Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Changes
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I could predict Ariana's intent in asking that question... but unfortunately, the Hero remains Ruin.
"It's not that I took all of the Hero's holy power; I only obtained a portion of it."
I told them that the holy power I had absorbed from Ruin amounted to less than a tenth of the total.
Even that much had been quite painful, though.
'For now, I need to discuss what exactly happened.'
Ariana, standing before me, was a being close to the pinnacle of holy power, but when it came to matters like this, the Pope would know best.
Unfortunately, the Pope was currently unreachable due to the Succubus Queen, so it would just be the Saintess, me, and Ruin—
"Haha, the Hero told us not to look for him for a while before vanishing, so we grew worried about his condition and came here."
...who nearly joined us, but it seemed he still couldn't shake off his teenage boy impulses and just bolted.
In his place, we spoke with Lib High Priest.
"Could this all be part of the Goddess's plan to make Is the Hero?!"
"Saintess..."
"Hm, I can't say there's absolutely no possibility of that, but if it were true, it would undermine the reason the Goddess chose the Hero in the first place. She could have just selected Brother Is from the start."
"You're right..."
Ariana was spouting something so absurd that I wondered how to respond, but fortunately, Lib High Priest appropriately countered her.
"Or how about this? From what I've heard, Brother Is gained his holy power around the same time as the Hero."
"That's correct."
"Meanwhile, the Hero hasn't trained at all—not even basic exercise—while Brother Is has trained diligently every single day without fail."
"Yes, I had to grow stronger to keep goblins from taking my family."
"A fine mindset. In any case, thanks to that, Brother Is has developed a strong body and mind beyond his years. While early manifestation of holy power played a role, it's truly due to his own willpower in honing himself with it."
Ariana nodded proudly at Lib High Priest's words.
"In other words, Brother Is possesses the qualifications to be the 'vessel' capable of receiving the Hero's vast holy power."
"...Yes?"
Wait, what did I just hear?
"How did the conversation jump to that?"
It was like saying that doing a hundred sit-ups, a hundred squats, and ten kilometers of running every day would make you the strongest instead of bald.
Ariana looked equally puzzled and turned to Lib High Priest.
"How exactly did he gain those qualifications?"
"Oh, it's simple. The Hero's holy power can only be shared with those acknowledged by the Goddess herself. That's why the Hero, the Saintess, and the Pope can freely exchange holy power among themselves without issue."
"Whaaat?! That's what it was?! I... I gave my holy power to Is..."
"Hm? The Saintess's holy power can be transferred to anyone, so that's fine. But it's curious—the Pope didn't mention this?"
"Th-the Pope..."
"Ah, right, it's been quite a while since His Holiness was last seen. Indeed, just when the Saintess needed to learn this, the Pope vanished."
Of all the timing for such crucial information, did the Pope really get taken out by the Succubus Queen...?
It felt almost deliberate.
For now, I refocused on Lib High Priest's explanation.
"Anticipating that the Hero couldn't control his own holy power, the Goddess shared it with Brother Is! To prepare him to receive the Hero's holy power!"
Lib High Priest declared it with absolute certainty, but as the person in question, I felt only skepticism.
"Even so, that's too much of a stretch—"
"No! This has to be it!"
"S-Saintess...?"
"Even Her Grace the Saintess thinks so. It seems we should petition the Holy Kingdom to create a new position."
"Great idea! How about calling it the 'Vessel'?"
"'Vessel'... It certainly suits Brother Is well."
"My vessel isn't that impressive, though..."
"Haha, Brother, have some confidence. The Saintess acknowledges it, and you've already successfully received the Hero's holy power."
Before I could even protest, the two of them reached their own conclusion, deciding that upon returning to the Holy Kingdom, they'd grant me the position of 'Vessel'.
'My vessel really isn't that big...'
My objections fell on deaf ears.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hoo..."
To sort out my troubled thoughts, I gripped my shotel and headed to the grand duke's training grounds.
Knight after knight swung their axes diligently, sweating even in the freezing north.
This was all due to Carmen's orders.
While I held out against the demons, Carmen had tearfully made a heartfelt plea.
She urged the knights to act like true knights and go kill the demons outside right now.
One Holy Knight who believed in the Goddess was fighting monsters, so why weren't they stepping up when even our weak father—believer in the Goddess—had fought?
From that day on, the knights trained diligently, resulting in the scene unfolding before my eyes.
I naturally headed to a corner spot when someone quietly approached beside me.
"Ah, Lady Adel."
"Sir Is, I heard you were badly injured... Are you sure you should be out here?"
Outside of battle, Adel wasn't in armor but in comfortable training clothes.
Meaning, this was the first time I'd seen her actual face.
'Whoa, a true knight heroine.'
Unlike Ariana's gentle retriever-like impression or Bellatrix's haughty older-sister vibe, Adel embodied the beauty and steadfastness of a perfect knight heroine.
Her black hair in a ponytail gave a calm aura, and her emerald eyes seemed like they'd never miss an enemy before her.
"...Sir Is?"
"Ah, my apologies. It's just my first time seeing Lady Adel's face up close."
"...Ah."
Adel hurriedly covered her face with her left hand.
As I looked at her quizzically at the odd sight, she peered back through her fingers and spoke.
"I'm sorry. You must be uncomfortable. Even knights who see me daily say things like 'your aura is too intimidating,' so for someone who rarely sees me, it must be worse."
Her expression blank, yet she bowed sincerely in apology.
"I'm sorry. I try to soften my gaze but fail most of the time..."
"No, no, hold on."
I couldn't let that slide, so I grabbed her shoulders and straightened her up.
"Who said something like that?"
"...Pardon?"
"Far from scary, you're beautiful enough that I wouldn't tire of seeing you every day. Just who is this idiot spouting nonsense?"
"...I-I don't understand what you're saying. Me, beautiful...?"
"Are you seriously asking? Usually, pretty or handsome people know their own level."
"Th-that so...?"
"So, who dared tell Lady Adel she looks 'scary'? Please tell me."
"...You met him before. Lore Inferior—"
"Ah! That bas—that guy!"
It made sense if it was Lore.
Adel was like a flower on a cliffside; the only ones she conversed with were Princess Bellatrix and Lore, who harbored an inferiority complex toward her.
No way Lore would say anything nice about Adel, so she'd come to believe her looks were truly intimidating because of him.
'I'll deal with him when I get back.'
Insulting Ariana, gaslighting Adel.
Your sins run deep.
"Anyway, Lady Adel, you're beautiful, so no need to worry. You don't harm me at all. In fact, just looking at you brings a smile to my face."
"Is... that so?"
Adel's blank expression tilted her head.
'Ah, the gap moe is killing me.'
Despite her unyielding strength, her subtle airheaded side had driven me crazy even in the game.
To think I'd see it in person.
"...Then, Sir Is, what do you think of your own appearance?"
"Hm? Me?"
It was a sudden question, but whatever.
"I'd say average at best? Not a sculpted hunk like the Hero, nor ruggedly handsome..."
Even Lib High Priest was better-looking than me.
The isekai average is too high.
"...So this is what it feels like."
"Yes?"
"Nothing. Anyway, thank you for the compliment. If it's not too much trouble, could I ask for a spar?"
"Ah! I was just about to ask you the same. Perfect."
I'd been eager to test the Hero's holy power I'd gained, and this was ideal.
Adel could handle my full power effortlessly.
With swelling anticipation, I began my spar with Adel.