◇ ◇ ◇
The day after I imprisoned Nagisa in a room within the Shinonome manor, I found myself ascending the Sacred Mountain.
"So, Lady Philly. What exactly was that device you used to lock Lady Nagisa away?"
Kiryuu, who was accompanying me, voiced his suspicion.
"It is a magic tool Orun Doura used during his battle with the Great Hero last year. It was left abandoned afterward, so I saw fit to recover it."
"The Demon King Orun Doura... Then it must be a formidable tool indeed. It is heartening to know you have begun mass-producing them."
"...Unfortunately, mass production has proven impossible."
The magic tool I happened to acquire during that incident in the Regrif Territory functions by deploying a barrier that seals off a target space, then consuming everything within that space in a localized inferno.
However, despite our depth of analysis, we were unable to replicate the spell formula sealed within it for some reason. Neither the Doctor nor the Thunder Emperor—a mana lifeform himself—could fully decipher the construction. Both were left marveled by the sheer technical skill of the artificer who had crafted it.
There was no way the Orun of that time could have created it. To this day, the identity of the person who actually built such a tool remains a mystery. Since he was the one in possession of it, I imagine it must have been someone close to him, yet I cannot think of a single person who fits the description.
"I see. So there is only one of them in existence."
"Yes. That is the reality of it."
While engaging in idle chatter with Kiryuu, our destination, the Tenrei Shrine, finally came into view. We passed through the torii gate and stepped onto the shrine grounds.
Beside the main hall that stood grandly before us, a yagura—a wooden stage for offering ceremonial dances—had been erected. I could feel a density of mana emanating from that stage powerful enough to make the very air vibrate.
Confronted with that reality, a smile inadvertently tugged at my lips.
As I stepped onto the stage, I felt as though I could almost see the massive quantities of mana converging there with my own eyes. Even someone like me, who possesses poor mana perception, could feel its enormity. That was how much power was gathered in this place.
"Fufu. The conditions are perfect."
I murmured to myself as I manifested an object resembling the Inky Egg that had swallowed Beria near the royal capital of the Nohitant Kingdom months ago. I placed it at the center of the yagura.
"Lady Philly, what is it you intend to do?"
Kiryuu questioned me as I finished the setup and descended from the stage.
"I am going to summon our god."
This world exists within a colossal barrier designed to block out the mana of the outside world, which acts as a lethal poison to humanity. Maintaining such a barrier requires an astronomical amount of energy. However, in this world where the flow of outside mana has been severed, not even a Fairy Tale Hero could hope to secure enough energy to fuel it.
Therefore, the person who established this world set his sights on the existence they refer to as the Evil God.
Lord Oberon is also a mana lifeform. By sealing Lord Oberon’s movements, his mana is siphoned away to serve as the energy source for the world's maintenance. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Lord Oberon is the very pillar supporting this world’s continued existence.
And yet, the vast majority of humans live their lives in blissful ignorance of this fact.
"Don't you find it comical?" I continued quietly. "This world is sustained only by the presence of the archenemy who once drove humanity to the brink of extinction. Modern humans are creatures that can do nothing but perish should Lord Oberon ever vanish."
That said, the sheer mana capacity of the mighty Lord Oberon exceeds the requirements of maintaining the World of Principles of Magic. That surplus mana flows through the leylines, creating Labyrinths across the globe. The magic beasts born within those Labyrinths are, essentially, his vanguards manifested from his power.
When those magic beasts die, a portion of their mana crystallizes into a magic stone, while the remainder becomes "Black Mist" that drifts through the air. This Black Mist is the diluted essence of Lord Oberon’s mana itself.
And all that Black Mist eventually congregates here—at the Sacred Mountain.
"Kiryuu, do you know the true nature of the Reibu Festival ritual held here once a year?"
"I am a man of the Tendou house. I know only that it is a traditional ceremony."
"I see. Then allow me to enlighten you. The essence of the ritual is to vent the mana of Lord Oberon stored within the Sacred Mountain into the outside world."
In the proper ritual, the ceremonial dance creates a conduit, and the yoryoku residing in the cursed katanas serves to push Lord Oberon’s mana through that path and out of this world.
"However, for the past several years, the absence of the Shinonome house has prevented the ritual from being completed."
Performing the dance alone might vent a fraction of the power, but if they had managed to clear even thirty percent of the total volume stored in the mountain, they would be lucky.
"As a result, Lord Oberon’s mana has accumulated within the Sacred Mountain to the point of overflowing. With this much volume, it should be possible to awaken his very personality."
Having finished my explanation, I took out a specialized magic tool the Doctor had crafted for me.
The device began to manipulate the vast mana stored within the mountain. The moment I felt the earth shudder, mana erupted from the ground as if a volcano were blowing its top, swallowing the yagura whole.
The Inky Egg at the center of the stage began to drink in that titanic power. However, it could not contain it all; the mana leaking from the egg dispersed into the sky, dyeing the atmosphere above the capital at the foot of the mountain a deep, inky color.
"Fufufu, what a magnificent sight. I was right to wait until the sun was fully up."
I smiled with profound satisfaction as I watched the blue sky being stained nishoku.
Before long, inky droplets like rain began to fall from the blackened sky.
"Soon. Very soon. Oh, how long I have waited for this moment."
The inky rain falling across the land around the Sacred Mountain began to dye the earth just as it had the sky. Eventually, the wet ground began to squirm, rising up in surging waves. It gradually gained definition, forming grotesque shapes reminiscent of magic beasts.
Finally, they began to possess what seemed like a will of their own.
The air grew heavy and stagnant, saturated with their presence. These entities that had begun to move started to overrun the land all at once, as if intent on dragging humanity into a world of finality.
The roars of these "Inky Monsters" were saturated with rage and malice. It was the raw fury released from the deepest depths of Lord Oberon’s being.
"…………A scene from hell. I suppose that is the only way to describe this."
As I stood there, satisfied with the sight of the Inky Monsters beginning their rampage, I heard Kiryuu’s cold voice from beside me. I nodded at his assessment and turned my gaze toward the summit of the Sacred Mountain.
In the distance, a sound like rolling thunder echoed, and throughout the city, Inky Monsters were being born one after another. In direct proportion, the confusion and screams of the populace grew louder.
Now, let it begin. From here in Kyokutou, the world shall be swallowed by death.
Show me even more chaos——.
◇
"Fufufu. The screams of humans are a delight no matter how many times one hears them."
The cries of the people being set upon by the sudden arrival of the Inky Monsters had grown loud enough to reach halfway up the Sacred Mountain.
"You have quite the refined taste, Lady Philly."
Kiryuu, standing beside me, let slip a comment that could easily be taken as sarcasm. When I looked at him, his face was startlingly expressionless. I couldn't read a single one of his thoughts from that mask.
As I began to feel suspicious of his behavior, he spoke again.
"However, it seems things rarely go entirely according to plan."
"...What is that supposed to mean?"
I questioned the true meaning of his words while sharpening my alertness.
I had placed Kiryuu under Perception Alteration. I should have strictly forbidden him from ever turning his blade toward me, yet for some reason, he projected an aura that made me feel I could be cut down at any second.
"I mean nothing by it. It is simply that I have sensed a rather nostalgic presence."
"A presence...?"
I could sense nothing of what he was talking about. Was this some sensation unique to warriors?
"Yes. The presence of my beloved disciple—the only daughter of the Shinonome house. Beyond that, several other powerful presences have suddenly manifested within the country."
"Don't tell me... Fuuka Shinonome?! And several other powerful presences...!"
Fuuka should still be traveling with Orun and the others. That meant that not only Fuuka, but Orun as well had come to Kyokutou.
"To arrive at this exact timing... this is completely outside my calculations."
"What are your orders?"
I bit my lip slightly at Kiryuu’s question. In this situation, there was no doubt that Orun’s group would attempt to climb the Sacred Mountain. Even so, my goal remained the same. I had to complete the God Summoning here.
"Kiryuu, descend the mountain and intercept them."
"I understand. Then, I shall take my leave."
Obeying my command, Kiryuu began his descent. As I watched his back, I cursed silently.
If this was going to happen, I should have brought Luary along. ...No, there is no point in dwelling on that now.
I forced my mind to pivot away from useless regrets and turned my attention back toward the city where the screams were rising. The cries continued, but the sounds of battle were starting to break out from various locations.
"Now then, I suppose I should make some preparations of my own."
Kiryuu’s strength is the real thing, but I sensed a strange dissonance in him earlier. Furthermore, as he said, things rarely go exactly as planned.
I should take measures in case they manage to make it up the mountain.