Got Engaged to the Man They Call Ugly - Chapter 16

If she learned how to handle it properly, maybe she could gift Atalante some suitable clothes.

With that thought, Elinne decided it was finally time to practice using the forgotten blessing of Arachne.

* * *

【Arachne, Goddess of Spiders. Freely control threads created by her divine power. Threads created with her power are nearly unbreakable.】

Barely paying attention to Monetta’s explanation, she carefully concentrated her entire focus toward her fingertips.

“Hngh—”

She concentrated so hard that her eyes bulged out, brow deeply furrowed.

“Hnnngh!”

Finally, a shimmering thread emerged from her fingertips, so bright it seemed coated in silver. Yet, it was barely enough to even weave something simple.

“Aaargh! I can’t do this anymore!”

She collapsed facedown onto her bed in frustration, exhausted after a full day’s struggle.

She felt embarrassed at herself for thinking she could master this power in just one day and craft an outfit to give Atalante as a gift.

“…I clearly have no talent for this.”

【It is completely natural for any mortal using divine power for the first time.】

She must have been so pitiful that even Monetta, whom she hadn’t called, appeared to comfort her.

Ugh. She groaned, burying her face into her pillow.

Nerva had only given her the right to use this power, but she hadn’t handed her the skill to wield it as well.

In short, she had the product and the manual, but actually reading and understanding the instructions was entirely up to her.

【Your potential is excellent, Elinne. Your divine energy is simply insufficient at the moment, so it will require more time.】

“Divine energy?”

【Divine Energy: A supernatural power imbued with sacredness. Those of divine lineage are naturally born with abundant divine energy.】

She didn’t need to ask what ‘divine lineage’ meant.

She’d already read about it in the archives.

They were the current ruling race of Elysion.

Those beings who were now known as ‘gods’ were all of this divine lineage.

As such, there were many nations where divine-born beings treated other races as mere slaves.

Given that, Metis was exceptionally unusual.

Not only herself, a mortal adopted daughter, but countless mortal heroes, and even Atalante, who belonged to the forest-dwelling Alv tribe, had found homes here.

“So, if someone isn’t divine-born, does that mean they have no divine energy at all?”

Elinne asked, her brows knitted together as she flipped through the archives.

【Those who serve the ruler of the Holy Empire will naturally accumulate divine energy over time. However…】

“It’s nowhere near enough when compared to those who start with it from birth, right?”

【You are always very wise, Elinne.】

Being mortal is truly depressing. With a sigh, she pressed firmly between her brows and asked again.

“Then how can I strengthen my divine energy?”

【Increase the fame of the deity you serve, or perform sacred acts dedicated to the deity presiding over your current domain.】

Sacred acts? Does that mean prayer?

But she already participated diligently in daily morning and evening prayers, and this was the result.

Clearly, that alone wasn’t enough.

As for increasing Nerva’s fame, she doubted she could do much in the field of wisdom, and she wasn’t skilled enough in combat to distinguish herself in warfare, either.

“Isn’t there another way?”

【Within the temple lies an altar. Offer something imbued with sacred devotion.】

…So it had come down to that, after all.

After much deliberation, she decided to offer a dish she’d carefully crafted herself.

Being a goddess, Nerva naturally consumed only nectar, but according to the archives, she occasionally tasted other kinds of foods as a pastime.

She suspected the skilled chefs of Metis had already offered plenty of impressive dishes. If she tried something extravagant, it would undoubtedly pale by comparison…

After further contemplation, she finally decided on a dessert that would be simpler yet still sincere and flavorful.

After several hours of effort, she managed to bake a plateful of cookies shaped like spears and shields.

Hmm. The shapes aren’t exactly perfect, but at least they smell good.

But she couldn’t objectively judge whether they tasted good or not.

Staring anxiously at the stack of cookies, Elinne turned her gaze toward empty air.

“Monetta, I suppose you can’t taste food, can you?”

【I have no physical form. I am merely an illusion existing within memory. My apologies for not being able to help.】

“No, it’s fine. Hmm. Then…”

And so, despite her reluctance, she had no choice but to call upon Paris.