Chapter 27
Let's quickly summarize my position.
I was in a position where I needed to quit being a saint as soon as possible.
But this part was very delicate.
If I did blatantly shitty things like rape, murder, arson?
People would leave me, sure.
But I might get burned at the stake by the masses who felt betrayed, or receive some divine punishment from the goddess who was pissed off that I tarnished the order's name.
So as much as possible.
Without further provoking the goddess' anger.
I needed to create a situation where the public naturally distanced themselves, saying, "That guy was kind, but he's really fucking stupid and incompetent."
"Please pay wages to the Magic Tower researchers. And all the costs of moving their labs!! Let the Lilia Order bear all of it!"
So today too, I was running around trying to bankrupt the order.
Elixir was gushing out abundantly, but it was still in the early stages.
If there was any possibility of bankruptcy, it was only now.
Somehow, I needed to increase expenditure and dry up the funding in the beginning.
Anyway, High Priest Yodel was a yes-man.
He was the type who would eat shit with a smile if I told him to.
"Of course! We will do so! Saint!!"
But the mages and witches said they wouldn't accept money even when offered.
"Didn't we say we're doing this to repay the debt we owe to Miss Erpha? We can't accept such money."
"Moreover, it's not that expensive since we can just move the entire lab through spatial movement. Just keep it."
"Instead, the more research funds you give us, the better."
So I tried to give them as much research funding as possible.
Because I need to bankrupt the order!!
"How much do you need for research funds? How much would be good?"
"Well... my research funds were about 7,000 saleds a year, but..."
"30,000 saleds. Pay 30,000 saleds per person."
The researchers were surprised at those words.
"Do you have the capacity to give that much money?"
I don't know!!
I'm just trying to dry up the funding by spending as much money as possible!!
"It's entirely possible, Saint. We've already secured many business partners during the two months you were in prison. We can easily pay 30,000 saleds per person."
Jonathan Karma!!
You uselessly competent person!
What kind of trolling is this!?
After saying that with a smile, Jonathan extended his hand towards the researchers.
"Of course, if Karma Company secures its own elixir refining technology, the profits will increase even more. Naturally, the research funds will also increase explosively. Depending on how excellent your research is, you'll receive more or less research funds."
"The Mars Magic Tower is considered one of the best Magic Towers among all Magic Towers across the continent. We won't disappoint you. Elixir research is what we do for a living."
So, on the condition of paying 30,000 saleds per year to the researchers, they became resident researchers at our temple.
But I was still anxious.
I was still hungry!!
It was elixir.
It wasn’t just anything, it was elixir! Elixir!!
The thing called blue gold was gushing out abundantly from under the temple right now!!
No.
I needed to make them spend more money!!
I called Jonathan Karma's daughter, Cecilia.
Wouldn't the young and inexperienced Cecilia mess things up faster than her experienced father Jonathan?
"Demolish the shacks in the slums and create a large-scale housing complex. We'll have the people from the slums live there. We can't keep letting them sleep on the streets forever, can we?"
"Ah! That's absolutely right! I was thinking about it too."
"They'll be heartbroken about their homes being demolished. Give them ample compensation. 10 saleds each. Pay 10 saleds per person. And use the people from those slums to rebuild the houses! Pay them 1 saled per day for wages. And after the houses are built, the cost of living there should be low too. Only charge 1 saled per month for rent."
"We'll do that, Saint!"
"And. The roads in the slums are too dirty. Tear up the roads completely and build proper new roads there. They should be made like the roads in front of the Imperial Palace!"
"We'll do that! Saint!!"
"And. We need more restaurants and bathhouses. True grace comes from eating properly and resting properly. Expand the bathhouses. Plan a large-scale restaurant district and build restaurants! Of course, all the costs of building the restaurants should be borne by Karma Company! And charge the minimum rent to the people running the restaurants too. Charge the absolute minimum you can!"
"We'll only charge 1 saled per month! The same as others!"
And...
What else is there?
Ah. Right.
That's it.
"Set up a school. Children need to study. While demolishing the slums on a large scale, build a school, hire teachers there, and have them teach the children. Children should receive education, not labor. Of course! All education costs should be free! Karma Company should bear all the costs involved!"
"We'll implement that too! Saint!!"
Right!
I've got a good idea!!
A plan to waste money!!
Nothing wastes money like art!!
"Also, hire a large number of painters to paint murals on the newly expanded streets. Beautiful religious paintings will calm people's hearts. Don't skimp on money and hire only the best artists to paint!!"
"We'll do that as well!"
"Increase the scale of the free soup kitchens! And make sure there's at least one meat side dish per day! Connect with the best butcher shops and provide the highest quality meat generously! Grace dwells in the body when you eat well!"
"Of course! We'll do that!"
"I'll be watching. You must accomplish everything. You can't miss even one thing I've instructed. Do you understand?"
"Yes! Saint!"
Good.
This should be enough to bankrupt even Karma Company.
While I was sighing in relief.
Cecilia disappeared into the Magic Tower with an enthusiastic expression.
At best, she was a young lady in her mid to late 20s.
She wasn’t Jonathan Karma.
How well could such a child do business?
Please. Please, I beg you, mess things up big time!!
***
Cecilia felt her heart racing.
She was a woman who felt joy when doing business.
And somehow, the Saint knew this and entrusted her with the work where she could shine the most.
Her head, equipped with a genius business sense, started spinning at a terrifying speed.
She went to find her mother and father and told them what the Saint had ordered her to do.
And immediately.
A budget was allocated.
"We've already signed elixir trading contracts with large-scale factories on the outskirts of the capital. We signed a month ago, and today. The money was deposited. How does the Saint know and give orders right away!? Grace truly watches over him!"
"It's what the Saint ordered. We must not fail. Cecilia."
"Of course!!"
100,000 saleds. That was the amount allocated to Cecilia.
But she was confident.
Confident that she could accomplish everything the Saint had instructed her with just this amount.
First, she went to the district offices in charge of the 50th, 51st, and 52nd districts where the slums were located.
"You're going to lay new roads, install magic lamps, demolish the shacks in the slums and build new houses, build schools, and set up bathhouses and restaurant districts?"
"Yes. The Emperor clearly declared at the beginning of this year that he would create a country where people could smile. Shouldn't you civil servants follow that directive? How much budget is allocated to the district office? I want to reorganize the three slum districts in conjunction with that budget."
"...The country has long since given up, miss. There's virtually no budget allocated to the three slum districts. There's no money coming in except for our civil servant salaries."
"How can that be!! I cannot stand by and watch this! Who is the highest-ranking civil servant in charge of the capital's urban planning?"
"...It's Marquis Rumpelt."
Cecilia immediately left the slums that day.
She entered the 10th district where the capital's nobles and upper class lived, and immediately spent part of the 100,000 saled budget she received from her mother to buy an expensive dress and carriage.
Before his string of misfortunes led to bankruptcy, Jonathan Karma was a very wealthy man. Naturally, Cecilia also knew many people in the 10th district and upper society. One of them was Baroness Drong. She immediately put on the dress, got in the carriage, and went to see Baroness Drong.
"Oh my!! You need to meet Marquis Rumpelt to accomplish the Saint's great work? What a wonderful coincidence! There's a poetry recital this afternoon, and he's supposed to come!!"
The sensitive Baroness Drong was moved by Cecilia's circumstances and actively agreed to follow her plan.
In the end, Cecilia was able to attend the poetry recital that afternoon and meet Marquis Rumpelt.
After beautiful and elegant poems had richly stimulated their sensibilities and all the nobles gathered were filled with emotion.
"May I have your attention for a moment?"
Baroness Drong clapped her hands to focus everyone's attention.
"We have a special guest here today. Do I need to say much? It's Lady Cecilia, who works under Saint Amael, the Saint of Healing whom the members of the Senate and Supreme Court all witnessed. She said she came here today to accomplish the Saint's great work. Please welcome her with applause."
Amidst the applause, Cecilia stood up and gave a polite greeting according to etiquette.
As befitting someone who had received high-class education since childhood, her etiquette was flawless.
"I express my gratitude to Baroness Drong for arranging this occasion. The beautiful poetry has truly enriched our hearts. However, there is one way to enrich our hearts even more than poetry. Today, I wish to share that method with you all."
Cecilia knew exactly what kind of tone and attitude upper-class people would like.
With precisely that tone and attitude, she continued speaking.
"There is a child who can't move because of hunger. There is a child whose toes have fallen off because they have no shoes. There are those who wander the streets having lost hope. There is a mother who breastfeeds for milk that doesn't come out, and a child starving to death in her arms because they can't eat. There are those living lives like trash, like filth and dregs. And there is someone who sympathizes with and loves such people, dedicating his life among them."
Cecilia rolled up her sleeve and showed everyone.
"As some of you may know, I, too, was once one of those pieces of trash. I had the rotting disease. When I was dying in agony. He saved me with a miracle. He treats all others the same way. You can help fulfill the great will of such a great saint."
Cecilia looked at Marquis Rumpelt.
"At the beginning of this year, His Majesty the Emperor stated that the goal for the new year was to create a country where all imperial citizens can smile. Please allocate a budget for the purification of the three slum districts. This is the path of following the August imperial edict, and an opportunity to leave a brilliant achievement of contributing to the purification of the three slum districts that no civil servant has been able to accomplish. Also."
She looked at the many noble women and men around her.
"When you and your families are sick. When you suffer from curse-like illnesses that can't be cured no matter how much money and effort you spend. The Saint will remember your contributions and grant you the miracle of healing without discrimination. We have 100,000 saleds in funds received from Karma Company. But this alone is not enough to accomplish the great work the Saint has commanded."
Cecilia bowed her head politely.
"For human dignity. To follow His Majesty's edict. For achievement as a civil servant. Or even just out of compassion or to experience the miracle of the Saint of Healing. The three slum districts need your help. Please remember the words of the ancient sage who said to give when you can give."
Cecilia's words ended.
And as soon as her words ended, Baroness Drong, with tears in her eyes, started applauding.
Along with her, other nobles started applauding too.
"My son... has been unwell since birth. Until now I couldn't believe, but now that he's a saint recognized by the Pantheon, I think I can believe. Could I possibly speak to the Saint of Healing? Of course, I will repay with donations as much grace as I receive."
"I have some spare funds, and I'd like to donate that money. Miss Cecilia."
"A new saint after 300 years. I'd like to meet him. I'll donate part of the amount I can manage as an offering. How noble."
A long line of donations and offerings followed.
And the most important person.
Marquis Rumpelt also stood up with a moved expression.
"I will personally go and speak to His Majesty the Emperor. Miss Cecilia. The purification of the three slum districts has long been one of His Majesty's long-cherished projects. But he had given up because nothing changed no matter how much money was poured in... We can't miss this opportunity. I will organize a large-scale budget to help Karma Company."
A smile appeared on Cecilia's lips.
"Thank you, Marquis Rumpelt."
"This much is only natural for a saint who has newly appeared after 300 years. Rather, I am grateful. To be able to achieve such a feat in my later years. I can't hide my contented smile."
Everyone laughed.
And Marquis Rumpelt kept his promise.
Three days later.
By the Emperor's order, a budget of 4.2 million saleds and large donations of 300,000 saleds collected from various noble families were generously provided for the purification of the three slum districts.
Cecilia joyfully informed the Saint of this fact.
"Truly... truly joyful, Miss Cecilia."
The Saint shed tears upon hearing this news.
He shed tears while his body trembled.
Those tears must be tears of joy.
Cecilia hugged the Saint tightly.
"I will change the three slum districts beyond what you said. Rejoice! Saint!!"