Wasn’t This a Night Game

Elixir, Shit

The fundamental fuel needed to operate all sorts of artifacts and magic circles.

Also, a thing that, depending on how you synthesize it into objects, can create all sorts of useful magical substances.

The substance that moves all the trains, cars, trucks, ships, and airships of the Empire.

The source that illuminates the magic lamps lighting the Empire’s streets.

Basic necessities used for heating, cooling, cooking, and even heating bathwater for commoners.

And a substance that, even at this very moment, magicians are researching with blood, sweat, and tears, making it more and more useful in real-time.

That is Elixir.

I’m a novice when it comes to economics.

But even I know that Elixir is a hot item that makes a lot of money.

An absolute value itself that surpasses gold.

The reason why the currencies of the Arcal Empire and the desert kingdom of Tramata in the west are the only two recognized as key currencies on the entire continent is that only these two countries produce Elixir, and therefore Elixir could only be purchased with currencies valid in these two countries.

Anyway.

Filthily expensive and filthily useful.

I knew it was a substance that, if you just got your hands on it, becoming a tycoon was only a matter of time.

But why that!!

Why is it gushing out from the middle of an abandoned factory in the capital’s slums?! Why!”

“No, is this even possible?”

If there was an elixir spring right in the heart of the capital, there’s no way they wouldn’t have found it, right?

Elixir is worth so much damn money!

Everyone searches for the substance with eyes burning like torches!

That it was in the middle of the capital, and no one’s found it until now, does that even make sense?!

“Strange, Witch-nim. Why was this elixir spring never discovered until now?”

“The Mana-Sucking Stone is really… really enormous. It’s the first time I’ve seen a Mana-Sucking Stone of this size. Perhaps the Mana-Sucking Stone has been swallowing all the mana waves from the elixir, and that’s why no one’s been able to find the spring until now. I know that elixir spring exploration basically finds them by detecting the subtle mana waves rising from the ground.”

“Grace. Grace be upon us! Witch-nim, what is the amount of the spring?”

“I’ll need to do a more precise exploration to know for sure… but judging from the amount gushing out and the mana concentration contained within, there’s at least over 100 billion barrels. This is the bare minimum. It’s highly likely that there’s more. The greater the reserves of elixir, the higher the mana concentration and the easier it is to process. It had the highest mana concentration of any elixir I’ve seen.”

Everyone simultaneously stared at me.

Inside, I felt like I was dying.

But I couldn’t afford to look defeated, could I?

I smiled.

“It’s grace.”

“Ah, Saintess!! You knew all along!!”

“We were wondering why you were buying land that was absolutely useless!”

“You clearly saw the greatness beneath a place with nothing but trash, waste, and dilapidated factories! Saintess! Thank you!!”

Don’t talk to me.

It seems like this world wants to see a goddess’s divine punishment rain down on my head.

In an instant, I became a great Saintess who performed another miracle.

“No!!”

Why are sales doing so well!!

Curse me as trash, I beg you to just leave!

That way, I can disappear like a mouse, unnoticed, and avoid getting struck by lightning!!

“But how will we monetize the elixir that’s pouring out like this?”

“That’s right. No one here has the technology related to elixirs.”

“And no one has experience building and running a company either.”

As everyone struggled, my gaze was fixed, as if nailed, on one person.

That’s right!!

It wasn’t over yet!!

I had Jonathan Karma, the infamous, garbage entrepreneur who bankrupted a doll factory!!

If it’s you, you could ruin even an item like an elixir!! Yes, absolutely!!

“Isn’t there Mr. Jonathan Karma.”

At my words, everyone looked at Jonathan Karma.

Thanks to my body modification, his skin had become cleaner, but he was still wearing shabby clothes. No matter how you looked at him, it was difficult to see him as a successful entrepreneur.

Figures.

Seeing him in this state even at his age, he must clearly lack business sense.

And he even looks just like Scrooge, doesn’t he?

His face screams he could embezzle or breach trust like he breathes!!

Excellent!!

Betrayal! Embezzlement!! Incompetence!!

Just the kind of talent *I* need!!

“This, too, must be the Goddess’s guidance. Jonathan Karma, will you establish a company, process elixirs, and sell them? I am certain you can. I believe in you. I desire no one else but you. I believe *you* are the one chosen for this very moment.”

I spoke as clearly as possible, loud enough for all to hear.

That way, when this man ruins the company later, everyone will blame *me*!!

The moment it collapses, a useless, corrupt, piece-of-shit saint will be complete!

Everyone will curse and leave, and then I’ll be safe from the Goddess’s wrath!!

Jonathan Karma shudders, seemingly moved by my words.

“…Fate is indeed capricious. So much effort, so much struggle, and it pushes one to hell. Then, when all is abandoned, it grants an opportunity such as this. Perhaps this is what they mean when they say one must live, no matter how wretched or severe, to seize a chance.”

Jonathan Karma rises from his seat.

And bows to me with utmost respect.

“This is a new life you have given me. Saint. I will stake my life on ensuring its success. I will make you the wealthiest in the Empire.”

I gave a satisfied smile.

Perfect.

Just look at that boastful, grandiose demeanor.

It smells like he’s trying to put me at ease before royally screwing things up.

The wealthiest in the Empire?

A line scammers just love!

Flawless.

Mr. Scrooge.

“Hurry and go utterly screw it up for me.

Like you screwed up that doll factory, remember?

“You can fail. As many times as you fail, I’ll only ever use you. It’s a bond forged by the Goddess’s guidance, so it is.”

Even laying the groundwork that even if he screws it up, he’ll still use him.

Even if High Priest Yodel’s insides explode and he dies of frustration, he’ll keep using him.

I’ll make it so he can’t stand it unless he’s attached to me.

At my words, tears well up in Jonathan’s eyes.

“I will… I will succeed without fail. Saint. As you wish… without fail.”

Yes. Yes.

Go on and utterly screw it up, then.

I smile contentedly and approach Jonathan Karma, embracing him tightly.

Despite the constant sabotage, the possibility of surviving the Goddess’s wrath still remained, thankfully.

*

After their conversation, the Saint went back to healing the poor.

Without rest, the Saint was endlessly healing and healing people.

No sign of exhaustion, and always with a smile on his face.

Watching the Saint’s back as he quietly healed people, it felt like a halo was radiating from his head.

That’s a true Saint, that is.

Not just healing people’s bodies, but caressing their hearts and the souls within them.

Jonathan Karma stared at the Saint’s back with a reverent expression for a long time before finally starting to move.

“Witch-nim. Just a moment. Could we perhaps… talk?”

First and foremost.

Jonathan approached Erpa.

“I imagine you overheard the Saint’s words just now. Would you spare a moment? Come to my home.”

“Of course.”

Erpa readily followed Jonathan to his abode.

It was a humble dwelling, but Jonathan showed no trace of shame.

He knew he could escape this sort of house any time now, you see.

“This is my wife, Olivera, and my daughter, Cecilia.”

“A pleasure to meet you. I am Erpa, a witch from the Magic Tower.”

The four exchanged polite greetings, then settled around the living room.

Jonathan explained the Saint’s command to him, and at those words, Olivera and Cecilia nodded with fervor.

“Of course!! We absolutely must! Absolutely!!”

“Let me help Papa. I’ll help too. We have to succeed for the Saint’s sake!”

Seeing the two women shout so passionately, Jonathan nodded.

“I knew you’d say so. The Saint of Healing healed us all. Not merely our bodies, but our very souls. We have a duty to repay that kindness. Let us all be thankful this chance has come again.”

Erpa was intrigued by Jonathan’s words.

“The Saint of Healing… he healed even your illness, Jonathan-ssi?”

“He healed my daughter’s illness.”

Jonathan said this, and calmly explained the events that had transpired to Erpa. Erpa couldn’t hide her astonishment upon hearing his words.

“The Rot was famed as an incurable disease, so to cure such a thing…”

“My wife and I poured every single coin we owned, tried every medicine and cure, but all we could manage was to halt the Rot’s spread and lessen its infectiousness. But the Saint, with a mere gesture, banished it all. I must repay the blessing I received.”

Jonathan said this, then looked at Erpha.

“We need many skills for Elixir crafting. The best would be to recruit talent from the Magic Tower, those who’ve researched Elixirs deeply. I believe you, Erpha-nim, have the power to recommend them.”

“Of course. The Mars Magic Tower branch has many people skilled in Elixirs. Even Tower Lord Jurgen is among the top three experts in precise Elixir refinement on the entire continent.”

“Perfect! Arrange a meeting with them. I’d like to pluck them from the Tower and scout them as researchers for our company, but if that’s impossible, I’d at least like to form a technical alliance. I trust you, Erpha-nim, will persuade them well.”

“Leave it to me. I’ll help in whatever way I can.”

“Good. Just do that much. The rest is up to my wife, my daughter, and myself.”

“Handling Elixirs means handling a monstrous amount of coin. Are you sure you’re capable? Should I recommend some professional managers, people who’ve built their fortune in business?”

At Erpha’s words, Jonathan Karma smiled.

“Tower Lord Jurgen is someone I know. I met him often when I was younger. Return today and ask him about my name. He’ll explain what sort of people my family are.”

Erpha felt a spark of curiosity at those words.

After ending the meeting with the Jonathan family, she returned to the Magic Tower and went straight to the Tower Lord’s office.

And there, she spoke the name Jonathan Karma, asking who he was.

“Jonathan Karma, eh? Hahaha! It’s been too long! How do you know that name, Erpha?”

Erpha told the Tower Lord the story she’d heard from Jonathan, word for word.

At those words, the Tower Lord was even more surprised.

“His daughter had the Rot… Gods. To live a life so plagued by misfortune…”

“What sort of person is he?”

“If it weren’t for that terrible bad luck, he would have been the Empire’s richest man by now.”

“Yergen bursts into laughter.”

“From a street pauper with nothing to his name, he became a self-made legend who built one of the Empire’s top three largest distribution networks. Twenty years ago, anyone in business knew the name Jonathan Karma.”