"When I called upon the names of the Highest God and the Five Great Gods at the start of the ritual, all the attributes lit up from the very beginning."
"I originally only had affinities for fire, wind, and earth, so I didn't expect all attributes to light up from the start."
Most middle-ranking nobles had two affinities, but Matthias had three. When he had received his name, the stone had displayed three colors, which had surprised everyone. His grandmother was a high-ranking attendant who had come to Ehrenfest from
"...Personally, I had thought it would suffice to reacquire during the Academy at graduation, but making every member of the Name Swearing group do it—does that mean swearing your name to Lady
"Yes, most likely. Since it was the same with Roderich, I wanted to confirm. After this, I'm going to have
Matthias murmured, "Changing a Name Swearing sounds quite difficult." The burden on Muriella would indeed be considerable, but she was the only one who had been granted permission for such an exceptional change. Whether one's attributes changed depending on one's lord was a matter that greatly concerned the children in the orphanage and the kids' room.
"Roderich seems to have felt small incremental changes after swearing his name to me—such as an increased success rate in potion-making and the like. How about you, Matthias?"
"Now that I think back on it, for potion-making involving attributes I didn't originally have, I'd say there was a definite difference..."
The effect of gaining attributes through Name Swearing didn't seem to be all that significant. For a middle-ranking noble close to the lower ranks like Roderich, the benefits were quite noticeable, but for a middle-ranking noble close to the upper ranks like Matthias—who had many affinities and abundant Magic Power—a slight boost was almost imperceptible.
"Oh, by the way, Matthias, were you able to receive Divine Protections from your retainers?"
All we had confirmed with Roderich was that he had gained all attributes as a result of his Name Swearing—he hadn't acquired any new retainers. How about Matthias? At my question, Matthias gave a slightly happy grin.
"I received the Divine Protections of the God of Martial Valor, Anglivh, and the God of Exorcism, Fairdressas."
While I was speaking with Matthias, Grethia noticed
"Fran says she's starting to prepare lunch, so please come out of the workshop once you're done talking."
After finishing my conversation with Matthias and leaving the workshop, Lorenz and Muriella happened to be returning from the worship room.
"The fourth bell rang while I was drinking recovery potions after finishing the ritual, so we pushed Muriella's to the afternoon."
"Understood. I'll hear Lorenz's results in the workshop this afternoon. The ritual will begin with Muriella, then Grethia will perform hers afterward, so I'll have
While Fran and Monica were finishing meal preparations, I was discussing the afternoon's schedule when an Ordonnanz flew in. The white bird landed before me and opened its beak.
"This is
...G-Grandfather is coming!?
Leonore apologized in a slightly troubled voice, "I'm terribly sorry. Lord Bonifatius felt this was a good opportunity to visit the Temple." Since we were currently performing the reacquisition ritual—a time when the benefits to nobles were visibly obvious—he apparently saw it as a perfect chance to dispel prejudice against the Temple.
I had asked
...I have to do my best to showcase the Temple's good points.
I had to make my grandfather—who had certain reservations about the Temple—understand that the current Temple wasn't such a bad place. If my grandfather's perspective changed, it would surely influence nobles of his generation as well.
...Hmm, this is a bit of pressure.
"Then, please tell me about the Divine Protections you received, Lorenz. Once my grandfather and mother arrive, I'll be tied up with them, and I won't have time for a leisurely chat."
After finishing lunch, I led Philine and Lorenz into the workshop. Lorenz gripped the Magical Tool that prevented eavesdropping and grinned teasingly.
"Does that mean you want to take your time with me, Lady Rozemyne?"
"...Haa, I'm glad talking with you got pushed to the afternoon."
Seeing Philine in the workshop instead of Grethia, I said that. I looked up at Lorenz, who had raised his eyebrows as if he didn't understand what I meant.
"Grethia isn't good with boys teasing her. Please don't approach her in that flippant tone."
Lieselore had reported that Grethia was uncomfortable around men and wanted to keep her distance from the male attendants. Of all people, the one Grethia was probably most uncomfortable with was Lorenz, who teased her in that casual manner.
At my caution, Lorenz faltered for a moment, then sighed and adopted a serious expression.
"I'll be careful."
What Lorenz had received was exactly the same as Matthias: all attributes, plus the Divine Protections of the God of Martial Valor, Anglivh, and the God of Exorcism, Fairdressas. The Protection of Fairdressas made him the third person after my brother
...Leonore hadn't received it, but maybe it was a Protection that knights were more likely to obtain, even among the darkness attribute? No, but I had received it too. I couldn't figure out the common thread.
While I was pondering the Protections everyone had received, Lorenz murmured thoughtfully.
"If it became widespread that you could gain Divine Protections through prayer, then younger siblings who have to go through the
"It may be difficult right away, but noble perspectives will change eventually. Please tell
After sending Lorenz off to the orphanage, Muriella arrived, guided by Philine. She looked a bit dazed and, the moment she gripped the Magical Tool that prevented eavesdropping, opened her mouth with, "Lady Rozemyne, um, I..."
"You gained all the attributes, didn't you? It's an effect of the Name Swearing."
"So that's what it was. ...Also, I was blessed with the Divine Protection of the Goddess of Budding, Blueanfa. I'm so happy because I was praying together with Lady Rieuradi."
Of all the third-year students from other duchies who had started praying after being told about it during the Offering Ritual, Rieuradi from Yosebrenner was apparently the only one to receive a Divine Protection. She and Muriella really did seem to be close friends. Muriella apparently wanted to receive a Protection from the gods that frequently appeared in romance stories, and she showed me several charms dangling from her wrist.
"I hope you'll do your best to receive many Divine Protections. Also, Muriella, once my mother arrives, we'll need you to change your Name Swearing and have the ritual performed once more. It will be difficult, I'm sure, but I'm counting on you."
"...Yes."
Muriella nodded with a slightly tense expression.
Before Grethia returned from the worship room, my mother, grandfather, and Leonore arrived. With my grandfather's attendants in tow, there were more people than I had expected. Trying not to show my surprise at the numbers, I welcomed them: "Grandfather, Mother. I've been expecting you."
As Fran brewed tea and Nikola brought out sweets, my grandfather watched the proceedings with a stiff expression, while my mother quietly chuckled.
"I was truly surprised when I heard from Leonore, Lord Bonifatius."
"I thought I might as well tag along to serve as Elvira's escort. A woman shouldn't be heading to the Temple alone."
"Oh, I'm perfectly fine. Rozemyne and Cornelius are constantly coming and going here, and Lord
Since she had already gotten information from Father and my brother
"The Gray Priests keep things quite clean, and my attendants are excellent, so there's nothing unpleasant, is there?"
When I asked, my grandfather nodded once after drinking the tea Fran had brewed and eating the cookies Nikola had brought. It seemed he understood that the life here wasn't much different from living in the castle.
"The Temple will be getting more and more children from the kids' room, starting with
"The former
"Yes. Most of them won't be able to survive unless they swear their names to the archducal family. They'll be giving their names, risking their lives to become retainers of the archducal family. They'll need proper training, won't they?"
They would be living in the Temple. I believed the chances of them becoming retainers for Melchior or me were high. The reason it had been so difficult to secure attendants for me when I was sleeping at Jureve was that I hadn't been in contact with the children. In the end, the individual's own will was crucial, so the frequency of interaction was important.
"Some of them may eventually come to serve me. ...And besides, Nicolaus, who is your grandson, will also be entering the Temple as a Blue Priest Apprentice. Please help fulfill his wish to become a knight."
"...I'll consider it."
"Thank you, Grandfather."
If I could have my grandfather train them even occasionally, the children who aspired to become knights wouldn't have to give up on their paths. Moreover, if they could watch my grandfather train them, I might be able to have the guard knights of Melchior or me take turns overseeing their training.
"Hey, Grandfather. Was Angelica any stronger after receiving her Divine Protection?"
"She was. Just a little, but there was a difference in speed and in the blade of Stinklook. It's only a small amount, but when you're dealing with someone of Angelica's skill level, even a small amount makes a big difference. I still won this time, but I had to struggle a bit."
Her movements were slightly faster and her spacing had shifted compared to what I had anticipated, so she must have been quite difficult to deal with. He kept saying he still wouldn't lose, but he seemed bothered by the fact that my intervention had allowed her to gain new Protections at the Temple and that my retainers were steadily growing stronger.
"Since you've come all this way to observe the verification, why don't you and Mother reacquire Divine Protections as well? Especially you, Grandfather—as a member of the archducal family who supplies Magic Power to the Foundation Magic, I'm sure you'd receive many Divine Protections."
When I made the suggestion, my grandfather made a fearsome face as though he were chewing on a bitter bug and said, "No..." He had already been hesitant about coming to the Temple. I flinched, wondering if the ritual was really that distasteful to him, but my mother interceded with a wry smile.
"Rozemyne, I'd love to try it, but the prayer words I only memorized during a lecture decades ago—even I, who write the names of the gods in my stories, don't remember them perfectly. We'd need time to review before performing the ritual. Isn't that right, Lord Bonifatius?"
"Mm. If Rozemyne says we can receive Divine Protections through Magic Power supply, then I'm interested. Let me memorize the words first, and then we'll try."
Mother hadn't forgotten the names of the gods she needed for her romance stories, but she didn't remember all the minor gods' names, and the prayer words and their order were apparently vague in her memory too.
...That makes sense, actually.
Even Daumel had said he had to re-memorize everything for the reacquisition. No one would remember all the names of gods they had learned decades ago and never used since.
"Rozemyne, here's a letter from the Aub. He's granted permission to cooperate with the reacquisition ritual, and he's also entrusted us with Muriella's handling."
Mother said that and handed the letter to Philine. I took the letter from Philine and read through it. In summary, it said: "I'll be flexible regarding Muriella, but in return, inform me of the ritual results promptly and let me reacquire as well."
...Reducing his Magic Power consumption would be helpful, and the sooner the better.
Increasing the Magic Power available to the archducal family was urgent. If possible, I wanted my adoptive father as well as my grandfather to undergo the ritual and receive Divine Protections.
"Will Grandfather also be present when my adoptive father performs the reacquisition ritual? You'll need to hurry and memorize the prayer words and the gods' names, but..."
"Mm. Let's do that. Still,
After reading my adoptive father's letter—which seemed to say he'd come as soon as the results were in—my grandfather made a grim face. I wanted to shout "That's not it!" but I didn't.
...I don't think it has anything to do with a generational gap. After all, my adoptive father was the kind of person who wore Blue Priest robes and accompanied me to the Dedication Ritual. Incidentally, he also hunted with great vigor in the forest behind the lower town.
That my first meeting with my adoptive father had been at the Temple's Dedication Ritual was something I couldn't reveal even under torture, and I was sure everyone would be shocked. An Aub sneaking into the Dedication Ritual was simply inconceivable—knowing noble common sense, I was even more certain of that.
"Then, Mother, let's change Muriella's lord as quickly as possible so we can report to my adoptive father sooner. ...Grandfather, would you mind waiting here?"
Name Swearing wasn't something to do openly. I intended to perform it in the workshop. At my words, my grandfather asked in a stern face, "I'd like to see the ritual—is it all right if I observe?" He still seemed somewhat wary of the Temple and the rituals, but at least he was interested.
"Daumel is scheduled to perform a ritual next, so if he says it's fine, then you can."
I knew Daumel couldn't refuse, so I gave that reply. It was better than having someone barge into Grethia's ritual—she was already uncomfortable around men. A heads-up would at least give Daumel time to prepare himself mentally.
"The ritual isn't really something you'd show to others, and no matter who you are, you can't enter the worship room alone with just a woman, Grandfather. Daumel is the only male attendant who hasn't performed the reacquisition yet. So, please ask Daumel."
I knew that being alone as a man and woman in the Temple wasn't well-received. At my words, my grandfather nodded with "Understood."
"Brother Cornelius, please guide Grandfather to the worship room. Let it be only Grandfather who attends Daumel's ritual—if there are too many people, Daumel won't be able to concentrate."
"Understood. I'll have the attendants wait outside the worship room. Let's go, Cornelius."
He pulled Brother Cornelius along as he and the attendants filed out. Seeing them off, I led Mother, Muriella, and Leonore—who was serving as both guard and witness—into the workshop. I unlocked a box sitting on the workshop shelf and retrieved Muriella's Name Swearing stone from the ones arranged inside.
"Muriella, I'm returning your name."
Reversing the process of when the stone had been wrapped in Magic Power during the Name Swearing, I drew my own Magic Power back out of it. The Name Swearing stone, which had looked like a white cocoon, returned to its state of being enclosed in the white box. Opening it, I confirmed that Muriella's name was indeed engraved within.
"Thank you very much."
Muriella gazed intently at the name that had returned to her hand, took a slow, deep breath, then knelt before my mother.
"Lady Elvira, please accept my name. Every day, I live feeling the visitation of Blueanfa in your stories. I wholeheartedly wish to weave beautiful stories together with you, expand them, and share them with as many people as possible."
"Muriella, my fellow companion. I accept your name."
My mother took the white box that Muriella offered and, just as had been explained beforehand, flowed Magic Power into it all at once. Muriella, who had been bracing for pain, didn't show as much distress as when I had received her name, and she looked up at my mother with a slightly deflated expression.
"That completes the Name Swearing. Muriella, may we have you perform the ritual one more time?"
"Yes."
When we left the workshop, Grethia was waiting, having finished her ritual. As we came out of the worship room, my grandfather and the others were lined up in a row, looking thoroughly astonished.
"When Daumel heard that Lady Rozemyne had given permission, he looked extremely troubled."
"I determined it was better than having someone barge into Grethia's ritual. Daumel is a noble sacrifice."
Grethia, who had been imagining someone barging in during her own ritual, pressed her hand to her ample chest in relief.
"I'll have to thank Daumel later."
"If you volunteered to be a candidate for Daumel's bride, he'd cry tears of joy."
I giggled and said that, but Grethia shook her head with a perfectly straight face.
"I'm not good with men, so I don't want to marry anyone. I decline, unless it's a direct order from Lady Rozemyne."
...What a shame. Daumel, she turned you down with a completely straight face.
"Thanks to Muriella's cooperation, we've been able to confirm the effect of one's lord through Name Swearing, and each person received Divine Protections. Many of them also gained additional attributes. I think this verification has ended with positive results."
I handed Roderich a report summarizing the ritual results—with only the names omitted—and my impressions, instructing him to deliver it to my adoptive father once we returned to the castle.
By redoing her Name Swearing, Muriella no longer had all attributes but instead was influenced by my mother's attributes. In addition, she had the Divine Protection of the Goddess of Budding, Blueanfa.
"Hm. It was a rather interesting ritual. I suppose I should memorize the prayer words and the gods' names too."
"Yes, I'm motivated to put effort into my prayers as well. I'd love to receive the Divine Protections of Blueanfa and Gramulatorua."
Having observed Daumel's ritual, my grandfather was wearing a satisfied expression. Mother, who had gained Muriella as a retainer and heard the report about Brother Cornelius's additional darkness attribute, also looked pleased. She apparently wanted to receive the Divine Protection of Gramulatorua, the Goddess of Language.
I was delighted that two people from a generation that shunned the Temple had become positive toward the rituals. This should help advance the nobles' reformation of consciousness, at least a little.
"That attributes can increase—it's hard to believe even when I've seen it with my own eyes."
At the end of my grandfather's gaze sat the slumped shoulders of Daumel. Having attended the ritual, my grandfather knew what Protection Daumel had received. I knew as well, having inquired about the results and compiled them.
...It was so perfectly Daumel. Yeah.
Daumel had received the Divine Protection of the Goddess of Marriage,
Apparently, he had been desperately praying to Liebeskhilfe so that he could marry
"...Marriage is hopeless, isn't it."
Daumel's muttered words, his gaze distant, hung heavy in the air.
Everyone finished their rituals. Daumel was being Daumel.
Unfortunately, the blessing of all attributes at the end of Part Two was simply not something that could be replicated to add attributes.
Next time: