Reincarnated in the Same World for the Nth Time - Chapter 16
Aquila remained motionless, his gaze fixed on the system window that had appeared after a long time.
It wasn’t Aquila’s first time seeing the holy relic of the Sun God, the Right Hand of the Halo, but it was his first time touching it.
In the previous playthrough, he had only looked around at the relics in the basement and listened to explanations about them.
Back then, he had little understanding of what an ancient item truly meant, and besides, with so many eyes around, it wasn’t exactly easy to reach out and touch it.
‘I never expected it to have this kind of option…’
The reason Aquila specifically mentioned the Right Hand of the Halo among the many relics located in the basement of the Great Temple of Port Plum was solely because of the image of “drinking.”
All he had to do was turn the water in the chalice into tea and have the cursed person drink it.
This was purely to make it easier to deceive from the Temple of the Sun’s point of view.
Of course, it was only a temporary measure, and he intended to announce the cure method altogether later.
And to be precise, there was one more reason.
To deliberately mention the basement to attract the attention of those who knew that information.
That way, the information would flow to Ianfel.
The result was a great success.
‘…Could it be that other relics also have these options attached? It’s worth checking.’
Aquila’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
Ianfel spoke quietly, wondering if something was wrong with Aquila, who was standing still.
It was his usual gentle tone, but the Saint’s light purple eyes contained a silent pressure of, ‘Move quickly according to the scenario we planned together.’
“Ah… No. Even though it’s the first time I’ve seen it, it’s really so dazzling, befitting the achievements of the Sun God.”
Aquila looked at those eyes and muttered admiringly from under his hood without changing his expression.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Yes. I also thought it was truly beautiful when I first saw it.”
Ianfel smiled brightly as if he had heard a wonderful compliment.
Yuzelia, hearing those words, made an “ugh” expression while bowing her head so that others wouldn’t see.
Aquila quietly stared at the water in the Right Hand of the Halo, which was less than half full.
“May I ask what kind of water is inside this?”
“It’s not water that we transferred and filled separately, but water that has been in the chalice from the beginning. According to records, it has been emptied a few times, but it is said to have refilled.”
“Like in the story?”
“No. It doesn’t rise to the point where the water spills out. But the water that is currently in it was emptied once a few decades ago, but it maintains its purity as if it has never been contaminated.”
The content was no different from the explanation Aquila had heard in the previous playthrough.
His black eyes quickly scanned the system window once again.
‘If I drink this, my mana increases and I can get a skill? The fact that there’s only one remaining means that the amount of water isn’t much…’
But the description said, “springing water,” and there was only collected water in the chalice.
Aquila scanned the chalice with unknowable eyes, but when Ianfel raised the Right Hand of Radiance, he followed his gaze.
A voice as soft as could be, without ever faltering in any case, echoed in the basement.
“Let me confirm one more time. According to the words of the Great Ancient Dragon, this chalice will reduce your pain, right? Is that correct?”
“Yes, that’s right. But The Great Dragon Yggdraine didn’t tell me specifically, so I do not know exactly what needs to be done.”
As he said that, Aquila quietly stared at Ianfel and recited the next line.
“I believe that the Saint Ianfel will definitely figure it out and help me.”
“If you say it like that, I have no choice but to do my best. I will work hard to remove the shadow of death that has been cast upon you and eliminate your pain.”
Ianfel made an impressed expression and held Aquila’s hands tightly with both of his.
The Saint’s hands were lukewarm, and no divine power leaked in from the part that was touching.
It was just bland and dry.
Aquila smiled.
‘This is giving me chills.’
Regardless, Ianfel began reciting a prayer of blessing in a concerned voice.
It was the same passage that Yuzelia had recited for Aquila at the Reshenhardt mansion.
“…Thus, I pray to the benevolent Sun God Rasphallara, to remove the dark shadows for the one who is suffering from the agony of ardent flames and bestow blessings like warm light.”
The Saint’s voice was benevolent and generous.
Even though they were in the basement, it was as if warm light was shining down.
It was originally a necessary step to cure the Curse of the Deadly Poison, but to the eyes of others, it looked like the Saint’s sincere prayer, unable to turn away from the patient’s suffering.
Two of the priests who had come here with them watched them with bated breath.
The remaining two, excluding the priest Chelsea who served Ianfel.
Aside from Chelsea, the priest who served Ianfel directly, the remaining two, a priest responsible for managing the basement and a bishop-level priest looked at Ianfel with growing reverence.
It was that beautiful of a prayer.
But Yuzelia, who was standing right behind Aquila, a step away, fidgeted with her fingers covered in her robe sleeves several times as she looked at them.
She felt uncomfortable with this showy performance.
She knew in her head that this process was necessary, but her heart couldn’t accept it.
Yuzelia tightly clasped her hands together and glanced at them as if praying.
‘Ugh, how can those two act so naturally!’
But because Shen, who she thought would be similar to her, was just watching this situation with a solemn face, she decided to endure it diligently.
“May abundant joy and gentle protection under the sun be with you.”
“…We pray together.”
The end of the sacred prayer was quiet.
The subtle radiance that had appeared when Yuzelia offered a sincere prayer and Aquila answered did not appear.
The Sun God must also know very well.
That this was nothing more than a ‘show’.
That’s why, even until Ianfel naturally withdrew his hand and handed over the chalice, there was only silence between them without any light.
“How about drinking a little of the water contained in the holy relic? It might help you.”
“Is that alright?”
“Of course. The water will refill… Ah, don’t worry. It’s recorded that nothing happened even if you drank it, and it’s just clean water. Right?”
Ianfel turned his head and asked the priest who had come with him.
Chelsea naturally agreed, and the other two priests also nodded, as if pushed by the power Ianfel had shown just now.
Besides, as he said, it was written in the records that nothing special would happen even if you drank the water contained in the relic, so there shouldn’t be any problems.
Ianfel, who turned his gaze away from the bewildered priests, smiled and offered the Right Hand of the Halo.
If he just swallowed the water contained in the relic, everything would be according to the scenario.
The scenario that Aquila and Ianfel had planned.
Their plan was very simple.
After Aquila drank the water contained in the Right Hand of the Halo, he just had to say that it was effective against the Curse of the Deadly Poison.
The Curse of the Deadly Poison that was cast on Aquila was already healed, so who would know if he deliberately made it up?
So, what was important here was just emphasizing the prayer of blessing and the benevolence of Rasphallara.
Aquila didn’t have to worry about what happened after that.
Everything would be taken care of by Ianfel and the Temple of the Sun.
“Here you go. I hope that the benevolence of the Sun God Rasphallara will dwell within you.”
Aquila accepted the Right Hand of the Halo.
The Sun God’s relic, with its smooth golden surface, was heavier than it looked.
With that weight, Aquila’s mind once again turned to the options attached to the Right Hand of the Halo.
Since he had already lifted the Curse of the Deadly Poison, he was planning to pretend to take only a sip or two.
But he had to drink all the water contained in the holy relic and get a skill this time.
Because he didn’t know if he could come to the basement of the Great Temple again.
Aquila held the Right Hand of the Halo with both hands so that the contents wouldn’t shake.
‘Item use is…’
As soon as Aquila shouted inwardly, the window popped up.
Ting!
【Would you like to use the Ancient-grade item, Right Hand of the Halo?
Options: Mana increase, Random skill gift
Remaining (110)】
【※Caution: This item has only 1 use remaining. When the number of uses reaches 0, it will return to a normal item, and you can no longer obtain the options attached to the item.
Would you still like to use it?】
【Yes No】
As soon as Aquila saw the window appear, he chose without hesitation.
‘Yes.’
Then, the pattern of the Sun God Rasphallara, which was engraved on the surface of the Right Hand of the Halo, took on a golden hue.
But everyone there didn’t even have time to be surprised by that light.
Because as the sacred light suddenly sparkled, water gushed out from inside the relic like a fountain and began to wet and flow down Aquila’s hands!
“Water…!”
“Rasphallara, have mercy!”
All the priests gasped at the sight they were seeing for the first time.
Aquila was also momentarily embarrassed, but he came to his senses when the water that had fallen to the floor wet his shoes.
Aquila instinctively realized that he shouldn’t miss this opportunity.
He quickly suppressed his embarrassment and raised both hands high.
As he tilted his head back, the hood that had been pulled down deeply was taken off, revealing the red hair that was the blessing of Reshenhardt.
Everyone, even Ianfel, was unable to move as if overwhelmed by that appearance.
It was as if only Aquila existed there.
He carefully tilted the chalice and slowly drank the water flowing from the Right Hand of the Halo.
The water springing from the relic completely soaked Aquila’s face and hair.
A soft and cool energy, as if swimming in water, spread throughout Aquila’s body.
And then.
Ting!
【The voice left by the Goddess of spring water for her beloved Earth God spreads deep into my body!】
【The voice of love she left last begins to reside in your heart!】
【Mana is doubled! (Bonus effect)】
【One skill is randomly granted!】
【………… The draw is complete!】
【A new skill has been unlocked as a result of using the Ancient-grade item, Right Hand of the Halo!】
【Grace that flows in the earth’s ground New!
-
- Instantly amplifies mana and can shoot the gathered mana forward.
-
- ??? (Cannot be used yet due to the user’s insufficient ability.)
― Limited to this playthrough. Disappears upon death.】
Notifications rang all at once, making Aquila’s mind noisy.
But he remained still, his face dripping wet, unable to lift his head.
And muttered silently.
“This is insane…”
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