EP.149 Why Sad Premonitions are…
”If my hypothesis is correct, it’s probably the Chain of Parma…”
Unable to endure the awkward silence, Dawna finally opened her mouth.
No matter how you looked at it, it was a desperate move by someone eager to change the subject, but the truth was, I wanted to change the subject too, so I quickly latched onto her words.
”The Chain of Parma…?”
Doing my best to ignore the warm presence from her skin against my back, I focused all my attention on the conversation.
Due to an unforeseen accident, Dawna and I were stranded, naked, up on a distant bell tower.
Until her magic power recovered or our comrades came to rescue us, we had no choice but to endure this situation, like it or not.
”I mean, if you’re a priest in name, you must have heard the legend related to the First Saint, Onorel, at least once!”
”Ah, yes. Of course, I’ve heard of it…”
The First Saint. Onorel.
A legendary figure who, alongside the First Hero, first achieved the goal of subduing the Demon King.
Her name is written in the scriptures, saying that all present miracles are merely imitations of her power, making her existence incomparably significant to the citizens of the System.
The day the First Hero and Saint officially became a couple is a national holiday known as Good Couple Day.
Even the most heinous criminals who fear nothing would hesitate to commit evil acts on the day of the Saint’s birthday.
The day the Saint finally passed away is a period of national mourning where all citizens observe fasting out of devotion, showcasing the fanaticism towards the Saint in this System.
And there were indeed reasons for such devotion.
While the achievement of defeating the Demon King was undoubtedly that of the Hero, it was the Holy Authority of the First Saint that prevented the Demon King from reviving for hundreds of years.
No matter how powerful the Hero’s strength may be, without the blessing of the Saint that excludes demons, it would never reach a level that could threaten the Demon King’s existence.
Thus, the citizens of the System were all too eager for the blessing ceremony for that very reason.
Stories about the First Hero and Saint are included not only in the scriptures but also in the country’s textbooks and fairy tale books, essentially forming the very history of the System itself.
That’s why I surely had memories of the legend associated with the Chain of Parma that Dawna was mentioning.
A chain imbued with the mission she wielded to protect herself among the thousands of powers the First Saint, Onorel, possessed.
Naturally, I had never seen the real deal, but I had seen conceptual drawings several times.
That made it all the more difficult to believe.
”Is this really it…?”
With a rather doubtful expression, I pointed my finger at something.
Then a single iron chain, twisting and wriggling with a joyful sound like a snake hearing a flute, boldly showcased its existence.
The root of this chain was located on my arm.
More precisely, it was sprouting from the stigmata the saint had engraved on me.
Given that one mark of the stigmata had diminished, it seemed clear that this chain originated from the stigmata the Saint had etched into me.
”To my eyes, it just looks like a haunted chain suddenly starting a dance party…”
”That’s… I agree with you there…”
The chain’s movements felt too frivolous to be associated with a legend.
I had some understanding regarding the knowledge related to the Chain of Parma.
To become a formally recognized priest in this System, studying the theology related to the First Saint was an absolute must.
However, if my memory serves me right, the Chain of Parma was supposed to be a shield that could transform to protect the Saint from the relentless armies of monsters.
According to the records, those countless chains functioned as an additional limb for the Saint, moving according to her will to protect her from all dangers.
But this chain was not moving based on my will, nor was there anything I could properly control.
Wrapping around my body, the tip of the chain occasionally perked up, seemingly expressing some sort of dissatisfaction.
”Hmm. This is strange… From all evidence and specific characteristics, this should definitely be the Chain of Parma…”
”Um, Dawna…?”
Had she forgotten what kind of situation she was in right now?
Out of nowhere, Dawna propped her elbow on my head and began mumbling at a volume much like her breath.
Tap tap. Like someone drumming on a desk, her index finger was rhythmically tapping the top of my head, making my heart race.
This habit of hers was a sort of warning signal, a sign that her troubling temperament was just about to rear its head.
”I once saw assassins attacking the Hero using powers similar to this, but due to the urgency at that time, I had to suppress my curiosity… To think I could observe a similar phenomenon so quickly… and this closely… Ah, how fascinating! So fascinating!”
”D-Dawna!?”
It was right at that moment.
Dawna, who had been hugging me from behind, boldly reached her hand toward the arm where the chain sprouted.
With her weight pressing down mercilessly against my back, parts of my body that shouldn’t be touching were now directly in contact, making it quite the ordeal.
”Hah! Hah! More! Closer! Even closer!”
”Dawna! I’m already… I’m touching you! Can’t you hear what I’m saying!?”
Just hearing Dawna’s increasingly ragged breath made it clear what state she was in.
Among all the characters I had encountered, perhaps she was the most insatiably curious person, eager for knowledge. Once she latched onto something, she was relentless until she had it figured out.
Just moments ago, she had coyly covered her important parts with her hands, turning her back to me, curled up.
But now, there was no sign of that modesty in her aggressive pursuit of knowledge.
Dawna, seemingly focused entirely on the chain extending from my arm, pressed her body against me even more, disregarding any boundaries.
”What principle allows it to move? Is it the divine power borrowed from the Saint? Or is it just the technique borrowed, allowing the chains to move at the will of the user? Do they possess awareness? Or is it merely appearing thus from following commands? Ah! Oh! Right! Lowville! Can you try to move this chain right now!?”
”Grrr!”
Trying to stop her with words was already a lost cause.
Dawna, this engrossed, wouldn’t listen to anything aside from the knowledge she craved.
But it wasn’t as if I could simply push her away with sheer force.
Dawna’s physical capabilities were at a level that would make even a ten-year-old child able to overpower her given her depleted magic.
Just a moment ago, the physical strength of the man who had shoulder-locked with me was slightly firmer than freshly baked cookies, while Dawna was just a tad sturdier than a piece of konjac.
If I even slightly miscalibrated my strength, some part of her body could break off at any moment.
Moreover, it was clear that at this moment, Dawna was completely absorbed in unveiling the knowledge before her, regardless of any harm to her own body.
There was a good chance she wouldn’t even realize if something was wrong with her.
Rustle.
”Ugh…”
Dawna’s long hair brushed against my neck, sending chills down an already tense body.
”Lowville! Are you listening? I’m asking if you can move this chain as you wish! If it’s within a scope where mobility can be acknowledged, any action will do! You could have it roam around! Or strike a peculiar pose! Yes! Why not try to stand it up straight!”
By the time Dawna’s voice became boisterous, the area of skin touching mine felt nearly merged with me.
Thump thump. The inappropriate touches pressing here and there on my body made me quite nervous, so I took a deep breath to calm my mind.
”Alright, I understand… If it moves… I’ll try to make it move now… so please just give me a bit of space…”
”Got it!”
In her bright voice, the hint of weakness from worrying about rejection was nowhere to be found.
Only the purity of a child exploring unknown knowledge sparkled like a clear glass bead.
”Dawna, didn’t I just say to back off…?”
”What do you mean? I’m 0.5 cm away now, aren’t I? Besides, if we move farther apart, it might hinder observing the chain!”
”Sigh…”
As if I couldn’t say a word.
I knew full well this was unintentional.
The time I spent with her was not wasted.
In her curious state, Dawna had completely lost her rational thinking ability, but that also meant she’d regain her usual reasoning once her curiosity was satisfied.
So for now, the only option was to acquiesce to her demands with a sigh.
By the way, I wondered what the Hero and the Saint were currently doing.
Were they successfully holding the blessing ceremony?
I hoped they hadn’t ruined it while searching for me.
Though I didn’t want to think it, it was a given that they could easily fall into such chaos, making my head throb repeatedly.
Once I resolved the issue with Dawna, I would need to quickly confirm whether the blessing of the Saint had indeed been etched onto the Hero, starting with the presence or absence of the stigmata.
Unlike other blessings that could be retrieved later, the Hero’s blessing was the last defense of humanity, reserved for just one person, only once in a lifetime.
”Lowville! What are you doing? Move the chain immediately… Wait? What’s this unfamiliar tattoo engraved on your shoulder?!”
”…Huh?”
It was then.
Dawna, who had been urging me intensely, suddenly uttered a voice filled with confusion.
Immediately afterward, an indescribably ominous premonition wrapped around my thoughts.
C-Could it be…?
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