Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 148

A demonic beast is a being with the power to rival a divine beast.

 

Then doesn’t that make me practically the master of a divine beast since I borrowed the power of a demonic beast? Stella’s eyes gleamed with arrogance. Perhaps her power now could even rival Hubert’s. Hadn’t she saved someone who was on the brink of death?

 

I gained such immense power without losing anything! The offering made to the Basilisk was Kobel’s left eye. Stella had witnessed it herself, the moment his eye vanished, emitting smoke. Now, I just need to grant Kobel what he desires.

 

Stella suddenly came to a halt. Sensing her presence, Pope Salvatore slowly turned around. “Saintess, is something the matter?”

 

“Your Holiness, there is one more thing God asked for me when He delivered His revelation to me.”

 

“Something God asked you? Please tell me.”

 

“God told me to keep someone by my side as my guardian, someone who could help me become a great saintess.”

 

Salvator’s half-open eyes narrowed even further. “Who is that?”

 

With a sorrowful expression, Stella replied. “Uncle Kobel.”

 

* * *

Pope Salvatore took Stella away, saying that by the authority of the pope, he wished to speak with the saintess alone. Even after Stella had disappeared, the poorhouse was still abuzz with excitement.

 

“Since His Holiness acknowledged her, she must really be the saintess, right?”

 

“Didn’t you see it earlier? She saved someone who was on the brink of death! Of course, she’s the saintess!”

 

“The saintess has appeared! Now even blessings will descend upon people as poorly off as us!”

 

The story of the saintess’s descent would soon spread throughout the capital and eventually the entire empire.

 

How on earth did she do it? I couldn’t bring myself to believe that Stella was truly the saintess. If she really were, she would have awakened as a saintess around the same time in my previous life. But I never even saw the shadow of a saintess in my previous life. What kind of magic had she used?

 

I tried to recall the dark magic I had learned in my previous life. It was knowledge I had deliberately buried deep in my memory, vowing not to use it in this life. But even as I sifted through those memories, I couldn’t find a method to transform an ordinary person into a saintess.

 

“I can’t believe it.” Cardinal Lenon Gianni, who had been standing quietly beside me, spoke.

 

I looked up at him with surprised eyes. “What can’t you believe?”

 

“The fact that Lady Stella Blanche is the saintess. The Lady Stella I have known was not someone who could become a saintess.”

 

Though I agreed with him, I spoke cautiously. “But many people have witnessed Stella displaying divine power, and even His Holiness said that God descended in his dream to reveal the arrival of the Saintess.”

 

Lenon hesitated for a moment before lowering his voice. “Do you know why His Holiness stepped back and why I, a cardinal, have been handling the major and minor affairs of the temple?” His gaze sharpened. “It was because it was discovered that His Holiness had bribed the cardinals during the papal election.”

 

“My goodness, something like that happened. But why hasn’t this become known to the public until now?”

 

“Because many religious figures wanted to prevent the temple’s honor from being dragged through the mud. So we decided to cover it up and move on. Shamefully.” Lenon clenched his fists tightly, as though the events of that time still weighed heavily on him. “I and several priests vehemently opposed it, but it was useless. In the end, I had no choice but to agree as well.”

 

“…”

 

“In exchange for covering up the matter, His Holiness gave up his actual power and stepped back, while I, the person next in rank after the pope, would handle the temple’s affairs. Since His Holiness was old and ill, and it seemed that the next papal election was not far off, I accepted.” Lenon glared in the direction where Pope Salvatore and Stella had disappeared. “I can’t believe that a divine revelation came to such a pope.”

 

I, too, stared at the place Lenon was looking at. “Cardinal, do you think His Holiness is trying to regain his presence by using the existence of the saintess?”

 

“That’s correct,” Lenon answered without hesitation.

 

Well, there wouldn’t be a better opportunity for the pope. A saintess whom the cardinal had failed to recognize. He alone had received the revelation concerning her. It was more than enough of an excuse to step back into the spotlight. Furthermore, once Stella was officially recognized as a saintess, she would become active. At that point, there was a high chance she would move together with the pope who had recognized her.

 

He doesn’t have much time left to live, yet his desire for power hasn’t died. The sight of that desire disgusted me enough to make me sigh.

 

“Don’t worry.” Perhaps misunderstanding my reaction, Lenon spoke to me gently. “I’ll make sure to keep a close eye on Lady Stella to ensure she doesn’t do anything foolish.”

 

If Stella were officially to become a saintess, she would likely reside in the temple. That must be why Lenon was saying that.

 

“Thank you, Cardinal.” His offer was welcome to me as well, so I thanked him sincerely.

 

When I returned to the Blanche Mansion, the first person I looked for was Hubert. Fortunately, he had also returned from handling some outside affairs.

 

“I heard you went to the temple. Did you make your donation properly?”

 

“Yes, Grandpa. Thanks to the cardinal treating me well, I had a pleasant time there. And…” I spoke to him, who had no idea what was coming. “Someone has appeared claiming to be a saintess.”

 

“A saintess? Did the temple recognize that person?” Hubert asked in surprise.

 

“Cardinal Lenon Gianni didn’t acknowledge her, but Pope Salvatore did.”

 

“The pope… came out in person?” Hubert asked as though the pope’s appearance was just as surprising as the saintess’s descent.

 

I nodded. “Since His Holiness recognized her, that person will soon be officially announced as the saintess.”

 

“So, who is this saintess?”

 

“It’s Stella.”

 

Hubert, who had been racking his brain, froze in place. “What?”

 

“Stella is the saintess. His Holiness acknowledged her and took her with him.”

 

Hubert couldn’t say anything for a while after hearing my words. Having a saintess emerge from the family was a momentous occasion. But it seemed Hubert couldn’t quite grasp the situation.

 

“Stella, that child has divine powers all along…?”

 

“I thought Grandpa should know in advance, so I’m telling you.”

 

Of course, Hubert wouldn’t react like this forever. If Stella being a saintess proved beneficial to the family, his attitude could change to be more favorable. So, for now, I had to prepare for any eventuality for the sake of myself and my mother.

 

“Grandpa, I have a favor to ask.”

 

“A favor? Tell me.”

 

“I think it’s time for Mom and me to have separate rooms. I’d like you to provide her with a decent room she can use.”

 

“That’s not difficult. I’ll have it arranged immediately.”

 

“It would be great if Mom could move into the new room within a few hours.”

 

“Did you have a fight with your mother?” It was an unusually innocent question coming from Hubert.

 

I smiled and replied. “No. I just want to take care of things quickly.”

 

“Alright. I’ll take care of it.”

 

As promised, Hubert picked out a good room and had it cleaned and prepared. It didn’t even take an hour. The problem was my mother.

 

“You want me to move the important things first?” Mom asked me back with a face full of dissatisfaction.

 

I nodded. “Yes, we need to move rooms quickly.”

 

“Was sharing a room with me that uncomfortable?” Mom asked with a hurt expression.

 

I knew she’d misunderstand like this. So, I whispered to Mom. “Mom, it’s not that. Actually…”

 

Mom’s eyes widened at my words. “Is that true? That Stella became a saintess…?”

 

“Mom, shh! It’s still a secret.”

 

“But do you really think Stella would go that far?” Mom asked in a doubtful tone.

 

I answered with absolute certainty. “She absolutely would.”

 

“Alright. If that’s what you think.” Mom, who had been packing her things, turned back to me. Then, she pulled me into a tight hug. “But even if we have separate rooms, you have to come visit my room often, okay?”

 

I chuckled. “I’m going to practically live in your room. I’ll stay until you tell me to leave because I’m being annoying.”

 

* * *

“What is that?”

 

“Whose carriage is that to be so extravagant?”

 

“Looks like it came from the temple.”

 

People lined up along the street murmured among themselves. Their gazes were fixed on a pure white carriage slowly rolling by. The carriage, adorned with golden decorations here and there, was truly magnificent. Surrounding it were priests and paladins, forming a line to escort the carriage.

 

At that moment, a child suddenly darted out in front of the carriage. One of the paladins drew his sword.