Chapter 48 – Just Before Turning Fifteen: Marie’s Future Path
Chapter 48 – Just Before Turning Fifteen: Marie's Future Path
“You’ll be turning fifteen soon, won’t you? You planning to stay on as a White Priest and get a job as an archival mage?”
Archival mage…
But yeah, if I just keep drifting along, that’s probably where I’d end up.
Having passed the age I lived to in my previous life, I’m finally becoming an adult.
I’ve just been having fun this whole time without giving it a second thought.
“What should I do?”
In the living room of Grandfather’s house, with all my guardians gathered together, I racked my brains over my very first career decision.
“What do you want to be?”
We all sat around the table as Gain fixed me with a straight gaze and smiled gently.
Say whatever’s on your mind, he seemed to say.
Researching herbs and recovery potions—that’s not changing, not for the rest of my life.
But I want to become an adventurer, too. I want to get even a little closer to Gain and the others, the people I respect so much.
I’ve never even been in a fight before. Is that too naive of me? Would I just end up being a burden…?
No, this is a consultation. I should hold nothing back, lay it all out, and hear what they have to say.
“…It might be a naive idea, but I want to become an adventurer. And someday in the future… a love marriage…”
Whack.
My master bonked me on the head with a wry chuckle.
No, I’m not joking!
“Let’s set aside the love marriage bit for now. You really want to become an adventurer?”
Gain leaned forward, his face lighting up with delight.
“Yes. I want to become an adventurer and grow into a respectable person like all of you. My immediate goal is to build up enough strength to officially join ‘Black Dragon’. And in the future, once I retire upon marriage, I’ll switch careers—manage the archives, tend the herb garden, research recovery potions, and spend my twilight years that way. That’s my dream.”
Everyone blinked in stunned silence before shouting things like “Retire upon marriage?” “Switch careers?” “Twilight years?” and slumping over in exhaustion.
Maybe I crammed a few too many dreams into that.
Mufu fu. I got a little greedy there.
“Hahaha! Never thought I’d hear the little lady say she wants to aim as high as us.”
My master shook my shoulders happily.
Ehehe. Kinda embarrassing.
“Don’t worry. You’re still one of our party members.”
“That’s wonderful. Count me in as your supporter.”
“We’re comrades from here on out. Guess that means I’m finally done playing dad.”
Far from objecting, everyone looked thrilled and cheered me on.
Ufufu. I get to stick with everyone again!
Even without registering as an adventurer, I’ve stayed a member ever since.
Not that it meant much—experience points don’t come in when we’re apart.
And there’s one more thing.
Something I’ve been mulling over for a long time now.
Showing the Pope my real status and coming clean with him.
Balancing adventurer work with healing duties.
I’m sure I could convince him now that I can handle both.
But that also risks him seeing me as a demon bearing multiple blessings and having me captured.
It’s such a huge risk that I’ve avoided it all this time.
I want to use this chance to tell them everything and get Gain and the others’ input.
As I hesitated a few times, my master nodded.
Say whatever’s on your mind, he urged.
“Actually…”
I told them how much the church and the Pope had done for me over these nearly ten years.
I didn’t want to keep deceiving a man of his character.
I laid out the Pope’s true nature for everyone, holding nothing back.
“I’ve built up ‘quite the track record and trust’ in the church by now, so I think the risk is low. Please, I’d love to hear your opinions.”
Everyone fell silent, lost in their own thoughts.
Grandfather crossed his arms, frowning deeply as he grumbled to himself.
I waited tensely, my heart pounding, for what they would say.
After a long, long silence, Fernet was the surprising first to speak.
“I think it’s good timing. Your saintess duties don’t start till adulthood anyway. If the Pope gives his tacit approval, you should be treated like any other saintess.”
“We can always tell the church it was a secret training period for your saintess education.”
Heart chimed in next.
“Gain’s drilled the saintess education into you, little lady, so there shouldn’t be any issues…”
My master grumbled, but agreed.
“Honestly, I’m scared. We did prepare you for that possibility and trained you so you’d never be helpless. But the thought of Marie—our daughter we’ve raised—ending up on some unwanted path terrifies me.”
Gain hung his head.
“The church’s power is just too great,”
he muttered. My master clapped him on the shoulder, and he gave an awkward laugh.
Then everyone turned to Grandfather.
The man who’d been watching events unfold until now finally spoke, his words heavy.
“All I can do… is trust the people Marie trusts. If you become an adventurer with that weight still on your heart, you’ll only end up regretting it.”
Gain’s eyes were red as he looked at me and nodded.
“I’ll trust the people Marie trusts, too. It’s all in your hands now.”
“Thank you so much for raising me all this way.”
Overwhelmed with emotion, tears spilled over, and old habits took hold as I bowed deeply.
Everyone pulled me into a group hug. I was so incredibly happy, yet I ended up bawling like a little kid.
From here on out, it’s all up to me.
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thanks for the chapter