After walking into Anqi’s trap of her own accord, Valo soon witnessed the “reach of the Saintess.”
She knew Anqi was in a hurry, but she didn’t realize just how much.
Valo had only just returned to the dormitory, packing her clothes while briefly explaining the situation of becoming a Saintess Candidate to her two daughters…
The Sister Superior arrived to pick her up as if afraid she might run away.
According to the Sister Superior, until Valo became a qualified Saintess Candidate, she could still work as the health teacher at the Clock Tower during the day.
However, every night, she had to stay with Anqi to receive education and guidance from the Saintess herself.
Valo was very satisfied with this. This was indeed the path toward the [Virtuous Corruption Ending] in the game, focusing on the deliciousness of the protagonist slowly falling into ruin.
As for whether this so-called ‘Education of Valo Rante the Saintess Candidate (114 Pages)’ was proper or not?
She didn’t care!
Either way, she wouldn’t lose out!
The only two problems left were how to appease her two “precious daughters.”
Unsurprisingly, after she had moved out to live with Anqi for only two nights, Kaika was already growing restless, slinking around in the shadows.
……
At dusk, the crimson sunset spilled a fading warmth into the clean, tidy infirmary.
Valo, who should have been able to clock out and treat herself to a matcha parfait at the cafeteria to celebrate, was currently forced to provide psychological counseling for her final “patient” of the day.
Name: Kaika.
Relationship: Mother and daughter.
Cause of illness: Unknown… psych!
As if Valo didn’t know what was going on inside the head of her gloomy “good girl.”
Kaika simply felt that her mother had been getting too close to Anqi lately because of the Saintess Candidate matter, and things were slipping out of her control.
Look at her, the excuses she made were becoming more and more plausible.
“Mom, that bird-woman clearly knows your identity, yet she still invited you to become a Saintess Candidate…”
At this moment, the elf girl lying on Valo’s lap didn’t even have the heart to enjoy the wonderful sensation of a “loli mom lap pillow.”
Her dark purple eyes stared straight up into Valo’s, as if mocking her for being a naive girl who could be easily deceived by a bad woman.
“Do you really think she’s being sincere?”
Valo smiled inwardly, having long since seen through her daughter’s scheme.
‘Hmph. Don’t look at how Kaika acts like she’s looking out for me. In reality, she’s just frustrated that she can’t manipulate and control her mother anymore.’
She chose to feign ignorance.
“Of course. I don’t think Anqi has any ill intentions.”
While gently stroking the black hair of Kaika on her lap, Valo glanced at the [Nurturing Panel] in her vision. The girl’s [Blackening Value] remained at 80%.
It was a bit high, but still under control.
“Anqi could expose our identities at any time, but she chose to become my daughter and keep the secret instead.”
“Doesn’t that prove Anqi’s goodwill? Meow!?”
Before she could finish her sentence, Valo clearly saw the girl in front of her darken. The hand wrapped around Valo’s waist suddenly gave her a sharp pinch!
Then, without even explaining this “rebellious act,” Kaika said sarcastically, “Mom, why do I feel like you’ve been completely bewitched by that bird-person?”
Valo didn’t argue.
Kaika’s judgment wasn’t exactly wrong.
In the [Virtuous Corruption Ending], regardless of whether Anqi’s intentions toward the protagonist were good or bad, there was always a layer of conspiracy aimed at “stripping the protagonist of her status as the Demon King.”
But could she beat Valo?
As the saying goes, to take, one must first give. Anqi might be on the second floor, but Valo was definitely on the top floor.
‘My dear daughter, do you still think your mother is that incompetent Demon King who can only lose her temper and abuse you?’
That would be far too naive.
Valo wouldn’t tell Kaika the truth, though.
She was currently looking for an opportunity to perform.
To completely enter the [Virtuous Corruption Ending], based on her experience, she had to find a chance to fully sever her “mother” identity with Finney and Kaika.
Being indecisive would only lead to them becoming “star-crossed lovers” later.
The day she officially became a Saintess Candidate was obviously a good time.
However, to avoid a sudden severance causing an emotional breakdown for Kaika and Finney, she had to plan ahead and take things step by step.
Thus, glancing at Kaika, who was currently radiating a gloomy and resentful aura, Valo quickly came up with an idea.
“Don’t worry, Kaika. I am the Villainous Demon King Valo Rante II, after all.”
Gently patting the girl’s chest, Valo put on an “I know what I’m doing” expression.
“I’m agreeing to Anqi’s terms mostly so you can stay in the Clock Tower and study in peace—that was one of the conditions I gave her.”
“If I notice something is wrong later, I’ll definitely run away. I’m not a little girl who can be lured away with just a few sweet words.”
Don’t ask; if you ask, it’s because she knew what she was doing.
As for the day she actually became a Saintess Candidate and severed her maternal ties with Kaika…
Don’t ask then, either. If you ask, the answer will be “Mom can’t go back anymore…”
By then, even if Kaika felt unwilling, she would have no choice but to let it go.
After all, her dark-crawling Demon Seed daughter already hated her to the core.
Between dragging her mother down with her to total destruction or staying in the Havoc Empire to become a genius girl, Valo believed Kaika would make the right choice.
She had stabilized Kaika and maintained her persona in front of the [Eye of the Goddess].
At this moment, Valo felt like she was the new Light Yagami.
Suddenly, Kaika stopped lying on her lap. She stood up, knitting her brows, and looked down at Valo as if she wanted to lecture her some more…
“Mom, you…”
But just as the elf girl was about to speak, the figure of a Hidden Sea Church member gave a symbolic knock on the door and walked straight in.
Unsurprisingly, it was the Sister Superior.
Lately, whenever it was time for rest or work to end, the Sister Superior would appear before her shortly after.
She must have received orders from Anqi to watch over her as much as possible.
It seemed like house arrest, but in reality, it was exactly what Valo wanted.
Now, even if Kaika and Finney wanted to cling to her, they wouldn’t have the chance.
“Lady Varo, is your chat with your daughter over? I’m here to take you back…”
The Sister Superior hadn’t finished her sentence before she was interrupted by Kaika’s cold voice.
“Not yet.”
Kaika’s icy gaze met hers, but the Sister Superior remained as calm as ever.
Valo, caught in the middle, could hardly breathe. ‘Such intense pressure!’
Fortunately, the infirmary was not a place for fighting.
“Student Kaika, your mother is undergoing the most important activity of her life. I hope you can understand and support her.”
“That’s right, that’s right! Kaika, just focus on your studies. It’s not like I’m never coming back. If there’s anything else, come talk to me tomorrow.”
Valo followed the Sister Superior’s lead to smooth things over, then happily left with her.
There was no mistake; she was genuinely happy.
Therefore, as she walked away without looking back, she naturally didn’t notice the strange reaction of her “filial” daughter behind her.
……
Only after Kaika was left alone in the infirmary did the girl slowly walk to the bed and sit where her mother had just been.
She felt the last traces of her mother’s warmth, which was about to vanish.
‘Her useless mother is the Villainous Demon King… choosing her to be a Saintess Candidate, heehee… it’s far too obvious what that bird-woman Saintess wants to do.’
In the past, the girl would have held onto such thoughts, hiding in the shadows and happily watching her mother fail, waiting for her mother to show a delicious, pitiful expression and beg her for help.
But this time… her instincts were screaming at her. Something was wrong with her mother.
She had been so wary of Anqi at first.
Anqi had even wanted to judge her mother before, and yet her mother had already forgiven her.
She didn’t even reject the identity of a Saintess Candidate anymore…
At this moment, the girl had a very bad feeling. Her mother… might disappear.
It was so irritating, so painful…
So annoying!
Dark purple fel energy began to saturate the area around the elf girl.
Her Holy Relic, the [Flower of Fel Energy], seemed to sense her cold mood as it slowly emerged in her palm.
It transmitted a vague will to her.
“Ah… that’s right. Mom must have been tricked.”
“Truly useless.”
The girl spoke as if answering it, or perhaps talking to herself.
After all, her useless mother couldn’t even handle being a hands-off boss and had lost the Demon King’s Castle.
How could she possibly be a match for the wits of the Hidden Sea Church Saintess?
As long as that bird-woman promised a few benefits and acted a little kind, her stupid and weak mother would happily take the bait…
Just like she did just now.
“Useless, useless, useless… Useless!”
“If I had known, I shouldn’t have helped you get any Holy Relics. If I had known, I should have locked you up… locked you up!”
“Ha… ha…”
The elf girl growled.
But deep down, she knew there was only one way to solve this chaotic, extreme emotion.
She had to make her mother see the truth, and then mock her ruthlessly!
And one more thing.
“Female Hero… it’s all your fault, introducing your shady friends to my mother.”
So… it should be quite reasonable to make you take responsibility, right?