chapter 29
“Donation?”
Ilraine tilted her head in confusion.
She skimmed the system window for a moment, unsure of how to respond.
‘Donation Fundraising I’
Quest Rank: Common
Time Limit: 4 days
Donations are a measure of faith and a driving force for active relief activities. Gather donations to help the Amur faith prosper. (Exception: donations from the ‘Lockhart’ family, to which the entity ‘Priscilla Lockhart’ belongs) — Accumulate 1 Gold (0/1 Gold)
Note: Failing to complete the quest within the time limit will result in a penalty.
Failure Penalty — ‘Sugarcane’ seeds will disappear
For ordinary commoners, 1 copper is the cost of a cheap meal. 100 copper make 1 silver, and 100 silver make 1 gold.
Commoners with religious faith usually donate 5–10 copper per month. Since 1 copper is a cheap meal, donating 10 copper means the person is quite devout.
‘The Amur faith is so obscure that raising 1 gold through ordinary fundraising will be nearly impossible. This means I need support from the nobility.’
Looking at the conditions, she couldn’t just take money from her family either. So, what should she do now?
“…Yes. I’m looking for sponsors.”
“Sponsors, huh? That’s unusual. Unless there’s royal support like for the state religion, the Iris faith, other religions rely either on family money or donations from believers.”
A fair point. But since the Iris faith already has very few followers, relying on donations would yield too little money, meaning family funds would have to be used.
She had heard that some saints from commoner backgrounds had virtually no followers at all, apart from the saint herself.
‘If it weren’t for this quest, I’d probably have ended up doing that too. Ugh… Alright, hang in there, Sugarcane. Sugarcane.’
Muttering a magical spell, she managed to suppress the anger that wanted to flare up.
Alright, time to cleverly persuade the Magetower Master!
“That’s right. However, running a religion solely on donations from believers could potentially become a burden for them, don’t you think?”
“…Huh. I suppose that is a consideration. So, you’re saying you won’t accept donations at all?”
“No. Donations are a way for them to show reverence to the gods. I have no right to stop them.”
“Right.”
“All donations from believers will go toward temple operations, but even those who don’t donate will still be welcome to come to the Amur temple to pray.”
The Magetower Master gazed at her for a moment and then smiled gently.
“Your heart is admirable. Then what about family funds? I don’t think Duke Lockhart would be stingy with you.”
“Yes. Father will surely not hold back support…”
“Then why?”
“…Because I’ve already received so much support. He even helped build the temple… As a saint of a religion, I wanted to show him a prouder version of myself.”
“…”
“So this… is purely my own desire.”
A desire to complete the quest and save the sugarcane seeds…
‘Well, at least asking for sponsorship feels more honorable than just using family funds to run the temple. Kind of… like recruiting shareholders? Wait… I just gave a full-on recruitment presentation, didn’t I?’
As she lost herself in such thoughts, the Magetower Master began to laugh out loud.
“You have quite the virtuous ambition. Really, you are remarkable.”
His chuckle seemed entirely positive.
‘So, Magetower Master, would you become a sponsor?’
It was as if he read her mind, and he spoke.
“For such a commendable and admirable new saint… yes. I, Ilraine Meyer, will be a sponsor of the Amur faith.”
“Ilraine….”
“Well, how about a sponsorship of 1,000 gold?”
“…?”
“That should be sufficient for monthly expenses, yes?”
“…?!”
Suddenly, the Magetower Master had gone into overdrive.
‘1,000 gold…? That’s roughly equivalent to what a baronial family earns in taxes for a year, and he’s offering it just like that…’
While she was momentarily stunned, he continued.
“…I can sponsor that amount.”
“…Pardon?”
“How much do you need? Tell me, princess.”
The Grand Duke, who had been quietly observing while she spoke to the Magetower Master, suddenly chimed in with a strange remark.
…Why is he speaking up all of a sudden…?
“Ah, Edwin! Your sister has come to the Magetower. She said she’ll wait in the Magetower Master’s office.”
Hearing of Priscilla’s visit from the lobby staff, Edwin hurried. It had been a long time since she had visited the Magetower.
‘Is she going to have me do something again?’
He recalled the last time he briefly returned to the duke’s residence and had crafted a magical device at her request.
He could vividly remember her delighted face when he created the magical device called the Blender.
‘I hope she asks me to make something again…’
He always wanted to see his sister happy.
Though Edwin Lockhart was a cold-faced handsome man, much like his father, the upward tilt of his eyes and eyebrows gave him a harsh look.
Even with his neutral expression, people often misunderstood him. His lack of social skill made it worse.
Only his family, especially Priscilla, offered comfort and love, embracing him as her younger brother.
‘No wonder such an angelic sister became a saint.’
He truly cherished his sister.
‘The gods have an eye for choosing Priscilla as a saint.’
More accurately, he was her biggest fan. In her previous life’s language, he was a serious otaku holding two penlights in his hands.
‘I have to escort her well during this spring’s Artwal too…’
As usual, he assumed he would enter the event alongside Priscilla, blissfully unaware that someone else had already beaten him to it.
Of course, to others, he merely appeared as a handsome man walking aggressively with a dead expression, as if off to kill someone.
Wherever he went, the crowd parted like the parting of the Red Sea.
‘I should convert to the Amur faith quickly… Or wait, can’t my sister just become a god? …We’re here.’
Finally arriving at the Magetower Master’s office, Edwin—still indulging in his usual flattery thoughts—opened the door, thrilled to see his sister.
“Sis! You came to see me… Sis?”
What he saw instead was nothing less than a verbal battlefield.
“Puhuhu… But, Your Highness. No matter how forcefully you step in, I will be Priscilla’s first sponsor.”
“Then I’ll be the greatest sponsor of the princess.”
“…That too, I will be.”
“Ilraine, you don’t have more wealth than me, do you?”
“Must you act so childish? Sponsorship isn’t the same as wealth.”
“I don’t know if you realize how much I’ll sponsor. Anyway, my contribution will be the largest.”
“No? You’ve already promised to sponsor me, so there’s no need for other sponsors. I’ll cover all the temple expenses.”
“…Isn’t that your decision, Ilraine? It should be the princess’s choice.”
“Men who are overly jealous often end up disliked.”
The two of them volleyed words without pause, glaring at each other, before finally turning to Priscilla.
“Priscilla, who are you planning to receive sponsorship from?!”
“Princess Priscilla, who will you accept sponsorship from?”
Faced with the choice from both sides, Priscilla turned toward Edwin.
“…Edwin…”
In his ear, he heard a faint voice: “Help me… your most beloved sister in the world…”
He ran forward so fast that he shielded Priscilla from both men’s stares.
“―No one touch my sister―!!!!”
He screamed at the top of his lungs.
That day, rumors spread that a lion’s roar echoed through the Magetower Master’s office.
