Chapter 140
Chapter 140
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: Beggar Gritz (15) - Grace's Origin
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“What was that last night? An earthquake?”
“Wasn’t it lightning?”
“Lightning without any rain? I’m telling you, it was an earthquake.”
“You’re all wrong! I saw it with my own two eyes! There was a giant under the moonlight!”
“This guy’s drunk again and talking nonsense.”
“It wasn’t nonsense!!”
The residents of Bellaria wouldn’t stop whispering among themselves.
A massive roar and tremors had shaken the entire territory. Many had witnessed golden and silver-gray lights gleaming faintly under the moonlight.
Rumors snowballed, tangled with countless speculations and hypotheses, sowing confusion far and wide.
As if putting an end to all the chaos, the Canillian family soon issued an official statement.
Hearing that the Guardian God had changed generations left the residents bewildered at first, but they soon accepted the Canillian family’s announcement.
They’d already sensed something big was coming soon—talk of festivals and such—so they figured it was just the inevitable finally happening.
The Canillians blocked access to the old temple, but deliberately allowed people to view the site from afar.
In truth, that was more than enough.
The remains of the tree giant—still dozens of meters tall even collapsed—instilled awe in anyone who beheld it from a distance.
The surrounding trees had been uprooted during its creation, leaving an unobstructed view.
People came to see the tree giant as the ‘Guardian God’s shed skin,’ and this wondrous structure only strengthened the residents’ faith in their protective deity.
“...The plan was a success. The residents have regained their stability, and there are no reports of issues with the crops.”
In the Canillian estate’s study.
The family head reported with utmost courtesy, stealing glances at Grace’s expression.
One might think serving as a mere attendant to another in his own study would bruise his pride, but the head dismissed such trivialities.
The moment Grace revealed the truth about the Guardian God and the misdeeds of past heads, he was done for.
The Canillian family’s dominance and legitimacy rested on the bloodline of the god. If Grace declared she’d no longer favor the blood of the ‘former god,’ that’d be the end.
No, forget all that—if she just swung the power she inherited as Guardian God with a whack!, he’d drop dead with a thud!
A few clan members had foolishly insisted, ‘She was once just our plaything—let’s manipulate her as we please!’ but the head had them all hanged.
With so many reasons to submit, trying to seize control by dredging up her past status? If you want to die, do it alone.
“That’s good news. I was wondering if I’d really have to step in if the farming took a turn for the worse.”
Grace said this as she reached toward a potted plant in the corner of the study.
The moment silver-gray light from her hand touched it, the flower bud bloomed in an instant—and didn’t stop there. It multiplied like a bouquet, filling the pot to the brim.
No amount of ordinary watering and sunlight could achieve that.
The head swallowed hard without thinking.
He’d once wondered if Grace’s abilities would vanish with the Guardian God, but seeing her now, such worries seemed unfounded.
“Then, I’ll be off. Not sure when I’ll return... but it probably won’t matter much, right? The former Guardian God never got too involved anyway. Oh, but remember this.”
Grace’s gray eyes fixed on the head.
Her beauty had always been striking, but now, radiating silver-gray divine light, she looked truly divine—mysterious and awe-inspiring.
“I’m leaving you and the Canillians alone not because I like you, but to prevent the chaos if I exposed every truth. But if the family’s harm outweighs that chaos... well, I won’t spell it out.”
“Y-Yes, I’ll keep that in mind. You won’t be disappointed.”
Grace shrugged lightly at the trembling head, then turned toward the window.
Once silver-gray divine power enveloped her, by the time he looked again, she was gone.
Only then did the head exhale deeply.
He sensed his future wouldn’t be smooth, but if this was karma, there was no helping it.
Grace strolled leisurely through the city streets.
Not long ago, the residents would react in all sorts of ways at the mere sight of her, but now, even walking boldly down the main road without guards, no one approached or whispered about her.
No—they didn’t even seem to register her presence.
Grace muttered with a wry smile.
“This thing really is all-purpose.”
Divine power was the strength to make desires reality.
With effort, it could strengthen the body, heal wounds, or suppress one’s presence like now.
But it wasn’t limitless.
The divinity Grace inherited was that of an agriculture god, and her power shone brightest in matters of farming.
Everything else was less efficient, and some things she couldn’t do at all.
Think of it like this: enriching vast fields was easier than conjuring a tiny flame the size of a torch.
Of course, Grace had no major complaints.
Acquiring such abilities was a miracle in itself.
According to Gritz, only transcendent beings outside the divine race could directly turn human prayers into power—but Grace, no transcendent, could convert prayers straight to divine power.
He’d explained something about divinity theft and ritualistic rites, but honestly, she barely understood.
She just knew she’d become a sort of acquired divine being, and that it was utterly absurd.
After walking a bit longer...
In the city outskirts, where foot traffic thinned...
Grace watched the children happily playing in the yard of the newly completed orphanage, a deep smile on her lips.
Their plump cheeks and clean, proper clothes proved their lives had improved vastly.
Everyone knew the new Guardian God hailed from here, after all.
Who would dare scorn these children as orphans now?
Grace hesitated long about approaching them, then turned away.
“What, no greetings? They’d be thrilled to see you.”
And there, right before her eyes, sat a lone oaken barrel on the ground.
Grace’s expression shifted through a rainbow of emotions.
Surprise, suspicion, joy, delight.
The last dominated, but she capped it with exasperation, puffing her cheeks as she spoke.
“Shouldn’t you say something else first right now?”
“Like what?”
“‘Sorry,’ obviously! How could you just vanish like that? Do you know how worried I was?”
That day, after the battle with the Guardian God ended...
Gritz had disappeared without a single explanation.
When she woke, seeing the barrel shards scattered about had terrified her.
His leisurely voice in her ear and the lack of blood or bodies suggested victory, but speculation and certainty were worlds apart.
“Sorry my ass. I go where I please—it’s my barrel. How dare a mere Guardian God infringe on a beggar’s freedom?”
A vein throbbed on Grace’s forehead.
She walked up silently and kicked the barrel thwack!
“Hey, this wench is hitting people now!”
“Yeah, I kicked it! What’re you gonna do about it? Saying ‘sorry’ wouldn’t kill you!”
“S-Stop kicking! You’ll make a hole, you idiot! This is a new one I barely scavenged after the old broke!”
“If you punched a hole in my heart, you can handle that much!!”
After quite the tussle...
Grace flopped down exhausted, leaning back against the barrel.
“I’m leaving the Canillians be for now. They’re irritating in many ways, but if they collapse completely, someone new will scramble for power. No guarantee they’d be better.”
“Heh, just pick someone you like. Or rule yourself. Divine power supply would improve, no?”
“No thanks. Being fawned over as ‘Lady Shaman’ was bad enough—imagine the fuss if I’m openly called a god.”
“That why you’re hiding from your family? Afraid they’ll treat you different?”
“Yeah. I thought about telling them to ignore it and act normal... but no, that won’t work.”
Even if Grace said not to worry, it wouldn’t be easy for them.
Forcing that on them for her own selfishness... And even if the orphanage accepted her as normal, rumors of her favoritism would sow discord eventually.
Innocent kids now could change as they grew.
“So, I’m heading out. To new people who don’t know me, new places unaware of shamans or Guardian Gods, new dreams. I’ll visit occasionally so the territory doesn’t fall apart.”
“I see.”
“Won’t you come with?”
Gritz didn’t answer.
Grace continued.
“I know you came to say goodbye. That you’re leaving now. So please... don’t go. Stay by my side.”
“Everything has an end.”
“Even if nodding now means becoming lovers with Bellaria’s top beauty—who’s also the Guardian God?”
“Your confidence and self-love pierce the heavens. Still no.”
“This is too much.”
“Heh, you knew what kind of guy I was.”
“True. How’d I fall for such a weirdo? Confessing to a faceless man and getting rejected—makes me want to cry from injustice.”
Grace sighed deeply, but instead of tears or clinging, she spoke calmly.
“Fine. I’ll give up.”
“Wise choice.”
“You’re misunderstanding. I’m not giving up on you.”
“Huh?”
Grace stood with a lively, mischievous grin.
Then, with solemn reverence, she knelt and prayed to Gritz.
“O faceless one. You who claimed the lowest place, freer than any other.”
“In my despair’s thrashing, beneath my smiling mask’s screams, only you heard my voice.”
“You made me smile. You saved me.”
“Thus, you are my god.”
“If all pray to me, I shall pray to you.”
“If all praise me as god, then I alone shall praise you.”
“You need not grant my prayers. I’ll achieve my desires myself.”
“If you won’t stay by my side, I’ll seek you out and remain.”
“You need not wait. You need not pause your steps.”
“Just... allow me to pray?”
⟨ Grace's Prayer ⟩
A long silence followed.
“Jeez, you’re asking for trouble. Do as you like.”
A gruff reply came.
Grace opened her eyes.
Nothing was before her.
Yet she smiled.
The shaman whose earnest prayer reached him smiled.