20 years had passed when I woke up! ~ The villain's daughter’s thereafter and after that ~ - Chapter 25

Translator: Darling | Editor: Nebosuke

“Female Pope Fioria” Synopsis Part Two

Fioria took her revenge and placed the Regalia Empire under her actual control. She seemed undefeated wherever she went. However, 20 years ago, there was an 8-year-old genius boy with whom she played endless mind games with. His name was Heinkel Winfield. He was called “The little demon king of the cathedral.” She met him again after a long time and found that he had lost his memory. Around that time, some trouble occurred in the upper management of the church. Fioria was asked to resolve the problem and thus headed to the holy city.

Nonetheless, in a turnaround of events, she was excommunicated from the church. ……Wow, isn’t that interesting? But you guys are overreacting. I have to hammer down nails that stand. I’ll pay you back 500 times-fold. Fioria will launch a new church as the leader. Along with her brain, Heinkel, she will smash through the obstacles and so forth on her way!

This & the next episodes are the stories of when Fioria was still a saint.

22 years ago.

At the time, the 15-year-old Fioria had not been deprived of her qualification as a saint and was involved in the Monadism’s upper management.

Monadism was widely practiced across the continent and deeply seeded in the lives of both aristocrats and commoners.

Monadic priests appeared on every ceremonial occasion, be it weddings or funerals, and every part of their lives. These priests were also capable sorcerers. Their recovery magic treated sick people. Their purification magic broke spells cast upon cursed people. They exterminated the undead too.

The religion was regarded as indispensable to people’s lives and revered as the national religion in many countries, including the Tristan Kingdom and the Regalia Empire.

A ceremonial event was held in the holy city of Millenia in autumn of every year.

Saint Fioria needed to attend the ceremony and stay in the holy city for three months or so.

“I’m Heinkel. Glad to see you, Saint Fioria.”

Fioria met a boy during her stay.

He was a boy with an innocent smile.

He had albino-like red eyes and light platinum blonde hair.

His skin was so pale it was almost transparent.

Somehow, he had the impression of the short-lived like an angel in the faint sunset light.

“He is only 6 years old, but his magical talent is considerable. Do you mind teaching him light magic?”

The assisting sister introduced Heinkel. 

“He’s already fluent in languages ​​and has memorized all the main theology books. He will enter primary school next year. I think he will skip grades and graduate much earlier though. He’s a child genius.”

“…I understand what he can do. So, what kind of boy is Heinkel from your point of view?”

“Um, so a genius who might be able to use the light magic…”

“Isn’t that his ability only? What I want to know is his personality.”

“Let me see…”

Sister was confused by Fioria’s question.

She didn’t seem to be hiding anything. She was not likely to come up with a clear answer.

“Well, that’s fine.”

……This sister may usually take care of him, but she apparently only focuses on Heinkel’s talents. She doesn’t pay much attention to his personality development. She can’t even say a typical description like “He’s a kind and nice boy.” That’s quite a problem, I think.

Fioria sighed and let the sister go.

“Hi Lady, I want to be able to use light magic as soon as I can. I’ll make everyone happy.”

He was meeting her for the first time, yet Heinkel was already fond of her.

His words and actions were childlike but he was astute and obedient. 

But…

“You’re good at acting.”

Fioria ignored Heinkel and said so bitterly.  

“You can’t hide your eyes. You’re looking down on everyone. Is it that fun to play around with grownups?”

“What…?”

Heinkel tilted his head.

“Lady Saint, what are you talking about…?”

“I’m talking about you, Heinkel. I’m not going to play silly pretend games during my three months in the holy city.”

“Umm… Why do you say such nasty things? Aren’t you supposed to be a saint?”

“That’s what the top of the church says… If it becomes inconvenient for them, they’ll find some excuse and take away my saint title.”

For example, I can’t use recovery magic, and so on.

Whilst Fioria mumbled, she noticed that Heinkel began crying.

He seemed that he was hurt deep in his heart.

“Sob, sob, sob….”

Fioria looked at him with a distant gaze.

“Sob, sob, sob….”

Fioria looked at him with a very distant gaze.

“Sob, sob, sob….”

Fioria looked at him with a tremendously distant gaze.

“Sniffle… Are you a devil, Lady Saint?”

“I’m kind to my family and relatives. You’re not my relative.”

“Uggh… Who the heck are you? Why are you so obnoxious? Are you cold-blooded? Your body temperature must be absolute zero degrees.”

His childish behavior was gone. Heinkel showed his mature and ironic grin.

“I mean, how come you know that I’ve been acting all this time?”

“It’s easy. There isn’t such a childlike child in the world.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Heinkel nodded repeatedly.

“Surprisingly, however, the adults can’t see it. Everyone is tired of their living and wants to be healed. If I give them what they want, they can easily be tricked… But, you, the Lady Saint is different. It’s probably because you’re not expecting anything from me, right?”

“If I want to be healed, I can just stroke Mofumofu.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“My pet dog. He is very fluffy.”

“… Lady Saint, you may want to improve your naming sense.”

“Don’t you like his name? Anyways, Heinkel, you’re wasting your time here.”

“Why?”

“You sense what others are longing for and control them without being noticed. Your observation acting skills. These may be far scarcer talents than magic or languages. You are using them to mock the adults around you. That’s exactly what we call a waste of time.”

“… Then, what do you want me to do?”

Suddenly.

That moment, Heinkel became upset. 

His mental shield, which was hidden behind his girl-like pretty appearance, started cracking.

“You’re preaching as if you’re a know-it-all, but what do you really know about me?”

“Fioria.”

“……Hah?”

“I allow you to call me by my name, Heinkel.”

“You act big.”

“Calling me Lady Saint is rather disrespectful.”

“Never mind,” Fioria said and ran her fingers through her hair.

“Heinkel Winfield. The details have been omitted, but you are a child that’s supposed to become a light magic sorcerer in the next generation on behalf of someone who can’t use recovery magic and doesn’t listen much to the church’s upper management. However, your strength is of the water attribute. Your suitability to the light attribute is limited. You can’t exercise it at all yet. That’s why you’ve come to see me. To steal my magic.”

“You know everything. The top management of the church apparently hates you. Although you know all that already.”

“Not all are my foes. I have some allies in the upper tier, and many priests right under the upper-tier are more likely to be my friends. They naturally bring over the information I need.”

“It’ll sound weird if I ask you this, but are you really 14 years old?”

“I’m not spoofing my age. Anyways, I know you to a certain extent. And I’m convinced as I’m actually meeting you… Heinkel, are you happy as you are now? Grownups dump their egoistic expectations on you, and you are just doing what they want. While you pretend to be obedient, what you can do from behind is just to ridicule and mock around them. Isn’t it boring?” 

“Then what exactly do you want me to do? I asked you this already. Specifically, what do you want from me?”

“Are you interested in the seat of the Pope?”

Fioria whispered into Heinkel’s ear.

“Imagine the people who held their head high and told you to do this and that kneeling down in front of you, begging for your forgiveness. What do you think of such a future? Doesn’t it sound good? With your observing and acting skills, it is possible to stand at the top of Monadism.”

“…Are you trying to get an innocent child-like me involved in that, Fioria?”

Heinkel no longer seemed to be a child. 

He even sneered ambitiously. 

“You aren’t a saint. No way. You’re a devil.”

“I just can’t stand a waste of any talent. Show me your potential, Heinkel… I’d be even happier if you can be my partner who makes the best out of it.”

“Fioria, have you told this to anyone else?”

“You and Vie only. Vie is the Third Prince of the Kingdom of Tristan.”

“Huh…. I see.”

Heinkel slightly nodded.

He looked a little dissatisfied.

……His feelings that arose at the time would change Heinkel’s life dramatically.

The legend of a boy who was later called “the little demon king of the cathedral” began from this very moment on.

Black boy character