I walked through the gate of what is known as the "First Institute for the Study of Demons" and entered the building.

　The entrance is a wide cubic space, both vertically and horizontally, and the ceiling and walls are too far away for you to feel comfortable.
　It seems to be a simple waiting room, with rush mats pulled out at equal intervals on dry earth. People from the city are sitting on the ground and talking with the installed 'Flame God's Stone' as a light.

　One by one on the east and west walls in the distance, the gates leading to the corridor had large openings. And at the front, there were many long wooden desks set up horizontally, each one lined with gray rag-clad attendants who dealt with the many visitors.

　The interior is lacking in character.
　The only decoration is a line of black ore between the floor and the walls.

　When I'm a little disappointed, an attendant speaks to one of the attendants lined up in front of me. He seems to let me through the conversation, just as he did in the workshop earlier.

　A few minutes later, a boy emerges from a small door behind the reception desk.
　He was about my height, with wispy blond hair that hung down in his habit. He wore a pure white cloth that stood out from the rest of the attendants in the line, and he carried a large book of scripture (or so it seemed) at his side.

Welcome. Is it a special case that you called me?
'Sorry to bother you. As you may have guessed, we've got an important visitor from Hoosier's. Would you mind telling him how great this place is from you?
Okay. If that's okay with you.

　They seemed to know each other.
　After some light banter, it was decided that the boy would be in charge of showing us around.
　However, the master looks around with a slightly puzzled look on his face. Turning to the adult attendant standing at the other desk, he inquires of the attendant.

''Well, did you adjust to Tiara's age?　You don't have to worry about that much--
''No, he is the highest-ranking official in the First Institute of Demonology right now. Including his family background, there is no one more qualified than him to guide Lady Tiara and the others. Above all, he is very talented. There is no one more knowledgeable in this city, including the adults, than him. I'm sure Aikawa-sama will love him right away.

　He is recommended by the chamberlain and is someone that Master likes - which means that this boy is also a big-headed man who loves the culture and traditions of the city. Upon hearing this, the master apologizes after a light coughing fit.

''I'm sorry, for asking you to question your work. Take care of yourself today.
No, that's not surprising. It's nice to meet you too, brother and sister. Since it's your first time at ......, let's just go around the facility for now.

　The boy takes over the leading role from the chamberlain and invites us to the cloister at the eastern wall.
　As we walk next to him, the master first begins to ask him about the history of Altofel religion. The boy replies "gladly" as we walk, and proceeds to tell us the story in a familiar manner.

'-- here in Fania, we used to worship the earth gods in the old days, praying for the safety of working in the mines. Also, there was a fair amount of flooding, so the god of water, too. Other gods, such as the fertility god and the sun god, also survive in the literature. They believed in a variety of gods, and various forms of teachings permeated Fania.

　It's not so unusual history.
　Since no particularly great power teachings have come in (and also because the power of the higher up Hoosier State is weak and less regulated), the people must have been free to revere nature and worship the native gods.
　I've heard that the big religions are growing in breadth around the center of the continent, but they haven't yet propagated to the small country of Hoozeyars.

　Since the information wasn't that fresh, I listened to the boy's story and looked at the wall paintings in the cloister and at the back of the small rooms.

　Inside every room, the 'Flame God's Stone' was placed and it was very bright. And everyone was kneeling in that bright flame, folding their hands and praying. While keeping those people in sight, the rest of the explanation came from his ears.

'So far, I don't think it's all that different from any other territory or country. The only thing that has changed is when the dark clouds began to spread across the sky. With the loss of the sun shining in the heavens, people have lost the light and warmth from the world. And they realize the importance of a certain power. The power of fire--the power of fire--that is needed to bring back the light and warmth that was lost.

　So, the Fire God was picked up from among the many gods and enshrined to the state we're in now.

''Just then, Fania is focusing on researching the 'Demon Poison' and one method of improving the 'Demon Poison' disease will be discovered there. See ...... over there. In the treatment room, there is always a "Flame God's Stone". In addition to the usual treatment, there is also a sacred flame prayer.

　Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a small room where a patient was being treated.
　It was basically a doorless structure, so it was easy to see what was going on inside. There, a man who must have suffered a broken bone was having a splinters placed on his arm to graft the bone. At the same time, the fire of the 'Flame God's Stone' had scorched his arm to the extent that it did not burn.

　Seeing this, Master was surprised and understood how it worked in an instant.

''Just a little bit, but the flames are paying off the 'demonic poison' that's interfering with the healing ......?　How did you get to ......?　Awesome ......
'Yes, exactly!　The power of fire has not only given us light and warmth, it has even given us the power to heal!　We were convinced that the Holy Fire of the Flame God was the only salvation in this dark world. ...... Immediately, the Lord of Fania, the Lord of the House of Neysha, decides that there is a need for teachings that protect, spread, and appreciate the power of this holy fire, so he revives the Altofel religion that honors the Flame God. At the same time, with an eye to increasing efficiency, he moves the place of medicine to a new location and even--

　...... Honestly, it's all information that I could have guessed beforehand, so there's nothing new to talk about.

　Or rather, this boy. It's all textbook formulaic phrases from earlier. Maybe he's only good at memorization and not good at application or adaptation.
　By the looks of it, I would only know the production method of the 'Flame God's Stone' that I'm interested in, the construction part. They must say that people's prayers produce a holy flame or something.

............

　A little less entertained, I stepped away from the boy's lead and veered off to a side street by myself.

　Unlike my mentor, I'm not that interested in the culture and traditions of the city.
　What I want is the live voice of the 'people' behind it.

　Because I'm a book lover, I wanted to hear the real voices that you can't get from a book. Knowing that, the next time you read a book about Fania, it will change your taste for the next time you read it.

　For example, I want to uncover (and read) what kind of suffering, what kind of emotional outbursts, and what kind of darkness was created by the people behind the history of Fania.

　I began to wander in search of the darkness of people - a few seconds away from my mentor and the boy, and I smelled the familiar air. At the same time, I hear a familiar moan.
　I smile and approach that gloomy world, feeling like I'm visiting my former self.

　-- I enter the part of the book that would be the 'between the lines' rather than the main plot.

　Then I approach one of the rooms that line the corridor and peer inside.
　Like the entrance, the room is lined with many rush mats and the 'flame god's stone'. Naturally, it's smaller than the entrance, and is more of a ward than a waiting room.

　There were many patients who were unable to move due to the disease of the 'Devil's Poison' lying down.
　There was only one person who appeared to be a doctor or a nurse. The man was busily going around examining them one by one.

　From within the room, he finds a girl who is obviously very ill.
　The pale faced girl, whose entire body has been invaded by a thick 'demonic poison', is lying on the rush mat, unable to move. A man and woman, who appear to be her parents, hold the girl's hand.

　The parents begin to speak in a small voice.
　I entered the room with a casual look on my face and moved to a position where I could pick up their voices.

''-- It's been a year since we've been here, but the priestesses have started to muddle through the words that you'll definitely be cured. It seems that my boy is too thick with 'demon poison'.
Yeah. I knew it. ......--

　I wanted to hear this.

　The boy who was guiding me talked like he could be cured of anything by holy fire, but that can't be true.
　If I could be cured just by praying, I'd be fully recovered before I met my mentor.

　The Devil's Poison Disease (・・・・・) is a disease that, as the name implies, magically consumes the body, never finding a way to cure it, only inflating the pain and despair.

　I listen closely and pick up on the conversations of a family of three to hear the live voice against that worst disease in history.

'I'm sorry ....... I'm a mom and dad who can't do anything about it. ......

　The mother apologizes to the girl next to her father, who shows a pained face.
　However, in response to her words, the girl--.

What?

　He gave me a look that said he didn't understand what he was saying.

　This reaction made me go, "What? I can't help but reply.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world.

　I cursed my birth, hated my country, and prayed every day that the world would not perish.

...... Mom and Dad, it's okay. It's okay," she said. Because I am many times happier than the city I was in before. There are no scary people here.

　He laughed and accepted himself now.

'Even though I may die soon ...... this place is gradual and very safe. I'm sure there are plenty of people who are just as kind as my dad and mom. It's just a matter of time before I'm happy. --I'm so happy. I don't feel lonely because we're all here together.

　It's too different from me: .......
　While I am so stunned, the father and son continue to talk and fill the room with hope.

'Yes, ....... This is a good place to be.
I'm glad we're here, even if it means leaving everything behind.
Yes. ......

　So the girl takes her gaze off her parents.

　It was me who was on the other end of those eyes.
　Our eyes met.
　I see a smiling girl's eyes shimmering in the girl's smiling eyes.
　A small - but many stars were reflected in her eyes.

　No, it's not different from mine: .......
　It's the same. The stars may be different in type and size, but she too has found a redeeming light in a dark world, and her way of life has changed.

　Then the pep talk shouldn't be sarcastic. I laugh back and talk to the girl who is a complete stranger to me.

'Good luck with that. I was more than you were, but ...... I didn't give up and I prayed for years and years and years and years and years and years and years, and I was able to walk. ...... A miracle happened. A 'magical' miracle.
Miracles like 'magic' ......?　Yeah, sis. I won't give up until the end either: ......!

　The girl must have felt something when she saw me too.
　I swallowed and nodded my head at the words of a stranger, without tilting my head at all.

　Only, of course, the girl's parents looked at me and said, "Who are you? He gives me a look that says "I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do this," so I wave to the girl and then scuttle away.

　I loosen my mouth as we leave the room and continue down the wide corridor.

　I was excited to see what I was expecting.
　I had decided that only sludgy darkness swirled around in that room. From the information I had read to this day, I entered that room convinced of that. And I was greatly disappointed in my expectations.

'Ihihihihi--'

　It was a fresh sensation.
　In the end, I didn't get to see the darkness of my intended person, but I was given a wonderfully fresh taste of light.

　I thanked the girl as I trundled back to my master's side.
　The master and the boy had just started talking about themselves for some reason, as if they had gotten to know each other while I was gone.

''--Yes!　Ever since I was much younger, I've been allowed to work here. But it's not easy to work here, it's only a limited congregation.
Heh, I see. So you're more experienced than you look.
'Oh, and!　I'm the only one who memorized all the teachings and didn't misread them in front of my lord!　Also, I'm the only one at my age who's even been entrusted with evangelizing the Altofel religion!
'Great. You're talented and a hard worker.
"Heh-heh.

　They were so engrossed in their conversation that they hadn't noticed that I had gotten sidetracked.
　The chamberlain seemed to have noticed, but he seemed to decide that it was a consistent part of Fania's investigation, and he only chuckled.

　When I joined him, he finished walking down the long corridor and reached the front of the room, which was as large as the entrance.

'Brother. This is the ward up to here, and beyond this is the central recuperation room. It's the place that's responsible for group prayer as well as intensive treatment.

　It was also a large space vertically and horizontally, with many rush mats and the 'Flame God's Stone'.
　However, unlike the completely unadorned room up to this point, there were multiple large windows lined up on the sides, and a huge monument towered in the middle. It was an iron statue that was probably an imitation of a half-naked male god - probably the 'Flame God Altoffel' - so large that even if you looked up, you couldn't see the top of its head.
　The statue emitted a heat as strong as a flame, warming the entire space.
　Perhaps they had planted a large amount of the 'Fire God's Stone' inside.

　In front of that magnificent monument, I left my mouth open.

''Wow ......, wow .......''
''Sister. This is Fania's pride and joy, the Heart of the Flame God. It should have been placed deep in the main hall, but it has been specially placed in the central recuperation room. It's the lord's arrangement that those who are seriously ill will need it.

　I turn my attention to the back of the room.
　There was a group of people as severely injured as the girl before me, laying on the rush mat and receiving treatment from doctors dressed in all white.

　Quite a few of them.
　Just by a quick count, there were over a hundred of them.
　And all of them were receiving the exact same treatment.

　First, along with a prayer, the 'Flame God's Stone' was used to lightly sear their arms.
　A thin iron tube with a pointed end was inserted into it and the blood was drawn out. The drawn blood pools in the vat and the flame burns it. By the time it's over, the sick who couldn't move their bodies seem to be able to raise themselves up and pray to the "Heart of the Flame God" in the center, and finally, the wound is burned with fire again - the treatment is over.

　After finishing the treatment, the patients would either lie down on the rush mat again or join their families who had been praying around the Heart of the Flame God and return to the ward.

'This is the treatment ......?'

　Before anyone else, the Master had a question and asked the boy.

''Yes. If you are not cured by the Sacred Flame of the Flame God, under the blessing of the 'Heart of the Flame God' in this special recuperation room, we will remove the poison along with the blood and purify you with the flame.

　Apparently, this is the place of final medical care for the disease of the 'demonic poison'.

　However, I'm a little unconvinced. I've received bloodletting treatment before, but I haven't heard from the doctors that it's this versatile.

When you say the blood is prone to 'demonic poisoning', is purging blood enough for you: ......?

　I wonder if my master had the same impressions, he blurts out and starts pacing this room.

　He wants to know more about this treatment. He goes around the rush mat to check on the people receiving the treatment.

　But even if you look closely, the content doesn't change.
　Sear and bleed, sear and bleed, sear and bleed.
　No matter which patient it is, the process repeats itself.

　Honestly, I don't feel good about this treatment method at all.
　I know this because I've been affected by the disease of 'Demonic Poison' in the past, I've experienced the same treatment method, I've learned how the world works from the 'Apostle' master, I've learned 'spellcasting' from my master, and I've become predictable about the true nature of the power of the holy flame.
　This is not a fundamental cure, even if my body is temporarily lighter.

　And, sometimes I see patients taking a meal, but they are too frugal.
　I don't know if it's doctor-directed or scriptural, but it's just bean soup in such a wealthy city: .......

　Amidst the many complaints, I look at the faces of my patients and mutter.

'But (...) .......'

　It was very peaceful.
　Even the patients who were lying untreated were laying on their hands, praying and calming themselves down. The same was true for their families. Praying for them, the anxiety and frustration inherent in a hospital are being erased.

　Maybe these people here think, as I do, that this treatment is wrong. But they may also think that if there is no other treatment, this is the right one.

　Even if there is no future for this treatment, we are convinced that it is the right choice.
　The voice that proves this reaches my ears.

'--Thank you for another day, doctor,'

　A familiar young voice caught my attention and I turned my attention to it.
　There was the girl from earlier - the family of three in the ward. While I was looking around this room, the girls seemed to have come so far.

　And the girl, who was nearing her limit at the previous point, wobbles and smiles as she receives the bloodletting treatment.

'...... okay. It won't hurt now.

　I told people that there was not one thing to be sad about.
　The parents nodded back emphatically and continued to pray for their daughter.

　When I saw that, I wasn't convinced of the searing and bloodletting treatment, but I thought this was perfect. When I was about to accept this "First Demonic Research Institute's" way of spreading happiness, that this kind of treatment is not bad--.

No....

　Master, who was standing next to him, strongly denied it.
　The master turned his gaze skyward and muttered to himself with a grim face as he looked at the empty space.

'This fire is burning your mind - a part of your mind, changing your emotions ......?　Forced ......?　Then doesn't that mean it's not: ......!

　I wondered if he sensed something that only his master could understand, but he looked the opposite of me.

　I wanted to ask him why.
　But before I could call out to him, Master waveringly walked a step forward.

　The air on his back was distorted. Caught up in Master's emotions, the 'demonic poison' inside his body was stirring and the 'dimensional power' was leaking out. I felt an unfathomable fear and shouted in a panic.　

''Sh, Master!''

　He stopped me and the Master turned around.
　I freeze as I look at his face.

　His expression remains the same as before, grim.
　That's fine. It's within the acceptable range.

　However, the accompanying wavering of the 'Demon Poison' was too far outside the acceptable range.
　The air around Master's surroundings distorted and turned purple, twisting the heat and light around him - twisting it.
　All the benefits that the Sacred Flame brings are about to be eroded by the misalignment (...).

'Oh, ah, ......'

　I'm thirsty and sticky with fear and can't speak well.

　Oh no.
　My master is in trouble.

　What in this room has made Master so angry to this extent?
　It's because I've become stronger with the [Level Up] and can sensitively feel the [Demon Poison], so I can understand this 'abnormality' called 'the one that steals the reason for the dimension'. The amount of 'Demon Poison' that could kill everyone here on a slight whim.

'Brother, Mr. ......?'

　The boy who was guiding him also looked at his master and called out in fright.

　The boy with a high predisposition to 'Demonic Poison' is beginning to feel his master's 'abnormality'.
　Immediately, I use short words to confirm with my master.
　We need to have a conversation first to keep each other calm.

''--Master, are you sure?''
'Tiara, I'll take care of it: ....... It's the same condition as the people I've seen at Hoosier's. I'm confident I can fix it.

　He would want to use the spell "Level Up" at all costs.
　However, I was unsure if I would really be able to just use 《Level Up》.

''No, it's not. It's not about whether or not you can cure him. I'm talking about whether we have the time to do such a thing now. Do you remember the original purpose of this?
Even at ......, if you don't do it, you'll definitely regret it. It's not in my power to abandon this place.
This many people?　Can you really do this many people?
'That's right, I don't think we can all do it: ......!　But I want to help where I can!　Now, there!　There is a child who is being eaten alive, suffering and dying for no reason!　There's a kid in there!　That's the same as Yotaki and me not long ago!

　Master, who was supposed to be the most powerful person in the place, looked like he was about to cry and shouted, nearly falling into a half-crazed frenzy.
　It wasn't the face of someone who was about to save someone else.

　Something was wrong from earlier.
　It should be stopped. If this is a book, the development is too abrupt.
　I follow that instinct and continue on in defeat.

'Master, there are no guarantees. It can get worse. I disagree.
I know I said I was confident earlier, but I'm really sure ....... Now, I can definitely help people. Then I - if I were me, I'd do it ......?　Yeah. I'm sure. I should help you, I'm ......--

　As he speaks, his master's words waver several times.

　Too unsteady.
　I doubt my own words, my own words, and my eyes tremble as they waver. I feel uneasy from my master, as if I'm watching a 'make-believe' crumble and break even now.

　Both my bad feeling and my intuition say, "Stop this guy right now! He shouted.
　Reason, too, had answered that this strange master should be stopped, even if it meant beating him to death.

　But apart from that decision, I can't help but think.

　--I want to see (read).

　I wanted to see what would happen if I let this go.
　Right now, Master is shaking and I'm about to see the same kind of human darkness that I saw with my sister Yotaki.
　For me, it's the top priority page in my life. Therefore, I--.

'Tiara ....... I know what you mean. You said this is self-indulgent ....... But let me do it. It's who I am. It's who I am ......!
...... Yeah, okay. I won't stop now. We'll see.

　I accepted my master, who repeated the first person "I" as if to remind me.

'......?　Thanks, Tiara: ......!

　And I only focus on reading the face of a delighted master.
　Maybe it is because I was good at that, and my life was spent training in that, that I can understand my current master's condition a little better.

　I am sure that there is no such thing as a clean sense of justice or morality in the current master.
　Master himself understands best that he is helping people for his own sake, not that of others.
　On top of that, the Master believes that he has to help others with a sense of justice and morality.

　An unidentified obsession was driving Master to the edge.
　So precisely, when you read the master's current philosophy of action (page) -.

Your sister ......?
'Um, Lady Aikawa, ....... Dear Tiara, what .......

　The boy who was guiding me and the attendant called me over.

　In the eyes of the two of them, the master was judged to be so "strange" that he was hesitant to speak to me, and he looked at me, his companion, as if clinging to me.

　But my mind is already made up.
　I look (yom).

　In order to get to know where this master's principle of action ended up - most importantly, to get to know my sister Yotaki, who may have planted this "Aikawa Kanami", I thought I couldn't skip this page alone - I laughed and uncovered ( (Turning).

'--Don't worry, both of you. Master says he wants to thank you for showing me this wonderful facility. It is the most advanced treatment in our Hoozeyards country. Please take a look.
'Chi, the cure ......?　That's nice to hear, but not out of the blue--

　The attendant tried to put a stop to it, but it was too late.
　With my back to him, the Master had started to move and had moved to a nearby family of three.
　His footsteps seemed a little lighter as I declared that the Hoosier State was responsible for the situation.

　My mentor put his hands together as he watched and asked for permission.

'Um, I'm sorry ....... Let me pray too .......

　When my parents heard this, they rolled their eyes, but quickly nodded their heads. This kind of prayer sharing would not be unusual.

'Thank you. For my daughter.'

　When the master hears the thanks, he falls to his knees with a grim face and begins to concentrate.
　But it is not a prayer that he concentrates on.
　He utters a statement that has nothing to do with Altofelism and concentrates on something else entirely.


"-- 'Thou shalt scrape and reflect,' and 'Know the brightness of his life' --


　A new 'chant' is born again.
　This time the meaning of the word is faintly apparent to me.

　This 'thou' is 'world'.
　This 'Level Up' is a 'spell' that rewards the world with the preciousness of human life.

　The 'price' of 'chanting' was more than enough. The sick girl who is about to receive the 'spellcraft'. This place called 'The First Magician's Research Institute'. A situation where everyone is looking for a spark of life and hoping for salvation.
　All of the prayers that were originally directed to the Altfel religion, Master forcibly snatched them from the side and added to the power of the 《Level Up》 - the highest-ever 《Magic Art》 was established.

''--Cursery [Level Up].''

　The light bounced around the master like a sky of stardust.