Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody

This is not from Satou’s perspective.

Correction of typos made on 2015/8/1.

Partial additions and revisions made on 2016/4/16.

“Honorable chief shrine maiden! It’s terrible!”

What a troublesome child. Approaching forty and still so restless—it’s rather concerning. Maybe I should properly admonish her next time?

“What’s the matter, High Priest? You outrank me in the temple, so you mustn’t address me with honorifics.”

“I’m sorry, honorable chief shrine maiden. No, it’s not the time for that!”

“Calm down. What happened?”

“Following the Parion Temple, it seems the priestess of Garuleon Temple has also been kidnapped by someone.”

My, what a situation.

To abduct oracle priestesses in the midst of the season of the Demon King...

There are seven priestesses in this Duke’s Capital who can receive divine oracles: myself, Sera, the high priestesses of Urion Temple and Karion Temple, the apprentice priestess of Heralon Temple, and the two who were kidnapped.

Usually, one priestess is enough, but last month, under the Duke’s request, each temple performed a divine oracle that hinted at the Demon King’s resurrection. Yet, the locations narrowed down by each temple differed. Although discrepancies can occur depending on the person receiving the oracle or the god granting it, this level of inconsistency is unprecedented.

My oracle pointed to the Duke’s Capital. I hope it’s wrong, but the feeling was the same as when I predicted the place of the Demon King’s revival 66 years ago. Without a doubt, the Demon King will be resurrected here. At that time, the hero was by my side, but he has since returned to his original world, leaving us behind. No good; wishing for what we don’t have is futile.

The oracle given to Sera indicated another continent. Even though the oracles were from the same god, why do they differ depending on the recipient? Trying to fathom the thoughts of a god is not something a cleric should do.

That’s right, Sera!

Now’s no time to be lost in thought.

“High Priest, confirm Sera’s whereabouts.”

“Yes, honorable chief shrine maiden!”

I stopped the High Priest who hurriedly ran off, advising her to assign someone else. What good comes from you running errands? I instructed the High Priest to contact his grace the Duke if she cannot confirm Sera’s location. Knowing this child, she’ll only panic and be about to collapse otherwise.

◇

Despite the priests searching everywhere, Sera’s location remained unknown.

Word of the three priestesses’ kidnappings reached his grace the Duke, and knights and Guards under his command are likely scouring the entire capital now. We had the bell tower check as well; the lights of ships visible outside the port were stationary, so it seems the port is sealed off. A small relief.

But the enemy must have powerful magicians capable of advanced spells that can block my detection magic or wield powerful magical artifacts. Could they be that group called “Wings of Freedom,” who are rumored among priests to be tainted by apocalyptic ideology?

Sera, please come back safely.

Though I know it’s but a comfort, I took the Rebirth Relic that hung around my neck and poured magic power into it.

No good; when the heart is unsettled, it’s impossible to pour magic power into a relic.

I am not bad at handling magical artifacts, but charging a relic requires delicate magical power control. It’s like lowering a thread from a tower and trying to pass it through the eye of a needle placed on the ground—a painstakingly precise task. If your heart is disturbed, it’s like blowing wind onto that thread; it will never pass through the needle’s eye.

I must use forbidden mental magic to calm my mind.

High Priestess Yu of Tenion, please bless your faithful.

◇

I woke up in my dimly lit chamber.

Seems I had fainted.

At my age, I can't push myself like before. To faint in the middle of pouring magic power into the Rebirth Relic...

Faint?

Faint in a sanctified place?

Impossible.

This is a place filled with divine energy, sanctified by ritual magic, almost a sanctuary. Even an old person like me can move as well as a young person—or rather, I can move comparably to a young person, which might be an exaggeration. To faint in such a place... perhaps my remaining time is short.