In an unnamed little town, a chase was underway in the streets. The one being chased was a little girl with naturally curly hair. Her once-delicate face was smeared with dirt, and her clothes were tattered. She held up the hem of her dress before her stomach to make a crude pouch, stuffed full of bread and fruit. Her bare feet flew over the ground, leaving the adult behind her far in the dust.
"Stop right there, you little brat!"
The apron-clad man watched in fury as Yura pulled farther and farther away. Seeing that he could not catch her, he simply stopped. Though she was a nasty little thief, she was still only ten years old, and he had never considered attacking her with magic.
"I'm not stopping! Catch me if you can, idiot~!"
Yura fully lived up to the title of little brat. After stealing someone's things, she even turned around to make a face at him, making the man tremble with rage.
"Yura again?"
People poked their heads out from the surrounding shops. Seeing the tiny figure vanish into the distance, they could only shake their heads helplessly and offer the baker sympathetic looks.
"That little bastard will get what's coming to her someday. Pah."
The baker spat on the ground with a sour expression, cursing as he went back inside. Things like this happened every few days. The townspeople could not be bothered to band together against a little girl, and so they let the little menace who would one day give the entire world headaches grow up unchecked.
"Roll, I'm back! Come eat."
After making a successful escape, Yura circled around to the back entrance of the town church. No one would have expected a thief to hide behind a church—the darkest place was right beneath the lamp.
"Yura, did you steal again? Don't keep doing things like this. I get paid..."
At Yura's call, a black-haired boy opened the back door and slipped outside. Looking timidly at the food Yura had spread over a wooden crate, he spoke in a soft voice.
"Don't joke around. Your pay isn't even enough to get yourself a full meal. How are you supposed to support two people?"
Yura curled her lips and tugged at Roll's worn-out clothes. Even a church established by the Holy Empire in a remote town had no spare money to support another person. The old priest lived on plain rice porridge every day, so Roll's wages were pitifully small.
"Thank the God of Light for this food... Ah! Yura, why did you hit me?"
Honest Roll made a prayer gesture, something most clergy members did. But Yura's little palm mercilessly smacked the back of his head.
"To hell with your God of Light. I worked hard to steal this. What the hell does it have to do with a god?"
"B-But I'm clergy."
"You're just a temp who does odd jobs at a church. What are you acting so high and mighty for?"
"Yura, you really are different from everyone else. You know stealing is wrong, yet you still do it. And you don't show any respect for the gods either."
Roll looked at Yura in confusion. The two of them were both orphans from this little town. After they had somehow met, Yura had always looked after him and helped him survive. Without this strange, clever little girl, he would have died long ago.
"Because I'm smart. If you want to survive in this world on your own, you have to use extraordinary means. Remember this, Roll: the God of Light can't see orphans like us. We can only rely on ourselves. But you're lucky—you can rely on me."
Yura picked up a loaf of bread she had stolen and took a huge bite. The sensation of her cheeks puffing up with food made her smile happily. Then she flicked Roll on the forehead.
"Um, Yura... what do you want to do when you grow up?"
Yura's serious words made Roll's face flush red. He awkwardly changed the subject.
"Me? I'll become a Mage God first."
"Huh!? No one has ever reached that level. It's still unclear whether it even exists."
"Idiot, it's only fun when you set your goal at the very top. What do you want to do, Roll?"
"Me? I'd be happy just becoming a priest. Then I wouldn't have to go hungry."
"You idiot. You're going to be the partner of the future Mage God. Pull yourself together. Become the Pope first—I'll help you."
"Huh? M-Me? The Pope? No, no, no, that's impossible. I can't do that!"
"Don't say you can't. Say it with me: 'I'm going to become the Pope!'"
Yura pinched Roll's cheeks, forcing him onto the same boat as her.
"I-I'm going to become the Pope."
Roll had no choice but to surrender under her grip. He shouted weakly, then looked back to see whether anyone had heard his outrageous declaration.
"Spirit! Put some spirit into it!"
"I'm going to become the Pope!!"
Ten years later, Yura had become a somewhat renowned thief. She had paid visits to most of the nobles in the Holy Empire, and today she was planning a big job: infiltrating the Holy Empire's imperial palace alone.
"It should be around here... Oh, found it!"
Dressed in black, Yura lay sprawled over a desk in a thoroughly unladylike pose as she searched for something. After feeling around for a while, she finally found a hidden compartment. When she took out the spatial ring inside, the little thief smiled happily, completely unaware that someone else had entered the room.
"Is casually touching a woman's butt the conduct expected of an emperor?"
The tight outfit clearly outlined the curves of the young woman's backside. When the newcomer tried to personally verify how it felt, Yura nimbly dodged the reaching hand and turned back to ask in annoyance.
"Hah, little thief, your ass is even perkier than my empress's. Want to join my harem?"
The green-haired man clicked his tongue after failing to get his hands on her, sounding reluctant to give up.
"This really is... as lecherous as the rumors say, Your Majesty Keske XII."
Even Yura was speechless before such a blunt man. Though she knew who he was, she showed no panic at all, putting away the spatial ring filled with treasures right before the emperor's eyes.
"Do you know that with a single command from me, hundreds of mages will surround you?"
Keske XII was not angry even after seeing all his private savings taken away. He looked at this turtle in a jar with an amused expression.
"I know. But they can't catch me. How about we make a deal?"
"What kind of deal?"
"A young priest happened to report to the imperial capital's church headquarters today. I think he has the makings of a Pope. You could get to know him."
"You're overthinking it. The royal family will not interfere in the selection of a new Pope. Besides, anyone who can be chosen would not resort to schemes and tricks."
Keske XII shook his head in refusal. Setting aside the relationship between the royal family and the church, a church so filled with warmth and light could not possibly harbor anything filthy.
"I'm just giving you a chance to build a good relationship with the future Pope. If you don't want it, forget it."
Yura knew that as well. But she had always believed Roll could become the Pope through his own strength. She only wanted to find someone to look after him.
"Then what can you offer me? Paying with your body won't be enough."
"Give me ten years. Within ten years, I'll become a Mage Saint and join the Holy Empire."
"You're only around twenty, aren't you? Where does that confidence come from?"
"Because my name is Yura. One day, everyone on the continent will know my name."
Yura vanished from the room as a magic circle lit up beneath her feet. Keske XII had not expected a mere thief to wield spatial magic, the most wondrous form of magic. After thinking it over, he was willing to believe Yura's words. Poor Roll, meanwhile, could only stare blankly at the emperor who had inexplicably taken a liking to him.
P.S. The teacher personally taught me how to flirt with men, protect my own, and raise a man