Chapter 7
[‘The Word that Builds the World’ cautiously observes the possessor's reaction.]
Huh? A god is watching my reaction? Why?
[‘The Word that Builds the World’ says it feels deeply responsible for the possessor not enjoying a natural lifespan and being dragged to the afterlife.]
"Ah."
Right, that was an issue.
The gods of the Management Bureau had created a national disaster-level situation under the guise of a public project, preventing me from dying at my appointed time.
I should have rightfully protested this manslaughter.
"That's right, that thing. What exactly happened? Please at least tell me the circumstances."
[‘The Word that Builds the World’ confesses that it created a system to extract the souls of qualified possession candidates, but due to a bug, not only the dead but also the living became selection targets.]
...So if I had to name my death, it would be a bug-death?
"But gods make mistakes too, huh? Hmm, something feels a bit shattering."
[‘The Word that Builds the World’ flinches and protests that if it had made it, it would have been perfect, but since it was made by a bumbling rookie god, there were bound to be flaws.]
At the god's tail-cutting, I puffed my cheeks.
"Still, as the superior, you have responsibility."
[‘The Word that Builds the World’ is stung and mumbles that the statement is correct.]
[‘The Word that Builds the World’ completely changes its attitude and shouts that if ‘The Pupil that Watches the Chaos of All Things’ had done QA properly in the first place, this wouldn't have happened, and to bring that bastard here.]
[‘The Pupil that Watches the Chaos of All Things’ flinches and curls up to hide its presence.]
"Yes, well. Anyway, I understand the circumstances enough..."
I concluded with a long, hollow sigh.
It wasn't that I didn't feel bewildered and angry about my modern commoner's life flying away.
But I didn't have the zeal to desperately demand my past life back and fight with a god.
Because wasn't it a lonely, tiring, and harsh life that wasn't worth getting so worked up over?
‘If they had possessed me into a romance cultivation child-rearing story instead of this kind of sweet potato regression story, wouldn't I have rather bowed deeply in gratitude?’
Even though it was acting friendly, the other party was a god in name.
Moreover, having possessed a survival difficulty S-rank novel, there was nothing good about acting demanding and making myself unlikable to a god who showed interest in me.
I quelled the lingering resentment in my heart like sediment.
Instead, I cautiously probed a request at a moderate level.
"Then as bug compensation... no, as part of your responsibility, could you complete the Thousand-Day Prayer Quest for me?"
[‘The Word that Builds the World’ says that the quest instant completion plan has not been approved yet, and even if updated later, it would require astronomical cash as the price.]
Since I had fully expected the negative answer, another part stuck in my ear.
It seemed like this possessor support system also had periodic updates.
[‘The Word that Builds the World’ adds that the divine power given for a thousand days is something that would barely be comprehended even after praying with utmost devotion for half a day every day for ten years.]
Umm, the god's attitude is firm. I should try requesting a different bug compensation.
"Then after I awaken divine power later, could you make me incredibly strong? I have a desire to become at least strong enough to stand a chance against the final boss."
[‘The Word that Builds the World’ rests its chin on its hand and gazes intently at you.]
It looked like it was deliberating. Was even that kind of special privilege difficult?
[‘The Word that Builds the World’ makes a decision.]
[‘The Word that Builds the World’ says that to become strong enough not to get beaten up just anywhere, you must diligently pray designating the self from now on.]
"Ah, of course I should. You said you created the world I possessed, Word-nim. You're the creator, so that's right."
[‘The Word that Builds the World’ flashes its eyes, asking if you just accepted.]
"Yes."
I thought the sudden intense reaction was a bit much, but I nodded it off as no big deal.
[‘The Word that Builds the World’ is delighted, saying you are now its first believer and this cannot be reversed.]
Huh? The story went that way?
Just as I was feeling slightly flustered, a message appeared.
[
[
[
Grace overflows your vessel, allowing you to freely use high-level divine power skills. The level of divine power you can currently exert is that of a cardinal.
Note: Applied from the point of divine power awakening.]
[
Your divine power skills exert power 10 levels higher.
Note: Applies only up to ultimate skills, and from the point of divine power awakening.]
'Wow!'
It felt like receiving a 2-year 9-month fixed-term deposit for free.
That's when it happened.
[‘The Architect of the Tower of Trials’ stops working overtime in surprise and shouts what in the world is happening, Director.]
[‘The Pupil that Watches the Chaos of All Things’ peeks secretly, then jumps out and heads to the audit department next door.]
[‘The Scales that Judge Souls’ hears the news and rushes over, trembling with rage saying it cannot bear to see the development director establish a religious order before itself.]
Umm, something big seems to have happened, but I don't quite understand the situation.
Anyway, not antagonizing the god was a good choice.
With a premonition that I would gain much more in the future, I clasped my hands tightly and shouted.
"I believe in you, Word-nim!"
✠
I went to work in the kitchen immediately after leaving the chapel.
While preparing breakfast for the finicky Count's family under Head Chef Feisha's instructions, my cooking proficiency shot up.
During the time between breakfast and lunch prep, I also took tea-serving lessons with Nellie.
Since the tea-brewing skill belonged to a sub-category of cooking, my skill could already be considered perfect.
So Isella said she would focus on teaching a maid's demeanor and aristocratic etiquette rather than brewing tea.
As part of that training, I sat demurely in a chair and practiced elegantly sipping tea.
That alone would have been boring, but fortunately, an entertaining spectacle was unfolding right in front of me.
"Nellie, that's already your eighth mistake measuring the tea leaves. I'm asking just in case, but can you not read the numbers on the scale? Should I teach you numbers first?"
"N-no."
"Then why can't you do it? Ailet, who's younger than you, does it just fine. Just having pretty, well-maintained hands doesn't make you a tea-serving maid. Serving nobles up close requires being meticulous and smart, or you can't do this job. If you're going to do this, quit right now."
"...I'm sorry."
When Isella poured out lethal words in a gentle tone, Nellie's eyes glistened. Even so, I didn't feel sympathy.
The face of Nellie, who kept glancing at me behind Isella's back, was overflowing with hostility.
Looking at her, it was exactly the expression of 'I'm going to tell my mom!'
Yeah, not scary at all.
After the lesson ended, it was back to the repetition of kitchen work preparing lunch.
Even after finishing the cleanup and the other servants went to rest, I stayed in the kitchen.
With Feisha's permission, I was going to try making a 'sweet fruit dish' with the leftover ingredients.
'If I just make this, it's definitely a level up.'
The dish I would make was apple soup.
After thinly slicing the red jade apples, boiling them in water with white wine and salt, and drizzling olive oil, a soup combining the red hue and flavor of the red jade apples would be complete.
Since it was a simple dish, it was finished quickly. I ladled the translucent red soup into a white plate.
Tasting should naturally start from the highest-ranking person to avoid any trouble, so I looked around for Feisha.
Beyond the kitchen doorway, I spotted the alchemist.
The alchemist... no, I couldn't keep calling him that forever.
It seemed Dad had come looking for me, but he was caught by Feisha and Isella and was deep in conversation.
I approached the three of them intending to offer a taste at once, and naturally overheard their conversation.
Surprisingly, the topic was my future.
"You've come at just the right time, Mr. Rodeline. Thank you for the fine soap. There's something I'd like to discuss regarding Ailet. Ailet has talent in cooking, so I'd like to train her significantly from now on."
"Huh? But our child is an alchemy prodigy! Since the topic came up, I might as well tell you, but she actually made that soap. Impressive, right? So I was thinking of teaching her properly..."
"What are you two saying! Serving tea while attending to nobles up close is how you find a good marriage match. I'll somehow push Ailet into the Ducal house later, so please leave Ailet to me."
Hmm, a tea-serving maid who gets recommended and goes to a Ducal house... If the genre were a romance fantasy, that would be the route, so it was quite a shame.
'But Dad too?'
Listening further, it seemed Dad's purpose in coming here was also to coax me into learning alchemy.
Of course, I was welcoming it. Since it was a rare tutorial period, I intended to actively learn everything I could.
The three people's conversation seemed to be wrapping up, so I figured I could interject now.
"Chef Feisha, Ms. Isella, Dad. I made a dish, could you please try it?"
"Hmm? It's soup made from apples."
"Yes, Chef Feisha."
The three picked up their spoons and took a taste.
Though I trusted the system, having been terrible at cooking my entire life despite being decent at other household chores, my heart pounded as I presented my first dish.
After savoring the taste of the soup for a while, Feisha swallowed and turned to Dad combatively.
"Did you see, Mr. Rodeline! Ailet has talent in cooking!"
"B-but our child is alchemy..."
"You're both wrong. Ailet made a dessert to accompany tea. She's a child born with the destiny to go to the Ducal residence after all."
While the three bickered, a satisfying message appeared.
[
Reaching level 3 seemed to allow me to cook properly in earnest.
That wasn't all. My well-received apple soup was immediately decided as the dessert to be served to the Countess that very day.
A special privilege for the possessor.