292 289. Big Holy Capital.txt (1/2)
When we reached the port, we left the ”Living Legend” at sea and switched to the land route.
The mainland has an abundance of transportation, and after a short walk through the port city, there were many carriages lined up that went directly to the country's capital.
We borrowed one of those carriages and all of us got in and headed to the interior of the continent.
The road we were advancing on was higher grade than the one around the Allied Nations, and the 'magic stone line' (line) was neatly drawn on the soft soil. Thanks to that, the carriage really doesn't sway much. Thanks to the carriage that they borrowed with their money and power, it was very comfortable.
The scenery seen from the windows of the carriage is also slightly different from that of the Allied countries.
Over there, there were endless empty plains that were worthy of being called frontier areas, but the plains here are often manned.
At any time you could see a medium-sized town a little farther away, and if there was a river or forest, there were always a few huts built nearby. Not only is there a clear blue sky above the plains, but the white smoke that marks the life of the people rises above the plains. Every time we traveled a certain distance along the road, there was a building that served as both a guardhouse and an inn, and several guards were standing there, presumably for the purpose of maintaining security.
The time passed without getting bored with this scenery, just swinging in the carriage and looking at the differences from the Allies.
We arrived at our destination in less than half a day from the harbor and got out of the carriage.
When we get to our destination, Rustyala, who is very excited about the trip, first shouts out.
''-- Alright! This time, we're really here! This is the Great Holy City! The center of the world! The biggest city in the world! I see! No wonder it's certainly the best in the world!
The capital of the world's largest country, Fuzzyaz, the Great Holy City, spreads out in front of us.
It would be safe to describe it as the largest city in the world, just as Rastiara says. There is something in front of us now that would make us assert that.
Not long ago, I saw the ”Royal Capital”, the capital of the largest city in the ”Northern League”, Viaisia.
Combined with the magic power of the AID, I was surprised by the magnificent green landscape, which is still fresh in my mind.
However, this 'Great Holy City', the capital of the largest city in the 'Southern League', Huzjaz, surpasses the impact.
First of all, unlike the Royal Capital, this 'Great Holy City' does not have an outer wall to prevent the entry of foreign enemies. Instead, just like the United Kingdom, a magical stone line is drawn around the perimeter, and behind it, sturdy brick houses are lined up at regular intervals.
No matter which way you look to the left or right, you won't find a break in the walls of those houses. Anyway, it was large. The rumor that the Great Sacred City is more than twice the size of the United Kingdom seems to be true.
I give up on finding the edge of the Great Sacred City and look ahead.
There is one gate, small for its size, and there is a line of carriages trying to enter the city. As I walk to the censored gate, I ask Rastiara what's on my mind.
'Come to think of it, Rastiara has never been here before?'
If it were, it wouldn't be like this!
It turns out that despite having Fuzzy Yards in his name, Rastiara had yet to come to the 'Great Holy City'. Dia, who takes Yotaki's hand, lightly explains the reason for this.
It's a good thing that you're not too involved with the mainland (this one), because Rustyala is talking about the 'Jewelcrus' prepared to unite the allied nations over there. ...... Could it be that I'm the most involved with this place out of all of them?
Right. Dia-sama is the best. ...... Probably Kanami-san and the young lady are the only ones who have never been to the ”Great Holy City” before. The others have all been here at least once.
Ragne-chan answered the question, and Ryner and Snow did not deny the story. The two of them who were born in the great aristocracy seemed to have deep ties to the mainland and seemed to be used to facing the 'Great Holy City'.
It's a good idea to have a look at the situation and see if you have any questions. Leave all these trivial matters to me.
With that, Ragne ran ahead of the others, skipping her turn in the line of carriages and heading to the heavily armed knights standing in front of the gate.
She called it a trivial matter, but it's a very helpful story. It was always trespassing when it came to entering the city, so it was comforting to be able to enter the city with impunity.
From what I've seen, if you cross the 'magic stone line' that surrounds the city without permission, there should be a system in place to gather the guards to patrol the city immediately. We don't want to waste our magic power by forcing our way through the magical stone line.
After all, we've already entered the battlefield that Nosfy has prepared for us--
It's a really big city: ......
While muttering that, he tried to expand the 《Dimension》 to grasp the full extent of that too large city.
Without any delay, the magic succeeded. The magical power of the dimensional attribute covered all of the plains, and even the table on the deck of the ”Living Legend” in the harbor that came earlier could be seen.
However, it was never just that the 《Dimension》 would invade the ”Great Holy City”.
There is a gaping hole in the Great Holy City within the expanded sense of magic.
I know that feeling.
I can't forget the memory of the battle of Viaisia.
This is the sensation of the Curse of Love, which nullifies my Dimension that Nosfi's guy was bragging about back then.
That same thing is applied to the entire area of the 'Great Holy City' using the 'Magic Stone Line'. It's exactly the same situation as Ayd's Vyasia Castle.
''--I'm sure. Nosfi is here.
There is an enemy to be surpassed before we meet our objective, Diprakra. My premonition turns into conviction at this too blatant Aikawa Uzumi countermeasure.
Seeing the frown on my face, Rustyala, who is familiar with magic, also seems to have noticed the existence of the enemy.
'Hmm, is this perhaps only the dimensional attributes are prohibited? Was it that little Nosfy girl you were talking about?
Yeah, he's good at this kind of harassment. He is.
Of course, it's possible that he may not be inside.
But for some reason, I can't help but say with certainty that Nosfy is the only one. I can't help but feel certain that ”Nosfy Foozeyers has been waiting for this place forever”.
'...... heh, I see. So, what are you going to do about Kanami?
No problem. I'll just go in.
Honestly, if you want to destroy this 'magic stone line' (line), you can destroy it. Since there are Rastiara and Dia who are experts in magic, if you take the time, you can cancel the magic formula itself even from outside the ”Great Sacred City”.
However, that would be a threat to the peace of the Great Holy City. If they were to deactivate it, it would make enemies of the people in the country who control the magical stone line and restrict their activities in the city.
I'm not going to be able to get in front of them this time, but I don't want to waste my time adding enemies.
I was worried about my decision -- and Snow was worried about my decision.
It's a good thing you can't use magic, Kanami? Didn't you have a hard time with the id ......?
'No, I was in a similar situation when I fought Id, but to be honest, it didn't bother me that much. I mean, I don't think my power is going to change much unless Rowen's 'sensitivity' is taken away: ......
Without a pause, he dismisses the concern.
As I was convinced when I fought the id, Rowen's 'Sword Technique' on its own is comparable to the power of an ordinary 'Reason Stealer'.
On top of that, I'm also able to use magic of other attributes, although it's a bit of a pricey magic consumption. It's not a reason to stomp on it just because the dimensional magic is blocked.
'Let's all go. It looks like Lagne-chan has already talked to me about it.
Even now, not the ”Dimension” but ”Sensitivity” was reading Ragne's movements in the distance. I'm already prepared to fight without the 《Dimension》.
In the first place, it's really foul to be able to somehow know just by listening to my mind and ears without using magic power. Because I trust the skills this Rowen left me more than anything else, I can enter the battlefield prepared by Nosfy without hesitation.
''Minasan! Here it is! They say you can walk in there!
Rastiara is the first to react to Ragne, who beckons her from afar.
''Yeah, I'm coming! ...... Snow, let's go. We can use our magic, it's just a matter of all of us protecting Kanami when the time comes.
Rastiara insisted that there was nothing to be afraid of if everyone worked together, and invited them to the 'Great Holy City'.
Hearing those words, Snow pondered a bit, but quickly nodded back and walked away. Snow especially trusted the power of the two of them, Rustyala and Dea. He seemed to agree with me, confirming that this was not a battle of any one person alone, but of everyone.
We pass through a gate lined with saluting knights, led by Ragune-chan, and together we enter the 'Great Holy City'.
Then we see the streets up close and personal.
Our first impression of the city was one word: ”bright”. It's similar to the Allied Fusoya's, but on a larger scale than that - it's a very bright cityscape.
First of all, the streets decorated with magical stones and jewels stretched straight out, and the sides of the streets were lined with splendidly built houses. Most of these houses are shops with signs, and the area around the gate is a space (zone) to welcome people from other places.
From time to time, an arched brick bridge spans the top of the street, which tells us that the Great Holy City is a three-dimensional structure.
I suppose it can't be all flat when it is this large. There are many slopes off the main street that stretches straight from the gate. Thanks to the difference in elevation, the height of the buildings in the town is not constant and you can see many different houses at once, like terraced fields.
Among them, the highest building in town is really big.
It is so big that for a moment you might think that the walls go all the way to the sky.
Even though I'm not well versed in the city's geography, I understand that this is the symbol of the Great Holy City, Huzoorz Castle, from a glance at the mountain-like building that rises in the center of the city.
I walked down the main street and looked at the city and then at the people who lived in it.
My first impressions of its people are also - the word ”bright” comes first and foremost.
Unlike the Confederation, which is full of explorers, this 'Great Holy City' feels like a lot of ordinary travelers. Whether you look to your right or left, they are all bright-faced travelers. Wealthy-looking people from other countries are walking the streets, eyeing each and every shop that lines up.
Of course, as you keep walking, the trends of the townspeople change little by little. Not only shops, but also residential houses begin to be seen, and the number of people living in the 'Great Holy City' increases.
Children running around, adult women chatting with acquaintances, and adult men who seem to be at work. An adult man, who seems to be at work, is busily walking, and an elderly couple is holding hands as they stroll along. This one, like the one near the gate, was also bright and lively.
Even though there is a temporary truce at the moment, the 'Southern League' is still in the middle of a war. But even so, I can feel the peaceful atmosphere as if this 'Great Sacred City' is irrelevant for the rest of my life.
Hmmm, when I walk around, my body feels like it's getting warm. I feel good today.
However, mixed in with the peace and vibrancy is an anomaly that cannot be missed. Of all the people in my party, Lagune was the one who was particularly affected by this anomaly.
With the same cheerful look on her face as the people she passes, Ragne takes off her top jacket.
It must be uplifting from the core of her body, and her body temperature is rising. Seeing her wipe her sweaty face with her arms, I 'gaze' at her.
[State] Uplift 0.10, Heart Warming 0.10, Physical Strength 0.10, Mental Cleaning 0.10.
It's a small number, but she was definitely under the influence of magic.
The anomaly in this city was that it was too bright. No matter how bright the city is, it's strange that there isn't a single person with a gloomy expression.
I'm going to use my ”sensitivity” to find the reason for this.
On the way, I find Ryner, who was looking around with the same expression as me. It seems that he too has noticed the abnormality in the city.
After finding the source of the abnormality, Ryner pointed to the ground of the city with a grim face.
The tip of his finger is the city's 'magic stone line' (line).
I can see a light different from the sunlight leaking from there.
Holding my hand over that light, I sense and analyze the magic directly.
''Is this warm ......? No, this is not heat, but magic that interferes with the spirit ....... The effect is a magic that makes you a little more honest, a little gentler, a little more energetic ......?
It was not magic that would harm people.
It was clear from its too weak light that it wasn't forcing the effect.
Even a child would be able to resist if they wanted to escape from the magic from this 'magic stone line' (line). In fact, none of my friends other than Ragnet-chan were affected by it. The level of magic power that they wear is so high that the power of interference hasn't even reached them. That's how weak it is.
''Eh, eh? Don't tell me you're looking at me, Kanami-san? I definitely feel like I'm coming to something: ......!
Feeling me and Ryner's eyes on her, Ragne starts to panic.
To that I shake my head and reply.
''No, it's harmless magic, so I don't think you need to worry about it. ......
'You can't tell me not to worry about that Kanami-san expression! Miss, please disarm!
I tried to look as reassuring as possible, but Ragne read the worry deep inside me and cried out to her own master.
''Hoi hoi. --《Remove》
Rastiara did as she begged and cast a spell to restore her condition. At the same time, he also explains the misunderstanding of the magic's effect.
''But Lagne, I don't think this is such a bad one. It's more like an enhanced sacred magic.
'What, the magic of enhancement ......? Is that so?
Right. Kanami?
Rustyala looked at me and asked me a question, so I nodded back.
This could be classified as an enhancement magic and there would be no problem with it. If I were to describe it in more detail, this is a 'permanent range enhancement magic that makes people a little happier'.
If it's right or wrong, this is the right magic.
There's no compulsion to lead people to happiness, so it's not twisting people's intentions.
Still, I frowned in the back of my mind because I thought that only Nosfi could construct this much magic.
Even now, I believe that this Nosfi's magic definitely has a backstory, and I continue to analyze the 'permanent range enhancement magic that leads people to a little bit of happiness' without a care in the world.
' ...... Hmm. Then maybe you didn't have to deactivate it.
''I'm jealous of Ragne-chan. At our level of magic power, the magic power we normally wear is too dense to benefit from the magic coming from this 'magic stone line' (line).