by Dojyomaru
“It doesn’t? Oh, now that I think about it, Aisha was using it without calling the name, huh?”
“When I say the name, it helps me get fired up! Augh, just leave me alone.”
When I looked at her, she was covering her face with both hands. Her ears were red, too. She must have felt pretty embarrassed. If I poked at her any more, I was probably going to get an earful later, so I decided to lay off.
Merula coughed politely and resumed, “What Princess Liscia said is more or less correct. The key point is that how strongly you imagine the result is how well the effect will manifest. That’s why people shout spell names, or chant incantations to help them imagine things more concretely. The latter method takes more time, so it’s actually less effective in battle or when in a hurry, though.”
“Hmm, so it’s not just because they’re cool.”
“Yes. Also, in the sense of forming an image, I think that songs should have the same sort of effect. In fact, there are even types of magic that make use of that. Right, Souji?”
When she suddenly threw the discussion over to him, Souji’s eyes went wide. “Huh? What’re you asking me for?”
“There was magic in the Lunarian Orthodox Papal State that we could infer was making use of song-based effects, right? The reason I had you come here today was so that you could explain that, so do it properly.”
“Songs and magic... Oh, you mean Area Heal?” Souji said, sounding convinced, as scratched his head.
Area Heal... The name suggested it was a mass healing spell.
When I expressed that opinion, Souji nodded.
“You’re not wrong. It’s rare, but among the Orthodox Papal State’s light mages, there are a number who can heal multiple people’s wounds at the same time. When those guys become cardinals or archbishops, they get cloistered away. Then, when a large number of people are hurt because of a disaster or a battle, they’re taken there to heal the wounded. With talk of how it’s ‘Lunaria’s grace’ or whatever.”
“Huh?! They can heal all of the wounded at once?!”
If they could heal multiple wounded people at the same time on the battlefield, I was scared they were going to pull a zombie attack on us. That was too good a match for religious groups, like the Ikko Ikki back in the other world, who believed they would get into paradise if they died for their beliefs.
However, “Oh, yeah, that’s not happening,” Souji said, waving off the idea. “It’s called Area Heal, but for every additional person being affected at the same time, the effect on each individual person is lessened. Besides, all it can heal is gashes up to a certain size and some minor bone fractures. Healing multiple broken bones at the same time, or reattaching severed arms... that’s beyond their power. Of course, it doesn’t work on sickness, either.”
“...I still think it’s plenty threatening.”
They might not be on the same level as zombies, but they’d still be a tough group.
Though, it did seem like the sort of magic that would be useful in disaster areas. I’d have liked to have users of Area Heal in our country, too, but they had probably hidden them and all of their blood relatives away. That’s definitely what I’d have done if I were in charge there.
“Whoops, got off-track there. When they perform Area Heal, the wounded and their families are supposed to sing a hymn. They’re praying to god, basically. I had figured it was a religious rite, but... if Merula’s explanation is correct, it’s to make the magic user’s image of ‘being healed by the power of god’ more concrete, and to boost the power of the spell.”
“I believe that’s the case. Whether or not they are aware that’s what they’re doing is another matter, though.”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
When I asked that, Merula raised her index finger and explained, “People have a tendency to focus on the causes when things work well. To take it to an extreme, ‘I walked out of the door with my left foot first today and something good happened, so I’m going to walk out of the door with my left foot first again tomorrow. It’s a sort of wish.”
“Oh, like routines.”
It was like the way athletes would go through the same routine each time in order to elevate their spirits.
Merula cocked her head to the side, looking confused, but she went on without worrying about it.
“Whatever the case, when something works for people, they have a tendency to repeat that action. If that goes on for about a century, it can become a religious or cultural ritual. So, for the hymn sung with Area Heal, they sang it, and the effect seemed to improve. They kept singing because they felt like there was an effect. Then, at some point, it was recognized as a religious rite... I think that’s the sequence of events.”
“I see...” I crossed my arms and groaned.
If the same routine was repeated with a common understanding of it, it would eventually be recognized as a religious or cultural ritual, huh?
“So, you believe Morse’s theory that certain songs can enhance the effect of certain magics,” I said.
“There’s a need to prove it more thoroughly, but I believe there would be value in doing so. I believe there are things we could learn about the nature of magic by studying this, too.”
“Hmm... What do you think as a lorelei, Juna?”
“Well...”
Juna brought her clasped hands up to her mouth, and made a slightly difficult expression.
“As a singer, I’m happy to feel the potential of songs in it. However, as someone who was in the Marines, I also think we may be able to use songs in battle. What if there were songs that could boost the power of offensive spells...”
“...I went straight to that, myself.” Liscia agreed with her. As someone tasked with managing a country and a military, it was an inevitable thought.
“Me, too. Though, depending on how you look at it, it may be more suited to defense than offense. We can’t send a military band out to the front lines, after all. If we were going to run a band, it would probably stay inside a castle or camp. That’s why I intend to prioritize studying defensive music. In order to defend this country... Does that sound convincing?”
It sounded like a fallacious argument to me even as I made it, but Juna still smiled and said, “I already believe in you, sire. No matter what you do, I will simply trust and support you.”
“I’m prepared for that, too. You should do what you believe in, Souma.”
“Thank you, Juna, Liscia.”
This was how the project to study the relationship between magic and songs began.
However, because it was a major undertaking and would require a number of staff, it was decided the experiment to demonstrate it would not be performed until after the coronation and wedding ceremony.
◇ ◇ ◇
— End of the 6th month, 1548th year, Continental Calendar —
On this day, there was a massive crowd overflowing from the fountain plazas where people could watch the Jewel Voice Broadcast. That was because word had spread that the young king would be doing something interesting again.
Ever since Souma had begun to use the Jewel Voice Broadcast, the number of fountain plazas had grown, and in turn, the content’s popularity as well. The broadcasts drew massive crowds, and so people were gathered in Parnam’s central fountain plaza, waiting with bated breath for the broadcast to begin.
“Whoa! What a crowd. There’s so many people, you could sweep them up and throw them out.”
“Oh, Yuriga. Don’t talk about people like they’re garbage.”
Yuriga’s all-too-frank opinion left Tomoe pursing her lips in dissatisfaction.
The five kids: Tomoe, Ichiha, Yuriga, Velza, and Lucy, were currently on the third floor terrace of the restaurant managed by Lucy’s family, which was near the central park. Lucy had invited them because they could see the Jewel Voice Broadcast from here without getting caught in the crowds.
“What do ya think? It’s a pretty good location we’ve got goin’ on here,
huh?”
“It is, yes. It’s a bit far, but I can see the fountain plaza well,” Ichiha said with a small smile as Lucy puffed out her still non-existent chest, with pride.
Velza, who was quietly eating the nut cookies that had been left out, had yet to respond. Unlike Aisha, who devoured her food like a lion, she had more of the look of a small animal desperately stuffing as much into her cheeks as she could.
Lucy looked at Velza and chuckled. “I’m glad to see you’re likin’ the food.”
“Munch, munch... Yes. I am quite satisfied with it,” Velza said shyly.
Ichiha pointed to the fountain plaza. “Oh! It’s starting now.”
The third primary queen Roroa and the kingdom’s first newscaster, the half-elf Chris Tachyon, appeared. Lucy squealed in delight at the sudden appearance of her idol.
“Eeek, Lady Roroa’s super cute today, too!”
“Munch, munch... Whoa, girl.”
While grabbing a cookie and putting it in her mouth with her left hand, Velza tapped Lucy on the shoulder with her right. Then, as the many people watched, the two on screen shouted in unison.
“The—“The East and West Song Battle”—ttle.”
...Correction. They were not quite in unison.
“Hey, Chrisie. We practiced this. Why’re you not matchin’ my timin’?”
“S-Sorry. It’s my first time MCing a program like this.”
“Why’s that? You’re always fine when you’re readin’ the news, aren’t ya?”
“The news has a fixed script, but they only gave us a rough outline to go off of for this kind of thing. Why am I the MC anyway? We had other people to do it before now, didn’t we?”
“They’re more or less all bein’ used for this event, so there ain’t much else we can do. Now then, was the next part of the program the one where we make you strip off some of your clothes and strike a sexy pose?”
“It is not! Seriously, please don’t say things that we haven’t discussed in advance!”
The plaza filled with laughter at the sight of Chris’s flustered response.
Lucy watched Roroa’s mischievous snickering with pure ecstasy. “Not only is she smart, she’s charmin’, too. Is Lady Roroa our cute goddess?”
“““She’s our queen,””” Tomoe, Ichiha, and Velza dutifully pointed out.
Yuriga was the only one to remain silent, apparently having had enough of playing along with their nonsense.
“Now then, getting back to it, I’m Roroa Amidonia, the third primary queen of Friedonia. I’d like everyone to go home at least rememberin’ my name and face.”
“I don’t think there’s a person in this kingdom who doesn’t know your name and face... Erm, I am Chris Tachyon. Along with Lady Roroa, I am here to act as the MC for this project. Please, enjoy the show.”
“Wow, you’re actin’ stiff... Come on, smile.”
“Fake smiles are my specialty, you know?” Chris said with a smile.
“Now there’s a smile that looks like it was stamped on your face, but it’s time to introduce the program.”
“Yes. In regards to the ‘East and West Song Battle’ that will be held, it is fundamentally the same sort of thing as the ‘Red and White Song Battle’ held at the end of the year. The loreleis and their male counterparts, the orpheuses, as well as singers of our country will be divided into two teams, and they will take turns singing.”
“The difference is, unlike with ‘Red and White,’ the National Defense Force’ll be doin’ a trainin’ exercise along with it,” Roroa added. “The National Defense Force will be divided into the ‘East Force’ and ‘West Force.’ During this program, we’ll be showin’ you video as the East Force attacks a certain fortress outside Randel, and the West Force defends it. Basically, the loreleis are gonna be cheerleaders for the opposin’ sides in the battle. Get a good look at our brave soldiers fightin’ as loreleis sing in the background.”
“We hope you will enjoy the show.”
“...They’re up to something weird again. It sounds fun, though,” Yuriga said in dismay as she sipped her tea after hearing what the program would be about. “But are you fine here, Tomoe? If you asked your brother, wouldn’t he have taken you to the event site?”
“Yeah. Well, you’re right, but...”
Tomoe had been invited to come to the event by Souma, in fact.
However, though this was, on the face of it, just a new broadcast program, behind the scenes it was also an experiment on the connection between music and magic. Because the whole nation was being mobilized for the experiment, they couldn’t let exchange students like Yuriga and Ichiha, or a commoner like Lucy, see the full picture. Even if they were her friends, she couldn’t bring them.
“I wouldn’t be any help this time, and besides... I’d rather watch here with all of you than alone by myself.”
“Aw, you’re makin’ me blush,” Lucy said, grabbing Tomoe around the shoulders. “Go on, have another biscuit. Drink some tea.”
“I-I will.”
Tomoe took one of the sweets with a wry smile. Watching them, Yuriga sighed a little, then turned to look straight at the broadcast. Her eyes were too serious to think she was watching a simple entertainment program.
◇ ◇ ◇
Meanwhile, around that time.
We were in the fortress outside Randel, the city that housed the castle that once belonged to former General of the Army, Georg Carmine. There were a large number of officers from the National Defense Force gathered here.
This place was where the Forbidden Army and the Army fought during my fake confrontation with Georg Carmine. Though, the most intense fighting was between the Forbidden Army and the personal forces of the corrupt nobles and their Zemish mercenaries, so the Army itself had hardly moved at all.
It was made by reviving a long since destroyed castle using military engineers, and had been used as a training facility for the National Defense Force since the end of the war.
“Now then, let us review the rules of this exercise,” I said.
Inside the fortress, I was standing in front of the broadcast jewel wearing my military uniform, explaining the outline to the men who would participate in this combined training exercise and experiment. The only ones watching this broadcast were the officers and soldiers gathered in the fortress as well.
In order to maintain secrecy, we used separate jewels so that the people couldn’t watch. The rules had, of course, been communicated beforehand, but you can think of this like the announcement before the start of an athletics festival.
“In this exercise, you will be split into the attacking team and the defending team. The attacking team will be called the East Force, and will be commanded by Commander-in-Chief of the National Defense Force, Excel Walter. The defending team, meanwhile, will be called the West Force, and I will be their commander-in-chief. But, in actual practice, command will be taken by Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the National Defense Force, Ludwin M. Arcs. The attacking team wins if they can break through the fortress wall and reach where I am within the time limit, while the defending team wins if they are able to protect me the whole time. The winning team will receive a bonus to their pay, so give it your all.”
The moment I mentioned that bonus, the soldiers cheered so loudly I could hear them in the distance.
Yeesh, what a mercenary lot. It’s just bonus pay... Anyway, getting back on track.
“In light of the inherent advantage the defending team has, the attacking team will have double the number of members. In addition, there will be a major magical experiment during this exercise. Because we are observing the power of magic, the attacking team will be limited to using the tactic of attacking by force from all sides. There will be no aerial forces involved in the battle. We’ve gathered people who are used to magic here, so I’d like you to listen to the loreleis, orpheuses, and singers and really let loose with all your power.”
Next, I went over the rules for fighting.
&
nbsp; “I know I am repeating myself, but the objective of this exercise is to observe the power of magic. Because of that, those who fight with weapons must use the arms and equipment provided. The weapons are blunted swords and spears, as well as arrows with rounded tips. You must enchant these with magic as you fight. Throwing them without magic is forbidden. The armor is a suit of breastplate that has been enchanted to slightly resist magic. If this armor is destroyed, or you run out of magical power, you are out. You must leave the battlefield at once.”
Incidentally, the one who came up with this equipment was Genia.
While we were discussing the best way to observe magic while also limiting the number of injuries, she proposed these rules and equipment.
When I first heard the rules, I couldn’t help but think, Clothing destruction KOs? But only the breastplate would break, so there wouldn’t be any particularly sexy results.
Well, ninety percent of the soldiers participating were male anyway. I was relieved to know we wouldn’t be showing the people a video where there were half-naked men everywhere. Besides, Aisha was participating as a combatant, too, and I would hate to let others see my wife naked... So, yeah, that about did it for the rule explanation.
“This exercise is a combat experience, and an experiment. At the same time, it is also important that you do not forget the people are watching your bravery. That’s why I have an order for you.”
I thrust my fist skyward.
“Fight hard, and make it flashy! The ones who stand out the most win! If you were especially noticeable, you will receive a special cash prize regardless of if you won or lost! Now give me a heroic display of magic!”
“““Yeahhhhhh!”””
There was cheering from inside and outside the fortress. It seemed I had them good and motivated.
Once I had checked that the broadcast was terminated, I returned to a table set up in the back of the fortress.
“Good job,” Liscia said. “Here, have some water.”
“Thanks... Whew.”