This Wasn’t an Erotic Game?

Chapter 18
It’s Elixir, Dammit
『 Translator – Divinity 』

The basic fuel needed to operate all sorts of artifacts and magic circles.

Also, a substance that can be synthesized with objects to create all kinds of useful magic materials.

The substance that powers all the trains, cars, trucks, ships, and airships in the Empire.

The source that illuminates the magic lamps that light up the streets of the Empire.

A basic necessity used for heating, cooling, cooking, and even heating bathwater for the common people.

And even at this moment, a substance that mages are researching with blood, sweat, and tears, constantly expanding its uses.

That is elixir.

I’m no expert on economics.

But even I know how valuable and sought-after elixir is.

It’s absolute value itself, surpassing even gold.

The reason why only the currencies of the Arcal Empire and the desert kingdom of Tramata in the west are recognized as key currencies throughout the continent is because only these two countries produce elixir, and therefore, elixir can only be purchased with the currencies used in these two countries.

Anyway.

It’s ridiculously expensive and ridiculously useful.

I knew that if you could get your hands on it, becoming rich was only a matter of time.

But why?!

Why is it gushing out from the middle of an abandoned factory in the slums of the capital?! Why?!

I mean, does this make any sense?

If there was an elixir spring in the middle of the capital, there’s no way they wouldn’t have discovered it, right?

Elixir is incredibly valuable!

It’s a substance that everyone is desperately searching for!

It doesn’t make sense that it was in the middle of the capital, and they couldn’t find it until now!!

“This is strange, witch. Why wasn’t this elixir spring discovered until now?”

“The mana absorption stone was truly… truly massive. I’ve never seen a mana absorption stone this big before. It seems like the stone was absorbing all the mana fluctuations from the elixir, so no one could discover the spring. Elixir spring exploration basically relies on detecting the subtle mana fluctuations rising from the ground.”

“Oh, Grace. Grace! Witch, what’s the estimated amount in the spring?”

“We’ll need to conduct a more detailed survey to know for sure, but… judging by the amount gushing out and the mana concentration within it, there must be at least 100 billion barrels. And that’s a conservative estimate. It’s likely to be much more. The larger the elixir reserves, the higher the mana concentration and the easier it is to process. This has the highest mana concentration of any elixir I’ve ever seen.”

Everyone looked at me simultaneously.

I felt like dying inside.

But I couldn’t let my face show it, could I?

I forced a smile.

“It’s a miracle.”

“Ahhh, Saint!! As expected, you knew!!”

“I wondered why you were buying that useless land!”

“You must have seen greatness beneath the trash and waste, the crumbling factory! Saint! Thank you!!”

Stop talking to me.

This world seems determined to see divine punishment rain down on my head.

In an instant, I became the great Saint who performed another miracle.

No!!

I want you guys to fail!!

Why is your business booming?!

I want you to curse me out as a useless saint and leave!

That’s the only way I can quietly disappear and avoid being struck by lightning!!

“But how are we going to monetize the elixir gushing out like that?”

“That’s right. No one here has the technology to handle elixir.”

“And no one has experience running a company.”

While everyone was troubled, my gaze was fixed on one person.

Yes!!

It wasn’t over yet!!

I had Jonathan Karma, the legendary trash businessman who ruined a doll factory!!

You could ruin a business even with elixir as your product!! Absolutely!!

“Don’t we have Mr. Jonathan Karma?”

At my words, everyone looked at Jonathan Karma.

Thanks to my Body Modification, his skin was clear, but he was still wearing shabby clothes, making it hard to see him as a successful businessman.

It was obvious.

Seeing him like this at his age, he must be someone with no business sense.

Besides, doesn’t he look exactly like Scrooge?

With his obsession with money, he looks like he could embezzle and commit breach of trust as easily as breathing!!

Perfect!!

Breach of trust! Embezzlement!! Incompetence!!

He’s exactly the kind of talent I need!!

“This must also be the guidance of the Goddess. Mr. Jonathan Karma, please establish a company and process and sell the elixir. I’m sure you can do it. I believe in you. I don’t want anyone else. I believe you are the chosen one for this moment.”

I spoke clearly, as if to make sure everyone heard me.
That way, when he ruins the company later, everyone will blame me!!

The moment it fails, the incompetent, corrupt, shitty saint will be complete!

Everyone will curse me out and leave, and then I’ll be safe from the Goddess’s wrath!!

At my words, Jonathan Karma trembled as if moved.

“…Fate is truly ironic. When you strive and struggle so much, it pushes you into hell, but when you give up on everything, it gives you this kind of opportunity. Perhaps this is what they mean when they say you have to be alive to seize opportunities, no matter how miserable and terrible things are.”

Jonathan Karma rose from his seat.

And he bowed respectfully to me.

“This is the new life you have given me, Saint. I swear on my life that I will succeed. I will make you the richest man in the Empire.”

I smiled with satisfaction.

Alright.

Look at his bluffing attitude.

It’s obvious that he’s just trying to reassure me before he ruins everything.

The richest man in the Empire?

Isn’t that exactly the kind of line scammers love to use?!

Perfect.

Mr. Scrooge.

Please go and ruin it quickly.

Just like you ruined your doll factory.

“It’s okay even if you fail. No matter how many times you fail, I will continue to employ you. Because this is a bond formed by the guidance of the Goddess.”

I’m laying the groundwork beforehand, saying that even if he fails, I’ll keep him employed until you all leave me.

I’ll keep him employed even if High Priest Yodel dies from frustration and anger.

Good job, Jonathan Karma.

Ruin the finances of the Lilia Church.

At my words, tears welled up in Jonathan’s eyes.

“I will… I will surely succeed, Saint. As you wish… I will.”

Yes, yes.

Go ahead and ruin it.

I smiled with satisfaction and approached Jonathan Karma, giving him a tight hug.

Fortunately, there was still a chance to avoid being struck by the Goddess’s wrath and dying, despite all the misfortune.

***

After the conversation, the Saint went back to healing the poor.

The Saint continued to heal people endlessly without rest.

He showed no signs of fatigue and always had a smile on his face.

Watching the Saint quietly heal people, it felt like a halo was emanating from his head.

That is a true saint.

Not just someone who heals people’s bodies, but someone who also soothes their hearts and souls.

Jonathan Karma, after gazing at the Saint’s back with a reverent expression for a while, began to move.

“Witch, may I have a word with you?”

First, Jonathan approached Erpa.

“I believe you heard what the Saint just said. Could you spare a moment? Please come to my house.”

“Of course.”

Erpa readily followed Jonathan to his house.

It was a shabby house, but Jonathan wasn’t ashamed at all.

He knew he could leave this kind of house at any time now.

“This is my wife, Oliviera, and my daughter, Cecilia.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Erpa, a witch from the Magic Tower.”

The four of them exchanged polite greetings and sat around the living room.

Jonathan explained the task the Saint had given him, and Oliviera and Cecilia nodded enthusiastically.

“Of course!! We should definitely do it! Definitely!!”

“Let me help you, Dad. I’ll help too. I’ll do my best for the Saint!”

Seeing the two women passionately exclaiming, Jonathan nodded.

“I knew you would. The Healing Saint has healed us all. He didn’t just heal our bodies, but our souls as well. We have a duty to repay his grace. Let’s all be grateful for this opportunity.”

Erpa was curious at Jonathan’s words.

“Did the Healing Saint heal your illness as well, Mr. Jonathan?”

“He healed my daughter’s illness.”

Jonathan calmly explained what had happened to Erpa. Erpa couldn’t hide her surprise.

“The Rotting Plague is known to be incurable, but to cure such a disease…”

“We spent all our family’s assets, trying all sorts of medicines and treatments, but all we could do was slow the spread of the Rotting Plague throughout her body and reduce its contagiousness. But he eradicated such a disease with a single gesture. I will definitely repay the grace the Saint has bestowed upon me.”

Jonathan said, then looked at Erpa.

“We need various technologies to process elixir. The best option is to recruit talented individuals from the Magic Tower who have extensive research experience in elixir-related fields. I believe Lady Erpa is capable of making such recommendations.”

“Of course. The Mars branch of the Magic Tower has many people with expertise in elixir-related technologies. Even Tower Master Oergen himself is one of the top three experts in the continent when it comes to precision elixir processing.”

“Perfect! Please arrange a meeting with them. I’d like to scout them from the Magic Tower and hire them as researchers for our company, but if that’s not possible, I’d like to at least form a technological partnership. I trust that Lady Erpa will be able to persuade them.”

“Leave it to me. I’ll do my best to help.”

“Good. Please just do that. My wife, daughter, and I will handle the rest.”

“Handling elixir requires dealing with enormous sums of money. Are you sure you can handle it? Should I recommend some professional managers or business experts?”

Jonathan Karma smiled at Erpa’s words.

“I know Tower Master Oergen. I used to meet with him often when I was younger. When you return today, ask him about me. He will tell you what kind of people we are.”

Erpa was intrigued by his words.

After her meeting with the Karma family, she returned to the Magic Tower and headed straight to the Tower Master’s office.

She mentioned Jonathan Karma’s name and asked who he was.

“Jonathan Karma. Hahaha!! It’s been a while! How do you know that name, Erpa?”

Erpa relayed the story she heard from Jonathan to the Tower Master.

The Tower Master was even more surprised.

“His daughter had the Rotting Plague… Oh dear. What an unfortunate life he must have led.”

“What kind of person is he?”

“If it weren’t for that terrible misfortune, he would be the richest man in the Empire by now.”

Oergen burst into laughter.

“He’s a self-made legend who built one of the top three largest distribution networks in the Empire from nothing, starting as a poor street beggar. Twenty years ago, there wasn’t anyone involved in business who didn’t know the name Jonathan Karma.”