Yula and Roel

In a nameless small town, a chase was unfolding on the streets. The one being chased was a little girl with naturally curly hair. Her face, which should have been delicate, was covered in dust, and her clothes were tattered. She held the hem of her clothes in front of her stomach, forming a makeshift pocket filled with bread and fruit. Her shoeless feet moved swiftly across the ground, leaving the adult behind in the dust.

"Stop right there, you little brat!"

The man, wearing an apron, watched Yula with exasperation as the distance between them grew. Seeing that he couldn't catch her, he stopped. Although she was a mischievous thief, she was still just a ten-year-old child. He hadn't even considered using magic to attack her.

"I'm not stopping! Catch me if you can, you dummy~!"

Yula lived up to her reputation as a "brat," stealing his things and then sticking her tongue out at him, enraging the man until his whole body trembled.

"Yula again?"

People from the surrounding shops poked their heads out. Seeing the small figure disappearing into the distance, they shook their heads helplessly and offered the baker sympathetic glances.

"That little rascal will get struck by divine retribution sooner or later. Spit."

The baker spat on the ground with a look of misfortune, grumbling as he went back. This kind of thing happened every few days. The townspeople were too lazy to organize themselves to deal with one little girl, and thus allowed a little rascal who would cause the whole world a headache to grow up.

"Roel, I'm back! Come eat."

After successfully escaping, Yula circled around and arrived at the back door of the town's church. No one would have guessed that a thief would hide behind the church, a case of "the brightest light casts the darkest shadow."

"Yula, did you steal something again? Please don't do that anymore. I have wages..."

Hearing Yula's call, a black-haired boy slipped out the back door. He looked at the food Yula had laid out on the wooden box and said timidly.

"Don't joke. Your wages aren't even enough for you to eat your fill, how can you feed two people?"

Yula pouted and tugged at Roel's worn-out clothes. Even the church established by the Church in a remote town didn't have enough money to support an extra person. The old priest there drank plain congee all day, so Roel's wages were pitifully low.

"Thank the God of Light for the food... Ah! Yula, why did you hit me?"

The honest Roel made a gesture of prayer, something ordinary clergy members would do. However, Yula's small hand unceremoniously smacked him on the head.

"Go to hell, God of Light! This is what I worked hard to steal. What does it have to do with God?"

"But, but I'm a clergyman."

"What big talk from a temporary worker who just does odd jobs at the church."

"Yula, you're really different from others. You know stealing is wrong, yet you still do it, and you don't show any respect for God."

Roel looked at Yula with confusion. They were both orphans in this town. After inexplicably meeting, Yula had always taken care of him and helped him survive. Without this mischievous little girl, he would have died long ago.

"Because I'm very smart. In this world, surviving on your own requires extraordinary means. Roel, remember this: the God of Light doesn't see orphans like us. We can only rely on ourselves. But you're luckier, you can rely on me."

Yula took a big bite of the bread she had stolen. The fullness in her mouth made her show a happy expression. Then, she flicked Roel's forehead and said.

"Um, Yula, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

Yula's serious words made Roel's face flush. He clumsily changed the subject and asked.

"Me? I'll be an Archmage first."

"Huh!? That's a level no one has ever reached! It's even questionable if it exists."

"Silly, setting the highest goal makes it more fun. Roel, what do you want to do?"

"Me? I'd be happy to be a Priest. That way, I won't go hungry."

"You idiot! You're the future partner of an Archmage. Pull yourself together! Aim to be the Pope first. I'll help you."

"Eh, me, me? The Pope? No, no, no, it's impossible, I can't do it!"

"Don't say you can't. Repeat after me: 'I want to be the Pope!'"

Yula pinched Roel's cheeks, forcing him to be on the same boat as her.

"I, I want to be the Pope."

Roel, unable to resist being pinched, could only submit and weakly shouted. Then, he looked back to see if anyone had heard his wild ambition.

"Spirit! Show some spirit!"

"I WANT TO BE THE POPE!!"

Ten years later, Yula had become a well-known thief. Most of the nobles in the Sacred Empire had been visited by her. Today, she was preparing for a major heist, infiltrating the Sacred Empire's imperial palace alone.

"It seems to be here. Oh, found it!"

Dressed in black, Yula was sprawled over a desk in a very ungraceful pose, searching for something. After some fumbling, she finally found a hidden compartment. Upon retrieving the Space Ring from the compartment, the little thief showed a happy smile, completely unaware that someone had already entered the room.

"Is it the Emperor's style to casually grope a woman's backside?"

The curves of the girl's hips were clearly visible under her tight-fitting attire. As the newcomer reached out to personally verify her touch, Yula agilely dodged his hand and turned back indignantly, asking.

"Hey, your little thief's butt is even perkier than my Empress's. Want to join my harem?"

The green-haired man, having failed to get his way, smacked his lips, saying with lingering desire.

"This is truly... as lecherous as the rumors say, Your Majesty Kaiske XII."

Yula was speechless in the face of such a direct man. Although she knew the identity of the newcomer, she wasn't flustered at all. Under the Emperor's nose, she put away the Space Ring filled with treasures.

"Do you know that with one command, hundreds of mages will surround you?"

Kaiske XII, seeing his private stash completely plundered, didn't get angry. He looked at the trapped prey with amusement.

"I know, but they can't catch me. How about we talk?"

"Talk about what?"

"A young priest just reported to the Church headquarters in the Imperial Capital today. I think he's a good candidate to become Pope. You should get in touch with him."

"You're overthinking it. The Royal family won't interfere with the selection of a new Pope, and besides, anyone elected won't resort to schemes and tricks."

Kaiske XII shook his head and refused. Setting aside the relationship between the Royal family and the Church, such a Church filled with warmth and light couldn't possibly harbor any corruption.

"So I'm just giving you a chance to build a good relationship with the future Pope. If you don't want to, then forget it."

Yula also knew about this matter, but she already believed Roel could become Pope through his own strength. She just wanted to find someone to look after him.

"Then what can you give me? A physical payment won't be enough."

"Ten years. I will become a Saint of Magic within ten years, and then I will join the Sacred Empire."

"You're only around twenty years old this year, where does that confidence come from?"

"Because my name is Yula, and one day everyone on the continent will know my name."

Yula, a magic circle lit up beneath her feet, and she disappeared from the room. Kaiske XII truly didn't expect a mere thief to be able to use the most magical of all magic, spatial magic. After some thought, he was willing to believe Yula's words. As for the poor Roel, he could only stare blankly at His Majesty the Emperor, who had inexplicably taken a liking to him.