Chapter 28: What Will the High Priest's Appraisal be?! The Shocking Appraisal Result Will be Revealed Soon! (CV: Ginga Banjo)
I haven't watched "" properly lately...
Hearing 's narration is so reassuring, isn't it?
Chapter 28: What Will the High Priest's Appraisal be?! The Shocking Appraisal Result Will be Revealed Soon! (CV: Ginga Banjo)
(I've been waiting for this moment!)
Maria didn't say it aloud, but in her heart, she was letting out such a triumphant roar.
December 25th, the day of the Christmas Festival, is Maria Madozono's birthday. Maria turns six this year.
The Christmas Festival event is the ceremony to appraise children's magical attributes.
It is during this appraisal ceremony that one of the events that causes Maria to become a villainess occurs.
Maria and the legendary "Saint" share the same birthday.
Because of this, Mima, despite being a toxic parent, had high hopes for the magical assessment of her despised niece.
(If Maria possessed "Holy" attribute magic, the Madozono family's reputation would rise…)
It was a hope born from such simplistic calculation.
However, that hope, fueled by greed, was utterly dashed.
Maria was assessed to possess all four elemental magical attributes, plus—the "Dark" attribute.
The "Dark" attribute magic is considered close to the power of Kaima, and is therefore avoided in the world of Exorcists.
Mima was furious upon hearing the assessment results.
"The 'Dark' attribute?! Even though you share the same birthday as the 'Saint'! How utterly useless can you be?!"
As a reaction to her high expectations, Mima's disgust towards Maria
swelled even further.
Moreover, in the original story, in order to widely publicize Maria as the "Reincarnation of the Saint," an event hall was rented out, and the Madozono family faction invited members of the prestigious families of the Madozono family, and their six-year-old children, and a joint appraisal ceremony was held.
The daughter of the Madozono family possesses Dark magic....
It was impossible to conceal that fact.
"You've made a huge fool of me! You useless child! I wonder if you really have the blood of the Madozono family! You damn incompetent fool!"
In the original work, this is how Mima curses and brutally punishes Maria in a flashback scene.
Reincarnated Maria usually skipped the main story text, but this flashback scene, like the H-scenes, was read and savored carefully.
She identified with Maria in the game, and engaged in her own unique meaningful hustle.
In "My Beloved Flower Blooms at the Gate," the characters' lines were fully voiced, naturally, Mima's numerous insults towards Maria also had voice acting.
Reincarnated Maria copied that voice data to her old mobile device and enjoyed the insults anytime.
(That insult is my reward!!! Now's the time!!! I can hear it live!!!)
Maria's mouth curves into a smirk, but she is a villainess with a devilish beauty.
The smile on her face is that of an angel, and the aura she exudes is that of a true lady, despite her young age.
Today, her constantly active passive skill, "Elegance Cheat," is in top form.
"Tomoe-chan, are you nervous?"
With that angelic smile, Maria questioned Tomoe, who seemed nervous about something.
"Onee-sama... Yes, I'm just so nervous thinking about what the results will be."
"It'll be alright. It's not a test or anything. There's nothing to worry about."
As if to say, "Really, really, there's nothing to worry about," Maria reassured Tomoe with a confident air of ease.
After all, she knew from the original story that Tomoe possessed three elemental magical powers and the "Light" attribute magical power.
However, in the original story, Mima wasn't happy even when she found out that her daughter, Tomoe, possessed the Light attribute magical power.
In the original story, Tomoe was thought to have "Magic Manipulation Inability," so it only ended up irritating her.
"You can't use magic, yet you possess Light-attribute magic!? Every single one of you... Why are you all so useless!? All you can do is frustrate me!?"
And so, like Maria, Tomoe continued to suffer further abuse from Mima, who was on a direct path to becoming a toxic parent.
However, that possibility was stifled the very first day this reincarnated Maria met Tomoe.
If Tomoe, who could now manipulate magic normally, was found to possess Light attribute magic, and if it was discovered that Maria possessed Dark-attribute magic,
Mima would undoubtedly choose Tomoe as the next head of the Madozono family.
(And then I would be subjected to days of insults as a reward and abuse as a feast.
No... no.... Don't laugh yet... hold it in... bu.... but...)
The days of glorious abuse were just around the corner, and her excited fantasies were unstoppable.
Maria tried to suppress her laughter, but her lips inevitably curved into a smile.
A perverted old man's smirk would be nothing but hideous, but since it was the smile of a beautiful young girl, it looked like nothing more than a young lady eagerly anticipating the appraisal ceremony.
No one present realized the truth, and indeed, reality is cruel.
Meanwhile, the appraisal ceremony progressed, and it was revealed that Tomoe's magical attributes were, as in the original story, three elemental magical powers and the attribute of Light.
(JUST! AS! I! THOUGHT!)
As the story unfolded exactly as in the original, Maria chuckled to herself.
If the appraisal results now indicate that she possesses the Dark attribute of magic, the Golden Road to ruin will be complete.
The only difference from the original up to this point was that the appraisal ceremony was taking place not in a rented event hall, but in the grand hall of Madozono's mansion, and there were no invited guests.
(Well, it's probably within the margin of error)
Maria thought optimistically.
"Maria-san, I heard you possess an extraordinary magical power.
So you only need to pour a little magic into it. This crystal ball can break if too much magic is poured into it at once. It's a precious crystal ball, so please don't break it, okay?"
The High Priest warned her in a playful tone, making Maria think, "Hmm? Is that supposed to be a joke?" That's what Maria thought.
But there's no time to pour in a crazy amount of magic here and destroy the crystal ball, and say,
(We need to clearly get a Dark attribute assessment, after all.)
"Understood. Then, I'll just pour a little, without breaking it..."
Maria, holding back even more than before, poured just a tiny bit (by feel) of magic into the crystal ball.
Then, the crystal ball emitted a dazzling flash of light.
Moreover, it was like the gacha system in an online game, where instead of the usual golden sliding doors, rainbow-colored sliding doors open, revealing a magnificent, dazzling brilliance, like when you pull a high-rarity character.
(Whoa! LOL! Is this a rare attribute effect? LOL!)
The crystal ball's reaction was more than satisfying, and Maria's mind was filled with laughter.
(This is definitely the Dark type! Victory is certain!)
She was so happy she almost started dancing.
Suppressing that urge, Maria eagerly awaited the High Priest's assessment.
As the crystal ball shone brightly, the High Priest excitedly announced the results.
"Maria's magical attributes are! All four elemental attributes! And the Light attribute! And... and you also possess the magic of the HOLY attribute!!!"
"Huh?"
Maria let out a short, surprised gasp at the High Priest's words.
"I'm sorry, but what?!" she almost blurted out.
(You mean the '' attribute, not the ''' attribute, right?!)
Maria wanted to question him like that, but as a young lady, she couldn't say such a thing, even as a joke.
Besides, judging from the High Priest's reaction, it seemed to be the undeniable truth, even Maria couldn't help but realize.
(SERIOUSLY.... WHY?!!!)
Maria, like from "Isekai Ojisan," couldn't help but let out a sarcastic remark in her mind.
Even if she concede that possessing the attribute of Light is acceptable, Maria simply couldn't believe that she possessed Holy attribute magic.
Actually, according to the original setting, the Holy attribute magic can be acquired later in life if certain conditions are met.
However, in the original story, Maria, the villainess Madozono Maria is destined to be destroyed throughout all routes, without ever possessing the power of Holy attribute magic.
Besides the possibility of being born with the Holy attribute magic, the conditions for acquiring that power are as follow:
① An unyielding spirit that desires to continue wielding magical power even beyond the limits of the physical body.
② A spirit of self-sacrifice that desires to save someone, even at the risk of one's own life.
③ A spirit of selfless devotion that abandons selfish desires and sincerely wishes for the happiness of others.
These three conditions must be recognized in the "World Laws" established by the benevolent Goddess.
In the original story, the protagonist and each of the heroines, while being tossed about by cruel fate, awaken to love for one another, gaining Holy attribute magic, and facing difficult battles.
However, Madozono Maria is a tragic villainess.
Because she was neither truly loved by anyone nor able to love anyone from the bottom of her heart, she was unable to cultivate these three conditions and met her downfall.
But it's different for our reincarnated Maria.
Almost every day, she pushes herself beyond her physical limits through magical training, and if possible, she constantly yearns to continue using her magic until the very brink of death. (①)
Furthermore, on the very first day she met Tomoe, she risked her life to pour her magic into Tomoe's body, wishing from the bottom of her heart to save Tomoe from "Magic Manipulation Inability". (②)
And just recently, she has set aside her own desires and sincerely wished to save the two girls, and has taken action. (③)
In a way, the reincarnated Maria had fulfilled all three conditions.
"Hmm? It's a little suspicious, but she clears all three conditions! So she's good!"
The "World Law" also gave its OK with a sloppy judgment, like a modern cat's inspection check, and thus acknowledged that Maria possesses "Holy" attribute magic.
Like the climactic reversal in the movie "," it's a situation that would elicit a fierce "Is that even possible!?" reaction, but since it is possible, there's nothing that can be done about it.
The fact that this reincarnated Maria possesses Holy-attribute magic has been confirmed, locked, and undenied.
"Excuse me. I seem to have gotten carried away, despite my age.
I never thought I'd be able to appraise a child with Holy-attribute magic while I'm still alive."
The light from the crystal ball subsided, and the High Priest said this, trying to hide her embarrassment.
Then, regaining her composure, she composed herself and continued.
"It is said that great power comes with great responsibility. But, Maria-san, you are still young.
From now on, you will gradually learn about the power you possess, and consider the impact that power will have on those around you."
The High Priest smiled as she finished speaking.
"Just because you possess the 'power' doesn't mean you have to bear all the responsibility yourself. Please be sure to rely on the strength of your family and those around you.
And beyond that, I hope that your 'power' will be used correctly. May the Goddess guide you."
"Thank you, High Priest."
(Ugh! That's completely different from what we agreed on! I can't deal with this!)
Suppressing those feelings of wanting to give up, Maria smiled and bowed to the High Priest, and left the altar.
Looking towards everyone from the Madozono House, Tomoe's eyes were sparkling, and she was giving Maria an intense gaze that seemed to say, "Onee-sama's amazing!"
Mima and the Igodome mother and daughter, were also gazing at Maria with emotional smiles.
(No, no, that's not it! It's not right!)
Maria cried, her despair palpable.
(Oh, Goddess Lukimister, who reincarnated me, what is the meaning of this?!)
Thus, she complained to the Goddess who had reincarnated her into the villainess of the world she desired, using old-fashioned language.
For Lukimister, Maria was her first job as Goddess of Reincarnation, which she wanted to forget, and she was currently extremely busy dealing with other reincarnated individuals.
Even if Maria's complaint had reached her,
she would undoubtedly have simply ignored it.
Therefore, or rather, naturally, there was no reply from Lukimister.
However, being the ultimate pervert, Maria was unnecessarily positive.
And with a sudden realization, she arrived at a conclusion.
("No reply means a good reply"... I understand!
Goddess Lukimister! You want me to continue this role-playing act of being the Saint, is that what you're telling me!?
I'll continue to bear everyone's expectations, and when they reach their peak!
You'll throw me into the abyss, won't you!?
What a tease!!! I understand!
I'll gladly accept it! That request of yours♡♡♡♡♡)
["Huh? Why would it come to that?"]
If Goddess Lukimister had received Maria's conclusion, she would have retorted briefly like that.
But Maria, who had found her answer in a completely different direction, surely couldn't hear anyone's questioning.
With all her doubts and worries gone, Maria turns a refreshing, radiant smile towards Mima and the others.
It truly looks like the smile of an angel...
AN:
No matter the outcome, Maria always takes a positive view; she's invincible!
Now she's becoming stronger and STRONGER! (＾∀＾)
Author's Note
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