Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better? - Chapter 197

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Side Story 14
-I, I just kept it because he was handsome. Besides, that man is a celebrity, so I’ve never even met him.
-Really?
-Your portrait circulates through the streets of Horun District anyway! It’s similar to that.
-….
-You’re the most handsome! Now that I see you, that man is completely washed up.
-…Is that so?
-Of course it is!
-More than Rocke Visconti?
-That’s your previous life! Your face and voice were identical anyway, so what’s there to compare.
-They’re different! Here, my eyes are sharper and my lips are better shaped.
-I’m not sure….
Seeing Isidore about to sulk again, I quickly reached out and ran my hand through his hair to appease him.
-Goodness. You’re like a stubborn big puppy that won’t listen.
-So you’ve been petting my head while thinking such things all this time.
Still, seeming pleased, he quietly surrendered his head to my hand. Contact appeared to be possible, but since we were spirits, touching his hair didn’t feel quite right—it was slightly strange.
-Go back and finish doing it.
He seemed to be wagging his tail like a dog.
-Your previous life was like a temperamental feline. How curious.
-I was more of a dog, but I lacked honesty. I regretted it right up until death. Unable to abandon my pride, I spoke words I didn’t mean. It was a difficult life filled with regret and longing.
-….
This conversation confirmed it. When Isidore was pulled into this space, just like me, he recovered all his memories from his previous life.
But just as I was Deborah Simour and not Naila, Isidore hadn’t changed into someone different either.
-But isn’t doing this in the Temple sacrilege?
-Since you’re a saint, you could establish a new doctrine permitting physical contact.
-I don’t think I’ll have any reason to visit the Temple again, so why would I bother arguing with the Pope just to do someone else a favor….
-But you do like it?
-Look at you, only listening to what’s convenient for you!
The two of us exchanged idle conversation, hand in hand, crossing the University Campus courtyard where cherry blossoms fell like snow.
-I’m finally experiencing the romance of a campus couple.
-Campus?
-It’s similar in meaning to the Academy.
-Hmm. I should have been reborn twice as well….
He expressed genuine regret.
-I just imagined it, and I think you would have lived well here too. You would have been a truly popular senior.
-You lived well too, my lady. You grew up beautifully among a chaotic family that was always squabbling.
As if witnessing the dysfunctional family from my previous life, sorrow and tenderness rippled through our touching souls. Complete understanding and empathy transferred wholly between us.
-And… thank you so much for enduring so well in the deep darkness.
The sad and agonizing emotions from when I watched over my soul wandering lost in the Abyss for so long due to the Demon’s curse are also conveyed.
‘Could it have been intentional.’
Perhaps the Thought Entity wanted to summon Isidore here instead of me. He had told me it didn’t matter whether I was a Demon or a Demon’s grandfather, but today I truly felt understood down to the deepest darkness of my soul.
-Isidore, don’t grieve so much. Truth be told, I don’t remember well what happened in the Abyss. But I’m certain of this—I was probably fine. I must have been eagerly anticipating seeing you again.
I knew that even when harsh winters came, flowers would bloom someday. He had taught me that.
-You seduced me with flowers in the past too.
-Because you love flowers.
Isidore placed a paper lavender folded by his own hands into my palm.
-…!
Soon after, the paper slowly transformed into a gentle, luminous halo that began to spread, and before long, the world turned pristine white as if we had arrived in paradise.
-Deborah Simour….
Then, the Thought Entity, who had remained silent all this time, called out to me in a rather solemn voice.
-Hm?
-Always remember this: where there is light, there is shadow.
-As I suspected, something suspicious has flowed into the Temple.
Rather than deny Isidore’s conjecture, the Thought Entity offered a somewhat abstract response.
-…Even when a single candle’s flame lights countless others, the brightness of that first candle does not diminish.
-….
-An eternal light will always be with you both.
After the Thought Entity’s meaningful words, the intense light enveloping our surroundings began to fade, and its presence grew distinctly dimmer.
-Don’t do this.
I grasped at it desperately.
-You’re not really disappearing like this, are you? Tell me that’s not what’s happening.
-I am the longing you created. Your ancient wish has been fulfilled, so there is no reason for me to exist any longer.
The Thought Entity’s voice grew fainter and fainter, and I cried out even louder, as if screaming.
-Even so, I don’t want to part like this, so meaninglessly. Besides, you don’t even have a name yet!
-Give me one later.
-…!
-Deborah Simour, truth is, I’ve always wanted to taste a big marshmallow. And hot chocolate too.
-….
-And on snowy days, I’ll build a big snowman… so….
The Thought Entity’s voice grew so faint that I could no longer hear it, yet somehow I seemed to catch a soft whisper that we would meet again soon.
And this is an epilogue: my and Isidore’s second child loved nothing more than building snowmen to their heart’s content on winter days, then sipping warm hot chocolate while eating marshmallows.
* * *
“…Gasp!”
As the white light faded and my eyes snapped open, I found myself standing motionless before the Sanctuary inside the Temple, as if nothing had happened at all. I clutched a pristine white rosary, now free of its ashen aura.
…The intense pulse and spiritual resonance I had felt whenever I held the rosary were gone. The Thought Entity had truly departed.
‘Will I really be able to meet that being again….’
“My lady! What’s happened?!”
“Holy Saint?”
Before I could even sink into regret, the commotion around me erupted in alarm at my sudden behavior.
From the way others stood beyond the Sanctuary doors, floundering in confusion, the long time I had spent with the Thought Entity must have been merely an instant here. I gave a sharp glance to Isidore, who was gripping my wrist to prevent my soul from being pulled away.
The moment he released my wrist, I hastily tucked the rosary into the hidden pocket of my dress and concealed it, then let out an awkward cough.
Composing myself with an expression of grave concern, I approached the Pope, and he too became serious in turn.
“What troubles you, Saint?”
“I must request a private audience with you, Your Holiness.”
* * *
Shortly after, I made my way with the Pope to the confessional chamber so we could speak alone.
“What on earth has happened? You look positively unwell.”
He fretted anxiously, wondering if something had befallen the sacred relics.
“Your Holiness, the cracks that have accumulated have severely tainted the holy essence of the relics. At this rate, even holy water cannot prevent further corruption and decay.”
“That… that cannot be!”
The Pope’s eyes widened in shock.
“However, all is not lost. At midnight tonight, when the moon rises, we must perform a purification ritual for the relics.”
“Ah! If we perform the purification ritual, the relics will be restored?!”
“Yes. Though I cannot say precisely how long it will take…”
The Pope accepted my hastily improvised words as absolute truth.
‘Perhaps I have an unexpected talent for being a charlatan cult leader?’
“Is there anything else I might assist with? I shall provide everything necessary for the purification ritual, Saint.”
“I will need a place imbued with sacred power. The Sanctuary from earlier seemed most suitable.”
I spoke while recalling the statue of Naila in the center of the Sanctuary, standing there so prominently.
“Of course, use it as you see fit.”
“And… during the purification ritual, corrupted energies may attempt to enter, so it would be best if I conducted the ceremony alone. Therefore, please ensure this matter does not spread beyond these walls.”
I lowered my voice and spoke with utmost discretion.

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