MPBGS 26

Chapter : 26

I had thought Daisy would have a story with Jelly and would probably take the role of a supporting heroine, the heroine’s ally, or best friend. But seeing how much Kanna dislikes her, it seems I guessed wrong.

Then there’s only one possible explanation, right? The genre changed into a “villainess reincarnation” story when I possessed Evangeline, who was the villain in the original story. Plus, the original heroine, Kanna, really likes me, so she wouldn’t interfere with my romance route. That’s why a secondary villainess was introduced—to act as a love obstacle, making the romance plot even more intense!

Now it makes perfect sense. I had wondered why a character with a past suddenly appeared out of nowhere. And Daisy is currently a nun, right? Eventually, she’ll become a saint. Saint versus villainess? That’s a perfect clash.

So from now on, Daisy will often appear in front of Gabriel and Jelly to create friction with me.

I want to cheer them on, like “Go ahead and have your love fun together,” but Evangeline is a villainess, right? In romance fantasy, if a villainess doesn’t receive love, she immediately spirals into ruin—it’s only natural—so I can’t help it. Sorry, Gabriel, I’m not trying to fish for attention because I like you.

“Please, have a seat first.”

Gabriel, who was about to be thoroughly toyed with in the future, politely pulled out a chair for me, completely unaware of what awaited him.

“I asked Uriel to guide you, so why did you come along? Where’s Uriel?”

“Uriel is at the infirmary. She isn’t hurt; it’s Michel who’s injured.”

“Michel?”

“Well, it’s a long story….”

Raphaella began explaining the situation to Gabriel: how, while seeing Daisy off, she ran into Uriel and me, then heard people shouting, rushed over, and found a burning painting.

Hearing that, Gabriel swallowed in silence.

“The painting caught fire….”

“Yes. We don’t know the cause yet. We’ll need to ask the people who were there at the time.”

Raphaella shrugged. Cause of the fire? The fire wouldn’t have started on its own; someone there must have started it. But would the culprit confess honestly? Probably not—they’d likely stay silent.

Well, even if they don’t admit it, there were enough witnesses, so the culprit will be exposed eventually.

“Miss Rohanson, don’t you have any guesses?”

I hesitated when he asked. If I said anything, would it seem like I was suspecting someone unnecessarily? But a painting can’t spontaneously combust; someone definitely set it on fire. Honestly, Raphaella and Michel are a bit suspicious too. I arrived late and saw Michel engulfed in flames first.

“I’m not sure.”

So I gave a vague answer and moved on. Gabriel didn’t react much anyway.

Raphaella continued, explaining how Michel, trapped in a room, suddenly appeared in the flames and how I used holy water to extinguish them.

Even I hadn’t heard this part before. Michel just ran into the fire? Is he crazy? Why would he do that? No wonder everyone else was just panicking and watching.

Even hearing about that, Gabriel didn’t even raise an eyebrow. True to the standard of a romance fantasy male lead—warm only to his heroine. If he had been born in the North, he’d be perfect.

“Thank you for saving Michel.”

Gabriel bowed his head. True to the just knightly male lead type, taking care of his subordinates.

Ah, good. I technically saved him out of conscience, but it feels like I gained a favor point with Gabriel. This might make up for at least one of Evangeline’s past misdeeds.

“It’s fortunate that Bishop Jovaniya discovered him.”

“Is that so…?”

“The bishop is on the same side as us.”

“True. At least it will help cover up the incident.”

Classic male lead quality. Gabriel wasn’t even at the scene, yet from what Raphaella told him, he could predict how the situation would unfold.

The old bishop didn’t like the painting by Donau, so he’ll help cover up the fire incident. There may be disagreements, but since the painting is already destroyed, it should be easier.

“The investigations we’ve conducted so far to remove the painting will also be helpful.”

He was signaling that he’s been working for my side, too. Good, perfect timing to manage his favor.

“Is that so? I wonder what efforts you made.”

That should be enough. Still, I can’t suddenly act like I’m impressed with his effort since I’m now possessed by a sunshine heroine. But let’s add a little more.

“Wasn’t the reason you called me here because a witness appeared?”

Right. Daisy just gave her testimony. Of course, she didn’t only report the facts; she probably threw in some gossip about me too.

Wait… should I test it?

“So, what did you hear?”

“Captain!”

As expected, my perceptive subordinate, Raphaella, realized her superior is caught in a love trial and tried to give me a hint. I glared sharply, and Raphaella flinched and shut her mouth.

“I asked him myself.”

I looked at Gabriel again. Beneath his jet-black hair, his blue eyes were unusually clear. It was like a blue star of sea and sky without a trace of land. Seeing me reflected there, I felt like I was the first to leave a footprint, sullying the star.

“What did Daisy tell you?”

Gabriel didn’t avoid my gaze. I stared back at him, savoring the eye contact. Wow, almost hypnotic. True to the romance fantasy male lead, his face is unforgettable. Jelly is handsome too, but as a supporting male, he can’t compete with Gabriel.

“She probably spoke about me.”

“Well, I didn’t hear anything about you.”

Huh? A lie. Daisy spoke, didn’t she? Seeing my doubt, Gabriel handed me a paper.

“This is the statement from the witness who just left.”

It seemed to summarize Daisy’s testimony. The first page was about the convent.

It explained how the abbess had summoned something ominous, identical to the painting at the temple, gaining abilities with it, and committing evil acts using those abilities.

What! My summoning circle has been revealed that far?! And she even successfully summoned! What spirit did she summon? Donau summoned a fire spirit, so the abbess might be similar?

Why am I the only one without a spirit?! So unfair! She summons a spirit and does all sorts of evil. I won’t do that….

No werewolves! I want a small, cute spirit instead! And how did she even learn the summoning method?! Why do I not know?

Wait… this might be connected to the burning painting incident. The abbess tried to monopolize the summoning circle. It’s a fire spirit, so she could attack from a distance! Bad person… she even used my summoning circle. Well, it wasn’t really mine—it belonged to Evangeline’s mother.

“I want to meet this priest.”

If I meet him, I’ll grab him by the collar and shake him down, I swear.

Ah, but that’s not the main point. Almost forgot my actual goal while obsessing over the spirit. I turned the page. Now, my testimony?

Evangeline Rohanson…. When I read that, my vision warped. The text started fragmenting like Uriel, and soon the letters themselves were unreadable. Each character split into dozens of pieces and got jumbled—impossible to read. Really, a translation error at this moment…?

□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□.

□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□.

What is this! Why have I returned to illiteracy at this exact point?!

“I didn’t hear anything.”

Gabriel looked utterly confident.

He must know I’m experiencing a translation error. Is that why he looks so confident? I saw Evangeline’s name… maybe it wasn’t anything important?

No way! Daisy must have told him. Either she greatly minimized my evil deeds in her testimony, or Gabriel is too smitten with a villainess to reason properly.

“You may take it.”

Seems like the latter. I flinched slightly at Gabriel’s words. I was wondering how I could read it once the translator works again. He didn’t read my mind, did he? True male lead behavior…

I tore the paper and handed it to Kanna. Kanna glared at the paper like she wanted to rip it but reluctantly tucked it away. Why glare…? Could she be illiterate too?

I thought the heroine could naturally read. But this world is a bit of a ruined romance fantasy. They must’ve added an illiteracy setting just to manipulate the heroine. Guess I can’t rely solely on a translator anymore. I should go home and learn letters properly…

“Are you satisfied with this?”

Yes, of course. I’d have been uneasy if they’d just left it. Glad they gave it to me. I can read it later when the translator works.

“Enough. The reason I called you here was to show this. Didn’t I tell you I wanted to help you?”

So he never intended to hide it. I should be managing the favor, but instead, I’m the one being carefully managed. He sure knows how to speak smoothly. Just then, there was a knock.

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

“Captain, Bishop Jovaniya sent someone to deliver a message.”

“He says he has safely delivered Miss Rohanson’s holy water to her guard, and he wishes to see you briefly.”

“Is that so? Very well, let him in.”

“Yes.”

Looks like Jelly finished his errand. He must’ve checked the number of my holy water bottles. I’ll count them later.

Shall we go back now?