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Chapter 90
“The missing relic is the pendant of the Goddess Prinis, isn’t it? It’s the kind of relic that can be disguised at any time. So, isn’t it possible that the young lady might have hidden it in some other way?”
One of the priests cautiously spoke. Hearing this, the accompanying priest immediately shook his head.
“We’ve already conducted a full body search. There was nothing unusual. Besides, using a relic is impossible unless one is a high-ranking priest. Are you suggesting that the young lady is a high-ranking priest? Not just any relic, but a pendant—only someone at the level of a saint can wield such power. So, it’s likely still in its original form…”
“She can’t possibly be carrying something that large in her head.”
“Couldn’t it have been hidden by magic?”
“Again, I must stress, handling a relic is impossible unless you’re at the rank of a high priest or above. No matter how strong the magic!”
At some point, the priests began to argue. They seemed so flustered that they even forgot the emperor and the duke were present, spewing guesses and debating loudly.
The accompanying priest next to Elizia still waved his staff around her, as if trying to detect something, but nothing changed.
‘No matter how many times you point it, you won’t find anything.’
Everything in the inventory only pointed to the user’s head.
All previous item tracking effects or skills only indicated the location of the player’s head when items were in the inventory. Additionally, there was no skill to forcibly take bound items from another person’s inventory.
Knowing this, Elizia chose to stand confidently in front of the staff. At this point, the system made it impossible to dispose of the item secretly anyway. It was better to keep it in the inventory, ensuring no one could ever find it.
However, the problem was that in this case…
“So what do we do then? The relic has disappeared, and it’s only pointing to Lady Semperion in this situation.”
“We must take Lady Semperion to the temple for a more thorough investigation!”
The priests all shouted simultaneously, as if by agreement, glaring at Elizia. They seemed ready to drag her to the temple immediately, prompting Elizia to shake her head.
“You want to take me there? No way!”
She added firmly:
“Do you even know how terrifying it was for me just to get here, suddenly being dragged around? And now you want to take me to the temple too?”
“But the relic…”
The accompanying priest, seemingly at a loss for words, fell silent. Instead, the chief priest composed himself and spoke. With a calm yet stern tone, he declared:
“Even if, by some miracle, the young lady is a ‘living relic,’ as a relic, it is still the temple’s responsibility to manage it.”
Regardless, relics were managed by the temple.
Even if Elizia wasn’t a relic herself, the temple claimed that any related items must be managed by them. Their tone suggested that refusal was not an option. Elizia replied slowly.
“…That’s not necessarily true.”
Shaking her head, she added clearly:
“I’ve heard that not all relics are under the temple’s management. The palace and the Magetower also each hold one or two relics.”
“That is…”
The chief priest’s expression flickered with slight surprise, as if astonished that she knew such details. Elizia quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
‘Thanks to the viewers quickly finding out, I know this now.’
So far, five relics had been discovered.
The temple didn’t possess all of them. Particularly when the royal family discovered a relic, the temple couldn’t just take it, often compromising with a system where the royal family retained it while the temple periodically inspected it. Essentially, each party recognized ownership as long as the relic could be used for the public good when necessary.
Relics varied widely in characteristics, and some didn’t have particularly special effects. In such cases, the temple wouldn’t insist on keeping them. Thus, the temple and royal family each held two relics, and the Magetower held one.
Historically, legendary heroes who achieved great feats sometimes ‘borrowed’ relics personally. Whether it was a divine selection or a strategic move by the temple to defeat demons, relics were sometimes temporarily granted to individuals, then returned afterward.
Therefore, the claim that “all relics must be managed by the temple” did not hold true.
The emperor nodded with a look of interest.
“That’s correct. There’s no law in the empire requiring all relics to be kept by the temple.”
Elizia looked up at the emperor quietly. He had been observing the reactions of the priests and the duke carefully, seemingly relaxed as if it didn’t matter who prevailed.
‘When I heard they allowed the temple special investigative authority, I thought they were on the temple’s side.’
Yet now, he seemed to side with Elizia. Which side was the emperor on?
‘No, probably neither.’
The emperor was on the emperor’s side. More precisely, on the side of the royal family.
If the temple and the duke’s house fought, the emperor would simply observe and take advantage. The royal family had nothing to lose.
The emperor spoke again.
“Traditionally, relics were held by the royal family, the Magetower, and the temple. Even if you don’t want to go to the temple, it will be difficult to stay at the Semperion estate until the investigation of the relic is complete.”
At that, Elizia cautiously spoke.
“…If I may, Your Majesty, haven’t there been cases where individuals held relics?”
Historically, some heroes held their own relics during their lifetime, later donating them to the palace, Magetower, or temple.
The priests immediately rebutted.
“Ha! Those were extremely rare exceptions!”
“Only during times of national crisis, granted to a trusted hero or temporarily allowed for the one who discovered it!”
The emperor shook his head.
“Hm… I understand not wanting to leave home, but relics—even for heroes—were only ‘borrowed’ temporarily. Their rightful place must be determined.”
‘As expected, it won’t work.’
Elizia accepted it. Her suggestion wasn’t a sure bet; she hadn’t expected legendary-level treatment given her poor reputation.
‘So what should I do? I really don’t want to go to the temple…!’
Elizia subtly observed the emperor’s expression. Despite everything, he didn’t offer to have the royal family take responsibility, probably not wanting to provoke the temple. That made sense.
At this point, the only evidence pointing to her was “the light toward the relic.” There was no divine power to trace in her, making her only a “suspected rogue young lady.” Not valuable enough for the temple to forcibly take her.
“Eliz…”
It was then. The Crown Prince, who had remained silent, quietly spoke. His serious gaze suggested he had something to say, but his voice was so low that few noticed. Just as he was about to speak again—
“Lady Semperion! Please come to the temple!”
A clear, ringing voice interrupted.
It was Prillien.
Her nerves seemed to settle as she looked at Elizia calmly.
“Of course, I understand it might be uncomfortable for you to visit the temple. Everyone has misunderstood and may have treated you rudely. I sincerely… truly apologize for that.”
She bowed deeply.
“Sa… Saint…”
The other priests looked surprised, not expecting Prillien’s action. The chief priest raised a subtle eyebrow, also caught off guard. Prillien continued:
“But everyone… everyone did not mean any harm. You know, relics are incredibly important…”
Glancing at the accompanying priests and other clergy, she added:
“Though they were rude until now, I promise no one will harm you. While at the temple, no one will trouble you—I swear it!”
‘Prillien’s typical proposal… but there’s no way it’s true.’
Elizia suppressed the urge to immediately argue.
That statement didn’t make sense. The temple had previously invaded the duke’s estate using special investigative authority. They wouldn’t just refrain from harming her now.
If she hadn’t hidden the pendant in her inventory and it had been found in a drawer, she might have been imprisoned without a chance to explain.
“Even if it’s difficult… could you trust me, Lady Semperion? I’ll do my best to make your days at the temple as comfortable as possible.”
Seeing Elizia hesitate, Prillien quickly added:
“Food too… I can’t promise it’ll be as good as at the Semperion estate, but I’ll make sure you get whatever you want, even if I have to bring it from outside! The best room… or mine, if you prefer… and if anyone disrespects you, I’ll personally step in first!”
“No, no! Saint, that’s…”
The more Prillien spoke, the more the nearby priests looked bewildered. Elizia thought:
‘Can she really say that…?’
She’ll fight for me? And even offer her own room and bring food?
‘If that happens, I’ll really become the villain!’
Taking the saint’s room, ordering food—people will think, ‘Evil Elizia is even bossing around the saint!’ The more she thought about it, the more confusing it became.
“If there’s anything you’re unhappy with, please speak honestly. I’ll truly do my best… I promise in the name of the saint.”
Prillien’s voice was sincere to the point of seeming desperate. Her gaze and resolved lips made it feel like one should trust her. Inspired by her, the accompanying priest whispered to Elizia:
“Lady Semperion, perhaps you should go for the additional investigation? The saint has spoken so earnestly…”
Other priests, seemingly impressed, also cast her glances of silent pressure: ‘The saint has spoken so much; will you really refuse?’
Elizia bit her lip.
“I don’t believe we’ve expressed our position yet.”
Another voice interjected. Elizia turned to see someone quietly sitting in the back, mostly hidden by a hat.
“How about coming to the Magetower?”
Elizia recognized the voice immediately.
‘Finn…’
Next to him, someone fidgeting was probably Jerome. Naturally, representatives of the Magetower were also present. Quietly, a few other seated figures looked like mages.
With the Magetower stepping in unexpectedly, the priests’ faces showed slight annoyance. The emperor, interested, asked:
“Of course, the Magetower can hold relics, but what’s the justification this time?”
“…Lady Semperion originally belongs to the Magetower.”
Finn lightly tapped Jerome’s side. Jerome quickly added:
“Y-Yes. She is also a very capable and promising candidate of the Magetower!”
People murmured.
“…Really?”
“C-Capable?”
