The Empire Is a Money-Giving Machine (3)
Oh? Giving me flowers? What a kind-hearted student.
The Sealed Angel receives an offering.
You obtain 5 Faith in return for the offering.
Returning the offering is possible.
Will you imbue the returned offering with divine power?
Kuu, to think I’d receive flowers while alive… isn’t this way too joyful?
A student like that doesn’t deserve to be stingy with my divine power. I send back the flower brimming with holy energy, and the girl beams with delight. Seeing her reaction, other students, instructors, and teachers all begin offering me things too. In a great mood, I accept every single offering and return them all infused with divine power.
You obtain 5 Faith in return for the offering.
You obtain 5 Faith in return for the offering.
You obtain 5 Faith in return for the offering.
You obtain 5 Faith in return for the offering.
Whoa, I’ve already gained 25 Faith…
My mood is way too good today. Seeing that, the students around me offer even more items. But this time, something is different. The panties they had been wearing, socks, drinks mixed with their own saliva… and other filthy things. After accepting the dirty offerings, my Faith shot up to 100.
These fucking dirty bastards.
What the hell is going through their heads when they take off their worn panties and offer them?
Guys like that deserve divine punishment.
Indeed. Raphael was furious at receiving such grotesque items and was now delivering heavenly retribution. She weakened the lightning she once used to kill the Demon King and sentenced the thirteen sinners to death. The moment the death sentences were pronounced on all thirteen, the principal rushed over and ordered a forced dispersal.
Yeah, just disperse them. Ugh, those filthy bastards…
Everyone left until only the principal remained. He stared at me intently, then offered me a handkerchief.
“Raphael, please be happy there… I offer you this handkerchief you once gave me…”
Looking at the principal, Raphael’s mind swirled with many thoughts.
The principal… is it because he’s gotten old…
He’s become so sentimental…
Sigh… making me reminisce about the old days…
Raphael decided to perform a weak manifestation for the principal.
Will you perform a weak manifestation?
Manifestation will be possible for approximately 5 minutes.
....Manifestation completed.
Step. Step.
“Who is it! I clearly ordered everyone to disperse… Return at once!”
“Old man. Do you really want me to leave?”
“…This voice… Raphael…?”
“Raphael… is it truly you?”
In the faint moonlight, Raphael’s face appeared. Brown hair bordering on gold, a beautiful face that contrasted with her fiery personality, and the rude girl who always called him “old man.”
“Ha… ha… ha… It really… is you, Raphael…?”
“Why are you shaking like you’ve seen a dead person, gramps?”
“Ah. Right… I was dead, wasn’t I?”
The mischievous Raphael who always surprised him. It really was her.
“Hehehe… Raphael… This isn’t a dream I’m having, is it?”
“Raphael, come here. Let me hug you once!”
“…Haha. As expected of the old man.”
“Using mental reinforcement and body reinforcement magic simultaneously on your left hand while pre-casting lightning magic with the other…”
“Don’t you trust me a little too much? Would I use such vicious spells on the sexy-cute Raphael?”
“Hahahahaha!! Raphael! It really is you! I thought I was being bewitched by the demons. That rude tone and sky-piercing self-esteem—only you, Raphael, have that!”
The principal canceled all his pre-cast spells and approached Raphael. Then he pulled her into a tight embrace, as if he never wanted to lose her again.
“Raphael… I don’t know how you appeared before my eyes, but I’m truly glad to see you… I always believed you wouldn’t die!”
“Sigh… Old man, get a grip. I did die.”
“But… aren’t you standing right in front of me now… Never say such things again.”
“Ugh… Old man. I really am dead. The current me is the angel Raphael, spending time with you.”
“Angel…? So the angel in that statue is you?”
“That’s right. And I’m currently raising a boy named Ian as my successor.”
“I’m only telling you because it’s you, old man. I won’t say anything to the others. So please don’t worry about me too much.”
Suddenly the principal hugged her and began to cry. Realizing that she would eventually disappear as an angel, he pleaded with her.
“Ughuuuhuk… Raphael… Must you leave? There are still so many things I haven’t been able to tell you.”
“Sending a young child like you to the hero party still weighs heavily on my heart.”
“Huh? Why am I a young child? Besides, I went as a heretic inquisitor and supporter. Why are you concerning yourself, old man?”
“I became the supporter of the hero party by my own will. You bear no responsibility. Understand?”
“I understand. I understand. So please don’t go back… Please…”
“Tsk. I have to go back too. I wasn’t planning to come originally, but you looked so lonely that I came anyway.”
The principal kept shedding tears. In the meantime, time ran out and Raphael began to disappear. The principal reached out to grab her, but Raphael turned into light and vanished.
“Raphael…”
A handkerchief fell in front of the grieving principal. Letters written with divine power were inscribed on it.
Don’t cry, old man. We will meet again.
Seeing the handkerchief, the principal stopped crying. He looked at the angel statue, bowed his head in respect, then turned and walked away.
------------------------------------------
Time passed, and the next day arrived. Since it was the weekend, everyone could spend their time freely. Ian headed toward the imperial palace to keep his promise with the princess.
Upon arriving at the palace, Ian showed the identification card Belinda had given him to the guard. The soldier was startled and immediately began guiding Ian toward the depths of the palace. No inspections whatsoever—just the ID card and they were heading straight for the emperor’s bedroom. It showed just how dire the emperor’s condition truly was.
When he entered the emperor’s bedroom, two princes and one princess were waiting for him.
“Ah. So you are the healer Belinda spoke of?”
“First, allow us to introduce ourselves. I am the First Prince, Heimdall Stardust. The child beside me is the Second Prince, Forks Stardust.”
“N-nice to meet you…”
Perhaps because he was still young, he hid behind his brother while greeting.
“I am the Second Princess, Roselin Stardust. Please take good care of our father.”
All the princes and the princess possessed golden eyes and golden hair. It seemed those traits symbolized the blood of the imperial family.
What if I fail here?
“Yes. My name is Ian. I am a healer.”
“Before beginning treatment, I would like to ask about His Majesty’s condition.”
“What symptoms is he experiencing?”
The First Prince looked at Ian and began speaking with a grave expression.
“Is explaining the symptoms truly necessary for treatment?”
“Furthermore, no one must know that His Majesty is critically ill.”
“The fact that His Majesty is in critical condition is currently unknown to anyone.”
“An emperor is one who nobly supports all people. I do not wish for it to be known that such a person stands on the brink of death.”
Ian looked straight into the prince’s eyes and replied.
“…Without knowing the symptoms, it is difficult to determine the method of treatment. Even if I cannot cure him, please do not blame me.”
The First Prince, Second Prince, and Second Princess briefly conferred before the First Prince spoke on their behalf.
“Very well. We shall tell you about the illness His Majesty is suffering from, so you must cure it.”
“…I will do my best.”
“No. You must cure him. If you cannot… there will be suffering worse than death.”
“I will tell you the symptoms first. His Majesty’s blood has become extremely turbid, and the problems with his respiratory system are very severe—serious enough that he coughs up blood-mixed phlegm every five minutes.”
“Now that you know the symptoms, it is time for you to heal him.”
Under the prince’s threat, Ian was forced to treat the emperor. He approached the emperor and prepared for treatment. The emperor appeared to be sleeping peacefully, but suddenly spoke to Ian. Startled, Ian stuttered.
“Cough… cough… Who are you…?”
“…! I… I am the healer… Ian, Your Majesty…”
“…A healer…? I thought all of their pulses had been severed…”
“By whose order have you come…?”
Even while in pain, he was still the emperor—his voice carried dignity and overwhelming pressure.
“…I came by order of my close friend, the First Princess.”
“Is that so… A healer whose pulse was severed ‘coincidentally’ becomes close with the princess and ‘coincidentally’ comes to me… It feels like the prank of fate…”
The emperor stared at Ian intently and continued.
“I heard what my children said… Even if you cannot cure me, no harm shall come to you…”
“Your Majesty… I will begin treatment now. Please refrain from speaking.”
“I will definitely cure you, Your Majesty.”
“……Hehe…”
There were no visible external wounds. It seemed to be an internal injury. Ian grasped the emperor’s arm with both hands and channeled regenerative chakra into his body. However, the moment the regenerative chakra reached the emperor’s heart, it all vanished.
“….!”
“What is this…!”
“Hehe… An evil presence dwells in my heart… My children do not know, but I shall tell you specially.”
“Exactly five years ago, under the pretext of purifying the demon realm, I went there and slew many powerful demons… But one special demon cast a curse on me before it died…”
“I should have avoided that curse… I trusted the imperial blood too much and ended up afflicted with that powerful curse…”
“After being cursed, I began to feel pain in my heart. I even received treatment from the Saint of the Holy Kingdom, but it only alleviated the symptoms and could not cure it…”
“The imperial blood rejected the divine power, preventing a cure…”
“If… that child were still alive, it might have been different… but it is nothing now…”
The emperor coughed up blood-mixed phlegm and began breathing irregularly. As if he could no longer endure, his body trembled as he spoke to Ian.
“Ughhh… The curse dwelling in my heart cannot be cured…”
“If I die, please help my children with your healing arts when they are injured… This is my request…”