Tears of Jo?y
Tears of Jo?y
Alright. I would summarize my position.
I needed to quit this saint gig as soon as possible.
But here was the tricky part.
If I committed blatantly awful shit—rape, murder, arson?
They would abandon me, sure.
But in return, the people who felt betrayed would probably burn me at the stake, or the goddess, enraged that I had smeared her order's name, might strike me down with some divine punishment.
So, I had to do it in a way that didn't provoke the goddess's fury any further, while making the public naturally drift away, thinking: 'Well, that bastard was kind, but he was just a really dumb and incompetent piece of shit.'
"Pay the wages of the Magic Tower researchers! And the entire cost of relocating their laboratories—every last bit of it—shall be borne by the Lilia Order!"
And so, today as well, I was running wild, aiming for the order's bankruptcy.
Elixir was gushing out, but we were still in the very early stages.
If there was any remaining chance of bankruptcy, it was only now.
I had to somehow maximize expenditures and dry up our funds at the start.
High Priest Yodel was a yes-man anyway.
He was the type who would eat shit with a smile if I told him to.
"Of course! It shall be done! O Saint!!"
However, the mages and witches refused the money, even when we offered it.
"Didn't we say we were doing this to repay our debt to Miss Erpa? We cannot accept such money."
"Besides, we can simply relocate the entire laboratory via spatial movement, so it won't cost that much. Please keep your funds."
"Instead, the more research funding you can provide, the better."
So I tried my best to hand over as much research funding as possible.
Because I had to bankrupt them!!
"How much do you need for research funding? How much would be ideal?"
"Hmm... My personal research budget was around 7,000 Saled per year, however..."
"30,000 Saled. Pay each person 30,000 Saled per year."
At those words, the researchers were shocked.
"Do you truly have the means to provide that much money?"
I didn't know!!
I was just talking to spend as much money as possible and drain the funds!!
"It is entirely possible, Saint. During the two months you were imprisoned, many business partners were already secured. Paying 30,000 Saled per person is sufficiently possible."
Jonathan Karma!!
This uselessly competent man, damn it!
What kind of trolling was this!
Jonathan smiled as he spoke, then extended his hand toward the researchers.
"Of course, if Karma Company secures its own independent Elixir purification technology, the profits will soar even higher. Naturally, research funding will also explode. The amount of additional funding will depend on how excellent your research proves to be."
"The Mars Magic Tower is considered one of the most outstanding of all Magic Towers across the continent. We will not disappoint you. Elixir research is what we do for a living."
Thus, on the condition of paying 30,000 Saled per person per year, the researchers came to reside and conduct their studies in our temple.
But I was still anxious.
I was still hungry!!
It was Elixir.
Of all things, it was Elixir! Elixir!!
The stuff called Blue Gold was literally gushing out of the temple's basement!!
This wouldn't do.
I had to make them spend even more money!!
I summoned Cecilia, Jonathan Karma's daughter.
Wouldn't the young and inexperienced Cecilia mess things up faster than her experienced father Jonathan?
"Tear down the shacks in the slums and construct a large-scale housing complex. The people of the slums will live there. How long can we simply leave them to sleep on the streets?"
"Ah! What truly righteous words! I was already thinking about that."
"They will be deeply distressed to have their homes torn down. Provide generous compensation. 10 Saled. Pay 10 Saled per person. And use the people of the slums to rebuild the houses! Wages shall be 1 Saled per day. And after the houses are built, the cost of living there must be kept low. Collect only 1 Saled per month for rent."
"It shall be done, O Saint!"
"Also, the roads in the slums are far too filthy. Completely tear up the roads and repave them with proper roads. They must be constructed like the roads in front of the Imperial Palace!"
"It shall be done, O Saint!!"
"And we need more restaurants and bathhouses. True grace lies in being able to eat properly and rest properly. Expand the bathhouses. Plan a large-scale restaurant district and build the restaurants! Of course, all expenses for constructing the restaurants shall be borne by Karma Company. And collect only the minimum rent from those doing business in the restaurants. Accept the absolute minimum legally possible!"
"We will only collect 1 Saled per month! The same as everyone else!"
And...
What else was there?
Ah. Right.
Right.
"Establish a school. Children must study. While we are tearing down the slums on a massive scale, build a school, hire teachers there, and educate the children. Children should receive education, not labor. Of course! All educational expenses shall be free of charge! All associated costs shall be entirely borne by Karma Company!"
"That will also be implemented, O Saint!!"
Yes!
I had a good idea!!
A plan to splurge money like crazy!!
Nothing wastes money quite like art!!
"Furthermore, hire a large number of painters to create murals on the newly expanded streets. By painting beautiful holy images, the hearts of the people will be soothed. Spare no expense and hire only the finest artists to paint them!!"
"That, too, shall be done!"
"Expand the scale of the free soup kitchens! And ensure that at least one meal a day always includes a meat dish! Connect with the best butcher shops and generously provide meat of the highest quality! Grace enters the body through good food!"
"Of course! It shall be done!"
"I will be watching. You must accomplish everything. Not a single one of my instructions must be omitted. Do you understand?"
"Yes! O Saint!"
There.
That should have been enough to bankrupt even Karma Company.
While I sighed deeply in relief, Cecilia disappeared off to the Magic Tower with an enthusiastic expression.
She was a young lady, mid-to-late twenties at most.
She wasn't Jonathan Karma.
How well could a kid like her possibly do?
Please. I begged you, please screw this up spectacularly!!
***
Cecilia felt her heart pounding.
She was a woman who felt joy when doing business.
Yet somehow, the Saint knew that and entrusted her with the task where she could shine the brightest.
Her mind, equipped with a genius-level business sense, began to spin at a terrifying speed.
She sought out her mother and father and told them what the Saint had ordered her to do.
And immediately, the budget was allocated.
"We've secured Elixir trading contracts with the large-scale factories on the outskirts of the capital. The contracts were signed a month ago, and the payment came in today. How did the Saint know and issue orders right away! Truly, Divine Grace watches over him!"
"This is a task given by the Saint. It absolutely must not fail, Cecilia."
"Of course!!"
100,000 Saled. That was the amount allocated to Cecilia.
But she was confident.
She was confident that she could accomplish everything the Saint had commanded with just this sum.
The first thing she did was visit the district offices responsible for Districts 50, 51, and 52, where the slums were located.
"You want to repave the roads, install magical lights, tear down the shanties and build new housing, construct a school, and set up bathhouses and a restaurant district?"
"Yes. His Imperial Majesty clearly declared at the beginning of this year that he would create a nation where the people could smile. Shouldn't you, as public officials, follow that directive? What is the budget allocated to the district office? I would like to partner with that budget to completely redevelop Slum Districts 3."
"......The state washed its hands of this long ago, young lady. There is practically no budget allocated to Slum Districts 3. Aside from our salaries, there is no incoming money."
"How can that be acceptable! This matter cannot be overlooked! Who is the highest-ranking official responsible for the capital's urban design plans?"
"......That would be Marquis Rumfelt."
Cecilia left the slums that very day.
She entered District 10, where the nobles and upper class of the capital resided, and immediately spent a portion of the 100,000 Saled budget she had received from her mother to purchase a fine dress and a carriage.
Jonathan Karma had been a very wealthy man before a streak of misfortune ruined him. Naturally, Cecilia also had many acquaintances in District 10 and high society. One of them was Countess Dron. She immediately dressed up, boarded the carriage, and went to see Countess Dron.
"Oh my!! You need to meet Marquis Rumfelt to achieve the Saint's great work? What a stunning coincidence! There happens to be a poetry recital this afternoon, and he has confirmed he will attend!!"
The emotionally sensitive Countess Dron was touched by Cecilia's story and enthusiastically decided to support her plan.
Ultimately, Cecilia attended the poetry recital that afternoon and was able to meet Marquis Rumfelt.
After the beautiful and elegant poems had richly stimulated everyone's sensibilities, and all the gathered nobles were filled with emotion.
"May I have your attention for a moment?"
Countess Dron clapped her hands to draw everyone's focus.
"We have a special guest here today. Do I need to say more? She is Miss Cecilia, a member of Karma Company, working directly under Lord Amael, the Healing Saint whom all members of the Senate and the Supreme Court witnessed. She has come here today to accomplish the Saint's great work. Please welcome her with applause."
Amidst the applause, Cecilia rose from her seat and politely gave a greeting according to proper etiquette.
Having received a high-class education since childhood, her manners were flawless.
"I offer my thanks to Countess Dron for arranging this gathering. The beautiful poetry has truly enriched my heart. However, there is one way to enrich the heart even more than poetry. Today, I wish to share that method with all of you."
Cecilia knew exactly the calm, polite tone that upper-class people would adore.
With precisely that tone and attitude, she continued.
"There are children too hungry to move. Children who have lost their toes because they have no shoes. Those who wander the streets having lost hope. A mother nursing a child in vain, her breast milk gone, and an infant dying of starvation in her arms. There are people living lives like garbage, like filth and refuse. And there is one who feels compassion and love for such people, dedicating his life among them."
Cecilia rolled up her sleeve and showed it to everyone.
"Some of you may know this, but I, too, was once among such refuse and filth. I contracted Rot Disease. As I was dying in agony, He saved me with a miracle. He treats all others with the same care. You can help realize the great will of such a magnificent Saint."
Cecilia looked toward Marquis Rumfelt.
"His Imperial Majesty stated at the beginning of this year that his goal for the new year was to create a country where all the people of the Empire could smile. Please allocate a budget for the purification of Slum Districts 3. This is both the path to following His Majesty's solemn command and an opportunity to leave a brilliant achievement as a public official who contributed to the purification of Slum Districts 3—something no one else has ever accomplished. Furthermore."
She looked around at the many noblewomen and noblemen present.
"When you and your families fall ill, when you suffer from curse-like diseases that no amount of money or effort can cure, the Saint will remember your contributions and grant you, too, the miracle of healing without discrimination. I have 100,000 Saled in funds received from Karma Company. But this alone cannot achieve the great work the Saint has commanded."
Cecilia bowed her head politely.
"For the sake of human pride. To follow His Majesty's command. For the achievements of a public official. Or even simply out of sympathy or the desire to experience the Healing Saint's miracle. Any of these is fine. Slum Districts 3 needs your help. Please remember the words of the old sage: give when you are able."
Cecilia's speech ended.
And the moment she finished, Countess Dron, her eyes brimming with tears, began to applaud.
Along with her, the other nobles began to applaud as well.
"My son... has not been well since birth. I haven't believed until now, but since he is a Saint officially recognized by the Pantheon, I think I can believe now. Could you possibly speak to the Healing Saint for me? Of course, I will repay the grace with a donation proportionate to the grace received."
"I have some surplus funds, and I would like to donate that money, Miss Cecilia."
"He is the first new Saint to appear in 300 years. I would like to meet him. I will donate a portion of the funds I can manage. How noble."
A long procession of numerous donations and offerings followed.
And the most important person present, Marquis Rumfelt, also rose from his seat with a touched expression.
"I will go to His Imperial Majesty personally and put in a word, Miss Cecilia. The purification of Slum Districts 3 has long been one of His Majesty's long-cherished projects. However, he had washed his hands of it because nothing changed no matter how much money was poured into it... but I cannot miss an opportunity like this. I will organize a large-scale budget to assist Karma Company."
A smile appeared on Cecilia's lips.
"Thank you, Marquis Rumfelt."
"For a new Saint who has appeared for the first time in 300 years, this much is only natural. Rather, I am the one who is grateful. To be able to achieve such a feat in my later years... I cannot suppress my satisfied laughter."
Everyone laughed.
And Marquis Rumfelt kept his promise.
Three days later, by imperial decree, a budget of 4.2 million Saled and a massive donation of 300,000 Saled collected by various noble families were generously granted for the purification of Slum Districts 3.
Cecilia joyfully reported this fact to the Saint.
"I am... truly delighted, Miss Cecilia."
The Saint shed tears upon hearing the news.
He even trembled as he wept.
Those tears were probably tears of joy.
Cecilia hugged the Saint tightly.
"Even beyond what you have commanded, I will change Slum Districts 3. Rejoice, O Saint!!"