Chapter 23: Madozono Tomoe's Perspective: ~My Way of Life~

No matter how serious the atmosphere might seem (for some reason, I can't type it correctly), this work is a lighthearted, carefree villainess story~☆

Thanks! (＞ω・)b

Chapter 23: Madozono Tomoe's Perspective: ~My Way of Life~

(If that's what my mother says, then there's nothing I can do.

....

....Nothing I can do?

Really nothing?)

.....

("Please, I want this girl to be happy. I don't care what happens to me.")

Tomoe remembered Maria's wish.

That pure wish, made out of concern for Tomoe.

(Onee-sama risked her life to save me, didn't she?

And yet, am I going to give up and say "there's nothing I can do"?

That's wrong.

That can't be allowed.

I won't allow that.

I don't want to allow it!!)

"....Onee-sama..... Onee-sama....!"

Tomoe's vision blurred with tears, and she cried out desperately, her voice choked with sobs.

"Onee-sama risked her life to save me... giving me magic power... to use magic...!"

"Tomoe...."

Surprised by Tomoe's words, Mima waited patiently for her to continue.

"...So, this time, I... I....! I want to save Onee-sama! I want to be able to save Onee-sama! I want to be able to save her!"

"...!!"

Tomoe's determined words caused Mima's vision to blur this time.

Mima saw in her young child the image of herself in the past, the way she cared for her sister.

"So... if you care for Maria that much then... I must tell you. About the 'Destiny' that Maria carries..."

"Destiny... Onee-sama... carries...?"

"Yes. Listen carefully, Tomoe..."

And so, Mima began to speak.

That Maria was likely a 'Saint.'

And that the 'Saint' was destined to fight against the powerful Kaima, which threatened to destroy humanity, and to defeat that 'Kaima' at the cost of her own life.

After hearing the story, Tomoe trembled all over, overwhelmed by the shock.

"That kind of thing.... towards Onee-sama...."

"Maria herself knows about that 'destiny'... and even knowing that, she's determined to protect me, you, and all other girls we haven't even met yet.

That's what Maria has decided in her heart..."

As her mother spoke, her head bowed, Tomoe was once again deeply shocked, even feeling dizzy.

(Knowing such a "Destiny," how could Onee-sama still live with that gentle smile?

How could she make such efforts and dedicate herself to someone other than herself?)

Now, more than ever, Tomoe realized that her cousin, her Onee-sama, was on an unimaginable level, an incredibly immense presence.

"Tomoe... I'll ask you again. Will you live by Maria's side, or will you leave Maria and live your own life...?

Be prepared, and choose."

Mima looked into Tomoe's eyes again, urging her to make a choice.

"Even if you choose a different path in life than Maria, I, as your mother, will never blame you."

Once again, Mima, with a voice of parental affection unimaginable six months ago, gives Tomoe a choice.

"I... I... I will live on with Onee-sama..."

Tomoe, trembling, spoke with firm resolve.

"I... I don't care if I'm not happy, as long as I can live with Onee-sama. I don't need happiness!

I... I'll become strong, so I won't get in Onee-sama's way! I'll become strong enough to protect her!

I'll become a strong Exorcist!"

"Do you really understand what you're saying? To attain the strength you speak of, you'll have to continue working incredibly hard, to the point of death...

Even if you cry and scream 'stop'...and even if you collapse, I'll force you to stand up, and continue to make you suffer—is that still okay with you?"

A final confirmation, filled with a mother's tenderness.

Tomoe nodded without hesitation.

"Yes, Okaa-sama! I will do anything for Onee-sama...!"

"Tomoe!"

Mima's heart ached at Tomoe's reply, tears welled up, and she hugged her daughter tightly.

"Well said, Tomoe! That's right, be strong! Be strong, and together, you and I will change Maria's destiny!

Together, we will save Maria's life! Do you understand, Tomoe!"

"...! Yes! Okaa-sama...!"

Mother and daughter, their feelings united, embraced each other tightly.

That scene was filled with familial love, something unimaginable six months ago.

The missing parts of their hearts were being filled in for each other.

Now, the bond between mother and daughter has been reaffirmed with a single resolve.

While Mima and Tomoe are making this firm resolution, what is Maria doing?

★★★

(How many more sleeps until the DAY OF HUMILATION♪

Scattering the VIRGINITY and tormenting ANAL♪

It's frustrating, but I can't help but feel it♪

Come quickly, come quickly♪ GRANDPA with ROD♪")

While a terrible parody of the song echoed in her head, she was humming the "New Year's Song"

"You seem to be in a good mood, Maria-ojou-sama. It's unusual for you to be humming."

Kanaho chuckled and pointed this out to Maria.

Maria's cheeks turned red.

"Oh no. Was I humming? How embarrassing. Don't tell Mima-nee-sama, okay? She'll scold me for being so unseemly."

"Yes, I'll keep it a secret."

Kanaho chuckled and nodded.

Inwardly, she was beaming with delight, having seen a childlike side of Maria for the first time.

"But still, isn't singing 'New Year's Song' a little too early?"

It was still late September.

It wasn't the time for "How many more sleeps until..." just yet.

"Well...it's a bit early, but since coming to this mansion, every day has been so enjoyable that I couldn't help but think, I wish next year would come soon so I could be a primary school student.

I'm sure there will be even more fun things waiting for me."

Maria said, a shy smile on her face.

"Is that so...?"

Maria's words caused Kanaho's expression to darken instantly.

Maria enjoys studying, taking lessons, and being immersed in training to become an Exorcist.

Kanaho felt respect for Maria for being able to say that, but at the same time, she couldn't suppress her feelings of pity and sadness.

Even though Maria is a Saint, her life was far too ascetic.

The time spent on education and training to become a young lady worthy of the dignity of the Madozono family occupied almost the entire day.

She had almost no free time.

Yet, not a single complaint or selfish word ever came from Maria's lips.

On the contrary, there were even hints that she desired further training.

Looking at Maria with a sense of awe, Kanaho reflected on her own childhood.

She, too, had been raised strictly by her mother, Sougi, and relatives, but she had not lived each day with the same determination as Maria, as if solely focused on refining herself.

Witnessing young Maria's pure and upright way of life, worthy of being called a "Saint," Kanaho felt ashamed when comparing herself to her past self, who had been corrupted by her circumstances.

"I'm sure you'll have new encounters when you start elementary school. You'll make lots of wonderful school friends."

Kanaho spoke these words with the hope that at least during her elementary school years, Maria would be able to spend her days laughing like a young child, just like she does now.

"....Yes, I'll have wonderful encounters. Absolutely."

(After all, one of the final bosses is coming, ha ha ha ha!)

Knowing that the one who would violate her was about to arrive, Maria was secretly
excited.

Kanaho, of course, could not possibly imagine that Maria was so excited and eagerly awaiting the violation by a vile, despicable villain.

Maria, the young girl, outwardly presents herself as a beautiful young girl, smiling with hopeful expectations for the future.

She's utterly hopeless.

The very idea that Maria lives a "pure and upright life" was a huge misconception.

The intense physical and mental stress caused by her rigorous upbringing as a young lady and her demanding training as an Exorcist was, for a masochist, nothing less than a perfect feast.

("Oh, this is good, this is just right, this is perfect!")

She enjoys her daily training with the same casualness as if she were just "grabbing a quick lunch."

Unbeknownst to Maria, Tomoe had transformed into a demon of determination, entering the a speedrun mode of the path to becoming the strongest.

Maria's plan had gone exactly as intended.

She wanted Tomoe to become the strongest Exorcist in case she was ruined, so things were progressing exactly as she had hoped.

However, naturally, Maria herself was unaware of this situation.

She had no idea that her actions had once again accelerated the future of the Madozono mother and daughter in an undesirable direction.

She was lost in thought, anticipating the arrival of the disgusting Grandpa.

(Grandpa! Please come to give me my DISH soon!)

The cheerful and happy Maria was even shouting such things in her mind.

She was truly an extremely carefree, eccentric, and masochistic girl.

AN:

Yeaay!! I've been saving this up carefully just for Maria's parody song~☆

(Don't you have any feelings for other people?)