Chapter 211: Oracle
Chapter 211: Oracle
Morning dawned.
“Finally…”
The time had come to meet the Righteous Light.
This would be the first transcendental being I’d encounter since falling onto the Eurelia Continent.
However, the gods had not yet fully recovered their strength. That was why they were currently confined to their respective sanctuaries, focusing entirely on rest.
Furthermore, the Righteous Light must have exhausted what little power she had gathered just to shower me with her blessings.
Perhaps we wouldn't be able to talk for long. Even if this was the main chapel of the Great Temple—essentially her own front yard—delivering an oracle would consume her strength every time.
So, I had organized what I needed to say in advance.
I tucked the notepad I’d scribbled on yesterday into my inventory and nodded with satisfaction.
“Let’s go.”
“Aren’t you going to eat breakfast, Master?”
“…Morning prayers are supposed to be done before eating.”
Carla yawned while rubbing her eyes. I retorted reflexively.
It wasn't that I was so excited I couldn't wait.
Sure, she was a real, existing god—something I’d never seen on Earth—and the first transcendental being I’d meet since arriving in this world, and she might even know something about my possession of this body, but!
Regardless, I wasn't giddy…!
“Hwaa-ahm. You’re like a little kid who can’t sleep because he’s excited for a field trip…”
“Hush! Elisha, you shouldn't say things like that! …Besides, that side of Master is what makes him cute.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
Ignoring the murmurs of Carla and Elisha as they nodded in unison, I opened the door.
*
Finding the way wasn't difficult, thanks to Helena giving me directions to the chapel the day before.
“It’s extravagant, no matter how many times I see it.”
“It is the main chapel, not just anywhere else. It is only natural.”
Iris’s voice was strangely curt, perhaps because her cheeks were still sore from being pinched the night before.
Even so, I gently stroked her head as she stuck close to my side despite her grumbling.
“I suppose so. I heard the chapel is always bright with the Authority of Light, even when night falls.”
“Ahem. They say it is a space forever filled with light. …Stroke the back of my head a bit longer. Yes. Down to the back, lightly.”
Iris let out a cute, purring sound, enjoying my touch.
Come to think of it, Helena mentioned yesterday that the Righteous Light particularly favored this place, which is why it was designated as the main chapel.
Because it was a space the goddess held dear, they had decorated it even more beautifully.
In fact, while most of the Great Temple of Light felt grand and massive in scale, this chapel alone boasted a lavishness filled with intricate details.
I slowly pushed open the doors, which were covered in beautiful relief carvings.
Creeeeeak.
Strangely, the doors pushed open without any resistance, as if I were pushing through empty air. The first thing that caught my eye was the multicolored stained glass.
Windows made of blue, green, and red glass.
The light passing through them vied for dominance with its own hue, but soon they all blended together, bleeding into a pure white.
In the spot where the light from the stained glass converged into a brilliant white glow, there stood a massive statue of a lion.
A white lion, roaring gallantly with its mane fluttering.
I marveled at its majesty, a sight one could never forget, but only for a moment.
“Ah, you’ve arrived, Brother.”
Helena, who had arrived early for morning prayers, greeted me. Pope Albaor and Adams Gilbert were also standing a short distance away.
Albaor stood up slowly and offered a welcoming smile.
“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
“I slept soundly, thanks to your consideration.”
The women behind me made subtle expressions at my answer, but that wasn't important right now.
“There are no people in the chapel.”
“Yes. Since you said you needed it, Lord Yandel, I have issued an order forbidding entry for the day.”
“…….”
I felt a bit guilty. And pressured.
Noticing my complicated expression, Gilbert chuckled and waved his hand.
“There are plenty of other chapels, so do not worry. By the way, shall we begin immediately?”
“We should. I can’t keep the place reserved all day, after all.”
Nodding, I stepped in front of the white lion statue. Then, I slowly dropped to one knee.
I recalled the prayer posture Helena had used countless times during our carriage ride.
With that in mind, I clasped my hands in front of my chest and bowed my head slightly.
Then, thinking of the giant white lion before me—no, the being this statue was meant to represent—I slowly called out her name in my mind.
‘O, Righteous Light…’
Whoosh!
Even though I hadn't said a word yet, a cluster of light erupted from my body as if it had been waiting.
“Master?!”
“It’s alright, everyone stay back!”
Albaor stopped Carla from rushing forward and led everyone to retreat.
It was a good call. My body was glowing suspiciously bright, but I didn't feel any sense of danger at all.
Rather, a warmth was filling me up, much like when I received a Heal or when I focused on my blessing under the sunlight.
The moment the light emitted by the blessing within me illuminated the surroundings and touched the statue of the Righteous Light—
Wooooong.
With a strange resonant sound, the light that had erupted from me was instantly sucked into the statue.
Crack.
Then came the sound of something tearing.
The white light concentrated on the statue flickered and wavered before detaching itself, maintaining the shape of a lion.
A white lion, looking exactly like the statue, stepped into the air and looked around.
“Ah… ahh…”
“The Righteous Light has…”
Albaor and Gilbert knelt on the spot, tears streaming down their faces with expressions of shock, joy, and infinite awe.
Helena wasn't crying, but she knelt with an overwhelmed expression, clearly moved.
My companions also realized belatedly what that lion made of light was, and their bodies stiffened.
However, the Righteous Light only spared them a passing glance, as if she didn't care, and fixed her gaze back on me.
The chapel, which had already been bright from the light pouring in from elsewhere, was now so radiant it was blinding.
The holiness overflowing from the scene looked like a painting of a sacred event I’d seen while touring the temple yesterday.
Well… obviously, this wasn't a full descent. It looked cool, but it was more like an empty shell with almost no power dwelling in it.
It was a type of oracle triggered by resonating the power of the blessing she’d given me with the divinity dwelling in the chapel.
It was the kind of phenomenon where people say white birds covered the area, light descended into a windowless room, or a voice was heard from a statue when an oracle was delivered.
In this case, the light gathered in the shape of the statue was conveying the god's will… but like most oracles, it was transmitted vaguely rather than precisely.
Still, this was quite something.
Even though it only contained her will and no actual power, I could feel a massive pressure emanating from it.
In an atmosphere that seemed to demonstrate what it meant to be on a completely different level, I slowly opened my mouth.
Let’s see. When I played as a priest in the game, I used to address the Righteous Light like this:
“O, Righteous Light, the most glorious one in the high heavens, Master of the Sun, and Protector of all who are good. I make a request of you.”
[Grrr…]
The white lion nodded with satisfaction, as if that was the correct answer.
I gestured toward Helena, who was beside me.
“This is a woman fit to be your Apostle. Please use her importantly to shine a light amidst the encroaching darkness.”
[…….]
The Righteous Light stared intently at Helena. She tapped her front paw as if contemplating something.
Well, she must have noticed Helena’s talent the moment she saw her, so she’s probably worried about her lack of power.
I swallowed hard and brought up the point I had prepared.
“…If necessary, you may take back the power you have given me.”
Helena’s blessing was already A-rank. If my blessing was downgraded by a few ranks, it should be possible to pull hers up to S-rank, the level of an Apostle.
It would be a shame to lose the bonuses the blessing provided, but I could recover them eventually by clearing dungeons, so a bit of temporary hardship was fine.
Since it was a rational method, the Righteous Light would surely agree—
[Roar—!]
The lion roared firmly, as if saying that was out of the question.
Then, she growled repeatedly as if explaining the reason.
[Grrr. Sniff. Roar.]
…I have no idea what she’s saying.
I knew it couldn't be helped since it was an oracle, but it was incredibly frustrating.
Just as I was about to let out a small sigh—
Ding!
A bell sound that had become very familiar to me rang in my ears.
======================
The Righteous Light throws a tantrum at your words, saying, [No! Absolutely not! No way!]
======================
Good heavens, what is this? The system translates oracles too…?
The notifications occasionally gave me brief updates on what the Righteous Light or other gods were doing, but I didn't know it was capable of this.
[Roar!]
======================
The Righteous Light stubbornly insists, [Everything would be solved if you just became my Apostle!]
======================
“No, I told you I’m not becoming an Apostle…”
The answer came out reflexively because I was so dumbfounded. At this, the lion’s eyes widened.
======================
The Righteous Light is surprised, asking, [Can you hear me?]
======================
“Uh, yes. I can. I don’t know why, though.”
When I nodded dazedledy, the giant lion started hopping around like a kitten and purring.
======================
The Righteous Light requests, [Then I don’t need anyone to interpret for me. Can you tell everyone else to step out for a moment, leaving only you and this girl?]
======================
“Yes, well…”
With a dazed heart, I relayed the Righteous Light’s words exactly, and everyone’s jaws dropped in surprise.
However, once the lion nodded, they finally left the chapel.
Thud.
The sound of the door closing echoed through the empty chapel.
Now, the only ones left were me, Helena, and a very excited-looking giant lion.
The Righteous Light looked around, and suddenly, a brilliant light erupted from her body.
The luminosity was so intense I couldn't even open my eyes.
But before long, the light gradually diminished until it reached eye level.
The figure that emerged was very familiar.
It was a version of Helena with lion ears and a tail, wearing a fluffy mane-like scarf.
“Huh?”
“Light…ness?”
Helena and I could only blink blankly.
Satisfied with our reaction, the Righteous Light raised both arms high and let out a cry.
[Rawr! Rawr!]
======================
The Righteous Light boasts, [You like this kind of thing, don’t you?]
======================
“Well, it is familiar and nice, but… uh…”
After a moment of hesitation, I spoke cautiously.
“Were you female? You always had a mane like a male lion, so I thought you were a god…”
[Rawr!]
======================
The Righteous Light grumbles, [I only wore the mane because it looked cool!]
======================
Ah, so it was just an accessory.