There was no reason to delay, so Hio acted immediately.
“Is it only you, Hio Pavlenko-nim, who will be going?”
Hio nodded.
“I’ll be enough on my own.”
Of course, there was a bit of pushback from Airlights.
“What about me?”
“You stay here and wait with Regarda.”
“Tch.”
Even if she made it obvious how disappointed she was, there was nothing to be done.
This was a place suspected to be the Holy Magician’s House.
Regarda and Airlights both needed to be careful in any place related to Holy Power.
Kreutzvalt’s necromancy has a structure completely different from traditional necromancy.
He used a new power called dark mana, not Death Aura, so his creations looked no different from living people.
Unless someone, like Hio, possessed related knowledge or was exposed to Holy Power, no one would ever suspect they were undead.
But this was the heart of the Order.
And the place he was headed almost certainly teemed with Holy Power, making it impossible to bring companions.
It’s only because of the current era that I can come here at all. If this were the past, when Holy Power was overflowing, I wouldn’t have even gotten near the capital, let alone the center.
Just as Furnel had said, Holy Power had weakened so much it couldn’t even be compared to the past.
The fact that undead were now walking openly in the capital of the Holy Kingdom was nothing less than a testament to its declining divinity.
“I’ll guide you right away.”
Regarda, Freya, and Airlights returned to their original lodgings, and Hio followed Herald.
Trailing behind him were more than a dozen priests, each in snow-white priest’s robes.
When Hio subtly asked Herald why everyone was moving together like this:
“It’s due to the special nature of our destination.”
So he said.
Even so, it’s just the Magician’s House.
‘Why the big group?’
‘Anyway, holy magic…’
Hio’s Holy Power had been obtained when he evolved the 2nd-circle magic ‘Shield’ into a hidden trait.
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t originally holy magic.
But what if he could directly wield holy magic and even evolve it further?
He would surely surpass even ‘Celestial’ level when it came to Holy Power.
That thought led to a sudden question.
‘Come to think of it, wasn’t there no holy magic in the Tetradia Magic Tower? Even though it’s called magic…’
It was called holy ‘magic’ after all.
He’d never seen any mention of holy magic in the Magic Tower, which supposedly had anything related to magic.
‘Was that because Hio’s rank was too low, or did it truly not exist there? He asked Furnel, who was always eager for old stories, and got an immediate reply.’
Even in my time, holy magicians were rare. There’s little known even about the Magician’s House.
‘Why only holy magic?’
It was called holy magic, but in reality, it was more like a transformation from pure divinity toward magic. You can’t call it pure magic, and it’s also not quite pure divinity. If you had to say, it leans more toward divinity.
‘So… are you saying holy magic doesn’t need mana?’
That’s right. Holy magic is about using Holy Power like mana. That’s why many magicians refused to even recognize the term holy magic. They said it should be called holy arts, not holy magic.
‘…Honestly, I think that makes sense.’
‘Can you call something magic if you don’t use mana?’
It’s hardly any different from what the priests who wield divinity do.
Magic is supposed to be about carefully carving runes with mana, piece by piece, completing the puzzle, and awakening power with each step.
While Hio mulled over this, he could hear Furnel tutting quietly.
Even though he didn’t have a tongue.
-Tsk tsk… Do you know what we called people like you in my day? A magic geezer, a real magic geezer.
So young, yet your thinking is so stuck… tsk.
-Using only Holy Power to imitate magic was just the early form of holy magic, and of course, it developed further. There were always attempts to combine and use both mana and Holy Power together, and there were some results too. Only those people were truly acknowledged as holy magicians.
‘…You could have said that first.’
-History should always be traced back from the past, slowly. Tsk tsk… Kids these days…
Just as Furnel was about to launch into one of those “kids these days have no drive, back in my day…” speeches, Hio quickly cut him off.
‘Is it really possible to combine Holy Power and mana into one magic?’
It was possible. True magicians didn’t serve the gods.
But what if they wielded magic while serving a god? They were oddballs. In the terms of your world, I guess you’d call them MZ Generation magicians.
That’s why holy magicians were rare, and why the Magic Tower never created a dedicated section for them before the war started…
‘Fascinating… Then how does holy magic manifest as magic?’
That I don’t know. What I hated most when I was alive were priests and Holy Power. With just a few words, those guys could turn my precious undead army, crafted over months of work, to spring snow in an instant. It broke my heart every time…
Furnel’s story, for once, was quite interesting.
But after getting the main points, Hio shut his ears to the following tearful stories about undead and Furnel’s heartfelt laments.
No matter how often it happened, he always talked too much.
“Is Her Majesty the Empress of Verden well these days?”
Just then, Herald struck up a conversation, making it much easier to ignore Furnel’s voice.
“With so many incidents lately, I am worried, but I think she’ll be all right.”
“Hoho. You must be very close. I can hear the worry in your voice.”
“Well… I’ve seen her in various situations, so I can’t help but worry.”
To the world, Sylvia now appeared every bit the picture of the Empress, but Hio, who knew what was behind the mask, couldn’t help but worry.
In these turbulent times, she must be struggling a lot.
Herald gave Hio a gentle, knowing smile.
“There may be great celebrations ahead for the Empire. Hohoho.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean by celebrations…?”
“Well now. Hohohoho.”
***
He didn’t know why Herald was laughing like that, but he seemed happy, so Hio didn’t ask further.
After laughing like that, Herald quickly straightened his expression and spoke again in a slightly concerned tone.
“Are you really sure about this? As a reward for saving the city, it feels rather… It’s really just an empty space. It may be quite different from what you imagine.”
“It’s fine. An empty underground space. That’s exactly what I was looking for.”
“If you ever find you want something else, please don’t hesitate to say so.”
“Hahaha. You really don’t need to worry. I’m a magician. A magician, you know. Hahaha!”
Hio could understand Herald’s concern, but from Hio’s point of view… it was rather cute.
The kind of look a seasoned veteran gives a nervous newbie. That kind of cuteness. It’s not like this is the first time he’s seen this reaction.
Smiling confidently, Hio pictured Herald’s jaw-dropping reaction, just like in Arileia.
“…Yes. I hope you get what you want.”
They exited Hiberunia Castle and headed for the building next door.
A long, sprawling white structure.
It was none other than the headquarters of the Order of Liphyue.
Inside, everything was white—white tiles, white pillars.
Priests in white robes bowed in their own way as Herald’s party passed.
“Let’s go.”
Guided by Herald, they moved deeper inside until they reached a massive stone wall.
A light gray wall that soared up to the high ceiling, blocking their way.
A soldier of the Order, standing guard, recognized Herald and began to open the enormous double doors.
“This is the place.”
Beyond lay the very heart of the Order of Liphyue.
It was the spot where Hio had met Irina just a few days ago.
Massive columns, reminiscent of the Parthenon in Greece, surrounded the empty center, where twelve rods were placed in a circle.
Unlike when the battle with the dragon had been raging, now the ceiling was closed off, and the sky could not be seen.
“That day, we had the ceiling open for the holy blessing. We call that the Sacred Sky.”
Herald continued his explanation.
The Order of Liphyue was built around this place, and it held immense historical significance.
Throughout its long history, it had never allowed a single foreign invasion.
Thus, this place was called the Sanctuary.
“Most people think it’s the Order’s center and a Sanctuary just because of its historical value. But in truth, the real Sanctuary is elsewhere.”
Herald moved to a statue set beside one of the pillars, rather than the empty space in the center.
That statue was actually a device that could activate the Sanctuary’s various functions.
When Herald grasped the statue’s hand and twisted it like a handle, with a rumbling sound, the floor began to split apart.
The center of the pillars opened up, revealing a descending staircase.
Hio nodded in understanding.
Indeed, the kind of design and device you’d expect from an MZ Generation magician’s house.
“Down there is what has long been called the true Sanctuary.”
The stairs gave off an ancient, dignified feel.
“Let’s head down.”
Herald led the way, Hio followed, and the priests came after him.
They descended the stairs and arrived at the first underground level.
“This is… the Sanctuary?”
The revealed scene was anything but what one would expect from a Sanctuary.
It looked no different from a Magician’s House.
In short, it was really just an empty space.
Even so, this place held legitimacy, and had long been regarded as sacred. When one is formally appointed as an Initiate Priest of Lifye, they spend three days here in prayer.”
“…I see.”
Even hearing that, it was just a vast underground space to Hio.
A space so wide it was excessive even for a Magician’s House.
For a Sanctuary, not even a single statue of the goddess could be seen—just a typical Magician’s House.
“Does this meet your expectations?”
So Hio replied with certainty.
“Yes. Absolutely.”
This was a Magician’s House.
“Just wait a little. I’ll show you something amazing.”
“Something amazing, you say…”
Herald’s voice was still tinged with doubt.
This was a place that had been proven for centuries.
Long ago, in the age of overflowing Holy Power, perhaps there was something here, but now it was completely empty—merely a symbol.
‘What was this magician planning to do in such a place?’
“Let’s see… Where could it be hidden?”
Hio closed his eyes and concentrated.
Finding the path that led beneath the Magician’s House was now easy for him.
First, he looked for traces of mana flows.
Following those, he could roughly figure out what kind of magic circle was hidden here, and how the underground space was protected and concealed.
Like that… five minutes passed.
“Hmm… Whoever did it, hid it thoroughly.”
The traces of mana were so faint, even Hio, a genius at sensing mana, could barely detect anything.
In fact, he was starting to wonder if there were any traces at all.
“Are you all right?”
Herald asked again.
“Haha! Just a little more patience. It won’t be long. Hahaha!”
Hio hid his panic behind loud laughter.
Five minutes became ten.
Ten became fifteen, then nearly twenty.
By then, he had no choice but to admit it.
‘I’m screwed.’
This wasn’t the Magician’s House.
He couldn’t feel even a trace of mana, not a single thing.
This really was just an empty underground space.
‘Why do they call this a Sanctuary? It’s just an empty room!’
That’s not the problem. The look in the priests’ eyes isn’t normal.
After watching him do nothing for twenty minutes, Herald’s gaze had definitely changed.
A look that said, I knew it… How pitiful.
The priests were no different.
Some stood with arms crossed, looking Hio up and down with rather disrespectful eyes.
‘Can a priest act like that?’ Well, maybe there’s no rule against it.
‘I bragged so confidently… What do I do now?’
-Tsk, who told you to jump to conclusions?
‘You said yourself at first this was definitely the place!’
Ahem! Anyway, you made a mistake, so go and apologize to those priests. Tell them you’re sorry.
‘…Damn it.’
It was embarrassing, but he had no choice.
He’d have to admit Herald was right and look elsewhere.
“…Everyone.”
As Hio slowly opened his eyes, about to utter his awkward first words—
The Pioneer has arrived.
Suddenly, a pure white light began to fill the underground space called the Sanctuary.
It was so bright and white that it made the priests’ lanterns seem dim.
That light filled the underground.
A voice echoed faintly, clear and sacred.
Hope has come.
The faintly forming silhouette was beautiful just by its appearance.
Child.
That dazzling light and the form of the goddess reached out and drew Hio in.
Come over here for a moment.
With that final resonance, Hio blinked.
The white light was gone.
The goddess’s sublime form vanished.
The beautiful resonance faded.
And even Hio himself disappeared completely.
This place, since ancient times, was where one could commune with the gods more closely than anywhere else—a space created for that very purpose.
A sacred domain.
That’s why it was called the Sanctuary.
“The goddess! The goddess has descended!”
“Waaaah! Oh goddess!”
“Waaaaaaaaah!”
It was only natural that Herald and the priests, who witnessed such a scene right before their eyes, should weep and faint on the spot.