Chapter 268: Holy Relic (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 268: Holy Relic (1)
“I truly wished to convey these words to you. On behalf of humanity in this world, who have been indebted to you until now and will remain so in the future, I offer my gratitude. Naturally, I count myself among them as well. The item I sent is a small token of that appreciation. May it serve you well in the future.”
With those final words, the Pope and I parted ways. I dissuaded Priest Welter, who insisted on escorting me to the dormitory.
Who’s escorting whom? The guy looked scrawny enough to snap if you so much as nudged him.
I stepped out of the hospital. Pausing briefly at the main gate in thought, I shifted my course from my office toward the dormitory.
I was curious about the item the Pope had sent. Given his stature, my expectations naturally ran high. As he said, if it was something that could be used effectively later, it wouldn't be anything ordinary. I assumed it was a kind of reward.
‘Getting a reward I didn't even expect, huh.’
But for now, my accumulated fatigue outweighed my curiosity.
‘Unless it grows legs, the reward isn't going to run away.’
Of course, there was another reason. The distance from the affiliated hospital to the office was short if I took a side path. In contrast, reaching the dormitory required traversing half the academy grounds.
If I spotted anyone suspicious, I needed to catch and interrogate them on the spot, while also inspecting the overall atmosphere of the academy. That was why I chose to take the long way around despite my exhaustion.
I pulled my coat tight, pressed my hat down low, and slowly strolled across the grounds. The chilling winter wind whipped against the back of my head, sending a shiver down my spine.
“It really is the day before winter break, judging by how cold it is.”
I buttoned my coat all the way up and narrowed my eyes to scan the surroundings.
Since the weather was chilly, bundling up didn't make me stand out. If anything, dressing lightly would have drawn more attention.
Dressed like this, I looked like a back-alley informant treading in the light while keeping watch in all directions. You could say it gave off a distinct noir vibe. Or not.
“If it weren't for… the Heavenly Sword……”
That was when I heard sniffling. I subtly shifted my eyes toward the sound.
Two female cadets were sitting on a bench. One was soothing her terrified friend, gently rubbing her shoulder.
The crying student murmured to her friend as if making a confession.
“…I can’t even imagine what would’ve happened. Not just this time, but… back during the Joaquin Disaster too. I owe my life to him… twice now.”
People praising someone behind their back is a rare sight. Usually, it's badmouthing. Having worked at a Japanese restaurant, I had seen it plenty of times. Regardless of right or wrong, countless people bonded over secret gossip.
“I feel so ashamed of myself for talking bad about him behind his back until early this year. But it’s not like I can go up to him now and apologize… He’s a busy person anyway, so he’d never have time to meet someone like me.”
Conversely, words spoken behind someone's back carry less deceit. They are much more likely to reveal genuine, secret thoughts.
“I need to live with gratitude toward him, even if it’s as a form of atonement. It’s too late now, but at least I can cheer for him from afar.”
As the saying goes, birds hear the words spoken by day, and mice hear the words spoken by night.
Seeing as my coat was a mouse-gray color, it felt like the idiom was describing me perfectly.
Being a mouse didn't feel half bad.
I didn't resist the smile rising on my lips as I resumed walking. It seemed my walk would be longer than planned.
* * *
The following day, the winter break ceremony was held informally, with the instructors-in-charge making the announcements to each respective class. This was to disperse the crowds, given that the tragedy had occurred merely two days prior.
The cadets quietly abided by the academy’s decision. After concluding the modest ceremony, they promptly departed from Joaquin Academy.
Though the incident had come to an end, the aftermath was still being cleared up. Emptying the dormitories was safer for the students and made the cleanup process much easier.
Right after the ceremony ended, I paid a visit to Wieland. The hilt of Murasame had been rattling, which was bothering me constantly.
Wieland grumbled, but he took the job anyway.
“I’m just about to head off on winter vacation, and you’re dropping work on me?”
I felt a bit apologetic, but I had no choice. If I didn't fix it now, I'd have to leave Murasame neglected for a full two months...
Would any parent stand by and watch their sick child suffer? As a parent and a swordsman, that was unacceptable.
“I’ll make sure to pay you handsomely instead.”
“Oh, my, Heavenly Sword. Do I even have a choice? Of course, this smith will transform it into a gleaming masterpiece for you.”
“……”
I returned to my office. By the time I finished my daily tasks, the sun was setting.
I looked down through the window at the departing cadets. Soon, the academy grew quiet and deserted, and only then did I let out a sigh of relief.
“Phew… This year is finally over.”
As I slumped into my chair, Shail tilted the teapot. A subtle scent of chamomile filled the office.
“Great work, Heavenly Sword.”
Beside her, Karon offered a warm gaze. I smiled faintly and took a sip of tea, feeling the tension locked in my mind and body begin to melt away.
It had been arranged for Karon and Shail to remain at the academy to assist me. They said Castle Sigurd could be left vacant for a while. During the break, Abel was going to stay by the side of the Sword Emperor, who was recuperating in Switzerland.
I accepted their proposal. There was no reason to turn down their desire to stay. Even with the Hero Association stationed here and the Templar Knights joining in, we were always short-handed.
Instead, knowing they had their own primary duties, I set a condition on my end that they could leave whenever something came up.
Karon and Shail expressed their gratitude for the consideration, and both sides came to a mutually satisfying agreement.
‘Somehow, I ended up spending both summer break and winter break with these two.’
A butler and a maid. A noble lifestyle was never in my destiny, and it felt somewhat awkward to me. So I decided to treat them as standing military forces rather than servants.
“How is the tea?”
“The chamomile scent is lovely.”
Well, that was my perspective; theirs might be different. Acting naturally would be more comfortable and better for both of us.
I took another sip and set the teacup down. Then, I turned my eyes toward the corner of the office desk.
An open, palm-sized box sat there. Inside lay an elongated piece of metal wrapped in reddish silk. It was a stake or nail covered heavily in rust.
‘Why did the Pope give this to me?’
The problem was that I didn't actually know its use. Come to think of it, I hadn't asked the Pope yesterday because things were so chaotic.
‘I don't suppose there's a manual or something...?’
Touching it recklessly made me uneasy too. I was worried that the message ‘Blessing of the Sword God is activated’ might pop up in front of my eyes.
Since it was an inflexible blessing that recognized all sorts of random things as swords.
Truth be told, a sashimi knife isn't even a sword to begin with. A sashimi knife is a kitchen knife. A single-edged blade might be one thing, but there is a vast gulf between a double-edged sword and a sashimi knife.
‘Who knows? It might just recognize this nail as a sword simply because it's a piece of metal.’
As I glared at it with narrowed brows, Shail glanced over as well. Suddenly, she let out an exclamation.
“Could this be...”
“Do you know what it is?”
Shail promptly nodded and elaborated.
“I saw an illustration of it in a book during my cadet days. At first, I wondered if it was really it, but looking closer... I think it is.”
Ah, that's right. Shail had mentioned reading through various books. When we went to the Undead Dungeon together, she was the one who deciphered the Rune language.
Drawn by her strong reaction, Karon turned his gaze as well. He tilted his head, seemingly as clueless about the nail as I was.
“Take a closer look. You can touch it if you want.”
I offered first. Shail didn't refuse.
“Thank you, Heavenly Sword.”
Shail examined the nail from various angles, her eyes burning with academic enthusiasm. After a moment, she reverently placed it back with both hands.
Lowering her voice to a calm hush, Shail spoke.
“This is the 'Holy Nail'.”
“If it's the Holy Nail, that's a Holy Relic!”
Karon gasped in surprise. He stared at the rusty stake—the Holy Nail—with widened eyes.
“The Outer God Church is the religion with the longest history.”
Leaving the startled Karon behind, Shail continued her explanation.
“Modern calendar systems are derived from another religion, but the one that exerted the greatest influence on human history was the Outer God Church. Thus, among the three existing Holy Relics—the 'Holy Grail', the 'Holy Sword', and the 'Holy Nail'—the Outer God Church was in possession of the 'Holy Nail'. Though... they are no longer in possession of it now.”
I asked back calmly.
“Are Holy Relics really that incredible?”
“Incredible doesn't even begin to cover it!”
Karon exclaimed, sounding extremely excited.
“Holy Relics are items deeply tied to the God-Slaying God. Each one symbolizes immense divinity. The Holy Grail...”
The Holy Grail: the vessel that holds God.
The Holy Sword: the sword wielded by God.
The Holy Nail: the nail that seals God.
Apart from the Holy Nail, the other two were said to have been lost in the distant past. Furthermore, records were almost nonexistent, leading many to be skeptical about whether the Holy Grail and Holy Sword even existed.
Yet, the sole surviving Holy Relic—that was the nail that seals God, the Holy Nail.
‘The fact that it's classified above Artifacts speaks for itself.’
Anyway, why did the Pope entrust such a precious treasure to me? It's not like he gave it to me to melt down for upgrading equipment.
“……”
...Should I use it to upgrade an armament? You never know. ‘What if it upgrades an A+ rank to SSS-rank?’
As I debated whether or not to head back to Wieland, Shail spoke up with a dry expression.
“Just in case, by any remote chance... Holy Relics cannot be used as enhancement materials. No armament can withstand the divinity of a Holy Relic. It operates on the same principle as being unable to enhance armaments with Artifacts.”
“I see. But who in their right mind would try to use a Holy Relic as an enhancement material? Unless they were crazy.”
Stare.
“……”
“……”
Staaaaare.
“Alright, I admit I thought about it for a fleeting second. I just didn't know. Ignorance isn't a crime, is it?”
“Is that the only thing you're admitting?”
“What else is there?”
“The crazy... Whew, never mind. I almost committed a grave rudeness.”
“I feel like you already did.”
“I would be grateful if you could let it slide for old time's sake. Or must this maid go so far as to attend to the Heavenly Sword's bed chambers tonight for you to overlook it?”
I quietly exchanged glances with Shail before nodding.
“I'll let it slide.”
“It hurts that you didn't even hesitate. Does that mean I'm lacking charm?”
“I'm a minor.”
“Does anyone actually think of you as a minor, Heavenly Sword? Your biological age might be seventeen, but inside, you look like a middle-aged man pushing forty.”
“……”
“And I'm an adult. In my prime, mid-twenties.”
“Still, no. I refuse.”
“Truly wounded...”
“How long are we going to keep having this conversation?”
“I carried the joke too far with a Seven Star Hero. My apologies.”
“Sigh.”
I turned my gaze back to the Holy Nail.
I got that it was an incredible item, considering those two—who had encountered all sorts of precious artifacts in the Nibelung family—reacted like this. However, its actual usage remained unknown.
‘Should I go ask the Pope? He said he was staying at the academy until tomorrow.’
Intuitively, I didn't think he'd answer easily, but it felt better than racking my brains over it. Still, I should show that I made an effort to figure it out on my own first.
Activating [Blessing of Painlessness], I reached my hand toward the 'Holy Nail'. At that exact moment, an intense flash of light exploded forth.
Flash!
An involuntary groan escaped my lips. I barely managed to open my eyes, which had clamped shut reflexively.
“……!”
A vast wilderness where both earth and sky were painted pure white. Standing right in the middle was a person whose outline was barely visible, their back turned to me.
He slowly turned around.
―Has it been nearly a year since seeing you in a dream?
A mouth turned up high, showing neat teeth on a featureless face. A pale white body that seemed completely merged with the pure white space.
“You are……”
This transcendent presence that seemed to look down upon the world—I had encountered it before.
―It’s been a while.
The God of Sword greeted me.