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Chapter : 9
The Baby Saint Wants to Destroy the World!
The temple had, without a doubt, delivered the Goddess’s revelations countless times through the Pope and High Priests.
But according to Bahaman…
Every single one of them had been a lie.
Lucy was left speechless by Bahaman’s shocking declaration.
Unlike her wide-eyed expression, Bahaman calmly continued his story.
“The handwritten records left behind by the previous Pope have only ever been passed down to each succeeding Pope. And this time… this inadequate old man has inherited the burden of carrying that secret.”
“Baah? (What’s that?)”
“…It is a prophecy concerning the destruction of the world.”
At those unexpected words, Lucy’s eyes sparkled.
She couldn’t care less about the Goddess’s revelations.
But magic capable of destroying the world was exactly the future she had longed to uncover.
Perhaps sensing the sincere excitement shining in her eyes, Bahaman slowly opened his mouth again.
“Fifty years ago, the Witch of Lunafelt attempted to conquer the Holy City of Esperia for one reason—to obtain the forbidden magic capable of destroying the world.”
The story coming from the old man’s lips…
Was none other than Lucy’s own past.
How does he know?
Only a handful of people had known the Witch’s true objective in attacking the Holy City.
At most…
The Seven Magicians of Lunafelt.
Yet somehow Bahaman seemed to know everything about Lunafelt.
Looking up at the old man who had casually revealed a secret no one else should have known, Lucy forced herself to remain calm.
“The Witch is dead, but her followers still continue to target the Holy City. The fact that you have come to us… can only mean that the Goddess has not abandoned us. You are our final hope.”
Well… that’s not exactly true.
She decided not to mention that she had actually come to stab them in the back.
Large innocent eyes.
Tiny adorable lips.
The lovable baby sucking on her pacifier.
As Bahaman gazed at her, tears gradually welled up in the corners of his wrinkled eyes.
“You alone are our hope.”
Watching the old man cry so earnestly, Lucy grinned.
So these people genuinely believed she was the messenger sent by the Goddess.
The one who would save them.
Isn’t this a little too easy?
Just as she’d told Jack, she became convinced that now wasn’t the time to leave recklessly.
She was standing in the middle of enemy territory…
Yet not a single person here doubted who she was.
If Chrome ever learns that I’m here…
She could vividly imagine what her greatest disciple—the masterpiece she had personally raised—would do.
That must never happen.
Now that even the Pope himself had knelt before her…
There was no one left capable of standing in her way.
Only one thing remained.
Convince Bahaman…
And open the sealed door.
Putting on her most solemn expression, Lucy declared,
“Da… fo’bidden… ma’gic… wan’na see… (I want to see the forbidden magic.)”
The sincere request immediately darkened Bahaman’s expression.
After hesitating for a moment, he asked gravely,
“Did you say… you need your diaper changed?”
Damn it.
Completely oblivious to her actual meaning, Bahaman patted Lucy’s bottom before hurriedly opening the door.
“Maria! I think the Saint has done her business!”
“Oh my! We’d better change her diaper right away.”
“N-nooo!! (I don’t want to!!!!)”
Not here of all places.
Unfortunately, an eight-month-old baby had no such thing as human rights.
She cried her heart out.
But today, even Maria completely misunderstood her intentions.
Lucy had been ready to throw another tantrum to insist that wasn’t what she’d meant.
Instead…
Bahaman’s expression became increasingly serious.
“This won’t do. We’ll have to make a temporary cradle.”
Looking around the room, Bahaman grabbed hold of a massive stone ornament embedded in the wall.
“You’re… pulling that out?”
“It’s the best option we have.”
Ridiculous.
The enormous slab easily weighed over three hundred kilograms.
How could anyone possibly lift something like that alone?
“Hup!”
The instant Bahaman exerted himself, the loose priest’s robes stretched tightly over his bulging muscles.
Displaying monstrous strength that completely belied his old age…
He ripped the enormous stone free in a single motion before setting it down on the floor.
Is he even human…?
If he’d enhanced his body with mana…
Maybe.
But this was nothing but pure physical strength.
Not even divine power had been used.
Thud!
The floor cracked beneath the weight.
Beaming proudly, Bahaman smiled.
“Saint, look! It’s a stone bed!”
Despite the feat…
He wasn’t even breathing heavily.
What in the world is this…?
Even more frightening…
Was everyone else’s reaction.
Apparently they were so accustomed to this sort of thing that nobody found it strange.
“Since the Saint will often visit the prayer chamber, perhaps we should simply leave it here.”
“Indeed. As long as I, Bahaman, remain here, the Saint shall stay in this room until she grows up.”
The cheerful priests gently laid Lucy inside the newly made cradle…
And proceeded with the utterly humiliating diaper change.
Watching Bahaman—whose priestly robes looked absurdly tight because of his overwhelming muscles—Lucy squeezed her eyes shut and silently vowed revenge.
Just you wait.
Absolutely…
Absolutely not because those muscles terrified her.
One day…
Somehow…
She would make them pay for this humiliation.
✦ ✦ ✦
“I’m back safely.”
Jack Casanova returned to Lunafelt after attending the Pope’s funeral.
Chrome, who had summoned him for a report, frowned the moment he saw Jack.
“…You call that returning safely?”
“Couldn’t be helped.”
“I fell in love.”
“That’s unexpected.”
Jack constantly claimed to be a playboy.
A slave to pleasure.
Yet hearing him speak of love was incredibly rare.
Though he often preached about romance…
There had only ever been one woman he’d openly admitted to loving.
Lucifella.
So hearing him say he’d fallen in love again…
Was astonishing.
“So you’ve found someone you love…”
“She’s still just a little sprout, but once she grows up, she’ll become an incredible beauty.”
That single sentence alone was enough for Chrome to realize exactly whom Jack meant.
The Saint of the Temple.
Their enemy.
Calling her someone he loved…
Even for the lust-driven Casanova…
That was unacceptable.
“So you’ve fallen.”
“Of course. She’s the cutest baby in the whole world. If you met her, Chrome, you’d fall in love too.”
Jack’s gentle, enchanting voice captivated men and women alike.
If he wished…
He could charm even children or the elderly.
Unfortunately…
His charm had absolutely no effect on Chrome.
“What are you plotting?”
“The Pope left behind a final will before he died. The baby blessed by the Goddess appointed Bahaman as the next Pope.”
Conquering the Holy City of Esperia had long been the cherished wish of the now-deceased Lucifella.
To fulfill that wish…
Chrome had spent years planting spies throughout the Holy City, carefully gathering intelligence.
Many candidates had been considered for the papacy.
But for Lunafelt…
There was one person who absolutely could not become Pope.
Bahaman.
It would have been far preferable if someone could be bribed.
Or disgraced.
Someone whose authority could easily be undermined.
But Bahaman accepted no bribes.
Possessed overwhelming strength.
And unwavering faith.
“…That’s troublesome.”
“What a shame. Our adorable little Saint has turned Chrome’s perfect plan into nothing.”
“What exactly are you so happy about?”
Still smiling suspiciously, Jack casually stepped closer and lightly placed a finger against the back of Chrome’s neck.
“I imagine you’ve already begun planning to assassinate the little Saint.”
“I’d advise against wasting your time.”
“Why?”
“If you see a promising sprout…”
“It’s only natural to cut it down before it grows.”
Though everyone praised her as the Goddess’s messenger…
She was still only a powerless baby.
Which made assassination all the easier.
“I’m saying it won’t be easy.”
“Won’t be easy?”
“Bahaman isn’t the only problem.”
Jack repeated what he’d learned directly from the boys living within the Temple.
When Lunafelt invaded…
The Empire fell.
Countless children were orphaned.
Although four new kingdoms had eventually been established…
It was the Temple that had taken in those children when they had nowhere else to go.
Raised within the Temple…
They grew up dreaming of becoming priests.
Even those who never received ordination eventually entered important positions throughout the kingdoms.
Strengthening the Temple’s influence even further.
At the center of it all…
Was Sister Maria.
Lucy’s nanny.
She was considered a living legend within the Temple.
Having raised thousands of orphans.
Even the wise Chancellor of the Western Kingdom had grown up under her care.
Kings from every nation had wished to entrust their own children to Maria.
Yet she had always refused.
She had vowed to dedicate her life solely to abandoned children and had never once left the Temple.
But…
A child blessed by the Goddess was another matter entirely.
“So what? She’s only a nanny.”
Seeing that Chrome still wasn’t convinced, Jack grinned.
“The dangerous one isn’t just Maria.”
Even while charming young boys for information…
Jack had always assumed no one could detect the spirits accompanying him.
Yet every single time…
Mother Agnes somehow sensed his presence instantly.
She was strict.
Rigid.
Almost painfully serious.
Yet beneath those glasses…
Her sharp eyes were surprisingly adorable.
Although she was now in her sixties…
Jack found amusement in the youthful side she still possessed.
Perhaps because…
She was fifteen years younger than he was.
“I’d hoped to plant a few children inside the Temple to become our eyes and ears.”
“What a pity.”
“It looks like I won’t be able to recruit even one.”
“So…”
“You want me to spare the Saint?”
“Isn’t it only natural to protect the woman I love?”
“Shut up.”
Jack had been speaking in circles from the beginning.
Even praising the Temple for no apparent reason.
Unless he’d gone completely insane…
He was obviously trying to provoke him.
The murderous aura pouring from Chrome caused Jack to finally take a step back.
“Then why don’t you just tell me…”
“…that the Saint is Lucifella reincarnated?”
