Now that I'd chased away the nuisances, I could finally experience Holy Magic to my heart’s content.
The Holy Communion began, and the Priest started weaving his words of prayer. The other attendees closed their eyes and followed along. I followed suit, closing my eyes and striking a prayerful pose for the sake of appearances.
Once that sleep-inducing segment ended, bread and wine were brought to the tables. As everyone began to eat, Isha and Saria entered the room, accompanied by a piano.
"Ah, it’s Isha-san."
"Saria-neesan is here too. It looks like the concert is about to start."
The crowd, who had been enjoying their meal just a moment before, began to cheer at their appearance.
"Yeah! We’ve been waiting for this!"
"We basically come here just to hear Isha-chan and Saria-chan perform!"
"Give us another amazing show today!"
Amidst the chorus of cheers, Isha bowed politely. Saria gave the audience a brief, dismissive glance before heading straight to the piano. For a split second, it felt as if both of them had cast a gaze in my direction.
"Well then, everyone, today we will hold our customary concert. We hope you enjoy the performance."
After the greeting, Isha cleared her throat with a small cough. By then, not a single soul in the room was making a sound.
—♪
The beautiful notes of the piano began to flow through the hushed chapel. The start was so seamless and beautiful that I didn't even realize the exact moment it had begun.
—♪
Then came the singing. Saria’s playing was incredible, but Isha’s voice was easily its equal. The song and the melody melded perfectly, producing a magnificent harmony.
—♪
Even I, who normally had no interest in singing, found the performance moving enough to make me tremble. No one was eating anymore; every person in the room was transfixed.
—♪
A single tear spilled down Ren’s cheek. She wasn't alone; many others were moved to tears by the performance.
"What is this... this is insane... it’s just too much... hic."
Grimo’s voice sounded nasal, likely because he was so overwhelmed with emotion. Yes, it certainly was a divine performance. It wouldn't have been strange at all to claim a god inhabited their music.
"Hmm..."
Suddenly, I noticed a faint light enveloping the people in the room. It seemed their wounds were being healed. Healing System Magic... no, it was slightly different. So, this was Holy Magic.
Come to think of it, there had seemed to be an unusually large number of injured people among the crowd. I see; this was what they had been after.
Using Magic Focus to strain my eyes, I could see magic power with a healing effect raining down in a radius of about a dozen meters centered on Saria. Looking closely, I realized this light consisted of materialized particles. As I concentrated, I saw that they were like snowflakes that vanished after a certain amount of time. The healing effect only lasted while the particles were stuck to the body.
However, this Spell Formula... it wasn't something used in standard magic. The formula, when viewed through magic power, was written in a magical language I’d never seen before. It was no wonder my past self hadn't noticed it. To me, a Spell Formula written in an unknown magical language was just a pattern woven into a rug.
It was said that Holy Magic began long ago when a god gave power to humans on a whim. If that were the case, it made sense that it was written in a language from a different world.
"...Hm? What is this gaze...?"
I felt a sensation as if I were being watched by someone from afar. It hadn't been there before the performance started. Furthermore, the feeling didn't belong to any human in this room. I wouldn't have even noticed it if I weren't using Magic Focus.
I expanded the range of my search, but I still couldn't pinpoint it. Where on earth was it coming from? I traced the source of the gaze by the faint magic power mixed within it.
—There. I found it.
Hmm, the owner possessed quite a high level of magic power. But where was the source? I couldn't tell the exact location. However, if I used the slight magic power mixed in the gaze as a signpost, it looked like I could use Spatial Transfer to follow it. Spatial Transfer was still difficult to control, but if there was a clear marker, I could make the jump.
"Sorry, Ren, I’m going to step out for a bit."
"Huh? L-Lloyd?"
Leaving Ren with those words, I activated the Spatial Transfer Spell Formula. In an instant, my vision was dyed black, and I was enveloped in a weightless sensation. I’d tried Spatial Transfer several times, but I still wasn't used to this feeling.
...It was taking unusually long. Was the destination that far away? And the sensation was different from usual. It felt like I was leaping over a massive, invisible step. After a while, the floating sensation vanished, and I landed.
It seemed I’d arrived. When I opened my eyes, a world of pure white stretched out before me.
"...Where is this?"
Even though I’d made it, I still didn't recognize the place.
"This place feels kinda gross, boss. The air here doesn't sit well with someone like me," Grimo muttered grumpily.
The ground was covered with fluffy clouds, and there was nothing to block the view of the vast blue sky. I suppose you could say we were literally above the clouds. My curiosity was piqued, but first, I had to find the owner of the gaze.
As I looked around, I found a young man wearing a tunic.
"Mmm~♪ Hm-hm-hm~♪ Mmm~♪ ...Nfufufufu, as I thought, Isha-tan’s singing voice is supreme. Combined with Saria-tan’s melody, it truly is a divine song..."
The young man was staring fixedly at a pond at his feet with an eerie, fanatical smile. He had golden hair reaching down to his waist, blue eyes, and white skin—everything about him had a sense of transparency that seemed out of this world. Most notably, he had wings on his back and a ring of light floating above his head. He looked exactly like an angel.
"Um..."
"What is it? As you can see, I am busy right now..."
When I called out to him, the young man looked up while complaining. Then, he blinked repeatedly and looked me over from head to toe.
"Wha-wha-wha-wha?! Are you a human?! Why is there a human in the Celestial Realm?!"
He jumped back in a total panic.
"The Celestial Realm? By Celestial Realm, you mean the world where God and his Heavenly Messengers, the angels, live, right?"
"...Ahem, indeed! This is the Celestial Realm. And I am the Angel Jiriel. I am a faithful Apostle of the Sixty-four Gods of the Celestial Realm and a Heavenly Messenger."
Oh, so he really was an angel. They actually existed. Well, it wasn't particularly strange, considering Majin were real too.
"Child of man, this is not a place for ordinary humans. By what means did you visit this Divine Domain?"
"I used Spatial Transfer by following the faint magic power mixed in your gaze, Jiriel."
"Spatial Transfer, you say?! I know there are humans who use such power, but this is the Celestial Realm, which exists in a different dimension from the Human World! Unless you have exceptionally extraordinary magic power, you shouldn't be able to cross the Dimensional Wall... Unbelievable...!"
Jiriel began muttering to himself in shock.
"Come to think of it, the sensation during the Spatial Transfer was a bit different from usual. Was that the Dimensional Wall?"
"The Dimensional Wall isn't something a human with a normal physical body is supposed to be able to cross, boss. It might be different for angels, Majin, or spirits who don't have physical forms, but otherwise, the body would just collapse. Well, with magic density like yours, Master Lloyd, it’s no surprise you can withstand it."
"A-A mouth on your palm?! ...That’s a Majin, isn't it? Just who are you?"
"I suppose I haven't introduced myself yet. I am Lloyd di Saloom, the Seventh Prince of the Kingdom of Saloom and a mage. Jiriel, I came here because I have a favor to ask of you as an angel. I want you to teach me Holy Magic."
Well, coming here was a complete accident. However, guessing from Jiriel’s monologue just now and Isha’s words, it seemed the idea that angels grant Holy Magic wasn't just a metaphor, but quite literal. In other words, if Jiriel acknowledged me, I should definitely be able to use Holy Magic as well. If that happened, I wouldn't need to deal with any more troublesome Church business.
"...I see, so you came all the way to the Celestial Realm just to learn Holy Magic. It is true that I can grant Holy Magic to humans. However, that is only for those I deem worthy. There is no way I could grant Holy Magic to a human who barges into the Celestial Realm uninvited—especially one harboring a Majin! I shall spare your life for now. Return to the Human World immediately!"
It seemed it wouldn't be that easy. That said, I couldn't just back down.
"What do I have to do for you to acknowledge me?"
"You are an appallingly persistent boy! Fine, then according to the laws of the Celestial Realm, I shall simply remove you by force!"
Dazzling light began to gather around Jiriel. In the next instant, he was clad in a sword, shield, and armor made of pure light.
"Oh! Is that Holy Magic?!"
"Exactly. Holy Magic 'Radiant Armament.' Divine equipment that pierces evil and repels darkness. Even against a human, I shall show no mercy."
That feeling—it wasn't a summoning spell. He seemed to be materializing magic power into armaments. Between this and the healing from earlier, it seemed much of Holy Magic involved the materialization of magic power. If I could apply this principle, I could probably do all sorts of things.
"Then, if I win, you have to teach me how to use Holy Magic."
"To think you’d show a look of joy rather than fear... could you be a child of a demon? Grh, God, give me your blessing...!"
With a prayer on his lips, Jiriel lunged and slashed at me.