“Iomene, how is my daughter?”

The moment I stepped out of the detached palace, I was practically dragged away—almost like a kidnapping—straight into the presence of the Emperor. Both the Emperor and the Empress were staring at me with intense expressions.

What do I even say to this?

I can’t exactly stand here and say, Your daughter is covered in self-inflicted wounds, looks like a walking corpse, and is as thin as a zombie.

That would be insane.

“It will take some time to fully remove the fragments of the Evil God and completely heal her mind. I will need to visit the princess regularly. For now, I have provided the basic treatment.”

“I heard... you entered without wearing protective gear. Were you harmed by the curse?”

“No, nothing like that happened. There is no need for such concern.”

At my composed response, the Emperor and the Empress looked at me with admiration.

“Oh, Goddess of Grace, we thank you for sending us this saint. Truly... we are grateful.”

“I am no saint, Your Majesty. I am simply a human—Amael. You may call me by my name.”

Just as Old Man Yodel advised, I planned to deny it every chance I got.

I am not a saint!!

I am not!!

But, of course, they didn’t believe me.

“Please, I beg of you. If you can save my daughter, I will pay any price. So, please…”

“I will do everything I can.”

“Ahh! Saint!......”

The Empress, unable to hold back any longer, collapsed in front of me, tears streaming down her face.

I hurried to help her up, but instead of assisting, the Emperor simply stood there, silently weeping along with her.

Ah.

I don’t know anymore.

I mean, I’m going to get cursed soon and return to Korea anyway, so I might as well just let them be for now.

Besides, these are parents who have suffered for so long.

For the past sixteen years, they probably agonized over whether it would have been a kinder choice to simply end their daughter’s suffering.

Offering them a bit of comfort—just for a moment—should be fine, right?

“Please do not grieve. I am here.”

The one who will inherit your daughter’s curse and have their soul destroyed is right in front of you.

“Saint!!...... Saint!”

I carefully supported the sobbing Empress and helped her to her feet.

Alright.

Since I’m going to get cursed and return to Korea soon anyway, I might as well play the part of a saint while I’m here.

After accepting the royal couple’s tears, I finally left the palace.

I returned to the Magic Tower’s temple.

Soon, I would be cursed and sent back to Korea.

Once I’m back, I won’t be able to use my skills anymore.

There’s no magic in that bleak world.

So before I leave, I decided to heal as many sick people as I could.

Might as well make full use of these skills while I still have them.

Maybe because the treatment center was established, the number of severe patients requiring my attention wasn’t overwhelming.

By the time evening arrived, I had finished my work and was thinking about grabbing a meal when—

“Saint!”

Erfa had come looking for me.

These days, she had been visiting the temple whenever she had time, seizing every opportunity to see me.

Ever since the incident with the kiss, she seemed completely enamored with me.

“I... I made this meal myself today. Would you like to try it?”

She held out a lunchbox toward me.

Ohh.

A homemade meal from a woman?

Not bad.

We ate together in the private room prepared for me within the temple.

It was clear she had put in a lot of effort—the food was delicious.

“How is it? Does it taste good?”

The entire time I ate, she anxiously asked that question over and over, probably more than a dozen times.

Each time, I just smiled and nodded.

Honestly, the taste wasn’t even the important part.

What mattered was that such a beautiful woman had personally made a meal for me.

After we finished eating, we started chatting about trivial things.

How our day had gone, what had happened—just casual conversation.

I always thought I wasn’t good at talking to women, but since she was the one leading the conversation so enthusiastically, it all flowed smoothly.

Thinking about it made me bitter.

I was leaving this place, where someone cared for me so warmly, only to return to Korea, where no woman would even want to talk to me.

The thought of becoming a nobody again in that dreary world weighed heavily on my chest.

But what choice did I have?

It was still better than a one-way trip to hell.

“It’s getting late. You must be exhausted from tending to the sick all day… Please, get some rest, Saint.”

Erfa waved both of her right hands childishly as she spoke.

“Yes. You should also get some rest, Erfa. Have a good night.”

Even after I answered, she didn’t leave.

Her four hands fidgeted as if she was waiting for something.

Her face turned red.

“…Um… maybe… that…”

“Yes.”

“Before you leave… could you… kiss me?”

Even someone as inexperienced as me—if I still didn’t get it at this point, I’d have to be seriously brain-dead.

This woman loves me.

Not just a little—she’s deeply, passionately in love with me.

If I hadn’t heard the prophecy that the goddess herself would personally smite me…

I probably would have accepted her love.

Rejecting a woman like this—especially when she’s the one confessing to me—would make me a complete idiot.

Spending time with such a beautiful woman? Of course, I wouldn’t hate it.

No, I’d actually love it.

But what happens if I accept her love?

Sooner or later, I’ll get hit with the curse and be sent back to Korea.

My soul itself will be ripped from this dimension, and she’ll be left behind—alone.

Thinking about that… accepting her love is absolutely not an option.

But staying here isn’t an option either.

If I give up on returning to Korea and choose to stay, sure, things might be great for a while…

but what about later?

What happens when the entire world figures out I’ve been deceiving them and comes after me?

What will Erfa do then?

She’ll fight against the world for me.

She’ll throw away her status, her honor—everything. She’ll fight for me… and in the end, she’ll die.

A miserable, terrible death.

That’s how it will end.

Of course, maybe she won’t die.

She is an incredibly powerful witch, after all.

But then, the world will perish instead.

The details may be different, but the outcome will be the same as the prophecy of destruction I once saw—Erfa will become the very force that brings ruin.

A world engulfed in flames.

Just the two of us, left alone.

…Would that really be a happy ending?

I clenched my fists tightly.

I have to reject her.

Not for my sake, but for hers.

I need to hurt her feelings.

It’s like those emperors who had to abuse their own daughter to save her life.

The moment that thought crossed my mind…

I realized I had to stop pushing her away.

I saw firsthand how wretched Iomene, the princess, had become.

Even if the ultimate goal was to save the child—if the process was unbearably cruel…

Did the end really justify the means?

I didn’t want to make that kind of choice.

I stepped closer to Erfa.

I wrapped my arms around her waist… and kissed her.

I could hear the pounding of Erfa’s heart.

I pulled away.

She was smiling like she was melting, and I reached out to stroke her hair.

“Can you promise me just one thing?”

“Yes… Yes! Saint, anything…!”

Her voice was light, like she was floating in a dream.

I smiled at her and said—

“Love yourself more than you love me.”

“…What?”

“I want you to live a long, beautiful, and healthy life. I should never come before you in your own priorities. Do you understand? No matter what happens to me, you have to keep living your life.”

This was the best I could do.

Erfa looked at me, confused.

I smiled at her.

One day, she’ll understand.

“…Alright. If it’s the saint’s wish… I’ll do it.”

She spoke hesitantly.

“It’s late. Go home safely.”

As I said that, Erfa flashed a dazzling smile—then suddenly lunged at me again, showering me with kisses.

Her lips carried a playful yet desperate affection, and for some reason… that made me feel a little sad.

Damn it.

Once I’m back in Korea, I’ll never experience something like this again.

There’s a woman who loves me this much, and yet I have to leave.

Damn goddess.

It’s not like I asked to be some fake saint!

I made the Lilia Order filthy rich!

I healed the sick for free, improved housing conditions, created jobs—I did everything!

So why the hell am I being sent to damnation?!

I just wanted to live my best isekai harem life!

Even my skills are perfectly suited for a harem protagonist, damn it.

Why…

…Forget it.

I should just focus on avoiding eternal damnation first.

“I’ll visit again when I have time! Next time, let’s go on a date, Saint!”

Her voice was full of excitement, and I gave her a nod.

Love yourself more than you love me.

I truly meant that.

Because if she does… she’ll be able to endure even after I’m gone.

Erfa left the room.

In the now-empty space…

I let out a deep sigh.

I’d be returning to Korea soon, but somehow… I couldn’t feel entirely happy about it.

Returning to her lab, Erfa covered her flushed face with all four hands and slowly collapsed to the floor as if melting into it.

She kissed him.

And not just any kiss—she had kissed him actively, with her own will, with all her passion.

It was the first time in her life.

She never imagined she could fall for a man this deeply.

Not even in her wildest dreams.

But right now, she was overwhelmingly happy.

She never knew loving someone could feel this joyful.

The thought that the saint had accepted her love filled her with pure bliss.

With no one to share her feelings with, she sat on the floor, flailing in excitement for a long time before finally composing herself.

Carefully, she reached into her robes and pulled out a scroll.

It was a contraception spell scroll.

Her heart pounded as she stared down at it.

“You’re crazy, Erfa. Absolutely crazy!”

Of course, she had no experience with men.

No, that’s an understatement.

Because of the hideous scars on the left side of her face, she had never even held hands with anyone.

So, she couldn’t possibly summon the confidence to boldly suggest sex like an experienced woman.

Her courage had already been completely drained with the passionate kiss she gave today.

But still…

‘Someday. Sooner or later. Definitely.’

She carefully folded the contraception scroll and tucked it back into her robes.

In one corner of her lab stood a small silver statue of the Goddess of Grace, alongside a holy scripture.

She approached it, placed a hand on the scripture, and offered a cautious prayer.

“Goddess, it’s me again. I’m praying once more today. Thank you for sending me the saint.

Thank you for letting me be this happy every single day. Your grace makes every moment feel like a miracle.”

She had already received so much.

Her life had turned around, her career had flourished, and every wish she had ever made had come true.

But humans are creatures of endless desire.

And so, she intended to ask for one more thing.

“Just one more request. Please. You must grant it.”

She pressed her four hands together and prayed with all her heart.

“Let the saint love me as much as I love him. Let him see me as a woman, hold me in his arms one day, and love me for the rest of his life. And most importantly…”

A sly smile crept onto Erfa’s lips.

“…don’t let him leave my side. Let him stay with me, for a very, very long time. Please, Goddess. Hear my prayer.”

After finishing her prayer and making the sign of the cross, Erfa stood up.

For some reason, the Goddess of Grace’s statue seemed to be smiling down at her more warmly than usual.

Erfa smiled back.

She didn’t know why…

But somehow, she felt certain—

The goddess was going to grant her wish.