Chapter 5
Aquila stared at the words written in the system window.
He had certainly defeated the final boss, but strictly speaking, he had only pierced the Corrupted God with a spear. He had never actually stolen its authority.
He recalled the last battle against the Corrupted God.
A dark, murky form.
Wherever its footsteps reached, death bloomed like a flower.
With a single touch, the marble temple decayed, plants withered, and humans twisted as they dried out.
An unfathomable abyss stood there, as though it had swallowed all light.
‘So it is back to the beginning again….’
Aquila cut off the thought he had been following and let out a sigh.
He could not change what had already passed.
After so many runs, Aquila had learned that truth to the bone, but regret was not something he could simply help.
Still, he knew all the key items and quests by heart, and he had memorized every pattern, so clearing it should be easier than before.
Besides, this time he also had the blessing of the Sun God, so he would not be easily consumed by the power of darkness.
Aquila examined the skill window.
The one thing that bothered him was that the Curse of Deadly Poison was currently restricted, yet the Blessing of the Sun God had not stopped and continued to activate.
‘Since it said permanent, it might be always active, but if not, perhaps it is the aftereffect of vomiting blood.’
With a gaze that admitted he did not know, Aquila read the skill description again.
[Stolen Divine Authority (Minor): You can use a portion of the power of darkness.
— Engraved upon the soul, permanent.]
The Corrupted God fundamentally wielded the power of darkness, but it was not mere darkness. It was closer to a crystallization of pure malice.
A force that erased and swallowed everything.
It could create black spheres that sucked in everything nearby, or draw a great scythe from within shadows.
There was no corner so overlooked that it lay outside the Corrupted God’s sight.
How many times had he been discovered simply by stepping into a shadow? He could not even count.
“Hm?”
Aquila paused and rubbed his chin.
Having used every possible means to defeat the Corrupted God, he understood all of its skills thoroughly.
Among them, one in particular remained vivid in his memory: .
It was a scouting-specialized ability that allowed one to hide within shadows and observe a certain range.
It was the most irritating ability when facing the Corrupted God, and thus the one he coveted most.
‘If I stole the Corrupted God’s authority, then I can probably imitate its abilities as well.’
It was said to be only a portion of the authority, so he could not view the entire world as the Corrupted God had, but if the use was limited, it might still be possible.
Interest rose in Aquila’s eyes.
This world was utterly different from the reality he had known, but if one progressed the main scenario properly, it was effectively an open world with immense freedom.
Which meant that if he had the ability, most things could be done as he pleased.
He had survived his runs precisely by living that way.
Aquila touched the words in the skill window.
After becoming accustomed to mana breathing, skills that consumed mana could be used naturally.
The blessing of the Sun God he had received together was already activating on its own, so it should not be difficult to use the stolen divine authority either.
“I will know once I try.”
With a light heart, Aquila quietly closed his eyes.
As if using a skill, he slowly regulated his breathing and focused on activating the stolen divine authority.
Perhaps because the room was dark with the curtains drawn, his vision blackened more than usual.
Then, at some point.
Ding!
[Using ‘Stolen Divine Authority (Minor)’!]
[Type: Search]
[Designating search range!]
[…Because local area data has not been updated, the range is further restricted.]
[Adjusting distance!]
[Viewpoint will move immediately!]
[Beware of motion sickness!]
The notifications that had been chiming inside him stopped, and he felt as though the floor dropped out from beneath his feet.
Then, as when he had once mounted a rampaging Demon Dragon, his vision scrambled and a dreadful nausea flooded his mind.
“…Ugh!”
A headache that felt like someone was pounding his brain, and a wave of nausea.
He swallowed a breath, but his bodily sensations vanished so completely that he could not tell whether he had collapsed or was still standing.
Then his vision suddenly brightened.
At first, green.
Then gradually, trees and flowers that seemed strangely familiar, and evenly trimmed grass came into view.
Forcing himself past the headache, Aquila looked around.
He had never actually gone down there, but it seemed to be the garden visible from his room’s window.
‘Movement….’
When Aquila thought he wanted to look elsewhere, his viewpoint turned oddly, even though he did not feel his head move.
It was as if he were peering through a screen.
Aquila was within shade.
He tried to go outside, but moving into sunlight was impossible.
He could only look ahead, remaining in darkness.
Not far away, he could see a building that appeared to be the Reschenhardt estate.
However, although the estate’s exterior was visible, everything beyond it was blurred, suggesting that he could not see past a certain range.
‘So I can only move within shadows.’
When he tried to shift to the shade beneath a nearby tree, the surroundings changed immediately.
He wanted to move as he pleased to learn the controls.
If not for the dizziness that surged every time his viewpoint changed, he would have spent more time on it.
He deliberately went back and forth a few more times to adjust, but as the nausea reached its peak, he stopped.
It did not seem his body could support roaming endlessly.
Still, just as he thought this was enough and was about to stop, someone stepped into the shade.
Chime!
[Location: Reschenhardt Estate Garden (Update required)]
[Search result: 2 humans]
[Armed]
It was not surprising for a search-type skill to display notifications like this, but the content was the problem.
Aquila steadied his dizzy mind and turned his view.
And there, he found familiar faces.
It was Shen and Yujelia, who had been bustling about the garden.
In the pot Shen carried was a white flower that had not been there when they left the room.
It seemed he had managed to find an evening primrose.
Yujelia raised the blue watering can as though saying something, but no voice reached him.
‘Is there no listening function?’
Clutching his throbbing head, Aquila concentrated as much as he could.
Then, as if a closed door had cracked open, sound began to seep in, little by little.
“It was lucky there was a flowerbed nearby! Ah, do we go that way?”
“Wait—ah. Thank you! Let us go!”
As Yujelia struggled to hold the pot with both hands, Shen took the shovel from her and greeted someone cheerfully.
Perhaps in haste, Yujelia stepped out of the shade a few paces ahead.
Chime!
[1 human has left the search range!]
[Search result: 1 human]
[Armed]
He wondered if the shovel counted as a weapon, but Yujelia had taken it.
Then—
[Weapon scan result: Dagger]
Aquila looked at Shen, who was still within the shade.
Smiling broadly as if pleased by something, the servant hurried after Yujelia.
Chime!
[1 human has left the search range!]
Their backs gradually receded.
Now that they would be returning with the flower, he needed to return as well.
He watched until their figures blurred, then closed his eyes.
Just as when he began the search, he felt the ground drop out beneath his feet.
[Ending search.]
[Viewpoint returning to normal.]
[Tip — While using ‘Stolen Divine Authority (Minor),’ your body remains defenseless, so please use caution!]
As he was reading the system’s helpful tip, his vision turned completely dark.
Then, as his sight brightened again and he came to, Aquila was sprawled on the floor.
Between the headache, nausea, and a dull fatigue, he had to crawl to the bed.
“Insane….”
Leaning his pale face into the pillow, Aquila muttered a curse without thinking.
This felt like the aftermath of downing strong liquor repeatedly.
If he moved around too recklessly while using the stolen divine authority, he might truly die.
“Ugh….”
As Aquila writhed in discomfort, Shen and Yujelia returned after finishing their task.
Seeing how much worse he looked than before they left, they recoiled in alarm.
Of course, Aquila did not even have the energy to explain.
Whenever he tried to lift his head, it throbbed violently.
Perhaps thinking it was the curse’s influence, Shen and Yujelia’s faces filled with grim determination.
After that, everything proceeded swiftly.
Even as she watered it, Yujelia had remained doubtful, but once she saw the flower faintly taking on a yellow glow infused with divine power, she could not take her eyes off it.
Shen assisted her or faithfully carried out the duties he was responsible for, and still showed no suspicious movements.
If anything, he behaved even more devotedly than before they left the room, his face filled with deeper concern.
‘It seems he does not intend to harm me immediately.’
Whatever reason this servant had for carrying a dagger, Aquila would learn by watching.
He observed Yujelia pouring an excessive amount of divine power into the watering can, then closed his eyes.
There was still plenty of time before everything was ready.
In the meantime, he needed to escape this damned hangover first.
***
Contrary to Aquila’s concerns, time passed peacefully without incident.
Thanks to that, he fell asleep as if nearly fainting, only waking late in the morning.
“Young master, did you sleep well?”
Shen greeted him.
The servant looked tired, as if he had been up all night, but his face was bright.
That alone told Aquila that things had gone well.
“First, your breakfast—”
“Where is the priest?”
When Aquila cut him off to ask about Yujelia, Shen’s eyes widened.
She had been there until he fell asleep, but since she was not here now, she must have been in another room.
Shen seemed to hesitate briefly over the meal, then went out, saying he would bring Yujelia.
Not long after, Yujelia entered carrying the pot.
“You were right! I watered it with divine power and watched, and the flower began to shine yellow.”
She nearly ran into the room, holding the pot out with the brightest expression Aquila had seen on her face.
The petals, stem, and leaves of the evening primrose were all glowing yellow, so vivid that at a glance it looked like gold.
It was the result of Yujelia’s prayer.
He did not know how earnest that prayer had been, but even across other runs, he could remember only a few times he had seen such radiant golden light.
“…Impressive.”
Aquila murmured despite himself.
“Can this lift the curse?”
“Yes. Absolutely.”
Yujelia’s eyes shone.
Aquila glanced at Shen, but the servant’s face looked equally ready to burst with joy.
He extended one hand toward Yujelia.
“Let us finish it before breakfast. Now it is your turn to pray for me.”
“…Is it truly acceptable for me to do the prayer?”
“Yes. You are a priest.”
Moreover, given that Yujelia had made a flower bloom with light so bright it seemed golden, she should be more than capable on her own.
Yujelia took his hand, but her fingers trembled slightly, as though she were extremely tense.
“Just pray as you normally do. As when you bestow blessings.”
Yujelia nodded and took a brief deep breath.
Holding Aquila’s hand carefully with both of hers, she recited the prayer.
Her voice, trembling with unmistakable anxiety, gradually steadied as she continued the litany.
“…Thus do I offer this flower to the merciful Sun God Raspalara. Save the one who suffers, lift away the dark shade, and bestow blessings like warm light.”
When she finished her earnest prayer, Yujelia lifted her head.
There was a custom that a Sun God prayer must be concluded together.
“May abundant joy beneath the sun and gentle protection be with you.”
“I pray with you.”
When Aquila recited the familiar closing line, she gave a quiet smile.
For an instant, a soft radiance swirled around them, then vanished at once.
“The light….”
Yujelia murmured softly.
Aquila lowered the gaze that had been searching the air without thinking.
‘Perhaps Raspalara heard Yujelia’s prayer and is watching over us.’
He released Yujelia’s hand and lifted the pot.
Even without the same radiance as before, the flower, still glowing yellow with the Sun God’s divine power, looked fresh and vibrant.
“Now I just need to brew and drink this, and it will be finished.”
Beside them, Shen, who had been watching with bated breath, raised his hand and cried out at once.
“I will, I will brew it right away!”
The servant seemed to truly want to be of help.
“I will come with you as well!”
Yujelia sprang up and said.
Her face was flushed with anticipation and fear, as though she wanted to know immediately whether the flower truly worked.
Aquila hesitated, then nodded.
He did not trust sending Shen alone, so it was convenient.
“I will come as well.”
“What?”
Shen blurted out in a startled voice.
Then, clearly as though hiding something, he fidgeted and watched Aquila’s expression.
“The kitchen is very busy right now. Um, so….”
Aquila could not see what the kitchen being busy had to do with him, but Shen looked so earnest that it was almost awkward.
To be that visibly flustered, what was in the kitchen?
When Aquila gave him a suspicious look, Shen hesitated for a long time, then finally shook his head and exclaimed.
“It is nothing. I am sorry, young master. Let us go to the kitchen.”
Yujelia looked at Aquila with a confused expression, but he was just as ignorant of the situation.
Before either of them could say anything, Shen hurriedly opened the door and waited for them.
Setting aside his deepening suspicion for now, Aquila followed behind Shen.