Chapter 26

How am I feeling right now?

I’m about to die.

Would you please stop messing with me?

Do you want me to be alone?

But my wish was not granted.

“Saint. Saint.”

“Ah! The Saint of Healing!! Embodiment of Grace!!”

“Apostle of Lilia! Look down on us! Lead us, you who are full of sin and folly!”

As soon as the heresy interrogation ended, all the members of the Lilia Church swarmed around me, surrounding me and kneeling down, bowing to me repeatedly.

Even Vice President Yodel was shedding tears profusely, kissing the back of my hand and then kissing my feet.

Shit.

I’m just exhausted.

You bastards.

Because of you, the probability of being struck down by divine punishment from the goddess is increasing in real time!!

What on earth do you want me to do?

What do you want me to do??

Didn’t you expose me as someone from another life?

As someone from another world!

I already said I’m not a saint!

I’ve repeated it multiple times!

Ah.

Shit.

Shit.

Shit.

“I pay my respects to the First Saint of Healing.”

Thanks to the Lilia Church people drawing attention while crying, it seems many people gathered at the Temple of the Divine are now focusing on me.

One by one,

people who clearly look like they’re from the upper echelons of society come over, shake my hand, and leave after greeting me.

I’m in such a daze that I don’t even notice who’s shaking my hand, and with the absurd smile of resignation on my face, I exchanged greetings with them all.

And after a while,

when everyone had disappeared from the temple, all that was left in front of me were the same, irritating faces I kept seeing.

The family of Jonathan Karma and the people of the Lilia Church.

And when only the nuclear bomb witch was left,

“Saint. During these past two months, I have done my best to enrich the church according to your will… But there is still much lacking. Please blame me. Though inadequate, I shall guide you to your temple.”

The family of Jonathan Karma approaches me and humbly says this.

At those words, my mind sharply came back to reality.

Oh!

You, the businessman who ruined the doll factory!

You were still here!

Look at that shameless face!

Something must have definitely gone wrong!

Yes!

There’s still a way out!

“Let’s go!”

Let’s go!

Let’s see how you ruined the business!

There’s no doubt that if you try to pin all the blame on me, even Vice President Yodel will start to hate me!

Jonathan Karma!

I’m really grateful to you!

Thanks to you, I now have a way out!

“Saint. I am ashamed. Please forgive us for not providing a temple worthy of your achievements.”

Jonathan Karma!

What is it?

What is it exactly?

Why is there a mage tower being built on the abandoned factory site?

Why?

Jonathan Karma was undoubtedly a capable person.

Under the condition that all necessary elixirs for future research at the Mars Mage Tower branch would be provided free of charge, he requested that they build a super skyscraper mage tower as the saint had suggested, on the site of the factory.

Unlike regular buildings, mage towers must be constructed entirely through magic.

Additionally, because an enormous amount of elixir is needed for the construction, it usually takes a minimum of five years to build. However, the site for the new Lilia Church mage temple was unique in that it contained its own self-supplied source of elixir for construction materials and large-scale magical power from the underground.

Thanks to that, the construction speed was incredibly fast, enough to be recorded in architectural history.

In just under two months, a second mage tower in the capital, towering over 100 stories and boasting tremendous grandeur, had already risen.

Of course, it was not yet completed, and there were still many aspects that needed finishing, but with the news that the work would be finished within three months, the Saint of Healing began to shed tears of joy.

“I need to rest. Please prepare a place for me to stay.”

After saying that, the saint entered the bed and after a long while, sobbed and fell asleep.

It seemed that after enduring the hardship of the heresy trial, the saint found solace in the sight of the majestic mage tower temple.

Erpa watched the saint lovingly for quite some time before heading back to the Mars Mage Tower branch.

He truly was a child-like man.

He cried when he was happy, and he cried when he was sad.

When she comforted and healed him, didn’t he also cry and cling to her?

Thinking about it, the words of the Scripture of Grace were truly correct: no one was more pure than him.

With that thought, Erpa smiled happily, intending to return to her lab.

However, she could not enter due to all the witches and wizards gathered in the lobby.

All the wizards and witches from the Tydel faction stood sadly in the lobby, each holding their belongings.

Jurgan, the mage tower master, was watching them silently.

“Although your actions were committed under Tydel’s coercion, what you have done constitutes clearly aiding in murder and destroying evidence. Even though it was out of coercion, it will end with your dismissal.”

“…Thank you.”

Everyone nodded despondently.

Though they would try to find another mage tower, there was no place that would accept those who had helped murder someone.

It was a hopeless situation for their future and careers.

“Leave. There is no place for you here.”

The moment Master Jurgen declared this,

Erpa stepped forward.

“Master Jurgen.”

Everyone was surprised by Erpa’s appearance.

But they were even more surprised by what Erpa said next.

“Please let them stay at the Mars Mage Tower branch. I want to forgive them.”

“Wh-what are you saying?”

“If they are expelled from the mage tower now, their careers will be greatly tarnished. Finding a new mage tower to take them would be difficult, and even if they were accepted, it would be hard for them to adapt.”

It was a harsh reality.

The wizards and witches didn’t even say “Please forgive us” but merely bowed their heads.

Erpa looked at them silently.

“Therefore, please do not expel them. Help them remain here at the Mars Mage Tower branch.”

“But Erpa, these are the ones who helped Tydel to try to kill you. They did it under coercion, sure, but they did it just the same.”

“I know. But I still want to forgive them. I believe it was out of coercion from Tydel.”

The witches and wizards looked at Erpa with shocked faces.

Erpa looked at them too.

Her peaceful and gentle face was like that of a saint.

“…Do you really mean it?”

“I really mean it. Moreover, if so many researchers suddenly disappeared, it would collapse the mage tower’s collaborative research projects, which wouldn’t be beneficial for the mage tower either. As they say, an old hand is always better. Please let them stay here. I implore you.”

The mage tower master fell silent for a long time upon hearing her words, then finally nodded.

“I will follow your counsel. However!!”

He glared sternly at the wizards and witches.

“That does not mean your wrongdoings will be erased. Erpa is the next-in-line to become the mage tower master! If you do not show proper respect and apologize to her, no matter what Erpa says, I will expel you! Let this message sink in!”

After saying this, Jurgen disappeared from the lobby using a space-warp technique.

Only the wizards, witches, and Erpa remained in the lobby.

Gradually,

a young witch approached Erpa.

Her face was filled with more curiosity than apology.

Why? Why would they…?

Even in this situation, curiosity comes first, does it?

It makes me think they’re true wizards.

Erpa smirked.

“His Holiness desired you to do this.”

Erpa looked at everyone.

“I forgive all of you. But that doesn’t mean I will forget what you’ve done to me. Therefore, I hope you will not repeat such actions and lead a proper life. That is my condition for forgiving you.”

Though smiling, a tremendous pressure dominated the room.

The wizards and witches swallowed hard and bowed their heads to Erpa.

“Thank you, Erpa.”

“Thank you for giving us another chance.”

“Absolutely… Absolutely, we will not forget this.”

With a composed expression, Erpa accepted all their apologies.

“Go back and continue with your research.”

As she turned to leave, the wizards and witches remained motionless.

“Erpa… No, Lady Erpa. We have a request.”

“What is it?”

“Out of penance, we’d like to participate in the newly established mage tower rumored to have opened in the slums. Since it’s nearby, we could continue our current research while contributing there as well.”

“We’ve heard they have an elixir production agreement with the mage tower. Instead of just having a technical affiliation, wouldn’t it be more beneficial if we go there to personally impart our knowledge?”

Erpa’s eyes widened.

The wizards and witches looked embarrassed.

“To the Saint of Healing, who has brought us to see the light, we want to be of some help. And we thought, that doing so might make you a little happier, Lady Erpa. Perhaps this could be a way to show our sincerity.”

“There are witches and wizards here researching elixir purification techniques and application methods. We would like to provide some of our research results to the Lilia Church at a very low royalty rate as a gesture of apology. In return, we could use the endless supply of elixirs they provide, which would likely benefit our research too.”

“That’s right. Each time we conduct research, large amounts of elixirs are consumed, and it would be far more efficient to use our research funds for other purposes instead of constantly purchasing elixirs.”

“In any case… We want to show you our hearts through this act, Lady Erpa.”

As they bowed earnestly and apologized, Erpa felt true happiness welling up from deep within her.

The Saint of Healing,

Saint Amael,

beyond just healing her body, had helped her gain recognition in society and even moved the stubborn and headstrong wizards.

If this isn’t a miracle,

then what is?

“Truly, truly, I say to you, when the Saint comes to you, you will know it’s Him.”

A recent passage from the Scripture of Grace surfaced in her mind.

How fitting those words were.

“You may proceed as you wish. The distance isn’t far, so moving your laboratories won’t be too difficult.”

“Thank you, Lady Erpa. Absolutely… We will never, ever forget this day.”

After saying that, the wizards and witches disappeared.

Erpa was left alone in the now-empty lobby, quietly placing her hand over her heart.

Saint Amael,

the one who saved her,

the one who makes her heart race every time she thinks of him.

“Everything about me—my body, my heart, my spirit, my talents—they all belong to Him.”

Erpa realized.

She realized that she could no longer live without Him.

“Mr. Jonathan Karma? We will allow you to use our research results at a very affordable price. If you simply let us use the elixirs freely while we are conducting research here, it would be far more beneficial than a mere technology alliance.”

“Are you serious?! We were just looking for experts in elixir purification and application techniques!! Come in! Come in!! We will provide you with as many elixirs as you wish!!”

“Thank you. We came here to repay our debt to Lady Erpa and also to express our gratitude to the Saint of Healing. We are thankful that through reflecting on our mistakes, we have become better people.”

Shit, bastards!!

Why is business going so well?!

Don’t come!

Whether I cry out in despair inwardly or not,

dozens of wizards from the mage tower have become permanent researchers under the Karma Company’s research division in the newly constructed temple-shaped mage tower.

Wow.

This feels like a contract kill level.

It’s like the world is pushing me to be struck by lightning!

Why…

Why!!

Why is everything going so well?!

I said I’m not a saint!!