Pope Maria Queenpin (4)
Right after hearing what seemed like an important story from the strawberry-nosed uncle—but maybe not so important after all.
I found myself lost in a swirl of thoughts.
Born from the goddess's tears and staining myself black...
Did that mean taking on the form of a demon?
Or literally draping myself in some kind of conceptual filth? I had no idea.
Was I overthinking it?
"Omnomnom..."
"Aigoo, you eat so well, our Vivian!"
"Where the heck does all that food go?!"
"Eats like it's goin' out of style! That hungry, huh?!"
"And with the veil on backwards no less!"
While my mind drifted through endless thoughts, gradually going blank.
The uncles' raucous cheers suddenly pierced my ears.
A tower of empty plates had piled up in front of me before I knew it.
In my hands: mystery skewer roasts and steaming bread.
"V-Vivian... you'll really get sick at this rate..."
"What? Lumina, how long have I been scarfing like this?"
"How long? The moment the story wrapped up, you suddenly declared you were starving and started grabbing everything in sight..."
Lumina, looking on the verge of tears, lunged to snatch the bread from my hand.
But on instinct, I hid it behind my back and staunchly shoved the last piece into my mouth.
"Oh, right. Got so deep in thought, I forgot I was even eating."
I replied calmly, cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk.
For some reason, the uncles around us erupted into massive applause and cheers.
"Hahat! That's right—kids gotta eat hearty!"
"Can't grow proper just gnawin' on grass like them upper-village priests!"
"Oi, boss! More bread over here! This lil' lady's lovin' it!"
Fired up by the drunken uncles' fervor, even the owner jumped in, plunking down a whole basket of fresh-baked bread right in front of me.
Lumina watched the scene powerlessly from the side, then pressed a hand to her forehead in utter defeat.
But the uncles' over-the-top kindness showed no signs of stopping.
"How much more do you need to eat before you're satisfied...?"
"I'm fine, Lumina. Totally good."
"You seem fine now, but later..."
"I'll be fine then too. Don't worry about it."
What I really wanted was to fix this annoying veil properly and eat elegantly.
But even I knew that was pushing it.
The instant my demon identity came out, all these cheers filling the air would flip to horrified screams.
"You don't have to eat everything they offer, you know."
Lumina, nearly in tears now, carefully wiped the breadcrumbs from my mouth with trembling hands.
She fussed the whole time, terrified the veil might lift even a little—but she kept at it till it was spotless.
Lumina must really love things clean.
"If you'd gone straight to the papal palace with Her Holiness, you'd be feasting on way better food by now..."
"Got too curious about the lower village—forgot all about that."
"Should I call it decisive... or reckless? Either way, I can't take my eyes off you for a second."
Lumina finally gave up with a deep sigh, slumping into her seat.
Even so, she adjusted her embrace on the Sword of Salvation without a single waver—pure knight through and through.
"Alright, Lumina. Ready to test that sword's power now?"
I popped the last bit of bread in my mouth and stood without hesitation.
Lumina, who'd just sat down, tilted her head in bewilderment.
"...Pardon?"
"We'll dig more into the goddess tomorrow. Test the sword first, then head back to the palace."
At my casual proposal, life finally sparked back into Lumina's dazed eyes.
"You were serious? I thought it was just talk!"
"Why would it be? We're here—might as well do everything we can."
"B-but it's night! And there's no suitable place to test the sword's power..."
"You don't need a monster to test its power."
I replied offhand, boldly pulling a small leather pouch from my bosom.
"I'll pay quick and be out. Wait outside."
"...Is that pouch the money Her Holiness gave you specially?"
At Lumina's whisper, I hugged the pouch to my chest and nodded slightly.
"Yep. I'm loaded right now."
"I never imagined you'd use Her Holiness's special funds on bread..."
"Isn't that what it's for?"
"Well, yes, but... I think Her Holiness hoped you'd spend it more selfishly, on yourself."
With that weak protest, Lumina quietly drew her own leather pouch from her bosom.
"I'll handle the bill here. Save yours for when you want something later..."
"Then I'll be selfish and pay just for my food."
My firm words, without a hint of hesitation, left Lumina's face blank.
She blinked in confusion, her lips twitching oddly.
"Uncle, the bill please."
"W-wait, Vivian! That's not what I meant!"
Caught off guard by my extreme selfishness, Lumina flailed her hands in panic and blocked my path.
But I'd already pulled coins from the pouch, holding them out boldly.
I brushed past her desperate interference and extended them toward the owner, frozen behind the counter.
"Just for the food I ate, please."
"V-Vivian...!!"
The moment I slapped the coins on the counter.
The owner let out a strange little chuckle, his lips curling meaningfully.
He smoothly pushed the money back toward me and rasped in a gravelly voice.
"Hahaha! No charge. Save that for an inn later."
"...Pardon?"
"Ain't proper to charge a girl who eats like that!"
"But..."
"An upper-village miss listenin' to the likes of us so earnest-like? Bread's on the house!"
The owner barked it out in that rough tone, bursting into laughter again.
"Dunno your story for comin' down here, but hey—make the most of it!"
"Hoo..."
"Life's what? Eat good, chat happy—that's it!"
He still saw me as some poor kid booted from the upper village.
I'd never hinted at that—why'd he think that? No clue.
"Thank you. But I'll just take the sentiment."
"Heh, stubborn one, ain't ya?"
"If I'd eaten little, maybe. But this much? Gotta pay."
"Told ya, fine. Most of it, these louts shoved on ya anyway."
Despite my stubborn push, the owner flat-out refused the money.
It was generosity beyond my common sense.
But shoving cash more would've been rude.
I finally gave in, pocketing it with a sigh.
"Smart thinkin', Vivian. It's all 'cause they're grateful—no need to feel bad."
The strawberry-nosed uncle's low, steady words followed.
I turned and gazed steadily at his table.
"Folks up top who listen serious to stories like ours? Prob'ly just you."
"Uncle, you ever once wish for holy power in your life?"
My sudden question made him set down his gulping beer, foam lingering on his lips.
He wiped it with his sleeve, took a small breath.
"That stuff? Upper bigshots already hogged it all. Holy power suit riffraff like us?"
He spat it out flatly, then chugged his beer again.
"Day-to-day scrappin' for us—holy power's a pipe dream..."
"I don't think so."
I cut him off mid-sentence, firm and cool.
The rowdy tavern went dead silent, like time froze.
"...What d'you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said. Holy power isn't just for bloodlines or talent. The goddess gives everyone a fair shot."
Holy power might just be a common miracle anyone could snag with the right mindset.
Drawing lines and ranks over it? Absurd from the goddess's view.
"...Haha, you tell jokes good, kid."
But the uncle dismissed it as childish fancy, a bitter smile as he shook his head faintly.
"I'd sooner wish for gold rainin' from the sky."
He muttered low, draining the last of his beer.
"Fancy power like that bloomin' in beggar hands? Nah."
"Suit or not—what's it matter?"
"Appreciate the words, even if empty. But we're good without."
【Evangelism】
Grants Holy Power to all targets in the area.
No sooner had I flipped my backwards veil right-side up.
A blinding white flash swallowed the dingy tavern in an instant.
As the flustered uncles flailed in panic.
Faint rays of light slipped one by one from my body, gently seeping into theirs.
"See? Fair to everyone."