This Wasn’t an Erotic Game?

Chapter 28
Be Honest, Now!
『 Translator – Divinity 』

{Doubters gathered around the prophet and asked,

Why are the rich and the poor divided? Is it because of a curse, or is it the will of the Goddess?

The prophet answered them, saying,

The wealthy are blessed, but it is to care for the poor.

The doubters scoffed at these words and replied, Then why do the rich torment the poor? Is this also the will of the Goddess?

The prophet answered, saying,

In the absence of the Saint, they use their blessings for themselves, but when the Saint comes, their blessings will truly be used for the poor.

The Saint moves hearts, and you shall know this truly by his words and deeds.}

– Scripture of Grace, Chapter 13, Verse 9 –

***

I was diligently healing people again today.

At this point, I had fallen into despair.

It felt like lightning would strike me down from the heavens at any moment.

But there was nothing I could do.

Run away?

They’ll chase after me. Because of that ridiculously annoying miracle, the Miracle of Tracking.

I recently asked High Priest Yodel about it, and this miracle…

It tracks the soul, so even if I change my face, they can still track me.

Fuck!

Trying to bankrupt them doesn’t work either.

Every time I try to bankrupt them, the business somehow gets even better.

I thought about deliberately beating people up to drive them away, but then I thought, wouldn’t there be a chance that all the people I beat up would turn out to be evil god worshippers or criminals?

It might sound crazy, but considering the absurd misfortunes I’ve faced, it’s not entirely impossible.

Should I try something insane?

Would people leave me then?

If I strip naked and dance around, harass women, and stuff like that…

The Goddess, who’s probably already preparing to strike me down with lightning, might just decide to directly smite me for tarnishing her name. It’s terrifying.

Fuck!!

A way to naturally…

Without being burned at the stake…

And without further angering the Goddess…

To smoothly and gently make people dislike me and disappear…

Isn’t there anything?

“Saint, I have a favor to ask. Would you grant it?”

As I was diligently healing the poor today, Cecilia quietly approached me and spoke.

Cecilia.

You betrayed me.

Isn’t it normal for a young, rich lady in her twenties to be incompetent?

I spent 100 Saleds today on an extravagant dress! Teehee!!

Isn’t that how it should be?

Ruin something!!

Why do you keep…

Alright.

I don’t even have the energy to be angry anymore.

“Speak.”

“To secure the budget needed to purify the three slum districts… I used your name, Saint. I said that you would also care for the sick in noble families. And so, some noble families expressed their desire to meet you.”

“Is that so?”

“They have children who have been sickly since birth, or they suffer from illnesses that cannot be cured even with miracles or divine magic. If it’s alright with you, could you bestow your grace upon them as well?”

Wait a minute.

As I listened to her, an idea suddenly struck me.

A corrupt saint!!

Yes!!

If I’m a corrupt saint, wouldn’t it be typical for me to abandon the poor and go around meeting with noble families?!

If I stick to the noble families and only heal them, the poor will naturally think, “That bastard only heals those with money? That money-grubbing pig!” and leave me, right?

Good!! It’s a perfect plan!

Cecilia.

I apologize for calling you a traitor.

You’ve opened a path to survival for me!!

“I will go. Lead me to those who wish to be healed.”

Cecilia was overjoyed.

“Understood!!!”

Alright!!

If I’m going to cosplay as a corrupt saint, it’s only natural to stick to rich families and live in luxury!

Now I can finally escape the divine punishment ending!!

***

“Welcome, Healing Saint.”

Count Lebarton was a man with a face that epitomized a well-maintained, wealthy middle-aged man.

Beside him, a noblewoman, equally exuding elegance, was smiling at me.

“I am Jericho Amael. You can just call me Amael.”

“No, we couldn’t possibly be so disrespectful. We fear it would bring shame to the Grace Church.”

“Please, have a meal first.”

A pioneer of the automobile industry.

The owner of Lebarton Corporation.

The legendary figure who inherited the automobile industry started by the previous Count Lebarton and built it into the Empire’s leading car company was slicing meat in front of me.

I joined the couple for the meal they had meticulously prepared and asked them a question.

“Who is it that I’m supposed to heal?”

“My… son.”

“What ails him?”

The couple hesitated to answer.

“Let’s talk after the meal! It’s not proper to discuss business at the dinner table… Hoho!”

At Lady Lebarton’s words, I felt something was amiss.

Usually, if someone asked for a patient to be healed, wouldn’t they immediately take me to the patient and ask me to heal them as soon as I arrived?

Seeing them hesitate like this gave me a bad feeling.

I put down my fork and knife.

“Please show me the patient first.”

“Saint…”

“I want to see the patient first.”

At my words, Count and Countess Lebarton exchanged glances, then, realizing they couldn’t hide it any longer, bowed their heads and stood up.

“First… I want to make one thing clear. My son didn’t become like this because of an illness.”

“Then?”

The couple couldn’t continue.

Count and Countess Lebarton, their heads bowed with clenched fists, finally revealed the truth to me after a long silence.

“Three years ago, our son Henry hanged himself. A servant barely managed to find him and save him, but he has been in a coma ever since and hasn’t woken up.”

“We’ve tried everything. We called renowned priests and used all the best medicines. But there has been no improvement, Saint.”

“The priest from the Sun Church even said… that our son doesn’t want to get better, that’s why the miracles aren’t working. It’s so… so painful, Saint. Please, we beg you. Please heal our son.”

The heavy story made the few bites of meat I had just eaten feel like they were stuck in my throat.

Suicide?

Not just any illness, but suicide?

What in the world is going on?

I’ll heal him since they asked, but…

I don’t know.

I have to act like a corrupt saint who leeches off the rich, right?

Let’s just go for it.

I’ll heal him, gain a reputation among the nobles, and become their exclusive healer!

“Lead the way.”

“Thank you, Saint.”

I followed the couple to their son’s room.

***

Henry’s condition was terrible, having been immobile for three years.

He was like an emaciated mummy, barely clinging to life.

“Leave us.”

After sending the servants who were diligently turning him over to prevent bedsores out of the room, I placed my hand on Henry’s head.

Looking at Henry’s condition through the customization window, I saw that a part of his brain had turned completely black.

Well…

Is this difficult?

A real brain surgery would be incredibly challenging, but my skills come with tremendous assistance, allowing even a medical layman like me to use them.

[Do you want to restore it?]

It even helpfully provides the message for me.

If it weren’t for this assistance, how could I have been the Healing Saint until now?

It’s not difficult at all.

Now…

Shall we fix it?

[Restoring!]

The blackened, dead part of the brain was restored.

And while I was at it, I also modified Henry’s body.

I added muscle to his body, cleaned up his dry skin, and restored his hair and other parts to their original state.

And 30 seconds later…

[Brain restoration complete!]

Henry had completely returned to his original state.

As he slowly opened his eyes,

I stepped away from him.

“Ahhh!!! Ah! Lilia!!”

“Saint, thank you! Thank you!!!”

As Count and Countess Lebarton wept with unconcealed tears…

Before I could say anything, sharp words erupted from the recovered Henry.

“Why are you in my room!! Why!”

Henry’s harsh voice shattered the amicable atmosphere.

I looked at Henry, and he was crying.

Filled with hatred and resentment.

“Get out!! Get out of here!! I don’t even want to see you!! Get out!!”

At the sound of Henry shouting, Count Lebarton looked at his son with a gloomy expression.

“Henry, you’ve been bedridden for the past three years. You finally woke up thanks to the Healing Saint.”

“I don’t care!! Why did you save me!! Why!! I wanted to die!! I didn’t want to live with disgusting bastards like you!! Why did you save me! Why!!”

Uh…

What’s with this atmosphere?

The Countess began to shed tears of sorrow, not joy, and the Count was looking up at the ceiling, unsure of what to do.

“I hate you!! I hate you!!! Get out!! Get out!!!!”

Henry’s shouting voice was harsh and grating.

This is bad.

If I just say, “Your son is healed, so I’ll be going now,” the other nobles won’t call for me, right?

If I leave him like this, he might try to commit suicide again.

It seemed I had to provide after-sales service.

“Henry.”

“And who the hell are you!!!”

What rude language for a first meeting.

But what choice do I have but to endure it?

They are my clients.

“First, calm down.”

“Do you think I can calm down!!…”

[Using skill Absolute Hypnosis!]

“Calm down.”

At my words, Henry abruptly stopped talking.

I looked straight at Henry and gave him another command.

“Why are you insulting your parents who gave birth to you and saved your life? I want to know the reason.”

Henry looked down at himself with a puzzled expression.

He seemed confused and surprised, but the effect of Absolute Hypnosis was absolute.

“My father never once acknowledged me. I always wanted to pursue music. Only when I was making music did I feel alive. I diligently composed, wrote songs, and played them. But every time, my father scolded me. He told me to stop wasting my time on something that doesn’t make money and focus on inheriting the family’s car business.”

Tears started to stream down Henry’s face as he spoke.

Count Lebarton sighed in frustration, seemingly annoyed.

“One day, after a huge argument, I went out, drank, and came back home. He had burned all the instruments and the music I had composed in my room. And he yelled at me to come to my senses and prepare to inherit the family business. I couldn’t stand it anymore. So…”

“You pathetic child!! You incompetent and weakling!! How could you hang yourself!! Your mother hasn’t slept properly for a single day since then!! She even had to take medication!! This is all your fault!! This happened because of your weak and incompetent nature!!”

Henry’s voice rose at his father’s words.

“That’s why I wanted to die!! You’re a demon, father!! You never saw me as a human, not even for a day, only as a tool to inherit the family business!! I loathe you!! I regret being born as the son of a demon like you!!”

“You brat!!”

Count Lebarton raised his hand.

Shit.

This isn’t the scenario I had in mind.

There’s no choice.

Since I took on this job, I have to provide proper after-sales service.

[Using skill Absolute Hypnosis!]

I concentrated and hypnotized Count Lebarton.

And I did something very simple.

[Maximizing the honesty stat!!]

“You are the son I love most in the world!! I love you more than my own life!! Henry!! The three years you were gone were hell for me!!!”

The Count, who was about to slap his son, suddenly burst into tears and collapsed.

Henry too.

And the Countess as well.

Everyone stared at the Count in shock.