“After already receiving 3,000 gold, now you’re saying the recharge fee is separate… And on top of that, the blessing needs to be renewed every month?”
Ruthe’s silver-gray eyes looked at me as if I were the most bizarre thing in the world.
Getting that look from the very villain who tormented the protagonists and stood in their way until the end of the novel? It was oddly satisfying.
“You’ll understand the effectiveness of my blessing in a month, so we can revisit the recharge fee then.”
When the blessing ends and the pain returns, you’ll come looking for me on your own.
That might sound like a curse, but it’s really more of a prophecy. As I added that, Ruthe ran a hand through his hair.
Even in that simple motion, I could feel his quiet irritation.
“…Do you know this? I run a merchant guild.”
I know. It was described in the original.
Though the business ends up ruined as his illness worsens under the Sacred Relic of Light’s influence, eventually turning him into a slave of the villain.
With all his actions restricted, even the right to end his own life was taken away, and Ruthe Sheary completely gave up and became a full-fledged villain.
“I don’t usually suffer financial loss anywhere I go.”
Still holding his merchant guild, Ruthe let out a hollow laugh.
“I didn’t think I’d be so thoroughly fleeced by a Saintess.”
“But you’re not really at a loss, are you? If spending money means easing your symptoms, that’s actually a gain. Besides, for the Sheary Dukedom that owns a mine, this is basically pocket change.”
In my previous life, even after working hard, I never got to touch 300 million before I died. Yet here I was shamelessly calling it pocket change.
Ruthe also seemed impressed by my shamelessness.
“Calling it pocket change when it’s not even your money.”
“And it’s not, is it?”
“…That’s true. If it means escaping this pain, I’d be willing to pay any amount. A body without pain—do you even understand how sweet that feels?”
Ruthe looked down at his hands.
Joy, amazement, happiness, and a touch of anxiety swirled through his eyes like a storm.
“If I have to suffer that pain again, I’d probably pay not just money, but my soul if you asked.”
“Yeah, no thanks. I don’t need your soul. I mean, really, what would I do with it?”
Ugh, why would I take someone’s soul? What’s the point of a dead soul anyway?
What I need is a living body holding SSS+ level assets. A soul that can’t even spend its own money? Useless.
“Money is all I need.”
I circled my thumb and forefinger to make a coin gesture, and Ruthe drooped his eyebrows as if wounded.
“Such a firm rejection… It hurts. So, you mean I’m worthless without money?”
“Obviously. What would I do with a penniless Duke?”
“For eye candy.”
Ruthe spread his hands and placed them under his chin. A flower pose.
“….”
This is absurd. Absolutely ridiculous. And yet—I can’t argue with it.
He is absurdly good-looking.
A decadent beauty that neither the gentle Irik nor the clean-cut Seth could match.
I just didn’t expect him to say it himself.
“Can’t deny that. I guess your looks do suit my taste.”
Ruthe smiled softly, his eyes curling up. He was clearly trying to be seductive.
Is this his true personality? The gap with the original is so huge I can’t even process it.
“I hate being told I’m not living up to my looks, so I’ll make sure to pay my recharge fees properly. I won’t show up empty-handed.”
“Good. Just so you know, the recharge fee and donations to the Grand Temple are separate. But you don’t have to give more than the donation amount.”
The recharge fees will go to the Sun God as offerings, while the donations will be used for Grand Temple operations.
Restoring the Sun God’s power is important, but fixing up this rundown Grand Temple comes first.
A majestic temple will naturally draw awe and attention from people.
With more worshippers, divine power will restore itself—even without me spending more money. So temple upkeep is priority one.
“I’m touched. A Saintess who loves money is willing to compromise.”
That sarcasm. Impressive, really.
“I’ll take good care of the sacred item. I never want to experience that pain again, so I won’t be using it carelessly.”
“Better not lose or damage it. If something happens to that relic—you’ll really die.”
That’s not just a warning. It’s a prophecy.
‘Aurora’ isn’t just a relic, it’s a divine item. It will ward off the ‘absolute evil’ who once turned Ruthe into a pawn.
If Aurora breaks?
That evil will move in at once, and Ruthe will fall back into villainy. Then I’ll be forced to kill him to survive.
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
Sensing my sincerity, Ruthe dropped his joking tone and nodded with a solemn face.
“One last thing. You must only speak with me about your illness and the blessing. Don’t mention it to the High Priest or the Holy Knight Captain.”
“Why hide it from them if it’s a Saintess’s blessing?”
Because if Irik finds out that a fake Saintess like me can bless a divine item, I’m screwed.
“A Saintess’s blessing contains the power of healing. And if the Duke has a blessed item like that? Those two will immediately suspect something about your condition.”
But I couldn’t say that, so I made up something plausible.
Seth had probably figured it out a little, but he wasn’t the type to go blabbing, so it was fine.
“If you don’t mind them knowing, you can tell them.”
“No, better if they don’t. Let’s keep this between the two of us.”
Knew it. I smiled, satisfied.
I plan to bolt from the Grand Temple when all this is over. If people find out I’m a real Saintess, that’ll complicate everything.
So this has to stay a secret no matter what.
With that agreement, we shook hands and built our trust.
“Excuse me. Apologies for the delay.”
Perfect timing—Irik returned just then.
I glanced at the sacred item now hidden neatly inside Ruthe’s coat and asked him,
“Did you finish confirming the amount?”
“Yes. All funds were paid in full. Priest Dietrich and a few holy knights have gone to the nearby village to purchase supplies.”
Dietrich really does everything. He might as well be the glue holding the temple together.
“In that case, since all formalities are complete, I’ll retrieve the sacred relic now.”
“Oh, that’s alright. The High Priest seemed busy, so I brought the sacred relic myself along with the Captain. The Duke already confirmed its effectiveness, so there’s no need for the High Priest to do anything else!”
“…Pardon? What do you mean by that…”
Irik blinked in confusion.
His face clearly said, How would she know what or where the Sacred Relic of Light is?
But with Ruthe still present, he couldn’t question me directly, and hesitated awkwardly. I quickly steered the conversation.
“Duke, do you have any more business with us?”
You’ve gotten what you came for. Now get lost.
Ruthe looked between me and Irik, then understood and rose to his feet.
“No. I was just about to leave. Suddenly, I feel this intense urge to earn a lot of money. I better get to work right away.”
“Oh my. Still, take care of your health as you do.”
Words with bite, met with equally biting reply—Ruthe burst out laughing.
“Thank you for such a worthwhile transaction, Saintess.”
“And I’m glad I could be of help to you, Duke. I look forward to a long, fruitful relationship between you and the Grand Temple.”
You better bring money every month.
“Now that I’m a follower of the Sun God, I should be the one saying that. As a believer, I’ll always pray for the Grand Temple’s peace.”
That was basically him promising to earn money diligently and bring it here.
Ruthe gave Irik a respectful nod, still unaware of the situation, and left with a light step.
Somehow, seeing how different his gait was from when he first arrived made me feel strange.
The chances of him ending up in a tragic future had dropped dramatically.
And I had made that happen.
So what if some of the original novel’s information is now obsolete?
I’ve secured a powerful hidden card in Ruthe Sheary.
Besides, the money’s the best part.
“Saintess. What in the world just happened? How did you know about the sacred relic…”
No sooner had Ruthe and his aide disappeared than Irik pounced with questions.
I answered nonchalantly.
“Oh, I didn’t give him the Sacred Relic of Light.”
“…Pardon? But the Duke said he was very satisfied…”
“Yes! I gave him something else he actually needed, not the Sacred Relic of Light!”
“What exactly did you give him…?”
“Aurora.”
“…What did you say you gave him?”
“The Sun God’s divine item, Aurora. I gave him that instead of the Sacred Relic of Light.”
I smiled brightly at Irik.
Three seconds later—
“Saintess!”
Irik’s deafening scream shook the entire Grand Temple.
Ow. My ears.
* * *
“Milord. Are you saying the sacred relic actually worked?”
As soon as the carriage departed, Ruthe’s aide, Yuri Poulton, asked.
He was one of the very few who knew about Ruthe’s illness, and had scoured countless sources looking for even a hint of relief.
That was how, by sheer chance, he’d found an old tome mentioning the “Sacred Relic of Light.”
The description had been minimal—only a brief line: “A rare sacred relic imbued with healing power.”
But back then, both Ruthe and Yuri had been so desperate they clung to that one sentence.
With no clue where it might be, they’d searched for years. So of course he was dying to know whether it had truly worked.