Chapter 4

Coco Spices, the current saint of the Götland Sect, usually lives in the Margrave Women's Convent attached to the cathedral.

She received the designation as the saint through a divine revelation, but Coco is still just a young girl of fourteen. Even as the agent of the goddess, she is still in the midst of her training as a nun.

Therefore, outside of official duties, she shares meals and sleep with other nuns of similar age in the convent, striving day and night to follow the path shown by God.

Or so it is supposed to be.

When Coco walks through the cathedral with her attendant, Sister Natalia, most of the time, staff and believers who spot her gather to greet her.

"Here comes the saint!"

"Saint, good afternoon!"

The saint rarely shows her face in the cathedral unless it's for a ceremony. Therefore, for the people, even the chance to encounter her by chance is a stroke of luck.

"Yes, good afternoon. How are you?"

Coco greets them with a warm smile, without putting on airs, and sometimes grants blessings when requested.

When they enter the area where the upper echelons' offices are located, the foot traffic naturally decreases.

"The cathedral, which is always full of people, is always bustling."

Sister Natalia, confirming that there is no one around, finally returned her plastered smile to a natural expression.

"I don't want to be mobbed. Make them line up when I greet them."

Coco, who was also a bit tired of the forced smile, placed her hand on her face and massaged her facial muscles.

Even in the area where only the upper echelons are present, she usually maintains a composed attitude. However, today, many believers wanted to talk to her, which made her quite tired.

"I'm told to come to the cathedral as little as possible to avoid revealing my true nature... but if that makes me more rare and draws more people, isn't that counterproductive?"

"I think so too."

While talking about this, Coco and the others arrived at the Pope's office just as the previous visitor was leaving. The moment they saw an unfamiliar person, Coco and Natalia instantly put their masks back on. Their facial acting skills had reached the level of professionals.

"To be able to see the Holy Father and the saint's face...!"

"Oh, no, it's too much praise."

Coco, with a mask of a smile, dealt with the representative of the believers, who was talking endlessly about the joy of meeting the saint, and finally sent them off. The moment the Pope's secretary closed the door and the sound of footsteps outside faded away, Coco leaned back on the sofa and put her feet on the coffee table. She pointed at the Pope with a casual gesture.

"Old man, tea!"

"Get it yourself!"

"Are you not going to serve tea to a guest you called?"

"You are supposed to be family...!"

The dignified old man with a white beard, sitting at the desk and holding his head, sighed.

"Why, after eight years of education, can this girl not learn proper manners...?"

The old man who was troubled by Coco's attitude is named Chaos VII.

He is the Supreme Leader of the Götland Sect, the Pope, and also the Archbishop of the Götland Cathedral, the highest-ranking priest of the sect. He also serves as the royal advisor to the Kingdom of Vigne, giving him significant secular authority. He is probably the most important monk in the world.

...But to Coco, he is just a cheap employer who exploits children for low wages. He doesn't deserve any respect.

"Hey, old man, don't underestimate me. If it's manners, I have them. I just don't use them in the wrong situations."

"Wrong situations, you brat!"

Despite being scolded by the highest authority of the sect, the saint is rummaging through the tea set on the sideboard as if nothing happened.

"So, what do you want, old man?"

While peering into the shelves, the saint asked casually, and the Pope sighed again.

Who is the most important person in the Götland Sect?

This is a difficult question to answer.

The Pope, who oversees the sect and preaches as God's spokesman.

The Saint, who receives divine revelations and manifests the goddess's miracles as God's agent.

Which is the highest authority in the sect, the Pope or the Saint?

This has been a subject of debate among the priests since the sect took its current form nearly five hundred years ago.

In terms of internal affairs, the Pope is simply more powerful.

A naive girl with no social experience cannot argue with a seasoned old man who has climbed to the top of the church, overcoming political struggles.

Especially in these peaceful times, when the Saint's main job is to be the sect's advertising figurehead, it is only natural that the Pope, who runs the sect, is seen as superior.

But such logic doesn't apply to Coco.

Historically, saints were often chosen from the children of the upper class before they reached their teens, so the basic knowledge that "the Pope is an important person" was instilled in them. However, Coco, who became a saint at the age of six from the streets, lacks such common sense. It's a case where the difference in status leads to a lack of respect.

Still holding his forehead, the Pope waved his hand at the young priest beside him. The secretary, Wallace, bowed and read out the schedule.

"Next week on the third, we have received a formal visit request from the royal family. Please keep the day free, Saint."

"Got it, understood."

Coco nodded and turned to her caretaker.

"Hey, Nuts, on the third, we're going to visit somewhere. Anywhere far away!"

"Hold it. This is an order, not a request! How can the Saint not welcome the prince?"

The Pope, with veins popping, shouted, and Coco, making a thoroughly unpleasant face, spat out.

"You sound so grand, but it's just that, right? The perverted prince is just using an inspection as an excuse to meet me."

"You understand, then it should be an honor."

The Prince of Vigne, Cecil, is a big fan of Saint Coco. So much so that...

"There's no honor in it. I only feel creeped out by him."

"Prince Cecil is more a fan of Lady Coco than of the Saint."

"Nuts, don't say such creepy things! That's not a funny joke."

"It's not a joke. The prince has always said he wants to marry Lady Coco."

"That's why it's not funny!"

Indeed, the prince is a big fan of Coco herself.

When there was a dispute over recognizing a wild child from the slums as a saint, the nobles of Vigne, the sect's largest supporter, were also informed of the girl's background.

Naturally, the royal family received information about the new saint, Coco, first, yet for some reason, Prince Cecil took a liking to her.

Currently sixteen years old, Prince Cecil should already have a fiancée, but he has yet to decide on one. In the capital, it is whispered that "the prince, who is infatuated with the saint, is keeping the position of princess open, waiting for the saint's term to end."

When her twelve-year term as a saint ends, Coco will be eighteen, and the prince will be twenty. Despite her humble origins, if she completes her term as a saint, a marriage between Coco and the prince would be an ideal royal wedding...

"Are you kidding me?"

...except for the saint's own will.

The Pope frowned.

"This is the best match you could get. Vigne is one of the largest countries on the continent. Prince Cecil is not just a prince but the crown prince. What's your complaint?"

"I don't want to marry the prince!"

Coco was firm.

"After being cheaply exploited by the old man's 'monkey show' for my entire youth, and just when I thought I could finally be free, I have to marry into the royal family!? My free and fun second life... this is a joke!"

The Pope thought for a moment about Coco's argument.

"Ah, that. In your words, it's like..."

"What?"

"It's like you've already found a good job after retirement, with a lifetime contract and great benefits. There's no reason not to do it."

"Are you kidding me, old man!?"

Coco's angry shouts echoed through the large room as she yelled at the Pope, who was trying to play it off.