Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: The Miracle Fertilizer
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* * *
Plump, lusciously grown pumpkins.
Reina's expression of triumph, as if she'd accomplished something great, and the people kneeling before me, offering prayers after witnessing a miracle...
The Miracle Fertilizer, where just by sprinkling it, crops shoot up vigorously as if effort and time had been "poof!" invested!
It could have just been a simple "Whoa!! This is it! Farming suddenly got fun!" and moved on—
"Hmm..."
I carefully sank into thought.
In the long term, was it okay for a civilization that so easily "poofed" away human effort and time to spread like wildfire?
Surely, there'd be some kind of side effect?
On top of that, I'd clearly requested "Nitrogen Fertilizer"... but something far superior had emerged.
No, could that even be called fertilizer in the first place?
Considering the consistent rule that "outcomes change based on sponsorship amount"—
"Could it be that it used up all 100,000 won at once?"
I cautiously messaged the author.
[ Igugwoden : Writer ]
[ Igugwoden : Any chance you can tell me how much money went into making that? ]
[ MoneyPlease : The remaining amount after usage is all stored in the 'Divine Space.' ]
[ MoneyPlease : Why not check it yourself? ]
I'd been working with this author for quite some time now.
The Divine Space must refer to the funds set aside for subscription payments.
Quick on the uptake, I immediately checked the balance.
"Let's see... about 470,000 won left?"
The usage history was helpfully listed.
I'd topped up 500,000 won, plus an additional 20,000 won, totaling 520,000 won.
Karen's maintenance fee for Ares, 14,900 won, hadn't been deducted yet since the first payment, so it seemed 10,000 won had been used for the fertilizer.
The finished fertilizer amounted to about five bags, so roughly 3,000 won per bag.
Considering how much time had passed since freeing Karen, the unit cost for this fertilizer was indeed extraordinarily high.
"Well, when you think about crops growing just from sprinkling it..."
[ Igugwoden : Hmm ]
[ Igugwoden : For now, keep supplying this fertilizer until the food shortage is resolved. ]
[ Igugwoden : Once starvation deaths drop significantly, reduce the spending a bit and slightly nerf the fertilizer's performance. ]
[ Igugwoden : I'll roughly set the performance guidelines. ]
I had planned to spend more separately to resolve the immediate food crisis anyway, just like I did with Erin back then by providing food. This shouldn't disrupt the world's balance too much.
Even nerfed, it would be on par with modern "urea fertilizer"—lacking that eye-popping immediate impact, but when harvest time came, it would still feel like a miracle.
Being able to farm repeatedly without fallow land would be overkill enough.
Plus, to continuously produce fertilizer at that level, they'd need large numbers of mages working in two shifts nonstop—
Having everyone's utilitarian happiness depend on someone's sacrifice and dedication was dangerous, so downgrading the fertilizer's performance seemed like the right answer all around.
Something I always kept in mind.
It was to "refrain as much as possible from miracles that drastically shake the world."
Not that I wouldn't cause any miracles at all. It meant building a better world slowly and stably, rather than through radical change.
And—
No matter how good my intentions, it didn't mean everyone would just be happy.
In the comic, there was even a description of a character named Yunos becoming destitute because of a miracle I caused.
She seemed on board with the greater good... but still, I needed to restrain the thought that "my actions always lead only to good outcomes."
Considering all that, fine-tuning the miracle's intensity was best.
Blocking unlimited chicken refills was largely for that reason. Is there anything more infuriating than cutting off something you were giving?
Some might say I'm overthinking from just a comic—
But I sincerely wanted everyone in this comic, including Erin and Eirene, to live happily.
At the very least, if my favorite characters could live happily without chaos—I was more than willing to open my wallet.
Since one of those characters was the Empress overseeing the continent, minimizing disruption was inevitable.
[ MoneyPlease : Understood. ]
[ MoneyPlease : When would be a good timing? ]
[ Igugwoden : Nah, no need to ask me. ]
[ Igugwoden : Go ahead and blow through the topped-up funds as much as needed until starvation deaths are minimized. It's cool. ]
[ MoneyPlease : As you wish. ]
That's what I said, but since the author was drawing the comic, they'd ultimately decide how much to use.
Honestly, they could take all the topped-up amount.
From the moment I charged 500,000 won, I'd thought of it as "a one-time 500,000 won donation."
As I always say, steadily uploading this volume of comic daily just for me is no easy feat.
[ MoneyPlease : ...I'm sorry somehow. ]
[ MoneyPlease : It pains me to think the world's response didn't please you. ]
[ Igugwoden : Lmao no. ]
[ Igugwoden : Just my whim. The comic content was good. ]
[ Igugwoden : Honestly, that "poof" effect is fun af lololol. ]
It was a bit of a buzzkill, but still enjoyable.
No need to upend the world just for that dopamine hit, though.
Wasn't I already getting plenty of dopamine from the female characters?
[ Igugwoden : Besides, now that we know how to make it, we can use it later if an unexpected food crisis hits. ]
[ Igugwoden : No need to apologize. ]
[ MoneyPlease : Thank you so much for your generous forgiveness, Lord Igugwoden. ]
[ Igugwoden : Well, as a god, it's natural to think about this stuff lol. ]
"Ha..."
A god this concerned about the world's balance.
Maybe playing "god" suited me pretty well?
If real gods existed in the actual world—at least ones who cared for it in as much detail as I did—how great would that be? With that foolish thought, I let out a hollow chuckle.
At that moment.
[ MoneyPlease : Lord Igugwoden. ]
[ MoneyPlease : I have a presumptuous question. ]
Suddenly, the author messaged me first.
[ Igugwoden : ??? ]
[ MoneyPlease : It's a bit out of left field, but... ]
[ MoneyPlease : Do you ]
[ MoneyPlease : like it when women obsess over you, Lord Igugwoden? ]
What?
Testing the waters for future plot directions?
If they botched the development and upset me, their one and only reader, it made sense to stick to what I'd enjoy. Not a bad strategy.
Especially right after apologizing.
"Obsession..."
In reality, it'd be tiring and a bit scary.
But with virtual characters? Different story.
A bit clingy obsession toward "me," the god she reveres... As 2D characters, totally enjoyable.
[ Igugwoden : Yeah, I like it. ]
[ Igugwoden : Pretty girls who can't live without me, total mentals? Who wouldn't like that... I do at least... ]
[ Igugwoden : But Erin's the closest to me, so she'd totally get jealous lol. ]
[ Igugwoden : Hope she doesn't go overboard with jealousy tho. ]
[ Igugwoden : Boobs <<< one pair honestly isn't enough.... ]
[ Igugwoden : More the better... and they're all mine... ]
I'd said it outright—felt a bit crude exposing my true thoughts, embarrassingly so—
But I'd asked for hentai pics before; pretending otherwise now would be ridiculous.
[ MoneyPlease : I know. ]
[ MoneyPlease : Everything in this world exists for Lord Igugwoden, who cherishes us. ]
[ MoneyPlease : And since you've said you like it... ]
[ MoneyPlease : I'll keep it in mind. ]
"...?"
Did that warrant such a solemn response?
Still, no reason to tell them not to cater to my tastes.
"Yandere developments incoming, I bet?"
I scrolled back up, slowly taking in Erin's image.
Heh heh heh... Can't hold back.
Gonna indulge in the Saintess plenty today.
Wonder what scene comes tomorrow?
Anyway.
We'd successfully handed over the "fertilizer," so could the Wood Magic Tower make something else?
Not daily necessities like fertilizer, but things that bring joy to everyday life—various items for simple, small happiness, conjured by magic...
"Something plausible for the Wood Magic Tower to produce that could also give dopamine hits to the populace?"
And as a reward for their hard work, Reina and the Wood Magic Tower needed something too.
Eirene would handle that well enough, right?
No idea how Reina would react, but I'd appreciate if she understood my intent to "adjust the intensity."
—Like that.
Before I knew it, the nameless comic drawn for me by the author "MoneyPlease" had become... more than just a comic. An utterly natural part of my life.
* * *
"..."
Having finished her conversation with the god, the Observer slowly rose and gazed at the adjacent pillar of light.
The Divine Power emanating from the pillar brightly illuminated the dim space.
Asasak!
—Did Lord Igugwoden remain unsatisfied?
"I don't think so."
—Remember this. The world's peace is impossible without Lord Igugwoden. If the 'world's response' fails to please him, it holds no value as a response.
"..."
The Observer cautiously regarded the pillar of light.
"Obsession..."
She slowly spread her hand.
Snow-white. Even moving her fingers felt somewhat familiar now.
"Hey."
—What is it?
"I want to know what I look like."
It fell silent for a long while.
—What did you say?
"Exactly what I said. I want to... see what I look like."
I want to know what I look like.
Whether her female body—similar in form and appearance to beings like Erin or Eirene who receive the god's love—had been confirmed.
Her voice was similar to theirs, but—
Having only just been reborn as a living being, the Observer couldn't pinpoint her gender from that alone.
"And if it turns out I'm truly 'female'—"
I want to fulfill the god's will myself.
That strange feeling every time the god spoke of Erin.
And of Eirene—
The Observer recalled the god's words.
「But the closest to me is Erin, so she'd have plenty of reason to be jealous for real lol」
'No.'
The being closest to Lord Igugwoden... isn't Erin.
It's...
'It' remained silent.
And she realized.
That she was witnessing a "moment of evolution."
More precisely, the Observer—reborn as a living being through the god's love—finally awakening to a new emotion—
'The closest... is me.'
'I'm the one who hears the god's words and conveys them to Erin.'
'So, only I can fulfill the god's requests.'
'I have to do it. The one who understands the god's will best is the being closest to him...'
— The moment she opened her eyes to
'possessiveness.'
* * *
Reina's shocking announcement.
Surpassing the groundbreaking concept of fertilizer that makes bread from thin air, she unveiled something that made plants grow instantly upon sprinkling it right before everyone's eyes—
And after the grand reconciliation with the demons, the continent began writing a completely new history once more.