Chapter 48
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I'll purchase divine power with money.
Chapter 48
Is it just my imagination?
The sound seems more cheerful than yesterday.
"...Holy Maiden?"
Airic Dert and Seth Noel, who had been blankly watching the jeweled box slice through the air and strike Jeremy squarely on the head, turned to look at me.
They're looking at me like I'm some kind of ruffian. No, wait—that's a misunderstanding.
"What on earth...?"
"Look."
I pointed inside the prison.
Jeremy, struck by the jeweled box, was now letting out pained groans as if he'd been thrashing about like a zombie moments before.
"His reaction is different from before, isn't it?"
"...Wouldn't it just be a headache? I imagine anyone would struggle to keep their wits after taking such a solid box to the head..."
I shook my head at Seth's words.
If Jeremy were an ordinary person, that would be true.
"Since he's shrouded in divine power, both sacred power and physical attacks shouldn't work on him normally. But what about now?"
Beyond just groaning, he was writhing so violently that the chains continued to produce that unpleasant sound.
"The reason I was able to capture him last night was because he couldn't move after I struck his head with this box."
No matter how hard you strike with something solid, there should be no impact—as if hit by a feather. The fact that he's reacting so severely means only one thing.
"Actually, this box is a divine artifact."
"Pardon?"
"A divine artifact?"
Seth and Airic Dert's eyes widened.
"Yes, which is why I couldn't destroy it."
"Ah! So that's why only this box works against him...!"
"Because the power contained in a divine artifact is divine power, not sacred power."
It worked because it possessed strength equal to the Sea God's divine power that enveloped Jeremy's body.
"I couldn't activate the divine artifact, so I tried physical attacks instead, and fortunately they worked."
"An excellent discovery. You've done well, Holy Maiden."
At Airic Dert's sincere words, I smiled with satisfaction.
Phew. I'm relieved he didn't press me about why I was hiding the divine artifact.
"Then using a Sun God divine artifact, we could execute him."
But my smile vanished at Airic Dert's next words.
No, that's not what I meant...!
"Since it's now confirmed he was sent by the Sea God, there's no reason to keep him alive. Let's proceed with immediate execution."
The problem was that Seth, standing beside him, also expressed his agreement.
No way. If it were anyone else, fine, but Jeremy has something he needs to do later—he has to stay alive!
"No, I'm opposed to this."
So I had to convince both of them, no matter what.
"Wouldn't it be better to recruit someone with enough ability to receive divine power from the Sea God as an ally, rather than kill him?"
"...What?"
It must sound absurd. But I'm being sincere.
"I've been troubled by this since last night—that man has no focus in his eyes, no sense of reason. What if he's being manipulated?"
"A god would go so far as to manipulate someone while granting them divine power?"
Airic Dert's expression twisted as though my suspicion was excessive.
Unfortunately, this wasn't excessive speculation—it was the truth.
Unlike the Sun God, who cherished his followers, the Sea God viewed even his devotees as tools for his own authority.
He didn't trust humans. He believed that deceitful creatures would inevitably betray him.
That's why he'd transformed Jeremy, blessed with natural talent, into a puppet who obeyed only his commands—even expending divine power to do so.
"Given the Sea God's temperament, it's certainly plausible. So let's strip away the divine power to restore his senses, then decide his fate accordingly."
If he continues to revere the Sea God even after liberation, execution.
If he cries out in joy at the liberation he'd yearned for, recruitment.
"...I confess I don't understand why you would offer a chance to the assassin who targeted your life, Holy Maiden."
Airic Dert muttered in a somber tone.
The way his lips pressed together showed he thought I was being stubborn again.
There was no helping the misunderstanding. I could only bear it myself.
"However, since it is right that you, Holy Maiden, decide his fate, I shall comply."
"...."
Yet Airic Dert didn't grow angry.
Instead, he bowed his head willingly, accepting my decision.
How surprising.
In the original work, Airic Dert hadn't trusted Ordel Kiris.
So I'd never imagined I could earn his trust either....
"...Thank you for believing in me."
"However, stripping a god's divine power won't be simple. Are you certain you can manage it?"
At Airic Dert's concern, I nodded reassuringly.
"There's one method worth attempting."
The jeweled box I'd struck Jeremy's head with three times.
I couldn't tell whether it belonged to the Sea God or another deity, but this incident had made it clear.
"That jeweled box is an artifact of the Death God."
The Death God—one of the Three Supreme Deities alongside the Sun God and Sea God.
In other words, the god of death was the artifact's true owner.
"Ah, if it truly belongs to the Death God, then there is indeed possibility."
Seth Noel nodded.
"The Death God's power possesses a nullification attribute."
Nullification.
An attribute born from the fact that death reduces everything to nothingness.
"Of course, since I'm not a follower of the Death God, I'm uncertain how effectively I can wield the nullification attribute, but it's still worth attempting."
"Alternatively, should I inquire whether the Death God's Temple could dispatch a high priest? I have an acquaintance there thanks to my recent assignment."
What are you saying? Why would you do that?
I immediately shook my head with a stern expression.
"Then those divine artifacts would just go to them anyway. I have no intention of giving them up."
They were in the Sun God Grand Temple, and I was the one who discovered they were divine artifacts in the first place—so why should I hand them over for free?
Who knows when I might need to use them again? Why would I willingly return them?
"Since they haven't come looking for them, it seems they don't even know we have them. Let's just keep it hidden like this."
"Well, that's...."
Righteous Seth looked terribly guilty, but there was no way I'd back down.
"That's my command."
Choose one: the Death God's Temple, or me, the Sun God's Holy Maiden. Pick.
"...I will obey your command."
Seth finally yielded to my petty ultimatum. I smiled with satisfaction.
I could feel Airic Dert beside me sighing as he looked at the hopelessly naive Seth with an expression I couldn't quite name—pity, perhaps—but he voiced no objection.
I carefully gave Airic Dert a thumbs up.
* * *
"Finally, it's just the two of us again."
After sending Airic Dert and Seth away, I remained alone in the Prison.
Jeremy had become remarkably docile ever since being struck by the jewelry box, so the two of them seemed reassured. They didn't strongly object when I said I'd stay alone this time.
But there was no time to waste. Seth had said he'd send Victoria Lawrence instead.
I immediately activated Body Enhancement.
Crack!
"Oh my, the door opened automatically."
When I pulled the door with a bit of force, the lock gave way on its own.
Thanks to that, I could easily enter.
"I don't even know what foolish thing I'm doing just to save you."
I crouched down in front of Jeremy, holding the jewelry box from the corner.
I stared directly into Jeremy's unfocused eyes, which showed no reaction no matter what I did.
Saving Lute Sheary wasn't this difficult.
You absolutely have to help me once you come to your senses.
Otherwise you'll die. I'm not joking—Airic Dert and Seth will definitely kill you.
"So listen well."
Since we'd need to get along once he regained consciousness, instead of cracking his head again, I placed the box on his abdomen.
I held it down with one hand so it wouldn't fall, then placed my other hand on Jeremy's forehead.
The pink irises revealed beneath my palm gleamed like glass marbles. It was a truly unpleasant gaze—like the eyes of a dead fish.
"Please let this bring you back to your senses."
If not, I'll keep him locked in this Prison for a year, and when Idella appears later, I'll hand him over to her.
That would be better for Jeremy than returning to the Sea God.
【Activating skill 'Blessing'.】
"Aaaaaahhhhh!"
Jeremy's body began to convulse. I pressed down firmly to keep the jewelry box from falling and poured more power into him.
"Ugh, cough!"
【Warning!】
【Warning!】
【Excessive use of divine power places strain on the user's physical body! Immediate cessation is strongly recommended!】
The moment I coughed up blood-tinged sputum, System Messages blazed across my vision in garish succession, but I paid them no mind.
There was reason enough to ignore them.
Unlike last night, no message appeared declaring that I could not break the Sea God's curse.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org