43 Episode 41: The interrupted ritual




 The Spiritual Guide Mark is drawn all over the body, and after the 'Election Ritual' is completed, it becomes invisible. It is possible for some of them to emit light in response to magic when using spirit magic - which means that His Highness Astina's magic power was drained by the incomplete Spiritual Guide Mark.

(A half drawn, incomplete spirit guide mark ...... she could be called a half-mage. She had more magic power than a normal person, and she was holding on while wasting her magic power in that state.)

 We already know why she collapsed. The fever is a symptom of 'magic power depletion' due to the large amount of magic power depleted in a short period of time. Without proper treatment, it will take at least a few days to regain consciousnessーーthat's why mages fear coma due to magic power depletion.

 And the reason why His Highness Astina can also be powerful as a mage warrior is because her spirit seal is incomplete. Because he is not a perfect mage, he can unconsciously enhance his physical abilities with magic power.

 I hadn't thought about it, but if I became a mage after honing swordsmanship and other skills as a demon warrior, I would be able to learn both skills. ''The situation of 'being left without a contract with a spirit while only half of the spirit seal is drawn'' couldn't happen in the magic academy itself, and if they tried to perform the 'Election Ceremony' against His Royal Highness Astina, it would mean that the person who performed the treatment was a court mage! --unless there's some reason for it to happen.

'Gu, glass ...... wait. Earlier, the maidservants have changed His Highness Astina, but His Highness is not allowed to wear his underwear at bedtime. You must not lower your blankets any further.
''Oh ...... sorry. But, Raquel-san, I know only a mage can see it, but on His Highness Astina's body, there is something called a 'Spiritual Guide Seal' painted on his body from his belly down. I'd like to confirm that: ......

 Raquel-san's face flushes so much that it's clearly visible even in the dimly lit room - I'm surprised I didn't expect her to be that shy.

'...... I'd like you to see every inch of your body when you have Your Highness' own permission to do so. I don't mind if you want to look at it from the tips of your feet to the extent that you can. If you insist, I'll have my maidservant come over to deal with it.
''Ha, yes, I'll be fine with that. However, I will tell you again about the treatment plan after Your Highness wakes up, but I'm going to complete the 'Spiritual Guide Seal' that's on its way and complete something similar to the 'Election Ceremony' that Your Highness was supposed to undergo.
"What do you mean by that ......, it's as if His Highness is ......

 If you told Raquel-san, she would be very upset - but if you told her that you don't just hate all magic, I'm sure she would understand.

'...... Your Highness was supposed to undergo a ritual to contract with spirits as a mage. The 'Spiritual Guide Seal' required for this was drawn from the abdomen to the lower half of his body. The Spirit Guide Seal was limited to the number of people who could be drawn, and it took several days to draw it. Perhaps His Highness was interrupted when he was halfway through drawing the Reishirokujian: ...... I don't know if that was by His Highness' will.
'I have heard that His Highness Astina has ...... no, well, ...... heard that there is a woman of royal blood of the Raseneian royal family who possesses exceptional magical powers. The woman is said to have the role of being a 'royal maiden' ...... but such a custom should have died out a long time ago.

 Mages don't choose the spirits to contract - the spirits choose the one who is born into this world to contract with them from among the lives that have been born into this world.

 What if His Highness Astina was born to make a contract with the divine tree, Euceris. The fact that His Highness has the power to read the future is proof that she is qualified to be a royal priestess, isn't it?

 If she has the ability to read the movements of the enemy army without a contract, then if she can sign a formal contract, the oracle brought by the divine tree will be the power to help her escape the predicament of constant enemy attacks.

''The royal priestesses had the role of receiving the oracle from the divine tree located in the discarded royal garden ...... there, south of this fortress. The divine tree had been abandoned by the royal family and forgotten by the people, leaving the surrounding land to rot. But the divine tree is still alive.
...... That's why that demon appeared ...... If the divine tree is revived, will that gray soil stop?
''Yes, Your Highness. If Your Highness will visit the Divine Tree as the 'Royal Priestess' ...... and, if possible, have Your Highness himself make a contract with the Spirit of the Divine Tree. Everything will turn out for the better.

 Raquel-san can't hide her bewilderment and looks at His Highness - His Highness Astina, who is a fierce general called the 'Sword Princess General' and a warrior on a par with Raquel-san, is also a 'Royal Priestess'.

 In order to stop His Highness' magic power from draining, there is no other way but to complete the 'Election Ceremony'. Raquel closed her eyes and pondered for a while, and eventually opened her eyes and looked at me.

''If there is someone called ...... God, why did you give His Highness alone such a heavy fate ......?''
'As much as Raquel wants to support His Highness, I think all of you, Presha, Deite, and everyone else feel the same way. Me and Rendle-san are new to this country as well, but we want to do our best for ...... or even for the people we see. Just a little bit, so that we can lighten the load your highness carries.

 Ms. Raquel simply nods back. Then she personally flips the blanket over His Highness' legs - when she reaches the tight but feminine fleshy thighs, Raquel-san stops her trembling hands.

 From His Highness's right thigh to the toes of his right thigh, there is a spirit guide seal painted on it - but because he didn't complete the Rite of Election and the paint didn't settle in, there are some areas that are faded.

 You need to think about what shape this Reishio Stamp will take when it is painted on the entire body, once it is copied onto paper.

...... Mr. Raquel, the first step in restoring Your Highness' consciousness is to restore his consciousness, but there are two types of medicines: an ointment and a pill to take.
It's not a good idea to transfer a bottle of ...... medication to the mouth of an unconscious person, Your Highness. If you try to do such a thing without permission, I'm questioning your decency.

 He nails it hard, but Raquel's face remains red. I think she might actually be a first-time woman - although it would be hard to tell.

'But then the only option would be to apply an ointment ...... which would be best done by a doctor.
''No, I don't mind if it's Raquel-san or one of the handmaidens. I'd like you to apply the ointment I'm using to restore your magic power where I tell you to.
"Wow, it is disrespectful for me to touch His Highness ...... body. I can't do that.

 Since I have deep respect for your highness, I want you to help me to heal him, but Raquel-san's hands are certainly shaking, so it's not good to force her to help me.

 Then I thought I would ask the two handmaidens - I called them and asked them, and I got this answer.

'Doctor, this is a treatment, sir. I am embarrassed to say that we, as amateurs, may not be able to do as the doctor instructs.

 The three women look at me as if clinging to me - I think of Miss Katie, but I also think of her sleeping on the couch, exhausted, and she's not here to check on me. The same goes for Ms. Lendl.

(I'm the only one ...... yea, that's okay. This ...... no, the sooner you make up for this ...... no, the sooner you make up for the exhaustion of your magic power, the safer it will be for Raquel and the others).

...... I think I know from the people I've met that you don't think about the perks of the job.
'Please, doctor, I beg you. If it's not a procedure, I'd be happy to help you.

 Once again, I was asked to do so, and while I was happy that Raquel-san's reputation had risen significantly over the course of the day, I couldn't shake the feeling of apology.

 I take out the tools for applying the application of the ointment - and while Raquel-san and the two maidservants look on, the chakras scattered around His Highness' body - the parts of the acupuncture points that promote the recovery of magical power. -- and carefully apply the ointment to it.

"Geez, is it really ...... necessary ...... to get to that point?
'The doctor is very serious. This is a necessity, Knight Raquel.

 It's uncomfortable to be watched over like that, but I applied ointment to the one hundred and eight chakras all over my body so that my hands wouldn't go crazy.