Morpheus sighed. "Do you think I care about a billion dollars? Or that a billion dollars can buy a spot as my follower? It seems you don't understand anything."
Sonoko blinked confused. "???"
She'd done her research. Nanami became Morpheus's follower by offering half her earnings.
Sonoko was proposing a billion dollars upfront, and every year after that.
That was no small sum.
Why wasn't it enough for her?
Morpheus said leisurely, "Becoming my follower grants not just immense power but also the ability to learn magic and build a formidable faction."
"More importantly, accepting my power means eternal youth and immortality."
"You didn't seriously think a billion dollars could buy such privileges, did you?"
The Ancient One, Supreme Sorcerer, siphoned power from Dormammu to live centuries. There was no reason Morpheus couldn't do the same.
Immortality was never an issue for Morpheus or his followers.
Nanami was stunned.
Eternal youth? Immortality? She hadn't known about this.
"Lord Morpheus, you never mentioned this."
"It's not important, so I didn't bring it up. You'd find out eventually."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Good grief. Sonoko had offered money, unaware that being Morpheus's follower came with such incredible perks. This was too good to be true.
Eternal youth and immortality!
In that moment, Sonoko's desire to become a follower intensified. She clasped her hands together, pleading, "Please, Lord Morpheus, tell me what I must do to become your follower."
"This is my lifelong wish."
Morpheus said, "It's not that hard. I just have to like you."
"That's it?" Sonoko was shocked. That seemed way too casual.
Morpheus explained, "There's a saying: 'No amount of gold can buy my favor.' I decide who becomes my follower. If I like someone and want them as a follower, no one can stop me."
"If I don't want someone, no amount of riches will change my mind."
"If I wanted money, it'd be far too easy to get."
Nanami had a realization. So, Morpheus had taken her as a follower because he liked her.
Sonoko, less confident, asked, "Do you like me, Lord Morpheus?"
Morpheus nodded. "I don't dislike you."
"Not disliking is liking, right?"
"Close enough."
"So, can I become your follower?"
"You're a bit of a flirt, but overall, you're decent. You can be my follower."
"Awesome!" Sonoko cheered, then quickly added, "What about Ran? She's so beautiful—surely she can be your follower too, right, Lord Morpheus?"
Morpheus glanced at Ran. "In principle, I wouldn't refuse, but she's a bit complicated."
Sonoko frowned. "Lord Morpheus?"
Morpheus explained, "As I said, my followers essentially transcend aging, sickness, and death—eternal youth and immortality."
"But Ran loves Shinichi. Decades from now, she'll still be youthful, while Shinichi will be old and frail."
"When that time comes, Ran will face two choices."
"First, she could beg me to make Shinichi a follower too."
"Second, she could abandon her status as a follower to live an ordinary life with Shinichi."
"For you, that choice is decades away, too distant to consider."
"But for me, it's like something that'll happen soon."
"It's just too much trouble."
"I don't want to accept a follower only for them to abandon me later."
"So, it's better not to accept her in the first place."
Ran fell silent, unsure how to respond.
Sonoko gave a wry smile. Knowing Ran, she might actually give up being a follower for Shinichi.
That was practically toying with a god.
Could you just abandon the status of a follower because you wanted to?
Ran realized this possibility wasn't far-fetched, plunging her into a dilemma.
In the past, she'd have chosen not to be Morpheus's follower.
But now, with Shinichi targeted by a powerful armed organization, if she didn't become a follower and gain strength to protect him, he might die before they could even be together.
The thought made Ran's heart race with anxiety.
She couldn't bear the idea of Shinichi dying like that.
Sonoko said, "I think there's an easy solution. Lord Morpheus, you could just make Shinichi a follower too. Sure, he's a bit arrogant, but his deduction skills are top-notch."
"He's an aspiring great detective."
"Maybe he could help you with some things?"
Ran shot Sonoko a grateful look. Her best friend always came through in a pinch.
Morpheus shook his head. "Shinichi is indeed a fine detective, but I don't need one. If I did, I could just call on Sherlock Holmes."
"He's far superior to Shinichi."
Ran and Sonoko were dumbfounded.
Sherlock Holmes was a world-renowned name, Shinichi's idol. Of course they knew him.
But…
"Lord Morpheus, if I'm not mistaken, isn't Sherlock Holmes a fictional character?" Ran asked.
Morpheus nodded. "You're right, Sherlock Holmes is fictional. But who said fictional characters can't appear in the real world?"
"You two aren't part of the supernatural world, so you know too little about it."
"The supernatural world is one where the impossible becomes possible."
"Forget Sherlock Holmes—even Hercule Poirot could step out of a novel."
"If I need a detective, there are plenty better than Shinichi."
"So, while Shinichi is talented, he's not suited to be my follower. I don't need a detective follower."
***
Hi everyone, I hope you're all doing well and staying healthy. I want to let you know that right now I'm working on one of the best fanfics you might ever read.
If you're curious about this fanfic, don't hesitate to check it out.
[Mangaka? Nah, I'm Voice Actor!]
Synopsis:
I was a corporate slave with a normal outlook on life, values, and romance.
My worldview shattered after I get isekai'd, and through a twist of fate, I went with the flow, unexpectedly accepting my new reality in the role closest to the anime world... that's right, I became a voice actor.
---
Yes, just as you read, it's true that this fanfic will tell the story of a main character who enters the world of voice acting in Japan. This fanfic will portray the life of voice actors behind the Japanese anime and games you've been listening to all this time, spiced up with a bit of romance for those of you who enjoy it.
So if you're curious, don't hesitate to read it and show your support.