Clerics were gathered in the great hall of the Jamil Temple, one of the three temples in Mikusen. This hall was not open to the public and was normally used by priests and shrine maidens for training. In this place, not only ordinary shrine maidens and priests, but also those in positions of authority, including the Temple Head, had gathered. They were eagerly awaiting what was about to begin. And the focus of their gazes was Ademo, standing in the center of the room.
“Everyone, please look. This is an authentic Divine Tool, discovered after a long time!”
As Ademo spoke, the gazes of those gathered turned to the water mirror he indicated. Some of them let out exclamations of awe.
Ademo, with a satisfied look at their reaction, took out another tool from his inner pocket. “Now, I shall prove to you all that this is a Divine Tool!”
The tool Ademo brought out was used to prove whether an object was a Divine Tool. It allowed those with the necessary qualifications to determine if it was a Divine Tool created based on Divine Power, but it was made for those who did not possess such abilities. In a sense, this tool was essential for the temple to manage Divine Tools.
Ademo enthusiastically used the tool on the water mirror, but his expression changed the very next moment. “……Huh?”
Normally, if the object before him were a Divine Tool, the small crystal in his hand would glow blue, but it showed no reaction at all. Thinking he might have made a mistake in its use, he frantically tried to activate it again, but it still showed no response.
“Eh, why? That’s impossible!?” Fortunately, he whispered it, so no one overheard his muttering, but everyone could see Ademo’s growing panic.
“What is it?” one of the high-ranking priests asked, but Ademo could not answer. He gave up on using the tool and decided to confirm it properly with his own strength. However, no matter how many times he checked, he received no response that should have been there. The water mirror, which he had seen before and had clearly responded as a Divine Tool, was now completely unresponsive.
“Wh-why!?” Ademo exclaimed with a stunned expression, but there was no one in the room who could answer his question.
***
As Ademo continued to make a fool of himself in the center of the hall, those gathered finally began to lose patience. One of the three Temple Heads finally spoke. “Why don’t you give up now?”
It was Laurel, the Temple Head of the Elisamil Temple. Laurel, who could be considered quite elderly in this world, was still robust and led the temple as its head.
“No, that can’t be! The water mirror is undoubtedly real… Ah! That little girl is playing tricks! I’ll go get it right now, please wait a moment…”
“Enough!” At Laurel’s sharp rebuke, Ademo flinched, and the other two Temple Heads looked at him with puzzled expressions.
“Temple Head Laurel?” “Do you know something?” Sensing that Laurel likely knew the situation, the other two Temple Heads asked.
Nodding his head with just a glance at the two, Laurel reached into a bundle beside the chair he was sitting on and took out an object.
“Ah…!” Ademo exclaimed, involuntarily as he saw the object. Of course, not only the other two Temple Heads but also those watching nearby showed their surprise. The water mirror Laurel produced resembled the one Ademo claimed was a Divine Tool.
“I heard about this water mirror from its owner, what exactly are you trying to do?”
“Temple Head Laurel?” The Temple Head of the Jamil Temple, sitting next to him, tilted his head at Laurel’s words.
Ademo, who was questioned, contorted his face. “It’s one thing to confiscate items claimed to be Divine Tools. That’s necessary to prevent Divine Tools from going berserk. But to use the very rules meant to prevent rampages to cause a disturbance that seems likely to rampage, what is the meaning of this!”
At Laurel’s sharp words, the gathered people shrugged their shoulders, but Ademo deliberately shook his head from side to side. “I don’t know what the Temple Head heard, but it seems there’s been a misunderstanding.”
“Oh? A misunderstanding?” “Indeed.” “And the result of that is that you mistook someone’s personal item for the Divine Tool you were supposed to bring?” Ademo was speechless at Laurel’s exasperated words. It was clear that the water mirror beside Ademo was not a Divine Tool.
Sensing the situation from the conversation between Laurel and Ademo, the remaining two Temple Heads also directed looks of exasperation at Ademo.
“R-rather! That is the Divine Tool that should be kept by the temple! Please, to the vault of the Jamil Temple…”
“Unnecessary,” Laurel cut off Ademo’s attempt to assert his opinion at every opportunity.
“Huh?” “This Divine Tool is already scheduled to be returned to its rightful place. I am merely holding onto it for now.”
“B-but!” Laurel glared at Ademo as he tried to protest again.
“What? Are you going to offer me your opinion? State it if you have a proper reason.” Ademo stammered at Laurel’s words but looked at Laurel with a glint in his eyes. He couldn’t give up now, after all, he had gone so far as to betray Benito and use confiscation to obtain this Divine Tool. Thus, a flimsy excuse came out of Ademo’s mouth.
“When I went to confiscate the Divine Tool, it was definitely there at that place. Therefore, my opinion, backed by the permit, should hold more weight. Consequently, any claim of ownership made later will be invalid.” Laurel raised an eyebrow at Ademo’s words.
“Oh? You insist on your own justification?” “Of course!” Ademo’s words were a strong assertion precisely because Laurel had not been present at the scene. The other priests who were at the confiscation site were all people with whom he had connections. He was confident that they would not say anything unnecessary, which was why he adopted a strong stance against the Temple Head. Unfortunately, Ademo had completely forgotten about the people who were present at that time. He firmly believed that his opinion, as a priest belonging to the temple, would take precedence, even if summoned later.
Seeing Ademo’s strong attitude, Laurel smiled faintly. Ademo felt a flicker of anxiety in his chest at this, but he didn’t look away. Laurel, averting his gaze from Ademo, looked towards the door leading further inside.
“…So he says.” In line with his words, a shrine maiden appeared from that door. The reactions of those around them were divided into astonishment and bewilderment. The former were surprised because they knew who the shrine maiden was, while the latter were confused by her appearance, which they saw for the first time. By the way, Ademo was among the former; he had seen this shrine maiden during the recent confiscation and wondered why she was here, which was a completely different situation from the others. Those who showed surprise were those who knew her well, as she was the shrine maiden of the Avatar, advising Queen Floria of Razek Amamiya. The water mirror Ademo brought was made by Kousuke. Ah, you probably figured that out already, didn’t you? (It was quite obvious, wasn’t it lol) And finally, Sylvia appears. Next time will be a Sylvia solo, perhaps? lol
