Chapter 31

After the incident with Erpa at dawn where we bumped heads,

I returned to my everyday routine.

Of course, it wasn’t entirely the same routine.

Whenever I saw Erpa, she would wave at me with a face full of happiness and throw her arms around me, and I, too, would grin and laugh when I saw her.

Other than that, there weren’t many changes.

I was still healing the sick in the slums.

Occasionally, when summoned by nobles, I would go and treat them as well.

In return, the nobles would either donate money or introduce people the slums needed through their connections.

It was peaceful and quiet.

Karma Company was thriving.

Beyond just thriving, it was a company that had gained absolute support from people originating from the third slum district because Karma Company announced that it would provide elixirs at half price to those doing business in the area, which created numerous jobs.

Additionally, the infirmary at the Mage Tower’s Temple was operating successfully.

Because of this, common colds or minor wounds no longer required my attention.

I only saw the severe cases, patients whose recovery was impossible through normal miracles or healing.

And with that,

life suddenly became leisurely.

Three meals a day, plenty of sleep.

No longer seeing patients non-stop from dawn to dusk, I now even had time to take leisurely walks.

The slum residents continued to sweep and clean the streets under my instructions.

They followed my rules so well that on weekends, an enormous number of people gathered in front of the Mage Tower’s Temple and then dispersed, leaving the area even cleaner after worship than before it.

The third slum district was no longer the dirty, grotesque place it once was.

Trees had been planted to maintain a pleasant aesthetic, and the wretched rats, mold, and filth-ridden shacks had been transformed into a well-built, impressive large housing complex.

The people worked with hope, laughed, ate, and drank.

Children started going to school, and people finishing their days would visit the baths, clean themselves, and return home happily.

With newfound leisure, I walked the streets where everyone recognized me and greeted me.

Most of the poor in the third slum district were now followers of Lilia.

Everyone praised and revered me.

I’ve become so used to it, it feels natural now.

It’s certainly not a bad feeling.

At this point, my thoughts have turned into certainties.

I got the followers, didn’t I?

I made the Lilia Church prosperous, didn’t I?

I purified the slums, didn’t I?

I increased your influence among the nobles, didn’t I?

I’ve done it all, haven’t I?

ROAAARR! Perfect faith restoration!

The goddess must be moved and watching over me.

And personally, as long as there’s no divine punishment, I want to keep doing this forever.

I’ve also discovered an unexpected use for those trashy game skills that I thought were good for nothing other than making moves on women.

Money is piling up astronomically.

Everyone respects me, and on top of that…

I’ve even started dating a girl who kisses me.

Yeah.

They told me to do what I’m good at, right?

It would be foolish to run away when the situation is going so well.

I’ll keep pretending to be a saint and live like this from now on.

“Saint! The temple has finally been completed!”

On a day when I started reading the Scripture of Grace, having finally decided to seriously cultivate my faith, Jonathan Karma came to my room and proudly exclaimed.

“135 stories! 600 meters tall! It’s 20 stories taller than the Mage Tower of Mars, the tallest building in the capital! There’s a large elixir mining and refining facility built underground! We’ve also signed contracts to supply elixirs to most of the automated factories, the capital’s magi-lamps, and the fuel stations for magic cars!”

“Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Jonathan Karma. I appreciate it.”

Jonathan Karma was once a villain interfering with my plan to ruin the church, but now he’s just a bundle of blessings.

Yeah.

Right?

I don’t know how this happened, but I’ve found such a brilliant businessman, and the elixir business is booming.

I’ve done a great job, haven’t I?

Isn’t that true?

I want to cultivate faith too.

There’s no reason to be afraid of divine punishment.

With these thoughts, unlike in the past where I cried inside while pretending to smile, I can now genuinely smile with warmth.

“To Mr. Jonathan Karma, many thanks. Please continue your efforts.”

“There are plans to hold a commemorative banquet, inviting the main representatives of the Divine Temple and various nobles of the capital, along with members of the royal family. Would you honor us with your presence?”

Well,

Isn’t it obvious that I, who have achieved something so significant in the capital and purified the third slum district, must be there?

I no longer wish for the downfall of Lilia Church.

If the goddess watches over me, then why not?

I will put down roots here and live well.

I’ll work hard as a saint.

Isn’t it also like when a police officer opens a fried chicken shop for undercover investigations, and when it becomes a huge success, quits the police force to run the shop?

I won’t run away anymore.

“Of course, I must attend. When is the banquet?”

“In three days.”

“Understood.”

I just need to put on my priest robes and go; no need for formal attire like tuxedos, so it’s absolutely perfect.

Ah.

I feel at ease.

Yeah.

Why run away?

Everything is going so wonderfully, let’s just accept this as destiny and live life as a true saint.

***

Three days later.

The banquet took place.

The temple interior was filled with nobles in elegant dresses and distinguished guests.

Not only that, but the most important person in the nation was also present.

“I greet His Imperial Majesty, it is an honor to meet you.”

The emperor of the Empire personally came to visit me.

Theobilo von Arcal, a sturdy 50-year-old man with a serious demeanor, remembered from the newspapers.

But this time, rather than following formalities, he stopped me from bowing, took my hand, and gently kissed the back of it.

“The glory of humans is fleeting, but the divine grace is eternal. The honor is mine, Saint Amael.”

His polite and dignified tone.

Quiet but weighty movements.

This is what charisma is.

You can naturally sense it just by standing next to him.

“I am unfamiliar with protocol, so I do not know how to behave. Please forgive any mistakes I may make.”

“It would be absurd to hold such distinguished individuals as yourself to the rigid rules of protocol. I have long desired to meet the saint of the slums.”

I felt a sense of pride swell within me at the emperor’s words.

Recognized by the emperor himself.

Could things get any smoother?

My life from now on will be paved with flowers.

“The Saint who has appeared after 300 years, and the first Saint of Healing, shall receive a modest gift from the ruler of the human empire.”

It was the start of gifting time.

Beginning with an expensive grandfather clock the emperor presented to me, many people brought me gifts.

Some gave me tea sets and others offered premium tea leaves.

As piles of various high-end items accumulated, I felt tears welling up in my eyes.

In my entire life,

including Korea and the Arcal Empire, have I ever been so recognized and celebrated?

For the first time, I thought coming to this world was the right decision.

I thought the wild game skills and the useless prophecy abilities I received were so annoying and that there was no better way to live than to return to Korea and become a transsexual streamer.

Who could’ve known this would work out so well?

“To all, I am deeply grateful. I shall use all these gifts not just for myself, but to make everyone happy.”

With the intent to truly act as a saint, I delivered such lines.

Frankly, many of the gifts felt too burdensome for me to use personally.

I thought it would be better to distribute them to those who truly need them, or perhaps display them around the Mage Tower Temple for everyone to enjoy.

Everyone applauded in agreement.

I feel fulfilled.

Yeah.

This is what it means to be a saint!

The banquet continued for a long time afterward.

We laughed, chatted, greeted each other, ate, and drank.

The evening dragged on until all scheduled events eventually came to an end, and

I headed towards my room to leave the banquet hall.

“Saint of Healing, wait a moment.”

Eh?

These people…

Didn’t I see them at the Temple of the Divine?

“I, Chief Priest Gerba of the Oracles’ Church, a prophet and Apostle of Grace, greet you, O Saint. May the temple built upon this land remain glorious forever.”

Ah! Right!

They are from the Oracles’ Church!

They worship the future god Lupiel, the Church that gave me the title of Seer.

“Yes, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Gerba. What brings you here?”

“We haven’t given you the gift we prepared yet.”

Curious about what the gift might be, they presented it in their usual manner.

“Lupiel blessed me with a prophecy for the new saint. Would you mind if we have a private conversation? It’s the principle that prophecies should only be shown to the person concerned.”

Prophecy?

Alright.

Let’s hear it.

What kind of prophecy is it?

I am curious too.

To find out what my future holds.

“Certainly. Chief Priest, let’s go to my room.”

Without much thought, I led Gerba to my room.

I closed the door and instructed Grandpa Yodel to ensure no one interrupted, leaving Gerba and me alone in the room.

“I shall now present the prophecy of Lupiel. I will lose consciousness momentarily, and the words of the god placed within me will speak directly to you.”

“I leave it in your hands.”

As soon as the words were spoken, Gerba closed his eyes.

After trembling for a moment, he opened them.

His eyes were completely white, and a brilliant golden light in the shape of an eye began to burn between his eyebrows.

A pair of human eyes and the golden third eye stared right at me.

[O human.]

A voice that could not possibly belong to a human flowed from a human mouth.

A spine-tingling, indisputably divine voice that radiates both eeriness and sanctity.

[I shall tell you your future. This is not just any prophecy from a seer, but one that will surely come to pass.]

I focused intently, my heart slightly pounding.

What does my future hold?

Surely not…

Surely, even after all I’ve done, the goddess wouldn’t send down divine retribution to kill me suddenly, right?

If it were going to happen, it would’ve happened already.

No.

It absolutely won’t happen.

I’m now trying to have faith, and it’s true that I’ve helped the poor and the weak.

Let’s confirm here and now.

Let’s put my mind at ease.

That’s better.

I was thinking that,

when the eerie voice began to chant the prophecy.

Half excited and half tense, I leaned in to listen.

[The one elevated in the name of grace. Fool who misunderstands. You deny and flee, but you cannot escape your fated end.]

The Chief Priest Gerba slowly pointed a finger at me.

[Stranger from another world. One who is ignorant and foolish and destined to endure loneliness. The abilities in your possession are grotesque, mere vulgarities.]

The smile disappeared from my face.

The statement pierced through my core, freezing me in place.

Could the prophecy be bad?

No, it couldn’t be.

It can’t be…

Please…

[On the day your most secret truth is revealed, you will die at the hands of those who love you. Death shall overtake you at your happiest moment, unavoidable.]

A chilling sensation spread through my body.

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