The Cowardly Baby Saint Sees Ghosts - Chapter 10

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

# Episode 10
A few days had passed since the funeral.
Gordon Black’s crimes spread rapidly across the Empire, and with them, my name became known as well.
Moreover, thanks to the bereaved families offering their gratitude to me in succession, my Good Deed Gauge climbed steadily.
[Your standing as a Saint grows ever more exalted.]
[The very existence of a ‘Saint’ brings comfort to countless souls.]
[Good Deed Gauge increases by 10 points.]
[Current count: 17 / 1000]
The gauge rises even when I do nothing—this is almost too sweet to believe.
I sprawled lazily across the sofa, sucking on orange juice with shameless contentment.
A satisfied hum escaped my lips without thinking.
Starting next week, I’d be dispensing Blessings to those in need, so I was resting up in advance.
“Status Window.”
Name: Diane Irene / Age 5
Status: Fourth Saint
Good Deed Gauge: 17 / 1000
Fear Index: 0/100
Inventory: Vision Protection Glasses (rechargeable)
Active Quests
[Sub-mission] (Child) 15% (+2)
The numbers climbing steadily gave me genuine satisfaction.
Most importantly, I couldn’t see ghosts inside the Temple, so I could rest easy here.
“The Temple is the best. The Pope is the best.”
The Pope was truly fulfilling his role as my protector faithfully.
A light knock sounded at the door.
“Yes!”
Despite my impudent posture, a voice of crisp discipline shot out of my mouth.
“Saint, I believe you need to come out and see something…….”
I sprang up at the worried tone and rushed to open the door.
The Priestess spoke carefully, gauging my reaction.
“Someone has come from the Imperial Household.”
“……?”
“They say they have a request for you, Saint.”
I sensed it instinctively.
The Crown Prince I’d encountered before—his troubled appearance, and how despite receiving Healing from the Pope, his condition wasn’t improving.
‘They want me to see the Crown Prince.’
I wanted to refuse.
With reluctance written across my face, I followed the Priestess down the corridor.
News that a Saint had appeared for the first time in three hundred years had turned the Empire upside down. Yesterday, crowds had gathered in front of the Temple, clamoring to see the Saint at once.
Naturally, the Imperial Household would have learned of my existence.
But if the Pope himself couldn’t cure him, could I? I worried I’d only expose my weakness and bring trouble upon the Temple.
As I walked down the corridor, the conversation voices that had echoed earlier suddenly fell silent.
‘Aw, and I was hoping to eavesdrop.’
I pouted slightly.
“We are honored to meet the Saint.”
The door opened, and the Pope, the Cardinals, and the Priests came to greet me.
The Imperial envoys likewise bowed their heads to me.
‘These were people who wouldn’t have spared me a glance before.’
The reality of my changed position sank in.
The envoys wore black cloaks bearing the golden Imperial Crest.
They knelt and, with heads bowed, spoke:
“We humbly beseech you, Saint! The Crown Prince’s condition grows grave. We implore you to examine him.”
“……The Crown Prince?”
“Every night he is tormented by nightmares, and upon waking, he repeats strange behaviors.”
The Pope released a long, heavy sigh.
“Come here, Diane.”
I hesitated, then approached the Pope.
“You don’t have to if you’d rather not. This is a request, not a command.”
“But, Your Holiness—!”
The startled envoys cried out.
“I’ve already spent six years treating him, but there’s been no improvement whatsoever.”
He whispered so only I could hear.
“If this treatment fails as well, they may grow resentful and say harsh things to Diane.”
It was a realistic concern. The Pope seemed to have already concluded I was incapable of helping him. And for good reason—
“Six years of treatment and he’s gotten worse?”
“The moment he steps outside the Temple, the compulsive behaviors return. It’s not something easily cured.”
……
“Of course, he does improve somewhat after drinking Holy Water within the Temple, but the Crown Prince of the Empire can hardly remain here indefinitely.”
Honestly, I would have preferred to close my eyes and walk away if I could.
But—
[A Commission has arrived!]
[Quest: Resolve the Crown Prince’s peculiar behaviors!]
Every night he suffers nightmares, and he continues engaging in strange actions until he falls asleep?
Let’s investigate! There may be a cure!
Reward: Trust and honor from the Imperial Household, improved relationship with the Crown Prince + 10 Good Deed Gauge increase
Failure will result in a geometrically exponential increase in your probability of death.
[Do you accept?]
Yes / Yes
So why ask at all when you’re only going to give me one choice?
I nodded with a grimace on my face.
“I’ll give it a try.”
Though it wasn’t exactly my choice to make.
……!
The Pope’s eyes widened in that instant.
I added another comment to reassure him.
“It’s fine. I’ll just assess his condition and come back.”
“You needn’t overexert yourself. You still need proper rest.”
But with a 10-point Good Deed Gauge increase on offer, there was no reason to refuse.
“When should I depart?”
“A carriage is already waiting.”
At the Envoy’s brightening words, I let out a small sigh.
So they’d intended to drag me along all along.
“Then I’ll be off.”
It was my first official outing as a Saint.
* * *
The Imperial carriage was far more luxurious. The ornate cushions cradled me comfortably enough that even prolonged sitting posed no discomfort.
Breaking the awkward silence, I opened my mouth. If I was to treat him, I needed basic information about the patient first.
“When did the Crown Prince’s condition begin?”
The hesitant Envoys exchanged glances before one of them began to speak.
“It started after the Empress passed away.”
“The bond between mother and son was extraordinary. Unlike previous generations, the Empress and Emperor married for love, so they were unusually devoted to their family.”
“But now…….”
I see. I was beginning to understand.
“So it’s the trauma of losing family?”
I gathered my answer from their silence and pondered. How does one treat a sickness of the heart?
The distance between the Temple and the Imperial Palace was shorter than I’d expected.
The Imperial Palace was another world entirely compared to the Temple. As the massive white gates opened, sprawling lawns and statues and banners scattered throughout displayed the majesty of the Imperial Household.
‘Who knew I’d ever find myself inside an Imperial Palace.’
Life’s full of surprises, Diane!
I gazed out at the surroundings for a long moment, clutching at my racing heart.
Stepping down from the carriage, I was led elsewhere.
“We shall escort you to the Crown Prince’s bedchamber.”
“……Pardon?”
“We ask your understanding—the circumstances are unavoidable.”
The Maidservant, perspiring heavily, hurried me along with urgent steps.
‘Even if I’m just a child, do they really take people straight to bedchambers like this? Shouldn’t we go to a reception room or something?’
Bewildered, I scurried after her. As I trotted through the vast Imperial Palace on short legs, gasps of admiration erupted all around.
“Oh my, how adorable~”
“I wonder which family’s young lady this is? She’s absolutely precious.”
I could hear every whispered comment. Embarrassed, I covered my reddened ears with my hands and nearly ran to keep pace.
But did I look like nobility? Was it because of my clothes and hair color?
It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling.
“This is the place.”
The maidservant took a deep breath and gave me a warning.
“Don’t be alarmed. If you make a loud noise, it could actually make the situation worse.”
“…Yes.”
What in the world was it that warranted such a warning?
Half fearful, half curious, I waited for her to open the door.
Creak. As the door swung open, the scene that greeted me was utterly shocking.
“…!”
Beautiful decorative cabinets—fine enough to be called a craftsman’s masterpiece—lay overturned and half-destroyed.
Feathers and stuffing that had been inside the pillows scattered in every direction, and the wallpaper was shredded in claw marks.
I quickly spotted a shape cowering beneath the curtains.
It trembled violently, its eyes fixed on me, pupils dilated with terror.
This was nothing like the arrogant, ill-mannered Crown Prince I’d seen before. This was…
‘Like a wild animal.’
That’s when the Crown Prince, who had been hunched down, suddenly sprang forward and lunged at the maidservant ahead of me.
“Screeeech!”
Shrieking, the maidservant tore herself away from him, slammed the door shut, and fled.
Left alone without warning, I blinked.
“Did she really just run away and leave me here?”
At the moment when I let out a hollow laugh in disbelief, he jerked his head toward me.
I crumpled to the floor where I stood and raised my hands to show I meant no harm.
“Calm down.”
I blinked slowly and even made a yawning gesture, and the Crown Prince gradually backed away from me.
For what felt like about five minutes, we simply stared at each other in silence.
Then, sunlight seeping through the gap in the curtains suddenly broke into a window-shaped beam and poured down onto the Crown Prince’s head.
His eyes slowly closed, and he let out a sound—”Meowr.”
“…?”
Meowr?

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