Dorothy’s Forbidden Grimoire Novel - Chapter 451

Chapter 451

“The Crown of Immanuel…”

Dorothy murmured the name to herself within the small canal boat gliding through Adria, her eyes locked on the brilliant glimmers radiating from the distant church dome, having just heard the boatman’s words.

Immanuel was a name Dorothy recognized. Much of her time as a “student” at Royal Crown University had been consumed within the library’s walls. The university’s remarkably extensive collection of secular writings had greatly broadened her knowledge, including the ordinary history of Ivig she’d encountered there.

Immanuel was an ancient Ivig king, the progenitor of the Turquoise Dynasty that still governed Ivig. He bore the title Immanuel, the “Light-Bearing King.”

Secular accounts detailed that centuries prior, Ivig’s Vortex Dynasty’s last ruler, the “Arrogant King” Leo, initiated an unprovoked assault on the northern Guardian States, sparking the Turbid Stream War. Ultimately, the Guardian States’ combined forces counter-invaded Ivig, resulting in the Arrogant King’s death on the battlefield.

This Immanuel was originally a remote royal relative of the Vortex Dynasty. During the Turbid Stream War, he, then the Duke of Adria, rose against the Arrogant King’s dominion. He allied with the Guardian Alliance and aided in deposing the Arrogant King. Rewarded for his wartime contributions and by mandate of the Holy Mountain Pontiff, Immanuel assumed Ivig’s Crown after the conflict, establishing the enduring Turquoise Dynasty. His “Light-Bearing” epithet fundamentally signified “carrying the Savior’s radiant grace.”

Naturally, Dorothy, versed in the Grimoas, was fully aware of the concealed truths beneath this public history. The Arrogant King’s Vortex Dynasty had been profoundly tainted by the Abyssian Cult. At that era, the cult’s influence in Ivig surged dramatically—so much that worship of the Serpent of the Abyss became overt practice within Ivig. This conflict was a Holy War directly managed by the Glorious Church, which itself rallied the Guardian States’ Holy War armies to sweep across Ivig, cleansing the heretics.

“Ah, Immanuel’s relic… I almost overlooked that Adria was once part of King Immanuel’s lands.” Swiftly recalling Immanuel and Ivig’s past in her mind, Dorothy contemplated this insight. She then prompted the Head of Household corpse puppet to address the boatman. Observing his passenger seemed informed, the boatman eagerly launched into an explanation.

“Oh, you realize this region belonged to King Immanuel? People versed in history are scarce now… Though the royals dwell in Pace today, their roots are here. That crown atop the church is definitive proof,” the boatman stated, maneuvering the vessel while gesturing towards the far-off gleam on the church before proceeding.

“The Crown of Immanuel… The Light-Bearing Crown… This symbol was conferred by Holy Mountain when King Immanuel publicly proclaimed his defiance against the Arrogant King right here in Adria—affirming him as Ivig’s genuine champion. After Immanuel decisively vanquished the Arrogant King, he journeyed to Pace for his formal coronation as Ivig’s King.”

“On the night before his departure, Adria’s populace couldn’t endure parting from their wise ruler. Immanuel therefore resolved to leave the Light-Bearing Crown behind as a token of his reign. Since that moment, the crown has been safeguarded within Net Flow Cathedral, an eternal treasure esteemed by all Adrians,” the boatman recounted with evident pride to the Head of Household puppet. Hearing this, Dorothy nodded pensively, internally comprehending why that crown emitted such formidable “Lamp” energy.

……

Later, Dorothy and the Head of Household corpse puppet resumed their canal voyage. After some time, they reached a watercourse adjacent to the vast square fronting Net Flow Cathedral. Dorothy instructed the puppet to pay the boatman, and they stepped onto the stone quay.

Dorothy didn’t proceed directly to the cathedral. Instead, she moved with the luggage-carrying puppet to locate a nearby hotel. Securing a room, she ascended, stored the baggage, recalled the puppet into its concealed compartment, then descended alone to exit the hotel.

Moving nimbly along the canal edge, Dorothy traversed an arched bridge, leaving the densely packed, canal-laced residential quarter. She emerged onto a broad plaza.

Entirely paved in pristine white stone slabs, the plaza featured a central obelisk. Not far beyond, the formidable shape of Net Flow Cathedral ascended. Ordinary townsfolk ambling and visitors mingled across the space. The cathedral’s main portals stood wide, a constant stream of people flowing in and out.

After surveying the plaza briefly from its margin, Dorothy walked further inward. As she advanced, she maintained her Prudent Vanguard senses active and continuously tracked the depletion rate of the “Shadow” spiritual energy held within her Moonlight Amulet.

The nearer she drew to Net Flow Cathedral, the more intensely the “Lamp” brilliance from the Crown of Immanuel atop the structure flared within her awareness. The expenditure of spiritual energy from her Moonlight Amulet began to climb, minutely yet persistently. After covering significant ground towards the cathedral, Dorothy estimated the Crown of Immanuel’s approximate detection efficiency based on the heightened drain on the amulet’s “Shadow” reserve. Overall, as a Shining Light Lamp, the Crown of Immanuel’s detection efficiency was startlingly potent. Dorothy judged that within roughly twenty meters of the cathedral’s outer boundary, its efficiency would equal a standard Shining Light Lamp. Closer in, it would only escalate, potentially reaching three or even four times the typical efficiency.

‘The Crown of Immanuel’s detection efficiency for the non-ordinary is frighteningly elevated. Sustaining such constant, intense detection would demand vast “Lamp” energy… or perhaps the crown employs “Lamp” spiritual energy with extraordinary efficiency?’ Dorothy pondered, considering the distant sparkle on the cathedral against the sunlight.

Such powerful detection implied the crown didn’t merely perceive active non-ordinary traces; if someone approached too closely, it likely could sense the very spiritual energy contained *within* a non-ordinary individual, even absent any active power use or outward manifestation.

Having gauged the Crown of Immanuel’s capabilities, Dorothy continued her approach to Net Flow Cathedral. She selected a route that leveraged the sun’s angle relative to a particular cathedral spire, cautiously positioning herself so the structure partially shielded her from the Immanuelskrone’s direct glare where feasible, hoping to conserve a fraction of her stored “Shadow.”

Soon, she attained the perimeter of Net Flow Cathedral. Here, owing to the building’s design, the detection beams from the roof-mounted crown were partly obstructed, enabling her to preserve some “Shadow.” She then reached the main entrance and, like any sightseer, entered.

Inside, Dorothy didn’t find the vast nave typical of grand churches, but instead met a sizable reception desk. Here, patrons needed to buy entry tickets from the attendant before moving onward.

Indeed, Net Flow Cathedral had long ago ceased functioning as a place of worship. Historical archives noted its conversion into a museum centuries earlier. While Bervely had termed it “Net Flow Cathedral Museum,” Dorothy had initially been perplexed by the dual designation—why label one building both church and museum? Her talk with the boatman had clarified.

The original Net Flow Cathedral served as the chief place of worship for Adria’s inhabitants. After Immanuel, seeking to soothe his people’s sorrow upon his departure for Ivig, placed his crown inside the cathedral for preservation as a treasured remembrance of his rule.

Over time, the throng desiring to view the crown steadily grew, increasingly hindering the cathedral’s religious duties. Consequently, Adria’s city governance and the Glorious Church opted to erect a new cathedral elsewhere to serve Adria’s regular religious requirements. Net Flow Cathedral was then devoted solely to housing the Crown of Immanuel for public exhibition. Over the decades, numerous collectors, wishing their artifacts showcased beside a relic as prestigious as Immanuel’s, began donating significant pieces to the cathedral. The collection expanded steadily. Eventually, it was formally designated a dedicated museum and persists as one of Adria’s prime tourist destinations.

After purchasing her ticket, Dorothy proceeded into Net Flow Cathedral. Adapted for its continuously growing collection, the interior—essentially the museum floor—was extensive. Following her guidebook, Dorothy traversed exhibition halls, inspecting precious relics displayed in glass cases.

The exhibits varied: artifacts native to Ivig and foreign, masterpieces of artistry… Yet these treasures presented to the ordinary public held little inherent worth for Dorothy. Though authentic historical items, under her Prudent Vanguard senses, they revealed no spiritual traces whatsoever. They were purely mundane objects.

Surveying the wide-ranging displays, Dorothy fell into deep thought.

‘Azam’s divination device is unquestionably a non-ordinary item. But if Azam donated it for display here at Net Flow Cathedral, it could readily face scrutiny from the Crown of Immanuel, potentially exposing its anomalous properties. Even if the divination device miraculously escaped detection during transport, church personnel conducting routine checks within the cathedral-museum might discover its secret… Meaning, normally, this publicly accessible church museum would be the *most improbable* location to safely exhibit a non-ordinary artifact.

‘However… despite this glaring peril, Azam elected to donate the divination tool specifically *here*. This indicates one vital point: Azam possessed *assurance* that the church staff wouldn’t uncover the device.’

Standing among the museum exhibits, Dorothy reflected on the enigma of Azam’s divination tool amid the surrounding artifacts. Given the situation, only one explanation appeared viable: at the moment of donation, the device was not manifesting its non-ordinary power. It wasn’t *currently* an active non-ordinary artifact.

‘Beverly mentioned… this divination tool demands three years to “recharge” after each use. Therefore, during this dormant phase, the divination device’s non-ordinary energies likely subside to nearly undetectable levels, or perhaps revert entirely to a mundane condition. Only when the dormant period concludes and its functions fully restore would it become perceptible to illumination-type energies. This echoes my experience with the Puppet Mark – when merely inscribed on a person, it leaves no spiritual signature; not even Shining Light Lamps could sense it. But the instant I activate it, it becomes an active non-ordinary mark… That’s when it manifests.’

Tracing her fingers thoughtfully over her wrist, where the puppet mark methods resided, Dorothy recalled the principle.

‘Azam likely donated the divination tool to Net Flow Cathedral precisely *because* he knew it rested on sanctified ground – territory where Galeb wouldn’t dare act recklessly. Suffering under a curse-induced decline of his power while trapped under Galeb’s enforced surveillance, Azam understood he might not survive. Thus, he strategically placed the profoundly significant divination tool beyond Galeb’s reach.

‘Azam’s probable scheme was this: if he successfully broke free, he would return as the legally recorded donor and either retrieve the item or arrange an exchange with the cathedral-museum’s keepers. If he failed and died by Galeb’s hand, the device could lie concealed within the cathedral indefinitely. Once the divination tool’s three-year dormant phase ended and it reactivated its traits here, the church staff would inevitably sense its anomaly and claim it. He’d forfeit it to the church rather than let Galeb possess it…’

Navigating through connected exhibition halls, Dorothy processed this tactic while glancing at objects of mundane historical interest. Somewhere within this sprawling cathedral-museum’s profusion of exhibits lay the one she sought, perfectly disguised among the ordinary. Each piece remained merely another historical oddity to the uninformed observer.

Among countless possible containers, the divination device stayed indistinguishable through normal observation. Every exhibit appeared utterly identical under Prudent Vanguard senses; none emitted the slightest spiritual trace. All were equally commonplace.

A spark of professional vexation flickered within. ‘Did Azam truly plan for flawless anonymity? Did he withhold all distinguishing features of the divining artifact? The utter lack of identifying data compels me to confront innumerable dispersed exhibits without my essential tools.

‘Locating it now necessitates waiting several more days until the three-year interval expires. That reactivation will renew its spiritual signature, rendering it detectable. But the core problem persists: upon restoration, could I spot it quicker than the vigilant church sentinels stationed throughout?’

Absorbed in strategizing her next steps, Dorothy pressed forward. Unconsciously, she arrived before large, open double doors. As she abruptly crossed the threshold, a sudden flare of light seized her focus, halting her progress instantly.

Stopping sharply just inside the doorway, Dorothy scanned the interior. She saw an immense rotunda. Smooth curves merged religious artistry across a painted dome fresco high overhead. Below stretched intricate carpeted floor patterns encircling concentric rings of meticulously spaced display cases.

Centered at the apex of the rotunda dome, like a focal jewel, blazed an intensely recognizable glare – a pinpoint radiance mirroring what she observed atop the cathedral towers visible distantly outside.

That glare was the Crown of Immanuel refracting sunlight downward. The peak of the rotunda dome featured a clear viewing aperture aligned exactly with the small turret upon the cathedral’s roof housing the Crown itself. Consequently, while casting brilliant light externally over Adria’s skyline, the relic simultaneously flooded this entire celestial chamber below with its commanding presence, acting as the primary luminous focal point illuminating the rotunda canopy.

A sharp breath escaped Dorothy’s lips. ‘The light projects *inward* here too?! What ill-conceived architectural choice is this?’

Retreating immediately beyond the doorway to escape the relentless divine spotlight pouring outward, Dorothy repositioned herself in the shadowed corridor. While ordinary eyes saw only brilliant daylight throughout Adria, Dorothy’s Prudent Vanguard senses perceived raw detection rays beaming unceasingly outward across Adria and inward into the priceless halls below.

Quickly stepping back from the Crown Hall entrance where the crown’s light spilled powerfully outside, Dorothy urgently consulted her guidebook map. Her eyes scanned the layout until settling on the chamber in question.

“Crown Hall,” the entry stated. “The domed rotunda specifically architected as the Crown of Immanuel’s permanent exhibition chamber. Situated at the dome’s summit, structurally linked to the external platform above it, the Crown shines within this hall like the sun. Artifacts judged worthy of display beside the Crown of Immanuel inside the Crown Hall constitute the museum’s most supremely valued treasures.”

‘Ah… The dedicated Crown Hall reserved solely to exhibit Immanuel’s crown… It all makes sense now…’ Understanding solidified within Dorothy as she reread the guide entry, her tactical mind instantly seized upon a latent implication.

‘An earlier deduction resurfaces: If Azam strategically positioned the divination artifact specifically within Net Flow Cathedral to ensure church interception upon his demise – thereby guaranteeing Galeb’s permanent exclusion – then he critically needed absolute certainty of its detection upon reactivation. Placing it randomly elsewhere in the vast complex carried risks; the completion of its recharge might pass unnoticed indefinitely if museum curators neglected routine bulk inspections without activation prompts.

‘Therefore… To guarantee the very moment its regeneration concluded it would trigger instant detection… the placement becomes vital. Almost obligatory… submerged under continuous, unending surveillance detectable only in one location.

‘It absolutely… must reside where detection perpetually scans… and crucially, that is only feasible within the Crown Hall!

‘Meaning… The divining instrument must be displayed right here! Positioned openly beside Immanuel’s crown within this very hall! Then, upon its dormant period’s end… the crown’s embedded sentinel mechanisms would instantly recognize the resurgent artifact’s unrestrained spiritual resonance!’

The realization struck Dorothy with lightning force. Instantly, her searching gaze intensified toward the Crown Hall entrance, a distinct surge of focused resolve igniting within her penetrating stare.

And, precisely at this moment…

On the opposite side of the immense Crown Hall rotunda, positioned near a different interior threshold…

Figures stood attired distinctly from circulating visitors. Two men, silhouetted in long coats partially hidden by structural columns, kept a cautious distance from the light flooding the entrance, maintaining a concealed watch from the gallery’s shaded periphery.

Their attention remained fixed deep within the shadowed recesses of gold-glinting displays. A quest or purpose, concealed beneath ordinary appearances, held their focus elsewhere.