Shurein’s expression turned serious as he listened to Clara’s explanation.
“What are Clara (God)’s divine authorities?”
“Ah, it’s simple. The spirits that were active when you performed the ritual were like my familiars.”
“So that means, earth…?”
“Well, something like that.”
Clara (God) is the Mother Goddess of the Earth.
Clara, who has divine authorities related to the earth, is naturally deeply connected to earth spirits.
It wasn’t strange at all to hear that the spirits who created the orb were Clara (God)’s familiars.
Although Clara’s reply seemed to be deliberately vague, Shurein didn’t press the issue. He felt that by choosing her words so carefully, Clara was subtly telling him not to pry further.
Shurein had something else on his mind.
“It’s fine that earth spirits were involved in creating the orb, but what about the involvement of Vampires?”
“Oh? Don’t you think a contract with me was necessary to make that contract?”
In Shurein’s case, he was only able to make the contract for creating the orb after contracting with Clara and obtaining a title. If the contract with Clara was exclusive to Vampires, then it would indeed mean that only Vampires could create the orb.
However, Shurein didn’t believe that the ritual alone was the only condition for creating the orb. The reason for this was,
“I don’t believe so. Kousuke wouldn’t give up that easily.”
“…….Pfft.”
Clara let out a short snort at Shurein’s reply. Then, a clear laugh followed.
“Hehehe. Such an immediate answer. There are things Kousuke can’t do, right?”
“Of course. However, I can’t quite understand why he didn’t even try to verify anything himself and simply told me to ask Clara (God).”
Before Shurein communicated with Clara (God), Kousuke, upon being shown the orb, had told him to ask Clara (God) without even attempting to make it himself.
Shurein had accepted it at the time, but upon further reflection, Kousuke’s attitude seemed a bit odd. Kousuke himself had been thinking about how to create the Vermilia Jewel with his own hands for a long time. Yet, he so easily left the judgment to Clara (God). This was purely Shurein’s speculation, but he couldn’t think of any other explanation than Kousuke knowing the proper way to create it and telling him to consult Clara (God). This implied that the Vermilia Jewel and the orbs of Aris Temple absolutely required Clara (God)’s involvement.
As Shurein was pondering this, Clara intervened.
“Oh, don’t overthink things too much, dear? Are you doubting Kousuke?”
Clara’s words, as if reading his mind, made Shurein startle and stop his train of thought.
“…….Indeed, it’s rude to think like this without confirming with him directly.”
“Now, now. Besides, Kousuke didn’t tell you that to deceive you.”
“Is that so?”
Feeling somewhat guilty for suspecting Kousuke, Shurein tilted his head.
“Yes. You might have forgotten because you’re so close, but Kousuke has only been here for a little over ten years?”
“Huh? Uhh…”
Shurein tilted his head, not understanding why Clara had brought this up.
Clara, however, continued without concern.
“It’s true that Kousuke creates many things, but it can also be said that he only creates things he *can* create.”
“Uhh, what are you trying to say…”
As Shurein was about to ask what she meant, Clara answered.
“In other words, he doesn’t create tools that require a tremendous amount of time to make.”
“……Haa.”
Shurein tilted his head again, not understanding the obvious.
“Just like the Tower’s spirit stone, the orb also takes time to create. That’s why Kousuke said he couldn’t make it himself… or rather, that it would take too long. Of course, the involvement of Vampires is also true, however.”
It was true that Kousuke had mentioned it would take time to make the orb.
But Shurein couldn’t connect that statement to what Clara had just said.
“Simply put, Kousuke lacks the experience for tools that require such long periods to create. …Even after explaining this, you still don’t understand?”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
“Hmm. Well, you don’t need to apologize. It’s just a lack of mutual understanding.”
Clara continued without any sign of annoyance.
“To put it simply, Kousuke misunderstands. He thinks the earth power accumulated in the orb over a long time is my divine authority itself.”
“Clara (God)’s divine authority? …So that means?”
Shurein finally understood what Clara was trying to convey.
Kousuke had told Shurein to consult him because he believed Clara was involved in the creation of the orb. However, what Kousuke misunderstood was that the earth attribute power held by the orb was not a part of Clara (the Mother Goddess of the Earth)’s divine authority, but rather, naturally occurring earth power. Tools that accumulated power over long periods could sometimes possess power close to that of a god. Clara explained that Kousuke, lacking experience, had forgotten this.
“Of course, if the power the orb possesses over a long time is earth-attribute, it’s not entirely unrelated to me.”
As the Mother Goddess of the Earth, her connection to earth-attribute powers was inseparable. In that sense, what Kousuke was saying wasn’t entirely wrong.
“……This is quite complicated.”
Clara let out a sigh, which reached Shurein’s ears.
“It truly is. Well, as such, my preamble was long, but you don’t need to worry that Kousuke was trying to deceive you or lie.”
As Clara concluded, Shurein inwardly thanked her with his eyes closed. He knew that his feelings would be conveyed to Clara, a god.
“Speaking of which, Kousuke also mentioned that Vampires are involved in remaking the current orb. Do you know anything about that, Clara (God)?”
“Oh? You didn’t understand that part either?”
Shurein was bewildered by Clara’s question for a question, his expression showing confusion. At least, his clan had no recollection of the method for creating orbs.
“I don’t think the method for creating orbs was mentioned in our oral traditions…”
“That’s not true. Rather, you are currently doing it, as the rightful owner.”
“……What?”
Shurein was stunned, unable to comprehend Clara’s words. He had no recollection of doing anything of the sort.
“You don’t need to think too deeply. What are you doing to maintain the current Vermilia Jewel?”
“To the Vermilia Jewel? …Ah.”
“Do you understand now?”
The only thing Shurein did for the Vermilia Jewel was to give it crystal stones. That was precisely something only Vampires, who were adept at handling blood, could do.
“If I give this orb crystal stones, will it become the state Kousuke described?”
“Well, what do you think? Wouldn’t trying it reveal that?”
Shurein smiled without a word at Clara, who had become evasive again. He judged that this was sufficient communication with Clara.
The mysteries surrounding the orb are slowly starting to unravel. Next, as Shurein said, I will try giving it crystal stones.
