Chapter 74 – Saturday’s Origin Store [2]

"First, the Beauty Potion." Cassius said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "This was something I promised my mother if I ever got my hands on one."

And it just so happened that he had, faster than he had ever expected. He chuckled inwardly, still quietly amazed by the effect of the Lucky Lucky Lucky Ticket.

"However," he continued, "I also need to think of Isolde. She is my wife and deserves to be showered with gifts. What do you think, Queen?" He cocked his head. "It would be a good one, don’t you think?"

[I believe so.] Ananke nodded. [Women naturally love beauty. It is simply our nature. Which is why it’s truly no wonder that a woman born without that privilege spent her entire life in pursuit of it.]

Her tone was soft, almost melancholic.

"Do you know the woman who created the potion?" Cassius asked, eyebrow arching. "And living for thousands of years...how does one live that long? What rank must a person reach for that to be possible?"

[A rank you have no business knowing about yet.] Ananke retorted, shaking her head. [Don’t be hasty. And no, I don’t know this woman personally. But her story has become a renowned classic in the cycle of gods. They called it the Story of the Cursed Woman.]

"Was she truly cursed?" He asked.

[No one could say with certainty.] She replied. [Her situation was strange. Even some gods looked into it and found nothing in particular. But beyond her epithet as the Cursed Woman, she held another title, one known universally among gods and people alike.]

Cassius tilted his head slightly. "Which is?"

[The Original Witch.] The Goddess said it without pause.

The words hit like a physical force.

A strange pressure settled inside his chest, tightening and constricting, as if the air around him had thinned. He gasped, back stooping, both palms clamping against the sides of his head, feeling the cold pressure climbing.

It was the kind he felt whenever someone far above his State of Self was spoken of with genuine intent nearby.

Noticing his obvious distress, Ananke realised what she had done and pressed her lips together.

[I forgot you are Mortal Self rank. It’s fortunate it was me who said her name, if it was you it would have been far worse.]

"All that from just a name?" Cassius croaked as the pain slowly eased.

[Names carry power, Cassius.] She said seriously. [More than you can imagine. Some are heavy with entire histories and legacies behind them. That is why gods only use descriptions reflecting their nature in System messages, and never their True Names. And yet even uttering their descriptions with intent is enough for them to feel it. That is exactly why...]

Her tone dropped cold, filled with warning.

[...don’t even think about buying the Honorary Prayer of the Mother Demoness of Pestilence.]

"Why ever not?" He replied, shaking his head to clear the lingering headache. "Do you know her?"

[Everyone does.] Ananke replied solemnly. [You must understand that even among gods, ranks exist. The Mother Demoness of Pestilence is among the highest. Her interest is not in this Kingdom, or even in the Heartland of the Khatab Continent. This entire continent is not even within her interest. So don’t bring her here.]

"That serious?"

[That serious.]

"Still," Cassius pressed, stubborn, "I feel like I’d regret it if I let this opportunity pass by doing nothing. And it’s not as if I have the points to buy it anyway, it’s three hundred thousand OP and I only have a hundred thousand."

Ananke clicked her tongue. She already knew where her Blessed was heading.

And indeed...

"I’ll use the Freeze Ticket on it so I can buy it whenever I want. Maybe the day will come when I need it."

[You are so stubborn, Cassius.]

"Regret is immortal, Queen." He smiled and shrugged. "I don’t want to regret this later."

[As you wish.] She relented, knowing debate was pointless. [What will you do with the rest?]

"I’ll use my Triplet Item Ticket on the Beauty Potion. Three of them."

[Aside from your mother and Isolde, who is the third for?] She asked, then in a joking tone, [You?]

"Me?" He chuckled. "I am handsome enough, Queen. Any more and Isolde becomes the killer of every girl in the Kingdom. That would actually be entertaining to watch...but no. The third one is for you."

[For me?] She said, genuinely surprised.

"Yes." He nodded, tilting his head. "You don’t want it?"

Ananke fell silent for a couple of breaths, unable to stop a warmth bathing her whole inside, her eyes fixed on her Blessed.

By now she already knew she was no longer alone. No longer isolated by her innate nature and her overall weakness.

She knew Cassius was with her and she knew he was not someone who abandoned those he cared for, no matter the circumstances.

And yet — for some reason — the Queen of Fate still found herself caught off guard most of the time whenever she was on the receiving end of kindness and affection and compassion.

So she stood frozen for a moment, not even noticing that a wide, achingly beautiful smile had spread across her divine face.

However, she gathered herself quickly, and answered in a tone laced with laughter.

[Well, aren’t you quite the gentleman?] Ananke stifled a laugh. [Alas, no, Cassius. This potion does not work on gods.]

"Oh, really?"

[Aye.]

"Quite a shame then."

[But the intention was more than enough.] Her voice softened. [Thank you for thinking of me.]

Cassius waved a casual hand, a faint and barely noticeable blush edging his face. "No worries. No worries, Queen! Aren’t I your Blessed? Just watch, I’ll make you proud. Hahah."

Ananke laughed with him, her fondness for him growing quietly further.

"Well, I’ll hold onto the third one for whenever the occasion calls for it." He said, shrugging. "And alongside the Beauty Potion, I’ll take the Master Key."

[It’s a dangerous artifact. Be careful with it.]

"I will." He said, briefly letting his thoughts drift to the Cultured Writer before shaking his head in pure amusement.

This world truly produced all kinds of people. And he had always noticed that the strangest and most unhinged ones tended to be the most talented.

A man who broke into people’s homes to watch them in intimate moments, and somehow created something the System itself listed with no attached grade or rank. Only the mention of Special Item.

That alone was telling.

Whatever the Key truly was, it clearly deserved that distinction.

Smiling with excitement, Cassius began his purchases.

"I use Freeze Ticket on the Honorary Prayer of the Mother Demoness of Pestilence." He said, pressing his palms together. The golden panel responded immediately.

DING!

[Freeze Ticket used!]

[Item: Honorary Prayer of the Mother Demoness of Pestilence is Frozen. It will remain available in the Saturday Origin Store, independent of the other three items.]

His grin broadened. "And give me the Beauty Potion with my Triplet Ticket applied. And the Master Key."

DING!

[Beauty Potion purchased!]

[Due to the Triplet Ticket: Three Beauty Potions will be delivered!]

DING!

[Master Key purchased!]

[Total OP spent: 50,000 OP]

[OP remaining: 50,700 OP]

[All purchases confirmed!]

As the final chime faded inside his mind, the golden realm tore open the space in front of him, making neither sound nor emitting any aura.

Out of that realm, which seemed built from the greatest riches in the world, two beautifully ornate boxes drifted out of the golden fog and settled gently into his hands.

[Delivery Complete!]

The golden realm sealed shut behind them instantly, leaving Cassius staring at the two boxes with a thoroughly devilish grin.

He took them in for a long moment before opening his mouth.

"With this Origin Store, even if the whole Kingdom went bankrupt, I would never be poor!"

He threw his head back and barked a laugh.

"Queen’s skirt, I could start an entire organisation just from selling what I don’t need." He added. The thought sank in and temptation immediately followed. Having a group of lackeys to order around would always come in handy.

He stroked his chin.

"The Devil and his minions." He mused. "What do you—!"

[Trash.]

"Wait, wh—!"

[Trash.]

"Let me fini—!"

[No.] She cut him off, smiling with obvious provocation. [Trash.]

Cassius fell silent, rolling his eyes, surrendering entirely. "You are so—!"

[Trash.]

Angry veins popped across his forehead. But knowing there was absolutely nothing he could do about it, Cassius simply mumbled under his breath and turned his attention back to his purchases, doing his best to ignore his petty, occasionally childish goddess.

’Ah...’ Ananke sighed in contentment. ’It feels so good.’

She might actually get addicted to this.

—End of Chapter 74—