Chapter 46

For several days, I had to keep going back and forth between the Temple of the Divine and the Black Fortress, the imperial information agency, supposedly conducting investigations.

In reality, it was more like checking my body for any wounds or injuries, making sure there weren’t any hidden damages.

And finally, when I emerged as a free man, the scene was utter chaos.

[Breaking News! It has been revealed that the Chosen One of the Evil God infiltrated the imperial palace! Shock!!]

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

[The Newly Born Saint of Evil’s Demise! The Grand Priest Miromel of the White Church swears allegiance and subservience to the new saint!!]

[The Saint of Evil’s Demise and the Formerly Hidden Princess Iomenes! She punishes the Chosen One of the Evil God!!]

All the newspapers in the empire were reporting extensively on the events that took place within the palace.

Furthermore, all the citizens of the capital witnessed the radiant burst of light as the Piece of the Evil God shattered, healing people everywhere.

In this situation, when the imperial family disclosed all the events transparently, public reaction exploded.

“Saint! Ahhh!!”

“Saint! Saint! Please, look at me once!!”

“He saw me!! He saw me!! Saint looked into my eyes!!”

People started fainting or breaking down in tears upon simply making eye contact with me on the street.

And there was another side effect.

“One word, please!!”

“Saint! Saint! It’s Arcal Daily! Is an interview possible?”

“Saint, how did you capture the Chosen One of the Evil God who infiltrated the palace? It was surrounded by the Miracle of Concealment, a very powerful miracle that even high-ranking priests found hard to detect… No! Practically impossible!!”

The reporters began swarming me.

Because of the shocking deeds I had done at the palace, reporters, sensing a scoop, swarmed me like bees.

People crying, people fainting, people desperately asking for a brief touch of my hand…

And then reporters diving through the crowd with sheer determination, trying to get an exclusive interview.

Ooh… Shit!!

Just leave me alone already!!

While returning from the Black Fortress to the Mage Tower and Temple, the short journey felt like my soul was fleeing due to the crowd that gathered just to see me.

“Master Yodel. I want to rest.”

“As you wish!!”

After returning to the Mage Tower and Temple, I told Master Yodel not to let anyone in unless it was something very important, then collapsed onto the bed in my room.

What should I do now?

My plan to return to Korea using a cheat key has failed.

So, this means I have to go back to the conventional method of asking for forgiveness from the goddess, right?

That said, as I’ve mentioned before, this path has a high chance of failure.

Moreover, people have misinterpreted me as performing an incredible miracle unintentionally, and if I disappear now, it’s obvious that even more people will come looking for me.

What kind of misfortune is this?

I don’t want to go to hell!!

“Saint?”

While I was gloomily punching my pillow in bed, Master Yodel knocked on the door almost immediately after I entered the room.

Yes.

It appears His Majesty the Emperor has sent for me.

Sighing, I told him to let them in.

Elegantly dressed palace guards with long broadswords at their waists entered my room with poise.

“Saint. His Majesty the Emperor requests your presence.”

Of course.

I figured they would call me after wrapping up everything.

I got up from my seat.

For the conventional escape plan, I need three things:

1. A way to nullify methods such as the Miracle of Tracking. I can ask the Church about that.

2. A way to enhance my Time Stop ability, which is necessary for escape. I’ll need to consult with the Mage Tower for that.

3. Enough money to live on once I’ve escaped.

This third point is the most problematic.

The Church of Grace is famously wealthy, and so is Karma Company. Shouldn’t I just embezzle some of their money?

Absolutely not.

The goddess is already so furious that she’s threatened to send me to hell. If I even touch their money…

Lady Goddess might simply shout “RESULT! ONLY THE RESULT MATTERS!! KING’S CRIMSON!!” and immediately turn me into a permanent hellfire roasted pig in an instant.

So, where to obtain covert, inconspicuous money that can’t be traced?

His Majesty the Emperor.

Surely the Emperor has plenty of such funds?

He’s probably about to ask what kind of reward I’d like, which I figure by now.

My plan is to ask for gold.

Specifically, the kind that can’t be traced.

This is a fantasy world, right?

There must be something like an anti-weight magic-enhanced subspace bag, or something like that.

I plan to fill one of those with gold, quietly escape, and live quietly somewhere people won’t easily find me, mouse-like.

I pray no one will ever find me.

“Please lead the way.”

At my word, the palace guards politely escort me.

Their eyes held a deep respect, the kind they might show even to the Emperor himself, which felt extremely burdensome.

Why am I being looked at like this when all I was thinking about was taking gold from the Emperor and making a quick escape?

That’s why people should live lives suited to their own station.

Who am I to be some kind of saint?

This is incredibly burdensome.

I need to escape quickly.

And quietly.

Live like a silent mouse until the end.

Hopefully, that will earn me the forgiveness of the goddess…

***

The luxurious reception hall was filled with items so valuable that if someone even scratched them lightly, it would take three generations of hard work to pay for it.

“Your Majesty, I have brought him.”

“You’ve done well. You may withdraw.”

The palace guards bowed formally and exited the reception hall.

The Emperor, Empress, and the sisters Princess Iomenes and Princess Almenes were there.

Along with the priests and Knights of the White Church standing orderly and solemnly behind Princess Iomenes, led by Grand Priest Miromel at the front.

It seemed certain that Princess Iomenes had become a saint.

“Welcome, Saint.”

The Emperor himself approached me, took my hand and kissed the back of it upon seeing me.

His manner of speech and actions were overly respectful, more than befitting a ruler.

But no one in the room found such a scene unusual.

I, however, felt awkward enough to think my brain might explode.

“I appreciate it, but this is too much, Your Majesty. I am merely an ordinary citizen of the empire…”

“You are the savior of the empire, the savior of this imperfect father and the savior of my unfortunate daughter. No form of respect I show you would ever be excessive.”

After saying this, the Emperor personally ushered me to sit on the couch in the reception hall.

As soon as I sat down, Princess Iomenes, who had been sitting beside the Empress, dashed over and clung to me.

“Good!!”

She’s still as speech-impaired as before.

By the way…

I never noticed it when she was wearing tattered clothes with black wings on her back, but now that she’s dressed elegantly and lightly adorned with makeup, Princess Iomenes looks genuinely beautiful.

“Princess Iomenes has been insistently asking to see you, Saint. Her face was sour the entire day.”

Empress smiled gently as she said this.

Princess Almenes was smiling too.

Even the Emperor was smiling.

What? Is this normal behavior for someone watching their daughter rub her face against a man?

…Never mind.

Let’s just focus on getting the gold and making an escape.

“Saint, the reason I have called you today is to request a favor from you.”

A favor?

Didn’t he call me to offer a reward?

Just give me the gold.

About 10kg of gold bars would be enough. With that, I can live quietly.

“I would like the Saint and the Church of Grace to take full responsibility for Princess Iomenes’ treatment.”

Treatment?

Was Princess Iomenes injured somewhere? I thought I had thoroughly healed her body…

“What kind of treatment are you speaking of?”

At my question, Princess Almenes pointed to the magic rune engraved on her left eye.

The rune that forces her eye to remain closed.

Wasn’t this the magic to sever the connection between the two of them?

“Since the Piece of the Evil God is gone, the barrier magic between Princess Iomenes and me needs to be lifted. By doing so, we can restore Princess Iomenes’ weakened mental state.”

“Is that possible?”

“It’s possible because we are twin souls. Since we share the same soul, it is possible to heal one’s mind damage through the other. However, because Princess Iomenes and I were separated for 19 years and her mental state is not good, we need to use strong protective miracles of divine magic simultaneously.”

Princess Almenes smiled faintly.

“Only the Mage Tower Temple of the Church of Grace has both the strong miracles of divine magic and the equipment capable of simultaneously dissolving strong barrier magic. Additionally, Saint’s presence would be essential for Princess Iomenes’ emotional stability during the mental recovery process.”

That’s why it’s the Lilia Church.

Indeed, I think of it as the only place where both priests and top-tier wizards work together.

But I need to escape soon, right?

As soon as I’ve gotten the gold and the methods to avoid the miracle of tracking and how to use time stop efficiently from His Majesty the Emperor today, I’ll leave.

“It won’t take long. We can begin the procedure roughly two days after preparation. We want to restore Princess Iomenes’ mental state as soon as possible. Saint, we kindly request your help.”

Princess Almenes bowed her head.

Two days… Hmm…

Two days is nothing.

Since I need to acquire what I just mentioned anyway, I’m not planning to disappear immediately. The time would be just right.

Moreover, I also wish to see Princess Iomenes heal properly.

After considering briefly, I finally nodded.

“I will do as you request. Please send the two of you to the temple. I will assist in the treatment there.”

“Thank you, Saint.”

Everyone looked at me with admiration.

Look, please stop that.

It’s embarrassing, alright!

“You keep asking me for things, which is most improper, Saint. Anything the empire receives from you cannot be repaid fully no matter what reward we give. What do you wish for?”

Finally, the line I was waiting for came out of the Emperor’s mouth!

Yes! People shouldn’t expect someone to contribute and not receive a reward!

Gold!

As I was about to ask for 10kg of gold, all of a sudden…

People crying amidst the fire in the factory popped into my mind.

“I would like to ask for two things.”

I looked directly into the Emperor’s eyes as I stated my conditions.

“Please implement a law that mandates all factories to install fire safety facilities. I saw people die from fires. I want to prevent such tragedies from happening again.”

The Emperor smiled at my statement.

“You are truly noble. Unfortunately, I cannot grant that request. The senate has already approved the new fire protection law. It’s expected to take effect nationwide next month.”

Ah. That’s good news then.

“Very fortunate. And next…”

After raising me in esteem, it feels slightly awkward to hear the following.

“I need 10kg of gold. Would you be able to prepare around 100 gold bars of 100g each? And please put them in a subspace bag with weight reduction enchantment.”

Caught!!

Still, I held my head high.

With that shameless expression of a saint using gold for good!

“You are truly modest. Only asking for such a small amount. Of course, I shall provide. However, it would be inappropriate to provide merely 10 kg of gold to someone who saved the empire; after all, there’s a reputation of the Arcal Empire to uphold.”

So… What else are you planning to give?

“All income from Karma Company will be exempt from taxes for the next ten years.”

The emperor chuckled.

“It’s a small offering from me, Saint. Please take good care of Princess Iomenes. If possible, would you mind staying with Princess Iomenes for the next two preparation days? I’ve heard emotional stability is crucial for the mental recovery procedure.”

Still holding Princess Iomenes, who clung to me like a little child smiling, I thought.

Since you’re providing 10kg of gold and even exempting karma company taxes for ten years…

Alright, I’ll handle after-sales service for you.

“Gladly.”

You said two days, right?

During that period, I’ll find out how to avoid miracle tracking and how to effectively use time stop, and then escape swiftly!!

“Good!”

……First, Princess Iomenes needs to stop clinging to me like that.

***

Princess Almenes was feeling somewhat flustered, sensing her own heart pounding fiercely.

‘This is serious.’

Even without the barrier magic that disconnects the two of them being lifted yet, Princess Iomenes’ intense emotions were breaking through the magic and reaching Princess Almenes.

Love.

The overwhelming passionate love of Princess Iomenes was tangible.

“Is she going to cause trouble?”

Princess Almenes felt slightly worried.