Chapter 65: The Hero’s Descendant, the Nine-Tailed Fox, and the Maid

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Translator: Soafp

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A few days after Victoria and Ask's date, the scene shifts back in time.

“Hm, if I press a little harder, I feel like I could hold Ask. Our distance has really closed since the date.”

“That's wonderful. All that effort dressing up was worth it, then.”

“Thanks to Maidol. I appreciate it.”

“…No, as Victoria-sama's maid, it was only natural for me to do so. That was also my way of offering an apology.”

While combing Victoria's silver hair, Maidol casually brushed off her words of gratitude.

“An apology? For what?”

“Nothing you need to worry about.”

Maidol smiled, trying to dodge the topic.

Victoria had no way of knowing that the day before the date, Maidol had slipped something into Ask's drink.

After finishing her morning preparations, Victoria suddenly remembered and asked:

“Hm. By the way, where is Christina-nee-sama?”

“She's already dressed and attending a meeting with His Majesty the Emperor. It seems there was some trouble in the empire's frontier regions.”

“Trouble? What happened?”

“I'm afraid I don't know the details.”

Victoria stared intently at Maidol.

Maidol, maintaining her smile, met her mistress's gaze from behind her blindfold.

…Victoria eventually gave in.

“Hm. I'll leave it at that, then.”

“Fufu, thank you.”

Once Victoria finished getting ready, Maidol gave a graceful bow.

“Well then, I have some matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave.”

“Matters?”

“Yes, a friend summoned me, so I must go.”

“…That's a little surprising. Maidol, you have friends in the Empire? I didn't know.”

“Fufu, a woman with many secrets is a fine woman, after all.”

Maidol smiled.

With no one left to talk to, Victoria, left idle, decided to investigate the troubles in the frontier herself.

---

Meanwhile, in a derelict building in the imperial capital, Maidol was meeting with another person: Belchika, the top-ranked hero candidate from the Hero Academy and the White Church Cardinal of ‘Wrath'.

“Maidol-san, you came too?”

“Yes. If Kokonoha-sama summons me, I am naturally curious. Besides, I am concerned about the anomalies occurring in the frontier.”

“You mean the plague spreading in the frontier?”

“Ara, your ears are quick.”

“…We just mobilized the neutral faction to investigate. Honestly, I'm more surprised that you already know.”

Maidol smiled silently, saying nothing.

Belchika, skeptical yet patient, waited for the person who summoned her.

Soon, a woman emerged from the shadows.

“…Sorry to keep you waiting…”

It was Kokonoha, White Church Cardinal of ‘Lust', with white hair, golden eyes, fox ears, and nine tails. Around her stood her eight retainers, the Eight-Tailed Group.

Maidol gave a graceful bow.

“It's been a while, Kokonoha-sama.”

“…It has indeed… Maidol… You are well…?”

“Fufu, do keep your silence, please.”

Maidol's smile carried a subtle venom.

“…Have I done anything to anger you…?”

“You have deprived me of my joy and bliss: taking care of Victoria-sama. Even you, I would tear apart and feed to pigs for that.”

“…I… apologize…”

“If an apology suffices, the knights wouldn't be necessary, would they?”

Turning her gaze away from the relentlessly sarcastic Maidol, Kokonoha looked at Belchika.

Belchika shrugged.

“Maidol-san, please settle down. We can't get to the main point otherwise.”

“…You're right. My apologies. So, Kokonoha-sama, what did you wish to discuss?”

“I… am leaving the White Church…”

“What!?”

“Is that all the discussion?”

“Wait, Maidol-san!? Is that it!?”

Belchika was shocked by how casually Kokonoha delivered such a major announcement, and by how smoothly Maidol let it pass.

“Leaving the White Church… why?”

“…I… had something I needed to do… I intended to summon the White God… and fulfill a wish… but… it's no longer necessary…”

“What? Why all of a sudden!? The neutral faction depends on you, Kokonoha-san!”

“…I am sorry…”

Kokonoha apologized.

But Belchika grew even more agitated hearing this apology.

“An apology doesn't help!! And what exactly do you intend to do!?”

“…I will perform a ritual… to reclaim that one… You may have to… use the people of the Empire…”

“Use the people of the Empire, you say!?”

Belchika restrained the fury welling up inside her as she asked.

“Having left the White Church… I am no longer bound by the non-aggression pact made between the ancient hero and the White Church…”

“I will resist with all my strength.”

“…Do as you will… This is already decided… But be warned… anyone who interferes… I will show no mercy…”

Kokonoha unleashed her magical power, overwhelming Belchika.

The difference in strength was utterly despairing.

“…If you wish to stop me… come to the city of Zotas…”

“The city where the plague is spreading?”

“It is not a plague… I am stealing sanity with my demon eyes… and sacrificing magic to perform the ritual…”

Belchika understood.

The powerful being in front of her had clearly chosen a path of opposition.

There was nothing she could do.

Yet, for reasons beyond the power gap, she didn't want to confront Kokonoha.

“…Please stop. I beg you, stop. I don't want to fight you.”

“…Belchika… I regard you… as a daughter…”

“…I, too, regard you as a mother…”

“…Therefore I wish not to oppose you… You are good… fundamentally different from the White Church I despise…”

“…“

Belchika fell silent.

But Maidol, ignoring the atmosphere, cut into their conversation.

“One question. Kokonoha-sama, what you're planning… will it harm Christina-sama, Victoria-sama… or, incidentally, Ask Medicus?”

“…Your beloved princesses… will not be harmed… Those important to that one… will not be harmed… Ask Medicus, depending on circumstances… may be affected…”

“Is that so? Then I will interfere.”

Maidol lifted her skirt, drew several knives from a holster strapped to her thigh, and threw them at Kokonoha.

As the knives were about to strike, one of Kokonoha's tails bristled and her eyes glowed ominously.

“—Distorting Demon Eye.”

The knives twisted mid-air.

Even Maidol herself was twisted and crushed along with the knives.

To any observer, it was a fatal blow.

“…Then… farewell… Belchika…”

“Kokonoha-san…”

Watching Kokonoha and the Eight-Tailed Group leave, Belchika stood silently.

“You're not going to stop her?”

“…How are you alive in that state? That's terrifying.”

“I was nearly killed. Facing Kokonoha head-on is impossible. So… what will you do?”

“Of course, I will stop her. I am a descendant of the heroes, and from my duty… I cannot run. To protect the Empire and its people, I cannot flee.”

Belchika left the derelict building.

Maidol, reshaping her mangled body, restored herself to her original form and watched Belchika's back as she departed.