This Reincarnation Requires a Subscription Fee

“Is that so?” 

Axel’s words seemed plausible. Bringing an object from the future, especially a translation of the prophecy book treasured by the Empire, was something that defied all logic. In such cases, there’s always a price to pay, sometimes even more than expected.

‘But I feel perfectly fine.’

I knew my body well. When I had once poured my divine power recklessly into Eugene, I had felt an unmistakable sense of something being wrong. My energy had drained so sharply that even Bael had rushed to the estate in alarm…

‘In the end, Bael’s worries had been justified.’

If I weren’t a subscriber to the reincarnation system, I might already be watching over these guys from the afterlife with a wry smile.

I patted myself down just to be sure, checking my condition. No headaches, my heart was beating normally, and there was no pain anywhere.

“Um… I feel incredibly fine.”

In fact, I felt lighter, perhaps because I had fallen into a deep sleep and dreamt of the future. However, Axel, Bael, and even Eugene looked at me with suspicion, as if they couldn’t trust my words. It seemed they were recalling the time when I had suddenly collapsed with a nosebleed after acting perfectly normal, nearly crossing the threshold of the afterlife.

“I’m serious. I feel so lively that it almost feels too good to be true.”

To demonstrate my vigor, I raised my arms and spun around on the spot. Even then, their doubtful gazes didn’t waver, so I began hopping up and down in place.

“See? I’m completely—whoa!”

But then, I tripped over my own feet and stumbled backward. Axel reached out in alarm, but Eugene was quicker, firmly catching me around the waist.

“Resi, you need to be careful,” Eugene said, his face slightly scrunched up with concern as he looked at mine.

“You’re not suddenly feeling dizzy, are you?”

“No, nothing like that.”

“You’re not lying, right?”

Eugene, like Axel before him, placed his hand on my forehead, but with even more cautiousness. My heart, which was already pounding from the sudden fall, beat even faster as his handsome face came close. My face flushed slightly, not from any special feeling, but more from a basic human reflex. It’s only natural for your heart to race and your face to redden when you get close to someone good-looking.

However, Axel didn’t seem too pleased with this natural reaction.

“Why’s your face turning red?” he grumbled, clearly displeased, as he roughly grabbed hold of my clothes, half pulling me away from Eugene.

“Whoa!”

This time, I toppled forward, directly into Axel, who was standing in front of me. I ended up crashing into his chest, my face smacking against his solid frame.

“Ouch…”

My nose throbbed painfully from the impact against his firm chest.

“Why did you pull me like that?” I protested, lifting my head to complain, only for Axel to flick me on the forehead with a smug look.

“Don’t be so clumsy in front of others. Don’t show any weakness,” Axel warned me, glancing pointedly in Eugene’s direction as he spoke.

Following Axel’s gaze, I turned my head and noticed the scholars watching us with curious expressions.

‘Oh no! I completely forgot about them!’

Being in the soundproofed space had made me so comfortable that I forgot we were surrounded by people.

‘Right, I’m the lady of the Elpinard family.’

Axel highly valued the family’s reputation and dignity. As someone bearing the name “Elpinard,” he would never tolerate me acting in a way that could tarnish that reputation.

‘I don’t want that either.’

No matter what, I couldn’t allow anyone to say that the Duke—my father—had made the wrong choice in accepting me as his daughter.

‘A graceful lady! A dignified Saintess!’

I can do this!

I clenched my fists and straightened my posture. Seeing my sudden change in demeanor, Bael chuckled softly, while Axel’s expression… seemed to crumple.

“Sigh. You must be having some strange thoughts again,” Axel muttered, as if already feeling the headache coming on. He glanced around the room, then gently pushed me toward Bael.

“Bael, check her condition first. I’ll handle the situation in the Ivory Tower.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Bael smiled and turned to Eugene as well.

“Eugene, you were also caught up in the strange explosion, so I’ll need to check your condition too.”

“Oh, I’m fine, really…” Eugene waved his hands in embarrassment.

“I didn’t see the future like Resi did, and I’m not that important, so there’s no need to—ah!”

Axel’s fist came down lightly on Eugene’s head. It wasn’t a hard hit, just enough to make a point, but definitely stronger than the tap he had given me earlier.

Eugene looked at Axel in surprise, rubbing the top of his head, and Axel, without a word, nudged Eugene forward toward Bael.

“How can my disciple not be important? Make sure to check him thoroughly and report back to me. Got it?”

“…”

Eugene stood there, mouth slightly open, staring at Axel.

‘Wow…’

So this is how Axel treats his disciple.

I watched the two of them with wide, curious eyes, which seemed to make Axel uncomfortable. He quickly covered my eyes with his large hand and cleared his throat.

“Eugene, do you understand?”

“Yes, yes!” Eugene replied in a flustered voice.

“Honestly, Axel is such a good person,” I heard Bael’s low chuckle in my ear as I pushed away Axel’s hand.

The transparent barrier Axel had erected around us shimmered one last time before disappearing. Instantly, the sounds from outside that had been perfectly blocked out began to flow back in.

“Enough.”

Axel quelled the murmuring around us with a single word, then gave Bael a nod. Bael returned the nod, then led Eugene and me out of the space.

* * *

“Fortunately, both of you seem to be in perfect condition.”

Bael’s words made me lift my chin proudly.

“That’s what I’m saying. I’m perfectly fine.”

“That just makes me worry even more. A book brought from the future… Is it really okay? What if it’s not actually from the future but something planted by the ‘enemy’?”

Bael deliberately avoided looking at Eugene when he mentioned the ‘enemy.’ The enemy he referred to included Eugene’s biological father, Duke Kreutz. Noticing Bael’s consideration, I glanced at Eugene, who bit his lip slightly, and quickly tried to steer the conversation in another direction.

“If you’re worried, why not take it to the temple and have it properly evaluated? I’m sure the Pope could determine whether it’s genuine or not.”

“Yes, we could directly ask the deity’s opinion as well. Though we can’t be sure we’ll get a response.”

“Ask the deity’s opinion…”

Hearing that reminded me of an item I had seen on the Heaven Market a long time ago—a hotline for direct communication with a deity. Back then, I had to prioritize buying more life span with my coins, so I reluctantly passed on it despite the huge discount.

‘Now that things have turned out this way, I regret not buying it.’

In my current situation, where I had plenty of coins, if that hotline item were on sale again, I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase it.

‘Maybe I should check the Heaven Market just in case?’

I hadn’t seen that hotline go on sale since the first day I accessed the market, so I didn’t have high hopes. But when I opened the Heaven Market…

‘Huh…?’

I was met with an unexpected sight.

‘What… what is all this?’

I rubbed my eyes in disbelief at the enormous list of discounted items.

‘Am I seeing things?’

But no matter how much I blinked, the list in front of me didn’t change.

〈Limited Hotline (Hermote)〉  

〈Limited Hotline (Resa)〉  

〈Limited Hotline (Platous)〉  

〈Limited Hotline (Lar)〉  

〈Limited Hotline (Tenakis)〉  

…

The list was filled with hotline items for direct communication with numerous deities, all on sale.