Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Luca-Cola Sells Out
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The first day of the tasting event—
As a matter of course, the results of Luca-Cola were astonishing beyond measure.
Word spread that "the cathedral is handing out a brown, liquor-like beverage," and people lined up one after another to experience the taste of cola.
"Luca-Cola... Does that mean it's a beverage created by Holy Knight Luca?"
"It's similar to liquor for sure, but without that heavy feeling liquor gives, and it tingles the mouth even more! I actually like it better!"
"I'd like to buy some. Do I just go to the cathedral?"
"Yes! Please stop by the cathedral's shop anytime! We'll offer it at a 20% discount for the first week, so come by as much as you like!"
The carefully set price for Luca-Cola was far from cheap.
The cost of one bottle could cover light meals for about two days, depending on portion sizes.
This price was set considering the risk of supply not meeting demand if priced too low, and its role as a bait product to draw people toward religion.
If it were a necessity, there might have been grumbles like "This isn't like the cathedral, which has always focused on relief efforts" or "Igugwoden followers are just merchants after all."
But since cola was ultimately a luxury item, it blended into people's lives without much resistance.
Who could complain about setting a price for a luxury good that didn't exist in this world before?
In the end, despite the high price, cola sold like hotcakes to the capital's wealthy class—
And in less than three days, it achieved the incredible feat of selling out the initial mass production batch.
"Is this... really all collected in just three days...?"
"That's right. Including the amounts bought on credit by some nobles, there's still more money coming in."
"This is unbelievable... With this, we can accelerate filling the empty Igugwoden Cathedral with new things! And that's not all! We can expand all the educational programs under Saintess Erin's name several times over...!"
Faced with the overwhelming sum earned from cola, the Pope froze for a moment, mouth agape, staring at the glittering coins—
"No, no, get a grip on yourself... I almost sold my soul to wealth."
He quickly shook his head and knelt in prayer.
"Ah... Lord Igugwoden. I will not forget that all this is Your grace. Holy Lord of ours, You have bestowed cola upon our little lambs..."
As his prayer ended, Erin cautiously spoke up.
"I'd like to leave the handling of the funds to Your Holiness the Pope. What do you think?"
"Of course, Saintess. I solemnly swear before you to use not a single coin wastefully, only for God and those who suffer."
Pope Agnus III was fundamentally a good man, deeply devout, and politically astute.
In this situation, he knew full well that embezzling funds wouldn't benefit the Igugwoden Church at all.
"Then, if you'll excuse me."
After handing over the sales proceeds to the Pope, she headed toward where the Dish of Holy Knights had just finished their meal.
"Welcome, Saintess. You worked hard today."
"If anyone's worked hard, it's you all. I only wandered around the Igugwoden Cathedral area, but you three had even more to do than I did."
"Igogodon!"
"Rabbit Lord, good work."
Hop!
Erin easily caught the rabbit that had been on Ophelia's head.
It had been awkward at first, but now she was confident she could catch the suddenly appearing Rabbit Lord anytime, anywhere.
As she lightly stroked its head,
"...Ra, Rabbit Lord?"
The rabbit in Erin's arms suddenly wriggled—
"Kyak...?!"
It slipped its small body right between the gaps in her saintess robes.
Nestled like a sandwich in her Divine Power Pouch, it squirmed between her breasts to get comfortable, then poked its face out—
"Pya! Igogodon!"
"Um... Rabbit Lord?"
"It seems the Rabbit Lord wants to absorb the energy from Saintess Erin's vast and beautiful Divine Power Pouch."
"I-is that so...?"
"Yes. A few days ago, it told me it wanted to fully embody the great teachings of the Saintess who created cola with its whole body."
She wondered what embodying great teachings had to do with wedging itself between her breasts—
But the fluffy rabbit settling in didn't feel bad at all.
Besides, it was God's Messenger, no less. Even the Demon King had been wary of it until recently.
"Rabbit Lord. Are you uncomfortable?"
Shake shake.
"Igogodon!"
"Um... I haven't bathed yet, so I might be a bit sweaty..."
As Erin's voice trailed off, blushing and embarrassed—
—Flutter flutter flutter!
Its perked-up ears twitched rapidly back and forth.
"Kya! Misshigogodon!"
"Y-yes...?"
"It says being soaked in sweat means you've worked that hard. It's honored to witness the proof of Saintess Erin's noble efforts."
"I-it said that?"
"Yes."
Ophelia's expression was so serene that she couldn't add anything more.
Well, if God's Messenger the Rabbit Lord wasn't displeased...
"Uu... So cute... Rabbit Looord."
Luca, who had been staring blankly at the scene, snapped to attention upon meeting Erin's eyes and bowed her head.
"Ah, um... Saintess! There's something I'd like to ask."
"What is it?"
"I've heard the story, but is it really okay? I mean... about the cola naming..."
Luca fidgeted, rubbing two fingers together as she kept her head down.
It was understandable; her name had been attached to something as huge as cola without her realizing.
"Does it bother you a little?"
"No! Not at all. It's an honor! But... Reina and the Wood Magic Tower folks did all the hard work, so it feels like I'm taking credit..."
"No. I heard you soaked aura swords in water all day long?"
"Y-yes. That's true, but..."
"You helped fetch water too, and you did it without pay. Reina insisted strongly that your name belongs there. I think your contribution was significant too. So this time, feel free to be proud."
"R-really...?"
"Of course!"
"Jaragodon."
"Even Rabbit Lord...!"
"Hm, Miss Luca. Humility is a virtue, but excessive modesty clouds the waters. Accepting deserved recognition is the proper way of a Holy Knight, don't you think?"
At that moment.
Linea, who had been quietly watching, spoke up cautiously.
"She's right. I don't think your contribution was small at all, Luca."
"L-Linea...?"
"I stopped by the Wood Magic Tower briefly while they were making cola, and you were handling everything. If they tried to leave you out, I would've spoken up. So feel proud."
"......"
Noticing all eyes on her, Linea cautiously opened her mouth.
"...Did I say something wrong...?"
"No, it's just... I didn't expect Linea to give her opinion during a meal like this..."
"L-Linea! Thank you so much for saying that...!"
As Erin's words ended, Luca leaned against Linea, choking up.
"I'm so, so happy that Linea said that too...!"
"No, it wasn't anything worth that kind of thanks..."
Linea blushed in embarrassment but didn't push Luca away.
Meanwhile, Ophelia watched the scene with great satisfaction, along with the rabbit that had jumped from Erin's breasts back onto her head.
Dish of Holy Knights.
Though it started from Sole God Igugwoden's whim—
The three different people brought together by divine whim were gradually becoming one as time passed.
* * *
[ Igugwoden: Kya ]
[ Igugwoden: Royal harem ending Igugwoden lolololololol ]
Finally.
With the "isekai cola toss" cliche episode perfectly tailored for virgins wrapping up, I spam-pressed the satisfaction key.
The process got complicated to save money, and the result was a bit different—
But if it had been a snap-your-fingers cola creation, it would've been no different from other manga, so my inner hipster probably would've complained.
[ Give Me Money: The new divine beverage will spread across the continent, glorifying God's name ]
[ Give Me Money: Thinking that all this came from Lord Igugwoden's generous decision gives me chills ]
[ Give Me Money: Thank you, Lord Igugwoden ]
[ Igugwoden: Yeah yeah, you gotta serve God even better from now on, right? ]
[ Give Me Money: Naturally ]
Anyway.
Cola entered the world, the people loved it.
Sold it for money, solved the church's financial woes.
My girl characters inside drinking cola and enjoying it...
Watching all that wasn't bad.
What if from now on, starting with Eirene, they did a round-robin praising cola like a medley?
Extra service scenes with lewd faces because it's so tasty, breasts jiggling for no reason??
'Ao, drool!'
Just imagining it made the virgin saliva flow.
Since it's the author—not anyone else—they know what I like, so if I request it, they'd probably deliver such descriptions.
But—
'Isn't there something bigger?'
It was plenty good now, but greed wanted something huge.
What could dramatically boost cola's impact naturally, without breaking the world?
Beyond just tasting good, a plausible plot to give it real value?
Since the author left the plot entirely to me, I racked my brain for ideas—
But how could I, just a reader peeking into the author's world—not even fully versed in it—come up with something brilliant and fresh?
Then.
A thought flashed through my mind, and I cautiously placed my hands on the keyboard.
[ Igugwoden: Author ]
[ Igugwoden: Omakase possible? ]
[ Give Me Money: Pardon...? ]
Got it. I need to explain.
Our WWE thing is common knowledge now, right?
[ Igugwoden: Basically, if I pay, can you unfold a story worthy of it? ]
[ Igugwoden: I just toss the big direction, and leave the details to the world's response? That friend? ]
[ Give Me Money: Of course ]
[ Give Me Money: Though the deployment varies by amount ]
[ Igugwoden: Oh? ]
I cautiously recalled the items I'd sold from the online game I was deep into.
Helmet. Shoes. Rings (right/left). Top. Bottom. Gloves. Weapon. Title.
Plus various trash for rice money...
'Hah...'
Suddenly, I wondered why I'd gone so hard on that garbage game.
Anyway, what this tells us—
[ Igugwoden: ( Sponsorship /
150,000 won
/ Flash ) ]
[ Igugwoden: Boost cola's impact in this world! Freely, without breaking the world! ]
—A plain fact one.
All my sponsorships so far combined don't even match one helmet's price.
Fact two.
The helmet was the third most expensive item I sold.
Fact three.
I haven't touched the money from the priciest "weapon sale" yet.
"Three facts make a Dish of Facts!"
Muttering that, I laughed alone in front of the monitor for a while.
Thinking of myself casually recalling scripture-like phrases from the manga—
—For the first time.
For the first time, I felt not like a reader watching manga—
But like a real god of a truly existing world.
* * *
Splash!
On a cliffside with crashing waves, a ragged man was fishing listlessly.
"......"
Fishing is ultimately a battle of time.
Success or failure today depends on how long you can sit.
As the man waited endlessly for fish—
'!!!!!!'
Something far more intense than fish arrived.
It was divine inspiration.
Yes. Divine inspiration.
A profoundly mystical experience explainable only by that word.
"...Huck!!!"
In that instant—the man realized what he was.
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