1.
Starting grandly and ending with a whimper.
That was the kind of story I hated most. For the creation of a Divine Artifact, receiving the blessing was only the halfway point.
Hoping it would end well... Dolores and I headed for Gaia’s temple in the duchy.
For the record, I had put it on her once already, but Kargon: Primordial Garden had been carefully wrapped and was now in my hands.
"Um... Lionel... I’m so grateful that you showed it to me first, but shouldn’t you show the Divine Artifact to Gaia first...?"
"It’s fine. She has already seen it."
She had left a comment faster than anyone else, after all.
In truth, the Origin Script itself meant that she had already inspected the equipment.
Ever since I entered the Tower and was granted an audience with Gaia, she had continuously left something akin to comments on the equipment I made.
‘It doesn’t matter how she checked it, so long as she did.’
That was what Harngar had said, too.
That was why I had been able to show Dolores first... and she had no reason to get sulky like last time.
"I see..."
Looking reassured, Dolores gazed down at the box in my hands.
It was six in the evening, just as the sun was nearly setting, so there were hardly any people in the temple.
Dolores must have sent the priests away beforehand, because there was no one inside, either.
Creeeak...
When I opened the door, a familiar place came into view.
The worship hall where the faithful prayed, and beyond it, a separately prepared audience chamber.
I had come here once before when I offered up [The Cradle of Earth], so I was familiar with it.
"Go on, sweetheart. I’ll wait here, all right?"
"I’ll be right back."
A glorious homecoming.
My lady, I shall return with my fucking awesome blessing.
I entered the audience chamber with a solemn expression, gripping the box tightly.
Click.
As soon as the door closed, it became as quiet as if I had stepped into a soundproof room.
In the middle of a room surrounded by stone walls, without windows or light, stood an earthen-colored statue with its arms spread wide.
"...Hello."
I could recognize her face by now.
The problem was that it felt heavily nerfed compared to her actual face—enough that she might be upset if she saw it in person.
I walked up to the statue.
I remembered agonizing over what to do here for quite some time the first time around... because I had no idea how I was supposed to proceed.
This time, I did not think there was any need to fumble around.
Thud.
I knelt on one knee and opened the box.
When the white cloth Dolores had draped over it was removed, a crimson water lily was revealed.
I took out Kargon: Primordial Garden and supported it in both hands...
Then proudly held it out toward the statue.
"...This is the Divine Artifact I told you about."
It had taken about three months to finish.
Honestly, when I had first heard that Divine Artifacts could only be made once a year, I had my doubts...
But now I understood. They would probably get more difficult with every passing day.
I had done my best. I had no regrets.
If someone asked whether I could make one better, I would probably shake my head and recoil in horror—at least for the time being.
"It took a little while, didn’t it?"
There was no answer in return, but...
"I would be grateful if you accepted it, Gaia..."
Then...
Hummm...
The adornment I held up immediately began to tremble.
I seemed to remember this happening last time, too.
And the phenomenon that would probably follow was...
Flash...
"Oh, oh..."
A dazzling light burst forth from the petals.
Even with my head lowered, it was bright enough to sting my eyes. I could not imagine how blinding it would be if I raised my head.
Before long, the light subsided.
Feeling that it was about time, I raised my head.
─────────────────
[Kargon: Primordial Garden] [★★★★✦ → ★★★★★]
[Unique Equipment] [Compatibility: - / 120]
─────────────────
[Divine Artifact] [Target Deity: Gaia]
[Blessing: Restoring Earth]
└ When the ground inside the garden is destroyed, it absorbs the mana remaining there and creates buds. The more the ground is destroyed, the more energy is condensed.
[Blessing: Flowers That Set in Your Stead] [Cooldown: 72 hours]
└ Consumes the power stored in a bud to block one instance of damage received by the wearer. The bud that takes the damage withers.
─────────────────
※ It has safely reached the owner of the divine realm. ※
※ Others in the divine realm covet it. ※
─────────────────
This was fucking insane.
To begin with, the weapon concept behind this Primordial Garden was centered on creating a new kind of offensive resource.
The key was additional attacks using buds, a combat resource beyond mana.
Still, I had secretly wondered what would happen to the buds planted inside if the ground was destroyed...
"They grow back if it gets broken...?"
I could smash all the ground to pieces?
And the second blessing, on top of that...
"A substitute taking the hit??"
It would block an attack aimed at Dolores?
The cooldown was seventy-two hours, but even if it only stopped one attack she could not evade during a battle...
Most people could understand just how broken that was.
"Thank you..."
I expressed my gratitude by taking three steps and bowing once each time.
Thanks to Gaia. I hoped she had not overexerted herself.
Aside from the blessings, there was something else I needed to check: another star had been added this time as well.
No, should I say half a star had been added?
Gaia had taken my five-star virginity like this, too.
Gaia had taken [The Cradle of Earth]’s three-star virginity as well, and now this had happened again.
It had gone from four and a half stars to five, so all I could do was be grateful.
From now on, I needed to work toward becoming good enough to make five-star equipment without Divine Artifacts or blessings.
And next, the blessings.
The goal of the previous blessing had been clear: to provide a physical buff so the Emperor and Princess could wear it safely.
But since I had no expertise in combat this time, I went in with the mindset of, ‘Just give me the best one you have here.’
Gaia had perfectly obliged me.
Perhaps she had taken extra care because it was equipment for an apostle who served her.
I could not even imagine how broadly Dolores would smile.
"Ah... what if Dolores becomes the number-one ranker?"
Life at the top would be exhausting, hehe...
I even curled up the corners of my mouth while imagining that.
I will serve you loyally, Gaia.
Right as I was indulging in those happy fantasies...
Ding.
A message appeared before my eyes.
"Ah."
Was it a message of thanks?
Last time, after I received a blessing, an oracle had arrived as well.
I seemed to recall there being a limit of around eight messages... Her reactions had been so enthusiastic that it had stuck with me.
This time, perhaps because the communication window was already open, there was no separate display showing how many oracles remained.
Instead, there was a single line at the top.
[72 hours remain until communication ends after the offering.]
"Hmm."
Three days was plenty of time to exchange greetings.
I sat down obediently and waited for her message.
How could I wait when I did not know when it would come?
[......]
I could see that she was typing. It looked like she would send something before long.
Thinking she would send it soon, I waited...
"......"
Nothing came.
I waited a little longer, but perhaps she was writing something lengthy, because it was taking a while.
As I continued waiting... I had not fully caught up on sleep yet, and just as my eyes began to droop...
Ding!
"...Oh."
I raised my head.
─────────────────
『Little one, I kept you waiting for so long. I did not know what to say first, so I kept writing and deleting. I would write a little, look at the flower, write some more, hold it against my clothes... and every time, my hands would stop.』
『I was the first to witness its completed form, yet holding it in my own hands feels entirely different. Its appearance changes with even the slightest movement of my head, so I cannot stop looking at it. I cannot begin to imagine how long it took you... my tears cloud my vision a little.』
『If you worry that the words you whispered to me might have been irreverent, you need not. It has been so long since someone found me beautiful... Remembering what you told me, I do not know how many times I changed clothes. Thanks to you, I am very happy.』
─────────────────
Whoa.
Another heaping bowl today.
The conclusion, at least...
"Whew..."
Was that the equipment was good, and she understood the irreverent Origin Script.
─────────────────
『We once blamed one another for so long... yet in your hands, we bloom beautifully without fighting. I was amazed, and ashamed as well.』
『From now on, many will seek you for many different reasons.』
─────────────────
This must have been about Ignia and Gaia.
I did not know what had happened between the two of them, but if she viewed it favorably, I was grateful.
I was about to write a reply when I stopped.
[......]
The typing indicator was still there.
────────────────
『If you ever ascend the Tower, will you come to me? This time, I would like you to stay a little longer. I will prepare things you wish to eat, and arrange a place where you can rest comfortably.』
『When you fall asleep, I will hold you without waking you... and when you open your eyes, we can speak of all the things left unsaid... I want to be with you for a while like that, little one. Will you make time for me someday?』
────────────────
I looked up at the statue.
"...Hmm."
What I was pondering was this.
It was a truly welcome offer, but...
『Never be tempted.』
That was what had been written in the Sun Dwarves’ textbook. I was wondering whether I ought to apply that rule to Gaia as well.
[Gaia, Goddess of Earth, intends to invite you to her residence someday.]
Something appeared before my eyes.
"I don’t think I need to give you a definite answer right now..."
For now, I gave a vague response.
"If I ascend the Tower, I hope to see you then."
Leaving myself just enough room.
After all, I did not know whether I would climb it or not, or whether a Tower Invitation Ticket would even come.
────────────────
『Thank you, little one. Take good care of yourself until then. Eat delicious things with the big little one as well.』
────────────────
Fortunately, Gaia did not demand a firmer answer.
"Yes. Gaia, please use it well, too."
────────────────
『I will. Today, I shall wear it out and show it off a little.』
────────────────
Smiling, I was about to put the adornment back into the box...
Ah, the owner was outside anyway, so I gave the statue one more greeting, then turned and left.
Gaia liked it, and I had received blessings more generous than I deserved.
It finally felt real that the work I had been clinging to for nearly three months was over.
I carried the adornment in my hand and went outside.
"Dolores!"
"Lionel!"
Dolores had been waiting for me, seated on one of the benches where the worshippers prayed.
Eager to tell her what the equipment could do, I hurried over.
My heart was in such a rush that I quickly put the adornment on her first.
─────────────────
[Kargon: Primordial Garden] [★★★★★]
[Unique Equipment] [Compatibility: 120 / 120]
─────────────────
[Having reached Compatibility 120, an effect that transcends the equipment’s grade has manifested.]
[The Master Craftsman’s Sun Engraving continuously replenishes yang energy.]
[The Child of the Forest Engraving draws out the wearer’s innate beauty.]
[Prolonged wear of equipment imbued with the energy of the sun produces a meaningful therapeutic effect on Nine Yin Severed Meridians.]
─────────────────
The maximum had gone up by ten, but there was no problem with that.
The additional effects were excellent, too. And even her appearance... draws it out... Well, that probably meant she would become prettier.
I immediately launched into a rambling explanation of the abilities granted by the blessings.
Even if the ground got smashed up, buds would grow back...
"...So, in conclusion, it can block an attack you can’t evade once every three days."
After finishing my explanation, I raised my head with a wide grin...
"...Dolores?"
Mama was staring intently at me.
Then she slowly opened her arms.
"It’s wonderful. Thank you, little one."
Honestly, I was fourteen, so I felt I might be a bit too old to be called little one...
But I nodded anyway.
She pulled me into her arms. I blinked a few times before hugging her back.
Squeeze...
"Thank you..."
Her hand gently stroked my back.
...When she liked it this much, it made me wonder what I should make for her next.
Smiling, I leaned into Dolores’s embrace.
After some time had passed, just as I began to feel it was time to head home...
"Let’s go home."
"Yes."
Flash.
"...?"
Dolores lifted me up without letting me out of the bundle of her arms.
And that day...
I did not leave Dolores’s embrace for even a single step.
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