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Chapter : 5
The Baby Saint Wants to Destroy the World!
“Your cheesy way of talking hasn’t changed a bit.”
“I could say the same about you.”
No matter how harsh the insult, one of playboy Jack Casanova’s cardinal rules was to never lose his temper.
Now that they could finally talk, Lucy immediately asked the question that had been bothering her the most.
“Did Chrome send you?”
“I came to avenge your death.”
“My death…?”
Just what kind of secret was hidden within her missing memories?
No matter how hard she searched her mind, everything before the moment she suddenly opened her eyes remained shrouded in darkness.
Why had she suddenly awakened in the body of this scruffy little child?
Why had she been reborn in the Holy City of Esperia, the enemy nation, as the Saintess—the so-called Child of God?
She still had no clear answers.
The only memory she retained was from the night before the final assault on the Holy City of Esperia. Lucy and the Seven Calamities of Lunafelt had gathered together and raised a toast to their coming victory.
“My memories stop there.”
“So you truly remember nothing.”
With sorrow filling his eyes, Jack willingly knelt before Lucy.
His eyes glistened as though he might burst into tears at any moment. That wistful expression, capable of awakening anyone’s protective instincts, possessed a dangerous charm that captivated not only women but even men.
Of course, it only worked on people susceptible to it.
“Quit crying and get to the point.”
“Before the final battle, someone attacked you.”
“What?”
“Esperia launched a counterattack amid the chaos. After a prolonged melee, both sides eventually agreed to a ceasefire.”
“A ceasefire…?”
To begin with, the invasion of the Holy City of Esperia had been driven entirely by Lucy’s own personal desire.
At first… I really did want to destroy the world.
The forbidden magic was said to grant any wish, no matter how impossible.
Like a miracle.
If that was true…
Could she perhaps see Master again?
No matter what happened, the only thing she needed now was to find the forbidden magic hidden by the Temple.
Once she found it…
She could do anything.
Destroy the world.
Or reunite with her master.
Holding onto that tiny sliver of hope, Lucy had become obsessed with finding the forbidden magic.
“Chrome is still searching for the one who killed you,” Jack said quietly. “Even now.”
“Even now?”
“Yes. Exactly forty-nine years and six months have passed.”
“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Lucy grabbed her soft little hair in disbelief.
She had already gone through a hundred reincarnations, but never—not once—had she ever been reborn nearly fifty years after her death.
Where did everything go wrong?
She still remembered the scene from that final banquet.
Lucifella of Pride.
Chrome of Wrath.
Jack Casanova of Lust.
And the others—Envy, Greed, Gluttony, and Sloth.
No one except those seven had been present that night.
“What about Lunafelt?”
“I knew that would be your first question.”
She had built an entire nation atop what had once been nothing more than an insignificant rural village.
The City of Witches, Lunafelt.
It had all been to honor her beloved master, who had died unjustly at the Emperor’s hands.
She had known no better way to commemorate them.
“As you wished, the city remains prosperous under Chrome’s leadership.”
“…That’s a relief.”
If she had died only for the city to disappear as well…
She wouldn’t have been able to face her master, even in death.
And the person who understood her feelings better than anyone was Chrome Lunafelt, the disciple who was practically her own child.
“How’s everyone doing? Did they choose my successor?”
“…Of course not. Honestly, if it weren’t for Chrome asking me, I wouldn’t have bothered coming all the way here.”
“What?”
“Beatrix of Envy is still by Chrome’s side, but the other three are probably off doing whatever they please.”
“Those idiots…”
The thought that everyone had scattered like a disorganized mob after her disappearance made her blood boil.
Beatrix’s behavior was understandable.
She had always been insanely jealous of Chrome, who had been closest to Lucy.
But thinking about the other three left her with nothing but a sigh.
“Still, meeting you made this trip worthwhile. Come back with me.”
With Jack’s ability to conceal their presence, escaping Esperia would certainly be possible.
But Lucy simply stared at the shadow cast beneath the moonlight.
“No. I’m not going back yet.”
“…Why not?”
Jack had rushed here in the middle of the night, expecting to bring her home.
But Lucy still had something she needed to accomplish here.
“This might actually be for the best. I’m in the heart of enemy territory now. I’ll search for the forbidden magic while I’m here.”
“We can do that after returning to Lunafelt and conquering Esperia again!”
For someone known as a womanizer, Jack looked surprisingly hurt.
But this was exactly when Lucy needed to remain calm.
She now knew she had died.
She knew nearly fifty years had passed.
There were simply too many unknowns to act recklessly.
“…Even if the Pope is dead, you know our opponent isn’t someone we can underestimate.”
Just because her body was that of a baby didn’t mean her mind should become childish.
Never lose your composure.
Always keep a cool head and pursue your goal.
That had always been Lucy’s guiding principle whenever she gathered the other six mages.
“I don’t want meaningless sacrifices. My reason for seeking the forbidden magic is entirely personal.”
“And if I simply forcefully take you back?”
Although Lucy retained all of her memories and consciousness, she was still nothing more than a helpless infant incapable of using even a single spell.
She knew she couldn’t possibly overpower Jack.
But she did possess four very sturdy front teeth.
“If you try that… I’ll bite you.”
“You really are troublesome.”
Jack effortlessly picked her up.
Smiling sweetly enough to melt sugar itself, he gently poked her chubby cheek.
“I never imagined the day would come when you’d become this adorable.”
“Oh, shut up.”
“If I return and tell Chrome I’ve found you… would you still be saying that?”
Lucy had momentarily forgotten that Jack had an extraordinary talent for smiling while completely screwing people over.
After all, she herself was the one who had given Chrome the title Wrath.
“If he finds out…”
“He’ll gather every soldier in Lunafelt and declare war immediately. His only objective will be rescuing you.”
Just imagining it gave her a headache.
Chrome had always been the type to act before thinking.
Yet in terms of magical talent…
He had actually surpassed Lucy in many ways.
The word genius seemed as though it had been invented solely for him.
If he truly got serious…
Things would become unbelievably troublesome.
“…Wouldn’t it be better not to do that?”
“…That depends entirely on you.”
Without her noticing, Jack had completely seized control of the conversation.
Still wearing that dazzling smile, he leaned his handsome face close to hers.
“You still remember what you have to do when asking me for a favor, don’t you?”
“That’s—!”
“If Chrome learns I kept something this important from him, he’ll never forgive me. Even I’m afraid when he’s angry.”
She couldn’t exactly punch that smug bastard.
He deliberately acted pitiful just to get under her skin.
“You’re not afraid when I’m angry?”
“How much could those tiny little arms possibly hurt? Besides, if you bit me… it’d be the greatest honor of my life.”
“You pervert!”
She had underestimated just how hopelessly masochistic Jack Casanova truly was.
She should have ignored him from the beginning.
Now that he held all the cards, Jack shamelessly urged her to give him the answer he wanted.
“Once the sun rises, I’ll begin preparing to leave. To be honest, Sister Agnes has become rather frightening lately.”
“…You rotten bastard!”
“The worst one here is you.”
Not letting a single remark slide, Jack continued his disrespectful banter.
Lucy swallowed her rising anger.
The more furious she became…
The happier that pervert looked.
Stay calm.
At first, she’d been utterly confused after awakening.
But learning about Lucy’s death had changed everything.
Even if she returned to Lunafelt now…
What would really change?
She couldn’t use magic.
She was trapped in the body of a baby.
She knew neither why she’d awakened here nor who had killed her.
Acting hastily would only make matters worse.
In fact…
Being the Saintess might be the perfect opportunity to locate the forbidden magic.
First, I need to grow enough to actually speak…
The other six mages were immortal.
Their lifespans weren’t something she had to worry about.
And although she felt guilty toward Chrome…
She really didn’t want her existence revealed just yet.
Though… hopefully that won’t become an issue.
Setting Jack aside—since he already knew the truth—
If one of the remaining five had been her murderer…
Even if the chance was only 0.00001%…
She hated herself for wondering whether it could possibly have been Chrome.
“By the way,” Jack remarked, “your divine power is truly overwhelming.”
“…Which means I can’t even dream of using magic anymore.”
Mana had never been just a weapon.
She used it for everything.
Turning off the lights while reading late at night.
Traveling.
Communicating with others.
Even the ordinary routines of eating, sleeping, and daily life.
“I can’t even go to the bathroom by myself! I have to wear diapers!! What kind of humiliation is this?! Ugh!”
“What’s wrong?”
“…Nothing.”
Just thinking about this pathetic little body made her furious all over again.
There was only one way to shut Jack’s mouth.
Even though she absolutely hated doing it.
“My beloved Jack… please grant your adorable Lucy’s humble request.”
Endure.
Endure.
Endure.
Repeating those words over and over in her heart, Baby Saint Lucy ground her teeth.
Jack, of course, couldn’t resist making things worse.
“…And what request might that be?”
“Shut your mouth!”
The Saintess’s flying kick shot straight at him—
—and landed squarely in Jack’s beautiful eye.
