T/N: Shaman / Shamanism -> Mage / Magic

Great Shaman -> Archmage

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Alright. It seems like I've set up the martial arts tournament to select the great warrior. Now, what's left is the archmage.

Since understanding of magic is required for the Archmage, should I talk about it after some research... Or should I mention beforehand that I will select one?

Let's talk about it first. I'll say that I will select the one with the most outstanding talent in magic as the Archmage. From now on, I will convey my message through that chosen great shaman.

The great chieftain, the great warrior, and the archmage should check and cooperate with each other, maintaining the lizardmen in such a relationship?

Here, the great chieftain is succeeded by bloodline, the great warrior changes every year, and the archmage... will continue unless someone with more outstanding talent appears...

Alright. This should work.

"And I have become interested in the magic you possess, so I will bestow the title of archmage on the one among the lizardmen who has the most outstanding talent in magic, and through that child, I will convey my voice."

[What? Are you not going to convey it to me?]

"Aren't you the great chieftain? Already possessing much... Do you seek more?"

[No! I apologize! Please forgive me!]

Not that I'm angry or anything. Hmm...

"You already possess much, be content with that. Then, I will convey the details once the child to become the archmage is decided."

[Understood. We will thoroughly prepare for the festival. But, may I ask one question?]

A question?

"What is it?"

[What If..., if one person comes to hold the great chieftain, the great warrior, and the archmage... what would happen?]

"One person?"

Hmm... It seems nearly impossible.

But if so... wouldn't it be quite interesting?

The lineage of the lizardmen's leader, the talent of the most outstanding mage, and the body of the strongest warrior.

If all these elements were concentrated in one person, wouldn't they rightly be called the lizardmen's hero?

"Then, that person will become the lizardmen's hero and will be my representative."

Whether it's possible or not, leaving such a meaningful story seems interesting.

Who knows. Maybe such a person... no, lizardman will appear.

[Understood. Then, as you command, we will hold a tournament to select the strongest lizardman during the festival. Please watch over us.]

"Look forward to it."

Alright. That's the end! Now, all that's left is to wait for the lizardmen's festival and proceed with the research on magic!

Now, let's see what kind of feeling the magic created by the lizardmen has...

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Magic is a general term for the technique of borrowing the power of spirits and bestowing it upon the body.

Originally, the lizardmen, who are closely connected to nature, had the ability to interact with spirits, but they faced the problem of not having enough magical power to enslave the spirits.

To overcome this disadvantage, the lizardmen used magic in a way that bestows the power of spirits onto their own bodies.

Borrowing speed and agility from the wind spirit, and sturdiness and heaviness from the earth spirit, the initial use of magic was quite simple, making it not difficult for the lizardmen with their lack of magical power, but the effects were said to be minimal.

A significant change in such magic occurred with the appearance of the archmage.

Chosen by the Creator Dragon God and able to hear its voice, Archmages began to develop magic in an astonishing direction.

It was not about borrowing the power of spirits, but bestowing the spirit itself onto the body.

By trusting the spirit and offering part of the body, it became possible to bestow the maximum power of the spirit with minimal magical power.

This type of magic is called spirit possession.

Spirit possession showed a vast difference from the previous magic, and for this, spiritual interaction with the spirits became important.

Spirits instinctively desire a body, and recklessly offering one's body to them could lead to the problem of the spirit taking over the body.

Therefore, by interacting with spirits and forming a close relationship, and only after achieving a level of intimacy that prevents spirits from taking over the body, can one use spirit possession magic.

Thus, the essence of lizardmen's magic lies in valuing interaction with spirits and treating them as friends, which is entirely different from the elves' spirit magic that binds spirits through contracts-

"Wait. You make it sound like there's something wrong with elf spirit magic."

"But it's true, isn't it? Unlike elves, we lizardmen accept spirits as friends."

The elf frowned at the words of the female lizardman adorned with various ornaments.

"Our elves' contracts with spirits are sacred rituals made with mutual consent! Not vague like your makeshift friendships."

At that, the female lizardman also raised her voice in retort.

"Makeshift friendships? We build friendships with spirits to the point where we can entrust our bodies to each other without any problems. It's completely different from the cold, heartless contracts of the cruel elves."

"Vague friendships instead of clear contracts. Where else would you find something so strange? Who even came up with that?"

"The spirit possession magic was originally taught by the Creator Dragon God. It's disrespectful to the great Creator Dragon God. Creator Dragon God, please forgive this person's ignorance."

Then, the door opened, and a silver-haired girl with dragon horns on her head peeked in.

"Huh? Did you call me?"

"We didn't call you. But how about some honey sweets? It's made from the flower honey that lizardmen pride themselves on."

"Yum. It's delicious."

The silver-haired girl chewed on the honey sweets.

"There's plenty, so feel free to relax in your room and enjoy them. Ah, but don't fill up on sweets, we have dinner later. Got it?"

"Uh-huh. Thank you."

After retracting her head, the silver-haired girl closed the door, and the elf, having observed the conversation between the lizardman and the silver-haired girl, spoke in an astonished tone.

"Hey. Aren't you blatantly favoring that child?"

The lizardman replied as if it were only natural.

"Huh? Well, she's the Saintess of the Church of Life, and she's such a cute child. How could there be anything to dislike?"

"That may be true, but your attitude is completely different with others. We're all part of the same hero party!"

"Hmph. Of course. The others are just women who might try to deceive you at any moment!"

"Well, that woman might have a beautiful look, but it's a bit harsh to say that in front of her comrades. And if we're talking about beauty, the Dragon Priestess is more beautiful... almost the most beautiful in the world."

At the elf's words, the lizardman looked skeptical.

"Hmm... Well, let's leave it at that. Anyway. As a priest serving the Creator Dragon God and an archmage, I have no reason to view the Saintess of the Church of Life poorly! If anything, I view her favorably!"

The elf tilted its head and asked.

"What's the relationship between the lizardmen's tribal god and the Church of Life? They don't seem related at all?"

"Hehehe. This is why elves without theological knowledge are problematic. It's because I believe that the Creator Dragon God and the Goddess of Life are the same entity."

"What?"

"It's a bit of a minor claim even among lizardmen, but I believe in it."

"The claim that the Creator Dragon God and the Goddess of Life are the same entity? Isn't that a bit far-fetched?"

"But the more you compare the deeds of the Creator Dragon God and the Goddess of Life, the more similarities you find. From creating this world and filling it with life, to even calling the Saintess of the Church of Life the Dragon Priestess."

"Huh? Did you call me?"

Again, the silver-haired girl peeked her head in.

"We didn't call you. Well, we mentioned you, but we didn't call you."

With that, the silver-haired girl retracted her head.

- Records of an Adventure of a Hero Party

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Just want to place it here..