Chapter 21
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I'll purchase divine power with money.
Chapter 21
"You've already received 3,000 gold, and now there's a separate charging fee? And you're saying the blessing needs to be recharged once a month?"
Lute Sheary's silvery eyes gazed at me as though I were the most bizarre thing in the world.
How satisfying to receive such a look from the villain who tormented the protagonists and blocked their path until the very end.
"You'll understand the efficacy of my blessing after a month, so we can discuss the charging fee again at that time."
Once the blessing fades and the pain returns, you'll come seeking me out on your own.
As I added words that sounded like a curse yet resembled a prophecy, Lute swept his hair back.
In that simple gesture, I felt his subtle irritation.
"Do you know what? I operate a trading company."
I know. It was mentioned in the original work.
His condition would worsen due to the Holy Relic of Light, he'd become enslaved to the villain, and ultimately his company would collapse.
Stripped of all agency, denied even the freedom to take his own life, Lute Sheary would eventually transform into a complete villain in despair.
"Which is why I don't go around getting cheated anywhere."
Lute, still holding his company before its ruin, let out a hollow laugh.
"I never imagined the Holy Maiden would extort so much money from me."
"But it's not a loss, is it? If you can alleviate your condition with money, isn't that actually a gain? Besides, for the Sheary Duchy with its mines, it's pocket change."
In my past life, despite working diligently, I never touched 300 million won before death, yet here I was brazenly calling it pocket change.
Lute marveled at this shamelessness as well.
"Calling it pocket change when it's not even your money."
"So what if it isn't?"
"You're right. If I can escape this pain, I'd pay any amount of money. A body without pain. Do you understand how sweet this sensation is?"
Lute gazed down at his own hands.
Joy and wonder, happiness and a touch of worry swirled like a tempest in his eyes.
"Rather than feel pain again, I'd sell not just money but even my soul if you desired it."
"No, I don't particularly need your soul. What use would that be anyway?"
Why would I want a soul? Why would I need a dead soul in the first place?
I need a living body with SSS+-rank wealth in hand—a soul with no wealth to spend is of little use.
"Money is all I need."
I formed a circle with my thumb and forefinger and shook it, causing Lute's eyebrows to droop as though wounded.
"You reject me so decisively. Does that mean I'm unnecessary without money?"
"Of course. What use is a penniless duke?"
"Eye candy."
Lute spread both hands wide and brought them beneath his chin. A flower calyx.
". . . ."
This is absurd, truly ridiculous, and I can't deny it.
He certainly has the kind of beauty that pleases the eye.
There's a decadent beauty to him that you don't feel from the gentle Airic Dert or the neat Seth Noel.
I never expected him to say such a thing himself.
"I can't deny it. It seems my beauty is fortunately to your taste, Holy Maiden."
Lute's eyes curved into crescents as he smiled—clearly deliberate seduction.
Is this really Lute's true personality? The gap from the original story is so vast I can barely keep my bearings.
"I hate being told I don't live up to my face, so I'll make sure to pay the charging fees consistently. I'll never come empty-handed."
"Good. Just so you know, donations to the Temple of the Sun God and charging fees are separate. That said, you can give less in charging fees than in donations."
The charging fees I receive will be dedicated to the Sun God, while donations will be used for the Temple of the Sun God's operational expenses.
Restoring the Sun God's power is important, but fixing the Temple of the Sun God—which has fallen into disrepair—comes first.
People will gather in admiration once the cathedral becomes more magnificent.
As believers increase, the Sun God's power will naturally recover without me spending money, so the Temple of the Sun God's operational funds were absolutely the priority.
"How touching that a saint who loves money would make such a concession."
He's mocking sincerity so skillfully. Truly impressive talent.
"I'll handle the sacred artifact with great care. I don't want to experience that pain again, so I won't use it recklessly."
"You'd better not lose it or break it. If something happens to the sacred artifact, you'll truly die."
This is both a warning and a prophecy.
The divine artifact "Aurora"—not merely a sacred artifact—will block the approach of the "Absolute Evil" that made him a slave in the original story.
If Aurora were to break?
That creature would approach as if waiting for the opportunity, Lute would fall into villainy, and I would have to kill him to survive.
"...I'll keep that in mind."
Sensing my sincerity, Lute dropped his playful demeanor and nodded with a serious expression.
"One last thing. You must discuss the Duke's condition and the blessing only with me. Don't tell the High Priest or the Holy Knight Commander."
"But it's a saint's blessing—why hide it from those two?"
Because if Airic Dert discovered that a fake saint like me could bestow blessings on divine artifacts, it would become problematic.
"A saint's blessing carries the power of healing. If the Duke possesses a sacred artifact blessed with such power? Those two would quickly notice something about the Duke's condition."
But I couldn't say that, so I gave a plausible excuse instead.
Seth Noel had actually caught on a bit, but he wasn't the type to carelessly spread such information, so it was fine.
"If it's alright even if those two know, you can tell them."
"No. It's better they don't know. Let's keep this as our secret."
I smiled with satisfaction, having expected exactly that.
Once everything is over, I plan to flee the Temple of the Sun God—it would be disastrous if it became known that I've actually become a true saint.
So I'll keep this secret to the very end, no matter what.
Having reached a dramatic compromise, we sealed our trust with a handshake.
"Pardon the interruption. I apologize for keeping you waiting so long."
At that perfectly timed moment, Airic Dert returned.
I glanced at the divine artifact perfectly concealed between Lute's collar, then asked him.
"Have you finished confirming the amount?"
"Yes. Everything has been paid, and Dietrich and several Holy Knights have gone down to the Nearby Village to purchase provisions."
Dietrich really does handle a lot of work. Isn't he the linchpin of the Temple of the Sun God?
"Then since all procedures are complete, I'll have the sacred artifact brought immediately."
"Oh, that's not necessary. Since the High Priest seemed busy, I brought the sacred artifact here with the Holy Knight Commander. The Duke has already confirmed its effects, so there's nothing more for the High Priest to do!"
"...Yes? What do you mean by that...?"
Airic Dert blinked his eyes.
My face was filled with the question of how I could have brought something when I shouldn't even know where the Sacred Relic of Light was or what it looked like.
With Lute Sheary present, I couldn't ask outright, and while I fumbled for words, I quickly organized the situation in my mind.
"Duke, is there anything else you need?"
If you've gotten everything you came for, disappear quickly.
Lute Sheary, who had been alternating his gaze between me and Airic Dert, seemed to understand my meaning and rose from his seat immediately.
"No. I was just about to leave. Suddenly I felt the pressure that I need to earn quite a bit more money. I should hurry and work diligently."
"Well, do take care of your health while you work."
When I threw back a meaningful response to his meaningful words, Lute Sheary burst into laughter.
"Thank you for accepting such a good deal, Holy Maiden."
"I was delighted to be of help to the Duke. Going forward, the Temple of the Sun God looks forward to maintaining a smooth and close relationship with you."
He needs to come with money every month without fail.
"Now that I'm also a believer of the Sun God, I should rather say I'm asking for your continued support. As a believer, I will always pray for the well-being of the Temple of the Sun God."
That was his way of saying he'd bring the money he earned diligently.
Lute Sheary, who gave a light bow to Airic Dert, who still hadn't grasped the situation, departed with a light step.
Watching his gait, which was distinctly different from when he first arrived, felt strange.
The probability of him facing a tragic future had dropped significantly.
And I had made that happen.
Because of this, some of the information from the original work would become useless, but did that matter?
Rather, gaining Lute Sheary as an incredible hidden card was more profitable.
Of course, the money coming in was the best part.
"Holy Maiden. What on earth is happening? How did you know about the sacred relic..."
The moment Lute Sheary and his aide disappeared from sight, Airic Dert rushed forward with questions.
I answered as if it were no big deal.
"Ah, actually, what I gave the Duke wasn't the Sacred Relic of Light."
"...Yes? But surely the Duke said it was a satisfactory deal..."
"Yes! It wasn't the Sacred Relic of Light—the Duke really needed something else, so I gave him that!"
"What on earth..."
"Aurora."
"...What did you give him?"
"Aurora, the divine treasure of the Sun God. I gave that to the Duke instead of the Sacred Relic of Light."
I smiled broadly at Airic Dert.
And three seconds later.
"Holy Maiden!"
Airic Dert's enormous shriek shook the Temple of the Sun God violently.
Ugh, my ears hurt.
* * *
"My lord. Does the sacred relic truly have an effect?"
The moment the carriage departed, Lute Sheary's aide Yuri Polton asked.
He was one of the very few who knew of Lute Sheary's condition, and he was someone who had searched through all available materials to find any way to alleviate Lute Sheary's suffering even slightly.
Then, by chance, he came across an old manuscript where he saw writing about the 'Sacred Relic of Light.'
There were no detailed explanations—merely a single terse line describing it as "a sacred relic that rarely contains healing power."
Yet Lute Sheary and Yuri Polton, both half-resigned to failure at the time, had no choice but to cling to that solitary sentence.
Since its location remained unknown and they had spent years searching in vain, I was desperately curious whether the sacred relic truly possessed any efficacy.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org