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Chapter 289 Marin’s Wails ②
Part 2
“Leader, did you find out something?” (Lucia)
I wonder if they could sell it to me if I negotiate through Anthem

 Not a chance?
I lift the chain and let the light shine through it. I raise my eyebrows and inspect the chain from close range. Despite the badass expression on my face, I wasn’t thinking about anything productive.
It is a mesmerizingly beautiful chain. Its ability doesn’t seem to be very interesting, but I don’t judge Relics by its ability. I just like Relics.
I didn’t see this chain in any of the illustrated encyclopedias. How long is it?
If it was a private matter, I would grab the edge and *guruguru* wrap Lucia into a maki1, but I know better that I shouldn’t do it at this time.
I would like to touch it a little more, but if I mess around with it anymore, they might say something. I put down the chain with a backward glance and exhaled deeply.
As expected of the “Light Spirit (Korei)” Church, the top religion in the world, they possess many Relics.
“Un, it is looking good. It is strong enough? I think?” (Cry)
“



 Why is it in question form?” (Lucia)
Multiple priests, Anthem, Lucia, Ark, an experimental unit that sprays silver bullets and a Chain Relic. It is the absolute lineup.
“I am uneasy because there are too many elements that put me at ease.” (Cry)
“



 A-As usual, you are just spouting some nonsense, desu!” (Kruz)
Kruz says that because she doesn’t know the usual me. What happened during the Emperor’s escort was just one page of Cry Andrich’s case file.
Priest-san broadly nodded a few times, took a deep breath, looked around, and said.
“So

 Now that we have received 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 stamp of approval, let’s get ready for the ceremony. Anthem.” (Priest)
“

 Umu.” (Anthem)
Anthem nodded his head, his voice more hearty and grave than usual.
Well then, just in case, let me watch from a safe place.
§　§　§
Seeing the ceremony progressing steadily, Lapis Fulgol, the leader of the 《Starlight (Hoshi no Seirai)》, let out a sigh as if to vent her frustration.
“Hmpf

 So it was a waste of time. I didn’t expect it, but you can’t find it so easily, huh?” (Lapis)
“However, it’s quite interesting, desu. To think they would try to counter a curse with firearms like that, there’s no way we would find something like that back in the forest, desu.” (Kruz)
“It is too unrefined. Even if you can purify sealed curses with that kind of method, you will not be able to deal with sudden situations.” (Lapis)
The existence of the “Light Spirit (Korei)” Church is widely known even among the “Spirit People (Noble)”. Although the Magic that the Spirit People deal with differs from theirs, it is clear that the Light Spirit they worship has immense power. In some cases, they may be more effective than the techniques used by the Spirit People.
The technique that is laid out is unfamiliar, but there is no doubt about its effectiveness. It is an overly robotic-like response to something as uncertain as a curse, but there is no particular point of concern.
It is unknown how strong the curse contained in 『Marin’s Wails』 is, but the estimations made by the church are reasonable. With this, no matter how much the curse rampages, they will be able to respond with the force they have prepared.
If Lapis and her companions were to fight against the curse, they would have taken more consideration of the curse itself, but that is just a cultural difference.
However, their real goal turned out empty.
“After all, it’s probably not in a human village, desu.” (Kruz)
Kruz, who came with me, blinked her eyes and said with a serious expression while looking at the proceeding ceremony.
“It was definitely a human being who snatched it. It seeks human life.” (Lapis)
“It was thousands of years ago, desu. And there hasn’t been any damage recently, desu.” (Kruz)
The legend of the Cursed Spirit Stone is a well-known story among humans.
However, not many people know that it is not a legend but a fact. Spirit people do not like to talk about it, and for better or worse, humans have too short lifespans.
Once upon a time, when Spirit People and Humans had yet to form friendships with each other, a great war broke out between Humans and Spirit People. And a forest governed by a certain Spirit People was burned, the Spirit People Queen was killed, and the crimson jewel that was the proof of her being the ruler was stolen.
The excessive grudge toward human beings made the jewel cursed. The jewel, which was cursed by the Spirit People with noble blood, has passed through human hands and is still circulating somewhere in the world, killing hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of times as many people as the Spirit People who were killed.
Spirit People do not kill and steal others’ Spirit People treasure. They know how powerful the grudge of a dying person can be. It is truly a tragedy caused by Human greed.
It is the earnest wish of all the Spirit People to retrieve the jewel and return it to the forest of the Spirit People.
Times have changed and wars rarely occur anymore. This is because the existence of resources that are far more efficient than having war has become clear.
People stopped their feuds and turned their attention toward Mana Material. The battle between Spirit People and Humans is over and although they are not yet on good terms, some Spirit People are coming down to human settlements like us.
But the treasure that was once stolen has not yet been returned.
Lapis snorted at Kruz’s sweet idea.
“It is not something that will just naturally fade away. The grudge of those who have lived for a long time is not something that can disappear so easily. The curse embedded in it, so to speak, is a fixed craving.” (Lapis)
A thirst that will never be quenched. The resentment toward others that has been burned into one’s soul will not disappear even if thousands and thousands of people are swallowed by it and cursed to death.
To purify that grudge, outside interference is essential to destroy or negotiate with it.
Just like what the church is trying to do in response to Marin’s Wails, right now――.
“I thought it might be it when I heard about a sealed curse

 If it was in the possession of the Church, they would have returned it, huh? They do know the dangers it represents.” (Lapis)
The reason there has been no damage recently is probably because it has been sealed. However, if it has been sealed, the one who did it must be very skilled as they could contain such a powerful curse.
“But it’s something that all the Spirit People have been searching for years and have never found, so it can’t be found so easily――――Aaaaaah, Yowaningen! What are you doing up there, desu!” (Kruz)
Kruz changed from a serious voice to a hysterical voice.
《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 was perched on the top of a huge gate with his legs dangling from the decorations. He looks down at Kruz, who raises her arms in protest and says with a carefree expression.
“



 Observing from the high ground2?” (Cry)
“Don’t joke around, desu! Everyone else is taking it seriously, so you should take it seriously once in a while, too, desu! That’s why Franz’s――” (Kruz)
That man

 Probably doesn’t know anything about this.
The *pokan* blank expression on his face when Kruz mentioned the Cursed Spirit Stone was genuine. Apparently, even Level 8 Hunters have their strengths and weaknesses.
Really, I wonder what in the world that 《Wandering (Horo)》 Eliza enjoys by following that man?
A group of churchmen brings in a box sealed tightly with chains. It must be the treasure chest containing the 『Marin’s Wails』.
The treasure chest is placed in the center of the magic circle in front of Lapis and the others. Seeing the humans tense up, Lapis uncrossed her arms.
We didn’t get a hit on our real goal――But let’s see what they can do.
Footnotes
Maki: it is a rolled sushi if you never ate it you are missing on somethingIt’s over Kruz. I have the high ground!