Chapter 12: 12

on Monday, September 4, 2017ein zwei

16-12 . A Conversation with God Tenion

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"Earl-sama, please change into this ceremonial clothing . "

"Yeah, I got it . "

I change into the ceremonial white robe .

It's very thin and they provide no underwear .

Initially, I'm doing the ceremony in a different room from Sera and then I get to put a crown-like metalwork on in the end .

Maybe it was due to the almost see-through garment I wore, during the ceremony, the female priestesses' eyes were staring really hard at me, it was a bit embarrassing .

"King, please come over here--"

The present head miko called me .

Apparently, I'm getting called [Ancient King] during this ceremony .

>Title [Ancient King] Acquired

Miko apprentice Lily is standing next to the present head miko .

"■■■■ <<Holy Crest Trans>>

"■■■■ <<Holy Crest Trans>>

With the present head miko's and miko apprentice Lily's holy magic, the crest inscribed on the holy robe got transcribed onto my body .

Next, it's the ceremony to communicate with God Tenion .

"King's entrance--"

I stepped my foot into the holy rite room with an attire that resembled the ancient king .

Many miko who have undergone the purification rite are standing in lines inside the room .

Looks like the present head miko is leading the ceremony .

"O king, stand before miko . "

Sera was waiting for me in mystical looking miko clothes at the center of the sanctuary .

I smiled at her when our eyes met since she seemed tense .

I feel that she's loosened herself a little .

When I've come before Sera, several miko get to our sides .

"O king, discard your worldly garment . "

--Eh?

I didn't hear anything about this you know?

Two of the miko take off my clothes .

Sera and the surrounding miko blushed when they saw my naked body .

I'm not an exhibitionist so I get embarrassed at this .

> Title [New Fetish Awakening] Acquired .

--No no, nothing is awakening okay .

The ceremony progressed while I complained to the title system in my mind .

"O miko of guidance, discard your worldly garment . "

Two miko take off Sera's clothes .

She only had one piece on her just like me so it was over in an instant .

--Oooh .

She's grown quite nicely compared to the last time I saw her during the Golden Wild Boar King incident nearly two years ago .

It's quite a sight, but this is bad .

I put my spirit into concentrating the Poker Face skill and managed to prevent myself from breaking out a grin .

Of course, one part of my body is getting lively .

> [Body Control] Skill Acquired .

> Title [Unscrupulous] Acquired

> Title [Gentlemen of Steel] Acquired

I'd like to know the reason for this timing, but for now I generously allocated the excess skill points I had on the [Body Control] skill I just got .

--Yup, quite a convenient skill .

Now I can continue the ceremony in relaxed state .

"O miko of guidance, show the king the way . "

With the present head miko's signal, Sera open both her arms wide and hugged me .

This 'fuyoyon' sensation is quite wonderful .

--Oops, this was a holy rite wasn't it .

I put my everything to ward off my worldly desires and focus on the ceremony .

> Title [Unavaricious One] Acquired

> Title [Enlightened] Acquired

> [Lust Control] Skill Acquired

Convenient, I also activated the Lust Control skill .

> Title [Hermit] Acquired .

I have no interest in becoming a hermit so I probably should turn off Lust Control skill once this ceremony is over .

『--O God . 』

Suddenly, I could hear Sera's words .

Not voice .

Her thought seemingly got transmitted to me through our touching skins .

> Title [Telepath] Acquired .

> Title [One who Communicates through Mind] Acquired .

> [Telepathy] Skill Acquired .

I have used Telepathy myself when Arisa became my familiar, or is that a different thing .

Oops, the ceremony might fail if I have unnecessary thoughts .

I turned off all the [AR] readings on my Menu to focus on the ceremony .

Lady Ringrande is in the Duchy Capital, while Hikaru and Liza are in the Royal Capital, they should be able to do something even in an emergency .

Besides, Arisa is with them too, familiar communication should be possible no matter what the situation is .

Sera looks up to the sky in my arms .

『O Great God who watches over us . 』

A serene light falls down from the sky as if answering Sera's call .

It seems to contain some kind of power, it feels tingly when it touches my body .

Sera who looked like she was in ecstasy turns expressionless .

She's probably entered trance state .

<<<AFFECTION>>><<<CHILD OF MAN>>><<<CONVEY>>><<<ANCIENT KING>>><<<WORDS>>><<<PETITION>>> .

Enumeration of words and images flowed through Sera to me .

It feels the same like when I heard oracle that fell from the sky back then .

I thought I had gotten Oracle skill but unfortunately the log didn't show it .

<<<CONVEY>>><<<ANCIENT KING>>><<<PETITION>>> .

Similar sounding phrases flowed again .

Is it okay to interpret this as "state your wish"?

Before that, I should greet her at least-- .

『Nice to meet you, Tenion-sama . I'm Satou Pendragon . 』

This ceremony is carried out with me as an [Ancient King], so I didn't use 'earl' and 'Marquis Muno's retainer' like I usually do .

<<<REJOICE>>><<<GOD>>><<<TENION>>> .

Waves that somehow felt gleeful came over .

Still, deciphering code while having a conversation is unexpectedly tiring .

--Come to think of it .

I recalled that there was [Decipher] skill in my skill list so I tried activating it .

<<<CONVEY>>><<<SATOU PENDRAGON>>><<<PETITION>>> .

It doesn't really change .

The only difference is that I could somehow understand the meaning .

『My wish is to have a conversation with Gods . 』

<<<LAUGH>>><<<CONVERSATION>>><<<ALREADY>>> .

I guess she's laughing since we're already having a conversation?

The impression I got felt somewhat different than how they were during the divine punishment .

It seems God Tenion is a more affable god than I thought .

『I'd like to ask the reason why Gods prohibited science and technology and the extent of it . 』

<<<UNINTELLIGIBLE>>><<<HEARSAY>>><<<REASON>>> .

It seems that either it couldn't get conveyed well, or that it was hard to understand what was conveyed, I think?

Indeed, it must be hard when even holding a conversation is this difficult .

Sera and other miko who have to decipher what they heard in the oracle and convey it to the statesmen sure have it hard .

--Wait a minute .

Sera and the others never mentioned that to me .

They told me about their experiences with oracles several times before, and they seemed like the were having a normal conversation .

I use mind magic and directly access Sera's mind .

If I did it normally, Sera's mind would break and she'd get crippled, but instead of invading her, I'm establishing a two-way mental bridge to try to make her Oracle skill into a sort of filter .

My view is dyed white the moment I'm connected with Sera .

<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka . com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel . >

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I'm floating in a white space brimming with light .

It's probably an image of mental world .

There's a lump of white light with a green outline shining brightly in front of me .

『If possible, I would love, to invite you, to the God's Realm . . . . 』

I could hear a voice coming from the light .

Apparently that white light with a green outline is God Tenion .

Intermittent, hard to hear radio-like voice continued on, but it's easier to understand compared to torrent-like images I got when there was no Oracle filter, .

I'll revise and correct it a bit in my brain .

『If that is possible, I would love to visit there myself . 』

『My? I can understand your words all of a sudden . 』

An image of lady laughing pleasantly was transmitted from the light .

Do I still need to go to the God's Realm if we can communicate this well?

『Would you mind if we get back on topic?』

『No, I don't mind . But let's make it brief . Before my dear miko's soul breaks . 』

I've only noticed after God Tenion pointed it out, true, the burden must be high on Sera .

Let's get to the point as quickly as possible .

『I'd like to know the reason and the extent of science and technology prohibition by gods . 』

『That's a classified information . 』

Her line sounded like a certain time traveler from the future but there is no way that God Tenion knows about light novels . It must be a coincidence .

『I cannot tell it to people who are bound by limited lifespan . 』

『No matter what?』

『That's right . If you really have to know no matter what, please come to the Garden of Gods in the God's Realm . And ask the Gods there . 』

So it all depends on me whether I can get an answer or not huh?

『I understand . I will be excusing myself into the Garden of Gods then . 』

I know the rough coordinates of the God's Realm from the marker I put on God Zaikuon .

Unit Arrangement can't do it, but but I think it's possible with World Teleportation using the enormous amount of mana obtained by the Void Sky Ether Furnace .

『Then I will assign a trial to Satou Pendragon . Obtain Gods Marks from the temples in this world . 』

--I got an errand Quest after coming all the way here?

God Tenion giggles from the white light .

『This is the first time someone is that calm in front of a God . 』

Come to think of it, since I'm mentally connected to Sera, my thought is grandly leaking out too huh .

『It's just as one would expect from someone acknowledged by that person . 』

『That person?』

I asked what she meant by that but God Tenion only replied with an image of giggles .

I'd like to press her further, but I'm worried about Sera's body and soul .

She's probably talking about that mysterious [Little Girl in Painting] anyway, I should stop asking more about it .

『How would I obtain the marks?』

『Go towards each Central Temples . 』

Central Temples huh .

I can ask head miko and the others about it .

『What should I do at the temples?』

『You will be assigned a trial by the God enshrined at each temple . 』

In other words, I just need to clear each of their trials huh .

『What kind of trials are they?』

『That depends on the Gods who give them . 』

Too bad, looks like I can't get any hint .

『However, it will likely be something to do with gathering piety . 』

『Piety is it?』

I heard it as [Piety] through Sera's filter, but the image was like abstract noise with [Prayer] included within .

It feels like it includes prayers from people that aren't religious too .

『Yes, that's correct . We don't have enough divinity to protect the world because of the recent Divine Punishment . Piety from people that reach Gods turn into divinity that will become the shell that protects the world . 』

『Shell is it?』

I wonder if it's a role of Gods that didn't get handed down amongst people?

I'll ask more about this when I visit the God's Realm .

『Please be mindful about order in your pilgrimage, some Gods are particular about ranks . 』

--Guess that could put them in bad mood?

God Tenion gave an affirmation to the question I had in mind before I could said it .

『Could you tell me the ranks?』

Then, images of Gods got through me in turns .

Heraruon, Garleon, Urion, Zaikuon, Karion, Parion, that's the turn it seems .

『Karion and Urion aren't particular about ranks, but Urion will probably sulk if he's put after Zaikuon . And Karion might not like it if he's the last . 』 <TLN: Their genders aren't specified in the raw . >

『How about Tenion-sama?』

『I will give my mark to you here . 』

A small light split from God Tenion's light and got sucked into my palm .

There's no image of body here though, so it just somehow felt like I got it around mt palm .

>Title [Mark of Tenion] Acquired

>Title [One Acknowledged by Tenion] Acquired

>Title [Tenion's Saint] Acquired

『Do your best on the errand . . . 』

God Tenion's white light goes away while giggling .

◇

"You took a fancy to that phrase huh . . . . "

That muttering came out of my own mouth .

Looks like my chance meeting with God Tenion is over .

The limp Sera is unconscious in my arms .

I fill the exhausted Sera with mana and stamina .

I check to see if there's anything wrong with Sera's soul using Soul Sight, Spirit Sight, and Miasma Sight .

It's in exhaustion but there's no obvious cracks or fissures .

She should get back to health if she takes it easy and recuperates .

" . . . Satou-san . "

"I can't thank you enough . I was able to talk with God Tenion thanks to Sera-san . "

"I'm so glad . . . . "

I leave Sera who fell unconscious again in the other miko's care .

After entrusting the rest to the present head miko, I head to the head miko private room in the sanctuary along with miko apprentice Lily .

It seems like Lily is still using the room even now .

Even though there's probably no one who would eavesdrop us, I'll use space magic-made isolation barrier for counterintelligence here .

It may not be as strong as Goblin Princess Yuika's Unique Skill, but this barrier is strong enough that we wouldn't notice even if a nuclear bomb were to explode nearby .

"Were you able to speak with God Tenion?"

"Yes, I received a revelation to go on a pilgrimage to Central Temples that enshrine the Gods . "

I talk about the Trials of Gods stuff to Lily .

"It's like the ancient hero king that appears in the myth isn't it . "

That reminds me, there's a story about a hero that challenged the trial to become a familiar god of God Parion .

The talk wandered a bit, and then Lily told me about the countries where the Central Temples are located .

"All of them are in the western part of the continent huh . "

"Yes, it is said that they evacuated to the west for their safety when Furu Empire was collapsing . "

I see, there were Central Temples in Furu Empire, the largest country in the world at that time .

After getting the information I needed, I had a pleasant chat with Lily about the impression I got from my conversation with God Tenion as the topic .

"--Ara? It's this time already . Regretfully enough, senpai miko Hina would get mad at me if I don't get back soon . "

As an apprentice miko, Lily said the name of a miko instructor and jokingly said, "She's really strict you know?"

I undo the space magic-made isolation barrier .

Then I heard quake-like vibrations and roaring sounds that sounded like collapsing buildings .

It appears that the Duchy Capital was under attack by someone with a really good timing .

I put the [Menu] skill's display back on .

Now then, it has been awhile, let us begin hero's time .

※ Next update is planned for 9/10 .

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