(Praise Lilia of Grace.
Her mercy is deep and wide, and she heals the sick and the needy as a farmer tends his field.
Her chosen ones are not determined by wealth, gender, or birthplace; the most sacred will emerge from the most defiled places and bear witness to this through their lives. }
-The Holy Scripture of Grace, Chapter 32, Verse 16. -
It was my first time visiting the capital of the Arcal Empire. Mars City was colossal and splendid.
Mana-engine automobiles and trucks bustled through the roads, and the city was densely packed with architecture reminiscent of the Belle Époque era.
After disembarking from the train, I immediately began to stride through the city center.
As I walked quickly, I reviewed the plan I had formulated during the train ride.
A Saint.
In the Arcal Empire where I lived, there were countless folktales and legends about Saints.
Those who received divine grace and performed miracles and supernatural abilities.
Stories of a Saint suddenly appearing, healing the poor and sick, then vanishing, were truly commonplace throughout the Empire.
So, I intended to exploit this legend.
Naturally, slums existed even in this era.
And in the slums, there would be countless sick people.
I would heal them with my Body Modification skill, and then word would spread.
A rumor starting not just anywhere, but in the capital, the heart of the Empire. It would swiftly spread throughout the entire Empire.
Once word spread sufficiently and I became famous enough, I'd seek out the witch.
Mages and witches weren't beings one could simply meet by wishing, but if I became incredibly famous, I would surely be able to meet one.
There was even a possibility the witch might seek me out herself.
Then, I'd heal her and prevent the apocalyptic demise that felt straight out of a dark fantasy.
And then, following the countless Saints of legend, I would vanish without a trace.
It was a Saint, of all things.
This way, I'd be using miracles, not unregistered illegal magic.
I'd act as a Saint just until I could heal the witch, then disappear like the wind!
This was my plan.
It wasn't long after wandering through the city that I found the slums.
Before commencing serious healing activities.
I took a deep breath.
I had to stay on edge.
One wrong move could backfire spectacularly.
If I healed someone and the rumors twisted, I could be branded a heretic and killed, instead of a Saint.
Furthermore, there were numerous religious orders within the Empire.
I absolutely could not be mistaken for a Saint sent by the god of a specific cult.
I, who had never believed in any god, including my previous life and this one, if it was revealed that I was impersonating the Saint of that cult, it would be a minimum of maiming; at maximum, execution. The ideal scenario was for word to spread just enough for the witch to find me, then I'd swiftly heal her and swiftly disappear.
If I were to be mistaken for an unregistered illegal magic user or a charlatan during that process, it would be over. And if a specific cult accused me of heresy for impersonating their god's Saint, that would also be the end.
I knew.
The chances of it going well seemed incredibly low.
Still, I had no choice but to try.
If I was going to die standing still or die acting, I might as well try something first.
'Heal the witch, then swiftly go into hiding. Heal the witch, then swiftly go into hiding! '
Of course, this was the scenario I desired.
There was also a very real possibility that the worst-case scenario would become reality.
But I tried hard not to dwell on such scenarios.
I stepped into the slums.
As I slowly walked through the slums, sharp gazes were shot my way.
Naturally, this wasn't the kind of neighborhood that welcomed outsiders strolling in and out.
The gazes cast my way were of two kinds only.
Is he someone we can mug?
Is he someone who could harm us?
Only these two.
The chilling gazes of the lower-class, those with no past and no future, made my legs feel like jelly, but I pushed down my fear and walked down the street, feigning as much nonchalance as possible.
As I walked, finally.
A suitable target caught my eye.
A beggar, whose eyes held no trace of hope, was scratching at his skin, which was covered in boils oozing blood and pus, as he shook an empty begging bowl.
"In the name of the merciful God, spare a coin. Just one coin. "
It was less a plea spoken with sincerity and more a murmur born of habit.
Whether he died tomorrow or today, it seemed there would be no difference.
"Spare a coin. "
A terrible stench wafted from the man, who resembled a living corpse.
I slowly approached him.
"Kind sir. In the name of God, spare a coin. "
Noticing me, the man glanced my way and mumbled, upon which I posed a question to him.
This was a performance.
To spread the rumor that I was a Saint, a performance was crucial.
It absolutely couldn't be rumored that his body was healed by an infidel's illegal sorcery.
To achieve that, I naturally had to create a sacred atmosphere.
Fortunately, I knew someone renowned for their sacred aura.
Who knew that my childhood experience attending Sunday school would come in handy one day.
Jesus.
I'll imitate you a little.
"Why are you sitting here? "
"Just a coin. Just one coin. "
"Are you ill? "
"Yes. I am ill, sir. Have pity on this beggar and spare a coin. "
"Do you wish for a coin to get through the day? Or do you wish for an opportunity to live the rest of your life differently? "
The beggar blinked, as if finding it difficult to comprehend.
"An opportunity would be good, of course. But who gives opportunities to a beggar like me? "
"I will give it to you. So I ask again. Do you desire an opportunity? Or do you truly desire a single coin? "
"I desire an opportunity, sir. If you have it, give it. But I have nothing to give in return. "
"That is enough. "
I placed my hand on the beggar's head.
Using unregistered magic was a grave crime.
Immediate punishment and hanging upon report.
Still, I had to go through with it, come what may.
I used a skill.
[Using Body Modification! ]
And the next moment.
The beggar's physical condition before my eyes began to appear in my mind's eye, as if a 3D model, transmitted through my hand.
A character customization screen?
His body appeared in my mind with precisely that sensation.
Moreover, it wasn't just his external appearance; even his internal organs were visible.
Heart, large intestine, small intestine, stomach, lungs, etc. I could upgrade or reshape internal organs into any form I desired.
The beggar's state, as viewed through such an unnecessarily detailed 3D model—so much so that it felt more like a medical simulator than an erotic game—was truly horrific.
'One of his leg bones isn't in a normal shape. He must have had to limp or crawl his whole life. '
His entire body was covered in boils, especially the one on his back, which was nearly the size of a human head.
The foul smell emanating from his body was coming from that boil on his back.
After checking his condition, I slowly began to manipulate the beggar's body, as if performing character customization.
I removed the massive boil on his back and the countless boils plastered all over his body.
And I changed the grotesquely twisted bone in one of his legs back into a normal shape.
I cleansed his skin, improved his complexion, and transformed his emaciated body into a more presentable form with healthy flesh and muscle.
I kneaded his face, where his cheekbones protruded from lack of food.
As I customized him, I realized that the Body Modification skill was, unexpectedly, not merely a skill that could change external appearances.
'He has diseases too? Let's get rid of those. Also, some lice on his head. And parasites in his large intestine. '
Literally, anything related to the body could be altered to my will.
As I frantically kneaded the man's body, strange sounds escaped his lips.
"Ughhh. Ohhh! S-sir! "
The sound of bones twisting.
The sound of joints, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels grotesquely twisting and rearranging themselves began to grow incredibly loud.
Hearing the beggar's screams and the chilling sounds of his body being reconstructed, other beggars and slum dwellers nearby began to gather.
Good.
Keep gathering and watching.
And spread the word.
Had I been intensely manipulating the beggar's body for about three minutes?
Finally, after completely altering every aspect of his body, inside and out, to my satisfaction, I removed my hand from the beggar.
The beggar collapsed onto the ground with a thud.
With a horrified expression, he fumbled at his body, then slowly cast off the pus-stained rags he was wearing and began to strip off his other clothes, one by one.
The man, having shed both his outer and undergarments, sat there with an unreadable expression, staring at his own body, over and over again.
Already, people had gathered in overwhelming numbers, murmuring as they alternated their gazes between the man and me.
I extended my hand to the beggar, striving not to lose my 'character'.
"Rise and walk upon two feet. "
The beggar grasped my hand.
I helped him stand.
The beggar stood, his two feet firmly planted on the ground.
I released his hand and stepped back, and the man slowly began to walk forward, one step at a time.
His steps were slow, yet the man was walking perfectly.
After walking a light circle around the area, the beggar suddenly approached me, slowly knelt, and began to kiss my shoes.
"Saint! "
The beggar wept tears, grabbing my ankle and frantically kissing my shoes.
"A-a Saint. "
"He performed a miracle! "
"S-Saint! ! "
The surrounding slum dwellers, one and all, fell to their knees.
Indeed, their reaction was only natural.
Legends of Saints were known throughout the Arcal Empire, and my actions perfectly aligned with them.
It's done. Things are unfolding just as I wanted!
I stopped the frantic beggar from kissing my feet and gently helped him to his feet.
"S-Saint. I have nothing to repay you with. "
At his words, I desperately racked my brain.
Let's see.
A line fitting for a Saint.
I wrung every ounce of memory from the self-help books I'd read in Korea and my Sunday school days to deliver lines that fit the character.
"I desire no coin. Repay what I have done for you not with material wealth, but with your life. "
"Y-yes, I will! Saint! I will! ! "
The sobbing beggar embraced me, weeping bitterly.
I patted him on the back, then looked at the people around me.
Their gazes were intense.
It felt like the perfect moment to deliver some impressive line.
No choice then.
I guess I'll have to borrow heavily from the Sunday school lines again.
"Come to me, all who are weary and thirsty. I will heal you. "
At those words, a massive crowd surged forward instantly.
"Saint! Heal my son! "
"My mother is blind! "
"Saint! ! My son is dying! We have no money for treatment! Please, heal him! ! "
The sheer volume of voices overwhelmed me.
Fortunately, it seemed word would spread effectively.
Anyway, I planned to act as a Saint only until I healed the witch, then bolt.
Let's try to prevent the apocalypse ending event.
Thinking that, I focused on healing as many of those who came to me as possible with Body Modification.
That was all well and good, but then.
"Here is the Saint of Lady Lilia of Grace! ! "
"The Goddess of Grace sent us a Saint! "
"The Healing Saint! ! The Healing Saint! "
I didn't say anything like that.
I didn't mention the Lilia Cult or anything similar! !
Oh, for fuck's sake.
But why are specific cult names suddenly being shouted out now? ! ? ! ? !