My dear witch, please turn evil according to the script!

Chapter 177 The Golden Horn of Garihus

Götze stood on the deck of the ocean exploration ship named Pomegranate Flower, gazing at the distant sea.

The harbor was filled with laughter and joy, and the whole of Riskan was immersed in the festive atmosphere of celebrating the New Year.

However, none of the members of the society aboard the Pomegranate Flower were in the mood for celebration at this moment.

Firstly, the emergency investigation had exhausted their energy and physical strength, leaving them with little time to celebrate the New Year.

The entire celebration consisted of standing on the deck watching the New Year's fireworks and clinking glasses of craft rum.

These people, who spend most of their lives at sea, are most aware of the dangers of the ocean.

“President Götze, before this operation begins, I would like to write a letter to my hometown. Before we set off, I would like to request permission to go to the post office.”

"Thinking about it carefully... I haven't been home to see my mother for several years."

A researcher who looked very young walked up to Götze.

He was still clutching a letter in his hand.

Götze laughed: "No problem, but be quick and come back... Of course, it's also fine if you choose to quit at this time."

"We have enough manpower on the ship, we don't need your number."

Looking at the young man who had only joined the society four years ago, Götze patted the boy's head and then patted his back, speaking earnestly.

At this moment, a burly, bearded man walked over and put his arm around the young man, saying, "Allen, you're still too green."

“I’ve looked at the nautical chart; this time the ship is going to get very close to the dividing line.”

"You haven't been home for years, have you? Take the first bus home tomorrow morning and go see your family. You'll learn that these things won't bother you."

"We're not the Vatican, we believe in voluntariness. Maybe you'll even get transferred to your dream research position, hahahahaha."

"Didn't you always say that you didn't like drifting on the sea with us rough guys, saying that you didn't look like a scholar at all?"

"I, as the vice president, have given your permission this time; you don't have to participate in this event!"

Götze laughed: "Max is right, Allen. You're still young, there's no need for you to get involved in this mess."

"But isn't Lord Roland young too? I'm six years older than him!"

"Hahaha, you want to compare yourself to that guy?" Vice President Max, the scholar who looked exactly like a burly sailor, laughed loudly: "He actually held off a nine-ring legendary warrior one-on-one and even took him down."

"You can see the old town that has now disappeared from the deck, can't you?"

"They have the means to protect themselves and the ability to take risks."

"And you, on the way back, a little sea monster that accidentally boarded the ship almost scared you to death!"

"Hey!" Allen was a little unconvinced and wanted to argue, but was interrupted by Götze.

"Alright, Allen, it's normal to be scared. This mission is indeed dangerous. If you're scared, just get off the ship. No one will blame you."

Götze smiled and patted the young man on the shoulder: "Like I said before, we have enough manpower for this mission. We don't need you."

"President... I'm just a little homesick."

"Home, huh? Heh, I'm a little homesick too." Götze waved his hand, signaling Max to take his men to continue inspecting the ship and, incidentally, to place the navigation supplies and weapons provided by the city hall in their correct positions.

Only after Max left did Götze look at the relieved Allen and laugh, saying, "You're still the same as before, you don't get along with Max."

"But you know in your heart that Max is just bad at talking. Actually, he's quite gentle, isn't he?"

"Alright, alright, let's get down to business... Are you really not getting off the ship, Allen? There's still time. If you say you're getting off when we set off tomorrow morning, I'll have to consider the Academy's reputation and refuse your request."

"...I won't disembark, but I want to mail a letter. In case I don't come back..."

"Shh!" Götze interrupted Allen: "Have you forgotten what I told you on your first day on the ship?"

"Sailors shouldn't say such things; it's bad luck."

"And...you'll come back. Everyone will come back. I promise."

Götze gave Allen a gentle nudge: "Since you're so determined to come along, hurry up and deliver the letter. Drop it in the mailbox and come right back. And remember to bring me some fried oysters, from Old Jules' place! You know where it is, I've taken you there before!"

"It's the captain!"

Allen nodded excitedly, then ran up the gangway into the city where people were celebrating the New Year.

"I will bring you all back..."

On the deck, Götze murmured to himself as he watched Allen's retreating figure. After a long sigh, he turned and headed toward the captain's cabin.

The night passed quickly.

The next morning, just as the sun was rising, Grand Inquisitor Suren boarded the ship with sixteen other inquisitors.

"Good morning, Chairman Götze, Happy New Year! By the way, should I start calling you Captain Götze from now on?"

Suren still wore that polite smile that seemed to never fade as he greeted Götze, who had a solemn expression on the deck.

"Good morning, Your Excellency Inquisitor. Please feel free to address me as you wish... But why are you here so early?"

"After all, we have nothing to do at the hotel. Why don't we come here and see if there's anything we can do to help?"

Götze forced a smile: "No need, it's all taken care of."

"Then why do you still look like you're facing a terrible disaster?" Suren asked curiously.

"...storm. We didn't choose a good time to set sail; we might encounter a storm right after we set off."

"And... it's a storm near the coast."

Götze clenched his fist slightly: "According to the records of the Riskan branch over the years, although there are usually fewer monsters in the sea after a storm forms, the turbulence caused by the magic storm can disrupt the navigation system."

"We may not be able to navigate according to the established nautical charts."

Suren was somewhat surprised: "There's such a thing... Did you tell Roland and the others?"

"This is an emergency that just happened, and I haven't had time to report it yet."

Götze had a bit of a headache.

I had finally prepared myself mentally, but this kind of thing still happened right before I set off.

"So your suggestion is to postpone the trip to sea?"

“...In terms of climate conditions, yes.” Götze nodded, but quickly changed the subject: “But...we cannot predict the conditions for the formation of magic storms with 100% certainty.”

"Currently, our predictions can only guarantee 70% accuracy."

"Therefore, there is still a high probability that the storm will not occur..."

Suren laughed and then said, "In any case, how about arranging rooms for me and my men first?"

"No problem. Vice President Max will take you there."

Suren nodded, and then, led by Max, he and the other judges entered the enormous cabin.

Shortly after the Papacy's entourage arrived, Roland, Fram, Cellina, Delan, and the other Hatter also arrived at the ship.

Since the hospital incident, Delan, who had been frowning, had also become taciturn, and followed Roland and the other two as their followers.

"Good morning, President Götze... Judging from your expression, is something wrong?"

Roland, who had just finished yawning, changed his greeting to a question after seeing Götze's expression.

Götze nodded and recounted the situation.

Frum, who was also still half asleep, yawned and said lazily, "Leave it to me. The departure time remains the same... Wait, it seems like everyone is already here."

Hearing what Frum said, Götze breathed a sigh of relief and then said, "The city defense army's adjutant, Bard, boarded the ship with the city defense army early this morning and is currently stationed at various armed posts on the exploration ship."

"The personnel who have learned the skills and the city defense troops will be responsible for exploring the ship's onboard firepower output and the activation of the energy shield."

Roland then asked, "Where is the Grand Inquisitor Suren? Have the people from the Papacy arrived as well?"

"Yes. The judges just arrived a short while ago."

"Great, everyone's here, let's go!"

Roland laughed, looking at the sea where dark clouds seemed to be gathering: "Don't worry about navigation, my spell will guide you."

"As you command, sir."

Götze nodded, then picked up his walkie-talkie and shouted, "Everyone! Take off immediately!"

"weigh anchor!"

As the giant ship lowered its anchor, the Pomegranate Flower, which had been sealed off at the Academy's headquarters for decades, set sail again.

The long-dormant magic engine, powered by rune circuits and magic crystal energy, unleashed its formidable power.

This propels the enormous ship, beyond the public's comprehension, once again into the open sea.

Just as the ship sailed away from the port and headed towards the unknown sea, Roland looked back at the port.

Then I saw Kalia and Iluvia, who were panting heavily.

It seems that getting up early and sneaking out was the right thing to do; otherwise, if I had been entangled with these two, I don't know how much more time I would have wasted.

"Goodbye."

Roland murmured softly, then waved to the two of them.

At this moment, only Cellina and Roland remained on the deck.

As the captain, Götze had already gone to the captain's cabin to take command.

Flam and the three hatters went into the cabin to choose their rooms and prepare for a brief action meeting.

At this moment, Nash, who had been hiding in Roland's arms from the beginning, finally poked his head out.

She looked at Roland and asked, "You're really just leaving like that? I was expecting a really touching farewell!"

Roland patted Nash's cat head in annoyance: "What are you talking about? It's not like I'm never coming back."

"Besides, if the farewell is too long... it just doesn't feel like good luck."

"It's like I haven't been able to come back for a long time."

Nash retorted, "It wasn't like this just a few hours ago when you, Lia, and Iluvia were exchanging gifts."

"Lia is alright. She just kissed you and then ran off to eat the things in the gift box."

"Iluvia... the way she looked at you back then was just... could a bouquet of flowers really have that much power?"

Roland shook his head: "I don't know why she reacted so strongly. It was just a bouquet of flowers that I picked out randomly at the flower shop."

……

At the port, Kalia sighed and patted Iluvia, who was running low on energy.

Despite having survived assassination attempts since childhood, Her Highness the Princess has never had the opportunity to develop physical strength, perhaps due to the convenience of the techniques.

On the contrary, Kalia had developed excellent leg strength during her two-week-long chase.

"Alright, you bad woman. Let's go back."

"Huff...huff...damn it...that guy...when he comes back...I, I will definitely...cough cough cough cough!!!"

"Hey, if you're too tired to breathe, stop talking." Kalia patted Iluvia's back helplessly.

She really hadn't expected this guy to react so strongly.

On the contrary, I seemed to be too calm.

Only then did Kalia notice the bouquet of purple flowers that Iluvia was clutching in her hand.

"Hey, isn't this the gift Roland gave you? Why are you still holding it?"

"Hmph...Hmph...Mind your own business?!" "Hey, be polite, or you'll have to walk back by yourself. I'm not going to help you."

"……sorry."

Seeing Iluvia's resolute apology, Kalia had no choice but to help Iluvia sit down on a bench by the street.

"Alright, are you really that reluctant to let Roland go?"

"...You're really that willing to do that?"

"Well... how should I put it, I'm surprisingly not very excited."

Iluvia paused for a moment, and after catching her breath, she asked, "Why?"

"Because I felt he would definitely come back safely, it's just a matter of waiting a few days."

"On the contrary, you were perfectly fine until you got so excited last night after exchanging gifts with Roland. Is there anything special about this bouquet of flowers?"

Iluvia did not answer.

She simply looked down at the flower in her hand—a dark purple orchid.

The flower symbolizes eternal protection and love.

Iluvia just wanted to ask Roland whether he made that choice on purpose or by accident.

However, Kalia must not know this reason.

Iluvia clearly put the flowers into her storage ring.

We can ask Uncle Sean for a spell that can preserve plants later.

Before Roland returns... no! She will preserve this bouquet forever!
……

On the deck, Roland stood at the bow, enjoying the sea breeze.

Although, in his memory, this should have been his first time at sea.

But that abruptly generated memory still lingers in his mind.

It did not disappear with the elimination of cognitive interference.

He went to sea with his father during a period before he was born.

And there was that mysterious woman with a blurred face, standing in the corner.

This was what he initially planned to investigate.

Roland, who initially came for his memories, unknowingly became entangled in a major event.

Although the system did not generate any tasks as a result.

But Roland didn't think this matter would be any simpler.

If the anomaly on the sea is the work of the Whisperer of Eternal Silence.

Did that divine intervention thirty years ago... further enhance its power?

Why did the Iris, after disappearing in July, make a brief stop at the port of Isfar in August?

What does that memory of mine really mean...?

It is simply a curse and cognitive pollution originating from an evil god.

Or is there something else going on that you haven't discovered yet?

Most importantly... if old Lancelot was affected from the beginning, why did Roland never notice anything amiss during his sixteen years of childhood?
He's not a proper kid.

Moreover, apart from his short lifespan, old Lancelot showed no other abnormalities.

He was just a normal, somewhat carefree middle-aged man.

If Kalia hadn't read the contents of his diary, he probably would still think that old Lancelot was just a normal middle-aged man.

And his own mother.

This is the woman whose face and voice he should remember.

However, when Roland recalls it now, he cannot get a single piece of information about his mother from his mind.

In his memory, "mother" was just a simple noun, used to prove that Roland had once had a complete family.

Nearby, Cellina, who had taken the cat from Roland's arms, walked to Roland's side and brushed her long black hair, which was being blown by the sea breeze, to the side of her face.

"Roland, you seem to have something on your mind."

"Haha, you figured it out?"

"It's hard not to notice. You and Leah are actually quite similar in many ways; you both wear your heart on your sleeve."

Roland looked helpless: "Is that so?"

"Ah."

"By the way, Cellina, didn't you open the gift I gave you?"

“Take it off,” Cellina said calmly, then pointed somewhat displeasedly to the hair accessory next to her headband: “Didn’t you notice?”

"...You know what I'm talking about. You saw that note, right?"

Cellina fell silent upon hearing this.

She put the silly cat she was holding on the ground, and Nash already had a look on his face as if he was ready to watch the drama unfold.

After "chasing" the silly cat into the cabin, Cellina returned to Roland's side: "I saw it."

"Really? Do you like this gift?" Roland said with a smile.

"I thought you would choose a more suitable time."

“For example?” Roland countered.

"After this operation, didn't you ever consider... didn't you ever consider the possibility that I would just leave after getting the answer?"

Hearing Cellina say that, Roland shrugged: "I've thought about it. But considering that you volunteered for this operation and wanted to find your old friend, I'm not worried anymore."

"Heh...that really suits your style."

After making her complaint, Cellina's lips curled up slightly: "By the way, aren't you going back to your cabin? Do you like the sea breeze that much?"

"This is my first time at sea, and I'm going to take a good look at this stormy ocean."

Just as their conversation was about to end, Roland's gauntlet, which had been silent for over a day, stirred.

The crackling sound attracted the attention of Roland and Cellina.

Soon the gauntlets detached from the buckle on Roland's waist and flew between the two.

The first words spoken by the talkative Demon King after waking up, after a day of silence, were—

"Hiccup~~~~"

Well, that probably doesn't count as a sentence.

But the Demon King announced his return with a loud burp.

"Long time no see, kid. Even though it's only been a day since I last spoke to you, I've missed you terribly."

"Thank you for the delicious meal. I feel much better now."

"Where am I? At sea? Ah... I've been sleeping all day? Looks like my digestion is a bit slow."

"Never mind, it's not a big problem."

"By the way, Roland, didn't you ask me about the Primal Runestone before?"

"I have good news for you. After being repaired by that soul, my remnant soul has regained some of its memories."

"There happens to be some information inside about the Primal Runestones. Would you like to hear it?"

"Ah...it seems there are outsiders here. But this little girl also has the power of the runes within her, I can sense it."

"Why don't we let her sit in on the proceedings? She's a holder anyway."

Roland shrugged: "Go on, Mr. Demon King, we're all waiting for you to tell us."

"So, what exactly are the Primal Runestones?"

The gauntlet circled once, then slowly said, "I don't know..."

Roland: “???”

Celinina: “…”

Upon hearing the Demon King's remnant soul's words, Cellina helplessly covered her forehead with her hands.

She felt that the respect and fear she had developed for the Demon King since childhood, cultivated within the culture and customs of the Demon Clan, were about to shatter at this moment.

Although it was already almost completely broken.

Ever since she learned that the Demon King's remnant soul would scare cats with Roland, the Demon King's image became much more approachable in her eyes.

Although the words "approachable" and "demon king" don't usually go together, that's exactly what Cellina wanted to say.

Roland was somewhat speechless: "Didn't you remember some information about the Primal Runestones?"

Gauntlet coughed: "Ahem, I was just saying that I remembered some information about the Primal Runestones."

"It doesn't mean that my remnant soul knows what the Primal Runestone is."

"Perhaps when I am still alive, I will know after I gather all the remaining souls together, but obviously I don't know now."

"I am just a remnant soul; no matter how much I try to repair it, I will always remain a remnant soul."

"The information that a remnant soul can hold is limited. It will not suddenly gain information that did not exist before just because the state of this remnant soul has improved."

"I just remembered some details as my condition improved."

Roland said somewhat impatiently, "So what are you going to say? Hurry up."

"Sigh...what an impatient young man."

"Never mind, whatever. This demon king is in a good mood lately."

"...The Primal Runestone was actually just a component of an ancient artifact."

"I don't know its specific origin; at least there is no corresponding information about this remnant soul."

"In short... that artifact was dismantled."

"The most important components are these primordial rune stones, a total of nineteen."

"They are kept separately by humans, demons, and elves."

"Moreover, the demons still possess... the main components of that divine artifact."

"Without runes, it's just a useless decoration."

"But once you collect all ten rune stones, you can unleash their true power."

Cellina seemed to have thought of something and subconsciously asked, "Is it the huge golden horn placed in the center of the Covenant Temple, in front of the Demon King statue?"

"Huh...you know it. Yes, it's that thing."

The remnant soul of the Demon King was somewhat surprised, then explained, "The Golden Horn of Garihus."

"The legendary three pillar gods who created the world, and the divine artifacts used to establish the rules of the world and define the boundaries of heaven, earth and sea."

(End of this chapter)