Chapter 32 - The Shrew's Choice (4)

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"Hah...What should I do with this person?" Archbishop Timothy sighed deeply, placing his hand on his forehead.

"Father... You said you wouldn't scold me..." The white-haired girl watched the Archbishop's actions and, as if sensing his mood, gently lowered her head while cautiously speaking.

"But what can I do when I'm so bored... I'm back in Westford after a long time, and all I do all day is pray... There's no entertainment in the village because it's under the archbishop's jurisdiction...! But I didn't expect a guest to visit there. And how could I have known that he would bring up something so important... Hehehe..."

"I'm not trying to scold you, Saintess. However, you must now be aware of your position... Is it appropriate for someone who should be a role model for the faithful to hide behind a curtain to plan to surprise someone, or to eavesdrop on other people's conversations?"

Contrary to her status, the playfulness of the Saintess had a strangely childish side. And since the Archbishop himself had experienced this situation more than once, he realized that the Saintess was hiding when he saw the curtain flutter slightly during his conversation with Edwin.

This was also the reason why he could not answer Edwin's request not to tell anyone; because the Saintess who was present was already listening to Edwin's words with bated breath. 

In response to Edwin's urgency to answer again, he eventually said yes, and unfortunately or fortunately, Edwin left without knowing that the Saintess was hiding behind the curtain until the end of their conversation. Yet, whether it was the right action or not, Timothy couldn't be sure even now.

".....I knew you would scold me! You said you wouldn't, but you lied! Father is a liar. Father is a liar, even though he is the Archbishop. Hmph." The girl snorted lightly, jumped on the sofa in the middle of the living room, and began to roll around. 

"Oh my... She's all grown up, but she's still a child, really..." The Archbishop, who was watching her, once again pressed his hand to his forehead at her light and unbecoming behavior for a Saintess.

However, the Saintess did not stop there, and continued to pour out her complaints. 

"I'm not a child! I don't know. What's so great about being a Saintess? You don't even call me by my name anymore. I escaped from all the old people who nag me all day, but it's not much different here either!"

"I am the archbishop, after all. How can I dare to address you informally? The legal officials of the kingdom would be displeased..."

"...Will I have to make everyone at the academy use honorifics with me too...?"

"Even though the academy claims to be neutral, it nominally belongs to the Empire. And the vast majority of students there are also from the Empire. Foreigners may not be bound by our customs, but with the Saintess but I am in a different situation as the archbishop of the same nationality as you. So, please give up."

"That's a relief, but... Pff, I don't know. Father is foolish."

The Archbishop looked at the saint, who was murmuring with a forlorn expression, and recalled the past for a moment.

He had never imagined that the scruffy orphan he had once taken from a back alley and adopted as his foster daughter would be chosen as a Saintess and grow up to be so respectable.

The Saintess was summoned to the motherland at a young age and had to study for several years, and now she was taking a short break after returning to Westford, her hometown, ahead of studying at the academy.

"Ugh, fine. More importantly, Father, is it really true that a Hero will be born among the students of the academy, as the prophecy says? And that within this year? No matter how you look at it, it seems ridiculous that a hero would come from a student."

"Well, one never knows. The first hero, Valerio, was chosen by the Holy Sword when he was not even an adult, according to legend. Saints are usually chosen between the ages of 10 and 15, so it's not impossible for a hero to be chosen. And Erich's prophecy has never been wrong in the 80 years he has been in office. So it seems reasonable to conclude that it will be accurate this time as well."

"I honestly don't know. Certainly, the Holy Book says that when the world falls into chaos and catastrophe that cannot be solved by human power, the gods choose a hero as their representative. But isn't the world not in such chaos now? It's true that the elderly in our motherland are a ridiculous sight, but that doesn't pose a fundamental threat to peace.

The Great Demon has not descended again, the demon worshipers have withered away, and it has already been 100 years since the last war between the Empire and the Western Kingdoms took place." 

"You shouldn't arbitrarily judge God's will by human standards, Saintess. What God says is so, there is definitely something to be achieved. And, strictly speaking, the world is not so peaceful these days. Even though the Great Demon was defeated, the mana that escaped from his corpse still covers the Cursed Land. As each year goes by, the number of monsters reported increases, and it would not be at all strange if the devil worshipers would regain their strength again when the motherland is in decline and unable to function. How can we call this peaceful?"

"Hmm..."

When the archbishop objected, the Saintess drooled and thought for a moment.

"Saintess, even a world that seems peaceful right now can turn to ashes in an instant with just one person's gesture. Do not forget that it took less than a day for the Great Demon to descend on the Eastern Continent in the old days. There is always an arrangement for the lambs in the things that God does, so all we have to do is follow it without doubt..."

"I get it, I get it. So there really will be a hero... Ah, then maybe Mr. Edwin could be chosen by the Holy Sword? He looked like a young man of a similar age to me, so he must be a student of the academy. His behavior was dignified for his age, and his actions all seemed to have meaning. And he's quite handsome..."

"Haha, he is quite outstanding, resembling his father. But where do they choose heroes by their looks? If the gods heard that, they might laugh out loud."

"Oh, come on. It's really possible that Master Edwin could be chosen, isn't it? You were muttering to yourself like that just now, Father."

"I did think about it for a moment, but how can we fathom the lofty will of the gods? The selection of a hero is a matter of their will alone. And Saint. You must never tell anyone about the stories you heard just now, no matter where you go..."

"Ugh, really! Father! I know that much. I swear by the goddess that I will never tell anyone, not even the person involved. Is that enough?"

When the archbishop brought up the past again, the saintess pouted. 

"More importantly, Father, I need to move up the date of my academy studies. Not a little, but as much as possible. I'll deliver my intentions to the academy myself, so you can send the correspondence to the motherland. If I tell them, the old cardinals will start talking nonsense again. Did you understand? Ugh, it makes my head hurt just thinking about it..."

"If that is what the Saintess wishes, there is nothing wrong with it, but... have your feelings suddenly changed? Until yesterday, you said you wanted to go after enjoying as much rest as possible... And if you enter in the middle of the semester, it may be a bit difficult to keep up with your studies."

"Hehe... I'm not the same person I used to be. I was rumored to be a prodigy Saintess in the motherland, so I don't think I'll struggle with that little academy study. And I'm even more curious after seeing Master Edwin. I wonder how he's living his academy life?

He was a gentleman with manners and dignity, so I think he would kindly guide me on various things. He would also introduce me to his handsome and beautiful classmates, and if we get close, I think we'll be able to have a fun school life, talking to our classmates and going out together. While all these things are waiting for me, how can I endure a few months in this boring Westford? That's torture, torture." 

"Ugh... this is something..."

"And I've been thinking, I should keep my identity a secret for the time being. If I go around saying I'm a Saintess, who would want to be friends with me? As long as the principal knows, it doesn't matter, right? I'll take care of the rest later, so please find me a suitable other identity, Father."

"Haa... I understand, I understand. Then I'll handle the small details myself, so please focus on preparing for your studies, Saintess. Really, whose daughter is this, with such a temper..."

The Archbishop shook his head with a light smile, but his expression soon changed to a worried look as he gazed at the Saint, "But... are you sure about this?"

"What do you mean?" 

As the Saintess feigned ignorance, the archbishop continued, "If Mr. Erich's prophecy comes true, the Holy Sword Ceremony will be held for the students of the academy soon. And if the sword chooses and the current hero is born, you will be tasked with winning him over, regardless of your own wishes.

Of course, that will be the view of the world, and the motherland will constantly make such demands. The unification of the Hero and the Saintess is a very good picture for the motherland. And we have a history of giving the first Hero to the empire, don't we? With such a precedent, the high-ranking officials of the Holy Kingdom will naturally be impatient, and they will be pressuring the Saintess within a day or two...

"Oh, I don't care."

The Saintess cut off the archbishop's words and waved her hands as if it was nothing. 

"Don't worry, Father. I've been prepared for that since I was chosen as a Saintess. And in a way, it's a good thing. The previous Saint, Erich-sama, has been living a single life all his life because he didn't have a suitable partner, but I have a partner, the Hero. A Hero is a first-class groom that can't be beaten anywhere."

"Still..."

"You really don't have to worry, Father. It's not empty words, I'm very satisfied with the current situation. I was an orphan in a back alley, but with the grace of my father, I became a noble person, and now I have risen to the position of a Saintess, the most beloved daughter of the gods, who is looked up to by all people. We are only destined to live once, so how many better lives are there than this?"

She paused for a moment to catch her breath, then continued.

"And if I associate with the hero and make a name for myself in the world, my position within the Holy Kingdom will become more and more solid over time. Even Erich-sama had the authority to let the pope step down one step, but if the hero stays by my side, that power will be beyond words, don't you think?

So don't worry about anything. Later, when the time comes, I will cut out all the silverfish that are persecuting my father, sucking the blood of the people, and eating up the Holy Kingdom, and cut off their heads…"

At the saintess' increasingly harsh words, the archbishop sighed deeply.

"Saint... no, my daughter. Cristina."

"Ah, Father?"

When the Archbishop approached the Saintess and lightly stroked her hair, she showed a look of bewilderment. It was the first time in many years since her childhood that her father had stroked her hair.

"Those purges and authority are not things you should do. Those are... my things. Tina, you shouldn't worry about those things. The Saintess is certainly the most honorable position as a saint who worships God, but there is no need to be too bound to that role.

I also deeply hope that you will spend a happy school life with your peers at the academy, but no more than that. It is only up to you to judge who to meet. Not by the coercion of the surroundings."

The Archbishop paused for a moment, then looked at the Saintess' eyes and smiled sadly.

"I seem to have put too much of a burden on you all this time. It is clear that it is my responsibility that you have such a grudge... I have prided myself on living a life without a speck of dust, but in reality, it was just ignoring injustice.

"No! Father is like that... !" The Saintess tried to refute the archbishop's words, but he continued talking without stopping. 

"But, the child I met today lit a fire for me and left. A fire that may be weak for now, but could someday blaze brightly..."

"Father..."

"It is this father's job to fight, so there is only one thing you need to pursue: your own happiness. I hope you will remember this well."

If you want to read the first 25 chapters for free and read up to the final chapter for a cheap price patreon.com/Makima02