I Am Your Father
Benedict stared at the Seed of Sin I had trapped inside a barrier of holy power. “Is this truly the ‘Seed of Sin’ that was inside Cheska? I’ve never seen one in this form before.”
So that really was its official name. Seed of Sin.
“Do you know what this is? …Um, should I call you Your Eminence?”
This was technically my first real conversation with Cardinal Benedict, so I figured I should clarify the proper title. I wasn’t sure whether I needed to tack on “Your Holiness” or not. I’d never met a cardinal in my previous life either, and this was a completely different world—there was no guarantee the customs were the same. Archbishop Carlo had desperately wanted me to call him “Grandpa Carl~” but I’d turned him down because it felt too heavy.
“Your Eminence… haha. Come to think of it, this really is the first time we’ve spoken properly, isn’t it? Last time you nearly died, if I remember correctly? Hahaha.”
Benedict let out a slightly bitter laugh before dropping that completely random remark. Was he seriously bringing up how I’d screamed “I’ll kill you all!” the first time we met…? He had more of a grudge-holding personality than I’d expected. He didn’t look the type. Or did he? Now that I looked closer, he actually seemed like the type to hold a grudge for a really long time.
It made sense. His long hair was neatly slicked back, and his face looked like it would pop up if you googled “handsome church oppa.” The combination was pretty good. But those kind, squinting eyes—if they were actually narrowed in a real squint or closed completely—would give off the exact impression of a mastermind black curtain character. The kind with tons of hidden secrets and hundreds of scheming snakes writhing in his belly. People like that usually held grudges. Really long ones.
“Ahem… It was a joke. I suppose it wasn’t very funny.”
When I stared at him with half-lidded eyes, he quickly made that excuse.
“Just Benedict is fine. If you prefer, you don’t have to speak formally either. Your position, Levia, makes that perfectly acceptable.”
It was the kind of explanation I’d heard somewhere before. I naturally glanced over at Cheska. See? That’s how you’re supposed to say it. Same meaning, but way kinder. Take notes…
Her eyes were sparkling. …What? Why are you looking at me like that? Why are you giving me the same gaze you’d give a savior? And more importantly, why don’t you stand up already? Why are you still kneeling? This is so awkward.
Anyway.
“Got it. Benedict. Let me ask again—do you know what this is?”
“...”
“What?”
“…It’s nothing.”
He said I could speak casually. And judging by his appearance, he didn’t look that much older than me in my previous life. In terms of mental age, I was definitely older, right? Look, even the Confucian dragon inside me is giving a thumbs-up like, Yeah, I’ll allow it.
A real man does what he’s told to do. No basis for that statement whatsoever.
Benedict stared at me with a complicated, subtle gaze for a long moment before letting out a small sigh and beginning his explanation.
“I explained this to Cheska as well. There are many forms and methods, but for now we’re temporarily calling them ‘Seeds of Sin.’”
I had already guessed that their shape wasn’t fixed. The Clown had said he hadn’t “designed” this one.
“This was made by someone called the Designer.”
“I see. So this is the Designer’s method.”
Benedict continued.
“It gradually—or sometimes suddenly—leads people to commit sins. In doing so, it drives a person, a family, or even an entire nation to ruin.”
The last line of the prayer the Clown had been murmuring came to mind.
Only ruin shall grant us rest.
“The problem—no, perhaps I should say the terrifying part?”
“It has no fixed form. It could be an object, a building, or even the land itself.”
Then wasn’t this incredibly dangerous? It seemed like the only answer was to crush it the moment it was discovered.
“The only option is to destroy it the instant it’s found.”
“You can’t, Levia.”
“Why not?”
“Because it cannot be detected or touched in the first place.”
The reason Cheska had only learned about the Seed of Sin so late was due to the special circumstances of the Clown forcibly intervening. So then what exactly was the thing I was holding in my hand?
“As I said earlier, this form is the first I’ve ever seen. Every one I’ve encountered before was either already complete or only briefly remained inside a dead body.”
In other words, the sample currently in my hand—still in its pure “seed” state before the target’s destruction—was essentially the only one of its kind in existence.
“Do you think you can erase it?”
I somehow felt like I could. I poured more holy power into the sphere I’d created, squeezing the trapped seed. Hsssss!
—Kyeeeeeek!
A burning sound and a disgusting scream rang out at the same time. I clenched my fist tighter. The moment both the holy sphere and the seed disappeared inside my grip—
—Kyaaa…
The seed vanished along with dark purple smoke.
“As expected. I knew you would be able to do it, Levia.”
“I see. So Benedict, how do you know about these things?”
“I’ll tell you when you’re a little older. It’s not suitable material for education.”
“...”
He’d been happily talking about ruin and destruction in front of what appeared to be a five-year-old just moments ago, but now he was suddenly cutting himself off saying it wasn’t educationally appropriate…? Wasn’t the atmosphere just now perfect for revealing the existence of some massive secret organization and its true identity? Look, even Archbishop Carlo is staring with a slightly dumbfounded expression. Wait, is he reading an X-rated comic over there? Seriously. This is definitely a grudge, isn’t it? He’s doing this on purpose because I spoke casually to him?
“I’m fine with it, so just tell me. Benedict.”
“Anyway, it looks like we’ll have to change our plans.”
This old man really does hold grudges. Stop changing the subject, old man.
“We were planning to send her back to our home country because we were anxious and had no other options. But you’ve gone and resolved it, Levia.”
Look at me. Look at me. Don’t smile like that and ignore me.
“Cheska, would you be willing to stay here?”
“C-can I really?”
“But this time you must protect Levia without fail, understand?”
“Yes! I will definitely protect her! Even if it costs me my life!”
Cheska hugged me with a bright, joyful expression. Mm. Her heart is still as big as ever. Ahem.
“Haha, now you finally look like the Cheska I know. Please take good care of Levia until she becomes the Saintess. Cheska.”
“Wait a second.”
“I’m sorry, Levia. But we need her. However, it won’t be like before where Cheska stays by your side as—”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
Sorry for ruining the warm atmosphere, but there was something I’d been meaning to say for a while. And since everyone who knew me was gathered here and the timing felt right…
“I’m not going to be the Saintess.”
“Pardon?”
“Levia?”
“Saintess Candidate?”
Cheska, Benedict, and Carlo all asked back as if they couldn’t believe what they’d heard.
“Ah, Archbishop Carlo. You can just call me Levia. I won’t be a Saintess candidate either.”
“!!!!!!”
All three of them looked utterly shocked.
“No, listen. I’m a child who hasn’t even properly turned five yet, right? And I’ve already survived two assassination attempts.”
“I can’t even imagine how many more assassination threats I’ll face in the future. I don’t want to die.”
“Plus, there are multiple Saintess candidates, aren’t there? There are people who actually want to do it, so I don’t feel like competing with them. Honestly, it’s just annoying.”
I couldn’t just blindly say I’d do it when I didn’t even properly understand what being a Saintess meant. Even if it was supposedly a great honor. I valued my life far more than honor. They say a person only realizes how precious something is after losing it once. Since I had already lost my life once before, that sense of value was only stronger. There was no reason that made me feel like I absolutely had to become the Saintess.
“So I’m not doing it. I don’t want to. It’s too much of a hassle.”
“Levia… I’m sorry. It seems we failed to consider your feelings.”
Benedict was the first to speak. His tone suggested something like the emotional wounds a young child must have suffered… but I didn’t bother pointing it out. The meaning was roughly the same, and not correcting him would be more helpful for my purposes.
“However… even so, I tried to delay it as much as possible. But now that you’ve become able to use holy power, you must become the Saintess.”
I guess I overlooked the fact that with great power comes not only great backlash but also great responsibility~ Oh dear.
“Yeah. No. I’m not doing it.”
Don’t try to change my mind. Go away.
“It seems persuading you right this moment would be difficult. But there’s nothing we can do about it. Simply not wanting to do it right now does not revoke your qualifications.”
As expected, there seemed to be some kind of formal procedure.
“How do I revoke them?”
“Under normal procedures, it would ultimately require His Holiness the Pope’s permission. Before that, the Saintess candidate’s father must first acknowledge that she lacks the necessary qualities.”
Father…? I had a father in this reincarnated life? No one had ever mentioned him, so I assumed I was an orphan. To think I actually had one. I was curious what kind of person he was, and this was the perfect chance to persuade him that I wasn’t fit to be the Saintess.
“Then that’s what we should do first. Take me to him. Please.”
“Where to?”
“To that person called my father. You said he has to acknowledge it, right? So I need to persuade him.”
“…Pardon?”
What? Why are you reacting like that? Why do you look so flustered? Don’t tell me—
“Did he… pass away?”
“No… that’s not it…”
Then what is it?
“Cheska. Have you still not told her?”
“Ah.”
No, stop cooking sweet potatoes in pairs and just spit it out already. What exactly haven’t you told me, Cheska!
“Levia. That… um… well…”
“What? Where is he that you’re acting like this?”
Is he in some even more remote place than here?
“I… am Levia’s father.”
“…Pardon?”
What did I just hear? I am your father…? I am your father?!
“...”
“...”
For a long moment, Benedict and I simply stared at each other in awkward silence. Wait, my father. What was I supposed to say in a situation like this? Oh, right. I should start with a greeting.
“Hello, Dad?”
“...”
Ah. Was that wrong?