scale movement of Ghouls came up one after another, and from time to time news of the invasion of monsters came in from parts of the area protected by divine power.

As Saint Flence’s power weakened, the frequency was gradually increasing.

In such a situation, ominous news came from Romeda Forest.

Romeda Forest was one of the sacred areas directly managed by the church.

A land where the 500-year-old blessed tree, Hanox, is deeply rooted.

The divine power emanating from the holy tree, Hanox, was protecting several nearby territories from black magic.

“Is there really no further contact from the Forest Keeper?”

In response, the Holy Knight Brook, who is in charge of the commander of the Romeda Forest investigation team, said with a firm face.

“That’s right.”

Colt put the letter in his hand back into his arms and said.

“… We must hurry.”

Colt and the rest of the 30 Paladins were all dispatched directly from the Saints under the command of the Church.

It was to check the condition of the holy tree, Hanox.

Romeda Forest was a place where most people could not even enter.

The Forest Keeper was a wizard of the highest rank who once held the position of a court mage of the Empire, and Romeda Forest was guarded by a powerful phantom beast.

And the barrier stone completely hid Hanox from the world.

Thanks to that, it was impossible to approach Hanox, a holy tree, even if any skilled person or monster came.

Hanox has not been threatened in the last hundred years.

However, only a strange word was scrawled in the urgent message sent by the forest keeper.

‘Hanox is dangerous.’

The church decided that it would not be a big deal, so only a small number of people were sent, but Colt had a different idea.

The closer I got to Romeda Forest, the stronger my foreboding felt.

The drizzling rain in early winter made me feel as if my body would freeze, and the floor became muddy.

Holy Knight Brook said.

“This is the domain of Romeda Forest from here.”

Colt warned.

“Enemy surprise can come in at any time. You need to be as vigilant as possible.”

There was heavy tension between the Paladins.

Colt put his hand on the ground and closed his eyes for a moment. The divine power of Hanox that he sensed was incredibly weakened.

“We must hurry more.”

Colt unfolded the map of Romeda Forest given to him by the church. In this vast forest, only the forest keeper and church officials knew Hanox’s location.

Colt stood at the forefront of the thirty Paladins.

“I will take the lead from now on.”

If you take a shortcut, you can reach Hanox in five or six hours.

The march continued in tension and silence.

As the sun went down, the investigation team stood in front of the barrier stone protecting Hanox.

Fortunately, the barrier stone was intact. If so, Hanox was still safe. To enter the barrier, you had to have divine power or destroy the barrier stone.

In order to check Hanox’s condition, Colt led the Paladins and went inside the barrier.

A huge tree that had been hiding behind the illusionary wall created by the barrier came into view.

Colt approached the roots of Hanox that stretched thickly across the earth and laid his hand on them.

A strange thing was happening.

“no… what the heck is this… .”

Clearly, the barrier stone was intact, but Hanox lost its divine power and was dying.

Black water droplets fell on the back of Colt’s hand.

It wasn’t rainwater. It was viscous and had a fishy smell. The liquid poured from the sky one after another like rain.

Meanwhile, Paladins shouted from behind Cold’s back.

“buy. Priest! Now is not the time for that!”

Colt looked back.

Paladins were pulling out their swords with fear-stricken faces.

And their gaze was directed upward to the sky.

Colt also slowly looked up at the sky.

And facing the shocking sight, I was locked in shock.

The forest keeper and ten silver wolf phantom beasts were hanging from the trees.

“ah… Ahh… ah… .”

Colt was speechless for a moment.

And thousands of leeches clung to the leaves of Hanox that covered the sky, spraying blood as if they were having a welcome ceremony.

Colt barely came to his senses and shouted.

“me… I must get out! It’s a trap! Hanox is already dead!”

The Paladins fell into a panic and hesitated for a while.

“Come on!”

Colt hurriedly stood up and ran out of the barrier.

Under the ranks of the Paladins, one arm stretched out without a hitch. Then he grabbed one of the knights by the leg and pulled him under the ground.

“Ahhhhh!”

The ground on which the knight was standing went off and soon he was gone.

The commander who grasped the situation finally shouted.

“It’s a ghoul! Ghouls are ambushing you! Retreat immediately!”

Then, a hand reached out from under the ground and snatched up the knights one after another.

Screams continued in succession.

The paladins rushed out, but it was already too late.

There were only five paladins who came out of the barrier alive following Colt.

The commander was also attacked by ghouls and was unable to come out.

One of the surviving paladins asked.

“This can’t be… no way… Is that right?”

“I am a black magician. I don’t have time to explain any more. We must run away.”

It was questionable how he pierced Hanox’s divine power, but it wasn’t the time to think about it right now.

Colt led the rest of them away from Hanox in a hurry.

While fleeing, the knights kept tripping and falling over.

Every time that happened, I got up and started moving again, but the frequency of falling became more and more frequent.

Their condition was getting worse.

And from a certain moment, the knights couldn’t follow Colt.

Colt sensed something strange and turned around. About ten steps away, knights were waving their arms in the air.

“Yes, priest. Has the night come? Oh, I can’t see.”

“I made the light with my magic… .”

Colt stopped talking and checked the knights eyes. Their eyes turned white like those of a blind man.

“Oh, how can it be?”

All were blind.

Colt trembled all over. Only then did he recall the inside of the barrier.

Bodies hanging from trees, leeches, blood.

It was a curse ritual. The warlock already knew that the paladins would come to Hanox and had even set up a curse ceremony.

He collapsed, unable to overcome the feeling of despair.

It is impossible to get out alive.

They were already playing in the hands of the warlock.

Death was predicted from the moment he entered the barrier, no, from the moment he entered Romeda Forest.

Colt didn’t escape the curse either. His vision also began to darken.

Before it was too late, Colt took out a piece of paper and wrote a note announcing the appearance of the Warlock.

After biting it into Stitch and blowing it away, Colt closed his eyes and prayed one last time.

The sound of ghoul footsteps was approaching from afar.