20 years had passed when I woke up! ~ The villain's daughter’s thereafter and after that ~ - Chapter 32

Translator: NovelMultiverse | Editor: NovelMultiverse

“–I, I hereby declare the permanent excommunication of Fi, Fioria di Florence! Th, that soul will be severely judged by God after death!”

The Papal messenger read the letter in a trembling voice.

This is the central square of the Holy City of Millenia.

A lot of believers were gathering around here, and they were strangely seething with anger.

“Fioria-sama is getting excommunicated!?”

“You gotta be kidding me!”

“It’s Howl’s fat that’s wrong!”

“You’re getting cocky just because you’re the Pope!”

“If Onee-sama is going to be judged, then that god is a fake!”

A flurry of angry voices.

Excitement led to excitement, forming a crowd mentality.

A dangerous light began to dwell in people’s eyes.

”Hi, hiiii……..”

The messenger cringed with fear.

His name is Arthur Lambert.

He was a 24-year-old, single, timid young man.

This time, he was forced by his superiors to serve as the messenger for Fioria’s excommunication, and he reluctantly came to the square.

The heat of the people has reached a critical point and the slightest provocation could cause a riot.

What would happen to me then?

I would be lynched. I might be killed. I don’t want that!

Should I run away? I want to run away. But it’s impossible. The crowd is surrounding us……

“O, God……!”

Arthur looked up to the heavens.

“Please save this poor lamb……”

He folded his hands and kneeled.

A sincere prayer due to the life-threatening situation.

………Ironically, it only further incurred the anger of the crowd.

“Who is pitiful! Aren’t you the perpetrator!”

“That’s right! For someone who is excommunicating Lady Fioria, you’re just pretending to be nice!”

“I knew the church was rotten!”

“Since it got to this point, let’s launch an attack!”

“Let’s crush the Vatican!”

“Yeah!”

“Death to Howl!”

“Kill him! Kill him!”

Tear off the limbs and hang them upside down!

Some picked up the stones at their feet.

Others held lumber by the side of the road.

Their eyes were glazed over with murderous intent.

They shouted loudly and rushed to Arthur.

They tried to rush to him.

Just before that.

“–Please calm down.”

The Golden Goddess has appeared.

* *

The people were speechless. They were fascinated by that figure.

Fioria was dressed in a ceremonial dress.

A pure white, neat, and clean dress.

Whenever she walked, the lace at the hem fluttered softly.

It was her first time in 20 years that she was dressed as a saint.

Fioria walked with her long golden hair fluttering in the wind.

She stopped right in front of Arthur.

“I certainly heard the excommunication. I appreciate your efforts, Arthur Lambert.”

“D, D, Do you, know, who I am……?

“I have a pretty good understanding of the Vatican. I’m sure your superiors have forced you to be in charge of being the messenger, right? It must have been difficult for you.”

Pon, pon

Fioria patted Arthur’s head as if she was comforting a child.

“But, it’s all right now. You did nothing wrong. You have no other choice but to obey your superiors’ orders. I understand exactly how that feels.”

A voice that’s as gentle as it can be.

A quiet smile.

It felt as if it had the warmth of the holy mother in it. It enveloped Arthur and dissolved his fears.

“I will ask you one question. Do you think that the current Vatican is correct?”

“………………No.”

“I’ll ask you one more question. Are you proud to be a member of the Vatican?”

“…………No.”

“Then come with me, Arthur. I will definitely prepare a way of life that you can be proud of.”

“……Yes. Please treat me well, Fioria-sama.”

Arthur lowered his head deeply.

Fioria nodded in satisfaction and called out to the crowd.

”I’m leaving the Holy City of Millenia. I will return to the Duke of Florence’s territory with Sheila and the others to set up a new Monad religion.

“If you find the current church unacceptable, please lend me a hand at any time. The dukedom is ready to receive the entire population of the Holy City.”

That’s not an exaggerated advertisement or anything.

The Holy City’s population was around 1,000 people.

20 years ago, Fioria had made plans to relocate the people of the Holy City, and the preparations were all ready.

”Please don’t do anything hasty. It’s unreasonable to attack the Vatican. I don’t want to see any of you, darlings, get hurt. Please send me off with a smile on your face, without a drop of blood being shed.”

At this time, Fioria intended to leave the Holy City of Millenia with 12 other people.

The 12 people are Lex, Heinkel, Wyald, Sheila, and eight former Reformed Cardinals.

The people of the Holy City have a life here, and they won’t be able to leave anytime soon………Fioria had expected that.

In a way, she might have underrated the beings called humans.

–The unexpected happened.

The afternoon of that day.

Hundreds of people had gathered in front of Fioria as she walked out of the gates of the Holy City.

“Don’t say something like a goodbye, Saintess-sama!”

“We also have something called pride! I don’t want to live in Howl’s territory!

“Let us help you, Fioria-sama!”

“Let’s build a new church together!”

It’s not just the ordinary citizens of the Holy City.

Among the faces are a number of people who used to work for the Vatican, including Arthur, the former messenger, as well as many others.

“My Inquisition has determined that King Howl III is the worst heresy of all. We dedicate our eternal allegiance to the Saintess-sama. Use our lives as you see fit.”

“The Chivalric Order of St. Paulos, 72 men in all, will also join the banner. The glory of victory to the Saintess-sama.”

“If you are going to start a new church, you’ll need to re-establish the ceremony. The entire Ritual Bureau will accompany you.”

About 60% of the total population of the Holy City.

If it’s limited to only the employees of the Vatican, it’s over 80%.

Nearly 600 of them chose to follow Fioria.

“…………Fu, n”

Unusually for Fioria, she was at a loss for words.

A hot feeling welled up in my chest.

“Are you guys okay with that? It’ll surely be a rough trip.”

If they wanted to head from the Holy City of Millenia to the Kingdom of Tristan, they would have to cross a number of mountains along the way.　

Not only that, but they also had to cross the Moses River……the great river that divides the Belgian continent from north to south.

“We’re aware of that!”

“If it’s for your sake, Saintess-sama, even if I throw up, I would still follow you!”

“No matter what happens, we will not become a burden to you! So, please take us along with you!”

The heat that was about to be expressed in the form of a riot earlier was now transformed into something else entirely.

A strong will to challenge the difficulties–.

Even a young child and an old woman with a hunchback have an unshakable sparkle in their eyes.

”……It can’t be helped, you kids.”

Fioria sighed.

Her mouth, however, has a smile that is similar to a blooming flower.

”Okay. Follow me. I’ll take every single one of you to the new land.”

Then, she held up her right-hand high, high toward the heavens.

“Let me grant you a golden blessing for that choice and decision.”

In an instant–

A soft, warm light illuminated the heavens and earth.

A golden glow enveloped the people.

Those who were blind can now see.　

Those whose legs had been atrophied can now run across the fields.

All sicknesses were removed from the people and they were given the strength to go on the long journey.

It was just like a scene of myth itself.

Magic is the power of the spirit.

Fioria’s mind was so exhilarated by the unexpected that it caused a phenomenon that was similar to a miracle.

 “Then let’s go. Orderly and gracefully, as if to show it off to Howl III.”