The basic fuel needed for all artifacts and magic circles.
A substance that can create countless useful magical materials depending on how it’s synthesized into objects.
The material that powers all trains, cars, trucks, ships, and airships in the Empire.
The source that lights up the magical lamps illuminating the streets of the Empire.
A basic necessity for the common folk—used for heating, cooling, cooking, and even heating bathwater.
And even now, a material that wizards are constantly researching, pouring their sweat and blood into, to make it even more versatile in real-ti.
That is elixir.
I know nothing about economics.
But even I know how much of a hot item elixir is—how much money it’s worth.
It’s an absolute value, surpassing gold itself.
The reason why the Arkhal Empire and the desert kingdom Tramarta to the west are the only nations with currencies recognized as key money across the continent is because only these two nations produce elixir. You could only purchase elixir with their currencies.
In short:
It’s an outrageously expensive and outrageously useful material.
Sothing that would make anyone a millionaire in no ti if they got their hands on it.
So why!!
Why is it bursting out in the middle of a rundown factory in the slums of the capital?! Why!!
Does that even make sense?
If there were an elixir spring right in the middle of the capital, there’s no way it wouldn’t have been discovered by now!
Do you know how valuable elixir is?
It’s a substance that people hunt down with bloodshot eyes!
It was in the middle of the capital, yet no one found it until now? That’s absurd!
“This is strange. Witch, how has this elixir spring remained undiscovered until now?”
“The mana-absorbing stone... It was enormous. I’ve never seen such a massive mana-absorbing stone before. I think it swallowed all the elixir’s mana waves, which is why no one detected the spring until now. Elixir springs are usually found by sensing the faint mana waves emanating from the ground.”
“A miracle. A miracle! Witch, how much elixir does this spring contain?”
“We’d need to conduct more precise investigations, but judging by the amount flowing out and the mana concentration within, I’d estimate at least 100 billion barrels. That’s a conservative figure. There’s likely much more. The larger the deposit, the higher the mana concentration and the easier it is to process. This elixir has the highest mana concentration I’ve ever seen.”
Everyone simultaneously turned their gaze toward .
Internally, I was dying.
But I couldn’t let that show on my face.
I smiled.
“It’s a miracle.”
“Oh, Saint! As expected, you already knew!”
“We couldn’t understand why you bought such useless land!”
“Only trash, waste, and crumbling factories were there, yet you saw greatness beneath it all! Saint, thank you!!”
Don’t talk to .
This world clearly wants to see struck down by the Goddess’s wrath.
In the blink of an eye, I had beco the great Saint who had worked yet another miracle.
No!!
I wanted you all to fail!!
Why is this working so well?!
I wanted to be cursed as a lousy Saint so you’d leave alone!
That way, I could quietly disappear and avoid divine punishnt!!
“So, how do we monetize this flood of elixir?”
“Indeed. None of us here have any expertise in handling elixir-related technology.”
“And none of us have experience running a company.”
As everyone fell into troubled silence, my gaze fixed on one person.
Yes!!
It wasn’t over yet!!
I had Jonathan Karma—the notorious failed businessman who tanked a doll factory!!
If anyone could screw up even with a resource like elixir, it had to be him!!
“Jonathan Karma is here, isn’t he?”
At my words, everyone turned to look at Jonathan Karma.
Though my modifications had cleared his complexion, his shabby clothes still made it hard to see him as a successful entrepreneur.
It was obvious.
If he still looked like that at his age, he must have no sense for business.
He even looked like Scrooge—soone who’d shout “Money, money, money!” while embezzling and committing fraud as naturally as breathing!
Perfect!!
Fraud! Embezzlent! Incompetence!
The exact qualifications I needed!!
“This, too, is surely the Goddess’s guidance. Jonathan Karma, please establish a company, process the elixir, and sell it. I believe in you. I wouldn’t entrust this to anyone else. I think you were chosen for this very mont.”
I spoke clearly, making sure everyone could hear .
That way, when he eventually ruined the company, everyone would bla him and not !!
The mont he failed, I’d instantly beco the incompetent and corrupt Saint everyone despised!
They’d curse and leave, and then I’d be safe from the Goddess’s wrath!!
Jonathan Karma trembled as if moved to tears.
“...Fate is truly ironic. When I struggled and fought so hard, it pushed into hell. But the mont I gave up, I was given an opportunity like this. No matter how harsh and relentless, staying alive allows you to seize chances like this.”
Jonathan Karma stood up.
Then he bowed deeply toward .
“This is the life you gave back to , Saint. I swear on my life—I will succeed. I will make you the wealthiest person in the Empire.”
I smiled contentedly.
Perfect.
Look at that bluster.
He was clearly setting up to fail spectacularly.
The wealthiest person in the Empire?
That’s exactly the kind of nonsense scamrs love to spout!
Absolutely flawless.
Scrooge, please go and screw this up as thoroughly as you ruined the doll factory.
“Even if you fail, it’s fine. No matter how many tis you fail, I will only use you. This is a bond guided by the Goddess herself.”
I even laid the groundwork, letting everyone know I’d stick with him no matter how badly he ssed up until they finally abandoned .
Even if High Priest Yodel burst a blood vessel out of frustration, I’d keep using him.
"Well done, Jonathan Karma.
Ruin the finances of the Lilia Church."
Tears welled up in Jonathan's eyes at my words.
"I will… I will absolutely succeed, Saint. Just as you will it… absolutely."
Yes, yes.
Go ahead and ss it all up.
I approached Jonathan Karma with a satisfied smile and hugged him tightly.
Despite the countless misfortunes, there was still a chance I might escape the Goddess's wrath and survive.
*****
After the conversation ended, the Saint returned to treating the poor.
The Saint worked tirelessly, healing person after person without rest.
There wasn’t even a hint of fatigue on his face, and a perpetual smile graced his lips.
Watching the Saint’s quiet dedication to healing, one could almost see a halo emanating from his head.
This is what a true Saint is.
Not just soone who heals bodies, but soone who soothes hearts and souls alike.
Jonathan Karma watched the Saint’s back with a reverent expression for a long ti before finally moving.
“Witch, may I have a word with you?”
His first step was to approach Erfa.
“I believe you heard what the Saint just said. Could you spare a mont? Please, co to my ho.”
“Of course.”
Erfa willingly followed Jonathan to his house.
Though modest and shabby, Jonathan showed no embarrassnt.
He already knew he would soon leave such a place behind.
“This is my wife, Oliviera, and my daughter, Cecilia.”
“Pleased to et you. I am Erfa, a witch from the Mage Tower.”
After a polite exchange of greetings, the four of them gathered in the living room.
Jonathan explained the task the Saint had entrusted to him, and both Oliviera and Cecilia nodded enthusiastically.
“Of course! We have to do this, no question about it!”
“Let help, Dad. I’ll do my part. We’ll make it work for the Saint!”
Watching his wife and daughter’s impassioned resolve, Jonathan nodded in agreent.
“I knew you’d feel that way. The Healing Saint has saved all of us. Not just our bodies, but our very souls. We have a duty to repay that grace. Let’s all be grateful for this second chance.”
Erfa couldn’t help but feel curious.
“Did the Healing Saint heal you as well, Jonathan?”
“He healed my daughter.”
Jonathan spoke calmly, recounting the events to Erfa, who listened with growing astonishnt.
“Rotting disease… that’s famously incurable…”
“We spent everything we had, tried every dicine and treatnt, just to slow its spread and reduce its contagiousness. But he eliminated it entirely with a re wave of his hand. I will repay the Saint for this gift, no matter what.”
Jonathan turned to Erfa with a determined look.
“We need various technologies to process the elixir. The best option would be recruiting skilled researchers from the Mage Tower who have studied elixir-related fields. I believe you could help recomnd such talents.”
“Of course. Many at the Mars Branch Tower specialize in elixir technologies. Tower Master Jorgen, for example, is one of the top three experts in precise elixir refinent across the entire continent.”
“That’s perfect! Please arrange a eting with them. Ideally, we’d recruit them as researchers for our company, but if that’s not possible, a technical partnership would suffice. I trust you can negotiate on our behalf.”
“Leave it to . I’ll help as much as I can.”
“That’s all we ask. The rest will be up to , my wife, and my daughter.”
“Managing elixir will require vast amounts of capital. Are you sure you can handle it? Should I recomnd a professional manager or soone with significant business expertise?”
Jonathan Karma chuckled at Erfa’s suggestion.
“If it’s Tower Master Jorgen, I know him personally. We t several tis in my younger days. When you return, ask him about my na. He’ll explain who my family is.”
Erfa’s curiosity was piqued.
After parting ways with the Karma family, she returned to the Mage Tower and headed straight to the Tower Master’s office.
She ntioned the na Jonathan Karma and asked who he was.
“Jonathan Karma, eh? Hahaha! It’s been a long ti! How do you know that na, Erfa?”
Erfa relayed what she had heard from Jonathan.
The Tower Master’s eyes widened in surprise.
“His daughter had rotting disease? What a wretchedly cursed life he must have lived…”
“What does he do?”
“If not for his incredible misfortune, he would have beco the wealthiest man in the Empire by now.”
Jorgen burst into hearty laughter.
“He was a self-made legend who rose from being a penniless street urchin to building one of the Empire’s top three distribution networks. Anyone involved in business twenty years ago knew the na Jonathan Karma.”
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