(482) Volume 16 Chapter 12 A Conversation with God Tenion
Satou's here. I can never get used to interviews even though I went through them many times during high school, college and job-hunting. Can't help but feeling nervous in front of big shots.
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"Earl-sama, please change into this ceremonial clothing."
"Yeah, I got it."
\nI change into the ceremonial white robe.
It's very thin and they provide no underwear.
\nInitially, I'm doing the ceremony in a different room from Sera and then I get to put a crown-like metalwork on in the end.
Maybe it was due to the almost see-through garment I wore, during the ceremony, the female priestesses' eyes were staring really hard at me, it was a bit embarrassing.
\n"King, please come over here--"
\nThe present head miko called me.
Apparently, I'm getting called [Ancient King] during this ceremony.
\n>Title [Ancient King] Acquired
\nMiko apprentice Lily is standing next to the present head miko.
\n"<<holy crest="" trans="">>
</holy>
"<<holy crest="" trans="">>
</holy>\nWith the present head miko's and miko apprentice Lily's holy magic, the crest inscribed on the holy robe got transcribed onto my body.
\nNext, it's the ceremony to communicate with God Tenion.
\n"King's entrance--"
\nI stepped my foot into the holy rite room with an attire that resembled the ancient king.
Many miko who have undergone the purification rite are standing in lines inside the room.
\nLooks like the present head miko is leading the ceremony.
\n"O king, stand before miko."
\nSera was waiting for me in mystical looking miko clothes at the center of the sanctuary.
\nI smiled at her when our eyes met since she seemed tense.
I feel that she's loosened herself a little.
\nWhen I've come before Sera, several miko get to our sides.
\n"O king, discard your worldly garment."
\n--Eh?
\nI didn't hear anything about this you know?
\nTwo of the miko take off my clothes.
\nSera and the surrounding miko blushed when they saw my naked body.
I'm not an exhibitionist so I get embarrassed at this.
\nTitle [New Fetish Awakening] Acquired.
\n--No no, nothing is awakening okay.
\nThe ceremony progressed while I complained to the title system in my mind.
\n"O miko of guidance, discard your worldly garment."
\nTwo miko take off Sera's clothes.
She only had one piece on her just like me so it was over in an instant.
\n--Oooh.
\nShe's grown quite nicely compared to the last time I saw her during the Golden Wild Boar King incident nearly two years ago.
It's quite a sight, but this is bad.
\nI put my spirit into concentrating the Poker Face skill and managed to prevent myself from breaking out a grin.
Of course, one part of my body is getting lively.
\n[Body Control] Skill Acquired.
Title [Unscrupulous] Acquired
Title [Gentleman of Steel] Acquired.
\nI'd like to know the reason for this timing, but for now I generously allocated the excess skill points I had on the [Body Control] skill I just got.
\n--Yup, quite a convenient skill.
\nNow I can continue the ceremony in relaxed state.
\n"O miko of guidance, show the king the way."
\nWith the present head miko's signal, Sera open both her arms wide and hugged me.
This 'fuyoyon' sensation is quite wonderful.
\n--Oops, this was a holy rite wasn't it.
\nI put my everything to ward off my worldly desires and focus on the ceremony.
\nTitle [Unavaricious One] Acquired.
Title [Enlightened] Acquired.
[Lust Control] Skill Acquired.
\nConvenient, I also activated the Lust Control skill.
\nTitle [Hermit] Acquired.
\nI have no interest in becoming a hermit so I probably should turn off Lust Control skill once this ceremony is over.
\n『--O God.』
\nSuddenly, I could hear Sera's words.
\nNot voice.
Her thought seemingly got transmitted to me through our touching skins.
\nTitle [Telepath] Acquired.
Title [One who Communicates through Mind] Acquired.
[Telepathy] Skill Acquired.
\nI have used Telepathy myself when Arisa became my familiar, or is that a different thing.
\nOops, the ceremony might fail if I have unnecessary thoughts.
I turned off all the [AR] readings on my Menu to focus on the ceremony.
\nLady Ringrande is in the Duchy Capital, while Hikaru and Liza are in the Royal Capital, they should be able to do something even in an emergency.
Besides, Arisa is with them too, familiar communication should be possible no matter what the situation is.
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Sera looks up to the sky in my arms.
\n『O Great God who watches over us.』
\nA serene light falls down from the sky as if answering Sera's call.
It seems to contain some kind of power, it feels tingly when it touches my body.
\nSera who looked like she was in ecstasy turns expressionless.
She's probably entered trance state.
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『How about Tenion-sama?』
『I will give my mark to you here.』
\nA small light split from God Tenion's light and got sucked into my palm.
There's no image of body here though, so it just somehow felt like I got it around mt palm.
\nTitle [Mark of Tenion] Acquired.
Title [One Acknowledged by Tenion] Acquired.
Title [Tenion's Saint] Acquired.
\n『Do your best on the errand...』
\nGod Tenion's white light goes away while giggling.
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"You took a fancy to that phrase huh...."
\nThat muttering came out of my own mouth.
Looks like my chance meeting with God Tenion is over.
\nThe limp Sera is unconscious in my arms.
I fill the exhausted Sera with mana and stamina.
\nI check to see if there's anything wrong with Sera's soul using Soul Sight, Spirit Sight, and Miasma Sight.
It's in exhaustion but there's no obvious cracks or fissures.
\nShe should get back to health if she takes it easy and recuperates.
\n"...Satou-san."
"I can't thank you enough. I was able to talk with God Tenion thanks to Sera-san."
"I'm so glad...."
\nI leave Sera who fell unconscious again in the other miko's care.
\nAfter entrusting the rest to the present head miko, I head to the head miko private room in the sanctuary along with miko apprentice Lily.
It seems like Lily is still using the room even now.
\nEven though there's probably no one who would eavesdrop us, I'll use space magic-made isolation barrier for counterintelligence here.
It may not be as strong as Goblin Princess Yuika's Unique Skill, but this barrier is strong enough that we wouldn't notice even if a nuclear bomb were to explode nearby.
\n"Were you able to speak with God Tenion?"
"Yes, I received a revelation to go on a pilgrimage to Central Temples that enshrine the Gods."
\nI talk about the Trials of Gods stuff to Lily.
\n"It's like the ancient hero king that appears in the myth isn't it."
\nThat reminds me, there's a story about a hero that challenged the trial to become a familiar god of God Parion.
\nThe talk wandered a bit, and then Lily told me about the countries where the Central Temples are located.
\n"All of them are in the western part of the continent huh."
"Yes, it is said that they evacuated to the west for their safety when Furu Empire was collapsing."
\nI see, there were Central Temples in Furu Empire, the largest country in the world at that time.
\nAfter getting the information I needed, I had a pleasant chat with Lily about the impression I got from my conversation with God Tenion as the topic.
\n"--Ara? It's this time already. Regretfully enough, senpai miko Hina would get mad at me if I don't get back soon."
\nAs an apprentice miko, Lily said the name of a miko instructor and jokingly said, "She's really strict you know?"
\nI undo the space magic-made isolation barrier.
\nThen I heard quake-like vibrations and roaring sounds that sounded like collapsing buildings.
It appears that the Duchy Capital was under attack by someone with a really good timing.
\nI put the [Menu] skill's display back on.
\nNow then, it has been awhile, let us begin hero's time.
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