Chapter 16
Aquila stood frozen, his gaze fixed on the System window that had appeared after such a long time.
It was not the first time he had seen the Sun God’s holy relic, the Right Hand of the Halo, in this cycle—but it was the first time he had touched it.
In the previous cycle, he had only listened to explanations while looking over the relics placed in the basement.
Back then, his understanding of legendary-grade items had been shallow, and with so many eyes around, it had not been an easy situation to lay a hand on anything directly.
‘…I had no idea it had an option like this.’
The reason Aquila had deliberately mentioned the Right Hand of the Halo out of the countless holy relics stored beneath the Grand Temple of Portplum was purely because of its image as something one “drinks” from.
If they simply replaced the water in the chalice with tea and made the cursed person drink it, that would be enough.
This was solely to make deception easier from the Temple of the Sun’s perspective.
Of course, it was only a temporary measure. He had intended to publicly reveal the Curse Removal Method later anyway.
Strictly speaking, there had been one more reason.
By deliberately mentioning the basement, he drew the attention of those who knew about it.
That way, the information would inevitably reach Ianpel.
The result had been a resounding success.
‘…Do other holy relics have options like this as well? I will need to check.’
Aquila’s eyebrow twitched ever so slightly.
“Hm? What is the matter?”
Perhaps Aquila’s stillness seemed strange, because Ianpel spoke quietly.
His tone was as gentle as ever, but in the saint’s pale lavender eyes was an unspoken pressure that said, Move quickly, according to the scenario we planned.
“Ah… it is nothing. Even though it is my first time seeing it up close, it truly is dazzling, befitting the great deeds of the Sun God.”
Looking into those eyes, Aquila murmured in admiration without changing his expression beneath the hood.
“It is beautiful.”
“Yes. I thought it was truly beautiful when I first saw it as well.”
Ianpel smiled brightly, as if pleased to receive such praise.
Hearing that, Yujelia lowered her head so the others could not see and made a faint, uncomfortable face.
Aquila quietly gazed at the water pooled in the Right Hand of the Halo, not even half full.
“May I ask what kind of water is contained inside?”
“It is water that was already in the chalice. We did not pour anything into it ourselves. According to the records, it has been emptied several times, but it filled up again.”
“Like in the anecdote?”
“No. They say it does not gush out to the point of overflowing. However, the water currently pooled inside was once completely emptied several decades ago, yet it has remained pristine, as though it were never contaminated.”
It was no different from the explanation Aquila had heard in the previous cycle.
His black eyes quickly swept over the System window once more.
‘Drinking this increases Mana and grants a skill? And there is only one use left… Is that because the amount of water is limited…?’
Yet the description said “water that wells up,” while there was only still water in the chalice.
Aquila examined the chalice with an inscrutable gaze, but when Ianpel lifted the Right Hand of the Halo, he followed it with his eyes.
A voice so smooth it never faltered echoed through the basement.
“Let me confirm once more. According to the great ancient dragon’s words, this chalice will ease your suffering. Is that correct?”
“Yes, that is correct. However, Lord Igdrein did not explain the method in detail, so I do not know what must be done.”
As he said that, Aquila calmly looked at Ianpel and recited his next line.
“If it is Saint Ianpel, I believe you will surely find a way and help me.”
“If you say so much, then I have no choice but to do my utmost. I will strive to dispel the shadow of death that hangs over you and rid you of your pain.”
Ianpel clasped Aquila’s hand tightly with both of his, wearing an expression of deep emotion.
The saint’s hands were lukewarm, and not a trace of Divine Power flowed from the point of contact.
They were utterly devoid of feeling.
Aquila smiled.
‘This gives me chills.’
Regardless, Ianpel began to recite a prayer of blessing in a voice filled with concern.
It was the exact same prayer Yujelia had offered for Aquila at the Reschenhardt Estate.
“…Thus, we pray to the benevolent Sun God Raspalara: for the one who suffers from searing agony, remove the dark shade and bestow upon them a blessing like warm light.”
The saint’s voice was gentle and magnanimous.
It was as though warm sunlight were pouring down, despite them being in the basement.
Though this step had originally been necessary to remove the Curse of Deadly Poison, to the others it appeared to be the sincere prayer of a saint who could not turn his eyes away from a patient’s suffering.
The two priests who had accompanied them here held their breath as they watched.
Excluding Chelsea, who served Ianpel, the other two priests—
the one specially tasked with managing the basement and the priest of auxiliary-bishop rank—
wore expressions filled with reverence toward Saint Ianpel.
It was such a beautiful prayer.
However, Yujelia, who stood just one step behind Aquila, fidgeted repeatedly with the fingers hidden beneath her robe sleeves as she watched them.
This performative play felt deeply uncomfortable to her.
She understood with her head that such a process was necessary, but her heart refused to accept it.
Clasping her hands tightly together, Yujelia pretended to pray while stealing glances at them.
‘Ugh, how can those two be so shameless!’
But seeing Shen, whom she had thought would feel similarly, watching the situation with a solemn expression, she resolved to endure it.
In the end, she could not quite manage and tightly shut her lips, even closing her eyes.
“May abundant joy under the sun and gentle protection be with you.”
“…I join in prayer.”
The end of the sacred prayer was quiet.
The faint glow that had appeared when Yujelia had prayed fervently and Aquila had answered did not manifest.
The Sun God surely knew as well.
That this was nothing more than a show.
Thus, even until Ianpel smoothly withdrew his hands and offered the chalice, the space remained calm, without a single glimmer of light.
“Shall you try drinking a little of the water contained in the holy relic? It may be of help to you.”
“Is that permissible?”
“Of course. The water will refill anyway… Ah, do not worry. The records state that nothing happens even if one drinks it, and that it is merely clean water. Is that correct?”
Ianpel turned his head and asked one of the accompanying priests.
Chelsea naturally agreed, and the other two priests nodded as well, as if pushed along by the authority Ianpel had just displayed.
Moreover, as he said, the records stated that drinking the water from the holy relic caused nothing unusual, so there should be no problem.
Turning his gaze back from the bewildered priests, Ianpel smiled and extended the Right Hand of the Halo.
If Aquila simply drank the water from the holy relic now, everything would proceed according to the scenario.
The scenario Aquila and Ianpel had planned together.
Their plan was extremely simple.
After Aquila drank the water from the Right Hand of the Halo, he would merely claim that it had an effect on the Curse of Deadly Poison.
The curse afflicting Aquila had already been cured, so if they staged it properly, who would know?
Thus, the only important things here were emphasizing the prayer of blessing and the benevolence of Raspalara.
Everything that followed was no longer Aquila’s concern.
Ianpel—and the Temple of the Sun—would take care of it.
“Here you are. I hope the benevolence of the Sun God Raspalara takes root within you.”
Aquila accepted the chalice.
The Sun God’s holy relic, smooth and golden on the surface, was heavier than it looked.
That weight caused Aquila’s thoughts to tilt once more toward the options attached to the Right Hand of the Halo.
Since the Curse of Deadly Poison had already been lifted, he had originally planned to only pretend to drink a sip or two.
But even if it meant drinking all the water in the relic, he had to obtain the skill while he had the chance.
There was no guarantee he would ever be able to return to the basement of the Grand Temple again.
Aquila grasped the Right Hand of the Halo with both hands, careful not to let its contents spill.
‘Use item…’
The moment Aquila thought that inwardly, a window appeared.
Ding!
[Use Mythical-Grade Item, Right Hand of the Halo?
Options: Mana Increase, Random Skill Granted
Remaining Uses (110)]
[※Warning: This item has only 1 remaining use.
When the count reaches 0, it will revert to an ordinary item, and you will no longer gain the item’s options.
Proceed anyway?]
[Yes / No]
The instant Aquila saw the window, he made his choice without hesitation.
‘Yes.’
At once, the emblem of the Sun God Raspalara engraved into the surface of the Right Hand of the Halo began to glow with golden light.
But no one present even had time to be surprised by it.
For the sacred light suddenly flashed, and from within the holy relic, water surged up like a fountain, spilling over Aquila’s hands and cascading down!
“The water…!”
“Raspalara, heavens above!”
Faced with a sight they had never seen before, all of the priests gasped.
Aquila himself was momentarily startled, but when the water splashed onto the floor and soaked his shoes, he came to his senses.
Instinctively, Aquila realized that he could not let this opportunity slip away.
Suppressing his confusion, he raised both hands high.
As he tilted his head back, the hood he had been wearing low slipped off, revealing the vivid red hair known as the blessing of House Reschenhardt.
Everyone— even Ianpel—stood frozen, as if overwhelmed by the sight.
It felt as though only Aquila existed in that space.
He carefully tilted the chalice and slowly drank in the water flowing from the Right Hand of the Halo.
The water that welled up from the holy relic drenched Aquila’s face and hair completely.
Like swimming through water, a gentle yet cool sensation spread throughout his body.
And then—
Ding!
[The voice left behind by the Goddess of Springs for the beloved Earth God spreads deep throughout your body!]
[The final voice of love she left behind begins to dwell within your heart!]
[Mana is doubled! (Bonus Effect)]
[One random skill will be granted!]
[…Drawing complete!]
[As a result of using the Mythical-Grade Item, Right Hand of the Halo, a new skill has been unlocked!]
[Grace That Waters the Cracked Earth new!
Momentarily amplifies Mana and fires the condensed Mana forward.
??? (Cannot be used yet due to insufficient user stats.)
— Limited to this cycle. Disappears upon death.]
The flood of notifications rang out at once, making Aquila’s insides feel deafeningly loud.
Yet he could not even lift his thoroughly soaked face as he muttered soundlessly.
“…This is insane.”