Chapter 29: Adelgarten (1)

***

13. Behold, I fill this cup with calamity.
14. Under the sky, all calamities shall gather here.
15. Thus, I command the Saint to fill it with Divine Blood and purify it.

…..

20. From calamity, yet another Saint Relic has been born.

21. Name it the Holy Grail.

Creation Myth, Chapter 5, Saint Relics

There are treasures in this world more precious than gold.

Among them, Saint Relics are objects of such value that no price can be set upon them.

The Sacred Sword wielded by ancient heroes was such a thing, as were the Sacred Spear, Sacred Talisman, and other Divine Artifacts.

How many wars were waged by the greedy, blinded by desire for these treasures?

Despite being called Saint Relics, they were little more than cursed objects that brought bloodshed wherever they appeared.

“Of course, no one even knows if they still exist now…”

All this was just a story from when I played the game, before I possessed Richard.

Now, having become a character in the game without understanding how, the idea of gods in this world was as meaningless as chasing clouds.

But I didn’t care much about that.

If a Saint Relic really existed, that would be wonderful, but it wasn’t something to get excited or depressed about right now.

If it doesn’t exist, then I’ll simply make one.

After all, I am a god.

…Even if I’m just one of the twelve minor gods.

“Why are we only targeting Trolls?”

It was when I tucked the thirtieth Troll Mana Stone into my pouch.

Aaron asked, his face weary.

Sweat, long since dried, clung to his face, showing just how hard things had been.

“It’s been five days now. All we’ve done is hunt Trolls, and in this dangerous Demon Realm, no less.”

Had it really been five days?

Now that he mentioned it, I think the sun had set about five times.

In that time, we’d come to understand why this place was called the Demon Realm.

Poisonous mists, monsters and beasts attacking day and night—by now, we were sick and tired of it all.

Thankfully, the region where Trolls mainly lived was on the outskirts of the Demon Realm.

I massaged my aching arms and legs before answering.

“I’m planning to trade with the Elves. So I need to prepare something they can’t refuse.”

A deal with the Elves.

In the future I knew from the game, ‘that bastard Markus’ had done the same thing.

He lent one of his Saint Relics to the Elves.

In exchange, the Elves formed an alliance with Markus’s faction, and he made a pact with the fairies of the World Tree.

“From that point, the power of the mages skyrocketed.”

It was a turning point that shattered the balance between the North and the South.

To just sit on this knowledge would be the height of foolishness.

“I’m going to make a Saint Relic.”

Again, if it doesn’t exist, then I’ll make it.

Simple as that.

***

“Found it.”

We crouched in the brush, eyes fixed ahead.

Sure enough, Trom was there.

But this one was different—it had two heads and four arms.

Which meant, this was the local boss Trom, a mutant.

“Is… is that really a Troll?”

Aaron muttered in disbelief.

“This guy will be our finale. Let’s observe for now.”

The monster was in the middle of its meal.

And its meal was—an Ogre.

Crack—!

Watching the fearsome Ogre torn apart like paper was enough to send chills down my spine.

“At least it only has one heart.”

“…That’s something, I suppose.”

To face that thing head-on would be suicide. We needed to wait for the perfect opportunity.

And soon enough, that chance came.

“KUWAAARGH!”

As Trom ate, another monster charged in.

It was a beast-type monster, drawn by the scent of Ogre blood.

“Aaron, can you throw a spear?”

“I’ve never missed at this range.”

“Good.”

Calmly, I watched as the two monsters fought.

The beast bit into Trom’s massive body several times.

But for the Troll, those wounds healed almost instantly.

Bang!

Trom’s fist came crashing down without mercy.

It didn’t stop there.

All four arms began to pummel the beast.

“KRWAAAH!”

It must not have liked having its meal interrupted.

Even after the beast was dead, Trom’s violence continued.

Bang, bang!

Each blow shook the ground and made the forest tremble.

That savage brutality—truly worthy of a boss.

“Ready.”

At my signal, Aaron gripped his spear tight.

Rumble—

A violet Aura crawled up the spear like a snake.

“Target the heart. Throw with everything you’ve got.”

“Yes, sir.”

I steadied myself and folded my three outstretched fingers one by one.

Three, two, one.

Swoosh—!

Aaron threw his spear at the same moment I kicked off the ground.

Chasing after the spear’s gleaming arc as it flew toward the Troll.

“KUWAA!”

Both of its heads turned toward us.

Its arms shot up, surprisingly quick for its size, shielding its heart.

Crunch—

The face that had looked so unconcerned twisted in shock.

Aaron’s spear, infused with Piercing Aura, tore through the thick arms with ease.

The second and third arms, raised in desperation, fared no better.

Only after piercing the fourth arm did the spear finally lose momentum and stop.

[Skill – Holy Aura: Activate]

In that split second, I reached the monster.

With all my might, I swung my sword. Even as the Troll twisted instinctively to shield its shoulder, I didn’t stop.

Slice—

One of its heads soared through the air.

“KUAAARGH!”

The remaining head howled in rage.

“We need to finish this before more monsters show up.”

Aaron emerged from the brush, clutching the Ice Crescendo I’d handed him earlier.

He was right.

The danger of the Demon Realm was the sheer density of monsters.

We pressed the advantage, attacking the immobilized monster without pause.

Just as Trom had brutalized the beast, now it was our turn to unleash one-sided violence.

“Guh, KUWAA!”

I had hoped to extract the Mana Stone cleanly, but the monster thrashed and struggled desperately.

But only for a moment.

Thud—

The mutant Troll collapsed, kicking up a cloud of dust.

“…I didn’t expect to bring it down so easily. That was at least a six-star monster…”

“Hard to put up a fight when all its arms are pinned down.”

Aaron’s surprise attack was the MVP.

How many spearmen on this continent could take down all four arms of a monster like this with a single throw?

“You really are incredible, sir.”

“Hm?”

Aaron suddenly looked at me with deep respect.

He was holding the Troll’s severed head.

“Maybe because it had two heads, its neck is extra thick. To take it off in one blow—most high-ranking knights couldn’t manage that.”

“You’re the one who pierced all four arms. I could only do it because of you.”

“Still, cutting and piercing are different skills, sir.”

“Whatever. Let’s just get out of here.”

I pocketed the mutant Troll’s Mana Stone and moved on.

Our destination: the cave we’d been using as a hideout.

There were fewer monsters around, and the thick brush made it easy to hide.

“This is the last of the Troll hunting.”

“Really?”

Aaron’s eyes lit up at my words.

He’d suffered enough in the Demon Realm without knowing why.

“We’ve gathered enough materials. Time to make it.”

There was nothing left for us here.

I wanted to get out as soon as possible.

***

At the hideout, I immediately unpacked our haul: thirty regular Troll Mana Stones and one from the mutant.

And finally, I took out the Wooden Cup.

I’d picked it up at a general store near Batenberg before leaving.

At a glance, it looked like a tiny trophy—plain, with no decoration, and honestly rather shabby.

“Well, let’s begin.”

Crunch—

I took a Mana Stone and pressed it into the Wooden Cup.

The original Holy Grail was crafted by adorning a cup with Mana Stones from notorious monsters known as ‘Calamities.’

“But monsters like that are out of my league right now.”

So instead of a tiger, I’d have to settle for a chicken—or maybe a sparrow.

I had no choice but to use other monsters’ Mana Stones.

Still, there was a reason I insisted on using only Troll Mana Stones.

The Troll’s remarkable regeneration comes from its Mana Stone.

Regeneration means vitality.

At least, it’s far more effective than any random monster’s Mana Stone.

“There.”

“…It doesn’t really suit the name ‘Holy Grail,’ does it?”

Aaron hit a sore spot.

I’d tried my best to make it look cool, but clearly, I had no talent for handiwork.

“There are black bumps all over the cup.”

“Quiet.”

The mutant Mana Stone sat at the center, with the rest clustered around it like fingernails stuck to the cup.

Now that Aaron mentioned it, it really did look like it was covered in bumps.

I could only hope the Elves cared more about its effects than its appearance.

[5,000 Faith has been bestowed upon the Wooden Cup studded with Mana Stones.]

A brilliant light exploded in the dark cave.

[You are crafting the lowest-grade imitation of the Holy Grail.]

The Status Window appeared, and the transformation began.

Thin grooves formed between the Mana Stones embedded in the cup.

Light ran along those grooves.

[The vessel’s rank is far too low. The reproduction rate drops drastically.]

[The lowest-grade imitation of the Holy Grail has been completed.]

“Is it done?”

Before long, a blinding light pierced my eyes.

But that wasn’t the end of it.

[The northern World Tree, Adelgarten, has sensed your existence.]

[Adelgarten is watching you.]

[Adelgarten is yearning for you…]

[Adelgarten is calling to you.]

[Adelgarten is…]

What…?

The Status Window filled my vision.

They were just words, and yet the emotions they carried pressed in on me with overwhelming force.