Chapter 27

Alright, let’s go over my situation for a second.

I need to stop playing the role of a saint as soon as possible.

But the tricky part is how.

If I were to commit something outright atrocious—rape, murder, arson—then yeah, people would abandon me.

But then I’d probably get burned at the stake by enraged citizens who feel betrayed, or worse, suffer divine punishment from the goddess, pissed that I tarnished her name.

So, I need to be careful.

I have to find a way to make people naturally distance themselves from me, without further provoking the goddess’s wrath.

Something like—“Oh, that guy? He was nice, I guess, but a complete idiot. Totally incompetent.”
That’s the kind of reputation I need.

“Pay the Mage Tower researchers their wages. Also, cover all—yes, all—the moving expenses for their research labs! The Lilia Order will take care of everything!”

And so, I was once again working tirelessly…

To bankrupt the church.

Sure, elixirs were pouring in like water, but it was still early days.

If there was ever a chance to push this place into financial ruin, it was now.

I had to ramp up spending and drain their funds while I still could.

Luckily, High Priest Yodel was an “OK-man” through and through.

If I told him to eat shit, he’d do it with a smile.

“Of course! It shall be done, oh Saint!”

But then, the wizards and witches outright refused to take any money.

“We are doing this to repay our debt to Erfa. We cannot accept such funds.”

“Besides, we can just teleport the research labs. It’s not even that expensive. Just keep your money.”

“But, the more research funding you provide, the better.”

So, I did my best to shove as much research funding into their hands as possible.

Because I needed to bankrupt the church.

“How much do you need? How much would be ideal?”

“Hmm… Well, my usual annual research budget was around 7,000 Saled…”

“30,000 Saled. Pay each researcher 30,000 Saled per year.”

The researchers gasped.

“Can you even afford that much?”

Hell if I know!

I just want to burn through as much money as possible!

“It is more than possible, Saint. In the two months you spent in prison, we secured a great number of trade partners. 30,000 Saled per person is easily manageable.”

Jonathan Karma!!

You ridiculously competent bastard!!

What kind of trolling is this?!

Jonathan simply smiled and extended a hand toward the researchers.

“Of course, if Karma Company were to develop its own elixir refinement technology, our profits would soar even higher. Naturally, that would mean an even greater research budget. How much funding you receive will depend on the brilliance of your research.”

“The Mars Tower is one of the greatest Mage Towers on the continent. We won’t disappoint. Elixir research is our bread and butter, after all.”

And so, with 30,000 Saled per researcher per year, they agreed to stay in our temple and continue their research.

But I still wasn’t satisfied.

I was still hungry.

Elixirs.

Not just any product, but elixirs.

The blue gold.

And it was pouring out from beneath the temple like a never-ending spring!

No.

I had to make them spend even more money.

So, I summoned Cecilia Karma, Jonathan’s daughter.

Rather than her experienced father, I figured a young, inexperienced Cecilia would be more likely to screw things up quickly.

“Tear down the slums and build a large-scale housing complex. The people from the slums will live there. We can’t have them sleeping on the streets forever, can we?”

“Ah! An excellent idea, Saint! I was considering that myself!”

“They’ll be heartbroken about losing their homes. Compensate them generously. 10 Saled per person. Pay each of them 10 Saled. Also, hire the slum residents to rebuild the houses. Pay them 1 Saled per day. And when the houses are finished, keep the rent low. Charge only 1 Saled per month for housing.”

“Understood, Saint!”

“Also, the roads in the slums are atrocious. Tear them up completely and lay down proper roads—make them as grand as the ones in front of the royal palace!”

“It shall be done, Saint!”

“And—there aren’t enough restaurants or bathhouses. People need to eat well and rest properly to truly experience grace. Expand the bathhouses. Establish a massive restaurant district! Of course, Karma Company will cover all construction costs. And as for the restaurant owners, charge them the absolute minimum rent possible.”

“One Saled per month, just like the others!”

And…

And what else?

Oh, right.

Yes.

“Build a school. Children need education. Since we’re already tearing down the slums, establish a school and hire teachers to educate the kids. Children should be learning, not working. And of course! All education will be completely free! Karma Company will cover all costs!”

“We will carry it out, Saint!”

Yes!

I just had a brilliant idea!!

A money-burning plan!!!

Nothing burns money quite like art!

“Additionally, hire a large number of painters for the newly expanded district and have them create murals. Beautiful sacred paintings will help calm people’s hearts. Spare no expense—hire only the best artists!”

“That too shall be done!”

“Expand the free meal program! Ensure that at least one meal a day includes meat! Partner with the finest butcher shops and provide only the highest quality meat—people must eat well to receive true blessings!”

“Of course! It shall be done!”

“I will be watching. Everything I have instructed must be carried out—without exception. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Saint!”

There.

At this rate, even Karma Company would have to go bankrupt.

As I sighed in relief, Cecilia disappeared into the Mage Tower with an enthusiastic expression.

At best, she was a woman in her mid-to-late twenties.

She wasn’t Jonathan Karma.

What could a girl like her possibly do?

Please. Please let her mess this up spectacularly!

Cecilia felt her heart race.

She was a woman who found joy in business.

And somehow, the Saint had given her the very thing that would let her shine the brightest.

Her genius for business calculations began working at an incredible speed.

She immediately sought out her parents and relayed the Saint’s instructions.

And just like that—

A budget was allocated.

“We already secured contracts with large-scale factories outside the capital for elixir trade. The deal was made a month ago, and today, the payment was received. How does the Saint always know exactly when to act?! Truly, divine grace watches over him!”

“This is the Saint’s decree. We must not fail, Cecilia.”

“Of course!!”

100,000 Saled. That was the amount allocated to Cecilia.

But she had confidence.

She was certain that with this budget, she could accomplish everything the Saint had entrusted her with.

Her first stop was the district offices overseeing the slums—Districts 50, 51, and 52.

“You’re proposing to repave roads, install magical streetlights, demolish the slums, build new housing, establish schools, and set up bathhouses and restaurant districts?”

“Yes. His Majesty the Emperor declared at the beginning of the year that he wished to create a nation where the people could smile. As government officials, shouldn’t you follow his directive? What is the allocated budget for these districts? I would like to coordinate our resources to revitalize the slum areas.”

“…The government abandoned these areas long ago, young lady. There is practically no budget allocated for the slums. Aside from our own salaries, no money comes in at all.”

“How is that even possible?! This is unacceptable! Who is responsible for the capital’s urban planning?”

“…That would be Marquis Rumpelt.”

That very day, Cecilia left the slums.

She traveled straight to District 10, where the nobles and the upper class resided.

Using part of the 100,000 Saled budget her mother had given her, she purchased an elegant dress and a carriage.

Before Jonathan Karma’s streak of misfortune, he had been a very wealthy man.

Naturally, Cecilia was well-acquainted with the elite of District 10.

One of her connections was Countess Drong.

She wasted no time donning her fine dress, boarding her carriage, and heading straight for the Countess.

“Oh my! You need to meet Marquis Rumpelt for the Saint’s grand cause? What an astonishing coincidence! He happens to be attending a poetry recital this afternoon!”

Moved by Cecilia’s earnest request, the highly sentimental Countess Drong agreed to help.

And so, later that afternoon, Cecilia attended the poetry recital and met Marquis Rumpelt.

The room was filled with beautiful and moving verses, stirring the emotions of all the nobles in attendance.

Just as the atmosphere reached its peak—

“May I have your attention, please?”

Countess Drong clapped her hands, drawing the focus of the room.

“We have a very special guest with us today. Do I even need to introduce her? You have all heard of Saint Amael, witnessed by both the Senate and the High Court. She serves directly under him, representing Karma Company. Please welcome Lady Cecilia. She has come today to carry out the Saint’s great work. Let us give her a warm welcome.”

As the applause rang out, Cecilia rose from her seat and bowed gracefully, following the precise etiquette expected of the nobility.

Having been raised with the finest education, there was not a single flaw in her manners.

“I extend my deepest gratitude to Countess Drong for this opportunity. These beautiful poems have truly enriched my heart. However, there exists a way to enrich one’s heart far beyond poetry. And today, I wish to share that way with you all.”

Cecilia knew exactly how to speak in a manner that resonated with the nobility.

With a calm and refined tone—

She continued.

“There is a child who cannot move because he is starving. A child whose toes have rotted away because he has no shoes. People who wander the streets, having lost all hope. A mother who tries to nurse her child, though no milk will come, and the infant slowly starves in her arms.”

“There are those who live lives of filth—covered in waste, forgotten by society.”

“And among them, there is one who walks among them, who dedicates his life to loving them.”

Cecilia rolled up her sleeve and held out her arm for all to see.

“Some of you may already know this, but I was once one of those filthy, discarded people. I had a disease that rotted my flesh. I was dying in agony when he saved me—through a miracle.”

“And now, he continues to do the same for others.”

“You, too, have the opportunity to be part of the Saint’s great cause.”

Cecilia looked at Marquis Rumpelt.

“At the beginning of this year, His Majesty the Emperor declared that his goal for the new year was to create a nation where all citizens could smile. Please allocate a budget for the revitalization of Slum District 3. This is the path of fulfilling His Majesty’s solemn decree, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to contribute to the cleansing of Slum District 3—something no other official has ever accomplished. Furthermore—”

She turned her gaze toward the many noble men and women gathered around her.

“When you or your family fall ill—when you are stricken with a disease that no amount of wealth or effort can cure—the Saint will remember your contributions. And he will grant his healing miracles to you without discrimination. I have secured 100,000 Saled from Karma Company. But that alone is not enough to accomplish the grand mission that the Saint has commanded.”

Cecilia bowed deeply.

“For the pride of humanity. For obedience to His Majesty’s decree. For the achievements of public servants. Or even if it is merely out of sympathy, or a desire to witness the miracles of the Saint of Healing—any reason is acceptable. Slum District 3 needs your help. Please remember the words of the wise: Give while you are able to give.”

As soon as Cecilia finished speaking—

Countess Drong, tears welling in her eyes, began clapping.

One after another, the nobles joined in, filling the hall with applause.

“My son… He has been weak since birth. Until now, I never believed in such things, but since the Saint has been officially recognized by the Grand Sanctuary, I feel like I can trust him. Would it be possible to convey my request to the Saint of Healing? Of course, I will repay his blessings with a generous donation.”

“I have some spare funds… I would like to offer them as a donation, Lady Cecilia.”

“A Saint has appeared for the first time in 300 years. I would love to meet him. I will offer a portion of the wealth I can manage as an offering. Truly noble.”

One after another, donations and contributions poured in.

And most importantly—

Marquis Rumpelt stood up, his expression deeply moved.

“I will personally report this to His Majesty. Lady Cecilia, revitalizing Slum District 3 has been one of His Majesty’s long-held aspirations. But no matter how much money was thrown at the issue, nothing ever changed—so he gave up. But now… We cannot miss this opportunity. I will allocate a large-scale budget to support Karma Company.”

A smile appeared on Cecilia’s lips.

“Thank you, Marquis Rumpelt.”

“For the first Saint in 300 years, this much is only natural. In fact, I should be the one thanking you. To be able to accomplish such an achievement in my later years… I can’t help but feel proud.”

Everyone smiled.

And Marquis Rumpelt kept his promise.

Three days later—

By the Emperor’s command, 4.2 million Saled was allocated for the revitalization of Slum District 3, along with an additional 300,000 Saled in donations collected from noble families.

Cecilia, overjoyed, immediately reported the news to the Saint.

“Truly… truly, this is wonderful news, Lady Cecilia.”

Tears welled in the Saint’s eyes as he listened.

His entire body trembled as he wept.

Surely… they were tears of joy.

Cecilia embraced the Saint tightly.

“We will transform Slum District 3 into something far greater than you envisioned. Rejoice, oh Saint!!”
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