◇
Rain was pouring down in sheets.
After the encounter, the Holy King and his retinue had vanished. They claimed they were leaving because their inspection was over, but it was more likely they simply had no more business there now that they had achieved their objective. In fact, after that battle, Beal had become unable to even manifest.
"How are you holding up, Connie?" I asked.
Connie was lying in bed, her breathing shallow as she replied, "I... can’t exactly say I’m okay."
It seemed that because Beal had lost his power, Connie was also considerably weakened.
"There's a tingling sensation deep inside me. Like neuralgia. It’s not agonizing, but it’s a slow, persistent drain."
"That’s because your soul's vessel is shared with Beal," I explained. "The damage he took has become your burden. This might only be a temporary comfort, but I’ll cast some healing magic on you."
Though, in truth, I could only do enough to dull the pain. Still, as she was bathed in the restorative light, Connie’s complexion seemed to improve.
"Thanks. I feel a lot better now."
"Don't push yourself. This isn't a fundamental solution yet."
Until Beal returned to normal, there was no telling what might happen to Connie. Just to be safe, I had her take a break from her maid duties. At any rate, maintaining her physical strength was the priority.
"You're kind, Lloyd. Even though Beal was the one who went on a rampage of his own accord."
"Well, his rampages are a common occurrence."
After all, both of them were my precious comrades—or, more accurately, my precious research subjects. It would be a problem if they didn't get well soon. Grimo and Jiriel shot me judgmental looks, but I ignored them.
"But it’s a relief we were able to get away when we did," Grimo remarked. "To be honest, it would have been dangerous if we’d stayed locked in a battle like that."
"The other side was exhausted too," I noted. "What’s more concerning is the fact that Guisarm has been resurrected."
"The demon Master Lloyd defeated once before, correct?" Jiriel asked. "He must have been brought back by the Holy King’s ability, but..."
"Yeah. Considering he pushed Beal this far and even brought back an annihilated demon like Guisarm, it’s best to assume his spells have an incredibly wide range of implementation."
Normally, magic was a technique that manifested various phenomena through detailed spell formulas. However, the most that could be produced this way were simple physical phenomena. It should have been impossible to use magic to recreate a puppet capable of autonomous action, speech, and combat power like the Guisarm we saw. Usually, the best one could do was combine many spell formulas to make something that merely looked the part.
"Simple phenomena, you say... while you're over here manipulating humans with mana and twisting space itself..." Grimo muttered.
"For Master Lloyd, such things are likely simple," Jiriel countered. "But resurrecting an annihilated demon truly defies the logic of the world too much."
I was fascinated by the mechanism behind it, but for now, Beal’s recovery was the top priority. In his current weakened state, it wouldn't be surprising if Beal vanished for good at any moment. I was protecting him with a barrier for now, but there was still much I didn't know about Magical Songs, so it was best to be cautious.
"Still, that guy... to defeat even the Demon King Beal so easily... he's truly something else," Grimo said.
"It is said that the Demon King's power rivals that of a god," Jiriel added. "Does that mean the Holy King's strength surpasses even the gods...?"
"No. Just as Beal said, he doesn't possess simple strength," I clarified. "His mana itself is low, and I didn't see anything noteworthy in his movements during combat. The only thing to watch out for is the Magical Song."
Though that in itself was incredible. While a magic bundle involved compressing incantations, a Magical Song could provide a massive amount of information by carrying mana on the sound itself. The number of spell formulas directly correlated to the breadth of phenomena magic could produce. Additionally, because it was a different approach from standard magic, it was exceptionally effective against demons, who were usually resistant to the former.
The fact that he only brought one Guisarm along suggested there were some limiters, but for dealing with demons, it had to be considered an extremely versatile technique. The holy magic possessed by the Church was a technique that used music as a medium to borrow the power of the Celestial Realm to heal people and exorcise evil. It was a power befitting the Holy King who stood at its pinnacle.
"Magical Songs, huh... Heh, it’s getting me excited."
It was somewhat similar to Cursed Words, but the effect and power were worlds apart. He likely achieved a greater effect by interpreting things like rhythm, pitch, and melody as if they were spell formulas. There seemed to be other secrets as well, but I couldn't tell the details from just that. I really wanted to meet him again.
"This is no time to be getting excited, Master Lloyd!" Grimo cried. "That power was enough to make even us faint from a distance! If we take a direct hit next time, there's no telling what will happen!"
"He is right!" Jiriel chimed in. "Even Master Lloyd had much of his power sealed at that time. One should say Beal did well to even survive. In the first place, what is Beal's current state?"
"He's curled up small inside Connie. Like he's hiding in a shell."
His magic body was almost entirely erased; all that remained was Beal's nucleus. Even that was gradually weakening; it would be dangerous to leave it alone.
"Hmph, normal recovery magic has no effect on a magic body to begin with," Grimo noted.
"Yes," Jiriel agreed. "They are sturdy, but that is only because they are supported by a vast amount of mana. Once that much mana is lost, natural recovery cannot be expected."
As the two said, a magic body recovered by being infused with mana. However, that was strictly a rough treatment. Once the surrounding mana was stripped away and only the nucleus remained, more delicate work was required, making it difficult to provide help from the outside. Moreover, it was even more difficult since it was Beal, who possessed an enormous amount of mana. Normally, one would have no choice but to wait for him to recover on his own, but...
"There is a way—use music against music."
By observing the Holy King's Magical Song, I understood the logic behind it, if only a little. Therefore, I should be able to use a Magical Song with the opposite property now—one with a recovery effect. I just needed to decompose the healing system magic, turn it into a spell formula, and reassemble it into a song. Let's see, put this here, do that there... alright, done.
"Then, without further ado. ——♪"
I sang the song I had composed on the spot. Hearing it, Grimo and Jiriel began to tremble.
"Ohh... what a soul-stirring voice... I feel power welling up from deep within!" Grimo exclaimed.
"It’s working even on me!" Jiriel cried. "It feels like the wounds I received from the Holy King are being healed..."
As I expected, it seemed to have a recovery effect on magic bodies as well. Beal’s condition also began to stabilize a bit. It looked like it was effective for now. After singing for a while, I stopped.
"Huh? Are you stopping, Master Lloyd?" Grimo asked.
"Yeah. I can tell it's effective, but with my singing, recovery will take a considerable amount of time."
Even though the immediate crisis was over, Beal’s mana was vast. At this rate, it would probably take several months for him to fully recover. I wasn't that free, so it wasn't a practical method.
"It would be more efficient to have Isha and the others sing it instead."
The singing voice of the woman who rose to become the current Pope solely on the strength of her songs had a power that even I found impressive. I would create a song with even higher completion, have Isha sing it, and add Saria’s accompaniment. That should increase the effect even further. This was what you called the right person in the right place.
"I see! Those two would surely push the song Master Lloyd created to even greater heights. That’s a wonderful idea!" Grimo said.
"Yes, yes, exactly!" Jiriel added, swooning. "Isha-tan and Saria-tan performing a song that was already so wonderful... Oh! Just imagining it brings tears to my eyes...!"
"You... you're as creepy as ever..." Grimo muttered, looking on with utter disgust.
Those two, who were always trying to get me involved with music, would surely be happy to take it on. And if I adjusted this Magical Song properly, it would be possible to obtain effects other than recovery. If I could understand this properly, I might be able to apply it to magic as well. I started to feel a surge of excitement.
"Anyway, there's no time like the present. See you later, Connie. Get some good rest!"
"Ah, yes. Have a safe trip."
With a spring in my step, I headed toward the Church.