Behind the Grand Temple was a wide open field.
According to Eirik, this place was once a training ground where saints, priests, and holy knights trained their divine power under the blazing sunlight from the heavens.
"Now it's just an empty wasteland."
A training ground, my foot. With dust blowing up whenever the wind blows, it looks more like a military drill field.
Apparently, in the past, the ground was paved with sturdy stones that didn't break even when divine power was poured into them.
But Seth explained with a gloomy face that after the temple fell into poverty, they sold off the stones one by one, which led to this state.
"It's basically a symbol of the Grand Temple's decline, just like the garden."
When I make money, I should have this place repaired too, so it can regain its former glory.
"Sigh. Why are there so many things to spend money on?"
Even pouring water into a bottomless jar would be better than this.
I sighed and walked over to a large brazier in one corner.
The servant had already lit a strong fire.
I was alone here.
I'd sent away Victoria, Eirik, and Seth—just in case something happened during the process of burning the suspicious relic.
'You're really going to burn it?'
Eirik had protested, saying it was such a waste.
'Then at least, can't we sell the jewels from the box? I don't think you have to burn those too.'
Poverty truly is scary. Even the high priest begged to sell the jewels.
Of course, I flatly refused.
'The box might have absorbed some of the curse too, so it's better not to leave anything behind.'
Even sacred relics of light can negatively affect people—who's to say the jewel box that held them would be harmless?
When in doubt, it's best to burn everything.
"Goodbye, you cursed piece of rock."
I dumped the shattered necklace fragments into the blazing fire, and finally tossed the jewel box in as well.
And that wasn't the end.
[Activating Skill: Blessing]
I poured in every last bit of divine power I could muster.
The fire blazed intensely as divine power and flame intertwined.
The heat was overwhelming, even for my body, which was enhanced by divine power.
The person who made the relic was an enemy of the Sun God, so I figured using the Saintess's blessing might destroy it.
And the result...
[The 'Relic of Light' can no longer maintain its form. The 'Relic of Light' has been completely destroyed by the divine power of the 'Sun That Crawled Out of Death'!]
"Yes!"
I clenched my fists and shouted in triumph at the message I'd been hoping for.
Feels great to finally be rid of that source of endless frustration!
At least now, unlike in the original story, I wouldn't be stumbling blindly and constantly getting stabbed in the back...
[Failed to destroy divine item. Current user's divine power is insufficient to destroy divine item.]
"...What?"
Wait—failed? No, hold on. Looking closer, it wasn't the relic.
It said I failed to destroy a divine item. Why is there a divine item here?
I hurriedly pulled back my divine power and extinguished the flames with water from a bucket near the brazier.
The relic of light had definitely been destroyed.
So that left only one possibility.
"Hah."
Amid the charred wood, a jewel box lay buried—completely untouched by flame.
Not a single part of it was melted. It remained perfectly intact.
"This was the divine item?"
They used a divine item just to store a relic? Not even the original story mentioned that.
Maybe because it was handed over to Lute along with the relic?
"System, whose divine item is this?"
[That question falls under forbidden divine knowledge. To receive an answer, your divine power must exceed 40%.]
"Forbidden knowledge? So you're saying the final boss of the original story didn't make it?"
[That question falls under forbidden divine knowledge. To receive an answer, your divine power must exceed 40%.]
"The system's an idiot. Knows absolutely nothing."
[This AI system is a cutting-edge cosmic system crafted with utmost care by the gods. If I'm an idiot, then so are you.]
"You're oddly eloquent when it comes to defending yourself."
Apparently, it's fine to make me look like a fool, but treating itself like a fool is something the system just can't tolerate.
"If you want to prove that this cutting-edge cosmic system isn't an idiot, then at least tell me the name or some info about this divine item."
[Only information permitted to the current user can be accessed. Displaying permitted information.]
Oh? I asked without expecting much, but it actually responded.
Was it because I told it to prove it wasn't a fool? Maybe I should start attaching that line to every question from now on?
[Divine Item Information]
Name: Box Made Out of Boredom
Grade: Legendary
Deity Owner: ???
Abilities: ???
Special Traits: ???
"..."
Never mind. It only gave me useless info as if it were being generous.
Did it seriously name it 'Box Made Out of Boredom'? That's the actual name? With a ridiculous name like that, why is the grade so high?
Legendary is the highest tier, isn't it?
"There's no way the final boss made this."
If that bastard had made it, it would've been properly crafted to hold the Relic of Light. Judging by the name alone, there's no way he made this.
And it likely wasn't made by the Sun God, either.
If it had been, Eirik would've hurled himself into the fire to stop me from burning it.
I stared at the jewel box still buried among the charred remains with a reluctant expression.
Now that I think about it, unlike the Relic of Light, which was suffocating to even look at, this jewel box didn't give off any aura at all.
It was so unremarkable that I didn't even consider it might be a divine item.
Seth and Eirik didn't react much to it either.
So it probably wasn't anything as dangerous as the Relic of Light, but still…
"It's not creepy, but it is suspicious."
After staring at it like I was in a staring contest, I finally reached out.
If it can't be burned or destroyed with divine power, I'll just have to hide it somewhere in my room.
If someone else sees it and gets tempted to take it, that could cause serious trouble.
I picked it up reluctantly, like I was retrieving a phone dropped in the toilet, and tapped it a few times against the ground.
It was incredibly sturdy. Didn't show a single crack. In fact, the ground got dented instead.
I don't want to put anything inside it, but as a blunt weapon, this could be pretty useful.
Might come in handy if an assassin ever breaks into my room later.
"Wow!"
"Wooooow!"
As the sun began to set, Dietrich returned to the Grand Temple with a cart full of food supplies.
He had worried that he might have gone overboard in a fit of excitement from the unexpected windfall, but seeing the young temple attendants gathered around the cart with sparkling eyes, he felt it was worth it.
"Priest! Priest! Is this all food?"
"C-Can we really eat this much?"
Poverty had made even children afraid to hope.
Dietrich smiled bitterly and patted the anxious kids on the head.
"Yeah, it's okay. The High Priest gave his permission."
"R-Really b-but…"
"…Actually, I bought all this because the Saintess told me to. She said we should finally eat our fill."
"Really?!"
The children, who had hesitated when Eirik's name came up, immediately burst into cheers the moment the Saintess was mentioned.
As expected, Ordell must be the most feared—and respected—figure here.
"Priest Dietrich."
"Oh, Dame Victoria."
At that moment, Victoria approached Dietrich as he chatted with the children.
She glanced briefly at the food supplies being carried by the servants.
"Thank you for going all the way to the village."
"It wasn't much trouble. It was actually really fun to buy food without worrying about money for once."
He meant it.
When was the last time he'd bought groceries without stressing over the cost? He couldn't even remember.
Maybe never.
Which is why this moment felt truly rewarding.
"Just seeing all this food is making me excited too. Ah, I bring a message from the Saintess."
The moment Victoria finished her sentence, the children who had been peeking curiously into the carts suddenly froze.
The servants and maids carrying the food also stopped in place.
Everyone turned to Victoria with anxious eyes.
"…You don't all have to worry like that. The Saintess gave a very good suggestion."
Victoria gave a wry smile at their wary expressions.
Even though it had been over a week since Ordell apologized and reflected on her past actions, people still feared her and kept their distance.
Had Victoria not spent the past week constantly by her side, she too might still be looking at Ordell with suspicion.
"I've done a lot of wrong. It's only natural people can't forgive me right away. But if I keep trying, I'm sure they'll open up eventually. That's enough for me."
She recalled Ordell's quiet, sincere words.
So then, Victoria's role was clear: help bridge the distance that still lingered between Ordell and the people.
"The Saintess has decreed that tonight, we will have a meat party. Everyone may eat as much meat as they like."
"Wooooooow!"
The children were the first to shout with joy.
Victoria beamed as she looked past them, at the adults whose eyes were now wide with surprise.