Chapter 12
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Saintess Gransesia (4)
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A ring sparkling on Michel's palm.
Nestled in a gleaming golden band was a crimson gem the size of a thumbnail. That was the Eye of Simosa, a relic left behind by Saintess Gransesia.
==
[Eye of Simosa]
A holy relic of Saintess Gransesia Atel.
Gransesia's soul is sealed within it, and with her consent, it can unleash powerful abilities. If the wearer dies while equipped, the ring will shatter alongside them.
Currently, Gransesia's soul is watching over the con artist who claims to be a messenger of God.
==
'I didn't see this coming...'
I had expected the relic in the casket to be the Eye of Simosa.
Even if it wasn't, dropping the word 'revelation' would let me pry its location from Michel.
'But a holy relic sealing the saintess's soul itself? And it's watching me?'
An eerie unease emanated from the flashing red glow.
"It's a heirloom of the Atel family, passed down from Lady Gransesia herself. In the past, she declared that the one chosen by this ring would become her successor. If what Sir Banheart says is true, it means God has selected you as the saintess's heir."
Gransesia had never given the ring to anyone.
One day, she had slipped away from the world as quietly as falling asleep, and the ring had remained hers alone.
"No other priests coveted it?"
"Only the Atel family knows of this ring. In our house, we let our children grasp it once on their hundredth day after birth."
Yet the ring had stayed firmly on the saintess's finger.
"...No one was ever chosen by it."
"That's right. But if Sir Banheart truly received a revelation from God and heard Lady Gransesia's words..."
He didn't finish, but his meaning was clear enough.
'If the Eye of Simosa doesn't choose me, then everything I've said is a lie.'
A simple, foolproof test.
No wonder he opened the casket so readily.
"Understood."
Without hesitation, I took the ring from Michel and slipped it onto my finger.
Naturally, the ring remained silent. It was no different from when it sat in his palm.
"It seems even Sir Banheart isn't the one."
Michel watched for a moment, then nodded as if he'd expected as much.
This would normally mean I'd have to hand it back meekly, but I had no such intention.
"No, I can hear it."
"...Pardon?"
"Lady Gransesia's voice."
"W-what are you talking about?!"
Michel shouted, his face twisted in disbelief at my nonsense.
The ring stayed quiet, but I knew.
The soul of Saintess Gransesia was panicking right now.
==
[Eye of Simosa]
A holy relic of Saintess Gransesia Atel.
Gransesia's soul is sealed within it, and with her consent, it can unleash powerful abilities. If the wearer dies while equipped, the ring will shatter alongside them.
Currently, Gransesia's soul is torn between whether the con artist is lying or has truly recognized her presence.
==
"There's no need to agonize. I know your soul is sealed in this ring."
I addressed it while checking the ring's settings.
A few exchanges of reading her swirling speculations and responding.
Finally, she couldn't keep up the silence.
[How the hell did you figure it out?]
As the crimson gem flashed, a voice far too sharp for a saintess buzzed in my head.
"Gasp!"
Michel's eyes widened as the ring suddenly glowed.
He couldn't hear it, but the light alone was proof enough for him.
I flashed him a grin before turning back to the ring.
"I told you. I received a revelation from God."
[Lies. God doesn't send revelations like that. If disaster comes, that's just fate. To them, humans are nothing more.]
"Pretty cynical for a saintess."
[Hah! I don't need that saintess title—it's just a fancy label for the power I claimed.]
"Th-the Eye of Simosa is glowing... Does that mean Sir Banheart really..."
Michel stared blankly at the twinkling ring. Gransesia had turned into a chatterbox now that she'd opened up.
[Spill it. How did you know my soul was sealed in here?]
"Michel, do you believe now that I received a revelation from God?"
"Y-yes..."
[What nonsense are you spouting, you con man? How do you know about me?!]
"Then I'll treasure this great saintess's relic. That's fine, right? You were going to give it anyway."
"Th-that's... Yes, it is."
[Michel? What are you saying?]
"Oh, and please lend your strength for the upcoming ambush too. As I said before, I need not just the Eye of Simosa, but your power as well."
"Of c-course! I'd be honored to help!"
"Haha, thank you."
[Hey!]
Her voice sounded desperate.
And for good reason—if I died wearing it, the ring would shatter too.
Michel stood there dumbly, oblivious to that fact.
But Gransesia clearly knew. That's why she was carrying on so frantically.
From her perspective, she had to prevent the ring from gaining an owner at all costs.
'Well, it's mine now anyway.'
[Since when is it yours? Michel! Take that ring off him right now!]
She could read thoughts too?
But no matter how much she ranted, her voice wouldn't reach Michel.
'That makes two plausibility points secured.'
The last one was self-sacrifice for others.
[Wait, plausibility? Two? What are you talking about?]
But that could wait until after I spilled the full story.
* * *
[You expect me to believe that?]
Gransesia's reaction to my tale was just as lukewarm as I'd predicted.
"Believe it or don't."
[But if it's true, it explains how you recognized me... Though your speech is oddly curt?]
Took her long enough.
"Fair words breed fair replies."
[Hmph, glib as a con man. A liar claiming to be God's apostle, no less.]
"The fooled are the fools."
[Classic con artist line.]
I'd never planned to tell anyone about the ability I got from my father.
Who'd buy that this world was some novel, and the protagonist was already dead? I'd just look insane.
But now, I had no choice.
Ever since slipping on the ring, this saintess was rifling through my thoughts freely. Hiding anything was impossible.
[I don't fully buy it yet. If things play out like you say, maybe.]
Surprisingly, she grumbled a bit but stayed calmer than expected. I'd figured she'd scream bloody murder about lies.
She'd even stopped demanding I return the ring to Michel, seemingly worn out.
"That's enough."
[Anyway, with the second condition met, all that's left is the third: self-sacrifice. Just help someone and call it a day? Sigh. To think that's all it takes for my 'Divine Blood.']
She sounded incredulous.
But as Gransesia said, the third condition wasn't simple at all.
"Yeah, pretty much. But it's not as easy as it sounds."
[Not easy?]
"Self-sacrifice isn't just helping others."
Like with the other settings, I instinctively grasped what it meant. At minimum, it demanded a dramatic sacrifice staking one's life.
The kind of scene common in novels.
A character sacrificing for others.
To gain Divine Blood, I'd need something like that.
[We'll see. Should be entertaining from my spectator seat.]
The crimson gem twinkled merrily.
[I'll be watching, Clay Banheart. Soon enough, we'll know if you're telling the truth.]
Cool as ever, she went silent after that.
Amusing how she'd said her piece and vanished, but it was enough for now.
'Self-sacrifice, huh.'
The final plausibility for Divine Blood.
It might demand risking my life, but the payoff was worth it.
'Conveniently, I have a plan in mind.'
Of course, it might not go my way.
If the princess's ability differed from my guess, the plan would derail badly.
I only had the synopsis—guesses from glimpsing the original work.
Variables abounded, so I had to prepare everything I could.
* * *
One day until the decisive battle.
To prepare for tomorrow's ambush, Duke Gail gathered the officers and briefed them on the operation.
"Fundamentally, we must proceed assuming Byan Deolic leaked intel to the Kainzel Kingdom."
His grave voice echoed through the tent packed with officers.
As it was a critical op, key officers and prominent nobles filled the space.
'I don't really need to be here.'
For the record, I'd been roped into the briefing too—as Duke Gail's 'advisor.'
Normally, I'd be a squad leader or mixed in with a knight order.
As the eldest son of a fallen count's family, that was my station.
But Duke Gail had pulled me out as his advisor, keeping me at his side.
A meteoric promotion, to say the least.
'No tension among them at all.'
Most nobles here were just chasing glory in the war.
They feigned attention to the duke but were probably tuning him out.
"In other words, we'll turn their plan against them. If they didn't get the leak and aren't prepared, that's fine too."
"As expected of Your Grace!"
"Brilliant strategy! True genius!"
Praise erupted the moment he finished.
One might think the duke had fought all past battles solo.
'And he's already explained this op before.'
This wasn't the first briefing.
After multiple sessions repeating the same points, there was no cause for fresh adulation.
The nobles simply hadn't cared about the plans.
Duke Gail knew it, offering only a wry smile.
'Even in this state, we're ahead? Pathetic.'
Was Kainzel incompetent, or was Duke Gail that capable?
"Quite the farce, isn't it, Sir Banheart?"
As I watched the nobles fawn over the duke, a familiar voice spoke up.
"Ah, Sir Eaton. Good day."
"Skip the pleasantries. Watching that lot sours the mood."
Tedric Eaton scanned the room and clicked his tongue. The nobles bootlicking the duke clearly irked him.
Position-wise, he drew crowds too.
But unlike the approachable duke, Tedric's sharp edge deterred most.
Especially the nobles who'd accused him in the prior poisoning—they trembled, stealing glances.
'If only he had a skill I could snag, I'd like him more. What a shame.'
Tedric was an excellent knight, but unlike Byan, he offered little I could gain.
First, the Eaton family's Heavenly Cloud Sword was intact—unlike Silver Star Sword—making it risky and tough to learn.
I'd picked up Silver Star Sword easily through childhood ties with the Deolics, but not this.
From Tedric, I'd gained practical combat against the strong and refined swordplay under his tutelage.
Even that had let synopsis knowledge seep into my body.
'At this rate, Sword Expert isn't far off.'
A realm I'd vaguely hoped for someday now loomed close.
Even I couldn't help but get excited.