Wasn’t This a Night Game

Tears of… Joy?

Alright. Let’s sort out my situation a little.

I need to quit playing Saint, the sooner the better.

But this part’s real delicate.

If I go and do some straight-up fucked-up shit, like rape, murder, arson?

They’d leave me, sure.

But I’d probably get burned at the stake by the masses who felt betrayed, or maybe receive some divine punishment from the Goddess who’s pissed about me tarnishing the Order’s name.

So, ideally,

Without provoking the Goddess’s rage any further.

And making the masses think, that b*stard was nice enough, sure, but he’s a real damn idiot, utterly incompetent.

It’s a situation where I have to naturally create distance, saying things like:

“Pay the mages of the Magic Tower their wages. And all the costs of moving their laboratories! Every single salred! The Lilia Order will bear the burden!”

So today, too, I was rampaging to bankrupt the Order.

Elixirs are gushing out like nobody’s business, but it’s still early days.

If there’s a chance of bankruptcy, it’s now.

I have to somehow increase expenditure and dry up the funds in the initial stages.

Either way, High Priest Yodel is an OK man.

If I told him to eat shit, he’d smile and eat shit.

“Of course! As you wish! Saint!”

But it turned out the wizards and witches wouldn’t accept the money, even though I was giving it.

“Didn’t we say we were doing this to repay our debt to Erpha-nim? We cannot accept such money.”

“Furthermore, it’s a simple matter of teleporting the entire laboratory with space magic, so it doesn’t cost that much. Just keep it.”

“Instead, the more research funds you give us, the better.”

So I tried to give them as much research funding as possible.

Because I have to bankrupt them!!

“How much do you need for research funds? How much would be good?”

“Hmm… Well, my research funds were around 7000 salred per year…”

“30,000 salred. Pay 30,000 salred per person.”

At those words, the researchers are astonished.

“Do you really have the means to give us that much money?”

“Dunno!!”

Sounds like they’re trying to dry up the funds by spending as much money as possible!!

“Quite possible, Saint. We’ve already secured many clients during your two months in prison. Paying 30,000 Saleds per person is more than achievable.”

Jonathan Karma!!

That needlessly competent b*stard!

What kinda trolling is this!

Jonathan smiles, then holds out a hand towards the researchers.

“Of course, if Karma Company secures its own elixir refining technology, profits will skyrocket even further. Research funding will naturally explode as well. Whether you receive more funding or not depends entirely on how outstanding your research is.”

“The Mars Magic Tower is considered one of the most exceptional magic towers on the entire continent. We won’t disappoint you. Elixir research is what we live and breathe.”

And so, under the condition of paying the researchers 30,000 Saleds a year each, they came to reside and conduct research within our temple.

But I’m still restless.

I’m still hungry!!

Elixir.

Not anything else, but elixir! Elixir!!

The thing they call Blue Gold is now gushing forth beneath the temple, dammit!!

No.

I need to make them spend even more money!!

I called for Jonathan Karma’s daughter, Cecilia.

I figured, wouldn’t Cecilia, inexperienced and young, be more likely to screw things up faster than her experienced father, Jonathan?

“Demolish the shacks in the slums and build a large-scale housing complex. We’ll house the people from the slums there. I can’t just let them sleep on the streets forever, can I?”

“Ah! Truly, these are righteous words! I was already giving it thought.”

“They will be greatly distressed at the razing of their homes, no doubt. Grant them generous compensation. Ten Salads each. Pay ten Salads per person. And when rebuilding the homes, employ the very folk from that slum! A wage of one Salad per day. And once the homes are complete, the cost to dwell there must be meager. Charge no more than one Salad a month for rent.”

“It shall be done, Saint!”

“And. The roads in the slum are utterly filthy. Tear them all up and lay proper roads anew. They should be crafted like the roads before the Imperial Palace!”

“It shall be done! Saint!!”

“And. More eateries and bathhouses are needed. To eat well and rest properly, that is true grace. Expand the bathhouses. Plan a grand food street and erect many restaurants! Of course, the cost of erecting these restaurants, all of it! That Karma Company will shoulder. And to those who do business in the restaurants, the rent, keep it minimal. The least you can possibly receive!”

“Just one Salad a month! The same as with the others!”

And…

And what else is there?

Ah. Yes.

That’s right.

“Establish a school. The children must study. While razing the slum on such a grand scale, build a school, hire teachers there, and let them instruct the children. Children must receive education, not labor. Of course! All education costs, free of charge! The entire sum, Karma Company will bear it!”

“That too, shall be executed! Saint!!”

Yes!

A fine idea has struck me!!

Nothing bleeds money like the arts!!

And nothing is quite so wasteful as art!!

“Furthermore, hire painters en masse to paint murals on the newly constructed streets. If beautiful, sacred images are painted, the hearts of the people will find solace. Spare no expense, employ only the finest artists to paint them!!”

“That too, shall be so!”

“Increase the scale of the free food distribution centers! And ensure that at least one meal a day includes meat! Partner with the finest butchers and provide the highest quality meat without reservation! To eat well, that is how grace settles upon the body!”

“Of course! I shall do so!”

“I will be watching. You must accomplish everything. Not one thing I instructed can be omitted. Understand?”

“Yes! Holy One!”

Good.

At this rate, even Karma Company would go bankrupt.

As I breathed a long sigh of relief,

Cecilia vanished into the Magic Tower, her face ablaze with fervor.

Even giving her the benefit of the doubt, she’s just a miss in her late twenties.

Not Jonathan Karma himself.

What could that child possibly do well, managing affairs?

Please. I beg of you, please screw it up magnificently!!

*

Cecilia felt her heart pound.

She was a woman who found joy in business.

And yet, the Holy One, how did he know? He entrusted her with the very work that would make her shine.

Her mind, equipped with a genius business sense, began to spin at a terrifying pace.

She went to see her mother and father and told them of the task the Holy One had given her.

And immediately,

a budget was allocated.

“We’ve already secured contracts to buy and sell elixirs with the large factories on the city outskirts. Signed a month ago, and today… the payments arrived. How could the Holy One know and task you so perfectly? Grace truly watches over him!”

“It is the Saint who commanded this. Failure is not an option. Cecilia.”

“Of course!”

100,000 Saleds. That was the sum allocated to Cecilia.

But she was confident.

Confident that she could accomplish everything the Saint instructed her to do with just this amount.

First, she went to the district office in charge of Zones 50, 51, and 52, where the slums were located.

“Paving new roads… installing magic lamps… demolishing the shacks of the slums and building new houses, schools, bathhouses, and restaurant districts?”

“Yes. His Imperial Majesty clearly declared earlier this year that he would create a nation where the people could smile. Shouldn’t you civil servants follow that directive? What is the budget allocated to the district office? I want to reorganize the three slum zones in conjunction with that budget.”

“…The country gave up on it a long time ago, miss. There’s practically no budget allocated to the three slum zones. Aside from our civil servants’ salaries, there’s no money coming in.”

“That’s absurd! I cannot overlook this! Who is the highest-ranking official in charge of the capital’s city planning!”

“…Lord Rumpelt.”

Cecilia immediately left the slums that day.

Entering Zone 10, where the capital’s nobles and upper classes resided, she immediately spent a portion of the 100,000 Saled budget she received from her mother to buy a luxurious dress and carriage.

Jonathan Karma had been a very wealthy man until misfortune piled upon misfortune and ruined him. Naturally, Cecilia also had many acquaintances in Zone 10 and high society. One of them was Countess Drong. She immediately dressed up, took the carriage, and went to visit Countess Drong.

“Oh my!! You need to meet Lord Rumpelt to carry out the Saint’s great work? What an absolutely marvelous coincidence! He’s already scheduled to attend a poetry recitation this afternoon!”

The sensitive Countess Drong, deeply moved by Cecilia’s circumstances, eagerly agreed to help with her plan.

Eventually, Cecilia was able to attend the poetry recitation that afternoon and meet Lord Rumpelt.

After beautiful and exquisite poems richly stimulated their sensitivities, and when all the nobles gathered were full of emotion…

“May I have your attention for a moment?”

Countess Drong clapped her hands, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Today, we have a very special guest gracing us. Need I say more? The Saint of Healing, witnessed by members of the Senate and the Supreme Court both. The esteemed Cecilia, working under the aegis of Lord Amael himself, affiliated with the Karma Company. She is here today, she tells us, to further the Saint’s grand work. Let us greet her with applause.”

Amidst the applause, Cecilia rose from her seat, offering a bow of perfect, practiced grace.

Bred on silver spoons and the finest education since girlhood, her etiquette was impeccable.

“I offer my thanks to Madame Drong for arranging this gathering. Your beautiful poetry has truly enriched the heart. Yet, there is a path to enrich the heart even further than verse. And it is that path I wish to share with you all today.”

Cecilia spoke with a measured, refined tone, knowing precisely what would appeal to the upper crust.

And it was precisely in that tone, in that manner, that she continued.

“There are children starving, unable to even move. Children with toes fallen off for want of shoes. The hopeless, wandering the streets, lost. Mothers offering barren breasts, their infants dying of hunger in their arms. Lives lived like refuse. Like filth and dregs. And there is one who pities these souls, who loves them, who dedicates their very existence to them.”

Cecilia raised her arm, displaying it to all.

“Some may know, I was once one of those filthy, wretched things. Afflicted with the rot-sickness. Dying in agony. And He, in His miracle, saved me. And so He treats all others. You can contribute to this great purpose, to the Saint’s grand design.”

Cecilia turned her gaze towards Marquis Rumphelt.

“His Imperial Majesty declared at the beginning of this year that the goal for this new cycle is to create a nation where all of the Empire can smile. Allocate funds for the cleansing of Slum District Three. This is not only adherence to the august decree, but also a chance to achieve a splendid accomplishment, a cleansing of Slum District Three that no civil servant has ever been able to accomplish. And moreover…”

Her gaze swept over the assembled ladies and gentlemen of noble houses.

“When you and your families are afflicted, when you suffer from an ailment, a curse, that no amount of coin or effort can cure, the Saint will remember your contribution and bestow upon you, without discrimination, the miracle of healing. The Karma Company has provided a sum of one hundred thousand saleds. But this alone is not enough to complete the task the Saint has commanded.”

Cecilia offered a deep, respectful bow.

“For the sake of your pride as human beings. In adherence to His Majesty’s decree. For the sake of your accomplishments as public servants. Or, perhaps, simply out of compassion, or to experience the miracle of the Healing Saint. Slum District Three needs your aid. Remember the words of the ancient sage: Bestow when you are able to bestow.”

Cecilia’s speech ended.

And the moment the words left her lips, Madame Drong, eyes glistening with tears, began to applaud.

And with her, the other nobles joined in, clapping.

“My son… has been unwell since birth. I never believed before, but with the Saint endorsed by the Pantheon, I can believe now. Perhaps, could you speak to the Healing Saint on his behalf? Of course, I will repay the grace with an offering.”

“I have some surplus funds. I wish to donate them. Miss Cecilia.”

“Our Saint, reborn after three hundred years. I wish to meet her. I’ll offer a portion of the funds I manage as a donation. You are truly noble.”

A procession of endless gifts and offerings followed.

And then, the most important person.

Marquis Rumpelt, his face etched with emotion, rose from his seat.

“I will personally speak to His Imperial Majesty. Lady Cecilia. The purification of District 3 has long been one of His Majesty’s most cherished ambitions. But no matter how much money was thrown at it, nothing ever changed, so he abandoned the effort… We cannot miss an opportunity such as this. I will ensure a substantial budget is allocated to assist Karma Company.”

A smile bloomed on Cecilia’s lips.

“Thank you, Marquis Rumpelt.”

“This is the least I can do for a Saint who has emerged anew after three hundred years. I am rather grateful. To achieve such a feat in my twilight years. I cannot conceal my contented smile.”

Everyone laughed.

And Marquis Rumpelt kept his promise.

Three days later.

By order of the Emperor, a budget of 4.2 million Salreds for the purification of District 3, along with a substantial donation of 300,000 Salreds collected from each noble house, was generously bestowed.

Cecilia, overjoyed, relayed this news to the Saint.

“Truly… Truly joyous news, Lady Cecilia.”

Upon hearing the news, the Saint wept.

Wept so hard her body trembled.

Surely those were tears of pure joy.

Cecilia embraced the Saint tightly.

“I will transform District 3, beyond even your visions. Rejoice! Saint!”