LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Tears of… Joy?
『 Translator – Divinity 』
Alright, let’s briefly summarize my situation.
I need to stop being a saint as soon as possible.
But this part is quite tricky.
If I commit obvious acts of evil like rape, murder, or arson?
They would definitely leave me.
But then I might be burned at the stake by the people who feel betrayed, or face some unknown divine punishment from the Goddess for tarnishing the name of the Church.
So, as much as possible…
Without provoking the Goddess’s wrath any further…
I need to make the public think, “He was a good guy, but he’s really stupid and incompetent,” and naturally distance themselves from me.
“Pay the Magic Tower researchers their wages. And cover all the costs of relocating their research labs!! Have the Lilia Church pay for everything!”
So, today as well, I was on a rampage to bankrupt the Church.
Elixir was gushing out, but it was still early stages.
If there was any chance of bankruptcy, it was now or never.
I had to increase their expenses somehow and cut off their funding early on.
High Priest Yodel was a yes-man anyway.
He would happily eat shit with a smile if I told him to.
“Of course! I will do so! Saint!!”
But the mages and witches refused to accept the money even when offered.
“Didn’t we say we are doing this to repay their debt to Lady Erpa? We cannot accept this money.”
“Besides, we can just move the entire research lab with teleportation, so it won’t cost that much. Please keep it.”
“Instead, the more research funding you give us, the better.”
So I tried to give them as much research funding as possible.
I had to bankrupt them!!
“How much do you need for research? How much would be ideal?”
“Well… my research expenses were about 7,000 Saleds per year, but…”
“30,000 Saleds. Pay 30,000 Saleds per person.”
The researchers were surprised at my words.
“Can you afford to pay that much?”
I don’t know!!
I’m just trying to drain your funds by spending as much money as possible!!
“It’s entirely possible, Saint. We have already secured many clients in the two months you were imprisoned. We can easily pay 30,000 Saleds per person.”
Jonathan Karma!!
You needlessly competent person!
What kind of trolling is this?!
Jonathan smiled and then extended his hand towards the researchers.
“Of course, if Karma Company secures its own elixir refining technology, our profits will increase even more. Naturally, research funding will also increase explosively. Whether you receive more research funding or not will depend on how outstanding your research is.”
“The Mars Magic Tower is considered one of the most outstanding Magic Towers in the entire continent. We won’t disappoint you. Elixir research is what we do.”
And so, on the condition that they would be paid 30,000 Saleds per year, the researchers were stationed at our temple to conduct research.
But I was still anxious.
I was still hungry!!
It’s elixir.
It’s not just anything, it’s elixir! Elixir!!
The thing they call “blue gold” is gushing out from under the temple right now!!
No.
I need to make them spend more money!!
I called for Cecilia, Jonathan Karma’s daughter.
Wouldn’t Cecilia, who was young and inexperienced, ruin things faster than her experienced father, Jonathan?
“Demolish the slums and build a large-scale housing complex. We will have the people of the slums live there. We can’t let them sleep on the streets forever, can we?”
“Ah! That is truly righteous! I was just thinking about that.”
“They must be heartbroken to have their homes demolished. Give them ample compensation. 10 Saleds each. Pay 10 Saleds per person. And use the people of the slums to rebuild the houses! Pay them 1 Saled per day! And once the houses are built, the cost of living there should be low. Charge only 1 Saled per month for rent!”
“As you command, Saint!”
“And the roads in the slums are filthy. Tear them all up and build proper roads. They should be like the roads in front of the Imperial Palace!”
“As you command, Saint!!”
“And we need more restaurants and bathhouses. True grace is being able to eat and rest properly. Expand the bathhouses. Plan a large-scale restaurant district and build restaurants! Of course, Karma Company will bear all the costs of building the restaurants. And charge the people running the restaurants minimal rent. The absolute minimum you can charge!”
“We will charge 1 Saled per month! The same as everyone else!”
And…
And what else?
Ah, right.
That’s it.
“Establish a school. Children need to study. While we’re at it with demolishing the slums, build a school, hire teachers, and have them teach the children. Children need education, not labor. Of course! All education expenses will be free! Karma Company will bear all the costs!”
“We will do that as well! Saint!!”
Yes!
That’s a good idea!!
A plan to waste money!!
Nothing is as costly as art!!
“Also, hire a large number of artists to paint murals on the newly built streets. Beautiful holy paintings will soothe people’s hearts. Spare no expense and hire only the best artists!!”
“We will do that as well!”
“Expand the soup kitchen! And make sure there’s a meat dish at least once a day! Partner with the best butcher shops and provide the highest quality meat generously! True grace resides in a well-fed body!”
“Of course! We will do that!”
“I will be watching. You must fulfill all of this. You cannot miss a single thing I have instructed. Do you understand?”
“Yes! Saint!”
Alright.
With this much, even Karma Company will go bankrupt.
As I let out a sigh of relief…
Cecilia disappeared towards the Magic Tower with a passionate expression.
She was a young lady in her mid-to-late twenties at best.
Not even Jonathan Karma.
What could a child like that do well in business?
Please, please, I beg you, ruin it spectacularly!!
***
Cecilia felt her heart race.
She was a woman who found joy in business.
And the Saint, somehow knowing that, entrusted her with a task where she could shine the brightest.
Her mind, equipped with her genius-level business sense, began to spin at a terrifying speed.
She found her mother and father and told them about the task the Saint had given her.
And immediately…
A budget was allocated.
“We have signed an elixir sales contract with the large factories on the outskirts of the capital. We signed it a month ago, and the payment was deposited today. How did the Saint know and give us this task?! Grace truly watches over him!”
“This is a task given by the Saint. We cannot fail, Cecilia.”
“Of course not!”
100,000 Saleds. That was the amount allocated to Cecilia.
But she was confident.
Confident that she could achieve everything the Saint had instructed her with this amount.
She first visited the district office in charge of areas 50, 51, and 52, where the slums were located.
“You’re saying you’re going to repave the roads, install magic lamps, demolish the slums and build new housing, build a school, and create a bathhouse and restaurant district?”
“Yes. His Majesty the Emperor declared at the beginning of this year that he would create a nation where the people can smile. Shouldn’t you, as public servants, follow that directive? What is the budget allocated to the district office? I want to redevelop the three slum districts in conjunction with that budget.”
“…The government has neglected those areas for a long time, miss. There’s practically no budget allocated to the three slum districts. We don’t have any incoming funds besides our salaries.”
“How is that possible!! I cannot overlook this matter! Who is the highest-ranking official in charge of urban planning for the capital?”
“…It’s Marquis Rumpelt.”
Cecilia immediately left the slums that day.
Entering District 10, where the nobles and upper class of the capital lived, she immediately spent part of the 100,000 Saled budget she received from her mother to buy a luxurious dress and a carriage.
Jonathan Karma was a very wealthy man before he was ruined by a series of misfortunes. Naturally, Cecilia also knew many people in District 10 and high society. One of them was Countess Delong. She immediately dressed up, got into the carriage, and went to visit Countess Delong.
“Oh my!! You need to meet Marquis Rumpelt to fulfill the Saint’s great work? What a coincidence! He’s supposed to be attending a poetry recital this afternoon!”
Countess Delong, a woman of refined sensibilities, was moved by Cecilia’s story and decided to actively support her plan.
That afternoon, Cecilia attended the poetry recital and met Marquis Rumpelt.
After the beautiful and elegant poems stimulated their emotions, and the gathered nobles were filled with sentiment…
“May I have your attention, please?”
Countess Delong clapped her hands to gather everyone’s attention.
“We have a special guest today. Do I need to say more? Lady Cecilia, who works for Karma Company under the Healing Saint, Amael, witnessed by all the members of the Senate and the Supreme Court. She is here today to contribute to the Saint’s great work. Please welcome her with applause.”
Amidst the applause, Cecilia stood up and bowed politely according to etiquette.
Having received an elite education from a young age, her etiquette was impeccable.
“I would like to express my gratitude to Lady Delong for arranging this gathering. The beautiful poems have truly enriched my heart. However, there is a way to enrich one’s heart even more. Today, I would like to share that method with you all.”
Cecilia knew exactly what kind of tone and demeanor the upper class favored; calm and polite.
She continued speaking in precisely that manner.
“There is a child who cannot move from hunger. There is a child whose toes have fallen off because they have no shoes. There are those who wander the streets, having lost hope. There is a mother with a baby latched to her breast, unable to produce milk, and the child in her arms starves to death. There are those who live a life of trash, filth, and grime. And there is someone who loves and pities those people, dedicating their life to them.”
Cecilia rolled up her sleeve for everyone to see.
“As some of you may know, I was also one of those filthy trash. I contracted the Rotting Plague. I was dying in agony when he saved me with a miracle. He treats everyone else the same way. You can all help fulfill the great will of this magnificent Saint.”
Cecilia looked at Marquis Rumpelt.
“His Majesty the Emperor declared at the beginning of this year that his goal for the new year is to create a nation where all citizens can smile. Please allocate a budget for the purification of the three slum districts. This is following the solemn imperial decree and an opportunity to leave a glorious legacy by contributing to the purification of the three slum districts, something no public official has ever achieved. And also,”
She looked at the many noble ladies and gentlemen around her.
“When you and your families are sick, when you are suffering from a curse-like illness that cannot be cured with money or effort, the Saint will remember your contributions and grant you the miracle of healing without discrimination. We have 100,000 Saleds in funds received from Karma Company. But this is not enough to achieve the great work commanded by the Saint.”
Cecilia bowed her head politely.
“For human dignity, to follow His Majesty’s decree, for the achievements of public officials, or even out of compassion or to experience the miracle of the Healing Saint, it doesn’t matter. The three slum districts need your help. Please remember the words of the ancient sage: ‘Give when you can.'”
Cecilia finished her speech.
And as soon as she finished, Countess Delong, with tears in her eyes, began to applaud.
The other nobles joined in the applause.
“My son… he has been sickly since birth. I couldn’t believe it until now, but since he is a saint recognized by the Pantheon, I think I can believe it now. Could you perhaps speak to the Healing Saint? Of course, I will repay the grace with a donation.”
“I have some spare funds. I would like to donate that money, Lady Cecilia.”
“He’s the first new Saint in 300 years. I would like to meet him. I will offer a portion of the funds I can manage as a donation. How noble.”
A procession of countless donations and offerings followed.
And most importantly…
Marquis Rumpelt also stood up with a touched expression.
“I will personally go and inform His Majesty the Emperor, Lady Cecilia. The purification of the three slum districts has been one of His Majesty’s long-held wishes. But he gave up because nothing changed no matter how much money was poured into it… We cannot miss this opportunity. We will allocate a large budget to support Karma Company.”
A smile appeared on Cecilia’s face.
“Thank you, Marquis Rumpelt.”
“This is only natural for the new Saint who has appeared after 300 years. I am rather grateful. To think I can achieve such a feat in my twilight years. I cannot hide my joyful smile.”
Everyone smiled.
And Marquis Rumpelt kept his promise.
Three days later…
By order of the Emperor, a budget of 4.2 million Saleds and a large donation of 300,000 Saleds collected from various noble families were generously provided for the purification of the three slum districts.
Cecilia joyfully informed the Saint of this.
“This is truly… truly wonderful, Lady Cecilia.”
The Saint shed tears upon hearing the news.
He even trembled as he wept.
Those must be tears of joy.
Cecilia embraced the Saint tightly.
“I will transform the three slum districts beyond what you have asked for. Rejoice! Saint!!”