I wiped my left wrist where the dual Task Bracelet tattoos were drawn, rubbing them with my palm repeatedly.
“It won’t come off.”
Even though I had created a new beverage called soda under the supervision of Artemis,
the tattoos only faded slightly, much like after a tattoo removal surgery.
Interpreting this otherwise would mean that even if I succeeded in amusing Hades as the sixth task,
I would still fail the double tasks if I couldn’t satisfy the majority of the Twelve Olympian Gods with the new beverage.
“To succeed in both tasks… it’s a bit intense, isn’t it? Hmm… the task’s details were definitely clear…”
The fifth task was to develop and present a new beverage under Artemis’s supervision that would satisfy the Twelve Olympian Gods.
In other words, I needed to gain the approval of more than half of the gods.
The method to succeed is simple.
Drinking more than two glasses of soda will suffice.
“Let’s weed out the gods who aren’t favorable.”
The gods who are not sincere about soda and prioritize their feelings towards me include,
Zeus, Hera, and Ares – a total of 3.
Even if I brought something better than Nectar, it’s obvious these three would reject it.
Then, who among the gods with ambiguous or neutral relations towards me could be persuaded?
Demeter, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, and Hestia – a total of five.
Even excluding the four gods friendly towards me, I need to win over the tongues of these neutral ones to successfully complete the fifth task.
Surely, the soda I make with Artemis’s guarantee will satisfy their taste buds.
But I don’t feel completely at ease.
Even if there’s a 99% chance of success, my personality compels me to ensure it’s 100%.
Then, how do I fill in that 1%?
By recruiting and utilizing the nomads.
Today is the day the nomads who traveled to Luna all return to the village.
I plan to go there, stop their slash-and-burn farming, and involve them all in making soda.
With that, I’ll transform the slash-and-burn village into a soda village and use it as a stepping stone to turn our Luna into a big city.
And the second task…
“Hey, Ark!”
As if on cue, Singclaire, the guy who eats my food without permission, burst into the cabin where I was staying without knocking.
“Knock next time.”
“That’s not the issue! Reporters from the city suddenly descended on the slash-and-burn village! Come outside quickly!”
“Finally, they’re here.”
“Fi-nally?”
The confused Singclaire frowned, realizing that it was me who had summoned the reporters to the poor slash-and-burn village.
“Why did you summon reporters?”
“You’ll find out soon. Go outside and gather all the slash-and-burn farmers and the reporters.”
“…Alright.”
Despite his suspicious glance, Singclaire decided to observe and followed my instructions.
He skillfully rang the bell and gathered the slash-and-burn farmers and the visiting reporters at the village square.
I went outside carrying two barrels of soda under my arms.
As I walked, the gathered people turned their heads in my direction.
Thud!
I placed the heavy oak barrels on the ground and looked at the slash-and-burn farmers.
These people, anxious about their future, anxiously bit their nails, worried if they’d be forced out.
With one word from me, their fate would be decided, and they anxiously stared at my face.
At that moment, the village chief, unable to bear the silence, stepped forward.
“Excuse me, Priest Ark.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“Uh, have you come here to announce the end of slash-and-burn farming?”
His worried expression revealed that he had been deeply troubled by the idea of stopping the cultivation.
A natural question, given that there’s no place to take in those who are evicted.
“Yes. It’s been decided today. Slash-and-burn farming will be permanently stopped.”
The chief’s face turned clay-white at my ultimatum.
He tried to hold back his frustration and once again expressed his disagreement.
“Please reconsider! If we’re evicted like this, we’ll starve to death!”
“Enough! Singclaire, distribute cups filled with ice to the people gathered here. I’ll present an alternative to slash-and-burn farming.”
Realizing the meaning of my words, Singclaire’s face lit up with delight.
He quickly distributed the ice-filled cups to everyone with enthusiastic steps.
Good.
Seeing is believing.
The moment the taste hits them, the dark future before them will be brightly illuminated.
I climbed the central podium and tapped the soda-filled oak barrel with my foot.
“Let’s distribute this drink to everyone, including all the reporters.”
Nodding his head, Singclaire effortlessly lifted the heavy barrel and poured soda into the cups.
The residents, upon receiving their share of soda and recognizing the frothy liquid, realized it was the so-called “devil’s water” they drank out of necessity.
However, the reporters from the city who came here at my request,
“What is this? It’s all bubbly!”
“It looks like the foam rising in beer.”
“It’s not soap suds, right?”
They showed obvious discomfort and repugnance at the sight of the rising bubbles.
Their expressions were filled with distaste, akin to viewing some forbidden poison.
Watching their expressions, I chuckled lightly, turned back to the slash-and-burn farmers.
“Slash-and-burn farming ends now. This drink you hold is the fortune that will secure your happy future. Taste this fortune and see.”
“But, Priest, this is the devil’s water we had no choice but to drink when we lacked proper drinking water.”
“You’re right, but not all of us slash-and-burn farmers drink it without hesitation. Quite a few of us are resistant to it.”
The farmers, mistaking soda for the carbonated water they usually consumed, revealed their skepticism.
But Singclaire, who confidently stepped forward among us, drank down the soda in front of them.
“Ah~! Give it a try. It’s different! Reporters at the back, please try it too. You must be tired from coming all the way here.”
Encouraged by Singclaire, everyone began drinking the soda with reluctant expressions.
Instantly, the suspicious eyes that had been narrowed wide opened like blossoming flowers.
“Mm??”
“What, what is this?”
“Ah, it’s tingly! Ah, it’s tingly!!”
Heh heh heh.
The reaction has finally come.
The sweetness that bursts in your mouth and the tangy lemon-lime flavor will be simply irresistible.
“It’s, it’s delicious!”
“So sweet and fragrant!”
“What is this drink…?”
The minds that had shown rejection are now opened fresh and cool.
People who only wet their lips tilted their heads back and drank the soda.
Some who had already finished were sticking their noses in the cups, savoring the lingering aroma left by the soda.
“Hmm! Since I am sensitive to taste, I need to sample more. Singclaire! Please pour me another glass!”
An old man cunningly maneuvered to have more.
“Of course! Of course!”
The village chief, who had been worried about the potential end of slash-and-burn farming, realized that this drink was a business opportunity offered by Priest Ark and began to dance in delight.
No longer does the tiring idea of slash-and-burn farming linger in his mind.
The same goes for everyone else.
The villagers smiled in satisfaction and busily licked their lips.
Charm by charm, those enchanted by the sweet soda have become its slaves.
Clap clap.
With two claps of my hands, all the villagers looked at me with admiring eyes.
Yes. I was right after all.
Such genuine loyalty emanating from the heart is true dominion.
To the crowd on my left,
“You no longer need to endure the hunger that pinches your stomachs during winter. Now, pour all your effort into making this soda. Thus, cleanse yourselves of sin and be reborn anew.”
“Thank you!”
“Thank you for saving us, Priest Ark!”
“Long live the Priest! Long live the Goddess!”
The slash-and-burn farmers praised and sang hymns, not only for their lives but also for the livelihood I and Artemis have provided.
Yes.
Continue singing.
Because the soda you create will soon manage the finances of our Luna.
Hahaha!
“Ah, Priest Ark.”
As though dousing the festive atmosphere, a representative journalist emerged.
Nodding my head, the journalist showed me his empty cup and spoke.
“Indeed, it’s a revolutionary and incredibly delicious beverage.”
“Ahahaha. Thank you for enjoying it.”
“Sir, may I ask a question?”
“Yes, please speak freely.”
“Why did you specifically call reporters from other cities to taste this soda?”
I did not answer the journalist’s question.
Instead, I smiled faintly and brought out five small oak barrels stored in the cabin’s warehouse.
I then handed out the oak barrels to each journalist,
“This holds enough soda for about ten people.”
“Yes… and? If you’re planning to sell it at a high price, you should have called merchants, not reporters like us…”
“No, I require your help at this moment.”
“Huh?”
“This soda is a gift. It doesn’t matter who you share it with. Drinking it alone is fine as well. However!”
“However…?”
“Write a tasting review article about the soda you had today in the newspaper published in your city. What do you say?”
“So… this soda will be the cost of the article, I see?”
“Yes. If I were you, I’d store it and sell it later without drinking it.”
“Because you’re just teasing us now, but the price will skyrocket?”
I agreed with a grin, and the journalists began chatting animatedly, laughing.
Because they now realize opportunities to greatly profit from this chance.
Especially if they write good reviews in the newspapers.
The journalists carrying the oak barrels climbed into carriages heading back to their respective cities.
To the cities of Demeter, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, and Hestia.
