As it turned out, Kaika didn’t show anything strange over the next few days.
After officially becoming a member of the [Arcane Society], which specialized in magic and mysteries, she spent every day focused on her studies—aside from inevitably finding an excuse to visit the infirmary.
Even when Valo asked around with other Arcane Society students who occasionally visited the infirmary, all she heard were unanimous praises and envy for Kaika.
Could it be that, just like in the game’s setting, Kaika was slowly changing her gloomy, crawling personality through “learning”?
Perhaps, as a Siafoke expert, she was just overthinking things?
Soon, the next rest day for the Clock Tower arrived.
With the permission of Sister Kenes, the Sister Superior of the Hidden Sea Church, the Great Sage opened access for all Clock Tower students to visit the second floor—the small chapel of the Hidden Sea Church.
The nuns of the Church would even act as temporary tour guides.
Valo wasn’t surprised by the Great Sage’s move. Similar “Special Events” existed in Valorant.
As long as the main perspective and the daughters could find time to participate, they could often explore areas usually off-limits and obtain special rewards.
Naturally, she wouldn’t refuse.
It was currently morning.
Bright sunlight poured in through the open windows, illuminating the usually dim chapel.
The students trickling in injected a splash of colorful vitality into the solemn atmosphere.
No one wanted to miss this opportunity. Under the guidance of the nuns, they were all diligently taking notes.
They claimed they were just here to hang out, but in reality, each one was more competitive than the last.
‘How shameless.’
Valo complained inwardly as Finney and Kaika each pulled on one of her arms.
In front of outsiders, Kaika remained as elegant and proper as ever, while Finney excitedly accompanied Valo on the tour.
“Huh? Mother, why do I feel like I’ve seen this collection in the display case somewhere before?”
‘Because it’s the sword this Demon King used for peacocking, and your Subjugation Team stole it. You seemed pretty proud of it back then, didn’t you, Female Hero?’
Valo hadn’t originally intended much for this special event.
She only planned to use the chance to raise favorability with her two daughters.
She also wanted to look for Emma, the apprentice nun.
That little pink-haired dog had said she would find information on Holy Relics for her, but she hadn’t been seen for days.
Could she be hiding from her?
As she thought this, her gaze swept across the room and suddenly froze!
“Mother, what’s wrong?”
Seeing her sudden daze, Finney asked in confusion, “Mother?”
“Uh, I… I’m a bit tired from walking. I’ll go rest on that bench for a bit. You and Kaika continue the tour.”
After feigning a rub of her thigh, Valo hurried away from her two daughters and went to a corner where no one was paying attention.
Her movements seemed calm, but in reality, she was incredibly nervous.
Because…
A Holy Relic!?
She had actually seen an unclaimed Holy Relic displayed out in the open in this small chapel!?
Had some temporary worker mistaken a Holy Relic for an ordinary antique? The Hidden Sea Church was such a shambles!
Valo certainly wouldn’t miss a chance to scavenge a Holy Relic. She immediately activated her [Nurturing Panel].
Following that, her gaze fell upon a seemingly ordinary wing-shaped hairclip among the display cases intended for the students.
In Valorant, the main perspective character was indeed pathetically weak—even worse than some high-level mooks.
Encountering danger and screaming “Daughter, save me!” was a common occurrence.
However, the legitimate bloodline of a hereditary Demon King allowed the main perspective to control the vast majority of [Holy Relics].
As long as they could give a little smile and gain the Holy Relic’s trust, they could directly use relics that originally belonged to others.
‘Time to steal it!’
That said, to use it, one still had to “conquer” the Holy Relic.
Soon, a [Nurturing Panel] appeared in Valo’s vision—not for a daughter, but for the Holy Relic.
[Purity Protection of Askara]
[Favorability: 0]
The Holy Relic’s inscription and favorability…
Aside from that, all other information on the panel was locked.
That was right. In the game, the main perspective had to raise a Holy Relic’s favorability through various means and opportunities, just like nurturing a daughter, to unlock more of its secrets or even use it.
In short: win its heart to unlock more positions.
Since the [Nurturing Panel] part was the same as in the game, the method for conquering the Holy Relic should be the same as well.
Sure enough, a visual novel-style chat box appeared in her field of vision.
[Askara has discovered your presence.]
However, this Holy Relic… seemed a bit unfriendly.
[Askara has discovered your identity as the Demon King!]
[Askara is anxious to notify the Church to arrest you! But… nothing happened.]
Under normal circumstances, a Holy Relic obviously couldn’t speak, so Valo remained relatively calm.
‘What a racket. You don’t even have a microphone, so what are you acting tough for? You’re just a thing that can use Splash.’
Valo covered her mouth, forcing herself to swallow her sarcastic thoughts. She was here to conquer the thing, after all.
So, she changed her approach and transmitted her thoughts to the Holy Relic.
‘I didn’t have a choice before, but now I just want to be a good person.’
However, it was still useless. Was it because this Holy Relic’s own stance leaned toward justice?
It seemed to have deep prejudices against a villainous person like her.
[Askara is desperately sounding the alarm: Hmph, ahhh!]
Valo suddenly regretted provoking this plague god.
In her excitement just now, she had rashly caught the Holy Relic’s attention, causing her to expose her villainous Demon King bloodline and identity to it!
Although the Holy Relic couldn’t talk, if it found a user in the future, that user would learn her identity from Askara the moment they obtained it!
She had dug an unknown time bomb for herself!
She should just forget about the conquest and either snatch the thing by force or smash it once for eighty gold…
But crises came one after another. Just as Valo was secretly getting anxious, Kaika unexpectedly approached her and sat down right next to her!
This “filial” daughter had likely sensed something abnormal in her behavior.
She pretended to be concerned, but her opening words were a bombshell!
“Mother, what are you looking at? Is there some exhibit over there that catches your interest? Sister called you several times just now, but you didn’t respond.”
“Sss…”
Valo’s heart instantly leaped into her throat!
As her legitimate daughter, the Kaika of this timeline was well aware of her villainous Demon King mother’s bloodline!
And right now, Kaika’s [Imprisonment Revenge Ending] could be triggered at any moment!
If Kaika found out she was sneakily collecting and conquering Holy Relics, the girl would definitely understand instantly: Mother is trying to escape her revenge!
To stabilize Kaika, forget about cutting ties as a mother; she even had to work hard to be a model mother who cared for her daughter to dispel Kaika’s suspicions!
Taking a deep breath, Valo’s expression was one of gentle doting by the time she looked at the girl beside her.
“I was just dazing off. Rather, you aren’t used to crowded environments like this, are you, Kaika? I forced you to come today because of Finney’s suggestion.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll compensate you later. For example… uh, feel free to make a request that isn’t too overboard?”
This was the most direct way Valo could think of to please her daughter. Kaika seemed to like this kind of thing?
However, Kaika’s next reaction still made her increasingly uneasy!
Normally, when faced with such pandering, her “filial” daughter would either put on a front and refuse stubbornly or give her a sarcastic remark.
‘Mother, did you take the wrong medicine today?’
Then she would save it on the tab for later use.
But the response she got now was the girl’s sensible and sweet smile.
“It’s fine. Being with you doesn’t annoy me, Mother.”
“You don’t need to worry about me too much—it’ll make Sister jealous.”
Valo frowned slightly. For a moment, she didn’t even have time to notice that the conquest progress for the Holy Relic named [Purity Protection of Askara] had actually advanced a bit on her nurturing panel while she was dealing with Kaika.
[Askara is very concerned about your mother-daughter relationship with Kaika!]
[Favorability: 5%]
Heaven only knew why this Holy Relic’s attitude toward her had improved a little.
At this moment, Valo’s mind was entirely on the daughter in front of her.
Something was strange… it definitely wasn’t her imagination!
Lately, Kaika had been acting too well-behaved, too much like a “good girl.”
It was almost… as if she were hiding some secret concern or scheme.