Ch.266Episode 12 – The Strongest Mage in History

# “Did you bring the items?”

“Yes.”

“Let me see.”

Lucia lowered the bag slung over her shoulder to the floor. It was a simple cloth bag, far too modest for a saint or even a clergy member to carry.

Inside were various religious objects.

“A Roman cross made of pure gold, a rosary crafted from broken olive tree branches, holy water collected from the cracked rocks near the cathedral famous for St. Basil’s tale, a stole offered by the Dominican Order…”

From the worn cloth bag, Lucia displayed numerous items. All belonged to her and were crucial for this operation.

There were many other things too, but there wasn’t time to examine everything. It seemed she had brought all the essential items.

Of course, the most important one was…

“Um… you brought the wrist bone too, right?”

“It’s right here.”

The Church’s saint tapped a heavy wooden box. The relic of St. Balthasar. The wrist bone of an ancient saint was inside that box.

A saint carrying the bones of another saint. What a strange situation. I glanced at the box with a sour expression.

“Even if it’s important, something like that…”

“Currently, we have no holy relic more helpful for finding demons than St. Balthasar’s remains. This was difficult to obtain.”

“I’ll trust you for now. What about the other items?”

Lucia opened her robe and pulled out a bundle of cloth.

Silk made from cocoons of silkworms that had eaten leaves blessed by clergy at a famous convent, boiled and woven into fabric. More precious than any other silk, and hidden within it were thin pieces of metal.

Metal pieces engraved with geometric patterns of religious significance. Similar to amulets, but not quite.

I carefully lifted one of the metal pieces.

“Talismans. I’ve brought them all. The map is here too.”

Lucia nodded with determined eyes.

“Now our preparations are complete. Let’s go.”

## Episode 12 – The Most Powerful Magician Ever

The day I visited the cathedral to deliver documents to Archbishop Theodosius, Lucia made me a proposal.

She suggested we search for a demon together.

‘A demon?’

‘The monk currently roaming the north. That person is no longer a living human. Either possessed by a demon or has made a contract with one. I believe it’s more likely possession.’

Lucia claimed that Romaine Cheire, who had murdered the inquisitors, was possessed by a demon.

If anyone else had said such a thing, I would have cursed them for being crazy, but unfortunately, the person saying this was a clergy member of the Church. And not just any clergy—a saint awaiting canonization.

I decided to hear Lucia’s explanation before making a decision.

‘As a military officer, you must be familiar with necromancers… I explained about possessed people before, do you remember?’

‘Yes. People possessed by demons are called “possessed ones.”‘

‘Exactly.’

Before her detailed explanation, Lucia briefly mentioned necromancers and possessed people.

The Church refers to people possessed by demons through accidents or magical rituals as “possessed ones.” These people lose their bodies to demons, who then take over and pretend to be the original person.

‘When the Church discovers a possessed person, they first conduct an examination. They observe the suspected individual over time to determine whether they’re truly possessed or simply suffering from mental illness.’

‘If they have a mental illness, they’d be sent to a hospital. What happens if possession is confirmed?’

‘In that case, the local bishop reports directly to the State Council and requests an exorcist priest. Assistant deacons and combat priests accompany them for the exorcism ritual.’

Lucia explained that the process from examination to dispatching an exorcist typically takes several years.

However, she added that with four inquisitors murdered, the Inquisition Office couldn’t possibly ignore the situation, which is why they broke protocol and deployed large-scale forces.

Lucia’s explanation didn’t end there. She went on to explain how possessed people come to be.

‘Typically, possession occurs when someone is psychologically vulnerable after experiencing an accident or disaster. There are cases where people lose their bodies to demons through magical rituals or by disturbing something they shouldn’t, but those are less common.’

‘What kind of magical rituals, and what does “disturbing something” mean?’

‘How much do you know about necromancers?’

‘Well, I know the basics. As much as most people.’

‘Then you’ve probably heard rumors that necromancers make contracts with demons to gain power.’

Necromancers. Commonly known as “necros.”

Unlike the summoners of the Magic Tower, necromancers gain power through contracts with demons. It could be described as a kind of transaction—offering payment in exchange for magical abilities.

That’s why necromancers come from all backgrounds.

A renowned magician from one of the Magic Tower’s three major schools or minor schools might suddenly snap and become a necromancer, or a street beggar might successfully perform dark magic and become one.

Until now, I had thought these were merely rumors, but Lucia addressed this directly.

‘Rumors are usually based on facts. Necromancers do indeed gain power by making contracts with demons.’

‘So magical rituals are used in the process of gaining that power?’

‘Yes, exactly.’

Necromancers make deals with demons through contracts.

The problem is that during this process, some become too greedy for power and either offer too much in return or get betrayed, resulting in the necromancer losing their body to the demon.

That’s one case of how demons are born through magical rituals.

‘A necromancer who has fallen to become a possessed one leaves traces throughout the world. More precisely, the demon who has taken the necromancer’s body seeks victims to contract with. They typically lure people using objects like totems, talismans, or ancient books.’

‘So if an unsuspecting person touches an object left by a demon, they become possessed immediately.’

Lucia believed that among these three cases, Romaine Cheire most likely became possessed through the last scenario.

‘Brother Agato was a combat priest assisting exorcists, so he likely lost his body to a demon unintentionally. Many exorcist priests, deacons, and combat priests have lost their lives trying to save possessed ones. I think it’s probably something like that.’

I didn’t realize it then, but looking back now, Lucia seemed to know more about exorcism and exorcist priests than I expected. She knew details that went beyond what one would learn in university.

I wanted to ask how she knew all this, but time didn’t allow for many questions.

So I decided to ask a more productive question.

‘Fine. I understand that Romaine Cheire is possessed by a demon and that demon is causing trouble in the north. I’ll believe you. But how are we going to find this demon?’

When I asked that question, Lucia boldly raised her hand.

More precisely, she raised her hand while holding St. Balthasar’s relic.

The current saint, holding the wrist bone of an ancient saint, answered:

‘This gentleman will tell us himself.’

*

Lucia’s plan was simple. Find the demon running rampant in the north and perform an exorcism.

The exorcism ritual would be conducted by the Inquisition forces participating in the joint investigation team and exorcist priests coming from the Church. If circumstances didn’t allow for that, Lucia herself would handle the ritual.

“Can exorcism be performed alone?”

“Usually not. A deacon is absolutely necessary.”

Since I’m not religious, I don’t know much about these matters.

There must be reasons why exorcist priests always bring deacons and combat priests with them. So when Lucia said she might perform the ritual alone, I felt somewhat worried.

However, Lucia remained adamant.

“But if I hold back, who will save Brother Agato? If we leave him in that state, he’ll commit greater sins, and his own suffering will increase.”

“…”

I looked down at the bundle of passes and passports in my pocket. Having already received payment, I couldn’t back out now.

While I was wracking my brain, Lucia stood up with resolute eyes.

“If I retreat from something I can do, I’ll surely regret it later.”

“What if you get hurt?”

“Of course I might get hurt. But when the time comes for me to stand before God, making excuses like ‘I had no choice but to retreat then’ would be futile. So this is something I must do. Me, specifically.”

I don’t know where she learned such stubbornness, but she was certainly strong-willed. If it had been Veronica, she would have run away without looking back. Unlike her senior, Lucia showed no signs of backing down.

She’s not exactly normal either.

“…Sigh. This is just my fate. Let’s finish quickly and get some sleep.”

Looking up at the northern sky, I sighed deeply, then plunged into the darkness alongside Lucia, turning our backs to the night view.

*

When Lucia first mentioned finding a demon, my initial thoughts were concern and worry.

Even though I don’t believe in gods or superstitions, I’m not ignorant.

Working as an aide to Klevins, I’ve encountered many things.

A magic academy student who killed someone to avoid conscription and fled, a magician who unleashed magic in a tavern killing twenty-one people, a Magic Tower exile executed by firing squad for creating undead, and so on.

Just hearing “magician” is enough to worry me, let alone an exiled magician—and possibly a necromancer at that.

To make matters worse, they might be possessed by a demon.

I can’t dismiss it as nonsense because I’ve seen and experienced things firsthand. Four inquisitors cut down in an instant, flesh rotting, crows constantly circling around—how could I brush that off as nonsense?

I wiped my damp palms on my pants.

“Damn it…”

Cold sweat kept breaking out all over my body. Even when I was being chased by Chinese public security, I wasn’t this nervous.

Considering my serious physical condition, I wasn’t doing well. Lucia, who was walking ahead, seemed to notice something was wrong and glanced back.

“Are you struggling?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“For now, perhaps.”

Lucia added those meaningful words and then let out a small sigh.

“I told you to get treatment promptly. You should have visited the cathedral for treatment, even for just an hour.”

“Finding time isn’t easy, Saint. But I’ve been taking my medicine regularly.”

“As I’ve repeatedly told you, hospitals and churches are places for treating people, not resurrecting them. What will you do if something goes wrong?”

Leaning against the stone wall, Lucia launched into a lecture about the importance of health management.

Until now, she had assumed I was taking care of myself, but seeing me constantly going out and returning injured seemed to frustrate her. Uncharacteristically, Lucia scolded me with occasional nagging.

“And I see your finger hasn’t fully healed either. When are you planning to get that treated? If you develop complications, it will cause no end of inconvenience.”

“Well, about that…”

“If you’re going to say it’s difficult to find time again, just keep your mouth shut. Don’t you think your excuses sound too flimsy even to yourself?”

“…”

I kept my mouth shut. Even I thought my excuses sounded unconvincing.

Lucia continued to caution me, but since she wasn’t the type to easily criticize others, her admonishment didn’t last long.

Finally, she concluded by urging me to visit the cathedral after we finished today’s work.

“This won’t do. Let’s go straight to the cathedral as soon as this is over.”

“I need to return to the hotel.”

“Will you go willingly, or shall I drag you there?”

“…Fine. I’ll go.”

At my reluctant agreement, Lucia smiled brightly. It was a smile that seemed to illuminate the dark alley.

“Well then, let’s finish this as quickly as possible.”

With a beaming face, Lucia entered the alley. After adjusting her cloth bag on her shoulder, she ran her hand along the stone wall, then unwrapped the silk bundle and carefully took out its contents.

Metal pieces with geometric patterns.

Sacred objects called “talismans” by the Church clergy, and the first step in realizing Lucia’s plan.

“These are the talismans you mentioned before, right?”

“Yes.”

Talismans are sacred objects used by the Church that function as a kind of charm.

Charms that ward off negative energy and bring good fortune. Since this is a fantasy world, there’s a culture on the continent where people exchange charms as gifts on special occasions with family, friends, or lovers, and the Church’s talismans are the most commonly gifted.

Of course, no one knows if they really work.

Whether it’s just a superstition like “don’t eat seaweed soup before an important exam” or if it really wards off bad luck and brings good fortune—how would I know? I’m not a clergy member. People don’t particularly care either.

But the talismans Lucia took out weren’t the kind given out on special occasions.

“If a possessed person or necromancer passes nearby, the talisman will react. Like a bell ringing when a cat moves.”

Lucia’s talismans were items used by the Church’s exorcist priests, primarily for tracking demons.

Lucia carefully inserted a talisman into a small gap in the weathered stone wall. The thin metal piece bent according to her touch and disappeared between the rough stones.

After smoothing away any traces with her hand, Lucia took out a bundle of papers from her cloth bag.

Parchment, something with little practical use in this era. Lucia unfolded a map made of parchment and spoke in a small voice.

“It went in well. The talisman is working properly.”

That antique parchment map was the second step in Lucia’s plan.

Lucia spread her cape on the ground and laid the map on it to keep it from getting wet with snow. The parchment showed a view of Novo Nikolaevsk.

Small, white dots were marked on the map. Lucia pointed to one of these dots.

“If the talismans work properly, they appear as marks on the map like this. These are the talismans we’ve hidden as we came here.”

The parchment was glittering with white dots. The map, reminiscent of magical toys I’d seen in childhood, was one of the holy relics strictly preserved by the Church.

“If a demon passes nearby, the closest talisman will react.”

That’s what she said.

Pausing briefly, Lucia tapped the wooden box she had been cradling at her side.

“Then we’ll use this holy relic. With St. Balthasar’s remains and the map, we should be able to locate the demon quickly.”

“So if you place the remains on the map, they point in the right direction, correct?”

“Yes.”

According to Lucia, St. Balthasar’s remains have properties that react to the energy of impure beings. That’s why they reacted so violently when I, who had been butchered by the monk, approached the wooden box.

It was a phenomenon difficult to explain scientifically, but there was no need to explain or understand it. Even Einstein would believe without further verification after seeing thousand-year-old bones thrashing about enough to shake a table.

I pointed at the map to reconfirm our direction.

“So we go straight down this alley and cross over to another district?”

“Yes. It’s difficult to install talismans on main streets, and as long as the distance isn’t too great, placing them just in alleys is sufficient.”

“Good.”

“Well then, let’s move on as we need to continue installing them.”

Lucia installed talismans throughout the alleys of Novo Nikolaevsk.

The alleys stretched on, complex enough to evoke images of spider webs or mazes, but Lucia showed no signs of getting lost. Like an adventurer, she held the map in one hand and tapped the stone walls, installing talismans in dark alleys where light barely reached.

And so we explored the vast city, installing talismans.

Finally…

“It’s done. This is today’s last talisman.”

We successfully completed our task by installing a talisman near the underside of the riverside bridge.

“Good work.”

“Thank you for your hard work. Especially considering your condition.”

I sat on a bench by the riverside to catch my breath. Though not bright due to the blackout, scattered lights along the riverside formed small streams of illumination in celebration of the year’s end.

Lights adorning the rippling waters. As I watched the shattered light clusters, Lucia approached and plopped down beside me.

“Were they installed properly?”

“Yes. Would you like to see?”

I examined the parchment map she handed me.

On the parchment, which resembled an original ancient manuscript, was a view of Novo Nikolaevsk, with clusters of white dots spreading throughout the city like veins.

It was a signal that the talismans were functioning normally.

“Ah, finally finished. Now we just wait, right?”

“Of course not.”

Lucia smiled brightly.

“There are still many other cities left. We need to install talismans in those cities too before we can truly find the demon.”

“When will we have time for all that?”

“We’ll do it bit by bit. I’ll install talismans during my daily routines. Will you help me?”

I shrugged.

“Why not? Installing those things won’t cause any trouble.”

“Thank you.”

With a gentle smile, Lucia expressed her gratitude.

We sat on the bench to catch our breath. Though it was cold enough to make teeth chatter, when Lucia recited a prayer, the cold melted away like snow.

As she sat catching her breath, Lucia let out a small exclamation.

“Ah, I forgot to take out the remains.”

Lucia unlocked the wooden box and removed St. Balthasar’s remains. Despite thousands of years passing, the saint’s bones, which had not returned to nature, swayed slightly with the wind.

Carefully holding the remains with both hands, Lucia placed them on the parchment map. Thankfully, since she had spread her cape on the ground to keep everything from getting wet, we avoided the disaster of the map and remains tumbling into the snow.

“I’ll take out the remains in advance. There’s no guarantee the demon will appear today, but just in case.”

“Do as you please, Saint. But is it okay to handle the remains of someone who died so long ago like that?”

“Well, if there’s a problem, he’ll tell us himself. I’ll say a prayer before bed.”

Lucia answered with a playful voice. I shook my head with a smile.

Then.

-Click!

St. Balthasar’s remains placed on the map began to move.