I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 30
CHAPTER 30
‘If it were truly a genuine relic, there’s no way I could have broken it.’
The relic didn’t refer to anything special.
It was what the gods directly bestowed upon humans.
Everything became a relic.
Even if you picked up a pebble on the road and handed it over, it became a relic.
Because it was given by the gods.
‘Even though it’s just an object, it holds deep sanctity.’
The improved durability was a bonus.
There’s no way I could have broken such a relic.
‘Even an ordinary branch is beyond my ability to break.’
But this relic crumbled too easily in my hands.
It means it was a well-made fake.
“What, what is this…?”
The elderly grand priest trembled as he tried to pick up the two halves of the broken branch.
It would be better not to touch it.
As the priest’s fingers touched it, with a crack, one side of the branch scattered.
“What in the world is happening.”
A gloomy voice descended upon the grand priest’s head.
“What in the world has the grand priest done to manage the relics?”
“That, Your Imperial Majesty.”
The grand priest swallowed hard.
Even though the religious and imperial powers were separated, at the level of Pandelion, even the temple was subject to the Emperor’s control.
“There were no issues until last year’s ceremony! And didn’t His Majesty also witness it earlier?”
The grand priest shouted desperately.
“The sanctity of the relics has been confirmed!”
“Well, of course.”
The people in the room turned their attention to me at my words.
Even the wheat stalk hanging from my chest.
“It’s natural for the sanctity to be confirmed and for there to have been no issues until last year.”
I asked a question as I moved the box where the relics were kept.
“Grand priest, how do you usually manage the relics?”
“I swear in the name of the gods, and I manage them thoroughly. I keep them in a secret place with multiple layers of seals.”
“How many people know the location?”
“Only me. I will only inform the next grand priest when they are selected.”
In other words, only the grand priest knew the location.
“So, the relics are safe regularly!”
“That’s right.”
“What?”
“The holy relics were probably switched after last year’s festival.”
There would be no need to touch the relics for a year after the ceremony.
In other words, it was the perfect time to make the switch.
“And dirty deeds were done to deceive the grand priest and His Majesty the Emperor.”
I tapped the remaining fake relic with my toe.
As expected, it turned into powder and scattered.
“Oh no.”
Inside, a piece of wood from the real relic emerged.
It was very strategically planned.
<…>
Yes?
<Someone dares to harm me.>
Oh, no.
The wheat stalk was trembling violently.
Detmé was angry.
Fortunately, it bounced back.
If the fake relic had crumbled into dust, it would have undoubtedly been a significant blow.
<How dare…!!>
Kwoong. The power emanating from the wheat stalk was enough to make the temple tremble.
Indeed, a demi-god.
But I didn’t intend to let it rampage.
‘Calm down! If things continue like this and the balance is disrupted, what will happen if that side wakes up!’
<…!>
‘And if you use Detmé’s power now, I’ll die!!’
Just receiving the power of a spirit could kill, let alone receiving the power of a demi-god directly?
This time, even my soul would scatter!
Whether my desperate shout reached or not, the violently shaking wheat stalk stopped.
<…Sorry.>
Apologizing, it even extended its leaves and grains.
‘There’s no need for Detmé to apologize.’
The wheat stalk nodded its head.
As if in apology, it even gently shook its leaves.
“Anyway.”
Coughing softly, I spoke.
“Capturing the culprit is important, but the upcoming ceremony is more crucial, right?”
Nods.
The grand priest nodded as if entranced by my words.
Right now, outside the door, nobles were waiting for the ceremony to begin, not to mention commoners.
“If the ceremony fails, people will not only be disappointed, but they’ll also start saying that Detmé has abandoned Pandelion.”
That must not happen.
Because that would shake the royal family.
I shouldn’t fail before I even start sucking up honey!
“So, let’s create a new relic for now.”
“Are you saying we should create a new relic?”
“How?”
Not only the grand priest and the emperor,
“Is there any good way?”
Even the cautious Good Empress who had been observing from a distance was now stepping forward.
<H-how can we create a new relic? I’m trapped here, I can’t manifest.>
Even Detmé interjected.
How could we make a new relic when she was trapped in the wheat stalk?
I raised the corner of my mouth wryly.
“We have something else given to us by Detmé, don’t we?”
“Something else? What…”
Ah, these folks.
What can you do if they don’t remember anything, unlike me?
“A tree, a tree. Sacred tree!”
Didn’t Arkin mention it to me earlier?
“Sister, there’s also a tree here that was cut down by the goddess herself. Let’s go see it together later.”
“Isn’t the missing relic also a branch of the sacred tree?”
“That’s correct.”
The grand priest nodded.
“According to the records, Detmé bestowed fruit trees upon the people to feed them.”
The grand priest chuckled lightly.
“And she commanded to build a temple at the spot where the first tree was planted and personally bestowed branches upon us.”
<Oh, right! That’s how it was. I remember now. They prayed every day because they were hungry, and they were given fruit trees, but I didn’t bring them as relics.>
As if remembering, the wheat stalk suddenly raised its two leaves.
<I only broke off one branch to use as a relic, trying to make an entire tree into a relic seemed a bit ambiguous!>
‘…Well done.’
I thought we were given the branch fitting for a god of abundance.
Did I forget to bring it?
“For now, shall we go to the sacred tree?”
The answer lies there.
I smirked confidently, but the grand priest didn’t share my sentiment.
“Um, about that… Your Highness the Princess.”
The grand priest shook his head listlessly.
No, why, what’s going on now?
* * *
What’s this?
There was a large tree in the temple’s backyard.
Standing tall in one spot for thousands of years, the tree was so majestic that it wouldn’t fit in one’s field of vision.
“It’s suffering from a plant disease.”
It was grumbling.
No, no… Is this even possible?
For a sacred tree to suffer from a plant disease?
“How do they take care of the holy relics in the temple, they never do anything right.”
The emperor couldn’t bear it anymore and spoke up.
“I apologize!”
Thud!
The responsible priest banged his head on the ground.
Ouch, that must hurt.
“But in my defense, there was nothing I could do.”
Brushing off the dirt from his head, the priest continued speaking.
“I’m already old, and I was swept away by a fire once. You all remember, Your Majesty.”
At the mention of ‘Majesty,’ the emperor and the empress’ expressions hardened.
‘Ah, that guy.’
I grabbed the back of my neck.
Which reincarnation was it?
Somewhere past my 70th life.
He set countries on fire and destroyed nations just to find one person.
Half the continent burned, and numerous countries were divided because of him.
And I had just regained my memories not long before I died.
Damn, bastard.
‘I heard he even planned to challenge the gods but suddenly disappeared.’
Being called a demon and still alive?
Let’s meet someday, I’ll crush his skull.
“Since then, I’ve been much weaker, so even with precautions, it’s turned out like this.”
There was a deep regret in the priest’s eyes and the careful touch of his hand on the tree.
“Even now, the current plant disease is unidentified, and it doesn’t even possess any sanctity.”
The responsible senior priest chewed his lips anxiously.
“No matter what, it’s my fault for not managing it properly.”
With a slump, the priest knelt.
“I know my insignificant life is worthless.”
“Grand priest of Pandelion!”
“But shouldn’t I bear the punishment for ruining the ceremony, Your Majesty the Emperor and Your Majesty the Good Empress?”
He humbly requests this.
Once again, the senior priest’s shoulders slumped.
“Hah.”
I let out a deep breath.
‘Seeing that young one taking responsibility like that, it’s difficult to just stand by and watch.’
<…Young one? He doesn’t seem that young to me.>
‘What are you talking about, Detmé? Anyone younger than me is considered young.’
<But that standard isn’t your first life, is it?>
‘Of course, it’s the first life.’
<Are there people older than you?>
‘But there’s Detmé.’
<…???>
Ignoring the bewildered wheat stalk, I half-turned my body to face the emperor and the empress.
“We’ll discuss punishment later. We still have time until the ceremony, right?”
Since they allowed me to come this far without interruption, it was a subtle request for a little more leeway.
The emperor sighed softly and asked.
“So what do you propose?”
“We need to make medicine to treat the sacred tree. So, would you please escort me to the herbal storage room?”
The responsible senior priest looked at the emperor and the empress upon my request.
It was a pleading look for permission.
“Well, go ahead.”
“It seems interesting.”
Good, the emperor and the empress granted permission.
“What else can I say after the decision of Your Majesty the Emperor and Your Majesty the Good Empress?”
The permission from the high priest followed shortly after.
“Then I shall escort you, Your Highness.”
I followed the responsible senior priest to the storage room and soon returned with a vial filled with liquid.
And I poured it directly onto the sacred tree.
<As expected of Lottie! She knew how to help me! What kind of medicine is this?>
No, this isn’t medicine, it’s poison.