Chapter 57

Intermission A Day in the Life of the Holy Mother Francoise was a priestess employed by the Holy Mother Vermeita. She was currently taking care of the children in the orphanage in Vermeita’s place. The Holy Mother seemed so busy lately. Francoise was finding she had a problem. “Did you see Mimolette’s new release? It’s the best!” “I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest when I saw the new character! Oooh, when the cocky butler with dark skin and a sadistic side made a move on the main character with black hair…!” “When I was reading it, I totally thought that cold butler would be a top, but he was actually a bottom! Mimolette is a genius!” The three oldest girls in the orphanage were gathered in a corner of the dining hall, chatting excitably about something, but— “You look like you’re having fun. What are you talking about?” asked Francoise. “……” When Francoise walked up, the girls didn’t even make a peep with plastered smiles on their faces. She could have heard a pin drop in the room. “We were thinking about tonight’s menu, Lady Francoise,” offered one. “There’s still some of that squash that we received from a member of the church. We were brainstorming what we could make with something like that,” continued another. “Y-yeah.” It was clear they were skirting around the real topic, but Francoise had a soft and somewhat shy side, so she didn’t press them further and left. “What exactly are those girls hiding…?” That was Francoise’s problem. Vermeita had raised the children of the orphanage with her love. Those three girls were very good children who often helped look after the younger ones. Recently, though, they’d been gathering and hosting discussions in secret. They wouldn’t let her know what they were discussing. “I wonder if they’re being naughty…” Even though they were in the Holy City, which served as the center of the church, there were still plenty of shady areas like the red-light district. She couldn’t help feeling worried that they might have wandered into one of those places, deceived by some ill-intentioned man. “It did sound like they were talking about boys… I really should go speak with Lady Vermeita about it.” It would mean exposing her own inability to handle the children. But their futures were on the line. Fortunately, the Holy Mother had finished up her responsibilities, wrapping up a formal agreement for the cease-fire with the demons. She had returned to the orphanage. This was the only chance Francoise had to ask for the Holy Mother’s guidance. Francoise went to visit her room. “…I see. They’re having secret conversations, huh?” said Vermeita after Francoise had explained the situation to her. But she didn’t seem concerned, patting Francoise gently on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. I think you may just be a little too concerned. The girls aren’t participating in anything against the Goddess’s teachings.” “But…,” protested Francoise. “They’re at an age when they have secrets, keeping even their mother or sisters in the dark. Weren’t you the same when you were their age?” “Y-yes, that is true!” exclaimed Francoise as the Holy Mother gave her a smile befitting the name. Francoise realized she must be right. That’s when Vermeita suddenly seemed to remember something. “By the way, I had something I was hoping you could help me with. Is that all right?” “Of course. What can I do for you?” replied Francoise. “If you wouldn’t mind, read this and let me know what you think.” Vermeita pulled a large folder from her desk. “What’s this?” asked Francoise when she opened it, glancing at a few dozen sheets of paper covered in drawings and words. “It’s a manga. A good friend of mine made it. It’s a new type of picture book.” “A manga?” murmured Francoise, flipping through a few of the pages. She saw simplified pictures and writing that seemed to predominantly be the characters’ lines. The story was easy to digest. “This is amazing. More people would read the Goddess’s holy book if we made it into a manga!” “…Yes, that is true.” There had been a beat that passed before Vermeita answered. But Francoise was too engrossed in the comic to notice. “Oh, it’s about boys deepening their friendship by playing ball. Awww, they look so happy… Um, what?!” Her smile instantly disappeared as she flushed red. “What’s wrong?” “Wh-what’s wrong?! There are two boys kissing!” Francoise cried, holding out the page to Vermeita who didn’t seem to understand. It was a drawing of a stoic boy catching the lips of his energetic rival. But Vermeita didn’t seem ruffled at all, even when confronted by the image. “Hmm? Doesn’t it say that kissing is just a common greeting between friends and family in his country?” “Well, yes, but romance between the same gender is…,” Francoise started disapprovingly, but Vermeita’s eyes widened in surprise. “What? Isn’t this a story about two boys reconciling their friendship through a game of ball?” “Uh…,” hesitated Francoise. “I was sure that was the point of the story…,” murmured Vermeita. “Yes, of course. I misunderstood!” Unable to stand Vermeita’s innocent gaze, Francoise desperately tried to backpedal on her previous claim. She’s right! Why would I think this is a romance between two boys…? Francoise reflected on the situation. She realized she’d been looking at the manga through her own dirty assumptions. For some reason, she couldn’t stop her heart racing in her chest. “Well? What is your impression of the manga?” asked Vermeita. “Um, well…” “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t rush you. If you’d like, you can take it for the night and read it again. Let me know what you think tomorrow.” “Yes, that sounds good!” replied Francoise enthusiastically with a nod, an involuntary smile on her face. Vermeita didn’t forget to warn her newest convert. “By the way, there is only one of this manga in the entire world. It’s very precious. Please keep it hidden from the children, so they don’t accidentally tear the pages or something.” “Yes, I will protect it with my life,” replied Francoise, hugging the comic to her chest as she left the room, swearing to keep it a secret. It would be social suicide to let this out. Once Francoise’s footsteps had faded in the distance, Vermeita’s mouth stretched into an evil smile. Everything was going to plan. It could have been the smile of a particular Dirty Advisor or the Saint. “I’m glad I asked Mimolette to make a version without anything explicit.” Even if they didn’t have a natural inclination to seek out this content, she could use it to drag them deeper into her little swamp. “Hee-hee-hee. First, I will create more converts, and then I will start mass-producing manga to spread them to the corners of this world.” A master at spreading propaganda, Vermeita smiled her rotten smile, knowing one day, she would have created the homeland of manga. This would later be known as the momentous time. The orphanage would become known as the manga artist factory—or, as the Demon King’s advisor liked to call it, the Dirty Tokiwa-sou, referencing a hub for prominent manga artists in Japan.