"First and foremost, it's important to make it appear as though there is a blessing from the gods for the new Zent, isn't it? If we gift them with a blessing as they enter and recreate the moment of their graduation ceremony, I think it would add a certain air of mystique..."
"Is there a need to be that generous?"
"So your top priority is the Library City?"
"Is there something else?"
"...I don't think there's nothing, but if you have no intention of getting further involved with the royal family, then one blessing shouldn't matter."
In reality, this was how Ferdinand's approval came about, but there was no need to explain everything to Eglantine and the others. I simply told them that I would gift a blessing during their entrance and sent the two of them into the auditorium. The moment the door closed, I poured Magic Power into the ring.
...Lady Eglantine and Prince
It was just a gentle puff of power — a blessing that felt more like a simple greeting in spirit. I nodded, satisfied that this was enough, but Ferdinand pressed his temple and etched deep frown lines between his brows.
"...This is the worst."
"What is it?"
"Are you unaware? The divine power of the goddess surrounding you has increased."
"Huh?"
I looked at my own hands but couldn't tell at all. Even though I couldn't tell, Ferdinand looked extremely troubled. This was probably a very bad situation.
"Ferdinand, what should I do?"
"There's nothing to be done. Those two have already entered, and the ceremony has begun. We can only continue as planned."
"...Is it safe to continue? The magic stones have started to glow..."
I had no awareness that the divine power of the goddess had increased, but seeing the magic stones on my arm decorations gradually begin to glow, I had no choice but to realize something serious was happening.
"I expected something unexpected might occur during the ceremony, but for something unexpected to happen before we even entered the auditorium... As always, you never fail to exceed my expectations."
Clicking his tongue, Ferdinand began checking the Magical Tools and other items he had on hand. I caught glimpses of various things hidden in various places.
"Rather than heading to a religious ceremony, you look like you're heading to a battlefield."
"I'm not even sure this would be enough to handle the kind of unexpected situation you'd cause."
"I have used recovery potions during religious ceremonies before, but I've never needed offensive Magical Tools."
When I pouted, Ferdinand snorted.
"This is just precaution for the worst-case scenario. More importantly, try to act a bit more like the incarnation of a goddess. You'll be called soon."
As Ferdinand rattled on about the importance of appearing as a goddess's incarnation, the auditorium doors opened. From the other side, I could hear
"Now entering — the incarnation of
...An incarnation of a goddess. I just need to look the part.
Ferdinand must have thought of various things, so unless I made a huge mistake, I'd probably look convincing enough. Still, I was nervous. I placed my own hand over Ferdinand's outstretched hand.
...Whoa, it's glowing so much!
It seemed the divine power of the goddess had increased even while I was being lectured. The magic stones and amulets covering my arms were now displaying their presence with overwhelming intensity. It was a bit harsh on the eyes, so I lifted my chin slightly to keep the magic stones out of my line of sight. I felt like Ferdinand's polite smile was blaming me for having gifted too much blessing, so I averted my gaze from his profile a bit as well.
...Well, I did gift the blessing, but this situation isn't my fault. It's the goddess's fault.
According to Ferdinand, the divine power of the goddess would thin once I supplied it to the Foundation, so if I consumed a large amount of Magic Power during the dedication dance, this glittering state should calm down.
...Just a little longer. Hang in there, me.
Hearing Hartmut and Eglantine speak, I ascended to the stage with Ferdinand. Just doing that caused a magic circle to manifest at my feet, making it visually clear that the leakage of the goddess's divine power was quite severe.
...Whooooaaaa! What is this?!
Ferdinand was tapping his temple and making a displeased face. The level of leakage was shocking even to me.
...But "there will be a magic circle that appears on the stage when the dedication dance begins" — you don't need that explanation anymore, Ferdinand.
As I thought that, I listened to Ferdinand's explanations about the religious rites and the magic circle. Initially, I was supposed to speak about the rites, but I was forbidden from opening my mouth on the grounds that "the mystique would be diluted," and Ferdinand ended up explaining instead. I think it was the right decision, but it was still a bit harsh.
After the explanation, it was time for the dedication dance. I could hear the sounds of tuning — *piin, boun*. I knelt on the stage.
Actually, Ferdinand was also supposed to offer music and song as tribute. Using the amulet of the concealment god Feberbleken, he would ascend to the altar together and offer music to the gods. Despite all the rude things he'd done up to now, he was oddly earnest and dutiful in certain matters. When I pointed that out, he said, "I may have lost the power of a god, but I cannot afford to neglect the other gods who still receive divine favor."
...Ah, is the tuning done?
The instruments had gone silent, so preparations must have been complete. I took one slow, deep breath.
"I offer prayers and gratitude to the gods who created this world."
The great Eglantine would be performing the same dedication dance after me. I had to put my all into it so that those in the observation gallery wouldn't think, "For a goddess's incarnation, that was pretty underwhelming..."
...At the very least, I can't lose on the height of the pillar of light! I need to pour in Magic Power like crazy!
I couldn't compete on dance skill, so I wanted the effects to at least look spectacular befitting an incarnation of a goddess. On top of the divine power that was already leaking out, I poured in my own Magic Power as well. The pillar of light grew taller and taller.
...Good, good. Nice pace.
As I spun around, I could see the divine statue on the altar move, opening a path. After opening the path, I was supposed to wait before the altar to watch Eglantine dance. With this order, even if Eglantine's pillar of light wasn't tall enough during her dedication dance, the nobles in the observation gallery wouldn't notice.
Relieved at confirming that the path was opened, I focused on my dedication dance. Perhaps because of that, and because the magic stones I was wearing were shining brightly, I didn't notice the magic power overflowing from the stage as waves of light rising up the altar, nor did I notice the divine artifacts glowing. I completed the dedication dance and knelt once more on the stage.
"Thanks be to the gods."
The instant I said that, my surroundings were suddenly enveloped in blinding light. I instinctively squeezed my eyes shut. Right after I was wrapped in a sensation of floating, as though my body had become weightless, a voice said: "Welcome back. You placed second, Mine."
...Huh?
I hesitantly opened my eyes and slowly raised my head. I was supposed to ascend to the altar with Eglantine and Ferdinand — who was using the Feberbleken amulet — after Eglantine's dedication dance, and the three of us were supposed to come here together. But for some reason, only I had been transported to the Garden of Beginnings and was now face to face with
...Wait a minute. This deviates way too far from the plan.
The blood drained from my face. I quickly looked around. There was no entrance or exit to the Garden of Beginnings, and nowhere that anyone could enter. The path I had so carefully opened with my dedication dance had somehow closed.
...Wait?! Lady Eglantine, are you okay?! You have to open the path alone?! Ferdinand, what am I supposed to do in a situation like this?!
Ferdinand definitely wouldn't have anticipated that only I would be transported to the Garden of Beginnings.
"Can you hear me, Mine?"
"I was too shocked at being suddenly transported here to listen. What is it?"
"I said you placed second in the competition for Zent."
...Huh? Second?
"Lady Erwaermen, if I'm second, does that mean
They had told me his medal was destroyed and he was sealed inside the Border Gate. Was that some kind of mistake? I stared wide-eyed, and Erwaermen slowly shook her head.
"No. It would have been fine if Trauequal had returned, but he has vanished. His current whereabouts are unknown."
Perhaps Erwaermen had lost her hold on Gervasio's Magic Power because his medal was destroyed. Or perhaps he had truly relocated somewhere else.
"Gervasio hasn't returned — does that mean Ferdinand came back first?"
"Indeed. The coward who was disrupting Trauequal's efforts returned before you did."
...Huh? When? I wasn't told anything about that.
While I was confined to the Ehrenfest dormitory, Ferdinand must have been going here and there. I don't know which route he used to get here, but it couldn't be said that he didn't have plenty of time.
"Look there. He returned, made his victory declaration, and without even asking for the path to the Foundation, left this behind and departed. I do hope the Quinta isn't thinking this place is a storeroom of some kind."
In the direction Erwaermen indicated, there was a square object wrapped in silver cloth and bound with cords and magic stones. Wrapped in silver cloth so as not to be affected by other Magic Power, and secured so no one else could casually touch it — I knew what that was.
...It's the Magical Tool Glutrishheit that was meant to be bestowed upon Lady Eglantine.
I had asked to see it beforehand, but Ferdinand told me that once my Magic Power was registered on it, he'd have to start over from scratch, so it was sealed away. It had apparently been brought to the Garden of Beginnings in advance, and Ferdinand had stopped by to make his victory declaration as well.
...Well, that's very Ferdinand-like, if anything.
"You returned later than the Quinta, but you reached the Foundation before that discourteous fool. Though the amount was too small to dye the Foundation, there is no question that your Magic Power has increased. Well done — you outdid that coward."
...Um, it was Ferdinand who instructed me to pour my Magic Power into the Foundation, you know.
It seemed like I was being praised, so I didn't bother pointing it out, but I hadn't really outdone Ferdinand. I had simply followed Ferdinand's instructions to pour in my Magic Power, since he wanted to reduce my excess Magic Power and investigate whether changes in Magic Power affected the divine power of the goddess.
"And furthermore, most of the Border Gates have been dyed with your Magic Power. Recognizing these accomplishments, I will not name the Quinta, but you as the new Zent."
...Huh?
I couldn't quite keep up. It would be a problem if I were appointed Zent. I was currently in the middle of a ritual as the incarnation of Mestionora, where Lady Eglantine would inherit the Magical Tool Glutrishheit. I had absolutely no intention of becoming Zent myself. Besides, if the plans were thrown off, Ferdinand would be angry.
"Fill the Foundation with your Magic Power before the Quinta, Mine."
"Even if you say that, the first place winner is Ferdinand, isn't it? It makes no sense for me to become Zent."
When I protested, asking what the point of the competition had been, Erwaermen said with a blank expression, "But you poured your Magic Power into the Foundation, did you not?"
"That's true, but that was because Ferdinand—"
"More importantly, I don't like that discourteous person. I believe someone other than the Quinta should be Zent."
When someone speaks based on like and dislike, there's no persuading them. It was no surprise that Ferdinand, who had done so many terrible things, was disliked.
"When I consider all the rude things Ferdinand has done up until now, I can certainly understand how you feel. But Ferdinand said he would do as Ferdinand wished if he won the competition. That was the agreement — it was supposed to be about results, not like and dislike. Besides, Ferdinand isn't going to become Zent himself. I think that also aligns with your wishes."
"Isn't it only when the Quinta fills the Foundation that they get to do as they please? He hasn't filled the Foundation yet. This is the only chance. Dye it before the Quinta takes the Foundation from you."
...No, even if you say that like it's already decided...
If I carelessly dyed the Foundation, it would make things difficult for Eglantine to re-dye it later. I wanted to save my own Magic Power for
I desperately searched for words to persuade Erwaermen. But I couldn't find the words to persuade a being that operated on divine logic.
"Your Magic Power alone is insufficient. Mestionora, who can wield power without limit, has agreed to cooperate. I will borrow her power to finish dyeing the Foundation, and I will borrow your body for a short time."
"Hyah?!"
As Erwaermen spoke, light descended from above. Immediately after, the magic stones wrapping my arms crackled and sparked as though resisting.
Ferdinand's amulet activated before I could give permission. I realized I was about to have my body stolen regardless of my opinion, and the sheer forcefulness of the gods made my skin crawl.
...I'll lose my memory again?!
"No! You can't have it!"
I declared with a scream and resisted the presence trying to enter my body. I tightly crossed both arms and gripped them, channeling Magic Power into the magic stones.
There were things I wouldn't yield on. I couldn't afford to lose any more memories, and I had promised Ferdinand not to lend my body without thinking. I didn't want the situation around me to change while I was unconscious. When I had lent my body to Mestionora, Ferdinand hadn't told me everything that had happened.
...I don't want to worry Ferdinand or hurt him!
Thinking strongly that I would absolutely not lend my body, the pouring light vanished. At the same time, Erwaermen began radiating an intimidating force.
"Mine, would you defy us?"
"I have no intention of defying you, but last time I lent my body to a goddess, precious memories of mine were taken. I still haven't gotten those precious memories back. I don't want to lose anything else that's important to me."
If they told me to dye the Kingdom's Foundation, it would make things difficult for Lady Eglantine, who was supposed to become Zent, and for filling the land of Ahrensbach, but I would have been willing to dye it if necessary. However, lending my body to a goddess was out of the question.
"So long as you don't lose your memories, it's fine? Then, I will have the other gods assist as well."
"Eh? What would the other gods...?"
"They will give you blessings. The power to fill the Foundation."
Erwaermen slowly moved her hand. Light of many colors descended all at once. Inside me, already filled with Mestionora's divine power, divine powers of completely different attributes poured in one after another. They were entirely different from the blessings I had received before. The divine power poured in by multiple gods repelled each other, and I screamed from the discomfort and pain.
Rozemyne's less-than-divine ceremony.
And the single person left stranded in the Garden of Beginnings.
Erwaermen, who will stop at nothing to dye the Foundation.
Next is Part 2.