‘That’s why rumors spread that the High Temple deliberately broke the mineral because of what was inside.’

The event concluded there, leaving the true identity of the contents forever unknown.

But that doesn’t matter.

“Hehehe…”

To me, it’s just money. A lot of money!

Lynen, who had been eyeing me with distaste, also noticed the form within the mineral.

“It resembles a clump of feathers. Like dandelion seeds. Though I’m uncertain what it is, it must hold significant research value because of that.”

“Right? Let’s cut this mineral cleanly right now…”

That’s when it happened.

“Lady Calliphe! Your Grace!”

Noah’s voice echoed from above.

Looking up, we spotted Noah, Allen, and Imelen peering down at us through a distant hole above.

For some reason, a shirtless Allen called out to us.

“Lady Calliphe! Are you hurt anywhere? Are you alright?”

“Yes.”

“Thank goodness…”

Allen’s smile shone with the purity of morning dew, showing his relief.

He belatedly noticed Lynen beside me.

“Ah, I’m glad you seem to be safe too…”

“…”

Lynen frowned.

“Will you climb up holding this?”

A rope made of cloth descended before us. Though short, it appeared sturdy enough for Lynen to use.

That’s when the sudden action occurred.

Hop!

Imelen suddenly leaped down to where I stood.

“I-Imelen?!”

Imelen’s expression showed pure shock, her rabbit-like long ears standing straight up.

She padded over to none other than the black spirit stone.

“Grrrr…”

Imelen gazed up at the black spirit stone with sadness.

Startled by this, Allen and Noah hurriedly descended too.

And I… felt an overwhelming sense of unease that this treasure would slip through my fingers.

‘Imelen, no. Don’t make that face. Please don’t make that face with a story behind it!’

My money!

Fighting to suppress my inner materialist’s cries, I approached Imelen and asked.

“Imelen…? What’s wrong? Do you know what this is?”

“Grrrn.”

Nod nod.

Imelen wrote letters on Allen’s palm instead of the stone floor.

Everyone huddled together, watching intently as Imelen completed her writing.

Following her writing finger anxiously, I thought.

‘Please don’t let it be what I think it is. It can’t be!’

Finally, when Imelen finished, both Allen and I stood speechless, eyes wide.

One with joy, the other with resignation.

Allen recited the letters Imelen had written.

“…Light Spirit.”

Everyone was taken aback by those words.

“What’s trapped in there is the Light Spirit?”

“Then as expected…”

Noah, wide-eyed, and the still composed Lynen spoke.

And I had to struggle not to cry while squeezing my eyes shut.

‘D*mn… my money…’

To think this event’s true treasure was the Light Spirit.

‘So that’s why in <Marino> there were rumors about the High Temple breaking the expensive mineral they bought.’

The realization stung.

But well, perhaps it wasn’t so terrible. Though devastating for my finances, it was the best possible news for the saint siblings.

Pushing aside my regret, I asked.

“How did the spirit end up trapped in there?”

“Grrrn.”

Imelen frowned momentarily, appearing uncertain. Rather than sharing her speculation, she told us what she remembered.

“I came to this village with the Spirit.”

“We were together until I turned into a monster and my memories became fuzzy.”

“Then the Light Spirit came here after Imelen turned into a monster.”

Why did it come here, and how did it end up in this state?

Allen’s expression darkened, seemingly puzzled.

The answer came from an unexpected source.

“The unpleasant power left by the Special Magic Unit.”

It was Lynen.

With a cold expression, he continued speaking with clinical detachment.

“The Light Spirit must have discovered that the black magic that turned the saint into a monster was hidden in this village. So it left the saint’s side to resolve the black magic, and found this place.”

“H-how do you know that, Your Grace?”

To Allen’s question, Lynen replied coolly.

“It’s my conjecture, but for now it’s likely closest to the truth.”

Come to think of it, Lynen had also attempted to locate the Light Spirit using familiars.

He’s somewhat like a skilled police dog.

“If that’s true.”

Trying to steady his surprised heart, Allen added to the theory.

“This must be where the black magic was hidden. The Light Spirit used its power to stop the black magic’s influence and ended up in this state.”

“Grrrn, grrrn?”

Imelen wrote on the palm again.

“Was the black magic so powerful that even the Spirit’s power couldn’t handle it?”

“It’s more challenging to eliminate magic that’s already activated than before it activates. Besides, for the Light Spirit to use its power properly, it needs saints like us…”

But the saint had transformed into a monster, and the other saint was far away.

The more they traced the Light Spirit’s actions, the more Allen’s face lost color.

“…The reason you were less aggressive than other monsters was probably because the Light Spirit hurried to stop the black magic.”

Indeed. Imelen could comprehend situations and even understand my words.

The reason my ability, the villainess’s parenting method, worked was likely because Imelen wasn’t fully transformed into a monster.

Allen looked up at the white spirit stones embedded in the walls and ceiling.

“Those white spirit stones seem to be crystals formed when the Light Spirit released its power.”

“…That explains why there were suddenly so many white spirit stones buried in a place like this. There are more over there.”

At my words, Allen managed a weak smile.

He must be struggling emotionally, having resented the Light Spirit for abandoning him and his sister.

Processing those emotions is his responsibility.

Instead, I should focus on what I can do.

“Once the Light Spirit returns too, the High Temple won’t need to be wary of anyone anymore.”

It means one of Young Marquis Caiman’s strongest advantages will vanish.

I smiled slightly while tapping the black spirit stone with my knuckles.

“Let’s get it out.”

* * *

I recalled part of my memories from playing <My Little Noah>.

[Mini Event Occurring…]

[High Cardinal]

—We successfully won the bid for the black spirit stone. But since what’s inside is what’s important, we must break the mineral…

—Among the methods to break the mineral is one that tests our faith. Saint, what do you think we should do?

Options appeared that I, as both ‘saint’ and guardian, could choose from.

▷ It is a priest’s mission to keep faith even in difficult times. Let’s try while maintaining proper methods.

▷ Is faith that important? Don’t be picky about means and methods.

Click. Back then, wanting to raise Noah as Pope, my choice was this.

▶ It is a priest’s mission to keep faith even in difficult times. Let’s try while maintaining proper methods.

[High Cardinal]

―As expected of the Saint. We will try moderately as you said.

[Despite massive investment, failed to break the ‘black spirit stone’. As rumors spread that the High Temple was trying to do something suspicious, doubt grows in Noah’s heart…]

[‘Noah’s stress +50]

[‘Noah’s faith -100]

“Aaagh! No, XX!!”

I grabbed the monitor and shouted.

“What the, why are rumors spreading? I said to maintain proper methods! I said not to do anything dangerous! If it was going to be like this, should have just pushed through!”

Ding dong! Achievement unlocked!

[Achieved the achievement ‘What’s So Important?’]

“This X game!”

It was a nerve-wracking memory of losing the Pope ending due to a mini event that triggered right at the threshold of the ending…

* * *

‘Still makes my blood boil thinking about it.’

Anyway, what’s important isn’t the fact that I failed to get the Pope ending.

What’s important is that choosing the other option succeeds in breaking the mineral.

‘In other words, to break the black spirit stone, the High Temple needs to use methods they can’t discuss openly.’

Unfortunately, since it was a mini event with many details omitted, I don’t know the specific method.

‘But there’s a way to find out everything.’

The saint himself is right here.