The future villain is now no more, and I’ve scored a 300-million-coin-class believer.
What a perfect day.
I really should keep evangelizing. Though finding someone on Ruthe’s level again might be impossible.
Still, one question kept nagging at me—our devout believers Irik and Seth are both incredibly strong, so why haven’t they helped strengthen the Sun God?
Is it only new believers who count?
【Irik Dert and Seth Noel have significantly, extremely, overwhelmingly less fame and wealth than Ruthe Sheary, thus ranking only as B-Class believers.】
“….”
How many layers of emphasis was that?
Poor Irik and Seth. What are we supposed to do?
Unlike Ruthe and his SSS+ wealth, these two run a crumbling temple on fumes—at best, they’d rank F-Class.
Fame? Don’t even start.
Poor guys. I’ll work hard and make sure your wallets are nice and full someday.
…Though technically, I’m even poorer than they are right now.
“Well then, dear believer. Shall we now discuss the relic transfer fee?”
This has nothing to do with being jealous of Ruthe’s SSS+ fortune.
I’m collecting it purely to restore the Grand Temple and offer it to the Sun God.
Totally. Absolutely.
“Ah, of course. I was thinking of offering around 500 gold—would that be enough?”
“….”
“….”
“….”
I… underestimated what an SSS+ fortune really means.
His casual offer left us three F-Class paupers completely speechless.
F-five hundred gold. Okay, wait. How much was one gold again? How much is that in real money?
【1 gold = 100,000 won. 500 gold = 50 million won.】
Crash!
I slammed both fists onto the table before I realized what I was doing.
He’s not only a 300-million-class believer—he’s casually tossing in another fifty million on top?!
How the hell did I land a golden goose like this? I mean, um… a pumpkin that rolled right into my lap?
“…Is it not enough? Then how about 1,000 gold?”
Misreading my reaction, Ruthe suddenly doubled the offer.
God, he must really be desperate… Should I raise the price even more?
…No. Better not. I need to stay on good terms with him. Let’s be satisfied here.
“One thousand gold sounds perfect. Are you able to pay right away?”
“Of course. Please wait just a moment.”
As Ruthe stepped out to speak with his aide, Yuri Poulton, the three of us dirt-poor temple dwellers huddled together.
“I mean… I knew he owned the mines and all, but to throw out 1,000 gold like it’s nothing? Honestly, I just said ‘pay up’ without even having a number in mind.”
At my shameless remark, Irik and Seth stared at me in quiet disbelief.
Hey, but now we’ve got money to feed everyone, right?
Don’t worry—I won’t tithe this. It’s going straight into the temple.
“It’s good for us. We’re scraping by, and with the duke’s help, we might finally break free from Count Kiris’s grip.”
“That’s true, but… I still don’t understand why someone like Duke Sheary needs the Relic of Light. Besides, that thing is…”
“Speaking of, what is the Relic of Light? I’ve never heard of it before.”
As Irik trailed off with a strange expression, Seth asked.
“It actually doesn’t do anything special. I’ve heard it was made two generations ago by a priest who received a divine message, but since then, it’s been sitting in storage without any apparent powers.”
So even Irik doesn’t know what it really is.
If he did, he wouldn’t have just left it there collecting dust.
It may be called a relic, but it’s not really a relic.
Which is why I can never let Ruthe have it.
Instead, I need to prepare something that will satisfy him…
I do have an idea, but I’m not sure if it’ll work.
【A portion of the recovered power of ‘The Sun that Crawled Back from Death’ will be offered in trade with the AI System.】
A surprising system message popped up in front of me.
Wait, why are we spending the power we worked so hard to get back? What kind of trade is this?
【The AI System accepts the trade with ‘The Sun that Crawled Back from Death’. Transmitting the will of the Sun to the user.】
【Increase divine power by just 2%, and all your problems will be solved.】
Huh? Really?
I’m at 8% now. So, at 10%, will I unlock a new ability like when I hit 5% and got body enhancement?
And it’s supposed to be exactly what I need in this moment?
But what is it?
【That question is not included in the trade with ‘The Sun that Crawled Back from Death’. Therefore, no answer can be given.】
Well… I don’t know what it is, but if the dying Sun God is offering to spend power for this, it must be worth trusting.
“High Priest, once the duke brings the gold, send someone out to buy food supplies. We’re feasting on meat tonight.”
Now that I had a goal, the first thing to do was send Irik away.
Luckily, he’d been quite concerned about the temple’s deteriorating food quality lately, so he nodded without suspicion.
“You’ve waited long. I’ll hand over the 1,000 gold now.”
Right on cue, Ruthe returned with his aide.
“High Priest, please verify the amount. In the meantime, Duke, may I have a word with you?”
With Irik gone, only Seth remained.
“Captain, would you mind waiting outside?”
Unlike Irik, Seth didn’t require any tricks.
Loyal as ever, he glanced at me with concern before stepping out without protest.
Now came the important part.
Once I made sure the door was shut tight, I spun around toward Ruthe.
“Your Grace. I have a proposal.”
“What in the world is the Saintess going to say that requires this much gravity?”
“Give me more money.”
I said it point blank, and Ruthe’s expression contorted in sheer disbelief.
“Did I hear that right? What did you just say?”
“I said money. Not much—just 2,000 gold will do.”
He’s probably thinking I’ve lost my mind, asking for double after already getting 1,000 gold.
But I swear—it’s all to save you. That 2,000 gold is the price of your life!
“And of course, don’t tell the High Priest or the Captain. I’m not doing this out of greed, so don’t look at me that way.”
“……”
“You need the relic because of your illness, don’t you?”
In an instant, Ruthe’s eyes turned cold.
Like a cat that had been lazily lounging suddenly baring its claws—his entire demeanor shifted.
He simply sat up straighter, and the weight of his presence slammed down like a hammer.
But it didn’t affect me.
My mental fortitude right now could probably withstand a Swordmaster’s bloodlust.
“Not many people know that…”
“I figured. The High Priest and Captain didn’t seem to suspect anything. But I can see it—those strange black stains all over your body.”
“…Stains?”
“Yes. I can see something pitch black consuming you from within. It’s definitely not normal.”
At first, I thought he was just walking around covered in mold.
But once I knew who he was, it all made sense.
Those stains were tied to the illness Ruthe suffers from.
Even now, they were spreading. I could see them pulsing, growing bigger, the gold in his aura shrinking each time.
And with each pulse, his fingers trembled slightly. I’d been watching closely.
He’s still enduring pain, even now.
“I’ve seen many priests, but none who could detect anything like that.”
Irik and Seth didn’t seem to notice, either, so it must be something only I can see.
I don’t know why, though.
“Maybe it’s because I’m the Sun God’s Saintess, and my powers are attuned to healing. But I’ll tell you this—your illness can’t be cured by the Relic of Light alone.
But if I help you… that’s a different story.”
“……”
“Just 2,000 gold. That’s all I need to help you properly.”
Even in the original novel, only the Sun God’s divine power could ease his suffering. So I stood tall with confidence.
“…2,000 gold. That’s all?”
After a long silence, Ruthe finally spoke—and I clenched my fists in victory.
“If possible, right now. While no one else is around.”
“…Why does this feel like I’m being extorted by a street thug?”
Even as he grumbled, he didn’t refuse. He was clearly desperate. He muttered loudly enough for me to hear on purpose.
I’m doing this to help you, and you call me a thug? Harsh.
“Exactly 2,000 gold. It’s enchanted with a pocket-dimension spell.”
Still grumbling, he pulled out a pouch the size of a fist and set it down.
“I actually brought 3,000 just in case the first 1,000 wasn’t enough.
So when you said exactly 2,000, I was honestly a little surprised. Can you read minds?”
Not yet, but… yeah, that would be nice to have. Maybe I’ll unlock it someday?
【That skill does not exist.】
…Thanks for letting me down gently.
I grabbed the pouch with 2,000 gold, and as if on cue, a message popped up.
【♥♥♥Offered Up♥♥♥】
More accurately, it was the offering box looking way too excited about receiving money.
“….”
I had no words.