This Isn’t an E*otic Game?

"How did you know?"

No.

Wouldn’t it be stranger not to know?

If there were someone performing miracles on such a grand scale without any divine power, it would undoubtedly be suspicious.

It feels like my heart is about to drop.

As I froze, my expression unchanged, Tuidel let out a whistle, as if amazed.

"Not a single change in your expression. Are you really that strong-willed? But nothing will change, no matter how shameless you try to look. A priest without any divine power, parading as a saint, is a very serious matter. Let’s see how well you can hide that in front of the Inquisition."

She laughed, a soft "hohoho."

Once again, I couldn’t help but feel it—not just how she looked but also how she spoke.

It’s so infuriating that I want to slap her.

If it weren’t for the Silent Order priests standing ominously behind her, I might actually hit her.

Anyway, what should I do?

I’ve already been exposed!

Isn’t this a disaster?

I thought I had avoided the stake!!

As I screamed internally.

From afar, I could see a bald old man with a fierce expression. Yodel was charging toward us.

"What in the world is this?! What are the Silent Order inquisitors doing here at the Pantheon?"

At High Priest Yodel’s question, the witch Tuidel laughed and pointed at me.

"High Priest, is it? You’ve been deceived all this time. This man, without any divine power, has been wandering around calling himself a saint."

"I already knew he had no divine power. But this man is indeed the saint of our church."

"I’m sorry, but I simply came to confirm it. According to the Pantheon’s heresy investigation regulations, even if someone is recognized as a saint within their sect, the Pantheon retains the authority to conduct a heresy investigation on them."

Although Tuidel spoke with great confidence, Yodel wasn’t backing down.

"It seems you haven’t read the regulations properly. According to the Pantheon’s rules, the authority to conduct a heresy investigation on an individual is limited to cases where it is clear that the person has caused disputes among various religious groups and society. The saint has never caused any such public controversy. This can be confirmed by the knights and the police of the Sun Order, including myself."

"But how can a saint without divine power even be considered a saint?"

"It is true that he has no divine power. But still, this man is the saint of our church. If he had been a fraud from the beginning, we would have been the first to report him for impersonating a saint, and no actions would have been taken against him."

While Yodel countered without missing a single point, the Silent Order priests standing behind Tuidel exchanged cautious glances, whispered among themselves for a moment, and then stepped forward.

"Do you truly believe this man to be the saint of the Grace Church, High Priest Yodel?"

"I swear on my faith. This man is undoubtedly the saint of Grace."

Old man, you’re going to have to abandon that faith.

Yes, I’m a fraud.

I have no faith, and all the miracles I’ve performed are thanks to my eroge abilities.

These are skills with description windows so disgusting you’d want to vomit and run as soon as you read the first line.

Anyway, I stood frozen, listening to the conversation.

When Yodel took such a firm stance, even the Silent Order priests looked hesitant.

"Miss Tuidel. Of course, it’s absurd to say there’s a saint without divine power, but even so, if the Grace Church, the concerned party, stands firm like this, it would be difficult for us to conduct a thorough heresy investigation."

"Moreover, it’s clear that no social controversies have been caused... so it seems difficult to pursue a heresy investigation."

At the words of the Silent Order priests, Tuidel’s face twisted in anger.

"Have you ever seen people deceived by a fraud report the fraud themselves? Since internal regulation doesn’t work, isn’t it the duty of external oversight? Everyone here could be deceived by black magic disguised as miracles!!"@@novelbin@@

At Tuidel’s words, the poor gathered around me began to express their anger.

"Don’t slander the saint so recklessly!! You witch!!"

"What does that woman know to be complaining like that? The saint is not like that!!"

"Don’t insult the Healing Saint!! Insulting the saint is no different from insulting all of us!!"

Despite the barrage of jeers and anger, Tuidel didn’t bat an eye.

Wow.

She’s truly shameless and irritating.

If this were a novel, wouldn’t she fit perfectly as an extra villainess?

"Isn’t it the Inquisition’s role to suspect and suspect again? What if this man isn’t a Healing Saint but a devil worshiper or an evil god’s follower? What if all the numerous miracles he performed were part of the evil god’s plan? How can a saint without divine power even be a saint? Take him and interrogate him! Surely some flaws will come to light!!"

She used a voice amplification spell, her incredible volume gripping the crowd.

Even the people who had been shouting flinched and retreated momentarily.

I was still standing frozen, my expression unchanged.

"...She’s not wrong. Fundamentally, the Pantheon is where, when a saint appears, it determines if they’re a fraud impersonating a saint. It’s our duty to recognize or punish those who are truly saints. High Priest Yodel."

"I cannot hand him over to you! Do you intend to insult the Grace Church? This man has never caused any public controversies! On the contrary, he is the one who rescues and redeems the abandoned!"

"I understand the will of the Grace Church. It’s also acknowledged that no social controversies have been caused. Even if it’s proven that he’s impersonating a saint, his good deeds would result in only about a year of imprisonment before being released. But he cannot avoid the heresy investigation. High Priest Yodel."

"I refuse!! A hundred times, a thousand times, I refuse!! We will never accept the humiliation of our saint being judged for heresy!..."

I interrupted Yodel and stood up.

I couldn’t hear anything else.

Just now, it became clear!

Didn’t they just say that even if the Silent Order priests proved I’m a false saint, I’d only spend about a year in prison and then be released?

What if I could prove I’m a false saint in exchange for a year in prison and avoid the divine punishment of the goddess—a direct thorny crown to the head?

This is a profitable deal.

A really profitable deal!!

If I live quietly in prison for about a year, by the time I’m out, I’d be officially recognized as a false saint.

The Grace Church wouldn’t have any reason to chase me, even using things like tracking miracles, right?

And even if I’m proven a false saint, it’s true that I’ve saved and healed countless people, so it’s not like they’ll put a bounty on me or hunt me down to kill me, right?

This is just some damn fraudster nonsense, but it’s true I’ve helped people... so let’s forget about it.

Wouldn’t it end just like that?

This is perfect!!

Suddenly, the witch named Tuidel seemed grateful.

I never thought she’d give me a chance to live like this!!

"Take me to the Inquisition. I’ll undergo the heresy investigation."

Yodel jumped at my words.

"Saint!! No!! No!! You are our saint!!"

I’m not!!

I’m really not!!

"I don’t even know the first thing about Lilia’s faith!"

"Before I was reincarnated or now, I’ve never even lived as a believer of any religion!

I’m just some faithless fraud pretending to be the saint of the Goddess!

If this keeps up, I’ll end up dead!

That’s why I need to be dragged to the Inquisition and get declared a fake saint as soon as possible.

I’ll do a year in prison, then use my body modification skills to completely change my face and live a quiet, unnoticed life.

If I change my face completely, no one will ever recognize me!

No divine punishment from the Goddess.

No threat of being burned alive at the stake.

A quiet, normal life.

Ah.

It sounds so good."

"I will comply with the Pantheon’s decision. Take me away and interrogate me. I’ll confess everything."

"No!! Saint!!"

I glared at Yodel.

I finally have a way out, so stop trying to block it!

"This is my will, High Priest Yodel. It’s what must be done."

At my words, High Priest Yodel faltered and stepped back.

"...If that is your will..."

Yes!

Finally, Mr. Always-Says-OK is actually useful!

I extended my hands toward the Silent Order priests.

"Take me to the Pantheon and begin the heresy investigation. I will gladly comply."

At my actions, the poor surrounding me began wailing and collapsing to the ground.

"Saint! Don’t abandon us!! Saint!!"

"No!! You can’t leave! We need you, Saint!!"

"Please, don’t go!!"

Their cries were so loud that I could barely hear anything else.

Even the Silent Order priests, as they cast a restraint miracle on me, hesitated visibly.

Is this really okay?

They seemed uncertain as well.

The only one who looked absolutely delighted was Tuidel.

And silently, I smiled along with her.

Thank you, Tuidel.

Thanks to you, I have an escape route.

Just one year.

I’ll endure just one year.

Then I can reset everything.

No more worrying about divine punishment. No more fearing the stake.

Goodbye forever to all of that.

"Do not depend on me. Depend on the Goddess of Grace. I am only a temporary figure passing through, but the Goddess of Grace will always watch over you. Never!! Never!! Let my departure lead to despair, chaos, or rebellion."

I’m only going to do a year in prison.

Don’t go starting some rebellion and making a mess of things, only for people to say:

"A fake saint caused social turmoil?"

If that happens, I’d end up at the stake.

And I don’t want to go up in flames as my ending.

"Even if I’m gone, continue as you have. Sweep the streets, feed the hungry, clean, and live supporting one another. If you do that, perhaps one day, fate will bring us together again."

That’s just lip service.

We’re not meeting again.

I’m leaving this place forever.

Meeting you was absolutely disgusting, and I never want to see you again.

As I was saying this to the people, I spotted someone rushing toward us in the distance.

Jonathan Karma and his family were running frantically in our direction.

"What is the meaning of this?! This man is no fake saint! He saved my family! This is tyranny! This man is no fraud!!"

Here you are, Mr. Jonathan Karma.

The key to my plan to bankrupt the Lilia Church.

But I don’t need you anymore.

I’m going to get declared a fake saint, rot in prison for a year, and quietly disappear.

Until now, I was all-in on bankrupting the church, but in a year, I’ll be someone who has nothing to do with the Lilia Church.

Now that I’ll be unrelated to it, let’s change the narrative a bit.

Besides, the Lilia Church treated me pretty well.

It doesn’t feel right to let them go bankrupt just because I left an incompetent man in charge for my personal revenge.

"Jonathan. I have one request for you."

"Anything! Anything at all!"

"I feel nothing but guilt for the burden I’ve placed on you. Once I’m gone, if the business doesn’t go well, feel free to walk away immediately."

I know you’re an incompetent fool. This is my polite way of telling you to cut your losses early if it looks like you’ll fail.

He should understand this much.

At my words, Jonathan Karma’s face filled with overwhelming emotion. Tears welled up as he grabbed my hands.

"I swear!! I’ll wait for you here!! I’ll turn the Lilia Church into the wealthiest church in the Empire!! And I’ll wait for you, no matter how long it takes!! Saint!! I swear on my soul and my name! Every coin I earn will be for you and the church!"

No, no, that’s not necessary.

I know you’re incompetent, so if it looks like you’re about to fail, just cut your losses and run.

I’m not going to have anything to do with the Lilia Church in the future anyway.

"I believe in you, Jonathan."

Since it’s the last time, I smiled faintly and gave him some final lip service before allowing myself to be taken away by the Silent Order.

"Saint!! Saint!!"

"Ahhh!! Grace, protect him! Protect your apostle!!"

The overwhelming cheers behind me—today would be the last time I’d ever hear them.

Long live Tuidel!

Long live the Inquisition!

Long live the fake saint!

The Goddess’s divine punishment will never strike my head again!