"Strong mentality and high sales at low profit margins"

"It's amazing, Mum! It doesn't hurt at all when I breathe! Look, you can jump and run around without any problems!"

"Oh my, my son who has had a painful cough since he was little came running...! Thank you! Thank you!"

"Don't worry about it. Well then, I'll take care of the medical expenses, five silver coins."

　Cha-cha-cha.

　Yes, thank you as always.

"Thank you, big brother Seija! Bye-bye!"

　I waved back to the mother who bowed repeatedly and the child who waved vigorously as I saw them off. Take care.

　I toss the silver coins into my second leather bag and tie it around my waist.

　But what's the point? Oh well.

　The queue has finally cleared. It looks like the parent and child from earlier are the last ones in this area.

　I guess I'll go to another section to look for new ducks, hehe.

　Apparently, there are more and more cases where people who have healed others bring in their acquaintances who are suffering from illnesses, as rumors spread from people who have been healed. It's a very happy cry. Well, it's not really a cry of dismay, since all we do is wave our hands to activate the cheat. It doesn't take up any magical power or other resources to activate the cheat, and it can be used as much as we want with the fixed-rate free plan.

"Well then, let's go. I'll cure you of any disease. I'll cure you of any disease."

"Poison for illness. Poison for illness. I can cure anything."

　In droves.

"Poison for the disease. Poison for the disease. The poison will go away and everything will be cured in no time."

"Poison for the disease. Poison for the disease. The disease will go away and everything will be cured in no time."

　In droves.

　....

　It's been bothering me for a while now.

"Um, how far will you all follow me...?"

　For some reason, some of the people I fixed would follow me around instead of going home. They would copy my sales pitch and even make the same banner as mine out of scrap wood they found nearby. I couldn't understand the meaning of their actions.

　When I asked her why she was following me, she replied with "I just didn't know," "I wanted to help," "I want to follow you," "I have to protect you," and "I like you." I thought she was after the money I earned, so I told her, "You won't get a share if you follow me," but she replied, "No way, I'm honored just to be allowed to follow you."

　Well, I'm sure they'll get bored of it soon, and I think it'll be easier for them to follow me around than if I walked alone. I'm the worst in the world at fighting, so I can't chase them away by force. I'd probably lose to a kid there too.

　Oops, is this the slum area?

　It seems like not many people have money, but five silver coins is quite cheap, so even poor people can afford it, right? The high population density is also good. I'm planning on selling at a low profit margin, so this might actually be a business opportunity.

"... Sensei, are you planning to set foot in the slums? The security situation is really bad up ahead. Many of the slum residents are involved in crime. They are not of a status that should involve a gentleman like you."

　One of the townspeople who had followed us, a relatively well-dressed woman, asked with a worried look on her face.

　I'm not a doctor, but do you think you look like a doctor to the person who was cured?

　Well, I didn't tell him my name, so I guess I can't call out to him. I can't call out to him like, "Hey, benefactor!"

　I mean, I was a gentleman.

　I felt a bit funny and pointed to my worn out clothes with a half-laugh.

"Do I look like I'm upper class? I'm just as poor as these people."

　After all, I was a refugee until yesterday.

"Besides, they want to be cured of their illnesses too. Whether you're poor or rich, you're all suffering from illness. We're all the same people, there's no difference."

"...Haha! I was wrong!"

　She knelt down on the spot and bowed her head deeply. It even looked like there were tears in the corners of her eyes. ...That's an exaggeration. I'm just saying the obvious.

　As long as they pay the money, everyone is a customer, hehehehe.

"Now, stand up. Crouching down there is just getting in the way of work."

　When I held out my hand to help her stand, she grabbed my hand with a strong grip and gave me a dreamy look.

"I will never wash my consecrated hands again for the rest of my life...♥"

"Are you sure you want to let me go?"

　I'm also scared of other women staring at me with blank stares without saying a word. What's up with that?

　Well, okay then, let's get to business...

　Just as I was about to raise my voice with that thought in mind, the people who had followed me started running around busily.

"Okay, let's split up and call out to the whole slum!"

"Look for the sick! If anyone can't walk by themselves, I'll lend them my shoulder and carry them away!"

"Angels have descended! Angels have descended! The day of salvation for the poor and sick has come!"

"An angel? Isn't he a saint?"

"You idiot, it doesn't matter which way you go. You're going to save me."

"That's true! Ah, an angel has arrived! A saint has arrived! He can cure any illness! Anyone who is suffering should gather around this banner! For just five silver coins, you can be saved from the clutches of the Grim Reaper!"

"Come on! You'll never get another chance in your life to have a miracle bestowed upon you by this saint with an insanely hot body! She's a real angel! Come together, just one look will suffice!"

　Huh? What's this? I started inviting people in without being told.

　And who is the angel?

　While I was stunned, the woman from before gave me a smile.

"They all want to help you, sensei. Please accept their dedication."

"...I haven't done anything special, so why would you call me dedicated?"

　No, don't look at it with such a mysterious expression. And don't smile as if you've somehow understood it.

"I see, perhaps it is no problem for an angel. However, all of them have been unable to receive satisfactory treatment, and have spent their days tormented by illness, thinking that they might not live another day, or if not the next day, they might die. And yet, you treat them without changing the situation depending on the person, just for five silver coins, which is practically nothing compared to the going rate for a doctor... so to them, the teacher is like a savior. And of course to me too."

　Ah, so five silver coins is a really cheap price after all? I thought it was too cheap, I was getting ripped off from the beginning. Still, I've been healing everything up to this point with just five coins. Would it be unfair to raise the price now? Besides, the people I'll be selling to from now on are the poor people in the slums.

　Oh well, I'll give you a special discount today. I'll heal everyone for five silver coins. The slum patients are happy that it's cheap, and I'm happy that everyone is happy. If everyone is happy, then that's fine. They're people the doctors have given up on, so there's no reason for them to complain if I heal them.

　To be honest, I'm a little angry at the doctors in this town. You can't put a price on life and abandon your patients. Of course, they have their own reasons, like medicine is precious, but we have our own reasons too. So I'll let them heal me according to my own theory.

"By the way, what was everyone saying about that Mitsukai and angel thing earlier...?"

"Ah, doctor! It looks like the first group of patients has arrived! Okay, okay, line up properly! Angels don't discriminate between poor and rich! The first ones to arrive will obediently line up in a row!"

　Just as I was about to ask her for more details, she started directing the traffic of the sick slum people who had arrived in droves. You know that, the one in the social game RPG where you're in the middle of a conversation when suddenly an enemy attacks you and the story continues after you've defeated the monster. Oh well, I'll ask her later.

　The sick people are suffering too, so let's put them at ease quickly.

　I'm a super doctor now... No, that would be disrespectful to Dr. K, who is working hard and honestly. Great pioneers of medicine, please forgive me for using cheats to save patients.

　It had been about an hour since the treatment began.

　Whether it's a slum or anywhere, all they do is wave their hand and do a cheat. If they wanted to, they could glance at the line and select everyone from one end to the other and treat them in one shot, but they wouldn't do that because the patients probably wouldn't feel cured and there might be scoundrels who run away without paying. Medicine requires quite a bit of authority.

　But even so, there are a lot of patients. Why are there so many more patients here than in residential and commercial districts? I've only ever been to the slums to clean sewer drains, so I guess the sanitation there is really bad.

　Now that I think about it, there are a lot of patients who are coughing a lot. Maybe tuberculosis or influenza is going around? Slums seem to be a place where a lot of people live in a small space, so they're the perfect breeding ground for infectious diseases. I wonder if they were on the verge of a pandemic. There are also a lot of patients with sexually transmitted diseases. Not only syphilis, but also pubic lice and chlamydia are on the rise.

　What is even more puzzling is the reaction of the patients after they are cured. I had been told that the slum residents are all criminals, so I expected that they would immediately run away after receiving treatment without paying, but not a single person did.

　They would hold my hand tightly when I held it out to ask for money, and cry their eyes out. "Thank you" and "You're my savior" and things like that. I feel guilty when they thank me so much because I'm the one who's curing them easily with cheats. But I can't shake off my hands that are worn out from doing the dishes and physical labor. I had no choice but to nod back, so it took a while for me to see the next patient. I'm not a savior or anything. I just want to see the next patient, I'm stuck.

"OK, next person."

　I stopped the old woman, who was bowing repeatedly, with one hand and called for the next patient.

　At the front of the line was a girl with swollen purple lumps covering her eyes and yellow puss oozing from the corners of her eyes. Looking closer, her ears were also rotten and maggots were coming out of them. That must be painful, poor girl.

"Angel, will my illness be cured...?"

"I can fix everything except injuries and cavities. Now, close your eyes and stand there."

　I wonder if this is just an illness. It's also possible that it's rotting due to toxins in the living environment. I might as well try detoxifying it.

　Just as I was thinking about that...

"Get out of the way! Give way!"

　A woman's voice came from the back of the line.

　I stood on tiptoe wondering what it was, and saw four tall women carrying it . A palanquin is an old vehicle carried by humans, and is the prototype of a mikoshi. Even in medieval Japan, nobles and feudal lords would not walk by themselves, but would be carried by others to get around.PalanquinStrain

　However, it is too shabby to be called a palanquin. The poles for carrying it are not painted, and the seat is made of rags. The people carrying it are also wearing rags, like slum dwellers. The person riding it is a feeble old man wearing dirty plain clothes.

　I'm guessing this isn't a nobleman, but a stretcher carrying an old man who can't walk?

"We must relieve Father of his suffering as quickly as possible! If you are from the slums, give me your turn! Have you forgotten how much Father owes me on a daily basis?"

"That's right! Who is it that allows us, who have been abandoned by our lord, to eat?"

　As the women carrying the palanquin raise their voices, the people in the procession silently move from side to side to make way for the palanquin to pass.

　The girl at the front of the line also hurriedly tried to get in front of me, so I grabbed her arm and stopped her.

"Eh, but..."

"It's fine. You go first, I'll heal you next."

　I gently patted the confused girl on the head and then placed my hands on her hips.

"Hey, I'm in trouble for breaking the queue! Whoever you are, if you want to be fixed, you'll just get in line!"

　When I raised my voice, the woman carrying the palanquin replied back, looking frightened.

"What? Who do you think this person is..."

"It doesn't matter who it is. Just hurry up and line up at the back! If Grandpa can't walk, he can just stay in the palanquin!"

"The slums have their own rules! If you're going to do business on our turf, you have to abide by them!"

「I have my own rules! It doesn't matter how important you are in the slums! Whether you're a noble or a beggar, I make no distinction or discrimination! If you want me to heal you'd better be a good boy! Just shut up and line up there!」

　I'm someone who just goes with the flow, but I hate it when someone nitpicks the rules I set for myself. It's not about my mental toughness, it's been like this since I was in Japan. I often made my family wonder why I'm always living my life with a smile on my face, but I'm stubborn in strange ways. I'm sorry, I'm stubborn in strange ways. I was a difficult child to raise.

　But that's who I am, so I'll stick to it even if I die or am reincarnated. Garuru.

　As the woman carrying the palanquin and I glared at each other, the old man on it seemed to say something in a weak voice.

"...I understand, if that's what you say, Father."

　The tall woman bowed slightly to me and went around to the back of the line. Oh dear.

　But there's greatness in the slums too. I thought everyone was equally poor.

　Well, after that, he examined several dozen people, and then it was my grandfather's turn. Everyone left the place as soon as they were examined, so we didn't have to wait too long. I guess they were considerate of my grandfather.

　The palanquin was lowered to the ground, and the old man sat in front of me and first bowed deeply.

"I am truly sorry for the rudeness of the young men. We were reckless out of concern for my safety. I take full responsibility. Also, please forgive us for our rudeness in passing you by in such attire. As soon as the young men heard about you, they carried me into a palanquin with only the clothes on my back..."

　The old man was wearing very worn out loungewear, with stains here and there that looked like soup had been spilled on it.

"It's fine, it's fine, if you line up obediently, you're a patient."

"I am grateful for your generosity. ... My legs have been weak for several years, and I can no longer stand. When I can no longer walk on my own, my mind also becomes weak... I don't even have the energy to preach to the young people, which is pathetic..."

　As he spoke in a weak voice, the old man sounded like rotting wood on the verge of withering at any moment.

　Ah, it feels a bit like a sting to the back of my eyes...

　I have a weakness for older men. I grew up close and personal with my grandpa, so when I hear stories about the lives of weak old men, I can't help but feel sympathy for them.

　But the leg... Will it heal? It looks like it's just old age, but that's just a natural death of life, so it doesn't seem like a possibility. But the fact that he's still alive despite his leg having withered away for several years means it could be an illness. If it's due to damage to part of his organs, then isn't that an injury and not a disease? His tooth decay didn't heal either.

　...No, don't be discouraged. Believe in the cheats. More precisely, believe in the sloppy nature of the cheats. The best part of cheat battles is forcing your way through with an over-interpretation. This old man will be cured, this old man will be cured... Let's go!

　[Influencer] - [Disease Resistance]!

"Oh? Ohhhh...!?"

　The old man opened his eyes wide and looked all over his body with his eyes moving all over. Then he suddenly rose to his feet, his body trembling. Yes, success!

"I, I can stand up! I can stand up! What a thing...!"

"Dad! I can't believe you're actually cured...!"

"Old man stood up! Old man stood up!"

　I nodded in agreement as the women carrying the palanquin with the old man burst into joy. I'm so glad he's healed. I wonder what would have happened if he hadn't. I have a really bad feeling about it, so I don't really want to think about it.

　Now then, I was thinking that I'd take the silver coin and move on to the next person...

　Grandpa knelt down in front of me, tears flowing from his eyes. He even kissed my shoes. What? I don't like being kissed by grandpa, especially on my feet.

"Thank you, thank you... You are truly an angel. I don't know how to express my gratitude to you...!"

"No, it's not a Mitsukai or anything, so the price will be five silver coins, okay?"

"That unbiased attitude towards wealth and nobility is surely the best proof that you are an angel. Death sends both royalty and beggars to God due to illness. So surely an angel who saves people from illness should not discriminate based on their social status. Therefore, you are indeed an angel."

"...Eh? Wait, wait. Does that mean an angel is an angel of God? No, I'm not. I'm nothing special. I'm just a human."

"However, the power that has just cured my illness is not of this world. I have closely observed you healing people, and it was not magic or a magic item. In the first place, healing magic cannot cure illnesses, and there are no signs of a magic item activating. Isn't it a power that transcends the laws of this world? Please tell me. Isn't it the work of God?"

　Saying this, the old man looked up at me. His gaze was so sharp and sharp that it was hard to believe he was the same person as the feeble old man from earlier.

　Well, I guess it's God's work.

　...Wait a second? It was God who reincarnated me, gave me cheat coins, bought cheats from a vending machine, and used them to heal these people. If you think about it, cheats are a power given to you by God.

　If you think about it, it's definitely God's work. You're not wrong.

　But... I have a feeling that if I admit it here, nothing good will come of it.

　I leaned down, put my face close to grandpa's ear, and whispered so only he could hear.

"That's right. This is a power I received from God."

"! As expected...!"

"Shhh."

　I put my index finger up to my mouth to stop the old man.

"Don't tell anyone about this."

"Ohhh...! My angel, I will dedicate the short remainder of my life to your faith. I will offer up the lives of my daughter and granddaughter, as well as my entire family, for you."

"Eh? No, no, no, no! I don't need that!"

　I waved my hand in a panic. I just wanted five silver coins, so why would he bring that up?

　The old man remained prostrated and continued speaking at length.

"The doctor in this town looked down on the slum residents and did not treat them like human beings. Even when one of my granddaughters fell ill with a fever, he begged to go to the pigsty to examine her. No matter how much money we offered him, he said he didn't want such filthy money...! Thanks to him, my beloved granddaughter lost her life. How regretful I was...! He is gone now, but the same was true of the doctor the lord called in to take his place. Only you. You were the only one who treated us like human beings. So how could we hesitate to worship you? You are our savior. We would sacrifice our lives for you. Please guide us."

　This is bad. Alarm bells keep ringing in my head.

　Even an idiot like me can understand that it's definitely not a good idea to accept this.

　I put my [Mental Resistance] into full use and spoke to him in a calm tone so as not to let him know how upset I was.

"I am just a human who has been given powers. Just like you people. Humans should not worship other humans. Please put your faith where it belongs."

　The old man's eyes widened and his shoulders began to tremble.

"Have faith in the Lord... Are you saying that the Lord has not abandoned us outcasts?"

　Smile.

　I didn't really understand, so I just put on a big smile. That's what you do when you don't understand something.

"I understand. As you said, let us pray to the Lord. May God's will be his."

"According to God's Will"

　The people around, who had been listening to his conversation with the old man, all joined in the chant.

　No, what is this?

========

=====

==

[From a column in a local newspaper several hundred years later]

　This town in the southern part of Brishav Island is home to a legend about angels.

　A few hundred years ago, in the late Middle Ages, just before the Industrial Revolution began, a man calling himself an angel appeared and traveled around the city, healing people's illnesses. The angel charged only five silver coins for his treatments, and walked around the city, healing the rich and the poor alike. According to legend, with the angel's hand, any serious illness would be instantly cured, and the person would remain completely free of illness for several years afterwards.

　People followed behind the angel to protect him from evil-minded people. The angel had a very lustful appearance and carried a large amount of cash carelessly, so no righteous person could leave him alone. They may have had ulterior motives, wanting to follow a beautiful and holy man.

　Soon the angel entered the slums and healed an old man whose legs had become so weak that he could no longer stand. The old man was a villain who had made his fortune through crime, but the angel healed him.

　When the old man asked, "Are you not an angel of God?" the angel answered in the affirmative. Touched by God's miracle, the old man regretted his life up until that point and tearfully pleaded, "I will offer up my life, and the lives of my daughter and granddaughter as well. Please let me pray for you," but the angel did not approve.

"We are brothers and sisters born to God. Do not pray to me. Put your faith in the Lord in heaven," the angel said.

　Thus, the people of the slums were reformed and began to pray to God every day.

　The number of people following the angel increased, and the procession nearly covered the town. The lord of the town felt threatened, so he sent his guards to disperse the procession and capture the angel.

　The people who admired the angel were enraged and turned into a mob and tried to attack the guards, but it was the angel who stopped them.

When the angel said, "On earth we must obey the laws of man. If you love me, you must submit to your lord," the people became angry and handed the angel over to the authorities.

　This legend was later determined to be a fabrication by both the Holy See and the Holy See.

　At the time, there was a fierce conflict between Catholicism and Protestantism, and this story is said to be propaganda created to spread the Protestant claim that "the basis of a person's faith is not in the church, but in the human heart itself." It is true that the feat of instantly curing an illness is impossible not only with the healing magic of the time, but even in today's scientifically advanced world. This claim is not unreasonable.

　In modern times, the provincial city where the angel descended has become just another rural town, and the only thing remaining to represent the legend is a single statue of the angel. However, the angel statue that stands in a district that was once a slum continues to watch over the lives of the people even after hundreds of years.

　The people of this area also have a custom of helping each other out when they are in trouble by exchanging five silver coins as a kindness fee. Even if the angel's noble spirit is no longer tangible, it is still passed down in the hearts of the people.