A body that has undergone mana fusion can alter its attributes in various ways.
Since the body essentially becomes mana itself, it can modify its attributes every time to maximize the effects of elemental magic learned.
Light is no exception.
Something interesting came to mind.
Since it has come to this, there’s no turning back.
If I’m going to play the role of an arrogant villain, I might as well go all the way and blow up the theology department.
Besides, if I don’t demonstrate some sort of divine power here, I might lose the ‘arrogant genius’ title I’ve built up so far.
“Hmm.”
Who would’ve thought that all the practice I’d done to avoid being treated as just a magician would end up being used to build up the reputation of an arrogant villainess.
First, I altered the attributes of the mana circuits inside my body to pure light.
Then, I carefully walked up to the crystal orb and infused it with light mana.
Boooom
A massive burst of light struck the crystal orb and overflowed.
I didn’t expect to lose control of the power like this.
If this is what happens when I hold back, it’s at a level comparable to Noah’s body.
In an instant, light erupted from the crystal orb as if it was about to explode.
“Is this enough?”
I asked with the smug, arrogant smile befitting a villainess, but this woman’s eyes were sparkling for some reason. Is she okay?
“Ooooh.”
This woman’s eyes have been bulging out since earlier.
“Hey, professor.”
“Oh. Yes. At this level… you… will surely become an outstanding saintess!”
Why is this person suddenly changing her attitude?
“An outstanding saintess? What are you talking about?”
“Huh?”
“Ooooh, how amazing! Both daughters of the Ashtar family are this exceptional! The goddess’s blessing is upon you!”
She suddenly looks up at the ceiling and starts putting on a show.
Has she already forgotten that she fell for my provocation?
Does she have an orc’s head? Even an orc can remember something for more than three minutes.
“No, isn’t there something more important right now?”
“Oh, Lady Olivia. You will become the empire’s great saintess.”
Huh? What did I just hear?
“Excuse me?”
There can’t be a saintess in the empire.
The kingdom holds the exclusive right to choose both the Hero and the Saintess.
Even though the empire is the most powerful nation on the continent, the kingdom’s history and legitimacy are older and more established, so that right remained with the kingdom.
That’s why, even during the empire’s conquest wars, the kingdom was left untouched.
“I’ll contact you later about this matter. Well then, class dismissed!”
The professor finished her speech on her own terms and abruptly ended the class before disappearing.
“No, hey. Damn it, seriously.”
I managed to blow up the theology class, but the real problem came afterward.
Rumors quickly spread.
Olivia Rapha Ashtar had denied the church in front of the theology professor and unleashed such powerful mana that even the professor had to flee.
My initial goal was achieved.
However, I was now registered as a candidate for the empire’s saintess.
“Ah, damn it.”
“Congratulations!”
Even Plene wasn’t any help at all.
She’s really no help.
Why does she stick around me?
“No, it’s not something to celebrate.”
That bothersome title is nothing to be proud of.
“We didn’t know anything! You truly are the hero of us commoner students, Lady Olivia!”
“No, what the hell is this?”
Apparently, the commoners had been squeezed dry by the church.
After hearing the rumors, a bunch of them came to ask for applause.
Swearing started pouring out of my mouth in a hundred different ways.
This is hopeless.
There’s no other way.
“Is my sister, who has had everything until now, trying to take away what’s mine again?”
The pink-haired girl starts spouting nonsense like a tragic heroine.
She stole the position of the first Olivia, and now she wants to enjoy both the title of the saintess and the crown prince’s fiancée?
The saintess’s position may seem like a carefree role when you look at someone like Syria, but it’s actually a pretty tough position that requires training and responsibility.
It’s not something the pink-haired girl can handle.
“Get a grip. Do you think you can have both the saintess’s and the crown prince’s fiancée’s positions?”
“Why not?!”
“You think the crown prince would just sit by and let that happen?”
Unbelievable.
“So, you are aiming for the crown prince, after all!”
“I’d rather have a sincere debate with a goblin about continental peace than have a conversation with you.”
Hmm, that would be a more constructive activity.
“Are there really goblins that intelligent?”
“I bet they’re smarter than you.”
There’s no way a goblin would be that smart, right?
“I’m going to tell the crown prince everything!”
“Go ahead, tell him.”
Bring the crown prince or whoever you want.
It’s not going to be easy this time.
The crown prince is probably getting grilled pretty hard right about now.
The noble students were counting on him.
It wasn’t just the ones who had to repeat a year.
Even the third-years and first-year nobles who had previously been in contact with the royal family might start to distrust him.
A crown prince who doesn’t protect the nobles from the villainess.
Who’s going to support and side with such a prince?
The student council? It’s fine if they’re third-rate first-years; I can just topple them like the others who’ve already dropped out.
“Sob. Just wait and see! I’ll definitely become a saintess!”
The pink-haired girl left in a huff after spouting more nonsense.
The saintess position isn’t even important.
But why does she keep trying to steal everything from her sister?
Maybe I should be more suspicious of her?
There’s no suspicious statement about Lily in the diary, but…
No, maybe I just overlooked it.
Why would anyone like a girl who doesn’t seem that smart?
If they do, they might seriously need urgent help.
“I should look for that diary, for starters.”
I might be missing something.
Since the theology professor arbitrarily ended the class, there’s no reason to stay at the academy any longer.
That pink-haired girl is making me uneasy for some reason.
Who knows? She could be involved with demons.
***
“Where did it go?”
Back in the dormitory, I was searching for the notes the previous Olivia had written.
I had thrown them aside, but at least I had kept them in a visible spot.
But where could they be?
Could it be that the unwelcome guest in my room has them?
As expected, while I was searching, the intruder approached me.
“Are you looking for this?”
Of course, it’s her.
“Oh, yes. That.”
I took the diary naturally.
But who is this woman?
Ah, she’s the maid who looked at me with cold disdain the first time.
I didn’t remember it clearly at the time, but now her face seems familiar.
“You seem to have a talent for writing.”
“Hmm. Do I?”
Is she mocking me?
“I am just a maid. And you are the eldest daughter of the Ashtar family.”
“Are you telling me to speak informally? Alright.”
Even though I started speaking informally, the maid’s expression didn’t change at all, though she seemed slightly taken aback.
“Pardon me, but why were you writing such things, Lady Olivia?”
“Writing?”
“I happened to find it while cleaning, and… it seems like an intense love letter to his Highness, the Crown Prince.”
“Oh, that’s not mine.”
Really, it’s not. It was the first Olivia’s foolish nonsense, not mine.
“But anyone would recognize that handwriting.”
“Didn’t you say I have a talent for writing? Are you mocking the eldest daughter of the Ashtar family?”
This maid is seriously asking for trouble.
“Of course not. As the eldest daughter of the Ashtar family, I was only curious, as a servant of the family.”
“Afraid it would tarnish the family’s reputation?”
She remained silent, her face expressionless.
It’s probably true, though.
“You’re not wrong, but it’s the mistress—”
“The mistress? You mean my mother?”
Right, the mistress of the house was said to be the former leader of an assassin’s guild.
According to information from some thugs, that’s true.
In fact, the identity of the assassin’s guild wasn’t revealed until she married my father.
“Yes. She is very worried. Especially about the wrist-cutting incident from before.”
Ah, that was the first Olivia being a complete idiot.
Thanks to that, I ended up in this body as the new Olivia.
“That was just a necessary measure.”
“Excuse me?”
“Just as I have a talent for writing, I also have a knack for acting. And that wasn’t written by me; it was written by the previous me.”
I’m not wrong, am I?
“The previous you, huh… So that’s how it is.”
“How about writing a novel based on this diary? A story where a thoughtless lady, obsessed with her own affection, loses her fiancé to her illegitimate sister.”
It might actually be a hit.
I could distance myself by using a different name, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Should I really give it a try?
Plene is around anyway.
I could have Plene do the clerical work and write it for me.
Besides, selling enchanted items is more than enough to get by.
“Are you sure you’re alright?”
“About what?”
“You seemed to genuinely care about him.”
‘Is this maid someone who knew the first Olivia?’
‘Was she a close attendant to her?’
“Seriously? Me? For someone like him? If I still had feelings, would I have cut off the nobles?”
“I see.”
“By the way, who are you?”
Let’s hear the name of this brazen maid.
“I am Claire, the maid directly serving the mistress. We have met once before, haven’t we?”
“Your cold demeanor left such an impression that I don’t recall.”
“From now on, I will be serving you.”
“No, that’s unnecessary.”
Aren’t you part of the assassin’s guild? I don’t feel comfortable around you.
The assassin’s guild people always give me the creeps.
Especially Noah, who had once been tangled with the Empire’s assassin’s guild.
Even though that situation was just a misunderstanding caused by some lower-ranking members, it still left a bad impression.
“It’s fine. If anything comes up, I’ll handle everything.”
“What do you mean?”
“Clothes, food, bathing, and such.”
That’s not going to work.
“No, really, I’m fine. Besides, what do you mean by all this? Did my mother tell you to watch me?”
“Hmm. Something like that.”
“Well, at least you’re honest.”
“The nobles might be displeased with the recent events, and they may target you, Lady Olivia. So I’m here to protect you.”
Target me? That would actually be convenient.
I can crush them with overwhelming force.
“Let them come.”
“Excuse me?”
“I can crush them in return.”
When I smiled coldly, the maid sighed.
A sigh? How impudent.
“Still, I am under orders from the mistress.”
“Do as you please.”
It’s annoying, but since it’s a direct order from my mother, I can’t do much about it.
“By the way, I happened to hear something.”
“And what would that be?”
“You supposedly denied the church in your theology class and unleashed a massive light into the crystal orb.”
To find that out so quickly… she’s quite capable.
As expected from the top assassin’s guild in the empire, their information network is extensive.
Unlike mine, which is limited to local thugs.
“It was just a little prank.”
“I see. But if you were to become a saintess…”
“Saintess? Do you think just anyone can become a saintess?”
Even I’m not that ignorant of the subject.
“Claire, even if you are my mother’s close confidant, if you are to serve me, shouldn’t my orders take precedence when she isn’t around?”
“And what would your orders be?”
“Investigate Lily in detail.”
That pink-haired girl definitely needs to be looked into.
Honestly, I’ve got a bad feeling about her.
With her one-dimensional figure, her lack of knowledge, and her childish personality, there’s no sign of any potential for growth.
Why would anyone like her?