Chapter 59
The news of the Saint's disappearance spread instantly throughout the capital.
Everyone was surprised and showed various reactions.
"We must find him! We must find him!!"
There were those who wanted to search.
"Why? Why did he leave?"
There were those who had questions.
"Did you hear anything?"
And there were people who went to ask questions to those who could be considered his close associates.
Erpha.
The two princesses.
And people started coming to ask Grand Priest Yodel and Jonathan Karma.
But all their answers were always consistent.
"The Saint has gone to fulfill the mission entrusted to him."
"You should go back and live your own lives."
"Don't forget the Saint's will and always live while giving."
"That's all we can do."
"Don't try to find him. It will only interfere with one carrying out their mission."
Even after hearing such answers, they couldn't stop everyone who wanted to find the Saint.
"We must find him!!"
"He must lead us!!"
Some holy knights and priests from the Pantheon united to form an expedition to find the Saint, and people from the slums started pooling money to inquire about the Saint's whereabouts.
Grand Priest Yodel and Jonathan Karma personally came out to tell people not to search for the Saint, but people didn't listen.
While some people were busy searching for the Saint like this, others had completely different thoughts about the Saint's disappearance.
"He will return someday."
"As long as the Goddess doesn't abandon us, She will never let him be separated from us."
"Let's work hard to fulfill his will for when he returns!!"
People started to appear who were doing their best in their own places and living more diligently.
Most people in the slums now had faith in Lilia, so they prayed to the Goddess every day to protect the Saint and return him someday, while living each day diligently.
And there were people trying to do something even bigger with such a mindset.
"You're saying you want to donate the Three Primary Colors Research to Karma Company for free?"
"Yes."
Jonathan Karma shook his head at the sight of Erpha standing before him.
"I can't use such valuable research without royalties."
"Please accept it. I know Karma Company is a company that moves for the Saint's will. I came hoping to be of even a little help to that company."
"But..."
"There are still many workers suffering from low wages and excessive working hours. I hope Karma Company can become a place that can take care of such people."
Jonathan Karma pondered Erpha's words for a moment and then accepted the Three Primary Colors Research she handed over.
"Research related to magic efficiency and power amplification... From improving the fuel efficiency of magic engines, the possibilities for application are endless. Thank you, Miss Erpha. With this research, I will surely fulfill the Saint's will."
Jonathan Karma clenched his fist.
Infinitely generated and gushing elixir.
And the Three Primary Colors Research that allowed for more efficient handling of that elixir.
With the combination of these two, he planned to create a massive corporate group.
And he had already decided on a name for such a corporate alliance.
Eleos Group.
One who has compassion.
A corporate alliance created to spread his will.
Everything needed was in hand.
Now all that remained was to make the dream a reality with these weapons.
"Could you come over to the temple occasionally? I think there will be a lot to discuss about the practical application of the Three Primary Colors Research."
"Of course. For the Saint, gladly."
"For the Saint."
Jonathan and Erpha thus became collaborators.
It was a moment when Karma Company's potential became even more formidable.
***
"Almene, it hasn't been long since your body recovered..."
Almene and Iomene were also doing their own work.
"I need to study. Iomene has the White Order, but I have nothing. I need to quickly increase my political knowledge. I've taken too long a break from studying, Mother. There's no time to play. I must grow too in preparation for when the Saint returns someday."
Almene started studying law, as well as the history and geography of neighboring countries, science, and magic.
Seeing her call in numerous royal scholars and study to the point of nosebleeds with terrifying concentration, the Emperor and Empress felt both worried and proud.
"Alright. If that's your heart, I'll help you. Starting tomorrow, attend the state council meetings with me. How about learning together by my side how the country operates and functions?"
The Emperor did not view Almene's will negatively at all.
Almene nodded, and from that very day.
Along with her studies, she began learning how to do politics by her father's side.
She started with simple paperwork, but seeing her handle even that simple paperwork with meticulous workmanship, the Emperor and Empress were finally able to ease their concerns a little.
On the other hand, unlike Almene, Iomene did not study by her father's side or learn politics.
She didn't study, didn't learn politics, and didn't learn how to run the country.
Instead, she spent almost all her time at the White Order.
"Teach me martial arts and how to handle divine power."
She was trying to grow in a different way there.
"I will teach you offensive miracles, various martial arts, and how to beat the Evil God and demons. But you must remember. It will be arduous and difficult."
"I don't care."
Iomene's will was firm.
"The Saint went to fight evil. He said he would do it alone, but my strength might be needed someday. So I need to build up my strength in preparation for that time."
The Grand Priest of the White Order.
Miromel smiled at those words.
"As the Holy Woman wishes. I'll teach you all the strongest fighting methods created based on all the knowledge and experience of our order. When everything is finished, the Holy Woman will be stronger than anyone in the order."
A Holy Woman who had tremendous resistance to most curses and black magic from harboring a curse for a long time, and who could even see through beings hiding their identity.
She was a being of tremendous strategic value.
Of course, she had to be nurtured.
"Follow me."
Miromel headed towards the deepest and darkest part of the White Order with Iomene.
Arriving at a huge training ground prepared underground, Iomene soon encountered massive beings training there.
Height well over 2 meters.
Armor so heavy and thick it seemed impossible to move while wearing it.
They were holding gigantic swords, axes, hammers, shields, and massive firearms.
The beings who were training in combat while freely handling cold weapons and artillery stopped when they saw Iomene, then approached her and bowed politely.
"We greet the Holy Woman."
Grand Priest Miromel bursts into laughter as he looks at them lining up orderly before Iomene.
"These are the strongest hunters possessed by the White Order. They are all holy knights and combat priests at the same time, selected from talented young believers and raised for over 10 years with miracles of physical enhancement. They will be the teachers who will teach the Holy Woman from now on, and at the same time your personal guard."
Iomene silently looked at them and then smiled as if satisfied.
"These people, their names?"
Miromel smiled proudly.
"Legiones Ketratus. Dullaneer's finest weapons."
***
Scrap Yard.
A huge factory city that existed to mine the underground mines of the entire city.
As the name suggested, it was a place full of steam engines and metal throughout the city.
A place where extremists lived who rejected all magic, miracles, and faith, and only believed in human technology and machines.
The continent's best producer of magic metals and a gathering place for the best technicians.
A steampunk city.
Perhaps because of that, there was a strong smell of metal in the city.
I had more than enough money to live on for the time being.
I planned to avoid contact with people as much as possible.
I'll just live like a ghost.
As if I'm here but not here.
I didn't plan to indulge in luxury.
Just a small house where I could live like a human.
Minimum groceries to live on.
And I planned to use the gold only to find out if there are any black mages or demon followers around.
But...
"House? There are only two types of houses in this city. Luxury mansions where factory owners live. Or lodgings for common people who live day by day. Which one are you looking for?"
"Both are too much. Isn't there a suitable middle-class house?"
"There was. The factory owners' union tore down most of those houses last month and built new lodgings there. Saying why not when they can cram 10 families into a place where one family used to live."
Hearing the words of the grumpy-looking dwarf grandmother, I got a headache.
What kind of situation is this now?
"If I were to buy a mansion, how much would it cost?"
"It would easily exceed 100,000 saleds. The upper class here aren't just ordinarily rich. They monopolize all the magic metals and technologies that come out of the mines, you know?"
100,000 saleds.
Damn it.
Even if I sold all 10kg of gold I brought, it wouldn't amount to that much money.
"Then the lodgings..."
"There are cheap lodgings from 50 leon a month to luxury lodgings that cost about 3 saleds a month. The luxury lodgings are usually used by technicians who have built up some experience."
There was no choice.
"I'll take the luxury lodging."
I had already exchanged the gold for money at a nearby currency exchange. When I paid with that money, the dwarf grandmother got up from her seat.
"Follow me. The technician lodgings are structured to be right next to the 50 leon cheap lodgings. It's not soundproof and smells come through, so do as you will."
The grandmother immediately guided me to the front of the lodging where I would stay.
"Unlike other cheap lodgings, there's a bathroom and a kitchen where you can cook. The lodging manager will come to collect the monthly rent on the first day of each month. As long as you pay that regularly, you won't be kicked out. Here's the key."
The grandmother coolly handed me the key and then disappeared somewhere.
The sound of a child crying. The sound of a couple fighting somewhere. Even the smell of something being cooked, all shared in this structure.
It was a poor environment reminiscent of a gosiwon.
Well, what can you do?
Sighing, I opened the door with the key and went inside.
A dirty bed.
Conversations heard from all directions due to the poor soundproofing.
There was a kitchen and bathroom, but no joke, it was the smallest bathroom and kitchen in the world.
A cramped and worn-out space crammed into a space of about 4 pyeong, suffocatingly small.
It wasn't what I wanted, but this was the house where I would live from now on.
I unpacked roughly and was about to go out to buy some food when at that moment.
"Aaaaah!! Aah!!"
"You damn laborist bastard! Stand up straight!!"
A terrible scream was heard from one corner of the lodging.
My gaze naturally turned, and there I saw police officers brutally beating a man with clubs and guns.
"You dogs of the factory owners!! Beat me all you want!! The workers' paradise will surely come someday!!"
By the side of the young man with a chilling, fierce energy in his eyes even while being beaten, there was a bloodstained book lying on the ground.
On the cover of the book with a red cover was written the title <On Capital>.
"Capitalism that has prospered by burning human souls and lives will eventually collapse!! The workers' paradise will surely come someday…!! Gaaack!!"
"Take him away!! This damn bastard. Lock him up in the camp and don't let him out until he's re-educated!!"
The police dragged the young man away.
As workers came out of their lodgings one by one at the noisy sound, the police waved the book the young man had been holding at them as if to show off.
"There is no mercy for those who read banned books!! If anyone discovers someone reading this red book, report it immediately!!"
After finishing the fierce warning.
The police disappeared somewhere, dragging the man who had collapsed from the beating.
Ah…
This is a scene I've seen many times before.