However, after having accepted the Saintess’s help so complacently, Valo no longer had any room to choose.
At this point, she couldn’t exactly turn around and reject Saintess Anqi’s proposal for the selection.
She couldn’t very well say she had social anxiety, wanted to demote herself, and ask for two different people to review her behavior, could she?
That wasn’t just a request for a change of personnel; it was a slap in the face to the Saintess!
The Sister Superior would surely launch a brutal investigation into her.
Thus, one night later.
The Hidden Sea Church’s Qualification Review for her, as a holder of a Holy Relic, officially began.
Valo was actually quite familiar with the Qualification Review from Finney’s starting route in the game — it usually involved specific NPCs placing certain stat or skill requirements on the protagonist or the daughter, Finney, while issuing time-limited main story quests and providing accompaniment.
As long as one could successfully complete it, they could indisputably prove their ownership of the Holy Relic, rather than being suspected as the thief Valo Lan, who was ranked in the top twenty on the most-wanted list.
But could it really be easy and smooth this time?
Early in the morning, it wasn’t yet time for the Clock Tower staff to report for duty.
Valo, who was brushing her teeth while scratching her hip, didn’t see Kaika. Had she already gone to the Clock Tower to start grinding?
Instead, she was greeted by a familiar face.
“Good morning, Mrs. Valo.”
It was Saintess Anqi.
Today, the Saintess had swapped her previous white-gold habit — which was distinct from any other Hidden Sea Church nun’s attire — for a lighter, white long-sleeved dress more suitable for going out.
With her veil removed, the pale gold hair at the back of her head appeared even more dazzling.
Add to that the pair of pure white wings tucked between her hair and the backless portion of her dress…
All of it made the Skywing girl named Anqi look perfectly worthy of the title “Church Saintess” from top to bottom.
And, of course… from the inside out as well.
“It seems you aren’t ready to go to the Clock Tower yet? Um… if you don’t mind, may I wait inside your dormitory?”
Holding a brown handbag, the Saintess awkwardly smoothed the long hair over her shoulder. A shy blush made her fair face look even more endearing.
“After all, if I move around outside… it might attract a bit of attention.”
Valo poked her head out to take a look. The gazes staring from every direction clearly told one fact: it wasn’t just “a bit.”
“Ah, if you’re concerned about your privacy, I can wait for you out here. It’s no problem!”
“Fine, fine. Just come in quickly.”
Valo hurried to grab the girl’s slender arm and pulled her into the dorm — if the Clock Tower’s news department made a headline like [Hero’s Mother Arrogant, Dares to Leave Church Saintess Outside!?]…
She would be on the trending searches tomorrow.
Shortly after, in Valo’s bedroom.
After entering and seeing Valo looking like she had just woken up, Anqi excitedly suggested helping her get dressed, saying it would be convenient for the first day of the review activities.
Valo could only agree and sat before the mirror.
She then watched the girl open her handbag and fiddle with the cosmetic products inside.
“Mrs. Valo, considering your special situation, I’ve already requested a few days of leave for you from the Great Sage. It’s fine if you don’t stay in the Infirmary these few days~”
After meticulously combing Valo’s long hair, the girl took a deep breath and picked up the Holy Relic, Ascara, which was sitting on the table.
The silver-winged hair ornament seemed to have its usual position marked from the very beginning.
The girl quickly braided Valo’s long hair, using the wing-shaped ornament as a clip at the back of her head.
“It’s a perfect match for your image as an angelic mother, Mrs. Valo. Holy Relics are precious items; I hope you can preserve it well this way.”
The girl looked at the white-haired girl in the mirror, wearing a captivated expression.
“By the way, Mrs. Valo, your shoulders are a bit stiff. Would you like me to massage them for you?”
Between the lines, she called this a “review,” but the Saintess clearly had an attitude of total approval.
Wait!
‘Valo, oh Valo, how can you be so lax!’
‘How can you be so sure this Anqi is a “Mary Sue” and not a “black-hearted” mastermind? She’s pretending to be kind and gentle to you, but maybe she’s already setting a trap in the shadows!?’
‘I can’t go on like this!’
…
“Hehe, that feels great~”
Valo’s expression had already softened. With her conscience feeling a bit guilty, she felt a little embarrassed.
The thought that ‘one must always be on guard against others’ was quickly dismissed. ‘It’s impossible. I must have read too many yuri novels with yandere characters.’
After all, in Valorant, Saintess Anqi, as one of the optional daughters, was simply pure and holy.
In the game, if one wanted their daughter Anqi to become the Saintess of the Hidden Sea Church, the player had to cultivate a beautiful and kind personality for her.
When Valo first met Anqi, the girl already held the status of Saintess and was a member of the Hero Party.
Therefore, any suspicion regarding Anqi’s character was slander. Anyone who opposed Anqi deserved to have their head smashed!
Anqi wasn’t a difficult daughter to raise either.
There was no “ill-fated lovers” type of conflict between her and the protagonist’s identity as the Villainous Demon King, unlike with Finney and Kaika.
The only danger lay within Anqi herself.
Please refer to the “plot-summary.zip.”
Her rare Skywing heritage and her status as the Saintess meant the girl was often not her own master.
Sometimes she couldn’t even make her own decisions, as she was controlled by “miracles” and became the vessel for the Goddess.
The old fogeys of the Church and the Empire were inflexible; only the Villainous Demon King mother, who existed outside the order, could break the shackles and rescue her daughter!
‘If anything harms my daughter, I’ll kill even a god for you!’
That was the blood-pumping, classic shonen-style plot of Anqi’s route!
And then… while Valo was still entranced by the game plot and the Saintess’s shoulder massage, she clearly saw Finney appear in the mirror.
Valo’s smile instantly vanished. It seemed Finney also knew about her obtaining a Holy Relic.
The Villainous Demon King had obtained a Holy Relic; what would Finney, the Hero, think?
So… what was meant to come would eventually arrive.
The Hero girl hadn’t gone to the Clock Tower for morning practice as she usually did.
Instead, she had armor over her uniform, wore a cloak, and carried a sword.
She had both of her Holy Relics equipped as she walked into Valo’s bedroom in a fully armed state.
Her face was cold and her gaze serious, as if she had returned to the Hero persona from when Valo first met her in the Demon King’s Castle.
There was certainly no mention of greeting her “mother” good morning.
Entering without bowing, speaking without using titles, and bringing weapons into the hall! This was a rebellion!
It was only at the moment their eyes met through the mirror that the girl’s composure cracked slightly, and she looked away!
She hesitated with her steps, seemingly wanting to leave, her clenched fists speaking of the turmoil in her heart.
Valo, of course, knew the reason behind her Hero daughter’s abnormality today — after all, the only one present who didn’t know her identity as the Villainous Demon King was Saintess Anqi.
The oblivious Saintess hadn’t even sensed the weird atmosphere between the mother and daughter yet.
She actually shot a reproachful look at Finney.
It was as if she were saying: ‘It’s one thing for the Great Sage to be a bit awkward as a mother, but Mother Valo is so gentle and considerate. How can you not even act like a sensible, good daughter in front of her?’
“Sigh, Finney. Although we agreed to conduct a Qualification Review for your mother’s use of the Holy Relic, what is with this outfit? It’s far too formal and serious.”
“Is it? I don’t think so,” the Hero girl said in a low, restrained voice.
“The review is naturally serious and formal. In order to prevent the user from potentially going berserk, we must be prepared in a fully armed state to intervene and stop them at any time.”
“Ugh, Finney… what nonsense are you talking about? Don’t you understand why I chose to do the review with you? She is your mother!”
Anqi stood with her hands on her hips, her tone full of indignation on Valo’s behalf and blame toward Finney.
“How could your mother use a Holy Relic for evil? How can you be so wary and guarded against your own mother!?”
Sitting in the chair, Valo didn’t dare move.
‘Stop talking, stop talking! Saintess, can you please stop calling me “mother” every other sentence in front of Finney?’
‘Don’t make it so I can’t stay alive!’
Glancing at Finney’s [Justice Value], which was as high as 95% on the [Nurturing Panel], cold sweat began to bead on Valo’s forehead.