I Will Buy Divine Power With Money! - Chapter 20
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
“But each sacred relic has different abilities, doesn’t it? Duke Sherry must want a specific ability, so would it be alright to give him something else?”
“I know what ability he wants. The Duke told me when we were alone.”
After making up a suitable excuse, I crouched down and wrapped the broken necklace fragments in a handkerchief before putting them back in the jewelry box.
Since I destroyed it with divine power, its function was probably ruined too, but it still felt unsettling to leave it lying around in this important sacred ground.
I should take it upstairs and burn it.
“Do you happen to know which sacred relic is most closely related to healing?”
Healing.
At my question, Seth made a strange expression. He seemed to never have imagined that Rute would need such an ability.
“…Healing is a powerful divine authority, so I understand that even High Priests cannot easily create it as a sacred relic.”
Still, he looked visibly relieved that I was asking for healing power rather than wealth or political power.
“As far as I know, the only items containing healing power are divine artifacts.”
Items containing divine power are broadly divided into divine artifacts and sacred relics.
Divine artifacts are things created directly by the gods and bestowed upon humans, while sacred relics are crafted by humans who possess divine power.
Naturally, divine artifacts contain much more powerful forces than sacred relics and are far more precious.
Therefore, no Grand Temple would carelessly give away divine artifacts, not mere sacred relics.
“Please guide me there for now.”
The divine artifacts were located in the place within the sacred grounds where the Sun God’s light touched most directly.
On a pure white marble altar that shone brilliantly in the light, three divine artifacts were positioned.
“The one in the center is the divine artifact containing healing power, ‘Aurora.'”
Aurora was shining with indescribable colors.
The eye-catching teardrop-shaped jewel gave off a completely different atmosphere from the ‘Sacred Relic of Light’ that had felt like it was pulling you into a sticky swamp.
It was endlessly calm and peaceful, bringing a sense of tranquility.
Yes, just like a real aurora.
“It’s beautiful.”
As if enchanted, I walked over and picked up the divine artifact.
Its appearance wasn’t flashy.
It was an ordinary necklace with a cord attached to a teardrop-shaped jewel that shone with multiple colors.
Even so, it stood out much more than the Sacred Relic of Light, which had been incomparably gorgeous.
【User has made contact with divine artifact ‘Aurora.’ You can use the skill ‘Blessing’ on this divine artifact.】
Good. Just as I was about to smile unconsciously at the System Message I had wanted.
【However, the user’s current divine power is insufficient to bestow a permanent blessing.】
I can’t bestow a permanent blessing? Then how long does it last?
【The blessing’s validity period is one month. You can bestow another blessing after one month.】
So even blessings are rechargeable?
Well, that’s not bad.
I needed to make Rute visit the Grand Temple frequently anyway to completely win him over as an ally, so this gave me the perfect excuse.
“Let’s give this to the Duke.”
“Pardon? But Holy Maiden, divine artifacts are…!”
“Very important, yes. It’s fine. The Duke is just as important to us as a divine artifact.”
Of course he is. How important he is. If you knew the future, you’d be telling me to give Rute divine artifacts and everything else right now.
In the original story, Seth gets severely injured fighting against Rute, who becomes completely consumed by the villain.
Deep wounds that would leave him suffering from lifelong aftereffects.
It’s not for nothing that I said bringing Rute to our side is important.
“Someday you’ll understand my choice.”
When I smiled brightly at Seth, he moved his lips for a long while.
In the end, he faithfully followed my orders instead of trying to stop me.
“I’ll speak to the High Priest myself, so please don’t say anything, Order Commander.”
【Activating skill ‘Blessing.’】
【A blessing is bestowed upon the divine artifact ‘Aurora’ of ‘The Sun That Crawled Out of Death.’ The divine artifact will exhibit even stronger power.】
When I infused it with blessing, Aurora’s jewel shone even more brilliantly.
With this, a one-month temporary blessed item was complete.
* * *
“I’ve brought the item you requested.”
Returning to the reception room, I handed over the divine artifact I had carefully placed in a box.
Airic and Rute’s aide Yuri Polton were apparently still organizing money, so only Rute was in the reception room.
Perfect. I need to finish this quickly before Airic appears and interferes.
“So this is…”
Rute bit his lip after opening the box and checking the necklace.
He was more shaken than when I had demanded 2,000 gold.
“I’ve also included my blessing. You know how precious a Holy Maiden’s blessing is, don’t you?”
I made it clear that it was worth the 2,000 gold.
Rute just stared blankly at the divine artifact, unable to even hold it.
“Are you worried it might not be effective?”
Since I didn’t know what would happen when he held the divine artifact, I had deliberately not brought Seth in, so I could ask comfortably.
“…Do you know how many years I’ve suffered from this damned pain? A full 20 years.”
I don’t remember his exact age, but I know Rute is in his mid-twenties.
That means he’s been suffering from terrible pain since he should have been carrying a backpack to kindergarten?
Maybe the reason he became completely captivated by the pain-relieving effects of the Sacred Relic of Light, losing both body and mind, was because he had suffered for too long.
“No matter which Grand Temple I visited, no matter what potions I drank, the pain never disappeared and I suffered… Isn’t it natural to wonder if this will really be effective?”
“Well, that makes sense. If even this doesn’t work, then nothing in this world could alleviate your condition.”
I shrugged lightly.
“But that won’t happen, so don’t worry and try holding it. Do you know how much effort I put in? I can’t return the 2,000 gold.”
Do you think I gave you a divine artifact for nothing?
The 1,000 gold that Airic took might be one thing, but the 2,000 gold has already been happily devoured by the Sun God!
Since there’s no way to make him cough it up, it absolutely has to be effective.
“Were you perhaps some back-alley thug before becoming Holy Maiden? Your money-extorting skills are quite impressive.”
“What?”
You’re calling me a thug when I did this for your benefit? Should I take the divine artifact back?
“Switching to informal speech just because you heard something unpleasant. You definitely won’t live at a loss anywhere. Far from losing out, you’d thrive even if you were stranded on a deserted island.”
When I glared at the divine artifact, Rute quickly grabbed it as if he had never hesitated.
“Kugh!”
At the same moment, he clutched his chest and collapsed below the sofa.
Cold sweat instantly drenched his face.
“Oh my.”
I quickly approached his side.
The glasses that had been precariously perched on Rute’s face fell to the floor with a loud clatter.
His skin flushed red and veins bulged prominently on his temples and forehead.
His appearance of feeling tremendous agony looked quite dangerous, but I didn’t remove the divine artifact from his hand and left it as it was.
“It’s okay. Don’t be afraid and breathe slowly. The black stains on your body are decreasing little by little.”
The gold and black stains scattered across his body.
The momentum of the black stains that had been constantly growing as if devouring the gold was diminishing.
It’s clearly working!
“Huff, huu…”
Rute squeezed his eyes shut as if enduring pain and breathed slowly.
Since it was very important for the divine artifact and him to resonate right now, I didn’t use healing power and just waited quietly.
How much time passed like that? His rough breathing gradually subsided.
Since I had used my handkerchief to collect the disgusting sacred relic fragments, I had no choice but to roughly wipe away the flowing sweat with my sleeve before stepping back.
Rute’s silver-gray eyes were trembling finely with emotion.
“…The pain.”
That one phrase was enough for me to understand his condition.
“Ha.”
Having been freed from terrible pain after 20 years, he covered his eyes with trembling hands.
I could feel his overwhelming emotion from his teeth biting down hard on his lips.
“Fortunately, you won’t need to wander around looking for other methods. Congratulations.”
I patted his shoulder and offered brief congratulations.
With this, the future villain had disappeared.
For me, whose goal was to destroy the original story, nothing could make me happier.
“It was worth coming all this way, truly. The 2,000 gold wasn’t a waste at all.”
“I’m someone who delivers what I’m paid for.”
Having calmed down somewhat, Rute grabbed his fallen glasses and slumped back into the sofa.
The trembling in his hands as he loosened the suffocating necktie around his throat had already stopped.
His breathing had returned to normal, and the shaking had ceased. So it should be fine to say this now, right?
“By the way, let me mention that the reason the holy relic’s effect is so good is thanks to my blessing.”
“…Thanks to the Holy Maiden’s blessing?”
“Yes. If it were just the holy relic alone, it would have only provided slight pain relief at best.”
Since that’s what would have happened if this were a real holy relic of light, it wasn’t a lie.
“So you’re saying all of this is thanks to the Holy Maiden, and I should be grateful to her.”
“Of course there’s that, but there’s something more important.”
I tapped Rute’s hand that was clutching the divine artifact like a lifeline.
“My blessing has a one-month duration.”
“…What did you say?”
“If you want to continue experiencing the effects, you’ll need to come to me once a month to receive the blessing.”
Rute’s mouth fell open in bewilderment.
I hid the fact that it was due to my lack of ability and delivered the most important fact last.
“By the way, the blessing recharge fee is separate.”
This was definitely revenge for calling a former detective who used to catch bad guys a scoundrel.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————