Who Is the Demon? (2)
The goddess's interventions are always impossible to predict.
She's endlessly quiet when she's quiet.
But once she starts moving, she goes all out without holding back.
"As expected from Miss Vivian, who receives all of Lady Goddess's love. I knew you'd pull it off."
"What exactly did you think I'd pull off?"
"Everything."
In the heart of the papal palace, the grand throne room buzzed with tension as numerous high priests and holy knights held their collective breath.
A bizarre standoff unfolding with me right in the middle.
Maria Queenpin, seated calmly on the throne and watching the heavy atmosphere, rose slowly with a strange smile playing on her lips.
"Archbishop, what do you think now that you've seen it with your own eyes?"
"……It was truly mystical."
Calvarion, standing silently behind me with his eyes closed, answered in a trembling voice.
Queenpin, who had been observing this with evident satisfaction, clapped her hands lightly and let out a clear laugh.
"Right? Even you, Archbishop, can't deny this one."
"Your Holiness is correct. I was arrogant, daring to presume to understand Lady Goddess's will with my meager insight."
After spitting out those words bluntly, Calvarion took a small breath.
He then subtly rolled his eyes toward me, fixing his gaze there.
"Lady Vivian. I beg you to forgive my rude words and actions in the boundless mercy of Lady Goddess."
"No, well… It was uncomfortable, sure, but you didn't have to go this far."
Even though quite some time had passed since then.
My body was still glowing faintly like a lightbulb.
The overwhelming intensity from when it first erupted had subsided with time.
But it was still more than enough to draw the eyes of every priest and holy knight gathered in the grand throne room.
"Come to think of it, Miss Vivian."
"Yes?"
"I heard you admitted with your own mouth that you are the saintess. Is that true?"
Just as the soft light emanating from my body started to feel a bit cumbersome.
As if she'd been waiting for this exact moment.
Queenpin tossed the question at me with a playful, innocent smile.
"Didn't you say just yesterday that you definitely weren't the saintess?"
Only then did I slowly shift my gaze from Calvarion and look straight at Queenpin, standing proudly before the throne.
……
"It just kinda happened that way."
"Hmm, so you had no choice but to admit it due to the circumstances?"
"Yes."
No point regretting it now.
If I'd known things would turn out like this, I never would've stepped up.
Late regrets crashed over me like waves.
Who could've predicted my body would glow this much?
Should I thank the goddess or curse her…….
"That's so very you, Miss Vivian."
Queenpin chuckled lowly as she descended the throne steps at a leisurely pace.
With each step toward me.
The metal ornaments on her body chimed crisply.
"Well, that doesn't change much, does it."
Stopping right in front of my nose, Queenpin whispered softly in a low voice.
Her face looked utterly satisfied, somehow.
I stared at her expression for a moment before slowly narrowing my eyes.
"To you, Miss Vivian, being a saintess is just an uncomfortable hat—nothing more, nothing less."
"……."
"So, did you accomplish what you set out to do?"
At Queenpin's question, I nodded silently.
"I'm glad. I have no doubt it was worth it."
Queenpin patted my shoulder lightly, a pleased smile on her face.
Each time her hand touched me, the shimmering light around my body resonated, spreading brightly outward.
"You did so well……."
"Your Holiness, if I may offer one suggestion."
At that moment.
Calvarion's low, solemn voice carefully interrupted Queenpin's praise.
"That's quite out of the blue."
"I speak because I firmly believe this is also Lady Goddess's arrangement."
Calvarion maintained his rigid posture.
But gone was the chill from the guest hall; he spoke calmly in a rather gentle tone.
"To atone for my failings toward Lady Vivian, I, Calvarion, wish to personally guide her through the village."
"Guide her through the village?"
"Yes. I hear you visited the lower village last night."
Calvarion's sudden remark made me doubt my own ears.
Hearing it, not only I but even Queenpin standing before me looked puzzled.
"I didn't realize you had such keen interest in the Papal State. You must have quite the intellectual curiosity."
"I must refuse. You seem to have overlooked that Miss Vivian's visit to the lower village yesterday was an unauthorized, unilateral action."
"Far from it, Your Holiness. This is a proposal made after considering all circumstances—please graciously consider it."
Even in the face of Queenpin's firm rejection, Calvarion didn't yield.
Instead, he slowly turned toward the priests prostrated below the throne and added in a heavy voice that echoed through the entire grand throne room.
"Is not Lady Goddess's descent of such intense radiance a stern revelation that we must not confine Lady Vivian within these holy grounds?"
"……?"
"Light gains its true value when it pierces the darkness. The overlooked place that Lady Vivian personally visited last night is precisely where our Papal State must bow its head and reflect once more."
Gone was his earlier dictatorial, coercive demeanor.
Calvarion now spoke calmly with the reverent expression of a merciful sage.
"I, Calvarion, wish to stand by her side, uphold the noble will she has shown by descending to the lowly places, and repent my ignorance."
What the hell was this? Like banging on a window in your sleep.
No matter how hard I racked my brain, I couldn't make sense of it.
Back in the guest hall, he'd been radiating murderous intent.
And now he wanted to tag along and repent? What the…….
"I'm not sure we can entrust such a heavy responsibility to someone who still refuses to call Miss Vivian a saintess."
Queenpin's face had hardened coldly as she spoke in a low, icy tone.
"How can a mere title substitute for essence? Lady Goddess has already provided such radiant proof—clinging to a mere appellation would only tarnish the true light."
Yet Calvarion's response was unyielding.
As if he'd foreseen this entire situation and prepared in advance.
His words flowed flawlessly, smoothly from his lips.
"I merely wish to witness Lady Vivian's radiant light up close, as the Archbishop of the Papal State."
"Cunning to the point of slyness, Archbishop."
Queenpin clicked her tongue, her words laced with genuine admiration and irritation.
When logic failed, he invoked faith; when etiquette was questioned, he spoke of repentance.
That old fox's relentless rationalizations had transcended human common sense into invincible territory.
Even Queenpin, pope of the nation.
Seemed to have no justification left to halt his persistent charge.
"Please refrain from words that might cause misunderstanding. I follow only Lady Goddess's will and the order's doctrines."
"No helping it, then. If the archbishop insists so strongly, I'll respect Miss Vivian's wishes."
With that displeased remark, Queenpin turned her head slightly toward me.
She gradually softened her harsh expression into a kindly one and asked softly.
"Miss Vivian, what is your will? Whatever the archbishop requests, your decision comes first."
In any normal situation, I'd reject it without a second thought.
But things were a bit different now.
"I don't mind. Just make sure it's only you, Archbishop—no other escorts."
Because right now, the title of saintess sat boldly atop my head.
No matter how much an archbishop of the Papal State.
He wouldn't dare lay a hand on me, recipient of Lady Goddess's full attention.
Plus, I had the hero Lumina Evangeline and the real next saintess candidate Beatrice Valoa.
"One escort is enough for this saintess—Lumina."
"I offer my deepest respect for your wise decision, Lady Vivian. I, Calvarion, shall serve you with utmost devotion so that you never regret this merciful choice."
He showed no dissatisfaction at having only Lumina as escort.
Surprisingly, Calvarion accepted my condition readily, murmuring lowly.
Queenpin let out a small, incredulous scoff at his obsequiously polite demeanor.
But soon placed one hand lightly on my shoulder and whispered in my ear.
"Don't trust anyone connected to the archbishop. Be careful."
Leaving that brief warning with profound meaning.
Queenpin turned gracefully back toward the throne.
"……."
What exactly was Queenpin worried about?
Anyone connected to the archbishop—did that mean his entire faction?
If so, even saintess candidate Beatrice Valoa would fall under suspicion.
But the Beatrice I'd seen so far didn't seem the type to scheme meticulously.
She could barely look after herself, let alone hide ulterior motives…….
"……."
Hmm, who knows.
It'll work out somehow.
No point agonizing over it here when no clever solution's popping up.
Why give myself a headache right now?
Especially when I had the world's most reliable backer: the goddess herself.
"So, where are you planning to take me, Archbishop?"
No sooner had my blunt question ended.
Calvarion's gaze, fixed firmly on the floor, slowly rose.
"The upper village."