Ch.79Daily Life in the Holy Kingdom (1)

A medallion fell to the ground as proof that the trial had ended. Now where do I need to go with this thing?

As soon as I grabbed the medallion with my hand, it suddenly disappeared without a trace. Instead, I clearly felt like something new had formed within me.

The ability to create bullets that have the exact same effect as someone else’s supernatural power by using my lifespan. That’s probably my second supernatural power.

As long as the bullet makes contact with the target, the copied supernatural power will activate.

…But why does it have to use my lifespan again?

Still, the efficiency should be good. While thinking that, I tried to create a bullet with the time-stopping supernatural power and roughly felt how much lifespan it would consume.

Two months to stop time for 10 seconds. The stronger the opponent, the more lifespan it costs.

I thought I finally got a useful ability. Well, it is useful. It’s just that the efficiency is at a devastatingly terrible level.

“Did you guys get new supernatural powers too?”

“I think so.”

“What kind of ability did you get?”

“The ability to create someone’s doppelganger.”

“…You don’t happen to need to use your lifespan for that ability, do you?”

“I think it only uses mana.”

Surely I’m not the only one using my lifespan again, right? While thinking that, I looked at Taeyang, who opened his mouth.

“I got the ability to hypnotize.”

“…How exactly does that ability activate?”

“Probably just by making eye contact.”

I distanced myself from Taeyang and avoided his gaze.

“No, really, I haven’t done anything yet…”

“I’m just a bit scared, so could you not look at me for a moment?”

“…”

“Oh, and don’t come near me either.”

“…Since we’re done here anyway, I’ll be heading back now.”

As soon as Taeyang finished speaking, he really did unfold his scroll and left. Honestly, I feel a bit relieved now that he’s gone.

I mean, he’s a nice kid, but his appearance and ability are scary, so I can’t help it. I’m sure Taeyang will understand.

“Ju-an, so what kind of ability did you get?”

“I didn’t get an ability. Instead, I got this.”

Ju-an showed me some kind of mark that had appeared on the back of his left hand. It looks exactly like the medallion we received earlier.

“Is that proof that you’ve become a hero?”

“I think so.”

It’s really over. Yet somehow it doesn’t feel real. Is it because the ending was too anticlimactic?

“But why did you get that instead of an ability?”

“I don’t know either. Anyway, let’s head back now.”

Since everything was definitely over, there was no reason to stay in this awful place. So we immediately unfolded our scrolls. Then we returned to Ju-an’s room.

And Ju-an spoke in a somewhat dejected voice.

“I’ll go report to the Archbishop that the trial is over.”

“Then I’ll go somewhere briefly too.”

“Where are you going?”

“To see Leo.”

“Alright, let me know later what happened.”

With that, I made my way to the room where Leo was. For some reason, Ha-eun was following me.

“Are you going to see Leo too?”

“No. I’m just going to see my master.”

“Then why are you coming this way?”

“I just thought if it’s my master, he’d probably be researching magic with the former hero.”

“…You’re already using the word ‘former.'”

“Because there’s a new hero now.”

The world really is unpredictable. I suddenly turned into a woman, Ju-an became a hero, so what’s waiting for us next?

Actually, could it be that the Demon King was a good person and the world isn’t in danger? I really wish that were the case.

While thinking about that as we walked, Ha-eun asked me.

“Doesn’t something seem strange?”

“What?”

“Senior Ju-an really hates physical activities, right?”

“So what?”

“But wasn’t Senior Ju-an extremely skilled at wielding a sword today?”

“…You’re right.”

Ju-an is someone who detests physical activities. Yet such a person showed exceptional skills in combat, a physical activity.

It wasn’t just overwhelming with strength. He led the battle through various skillful techniques.

Even just yesterday, he was training alone saying he hadn’t met his quota. Why did he change so drastically?

I should definitely ask him when I see him later. While thinking about that, we arrived at Leo’s room. When I rang the doorbell, Leo’s voice came from behind the door.

“The door’s open.”

When I opened the door and entered, Leo and the former hero were indeed researching magic.

“You’re still doing that even after coming all the way here?”

“I’m doing this because I came here.”

“Can I ask you a few questions?”

“I think I already know. It’s about the trial, right? If so, feel free to ask anything.”

Leo said while writing something with the former hero. At least the conversation is moving quickly, which is good.

“I met you right after defeating the Demon King in the final trial.”

“So you’re asking what happened then, right?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I forgot.”

It’s exactly the same answer I heard before. As expected, the result is just as I predicted.

“Then can I ask one more thing?”

“As you wish.”

“Who is Zoe?”

Zoe. The name Leo uttered just before he died. Anyway, when Leo heard this name, he answered with a slightly trembling voice.

“…The previous Holy Maiden.”

“Then what was your relationship with her?”

Leo stopped writing. He stared blankly at the paper for a while before forcing out his voice.

“…Just colleagues.”

It was a voice that seemed to be forcibly hiding emotions like sadness and longing. At least it’s clear that she was an extremely important person to Leo.

For Leo, who thoroughly hides his emotions, to be shaken to this extent.

Good, but if she was the previous Holy Maiden, it should be easy to get information. Should I go to Rebecca first?

“Thank you for your answers. I’ll be going now.”

As I was about to leave, Ha-eun entered the room, opposite to me.

“You’re staying here?”

“Yes. I’m just going to study magic here.”

“…Why are you doing this?”

“It’s really fun. Senior, why don’t you try it once too?”

“Absolutely not.”

There’s no reason for me to learn magic when it’s obvious I have no talent for it. Even if I had talent, I wouldn’t want to learn magic.

Why would I want to learn something like that when I already know the reality of magic? Anyway, I changed my course to the room where Rebecca was.

***

When I rang the doorbell of Rebecca’s room, Rebecca opened the door with her usual smile.

“Oh, hello. I see you’ve finished the trial.”

“Yes. I managed to pass somehow. Anyway, I came because I have something to ask.”

“Alright. But before that, could you review the prayer I’m going to read tomorrow?”

Come to think of it, Rebecca said she had to live like a real Holy Maiden until this Friday.

“But I don’t know anything about that sort of thing.”

“Actually, prayers are also meant for people who don’t know anything.”

“Well, I’ll take a look then. But I might not be able to give an accurate assessment.”

“Yes, thank you.”

So I followed Rebecca into her room. And Rebecca took something out from among many stacks of paper and handed it to me.

“Here it is! I’ll definitely pass this time, right?”

This is what was written on the paper:

[I would like to say a word to the Goddess who watches over us from heaven. First, thank you for continuing to protect us.

And please give us strength to defeat the Demon King who will appear in two weeks.

But we already know. That there is no such thing as a Goddess. So we have no reason to pray like this.

We will all be brutally killed. If we’re caught, we’ll die right away. There’s no way we can win. So let’s run away quickly. Of course, even if we run away, we’ll eventually be caught and killed.

But a cornered rat will bite even a cat. Then the cat will get angry and kill the rat more painfully.]

I crumpled up the prayer… no, the waste paper and threw it in the trash.

“I don’t know anything about prayers, you know? But this is really not okay…”

A Holy Maiden giving this speech in front of people? That moment would mark the beginning of the Holy Nation’s final day.

Let’s say it’s okay to destroy faith, but why destroy hope too…

So I looked at Rebecca with contempt. Then Rebecca confidently pulled out other stacks of paper and said.

“That’s why I prepared several backup prayers!”

Alright, there should be at least one decent one among these. Let’s check them one by one.

[Delicious Kimchi Stew Recipe.

1. Turn the fire up so high that the house might burn down.

2. Throw 10g of meat onto the fire.

3. Chop and add one green onion.

4. Pour in 20L of water.

5. Take out the pot.]

I crumpled up waste paper #2 and threw it away. This is much worse than the previous one. Can this even be called a kimchi stew recipe in the first place?

“How to Effectively Blow Up Your House” would be a much more fitting title. Let’s check the others.

[I will expose the truth about the Holy Nation.]

[Get lost if you’re done (What could be done?)]

[In the Universal Century 0093, a ninja suddenly appeared.]

I put all the waste papers in the trash and said.

“Stop joking around and show me what you wrote seriously.”

“Those were all written seriously…”

“…You’re saying these are really serious? You’re saying you wrote this garbage with sincerity?”

“Yes…”

“…”

If I leave Rebecca like this, there will surely be a huge commotion in the Holy Nation tomorrow. So there’s only one thing I can do.

“I’ll help you, so let’s rewrite it from the beginning.”

“But don’t you also not know much about these prayers, Lite?”

“Just add some praise and write some nice words, right?”

“But isn’t it wrong to lie when speaking in front of people?”

“Have you ever seen politicians keep their campaign promises, Rebecca?”

“…Ah, that’s true.”

So I started helping Rebecca create a prayer.