"... And that's when I returned here." I finish giving the report of what happened to the leaders. Omitting the fate of Samantha, as I highly doubt they'd care anyway, I've faithfully retold the events of the previous day.
"So, you're certain that the Maker of the Fifth Demigod was a humanoid?" Kalim asks, his brow furrowed and a hand to his chin as he leans in to examine the recording gem I've set out on the table for them to see.
"From Yggdrasil's description of them, as well as the testimony of the Thunder-Lord Kechi, the probability that they're not a humanoid is incredibly slim. Additionally, the Celestial Marble that once constituted the Divine Spring at Crimsnow Glacier was broken apart with a weapon." I respond.
Although there are monsters that wield weapons, notably Goblinoids and some Eastern Spirits, World Knowledge specifically said it was used by a humanoid. And besides, if the Fifth Maker- as we've taken to calling him- wasn't a humanoid, but instead a monster, their attack on the other Demigods wouldn't have been necessary.
"But the power necessary to damage Celestial Marble... And to fight and win against the other Makers when they were no doubt aided by their own Demigods... It's beyond the power even Fated Heroes hold!" Kantarra's eyes are wide, nervous, as she protests my theory.
"Perhaps it is beyond the power of Heroes of today. I've heard tales of the eight Heroes who slew the True Tyrant. With how the power of any kind of Monarch grows for each kill, to contend against a beast that has wiped out countless villages in the time before the confrontation..." I remind them.
Something happened between the time of the Fifth Maker and now, and as a result, humanoids are weaker than they used to be. The True Tyrant rose before the advent of the Makers and the Demigods, so the Heroes that fought it were much stronger, they had to be- or else they'd been vaporized by the power of the True Tyrant.
The leaders all look down, most of them with faces of regret. "But why? What would possibly be gained from wiping out the other Demigods?" Dervix asks. Of all of those present here, he is possibly the most business-minded, that much has become evident in my interactions with him.
"Monsters don't die of old age, humanoids do. As long as the Maker is alive, a Demigod can survive- even if they have no source of Faith. From what I've been able to understand about the lost Element the Fifth Demigod represented, it has something to do with disease or poison. It's possible that the Demigod even affected its Maker negatively." I pause, weighing the options and trying to decide on the most likely one.
"Either, his goal was to remake the other Demigods, to force them to share their Faith with the Fifth. Or... They needed the Faith for something other than powering the Fifth Demigod. After all, the Fifth Maker couldn't have been too close to death with how they were able to hold their own against the others." My answer elicits confused stares.
"I have it on good authority that the techniques of Weapon Twisting and Armor Warping were created by the Fifth Demigod. I'm sure you are all aware of the methods of these techniques." I have confirmation from the All-Mother Herself, but I can't just say We've spoken to Her directly. They would probably not believe me, and it would possibly harm Our credibility.
Auron grimaces as he pensively reaches for the ceremonial shortsword that is his badge of office. It's Twisted, the blade made out of Gilded Eagle talons layered with flight feathers from the same monster.
"I'm not sure I follow, Millibelle, what does Weapon Twisting have to do with Faith?" Sakaya asks, even though I can sense the pieces beginning to fall into place for her.
"When you Twist a weapon, you cycle your own MP, Magic, through the item. This temporarily undoes quite a few laws that both the weapon and item you want to add onto it obey normally. Then, you use your Magic to fuse the two into one, and the weapon is all the stronger for it." I pause for dramatic effect.
"Now, what if you were to try to do this to a humanoid?" I ask. Everyone pales considerably. Immediately their thoughts are about Chimera.
"So... You think the Fifth Maker was collecting Faith to use in 'improving' themself?" Kalim's normally honey-gold skin is pale and clammy as he leans back in his chair, knuckles white with the force he is gripping his arm-rests.
"It is one theory I have. By the time he came for Yggdrasil, he was able to control and change others, suggesting the substance we now call Malice was already in play. With the death of the Fifth Maker, the Fifth Demigod would then go on to try to change themself, fully alienating them from the World." I sigh. There's still too much unknown and no way to reliably confirm whether this is really what happened or not.
"And now history is repeating itself with this Leicher Fogbottom person..." Kantarra seems tired as she slouches back into her chair, forgoing her usual elegance in conducting herself. "You mentioned he was able to change others?" She looks at me, her eyes betraying her actual feelings of anger and frustration.
"Yes. Somehow, he is able to cause humanoids to change into monstrosities, and some of those abominations are also able to do the same. He himself has changed too. He is much stronger than the abominations, and he is planning on 'creating' more like him." I shudder, recalling how he didn't even seem to notice Millibelle siphoning his HP with Vitaephagy.
"Then we have no time to waste. We should return to our own nations as quickly as possible and start work on building suitable Temples to the soon-to-be reborn Demigods, the sooner the better." Seul quickly rises from his chair, his cheeks flush with anger. The others nod in agreement.
With that, the meeting is adjourned. I exit the room to go find Delpha, who is being looked after by her older brother. There's much to do, and too little time.
It took some convincing to get Aster to let Delpha leave with me, but finally we're here; sitting in an opulent room at the back of the Grand Church of the city. This is where the Grand Priestess would hold audiences, though for today it will be a doctor's office.
Letting the people I'm going to treat in one by one might take more time, but it's necessary for me to be able to keep a close eye on Delpha as she offers her services as an Oracle. She and the client will be in a separate room due to the private nature of a Vision, but they'll have to pass by me on the way in and out, so hopefully people would think twice about trying something against Delpha.
"I'm a bit nervous... It's been a while since I've done this." Delpha smiles nervously as she obsessively fiddles with her attire, smoothing and adjusting and re-smoothing.
"You'll be fine, I'm sure of it. Remember, if you feel afraid of a client for any reason, pull the string on the talisman I gave you to give me the signal to intervene." I try my best to give her some peace of mind.
Delpha nods before taking a deep breath. "I'll go get ready, then..." She mumbles as she enters the side-room. I watch her close the door before I use Body Double to create a steward for myself.
Having eyes on the hall outside will be useful, since I can't trust others to let those most in need get treatment first. Dressing the clone in a Sister's garb, she looks like any other female Acolyte and shouldn't rouse suspicions.
With practiced ease, I maneuver her outside. Millibelle still sleeps. I'm not too worried, so long as she wakes by tonight...
I scan the crowd gathered in the hall of the Church. There's quite a few rich-looking people gathered off to the side in a cordoned-off area. They're sitting on padded pews, talking excitedly among each other, though occasionally they steal annoyed or even disgusted looks at the people who've come here to receive my help.
"Are you ready, Delpha? If so, I'll call in the first client."
I receive her confirmation via Our Telepathy. Quickly reading off the list of people who've paid the fee for a Vision from the Oracle, I make the clone call out the name of the first client. I observe carefully as a tall woman rises in response to my call.
"Please enter the door to the right to get to the Oracle." I've made sure to close off where I'll be seeing patient with screens, so hopefully she won't take too much notice of me. The woman gives a dismissive huff as she enters the door I'm holding open for her.
Once she is with Delpha, I call out for my first patient. An old human man, missing most of his teeth, hobbles into the 'office'. I scan his body for Life Poisoning, the only thing I'm unable to treat.
*Scan complete: No signs of Life Poisoning. Target is suffering from severe dental decay that has started to affect the heart.*
Although he would get his teeth back, I'd be unable to ensure they won't reach this state again. However, with how old this man is, his new set of teeth should last him for the rest of his life...
The old man looks at me with awe, though he flinches back slightly as I reach out my hand towards him. A light shines from the palm of my hand to him, enveloping his body in the effect of Miracure.
As the light fades, his entire appearance looks markedly more healthy as he looks himself over in amazement. He then feels his teeth, tears forming in his eyes as he realizes they're all back and in perfect order.
"Thank you! Blessed Monarch!" He cries out as he kowtows before me in praise. He stays bent over for a few moments before getting up and almost skipping out the door, his old hobble now gone.
And so the rest of the day fell into a rhythm. Before I knew it, night has fallen, and Delpha is done with her clients. Although there are still people lingering in the main hall, their ailments aren't serious enough to need immediate treatment.
"There's still people wanting healing..." Delpha glances outside the door.
"Hmh..." I respond, my eyes heavy with fatigue. Even with breaks to regenerate MP, it takes a toll to continuously cast a powerful spell such as Miracure.
"Aren't you going to treat them?" She turns back towards me, a worry in her eyes.
"Their condition isn't dire. I'm planning on coming by in a weeks time, they'll be in no trouble waiting for then." I heft Our body into a standing position, ready to accept the clone back into it.
"That was the last patient the Great Monarch Millibelle will see for today. Those that still desire treatment have to wait for the next Lifal." A Brother calls out into the hall. There are some despondent noises of disappointment, but the people still there quietly file out of the Church hall.
Lifal?
*A day of the week. The equivalent of your old World's Saturday. The days go like this: Ertal, Wasal, Daral, Ligal, Ailal, Fyral, Lifal, Dethal.*
I see.
I finish absorbing the clone before turning to Delpha and motioning to her to come to me. As she takes my hand, I use Teleport to get us quickly to our room. Collapsing onto the pile of bedding, I barely even register Delpha wishing me good night before I'm fast asleep.