This Reincarnation Requires a Subscription Fee

As soon as I confirmed the purchase, my remaining Heaven Coins decreased, and a window containing the product information popped up. The brief description I had seen earlier was displayed along with the detailed list of the package contents.

[Package: Saint of Prophecy]**

*This package includes the following items:*

**Title: Saint of Prophecy**

– **Divine Vision:** You can cast a divine vision over those who hear your prophecy. A halo will shine behind you, and angels will descend from the heavens to play music. This divine vision will allow you to deliver your prophecy in a more magnificent and awe-inspiring manner!

  (*Note: 500,000 Heaven Coins per use*)

“What? I paid for the package, and now I have to pay each time I use it?”

Although 500,000 Coins wasn’t a huge amount, it still bothered me that my funds would gradually dwindle with every use.

“And it seems pretty useless…”

I decided it was better not to use it at all. With that conclusion, I moved on to check the next item in the package, my expression still unimpressed.

“Ah, the Hourglass of Time!”

From the name alone, it practically screamed, “I’m the key item of this package!” Excitedly, I skimmed through the description, hoping for something worthwhile.

– **Hourglass of Time:** Flip the hourglass to travel to the future you wish to see. You can remain in the future until the sand runs out, at which point you will be forced to return to the present.

  (*Note: 1,000,000 Heaven Coins per use*)

  (*This package includes one free use of the Hourglass of Time.*)

No sooner had I finished reading the description than a new window appeared before my eyes.

**[Message from Heaven]**

*Would you like to receive the item ‘Hourglass of Time’ included in the [Package: Saint of Prophecy]?*

**[Yes / No]**

Though the hourglass also required additional payment for each use, the ability to see the future seemed worth the cost. Plus, the package included a one-time free use, which was a nice bonus. Out of all the products Heaven had offered me so far, this one seemed the most legitimate.

Feeling satisfied for the first time in a while, I selected “Yes.”

A brilliant light flashed, and a carefully wrapped box materialized in midair, then dropped into my hands. I quickly unwrapped the box to reveal the hourglass inside.

Filled with beautiful golden sand, the hourglass was… 

“Really small!”

It was so tiny it barely filled my small hand. It looked like the sand would run out in just about 10 minutes. Upon closer inspection, I noticed the number “15” engraved on the bottom.

“That probably means it counts 15 minutes.”

Fifteen minutes—depending on the situation, that could be a long or short time.

“Hmm…” 

I hugged the hourglass tightly, deep in thought. It said that if I flipped the hourglass, I would “move to the future” and “stay there.” Did that mean my entire body would be transported to the future?

“But isn’t that a bit too advanced?”

Then again, since it was something the gods had devised, it might involve powers beyond human comprehension. I glanced around, pondering. If I suddenly disappeared, it would definitely cause a huge commotion.

“But it’s just 15 minutes…”

Since I had a one-time use ticket, it wouldn’t hurt to try it out lightly.

“Alright.”

Taking a deep breath, I clutched the hourglass. If there was any “prophecy” I needed right now, it was about the former emperor. If I could find out what plans he had, and who was aiding him, I could prevent a significant danger.

“Send me to the point where I can confirm that!”

With that thought, I flipped the hourglass. There was a small “pop!” and my vision went completely white.

“What the…?”

I instinctively closed my eyes, but the situation felt strangely familiar. It was as if my body was caught in an explosion and being sucked somewhere. Or rather, it felt like my soul was being pulled out of my body and dragged away.

“Aaah!”

As I screamed in disoriented confusion, the force that had been yanking my soul suddenly disappeared.

“Have I arrived in the future?”

I cautiously opened my eyes and immediately…

“Eek!”

I screamed and stumbled back in shock. The former emperor’s face was right in front of me!

Even as I scrambled backward, my heart pounded furiously from the fright. However, the former emperor didn’t react at all, remaining seated at his desk, calmly reading something. It was as if he couldn’t sense my presence at all.

“Can he not see me?”

Looking down to assess the situation, I noticed that my body had become faintly translucent. It seemed that only my soul had traveled to the future.

My heart began to calm down once I realized the former emperor couldn’t see me. Breathing a sigh of relief, I cautiously approached him again. I had to find out what this scheming man was reading.

But when I stretched my neck to peek at the documents from behind his back, I was met with a page full of writing I couldn’t decipher. It seemed to be an encrypted document.

“I can’t translate this right away…”

Still, the text wasn’t too lengthy, so if I could memorize it as much as possible, I might be able to work with my allies to decode it once I returned to the present.

I was worried that I might not be able to memorize the text perfectly since it wasn’t in a familiar script, but I figured it was better to try than to do nothing. With that resolve, I widened my eyes and focused intently.

“In reality, taking this paper with me would be the most certain way,” I thought. Just like the time I had gotten caught in that strange explosion and ended up in the future with a prophecy scroll that I brought back to the present. But that time, I had been in my future body, whereas now I was just a disembodied soul floating around. It wouldn’t be as simple.

“It’s right in front of me, but I can’t take it…”

Feeling frustrated, I instinctively reached out toward the document. 

“If I could just reach out and grab it… Huh?”

As I was about to withdraw my hand, resigning myself to the situation, I suddenly felt something strange. A rough, papery texture brushed against my fingertips, as if I was actually holding the document.

In disbelief, I tightened my grip on the document that the former emperor was reading. To my surprise, the paper moved lightly in my hand!

The former emperor, who had been calmly reading, jumped to his feet in shock as he saw the paper floating in mid-air.

“W-what is this?!”

His eyes widened in panic, and he began looking around wildly, clearly alarmed. I was just as shocked as he was. I had only reached out on a whim—I never expected to actually grab hold of it!

“So I can exert physical force even in this soul state?”

Oh, this was interesting.

If I could manipulate objects like this, then I could definitely play some tricks! Realizing this, my mind filled with mischievous ideas, befitting my past as a dark mage. 

Suppressing a giggle, I gave the former emperor’s beard a sharp tug.

“Ugh!”

*Ah, that feels satisfying!*

The former emperor’s face turned pale with terror. Even someone as conniving and wicked as him seemed to be terrified of ghosts.

“You, you, you wicked old man!”

Overjoyed by this newfound ability, I slapped the back of the former emperor’s head with all my might.

“Hnngh!”

Next, I aimed for his knees.

“Why don’t you start being a bit kinder and stop being so greedy, old man!”

I kicked the back of his knee hard, causing the former emperor to lose his balance and crash to the floor.

“Who’s there?! Who dares do this?!”

The former emperor’s face was flushed red with anger as he bellowed furiously, his eyes darting around the room. His shouting must have startled the guard outside the door, as the door suddenly burst open and a knight rushed in.

“What’s wrong, Your Majesty?”

The knight was startled to see the former emperor sprawled on the floor and hurriedly helped him up. As he stood, the former emperor scanned the room with his eyes wide open.

“There’s an intruder in this room! Search the place immediately!”