Ch.211211. Reunion

# The Great Debate

Just hearing the name made me feel like the citizens’ jeers and the bishops’ hateful gazes from back then were still piercing my skull.

That moment when I, a necromancer, handled holy power with the Holy Grail’s help to be recognized as a spirit mage.

The scene where everyone fell silent, and the bishops and Saintess were shocked, remains vivid in my mind.

And now.

Once again, a Great Debate was about to take place.

Between me, the current spirit mage, and Mule, who calls me a fake and a fraud.

Ironically, the religious community, which harbored ill feelings toward me but had been keeping their heads down due to the skyrocketing royal authority, now saw this as an opportunity and came forward to support Mule.

And I was now preparing to depart for Greyfond, where the Great Debate would be held.

“The spirit mage’s return hasn’t been announced yet, has it?”

Owen was sitting on a large bag placed in front of the carriage, reading a newspaper. We were already prepared to depart but were taking a moment to wait.

“That’s right. Mule probably already knows I’m back, but I want to see the bishops who haven’t heard the news make even more of a fuss.”

The royal family had deliberately kept quiet about accepting the Great Debate requested by the bishops.

They already knew about my return but chose not to disclose it.

“It’s easier to cut off a neck when it’s stretched out long.”

The religious community had been escalating their statements. The royal family was deliberately silent, letting them continue to cross the line, and Saintess Lucia, who was on my side, wasn’t taking any action either.

In the end, like children roaming an empty playground as if it were their own home, the bishops were delivering daily speeches at Greyfond.

“They say if you believe in God diligently and keep donating… you can be resurrected even after death. Someone named Charles is supposedly a witness.”

“…”

That news had surprised even me when I first heard it.

Of the three corpses, God had accepted the souls of two, and the third was resurrected because of their faithful belief.

It was absurd.

But with countless witnesses coming forward and this woman named Charles pouring out testimonies, even skeptics would be tempted to believe.

“Perhaps… grandfather too.”

It’s fine to imagine “what if.”

I understand the regret of wishing your grandfather were still alive.

“Owen.”

However.

“No matter how sad or regrettable, the dead cannot come back to life.”

That was as immutable as an eternal truth. Even if the opponent was a fallen god, they couldn’t be roaming the continent while twisting such a fundamental principle.

At my words, Owen snapped back to reality and nodded.

“Right. Yes, of course. I was just having foolish thoughts. I’m sorry.”

As Owen bowed his head in apology, I gently stroked the boy’s hair and shook my head.

“It’s natural. Partings are regrettable. Wishing for reunion is a natural human behavior.”

And fearing death while wanting to continue living is also a natural human instinct.

“I don’t necessarily think those who follow Mule are foolish. For humans, survival is an utterly natural desire and instinct.”

Freedom from death.

What could be more alluring to humans than that?

There was even the Griffin’s demon who devoured royal family members throughout history, desperately trying to survive, and ultimately sought to become a devil.

And on Earth, Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s efforts to obtain the elixir of immortality were quite famous.

As mentioned in various media, the concept of death was absolutely definitive for humans.

I thought that’s precisely why religion appeals so strongly to human emotions.

An uncertain present and a beautiful future.

Happiness to come.

Small satisfactions.

Life after death.

Immortality.

And so on.

There are many words that stir the human heart, and I don’t necessarily deny religion.

After all, there are women like Stella and Lucia who truly walk the right path in the name of God.

“It doesn’t matter which god one believes in.”

Whether they worship the goddess Justitia who oversees justice or the goddess Hertia who governs hearths and fire.

Honestly, I didn’t care what religious doctrines and beliefs motivated them.

Because they put their beliefs into action, I simply respected their visible actions and convictions.

There are plenty of people who hear the same religious teachings but fail to practice them.

“Professor, do you use a neck pillow?”

Aria poked her head out of the carriage window heading to Greyfond and asked.

She didn’t need to come along, but I decided she should accompany us because I judged she shouldn’t be left alone.

“I don’t need one.”

“What about an eye mask and cushion? Sleeping in carriages can be quite uncomfortable.”

“Sp-Spirit Mage hardly sleeps in carriages.”

As Owen answered on my behalf like a secretary, Aria nodded with a disappointed expression.

“Then I won’t bring them either. Can I sit next to you, Professor?”

“…Do as you please.”

“Yes!”

Seeing how she immediately threw her neck pillow and eye mask outside, I could clearly envision her trying to snuggle up naturally while pretending to sleep.

“Will you be okay? You usually prefer sitting alone.”

Owen asked hesitantly. He meant to ask if Aria’s antics would be tiring, but I looked at the carriage that Aria had re-entered and answered.

“She’s pretending to be strong. I need to reassure her, even if just for a moment.”

Despite all her fuss, I could sense her fear in every action and word.

After I answered, Owen tilted his head, then seemed to realize something and gave a thumbs up.

“As expected of the Spirit Mage. You immediately understand your precious student! I’ll strive to become like you!”

“…”

I couldn’t say he was wrong, but it was awkward to affirm it.

As we waited a bit longer, the Dark Spiritmaster finally arrived with much commotion.

[I’m here!]

“Let’s get ready.”

At the Dark Spiritmaster’s words, we began loading luggage into the carriage again. There was no need to exert physical strength since we could move objects with mana, which made this aspect much more convenient than on Earth.

A massive carriage approaching from the distance.

A smooth dark blue body with thick wheels for mountain roads. The carriage bearing the Verdi crest that protected Norsweden didn’t even stop as it entered the academy, but the door flung open.

And a white-haired maid leaped out like a beast.

“Master!”

Findenai, who ran so fast that dust flew up from the ground, overtook the Verdi carriage and rushed toward me.

“Whoa.”

Owen stuck out his tongue, surprised that Findenai would be this excited to see me, but.

I naturally shifted the mana I was using to move objects and spread it around.

“You’re dead!”

Click.

Findenai pulled out an axe and leaped toward me, swinging it. Since I had anticipated this, I transformed the spread mana into a barrier.

KWAGAGAGANGGG!

The violent impact sound startled Owen, who covered his ears, and Aria peeked her head out of the window again.

PUSHUUUK!

Smoke erupted from the war shoes Findenai was wearing, and she rotated her body in the air, stepping on the circular barrier and climbing up.

She swung her axe down again.

KWANG!

“You!”

KWANG!

“Should!”

KWANG!

“Have!”

KWANG!

“Said something before leaving!”

KWAANG!

The protective magic finally shattered under her fierce axe strikes. Findenai descended through the shattering magical barrier like glass fragments and stood before me.

“Any last words before you die?”

Just as Owen had said earlier that I knew Aria well.

Looking into Findenai’s blood-red eyes, I could sense her current emotions.

Anger.

Worry.

Relief.

As various complex emotions were evident in her gestures and actions.

She was worried about me, relieved that I had returned, yet her words were harsh. I placed my hand gently on her head.

“I came back later than expected. I’m sorry if I made you worry.”

“…Huh?”

Surprised by this unexpected reaction, Findenai stared wide-eyed at the hand on her head.

Realizing I had never done this to her before, I was about to slowly lower my hand when.

TANG!

Deia, who had just stepped out of the now-stopped Verdi carriage. Gone was her mana pistol reminiscent of a revolver, replaced by a navy-blue shotgun with faint mana swirling around it, which she fired into the air as she approached.

“Don’t move. Come here. I’ll shoot gently, so just take one hit.”

And a large man following behind her.

“Deus! I’m so glad!”

Even Darius, running with his arms outstretched.

The three people I had been waiting for had returned.

Now we were ready to head to Greyfond.

* * *

[…..]

Former Saintess Stella, who had arrived at Greyfond ahead of the others, stood silently in front of the city gate.

With her eyes closed, as if savoring something, she quietly waited for someone. Another woman approached her side.

“Lady Stella.”

Lucia, who had succeeded Stella as Saintess, carefully broke the silence.

After Deus Verdi disappeared, Stella had flown to Greyfond to seek Lucia’s help.

Despite searching intensely for a month without results, she was relieved to hear that Deus had returned.

Though angry at him for making them worry, both women were truly grateful that he had come back.

[Lucia, he’s coming.]

The sound of heavy footsteps and praises faintly reached Greyfond on the wind.

At Stella’s words, Lucia also raised her head to look beyond the horizon.

There, countless people were approaching Greyfond, following a man wearing an iron mask.

Mule, who proclaimed himself to be the spirit mage.

The two saintesses wore concerned expressions as they watched him attempting to enter Greyfond.