Inheriting the Novel

Chapter 12 : Saint Grancesia (4)

Saint Grancesia (4)

A ring glittering in Michelle's palm.

That, with a gold band and a red gem the size of a thumbnail, was none other than the Eye of Shimosha, the relic of Saint Grancesia.

==

〈Eye of Shimosha〉

The holy relic of Saint Grancesia Atell.

Grancesia's soul is sealed within; if granted her consent, one may use powerful abilities. If the ring's wearer dies while wearing it, the ring will be destroyed as well.

Currently, Grancesia's soul is watching the fraud who calls himself the Apostle of God.

==

'I didn't expect this...'

I had predicted that the relic in the coffin would be the Eye of Shimosha.

Even if it hadn't been, since I mentioned "revelation", I figured I could get Michelle to tell me its location.

'But to think it would be a holy relic with the saint's soul sealed inside.'

And on top of that, she's watching me...

A strange sense of foreboding emanated from the sparkling red light.

"This is the keepsake of Lady Grancesia, passed down through the Atell family. Long ago, lady Grancesia stated that the one chosen by this ring would be her heir. If what Sir Vanhart says is true, it means God has chosen you as the saint's successor."

Grancesia had never given the ring to anyone.

One day, she passed away silently as if falling asleep, and the ring had always been hers.

"Didn't any other priests covet it?"

"Only members of the Atell family know about this ring. In our family, we let children grip the ring once on their hundredth day after birth."

Yet the ring remained on the saint's finger.

"... No one was chosen by the ring, then."

"That's correct. But if it's true that you've received God's revelation, and also heard the saint's voice..."

He trailed off, but his implication was clear.

'If I'm not chosen by the Eye of Shimosha, then everything I said is a lie.'

A simple and certain way to confirm.

No wonder they opened the coffin so readily.

"Understood."

Without hesitation, I took the ring from Michelle and slipped it onto my finger.

Of course, the ring remained silent. There was no difference from when it was on Michelle's palm.

"As expected, it seems the ring does not respond to you either, sir Vanhart."

After a brief observation, Michelle nodded, as if this was only natural.

If things stayed like this, I would quietly have to return the ring, but I had no intention of doing so.

"No, I hear her."

"... Excuse me?"

"I can hear the voice of the saint."

"Wh-what are you talking about?!"

Michelle looked flustered, as if I was spouting utter nonsense.

Meanwhile, the ring was still silent, but I could tell.

Right now, the soul of Saint Grancesia was taken aback.

==

〈Eye of Shimosha〉

The holy relic of Saint Grancesia Atell.

Grancesia's soul is sealed within; if granted her consent, one may use powerful abilities. If the ring's wearer dies while wearing it, the ring will be destroyed as well.

Currently, Grancesia's soul is agonizing over whether the fraud is lying right now, or if he truly has sensed her soul.

==

"There's no need for you to worry. I know that your soul is sealed within the ring."

I spoke, verifying the ring's settings.

I answered several of the saint's internal musings as she speculated various things.

Once this repeated, it seemed the ring could not hold its silence any longer.

[You—how did you know?]

The moment the red jewel on the ring sparkled, a rather prickly voice—not befitting a saint—buzzed in my head.

"Gasp!"

Suddenly, Michelle's eyes widened in shock as the ring shone.

It seemed he couldn't hear the voice, but seeing the ring light up was enough for him.

I grinned at Michelle and spoke toward the ring.

"I told you, didn't I? I received a revelation from God."

[Liar. God doesn't give out such revelations. If disaster comes, it's simply fate. That's all humanity amounts to in their eyes.]

"Quite a sharp tongue for a saint."

[Ha! Saint? I don't need a title that wraps up the power I seized as if it were a divine miracle.]

"Th-the Eye of Shimosha is glowing... Then it's really true; Sir Vanhart is..."

Michelle was completely dazed as the ring continued to sparkle. Once Grancesia started talking, she chattered away like a gossip.

[Speak. How on earth did you know I sealed my soul in the ring?]

"Priest Michelle, do you believe now that I have received the revelation of God?"

"Ah, yes..."

[What kind of nonsense are you spouting, you fraud! How did you know about me?!]

"In that case, I'll treasure this precious keepsake of the great saint. Is that all right? You were going to give it to me anyway, weren't you?"

"Th-that's... Well, yes, but..."

[Michelle? What are you saying right now?]

"Oh, and I'll be counting on your help in the upcoming surprise operation as well. As I said before, not just the Eye of Shimosha, but also your strength is needed."

"Of course! I absolutely must assist you!"

"Haha, thank you."

[Hey!]

Her voice was quite urgent.

Naturally so; if I died while wearing this, the ring would also be destroyed.

Michelle, standing there bewildered, seemed completely oblivious to this fact.

But it was clear Grancesia understood perfectly—hence the desperation in her voice.

From her perspective, she absolutely had to prevent anyone from becoming the ring's owner.

'Well, it's mine now.'

[Who said you could own it? Michelle! Take the ring back from this man right away!]

What, she can even read my thoughts?

But no matter how much she shouted, Grancesia's voice could never reach Michelle.

'With this, the second aspect of plausibility has been fulfilled.'

The last, third problem is self-sacrifice for others.

[Wait—plausibility? Second? What do you mean by that?]

But that was something I'd have to think about after telling the rest of the story.

* * *

[Do you expect me to believe that?]

Grancesia's reaction after hearing my story was predictably unimpressed.

"Then don't."

[But if it's true, then I could understand how you recognized me... but you speak rather curtly, don't you?]

You only just noticed?

"You reap what you sow."

[Hmph, you're quite the smooth talker for a fraud. Calling yourself God's apostle, liar that you are.]

"It's the fool who's outsmarted."

[That's exactly what swindlers say.]

Originally, I never planned to tell anyone about the power I inherited from my father.

Saying that this world was nothing but a novel someone wrote and the protagonist was already dead would, without a doubt, just make me out to be a lunatic.

But now there was no helping it.

Once I put the ring on, the saint was reading my mind at will, so it was impossible to hide my real intentions from her.

[I'm still not completely convinced by your words. If things go as you say from here on out, maybe that'll change.]

The surprising thing was that, aside from a little grumbling, she was quieter than expected. I had thought she'd scream and shout to stop lying, but she didn't.

Even telling me to give the ring back to Michelle—she seemed to have grown tired of repeating it.

"That's enough."

[Anyway, if the second's been met, that just leaves self-sacrifice, the third. Isn't that just helping others somehow and being done with it? Ha, so the requirement to earn my Divine Blood is something that simple.]

She sounded incredulous.

But as Grancesia said, the third requirement was by no means a simple one.

"Well, yes, but it's not as easy as it sounds."

[What do you mean, not easy?]

"This 'self-sacrifice' isn't just about helping someone."

I could instinctively understand what this self-sacrifice meant, just as I had with other settings.

This was about a dramatic sacrifice—at the very least, putting your life on the line for someone else.

A common trope in novels.

A character who sacrifices themselves for another.

To obtain the Divine Blood, I'd have to accomplish something very much like that.

[I see—well, from my perspective, it'll be quite the spectacle to watch.]

The red gem sparkled pleasantly.

[I'll be watching you, Clay Vanhart. We'll soon see whether your words are truth or lie.]

She said this coolly and made no further comment.

It was a bit amusing, how she said her piece and vanished, but that was enough for now.

'Self-sacrifice, huh...'

The last bit of plausibility required for the Divine Blood.

A condition that may well cost my life, but considering the effects of the Divine Blood, it was well worth it.

'I have something in mind anyway.'

Of course, things might not go the way I hoped.

If the princess's abilities weren't as I anticipated, my plans would go awry.

I could only guess at the future by referencing the Synopsis, and the original work.

There was always room for unexpected twists, so I needed to make every possible preparation.

* * *

One day until the decisive battle.

For tomorrow's surprise operation, Duke Gale summoned his officers and explained the outline of the mission.

"Basically, we must operate under the assumption that Baian Deoric has leaked information to the Kainzel Kingdom."

In the tent where the officers were gathered, Duke Gale's solemn voice echoed.

It was such an important operation that all the key officers and a host of prominent nobles were gathered in the tent.

'I don't think I need to be here.'

Incidentally, I was also attending this strategy meeting, supposedly as Duke Gale's "adviser".

Normally, I'd have served as a company commander or fought among the knight order.

The eldest son of a fallen count's house—that was about all the position I could expect.

But Duke Gale had specially singled me out as an adviser to keep by his side.

An extraordinary promotion, to say the least.

'No tension here at all.'

Most of the nobles here were only participating to distinguish themselves in the war.

They all pretended to focus on Duke Gale's speech, but most were listening with only half an ear.

"In short, we plan to turn the enemy's strategy to our advantage. If information wasn't leaked and they aren't prepared, well, that's good for us too."

"As expected of Your Grace, the Duke!"

"A brilliant plan! Truly, what a strategy!"

No sooner had Duke Gale finished speaking than praises started pouring in.

It made me wonder if all the previous wars had been fought by Duke Gale alone.

'Besides, he's already explained this operation before.'

This wasn't the first operation meeting, and we'd already had similar briefings several times, so there was absolutely no reason for this sort of fawning.

In other words, the nobles had zero real interest in the operation.

Duke Gale, knowing this, merely smiled bitterly.

'And yet, despite this, the war situation still favors us.'

Should I call the Kainzel Kingdom incompetent, or Duke Gale brilliant?

"What a ridiculous sight, don't you agree, sir Vanhart?"

As I looked at the nobles flocking around Duke Gale, a familiar voice reached me.

"Ah, sir Eaton. Good day."

"Enough with the greetings. Watching all this makes it hard to feel sociable."

Tedric Eaton swept his gaze around and clicked his tongue, clearly displeased by the sycophantic nobles buttering up Duke Gale.

In fact, given his status, he should have attracted many people to his side.

But unlike the duke, with Tedric's perpetually sharp demeanor, hardly anyone but the truly bold ever approached him.

Especially in light of the recent poisoning incident, the nobles who'd once tried to frame Tedric as the culprit now flinched and watched him warily.

'If only there'd been even one skill worth learning, I'd be happier with him, damn shame.'

Tedric Eaton was a formidable knight, but unlike Baian, he didn't have much to offer me in terms of skills.

First, his family's sword art, Celestial Cloud Sword, was preserved in perfect condition—unlike the Hidden Star Sword—making it not only difficult to wield recklessly, but also difficult to learn.

The Hidden Star Sword I could pick up easily thanks to the Deoric family's frequent exchanges during childhood, but not so with Celestial Cloud Sword.

So what I gained from Tedric weren't powerful skills, but rather practical experience against strong opponents, and swordsmanship refined under his instruction.

Still, that alone seemed enough for the knowledge I'd gleaned from the story's settings to start soaking into my body.

'At this rate, I'm not far from reaching Sword Expert.'

A realm I had once vaguely thought unreachable was now within my grasp.

Thinking that, even I couldn't help but feel excited.