Chapter 34
Light novel: Episode 34
Manhwa: Chapter 14
“Zenrick? Are you okay?”
When I casually asked, Zenrick slowly got up from his seat.
“…No, I’m not. I think I need to go right now. I might’ve just found the answer to my problem.”
Divine power, yes, divine power. If I use that…
He mumbled something to himself, then got up without saying goodbye and started running. He was heading toward the potion laboratory.
“…Looks like I just gave him a huge clue to solve his issue.”
“Seems like taking a break really was the answer.”
Instead of pointing out his lack of manners, we chose to support his breakthrough.
Now the only problem left… is mine.
Wait a second. Come to think of it, what did Zenrick say earlier?
A flower imbued with divine power… and he said he would ‘use’ it, right?
“That’s it! Why didn’t I think of that?”
If I helped Zenrick solve his problem, then just now, he helped me solve mine.
Yes, that’s the way!
A method that would let me bless the potion and keep Airek from discovering my ability!
* * *
Duke Sieri’s office.
Lute Sieri had dismissed his aide, Yuri Poulton, and was alone.
Yuri had been complaining loudly that there was still a lot of work to be done, but Lute had kicked him out because he had something more urgent to do.
“Let’s see how this turns out.”
Lute fiddled with the sacred relic around his neck, something he hadn’t once removed in the past month.
That’s right. Today marked exactly one month since he received the sacred relic from Saintess Ordell, and it was the day the blessing’s duration would expire.
Even though he knew he needed to receive the blessing again, he didn’t go to the grand temple.
There was something he needed to confirm first.
‘It should be time now.’
Without removing the relic, Lute waited.
A few minutes later, at the exact moment he had anticipated—
“…Ha!”
A hollow laugh escaped him. From his clenched fist and tightly gritted teeth leaked an emotion that was somewhere between fury and exhilaration.
The pain like his heart was drying and cracking apart, like every breath was a needle stabbing into his lungs. That horrid, familiar agony!
The torment that had plagued him for twenty years once again began to grip him once again.
“…Damn it.”
Perhaps because he still wore the sacred relic, only the blessing had disappeared, and the pain itself was bearable compared to before.
But now he knew.
He knew what it was like to have a body free from pain, to live a normal life untouched by suffering.
After tasting such sweetness, how could he ever go back?
“At the very least, she didn’t lie to me.”
The pain that started in his heart now hammered its way through the back of his neck, pounding into his head.
Lute let out a low groan and slumped back into his chair.
“…Ah.”
And then he felt it.
The warm sunlight pouring in from the window right next to him.
Perhaps it was because he was wearing the sacred relic of the Sun God, but even just basking in the sunlight, he felt as if the pain had subsided a little.
Ordell, who seemed so unlike the image of a Saintess of the Sun God.
But her claim that the blessing was more effective than the relic itself was true.
This proved that not a single thing Ordell had said was a lie.
‘…Then maybe, I will be able to find a cure for this damn disease someday?’
He used to think that just removing the pain was already a miracle.
But now, for the first time, a greed crept in. He began hoping that he might be able to be completely cured.
It was something he had never even considered before.
And for the first time in his life, he wanted to place his faith in someone other than himself.
“She got me right where she wanted me.”
It wasn’t just the fact that he had to receive a blessing every month. Now the key to curing his disease was in her hands, too.
To call it a weakness was an understatement. It was no exaggeration to say she now held his very heart in her grasp.
But it was strange.
If it were any other time, being completely swayed and dependent on someone else would’ve irritated and infuriated him beyond belief…
And yet, not only did he not feel that way, but far from it, he didn’t think this moment was so bad at all.
He might even say it felt… enjoyable.
To the point he was actually curious about what unpredictable move Ordell would make next.
So, there was only one thing to do now.
Especially since he had a perfectly valid reason to go.
“Yuri!”
Having made up his mind, Lute stood up and raised his voice.
As if he’d been waiting for this moment, Yuri promptly opened the door and entered, apparently having ignored the earlier order to stay far away.
Of course.
“Get ready. We’re going to the grand temple of the Sun God.”
“Huh? Again?”
Yuri, who had entered the room carrying another pile of documents with a confident air, widened his eyes at Lute’s declaration.
“But the Saintess didn’t even send a letter saying she wanted to see you this time. Why are we going all of a sudden?”
“Why? Because I want to see her. Shouldn’t you visit someone you miss?”
Fwump—
Shocked by Lute’s words, Yoo-ra dropped all the documents he was holding.
The floor of the office was instantly covered in white paper, but Lute didn’t pay it any mind as he threw on his coat.
“Y-you’re not saying we’re going right now, are you?!”
“If you don’t want to come, you can stay behind. You’re not all that useful anyway, so feel free to stay behind and do my work.”
Kicking aside the scattered papers on the floor, Lute pushed the stunned Yuri aside and exited the office.
Yuri, who had finally come to his senses, scrambled after him.
“W-wait, what do you mean I’m not useful?! I’m coming with you!”
Regardless, Lute told a passing servant to prepare a carriage immediately, saying that he was going out.
Although it was a sudden order, the servant, who was accustomed to his master’s eccentric whims, carried out the order without being fazed or showing any surprise.
Thanks to that, the preparations for the outing were completed in no time.
Lute leaned back comfortably in a cushioned seat, far more padded than a regular carriage thanks to his illness, and began humming a cheerful tune.
Yuri sat across from him, his expression growing more and more absurd by the second, but Lute didn’t spare him a glance.
It really was strange.
Just a moment ago, he was fed up with the pain that had returned as soon as the blessing disappeared.
But now, strangely enough, it didn’t feel all that bad.
No, more accurately, the sense of exhilaration and excitement was balancing out the pain.
Lute smiled in satisfaction and closed his eyes.
The soft sunlight spilling over his face felt pleasant.
* * *
I didn’t expect time to pass so quickly in my second life.
But oddly enough, it felt like time was flying by even faster now than it did in my previous one.
All the more so when I looked at the man sitting in front of me again after a whole month.
“You’re a bit late.”
Lute Sieri.
At his appearance, I mentally counted the days.
It had indeed been exactly one month since he received the divine relic, but he had come later in the day this time.
Unlike last time when he visited in the morning, it was now late afternoon and the sun was already starting to set.
“You must’ve waited on purpose to check whether the blessing would wear off.”
I didn’t even need to ask to know.
“Yes, that’s right.”
As expected, Lute admitted it without hesitation.
“These things need to be verified properly, don’t they? More than anything, I had to know exactly what would happen once the blessing wore off.”
He wasn’t wrong, but something about it felt… off.
Why has he been smiling so brightly like that since earlier?
Sure, he smiled a lot in the original story too but only when mocking someone, belittling them, looking down on them, or brushing them off.
Right now, though, none of that was happening, and yet here he was, smiling for no reason.
It was honestly unsettling.
“Uh, is it because you’re unhappy because it’s now certain that you have to renew the blessing every month?”
No matter how much I think about it, I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was smiling because he was in a good mood, so I carefully explained.
“Like I mentioned before, the duration of my blessings increases as my divine power grows. I can’t extend it just yet, but I’ll definitely be able to soon, so don’t worry.”
It’s just because I’ve been putting off the donations to invest in the potion business, but once the business gets started in earnest, my divine power should surge as well.
So in about three months, I should be able to extend the effect for sure…
But for some reason, instead of cheering up, Lute’s smile completely disappeared.
I didn’t like his smiling face, but this serious one wasn’t any better either.
“I really wanted to see you, Saintess, but it seems that you don’t feel the same way.”
“……”
What in the world is he talking about?
His words were so absurd, I almost said them out loud.
“Oh, right. Our Saintess probably only missed my money.”
“……”
“You’re not denying it… So I really am just useful because I’m rich?”
Ahem. Was I too obvious?
Lute was our VIP customer, so I quickly shook my head before he could get any more upset.
“Of course not. Absolutely not.”
And then, with a dazzling smile, he added—
“Ah, that’s right. Our Saintess also really likes my face.”
—he really said it.
Unbelievable. His mood swings were absolutely impossible to handle.
SoundlessWind21’s Notes:
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