Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Luca-Cola Launch
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Upon arriving at the Igugwoden Cathedral, Reina swallowed hard with intense nervousness as she watched Erin drink the cola.
Gulp, gulp.
How much time had passed?
"...Whew!"
Erin flashed a broad, deeply satisfied smile.
"Mmm! This is delicious!"
Reina finally let out a sigh of relief as she watched Erin fiddle with the cola bottle, her face beaming with joy.
"G-Good...! I was worried because it's a bit different from the real thing..."
"Though it's slightly different from real cola, since it's made embodying God's will while conserving Plain Fact as much as possible, I think even Lord Igugwoden would understand."
"And replicating it to this extent under such restrictions must not have been easy at all... Even with God's blessing, it would have been impossible without a genius mage like you, Lady Reina."
"Oh, you don't have to praise me that much... Hehe."
Reina didn't hate being complimented that much.
She might suspect strangers who suddenly praised her out of nowhere, thinking 'What do they know?', but praise from people she'd met more than once, those with some bond, or fellow mages about her talent felt good rather than unpleasant.
"You've truly worked hard, Lady Reina."
Reina scratched the back of her head bashfully.
"Well, I didn't do everything from start to finish myself."
"What do you mean?"
"Well... You actually appeared in my dream! Lord Igugwoden!"
"...Pardon?"
If Reina had just a bit more perceptiveness.
She might have noticed that Erin's response was slightly, ever so slightly—subtly different from usual.
Unfortunately, she wasn't that quick on the uptake.
"He told me to spread cola far and wide. That it's my role... He even said it was okay to use a little more Plain Fact to replicate the taste. Though He was so huge I couldn't see His face..."
Erin fell silent for a moment.
Then, with the characteristically benevolent smile of a saintess, she said,
"I see. I just received a new teaching from Lord Igugwoden myself."
"New teaching...?"
"Yes. It might align with what you heard, Lady Reina."
Erin cleared her throat cautiously.
"Lady Reina. Assuming the full power of the Wood Magic Tower, how much of this cola could you produce?"
"Pardon? Well... I'm not sure exactly, but quite a lot, I think... Are you planning mass production by any chance?"
"Exactly."
Erin nodded, gently rubbing her belly again.
"God told me...!"
* * *
[ Igugwoden: Mass-produce this and sell it at the cathedral for money ]
[ Igugwoden: Of course, give the Wood Magic Tower a fair cut ]
[ Please Give Me Some Money: Are you planning to sell it? ]
[ Igugwoden: Yeah ]
[ Igugwoden: Right now, Empress Eirene is fully backing it ]
[ Igugwoden: I can't be a good husband relying on my wife forever, right? ]
[ Igugwoden: Taxes have dropped, and even cutting luxuries, with people starving, the church's relief efforts have limits ]
[ Igugwoden: No complaints on relief now, but nobles might turn later ]
[ Please Give Me Some Money: As you say, not a bad idea ]
[ Please Give Me Some Money: Since you created cola, it's only right you set its price ]
[ Igugwoden: And ]
[ Igugwoden: I've been busy with others lately, neglecting Erin-chan ]
[ Igugwoden: It bothers me... so I'm granting her wish ]
[ Igugwoden: Erin wants the faith to spread across the continent most ]
[ Please Give Me Some Money: Meaning...? ]
[ Igugwoden: Even with miracles, humans don't truly believe from the heart easily ]
[ Igugwoden: Don't want to force with swords, so rewards instead ]
[ Igugwoden: Believers get discounted cola vs non-believers ]
[ Please Give Me Some Money: Evangelism via God's beverage ]
[ Igugwoden: Once they taste it, no going back ]
[ Igugwoden: They'll crave it cheaper somehow ]
[ Igugwoden: Church makes money, believers explode ]
[ Igugwoden: That's my plan ]
[ Please Give Me Some Money: Seems feasible ]
[ Please Give Me Some Money: No special miracles needed... ]
[ Please Give Me Some Money: Can steer without extra sponsorship ]
[ Igugwoden: Oh ]
[ Igugwoden: Speaking of which ]
[ Igugwoden: Need money for plenty of cola, right? ]
[ Please Give Me Some Money: True, but we have enough for now ]
[ Igugwoden: (Sponsorship (Subscription Balance Top-Up) / 300,000 won / Wow) ]
[ Please Give Me Some Money: ??? ]
[ Igugwoden: Added to balance, spend freely lol ]
[ Igugwoden: Say if short ]
[ Igugwoden: I got money ㅇㅇ ]
* * *
"We'll sell cola at the cathedral from now on...!!"
* * *
The next day.
As soon as dawn broke, Reina threw herself into drawing massive amounts of water with her tower colleagues and converting it to "lightning-struck water."
Reina handling vast mana and tiny Plain Fact, Yunos casting lightning magic, Luca wielding an aura sword—
With just these three, it took only 3 seconds, but the issue was the water itself.
Securing clean water wasn't that hard.
Since Erin declared selling cola, they could freely use all wells in the territory.
Even without permission, as Tower Master, drawing from sources in Igugwoden Citadel posed no issue.
The problem was transporting it to the deep forest Wood Magic Tower.
Rugged terrain, tangled branches blocking paths made carts impractical, and without demons' overwhelming strength like during remodeling, it required manual labor.
Laypeople might say just use magic—
But levitating heavy water with magic consumed far more mana than visible due to spell limits, and water's fluid form worsened it.
Except for elite mages like Yunos who wielded mana freely—
"U-Uwaa! It's spilling!"
—It ended like this, forcing panting manual transport.
Construction sites used laborers over magic for reasons.
Luca shone here.
While mages struggled with magic and weak muscles, Luca breezed through narrow, bumpy forest paths.
She lapped others' round trips two or three times without tiring.
Her consistent training since becoming Holy Knight paid off in stamina and strength.
"Good work, everyone!"
"L-Let's rest a bit..."
After hauling water.
Mass cola production began.
They poured measured crumbel syrup into jars of lightning-struck water.
Crumbel fruits, disliked by demons and dungeon-abundant, were easy to gather—fortunate.
Taste replicated perfectly with Plain Fact, but cola’s deep brown color was undeniable charm.
After process—jars brimmed with cola.
Other mages then bottled into small glass vials.
Ironic in a magic research tower, but—
With generous budget, why refuse?
"Hey, Isaac. Wouldn't it be easier next to cathedral? Saves transport for sales, priests might help..."
"Told Tower Master, but mana shortage."
"Shortage?"
"Cathedral in city center, buildings thin air mana."
"Even so, that short?"
"Basic spells fine, but controlling unknown 'Plain Fact' for lightning water needs overwhelming mana beyond imagination. Urban cathedral can't meet it."
"...True, towers in forests for mana."
Current theory: preserved nature held most mana.
Thus towers outside walls, not capital interior.
Nearest Fire Magic Tower also distant on hills.
"And priests would cut our pay."
"...Our salary too?"
"Probably."
"Alright! Back to work!"
Tough labor, but generous pay kept mages content.
Money helped buying materials, solo research—or comfy life.
Completed cola was picked up by cathedral priests.
Leading: Golden-haired princess knight Linea, Dish of Holy Knights member with Luca.
"Good work. Here's payment."
Reina eyed the money box.
Wondered how they'd haul so much over complex paths—
"▼▲◎○●■◆▲◎◀ (∩｀-´)⊃"
"Yes. Take to cathedral like this."
Priests brought demons solved transport.
Thus, Wood Magic Tower's mass cola reached Igugwoden Cathedral—
"Good work, everyone. Rest today."
"Yes!"
Beside greeting Erin: Demon King-chan, pinnacle of demons.
"You've worked hard too. Free till 8 PM in capital, return on time. Understood?"
"●◎▲◀ ☆ঌ(*´꒳`*)໒☆"
Erin bowed to Demon King as excited demons left.
"Thank you, Demon King. For responding so readily to sudden request..."
"No. For Lord Igugwoden, demons should step up. We owe outing to your God."
"Human duty same. Won't forget your help."
Thus, saintess, Holy Knights, mages, priests, demons united busily for days—
Prepared ample cola for sale.
God's gift from united hearts!
One thing left.
Present it to all.
* * *
"Everyone. Simple tasting today. Cecilia, stock good?"
"Plenty."
Erin turned to Dish of Holy Knights.
Luca away, other two firm.
"Lady Linea, Lady Ophelia. Ready?"
""Yes!""
"Igogodon!!"
Hop!
Thrilled from cola on Ophelia's head, Rabbit Lord clutched empty bottle, hopping—
"Let's start!"
—Then.
"Wait, Saintess."
Reina, visiting for first sales reaction, cautiously stopped Erin.
"What is it?"
"This... Similar to cola, but not truly cola, right? You know, Saintess."
"Valid point."
Like cola, but imitation.
Best effort, yet far from God's true 'cola.'
If true cola given later... confusion possible.
"So, I thought of a name..."
Reina whispered to Erin.
And—
"...!"
"Wh-What do you think...?"
"Great name... But okay? Used Plain Fact, but your Wood Magic Tower's effort mainly..."
"Without Him, impossible. For cathedral sales, this best."
"Lady Reina...!"
Erin gripped her hands; Reina blushed.
"Sa-Saintess...?!"
"Thank you...! Lord Igugwoden will know your warm heart...!"
After long handshake.
Erin shouted to all.
"Everyone! Tasting starts! If asked name, say this——
Luca-Cola!
"
"Luca-Cola...!"
Luca-Cola.
Tribute from Tower Master Reina to devoted Holy Knight Luca—no pay, yet full effort.
All marveled.
"Luca-Cola... Wonderful, Saintess!"
"For Holy Knight Luca and Saintess Erin!"
Tasting began.
Priests grabbed armfuls, groups to spots.
"Mmm, Luca-Cola... Great name. Feels like Luca's diligence recognized; makes me happy. Let's go, Rabbit Lord."
"Igo no Igodon......"
"Rabbit Lord...?"
"Cola fabchigidon......"
"?"
All satisfied—except suddenly downcast Rabbit Lord.
* * *
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