I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 31
CHAPTER 31
<……?>
Why.
<……???>
Even though the wheat stalk doesn’t have eyes, why do I feel its gaze?
‘Detmé, do you have something to say?’
As I closed the lid after pouring the poison, the wheat stalk burst into a frenzy.
But it was just the fluttering of leaves.
The wrath of the first god, the sister of the goddess of the gods, and all it did was rustle a leaf.
I shook my head nervously.
My reaction seemed to further fuel the wheat stalk’s anger.
<Wha-what?? Wha-a-a-at do you want to say?? Pouring poison on a sacred tree and asking if I have something to say?>
The wheat stalk flushed red.
Oh, if it weren’t for a little more time, it would spit out fire.
<I don’t know what it is, but wasn’t that sacred tree our last hope to make a relic?>
‘Yeah, you’re right.’
If it really was a godly manifestation, anything could’ve been picked up, but not now.
The method I had in mind wasn’t certain.
So, wasn’t the purpose of making this poison to increase the chances?
‘I know about this tree disease too.’
I bowed down and picked up fallen leaves.
Even though it should’ve been late spring when the leaves were fresh and green.
It seemed like winter only existed here, as the leaves were dry and withered.
When I looked up, the gruesome sight became clearer.
The topmost leaves had already withered and fallen off.
The branches were also not intact.
Although not visible, the root situation would probably be similar.
Damn it.
I lost two precious herb fields to this disease before.
I even had to burn them to prevent the disease from spreading to other fields.
Since then, I’ve dedicated my life to researching this disease out of anger.
<Oh, you also knew about the disease! So how do you cure it then? Ah! That poison was the cure, wasn’t it? They say poison and medicine are just a step apart.>
“I can’t cure it.”
<What?>
‘I failed to create a cure.’
Despite pouring all my efforts into it, my life lacked both information and materials, so I failed to make the medicine.
I only obtained various other side products.
However, I learned one thing.
‘This disease is incurable even with divine power.’
Turns out it’s a very severe disease.
However.
‘It disappears if you inflict greater pain.’
<????>
‘It’s nothing special. Just think of covering pain with pain.’
Your stomach hurts? Break a leg.
With your focus on the leg pain, you won’t even feel the stomach pain.
Right?
‘This would be immensely painful for both!’
I laughed wickedly, holding up the second bottle and pouring it in.
Crunch!
A dangerous purple liquid was poured into the sacred tree.
If the tree could scream, wouldn’t it have made a sound like ‘Kieeeek’?
I couldn’t hear, but you get it!
<T-the sacred tree is dying!! Hey, do you know this is blasphemy?! Pouring poison on a tree decreed by the invited god?>
‘Yeah, next bottle!’
<Hey!!>
Whatever the wheat stalk says.
I poured all five bottles of poison I made into the sacred tree.
Soon, the sacred tree was completely dyed purple.
Hmm, not normal to anyone.
Good.
<My, my sacred tree, my faith, my offering!!!>
‘Don’t worry too much. Everything will be fine.’
<What do you mean everything will be fine?!>
‘Just now, you asked me to burn it with Ifrit’s flames.’
Didn’t Detmé say something like that earlier, not the wheat stalk?
She’d rather burn it with sacred flames.
‘This will have a similar effect.’
“Your Highness, Princess Lottie.”
The Grand Priest and senior priests looked at the sacred tree with bewildered eyes.
“Is it really okay?”
“Yes, of course.”
I gestured towards the sacred tree.
“Grand priest and senior priest, would you pour your divine power into the sacred tree?”
“Yes? But that disease is impermeable to divine power.”
“It’s possible now. However! You must pour it massively. Quantity over quality!”
“Oh, yes, yes.”
While nodding, the senior priest glanced back.
It was a look that said, ‘Is this really okay?’
“Do as the Princess wishes.”
The Emperor nodded while covering his face, and the Empress also smiled and nodded.
It was a face that said, ‘Let’s go all the way with this already ruined thing.’
The Good Empress… well, it was an amusing face.
Even if I take a step back from the center, is it okay to do that?
“We’ll give it a try, but…”
The senior priest and the Grand Priest approached cautiously and caught the part that wasn’t completely purple.
And then they poured their divine power into it.
Paaah-!
“……!!”
As the bright light faded, the purple part gradually receded, revealing the original clean sacred tree.
The withered leaves began to regain their color.
The poison had eaten the disease, and the disease had been cured by the divine power.
“The, the purple is fading away!”
“Oh, ohhh!!”
“Pour more!”
“Yes, Princess Lottie!”
The senior priest and Grand Priest poured more divine power with determination.
Yes, that’s how it should be.
Amidst the relic being swapped, would the sacred tree collapse due to poison?
To the senior priest and the Grand Priest, that sound was no different from a death sentence.
So, to protect the sacred tree even more, they poured their divine power more fiercely.
However due to the immense size of the sacred tree, the work was not easy.
Several hours passed like that.
Just 30 minutes before the ritual was set to begin, the sacred tree was completely purified.
“Huuaaaagh……”
“To be able to squeeze divine power to this extent… Grand Priest? Grand Priest!”
Thinking that God was calling him, the Grand Priest closed his eyes comfortably, leaving him behind.
I approached the sacred tree.
‘It’s done.’
The poison and even the bottles were perfectly purified.
<You really are amazing. Truly…>
The wheat stalk danced as if amazed, murmuring.
<So by doing this, we can cure all these diseases? Is it not conquered?>
‘No.’
I replied succinctly.
‘I’m the only one who can make this poison.’
Dozens of poisonous plants, which could even poison ordinary people while refining the ingredients, were used.
There were over ten types of herbs used as auxiliaries alone.
Even if there were ingredients, it wasn’t something that could be made easily.
Each ingredient needed to be delicately adjusted.
To make it properly, it had to be boiled fiercely for over a month, not too strong or too weak.
This time, due to a lack of time and poisonous plants, I had to use two roots of mandragora that I brought with me.
Even after pouring and using all five bottles I had made, I could only see the effect.
Originally, one bottle would have been enough.
Moreover, since it was a poison made to counteract this tree disease, it was ambiguous to use it for other purposes.
On top of that, an enormous amount of divine power had to be poured as a finishing touch.
‘Tch.’
I clicked my tongue lightly and approached the tree.
Alright, the disease has been cured, clean and neat.
‘Now, shall we try making the sacred relic?’
<How?>
The wheat stalk rustled with anticipation.
<I’m here, how are you going to make it?>
If you’re curious, I’ll teach you.
‘Detmé.’
I took out the wheat stalk ornament hanging neatly in my breast pocket and smiled.
‘In essence, isn’t a sacred relic something touched by a god given to humans?’
<Isn’t that so? It become sacred relics by touching them. But why?>
‘Then what happens when you become a god?’
<…Become a god… Huh? What, how?>
Like this!
I wrapped the wheat stalk ornament around a suitable branch.
Oh, it bends so easily, maybe because it’s made of fabric!
<Aaagh! My back, my back is out! My spine!>
The spine is bent too?
I nodded and twisted more vigorously.
Since it’s already bent, let’s bend every joint!
‘Since you were angry earlier, some of your power seemed to come out, right?’
Then get angry harder! Pour divine power into the sacred tree with all your might!
When the divine power from the tree bestowed by the god and the divine power emitted from the god merge, the sacred relic will be created stably!
<You should’ve done it right from the beginning!!>
‘If I had, when I picked you up from the temple floor earlier, I would have thrown you straight into the furnace.’
If even the main body of the god is damaged, they’ll sleep for at least a hundred years.
Before that, I’ll somehow escape the wheels of fate and not be thrown out of this world.
<…Cruel.>
I’ll take that as a compliment.
Alright.
The wheat stalk was tightly wrapped.
<Ugh…>
And not the wheat stalk, but Detmé was groaning as if unconscious.
Just bear with it a little longer.
The branch wrapped with the wheat stalk began to emit an enormous light.
This was the process of creating a sacred relic.
Thud.
Without me exerting any force, the sacred tree willingly placed a part of itself, now a sacred relic, on my hand.
“Unbelievable.”
Even the half-dazed Grand Priest stood up straight, staring at the miracle unfolding before him.
Soon, the branch emitting light was placed in my hand.
“We did it.”
I smiled as brightly as possible.
The approaching Grand Priest’s hand trembled.
“How could such a miracle…”
“In fact.”
I chuckled softly, lowering my gaze.
“Yesterday, Detmé appeared in my dream and said, ‘Individuals are targeting my faithful servants, spreading evil in a peaceful world. Help my servants and stop the evil.'”
There was no such occurrence, of course.
“All these miracles are gifts from Detmé. I merely extended a helping hand.”
Saying so, I offered the sacred relic to the Grand Priest.
“Receive the miracle bestowed by the god. You are faithful servants of Detmé.”
“…”
“…”
Thud, thud.
The Grand Priest and senior priests knelt one after the other. And they cheered.
“Praise be to Detmé!!!”
A god performing miracles for them.
It meant that the gods knew them and always looked after them.
It must have been touching.
“Th-thank you to Her Highness Princess Lottie as well. It must have been difficult for you to step forward.”
Even if God appeared in my dream.
I could have waited for the temple to collapse if I hadn’t been brave enough, or monopolized the method.
The Grand Priest was expressing gratitude for that.
I grinned.
“Deep faith deserves to be rewarded.”
The two priests seemed moved by my words and cried out silently once more.
And I chuckled inwardly.
Now, shall I accept the reward given by the god?