Chapter 344 - The Culprit (1/2)

Mercury narrowed his eyes slightly and remained silent as he looked at the matriarch that was kneeling down in front of him, as her words spread out the other Word Sharmans also quickly kneeled down and addressed him as 'savior' in unison

'She sure is cunning…'

By addressing Mercury as the savior in front of all the Word Shamans she had made sure that he couldn't deny it, she had essentially nailed him to their boat, he would sink or have to swim if their boat went down, he sighed before he asked

”Can we talk privately?”

The matriarch flashed a cunning smile before she quickly put on a humble expression and nodded

'This old fox…'

Mercury followed the matriarch into a tent, surprisingly Asma also followed after them, the matriarch sat down on the carpet, Mercury sat down in front of her and Asma sat down next to him and at a distance that Mercury felt was a little close and then the matriarch began speaking

”So you're probably wondering about the savior title we have giv---”

”Excuse us!”

Just as the matriarch had begun speaking Julia and Marie bragged into the tent, Marie politely closed the tent behind them before they sat down next to Mercury, then Julia spoke

”My name is Julia Helia Agustus, I am the first in line to the throne of Julinatia”

”A-And my name is Marie, we will be sitting in on this discussion”

The matriarch narrowed her eyes, just as she was about to question them another figure entered the tent

”Who is it n...o…...w”

The steam gradually left the matriarch as she saw the avatar standing at the entrance of the tent, she and Asma hurriedly lowered their heads, Mercury, Julia, and Marie showed smiles before Mercury spoke without looking back

”Well this is a nice surprise”

The avatar walked over and stood behind Mercury so far it acted rather dignified, that was until it affectionately hugged Mercury's neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek

[Miss me, Mercury~?]

”Of course I miss you Party… I was planning to visit you when we reached Cana if you have time?”

[Hmm~ Sure! I am already looking forwards to it~]

”E-Excuse me… Lady archangel may I inquire as to why you have graced us with your presence”

Part looked up and glared at the matriarch for a bit before Mercury shook his head slowly, then after letting out a huff she spoke

[To make sure that my dear Mercury doesn't get taken advantage of, of course~]

Julia nodded and spoke confidently

”That's right, that's why we're here too, right Marie?”

Marie nodded and after visibly gathering courage for a few seconds she spoke

”That's right if you want to take advantage of our man you'll have to be ready to face the consequences!”

Party showed a fox-like smile as she asked

[Can you bear the consequences~? Or rather can your clan survive the consequences?]

By now the Matriarch was shaking slightly, her face was pale, she spoke trying to salvage the situation

”I… We never had the intention of taking advantage of our savior, I simply invited Mercury in here to have a more private talk… About the myth of the savior and why we are addressing him as such”

[... I see, then proceed]

Mercury pacified Party by putting the avatar in his lap before he looked at the matriarch and spoke

”If you would explain, then I am all ears”

The matriarch closed her eyes for a moment before she began speaking

”First I would like to explain a little about the myth of the Word Sharmans, the power or rather magic that we use is called bestowal magic, though a ceremony we bestow all our members with the ability to use the power of the ancient words, this power stems from the vessel of a living god”

Mercury took a few moments to realize what the matriarch was saying, but once he realized it he asked

”So you use the power of a dead living god?”

”....Yes”

”What does that have to do with the legend of your savior?”

”Well it's said that one day the vessel will once again be filled and that the living god will wander away from us, leaving us without the power we so heavily rely on, it is there that it is said that a living god who's vessel stem from the heart of the desert will bestow us new power”

”And this new power is… What exactly?”

”... The myth doesn't mention this”

”And you are sure that I am your savior?”

””Yes””

Not only the matriarch but also Asma spoke, Mercury looked into the matriarch's eyes for a bit before he sighed and spoke

”Good grief… First, off there's a couple of things I want to know”

”As long as it's something I know”