This Reincarnation Requires a Subscription Fee

The delivery service from the Heaven Market was the worst. For such a fragile item, shouldn’t they at least package it securely in a padded box? I looked up at the empty air, addressing the nameless deity who was surely listening.

“Make sure you do it right next time!” I shouted.

For a moment, I felt like the air around me wavered in response. I then focused on the glass vial in my hand. It had a reddish hue, perhaps to emphasize the strawberry flavor.

‘So this is supposed to awaken me as a Saintess.’

Looking around, I noticed that everyone else was still distracted by the commotion. Even Leonid and Eugene were glued to the scene outside, paying me no attention.

‘I guess I should drink this now and awaken as a Saintess.’

The warning about possible side effects gave me pause.

‘But they said the side effects are minor, right?’

Considering that this potion could grant me holy power in one go, I figured I could deal with a few minor side effects. With determination, I popped the cork off the vial. It made a satisfying ‘pop,’ as if to reassure me that the contents were fresh. 

I brought the vial to my nose, and the sweet scent of strawberries filled the air, easing my nerves.

‘Strawberry flavor can’t be bad, right?’

Closing my eyes, I downed the entire potion in one gulp. The sweet, strawberry-flavored liquid swirled in my mouth before sliding down my throat.

I opened my eyes wide, expecting to feel an immediate, dramatic change.

“…?”

But nothing happened. No sudden surge of power, no mystical awakening—nothing. 

‘What…?’

I examined the vial from every angle, but it was definitely empty. I had consumed the entire contents.

‘So why isn’t anything happening?’

The eerie stillness that followed made me start to suspect I might have been scammed. Given that the Heaven Market was the same place that offered a “Reincarnation Subscription,” it didn’t seem too far-fetched that they might also sell faulty products.

As I glared suspiciously at the empty vial, the classroom door swung open with a loud bang.

A group of priests, led by an elderly cleric, barged in, followed by armed paladins. 

“Saintess Reshia! We’ve come to escort you!” 

Their words said they were here to escort me, but their attitude was anything but gentle. Without hesitation, they marched straight toward me. My silver hair and light purple eyes must have made me instantly recognizable.

“Come! Let’s go!” 

The elderly priest grabbed my hand without warning.

“N-no, I don’t want to!” 

I quickly yanked my hand free. I had no idea what would happen if I was taken to the temple without having properly awakened any holy power. Not only could I be in trouble, but it could also spell disaster for Bael, who had vouched for me as a Saintess.

“Now, now, you must come quietly!” The priest’s voice was soothing, but his grip on my shoulder was anything but gentle.

“Ow!” 

The pain from being grabbed made me cry out involuntarily.

“I told you to stop!”

I pushed the old priest away with all my might. But it was impossible for a child’s strength to shake off an adult. I was still struggling, held by the old priest.

“Excuse me. She said she doesn’t want this.”

Leonid, who had been watching the scuffle between the priest and me, spoke in a cold voice. Normally, Leonid was always polite in front of adults, but now his expression was one of anger.

“Let her go.”

Leonid firmly grabbed my leg as the priest tried to drag me away. He seemed to be trying to help me avoid being taken, but with my arms and legs being pulled from both sides, I was stuck in the middle, and the pain brought tears to my eyes.

‘Where do I file a complaint?’

I was determined to protest and demand a proper awakening potion instead of this faulty one. I rummaged through the Heaven Market desperately. Finally, at the very bottom of a large window, in tiny letters, I found the phrase “Contact Us.”

I immediately clicked on “Contact Us.” Or at least, I tried to.

[Message from Heaven]  

(Notice) A minor side effect of the has occurred!

A message window flashed before my eyes. If it hadn’t appeared, I would have proceeded.

‘What? I haven’t even awakened, and there’s already a side effect?’

As soon as that thought crossed my mind, something hot began to boil up from my stomach and erupted out of my throat.

“Ugh!”

I coughed violently, instinctively covering my mouth. What came out was a clump of dark red blood.

‘Wha…?’

I was shocked, staring at my blood-stained hand, and my vision started to blur. Through my fading consciousness, the last part of the message I hadn’t managed to read came into view.

[Message from Heaven]  

(Notice) A minor side effect of the has occurred!  

Any side effect will be minor and trivial in exchange for the great power of divine strength.

‘…These bastards?’

Just as anger toward Heaven was about to burst forth, everything went black.

* * *

My body felt hot. To be precise, it felt like my internal organs were boiling. Even though I knew it couldn’t be true, I worried that my entire body might actually be cooking. My body was like a large vessel, filled with an incredibly intense heat that was seething within. I could hardly bear it, exhaling in short, ragged breaths. But no matter how much I exhaled, the heat showed no signs of subsiding.

‘And this is supposed to be a minor side effect?’

Damn those Heaven bastards! If I could, I would run straight to them and smack them hard on the back. Through the haze of my faint consciousness, I could hear the jumbled sounds of reality.

“Why is this happening all of a sudden?”

That was the Duke’s voice.

“How can they say there’s nothing medically wrong when she’s coughing up blood? What kind of nonsense is that?”

That was Axel’s voice.

“Miss, please hang in there. You’re going to be okay, right?”

I could hear Lily’s voice, too.

“Is… is she dying? Is it because I tried to drive her away, because I had bad thoughts? Waaaaah!”

Noah’s wailing was clear and loud. The soft sobbing of the other women must have been from Rose and Daisy.

‘At least they didn’t drag me straight to the temple.’

Considering I had coughed up blood and fainted while struggling with the priest, not even the overbearing Central Church could have managed to take me away. 

Even though I could perceive everything happening around me, I couldn’t open my eyes or speak. I was completely limp, unable to move even a single finger.

‘My mind is clear, though.’

Not being able to move my body as I wished was beyond frustrating. It was enough to drive me mad.

‘No, no. Let’s not use such ominous words like “driving me mad” in this situation.’

I quickly corrected my thoughts. My mind was clear, but I couldn’t control my body, and it was making me feel like I was going to lose it.

‘Though, saying “losing it” might still be a bit ominous.’

But it seemed better than thinking about dying. 

Time passed as I was lost in these trivial thoughts. I could distinctly feel the passage of time—day after day, one, two, three, four… A whole week went by meaninglessly, with me still fully conscious but unable to move.

‘Damn those Heaven bastards…’

Each passing day was part of the subscription period I had worked hard to accumulate Heaven Coins for.

‘And now it’s all just wasted?’

But I was too exhausted to muster the energy to protest anymore. At this point, I didn’t care if the awakening hadn’t gone properly—I just wanted to be able to open my eyes.

‘…Of course, I’ll still apply for a refund.’

After all, those coins were precious.

‘But those Heaven bastards probably won’t return my coins without a fight.’

I decided to prepare a thorough plan for demanding a refund once I could open my eyes again. But before those thoughts could take full shape, the surroundings suddenly grew oddly noisy.