Chapter 75
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I'll purchase divine power with money.
Chapter 75
"May the radiance of the sun be with you. I am Airic Dert, High Priest of the Sun God Grand Temple."
At the High Priest Airic's courteous greeting, Rosetta Flu let out an exclamation of admiration.
She had harbored no expectations of meeting the High Priest immediately upon arrival.
Even at the Grand Temple of Sea God, first-time visitors rarely encountered the High Priest, let alone senior clergy.
Yet here she stood, face to face with the High Priest himself!
'Moreover, he truly embodies the title of High Priest.'
Soft golden hair that seemed to capture warm sunlight itself, eyes of crystalline jade that sparkled with clarity, and an expression of boundless gentleness.
His beauty—rarely seen even in the capital—no, rather his warm disposition caused her affection for the Sun God Grand Temple to soar vertically.
"You've come seeking healing power, then."
"Ah, yes, yes!"
Rosetta Flu, who had been gazing at Airic with her mind utterly entranced, hastily collected herself.
This was no time to be captivated by beauty.
"I've seen the potions sold by the Lumen Merchant Guild. As you know, the Southern Region experiences frequent monster appearances, so we require far more potions than other areas."
The desert in the Southern Region.
For reasons unknown, that place experienced unusually frequent monster manifestations.
"However, recently the monsters have been rampaging with increasing frequency, and the number of injured has grown accordingly. That is precisely why I've traveled here."
Rosetta Flu clasped her hands together and appealed earnestly to Airic.
"Please, I beseech you—sell the Sun God's potions in our Southern Region as well!"
Yet the one who answered her plea was not Airic standing before her.
Bang!
Without so much as a knock, the door behind them burst open, accompanied by a bold proclamation.
"Let's discuss that with me instead!"
Startled, Rosetta Flu leaped to her feet and spun around.
"Ah...."
And without thinking, she gasped in wonder.
Rare pink hair, eyes of brilliant gold like the intense summer sun, a beautiful face brimming with confident radiance.
When she first saw Airic, she had thought him to resemble the sun, but compared to this woman who had burst in, Airic was merely the gentle warmth of spring.
The sun itself—that fierce and scorching light—was embodied in this woman before her.
"W-who are you...."
As the intimidated Rosetta Flu stammered her question, Airic answered in her stead.
"Allow me to introduce her. This is Ordel Kiris, the High Priestess of the Sun God Grand Temple."
The High Priestess!
Rosetta Flu, seized with shock, hastily bowed her head.
"H-High Priestess, it is an honor to meet you!"
To think she would meet not only the High Priest but also the High Priestess.
Since this was such an obscure place, she hadn't even known a High Priestess existed here, yet such fortune had smiled upon her.
Having unexpectedly encountered the divine representative, Rosetta Flu's heart pounded wildly.
"Raise your head. We have important matters to discuss, and we cannot do so with you in that position."
At her warm words, Rosetta Flu lifted her head hesitantly.
Despite her dramatic entrance, the High Priestess wore a gentle smile, and Rosetta found herself profoundly taken aback.
I'd assumed all High Priestesses of the Sea God Temple possessed such disagreeable temperaments, yet here stood someone so genuinely warm!
"The potion business is currently under the High Priestess's direct management, so it would be best to discuss matters with her."
"Y-yes? The High Priestess is managing the business...?"
"I happen to have some confidence in commerce."
Ordel Kiris answered with a laugh at Rosetta's astonished remark.
"Come, let's head to my reception room. High Priest, please join us as well."
Ordel Kiris turned with a radiant smile.
'Surely this isn't a dream...?'
Rosetta Flu followed behind Ordel Kiris in a daze, her mind barely present.
* * *
What a stroke of fortune.
Facing Rosetta Flu in the reception room, I barely managed to suppress the laughter threatening to spill forth.
When I heard that someone in need of healing potions had arrived, my excitement knew no bounds.
Before I knew it, I was already rushing toward Airic Dert's office.
Dietrich Warren, matters like this would normally be handled at the High Priest's level, so you'd naturally have brought her to Airic Dert, but my impatient nature simply couldn't wait.
"So, you need potions."
"Yes."
The Southern Region saw monsters appear so frequently that most people made their living hunting them.
The hides and demon stones obtained from slaying monsters fetched quite respectable prices.
Consequently, the region required far more potions than other areas.
"Actually, I did inquire with the Lumen Merchant Guild first, asking if they had any intention of selling potions to the south."
Hmm? This was something I hadn't heard from Jun or Lute Sheary.
"But they replied that they must first consult with the Sun God Grand Temple, our primary supplier, so I was told to wait."
That's certainly reasonable.
We're producing potions with only a small team.
"Our situation is urgent, and we simply cannot afford to wait that long, which is why I've come here."
I understand the circumstances.
I nodded and glanced at Monica waiting by the door.
"Monica, go fetch the Duke for me. Bring the Vice-Master as well."
"Yes, understood."
Monica left the room.
Rosetta Flu asked me with a vacant expression.
"...Pardon? The Duke and the Vice-Master, you say? Could it be...."
"Ah, Duke Sheary, the Master of the Lumen Merchant Guild, and the Vice-Master. As it happens, both are currently at the Temple. Since we're already here, let's discuss everything together."
While Rosetta Flu's spirit seemed to depart her body, Lute Sheary and Jun Ludmin arrived in response to Monica's summons.
Lute Sheary observed the rigidly frozen Rosetta Flu and nodded as if understanding the situation.
"For the Flu Family's Baroness to come all this way, it must be a potion matter."
"Ah, you catch on quickly."
"The Flu Family has made the most inquiries to the guild. I was planning to inform you after the consecration ceremony concluded."
Hearing that she had been considerate of me while I was occupied with consecration preparations, I expressed my gratitude through my eyes.
"Personally, I would recommend expanding operations into the Southern Region. Potions are far more necessary there than in the Western Region."
Rosetta Flu, who had been visibly uncomfortable sitting alongside the Duke, suddenly lifted her head.
Her desire for potions seemed to have overcome her unease.
"Exactly! The Southern Region is suffering from a potion shortage, so they're extremely interested in Sun God potions! They'll sell exceptionally well!"
Seeing her cry out with shining eyes, she truly seemed desperate.
"The problem is whether the Potion Production Team can meet the demand."
Potions were still being produced by two alchemists and one priest.
If I counted the priests who infused divine power, the team had more members, but the potions themselves had to be made by three people.
It meant we lacked the personnel to produce such large quantities.
Of course, those money-obsessed individuals would probably find a way to meet the demand somehow....
But first, I had something to ask Rosetta Flu.
"Lady Rosetta, may I ask you something?"
"Yes, please go ahead."
"The frequency of demon beast appearances in the Desert has increased, correct?"
"That's right."
Rosetta Flu nodded and explained slowly.
"Originally, the Desert was unusually prone to demon beasts appearing. However, it wasn't at a level the Southern territories couldn't handle, but recently they've suddenly doubled."
The Empire's Southern Region contained the largest desert on the Continent.
Beyond the opposite border lay a desert nation, but the desert was so vast that even travel was difficult due to the distance.
The problem was that demon beasts appeared with particular frequency in this vast desert.
Then what were demon beasts?
They were creatures cursed by the gods. Malevolent beings that endlessly craved existence and sought to reduce everything to nothingness.
People had no idea where these demon beasts originated, but I, having read the original work, knew.
The Sun God's ancient enemy and the primary culprit seeking to destroy this world.
'Evil.'
Demon beasts were born from that 'Evil'—something that could be described by no other name.
Then why did these demon beasts appear so frequently in the Desert?
Because the headquarters of 'Evil' was located somewhere in the Desert.
The problem was singular.
Why were the demon beasts already becoming so bold?
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org