Side Story Chapter 2: The ‘Voice-Spirit that Constructs the World’ Grants a Holy Audience. (Part 2)
[‘Scales that Judge Souls’ is satisfied, saying the handsome man is even cute.]
Honestly, I felt the same way, so I decided to overlook it generously.
It seemed he was trying to create a date atmosphere for our rare dinner alone.
“Hmm, I should have worn something prettier too.”
“You’re pretty as you are.”
“I want to be prettier, though? Wait. A leather harness and a Holy Saint’s ceremonial robe together…”
“Th-that’s!”
Tesillid suddenly grabbed my wrist, as if something was urgent.
“Terry?”
He ran a dry hand over his face with his free hand, letting out a small sound, neither a sigh nor a groan, between his lips. His already charming baritone seemed to have a fatal effect.
Unconsciously, I swallowed dryly. Just as I felt my restrained wrist grow hot, he pleaded in a voice that seemed to be suppressing something.
“…That’s too much. Please, just stay like this.”
“…”
Two questions arose here.
What was ‘too much’.
And why did the cabin suddenly get so warm?
“H-hungry? Shall we eat?”
“Yes, Aillet…”
We sat opposite each other at the table.
Fortunately or unfortunately, with food before us, the awkwardness and embarrassment quickly faded.
The table, adorned with flowers and candles, created quite a romantic atmosphere, and the abundant dishes looked and tasted wonderful.
However, there was one shortcoming, which we voiced after quenching our thirst with drinks.
“It’s a shame it’s not that wine from back then.”
“Right. That was really delicious.”
‘That wine’ referred to the ‘Highest Grade Ceremonial Wine’ received as a reward for completing stage 6 of the Incantation Cult Master’s Mission.
A wine from the divine realm, made from Eden Farm grapes. Though ceremonial, it tasted excellent.
Perhaps because it was a special wine from the divine realm, it couldn’t even be duplicated into a picnic basket.
Currently, we were drinking other wine enhanced significantly in flavor by being poured into the ‘Chalice of Rite’, but it couldn’t compare to the experience of an Eden Farm vineyard unfolding on the tongue.
Well, what can we do? We’ll have to be satisfied with what we have.
“The Voice-Spirit said that wine is for ceremonies, so we shouldn’t drink it anymore.”
It was during dinner, as we exchanged food, putting this dish and that dish onto each other’s plates.
Tesillid showed interest in the ‘Chalice of Rite’ occupying a corner of the table. Indeed, the large golden goblet, dazzlingly studded with jewels, was enough to capture anyone’s gaze.
“Aillet, I’ve been curious, what’s the name of this artifact?”
“What do you think it is?”
“Hmm… The Drinker’s Goblet?”
“Nope. It’s the Chalice of Rite.”
“…It was a chalice for holy communion?”
When the holy Holy Knight asked back so surprised, it was as if I had committed blasphemy.
I explained the story behind this artifact.
“This is a communication artifact I bought when the Voice-Spirit temporarily blocked me… or rather, was a bit sulky with me.”
“What happened with the Voice-Spirit?”
“It was when I went to the Pontifical Palace with those Praising Knights. I didn’t get framed and dragged to the interrogation room like you, but I did go through some infuriating things. I figured I’d burst a vein if I kept working as a low-ranking priest in such a corrupt cult, so I boldly told them I’d become a saint. But from the Voice-Spirit’s perspective, it meant I was taking the title of a saint in another cult, so they were quite hurt.”
“Thinking about it, it really is an act of apostasy… but there’s no choice if you want to avoid heresy interrogation, is there?”
“So I explained it well. This artifact helped me communicate with the Voice-Spirit back then. I haven’t had to use it for that purpose since, so I’m just using its additional features.”
By the way, special effect options are added from +5 enhancement. The +5 effect is purification of drink toxins, and the +6 effect is enhancement of alcohol flavor.
“Quite practical, I see.”
At that moment, Tesillid paused even chewing his food, lost in thought.
“The Chalice of Rite, huh…”
As I admired the handsome, serious face, he asked an interesting question.
“Aillet, what happens if you pour ceremonial wine into the Chalice of Rite?”
One was an artifact bought directly from the divine realm. The other was a divine beverage, not for sale, gifted by a deity.
The combination of two sacred substances, both prefixed with ‘ceremonial’, would surely produce extraordinary results.
“Probably incredibly…”
Tesillid and I abruptly raised our heads and met each other’s gaze, as if by agreement. I read excitement in each other’s eyes.
“The wine will taste better, right?”
“It should, right?”
If that magnificent Eden Farm wine were poured into the Chalice of Rite to trigger its +6 effect, it might truly produce a taste beyond heaven, even heavenly.
Ah, just one sip?
Since the Voice-Spirit is conveniently away, just one sip? Huh?!
[‘Scales that Judge Souls’ says its true self will stand guard.]
[‘Creative Economy Manager’ watches with interest.]
The gods’ encouragement emboldened me. I solemnly took out the ceremonial wine.
“Let’s just taste it, Terry.”
“Will you be satisfied with just a taste?”
“Yes!”
“Hmm, alright.”
I decided to enlist the help of Tesillid, who had strong self-control, lest I pour it all out myself.
I held the Chalice of Rite, and Tesillid picked up the wine bottle and tilted its spout slightly.
Glug-glug.
“Aren’t you pouring too little? It’s really just one sip!”
“Aillet, you drink it all.”
“Why? You should taste it too.”
“It’s fine.”
Tesillid, setting down the wine bottle, smiled gently at me.
“I’ll drink what’s left.”
“There won’t be anything left…?”
“There will be. Enough for a taste.”
His confident words felt somehow profound. Indeed, my intuition was soon proven correct.
[‘Scales that Judge Souls’ is absolutely thrilled, saying you don’t necessarily have to drink it yourself to taste it.]
[‘Eye that Oversees All Chaos’ is indignant, asking how Tesillid has hidden such cunning until now.]
[‘Scathing Critic of Balance’ comments that Tesillid hasn’t wasted his seven thousand years after all.]
…So that’s what he meant!
To think he had such an excellent plan!
My face felt slightly hot.
“Drink up, Aillet.”
The low rumble in his throat, from stifling laughter, tickled my ear. I spoke as if nothing was amiss.
“…If you’re going to taste it after I drink it, speed seems important. Before the taste and aroma disappear… ahem, you should come closer to me.”
“Shall I?”
Tesillid didn’t hesitate, pulling his chair closer until he was right beside me. Our shoulders pressed tightly together.
Good, preparation complete.
Here I go!
I gripped the Chalice firmly with both hands. And just as I brought it towards my lips.
“Huh?”
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, something strange happened inside the Chalice.
The shallow wine began to spin increasingly fast. It was as if a tiny hurricane raged within the world inside the Chalice.
‘Th-this is strange? Usually, it just sparkles for a moment and that’s it?’
It was that moment of panic.
Whoosh!
“Gasp?”
“Aillet!”
The vortex of wine erupted from the Chalice. Tesillid urgently pulled me into an embrace as if to protect me, and at the same time, a sweet tide of Edenic wine engulfed us.
Soon, my consciousness evaporated like alcohol.
✠
At the same time.
In a beautiful flower garden where tens of thousands of flowers bloomed, a place called the ‘Hall of Saints of the Incantation Cult’, two female spirit entities sat opposite each other, enjoying tea time.
One of them was Agnes Azlit. And the other was the saint from 200 years ago, Lucretia Deloard, who had been proselytized into the Incantation Cult on the condition of establishing the ‘Saint Lucretia Church’.
<You’ve been visiting quite often lately, Saint Agnes.>
<Yes, Saint Lucretia. Situations often arise where I feel I should discreetly step aside.>
<What a kind soul. His Holiness and the Holy Sword’s Master should truly know of Saint Agnes’s thoughtfulness.>
<Indeed. Anyway, just in case, I plan to stay out overnight today.>
<Do you mean that by now, those two are…?>
<Yes. By now.>
<Oh, my, my, my.>
The two spirit entities smiled without a word. In reality, ‘those two’ were currently facing a completely different emergency than what they imagined.
<Anyway, Saint Lucretia, please play with me.>
<Alright. Let’s have some spirited fun together, Saint Agnes.>
A moment later.
CRASH! BOOM! BANG!
Loud roars continuously echoed across the Hall of Saints.
<It’s infuriating to be stuck between such a passionate couple!>
<It’s fine! We can have an intense time too!>
<Yes! Here we go again, Saint Lucretia!>
<Come on, come on in!>
The sword thrust by the blonde knight and the fists thrown by the platinum-haired middle-aged priest clashed incessantly.
✠
“Aillet, wake up. Aillet.”
“…”
Hearing Tesillid’s voice, I snapped my eyes open as if waking from a doze.
My fragmented memories quickly reconnected, so I understood I had been swept away by the Chalice’s wine vortex in just one second.
Then, what needed to be done was…
“Terry, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Aillet, are you?”
“I’m fine too.”
To confirm each other’s safety, and…
“But where are we?”
To figure out this unfamiliar place.
I dusted off my clothes, stood up, and looked around.
It was a space like a blank white expanse. The only things faintly visible were enormous marble pillars rising at regular intervals.
My gaze involuntarily traced upwards along the pillars. Even craning my neck back until it hurt, I couldn’t see their tops.
Perhaps it was due to the overwhelming scale. I even thought that these pillars might be supporting not just a mere ceiling, but the vast sky itself.
‘Ah, this isn’t the time for this.’
Snapping to attention, I activated the system map. But then.
[
It displayed as an unknown region, and no information was output. This hadn’t even happened when entering the Tomb of Chaos Gods.
Immediately upon realizing I couldn’t rely on the system, my five senses became busy.
Only then did I sense an extraordinary energy mixed in the air of this white space. Instinctively, I carefully quieted my breathing.
“Aillet.”
Turning at his low voice, I saw Tesillid gazing straight ahead. As I aligned my gaze with his, the scenery began to register.
In front of us, a long, winding staircase unfurled. However, it wasn’t for ascending floors. It was merely part of a platform supporting a magnificent chair.
‘A throne? …No, no.’
I knew instinctively. That was no mere throne.
‘Divine Throne.’
It was the moment I recognized it. A being appeared from the empty chair.
As if it had been there from the very beginning.