"Even after already receiving 3,000 gold, you're saying the recharge fee is separate...? And on top of that, I have to recharge the blessing once a month?"
Lute looked at me as if he were seeing the most bizarre thing in the world with his silver-gray eyes.
To receive that kind of look from the villain who tormented the protagonists and stood in their way until the very end—how satisfying.
"You'll understand the effects of my blessing in a month, so we can talk about the recharge fee again then."
Once the blessing ends and the pain returns, you'll come looking for me on your own.
It sounded like a curse, but it was practically a prophecy. At those words, Lute ran a hand through his hair.
Even in that simple gesture, I could feel his subtle irritation.
"…Did you know? I run a merchant guild."
I know. It was mentioned in the original work.
Although, in the story, his condition worsens due to the holy artifact, he becomes a slave to the villain, and the guild ultimately falls.
Stripped of all agency, Lute Sieri is even denied the freedom to take his own life, and in despair, he fully transforms into a villain.
"As someone in business, I usually don't make deals that leave me at a loss."
Lute, still in control of an unruined guild, let out a dry laugh.
"I never imagined I'd be fleeced for this much money by a saint."
"But it's not really a loss, is it? If money can ease your condition, then it's a gain. Besides, for a duchy that owns a mine, this is pocket change."
Despite not even touching 300 million won in my past life no matter how hard I worked, I shamelessly called it pocket change.
Lute seemed equally impressed by my boldness.
"Calling it pocket change when it's not even your money."
"So it's not?"
"…Fair point. If I can escape this pain, I'm willing to pay anything. Even my soul, if that's what it takes. A body without pain—do you have any idea how sweet that feels?"
Lute looked down at his own hands.
Joy, awe, happiness, and a hint of anxiety swirled in his eyes like a storm.
"If I had to go back to feeling pain again, I'd probably sell not just money, but my soul as well."
"Well, I don't really need your soul. I mean, what use would that even be?"
Ugh, why would I take someone's soul? What would I even do with a dead soul?
What I need is a living body holding SSS+-grade wealth. A soul that can't even spend money is pretty much useless.
"Money is enough for me."
When I made a circle with my thumb and forefinger and waved it, Lute drooped his eyebrows as if hurt.
"You're breaking my heart with such a firm rejection. Are you saying I'm worthless without money?"
"Of course. What use is a penniless duke?"
"For eye candy."
Lute spread his hands and held them under his chin like a flower pose.
"...."
I'm speechless. Absolutely dumbfounded. And yet... I can't deny it.
He really is absurdly good-looking.
It's a decadent beauty—something you'd never find in the gentle Airik or the neat Seth.
I just didn't expect him to say it himself.
"Not denying it, huh? I guess my looks are to the saint's liking."
Lute smiled, his eyes narrowing gently. He was clearly trying to charm me.
Is this how Lute really is? The gap from the original is so big I'm losing my mind.
"I don't like hearing that I'm not living up to my face, so I'll make sure to pay the recharge fee regularly. I'll never come empty-handed."
"Good. By the way, the donation to the temple and the recharge fee are separate. But the recharge fee can be lower than the donation."
The recharge fee would be offered to the Sun God, while the donations would go toward running the temple.
Restoring the Sun God's power was important, but fixing up the run-down temple came first.
A grand-looking temple would attract more awe—and more followers.
If the number of believers increases like that, then even without me spending a dime, the Sun God's power will naturally be restored. That's why the temple operation fund was the top priority.
"A saint who loves money making a concession—how touching."
To mock someone's sincerity like that. Truly a remarkable talent.
"I'll be sure to use the relic with care. I never want to feel that pain again, so I won't be reckless."
"You'd better not lose or break it. If anything happens to that relic, you really will die."
This was both a warning and a prophecy.
The relic—no, the divine artifact Aurora—would block the approach of the "Absolute Evil" that had enslaved him in the original story.
If Aurora were to be damaged?
The villain would come, as if waiting for the moment, and Lute would fall into villainy, and I would have to kill him in order to survive.
"…I'll keep that in mind."
Perhaps sensing my sincerity, Lute dropped his playful demeanor and nodded with a serious expression.
"One last thing. All talk regarding your illness and the blessing must be kept between you and me. Don't mention it to the High Priest or the Paladin Commander."
"It's a saint's blessing. Why hide it from them?"
Because if Airik finds out that a fake saint like me can bestow a blessing using a divine artifact, I'll be in serious trouble.
"The saint's blessing contains healing power. But if the Duke is in possession of a relic imbued with such a blessing? They'll figure out your illness in no time."
But since I couldn't say that, I covered it up with a more plausible excuse.
Seth had already gotten a hint, but he wasn't the type to speak carelessly, so it should be fine.
"If you don't mind them knowing, then go ahead and tell them."
"No. It's better they don't. Let's keep this just between us."
I knew he'd say that. I smiled in satisfaction.
Once everything is over, I plan to run away from the temple, so it would be problematic if word got out that I had become a real saint.
So this has to remain a secret to the end.
Having reached a dramatic agreement, we shook hands and solidified our mutual trust.
"Excuse me. Sorry to have kept you waiting."
Right then, with perfect timing, Airik returned.
I glanced at the divine artifact now perfectly hidden beneath Lute's collar, then asked him:
"Have you finished confirming the payment?"
"Yes. Everything's been paid, and Priest Dietrich and several holy knights have gone down to the nearby village to purchase food supplies."
Dietrich really does everything. He's practically the temple's MVP.
"Then, since all the procedures are complete, I'll go fetch the relic right away."
"Oh, no need. The High Priest seemed busy, so I brought it with the Commander myself. The Duke has already confirmed its effects, so there's nothing more for the High Priest to do!"
"…Pardon? What do you mean by that…?"
Airik blinked in confusion.
His face clearly said, "How would you know where the sacred relic is, let alone what it looks like?"
But since Lute was present, he couldn't question me directly and just floundered instead.
I quickly jumped in to smooth over the situation.
"Duke, do you have any other business?"
If you've gotten everything you came for, it's time to leave.
Lute looked between me and Airik, and, seemingly catching my meaning, stood up at once.
"No. I was just about to leave anyway. I suddenly feel a strong urge to earn a lot more money. I should get going and work hard."
"Oh dear. But please, take care of your health as well."
When I offered a barbed comment, Lute responded in kind, making us both chuckle.
"Thank you for agreeing to this deal, Saint."
"The pleasure was mine, Duke. I'm glad I could be of help. I look forward to a smooth and close relationship between you and the temple going forward."
You'll need to bring money faithfully every month.
"Now that I'm a believer of the Sun God, I should be the one saying I'm in your care. As a follower, I'll always pray for the well-being of the temple."
In other words, he's promising to bring the money he earns diligently.
Lute lightly bowed his head to Airik, who still hadn't fully grasped the situation, and then departed with light footsteps.
Something about his changed gait from when he first arrived gave me a strange feeling.
Because the chances of him meeting a tragic end had significantly decreased.
And because I was the one who made that happen.
Some of the original story's information would now become useless, but so what?
Gaining someone like Lute Sieri—a massive hidden card—was a much greater reward.
Of course, the best part is still the incoming money.
"Saint… What on earth just happened? How did you even know about the sacred relic…?"
No sooner had Lute and his aide vanished than Airik pounced with questions.
I replied like it was nothing worth fussing over.
"Oh, actually, the item I gave the Duke wasn't the Sacred Relic of Light."
"…Pardon? But he said it was a satisfactory deal…"
"Yep! There was something else the Duke needed more than the Sacred Relic, so I gave him that instead!"
"What in the world did you give him…?"
"Aurora."
"…What did you just say you gave him?"
"The Sun God's divine artifact—Aurora. I gave him that instead of the Sacred Relic of Light."
I beamed brightly at Airik.
And three seconds later—
"Saint!"
Airik's booming voice echoed throughout the temple.
Oof, my ears…
* * *
"Lord Duke, are you certain the relic is effective?"
No sooner had the carriage departed than Lute's aide, Yuri Polton, asked.
He was one of the few people who knew about Lute's illness—and had combed through every scrap of information he could find to relieve even a little of Lute's suffering.
It was during this search that he happened upon an old, obscure tome that mentioned the "Sacred Relic of Light."
There wasn't much detail—just a single line: "A rare relic imbued with healing power."
But back then, with both Lute and Yuri half in despair, even that one line had been a lifeline.
No one knew where it was, and they spent years searching for it—so now, more than anything, they were desperate to know whether the relic truly worked.