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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: The God of Oblivion's Relic
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Was it just my imagination?
The sound seemed a bit more cheerful than yesterday.
“...Saintess?”
Airic and Seth, who had been blankly watching the jewel box fly through the air and smack Jeremy square in the head, turned to look at me.
They were looking at me like I was some kind of ruffian. No, this was a misunderstanding.
“Why on earth…”
“Look.”
I pointed inside the cell.
Jeremy, who’d been hit by the jewel box, was letting out a pained groan, as if he'd never rampaged like a zombie at all.
“His reaction is different from before, isn't it?”
“...Couldn't it be because his head hurts? I think anyone would have a hard time staying sane after getting hit in the head with that solid box…”
I shook my head at Seth's words.
If Jeremy were an ordinary person, that might be the case.
“That man is shrouded in divine might, so it's normal for not only divine power but also physical attacks to be ineffective. But what about now?”
He wasn't just groaning; he was struggling so much that the chains were making a constant, unpleasant noise.
“The reason I was able to catch him last night was because he couldn't move after I hit him in the head with that box.”
No matter how hard you hit him with something, it should normally have no more impact than being struck by a feather. There was only one reason for such a strong reaction.
“Actually, that box is a divine relic.”
“What?”
“A divine relic?”
Seth and Airic's eyes widened.
“Yes, that's why I couldn't destroy it.”
“Ah! Then the reason only that box works on him is…”
“It's because the power contained in a divine relic is not divine power, but divine might.”
It worked because it was a power equal to the Great Sea God's divine might that enveloped Jeremy's body.
“I couldn't activate the divine relic, so I tried a physical attack, and I'm glad it worked.”
“An excellent discovery. You've done well, Saintess.”
I smiled with pride at Airic's sincerity.
Phew. It was a relief they didn't seem like they would question me about why I hid the divine relic.
“Then we should be able to execute him using the Sun God's divine relic.”
But Airic's next words wiped the smile right off my face.
Th-that's not what I meant.
“Now that it's certain he was sent by the Great Sea God, I see no reason to keep him alive any longer. Let's proceed with a summary execution.”
The problem was that even Seth, who was standing beside him, agreed.
No way. It would be different if it were someone else, but Jeremy has a role to play later, so he has to live!
“No, I'm against it.”
I had to convince them, no matter what.
“If he's talented enough to be granted divine might by the Great Sea God, wouldn't it be better to recruit him as an ally rather than kill him?”
“...Pardon?”
They must have been dumbfounded. But I meant it.
“It's been bothering me since last night, but he has no focus in his eyes, no reason. Could it be that he's being used?”
“You think a god would go so far as to grant divine might just to use someone?”
Airic furrowed his brow, as if my speculation was too far-fetched.
Unfortunately, it wasn't far-fetched speculation, but the truth.
Unlike the Sun God, who cherished his followers, the Great Sea God saw even his own believers as mere tools for his own authority.
He didn't trust humans. He thought that humans, who constantly lied, would betray him at any moment.
That was why he used his divine might to turn the innately talented Jeremy into a puppet that would only listen to his words.
“Considering the Great Sea God's shitty attitude, it's a possibility. So let's strip away the divine might, let him regain his senses, and then decide his fate.”
If he still followed the Great Sea God after being freed from the divine might, execution.
If he cried out in joy at the liberation he craved, recruitment.
“...I don't understand why you insist on giving a chance to an assassin who was after your life, Saintess.”
Airic muttered in a grim voice.
The way he bit his lip, it seemed he thought I was being needlessly stubborn again.
Even if he misunderstood, it couldn't be helped. I would just have to bear it.
“However, it is right for you to decide his fate, Saintess. I will follow your command.”
“…”
But Airic didn't get angry.
Instead, he obediently bowed his head, accepting my will.
It was, how should I put it, surprising.
In the original story, Airic never trusted Ordel.
So I never imagined I'd be able to earn his trust either…
“...Thank you for trusting me.”
“However, stripping away a god's divine might will not be an easy task. Are you certain you can do it?”
I nodded at Airic's concern, assuring him it was fine.
“There's one method worth trying.”
The jewel box that had struck Jeremy's head a few times.
I couldn't tell if it belonged to the Great Sea God or another god, but this incident made it clear.
“That jewel box… it's a divine relic of the God of Oblivion.”
The God of Oblivion, one of the three major gods along with the Sun God and the Great Sea God.
In other words, the god of death was the owner of this divine relic.
“Ah, if it indeed belongs to the God of Oblivion, then there's a chance.”
Seth nodded.
“Because the God of Oblivion's power has the property of nullification.”
Nullification.
It was a property that arose because everything returns to nothingness in death.
“Of course, I'm not a follower of the God of Oblivion, so I don't know how well I can use its nullification property, but it's still worth a try.”
“Alternatively, should we inquire with the Temple of the God of Oblivion about sending a priest? I know someone there, thanks to a recent dispatch mission.”
What was he talking about? Why would we do that?
I immediately scowled and shook my head.
“Then those people will just take the divine relic, won't they? I have no intention of giving it up.”
It was in the Sun God's Grand Temple, and I was the one who figured out it was a divine relic. Why should I have to give it away for free?
Who knew when I might need to use it like this again? Why would I just hand it over?
“Seeing as they haven't come looking for it, they probably don't even know we have it. Let's just keep it hidden.”
“Uh, that's…”
The righteous Seth seemed to be suffering a major crisis of conscience, but there was no chance.
“That's my order.”
The Temple of the God of Oblivion, or me, the Saintess of the Sun God. He had to choose one.
“...I will obey… your command.”
Seth finally yielded to my petty remark. I smiled, satisfied.
I could feel Airic sighing beside me, looking at the hopelessly naive Seth with an expression of pity or something else, but he didn't voice any opposition.
I cautiously gave Airic a thumbs-up.
* * *
“Finally, it's just the two of us again.”
After sending Airic and Seth away, I was left alone in the cell.
Seeing how Jeremy had become drastically calmer after being hit with the jewel box, the two of them must have been reassured, as they didn't strongly object to my request to be left alone this time.
But there was no time to waste. Seth had said he would send Victoria in his place.
I immediately activated Body Enhancement.
*Crrrack!*
“Oh my, the door opened automatically.”
When I pulled the door with a bit of force, the lock came undone on its own.
Thanks to that, I was able to get inside easily.
“I really don't know what kind of foolishness I'm getting into just to save you.”
I picked up the jewel box from the corner and squatted down in front of Jeremy.
I stared intently into Jeremy's unfocused eyes, which showed no reaction to anything I did.
It wasn't this hard even when I was saving Lute.
When you finally come to your senses, you absolutely have to help me.
Or you'll die. I'm not kidding, Airic and Seth will really kill you.
“So you'd better listen.”
Since we'd have to get along once he was lucid, I placed the box on his abdomen instead of smashing his head again.
Then, holding it down with one hand so it wouldn't fall, I placed my other hand on Jeremy's forehead.
Beneath my palm, his pink eyes shone like glass beads. It was a truly unpleasant gaze, like the eyes of a dead fish.
“Please let this work.”
If it didn't, I would have no choice but to keep him locked in prison for a year and entrust him to Idella when she appeared.
That would be better for Jeremy than returning to the Great Sea God.
[Activating skill ‘Blessing’.]
“Aaaaaargh!”
Jeremy began to writhe. I pressed down hard on the jewel box to keep it from falling and poured in even more power.
“*Ugh, cough!*”
[Warning!]
[Warning!]
[Excessive use of Divine Power will put a strain on the user's body! Immediate cessation of use is advised!]
The moment he let out a bloody cough, system messages noisily flooded my vision, but I ignored them.
There was a reason I could ignore them.
This time, unlike last night, the message saying I couldn't break the Great Sea God's curse didn't appear.
