This Isn’t an E*otic Game?

{The doubters gathered around the prophet and asked,

"Why is there a divide between the rich and the poor? Is it a curse? Is it the will of the goddess?"

The prophet answered them, saying,

"The wealthy are blessed, but their blessing exists so they may care for the poor."

The doubters laughed and replied,

"Then why do the rich cause suffering to the poor? Is this also the will of the goddess?"

The prophet answered, saying,

"In the absence of the saint, they selfishly use their blessings for themselves, but when the saint comes, their blessings will truly be used for the poor. The saint moves hearts; you will know this by his words and actions."}

Grace Scripture, Chapter 13, Verse 9 -

_____________________________________

I was tirelessly treating people again today.

At this point, I had resigned myself to my fate.

At any moment now, lightning could strike me down from the heavens.

But there was nothing I could do.

Run away?

They’d chase me. There are miracles for tracking, like that damn "Tracking the Soul" miracle.

I asked High Priest Yodel about it recently, and apparently, that miracle can track someone even if they change their face.

Fuck!

Trying to bankrupt the church doesn’t work either.

Every time I try to ruin things, they end up going better than expected.

I even considered beating people up to scare them away, but then I started thinking, What if the people I beat up turn out to all be heretics or criminals?

It sounds insane, but given the absurd crap I’ve been through, it’s not impossible.

Should I try something crazy?

Would that make people leave me?

Like stripping naked, dancing around, harassing women—things like that...

But then the goddess, who’s probably already preparing to strike me with lightning for tarnishing her name, would undoubtedly unleash all her fury directly on me.

Goddammit!

I need something natural.

Something that won’t get me burned at the stake.

Something that won’t anger the goddess further but will make people dislike me enough to leave me on their own.

Smoothly and subtly.

Isn’t there anything?

"Saint, may I make a request?"

While I was busily treating the poor, Cecilia quietly approached me and spoke.

Cecilia.

You betrayed me.

A young woman in her twenties, a rich daddy’s girl—shouldn’t she be useless by default?

She should be saying things like, "I spent 100 saleds on a luxurious dress today! Hohoho!"

That’s what’s normal.

Why aren’t you messing things up?

I don’t even have the energy to be angry anymore.

"Speak."

"To secure the budget for revitalizing the three slum zones… I used your name, Saint. I told them you would treat the nobles’ sick family members. And now, some noble families want to meet you."

"I see."

"These are people with children who’ve been frail since birth or who suffer from illnesses no miracle or divine magic has been able to cure. If it’s alright, could you extend your grace to them as well?"

Hold on.

As I listened, an idea suddenly hit me.

The Corrupt Saint!

Yes!!

If I become a corrupt saint, it’s only natural to abandon the poor and focus on visiting the nobles!

If I cling to noble families and only treat their illnesses, the poor will naturally think, That bastard only helps people with money. That greedy pig! And they’ll leave me on their own!

Perfect!! This is a flawless plan!

Cecilia, I take back what I said about you betraying me.

Thanks to you, I’ve found a way out!!

"I will go. Lead me to those who seek healing."

Cecilia’s face lit up with joy.

"Understood!!!"

Yes!!

If I’m going to play the role of the corrupt saint, it’s only right to cling to the rich, indulging in luxury and feasting!

Finally, I can escape the lightning-strike ending!!

****

"Welcome, Healing Saint."

Count Lebaton was the picture of a well-maintained, affluent middle-aged man. His face exuded the dignity of wealth and refinement.

Beside him stood a lady of equally noble bearing, her serene smile directed at me.

"I am Jericho Amayel. You may simply call me Amayel."

"No, that would be too discourteous. I fear it might bring dishonor to the Grace Church."

"Shall we begin with the meal, then?"

The living legend of the automotive industry.

The owner of Lebaton Corporation.

The man who inherited his father’s car manufacturing business and turned it into the empire’s leading automobile company was now cutting his steak before my eyes.

I joined the couple for the meal they had meticulously prepared, occasionally posing questions to them.

"Who is the person I am to treat?"

"My… son."

"And what ails him?"

The couple hesitated, reluctant to answer.

"Why don’t we discuss it after the meal? Business matters aren’t suitable for the dinner table… hoho!" the Countess said with a light laugh.

Something felt off.

Ordinarily, when requesting treatment for a patient, people would rush me to the sick person as soon as I arrived. This delay hinted at something unusual.

I placed my fork and knife down.

"Show me the patient first."

"Saint…"

"I want to see the patient first."

Faced with my insistence, the Lebaton couple exchanged glances. Realizing there was no point in hiding it, they bowed their heads and rose from their seats.

"First… let me be clear about one thing. My son did not fall ill."

"Then what happened?"

They hesitated again, the Count clenching his fists and bowing his head. After a long pause, he finally confessed, as though spitting out the words.

"Three years ago, my son Henry hanged himself. A servant found him just in time to save him, but since then, he has been in a coma and hasn’t woken up."

"We’ve tried everything. We summoned every renowned priest and tried every medicine available. But nothing worked. Saint…"

"The priests of the Solar Church even claimed… that our son doesn’t want to recover, which is why miracles won’t work. It’s been so… unbearably painful. Saint, please, save our son."

The weight of their story made the steak I had just eaten sit heavily in my stomach.

Suicide?

It wasn’t even a physical illness but an attempted suicide?

What kind of situation was this?

Well, they asked, so I’d help, but…

Whatever.

I’m supposed to be playing the role of a corrupt saint who clings to the rich anyway, right?

Just dive in.

I’ll heal him, boost my name among the nobility, and become the exclusive healer for aristocrats!

"Lead the way."

"Thank you, Saint."

I followed the couple to their son’s room.

****

After three years of immobility, Henry’s condition was ghastly.

He looked like a shriveled mummy, barely breathing.

"Step aside."

The maids and servants, who had been carefully turning his body and cleaning him to prevent bedsores, left the room at my command.

I placed my hand on Henry’s head and accessed the customization window to assess his condition.

Part of his brain was completely blackened, as if it had died.

Well, no problem.

While brain surgery would be an immensely complex task in reality, my skills came with incredible enhancements, allowing even a medical ignoramus like me to handle such cases.

[Would you like to restore?]

How thoughtful of the system to lay it all out for me.

Without these enhancements, how else could I have kept up the saintly act all this time?

Piece of cake.

Let’s fix this.

[Restoration in progress!]

The blackened, dead portion of his brain was fully restored.

While I was at it, I also fixed up the rest of his body.

I built up his muscles, rejuvenated his dull and withered skin, and restored his hair and other physical features.

Thirty seconds later.

[Brain restoration complete!]

Henry was perfectly restored.

Slowly, he opened his eyes.

I stepped back from him.

"Ah! Oh, Lilia!"

"Saint, thank you! Thank you so much!!!"

As the Lebaton couple wept tears of gratitude, their joy was abruptly shattered by a sharp voice.

"Why are you in my room?! Why?!"

Henry’s harsh tone shattered the previously harmonious atmosphere.

Turning to him, I saw tears streaming down his face, filled with hatred and resentment.

"Get out! Get out of here! I don’t want to see you! Leave!"

At Henry’s outburst, Count Lebaton looked at his son with a heavy expression.

"Henry, you’ve been bedridden for three years. Thanks to the Saint’s help, you’ve finally woken up."

"I don’t care! Why did you save me?! Why?! I wanted to die! I did it because I couldn’t bear living with disgusting bastards like you! Why did you save me?! Why?!"

Uh…

What is this mood?

The Countess began shedding tears of sorrow instead of joy, and the Count looked up at the ceiling, at a loss for what to do.

"I hate you! I despise you all!!! Get out! Get out!!!!"

Henry’s shouting filled the room.

This is bad.

If I just leave now, saying, Your son is healed, I’m off, no other nobles will call for me.

And if left unchecked, he might try to kill himself again.

It seemed like I’d have to offer some aftercare as well.

"Henry."

"And who the hell are you, you bastard?!"@@novelbin@@

What lovely manners for a first meeting.

Still, I had to endure it.

These were my customers, after all.

"Calm down."

"Do you really think I’m going to cal—"

[Skill: Absolute Hypnosis activated!]

"Calm down."

At my words, Henry immediately fell silent.

I looked straight at him and gave another command.

"Why do you heap such insults upon the parents who gave you life and saved you? I want to know the reason."

Henry glanced down at his body, his face filled with shock and confusion, but the effect of Absolute Hypnosis was absolute.

"My father never once acknowledged me. I’ve always wanted to pursue music. Only when I composed and played did I feel alive. But every time, my father scolded me. He told me to stop wasting time on worthless things and focus on inheriting the family business."

As he spoke, tears streamed down Henry’s face.

Count Lebaton let out a deep, frustrated sigh.

"One day, after a big argument, I went out drinking. When I returned, I found that all the instruments in my room and my compositions had been burned. My father told me to get my act together and prepare to inherit the family business. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I…"

"You pitiful fool! You weak, useless fool! How could you even think of hanging yourself?! Your mother hasn’t slept properly since that day! She’s had to take medicine just to get by! This is all your fault! Your weak and useless nature caused all of this!"

At the Count’s words, Henry’s voice rose as well.

"That’s exactly why I wanted to die! Father, you’re a monster! You never saw me as a person, only as a tool to inherit your business! I hate you! I regret being born as the son of a monster like you!"

"You insolent brat!"

Count Lebaton raised his hand to strike him.

Damn it.

This wasn’t the scene I was aiming for.

But there was no other choice.

If I’d taken the job, I had to follow through.

[Skill: Absolute Hypnosis activated!]

I focused and cast hypnosis on Count Lebaton.

Then, I made a very simple adjustment.

[Maximizing honesty levels!]

"You’re the most precious thing in the world to me! I love you more than my own life, Henry! The past three years without you were hell!!!"

The Count, who had been ready to slap his son, suddenly broke down in tears and collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

Henry.

And the Countess.

Both stared in shock at the weeping Count.