This Wasn’t an Erotic Game?

Chapter 22
I’m Not a Saint!
『 Translator – Divinity 』

A worn and shabby tent erected in front of the abandoned factory in the slums.

Inside, the first board meeting of Karma Company, a mere three hours old and freshly registered as a legal entity, was in full swing.

The expressions of those within the tent were filled with determination.

Oliveria, Jonathan Karma’s wife, was appointed as the Chief Financial Officer.

Cecilia, Jonathan Karma’s daughter, was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer.

Jonathan Karma himself decided to take on the role of Chief Executive Officer.

And in addition to those, various other positions were swiftly assigned to each person based on Jonathan Karma’s judgment.

In any organization, deciding who to assign what role to is one of the most challenging tasks, but Jonathan Karma’s personnel decisions were swift and decisive.

Everyone present was a seasoned veteran in the industry, having worked under Jonathan Karma when he ran his distribution company.

“I declare here and now,”

Jonathan Karma’s hand struck the old table set up inside the shabby tent.

“We have received 50,000 Saleds in startup funds from the Lilia Church. They are still actively raising funds, so we can receive more if needed. Outside, there are plenty of workers eager to work, and we have an elixir spring in our hands, a business item that cannot fail!! It would be absurd to fail with these conditions.”

Jonathan’s face no longer held the appearance of an old, sick, and hardened middle-aged man.

The aura of a cunning and experienced veteran in the industry emanated from him.

“I swore to the Healing Saint, who saved my daughter and family and gave us this tremendous opportunity, that I would make the Lilia Church the richest church in the Empire!! So let’s do what we do best! Let’s sell that blue gold and pile up mountains of money!! So that the Healing Saint will never face financial difficulties!! So that I can contribute even a little to spreading Grace! That’s what we will do!!”

Not only Jonathan Karma’s family but also his former colleagues, gathered here at his request, looked at him with awe.

They, more than anyone else, had witnessed how Cecilia’s Rotting Plague had burdened and crushed Jonathan’s family.

To think that Cecilia, who couldn’t be cured even after Jonathan poured all his considerable wealth into her treatment, had become so beautiful and was now confidently working as one of the company executives…

And Jonathan Karma’s actions and words, as if he had become a completely different person…

If this wasn’t a miracle, then what was it?

“Now! Let’s move! Let’s earn money, and earn more, and more! All we have to do is what we do best! Mirda! Go and get us deals! Toby! Secure the rights to use large transport trucks and trains to transport the elixir! Cecilia! Go to the Magic Tower and acquire the technology! You must bring back a mage with elixir processing skills! At the very least, secure a technology partnership!!”

“Understood!!”

Everyone dispersed from the tent.

And they rushed off to do their respective tasks.

Their faces were bright.

After all, they had an infallible business item in the hands of a seasoned businessman.

But Jonathan Karma was looking at something even bigger.

Elixir was just the beginning.

To make the Lilia Church the richest church in the Empire, he needed bigger projects.

Establish the elixir business as the core, and based on that, expand into various other businesses like an octopus, repeatedly expanding to build a massive corporate empire.

And to hand over that corporate empire to the Saint.

That was Jonathan Karma’s grand ambition.

***

Two months passed by quickly.

To be honest, it was really comfortable and nice.

The solitary cell was cramped, but I was incredibly happy to have time to read books, enjoy meals, sleep, and do light exercises without worrying about divine punishment or being burned at the stake.

This is a peaceful life.

Suddenly becoming a saint or whatever, does that even make sense?

Does it make sense for me to be a saint?

A coward and a selfish person like me?

I hope I can finish my one year here and leave soon.

“Today’s the day, Mr. Jericho Amael.”

The guard came to get me while I was exercising after eating a simple but delicious breakfast delivered early in the morning.

Today’s the day!!

Today, I’m going to reveal everything.

I’m not a saint, I’m just the good-for-nothing youngest child of a prophet family, and I’m a loser with no divine power or anything.

But I did save a lot of people, so please, just give me a year in the dungeon and let’s be done with it.

That’s what I’m going to say.

Handcuffs were placed on my wrists, and I followed the Silent Church inquisitors with a happy smile.

After walking and walking for a while…

Inside a massive circular dome…

There were an incredible number of people, at least a hundred, surrounding me, and in the center…

I saw the defendant’s seat where I would be standing.

Hmm…

How should I describe this?

It’s similar to the British Parliament that I often saw on the news.
“Saint!! Saint!!”

“Healing Saint! We are here!!”

As I stepped onto the defendant’s stand, I saw a group of people shouting.

I could see the priests of the Lilia Church and the people from the slums.

I smiled at them.

Yes.

This is the end.

I’m not going to be a saint anymore, starting today.

So I can smile.

I’m sorry for letting you misunderstand and mistake me for a saint all this time.

You might be disappointed when you learn my true identity after today.

But what can I do?

I don’t want to be punished by the Goddess for impersonating her saint.

So even though I’ve deceived you all this time, please understand.

I’ve healed many of you.

Even if it’s revealed that I’m not a saint, you won’t try to kill me or burn me at the stake, right?

The Goddess will also see the good deeds I’ve accumulated, so if I stop being a saint in this state, it won’t be impersonation anymore. She’ll probably let it slide, right? That’s what I think.

This is why people should always do good deeds!

This is exactly what I wanted!

An ideal environment where I can cleanly say goodbye to being a saint without facing execution or divine punishment!

I must be found guilty of impersonating a saint!

“Are the representatives of the 24 churches of the Pantheon present!!”

A priest in black robes, sitting at the judge’s bench right in front of me, shouted in a loud voice as I entered the defendant’s stand.

At his words, some of the people sitting in the audience stands surrounding me stood up.

“The apostles of the gods of the Pantheon are all gathered!!”

“Are the nobles of the Senate present!!”

At those words, another group of people stood up.

“Those who represent the glory of humanity are all gathered!!”

“Are the judges of the Supreme Court present!!”

Another group stood up.

“Those who judge humanity are all gathered!!”

“Are those who walk the path of magic present!!”

This time, the mages and witches rose from their seats.

“Those who walk the path of magic are gathered here!!”

Among the many mages and witches, I spotted the grateful witch Thüdel who had reported me, and Erpa, the four-armed witch.

Erpa and Thüdel’s eyes were fixed on me.

“Then let us begin! Today, we will judge one thing! Whether the man before us is truly the Saint sent by the Goddess of Grace, Lilia! Or is he a heretic who impersonated a saint! Everyone, be seated!!”

The people who had stood up all sat down at once.

A chilling silence filled the courtroom.

The judge at the bench looked down at me with an impassive expression.

I swallowed hard and faced him.

“Jericho Amael.”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“First, I will ask you. Are you truly an apostle of the Goddess of Grace?”

Finally!!

It’s finally here!!

I closed my eyes and smiled.

Goodbye at last.

Goodbye to the role of a saint, which never suited me.

“I am not an apostle sent by the Goddess of Grace. Your Honor, I am not a saint.”

At those words, murmurs rippled through the courtroom.

But what did it matter?

I was going to reveal everything today.

“Does that mean you admit to impersonating the Saint of Grace?”

“I have never once claimed to be an apostle of Grace. I simply healed people. At some point, the people around me started calling me a saint. I did not intentionally impersonate a saint, but… yes, if this is considered impersonation, then I suppose it is.”

I nodded obediently.

The murmurs grew louder.

But I had nothing to hide.

“I am too weak, insignificant, and foolish to be called a saint.”

Honestly, compared to the otherworld reincarnators I had seen in novels and anime, I was truly useless.

Was I good at fighting? No.

Were my reincarnation skills outstanding? No.

Was I incredibly intelligent? No.

I was just an ordinary human being.

“Why did you heal people despite not being a saint of God?”

At the judge’s question, I looked at the witches.

More precisely, I looked at the four-armed witch, Erpa.
Hmm.

To be honest, that bastard is pure evil!!

She tried to burn down the Empire!!

I saw it with my own two eyes in a dream!

If I said that, wouldn’t there be a chance that the nuclear bomb witch would become emotionally agitated and explode again?

Of course, she seems much more stable now, but there’s no need to take the risk.

So let’s just gloss over it.

With a vague answer that’s not a lie, but not entirely the truth either.

“Because they were pitiful.”

“Pitiful?”

“I saw young children who couldn’t receive proper treatment abandoned on the streets. I saw the poor waiting to die day by day without any hope. I saw a family crumbling because of their daughter’s incurable disease. I pitied them. So I healed them.”

It was all true.

I did it to save myself by healing the nuclear bomb witch, but it was also true that I wanted to heal the countless pitiful people.

Because they were truly unfortunate people, their suffering unbearable to witness.

Of course, that didn’t mean I wanted to be punished by heaven and become a roasted pig.

So my act as a saint ends today.

“Is that the only reason?”

“Yes. I still don’t know why I was called the Saint of the Goddess of Grace. I simply acted on instinct. I am not a saint. I am just an insignificant and foolish person who happened to gain the ability to heal people.”

Finally, I looked at the people from the Lilia Church.

They seemed to be in shock, and some priests were even kneeling, staring at me blankly.

High Priest Yodel, in particular, had tears welling up in his eyes.

Yes.

I understand.

You must be shocked.

But what can you do?

This is the truth.

“I don’t have any stigmata on my body. I have never heard the voice of the Goddess Lilia. I am just an ordinary human who has never read a single line of the Scripture of Grace, who has nothing to do with the Goddess.”

Finally, I took a deep breath and exhaled.

“Once again, I want to make it clear. I am not a saint. I am just someone who healed the sick and the weak. So, Your Honor, please make a wise judgment.”

My words were finished.

The judge at the bench called over a few Silent Church inquisitors and spoke to them in hushed tones, while the people continued to murmur, looking at me.

Everyone from the Lilia Church was in tears.

A bittersweet, yet relieved smile formed on my lips.

Yes.

This is right.

This is the truth.

It might be shocking, but it will all be forgotten in time.

I’m sorry for deceiving you all this time, even though it wasn’t intentional.

With this, it’s finally over forever…

“Jericho Amael.”

The judge at the bench looked at me and smiled faintly.

“Congratulations on passing the first trial.”

As soon as the judge finished speaking, the priests of the Lilia Church shouted in unison.

“He shall deny his divinity!! Ah, Saint!!”

“He shall come in the purest form!! Just as the Scripture says!!”

“Ignorant and glorious he shall be!! Saint!! Saint!!”

They were shouting at me with even more fervor than before.

The epitome of fanatics.

Wait a minute, what is this?

What’s going on?

I’m not a saint.

I clearly said that just now!!

Why are you calling me a saint!!