Level 99 Villainous Daughter

Chapter 10

VOL . 2 CHAPTER 10: CONVERSATION WITH THE CARDINAL

My fist thrust towards the church’s solid barrier .

「Ouch!」

I heard the barrier creak but no other changes overall . No way, did I lose?

A young priest came rushing from the church in a hurry .

「Right now I’m trying to deactivate the barrier’s magical device . After I deactivate the barrier, Count Dolknes will be able to pass the invisible barrier . 」

Uh-oh, that wasn’t me using my strength to the fullest . If I get serious, this kind of barrier would break pretty easily .

Yosh, time for revenge . I close my eyes and concentrate . I focus all my strength on my right fist .

「It’s time for you to taste my Yumiela Punch . 」

Okay, let me explain . Yumiela Punch is a punch that only I can deliver . It’s amazing .

Usually I either consciously or unconsciously suppress my power since it affects my surroundings . It’s the best technique to suppress my maximum power .

I feel the magic flowing inside my body . The enormous amount of power circulating isn’t just because of my power alone, but nature’s magic as well which is in sync with my body and power .

As I thought about how I could sense the flow of magic in the world, I felt someone’s hand on my shoulder .

When I turned my head, I saw Patrick .

「Yumiela, the barrier will be deactivated soon . 」

「Eh, really?」

So far, the wall-like barrier was still there, I could feel it with my other hand . I purposely thrust my hand as I complain to Patrick .

「Isn’t the barrier still there… eh? It’s gone?」

「Just in time, it was a close call . 」

The barrier that had been enduring my thrust just disappeared . It’s not fair to win and run away after .

「I want a rematch! I demand a rematch!」

「Surprisingly you were… no, you are just a regular sore loser . 」

I’m not a sore loser by any means . I just find it unbearable when I think I’ve lost .

Patrick, you were being a horrible distraction from my earnest fight with the barrier . I’ll make you taste my Yumiela Punch .

As I gnashed my teeth and scowled at Patrick, my head was getting colder .

It’s bad enough that I tried to break the barrier, but it’s bad enough that the church’s barrier kept me away from entering the church . What if the Inquisition takes me away?

But when there’s a strong barrier, one can’t help but feel like breaking them . As I pondered whether I would be forgiven, the young priest said .

「Count Dolknes, welcome to our church . 」

They’re letting me inside the church? I thought the barrier didn’t want me in?

　　　　　　　◆　◆　◆

As we ushered inside the church, we were greeted by stained glass windows that sparkled under the sunlight . However those stained glass windows gave the place that could be referred to as a cathedral a sense of sacredness .

The young priest guided us without stopping towards a distinctive chamber where a near-elderly man was already waiting for us .

「This is the first time that we meet . Welcome to the Balshaine’s central church, the head church of Sanonism, I’m Gerald the Cardinal . 」

「Nice to meet you, I’m Yumiela Dolknes . 」

I know he’s an important person, but I don’t know how important a cardinal is . The highest? I believe there are more than one cardinal .

「I thought Count Dolknes didn’t like the church . I’m glad that you decided to visit us . 」

「Ah, no, nothing like that, I just haven’t had the opportunity to do so…」

「That’s good to hear . I was a little concerned since we’ve been trying to invite you since your time at the academy but our invitation kept being rejected . 」

「Eh?」

I’m pretty sure there was no contact from the church while I was attending the academy . It would be bad if I had rejected another noble’s invitation to go together .

The cardinal shifts his attention to Eleanora who stands next to me and says .

「Eleanora-san, you said that Count Dolknes turned down your invitation . 」

「She did, High Priest . I’ve invited her to join us many times…」

「Eh?! I never heard of it . 」

Eleanora had been quite persistent in inviting me to go out and play and I’ve successfully evaded her by various means . Don’t tell me that was her way of inviting me to go to the church?

「I’ve said it a million times! Yumiela said we’d go on our next vacation . 」

No way, it is . The cardinal and I just stood there frozen . Patrick had to hold his chuckle .

「I didn’t know that was an invitation to visit the church . 」

「I guess I asked the wrong person to deliver my message . 」

Eleanora had a look on her face that said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about . ” Uh… isn’t this the cardinal’s fault? If it were me, I wouldn’t trust Eleanora with an important message .

With a wry smile the cardinal says .

「There’s a good reason why we asked Eleanora-san’s help . Sanonism isn’t unrelated to noble politics , you know . It would be unreasonable for us to summon the Count . But it would be easy on you if you were accompanied by our alumni, Eleanora-san . 」

「…Alumni?」

「…Ah, I see . 」

Sounds like he figured out my relationship with Eleanora with just a few words from our conversation . It’s hard to watch the melancholy with a bitter smile .

「Eleanora-san, your friend…」

「I know! When I think someone is my friend, then they’re my friends! I learn it from High Priest’s teaching!」

「I’m sorry, it was my mistake . 」

「No, I think it’s a lovely theory on how to make friends . 」

The cardinal isn’t that bad at this . But I believe Eleanora’s persistent behaviour came from her natural constitution . I wouldn’t be able to do it if I didn’t believe in myself .

I can say with confidence that she’s the reason why all of this happened .

「Yumiela-san is very fond of me too, so I guess we’re perfect for each other!」

「…That’s sounds like Eleanora . 」

The cardinal looks like he has something to say to me but Eleanora is being loud so I couldn’t hear him well . Patrick seemed to have understood my struggle and helped me .

「Oh— I’d like to look around the cathedral but… Miss Eleanora, could you show me around?」

「Of course I can . Let’s go Yumiela-san!」

「Yumiela would like to have a word with the Cardinal . I’m sorry but the two of us—」

「W-well! I’m sure Patrick-sama is a wonderful man but for me Edwin-sama is better… moreover, Yumiela-san…」

Eleanora was squirming and her face turned red when she said it .

It’s not like that . You have the wrong idea . Patrick didn’t like you like that .

It’s literally written on his face . Anyone with a brain could see that even though he thinks it’s troublesome . Is it too much to ask for anyone to see it or is it too much to ask for anyone but Eleanora?

I’m sorry, Patrick . Your sacrifice won’t be in vain .

Eleanora followed Patrick who left the room first with her eyes firmly on me .

「…I’m going . 」

「Okay . 」

The cardinal and I nodded at each other tiredly . Now, I understand that I won’t be treated as a heretic, so I lowered my caution level .

He catches his breath before he begins to talk .

「Ano, how much have you talked?」

「I haven’t heard anything yet . 」

「So that’s how it is . Eleanora-san is a hopeless child, I have no doubt that she is a good child, but… let’s not talk about this . There is a certain topic I wish to talk with the Count . 」

Onto the business it is, huh . I swallowed my words and focused on him .

「I’m here as a representative from Sanonism . I have no intention to show hostility towards you within the church . And I won’t force you to believe in our faith . 」

Oh, this was unexpected . Is he a God or something?

I even thought that I have to fight the God of Light someday . So far our situation is in favorable condition, there hasn’t been any interference as it has been in the past .

But there were a few things that were bothering me .

「But I was born with the darkness attribute, is that okay?」

「That won’t be a problem, while there are attributes with different compatibility, when it comes down to importance, there’s no hierarchy between them . Other than Sanonism who worship the God of Light… you may have heard about Water Town, right?」

「Yeah . I heard there’s a place to worship God of Water there . 」

「That’s right . We as believers don’t persecute other faiths . God of Darkness’s name has been lost but they’re a well-respected God . 」

It’s not that I’m a believer of the God of Darkness . I’ve heard people talk about their faith in four major attributes’ God, but I’ve never heard anything related to God of Darkness . He said that the God of Darkness’s name is lost, but maybe there wasn’t a name from the beginning .

The cardinal smiled graciously and continued .

「Darkness exists because there is light and light exists because there is darkness . Darkness is essential to our God’s existence . I respect you for your unparalleled skills regarding the dark attribute that you possess… and I already told this to Eleanora-san…」

「I haven’t heard anything about this either . 」

「I see . 」

We sighed together . Was that what Eleanora was trying to say in the carriage on our way here? If she had properly told me, I wouldn’t be so on guard .

There’s one more thing I’m worried about . It’s the barrier .

「By the way, my entry to the church was blocked by a barrier . 」

「I’m sorry to hear that . The magical barrier device has been passed down from generations to prevent the monsters from trespassing . We found out from today’s incident that it also blocked those with dark attributes from entering . 」

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「The barrier is really strong . I don’t think any monsters would be able to break it . 」

「I’m glad to hear that . Since you can’t see the barrier and everyone can walk through them just fine, it makes some people doubt the barrier’s existence . I’m glad the barrier got your seal of approval, Count Dolknes . 」

The barrier was really tough . And before I could deliver my Yumiela Punch the barrier disappeared, I would love to have a rematch . My pride was hurt and whether I had any pride left or not, one way or another I’d get my rematch .

When I was trying to figure out how to convey this to him, he said .

「I would appreciate it if you would let me know in advance when you will visit the church in the future . Today was a lucky day since I was able to deactivate the barrier, but I won’t be always available . 」

From the way he speaks, there’s a main magical device that helps generate the barrier . I’d like to borrow it for a moment but I’m sure they will refuse .

Also, I’m trying to hide my greed and lightly encourage my rematch by trying to appeal to the church’s benefits .

「All right . While we’re at it, why don’t we try to examine the barrier’s endurance?」

　　　　　　　◆　◆　◆

On our way home inside the carriage, I feel a little down .

「Sigh, he got away with it . 」

「In that case, how will you take responsibility if you did not only break the barrier but the magical device too?」

My pretending-not-so-interested with the magical device had failed . Just like what Patrick said, the Cardinal was worried that the original device might break . After all It’s a legendary device that has been passed down for generations in Sanonism’s main church, please have a little more confidence .

Well, let’s give up the barrier . For now .

Also, something must have happened between Patrick and Eleanora when they went sightseeing in the cathedral . He’s been staring at my hand for quite some time .

「What’s wrong with Miss Eleanora?」

「N-nothing!」

She answered while shaking her head . To me, it was obvious that she’s hiding something .

「I already know something must’ve happened, you don’t need to hide it . You can tell me . 」

「Eh? Really? Then the diamond rin—」

「Miss Elanora, it’s still a secret for Yumiela . She doesn’t know yet . 」

As expected, it’s easy to trick Eleanora but Patrick interrupted .

What was she trying to say? Diamond ring?

「Isn’t a diamond, you know, just a sparkling stone?」

「J-just sparkling stone?!」

「Isn’t it just sparkle? If it doesn’t have any other function then you don’t really need it, like a diamond ring . 」

I can never understand why a stone that just sparkles is worth that much . I’d rather wear a brass knuckle than a diamond ring .

Eleanora might have been offended since she wore a few jeweled accessories . She held her mouth with both hands in disbelief .

「Sorry, we had to make a quick stop . 」

Suddenly Patrick stands up and opens the carriage’s door, getting out quickly .

「Wait, Patrick, where are you going all of a sudden?」

「I’m going to take a look around the shop . 」

Before I could ask what kind of shop he was looking for, Patrick had already walked into an alley . Moreover, my voice couldn’t reach him as I was inside the carriage .

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I thought about going after him, then again I guess he had some errands to do . I’m not a clingy girlfriend . He must be happy .

Patrick left the carriage’s door open and he closed the door as he returned to his seat .

「Haa, Patrick-sama must be having a hard time with his girlfriend being so insensitive . Nevertheless, I understand . It’s impossible now . 」

Eleanora gave me a look of pity . Remarkably unconvincing one at that .