Chapter 21
After the Saint of Healing was imprisoned in the Pantheon's underground prison, the Pantheon summoned Yodel, the High Priest of the Grace Order.
"It's been a long time, Yodel. Perhaps because you're usually in the southern regions and rarely come to the capital, I had nearly forgotten your face."
Representatives of 23 out of the 24 orders belonging to the Pantheon sat around a round table, quietly looking at Yodel standing in the center.
"Rules are rules, so we'll ask you. If the Saint of Healing is fake, please tell us how to identify it."
"He is not a fake saint. He is the apostle of grace! I can swear on my faith!"
"We know. But Yodel, don't you know the procedure too? Once an accusation of heresy has been made, we need to make sure. If he's a real saint, this might even be better."
"That's right, Yodel. A saint recognized by the Heresy Inquisition will officially have their name added to the Pantheon's saint register. It would be a new saint appearing after 300 years."
"A saint after 300 years, and at the same time, from the Grace Order's perspective, the first Saint of Healing to appear since the order's establishment."
At those words, Yodel sighed deeply and bowed his head.
"...This too must be the guidance of the Goddess. Alright. Based on what's written in the Book of Grace, I'll tell you how he would act if he were a fake saint."
The entire scripture was already recorded in Yodel's mind.
He had been reading the scripture every single day without fail since his childhood when he joined the order.
"If he's a fake saint, he'll act like this."
Slowly.
Yodel told the representatives of the 23 orders how to recognize a fake saint.
***
Tudel's feet made cheerful clicking sounds in the Magic Tower lobby.
Now Erpha was finished.
A saint who couldn't use holy power.
What nonsense was that?
Saint Videlberg, famous as a representative saint, was said to always be surrounded by a golden radiance and halo so bright it was dazzling.
Holy power so powerful it was difficult to measure.
That was like the symbol of a saint.
But how could someone be a saint without that?
The result of the interrogation was obvious.
The saint would be proven fake, and when that happened, Erpha, who was saved by that fake saint's miracle, would be targeted by the White Order again.
That damn spider bitch as the next Tower Master.
As long as I have eyes to see, that will never happen.
Someone blocked Tudel's path as she was walking with a happy face.
Four arms, now openly revealed without hiding.
Although her face wasn't visible, hidden by the witch hat with a large brim, there couldn't be two witches with four arms in the Magic Tower.
Tudel burst into laughter.
"Oh my! If it isn't it the spider? Were you waiting for me... Ugh!!"
Tudel grabbed her throat and struggled.
Among the four arms, the lower right arm was suddenly holding a wand.
Slowly.
Tudel's body rose into the air.
"You... what... are you… doing... Keeek!!"
"Tudel."
A calm and quiet voice flowed from Erpha's mouth.
And therefore, an even more chilling voice.
The mana waves emanating from her body contained a terrifying anger.
And the target of that anger was just one person.
It was focused on Tudel.
"S-someone!! Help...!! Keeek!!" Tudel struggled and asked for help from the many witches and mages in the lobby, but no one approached the two.
The next Tower Master.
And the witch who openly hated and envied such a witch, even trying to bring her down by dragging in the White Order.
It was too obvious whose side they should take between the two.
Tudel tried to resist.
But with her magic skills, she couldn't possibly break Erpha's magic.
"I can forgive you for messing with me. But touching the Saint, I absolutely, absolutely cannot forgive. Understand? No matter how the interrogation results turn out, never approach the Saint again. Understand?"
Tudel felt fear.
The mana waves shot by a witch of unreachable talent, filled with genuine anger and killing intent, were something she couldn't withstand.
Without realizing it, Tudel's skirt became wet.
Yellow liquid flowing down her legs wet the lobby floor.
"I-I understand!! I understand, so please...!!"
The magic was released.
Tudel grabbed her throat, coughing violently.
"Clean up your filth," Erpha said coldly before disappearing.
Tudel couldn't even think of spewing out anger and hatred.
"Heuuk."
Fear.
And jealousy even greater than that fear was boiling up inside her like an erupting volcano.
***
I'm happy.
Although it was a cramped room, probably not even 2 pyeong, with only a bed and a toilet, I was so happy.
I couldn't help but smile.
Meals came regularly on time, and unlike the worries I had when hearing the name underground prison, perfect humidity and temperature were maintained.
There were no people bothering me, and no poor people clamoring and shouting for treatment.
The fake saint act I had to do to deal with the nuclear bomb witch had gone on longer than necessary.
Now, after the trial ended, I just needed to rot here for a year and then go out into the world, and it was over.
Ah.
I'm really so happy.
So happy.
"Saint."
Perhaps because they were giving me special treatment for being a saint, there was one guard watching me closely 24 hours a day in front of my prison.
The guard wearing the clothes of the Silent Order carefully looked at me and called my name.
I waved at him.
"I'm not a saint. You can just call me by my name."
I just said that because I was going to reveal that I wasn’t a saint once the heresy inquisition started anyway.
At my words, the guard hesitated for a moment and then continued speaking, "I believe you are the true Saint of Grace."
What nonsense!!
I'm not!!
I'm just an idiot born with adult game abilities!
"I'm not such a thing. As I said, I'm not a saint. I don't have any sacred marks on my body and I can't use holy power. Everything Tudel, who reported me, said is correct. I'm not a saint."
"But aren't all the numerous miracles you performed true?"
"That's true, but still, I'm not a saint. You've misunderstood. You can just call me by my real name, Jericho Amael."
When I said that with a bright smile, suddenly the guard carefully looked at me and knelt down.
"Can you help me?"
"...Pardon?"
"I know this is against regulations. But I'm desperate. Le-Neri, the God of Darkness and Secrets whom I serve, is not a god who bestows such grace. He only deals with the trash that eats away at humanity in the darkness. I need your grace."
Ah, what now? How annoying!
I'm not a saint!! Why do you keep doing this when I'm not a saint, really?
I'm going to be exposed as not being a saint during the interrogation anyway.
Just as I was about to shout in irritation to leave me alone.
"My daughter... is sick," The guard said in such a sorrowful voice.
"She's a baby just 3 months old. She was born with a deformed heart and we've been told she won't live long. I want my child to be able to see the light of the world for a little longer. Saint. My wife spends every night in tears. Please. I heard you healed an abomination and the rotting disease. Please... please, my baby too…"
Sobbing sounds could be heard from beyond the mask.
At those words, I had to swallow my anger.
Damn.
What should I do?
If I heal her, won't that person spread rumors about me being a saint too?
No!
Wait a minute!
Isn't this actually a good opportunity?
"Bring the child. I'll heal her."
"R-really?"
"Yes. I'll do that. But there's a condition."
"Anything! Anything I can do!"
"After carefully observing how I heal, later when I'm interrogated on charges of heresy, please say that I didn't use holy power. That it's certain I'm not a saint."
The mask paused for a moment.
"...If I do that, it will be disadvantageous for you. If you're judged to be a heretic, you might have to stay in the underground prison for nearly a year."
That's what I want!!
That's exactly what I want!!
"It doesn't matter. Just tell the truth. Can you do that?"
"But Saint..."
"There's nothing as ugly as living in lies. I want the truth to be revealed. Will you do that?"
At my words, the guard was silent for a long time and then nodded.
"If that's what you want. I'll do so, Saint."
After saying that, the guard melted into his own shadow and disappeared.
There was rarely a chance to see the miracles of the Silent Order.
Seeing those miracles meant one had been involved with the Heresy Inquisition.
Anyway, while I was surprised watching the guard disappear into the shadow.
In an instant, the guard emerged again from the floor of my prison.
Somehow, he was now holding a whimpering young child in his hands.
"This is my daughter. Saint... please."
"I'm not a saint. Give me the child."
I received the young child with both hands.
The wriggling flesh made a faint whimpering sound.
She was so cute.
But to say she wouldn't live long due to a heart deformity.
I couldn't leave her like that.
I slowly placed my hand on the child's head and activated the skill.
It was just as the guard said.
The child's heart was grotesquely twisted.
It clearly looked like it couldn't move blood properly.
I concentrated and fiddled with the child's heart.
I straightened out compressed areas, reduced stretched areas, and patched up holes.
After fiddling like that for a while.
[Heart function 100% operational.]
After confirming the message that appeared on the Status Window, I smiled contentedly and stroked the child's head.
I wouldn't be able to do this after it was revealed that I wasn’t a saint.
By quitting being a saint, wouldn't the number of people I could save decrease?
I'm a bit worried.
No.
No, get a grip!!
Do you want to get divine punishment and have your crown pierced by lightning?
Quitting being a saint is right!
I need to survive first!
"It's done."
I carefully handed the baby back to the guard.
Although I couldn't see what kind of face he was making because of the mask, judging from the slightly leaking sobbing voice and uncontrollably trembling hands, it was obvious what expression the guard had.
"Is she... alright now?"
"Take her to a doctor and have her checked again. She should be healed. She'll grow up healthy and without problems."
"Thank you... Thank you, Saint."
I waved my hand at the guard who spoke with a choked voice.
"Did I use holy power during the treatment?"
"No, you didn't."
"Please testify later during the interrogation. Please make sure to testify that I'm not a saint. Understand?"
"...But aren't you really a saint?"
I'm not! I'm not!!
I'm not a saint!!
Please!
"I don't like being called a saint. I'm not a saint. I'm not worthy of such a title. I want to give up the title of saint. So you need to help me. You understand, right? That I can't use holy power. You need to testify that I'm not a saint."
At my words, the guard seemed to ponder something for a long time and then nodded.
"I'll do as you say."
"I'm counting on you. When is the interrogation?"
"It's a matter of judging whether a saint is an impersonator or not. It's an event where representatives from major orders across the country, as well as representatives from the Magic Tower, the Senate, and the Supreme Court all need to gather, so it's in two months."
"Please, please testify then!"
The guard bowed his head politely at my words and then disappeared from the prison.
I sprawled out leisurely on the bed.
Good.
Now I've secured one more witness.
With this, I'll undeniably fail at being a saint!
The underground prison is comfortable and nice!
I smiled contentedly and sprawled happily on the bed.
With nothing to be tense about, sleep overcame me.
It was a happy sleep.