Chapter 22 - I'm Telling You, I'm no Saint!

In front of the abandoned factory in the slums, under an old and shabby tent.

This was where the board meeting of Karma Company, which had just completed its corporate business registration and was exactly 3 hours old, was in full swing.

The expressions of the people inside the tent were as solemn as could be.

Jonathan Karma's wife, Oliviera, was appointed as the Chief Financial Officer.

Jonathan Karma's daughter, Cecilia, was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer.

Jonathan Karma himself took on the role of Chief Executive Officer.

And various other positions were swiftly assigned to each person based on Jonathan Karma's judgment.

In any organization, one of the most difficult tasks was deciding who should be assigned which role, but Jonathan Karma's personnel decisions were flawless.

All the people here were industry veterans who had worked under Jonathan Karma when he once ran a distribution company.

"I declare at this meeting."

On an old table set up on the worn-out tent.

Jonathan Karma's hand tapped that table.

"We've received 50,000 saleds as startup capital from the Lilia Order. We're still scraping together money in real-time, so it's possible to get even more funds if needed. Outside, there are workers eager to work passionately, and in our hands, we have an elixir source, a business item that cannot fail!! With these conditions, failing is unthinkable."

Jonathan's face no longer showed the visage of an old, sick, and stubborn middle-aged man.

He was exuding the aura of a seasoned veteran who had grown old in the industry.

"I swore to the Saint of Healing, who saved my daughter and family and gave us this incredible opportunity, that I would make the Lilia Order the wealthiest order in the empire!! So let's do what we do best! Let's sell that blue gold and pile up mountains of money! So that the Saint of Healing never has any financial troubles!! So that I can be of even a little help in spreading grace widely! That's what we'll do!!"

Not only Jonathan Karma's family but also his former colleagues who had gathered at his request were looking at Jonathan with awe.

They were the people who had witnessed firsthand how Cecilia's rotting disease had crushed Jonathan's family.

To see Cecilia, who had never been cured despite pouring in all of Jonathan's considerable wealth, transformed so beautifully and working proudly as one of the company's executives.

And Jonathan Karma's behavior and words, as if he had completely changed as a person.

If this wasn't a miracle, what was?

"Well! Let's move! Let's earn money, earn more, and earn even more! We just need to do what we do best! Mirda! Go and secure deals! Toby! Get the rights to use large transport trucks and trains that can transport elixir! Cecilia! Bring technology from the Magic Tower! We must bring a mage with elixir processing technology! Even if it's just a technology alliance!!"

"Understood!!"

Everyone dispersed from the tent.

And they frantically went to do their respective tasks.

Everyone's faces were bright.

After all, a business item that couldn’t fail had fallen into the hands of one of the most seasoned businessmen.

But Jonathan Karma was seeing something even bigger than that.

Elixir was just the beginning.

To make the Lilia Order the wealthiest order in the empire, even bigger businesses were needed.

Placing the elixir business at the center and then using it as a foundation to repeatedly expand into various types of businesses like an octopus, building a huge corporate empire.

And then placing that corporate empire in the hands of the Saint.

That was Jonathan Karma's grand ambition.

***

The two months passed like an arrow.

To be honest, it was really comfortable and good.

Although the solitary cell was small, the time when I could comfortably read books, enjoy meals, sleep, and do simple exercises without worrying about divine punishment or being burned at the stake felt incredibly precious to me.

This was a peaceful life.

Suddenly being called a saint or whatever, did that make sense?

Did it make sense for me to be a saint?

Me, who was selfish and cowardly? 

I hoped to live for a year here and quickly leave. 

"It's today, Mr. Jericho Amael."

After eating the simple but delicious meal delivered early in the morning and while I was exercising, the guard came to fetch me.

Finally, it's today!!

Today, I'll reveal everything completely.

I'm not a saint, I'm just the useless youngest child from a family of prophets, and I don't have any holy power or anything, I'm just an idiot.

But it's true that I saved many people, so please, no more and no less, just give me a one-year sentence in the underground prison and end it.

That was what I was planning to say.

Handcuffs were placed on my wrists, and I followed the priests of the Silent Order with a happy smile.

After walking for a long time.

Inside an enormous circular dome.

An incredible number of people, at least over 100, were surrounding me, and in the very center.

I could see the defendant's stand where I would stand.

Hmm...

How should I describe this?

It was similar to the British Parliament that I often saw on the news.

"Saint!! Saint!!"

"Saint of Healing! We are here!!"

The moment I stepped onto the defendant's stand, I could see a group of people who spotted me shouting.

I could see the priests of the Lilia Order and people from the slums.

I smiled at them.

Right.

This is the last time.

I'm going to stop being a saint from today.

That's why I can smile.

I'm sorry for letting you misunderstand and be mistaken all this time.

You might be disappointed when you learn my true identity after today.

But what can I do?

I don't want to receive divine punishment for impersonating the Goddess's saint.

So even though I've deceived you to some extent, please try to understand a little.

I did heal many of you, after all.

Even if it's revealed that I'm not a saint, you won't try to kill me or burn me at the stake, right?

The Goddess might also overlook this somewhat since I've accumulated good deeds, and if I quit being a saint in this state, it's no longer impersonation. At least, that's what I think.

This is why people should live doing good deeds normally!

Exactly as I wished for!

It's an ideal environment where I can cleanly say goodbye to being a saint while avoiding being burned at the stake or receiving divine punishment!

I will definitely be found guilty of impersonating a saint!

"Are the representatives of the 24 orders of the Pantheon present?!"

As soon as it was confirmed that I had entered the defendant's stand, a priest in black clothes sitting at the judge's bench right in front of me shouted in a loud voice.

At those words, some of the people sitting in the gallery surrounding me stood up.

"The apostles of the gods of the Pantheon are all gathered!!"

"Are the nobles of the Senate present?!"

At those words, another group of people stood up from their seats.

"Those representing the glory of humanity are all gathered!!"

"Are the judges of the Supreme Court present?!"

Another group stood up.

"Those who judge humans are all gathered!!"

"Are those who walk the path of magic present?!"

This time, mages and witches stood up from their seats.

"Those who walk the path of magic have gathered here!!"

Among the many witches and mages, I could see the heaven-sent witch Tudel who had accused me, and Erpha with four arms.

Erpha and Tudel's eyes were fixed on me intently.

"Then we shall begin! What we will judge today is one thing! Whether the man before us is indeed the saint bestowed by Lilia, the Goddess of Grace! Or if he is a heretic impersonating a saint! Everyone be seated!!"

The people who had all stood up at once sat down.

A chilling silence hung over the courtroom.

The judge on the bench looked down at me with an expressionless face.

I swallowed dryly and looked back at him.

"Jericho Amael."

"Yes, that's me."

"First, I'll ask you. Are you truly the apostle of the Goddess of Grace?"

Finally!!

It's finally here!!

I closed my eyes tightly and smiled.

Finally, goodbye my role as a saint that didn't suit me whatsoever.

"I am not an apostle sent down by the Goddess of Grace. Respected Judge, I am no saint."

At those words, murmurs began to spread.

But what did it matter?

I was planning to reveal everything today.

"Are you admitting that you impersonated the Saint of Grace?"

"I have never once said with my own mouth that I am an apostle of grace. I just healed people. At some point, those around me were calling me a saint. Although I didn't intentionally impersonate a saint... if that is considered impersonation, then I did indeed impersonate a saint."

I nodded obediently.

The murmurs grew even louder.

But I had nothing to be afraid of.

"I am too weak, insignificant, and foolish to be called a saint."

Honestly, compared to the isekai reincarnators I had seen in other novels or anime, I was really a useless existence.

Was I good at fighting?

Were my reincarnation skills outstanding?

Or Was I extremely smart or something?

I was really just an ordinary human with nothing special.

"What was your reason for healing people despite not being a saint of God?"

At the judge's words, I looked at the witches.

More precisely, I looked at the four-armed witch Erpha.

Hmm.

Honestly, that bastard is a complete villain!!

She was trying to burn down the empire!!

I saw it clearly with these two eyes in my dream!

If I said that, wouldn't there be a possibility that the nuclear bomb witch might become emotionally agitated and explode again?

Of course, she seemed to have become much more mentally stable, but there was no need to take risks.

Let's give a vague answer.

An answer that was neither a lie nor the complete truth.

"Because they were pitiful."

"Pitiful?"

"I saw young children abandoned on the streets without proper treatment. I saw poor people waiting to die day by day without hope. I saw a family falling apart due to their daughter's incurable disease. I felt sorry for them. So I healed them."

It was all true.

It was also something I did to survive by healing that nuclear bomb witch, but it was also true that I wanted to heal many pitiful people.

They were truly unfortunate people who couldn't be seen without tears.

Of course, that didn’t mean I wanted to be roasted by divine punishment.

So my act as a saint ended today.

"Is that the only reason?"

"Yes. I still don't understand why I came to be called the Saint of the Goddess of Grace. I just acted on instinct. I am by no means a saint. I'm just a foolish and stupid person who happened to gain the ability to heal people."

Finally, I looked at the people of the Lilia Order.

They seemed to have received a great shock, as some priests were even kneeling and staring at me blankly.

Especially High Priest Yodel, whose eyes were brimming with tears.

Right.

I understand.

You must have received a great shock.

But what can you do?

This is the truth.

"There are no sacred marks on my body. I've never heard the voice of Goddess Lilia. I'm just an ordinary human who has never read even a single line of the Book of Grace, with no connection to the Goddess."

Finally, I took a long deep breath and exhaled.

"Let me say it clearly once again. I am no saint. I'm just a person who healed the sick and weak. So, Your Honor, please make a wise judgment."

My words ended.

The judge sitting on the bench was quietly conversing with a few priests of the Silent Order, and people continued to murmur while looking at me.

The people of the Lilia Order were all shedding tears.

A bitter yet relieved smile formed on my lips.

Right.

This is correct.

This is the truth.

It might be shocking, but it will all be forgotten as time passes.

I'm sorry for deceiving you all this time, even though it wasn't my intention.

With this, it's goodbye forever...

"Jericho Amael."

The judge on the bench looked at me and smiled slightly.

"Congratulations on passing the first test."

As soon as the judge's words fell, the priests of the Lilia Order shouted in unison, "He would deny his own divinity!! Ah, Saint!!"

"He would come with a pure body!! Isn't it exactly as the scripture says!!"

"He would be ignorant and glorious!! Saint!! Saint!!"

They were shouting towards me with voices far more passionate than before.

They were fanatics incarnate.

Wait a minute, what is this?

What's going on?

I'm telling you, I'm no saint.

I just clearly said so!!

Why are you calling me a saint?!