Meanwhile, within the Divine Kingdom of Light.
Iluvia was inspecting the pitch-black dragon scale in her hand, her golden eyes filled with curiosity.
“So he used divine power to transform the dragon scale into an anchor for an avatar to descend?”
She rubbed the surface of the scale with her fingertips, sensing the residual structural patterns within.
“Not a bad idea. As expected of a dragon, even a scale can be used as a signal tower.”
Not long after defeating Mosator, Iluvia had issued a quest to West to obtain the dragon scale from the players and sacrifice it to her.
However, since West lacked the materials to draw a magic circle at the time and didn't know how to carve a sacrifice circle anyway, he had handed the dragon scale over to Lilith, who then sacrificed it to Iluvia.
Because of this, it had only just reached her hands.
“Is the divine power inside completely depleted? What a pity...”
Iluvia raised an eyebrow.
“Well, never mind... Let me see if I can try to modify it.”
After all, it could still be considered a divine artifact. Though it had no special effects and was merely an ordinary divine artifact.
In the continent of Aenoria, any item containing divine power could be called a divine artifact.
This dragon scale was not of top quality, only counting as a common divine artifact, but it was still worth refashioning.
With that thought, Iluvia began injecting divine power into the dragon scale.
Pure divine power of light slowly flowed into the scale, instantly dissolving and purifying the residual divine power of plague and calamity within.
The scale continuously reshaped itself within the holy light. Once the glow faded, the original pitch-black dragon scale had undergone a complete transformation.
What appeared before her eyes was a palm-sized, jade-white ornament carved into the shape of angel wings, radiating a faint, holy aura.
It no longer bore the slightest resemblance to a dragon scale.
Iluvia admired her creation with satisfaction.
Not only had she modified its appearance, but she had also inscribed a divine spell inside that could be cast multiple times—essentially installing a “disposable spell card pack” that, when activated in times of danger, would cast a high-rank protective divine spell.
She planned to give this token to Lilith.
“As my Saintess... she ought to have a proper token.”
Iluvia muttered to herself. Although she didn't believe any accidents could happen under her nose, having an extra layer of insurance was always good.
After all, it was better to be safe than sorry.
This modification had cost Iluvia a total of 3 divine power points—not a massive amount, but certainly not negligible.
In a good mood, Iluvia shifted her consciousness and established contact with Lilith, who was currently praying devoutly in the temple.
“Mother Goddess!”
Lilith's voice was full of excitement and joy.
“Mhm, Lilith. You have done very well these past few days. I have seen all your hard work.”
Iluvia's voice was filled with gentleness. “Managing the God-Chosen Ones in the future will still require much of your care.”
“Mother Goddess, I will never fail your expectations!”
Lilith's eyes turned slightly red, and her hands tightly gripped the hem of her skirt as her entire body trembled softly.
Mother Goddess has been watching me! Mother Goddess praised me! Lilith, you can't cry! You can't lose your composure! You must not embarrass Mother Goddess!
She desperately held back her tears and straightened her back, her expression as solemn as if she were receiving a coronation.
Iluvia continued gently guiding her:
“Lilith, as my Saintess of Light, it is only right that you possess a token. I grant it to you now—it is not merely a token, but a symbol of your responsibility and mission as Saintess. Are you willing to accept it?”
A token?!
Mother Goddess has finally acknowledged me?!
Lilith could no longer hold back her tears, which instantly poured down like an open faucet.
Haven knows how exhausted she had been these past two weeks dealing with the endlessly annoying God-Chosen Ones.
Yet she stiffened her neck, striving to make her voice sound grand and steady—even though it carried a clear sob:
“Mother Goddess! I am willing!”
Iluvia: “...Don't cry.”
“I'm not crying!” Lilith wiped her face, her eyes red as a rabbit's. “It's... it's just that the holy light is too bright! It blinded me!”
“...Alright then.”
Thus, after a warm conversation filled with “Mother Goddess, please rest assured, I will do my best,” “Keep it up, I believe in you,” and “Sob sob, Mother Goddess is so wonderful,” Iluvia withdrew her consciousness with a slight feeling of embarrassment.
The girl was simply too sincere—so sincere that it made her feel a little guilty.
Cough cough... Lilith is so cute (= ω =).
Etching the image of the moved-to-tears girl in her heart, Iluvia shifted her attention to today's harvest.
First was the dragon scale, which she had refashioned into the Saintess's token.
Second—and the greatest gain—was the massive amount of divine power absorbed after defeating Mosator's avatar today.
Although the divine power of plague and calamity did not align with her Divine Authority at all, after conversion, roughly sixty percent still ended up in her pocket.
Added to that was the divine power contributed by the players clearing kobolds throughout the day.
Though each player contributed only a small amount, numbers made all the difference. With two hundred people grinding together, tiny drops added up to a sizeable revenue.
With all of these combined, Iluvia's strength was now approaching the peak of Weak Divine Power!
She was merely one step away from Lesser Divine Power!
“Not bad, not bad at all.” In high spirits, Iluvia hummed an unfamiliar tune and opened the Player Shops.
Then, her eyes lit up.
“Hmm... The players are quite efficient. They've already listed a huge batch of equipment so quickly.”
Browsing through those junk kobold items listed at ridiculously low prices, an expert's smile involuntarily tugged at the corner of her lips.
“As expected of prime chives.”
Cough cough... We're fellow countrymen after all. What's wrong with lending a helping hand?
When fellow countrymen meet, tears fill their eyes, after all.
With that thought, Iluvia happily began her shopping spree.
Browse, browse, browse! Buy, buy, buy!
That ragged spiked club? Bought.
That wooden armor with six holes? Bought.
That chipped bone knife? Bought, bought, bought them all!
Before long, the junk equipment in the Player Shops that everyone looked down on was completely swept clean by her, leaving only a scattered few that hadn't been listed in time.
“Mm... Patching up the old to last another year.”
As Iluvia spoke, she casually grabbed the pile of junk, injected a tiny smidgen of divine power, added some special effects and durability, and touched up their appearance.
Before long—
A ragged spiked club turned into “Bonebreaker - Spiked Warhammer” 【Blue Rare】.
A piece of ragged wooden armor turned into “Jungle Guardian - Tough Leather Armor” 【Green Fine】.
A chipped bone knife turned into “Wailing Blade - Sacrificial Dagger” 【Purple Epic】.
Iluvia looked at her work with satisfaction and casually tossed them into a corner of the Divine Kingdom.
The gear in that corner was already piled mountain-high, shining with various colors—blue, green, purple, and even an occasional golden glimmer.
Tomorrow, these items would be listed in the game shop, becoming the “Blue Rare,” “Green Fine,” and “Purple Epic” gear spoken of by the players.
Iluvia clapped her hands and said softly:
“The players earn Merit Points, and I earn divine power. Everyone has a bright future.”
After saying that, she glanced at the mountain of gear again and couldn't help but chuckle.
Mhm, the players would never know—
A portion of the gear dropped from monsters was actually refurbished junk handcrafted by the Goddess herself.
This secret would rot in her stomach forever.
This was a secret that belonged to the Goddess alone.
Rate on N.U.
