This Wasn’t an Erotic Game?

Chapter 21
Peaceful Slumber
『 Translator – Divinity 』

After the Healing Saint was imprisoned in the Pantheon’s underground dungeon, the Pantheon summoned the High Priest of the Grace Church, Yodel.

“It’s been a while, Master Yodel. Perhaps because you mainly reside in the southern regions and rarely come to the capital, I almost forgot your face.”

Representatives of 23 out of the 24 churches belonging to the Pantheon sat around a round table, quietly looking at Yodel standing in the center.

“Rules are rules, so I must ask you. If the Healing Saint is a fake, tell us how to determine that.”

“He is not a fake saint. He is the apostle of Grace! I can swear on my faith!”

“I understand. But Yodel, you know the procedure, don’t you? Now that an accusation of heresy has been made, we need to be certain. If he is a true saint, this might actually be a better outcome.”

“Indeed, Yodel. A saint recognized by the Heresy Inquisition is officially listed in the Pantheon’s Saint Registry. He would be the first new saint to appear in 300 years.”

“The first saint in 300 years, and also the first Healing Saint to appear since the establishment of the Grace Church.”

At those words, Yodel sighed and bowed his head.

“…This must also be the guidance of the Goddess. Very well. Based on the Scripture of Grace, I will tell you how a fake saint would act.”

The entire Scripture was already recorded in Yodel’s mind.

He had been with the Church since childhood and had read the Scripture every single day without fail.

“If he were a fake saint, he would act like this.”

Slowly, Yodel explained to the representatives of the 23 churches how to identify a fake saint.

***

Thüdel’s footsteps echoed briskly through the lobby of the Magic Tower.

It was over for Erpa.

A saint who couldn’t even use divine power?

What nonsense was that?

Saint Biedelberg, a famous saint, was said to have always been surrounded by a dazzling golden aura and halo.

An overwhelming divine power, difficult to even measure.

That was practically synonymous with a saint.

But how could someone be a saint without it?

The result of the inquisition was a foregone conclusion.

The saint would be declared a fake, and then the White Church would come after Erpa, who had been saved by that fake saint’s miracle.

That damn spider bitch as the next Tower Master?

There was no way that would happen, not unless she was buried alive.

As Thüdel walked along with a happy expression, someone blocked her path.

Four arms, now openly displayed without any attempt to hide them.

The wide-brimmed witch’s hat hid her face, but there couldn’t be two witches with four arms in the Magic Tower.

Thüdel burst into laughter.

“Oh my! Isn’t it the spider? Were you waiting for… Gah!!”

Thüdel clutched her throat and struggled.

A wand was gripped in the lower right arm of the four.

Slowly, Thüdel’s body rose into the air.

“You… what… is this… doing… Ack!!”

“Thüdel.”

A calm and quiet voice, which made it all the more chilling, came from Erpa’s mouth.

The mana emanating from her body carried terrifying anger.

And the target of that anger was a single person.

Focused solely on Thüdel.

“S-Someone… Ack!!”

Thüdel struggled and pleaded for help from the many mages and witches in the lobby, but no one approached the two.

The next Tower Master.

And the witch who openly hated and envied her, even dragging the White Church into the matter to try and ruin her.

It was obvious whose side they should take.

Thüdel tried to resist.

But with her magic skills, she couldn’t break Erpa’s spell.

“I can forgive you for targeting me. But targeting the Saint… I will never forgive that. Understand? No matter the outcome of the inquisition, never approach the Saint again. Got it?”

Thüdel felt fear.

The mana waves emitted by the incredibly talented witch, filled with genuine anger and killing intent, were unbearable for her.

Unconsciously, Thüdel’s skirt became damp.

A yellow liquid flowed down her legs, soaking the lobby floor.

“O-Okay!! Okay, so please!!…”

The magic was released.

Thüdel coughed violently, clutching her throat.

“Clean up the mess you made.”

Erpa said coldly, then turned and left.

Thüdel couldn’t even think of venting her anger and hatred.

“Ugh.”

Fear.

And an even greater jealousy than fear were boiling inside her like an erupting volcano.

***

I’m happy.

Although it was a cramped room, barely two pyeong in size, with only a bed and a toilet, I was incredibly happy.

A smile naturally spread across my face.

Meals were delivered on time, and unlike the worries I had when I heard the name “underground dungeon,” the humidity and temperature were perfectly maintained.

There was no one to bother me, and no poor people clamoring for healing.

My act as a fake saint, which started to deal with the nuclear bomb witch, had gone on longer than necessary.

Now, after the trial was over and I spent a year rotting here, it would all be over once I went out into the world.

Ah.

I’m so happy.

So happy.

“Saint.”

Perhaps because I was a saint, I was given special treatment. There was a guard stationed outside my cell, watching me 24/7.

The guard, dressed in the uniform of the Silent Church, cautiously looked at me and called my name.

I waved at him.

“I’m not a saint. You can just call me by my name.”

Since I was going to reveal that I wasn’t a saint during the heresy trial anyway, I just said that.

The guard hesitated for a moment at my words, then continued.

“I believe you are the true Saint of Grace.”

What nonsense!!

I’m not!!

I’m just a loser born with erotic game abilities!

“I’m not that kind of person. As I said, I’m not a saint. I don’t have any stigmata on my body, and I can’t use divine power. Everything Thüdel, who accused me, said is true. I’m not a saint.”

“But aren’t all the miracles you performed true?”

“That’s true, but I’m still not a saint. You’ve misunderstood. You can just call me by my real name, Jericho Amael.”

As I said that with a cheerful smile, the guard suddenly looked at me cautiously and knelt.

“Could you help me?”

“…Excuse me?”

“I know this is against regulations. But I’m desperate. Le-Nere, the God of Darkness and Secrets whom I serve, does not bestow such grace. He only deals with the scum that infests humanity in the darkness. I need your grace.”

Oh, come on, what now? Don’t bother me!

I’m not a saint!! Why do you keep doing this even though I’m not a saint?

I was going to reveal that I’m not a saint during the inquisition anyway.

Just as I was about to get annoyed and yell at him to leave me alone…

“My daughter… is sick.”

The guard said in a sorrowful voice.

“She’s only three months old. She was born with a heart defect and I was told she wouldn’t live long. I want my child to see the light of the world a little longer. Saint, my wife cries herself to sleep every night. Please, I beg you. I heard you healed an Abomination and the Rotting Plague. Please… please, my baby too…”

His sorrowful sobs could be heard from behind the mask.

At that, I couldn’t bring myself to get angry.

Damn it.

What should I do?

If I heal her, wouldn’t he spread rumors about me being a saint?

No, wait!

Isn’t this a good opportunity?

“Bring your child. I will heal her.”

“R-Really?”

“Yes, I will. But I have a condition.”

“Anything! Anything I can do!”

“Observe closely how I heal her. And later, when I am being interrogated for heresy, testify that I did not use divine power, that I am definitely not a saint.”

The masked guard paused for a moment.

“…That would be disadvantageous for you. If you are judged to be a heretic, you could be imprisoned in the underground dungeon for almost a year.”

That’s what I want!!

That’s exactly what I want!!

“It doesn’t matter. Just tell the truth. Can you do that?”

“But Saint…”

“There is nothing more hideous than living a lie. I want the truth to be revealed. Will you do that?”

At my words, the guard remained silent for a long time, then nodded.

“If that is what you wish. I will do so, Saint.”

After saying that, the guard melted into his shadow and disappeared.

You don’t often get to see the miracles of the Silent Church.

Because seeing those miracles means you’re involved with the Heresy Inquisition.

Anyway, as I was staring in surprise at the guard who had vanished into the shadows…

He suddenly reappeared from the floor of my cell.

He was now holding a crying baby in his arms.

“This is my daughter, Saint… Please…”

“I’m not a saint. Give me the child.”

I took the baby in my arms.

The wriggling little being let out weak cries.

She was so adorable.

But to think she wouldn’t live long because of a heart defect…

I couldn’t just leave her like that.

I slowly placed my hand on the baby’s head and activated the skill.

The guard was right.

The baby’s heart was grotesquely twisted.

It looked like it couldn’t pump blood properly.

I concentrated and carefully manipulated the baby’s heart.

I smoothed out the compressed areas, shortened the stretched parts, and patched up the holes.

After a while of manipulating it…

[Heart function operating at 100%.]

After confirming the message that appeared on the status window, I smiled with satisfaction and stroked the baby’s head.

Once it’s revealed that I’m not a saint, I won’t be able to do this anymore.

Wouldn’t there be fewer people I could save if I stopped being a saint?

I’m a little worried.

No.

No, get a hold of yourself!!

Do you want to be struck by lightning and have a hole in your head?

It’s right to stop being a saint!

I need to survive first!

“It’s done.”

I carefully handed the baby back to the guard.

I couldn’t see his expression because of the mask, but judging by his slightly trembling voice and uncontrollably shaking hands, I could imagine what he looked like.

“Is she… okay now?”

“Take her to a doctor and have her checked again. She should be healed. She will grow up healthy and safe.”

“Thank you… Thank you, Saint.”

I waved to the guard, who was speaking in a tearful voice.

“Did I use divine power during the healing?”

“No, you did not.”

“Please testify during the inquisition. Please testify that I am not a saint. Do you understand?”

“…But aren’t you truly a saint?”

No, I’m not! No, I’m not!!

I’m not a saint!!

Please!

“I hate being called a saint. I am not a saint. I am not worthy of such a title. I want to abandon the title of saint. So you must help me. Do you understand? You must testify that I cannot use divine power, that I am not a saint.”

At my words, the guard seemed to ponder for a while, then nodded.

“I will do as you say.”

“Thank you. When is the inquisition?”

“This is no small matter; it’s about determining whether you are falsely claiming to be a saint. Representatives from major churches across the country, as well as representatives from the Magic Tower, the Senate, and the Supreme Court, must all gather. So it will be two months from now.”

“Please! Please testify then.”

The guard bowed respectfully at my words and then disappeared from the cell.

I stretched out comfortably on the bed.

Alright.

I’ve secured another witness.

With this, there’s no way I can avoid being declared a fake saint!

The underground dungeon is quite comfortable and nice!

I smiled with satisfaction and happily stretched out on the bed.

Without anything to worry about, sleepiness washed over me.

It was a peaceful slumber.