It's Not That Hard, Right?
I need strong backing. To fulfill ten revelations, more power is always better. So, Demia, I shall fulfill what you desire. To do that, please bestow upon me one small ability.>
Demia asked with a smirk,
{Whatever you want?}>
Why was this being so petty and stingy, giving only limited information? Was she truly a god? Why was she so different from humans? Or perhaps because she held transcendental power?>
All mages possessed that transcendence. They had stronger power, but they did not embody the universal nature of gods that we spoke of. These were like vicious spirits. I scoffed inwardly. My answer came out sweetly on the surface.>
{Anything can be fulfilled.}>
{Good. But...}>
Wait, no!>
{Large power demands large responsibility.}>
Ah, thank you, spider man.>
{Large goals require large abilities. Gerka bestowed upon me the power to complete my revelations. You will also grant the power fitting for that goal, Demia. I shall complete it without fail.}>
Hmm, how grand an ability could you give? The male lead in an old classic drama asked, “How much is that?” I did not know what the female lead said. I was born after that drama aired. I could not tell from the meme why the male lead said it, but if he said it to me?>
I will clearly state the price down to the last coin. Including the service fee.>
Demia remained silent. Even gods were helpless. They had to give what was demanded, so their thoughts raced visibly.>
While Demia said nothing, I organized my thoughts in my mind. What ability should I demand?>
When I received the Status Window, two things were clear. First, a god could only grant abilities within their own domain. Second, by demanding in modern language and adding comprehensive explanations, I could extract even greater ones through misunderstanding.>
Demia was the goddess of Earth and Abundance. What would be good? Earth, harvest, crops, plants... Something fitting, of course.>
The ideal power that would solve our temple’s food shortage and be universally usable. Just a moment, our temple?>
No, even here the food situation is in a mess. If it is bad here, it must be worse elsewhere. The other temples are unlikely to be in better shape.>
Let us think carefully. What are the disadvantages of the Grand Hall? It is hard to climb to. What are the advantages? It is generally an old temple and renowned. In this era of collapsing temple prestige, those who come to temples are devout people... but even so, temples are not important in the upper classes. They are deeply tied to morality.>
Then...>
{I want the Harvest Festival.}>
The Harvest Festival was a sacrifice to Demia. Until two hundred years ago, when it was removed from national events due to injustice, the king personally offered gratitude to Demia for the year’s harvest and prayed for good crops the following year. After removal, several fiefs held it habitually, but now it was long since a relic of the ancient past. “They used to hold the Harvest Festival in old times.”>
Demia’s temples would love to hold it, but it was not cheap. The Harvest Festival was a fusion of sacrifice and festival, so only the lord could hold it. Money was not the issue. Most attendees at the Harvest Festival were serfs, and only the lord could impose an official holiday on them. The Harvest Festival, then.>
If I became Demia’s daughter-in-law, it would be possible. Originally, this was just a stamp from the lord. In fact, even if I were not the wife of the viscount, it would be possible. If I presented well, Mother would hold it.>
{What Demia desires will be fulfilled. Only...}>
If Demia had a throat, I would have heard the sound of swallowing at this moment. {A Sub-space is needed.}>
Then let us settle the account?>
Gerka really was a clever god. While conversing with Demia, I realized something. Wow, he really does not understand context. This is hard?>
{Let me say it again. Sub-space, right?}>
{Why call it Sub-space?}>
I do not know either. Why Sub-space? The web novel always called it that. I did not know why. But when I did not know, what was it?>
{It is my heart.}>
A Korean person would be born with a transparent umbrella in one hand. I was determined to insist. It sounded like a Chinese character... but I could not find an internet dictionary here. {Your heart...}>
Demia muttered that it was unbelievable, but I ignored it. It did not matter. {Anyway, a Sub-space is needed. First, it is a realm without reality. It can be my own land, realm, earth, home, warehouse, space. Second, since it exists nowhere, only what I recognize may pass through. Third, entry is always possible anywhere at my will. Fourth, all things inside remain in their original state. That is it.}>
It is not that hard, is it?>
Demia was silent for a moment, then asked as if waking up. {You want something like that? You think you can do it?}>
{Ah, I am sorry.}>
I smiled innocently and clasped my palms together in apology. {The one who first gave me the ability was Gerka, so I did not know.}>
Today I had never added “nim” to Gerka’s name in front of Demia. But the moment I did, Demia’s face showed displeasure. It was strange. How could one feel awkward without reading the other’s voice or expression? Even in Korea, one could tell when someone in a messenger just said “huh” and got offended. The same applied to relationships with gods. Demia gave a brief silence, then asked. {If you create this Sub-space, you will revive the Harvest Festival?}>
{No, Demia. A Sub-space is needed to revive the Harvest Festival.}>
{Of course, if you need it, I will give it. For our daughter, it is only natural.}>
I smiled inwardly, but Demia spoke as if she had read my thoughts. {Since you have fulfilled my desire, you will be able to receive the Harvest Festival held by the king each year.}>
What? I went straight for the kill. {It is impossible starting this year or next. As you know, I am twelve years old. To discuss something with the king, I need a title. So I must marry first.}>
Demia clicked her tongue, as if my words were excuses. {Twelve is the age the temple permits marriage. You can marry anyone. Why drag it out? You have a snake in your belly.}>
At first Demia was playful, calling me “our daughter,” but that attitude had vanished. This must be Demia’s true nature. She was trying to erase her debt and even scammed. Satan would cry. {If I marry anyone, I cannot ask the king. It will take time, but to one like me, whose life is finite, it feels like eternity. For a great god like you, it is nothing. Is it not so?}>
{Our daughter is wise. For an old god like Gerka, your shining wisdom is a waste. Remember that the earth’s embrace can always hold you.}>
I forced a gentle smile and looked up. Ah, since I had obtained the Sub-space, it was not a bad deal. After the conversation with Demia ended, I rose to leave. {Wait, Priest?}>
I saw the high-ranking priest standing behind me and my heart dropped. Why are you standing in such a dark place at midnight like that? You must be tired. After I had only sparred with Demia for one or two minutes, I felt a little sorry. If a guest came and knelt before our temple’s statue for a long time, it would be rude not to leave. {Standing before the god one serves is no hard labor.}>
Even as I said that, the high-ranking priest looked uncomfortable. When I blinked, he sighed and turned his head to the sky on the other side. Why the sky? Was he giving a sermon while watching stars? Then I froze at the sight of snowflakes falling like salt and a dancing pixel floating in the air. Why was it like that? {Why is that...}>
At that moment, Damiang reached out one hand with a cold expression, as if summoning a sword to kill a monster. {Deliver the saint’s disciple at once.}>
A resounding voice echoed through the world. Oh my god, did he really do that? It was not a human voice but a resounding sound that, in the Grand Hall, sounded like a god’s words. So majestic. With such majesty, {If there is even the slightest abnormality in her body, I shall hold the name of Hamilcar and demand responsibility in this temple.}>
Damiang’s black hair flew everywhere, and blue electricity crackled from his body. The static human said solemnly, but I suddenly recalled a high-school detective grandfather scene, “I shall hold my grandfather’s name...” It was a bit embarrassing. {Is that person the prince of Hamilcar?}>
In the midst of this, the high-ranking priest asked. His words asked for the opponent’s identity, but his eyes asked, “Are they part of your group?” {Yes, I am staying at our temple. I am very close to the temple master. Blood does not flow, but we are like a mother and child whose hearts are connected.}>
But being embarrassed was being embarrassed, and since Damiang had revealed his identity, I had to extract everything I could. I exaggerated the relationship between the little-known Damiang and Pitya. In Korea, a restaurant owner’s wife is “mother” and “auntie.” Family is one thing, but there are many family-like bonds, right? {I see. The one who holds the name of Hamilcar is...}>
The high-ranking priest’s eyes were dazed as he looked up at Damiang. Damiang had declared he would overthrow this temple. Why such an expression? An unsettling feeling rose. Only after I recognized its existence did I realize I had felt it from the beginning. When had I started feeling this unease? {Twelve is the age the temple permits marriage...}>
Ah, that was the line. Why had Demia said that? It was completely detached from reality. I remembered a time when a child who showed no interest in others’ lives at all judged them casually. A child with no awareness of reality and no respect for people was spitting out such words, and Demia, the goddess, was saying them... No interest in others’ lives? Easily judging them? My instinct was tingling. At that moment, the priests shivering in the cold gathered and called me, “Junior Priest!” with a full load of resentment. Ah, when I snapped back, the electricity from Damiang’s body transformed into lightning. {Damiang!}>
I screamed in surprise.