After the steel pipe was finished. Mother called me.
'What is it?'
She had an extremely serious face.
“Lian. Have you decided on your academy dormitory, by any chance?”
Mm. No. That is a frightening face.
“Ahaha... I'm still thinking it over.”
“Our Lian had talent in Condemnation, didn't he? Taking after his mother.”
Mother, you're scaring me.
Her smile is far too radiant and benevolent.
“Mine are all of the specialty talents...”
“Ohoho, surely a cleric ought to handle Condemnation well, don't you think?”
Mother cut me off.
She has no intention of hearing my opinion, apparently.
It is a fair point, so for now I try nodding.
“Which is why your mother has made preparations!”
Rattle—
Servants dragged an iron cage into the training hall.
'...?'
“Grrrraaargh!”
A monstrosity?
Inside the iron cage was a monstrosity shaped like a wolf.
The holy war of five hundred years ago.
The demonic energy the Demon God left behind transformed animals. Those transformed animals are the monstrosities.
Monstrosities inhabit the Great Forest at the continent's northernmost edge, contaminated with demonic energy.
'Why is there a monstrosity inside a consecrated house...'
I want to lodge a protest, but Mother's expression is far too relaxed.
Mm. Listen attentively for now.
“I mean to teach you properly how to handle Condemnation. It doesn't come across as clearly as the other forces, does it?”
That is a fair point, admittedly.
The base attributes of holy power are light, purification and blessing.
The talent to convert those attributes is precisely the specialty talent!
The lines of specialty talent divide into Holy Aura, Healing, Enhancement, Manifestation and Condemnation.
Put simply, think of it as using holy power as fuel to cast each line's holy magic.
Holy Aura is literally making an aura of holy power, and Healing, as the name says, is a specialty geared to treating a target.
Enhancement is every line of power that loads holy power in to strengthen something physically.
Manifestation is power like the magic everyone knows, realizable through imagination, the way a holy fireball is made. Holy magic and barrier construction fall under it.
'Condemnation is the one that doesn't quite land, though.'
They say it's the best force for facing an enemy that carries demonic energy.
'Which comes down to exorcism in the end, doesn't it.'
I understand the nature of the force, but I have no feel for how to apply it.
“I shall show you directly.”
Mother stepped forward gracefully.
Without so much as a mace in her hand.
'That monstrosity was... a Silver-Mane Wolf, I think.'
Monstrosities are named according to their characteristics.
Because although they aren't clearly graded the way demons are, they still had to be sorted by an assigned danger rating.
“Monstrosities plainly have a hierarchy of power. Do you remember the Silver-Mane Wolf's rank?”
“Yes, Mother.”
I definitely remember learning it.
'Among the danger ratings sorted from Class 1 to Class 5, it was around Class 4.'
The highest danger is Class 1 and the lowest is Class 5.
Compared to demons, Class 4 means it's past the low-grade tier!
'Mother might tear it apart barehanded.'
I straightened my posture.
“For monstrosities that carry demonic energy, using holy power is the most efficient approach, just as with demons.”
You can dispatch them with ordinary magic or martial arts too, of course.
But demonic energy ultimately brings contamination.
Which is why, to eliminate even the contamination demonic energy causes, using holy power is indispensable.
“Using the base attributes of holy power works well too. Holy force drives out darkness, after all.”
Only, as for Condemnation.
“A force specialized against demonic energy.”
Mother raised a hand, saying she would show me an example.
'No mace today.'
-Really barehanded?
Ugh. Don't even joke about that, Elly.
It's so frightening it gives me goosebumps.
Leaving my worry behind. A haze of white light gathered at Mother's fingertips.
“What I'm about to use is called the Veil of Purification. It's the only technique usable with the base attributes.”
There is apparently only one technique that can be manifested with holy power's base attributes.
It scatters the light of purification down in the shape of a veil.
Quite literally, it is specialized for purifying demonic energy.
“Grrraaagh!!”
As the Veil of Purification settled down as though wrapping over the monstrosity, the parts it touched began burning white.
“Fundamentally, this Veil of Purification is not an attack technique. Though a low-grade demon can be dispatched with it easily enough.”
THUD—! Thud thud!
The monstrosity slammed into the iron cage in resistance.
The Veil of Purification could cause the Silver-Mane Wolf pain, but it could not deal a fatal blow.
“The purification attribute is holy power's base characteristic, so converting to another attribute doesn't change that essence.”
'Meaning there's no particular need to use the Veil of Purification on its own.'
Since converting to another attribute still carries the base attributes of light, purification and blessing.
Only, attribute conversion consumes rather more holy power, so it had high utility for dispatching low-grade demons.
I nodded. Understood this far.
“Realizing holy magic through Manifestation gives a similar situation.”
Mother used Manifestation to make a purple flame smaller than a fist and threw it at the monstrosity.
“Grrrraaargh!”
Damage landed, but not fatally!
Naturally. The flame was very small.
The purification attribute and the flame burned the demonic energy away bit by bit, but that was all.
“Fundamentally, demonic energy hardens the hide and makes them stronger. Raise the firepower and you can dispatch them, of course.”
Meaning that if you can strip the demonic energy away, that is best.
“This is the Flame of Condemnation. Fire realized through Manifestation, mixed with the Condemnation attribute.”
Mother produced a small flame this time as well.
The flame realized through Manifestation clearly shone purple.
Then, as the force of Condemnation was mixed in, the flame turned red.
An intense red, close to the color of burning.
'Aha — so the colors don't blend?'
The Flame of Condemnation flew at the monstrosity without hesitation.
“Kyaaargh!”
Thud! Thud thud thud! THUD—!
A reaction fiercer by an entire order than with the Veil of Purification or the purple fireball!
It was plainly the same small flame as before, and yet the visible damage was completely different.
'It's... melting in the flame?'
-Lian did something similar when Aileen attacked us back then!
That's right.
Thanks to my Demonbane Bottle's showing, her head split and she melted onto the floor.
'No wonder. She was so certain it was the Flame of Condemnation at the time.'
Where the flame touched, the demonic energy melted and dripped to the floor.
'Condemnation's ability is unmistakable.'
Its ability against demonic energy in particular was unmistakable.
The wolf tried to wrap demonic energy around itself for protection once the Flame of Condemnation caught.
But the Flame of Condemnation simply melted the demonic energy away.
And through that opening, the flame burned the wolf and dealt damage.
“Gragh! Grrraaagh!”
The efficiency was plainly different from the Veil of Purification or a Manifestation fireball whittling demonic energy away bit by bit.
'Hold on. What happens if I use this together with the exorcism letters?'
Wouldn't that be something?
The corner of my mouth twitched upward.
“Lian, what do you think? Go to the Inquisition Bureau and you can learn how to hone this Condemnation efficiently.”
Certainly.
It looked far more efficient than going as an ordinary battle priest.
'And it would synergize with the exorcism letters.'
Oh no.
I feel as though I've walked into Mother's design, haven't I?
-Your track is the Inquisition Bureau anyway.
'Urk—'
-Looks like you'll be an Inquisitor before long too?
'Anything but that. I am absolutely going to be an inspector priest.'
“Yes. I'll go with the Inquisition Bureau.”
At my answer, Mother smiled broadly.
“Once you enter the academy, just choose Zerotil Hall.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
So the dormitory was Zerotil either way.
I realized the agonizing had been pointless.
***
And a few days later.
A welcome face visited House Ludersk.
The one who came was Corin.
And with his father, who as a Cardinal ought to be busy.
'So that's Cardinal Dalopes.'
Armel Dalopes.
A man famous as the youngest Cardinal.
'Though he's only a few years apart from Father.'
He looked much like Corin. Round eyes, a mild impression. Down to the long, deep black hair.
Cardinal Dalopes had grown his out fully and tied it in a long fall.
“It has been a long time, Cardinal Ludersk.”
“Cardinal Dalopes! And you have come with young Corin. Thank you.”
Ordinarily Cardinals do not socialize openly with one another.
And no wonder, since Cardinals are the ones who hold the vote for the next Holy Emperor.
One misstep and it can be mistaken for political collaboration.
Cardinal Dalopes in particular was a man extremely careful about such things.
And yet he visits the house this abruptly? Not something that happens short of a considerable matter.
'What is going on?'
There was no way not to be curious.
Leilaik welcomed him warmly even as he wondered.
“Lian! Have you been well?”
“Mm, have you been well too, Corin?”
“Mm!”
Corin's face was bright as he greeted me.
'Something serious over there, though.'
-Shall I go stick to them?
'Yes. Please, for a moment.'
Just in case, I send Elly over.
“Lian. Have you decided on a weapon or anything like that?”
“Mm. I'm going with a staff.”
“A staff?”
“Mm.”
Corin's head tilts.
Unfamiliar, isn't it? I know.
In a place that mainly uses swords or magic, it isn't a mainstream weapon.
“Because it's what I think I can use best.”
“Aha...?”
Still an expression that says he doesn't quite understand. He nodded anyway.
“If Lian chose it... then there's nothing wrong with it.”
Right. Thank you.
“What about you, Corin? Have you decided?”
“The truth is I've been agonizing a bit...”
“Agonizing about what?”
“J-just, about all of it...”
As ever, Corin talked in circles and fidgeted with his hands.
'For a healing priest, wouldn't a suitable staff-type do?'
Corin, slight in build and in temperament, does not look able to fight holding a vicious blunt weapon.
Healing priests don't use blunt weapons in the first place.
But the agonizing turned out not to be about that.
“...Um. If I went to the Inquisition Bureau too, could I be an inspector priest?”
'Huh?'
Corin, an inspector priest?
An inspector priest is, when you get down to it, closer to an investigator.
Infiltration and reconnaissance are the basics for rooting out hidden heretics, and combat has to be endured at times.
A bit much for a healing priest to manage.
'If he had some combat ability, maybe.'
Regrettably, I don't know Corin's combat ability. In fact I don't really know his healing ability either.
And no wonder.
'In the labyrinth I dispatched everything myself, didn't I?'
There was no chance to find out.
I merely assumed he had latent ability.
If he can both fight and heal, he'd be an asset beyond compare.
“What was your specialty talent again, Corin?”
“Mine is Healing and Manifestation and Condemnation.”
“Huh? Doesn't having the Condemnation line give you bonus points when choosing a dormitory?”
Unexpectedly, Corin's specialty included the Condemnation line.
“Actually, they say my dad's specialty is the Condemnation line too.”
So it's only that he made his name in the Healing line; in substance the anti-demon talent was there all along?
“Then wouldn't it be fine if you just honed your combat ability?”
“Y-you think so?”
Corin's face lit up brightly.
However.
That was something I said without knowing Corin's athletic reflexes.
***
CRASH—!
'Wow.'
Corin was remarkable.
“Gagh!”
As for what was remarkable about him.
“Uuurgh!”
His athletic reflexes were remarkable.
'In a veeery negative direction.'
Across every life I have lived, previous one included, I have never seen a case of two left feet more tremendous than that.
'This is definitely just a squat?'
I had meant to check Corin's combat ability.
Being able to do only the most basic things would have been fine.
Because he has Manifestation and Condemnation!
'He can hang back sensibly and just throw holy magic.'
So I decided to have him take the basic conditioning training I do routinely, alongside me.
And yet.
Five times already. That's how many times Corin has fallen over doing squats.
'His reflexes are beyond absurd?'
Catastrophic. Can anyone be this bad.
However much talent for Manifestation he has, however much he casts holy magic from range.
To be deployed into combat you have to have at least basic body technique.
Because there's no telling when a fight turns into a melee. But... he's too bad at it.
'Forget healing priest, the question is whether he can go to a front line at all.'
Shouldn't we be seriously considering the Clerical Governance Office, made up purely of administrative posts?
Operating in the vanguard is out, to begin with.
Even falling all the way back to pure rear-line support is touch and go.
'In that state he'd fall over just changing position.'
Corin, how are you even managing to stand.
Perhaps he read the meaning in my eyes.
Corin bit his lip hard, attempted a squat once more, and CRASH! landed on his backside.
Haa.
***
'Even for a healing priest, stamina like that is serious.'
'Hmm. At home we really ought to focus on conditioning.'
The two fathers watching also swallowed their respective thoughts.
They had decided to try basic training, but in substance what was happening now wasn't even basic training, merely warm-up stretching!
“Ahem. He was rather better at home, though.”
“Hahaha... I see.”
Neither believed that for a moment, but neither bothered to mention it.
“At any rate. Is there a reason for your visit?”
Leilaik broached it.
He had never imagined that the head of House Dalopes and a Cardinal would come to Ludersk territory over his son's affairs alone.
“We found a strange trace.”
“A trace?”
“An altar.”
“!!”
“An altar built by black mages.”