Wasn’t This a Night Game

Not Gonna Mess Things Up, Right?

For days, I had to shuttle back and forth between the Pantheon and the Black Fortress, the imperial family’s intelligence agency, under the pretense of an investigation.

Truth be told, it was less an investigation and more a process of checking if I had any injuries, any wounds on my body.

And when, at last, I stepped out, a free man… well, the chaos, it was something else.

[BREAKING! Chosen of the Evil God Infiltrated Imperial Palace! Shocking!!]

[Saint of Healing, Amael! Saves the Empire!!]

[Saintess of Evil Eradication! Newly Born! High Priestess Miromel of the White Order. Swears Allegiance and Obedience to the New Saintess!!]

[Saintess of Evil Eradication AND Hidden Imperial Princess Iomene! Punishes the Chosen of the Evil God!!]

Every single newspaper in the Empire was splashed with the events that had transpired within the Imperial Palace.

On top of that, everyone in the capital had witnessed the radiant burst of light that had erupted as the fragment of the Evil God shattered, the light that healed the people.

Given all that, when the Imperial Family transparently revealed everything that had happened, the world’s reaction was, quite simply, explosive.

“Saint! aaah!!”

“Saint! Saint! Just one glance, please!!”

“He looked at me!! He looked at me!! The Saint looked me in the eye!!”

Just making eye contact with me on the street was enough to send people into fainting spells or fits of weeping, overcome with emotion.

And then, this extra side effect.

“Just one word, please!”

“Saint! Saint! Arcal Daily here! An interview. Do you have a moment?”

“How did you manage to capture the Chosen of the Evil God who infiltrated the Imperial Palace? He was shrouded in the Miracle of Concealment, a very powerful Miracle that even high-ranking priests found difficult to detect… No! They said it was practically impossible!!”

Reporters started swarming.

What I’d done in the Imperial Palace had clearly been shocking enough that reporters, scenting a scoop, were clinging to me like bees to honey.

People weeping.

People fainting.

“Just… please, just one touch of your hand, please.”

Reporters, pushing through those people, desperate to get an interview, peppering me with fervent questions.

Agh, goddamn it!!

Just leave me be!!

That short walk back from the Black Fortress to the Mage Tower Temple, the sheer number of people swarming just to see me… it felt like my soul was trying to escape my body.

“Yodel-nim. I just want to rest.”

“As you wish!!”

Back at the Mage Tower Temple, I told old man Yodel, under no circumstances was he to let anyone in unless it was absolutely necessary, then I collapsed onto my bed.

What do I do now?

The cheat code, flying back to Korea… that’s been thwarted.

So, that means falling back on the orthodox method, the “beg forgiveness from the Goddess” strategy…

Like I said, that method has a high probability of failure.

And on top of that, with this unwanted misunderstanding of me performing some grand miracle, if I just disappear, the number of people trying to find me is just going to explode.

What kind of bullshit is this!

I don’t want to go to hell!!

“Saint?”

I was slumped on the bed, pounding my pillow in frustration, when…

Old man Yodel, barely any time had passed since I entered my room, and already he’s knocking at the door.

“Forgive me, but Knights of the Guard have come seeking you.”

Ah.

It seemed His Imperial Majesty had sent them.

I sighed, and told them to enter.

Guards Knights, resplendent in their dazzling uniforms, longswords strapped to their waists, entered my room with practiced precision.

“Holy One. His Majesty requests your presence.”

Of course.

He would call.

I’d anticipated he’d summon me after the loose ends were tied up.

I rose to my feet.

For a proper, textbook-perfect escape, I needed three things.

1. A way to neutralize any methods used to find me – tracking miracles, whatever. I could ask the Order about that.

2. A way to strengthen my time-stopping ability, crucial for the escape. I’d have to consult the Magic Tower on this one.

3. Enough money to survive wherever I fled.

That.

This third one was the biggest problem.

The Grace Order was famously wealthy, and Karma Company raked in fortunes. Couldn’t I just embezzle some of that cash?

No.

Absolutely not.

The Goddess was already spitting mad enough to throw me straight into hell. Lay even a finger on the Order’s funds?

The Goddess would probably scream, ‘RESULTS! ONLY RESULTS REMAIN!! KING CRIMSON!!’ and delete the entire process, instantly turning me into a hellfire-roasted pig on a permanent, eternal spit.

So where could I get a decent sum, discreet and untraceable?

His Imperial Majesty.

“If it’s His Imperial Majesty, surely he’s got that kind of money to spare, right?”

No doubt he’s just going to ask what kind of reward I want.

I’m thinking I’ll ask for gold.

The untraceable kind.

It’s a fantasy world, isn’t it?

There’s gotta be something like a subspace pouch with a weight-reducing spell on it, right?

I’ll fill that thing with gold and then secretly bolt.

And go somewhere hard to find, and live quietly, like a dead mouse.

Praying that nobody, please, nobody finds me.

“Escort me.”

At my words, the royal guards lead me with grave politeness.

Their eyes, I doubt even seeing the Emperor himself would draw such profound respect.

It’s oppressive.

Giving a look like that to a b*stard only thinking about getting gold from the Emperor and legging it.

This is why people gotta live according to their station.

What am I, a saint?

It’s so damn oppressive, seriously.

Gotta run away fast.

And really quiet.

Live like a dead mouse until the end, that’s the plan.

Hopefully, with that, the Goddess will forgive me…

*

The lavish, sprawling reception room overflowed with things that, even with a rough estimate of their worth, seemed like three generations would have to break their backs earning to pay for.

“Your Majesty. We’ve brought him.”

“Well done. You may withdraw.”

The Imperial Knights saluted with crisp precision before retreating from the reception room.

The Emperor and Empress. The Iomene Almene sisters.

And priests and paladins of the White Order, their faces grave, stood ranked with austere order behind Princess Iomene.

Even High Priest Miromel of the White Order stood at the very front.

It seemed Iomene had definitely become a Saintess.

“Welcome. Holy One.”

The Emperor, seeing me, approached and took my hand, pressing a kiss to the back of it.

His tone, his actions…

Far too deferential for a ruler of a nation.

But no one in the room seemed to find the scene strange.

I felt like a hole was about to be blasted through my guts from the pressure, though.

“This is… too much, Your Majesty. I am merely a subject of the Empire, that is all…”

“You are the savior of the Empire. The savior of an inept father, and the savior of an unfortunate daughter. Any respect I show you will never be enough.”

With those words, the Emperor himself led me to a sofa in the reception room and seated me.

The moment I sat, Iomene, who had been sitting beside the Empress, rushed over and clung to me.

“Good!!”

Still mumbling away, are we?

Anyway…

I didn’t notice when she was wearing those ragged clothes and had black wings strapped to her back, but dressed up and with a touch of makeup, she really *is* Iomene.

Truly pretty, she *is*.

“Iomene wouldn’t stop pestering us to see the Saint. She’s been sulking all day long.”

The Empress says, a soft smile gracing her face.

Princess Almene is smiling too.

Even the Emperor.

No.

Isn’t your daughter rubbing her face against a strange man? Is that really the reaction you should be having?!

…Whatever.

Just gotta think about getting that gold and bolting.

“Saint. The reason we summoned you today, is nothing other than… to ask you a favor.”

A favor?

Weren’t you calling me here to give me a reward?

Give me gold.

Just a 10kg gold bar and I’ll live quietly on that.

“We would like the Saint and the Grace Order to take full responsibility for the treatment of our daughter, Iomene.”

Treatment?

Was Iomene hurt somewhere?

I distinctly remember healing her body clean back then, didn’t I?

“What kind of healing are you speaking of?”

To my question, Princess Almene points to the magic circle etched on her left eye.

A magic circle forcibly keeping her eye shut.

They said it was magic that severed the connection between the two of them, right?

“Because the fragment of the evil god has vanished from Iomene’s body, we must now undo the blocking magic between us. By doing so, we can restore Iomene’s weakened spirit.”

“Is that even possible?”

“It’s possible because we are twins. Because we share the same soul, when one side’s spirit is wounded, the other side can heal it. However, Iomene and I have been separated for 19 years, and Iomene’s mental state is not good, so we must use powerful holy magic of mental protection together.”

Princess Almene smiles faintly.

“A place where both powerful holy magic and the equipment to undo a powerful blocking magic exist simultaneously… there is nowhere but the Holy Tower Temple of the Order of Grace. Moreover, for Iomene’s emotional stability during the mental recovery process, the Saintess is absolutely necessary.”

So, it was the Lilia Order, huh.

Now that I think about it, the Tower Temple is the only place with both priests and top-tier mages.

But I’m about to ditch out soon, aren’t I?

After I receive the gold from His Imperial Majesty today, and figure out how to evade the miracle of tracking and how to use time stop efficiently, I’m bailing.

“It won’t take long. After about two days of preparation, we can begin the procedure immediately. I want to hasten Iomene’s mental recovery. Saintess. I beg you.”

Princess Almene bows her head slightly.

Two days, huh…

Well, two days is…something.

It’s not like I can disappear right now, since I need to get my hands on what I just mentioned before I can leave.

Wouldn’t that amount of time be sufficient?

Besides, I also wanted to witness Iomene return to her former self.

I pondered for a moment, but ultimately, I nodded.

“As you say, I will. Send the two of them to the temple. I will assist in their treatment there.”

“Thank you, Holy One.”

Everyone gazed at me with eyes full of respect.

Seriously, I told you not to do that.

I’m gonna get a hole in my stomach, for real.

“It seems I’m shamelessly making requests again, Holy One. All that you have done for the Empire is so immense it cannot be repaid with any reward. What do you desire?”

Finally, the words I longed to hear from the Emperor’s lips!

Yes! It’s absurd to exploit someone without offering compensation!

Gold!

I was about to say “Give me 10kg of gold,” but then.

Suddenly.

The people wailing and distraught in front of the burning factory flashed in my mind.

“I wish to request two things.”

I looked straight at the Emperor and stated my conditions.

“Enact a law mandating the installation of fire extinguishing equipment in all factories. There were people who burned to death in the fire. I want to prevent such individuals from being created any further.”

The Emperor smiled at my words.

“You are truly noble. Sadly, I cannot grant that request. The Senate has already passed a new fire prevention law. It will likely be implemented nationwide starting next month.”

Ah. Fortunate, if that was so.

“Truly fortunate. And next….”

Feels a bit off, praising me as noble and then going right for this.

“I require 10kg of gold. Perhaps you could procure, say, one hundred 100g gold bars? Contained within a lightened subspace pocket, of course.”

A prickle of conscience!!

Still, maintain the utmost composure!

Adopt the brazen expression of one who’d use it for saintly purposes!

“How modest. You ask for so little. Of course. You shall have it. But to merely give 10kg of gold to one who saved the Empire… the prestige of the Arcal Empire is at stake, you see.”

What… what else are you offering?

“I will exempt the Karma Company from all taxes on its earnings for the next 10 years.”

The Emperor smiles wryly.

“A small offering, from me. Saint. I entrust Iomene to you. And if it isn’t too much to ask, could you remain with Iomene during the two days of preparation? I hear emotional stability is paramount for the mental restoration procedure.”

I still look down at Iomene, nestled in my arms, nuzzling my face with a childlike giggle.

10kg of gold and 10 years of Karma Company tax exemption.

Guess I have to provide after-sales service, what else can I do?

“Willingly.”

Two days, you said?

In the meantime, gotta figure out that Miracle of Tracking evasion and how to use Time Stop effectively, then vamoose!

“Excellent!!”

…Iomene, first things first, gotta fix this clinging habit.

*

Almene, the princess, felt her heart hammering against her ribs with unsettling force, and she was deeply troubled.

‘This is serious.’

Even though the magic binding them wasn’t yet severed, Iomene’s intense emotions were breaking through, reaching Almene.

Love.

Iomene’s mad, passionate love surged, tangible.

‘Isn’t he going to cause trouble?’

Almene felt a prickle of worry.