Chapter 7: The Wandering Pharaoh
If divine power could really be seen directly with the naked eye, Hikigaya would definitely rub his eyes hard. This was simply unbelievable.
Though it was pitifully small in amount, this was truly undiluted divine power.
Logically speaking, the human body shouldn't be able to withstand it at all. Hikigaya felt like his eyes had been opened. Originally, he had wanted to immediately break the curse on Ramesses' daughter, but this scene made him decide to watch a bit longer.
Egyptian magic could, depending on the purpose, either borrow or deceive power from the gods.
This was a viewpoint Hikigaya had gained from the Nine Gods' Group, and their evidence was the numerous amulets and other magical objects.
But what now unfolded before Hikigaya's eyes was completely different from what he had imagined.
Seven women remained in a state of silent meditation, time passing bit by bit, with only the sound of the queen's breathing after she had fallen asleep filling the bedroom.
The guards had long since withdrawn, leaving only Ramesses, Hikigaya, and the old royal physician in the room. Except for Hikigaya, the other two stared anxiously at the ongoing ritual.
By the time Hikigaya was beginning to yawn, the seven women finally stopped meditating and dispersed. The High Priestess walked over to the Pharaoh with a solemn expression. "Regrettably, we have glimpsed your daughter's future — it is dark. Without assistance, she will journey to the kingdom of Osiris before the sun rises."
Big sister, are you really okay saying that? Nowadays, the doctor-patient relationship is pretty tense.
"Then save her." Ramesses' face darkened just like the frying pan at Hikigaya's home. "I beg you!" At the end, he added this, which made Hikigaya's eyes widen.
By later standards, ancient Egyptian pharaohs were almost all tyrants.
The more "wise" they were said to be, the more brutal. Yet from what Hikigaya had seen so far, Ramesses II was surprisingly gentle. Based on the history Hikigaya knew and his first meeting with Ramesses II, he would bet that this guy's temper was definitely not this mild.
"I'm afraid we are powerless." Facing the Pharaoh's anxiety and even outright anger, the High Priestess from the Temple of Life showed no comfort, instead shaking her head and continuing, "Now, before sunrise, we must find the demon that devours her soul. Only then can her fate be changed."
It sounded serious, but it was basically a death sentence. In this era, unless luck was overwhelmingly on your side, it was impossible to find the secret assailant in just a few hours. They were not ordinary people — they were magicians! Not to mention these ancient Egyptians — even calling over a certain grim reaper elementary schooler wouldn't help. These curses were cast from a distance; where would you find a clue?
Hikigaya looked from every angle. At this moment, there was only one way — he had to show off.
"Ahem, ahem..." Clearing one's throat before showing off was basic common sense, and Mr. Hikigaya was knowledgeable. Sure enough, everyone's eyes immediately turned toward him, making Hikigaya feel a great sense of achievement.
Forget it, no need to show off. That baby is so pitiful. Your handsome big brother is coming to save you right now!
"I'll do it." In the old royal physician's stunned gaze, Hikigaya walked toward the cradle.
Then he was blocked — the other party was somewhat tall and imposing.
"Your Majesty, may I ask who this foreigner is?" The High Priestess, performing a perfect sidestep, blocked Hikigaya like a mother hen protecting her chicks.
Hikigaya frowned. Sure, this big sister had a nice chest, but flaunting it like that was inappropriate, and at her age, she wasn't his type.
"He's my mage. Um, newly hired." Ramesses seemed to have just remembered Hikigaya's existence, and he frowned too.
Ramesses was feeling conflicted now.
Honestly, he had only been on the throne for a year, and his seat was not very stable. Before this child, his first child with Nefertari was also killed by a curse. His older brother was like a crocodile hidden in the dark, waiting for a chance to hunt. Many in the palace secretly supported his brother rather than him.
Because of this, he had always tried to win over the priests of Memphis.
As long as they didn't openly side with his brother and still supported him as Pharaoh, he would tolerate even quite infuriating things.
This foreigner, however, had warned him about his daughter being cursed before the priests even knew anything.
Based on that alone, this guy either had real skill or was somehow linked to the curse on his daughter.
Either way, he was currently the most likely person to save his daughter. Otherwise, how could the great Pharaoh of Egypt be playing emotional games with a foreigner?
Yet the attitude of the High Priestess from the Temple of Life forced him to consider carefully.
His original plan was to call on this foreigner only if all else failed, but the current situation disrupted that plan.
The priests from the Temple of Life probably wouldn't leave tonight, and their High Priestess clearly disliked this foreigner. If this foreigner really saved his daughter, offending the Temple of Life was inevitable.
After all, although his daughter was important, Ramesses bore responsibilities greater than protecting her. To maintain his throne, the priests' favor was crucial at this stage.
The future great emperor was clearly still a rookie, and the difficult choice between family affection and power left him feeling lost and pained. He couldn't help but start missing the days when his father was still alive.
But while he hesitated, Hikigaya did not.
"Ridiculous. No ability to save, yet so loud." Hikigaya sneered and took a step forward.
The High Priestess of the Temple of Life cried out in alarm.
Her skin felt a sting, and the amulets on her body shattered with a crack. She retreated in terror.
Pharaohs were crowned with the blessings and protection of Horus and Set, but that didn't mean Set wasn't an evil god. In the minds of Egyptians of this era, he was no longer the noble king of gods but a terrifying evil god wielding dark powers. No High Priestess could fail to recognize the terrible power of Set.
"You..." The High Priestess couldn't finish her sentence because she saw Hikigaya's eyes.
The next moment, her world plunged into darkness. She couldn't see or hear anything, as if thrown into a silent abyss. Negative emotions in her heart were infinitely amplified, and in an instant, fear took over.
To outsiders, this noble High Priestess looked as if she had seen a terrifying thing and made way for the foreigner.
Then she stood motionless like a puppet, her face twisted in fear, the only sign that she was enduring something terrifying.
This scene scared the others from the Temple of Life.
They had planned to continue stopping Hikigaya, but now they all felt palpitations and dared not advance. They let Hikigaya walk to the cradle.
Behind him, Ramesses held back the old royal physician who was about to step forward, shaking his head slightly in response to the physician's confused look.
"It's okay." He said, but his gaze was fixed on Hikigaya. The old physician noticed the Pharaoh's calm expression, but sweat was beading on his forehead.
Under eyes full of expectation, fear, or hatred, Hikigaya reached out his hand and gently touched the baby's forehead.