Banished from the herd, I was actually a member of a very rare species. ~With the unique skills that only I can use, I can grow and evolve quickly. I will become an unrivaled monster~ - Episode 128: The Shrine Maiden and the Earth God Festival

Episode 128: The Shrine Maiden and the Earth God Festival

(Note: Special for this chapter the MC’s dialogue is written in ‘…..’)

“Do you know the story of the Great Sage sealing the Calamity Beast a thousand years ago? The crux of this tale is that he did not defeat the Calamity Beast but merely sealed it. Even with the Great Sage and his six Sovereign Tier pseudo-magical constructs, they could not completely end its life.”

‘..…’

“And the seal was not permanent. The artifact used by the Great Sage, which burned their soul to amplify magical power explosively, lost its effectiveness day by day. If left alone, the Calamity Beast would eventually be released.”

If that happened, many lives would be sacrificed, not just in this country but among the people of the surface as well. 

Tanasis added in a calm tone, 

“That’s why it became necessary to reinforce the seal. Fortunately, the Great Sage provided a means to do so. By offering a shrine maiden as a living sacrifice to the artifact maintaining the seal, we can extract her soul and repair the seal. The first shrine maiden to be offered was over nine hundred years ago.”

‘…..’

So, this has been happening for that long? I’d often wondered why such a civilization didn’t aim for the surface. After all, the Jewel Mole hadn’t been alive for a thousand years. Now I understood. It was because of this seal. 

If there was a way to escape to the surface, a chosen shrine maiden might run away. Perhaps the leaders of this country decided to abandon a return to the surface, fearing chaos, and chose to thrive underground instead.

“Since then, every five years, a shrine maiden chosen by the Sages has been offered to reinforce the seal. Yes, the Earth God Festival is nothing but a sacrificial ceremony. It’s somewhat inappropriate to say it directly, so it is officially termed a summoning of the Earth God.”

‘… So that’s why the shrine maiden… Has there been no dissent? No matter the pretext, it doesn’t change that they won’t see them again.’

“Being chosen as a shrine maiden is considered a great honor. Of course, not everyone genuinely celebrates this, but in this country, the Sage hold absolute power. Anyone who opposes them finds the whole nation as their enemy, so there’s practically no one who can openly express their dissent.”

‘So it’s difficult to leave the country…’

Also, the fact that it happens only once every five years and involves just one person likely contributes to it. The city has tens of thousands of people; the chances of knowing the victim are relatively low. And even if a stranger is offered, people likely wouldn’t help oppose it.

‘So, this year’s shrine maiden is Krissa.’

“Indeed. She should have been summoned to the Tower of Sages since this morning.”

‘I have a question. Couldn’t a criminal be used as the shrine maiden sacrifice instead?’

I know it’s a cruel thought, but I can’t help but feel that sacrificing an innocent person is worse.

“It would be difficult. While the Sage hasn’t explicitly stated it, the souls offered must meet certain standards of freshness and quality. All the shrine maidens chosen so far have been between fifteen and twenty years old with unique Attributes.”

‘Freshness and quality, huh… I see.’

In learning about artifacts, I’ve learned a bit about souls and |Mana|. As evidenced by artifacts that can transmit thoughts, |Mana| can mediate emotions and thoughts. This is because the source of |Mana| arises from the soul, meaning it can be manipulated by will. 

|Mana|, souls, and emotions are closely intertwined. Therefore, if souls are to be used as resources, it makes sense to use valuable individuals with unique attributes at a sensitive age. 

That doesn’t mean I’m okay with it, though.

“That’s all I have to say.”

‘I understand. Thanks for telling me.’

“… What will you do now?” 

Tanasis asked as I started to move after thanking him. 

Before I could gauge the emotion behind his almost prayer-like question, I replied.

‘I’m going to have a direct talk.’

◆      ◆      ◆

“Welcome, Krissa Sideros. You look well.” 

Having been escorted by a pseudo-magical construct  to the Tower of Sages, I was led to the audience chamber on the eighth floor. 

Seated on the throne at the end of a long carpet was a woman with waist-length blonde hair, ivory-like pale skin, and ice-blue eyes that felt chilling. 

She has ruled this country for a thousand years.

I moved my dry mouth, struggling to find the words. 

“… All thanks to your governance, Sage.”

“I see.” 

Her response was flat, as if uninterested in flattery. She quickly moved on to the next topic. 

“You spent your last month in the city, but don’t you have any regrets?”

“…………”

“That was a cruel question, wasn’t it? Please forget it.”

Did she apologize because she realized that someone about to die must have regrets? Or was it because she felt guilty for ordering Katsu and the others to keep watch, preventing me from going home even during my last month?

It was impossible to tell from her frozen expression.

“If you have any requests, let me know. I will fulfill them as much as possible.”

“…No, not really.”

“Then, this audience is over. Wait in your designated room until the Earth God Festival. I will assign a guard. So if you need anything, just let them know.”

I thought the meeting ended rather abruptly, but I had no time to linger. I needed to leave quickly.

As I moved my trembling body according to protocol, just as I turned my back, the Sage suddenly looked toward the window.

“It seems we have a new visitor. But they came alone? How careless.”

“Katsu-san!?”

Following her gaze, I saw a cube soaring through the sky.

It landed on the balcony right next to the audience chamber, then burst through the window.

“What are you doing here…?”

‘I’ve come to negotiate with the Sage. I figured they would be above, but it’s lucky I found you, Krissa. Please lead me to the Sage.’

“I’m the Sage, Katsu.”

Despite the unusual situation, the Sage spoke calmly. Yet, there was a hint of exasperation in her voice.

‘No need for introductions… It seems unnecessary.’

“Yes. I have always been mindful of your movements, visitor from the surface. And you don’t need to use honorifics. There’s no need to honor me as someone who is not one of my people.”

‘I see. Then I’ll get straight to the point: stop the Earth God Festival. I will defeat the Calamity Beast.’

“Naturally, I cannot accept such a request. You do not understand the terror of the Calamity Beast. The lives at stake with this seal are not merely thousands; they are many.”

I felt my breath catch at the cold, yet powerful tone and content of their voice. 

That’s right. My life is tied to the fate of people all over the world. 

Not just the kind folks in the city who were kind to me after I lost my mother early on—Katsu, Fisu, Paula; they were all good people. There must be many kind souls on the surface as well.

That’s why I must fulfill my role as a sacrifice.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to face my father, who is more righteous, stricter, and dedicated to the people than anyone else.

As I reaffirmed the weight of my responsibility, I found myself breathing shallowly.

I couldn’t interject in the conversation happening before me.

‘But that doesn’t mean you can disregard one person’s life.’

“True. Every life is precious and cannot be valued. Therefore, the life of Krissa Sideros may become unnecessary. Isn’t that fortunate?”

“……….Huh?”

‘What do you mean?’

“Literally. If there are other sacrifices… then there’s no need for it to be Krissa. Until now, I’ve refrained from changing the priestess to avoid unnecessary conflict… but someone of the stature and strength of the Captain of the Sentinels could easily burst into the sealing chamber with an unconscious girl.”

‘What are you saying?’

“Xanthos Sideros is an exemplary Sentinel who prioritizes the protection of the people over personal desires… but are the people he should protect really the ones on the surface?”

◆      ◆      ◆

A little while after Katsu left the mansion, Xanthos, wearing a stern expression, got up heavily.

He climbed the stairs step by step and stopped in front of a certain room, knocking twice.

“This is Xanthos. May I come in for a moment?”

The girl who owned the room opened the door without a care.