“But sacred relics all have different abilities, don’t they? What if Duke Sheary has a specific ability in mind—will it really be okay to give him something else?”
“I know what ability he wants. He told me when it was just the two of us.”
I bluffed casually, then crouched down and wrapped the shattered necklace fragments in a handkerchief before putting them back into the jewel box.
I’d destroyed it with divine power, so its function was probably broken too—but it still felt wrong to just leave it sitting in this sacred place.
I’ll bring it up later and burn it.
“Do you happen to know which sacred item is most strongly associated with healing?”
Healing.
At my question, Seth made a curious expression. It seemed he hadn’t expected Ruthe to be in need of such a power, of all things.
“…Healing is such a powerful ability that even the High Priest couldn’t easily craft a relic with it.”
Still, he looked visibly relieved that Ruthe wanted healing power, rather than wealth or authority.
“As far as I know, the only thing imbued with the power of healing is a divine item.”
Items infused with divine power fall into two categories: divine items and sacred relics.
Divine items are created directly by the god and bestowed upon humans, while sacred relics are crafted by humans who possess divine power.
Naturally, divine items are far more powerful and incomparably more precious than sacred relics.
No Grand Temple would ever casually hand out a divine item.
“Just guide me for now.”
Within the sanctuary, divine items were located in the place most directly touched by the Sun God’s light.
On a brilliant white marble altar, shining under the radiant light, sat three divine items.
“The one in the center is the divine item imbued with healing power. It’s called ‘Aurora’.”
Aurora shimmered with an indescribable array of colors.
The teardrop-shaped gem, captivating to the eye, had a completely different aura from the ‘Sacred Relic of Light’ that had felt like it was pulling me into a sticky swamp.
Calm, peaceful, and endlessly tranquil—as if it truly granted peace.
Yes, just like a real aurora.
“It’s beautiful.”
Drawn in, I walked over and lifted the divine item.
It wasn’t ostentatious in design.
A simple necklace, a rainbow-colored teardrop-shaped gem strung on a chain.
And yet, it stood out far more than the ridiculously flashy Sacred Relic of Light.
【User has made contact with the divine item ‘Aurora’. You may now use the skill ‘Blessing’ on this item.】
Good. Just the system message I was hoping for—made me smile without even realizing.
【However, the user currently lacks sufficient divine power to bestow a permanent blessing.】
I can’t give it a permanent blessing? Then how long will it last?
【Blessing duration: 1 month. You may bestow another blessing after 1 month.】
So blessings are rechargeable now?
Well, that’s not a bad thing.
I needed a reason to keep Ruthe coming back to the Grand Temple anyway if I wanted him as a full ally. This makes the perfect excuse.
“We’ll give him this one.”
“Pardon? But Saintess, a divine item…”
“It’s very important, yes. It’s alright. The Duke is just as important to us as any divine item.”
Of course he is. If you knew the future, you’d have shoved this divine item into Ruthe’s hands without hesitation.
In the original story, Seth suffers a serious injury while fighting the fully corrupted Ruthe—and it leaves lifelong aftereffects.
This is exactly why I’ve been saying it’s important to turn Ruthe into an ally.
“Someday, you’ll understand my decision.”
I smiled sweetly at Seth. He hesitated for a long moment, his lips parting and closing.
In the end, instead of stopping me, he followed my command faithfully.
“I’ll speak to the High Priest myself. Captain, please don’t say anything.”
【Activating skill: ‘Blessing’.】
【The divine item ‘Aurora’ has been blessed by the ‘Sun that Crawled Back from Death’. The item’s power has been further enhanced.】
As the blessing was infused, Aurora’s gem shone even more brilliantly.
Thus, a one-month temporary blessed item was complete.
* * *
“I’ve brought the item you requested.”
Back in the reception room, I handed over the divine item neatly placed inside the box.
Irik and Ruthe’s aide, Yuri Poulton, were still sorting through the money, so Ruthe was alone in the room.
Perfect. I need to finish this before Irik shows up and tries to stop me.
“This is…”
Ruthe opened the box and checked the necklace, then bit his lower lip.
He was even more shaken than when I demanded 2,000 gold.
“I also imbued it with my blessing. You know how precious a Saintess’s blessing is, don’t you?”
I made it very obvious that the 2,000 gold had been worth it.
Ruthe just stared blankly at the divine item, unable to even hold it.
“Are you worried it won’t work?”
I asked casually. I hadn’t let Seth in on purpose, not knowing what might happen once Ruthe touched the item.
“…Do you have any idea how long I’ve suffered with this damned pain? It’s been twenty years.”
I don’t remember his exact age, but I think Ruthe’s in his mid-20s.
That means he’s been in unbearable pain since kindergarten?
Maybe that’s why he became so thoroughly dependent on the Sacred Relic of Light’s pain-numbing effects—both his body and mind taken over.
“I went to every Grand Temple, tried every potion, but nothing eased the pain. Isn’t it natural to doubt whether this will really work?”
“Well, that’s fair. If this doesn’t help, then there’s probably nothing in the world that can.”
I shrugged lightly.
“But don’t worry, that won’t happen. Just try holding it. Do you know how hard I worked for this? I can’t refund the 2,000 gold, you know.”
You think I offered up that divine item for no reason?
Irik might be able to return the 1,000 gold he took, but the 2,000 gold? The Sun God happily gobbled that up!
There’s no way to get it back—so this has to work, no matter what.
“Were you some back-alley thug before becoming the Saintess? You’ve got a real knack for shaking people down.”
“What did you say?”
Calling me a thug when I did this for his sake? Should I take the divine item back?
“Wow, straight to speaking informally just because I said something you didn’t like. You’re not the type to get taken advantage of, that’s for sure. You’d probably thrive on a deserted island.”
I glared at the divine item, and Ruthe, as if his hesitation had never existed, snatched it up.
“Guh!”
The moment he did, he clutched his chest and collapsed onto the floor beneath the sofa.
Cold sweat instantly soaked his face.
“Oh dear.”
I rushed over to him.
His glasses, barely hanging onto his nose, clattered loudly to the floor.
His skin flushed red, and veins bulged on his temples and forehead.
He was clearly in excruciating pain—it looked dangerous. But I didn’t take the divine item from his hands.
“It’s okay. Don’t be afraid. Take slow, deep breaths. The black blotches in your body—they’re slowly shrinking.”
Gold and black stains mottled his body.
The black stains had been steadily growing, as if consuming the gold.
But now, their momentum was fading.
It was obvious at a glance—it was working!
“Huff, huff…”
Ruthe clenched his eyes shut and focused on his breathing, enduring the pain.
Right now, the resonance between him and the divine item was crucial, so I didn’t use any healing power—I just waited.
How long had it been?
His ragged breathing gradually calmed.
I had to use my sleeve to wipe the sweat from his face since I’d used my handkerchief to gather the unpleasant relic shards.
His silver-gray eyes trembled with emotion.
“…The pain.”
Just that one phrase was enough to guess his condition.
“Ha.”
Finally freed from twenty years of agony, he covered his eyes with a trembling hand.
He bit his lip tightly—I could feel his overwhelming emotion.
“Looks like you won’t have to go searching for another solution. Congratulations.”
I gave his shoulder a light pat and offered a short congratulation.
With this, the future villain was gone.
And for someone like me—whose goal is to destroy the original plot—nothing could be more satisfying.
“It was worth coming all the way here. The 2,000 gold wasn’t a waste at all.”
“I make sure I earn what I’m paid.”
Now somewhat calmed, Ruthe grabbed his fallen glasses and slumped onto the sofa.
The trembling in his hand as he loosened his tight necktie had completely stopped.
His breathing had stabilized, and the shaking had ceased. I guess now’s the time to say it.
“Just so you know, the reason the relic works so well is because of my blessing.”
“…Because of the Saintess’s blessing?”
“Yes. Without it, the relic might’ve just dulled the pain a little.”
If it had been the actual Sacred Relic of Light, that would’ve been true. So technically, it’s not a lie.
“So what you’re really saying is that I should thank the Saintess for all of this.”
“Well, yes—but more importantly, there’s something else you should know.”
I tapped the hand that was still clutching the divine item like a lifeline.
“My blessing—it only lasts for a month.”
“…What did you say?”
“If you want to keep seeing the effects, you’ll have to come to me for a blessing once a month.”
Ruthe opened his mouth in disbelief.
I didn’t mention it was because I lacked divine power and instead delivered the most important fact with a smile.
“Oh—and by the way, the recharge fee is separate.”
Yes, this is absolutely petty revenge for calling a former detective who used to beat up criminals a thug.