Chapter 24
Light novel: Episode 24
Manhwa: Chapter 11
* * *
Behind the grand temple was a wide, open clearing.
According to Airek, it was once a training ground where the Saintess, the Saint, priests, and holy knights would refine their divine power under the radiance of sunlight pouring from the heavens.
“Now it’s just an empty lot.”
Training ground, my ass. With dust flying everywhere at the slightest breeze, it reminded me more of a military drill yard.
Apparently, it used to be paved with solid stone that wouldn’t crack even when infused with divine power.
But as the temple fell into poverty, they started tearing out and selling the stones one by one until it ended up like this. Seth had explained it with a gloomy look on his face.
“It’s basically a symbol of how the grand temple has fallen along with its gardens.”
Once we start making money, I’ll need to fix this place up too, so it can regain its former glory.
“Ha… Why are there so many things to pay for?”
Pouring water into a bottomless pot would probably feel less wasteful than this.
Letting out a sigh, I walked over to a large brazier set in one corner.
The fire, lit earlier by a servant, was burning fiercely.
I was the only one here.
Because I didn’t know what might happen during the process of burning the suspicious relic, I had made sure to keep Victoria, Airek, and even Seth away.
‘You’re going to burn it?’
When I told Airek I was going to burn the thing, he’d tried hard to stop me, saying it was far too valuable.
‘Then could we at least pry off the jewels on the box and sell those? It seems a bit excessive to burn the whole thing.’
Poverty really is terrifying. The High Priest had actually pleaded to at least sell the jewels.
Of course, I’d rejected him without hesitation.
‘There may be ominous energy clinging to the box as well, so it’s best not to keep any part of it.’
Even the Relic of Light had a negative effect on people so could the jewelry box containing it really be safe?
When something gives you a bad feeling, the best thing to do is just burn it all.
“Good riddance, you cursed chunk of rock.”
I dumped the shards of the shattered necklace into the roaring fire, and then tossed the jewelry box as well.
But I wasn’t done yet.
【Activating skill: ‘Blessing’.】
I poured in every last drop of divine power I could muster into the fire.
Flames and divine energy swirled together, flaring up in a brilliant blaze.
The heat was so intense that even my body, strengthened with divine power, could barely endure it.
I figured since the relic had been made by someone hostile to the Sun God, I might be able to destroy it using the Saintess’s blessing.
And the result…
【The ‘Relic of Light’ can no longer maintain its form. The ‘Relic of Light’ has been completely annihilated by the divine power of the ‘Sun Crawling Out of Death’!】
“Yes!”
I clenched both fists and cheered at the message I’d been hoping to see.
That infuriating source of constant frustration was finally gone—what a relief!
At the very least, I wouldn’t end up like in the original story, getting blindsided over and over without knowing a thing…!
【Failed to destroy divine relic. The user’s current divine power is insufficient to destroy a divine relic.】
“…Huh?”
What? Failure? Wait, on closer inspection, it wasn’t talking about the relic.
It said divine relic. I failed to destroy a divine relic.
Why is a divine relic even mentioned here?
I hastily withdrew the divine energy still burning in the fire and doused the flames using the water bucket next to the brazier.
The system had clearly stated that the Relic of Light was fully destroyed.
Which means there was only one thing left.
“Haa…”
Buried in the charred remains of the firewood was a jewelry box, completely untouched by the flames.
Not a single corner melted. It was perfectly intact.
“This was a divine relic?”
A divine relic just to hold a sacred relic? That’s absurd. Not even the original novel mentioned anything like this.
Was it because the box had been handed over along with the relic to Lute?
“System, whose divine relic is this?”
【That question falls under classified divine knowledge. In order to answer that question, the user’s divine power must exceed 40%.】
“Classified? Then it wasn’t created by the final boss of the original story?”
【That question falls under classified divine knowledge. To receive an answer, the user’s divine power must exceed 40%.】
“The system’s an idiot. It doesn’t know anything.”
【This AI system was meticulously crafted by the gods as a cutting-edge cosmic interface. If I’m an idiot, then so are you.】
“Oh, now you’re suddenly articulate.”
So it’s fine to call the user an idiot, but can’t stand being called one itself, huh?
“If you’re not an idiot, cutting-edge cosmic system, then at least tell me the name or something about this divine relic.”
【Only information authorized for the current user can be viewed. Displaying authorized data.】
Oh? I wasn’t expecting a reply, but something actually came back.
Was it because I challenged it to prove it wasn’t an idiot? Should I start using that as a magic phrase when asking questions from now on?
【Divine Relic Information】
Name: A Box Made Out of Boredom
Grade: Legendary
Divine Owner: ???
Abilities: ???
Special Notes: ???
“……”
Never mind. That wasn’t generosity. It just told me because it knew the information wouldn’t be helpful anyway.
Is the name of this divine relic really ‘A Box Made Out of Boredom’? If that’s what it’s called, why is its grade so ridiculously high?
Isn’t Legendary the highest tier?
“There’s no way the final boss made this.”
If it were made to hold the Relic of Light, then that bastard would’ve crafted it properly. Just from that absurd name, there’s no way it’s his work.
And I doubted it was made by the Sun God either.
If it were, Airek would’ve thrown himself into the fire to stop me from burning it.
I looked down with displeasure at the jewelry box still buried among the ashes.
Come to think of it, unlike the Relic of Light, which nearly took my breath away just from being near it, this box hadn’t given me any reaction at all.
So much so that I’d never even considered it might be a divine relic.
Seth and Airek hadn’t reacted much either.
Which means… it’s probably not as dangerous as the Relic of Light, at least.
“Even if it’s not creepy, it’s definitely suspicious.”
I stared at the jewelry box for a long time like I was in a staring contest, then finally reached out to it.
If it couldn’t be burned or destroyed by divine power, I had no choice but to hide it somewhere in my room.
If someone else saw it and got greedy, picked it up and triggered something then I’d be the one dealing with the mess.
I picked up the jewelry box like I was retrieving a cell phone dropped in a toilet, grimacing as I slammed it against the ground.
It was so sturdy it didn’t even crack. Instead, the floor dented.
I wouldn’t want to store anything inside it but as a blunt weapon, it actually had potential.
If an assassin ever breaks into my room, I might have to use this as a weapon.
* * *
“Waaah!”
“Wooow!”
As the sun began to set, Dietrich returned to the grand temple with carts overflowing with groceries.
He had worried for a moment that he might’ve bought too much, swept up by the rush of suddenly having such a large amount of money. But seeing the young acolytes with eyes sparkling as they gathered around the carts made him feel it had all been worth it.
“Priest! Priest! Are all of these ingredients for eating?”
“Are we really allowed to eat this much?”
Even children had learned to be cautious because of poverty.
Dietrich gave a bitter smile and gently patted the worried children’s heads.
“Yes, it’s okay. The High Priest gave his permission.”
“U-uh, b-but still…”
“…Actually, the Saintess is the one who told me to buy all this. She said we should all eat to our hearts’ content.”
“Really?!”
At the mention of the High Priest, the kids had hesitated but the moment they heard the Saintess’s name, they erupted in cheers.
Looks like Ordell is still the scariest one of all.
“Priest Dietrich.”
“Ah, Lady Victoria.”
Just then, Victoria approached Dietrich as he chatted with the children.
She glanced briefly at the groceries being carried in by servants and maids.
“Thank you for going all the way to the village.”
“It was nothing, really. Honestly, it was a joy to buy food without worrying about money for once.”
And it was true.
When was the last time he bought food without calculating every coin? He can’t even remember.
Perhaps it had never happened before.
Which is why this moment felt so genuinely rewarding.
“Just seeing all this food is making me excited too. Ah, and I’ve brought a message from the Saintess.”
After Victoria finished her sentence, the children crowding around the carts froze in place.
So did the servants and maids who had been carrying the food supplies.
All eyes turned toward her, filled with nervous anticipation.
“…You needn’t be so worried, everyone. The Saintess has made a very generous proposal.”
Seeing their reactions, Victoria gave a wry smile.
Even though it had been over a week since Ordell had apologized and sincerely reflected on her past actions, people were still afraid of her and hesitant to approach.
If Victoria hadn’t spent the entire week by Ordell’s side herself, she likely would have been just as wary.
‘I’ve done some things in the past… so I can’t expect people to forgive me so quickly. But if I keep trying, I’m sure they’ll open their hearts one day. That’s enough for me.’
Victoria recalled Ordell’s quiet words.
That left her with one clear task: to help bridge the gap still lingering between Ordell and the people.
“The Saintess has declared a meat party tonight. Everyone may eat as much meat as they want.”
“Waaaaaah!”
The children were the first to shout in joy.
Victoria looked past them and smiled brightly at the adults standing there, wide-eyed in stunned silence.
SoundlessWind21’s Notes:
If there are any errors, whether it be grammatical, spelling, translation, or website-related issues, feel free to let me know. (´◡`) Anyway, thank you for reading!