Wasn’t This a Night Game

To a New Place

Awakening from the dream, I felt the chill of sweat coating my entire body.

But it wasn’t terrifying, nor was I afraid.

Only a thick, tangled feeling settled in my gut.

I gripped the blanket tight in my fists.

Finally, all the pieces clicked into place.

What it meant to die by the hands of those you loved.

What it meant to die in your happiest moment.

What it meant when Grace said that even after death, She would seize me and send me to a place befitting my actions.

And…

What it meant when Grace said She planted Her will in the world through him.

Now, I understood it all.

Asmodeus of Lust, indeed.

Well, duh.

It had been strange from the start.

Magic wouldn’t work.

Divine power wouldn’t work.

And yet, time stop, body modification, sensitivity amplified three thousandfold, absolute hypnosis.

Where did these ridiculous, cheat-code abilities come from, I wondered, truly.

To think it was a Demon Lord’s power.

A sudden wave of emotion crashed over me, and I burrowed under the blanket, weeping for a long while once more.

Why was I so relentlessly unlucky?

Why this misery, why this sorrow?

Harem King.

Was it really so impossible?

I truly didn’t want to leave.

I yearned to live happily ever after with Iomene, Almene, and Erpa.

But for their sakes, I had to go.

If I stayed, driven by my own selfish desire, I couldn’t know what the Demon Lord’s power might do to them when it awakened.

That day, I did nothing at all.

“Saint?”

Old Man Yodel came to find me, full of worry, and so did the holy knights. The priests too.

And the people from the slums, who came to see me every day, they also worried.

But I met no one, only wept inside my room.

And the news must have reached the princesses and Erpa as well.

Evening.

Having skipped my meal, I was just weeping on the bed,

When the three women came to find me.

“Amael.”

“Saint.”

“We’re here.”

Their worried faces and voices stirred me to rise groggily from the bed.

I offered them a smile.

“Come, sit with me.”

If not others, these women deserved to hear my story.

The three of them approached, worry etched on their faces, and sat beside me.

I looked at each in turn before, with a trembling voice, I began to speak.

“I must leave. The moment the psychic amplifier I entrusted to Archmage Örgen is complete. I will leave.”

The three women paled, but I clenched my fist and continued.

“I won’t be coming back. Perhaps we will never see each other again. You mustn’t come with me. I must go alone. So… do not seek me out.”

The words brought tears anew.

Only my sobs filled the room.

None of the three.

Spoke.

Then, after what felt like an eternity.

I felt Iomene and Almene pull me into their embrace.

“This connection… we were the ones who forced it, weren’t we? Do you remember, Saint?”

Almene said, her voice shaking.

“We forced it. From the start, we never thought you would stay with us for long. You have much to do, Saint. We always knew you would have to leave someday.”

Four arms gently lifted my face.

When I looked up, I saw Erpa, forcing a smile through her tears.

“It was all our doing. We forced it… so don’t feel burdened. Just leave. If, when things are difficult and painful, the memories we shared can offer you even a little support, that is all we ask.”

My heart aches another notch deeper at the women’s words.

I held them tight, all three.

“Forgive me. Truly… to do this and then have to leave without responsibility, I’m so sorry… forgive me.”

They laugh at my words, embracing me in turn.

Why is it, I wonder,

that their smiling faces look all the more sorrowful?

“We are grateful that you indulged our whims.”

“Thank you for forgiving us even though we tried to force your hand.”

“Thank you… for accepting us… for making us happy, even for a little while. Saint. Don’t worry about us. We will carry on your will and cultivate this place to be something greater, more beautiful. So, please, leave with peace of mind.”

In the end, the tears spill over.

The four of us cling to each other, weeping and weeping for a long time.

When I return to Korea, I will likely never see these women again.

The beginning was certainly not auspicious, but still…

Still, these are the women I had decided to love.

It is so very sad to leave them this way.

But what else can I do?

The power within me is base and wretched.

It is right that I leave.

For the sake of these three women, even.

For the sake of this world, it is right that I go.

The weeping went on for some time.

Until late into the night.

And then, the very next day.

Word arrived that Archmage Jörgen had completed the tuning of the psychic amplifier.

*

“Here it is, Holy One. The psychic amplifier, fully tuned. I might even call it my masterpiece.”

Oblivious to my inner turmoil, Archmage Jörgen continued his explanation with zeal.

“The unicorn’s horn, uniquely, possesses a separate neural circuit, distinct from the brain. This circuit acts as the psychic amplifier. The operation is remarkably simple! Just open the cap of this locket!”

“I see.”

“The mana efficiency is also exceptional. It operates sufficiently even with ambient mana. Psychic amplification, you see, isn’t a field that demands copious amounts of mana; rather, it’s a contest of circuit precision.”

“…”

“It’s not limited to merely halting time; it can be utilized for various other purposes as well… Are you alright?”

With a troubled expression, I gazed upon the locket-shaped psychic amplifier in Archmage Jörgen’s hand.

If only that hadn’t been completed.

I wouldn’t have had to leave.

Regret keeps creeping in.

I truly don’t want to go.

Even as I thought that, my hand reached out toward Archmage Jörgen.

“May I take it?”

“Yes, of course. Is something the matter?”

I didn’t answer.

Just offered a bitter smile instead.

As I clasped the necklace around my throat, Archmage Jürgen inquired with a hesitant air.

“Would you permit a visit to the temple again today, to witness the Saint’s miracle? I’m conducting a new study based on what I observed last time, and feel compelled to witness it again.”

To this, I shook my head.

“Even if you come, you won’t find me.”

“Eh?”

“Thank you for everything, Archmage. I wish you peace in the days ahead.”

“No. Wait a moment…”

The Archmage seemed taken aback by my courteous farewell, but, catching sight of the anguish in my expression, he simply sighed and lowered his head.

“It seems you’ve received another revelation. Saints have always been this way. Thank you for saving the Empire. May you find peace wherever you go, and may all your endeavors prosper.”

“Thank you.”

Archmage Jürgen bowed his head toward me, and I, in turn, bowed respectfully to him.

With that final greeting, I withdrew from the Archmage’s chambers.

Dejected, I trudged back to the tower’s lobby and then returned to the temple, where I summoned High Priest Yodel and the family of Jonathan Karma to my quarters.

“Continue to heal the sick, to care for the poor and afflicted, without ceasing.”

“Of course, Saint. But what troubles you? Your countenance has been troubled of late.”

I only smiled at Yodel.

Then, I turned my gaze upon the family of Jonathan Karma.

“Money is a good thing. But I hope you never become consumed by it. Create a world where we can all thrive, where we can all be prosperous together. You, Jonathan, possess the capacity to do just that.”

“Of course, Holy One. Why… why would you say such a thing? So suddenly?”

“Are you feeling unwell, perhaps?”

Jonathan and his wife, Oliviera, spoke, their voices laced with concern as they turned to me.

Cecilia, their daughter, ever quick on the uptake, watched me with a worried gaze.

“Are you perhaps, going to leave us?”

At her words, all others fell silent.

Old Man Yodel, his face stricken, looked at me with urgency.

“You are leaving? Holy One?”

I did not answer his question.

“Do not seek me. Ever.”

Those were the only words I spoke.

“Holy One! Please, do not leave us!!”

Yodel, aged as he was, shed tears unbefitting his years.

“There are still so many sick and afflicted for you to heal!! The entire Order needs you! Please, continue to guide us!!”

In Yodel’s tears, I saw danger.

If the High Priest himself could be reduced to this…

What of the others?

Their devout faith, ultimately, would only amplify my power, and in the end, resurrect the Demon Lord, turning the world into that horrifying scene I had witnessed.

Therefore, I could not heed his words.

“I must leave, Yodel. For the good of all. So please. Do not seek me.”

Yodel, the old man, weeps at my words.

But quickly, he lowers his head.

“I will try… I will try my utmost to prevent it. However, I cannot guarantee all subordinate priests and faithful will heed the Saint’s words.”

I know.

It is unlikely there won’t be priests or holy knights, perhaps even devout, acting out of turn.

Especially the folk of the slums, they won’t remain idle.

There will undoubtedly be those who try, by any means, to find me.

Even though I told them not to, there will be those who desperately search.

Isn’t that how they found a way to circumvent the miracle of time-stop and tracking?

I’ve already considered all my escape routes.

The 10 kilograms of gold I received from the Emperor are neatly stowed in a tiny sub-space pouch, slipped right into my pocket.

All that remains is to leave.

“I am sorry. I have no doubt you all will continue to lead this place well, even without me.”

At my words, Old Man Yodel wipes his eyes, nodding vigorously.

“We will continue to carry on the Saint’s will. I swear it.”

My will, is it?

What will could a con-artist like me possibly have imparted?

“Do not hesitate, leave now, Saint. Following your will, we will continue to grow Karma Company. We will never forget how you saved our family. Saint.”

Jonathan bows deeply, kissing the back of my hand with utmost reverence.

Oliviera.

And Cecilia, she was the same.

I gazed sadly upon them all before turning away.

Leaving the room, I descended, footfalls heavy, to the temple’s first-floor lobby.

“Saint!”

“It is the Saint!”

“Saint!”

All bowed to me with deference.

A few from the slums were also visible.

Well-fed and adorned in fine clothing, their skin shone with a healthy luster.

At the sight, a small, wry smile escaped my lips.

Yes.

Leaving now is the right thing to do.

I cannot allow them to worship me any longer.

For if I do, it is certain they will all be made unhappy.

“May you all continue to find peace in the days to come.”

I looked upon them and slowly lowered my head.

And then, I opened the locket hanging about my neck.

A hum resonated as the psychic amplifier engaged.

And I enacted Time Stop.

The world froze.

And in that moment, I moved forward, testing the waters.

Like switching from a manual car, devilishly hard to steer, to the latest electric model.

“Heh. Works like a charm, unlocks like a dream.”

With this, I could probably cross continents while time stood still.

Finally, the chronic issue of time-stop efficiency was resolved.

But it brought me no joy.

“Works disgustingly well. Goddamn it…”

I probably won’t be back here again.

Erpa, Iomene, and Almene.

Old Man Yodel, too.

Jonathan Karma.

All those countless, unfortunate people I’d grown accustomed to seeing in this slum.

I wouldn’t see any of them again.

That was what made me so sad.

I wiped away my tears and stood up.

Let’s hurry.

There’s no time to wallow in sentiment any longer.

I trudged on, farther and farther through the frozen time.

In the interim, I changed my face using the body modifications, pulled out clothes from the subspace pocket and changed.

In that state, I moved to the outskirts of the capital and there, I released the time stop.

Even after emerging cautiously from the back alley, no one recognized me.

Relief washed over me as I made my way toward the train station.

Buying the ticket, the clerk, as expected, inquired about my destination.

“Where are you headed?”

Where *should* I go?

Somewhere with little influence from the Order.

Yet, a large enough city that the acolytes wouldn’t descend periodically, wielding their miracles of tracking.

Far from the capital.

I considered it all, but inevitably…

There was only one place for me.

“I want a ticket to Scrap Yard.”

“That will be 400 Leon.”

I retrieved the money from my pocket, handing it to the clerk. I received my ticket and boarded the train.

Before long, the distinctive sound of the magic engine roaring to life filled the air, and the car slowly began to move.

I closed the locket hanging around my neck and slumped into the seat.

Back to square one, then.

Go to Scrap Yard, find a suitable house, and remain as secluded as possible.

Live quietly while simultaneously gathering information about black mages and demon worshippers. And hope that their souls are destroyed.

May I live happily ever after in Korea.

The train sliced cleanly through the air, speeding onward.

My new abode.

The Scrap Yard was not far.

*

“Chosen One. We have confirmed the news that the Saint of Healing has vanished.”

At those words, a smile bloomed on the lips of the Chosen of the Evil God.

“So, the Evil God has acted as he declared. Having escaped the influence of the Pantheon and the Order, he becomes all the easier to eliminate. The One Who Drinks Blood truly fulfills his will.”

As the Chosen One chuckled, the pool of blood on the altar began to seethe.

At the sight, the Chosen One immediately approached the altar.

“The Evil God bestows a revelation!!”

The Chosen One gazed at the blood pool with a palpitating expression.

Words began to emerge above the bubbling pool.

The Chosen One stared intently at the characters, and soon giggled, stepping away from the altar.

“The Saint of Healing will soon meet their end.”

“Did the Evil God relay the method of their elimination?”

“Yes. The Saint has departed for the Scrap Yard.”

“To that den of atheists, who blindly worship mines, machines, and steam?”

“Indeed. It is as though he has walked into Hell of his own volition.”

Using the Saint to ignite a conflict between the Pantheon and Hell.

For such a purpose, a place as perfect as the Scrap Yard could not be found.

For indeed.

“The lord of avarice. Mammon’s followers are there, you see.”

That place had been claimed by one of the demon lords long ago.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the clash between the Pantheon and Hell was inevitable.