BJ Villainess Chapter 352

Time passed, and before I knew it, we had arrived in the capital, Ronne.

 

I stared blankly at the steadily approaching Great Temple, lost in thought. Ilya said he had no intention of killing or torturing me, but would the people there feel the same? To them, I was nothing more than a pest.

 

As someone who knew better than anyone the perception of a cultist of Evil God, stepping into the Great Temple felt like self-harm. But what could I do? In games, it was common to walk the path of a ruined character by choosing the wrong class. Even though I hadn’t chosen the class of the cultist of the Evil God myself.

 

“Get down.” Ilya stepped out of the carriage first and reached out his hand to me. Judging by his attitude, I didn’t seem like a cultist of Evil God, but rather a noble lady. Others seemed to think so too, as they shot me sharp, hostile glances while I took his hand to step down. The hostility was palpable.

 

At that moment, an elderly man in an ornate priest’s robe approached and greeted Ilya. Judging by the outfit, he must be an archbishop.

 

“Welcome back safely, Lord Ilya. His Holiness is awaiting for you in the audience chamber.”

 

“Let’s go now.”

 

“And who is this young lady?”

 

Ilya answered nonchalantly. “A cultist of Evil God.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“And also my direct disciple.”

 

“Huuh?!”

 

At Ilya’s last statement, not only the archbishop but also the surrounding priests stared at him in shock. I was just as surprised to be publicly declared his disciple. Becoming Ilya’s direct disciple is considered a major event in the game too…

 

Ilya warned the shocked priests. “So don’t even think about treating this girl carelessly.”

 

“Understood…” Though the priests wore reluctant expressions, unable to easily accept it, they had no choice but to comply.

 

Ignoring all that, Ilya took me into the audience chamber. As we moved, he spoke to me. “I told you this before coming to the Great Temple, but as long as you are a cultist of Evil God, the people here will constantly watch you.”

 

“Yes, I understand. I’ll make sure not to cause any misunderstandings.”

 

He then patted my head. “That’s not what I meant. I meant that if anyone harasses you, let me know.”

 

“…Alright.”

 

I bit my lip hard for no reason. Every time Ilya showed me kindness, a strange tension wrapped around me. I desperately hoped to shake off that uncomfortable feeling, and at that moment, we arrived.

 

Ilya paid his respects before the pope and reported his return.

 

“You’ve done well.” The pope, apparently already informed of the situation, wasn’t surprised by my presence. However, he deliberately avoided looking in my direction and continued the conversation. “So… I assume you haven’t found the daughter of the Holy God again this time?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

I stared into space, thinking. There are still a few months left until the daughter of the Holy God, aka saintess, appears anyway. The saintess would be the player character in the game.

 

Initially, the game proceeded without the player knowing they were the saintess, and this fact was only revealed in the latter half. And the game began on her coming-of-age day, which will come in the next half a year.

 

But will a player appear here? That game isn’t just a game anymore, it’s reality now. I started to wonder if someone would appear to take the player’s place.

 

Eventually, the pope couldn’t completely ignore me standing silently beside Ilya. “…Is that the unusual cultist of the Evil God mentioned in the letter?”

 

“Yes.”

 

The pope didn’t seem pleased about keeping a cultist of Evil God alive, but he respected Ilya’s decision. “You must have your reasons for taking in that girl. …Her name is Theresa, right?”

 

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

 

“I’ll acknowledge that your nature is peculiar. But I still can’t trust you easily. So as proof of standing on the side of the Holy God, study theology with the other priests and priestesses.”

 

Ilya’s expression turned cold. “That won’t be possible, Your Holiness.”

 

The pope clearly hadn’t expected that reaction and was visibly flustered. “Are you refusing my order and protecting a cultist of Evil God?”

 

“Theresa is my direct disciple. I find others teaching her quite unpleasant.”

 

Apparently, the pope hadn’t yet heard the shocking declaration made at the temple entrance, and he lost all composure. “Cancel it immediately! How could someone like you, a candidate for the next pope, damage your reputation by taking in a cultist of the Evil God as your personal disciple?!”

 

In front of the furious Pope, Ilya shielded me protectively. “If you have no further orders, I will take my leave.”

 

“Ilya!”

 

Without looking back, Ilya left the audience chamber with me. Any other cardinal would have been dismissed immediately for such insubordination. But Ilya didn’t care at all. He acted arrogantly, as if the pope couldn’t touch him.

 

The pope doesn’t dare challenge Ilya because he knows Ilya’s holy power far surpasses his own. In fact, if Ilya wanted, he could replace the pope anytime. Even so, I felt unsettled. Because of me, Ilya’s reputation was damaged… I don’t like that. He might not care what others said about him, but I couldn’t help how I felt.

 

I already knew that once I revealed I’m a cultist of Evil God, I’d have to prove my usefulness to the Great Temple anyway. So, maybe I should enjoy the developer’s privileges?

 

* * *

Even before, Ilya was revered almost on par with the pope, but recently, he had become an untouchable figure. The reason was Theresa. Initially, people were outraged that not only was a cultist of the Evil God spared, but also made Ilya’s personal disciple. But that shifted when Theresa recovered a lost holy relic within a month and captured two cultists of the Evil God. Just by six months later, Theresa was now unquestionably a key force in the doctrine.

 

“This would be the first time that a cultist of the Evil God went on a mission alone, right?”

 

Ilya looked indifferently at Cardinal Heden, who sat beside him. Heden was the second most likely candidate to become the next pope after Ilya.

 

“I heard she completed the mission safely and is returning today.”

 

Heden had been more opposed to Theresa joining the order than anyone else—not only to keep an eye on Ilya but because he truly loathed cultists of the Evil God.

 

“You must be pleased, Cardinal Ilya.”

 

Heden couldn’t forgive Ilya either, for siding with a priest of the evil god. It was betrayal, rebellion, and sacrilege.

 

“If a blade is sharp enough, you’re admirable for using it regardless of the filth on it.”

 

As Heden’s sarcasm crossed the line, the other cardinals showed discomfort. Cardinal Chasen spoke up. “Cardinal Heden. Have we had such peace and stability in the empire over the past six months? Without Cardinal Ilya’s sacrifice, this calm wouldn’t exist.”

 

It was said that Chasen had met with the cultist of the Evil God. Ilya thought Heden’s stance was ideal. Cultists of the Evil God were sworn enemies, never to be accepted into the world—they had to be annihilated. Chasen, on the other hand, secretly sought out other cultists of the Evil God, envious of Ilya’s achievement. And, it wasn’t just Chasen. At least 30% of the cardinals are in contact with the cultists of the Evil God.

 

Just then, the pope entered the chamber and raised the day’s agenda.

 

“The appearance of cultists of Evil God in the capital is rapidly increasing. We suspect Theresa is the cause.”

 

“They are gathering to eliminate Theresa, the traitor. We don’t know when they’ll band together and attack the Holy See.”

 

“Why don’t we strike first and use Theresa as bait?”

 

“If we do something like that in the densely populated capital, the casualties would be enormous. Could you handle it if the imperial city were affected?”

 

Endless pointless debates. Ilya said nothing, letting them chatter.

 

Then Heden, who had also remained silent, suddenly scolded the cardinals. “The reason cultists of Evil God are gathering is simple. They all want to become the next Theresa!”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

A heavy silence fell.

 

“I’ve discovered that some are disguising themselves as regular priests and contacting cultists of the Evil God.”

 

At that, Ilya finally began paying attention. True to his nickname as the watchdog guarding hell’s gates, Heden slashed in all directions.

 

“If they’re good enough to evade my tracking, they must be cardinals!”

 

“Cardinal Heden! That’s outrageous!”

 

“Am I wrong? Aren’t you all trying to copy Cardinal Ilya?”

 

The atmosphere heated up quickly. As it looked like the argument might drag on, the pope intervened to mediate. “Enough! There’s no concrete evidence yet. Cardinal Heden, take charge of resolving this matter.”

 

“…Understood.”

 

At that moment, Ilya, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. “Except Theresa, let’s exterminate all cultists of Evil God. No more exceptions.”