NOVEL NEXT Chapter 181: The Goddess’s Reward [II]
'Saintess Leaf, huh?'
Azel tilted his head slightly, his crimson eyes narrowing as he studied the old woman floating in front of him.
The coincidence wasn't lost on him.
First Rain, whose name carried the touch of nature, and now Leaf was the same thing.
Still, that wasn't what held his attention.
What unsettled him was the fact that he had never seen her in the game at all.
By his knowledge, Saintess Leaf was supposed to be long gone before the story even began, having died of old age well before the academy arc.
And now here she was, she wasn't even close to being dead.
Another change.
Another divergence from the story he thought he knew.
His lips pressed into a thin line.
He had seen enough of these "deviations" by now to stop being surprised, but that didn't mean he liked them.
What stood out even more was her connection to Rain.
In the original timeline, Leaf never acknowledged her.
The Saintess barely interacted with anyone outside her inner circle, and Rain certainly wasn't one of them.
Now though, Rain was here, walking beside him as though she had been personally invited.
Likely because of her regression.
But that was none of his concern.
"Thank you for welcoming me, Saintess," Azel said politely, his voice steady but lacking warmth.
He inclined his head slightly, not enough to be called bowing but enough to be respectful.
Saintess Leaf's gaze remained on him for a long, uncomfortable while.
Her eyes seemed to pierce through his body, stripping away every defense until all that was left was the raw core of who he was.
Then, her lips curved into a soft smile.
The kind that could ease even the most frayed nerves.
The endless white world surrounding them flickered.
Slowly, it dissolved away, vanishing like mist in the morning sun.
Solid ground took shape beneath their feet, smooth stone glowing faintly with inscriptions.
Runes were carved into the floor.
Walls rose around them, their surfaces etched with runes so old, you could feel the divine energy running off them.
"This is the Sanctuary," Leaf said, her voice calm and echoing slightly off the stone.
Her robes shifted softly as she lowered herself onto the ground, walking ahead with graceful steps.
"What you saw before was merely protection. Many have tried to invade the Saintess's quarters. Precautions are… necessary."
"I see…" Azel murmured.
His expression was unreadable.
Truthfully, he didn't really see, nor did he care much for the details.
Protection spells, divine safeguards, wards against intruders — it was all background noise.
He wasn't here to learn about holy architecture.
He was here to collect the gift Nyala had promised him.
Rain walked a step behind him, her golden eyes darting around with cautious awe.
Rain had never been here before, and though she tried to mask her curiosity with a calm expression, her clenched fists gave her away.
Anya, on the other hand, walked silently on Azel's other side, her face serene, almost detached, as though nothing could move her.
Their footsteps echoed in unison as they followed Leaf deeper into the sanctuary.
The air grew thicker the further they walked, saturated with holy energy that clung to the very air.
Finally, they reached a large black door at the end of the hall.
Its surface was smooth and there was no handle.
Saintess Leaf raised her hand and tapped her fingers gently against the door. Instantly, countless runes flared to life, racing across the surface like veins of light.
They pulsed, glowing brighter with each beat, until the entire door shimmered with divine radiance.
"Our Goddess has been trying to deliver a mission," Leaf explained as the light bled away, each rune fading into nothingness.
Her gaze shifted back to Azel. "She has made her will clear. You are important to her. Perhaps… her chosen champion."
Azel's lips quirked faintly.
Champion.
He was her "husband" but they didn't need to know that.
The final rune faded, and with a groan, the door opened.
A blast of radiant air surged outward, flooding the hall.
Azel squinted slightly, the intensity of the holy energy forcing him to brace.
Inside lay a chamber unlike any he had seen before.
Dozens of items — no, hundreds were displayed on pedestals and racks, each glowing faintly with an aura of divinity.
The chamber felt alive, vibrating with the sheer amount of power packed into such a small space.
Blades that gleamed as if forged from the sun itself.
Shields that radiated walls of invisible protection.
Spears, bows, staffs, amulets, rings, armor — every single one brimming with the unmistakable touch of Nyala's blessing.
Even Rain, who was used to divine energy, widened her eyes, her breath catching at the sheer scale of it.
Anya remained calm, though Azel caught the faint change in her expression as she looked around.
"Please," Saintess Leaf said, her hand sweeping toward the chamber. "Select an item. The Goddess beckons you."
Azel stepped forward.
'Hehe~ Did you like it, hubby?' Nyala's playful voice rang in his head, smug and pleased with herself.
Did he like it? Of course he did.
His crimson eyes swept over the displays with sharp interest.
'Yes, darling,' he answered dryly, though the corner of his lips tilted faintly.
His gaze locked onto a particular item resting quietly among the weapons.
A grimoire.
Unlike the swords and spears, it didn't scream for attention.
'All these items… you blessed them yourself?'
[Correct,] Nyala said proudly. [Each has been touched by my divinity. Every one of them would serve you well. My beloved deserves nothing less.]
Azel passed a rack of swords.
Spears.
Axes.
Bows.
They were all shining, all magnificent, and all of them useless to him.
He already had enough weapons.
What he needed was versatility.
His steps carried him back to the book.
He reached out and lifted it.
The moment his fingers touched the cover, the divinity within his body stirred violently.
Power surged out of him, flowing into the grimoire.
The book shuddered, its pages flaring open as light exploded from its spine.
Holy energy wrapped around him, resonating with his core.
A notification echoed in his mind.
[Congratulations. You have bonded with the Holy Grimoire.]
[New Function Unlocked: Record.]
[You may now record any holy spell you witness into the Grimoire for future use.]
Azel raised an eyebrow.
'Interesting.'
He turned his hand, noting the small glowing circle now etched into the back of his palm.
With a thought, the grimoire vanished, sucked into the mark.
'Recording holy spells, huh?' He smirked faintly.
Convenient.
Very convenient.
Next time he visited the plane, he would make sure to collect as many as possible from Nyala.
He turned, glancing at the others.
Rain's lips were parted slightly, disbelief written across her face.
Even the Saintess's expression had shifted into mild surprise. .
"Did… did you just ignore the holy blade?!" Rain suddenly exploded, her voice sharp, almost shrill.
She pointed furiously toward the far wall.
There, resting in all its majesty, was a sword unlike any other.
Its blade gleamed with a golden brilliance so pure it seemed to tear the darkness apart.
Even from a distance, its presence was overwhelming, pressing down on the room like the authority of heaven itself.
It was unmistakable.
The "Fake" Hero's Blade.
He had the real one.
Reinhardt's weapon from the game.
Rain's chest rose and fell quickly as she glared at him. "That sword is meant for the Hero! The Goddess prepared it for you, and you just — just walked past it?!"
Azel followed her finger, his crimson eyes landing on the blade.
He stared at it quietly for a long moment.
Then, he scratched the back of his head, his expression casual. "…Oh."
Rain nearly screamed, her hands balling into fists.
"I didn't want more weapons," Azel said calmly, shrugging as though it were obvious. "I already have enough."