Chapter 27: Christmas: ~Magic Attribute Appraisal Ceremony~

A staple in a world with magic!

This episode is about magic attribute assessment!

Chapter 27: Christmas: ~Magic Attribute Appraisal Ceremony~

Several weeks after Maria's "Foresight" rescued the two girls.

The calendar shows December 25th.

Christmas exists in this world as well, but only in Japan.

It is the day of worship for the Shindōkyō religion, which worships a nameless "Benevolent Goddess"

In this world's Japan, Christmas is celebrated as the day of the birth of the Saint, who is said to have been sent by the Benevolent Goddess.

Christmas is an important day for children born into families of Exorcists.

It is also the day when a customary ceremony is held for children who will turn six years old by April 1st of the following year, in which the High Priest of the Shindōkyō is used to assess the magical attributes of these children through a magical ceremony.

Magic in this world is broadly divided into two categories: one is "Non-Elemental Magic", basic magic that does not require elemental magical power, and "Elemental Magic" that requires the magical power of the four elements: Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind.

Furthermore, in addition to the four elemental attributes, there were also special magical attributes: These are Light, Dark, and Holy.

The more magical attributes a child possesses, the more likely they are to become a highly skilled Exorcist, so it was natural for parents of noble families to hope that their children would possess multiple attributes.

However, even if one comes from a distinguished family lineage, it doesn't necessarily mean that their descendants will possess multiple magical attributes.

In particular, children with the magical attributes of Light, Dark, and Holy are extremely rare.

Among them, those with the Holy attribute of magic were estimated to number no more than ten in the world.

Possessing the Holy attribute magic, in itself, grants immense social status in the world of Exorcists.

The appraisal ceremony was about to take place in the grand hall of the Madozono family mansion.

An altar for the ceremony was prepared in the place of honor in the grand hall.

In front of the altar were two wooden chairs with cloth seats, known as koshō.

Sitting there are the stars of tonight's show, dressed in formal children's dresses: Maria and Tomoe.

Both girls' dresses were in a subdued reddish-brown, a deep crimson.

While the attire avoided flashy colors due to the ceremonial nature of the ceremony, despite their young age, the two girls were exceptionally beautiful, exuding an unparalleled cuteness.

Their cuteness was so overwhelming that Mima had called in a professional photographer for a commemorative photoshoot the day before the costume fitting.

This was an expression of doting parental affection that would never have been seen in the original Mima.

Mima herself was dressed formally in the same crimson-brown ceremonial attire as the two girls.

Behind them, a short distance away, Sougi, accompanied by the girls' attendants Kanoho and Kanaya, sat on a stool, awaiting the start of the ceremony.

Sougi and her twin daughters were wearing formal attire, not their usual maid uniforms.

This meant they were not merely observing the ceremony of their mistress's children.

They were also present as witnesses to the appraisal ceremony.

With the ceremony imminent, Tomoe's body is stiff with tension.

Her heart is beating faster than usual.

This is something that has nothing to do with her own will or effort, so there's no need to worry about it.

That's what her mother, Mima, had explained to her, but Tomoe, understanding that it would affect her future growth, unconsciously braces herself.

"Tomoe-chan, are you nervous?"

A gentle voice called out to Tomoe from beside her.

Tomoe turned to see Maria peering into her face.

"Onee-sama... Yes, I'm just so nervous thinking about what the results will be."

"It'll be alright. It's not a test or anything. There's nothing to worry about."

Saying this, Maria gave Tomoe a gentle smile.

There wasn't a trace of worry or anxiety in that smile, just as she had said.

Even though she was about to undergo the same appraisal ceremony as herself.

(Could it be that Onee-sama already knew the results of the appraisal through her foresight ability?)

Tomoe thought so, because Maria seemed so composed.

Tomoe almost asked her cousin if she knew the results of the appraisal.

But she swallowed the question at the last moment.

She felt that asking would only trouble her cousin.

Instead, Tomoe spoke different words.

"Today is also your birthday, isn't it, Onee-sama?"

"Yes, it is."

"It's amazing that Onee-sama share a birthday with the Saint. I'm sure Onee-sama is the reincarnation of the Saint—Ah!"

(I blurted it out impulsively!)

Tomoe cursed her own carelessness.

Her usual respect for her cousin had burst forth in combination with the topic of her birthday, but saying "Reincarnation of the Saint" was a complete slip of the tongue.

Her cousin would, in the future, fight evil Kaima's as the Saint and possibly lose her life in the process.

That was something her cousin herself "knew."

Considering her cousin's feelings, she shouldn't have so easily called her the Saint.

However, contrary to Tomoe's worries, Maria's reaction was merely a wry smile.

"I'm sorry to say, but I'm not the reincarnation of such a noble woman. I always wish I could live a noble life like the Saint, though."

"Onee-sama..."

(If Onee-sama's way of life isn't noble, then what is?!)

Tomoe instinctively felt this thought.

However, Tomoe was still too young to express that thought to Maria in clear words.

Feeling frustrated with herself, Tomoe was about to say something to Maria when...

The sound of bells echoed throughout the great hall.

Chime~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With a particularly loud ringing of a bell, three women appeared in the great hall.

All three were dressed in shrine maiden attire, draped over something resembling a Western-style cloak or mantle.

At the front was a young woman leading the way with a ceremonial bell, followed by another young woman carrying a crystal ball the size of a bowling ball in both hands, and finally, a gentle-looking elderly woman with white hair.

These were the priests who would perform the appraisal ceremony at this Madozono Mansion.

Maria and Tomoe, as Mima had instructed them, stood up after the three women entered the room.

Mima and the others, watching from behind, also stood.

The three priests stopped before the altar, and the young female priest placed the crystal ball on the pedestal provided on the altar. Then, the elderly woman—the High Priest—took her positions.

Then, the priests began to recite the incantation like a song.

Because the incantation was imbued with magic, the air in the great hall, which was being moderately purified by the air conditioning, became even more refreshing.

When the incantation finished, the High Priest bowed and went behind the altar.

"Now, we will begin the magic appraisal ceremony!

Miss Tomoe of Madozono Family. Please come forward."

"Y-yes!"

Called by the High Priest, Tomoe walked towards the altar.

She then stepped onto the tiered platform in front of the altar, standing opposite the High Priest, she bowed.

The High Priest smiled and prompted Tomoe.

"Place your right hand on the crystal ball and channel your magic into it."

"Yes...!"

As Mima had taught her, Tomoe manipulated the magic within her body and channeled it into the crystal ball.

Immediately, the crystal ball began to emit light.

Holding her breath, Tomoe continued to gaze at the light emanating from the crystal ball.

"Miss Tomoe of Madozono Family. Your magical attributes are Earth, Water, and Wind and you also possess Light magic. As expected of a young lady from the Madozono family. May the Goddess guide you."

"Yes! Thank you!"

Tomoe's eyes sparkled as she bowed vigorously and stepped down from the platform in front of the altar.

Unable to contain her joy at the appraisal result revealing multiple magical attributes, including Light magic, she looked at her cousins ​​and mother, who were seated there, with a beaming smile.

Maria and Mima, of course, but also the Igodome mother and daughters, returned her joyful smiles.

"Next, Miss Maria of Madozono Family. Please come forward."

"Yes."

When the High Priest called her, Maria walked with a graceful, unwavering gait to the platform in front of the altar.

"Maria-san, I heard you possess an extraordinary magical power.

So you only need to pour a little magic into it. This crystal ball can break if too much magic is poured into it at once. It's a precious crystal ball, so please don't break it, okay?"

The High Priest cautioned Maria in a refined yet playful tone.

"Understood. Then, I'll just pour a little, without breaking it..."

Responding to the High Priest's playful remark, Maria, uncharacteristically for her usual ladylike demeanor, unusually flashed a mischievous, playful smile before placing her right hand on the crystal ball.

Then, Maria poured her magic into the crystal ball.

At that moment, a flash of light was unleashed upon the great hall.

It was incomparable to what had happened with Tomoe earlier.

The crystal ball's reaction could only be described as an explosion of light.

Despite its dazzling brilliance, the High Priest, who had been intently observing to assess the magic, let out a cry of astonishment.

"Wh-what is this...!?"

AN:

What a cunning cliffhanger! (^∀^;)

Will Maria be declared incompetent!? Will she be banished!?