Chapter 185: Delmoa (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 185: Delmoa (1)
Even in an Empire—even in a medieval fantasy world—you can't completely ignore public sentiment.
And what kind of world was this?
It was a place where the descendants of a kingdom that supposedly fell during the Empire's early days hundreds of years ago could still rise in rebellion.
Because of this, the Imperial Family and most of the high nobility placed great importance on public opinion. Of course, every now and then, some brainless noble would come along and turn those efforts into a complete mess.
Regardless, the Empire’s fundamental policy was to be mindful of the masses. Consequently, it possessed several surprisingly democratic elements for an imperial power in a medieval fantasy novel.
The most prominent of these was freedom of religion.
As long as the deity wasn't related to the Evil God or dark magic, people were free to believe in whatever they wanted. Aside from the popular Goddess of Light and her affiliated deities, there were the "Forgotten Old Gods" or "Nameless Gods"—deities whose actual existence was questionable. There were even folk religions that worshipped specific animals or monsters, like dragons; as long as they didn't cross the line, the authorities didn't bother them.
This made it incredibly difficult to catch cultists who simply worshipped the Evil God as a faith, unlike dark mages who left behind clear evidence.
They didn't possess the unique mana characteristic of dark magic, and unless they were idiots, they weren't about to leave a paper trail. The only evidence usually available was the testimony of others, which was frequently abused for personal vendettas. Naturally, the Empire had to be cautious.
There was a reason Boradori had said catching the Saintess of the Evil God would be difficult.
They only had a rough idea of her characteristics, not her exact location. Furthermore, according to the original work, she was no different from an ordinary person until right before her final awakening.
"We've brought her in."
However, those standards only applied to normal people.
Such things didn't work on our Heresy Inquisitors.
The Empire’s scrutiny? Our Heresy Inquisitors didn't give a damn about that.
Freedom of religion? If they sensed a problem, these were the kind of lunatics who would raid the headquarters of a folk religion officially sanctioned by the Empire.
Public resistance? They actually welcomed it. The more people resisted, the more excuses they had to beat them senseless.
That’s right.
These guys were just straight-up crazy.
That was why the former corrupt cardinals had given up on trying to control the Heresy Inquisitors. They simply kept them on constant outside rotations, ordering them to do nothing but hunt dark mages.
They were so terrified that even while they were busy embezzling funds from every other department, they actually increased the budget for the Heresy Inquisitors.
"Were there any issues?"
"None. we simply apprehended those associated with heresy."
Look at that. According to Uncle Aeryun, an entire city had been turned upside down, yet she was saying there were no issues as if it were nothing.
The truly terrifying part was that she genuinely meant it.
There was a reason why, even when dark mages were practically spawning naturally at the Academy, the authorities had resisted bringing in the expert Heresy Inquisitors until the very end.
"You did well."
Well, it didn't matter to me.
It was the Empire's business anyway. In the grand scheme of things, this was all for the good of the Empire. By the time I graduated from the Academy, I might even leave with a few medals.
"Shall we go, then?"
"Yes."
I naturally followed behind Marian and arrived at the Heresy Inquisitors' underground dungeon.
Normally, outsiders wouldn't be allowed in, but ever since I showed them the Great Demon Tribe member beneath the library, the Heresy Inquisitors seemed to view me almost as a comrade.
"Hmm..."
To be honest, the Saintess of the Evil God standing before me looked quite pitiful.
Her black hair, which had a faint violet tint depending on how the light hit it, looked like it hadn't been washed in days. Her eyes were dead, devoid of any spark, and her lips were parched and cracked like a riverbed in a drought.
Not only that, her body was so thin she looked like she might snap if poked.
"......?"
Did they carry out the operation months ago? No matter how harsh the Heresy Inquisitors were, they couldn't have turned a person into this in just a day or two.
"Did you torture her?"
"No. Her physical condition was already so depleted that we couldn't even if we wanted to."
According to the Heresy Inquisitors—the experts among experts in this field—she was in such a state that she might be pronounced dead the moment they touched her.
"......?"
Wait, what?
No matter how much the Evil God was suppressed, was he so poor he couldn't even take care of his own Saintess?
"However, there is one thing I wish to ask, Brother."
Marian, who had been watching me contemplate, asked with her usual expressionless face.
"Upon investigation, we found she only became a believer three days ago... Is she truly that dangerous?"
"......?"
Oh, for fuck's sake.
Why are you telling me this now?
Two days passed.
Despite everything, she still held the title of the Saintess of the Evil God, so she had to be kept in the underground dungeon.
"..."
However, the investigative report the Heresy Inquisitors had dug up on her was a story so tragic you couldn't read it without tears.
"Hey, Boradori."
"I've been wronged!"
In the corner, Boradori was pleading her innocence while maintaining a "head on the floor" disciplinary posture, but I simply read the words on the document before me.
"Delmoa Frenchia. A member of House Frenchia, a family of priests that has maintained its faith in the Holy Kingdom for generations. A family that has produced numerous cardinals and even a Pope."
There was only one reason why someone from a family that had once produced a Pope was found in a group worshipping the Evil God, looking like a beggar.
"However, due to their upright faith, they opposed the policies of the former group of cardinals and advocated for religious reform. As a result, evidence was fabricated alleging they were in league with dark mages..."
It turned out she was a victim from the era before the Holy Kingdom Restoration.
"Thus, House Frenchia was branded as traitors. The key figures were executed, and several others were enslaved as punishment. Among them, Delmoa Frenchia was sold to one of the Archbishops. However, after the Spring of the Holy Kingdom..."
During Daisy’s Holy Kingdom Restoration process, her master, the Archbishop, tried to flee but failed. However, his assets and slaves were scattered for various reasons.
"...Are you even doing your job?"
"I'm telling you, I've been wronged."
"Usually, when a novel protagonist knows the original work, they're supposed to save kids like this and turn them good."
"...It wasn't there! The original work mentioned that Delmoa hated Daisy to an incomprehensible degree! But it never showed a flashback like this!"
"It probably would have come out right before she died..."
"She didn't die! Even in the latest chapter I read, Delmoa was still alive!"
Boradori protested so vehemently that her head, which was supporting her body along with her two feet, shook violently.
"If I had to guess, she seemed to have an interest in the Demon King! Maybe she was in the 'Villainess' position, jealous of Daisy for getting all lovey-dovey with the Demon King?!"
"They're putting romance elements even there?"
"Because that is what RoFan is!"
I was dumbfounded by Boradori’s confident shout, but because it was so absurd, it actually sounded somewhat plausible.
"So. What do we do?"
Even for me, killing a Day 1 newbie of the Evil God cult just because she was destined to become the Saintess of the Evil God felt wrong. Especially since the reason she joined the cult was for a single loaf of bread, and the reason a well-to-do girl had fallen to rock bottom was all the Holy Kingdom's fault. It made me hesitate even more.
At that, Boradori cautiously turned her head slightly while still keeping it pressed against the floor.
"But..."
"What."
"Since you saved her from her fate of becoming the Saintess of the Evil God in advance..."
"..."
"Isn't... isn't this a great achievement?"
She had a point, so I nodded.
"Keep your head on the floor."
"It's already on the floor!"
"I said only your head."
"......?"
"Lift your feet."
"Are you serious?"
She deserved it for talking back.
According to Boradori, the Saintess of the Evil God was supposed to appear a year later in the original work, displaying a level of majesty comparable to the duo of Silence and Bell.
Which meant...
If I handled this kid right, I could use her for the opposite purpose.
"You don't have to eat so fast."
With a benevolent expression, I offered food to the frail little girl.
"As expected of Lord Adam."
"To naturally turn her into an ally like that."
For some reason, the Heresy Inquisitors watching us had looks of pure satisfaction on their faces, but I wasn't helping this poor child for that kind of reason.
"The reason this child ended up like this is all because of the Holy Kingdom."
When I clicked my tongue and said that, the Heresy Inquisitors averted their eyes. It seemed they still had a shred of conscience left.
"For now, going back to the Holy Kingdom... I guess you don't want to."
The moment I mentioned the Holy Kingdom, she stared at me with a blank, expressionless face that was actually a bit scary.
"Then..."
What did I need to win her over right now?
"I know a place that provides three meals a day plus snacks. Want to go?"
At my offer, Delmoa nodded her head vigorously. After getting permission from the Heresy Inquisitors, I took her up to the surface.
Then, I picked Delmoa up and...
"......What is this?"
"Delmoa."
"..."
I set her down in front of Boradori.
Boradori locked eyes with Delmoa for a long time, then, after much deliberation, she asked me:
"......Why are you giving her to me?"
"Congratulations."
"......?"
"She's your successor."
Codename: Mini Boradori.
A new Leon recruit was born.
Violet’s Parenting Diary.
I was dumbfounded by the sudden, absurd demand. Naturally, I protested.
"I mean, why me?!"
"I can't exactly take her in myself."
I was momentarily speechless. Delmoa looked several years younger right now, but... if I recalled the setting correctly, there was almost no age difference between her and Daisy. It was never officially stated, but there were vague descriptions suggesting she was at most a year or two older—or perhaps even the same age.
So, my boss's point that it would be inappropriate for him to take her in wasn't entirely wrong.
"B-but you kept Bell with you!"
"That's a pet."
"Are you making a speciesist remark?!"
"He said he was fine with it himself."
I tried to push back, but he naturally dodged the issue with a trashy comment. Seriously, is this right?
"B-but you said she's a successor. What about her own opinion?"
"She agreed."
I was speechless at the sight of Delmoa nodding stoically. Did this child even know what a slave contract was? ...Come to think of it, her official status was probably a slave, so she likely knew better than I did.
"No, but still..."
Countless arguments swirled in my head.
"..."
But to cut to the chase, when I came to my senses, I was washing the kid in my dormitory bathroom.
"Food..."
And when I came to my senses again, I was feeding her.
"..."
And before I knew it, we were lying in the same bed, waking up together.
"..."
Seriously, how did it come to this?
I was blankly watching Delmoa eat breakfast. She was eating so well that I had just handed over my own portion when...
"Violet? Are you oversleeping?"
Perhaps because I was later than usual, Daisy suddenly burst in. I blinked my eyes in surprise.
"When did you get in?"
"Just now?"
"How?"
I was certain I kept my door locked.
"I knocked, but you didn't come out. So I just opened the door and came in?"
"......?"
Daisy, what does that even mean?
I was flabbergasted by her casual admission of trespassing—and the fact that she had naturally bypassed a locked door.
"And who is this?"
Daisy ignored my expression and approached the person who was the polar opposite of herself, currently vacuuming up food.
Delmoa.
Slap!
"......?"
For the first time, Delmoa’s expression wasn't blank; it was twisted in a scowl as she swatted Daisy’s hand away before returning to her meal.
"D-did I do something wrong?"
"Uh, well."
In terms of RoFan settings, Daisy’s very existence was probably an affront to Delmoa. But if I answered, "Your very existence?" Daisy would probably start crying on the spot.
I looked at Delmoa, who was tugging on my sleeve as if asking for more food.
"W-who knows?"
I had no choice but to play dumb.