Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: The Sponsored World Was Real
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* * *
That night.
'Nng...?'
Reina awoke to find herself not in the familiar bed in the Tower Master's room where she always slept, but sprawled on a strange rock.
"Wh-what...?!"
She scrambled to her feet and looked around frantically.
This place... was it a vast plain?
The sunlight was incredibly warm, the sky an impossibly vivid blue, birds chirping away, deer grazing, and bright yellow chick-like birds soaring freely through the air...
'...Huh?'
Could chicks really fly through the sky like that so effortlessly?
Just as that odd thought crossed her mind—
『You're awake.』
"Kyaak!!"
The overwhelming voice, booming in her head like thunder, startled her badly. She looked toward the source.
"...!!!"
Right before her eyes sat a man in pristine white priestly robes.
Well, she knew he was a man only from his voice.
Because from her viewpoint, she could only see him sitting there up to his waist.
In other words—
'What... what is this?! This giant...?!'
—His body was so enormous that only up to his waist was visible. From the middle up, he was shrouded in clouds, impossible to fully perceive.
Trembling in terror at the sudden situation—
The voice echoed in her head once more.
『No need to fear. I have no intention of harming you.』
"Ah, uh... Y-yes?!"
『It seems words alone aren't getting through.』
Moments later, warm sunlight enveloped Reina's body.
'Ah... so warm.'
Strangely, her fear melted away like snow in spring.
Along with it came an indescribable holy sensation.
'Ah... ah...'
Her heart pounded fiercely, her lower abdomen twitching—just like the nuns' records of experiencing "Plain Fact."
Soon, her mind calmed like a still lake—and the voice returned.
『If you're calm now, come sit beside me.』
Only then did Reina kneel cautiously beside the being, her face dawning with realization as she spoke.
"Are you... perhaps... Lord Igugwoden, the Sole God?"
『Why do you think that?』
"Because... what else could it be?"
Right. A god.
She'd thrown out the question suspecting she might be facing a deity—
『That's half correct.』
"Half?"
『I am a god. But only the god in your conception, Reina.』
"What do you mean?"
『Lord Igugwoden, the Sole God, is the supreme being whom only the chosen can perceive after forging their faith. You've sensed a divine presence, Reina, but since you don't truly believe in Lord Igugwoden deep in your heart, you can't perceive Him.』
The word "believe" made her flinch like a child hiding a misdeed from her parents—
『Of course, the Lord doesn't demand faith. Forcing belief without rewards isn't His way. As I said, I'm not here to harm you.』
"Th-then... why have you appeared before me?"
『To convey the Lord's will to you.』
The Lord's will?
To her, who wasn't even a saintess?
『To directly transmit His will to one who can't perceive Him, I had to borrow the image of the conceptual god in your heart—and that's the form before you. The Lord exists beyond physical form. Borrowing your conception briefly is no great feat.』
So, unconsciously, she'd imagined a god—
Imagined Lord Igugwoden like this?
It felt both right and wrong... but this man didn't seem to be lying.
"It's... quite a philosophical concept."
『One who awakened to mana and even wielded Plain Fact wouldn't fail to grasp this much.』
"I get what you're saying, sure."
Reina gazed at him cautiously and asked.
"What message do you have for me...?"
『Use Cola without restraint.』
"...Pardon?"
『It means you may use Plain Fact to manifest the 'flavor' of Cola.』
"But... won't that consume a massive amount of Plain Fact? The Saintess mentioned it, and I can sense this power isn't infinite. She said it's born from the Lord's... Lord Igugwoden's loving sacrifice..."
『True. But it is His will.』
"His will...?"
『The Lord wishes for 'Cola' to benefit this world. In His boundless generosity, He's willing to make further sacrifices for Cola to take root on the continent. Your labors to create something like it could be meaningful asceticism—but since He doesn't desire it, there's no need.』
『No, let me rephrase. Unless He wills it, you must not do so.』
'...!'
What the Lord desires must be done, naturally—
What He does not must never be done.
For a fleeting moment, Reina felt she'd glimpsed a fragment of truth even high priestesses rarely touched.
『Reina, you've admirably succeeded in creating something akin to 'carbonated water.' It's not perfect, but its significance from scratch can't be ignored.』
"Carbonated water? That's... the name of the water needed for Cola??"
『Yes. But once we part, you'll forget the name.』
"No way..."
She felt swept along one-sidedly in the conversation—
But rather than questions, she simply thought this was how it should be, nodding carefully.
『Reina. Spread Cola. Proclaim the Lord's Plain Fact across the world.』
『Even one sip of Cola lets one taste, however faintly, Lord Igugwoden's love.』
『From small beginnings, let the continent's people find happiness in His infinite love. Never forget that's why He chose you.』
"Spreading the Lord's love..."
『Yes. His love isn't grandiose.』
『Warm sunlight, precious time with loved ones, peaceful daily life amid flowing time, and—sweet Cola after a day's work.』
『Even if it falls short of true Cola, this spread of His love will surely transform the continent.』
『The pains, worries, sufferings, trials, and adversities in your world...』
"They'll vanish...?"
Instead of answering, the being gently stroked Reina's head with a massive finger.
Yes, a finger—not a hand. Yet without control, it could crush her effortlessly.
『...You truly don't believe in Lord Igugwoden, do you.』
"Ah... Y-yes...?"
『The world He dreams of isn't perfect. You wouldn't understand even if I told you now...』
Even so, since He'd chosen her, it should be fine to reveal.
The world the Lord dreams of———————
* * *
"Hah!"
Reina bolted upright, realizing her back was soaked with sweat.
A dream.
Yet too vivid for a mere dream, it lingered in her mind.
'That last part... what was it?'
Something about the world the Lord dreamed of...
She couldn't recall clearly, but replaying the dream highlighted something else far more important.
'Cola...'
Use Plain Fact freely for the Cola flavor.
And spreading it would spread His love—
'......'
Even now, asked if she believed in the Lord—she leaned toward no.
But knowing Plain Fact was a tremendous power that could benefit all—
'Alright.'
She resolved gladly to become His messenger.
Time to go.
Spread "Cola"—!
* * *
Wood Magic Tower laboratory.
Everyone involved in Cola production awaited the Tower Master's instructions in silence.
In the heaviest atmosphere yet, Reina finally broke the silence.
"Yunos."
Yunos nodded quietly, conjuring a small spark in his palm.
Luca deftly caught it with her longsword.
Zzzap—
The tiny lightning coiled around the blade.
Luca plunged it unhesitatingly into the water puddle.
As Reina's emerald eyes glowed brightly—
—Pop!
"Lightning water" was complete.
The true water for Cola had a specific name—she'd heard it in the dream, but couldn't recall. Not important anyway.
Stella, watching from the side, carefully added crumel fruit juice.
Stirring with a giant potion spoon, the "lightning water" easily turned deep brown.
Drinkable as is, but more ingredients remained.
Reina closed her eyes carefully.
Recalling the divine realm she'd glimpsed—the deep brown image there...
She gathered drifting Plain Fact from the air and projected it into the puddle.
At once—
Pure white light seeped from the puddle's depths.
"Ooh...!"
When she'd suddenly claimed "the Lord permitted Plain Fact use" for their pseudo-Cola efforts, they'd doubted briefly—
But since it came from Reina, the mage who produced His fertilizer, no one challenged it.
Especially as she alone could sense the power and had stressed conserving it repeatedly.
Minutes passed.
"...Done!"
* * *
"Here you go."
Isaac and Cohen carefully distributed cups of the brown water to everyone gathered.
Excluding Luca, who'd joined midway, all had tasted Cola in small amounts before—so Reina couldn't help tensing.
'It's fine. If it's His will... no problem!'
Starting with Reina, they drank in silence.
Gulp, gulp—
First came the tingle. A bizarre zapping in the mouth.
Different from the real Cola she'd drunk, yet similar enough.
Then the crumel fruit's signature sweetness.
And...
"...Kya!"
—Cola!
An indescribable taste and aroma only Cola could claim filled Reina richly.
"Wow! This is like Cola!"
"Tastes great!"
"So Plain Fact was the key..."
Exclamations everywhere confirmed the successful use.
"Hya!"
Luca, tasting Cola for the first time, flushed and touched her cheek.
"This... is really good! The fizzy refreshment in my mouth—perfect with chicken!"
Right. Chicken!
The divine drink pairing perfectly with the Lord's gift—Cola!
Reina eyed the liquid in her cup.
It wasn't mere beverage.
It was blessing, salvation. The Lord's love—no, God incarnate.
The moment of birth!
The Lord, borrowing Cola's form, had manifested to touch pitiful souls forever beyond their reach!
'Now, take this to the Saintess...!'
Reina bottled the Cola carefully and headed to Erin, who awaited her.
* * *
—Meanwhile, at the same time.
"Haa... Ah, aaah... aaah...♡"
Slumped on the bed, face flushed, gently caressing her swollen belly full once more of "the Lord's will"—Saintess Erin—
'Lord Igugwoden... Understood. If it's Your will, I, Erin, shall undertake this task...!'
—As His servant, resolved anew to stir the world.