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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: The Divine Box
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Behind the Grand Temple, there was a wide, open space.
According to Airic, this was once a training ground where saintesses, saints, priests, and holy knights would hone their divine power under the sun's brilliant rays.
“Now it’s just a barren field.”
Training ground? More like a military drill yard, with dust kicking up every time the wind blew.
They said the ground used to be paved with sturdy stones that wouldn't break even under the immense force of divine power.
Seth explained with a gloomy face that as they grew poorer, they had sold them off one by one, leaving it in this state.
“Along with the garden, this place is a symbol of the Grand Temple’s poverty.”
Once I make some money, I’ll have to repair this place and restore it to its former glory.
“Sigh. Why are there so many things to spend money on?”
It’s like pouring water into a bottomless pit.
Sighing, I walked over to a large brazier in the corner.
A fire, lit by a servant, was blazing brightly.
I was here alone.
I had sent Victoria, Airic, and Seth away, not knowing what might happen while burning the suspicious holy relic.
*‘You’re going to burn it?’*
When I said I was going to burn it to ashes, Airic had tried to stop me, saying it was a terrible waste.
*‘Then could we at least pry off the jewels on the box and sell them? There seems to be no need to burn those as well.’*
Poverty is a scary thing. To think the High Priest would desperately ask if we could sell the jewels.
Of course, I refused flatly.
*‘The box might be tainted with the same sinister energy, so it's best not to leave any part of it behind.’*
The Holy Relic of Light had a negative effect on people; why would the jewelry box that held it be any different?
When something feels off, the best thing to do is burn it all to a crisp.
“Farewell, you cursed piece of rock.”
I poured the shattered fragments of the necklace from the box into the roaring flames, then tossed the jewelry box in after them.
But that wasn't the end of it.
[Activating skill ‘Blessing’.]
I poured in every last bit of divine power I could muster.
Fire and divine power intertwined, flaring up with a *whoosh!*
The heat was so intense that even my divinely enhanced body could barely withstand it.
Since the creator of the holy relic was an enemy of the Sun God, I figured I might be able to destroy it using the Saintess's blessing.
And the result was…
[The ‘Holy Relic of Light’ can no longer maintain its form. The ‘Holy Relic of Light’ is completely annihilated by the divine power of the ‘Sun That Crawled Out of Death’!]
“Yes!”
Seeing the message I'd hoped for, I clenched my fists and cheered.
It’s so refreshing to get rid of that source of frustration!
At least now I won't be blindsided and struggle like in the original story, completely unaware of what's happening…!
[Failed to destroy the divine artifact. The user's current divine power is insufficient to destroy the divine artifact.]
“…Huh?”
What, a failure? No. Looking closer, it wasn't the holy relic.
It says I failed to destroy a ‘divine artifact’. Where did a divine artifact come from?
I hastily withdrew the divine power fueling the flames and doused the fire with a bucket of water from beside the brazier.
The message clearly said the Holy Relic of Light was annihilated.
That meant only one thing was left.
“Hah.”
Buried in the smoldering embers was the jewelry box, completely unscathed.
Not a single part of it was melted; it was in perfect condition.
“This was the divine artifact?”
Using a divine artifact just to hold a holy relic. The original novel never mentioned anything like that.
Was it because it was given to Lute, box and all?
“System, whose divine artifact is this?”
[That question pertains to a secret of the heavens. To obtain the answer, the user's retained divine power must exceed 40%.]
“A secret of the heavens? Does that mean the final boss of the original story didn't make it?”
[That question pertains to a secret of the heavens. To obtain the answer, the user's retained divine power must exceed 40%.]
“The system is an idiot. It doesn't know anything.”
[This AI system is a state-of-the-art cosmic system painstakingly created by the gods. If I am an idiot, then so are you.]
“It answers things like that so fluently.”
It seemed it was fine with making the user look like a fool, but couldn't stand being called a fool itself.
“If you want to prove this ‘state-of-the-art cosmic system’ isn't an idiot, then at least tell me this divine artifact's name or give me some information.”
[Only information currently permitted to the user can be accessed. Disclosing permitted information.]
Oh? I didn't expect anything when I asked, but I got a surprising answer.
Was it because I told it to prove it wasn't an idiot? Should I use that as a prefix every time I ask something from now on?
[Divine Artifact Information]
Name: A Box Made Out of Boredom
Grade: Legendary
Owning God: ???
Abilities: ???
Special Notes: ???
“…”
Never mind. It only told me because the information is useless anyway. It was just acting generous.
Is the artifact's name really ‘A Box Made Out of Boredom’? Why is the grade so high for such a stupid name?
Isn't Legendary the highest grade?
“The final boss definitely didn't make this.”
If he'd made a box to hold the Holy Relic of Light, he would have done it properly. Judging by that ridiculous name, there's no way he was the creator.
And it didn't seem like the Sun God made it, either.
If he had, Airic would have thrown himself in front of it, insisting it couldn't be burned.
I stared dubiously at the jewelry box, still half-buried in the embers.
Come to think of it, unlike the Holy Relic of Light which had felt suffocating at first glance, this jewelry box gave off no feeling at all.
So much so that I never would have guessed it was a divine artifact.
Seth and Airic hadn't reacted to it either.
So it probably wasn't a dangerous object like the Holy Relic of Light, but…
“It may not feel sinister, but it's still suspicious.”
After staring at the jewelry box for a long time as if in a staring contest, I finally reached out.
If it can't be burned by fire or destroyed by divine power, the only option is to hide it somewhere in my room.
It would be a disaster if someone else saw it, got greedy, and took it, only for some problem to arise.
As if picking up a phone dropped in a toilet, I reluctantly picked up the jewelry box and tapped it against the ground.
It was so sturdy it showed no signs of breaking. In fact, it chipped the ground.
I don't want to put anything inside it, but it might be quite useful as a blunt weapon.
I'll have to use it as a weapon if an assassin ever shows up in my room.
* * *
“Wow!”
“Woooow!”
As the sun began to set, Dietrich returned to the Grand Temple with a mountain of groceries.
He had worried he'd gotten carried away by the sudden fortune and bought too much, but seeing the young attendants surround the cart with sparkling eyes, he knew he'd made the right choice.
“Priest, Priest. Are we really going to eat all of this?”
“A-Are we allowed to eat this much?”
Poverty makes even young children hesitant.
Dietrich gave a wry smile at the children's worried questions and patted their heads.
“Yes, it's fine. The High Priest gave his permission.”
“B-B-But…”
“…Actually, the Saintess ordered me to buy all this. She said we should all have a proper feast.”
“Really?!”
The children, who had hesitated at the mention of Airic's name, cheered as soon as the Saintess was brought up.
I guess Ordel was the most intimidating one, after all.
“Priest Dietrich.”
“Ah, Sir Victoria.”
Just then, Victoria approached Dietrich as he was talking with the children.
She glanced at the ingredients being moved by the male and female servants.
“You must be tired from your trip to the village.”
“It was no trouble at all. It's been so long since I could buy food without worrying about money; it was actually quite enjoyable.”
He meant it.
When was the last time he had bought groceries without a single thought about the cost? He couldn't even remember.
It was possible it had never happened before.
That was why this moment felt so gratifying.
“Seeing all this food makes me excited already. Ah, I have a message from the Saintess.”
As soon as Victoria finished speaking, the children who had been peering curiously at the carts froze.
The servants carrying the food inside did the same.
Everyone looked at Victoria with fearful eyes.
“…You don't need to look so worried. The Saintess has made a very good suggestion.”
Victoria gave a wry smile at their expressions.
Though it had been over a week since Ordel had repented and apologized for her past actions, people were still afraid of her and wouldn't dare get close.
If she herself hadn't stayed by Ordel's side for the entire week, she would probably still be looking at her with suspicion.
*‘After everything I've done, how could they forgive me so quickly? If I keep trying, they'll open their hearts to me someday. That's enough for me.’*
Victoria recalled Ordel's words.
Then there was only one thing for her to do: help close the distance that still remained between Ordel and the others.
“The Saintess has commanded a meat party for dinner tonight. Everyone may eat as much meat as they desire.”
“Waaaaah!”
The children were the first to shout with joy.
Victoria beamed at the wide-eyed adults standing behind the children.
