Chapter 121 : Chapter 121
Chapter 121. Necklace of Joy
Necklace of Joy.
A magical tool that changes a negative person into a positive one.
Radel devoted himself to production until he arrived at the temple to make this magical tool.
It took an hour just to draw the magic circle as shown in the blueprint.
After that, he delicately wove mana according to the formula.
The amazing thing about Principal Cromwell’s blueprint was that it was made so that even people lacking knowledge about magical tools could follow it.
It was not an easy task for Radel, who was making a magical tool for the first time, but thanks to the blueprint, he was able to complete the Necklace of Joy somehow.
Radel took the necklace out of his bosom and entered the solitary cell where Obsidian was tied up.
‘I don’t know if it is effective, though.’
It was a magical tool that had never been released to the world yet.
Even Cromwell, who conceived this, said he had never actually made it.
Radel did not know exactly what effects the Necklace of Joy had.
Until he tried putting it on Obsidian.
“You came back because you want to die? This dirty Supreme Deity’s……! What are you doing?!”
Obsidian spat out curses at Radel, who came in again, but then felt an ominous feeling.
Because Radel abruptly hung the suspicious necklace he was holding around his neck.
“Get lost! What is th……!”
Click.
Then Obsidian’s mouth, which had been moving ceaselessly, stopped.
Radel watched his behavior.
“……What was I trying to say?”
The expression of Obsidian, who was wearing the necklace, was changing.
“Why am I getting angry?”
He muttered slowly.
He seemed confused.
It was a very different appearance from when he poured out all sorts of curses at Radel earlier.
Obsidian blankly stared at Radel, who was looking at him from the front.
He was definitely an unlucky guy he wanted to tear apart and kill, but now he wasn't angry enough to wonder why he even thought that.
Rather, other emotions began to rise.
Obsidian asked Radel.
“Does the fact that you came here mean you came to see me?”
“That is right. Because I wanted to talk with you, Professor.”
At Radel’s answer, Obsidian felt as if he had been hit on the head. He wondered why he hadn't noticed until now.
“……Come to think of it, you are still calling me a Professor.”
How were the Inquisitors?
Did they not point fingers at him calling him a dirty heretic and treat him like a worm?
Seeing Radel’s behavior of elevating him, even if only with words like this, felt new.
“Because you are a Professor……?”
Radel called him Professor because they hadn't exchanged names properly and there was nothing else to call him, but…….
To Obsidian, who had turned positive thanks to the effect of the Necklace of Joy, it felt different.
“Huhu, is that so. Have I been fighting a foolish fight until now.”
Obsidian smiled bitterly.
“I thought I knew the essence of the world, but was it all my delusion.”
Muttering to himself, he smiled lonely and looked up at the ceiling.
“I hated this world. I decided to become true evil rather than live among disgusting humans disguised as good. Yes, real ‘evil’.”
Radel took a slight step back at Obsidian’s appearance, which seemed to have already departed for his own world.
For some reason, he felt he should do that.
“Now I know. The real ‘evil’ I was searching for wasn't far away. It was right inside me. Huhu, really, I can't be stopped. Since I only clung to the resurrection of Belphegor like a fool. Even though I already had the key.”
Obsidian shook his head as if it couldn't be helped.
Radel did not miss that opening and asked.
“You said you already had the key?”
“Yes. Thinking about it now, it is a mystery why I tried to find it outside. That was all a futile act.”
Obsidian’s eyes became faint.
In Radel’s view, he seemed to have transcended something beyond just becoming positive.
“Don't you look for it from afar either. The key is inside your heart.”
That was obvious.
Because the six black keys were safe in Radel’s bosom.
However, Radel could also tell that he didn't mean it in that sense.
Obsidian looked somewhat relieved.
It seemed the resurrection of Belphegor was no longer important to him.
‘It means it works even on such a fallen soul, right?’
Radel confirmed that the Necklace of Joy was effective.
* * *
The Bishop of the Supreme Deity Order’s Marcellent Temple, Lambrado Altante, had just arrived at the temple.
He was in an uncomfortable mood after returning from the Bishop Council.
“……Stupid fools.”
Lambrado’s true feelings popped out.
Under his eyes, which were always shaded, looked even darker.
The meeting was truly a mess.
He knew the bishops of the reformist faction had loud voices, but he didn't know they were that persistent.
They became arrogant day by day.
“How long are you just going to keep the heretics locked up, you ask?”
Lambrado scoffed.
Do the guys called bishops even know demons?
Well, they have only done desk administration and never fought demons, so it was a natural thing.
demons endlessly roamed looking for the next vessel.
If the one who offered their soul to them died, they immediately tempted another person nearby.
How clever the demons’ temptation was.
It was to the point where keeping them locked up without killing them was better than creating a new heretic who fell for the demon.
‘There were rumors that there is no space in the underground prison?’
‘How dare heretics occupy the temple! If it’s going to be like this, let’s execute them all!’
The voices of the reformist faction bishops chatting were still vivid in Lambrado’s ears.
Lambrado frowned his throbbing forehead and entered the temple.
The one who greeted him in a rush was Kirio, the Inquisitor.
“Bishop, there is a place you must go with me right now.”
His expression was calm, but urgency was felt.
It was unlike Kirio, who usually restrained emotional expression as an Inquisitor.
“Where do you mean I have to go?”
“It is the underground prison.”
Underground prison?
Are the heretics causing a riot again?
He had suffered because of those guys throughout the Bishop Council, so hearing that he had to go see the heretics as soon as he arrived at Marcellent Temple did not make him feel good.
Lambrado swallowed his annoyance inwardly and went down to the underground prison with Kirio.
Before opening the prison door, he even offered a short prayer to purify his mind.
Because heretics gained strength when they sensed people’s negative emotions.
He was Bishop Lambrado who didn't budge at most things, but when listening to their words insulting his deceased parents, he sometimes felt a murderous urge.
Heretics were guys who were experts at dirtying people’s emotions like that and obtaining the situation they wanted.
Creak.
The door opened, and Lambrado was momentarily speechless at the unexpected sight.
“What on earth is this……?”
What waited for him were not the heretics who always caused a riot.
There were no heretics who spat or poured out curses whenever he entered like usual.
They were quietly tied to chairs with peaceful expressions.
They even said this.
“Bishop, it has been a long time. You always work hard. Looking back, we were immature.”
“Although we offered our souls to the Master, there was no reason to spit on the Inquisitors. Haha.”
The heretics deep inside were still causing a riot, but about ten or so sitting near the entrance looked very peaceful.
“Right. Since we are caught in the temple anyway, isn't it meaningless? I only have the desire to quickly end this life and go to the Master's side to serve.”
“Indeed. Even so, there was no need to shout until our throats hurt. There were many ways to practice evil besides that. It was a foolish thing.”
Surprised by their changed atmosphere, Lambrado looked back at Kirio.
Kirio smiled and nodded.
“It is all thanks to Prince Radel.”
* * *
The Necklace of Joy Radel brought was successful.
It was worth producing them until materials ran out while he was at it.
Of course, he didn't make enough to hang on every heretic locked in the underground prison, but just finding out it had this level of effect was satisfactory.
Especially Lambrado, the Bishop of Marcellent, seemed more satisfied than Radel.
“You may choose from here.”
Lambrado pointed at the rewards placed before Radel with a slightly brighter complexion than usual.
Holy relics of the Supreme Deity Order, such as the Bell of Purification used by Inquisitors, a lily carved from the marble of the holy land where a miracle occurred, and the Shoes of the Lost Saint, were waiting for Radel’s choice.
Even to Radel, who had no divine power, they were items that emanated extraordinary energy.
‘Shoes of the Lost Saint. If you wear those shoes, you can find even a lost path at once. On top of that, the Lily of Miracle……. That is a holy relic that gives an answer to a prayer, although only once. They are all amazing. But it would be best for the Prince to choose the Bell of Purification.’
Gusto thought inwardly while watching Radel contemplate.
The Bell of Purification, which drives away evil energy, had the effect of defending against demonic energy just by possessing it.
It would be useful for Radel, who lacked divine power.
However, Radel, who briefly looked over the rewards, shook his head.
“I do not need a reward. A box of holy water consecrated by the Bishop is sufficient.”
Ding.
[The quest has been successfully completed.]
[Your attitude without greed impressed everyone.]
[Lambrado Altante’s affinity breaks through 10.]
[Lambrado Altante’s affinity has become 30.]
[Gusto Zebro’s affinity breaks through 10.]
[Gusto Zebro’s affinity has become 60.]
Along with the notification sound, the affinity of Gusto and Bishop Lambrado went up.
It was proof that the quest was completed successfully.
‘There is no way I, who have no divine power, can properly use the power of holy relics. Holy water is much more useful.’
It was a natural choice for Radel, who could sufficiently feel the power of holy water while dealing with the undead.
However, Gusto and Bishop Lambrado were surprised inwardly.
Especially in Bishop Lambrado’s case, the meaning was exceptional.
‘The problem of the underground prison was solved with Prince Radel’s magical tool. If the heretics do not cause a riot, there is no need to keep them locked underground.’
Furthermore, Radel’s calm attitude despite being shown the best holy relics a Bishop-class could offer gave him strong trust.
Bishop Lambrado felt his heart opening to Radel.
“……There are only surprising things with the Prince. Furthermore, I heard you revealed today from the Black Order executive that there is an insider.”
He slowly opened his mouth to Radel.
“Actually, there is a place I have a guess about. It is embarrassing as it seems to be revealing the temple's disgrace, but I suppose there is nothing to hide from the Prince.”
Bishop Lambrado told him that factions were divided within the temple, that political fights had crossed the line and now even Inquisitors had restrictions on their activities, and that among the bishops, there were those connected to nobles or royals.
Even hearing it, it was plausible that there were people within the Supreme Deity Order who wanted to get rid of Radel.
‘I need to find out who it is.’
But how do I get information?
……No. Are the people most skilled at information gathering not right next to me?
Radel knew the experts he could use at times like this very well.