Chapter 92
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I'll purchase divine power with money. Chapter 92 My face hardened. In an instant, my heightened vigilance sent every nerve in my body on edge. Just like when I used to hunt down criminals in the past.
"So you can see the color of one's aura, I see. It appears you can discern even such things."
I didn't deny it. Seeing how certain he was, denying it would have been a waste of time.
"Please don't be wary of me. I'm not trying to blackmail you. There would be no point in doing so anyway. No one would believe such a story even if you told it elsewhere."
Yet I couldn't release the tension from my body. I knew all too well that a person could die suddenly at any moment.
"...First, I didn't discern this fact through my own ability. The High Priestess's aura appears only golden to me."
Seeing me maintain my guard, Nashas began to explain slowly.
"I was even surprised to see such pure golden light for the first time. Truly, you are worthy of being the Sun God's daughter."
"If you knew I was a soul that crossed dimensions, you'd realize I'm not a true High Priestess."
"No. You are a High Priestess more certain than anyone else. For you carry the Sun God's will and act upon the divine intention."
That's just me completing a Quest, though. Coming from Nashas's mouth, it sounds like such a grand mission.
"Nevertheless, the reason I'm certain you're a soul that crossed dimensions is because of the Spirit Death God's words."
"The Spirit Death God?"
"Yes. Though I am merely a High Priest, I have been blessed with eyes imbued with divine power, allowing me to receive his will."
Divine power. Ah, so that's why Jeremy recognized it—eyes imbued with divine power.
"The Spirit Death God spoke thus." [A proxy has come from a distant place to fulfill the Sun God's will. Follow them. If you do, the terrible night shall not come upon you. The faithful must trust in the proxy's soul.] I didn't come willingly but was forcibly dragged here, but setting that aside for now.
"The terrible night?"
"In the Eternal Death God Temple, night carries many meanings. A peaceful night signifies death-like slumber, an eternal night means death itself. And a terrible night refers to a painful death."
"...."
"A long and dreadful death where suffering doesn't end even after death...."
Nashas let out a heavy sigh.
"In over eighty years of serving the Spirit Death God, I've never heard him directly mention a terrible night before. So, anxious as I was, when I heard that the daughter of light had visited the Southern Region, I came rushing here."
The system doesn't call the gods by their names—Sun God, Sea God, Spirit Death God—but instead refers to them by their epithets. The Spirit Death God's epithet is "the Traveler who Guides Souls."
Not only does he know my true identity, but his epithet is also quite suggestive. Then could it be that it wasn't the Sun God who brought my dead soul here, but the Spirit Death God? The possibility is high, but I don't understand the part about a terrible death coming if I don't help them. That's advice that could only be given if one knew the future where his followers would eventually perish fighting against demons. Even if the Sun God and Spirit Death God joined hands and the latter also knows about "Holy Idella," it still doesn't make sense. If they knew the original story, they would have told me to help Idella, not myself. The more I think about it, the stranger it becomes. Are even the gods deviating this much from the original story? Is this really the same world as the one in "Holy Idella"? The moment I questioned the world, a System Message appeared. Content I hadn't seen in ages. 【That question constitutes a revelation of heavenly secrets. To obtain an answer to that question, your current divine power reserves must exceed 40%.】 "What?"
When I first possessed this body, they said the world within the novel was real, but now this question qualifies as a revelation of heavenly secrets? My head was spinning. Right, there's no guarantee the system isn't lying. Why didn't I think of that sooner?
"The Spirit Death God told you to help me?"
I asked Nashas while keeping my eyes fixed on the System Message. Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Nashas nodded hurriedly.
"Yes, that is correct. Therefore, our Eternal Death God Temple shall actively support Your Holiness in accordance with the divine will...."
"Support—I like the sound of that. I'll gladly accept it without refusal."
I nodded immediately. I was already short on power, and now the Eternal Death God Temple's backing? Excellent.
"So, about that—do you happen to have any money?"
I asked Nashas boldly.
"...Pardon?"
Nashas's face went blank. But this was unavoidable. I still needed another 1.5 billion gold to hear the secrets the system was hiding. Besides, the Spirit Death God himself told me to help, so this wasn't extortion. I needed accurate information to properly assist the Eternal Death God Temple.
"I find myself in need of funds. I require about 15,000 gold—could you spare it? I promise to repay you later."
"15,000 gold? I'm afraid we don't have that much available...."
Damn, they don't have it? Well, the Eternal Death God Temple isn't like the Sea God Faction—they don't extort money like thugs. So what do I do?
"However, I can arrange 5,000 gold immediately."
I, who had been pulling at my hair in distress, suddenly lifted my head at Nashas's words.
"Really?"
"Yes. It just so happens that the Eastern Duke, one of our devoted believers, visited recently and left us with some surplus funds. However, anything beyond that would require us to dip into the temple's operational budget...."
"I wouldn't dream of asking for more! The surplus is more than enough!"
I grasped both of Nashas's hands firmly.
"Don't worry—it's not for anything nefarious. I simply must make an offering to that damned Sun God."
"D-Damned? About the divine...."
"It's fine. Our God understands this level of cursing. He's made so many mistakes, after all."
After all the cursing I'd done because of this forced second life, the Sun God must be used to it by now. Besides, if not for me, he'd be doomed anyway, so he owes me this much.
"W-Well, if the divine understands.... Though I know not the reason, if the God has erred, perhaps harsh words are warranted."
"My, High Priest, you're quite flexible. I think we'll get along wonderfully."
I gave her a thumbs up.
"You said the Spirit Death God would listen to you, and that terrible nights wouldn't come? Yes. Don't worry. I'll help you well."
"Truly?"
Nashas's eyes widened. I nodded and smiled at her.
"Yes. And we're not the only ones helping the Eternal Death God Temple. We also need your help. So we're helping each other. Besides, you've already agreed to give me the funds I need."
"...I see. An alliance of mutual aid. That sounds wonderful."
Nashas broke into a broad smile. She seemed worried we might become a burden. As if that were possible.
"In that spirit, I have one more request."
"What would you have us do?"
"You're aware of the increased appearances of demons in the Desert, aren't you? Especially the unusually high number of casualties from this recent incident."
Nashas's expression darkened immediately. Of course she would know.
"We're in the Western Region, so we're limited in how much we can help the Southern Region. But the Eternal Death God Temple is different."
"...."
"Help the people, heal them, fight alongside them. Before the demon numbers become unmanageable."
And before the hatred toward the Eternal Death God Temple grows deeper in the hearts of the Southern people. They needed time to build trust with one another.
"Besides, those sluggish ones are finally starting to move. So there shouldn't be any great danger."
"Pardon?"
"Soon, both the Sun God's potions and the Sea God's potions will be released into the Southern Region."
Nashas was taken aback.
"The, the Sea God's potions too?"
"Yes. With this, the Southern Region's greatest problem—the potion shortage—will be resolved."
That's right. From the beginning, this was my true purpose. Making money? That matters. But distributing more potions that can save lives is far more important than money. Financial loss? No. Rather, this was the greatest gain I could see.
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