The villains of the future are gone, and I've even gained a follower worth 300 million won.
What a perfect day.
I should keep working hard on missionary work. Finding someone on Lute's level again won't be easy, though.
Come to think of it, our dear Airik and Seth, who are both devout followers of the Sun God, are also quite powerful—so why can't they make the Sun God stronger?
Is that only possible with new followers?
[Airik Dert and Seth Noel, compared to Lute Sheorie, are severely, significantly, extremely, overwhelmingly lacking in both fame and wealth, and are thus only B-rank followers.]
"..."
How many layers of emphasis was that just now?
What are we supposed to do about my poor Airik and Seth?
Unlike Lute, who boasts SSS+ wealth, Airik and Seth, who lead a humble temple, would generously be considered F-rank.
Their fame isn't even worth mentioning.
Poor guys. I'll work hard and fill their wallets for them.
…Though, honestly, I'm even poorer than the two of them right now.
"Well then, dear follower, shall we talk about the sacred relic transfer tax now?"
This isn't because I'm jealous of Lute's SSS+ wealth or anything.
It's for the revival of the Temple of the Sun God, and to offer it in devotion to Him.
Anyway, that's my official reason.
"Oh, of course. I was thinking of offering about 500 gold to start. Would that be enough?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
I… I seriously underestimated what SSS+ wealth meant.
The three F-rank paupers were struck speechless by his incredibly generous offer.
F-Five hundred gold. So, uh, how much is one gold again? What does that make five hundred?
[One gold equals 100,000 won. So 500 gold is 50 million won.]
Boom!
I slammed the table with both fists before I realized it, shocked by the insane amount.
A follower worth 300 million won was already a blessing—but now he's tossing in another 50 million?
How on earth did a sucker—no, a jackpot like this just roll into our laps?
"Is it not enough? Then how about 1,000 gold?"
Lute suddenly doubled the offer, possibly misunderstanding my reaction.
Ha… He must really be desperate. Should I try to raise the price?
…No, let's just be satisfied with this. I need to stay on good terms with Lute.
"1,000 gold sounds perfect. Would you be able to pay now, by any chance?"
"Of course. Please give me a moment."
While Lute went outside to speak with his aide, Yuri Poulton, the three paupers quickly huddled together.
"I'd heard Duke Sheorie owned a mine, but I didn't expect him to hand over 100 million—no, 1,000 gold—right off the bat. Honestly, I just asked for money without even having an amount in mind."
At my shameless words, Airik and Seth gave me a long, hard look.
Still, thanks to me, we've got money to feed the kids now.
I'm not donating this. I'm definitely investing it back into the temple, so please understand.
"In any case, this is great for us—right now, every penny counts. With the Duke's help, we should be able to shake off Count Kiris's influence pretty quickly."
"That's true, but… I still don't get why someone like Duke Sheorie would need a holy relic of light. Plus, that relic is…"
"Now that you mention it, what exactly is the Holy Relic of Light? I've never heard of it."
When Airik trailed off with a strange expression, Seth asked.
"That relic… honestly, doesn't have any special abilities. I heard it was created by a priest a couple generations ago after receiving a divine revelation, but it's been kept in storage because it doesn't really do anything."
So even Airik doesn't really know about the relic.
Well, if he did, he wouldn't have just left it sitting there.
It may be called a relic, but it wasn't one in truth.
That's why I absolutely cannot give it to Lute.
Instead, I'll have to prepare something else that will satisfy him...
I already have something in mind, but I'm not sure if it'll work.
[Offering a portion of the regained power of the "Sun Crawling Out of Death," a trade is initiated with the AI System.]
Then, a startling message appeared before my eyes.
Wait—why are we using up the power I worked so hard to recover? What kind of trade justifies that?
[The AI System accepts the trade with the "Sun Crawling Out of Death." The will of the "Sun Crawling Out of Death" is conveyed to the user.]
[If the user increases their divine power by just 2%, all of their current problems will be resolved.]
Huh? Really?
My divine power is currently at 8%. If I reach 10%, will I unlock another new ability like the physical enhancement I got at 5%?
And in this situation, that could be the exact power I need.
But… what kind of ability is it?
[This question is not included in the trade agreement with the "Sun Crawling Out of Death" and cannot be answered.]
I don't know what it is, but I'll trust it—after all, this is information granted at the cost of precious power by the Sun God, who's currently desperate for even a fragment of strength.
"When the Duke brings the 1,000 gold, tell him to use it to buy food supplies. Let's finally feast on some meat again."
As soon as I knew what I had to do, I promptly got rid of Airik, who might interfere.
Thankfully, Airik, who had long been worried about the quality of food at the temple, agreed without any suspicion.
"You've been waiting, haven't you? I'll give you the 1,000 gold right away."
Just in time, Lute returned with his aide.
"Please let the High Priest confirm the amount. In the meantime, Duke, would you mind having a quick chat with me?"
With Airik gone, the only one left to interfere was Seth.
"Commander, could you step out for a moment?"
But there was no need to scheme with Seth.
The loyal commander merely cast me a worried glance before quietly stepping outside.
Now comes the important part.
Once I carefully checked the door was shut, I swiftly turned to Lute.
"Your Grace. I have a proposal."
"What could the saint possibly want, speaking so seriously?"
"Give me more money."
I dropped it on him without hesitation, and a look of disbelief spread across Lute's face.
"Did I just hear you wrong? What did you say?"
"I'm talking about money. Not too much—just 2,000 gold."
I already took 1,000, and now I'm asking for another 2,000 out of nowhere. Of course he'd be dumbfounded.
But this is all for your own good. That 2,000 gold is the price of your life!
"Of course, let's keep this a secret from the High Priest and the Commander. And don't think I'm doing this out of greed—I'm not that kind of person."
"..."
"You need the relic because of your illness, right?"
At that, Lute's eyes turned ice-cold.
Gone was the lazy feline demeanor—his entire presence shifted.
Just by straightening his back, he radiated a heavy, suffocating pressure.
But that doesn't work on me.
My mental strength is strong enough to endure even a Swordmaster's killing intent now.
"...Very few people know that."
"That makes sense. The High Priest and the Commander didn't seem to notice. But I can see them clearly—those strange blotches all over your body."
"...Blotches?"
"Yes. No matter how I look at them, they don't seem normal. I can see clearly—those pitch-black marks are slowly eating away at you."
At first, I wondered why he was dragging around something that looked like mold.
But once I learned who Lute truly was, I understood.
Those stains were directly related to the illness he was suffering from.
Even now, the black blotches were slowly growing larger.
Every time they swelled up like they were about to burst, the golden glow around him dimmed slightly—and each time, Lute's hands trembled minutely. I'd been watching closely and was sure of it.
He was enduring pain from the illness even as we spoke.
"I've met countless priests in my life, but not one of them has ever mentioned seeing anything like that."
Seeing that neither Airik nor Seth had reacted to it either, it seemed I really was the only one who could see it.
I didn't know why.
"Maybe it's because I'm the Saint of the Sun God, and my power is specialized in healing. Just so you know, your illness can't be completely cured with the Holy Relic of Light. But with my help as a Saint, things are different."
"..."
"2,000 gold. That's all I ask—and I promise I'll help you properly."
In fact, in the original story, it was stated that only the divine power of the Sun God could ease his pain. So I spoke confidently.
"…2,000 gold. That's all you need?"
After a long silence, those words slipped from Lute's lips—and I clenched my fist in victory.
"If possible, I'd like it now. While no one else is around."
"…Why does this feel like I'm being extorted by some thug?"
He grumbled loud enough for anyone to hear, but still seemed willing to pay—he was that desperate.
Geez, I'm doing this to help you, and you call me a thug? That's harsh!
"Exactly 2,000 gold. Enchanted with pocket-space magic."
Still muttering under his breath, Lute pulled out a fist-sized pouch from inside his clothes and placed it down.
"Honestly, I came prepared to pay up to 3,000 if the 1,000 didn't work out. So when you asked for exactly 2,000, I was surprised. Can you read minds or something?"
Not right now, but it would be nice to have that ability someday. I wonder if I'll get it later?
[Such a skill does not exist.]
...Okay. Thanks for letting me know.
Disappointed, I grabbed the pouch filled with 2,000 gold. And just as I did, a system message popped up, as if it had been waiting:
[♥♥♥ Donated ♥♥♥]
To be more accurate—it was the donation box itself, radiating joy at the thought of getting more money.
"..."
I was too stunned to say anything.