The Price of Salvation

[Young man! Welcome to join!]

[———The World Salvation Branch!]

“Huh?”

A subtly idiotic expression crossed my face.

“…”

Yet, after the incident with my senior, I was already battered, both psychologically and physically. Therefore…

“I refuse!”

…At that moment, the entire atmosphere seemed to fall silent.

“…”

“…Hmph, another arrogant fool who thinks he’s amazing just because he has a slight ability. I, your esteemed lady, saved you from that monster’s maw, and yet you dare to ungratefully refuse my adorable invitation, you hateful fellow! Why don’t you hurry off for a week-long vacation in heaven? But how am I going to trick this guy into joining? If he doesn’t, this place is going to go bankrupt, ahhh!!”

The young girl’s lips trembled ever so slightly as she rapidly spoke in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.

“Uh… just now, did something really strange float past?”

“No, not at all~”

The purple-haired girl replied with a soft smile.

Though her voice was indeed very low…

But… she was a little too close, Senior! Do you truly think I’m deaf, unable to hear a sound even half a meter in front of me, hey!!!

However… my own noble sentiments denied what I had just heard.

‘It must have been an illusion, right?’

‘Yes! It was all my imagination! How could such a ‘cute’ girl utter such unreasonable words? Surely it was all a figment of my mind!’

****

Nevertheless, I ultimately joined.

The reason was that the ‘cute’ purple-haired girl showed me something she called an ‘invoice,’ but which was, in reality, a ‘bill.’

****

[Treatment fee, skin regeneration: 500 crystal coins or 5 million USD]
[Treatment fee, limb regeneration: 1000 crystal coins or 10 million USD]
[Treatment fee, mental recovery: 3000 crystal coins or 30 million USD]

“There you have it~ Thank you for your patronage. The total… converted to the Chinese Yuan you currently use, is approximately 292,464,000 Yuan.”

The purple-haired girl displayed a gentle smile, much like a seasoned senior.

“…Considering you were an ordinary person before, a good citizen, and still a minor unaware of the circumstances, the last 464,000 Yuan will be a discount, and my service fee for saving you will also be canceled out of friendship…~ So you only need to make it a round number.”

****

The girl eventually uttered words that sent shivers down my spine, words that shattered my will as if they were a ‘spell of power.’

“So, you can leave after paying just two hundred ninety-two million Yuan~”

The girl wore a worldly expression.

“Otherwise…”

“Not only will your reattached limbs be dismantled again, but… you’ll spend your entire life in debt, unable to repay it even if you sell your body or kidneys… even donating sperm would require a full six thousand times… From now until death, you’ll endure a miserable existence burdened by insurmountable debt~”

Perhaps the numbers alone hadn’t been entirely clear.

But, when expressed in Chinese…

…Some people might abandon their dignity for money.

Some might forsake an empire for a beauty.

However, if it were me!

I, who possessed the dignity of a man!

I, who stood tall as a true man!

I, who upheld my family’s teachings and cherished my character!

…

Even such a thing… was!!

…

Ahaha~

Dignity?~ Can you eat it?~

…

And so, I joined the so-called [World Salvation Branch], embarking on the grand journey of monster slaying and world saving.

…

Within a year, I learned a great deal.

For instance, my senior was the physical manifestation of a ‘Daughter of the Sea’ (Mermaid).

A high-ranking, yet deceptively weak, humanoid monster.

Just like the traditional mermaid lore, she was a wondrous species capable of reproducing by consuming the humans she loved.

Beyond that, there was a wealth of bizarre knowledge and the… truth of this world!

…

However, after completing my innate ability training during the one-year preparatory study period and putting various theoretical knowledge into practice…

My legend lasted only three months.

After winning more than a dozen consecutive battles against rampaging monsters, crushing them all… I was ultimately played to death by those seven irrational little princesses!

I vaguely recall the smug, self-satisfied look on my face when I accepted that so-called [Two-Star Mission].

I still vaguely remember my ugly, excited, almost deranged expression at the prospect of the ‘pre-booked’ exorbitant reward.

But I never, ever imagined.

That a two-star monster would be so ‘perverted’…

Perhaps I hadn’t listened carefully to my senior’s explanation of the monster’s characteristics…

Or perhaps my so-called seniors simply hadn’t taught me at all.

Or was this situation simply too rare?

Even in my current reincarnation, I remained tormented by my agonizing cause of death.

Regardless! A mere two-star monster, defeating me, a (self-proclaimed) extremely powerful esper—such a fact was absolutely unacceptable!

Now, my thoughts in the womb seemed incredibly clear; even the information automatically overlooked by my memories in my previous life could be instantly recalled.

Perhaps I should try to recall. Who knows, I might just seize this opportunity to find the answer I seek?

…So, where exactly did things go wrong?

I sank into a long reverie.