Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better? - Chapter 199

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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 Episode 16
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After that, the demon’s resistance grew quite violent, causing damage to the outer walls of the Grand Temple, but our overwhelming forces quickly suppressed it. The demon’s body was pierced through by the spear of Orix, my personal guard knight whose skills had grown dramatically, and it vanished.
Yet I felt no sense of satisfaction. It was because of what the demon had said just before dying.
“Though I may disappear, darkness does not. No matter how many Dark Mages you capture and kill, revenge only begets more revenge.”
The Priest Morris, who had lent his body to a mid-tier demon, turned out to be a priest whose life I had once saved in the past. He had denied the fact that his benefactor Miya Binoshu was the vessel for a greater demon’s descent, and to prove that she was right and that others were mistaken, he had turned to dark magic.
‘Perhaps a mid-tier demon was summoned because of the high priest’s blood.’
Or it could be that when Miya wielded the demon’s power disguised as healing, that power transferred to the priest.
‘The latter seems more likely.’
As the investigation into the Morris incident was nearing completion, Isidore asked me a question.
“…Your holy power returned before the Thought Entity disappeared, didn’t it?”
He had watched from beside me as I poured out my holy power to grasp the disappearing Thought Entity.
“Yes.”
“What exactly was the cause of the holy power depletion?”
“Rather than depletion, it’s more accurate to say my subconscious was reluctant and actively hindering my use of holy power.”
“….”
“Honestly, I’m sick of playing the saint.”
When the Thought Entity reminded me of the existence of darkness, I realized the necessity of holy power and was able to use it immediately.
But…confronting a demon composed of cruelty and malice was never an easy task.
“Deborah.”
“Hmm?”
“You’ve lit countless candles all this time.”
“….”
“So there’s no need to burn yourself alone to illuminate the darkness. I’m here, and there are many people around you like this.”
Ah, I see.
Looking back at my people who had set aside their busy schedules and followed me all the way to Heleia for my sake, I suddenly felt something hot strike my chest.
No one had forced me to play the hero, yet I had been shouldering the burden all by myself. That’s why my holy power hadn’t returned in the first place.
It was like how if you tell yourself not to think of a blue elephant, you can only think of blue elephants day and night.
“I’m such a fool.”
“The real fool is over there.”
Isidore pointed his chin at the Pope and laughed like a villain.
Isidore had switched out all the healing stones I’d received from the Pope with ones completely drained of holy power. It would probably look like they’d all been used during the purification ceremony.
‘High-grade healing stones, much appreciated.’
Suddenly feeling like I’d taken an antacid, my insides felt completely clear. As I savored the satisfaction that ill-gotten gains brought for once, my eyes met the Pope’s.
“Oh my, Saint!”
He approached me with great fanfare, and the gazes of the nearby priests and my attendants focused on us.
“To discover and vanquish such a peculiar demon that even holy water wouldn’t work on! My faith in you, Saint, has become even more steadfast and profound!”
“….”
He spoke with fervent enthusiasm.
“At the upcoming annual ceremony, I shall inform everyone of your exploits, Saint, and the Temple will spare no support for you beyond the finest healing stones!”
I quickly waved my hand and gave him the answer he wanted.
“There’s no need for empty courtesy, Your Holiness. Since you gave me the healing stone with pure goodwill, I simply returned it with the same sincerity.”
“…Yes.”
The Pope answered with a face that barely suppressed his irritation. Still, the attempt was worthwhile. Since I’d already been exposed, it made financial sense to take credit before everyone for providing the healing stone to the Saint.
“I can only feel gratitude toward Your Holiness.”
An expensive healing stone, and even a sacred object made from dragon bone. There was no shortage of charitable angels here.
“…Gratitude, you say? It’s only natural that the Temple spares no support for the Saint.”
“Truly, I never expected such generous assistance.”
I continued speaking with the most benevolent smile I could muster.
“Thanks to Your Holiness personally visiting the Capital and informing me about the sacred object, I was able to recover it before it deteriorated further!”
“…Pardon?”
He seemed momentarily at a loss for words at the word “recover.” I drove the wedge deeper in that gap.
“I will purify the sacred object with all my strength going forward! Fortunately, since I, the Saint’s incarnation, possess it, the corruption doesn’t progress. So there’s no need to worry anymore!”
“It hasn’t been long since you demonstrated such great holiness, yet you’ve dealt with the remnants hiding in the Temple, and even purified the sacred object….”
“Truly remarkable! My Lord!”
Isidore neatly listed my accomplishments while stirring sentiment, and Orix, the simplest among us, immediately responded to the provocation and clapped with his massive hands.
Clap, clap, clap!
Amid the applause, I gazed meaningfully at the priests standing beside the Pope.
“Henri, Louis, and Jacques—I will remember your generous assistance even after I return to the Capital.”
I had learned the names of the high priests who participated in the mid-level demon investigation beforehand through Isidore. There was no need to make enemies of the entire Temple.
“The Saint remembers my name…!”
“Gasp, w-what an honor!”
“W-we too will never forget the Saint’s visit!”
When I personally called their names and offered them courtesy, even the high priests of Heleia who had been awkward with me showed visible joy and agitation. Henri even wiped away tears and made the sign of the cross.
Thus, with the sound of applause that made the Pope’s face nearly burst, my schedule in Heleia came to an end.
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“So this white bead was a dragon’s fang.”
I marveled while fingering the rosary. Dragon bone is the invincible material capable of holding every type of power—divine energy, mana, and even demonic force.
‘And it even contained a formidable Thought Entity.’
“My lady, what do you intend to do with that object? Will you keep it like this indefinitely?”
“Yes. I plan to keep it for a long time.”
Since it was something my past self had carved and made directly, Isidore was oddly displeased watching me treasure the rosary.
‘Treating my past life as a dark history, I see.’
“We could sell that for a very, very high price in foreign lands. I’ll process it properly so no one suspects it’s a sacred object from the Temple.”
He extended a tempting hand, but I shook my head.
“I think I might want to give it to someone.”
At my words, Isidore’s expression grew even more serious.
“What kind of b…. Ahem! Who?”
“Our babies.”
“…!”
His face flushed crimson in an instant, like a perfectly ripe apple.
“Why, why are you like this?”
“I thought I was getting too far ahead on my own, but hearing you say such things makes my heart race….”
Isidore murmured.
“Just how far ahead have you gotten? Did you plan for retirement like I did?”
“I’ve even considered how to gift assets to my great-grandchildren.”
“…You’ve really gone far.”
I had overlooked the matter of inherited wealth, but as expected of dragon’s blood, he truly was different.
He gazed at the rosary in my hand with a slightly flushed face, then spoke softly after a moment.
“…I absolutely agree with giving it to our children.”
Suppressing my laughter at his bashful voice, I looked up at the tree branch where fresh green shoots had begun to sprout. Warm spring was arriving at last.

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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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