This Isn't an E*otic Game?

Chapter 16

“The factory building has been moved to a large landfill site on the outskirts of the capital. You can dismantle it there, sell what’s salvageable, and dispose of the rest,” the witch announced cheerfully, waving her wand.

The crowd erupted into cheers, raising their hands in celebration.

“The Goddess’s grace!”

“We believe! Thank you, Goddess!”

Seriously?

Everyone could see the witch’s magic at work, so why is the Goddess suddenly getting all the credit?

Please, stop doing that.

The Goddess of Grace might be watching me live right now.

I felt like something was stuck in my throat.

The pressure was overwhelming.

At any moment, the Goddess might decide to smite me for impersonating a saint.

“I’ll go! I’ll handle it myself! I know best what was in that factory!”

Scrooge—no, Jonathan Karma, who had somehow arrived at the scene—raised his hand eagerly in response to the witch’s suggestion.

“Saint! Please wait for me! I’ll take care of everything and return soon! All the money from the factory’s contents is yours! Just give me a moment!”

Jonathan Karma vanished as if he had wings.

By evening, he returned with a hefty stack of cash.

“Most of the equipment in the factory was outdated, so I couldn’t get much for it. But even the scrap value was significant. Here’s 2,000 saled. Saint.”

Jonathan placed the bundle of money in front of me with a respectful attitude.

What am I supposed to do with this?

He handed it over so openly in front of everyone that I couldn’t even secretly pocket it for personal indulgence.

“High Priest Yodel.”

I called out cautiously, and the bald old man practically flew to my side.

“Speak, Saint!”

“Use this to buy food and feed the impoverished here.”

“Grace be upon us! It shall be done!”

In no time, the area in front of the abandoned factory was turned into a free soup kitchen.

The impoverished people, now healed and healthy, wept as they ate the food prepared by the Lilia Church.

“It’s been so long since I’ve had such warm and delicious food!”

“Thank you, Saint!!”

“Saint, thank you!!”

People came to me in tears, bowing deeply in gratitude.

Sure.

This is great and all...

But the problem is that my chances of being struck by divine punishment are increasing by the second.

I’m not religious!

I’m not a follower of Lilia!

I don’t have faith, damn it!

I’m an atheist!

This is so screwed up.

If a bolt of lightning hit me on the spot, I wouldn’t even have the right to complain.

The impoverished people aren’t the problem.

They can’t use tracking miracles or systematically hunt someone down.

The real issue is the church members.

I need to separate myself from them as quickly as possible.

Fast!

I need to make them hemorrhage money!

Bankrupt them so they leave me alone!

“Yodel.”

“Speak, Saint!”

“Tomorrow, at dawn, start digging the ground. We need to lay a solid foundation. Dig deep and prepare to build a tall, multi-story structure. Do you understand?”

“It shall be done!!”@@@@

“Rent expensive excavators and equipment. Invest generously. And don’t make the workers toil for free. Pay them well. No—pay them generously, more than enough to make their pockets heavy. True grace lies in abundance. Understood?”

“Of course! Of course! I’ll gather every penny I can under my authority! I’ll also convince the temples in other regions to provide as much funding as possible! If it’s the Saint’s command, money is no issue for the church!”

I no longer felt guilty about tricking the church into spending recklessly.

Guilt? Who cares? I need to survive.

I’m too young to die from divine punishment.

I’m sorry, Yodel.

But I have no choice.

Evening arrived.

The impoverished people gathered around me like chicks waiting for their mother bird, their eyes fixed on me.

As I looked at them, I finally realized what felt off.

“Do you... not have homes?”

If I give him money and put him in charge of building the temple, he’ll probably screw it up royally.

“I want you to oversee the construction of the temple. Rent excavators and equipment, dig the foundation, manage the workers, and handle the entire construction process. High Priest Yodel, from now on, entrust all funds required for the construction to Jonathan Karma.”

The obedient puppy of a high priest would say yes to anything I suggested.

“It shall be done! Saint!”

“Thank you. Thank you, Saint. I will never forget what you did for my daughter. I will dedicate myself to helping you achieve miracles. Thank you.”

Jonathan Karma bowed deeply and left.

That should be the end of it, right?

No more interruptions?

“Aren’t you going to rest?”

I had forgotten.

The four-armed nuclear bomb—the witch.

With her four arms neatly folded, the witch approached me, smiling as she asked.

She’s terrifying, even on a second look.

How is it even possible to wave a wand and magically transport an entire factory to the outskirts of the capital?

The creature before me is a monster.

I needed to calm myself.

“I was just about to lie down. The ground is so warm. Thank you.”

I’m going to sleep. So please, just leave already.

Looking at you scares me.

As I made a show of lying down, the witch suddenly grabbed my hand.

Oh, shit.

I’m scared.

I couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat, my body trembling.

“You’re shaking again. Is it divine power?”

The witch gently held both my hands with two of hers and placed another hand on my forehead.

No, it’s not divine power.

It’s just sheer terror because of you.

“It’s nothing. Please don’t worry about it.”

Yeah, just stop worrying about me and disappear already!

That was my intention, but the witch seemed to interpret my words differently.

“You’re truly noble.”

Her eyes reddened, tears welling up.

She must have misunderstood, thinking I was enduring some divine burden while selflessly sacrificing myself for others.

“I want to know your name. Saint, I didn’t catch it last time. Could you tell me?”

Her two hands gripped mine tightly, and it felt more like a threat than a plea.

If I didn’t tell her my name, would she crush me?

Was she about to go full dark sorceress and explode?

She’s terrifying.

“My name is Jericho Amael. You can call me Amael.”

“Amael...”

The witch murmured dreamily, as if savoring the name on her tongue.

Closing her eyes tightly, she lifted my hand and kissed the back of it.

“You have saved all of me, Saint.”

“I only did what needed to be done.”

“Could you... kiss me once more? Just once more?”

Her flushed face, brimming with anticipation, made the request sound more like an ultimatum.

What happens if I say no?

This is a terrifyingly subtle threat.

Cautiously, I cupped her face and leaned in to kiss her forehead.

Please don’t explode.

Sure.

If it’s just a kiss, I can do it.

As long as you don’t blow up, I’ll kiss you as many times as you want...

“I am yours forever.”

After the kiss, the witch looked up at me with a tear-streaked face, her expression melting into one of pure bliss.

Her fingers gently touched my lips.

She caressed them as if entranced, smiling even as she cried.

She looked like she was drowning in a pool of overwhelming emotion.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

The witch bowed politely before vanishing.

Only after she disappeared did I finally relax.

She won’t come back tomorrow, right?

Please, just don’t come back.