Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 215

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 215

* * *

Not long after Cheri returned from the North, the Academy’s summer semester began.

For thirteen-year-old Leo, this year’s Academy was particularly special, because he could now participate in all sorts of sports tournaments held within the Academy.

Among the numerous sports, Leo chose ‘polo’ – the epitome of noble sports that drew countless spectators to every final match.

“I chose it because I liked that I could participate together with Byeol-sa-tang.”

Leo, who revealed his reason for choosing polo despite its popularity and high risk of injury, lowered his voice as if telling me a secret.

“Actually, I received secret training at Asiri’s Estate during last winter. The polo instructor at Asiri’s said I have some talent.”

Some… talent? That polo instructor is a decent person, right?

Despite my doubts about the polo instructor’s character, Leo achieved overwhelming victory in the preliminary matches that began right after the semester started, proving that the polo instructor was at least excellent at teaching students.

Throughout the match, Leo moved as one with Byeol-sa-tang, racing across the enormous arena. Every time Leo swung his stick, the ball aimed for the opposing team’s goal.

Especially thanks to the secret training, he showed fantastic coordination with Asillia and quickly emerged as a rookie star in polo.

I squeezed time from my busy schedule to watch Leo’s matches whenever I could.

On the day Leo achieved his third victory, he spotted me in the stands and immediately ran over, shouting:

“Lady Belinda! They say the best player of the winning team in the finals gets a wreath made only of precious flowers. I’ll work hard and definitely place that wreath on your head!”

Leo, who spoke with rare triumph as the excitement of victory hadn’t subsided, soon came to his senses and hurriedly added:

“Of, of course, our team has to win first. And there are many skilled seniors on the team, so there’s no guarantee I’ll be chosen as the best player… but still…”

I wiped Leo’s dirt-covered cheek with a handkerchief and smiled.

“In my eyes, you’re already the best player!”

“Th-that’s just because you’re too fond of me, Lady Belinda. I’m not the best player yet.”

I was surprised by Leo’s chattering with an endearing expression and looked at him anew.

Leo, who had started growing rapidly like a sprout receiving sweet rain since last winter, had already surpassed Vivian’s height. Even his round cowlick, which I used to see from far below, now swayed at my eye level.

But it wasn’t just Leo’s height that had grown.

The child who believed he had no place unless he proved his usefulness, the child who said he was afraid of receiving unconditional love, now spoke of my affection for him as if it were natural.

Finding this so endearing, I ruffled Leo’s hair with both hands, not caring about people’s stares.

“When did our Jui-bam-tol grow up so much?”

Leo smiled brightly without reservation at the nickname he hadn’t heard in a while.

“I still have a long way to go. I need to keep growing more and more. That’s my job, isn’t it?”

In that smile with deep dimples, I couldn’t see any shadow of the nine-year-old Leo I had once known.

* * *

The Royal Palace Gardens, where spring sunlight poured down.

Belinda and Giuseppe walked along the only path leading to that place, which could only be entered by royal invitation, without a single attendant accompanying them.

Though they hadn’t exchanged a single word, there was no uncomfortable tension between them. Rather, both naturally accepted the silence.

Then, Giuseppe was the first to speak.

“I still think there’s no need for the Marquess to step forward. If the Saintess is an Ascetic, the Marquess will be exposed to danger.”

At those words, Belinda frowned and stopped walking.

“You’re bringing that up even after we’ve come this far? High Priest, you know your stubbornness is incredible, right?”

“Even my incredible stubbornness can’t stop the Marquess’s will.”

At his roundabout way of saying her stubbornness was also remarkable, she grumbled with a heavy heart.

“There’s no other way, so what choice do we have?”

Right after Cheri arrived, Belinda held a meeting to share the information she knew.

Everyone agreed that Ophelia’s actions were suspicious, but the problem was the lack of clear evidence.

Ophelia traveled throughout the Kingdom for service as a Saintess.

So if she claimed that overlapping with the dark magic organization’s routes was just an incredible coincidence, there was no way to refute it.

‘Besides, Suga also said Ophelia isn’t a dark mage…’

In a situation where it was questionable how someone who wasn’t a dark mage could be the leader of a dark magic organization, to make matters worse, from the point when Ophelia’s divine power surpassed Giuseppe’s, the Authority of Truth and Authority of Insight could no longer reveal her sins.

The only thing that could distinguish truth from falsehood in her words was the Authority of Truth possessed by the Pope.

But taking Ophelia to the Holy Empire for a holy trial would consume too much time.

If Ophelia was an Ascetic, she wouldn’t remain defenseless during the journey to the Holy Empire.

In the end, the only method left for Belinda’s group was to induce Ophelia to confess the truth with her own mouth.

When everyone fell silent at this impossible problem, Belinda stepped forward.

“I can’t be certain, but if luck follows, I think I can solve this problem. So when I give the signal, please arrest Ophelia as an Ascetic.”

And today, Belinda arranged a meeting to determine whether Ophelia was an Ascetic.

She resumed her stopped steps and continued speaking.

“Before participating in the Five Nations Council, we need to find out whether Ophelia is ally or enemy.”

Though she spoke firmly, if she could, Belinda wanted to withdraw from this matter.

Ophelia was a friend she had met in this world, and suspecting that friend was painful for her too.

However, Belinda spoke with feigned composure to hide her true feelings.

“Don’t worry about me. Unlike the children you tried to save the other day, I’m someone who can protect myself.”

Thinking he would give up after she said this much, Belinda added playfully to lighten the somewhat tense atmosphere.

“Still, it’s surprising. I thought the High Priest, who works harder than anyone to prevent destruction, would rather push me forward.”

Those words made Giuseppe, who had been standing still, start walking. He approached Belinda to close the distance with a bitter smile and spoke.

“…Do you know how to awaken divine power, Marquess?”

Though she couldn’t guess the intention behind the question, Belinda nodded first.

The method to awaken divine power is simple.

Go to the temple, kneel before the divine statue, and honestly swear what you can sacrifice for your beliefs.

Before that oath asking the meaning of sacrifice, someone said they would offer all their wealth, another their family treasure, and yet another their old doll from childhood.

And Giuseppe, born between priest parents…

“I swore to offer everything of mine, even myself.”

Giuseppe, with a face that seemed to regret that day, bit the tip of his glove and removed it.

“So as the Marquess said, there’s no falsehood in my belief to prevent destruction, and I can do anything for that purpose.”

Soon bringing his bare hand before Belinda’s forehead, he asked with a somehow desperate expression.

“Will you permit me to bestow a blessing upon you?”

Belinda conveyed her permission by quietly closing her eyes.

Soon Giuseppe’s fingertips touched Belinda’s forehead.

“May light like a lamp always illuminate your path.”

For a moment Giuseppe’s face contorted as if enduring pain, but Belinda, with her eyes closed, couldn’t see that expression.

“To receive the High Priest’s blessing, what an honor.”

With a faint smile, Belinda opened her eyes and, with those words as her last to Giuseppe, turned her back on him and walked alone down the path.

In the distance, Ophelia’s figure standing before the World Tree began to come into view.

Belinda took a deep breath and put on the glasses she had prepared.

“Belinda!”

Through the lens, she could see Ophelia welcoming her with a bright smile.

Ignoring the lie detector’s waves floating above that face, Belinda smiled back.

“Ophelia, did you wait long?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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