Chapter 39
Light novel: Episode 39
Manhwa: Chapter 16
* * *
The letter sent by Jun, who had started selling potions, arrived at Lute’s place right away.
Looking over the flawlessly organized sales report, Lute smiled with satisfaction.
“Looks like she secured the perfect location.”
In just ten days since sales began, all 500 bottles of the prototype product were completely sold out.
It was far cheaper than the Great Sea God potion, and its effectiveness was better than alchemy potions of a similar price, so it was no surprise that it was warmly and enthusiastically received.
The timing was also excellent, too.
Lately, the price of alchemy potions had been rising frequently, causing a lot of discontent among the people.
Thanks to striking at just the right moment, word of mouth would spread quickly.
“Our dear Saintess is probably gleefully running her potion factory right about now.”
Lute could already picture Ordell squealing in delight as she looked at the sales report Jun had sent.
‘But now I’m curious. Where exactly is she using all that money?’
The amount he had poured into the grand temple was already in the thousands of gold.
Yet, Ordell never used that money for luxury.
Normally, people would at least start with decorating the reception room, since that’s where most visitors go, but hers remained unchanged. Her attire too was just like the reception room, she continued to wear the same plain Saintess robe.
It’s not like there’s a rule saying a Saintess must only wear robes. She never wore a fancy dress, or even something simple like a ring or a pair of earrings.
For a moment, Lute recalled the Saintess of the Great Sea God who had enjoyed dressing up, but he quickly shook his head.
There was no need to think about useless things.
“It doesn’t seem like she’s investing it all into the temple’s reconstruction either.’
If that were the case, she would’ve demanded money openly. But hadn’t she taken it without even the High Priest knowing?
No interest in luxury, and not using it for restoration so where was all that money going? Suddenly, he became very curious.
That was to be expected. It was Ordell, after all.
There was a high probability that she was up to something entertaining.
“Now I have yet another reason to keep visiting the Saintess.”
Lute smiled happily as he recalled Ordell quietly worrying about him even while grumbling.
Unfortunately, now wasn’t a good time to go visit.
“Let’s see how they react.”
Lute looked again at the sales report Jun had sent.
The potions had become so popular that they received reservation inquiries as soon as it sold out, so the alchemists would surely find out about it soon.
How would they respond to the situation where the market was now divided?
No doubt, it would definitely cause a huge commotion.
* * *
Lute’s prediction was spot on.
The alchemists, who suddenly found their business being stolen away, were furious.
“Damn it! Why is the Sun God showing up now?!”
Louis Martin, representative of an alchemy potion shop.
Upon hearing the news that the Sun God’s grand temple had entered the potion business, he exploded in anger.
What infuriated him even more was that they weren’t targeting nobles, but commoners, just like his own clientele.
“I didn’t think those bastards were still around!”
Unable to contain his rage, he slammed his desk with a loud bang!
The name of the Sun God had almost completely faded from memory by now.
But Louis was one of the few who still remembered.
How could he forget the temple that once shook the entire continent with its highly effective potions? They had once dominated the market. In fact, it was only after they disappeared that people like him were able to take over.
Or more accurately, the Great Sea God had claimed the prime position first, and he and others had piggybacked on what was left.
“I was relieved, thinking that they were all ruined… Dammit!”
It had been several years since the name of the Sun God began to fade from people’s memories.
There hadn’t been any news from their side anywhere, so he had naturally assumed they were finished, and it was only recently that they felt confident and reassured that those bastards would never take over their business again.
But who would’ve thought they’d show up again now, of all times!
“And what, the Lumen Merchant Guild?! Why the hell is that merchant guild involved?!”
Yes, that’s the biggest problem!
The Lumen Merchant Guild.
Do people even realize what that place is?
It’s one of the Empire’s top three merchant guilds, personally run by none other than Duke Sieri himself, someone who even the imperial family doesn’t dare cross or treat lightly.
If it had been an ordinary guild, the Sun God potions wouldn’t have sold at all. They would’ve been swept away before anyone even heard of them.
After all, hardly anyone remembers the name of the Sun God anymore, even among the so-called Three Main Gods.
And people like him would have actively interfered.
But what? Lumen? Lumen got involved in this?
That’s just a disruption of the entire ecosystem.
“Hah… and here I was thinking it was a blessing that the Great Sea God’s side had no interest in the commoners’ potion market.”
Just when it had become a complete monopoly, and he was about to start raising prices, this kind of damned situation happened…!
“…No, wait a minute. The Great Sea God’s side wouldn’t welcome this either, would they?”
The Sun God potions were starting with commoners.
But of course, it wouldn’t stop there.
People who possess stronger healing power than the Great Sea God would never be satisfied with just that.
Eventually, they would aim for the nobility, and surely the imperial family as well.
With Duke Sieri’s merchant guild backing them, that wouldn’t even be difficult.
Would the grand temple of the Great Sea God simply watch and do nothing?
And there was one more thing.
The Great Sea God’s grand temple is greedy.
Whether that reflects the nature of their god or not, but in any case, the grand temple that serves him are people who are only satisfied if they are the best at everything.
Would they really welcome the revival of the Sun God?
At least the current Saintess and Saint of the Great Sea God grand temple absolutely wouldn’t.
“Right. There’s no need for me to step in. I just need to pit the two grand temples against each other.”
They couldn’t fight against Lumen with Duke Sieri standing firm.
But the grand temple of the Great Sea God is different.
They might not be stronger than Duke Sieri, but they wouldn’t be easily pushed around either.
It was such a flawless plan that even he had to admire it. Grinning, Louis Martin immediately began drafting a letter.
The recipients were the Saintess and the Saint of the Great Sea God’s grand temple.
Those two could only be seen when you offered gold, and they certainly didn’t accept just any letter.
But Louis was no ordinary person. He was the representative of the alchemy potion business.
If he said the letter was about the potion industry, there was no doubt they would read it at least once.
And as expected, he was right.
At the grand temple of the Great Sea God.
In a luxurious bedroom filled with lavish decorations, a letter was delivered directly to the Saintess as she lounged at ease.
“Louis Martin sent a letter about the potion business?”
Every time the woman sitting on the plush, extravagant sofa spoke, her sky-blue hair, which flowed like water, swayed gently with her movements.
Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly, and her sapphire-blue eyes, resembling jewels, shone brightly between her sharply defined eyelids.
Even when she was simply sitting still, she radiated an oppressive aura that made anyone watching feel like shrinking back.
This was none other than Carmen Aria, the Saintess of the Great Sea God’s grand temple and currently the most powerful woman on the continent.
“You’re in charge of the potion business, so why am I being asked to deal with some alchemist over business matters? Am I really expected to personally worry about things like this?”
Carmen’s graceful face twisted in irritation as she looked at the High Priest who had brought the letter.
Faced with her sharp pressure, the High Priest who oversaw the potion business of the Great Sea God’s temple hurriedly bowed.
“I checked the contents beforehand, and no matter how I look at it, I thought it was something the Saintess must be made aware of. That’s why I’ve come to see you.”
As the High Priest replied, sweating profusely, Carmen’s fierce energy eased just a little.
“…This had better be worth it.”
For a High Priest to bring something to her despite knowing full well her temperament, it had to mean the letter contained something truly important.
Without further questions, Carmen opened the letter and began to read it right away.
“…What is this?”
Before long, her hands began to tremble. Her blue eyes shook violently as she continued reading.
The long-winded contents of the letter could be summarized in one sentence.
“The Sun God’s grand temple? The Sun God’s people are starting a potion business?”
It sounded like complete madness.
“Those pests haven’t died off yet? They’re still stubbornly clinging to life…?”
Carmen shot up from her seat without realizing it.
The maids who had been tending to her hair quickly pulled away and stepped back in alarm.
“And what the hell is this?”
Carmen’s sharp blue eyes scanned the letter again.
Alongside the shocking news that the Sun God’s people were somehow still alive and active, there was something even more outrageous.
“Why is the Lumen Merchant Guild helping those Sun God bastards?!”
In the end, unable to contain her boiling rage, Carmen hurled the letter away.
“When the hell did Duke Sieri form a connection with the Sun God’s lot?!”
Lute Sieri.
She had welcomed him with open arms, even going so far as to bestow him a blessing herself, thinking he intended to become a follower, only for that arrogant man to snort dismissively and walk away.
And so, to hear that the very man she coveted had chosen to side with the Sun God’s temple sent her into a complete fury.
SoundlessWind21’s Notes:
If there are any errors, whether it be grammatical, spelling, translation, or website-related issues, feel free to let me know. (´◡`) Anyway, thank you for reading!