READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 2
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“Praise Lilia of Grace.”
Her mercy is deep and wide, healing the sick and the needy like a farmer tending to his fields.
Her chosen ones are not defined by wealth, gender, or birthplace; from the filthiest places, the most sacred shall arise, testifying to this through their lives.
– Scripture of Grace 32:16 –
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For the first time in the capital of the Arcal Empire, Mars City was massive and grand.
The streets were filled with cars and trucks powered by mana engines, and the architecture reminded one of the Belle Époque era.
After getting off the train, I immediately began to roam the city.
As I walked quickly, I revisited the plans I had made on the train.
Saint.
My Arcal Empire had many folktales and legends about saints.
Those who performed miracles and wonders by God’s grace.
Stories about saints suddenly appearing to heal the poor and the sick, then disappearing, were incredibly common in the empire.
So I thought to use this legend. Naturally, slums existed, even in this era.
And surely, there would be many sick people in the slums.
I would heal them with my body modification ability, and then word would spread.
Not just anywhere, but in the very center of the empire—this was bound to get around quickly.
Once I was famous enough, I’d seek out a witch.
Wizards or witches aren’t exactly people you can meet on a whim, but once I became super famous, it would be totally doable.
There was even a chance the witch might come looking for me.
Then I’d heal her and avoid a dark fantasy apocalypse scenario.
Just like the many saints from legends, I would vanish into thin air.
Not just any saint, but a saint indeed.
This would mean using miracles, so technically, I wouldn’t be using illegal magic.
I’d act like a saint only until I healed the witch, then vanish like the wind!
That was my plan.
Not long after wandering around the city, I managed to find the slums.
Before diving into serious healing activities, I took a deep breath.
I needed to stay tense.
If I messed up, I could end up with a self-inflicted wound.
If I healed someone and the word got out wrong, rather than being a saint, I could be branded a heretic and die.
Plus, there were countless sects in the empire.
I had to make sure not to be mistaken for a saint sent by a particular sect.
If it’s revealed that I impersonated a sect’s saint, a guy like me who has never believed in any god, it would be a minimum of exile, maximum execution. The ideal situation would be for word to spread enough for a witch to come to me, and I could quickly heal her and then vanish.
The moment I’m mistaken for an illegal magic user or a fraud, I’m done for, and if a specific sect accuses me of imitating their saint, it’s the end of me.
I know the odds are against me.
But I have no choice.
It’s either sitting still and dying or acting and dying, so I might as well try.
‘Let’s heal the witch and then vanish quickly. Heal the witch and vanish!’
Of course, this is the scenario I’m hoping for.
There’s a good chance the worst scenario could become reality.
But I desperately tried not to think about those scenarios.
I stepped into the slums.
As I slowly walked around the slums, I felt the sharp gazes of the people piercing through me.
It was no surprise that this neighborhood didn’t like outsiders coming and going.
There were only two kinds of looks aimed at me.
“Is he someone we can mug?”
“Is he someone who might harm us?”
Only these two.
Although it felt like my legs would give out under the eerie stares of the downtrodden with no future, I pushed down my fear and walked the streets as nonchalantly as I could.
As I continued walking, I finally spotted a decent target.
A beggar with no glimmer of hope was scratching at his skin, which was oozing with pus and blood, shaking an empty bowl while mumbling.
“In the name of a merciful god, please give me just one coin. Just one.”
This plea came across more as a well-rehearsed mumble than a heartfelt request.
It seemed like there was no difference to him whether he died today or tomorrow.
“Just one coin, please.”
The stench emanating from this living corpse was unbearable.
Slowly, I approached him.
“Noble sir, in the name of the god, please give me just one coin.”
As he caught sight of me, he looked my way and muttered softly. I decided to ask him a question.
This was a performance.
To spread rumors that I was a saint, the performance was crucial.
I absolutely couldn’t let it slip that it was because of an illegal spell that he got healed.
To achieve that, I needed to create a holy atmosphere.
Fortunately, I knew someone good for creating a holy vibe.
Who knew my childhood Sunday school experience would come in handy?
Jesus.
Time for me to imitate a bit.
“Why are you sitting here?”
“Just give me one coin, just one.”
“Are you in pain?”
“Yes, I’m in pain, noble sir. Please pity this beggar and give me just one coin.”
“Do you want a coin to get through today, or do you wish for an opportunity to live the rest of your life differently?”
The beggar blinked, struggling to understand.
“It would be nice to have an opportunity. But who gives opportunities to a beggar like me?”
“I will. So let me ask again: do you want the opportunity, or do you truly want just a coin?”
“I want the opportunity, noble sir. If you have it, please give it to me. But I have nothing to offer in return.”
“That is more than enough.”
I placed my hand on the beggar’s head.
Using unregistered magic is a serious crime.
Reporting me leads to immediate punishment and even execution.
But I had to do it, come what may.
I used my skill.
[Using body modification!]
And the next moment, the beggar’s physical condition began to appear before my mind like a 3D model.
A character customization screen?
That was the feel I got as his body appeared in my mind.
Not only was the exterior visible, but the internal organs started showing too.
Heart, large intestine, small intestine, stomach, lungs, and so on. I could upgrade or reshape any internal organ as I pleased.
It felt almost closer to a medical simulator than a game, as I observed the beggar’s state, which was utterly pitiful.
‘One leg’s bone isn’t normal. He must’ve been walking with a limp his whole life.’
Pus-filled lumps covered his body, particularly a massive one on his back, almost the size of his head.
The foul smell coming from his body was emanating from that lump on his back.
After checking the state, I slowly began to mold the beggar’s body as if I were customizing a character.
I removed the huge lump on his back and the countless lumps stuck to him.
Then I reshaped the twisted bone in one of his legs to a normal form.
I made his skin clean, changed his complexion, and transformed his emaciated body into one with some healthy flesh and muscle.
I worked on his sunken, gaunt face too.
As I continued the customization, I realized the body modification skill wasn’t just about changing appearances; it could actually affect health.
‘Are there diseases too? Let’s get rid of them. Let’s pull out that tooth in his head. Let’s delete the parasites in the large intestine.’
As long as it related to the body, I could change anything as I wished.
Amidst my frantic manipulations, a strange sound escaped the beggar’s mouth.
“Ugh. Ugh! M-milord!”
I heard the sounds of bones cracking.
The sounds of joints, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels twisting and rearranging started to grow loudly.
Hearing the beggar’s screams and the horrifying sound of his body reshaping, other beggars and slum folks began to gather around.
This is good.
Keep coming and watch.
And spread the rumors a bit.
After about three minutes of extreme concentration on the beggar’s body, I finally finished modifying his body to a satisfactory level.
The beggar fell to the ground with a thud.
Looking stunned, he touched his body, slowly ripping off the rag covered in pus, then started removing his clothes.
The man stood there, undressing, gazing at his body in a way that’s hard to describe.
A crowd gathered around, staring at us, murmuring back and forth.
Fighting to keep hold of my character, I extended my hand to the beggar.
“Get up and walk on your own two feet.”
The beggar grabbed my hand.
I helped him to his feet.
He stood on his own two feet.
I let go of his hand and stepped back, and he began walking slowly, step by step.
His steps were slow, but he was walking perfectly.
After taking a light lap around, the beggar suddenly approached me and slowly knelt, kissing my shoes.
“Saint!”
He was sobbing, grabbing my ankles, passionately kissing my shoes.
“I-It’s the saint.”
“You’ve performed a miracle!”
“Oh, saint!”
All the surrounding poor people dropped to their knees as well.
Well, that’s only natural.
Legends about saints were well-known across the Arcal Empire, and my actions fit neatly into that narrative.
It’s happening just as I wanted it to!
After stopping the beggar, who was obsessively kissing my feet, I gently raised him to his feet again.
“Saint, I have nothing to repay you with.”
This made me scramble to think.
Let’s see.
What’s a line befitting a saint?
Drawing on my memories of self-help books from Korea and Sunday school, I squeezed out a line that suited my character.
“I do not desire money. Repay me not with material things, but with your life.”
“I-I will. Saint! I will do so!!”
The teary-eyed beggar clung to me, crying like a child.
After comforting him, I looked around at the people.
Their gazes were overwhelming.
I felt the urge to say something profound.
No choice, huh?
I guess I’ll just recycle that Sunday school line.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened. I will heal you.”
That immediately attracted a massive crowd.
“Saint! Heal my son!”
“My blind mother needs you!”
“Oh, saint! My son is dying! I can’t afford to heal him! Please save him!!”
The overwhelming voices nearly drove me mad.
It seemed like word was spreading like wildfire.
After all, I only planned to pretend to be a saint until healing the witch.
Let’s try to prevent that apocalypse ending event.
With that thought, I focused on healing those who came to me as best as I could with body modification.
So far, so good.
“The saint of Lilia of Grace is here!!”
“The Goddess of Grace has sent us a saint!”
“The Saint of Healing! The Saint of Healing!”
I haven’t said a word!
I didn’t even mention the Lilia Church or anything like that!!
No, seriously. Why is a specific sect being mentioned all of a sudden?!?!?!”
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