Published: August 10, 2026
When I came down from the altar, Hartmut murmured in an entranced expression, "How painful, and yet how divine..."
Ferdinand must have explained the situation to him.
"Then, about the contract with the goddess of light... Lady Rosemine, is this about the right place for the magic tool?"
Hartmut nodded as he prepared the area around us, and I took out the divine relic of the goddess of light. I gently placed it over Eglantine's kneeling head.
Making sure it wouldn't fall off when Eglantine stood up, and making sure it wasn't tilted, was surprisingly difficult. As I already knew, if I struggled this much over a single crown, I clearly did not have the aptitude to be an attendant.
Along with Eglantine's vow, the crown of light shone brilliantly. At that moment, part of the blessing of the gods within me reacted. It seemed that the power of the gods also included the power of the retainers of light.
...What would happen if I blessed someone with all attributes?
After this, I was supposed to give Eglantine a blessing of all attributes. She was supposed to pretend that she had obtained Gultrishite through that blessing. Since I had not worked out any plan with Hartmut or Eglantine, I couldn't just abandon it now, and I couldn't think of another suitably divine way to bestow Gultrishite on her in this moment.
I met Hartmut's eyes as he adjusted the magic tool that amplified sound. Hartmut blinked as if he had noticed something, and his expression turned faintly unsettled. His gaze wandered as though searching for Ferdinand, who was carrying Fairburken's amulet.
...No! We can't stop such an important ceremony here.
I stopped Hartmut from moving, opened my mouth, and declared the bestowal of Gultrishite. I drew out my stave, chanted "Stylo," and carried out the flashy blessing of all attributes exactly as planned.
"Who governs the lofty, boundless heavens..."
With the words of prayer, the symbols of the great gods lit up. Each time they did, I could feel the power of the gods within me stirring and swelling. While the blessing of all attributes poured down on Eglantine, my own body grew hotter and hotter, as though I had a fever.
"Lady Eglantine, please show everyone the sign of Zent."
I yielded the stage to Eglantine and stepped back. Hartmut came to a stop slightly behind me and whispered, "Are you all right?"
Before I could answer, Ferdinand's voice came from somewhere I couldn't see.
"I prepared things for the foundation to some extent... but your face looks feverish."
"The gods' power reacts to the blessing and swells up."
"As the goddess said, we need to head to the foundation. We must keep everyone in the auditorium so no one learns where the foundation is. I'll leave the time-buying to you, Hartmut."
Hartmut let out a startled "Huh?" at Ferdinand's sudden unreasonable order. But his voice was drowned out by the cheers directed at Eglantine, who was raising Gultrishite.
"Have Traocval handle the speech that was supposed to be given from the new Zent to the aub afterward. If that still isn't enough, then buy more time by speaking about the lords' council."
"...Understood."
While that rather rough briefing was being carried out in haste, the cheers gradually died down. It seemed they had accepted the existence of Gultrishite. I let out a relieved breath, glad that I had properly fulfilled the role assigned to me as the avatar of the goddess.
...All that's left is to leave without losing consciousness.
"Then, everyone."
Hartmut, who had been dumped with the responsibility of changing the ceremony and buying time, gave the closing remarks with a slightly tense voice.
"Pray to the gods!"
Since it was a greeting, there was no avoiding prayer here. But when a soft blessing light spilled from my ring and my fever rose again, I wanted to clutch my head.
...Uuuugh... I'm an idiot, an idiot.
"Lady Rosemine, Lady Eglantine will be departing now. Raise your stave and send her off!"
Hartmut's voice rang out as he informed those involved that the ceremony had changed and urged the main participant's departure. Ferdinand, who had removed Fairburken's amulet, and Anastasius, who was barely holding back his shock, came to the front of the altar to escort us.