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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: A Piggy Bank Full of Coins
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Axel looked away from me, glanced at the gold coins scattered on the floor, and casually snapped his fingers.
A tremendous surge of mana erupted from him, swirling about as it began to take on a familiar shape.
Such a flashy display was exactly how I remembered Axel's magic.
‘Ugh. He just has to make a show of it for the whole world to see whenever he uses magic.’
White mages, as a rule, tended to be flashy like that when they cast spells.
‘Can't the spell just work the instant you snap your fingers?’
While I, a former and utterly practical black mage, watched with a distinct lack of enthusiasm, Axel’s mana, which had been elegantly weaving through the air, formed into a pink, winged piglet.
It was a real, live pig.
“Oink!”
The cute little piglet opened its mouth wide, and the gold coins piled on the floor were slurped right up.
After devouring the coins in an instant, the creature flew leisurely into my arms. The live piglet instantly transformed into a piggy bank.
It was so small and light, it was hard to believe it had just swallowed a mountain of gold. Even as a child, I could hold it with no trouble at all.
“These coins are engraved with a holy mark, so the central church should have some answers. I’ll have to send a letter to Kidsha.”
Kidsha was a small city in the southern part of the continent, a holy land free from the empire’s laws.
That quack priest, Bael, was from there.
I'd heard plenty of stories about the place, but I’d never actually visited.
I was currently living here as a member of the Elpinade ducal family, but wouldn't I eventually go to Kidsha once I came of age?
After all, I was an officially recognized Saintess.
“Ugh…”
As the familiar city’s name brought the faces of my old comrades to mind, Noah, who had been knocked out by the gold coins, groaned and began to stir.
It seemed he was slowly coming to.
The moment he opened his eyes and saw me, he staggered to his feet, about to yell…
“Hey… huh…?”
Then he spotted Axel standing there with his arms crossed and froze solid.
“Uh, th-that, uhh…?”
“Noah Elpinade.”
“Yes, yessir!”
At Axel’s short summons, the brat who’d been so haughty in front of me vanished, and Noah answered with the sharp, disciplined voice of a soldier.
I only remembered the Axel who was always kind to children, so I was surprised, my eyes widening.
Axel’s gaze was fixed on the stiffly frozen Noah.
“You are here to pay your respects to your aunt, I presume?”
“P-pay my respects to my a-aunt?”
Noah stammered back the question as if he couldn't comprehend the words, and Axel's eyes narrowed.
“Well, of course. What other reason could you possibly have for visiting Lesia’s room?”
“Uh, th-that is… it wasn’t to pay respects… She… my eyes… and the gold coins just poured out…”
Axel raised a hand, casually cutting off Noah’s rambling.
“If there is another reason, state it clearly and confidently, as an Elpinade should. Surely your business isn’t something you can’t speak of honorably in my presence?”
Axel stared at him, his expressionless face a clear challenge to speak. Noah’s face turned white as a sheet.
“N-no! To pay respects! I came to pay my respects!”
“Just as I thought.”
Having received the answer he wanted, Axel finally broke into a smile.
“Then do it.”
“Pardon?”
“Do it. Pay your respects.”
Axel said, gesturing toward me with his chin.
Torn, Noah looked back and forth between me and Axel. Unable to withstand Axel’s sharp intensity, he approached me with stiff, creaking movements.
“I-I have come to pay my respects, Aunt…”
The top of his head filled my vision as he bowed deeply, his movements as stiff and jerky as a broken toy soldier.
In Lesia’s memories, Noah had always been an arrogant and overbearing boy. But he seemed utterly terrified of Axel, unable to defy him in the slightest.
As I blinked at the unfamiliar sight, Axel waved a dismissive hand at Noah.
“If your business is concluded, you may leave.”
“Yes, yessir!”
At the curt dismissal, Noah’s head shot up. He scurried away without a backward glance.
I found the whole situation ridiculous—Axel being so harsh with a child, and Noah, who tormented me endlessly, being completely powerless before him.
I gave Axel’s leg a light kick.
“You’re not usually like that with children, are you?”
“Even a child must have common sense and manners. It is what’s expected of an Elpinade.”
Axel replied firmly.
‘Common sense and manners.’
The words suited him so perfectly, I thought none could describe him better.
Of course, he hadn’t been very sensible or polite toward Greslin, but I knew I’d brought that on myself.
“Still, it's not wight for gwown-ups to get involved in kids' fights. I can handle it, so just weave it be. I don't wike to win by cheating.”
He might have bowed his head now because of Axel’s scolding, but forcing submission like this would only provoke a greater backlash.
‘I have to make him submit to me myself. That’s the only way to avoid future trouble.’
As I hugged the piggy bank tightly and took a deep breath, Axel scoffed.
“On the contrary, my intervention is better for him. Who knows what you’d do to him if you handled it yourself.”
“Hwuh? I dunno what you mean. Wesia is just a wittle four-year-old who doesn't know anything, Axwel.”
I deliberately exaggerated my lisp, tilting my head with a look of pure innocence. Axel’s face flushed red as if he’d seen something truly horrifying.
‘Hmph.’
A look of disgust really suits Axel.
* * *
Fine clothes, lavish meals, and the devoted care of the maids.
Thanks to Axel, I spent the day in an almost excessive state of comfort.
It was so relaxing that by sunset, my body felt wonderfully languid, and I could barely fight off the encroaching drowsiness.
Not just in my past life, but even since being reborn as Lesia, I’d never had such a physically comfortable day.
I rolled around on the bed, my eyes closing languidly.
To think a few simple words from Axel could arrange such a perfect day.
‘The life of a noble… it’s the best.’
I could see why everyone was so desperate for power.
‘Ngh!’
Lost in the languor, I’d almost drifted off to sleep.
I forced my eyes open and shot up in bed.
I shook the piggy bank Axel had made with both hands, hearing the jingle of coins from within.
‘Well, he gave it to me, so I took it.’
But I had no idea what on earth these ‘Heaven Coins’ were for.
I recalled that gaudy message.
┏Wi;th;Co;ins◆PaySubscriptions&GrantWishes&MissionAssistance┛
‘So…’
Does this mean I can use them to pay my ‘Reincarnation’ subscription fee, make wishes, and get help with quests?
‘But the most urgent matter is paying the ‘Reincarnation’ subscription fee.’
I have less than four months left to live, after all.
I received 50,000 coins for completing the quest.
The monthly subscription fee is 10,000 coins, which means I’ve essentially earned five more months of life…
The moment I thought that, a light flashed before my eyes.
‘Whoa!’
[Sent from Heaven]
(Notice) Congratulations on acquiring your first coins! Your current coin balance and their uses are as follows.
● Coin Balance: 50,000
● How to Use Coins
Donate 10,000 coins to the church to receive a 1-month subscription!
As a special perk exclusive to the Saintess, the church’s commission fee (50%) is waived.
‘What? A fifty percent commission fee for the church?’
It’s a relief that the fee is waived for me, but this means they usually take a fifty percent cut, no questions asked.
