Chapter 39: You Damn Bird! Phoenix Communication is Lost Communication!

[Previously on the Masochistic Villainess]

Maria, who had defeated Youshin, collapsed unconscious.

Mima-mama rushed Maria back to the mansion.

Chapter 39: You Damn Bird! Phoenix Communication is Lost Communication!

The medical unit at Madozono's residence.

Maria received the highest level of healing magic and medical treatment there.

However, Maria did not regain consciousness.

With no further action possible from Mima and the others, Maria remained in a coma.

According to information gathered by the surviving members of the Nayuta no Hebi, whom her subordinates had captured from the underground cave, Genkon had apparently tried to revive the Kaima God, Youshin, by using Maria as a sacrificial vessel.

But this plan failed due to the sanctity of Maria, the Saint.

That seems to be the gist of what the surviving members of the Nayuta no Hebi had told them.

From this conclusion, Mima understood Genkon's panic and lack of composure back then.

(As expected, Genkon had been defeated by Maria.

Not only had she destroyed him physically, but Maria had also overwhelmingly defeated him mentally.)

Mima felt a sense of relief at this realization.

However, knowing this fact wouldn't save Maria from her coma.

Anxiety and impatience grew within Mima.

Just then, the Head Maid, Sougi announced a visitor.

"Madam, the Shindōkyō's High Priest has come to see you."

"Ah! Sougi! Let her in immediately!"

Mima commanded Sougi as if startled.

Kanaya and Kanaho, the two personal maids of her daughters, had always been instructed to seek protection from the High Priest of the Shindōkyō as an emergency refuge in case of unforeseen circumstances.

And tonight, Kanaho, along with Tomoe, had indeed taken refuge with the High Priest.

Just now, Mima herself had contacted the High Priest and explained the details of the attack on Madozono's mansion.

At that time, she also informed her of Maria's coma and requested her assistance.

★

"...Maria-san was used as a 'Vessel' for the resurrection of the Kaima God, Youshin, in a ritual, but instead, the tentacles, which were remnants of Youshin, disappeared."

After being led to the medical unit and examining Maria's condition, the High Priest confirmed this to her.

"Yes. This is the testimony of a survivor of the Nayuta no Hebi we captured. It is speculated that Maria's Saint's power destroyed the Kaima God…"

"That is probably the case… However, the process of its destruction must have caused significant damage to Maria-san..."

"But we have already used healing magic many times—"

"Physically, Maria-san's body was completely healed. But it was her soul that the Kaima God Youshin tried to invade and corrupt.

A fierce battle took place in Maria-san's 'Inner Universe', and Maria-san emerged victorious, and the Soul of the Kaima God Youshin was destroyed.

So far so good. But...."

The High Priest paused, then looked at Maria, who was still sleeping on the bed.

"The problem is the magical power that Youshin possessed. Even though it's a Kaima, it's still the magical power of a being bearing the title of 'God'.

It's impossible to imagine how much magical power it possesses."

"...!! Could it be....! That Youshin's magical power is inside Maria's soul right now!?"

"Yes. A tremendous amount of magical power must have poured into Maria-san's soul along with the disappearance of the Kaima God.

Whether a human soul can withstand that or not, the reason Maria hasn't regained consciousness is likely because her soul is trying to accept all of Youshin's magical power, even beyond her limits."

"But—! Then what can we do...?"

Mima was speechless at the High Priest's assessment.

Even as the head of the Madozono family, one of the three most prominent families in the Exorcist world, she could never have predicted that the Saint would fall into such a situation as a consequence of destroying the Kaima God.

How could she possibly know how to deal with it?

"Please calm down. It's alright, Mima-san. You already possess the power to save Maria-san."

The High Priest smiled gently at the flustered Mima.

"The Phoenix Staff, a Sacred Treasure of the Madozono family, possesses power that not only purifies and burns away evil beings, but also holds the sacred power of regeneration of the Phoenix.

This power of regeneration will assist Maria-san in her process of accepting the demonic power of the Kaima God."

"The Phoenix Staff possesses such power—!?"

Mima felt both surprise and hope at the High Priest's words, and at the same time, shame.

Within the Madozono family, the method of using the Phoenix Staff has been almost completely lost.

However, the fact that the High Priest of the Shindōkyō, an outsider, is more knowledgeable about their Sacred Treasure is truly embarrassing.

In any case, there is no time to be ashamed of one's own ignorance of the Sacred Treasure.

Mima immediately manifested the Phoenix Staff and gently placed its tip against Maria's forehead.

"Yes, and now, please pray for Maria-san's safety and recovery. The Phoenix Staff will surely respond."

Nodding in agreement with the High Priest's words, Mima closed her eyes and prayed for Maria's safety.

“Phoenix Staff, please save Maria!!! Save my daughter…!!!”

In response to this mother’s plea, the Phoenix Staff emitted a golden glow.

The glow reached Maria’s forehead, and immediately, the golden light enveloped Maria’s body.

(Maria!!! Hang in there…!!!)

Mima continued to think of Maria and pray with all of her heart.

★★★

Within Maria's soul, in the "Inner Universe" realm.

The High Priest's assessment was: "Not entirely correct, but not far off either."

Maria's soul had already absorbed not only the magical power contained within the soul of the Kaima God, Youshin, but also his generative ability to continuously generate that immense magical power.

Currently, Maria was in the process of integrating all the powers she had stolen from Youshin, making them usable by her.

Among these powers were numerous lost ancient magic spells, and the time it would take to integrate them all wouldn't be completed overnight.

To put it another way, it was like simultaneously installing a massive collection of applications, each composed of enormous amounts of data, onto a single PC.

It's clear that the overload on that PC would be enormous.

No matter how high-performance the PC is, it could malfunction, or in the worst case, the PC itself could be damaged and crashed.

But.... our reincarnated Maria was the one who enjoyed such a tremendous overload.

"OH...♡♡♡ YES♡♡♡ YES♡♡♡

AHHHHHHHHHH♡♡♡♡♡♡"

Like a sexy actress from a Western porn film, she was reveling in the intense pain, immersed in a state of ecstatic bliss.

Unlike herself in the real world, here she was acting in such a way that it would make anyone want to slap her and tell her to get down on her knees and apologize to Mima, who was genuinely worried about her.

It was quite a sight.

Despite this state of affairs, because her soul was directly damaged, she was actually in grave danger.

However, Maria's soul, rejoicing in the damage she suffered, was evolving into an even stronger, more resilient spirit, much like a Saiyan growing rapidly when near death.

Furthermore, even though she was merely human, her act of "god-killing" the God of Kaima had caused the World Law to elevate Maria's existence to that of a Demigod.

She skipped the formal recognition of a Saint and went straight to being recognized as a Demigod.

Naturally, such a setting does not exist in any route of the main story of "My Beloved Flower Blooms at the Gate."

In fact, the idea that Youshin is destroyed by the protagonists does not even exist in the original work.

If the villainess, Madozono Maria, dies, or is sent to a tragic end such as becoming a slave or a test subject, Youshin will not be fully revived.

Conversely, if Maria goes down a path where she despairs of everything in this world and begins to hate everything, Youshin will be fully revived, but the ending will be that he is resealed by the protagonists, and there is still no depiction of him being destroyed.

It's a bit late to say this, but this reincarnated Maria is incredibly forceful and marches her own drum. She's sprinting at full speed down her own unique future path.

She completely annihilates Youshin, the ultimate prerequisite for her downfall, with the same kind of carefree attitude as a bubbly office lady saying, "Let's get refreshed in the sauna, yahooo♡!"

And yet, she thought she was walking merrily towards her own destruction.

What a laughable situation.

“…Can you.... hear me... Maria...

You can hear me, right?

Right now.... I am speaking.... directly to your heart....”

Suddenly, a voice called out to Maria.

She thought that this Inner Universe, now free from the threat of Youshin, was a place where no other people existed, Maria was utterly shocked.

“Huh!? Wh-who are you!?”

Maria felt incredibly embarrassed, as if her teenage activities had been exposed, and asked who it was.

"I am... the Phoenix... the being that resided in the Phoenix Staff that slept within Tomoe... the being that you awakened...

Poor, pitiful Maria... for your young self... it must have been a very painful and difficult.. ... the suffering and pain..."

Along with the voice, Maria once again confirmed the presence of the Phoenix, emitting a golden glow.

It seemed the Phoenix was aware of Maria's situation.

Yet, it didn't seem to notice that Maria had entered a super-pleasure-induced ecstasy time.

(Phew~, Safe!!!)

Maria's holding her chest, breathed a sigh of relief. (Although, since it's an Inner Universe, there's no chest.)

“But... now that I’m here... it’s all right... I... will help your soul.... to alleviate this suffering and pain.... and shorten the time.... for you to awaken with your new powe—”

“Don't!!”

“Eh…?”

Maria had unintentionally blurted out her true feelings at the Phoenix’s words.

(Oh no, I let it slip!)

She panicked, but it was too late.

“What....? What do you mean 'Don't'?”

“Uh, well… that is....”

Asked by the Phoenix, Maria could only stammer.

“I want to have a my painful-reward time just a little longer,” even Maria couldn’t expose her sexual preferences to a Divine Beast.

However, this was Maria’s Inner Universe.

That emotion, a feeling of doubt and hesitation, was conveyed to the Phoenix.

"I see... You're hesitating... About returning to the real world... aren't you, Maria?"

"Huh? No, that's not it---"

"You don't have to hide it... You are still... so young... It's perfectly natural... to hesitate .... and not want to return to the reality...

The terrifying future that awaits you..."

"Uh, well, that's not it..."

"It's alright... I understand everything... Through the eyes of your other Mother... Mima...

I've seen... all along... how hard you've been trying to become a Saint...

You... you're really... trying your best..."

The Phoenix conveyed words of encouragement and compassion to Maria.

Meanwhile, Maria, upon hearing this, felt a pang of resignation, thinking, 

(No good... it won't listen to me... this damn bird...)

Naturally, her somewhat resigned feelings were clearly conveyed to the Phoenix.

"It seems... you still can't find hope... in the future that awaits... But... you must face it... 

That is... the destiny of the Saint... Don't be afraid... Maria... You yourself... are the hope of the people..."

"N-no, Phoenix-sama? I'm not the Saint—"

"I understand your desire not to become a 'Saint'... to deny your 'destiny'... Humans fear death...

But... courage... and true love... with family... and the bonds with the people you will meet in the future...

You will nurture these things... and surely... you will truly become a 'Saint'... and awaken to even greater 'Power'..."

(Ugh, this bird just won't listen.)

Maria, completely ignoring her own shortcomings, was utterly disgusted by Phoenix's unwillingness to listen.

Unlike Osamu Tezuka's "Phoenix", which toyed with humans on a whim, this one doesn't seem to be a complete scoundrel, but it also doesn't seem to consider human convenience.

Maria mentally categorizes the Phoenix, which refuses to listen to her, as a rather unremarkable higher being.

That cold, detached thought was conveyed to the Phoenix as an enlightened, almost detached emotion.

"Very well... it seems you've made up your mind..."

Though Maria didn't quite understand, seeing the Phoenix's satisfied expression, she thought, "Whatever."

"Yeah."

Maria decided to accept with an open mind.

"In the real world... your other Mother... Mima... is eagerly awaiting your awakening..."

"Mima-nee—... No, Okaa-sama..."

Hearing the Phoenix's words, Maria now, belatedly, began to consider Mima's feelings.

(Come to think of it, I had been kidnapped by her lifelong enemy.

I shouldn't cause her any more worry.)

Maria resolved to return to reality.

While Maria was undeniably a hopeless pervert, her spirit—her constant wish for the happiness of other women—was undeniably that of a gentleman.

Once again, the Phoenix sensed this noble spirit as a pure and innocent emotion.

“Ah... Maria... you truly are... the future Saint... I look forward to the day when you, having grown up... to hold my Staff and fight against Kaima…”

Along with the Phoenix's words, a soft, warm wave of light spread throughout Maria's Inner Universe.

As a result, the overload that had been weighing on Maria's soul rapidly lessened, and moreover, the establishment of all her powers proceeded smoothly and completely.

And then, Maria felt her consciousness rising.

"Thank you, Phoenix-sama."

In truth, she wanted to enjoy the torment a little longer, but she had to be grateful for being saved.

Despite everything, Maria is a woman of strong principles, so she expressed her gratitude properly.

"It's alright... Well then...

Until we meet again... My Saint.... Maria..."

After Phoenix's farewell, expressing its hope for a future reunion,

Maria's consciousness was filled with light.

AN:

Higher beings cannot understand the nuances of the human heart, that's for sure (though it's fortunate that they don't understand this time).

Next time, the final episode (・ω・)