Ria

Biodata

Power Progression

Initial Attributes

Ria’s first panel identifies her as Artoria 3.

Background / History

Before gaining power, Ria supports a growing household of children in a war-ravaged border town. She initially takes in one child, then shelters more after finding them close to collapse by the roadside. As the oldest, she searches for odd jobs while assigning the others to beg, scavenge, or gather wild plants. Despite their hunger, she repeatedly warns the older boys to avoid shinobi battles 2.

After earning one hundred ryo and receiving leftovers from Uncle Coco’s shop, Ria is robbed and brutally beaten on her way home. She crawls through the rain, still worrying about the children, before collapsing. Li Ming finds her with faint soul activity remaining and uses Greater Resurrection to save her. In the darkness, Ria embraces his light and declares her faith, becoming his first bishop and the intermediary through whom others can encounter the Holy Light 2 3.

Her early religious movement develops into a governing institution after the Sand shinobi conflict. Ria concludes that faith alone cannot change a country and reorganizes the Church to acquire political authority, collect taxes, administer territory, and improve ordinary people’s lives. Over the following years, its rule transforms the Land of Rain into a prosperous country whose schools, healthcare, and public safety attract admiration from foreign visitors 17 52 53.

The Church’s influence subsequently extends into the major shinobi nations. After supporting Minato’s authority in Konoha, Ria announces that the Land of Rain will become the Land of Light. Li Ming crowns her and gives her the Book of Great Prophecy, fulfilling her early ambition to become pope. She later leads the final unification effort and intervenes personally against Madara’s Infinite Tsukuyomi 87 88 91 92 93 107 113 114.

Following the Shinobi World’s unification, Ria directs the Church’s expansion across other worlds. She recognizes Tatsumi as a bishop, organizes expeditions equipped with sacred treasures, and authorizes interventions to protect persecuted children. She eventually leads an elite expedition to Azeroth to investigate another manifestation of holy light and safeguard the faith on which her Church was built 116 165 166 250 274 299.

Appearance

At fourteen, Ria is severely malnourished, with a sallow, gaunt face and a thin frame. After receiving the Holy Light, her face becomes noticeably fuller; years later, Reilly describes her as a beautiful young woman 2 6 47.

• Hair: Blond, tied in a simple ponytail 2 15.
• Eyes: Bright, black, and gemstone-like; turn golden during displays of Holy Light power 2 8 15.
• Initial height: Approximately 1.2 meters 2.
• Early clothing: Patched clothes and a borrowed raincoat; later purchases a gray hooded cloak 2 5.
• Divine transformation: A colossal figure in golden armor, carrying a lance and greatshield, with two pairs of white wings 35.
• Papal battle attire: A white Pope’s Robe traced with golden patterns, a golden crown, six pairs of golden wings, and a white-glowing book 114.
• Planetary-scale manifestation: Her face fills the sky and her golden eyes resemble suns; her immense body exceeds the moon in size and allows her to handle the God Tree as a small sapling 114 115.
• Azeroth appearance: Smooth golden hair secured behind her back by two slender braids, with each strand faintly glowing. She wears a crystalline crown reflecting rainbow light, golden plate armor inscribed with mysterious patterns, and a white skirt trimmed with gold thread. Her eyes are described as having the depth of outer space 302.

Her growing responsibilities occasionally affect her appearance. During the Church’s rapid expansion, prolonged work and inadequate rest leave faint dark circles beneath her eyes 78.

Personality

Ria’s compassion predates her divine powers. She takes responsibility for children she cannot easily afford to feed, and her first concerns after gaining strength remain their safety, meals, and future. She extends that protective instinct to Meli, refugees, and ordinary people living under abusive rulers 2 5 6 37.

Her gentleness contrasts with her treatment of enemies. Her first killings leave her frightened and uncertain, prompting her to seek Li Ming’s reassurance. Later, threats to her siblings provoke deliberate brutality: she crushes Rasa and his remaining men while declaring that evil deserves painful punishment 3 15.

As a leader, Ria is practical rather than concerned only with religious prestige. She treats money as a means of improving lives, prioritizes relief over a higher-level church building, and negotiates with Hanzō rather than risk intervention by the great nations. At home, she teases her siblings, dislikes paperwork, and eagerly looks forward to Meli’s cooking 8 25 26 30 33 36.

Family, Affection, and Personal Happiness

Ria wants her siblings to enjoy life rather than devote themselves exclusively to work. She helps bring Axel and Mina together and hopes that Axel will remember the people who trust and care for him while pursuing the Holy Light’s mission. Once the pair becomes a couple, she happily welcomes Mina as another family member 52 53.

Her authority does not erase her affectionate, sometimes childish behavior with Meli. Food quickly dispels her complaints about overwork, and she clings to Meli while pleading for help with documents. Her protective instincts also remain intense: she anxiously watches Axel’s first passage into a hostile world and would follow him herself if her stronger aura did not risk provoking a worse backlash 78 167.

Faith and Loyalty

Her devotion to Li Ming is both religious and deeply personal. She sees him as the light that rescued her from despair and as a father-like presence who guided her growth. She is willing to sacrifice herself for his advancement, but their exchanges also reveal mutual concern about losing one another 92 166.

This attachment remains unchanged throughout the Church’s multiversal expansion. Ria insists that she will hold on to the Holy Light as firmly as she did at the beginning and remain his “one and only Pope.” Her greatest wish is for him to remain powerful and continue shining upon her 383.

Consent, Justice, and Escalation

Ria distinguishes voluntary allegiance from invasion and repeatedly states that the Church should not force people to adopt its faith. In Azeroth, she denies any intention to invade Quel’Thalas but promises intervention if its people willingly seek Church protection. She also argues that rulers’ interests should not automatically be equated with those of their countries 52 250 303.

Her commitment to protection can nevertheless lead to coercive intervention. After reviewing civilian deaths caused by Aiki’s squad, she invites objections, accepts the clerics’ scriptural defense of their actions, and authorizes military force in the hostile world to protect the Cursed Children. She insists that children receiving Holy Fruits must be told that the fruits make them unable to reject the Holy Light 274.

Ria combines mercy with accountability toward defeated enemies. She restores Nagato after recognizing that he was manipulated, offers Kaguya a new beginning rather than accepting the Sage of Six Paths’ judgment alone, and heals Madara while requiring him to atone. Black Zetsu’s devotion to his mother does not exempt him from judgment for his crimes 94 115 116.

Confidence and Dark Humor

As her power grows, Ria becomes increasingly composed and playful in battle. She treats Six Paths-powered Madara’s strongest techniques as curiosities and collects his Truth-Seeking Orbs and God Tree as gifts for Li Ming 114.

Her treatment of the Old Gods reveals a more unsettling sense of humor. She views them as tiny captives and prospective snacks for the Holy Light, repeatedly prodding and tormenting them to ensure that they remain alive and “fresh” 372 376 383.

Abilities & Skills

Union with the Holy Light

Ria’s merger with Li Ming gives her a direct mental connection to him and an intuitive understanding of his power and its rules 3.

• Her strength increases as their union deepens; contemplation speeds the process 3 5.
• Ordinary followers require Holy Light Seeds, training, and sufficient faith to advance and unlock skills 3.
• Li Ming can supply additional power and guidance, as he does before she faces Madara 33.
• Their mental connection continues across the Church’s later development, allowing Li Ming to give her instructions and summon her to receive new treasures 166.
• She can sense and examine holy light from another world. In Azeroth, she identifies a shared source but a different emphasis between its individual virtues and her Church’s commitment to collective welfare 299.

Physical Enhancement and Light Weapons

Ria strengthens her body and creates weapons from Holy Light 3.

• Strength, agility, and spirit enhancement: Used together during her attack on Yamamoto’s gang 3.
• Sword of Light / Lightsaber: Her principal early melee weapon; she uses it to kill the gang and practices with it in the courtyard 3 7.
• Cross Light Slash: A cross-shaped attack that quarters Scarface’s water dragon 6.
• Lance of light: Used against Black Zetsu after her battle with Madara 35.
• Additional light arms: Manifests twelve golden arms behind herself, precisely blocking six simultaneous Limbo-clone attacks. The arms can enlarge enough to overwhelm Madara’s escape routes 114.

Offensive Light Magic

Ria’s ranged techniques overpower several conventional ninjutsu defenses 10 15 35.

• Holy Light Judgment: Calls down a beam from above; also destroys Scarface’s corpse 6 10.
• Infinite Light Arcane Bullets: A barrage that penetrates Xiliu’s multiple water walls 10.
• Light arrows: Pierce the Sand shinobi’s earth wall during the rescue of Yui 15.
• Constriction circle: Immobilizes and crushes Rasa and the surviving attackers 15.
• Holy Light Shockwave / Infinite Light Cluster: Used during her battle with Madara 35.
• Super Trial Technique: Obliterates Madara’s falling meteor 35.
• Explosive light sphere: Produces a blast compared to a Tailed Beast Bomb, forcing Hanzō to negotiate 31.
• Holy Flame Burning: Burns away Madara’s six Limbo clones, causing pain to his soul 114.
• Demon suppression and holy flame: Dispels Archimonde’s darkness, immobilizes and lifts him, and burns him with such intensity that linked demon lords experience his suffering through their soul-connections 379.

Defensive Magic

Ria uses shields and barriers to intercept weapons and elemental attacks 6 10 35.

• Holy Light Shield: Forms an eggshell-like halo that blocks Scarface’s kunai volley 6.
• Holy Light Gate: Stops Xiliu’s rushing water and Madara’s large fire attack 10 35.
• Light Element Incarnation: Cited as an ability ordinary ninja would struggle to counter; its mechanics are not explained in the provided passages 7.
• Resistance to Truth-Seeking Orbs: Handles Madara’s orbs without being dissolved and binds all six onto a golden strand, overriding his ability to recall them 114.

Tracking, Movement, and Perception

Ria combines rapid light-based movement with supernatural tracking 3 10.

• Light Tracking Technique: Reveals a silver-white trail of footprints leading to Yamamoto’s gang 3.
• Light Leap: Allows repeated rapid jumps back to the church after an attack 10.
• Flight: Used to lead reinforcements and fight Madara in the air 16 35.
• Presence detection: Locates Black Zetsu underground 35.
• Divine directional guidance: Li Ming’s additional power creates a red arrow in her mind pointing toward the enemy 33 36.
• Limbo detection: Accurately counters Madara’s otherwise concealed clones and declares that nothing hidden in darkness can remain concealed under Holy Light 114.
• Spatial control: Redirects Madara’s attempted Kamui escape so that he appears directly before her 114.
• Large-scale spiritual senses: Surveys an Azeroth forest comparable in size to the Shinobi World, senses a destructive aura beyond the world, and detects several beings whose power rivals her own 299 300.
• Cross-timeline awareness: Notices Nozdormu while he observes the altered history, alarming the Bronze Dragonflight’s lord of time 373.
• Transport: Vanishes from the sky with the seven Naaru while taking them to meet the Holy Light 382.

Healing, Resurrection, and Purification

Ria can restore injured allies, revive the dead, and cleanse powerful toxins 15 16 35.

• Greater Healing Technique: Restores Ertai’s defeated Holy Knight squad before she confronts Madara 35.
• Greater Resurrection: Cast on A-Ping after he cuts his throat to save Yui; he awakens alive but remains weak and is ordered to rest 15 16.
• Super Purification Technique: Disperses Chiyo’s poison cloud 16.
• Sustained toxin cleansing: Treating already-poisoned Knights requires continuous purification beyond the capability of ordinary Priests at that time 16.
• Eye regeneration: Greater Healing restores Nagato’s ruined eye sockets and produces ordinary black eyes rather than the stolen Rinnegan. Ria interprets this as evidence that the Rinnegan were transplanted rather than his original eyes 94.
• Later battlefield restoration: Heals Madara after his defeat and instantly restores Axel following his injuries from the hostile world’s repulsive force 116 167.
• Radiant healing: Her arrival over Archimonde’s battlefield restores the wounded Holy Light Clerics while dispelling demonic darkness 379.

God Descends

God Descends enlarges Ria dozens of times into an armored, winged figure armed with a golden knight’s lance and greatshield 35.

• She rises beyond the clouds and dives lance-first from the starry expanse 35.
• The impact drives Madara underground and shatters his Complete Body Susanoo 35.
• Madara appears to be destroyed, but survives through Izanagi at the cost of his left eye 35 36.

Later passages distinguish a much larger manifestation as her true body or Avatar of Light. Its relationship to the earlier God Descends transformation is not fully explained 114 274.

• Her body reaches planetary scale, with her face filling the sky and her eyes resembling suns 114.
• A finger-flick shakes the God Tree and dislodges the shinobi trapped on its roots. With Infinite Tsukuyomi also obscured, the captives awaken 114.
• She lifts the God Tree with two fingers and can subsequently shrink back to an ordinary human-sized form 114 115.
• A later description recalls her Avatar of Light as having already reached the size of the entire Shinobi World during the Fourth Shinobi World War 274.
• Against N’Zoth, her expanding hand is impervious to his tentacle attacks. Once captured, he cannot reach the distant fingers enclosing the space in her palm 372.

Resistance to Genjutsu

Madara’s genjutsu briefly dazes Ria but fails to control her. She attributes this resistance to the unwavering will developed through the darkness endured during Holy Light initiation 35.

During the final war, Holy Light also protects Axel and the clerics from Infinite Tsukuyomi. Ria remains able to recognize the crisis, mobilize reinforcements, and intervene against its caster 113 114.

Religious Rituals and Magic Arrays

Ria establishes the infrastructure through which the Holy Light reaches and empowers followers 4 7 8.

• Presents Holy Light Seeds to the children and guides Meli into becoming a Priest 4 6.
• Inscribes the intricate courtyard array that accelerates training; the work leaves her mentally exhausted 7 8.
• Summons an offshoot of Li Ming into the church’s cross during its opening ceremony 8.
• Prepares the altar entrance to the mount realm after Li Ming transforms a Summoning Scroll 11.
• Infuses morning dew with Holy Light for sale as healing holy water 10.
• Personally plants Holy Light Seeds in the Night Raid members and oversees their initiation as Holy Light Clerics 166.

Great Prophecy and Rule Alteration

The Book of Great Prophecy is Li Ming’s coronation gift to Ria and a means of exercising power over rules rather than merely overcoming attacks with greater force 92 93 114.

• Repulsion nullification: Declares an oath that prevents Deva Path’s Shinra Tensei from destroying New Rain Capital. Later counters Madara’s Super Shinra Tensei 93 114.
• Attraction nullification: Prevents Deva Path’s Banshō Ten’in from affecting the capital 93.
• Mind Correction: Restores Nagato’s memories concerning Yahiko and Konan’s survival, disrupting the deception behind his attack 93.
• Annihilation: Erases the meteors Madara sends toward Axel’s army 114.
• Talent assessment: Allows her to recognize Night Raid’s extraordinary potential before their initiation 166.
• Remote arm manifestation: A golden vessel of the book can summon one of her arms for thirty seconds. The manifestation uses only one-tenth of her power and remains subject to weakening by the destination world 274.

Sealing, Restraint, and Power Bestowal

Ria’s later abilities extend beyond direct combat to releasing seals, restraining powerful allies, and granting protective techniques 105 115 147.

• Life-Saving Marks: Gives Boruto three golden forehead marks containing Invincibility, Resurrection, and God Descends, then transmits their functions and usage directly into his mind 105.
• Lunar seal release: Sends golden light across the blood-red moon, fading its tomoe and freeing Kaguya from her thousand-year imprisonment 115.
• Restraint: Acts through a bracelet that becomes an enormous golden halo around Madara’s Susanoo, leaving him unable to summon chakra despite assuming his Six Paths form 147.
• Old God confinement: Keeps multiple Old Gods trapped in her palm despite their attempts to escape. By the conclusion of the campaign, she has captured five and presents them to Li Ming 372 376 383.

Leadership, Diplomacy, and Administration

Ria’s influence depends on governance and organization as well as personal power 17 58 87 384.

• Builds a religious-political administration centered on taxation, schools, industry, public order, and improved livelihoods 17.
• Orders Church branches to protect civilians during shinobi wars and mobilizes the Five Great Military Districts when atrocities escalate 58 59.
• Distributes intelligence on the masked Uchiha to Church branches and four major countries, prompting international wanted notices 78.
• Deploys elite legions to Konoha under Minato’s written authorization and orders them to support his authority 87 88.
• Convenes the first People’s Assembly to discuss development and the integration of the Land of Water 107.
• Coordinates interworld expansion, distributes sacred equipment, and establishes bishops outside the Shinobi World 165 166 299.
• Announces the Azeroth Republic Federation and calls for cooperation and shared prosperity among its races 384.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Gray hooded cloak — Purchased after gaining power and used to conceal her face while gathering information 5.
• Holy Light weapons — Creates swords and lances rather than relying exclusively on conventional weapons 3 35.
• Golden armor, lance, and greatshield — Manifest as part of God Descends 35.
• Summoning Scroll — Presents it to Li Ming, who converts it into a crystal entrance to a mount realm 11.
• Holy-light-infused dew — Sold through Reilly for five thousand ryo per bottle, helping resolve the Church’s financial difficulties 10 13.
• Coronation crown — Bestowed by Li Ming during her coronation. Later appearances describe a golden crown and, in Azeroth, a crystalline crown reflecting rainbow light 92 114 302.
• Book of Great Prophecy / Great Prophecy Book — Li Ming’s coronation gift; supports rule-nullification, mental correction, annihilation, and assessment of others’ talents 92 93 114 166.
• Pope’s Robe — White ceremonial and battle attire traced with golden patterns 114.
• Personal storage space — Used to collect Night Raid’s Imperial Arms before taking them to Li Ming for modification 166.
• Personal Gold Cloth — One of thirteen Cloths created by Li Ming; her specially made version is intended to advance her from level 89 to level 91 and introduce her to Demigod laws 166.
• Holy Grail — Receives it from Li Ming and entrusts it to Axel. It can forcibly distort a destination world’s law resembling Holy Light to facilitate the Church’s arrival 166 167.
• Medical Fruit and other Holy Fruits — Supplies these to the advance team protecting Cursed Children. The Medical Fruit grants extensive medical knowledge and treatment abilities; Holy Fruits also help integrate a world with Holy Light’s rules and prevent their users from betraying it 250 274.
• Golden prophecy vessel — Gives reinforcements a golden book capable of summoning one of her arms for thirty seconds in an emergency 274.
• Truth-Seeking Orbs and God Tree — Takes control of Madara’s six orbs and lifts his summoned tree, intending to give both to the Holy Light 114.
• Captured Old Gods — Holds five in her palms and presents them to Li Ming as “snacks” 376 383.

Relationships

• Li Ming / the Holy Light — Savior, source of power, and spiritual mentor. Ria is his first bishop and uniquely enables others in this world to sense him; he reassures her through doubts and supplies additional power against Madara 2 3 9 33. Their bond develops into an explicitly father-like relationship: he crowns her, gives her sacred treasures, and calls her his little Pope. Both fear losing the other, and Li Ming later acknowledges that without Ria he would have remained unseen and alone 92 166 383.
• A-Ping / Axel — Younger found-family brother and trusted commander. She affectionately teases him, revives him after his sacrifice, and praises his growth as a leader 10 15 16 23. She encourages his relationship with Mina, warmly welcomes him home from campaign, and entrusts him with the Holy Grail and the dangerous first passage into another world 52 53 91 166 167.
• Rich — Younger found-family brother who helps gather food before becoming a Holy Knight and later a legion leader 2 5 13 28. He remains loyal to Ria and accompanies her elite expedition to Azeroth as an army-group leader 71 299.
• Yui — Younger found-family sister. Ria rescues and comforts her after the hostage crisis, then later entrusts her with managing Huayu Town 15 17 23.
• Meli — Fellow Church leader and found-family companion. Ria saves her from forced marriage; Meli provides the first church premises, welcomes the children into her home, and supports Ria’s diplomacy and household 6 7 31 36. Ria treats her as an elder sister and relies on her emotional support, cooking, and help with paperwork. Before leaving for Azeroth, she entrusts their home world to Meli, and the two share a reluctant, affectionate farewell 78 165 299.
• Shui Sha — Younger sibling and Holy Cantor. Ria encourages her when she worries that her profession contributes too little 4 25.
• Xiao Cao and Xiao Shu — Younger siblings who frequently seek Ria’s affection and welcome her home after dangerous missions 4 36.
• Reilly — Merchant partner, later a Priest and intelligence organizer. Ria credits his kindness and business support with accelerating the Church’s early growth 10 27 47.
• Hanzō — Initially an enemy, later a treaty partner. Ria defeats his offensive and secures cooperation under the Holy Light’s witness 28 30 31 32.
• Chiyo — Enemy commander whose poison forces Ria to abandon pursuit and treat her troops 16. Their later interaction is peaceful: Chiyo addresses her respectfully as Pope and asks to see Sasori, and Ria arranges their reunion 94.
• Uchiha Madara — Powerful opponent and ideological rival. Ria defeats his Susanoo while rejecting his view that conflict and suffering are unavoidable 35 36. She later overwhelms his Six Paths abilities, recognizes that he ultimately sought peace, and heals him while requiring atonement. His eventual sentence is lifelong supervision; when he later abuses his power, she restrains him remotely 114 115 116 147.
• Mina — Church subordinate and Axel’s partner. Ria arranges opportunities for the couple to be alone and celebrates Mina’s entry into their family. She later orders Mina to summon the Twelve Judgment Chiefs during the Infinite Tsukuyomi crisis 52 53 113.
• Minato Namikaze — Political ally and respected leader. Ria considers him a man born in the wrong place, believing he would have become a powerful cleric in the transformed Land of Rain. She sends forces to support his authority in Konoha and later praises him for improving his people’s happiness 87 88 105 106.
• Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan — Ria breaks the deception driving Nagato’s attack, heals him after his eyes are stolen, and reunites him with his friends. She promises to judge the organization that manipulated him and asks the three to provide information once he has recovered 93 94.
• Boruto — Visitor from another space-time whom Ria warmly receives. She gives him three Life-Saving Marks and takes him to meet the Holy Light before his return home 105.
• Kaguya Ōtsutsuki — Rescued and protected by Ria. Ria rejects condemnation based solely on ancient grievances, frees her from the moon, and offers protection from her enemies. Kaguya accepts her hand and companionship after a thousand years of isolation 115 116. Ria also assigns her the role of final guardian in the Ladder Tournament 232.
• Black Zetsu — Enemy and manipulator who begs Ria to free Kaguya. Ria recognizes his filial devotion but refuses to exempt him from punishment; the Judgment Hall ultimately sentences him to death 115 116.
• Tatsumi and Night Raid — Interworld allies whom Ria formally honors with Medals of Courage. She announces Tatsumi’s bishopric, initiates Night Raid into the Holy Light, and arranges for Meli to examine Kurome at Akame’s request 165 166.
• Aiki and the Cursed Children’s protectors — Ria supplies healing resources, authorizes the children’s protection and empowerment, and later sends reinforcements after reviewing Aiki’s controversial use of force against hostile civilians 250 274.
• Alleria, Vereesa, and Sylvanas Windrunner — Initial diplomatic contacts in Azeroth. Ria receives them courteously, challenges their assumptions about humanity, and explains the Church’s policy toward Quel’Thalas and its people 302 303.
• The Naaru — Recognizes them as conscious manifestations of holy-light power lost in Azeroth. They feel an instinctive closeness to her, and she warmly takes them to meet Li Ming 382.
• N’Zoth, C’Thun, and the other captured Old Gods — Overwhelmed captives whom she keeps in her palm and prepares as gifts for the Holy Light 372 376 383.
• Archimonde — Demon lord whom she immobilizes and burns, turning his invasion route into an opportunity for the Church to enter the void 379.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Notable Quotes

“My heart and my will are devoted to justice. I'll work hard to be a good archbishop of the holy light! And I'll make becoming pope my goal!” 3

“Protection? What kind of protection? The kind that leaves us hungry? The kind that leaves us freezing? Or the kind that leaves us orphaned and homeless?” 10

“We must improve people's livelihoods because our Holy Light Clerics come from the common people.” 26

“Even as you work hard to move forward, you shouldn't forget the people behind you who trust you and are trying to catch up!” 53

“Because of the greatness of Holy Light. Compared to Holy Light, I too am merely a tiny grain of sand in an endless river.” 114

“Then you can rest easy. Stay with me from now on. I'll protect you.” 115

“My name is Artoria. You can call me Ria from now on!” 115

“Holy Light! I won't let you shake off your one and only Pope.” 383

Trivia

• Artoria is the name displayed on Ria’s character panel and used in her formal treaty pledge. She later explicitly introduces herself to Kaguya as Artoria and invites her to use “Ria”; the name’s origin is not explained 3 32 115.
• Becoming pope begins as her stated ambition and is fulfilled at her coronation. Although Li Ming’s public proclamation uses “Archbishop,” subsequent dialogue consistently addresses her as Pope Ria 3 35 92 93 94.
• A-Ping exposes her underage sake drinking after she criticizes him; Meli makes her promise not to drink again 25.
• Her eagerness to eat Meli’s octopus balls distracts her from confirming the outcome of the Madara battle, a mistake she recognizes when the tracking arrow reappears 35 36.
• Her special Gold Cloth is the thirteenth among treasures otherwise modeled on the twelve zodiac signs; Li Ming explains that he would not forget his little Pope 166.
• Her overwhelming power leads the Windrunner sisters to doubt that she can be human, a conclusion she finds unexpectedly amusing 302 303.
• Kaguya brings a written copy of the final-floor guardian speech because she cannot remember the lines Ria assigned her 232.
• Ria worries that inactive Old God captives might make unsuitable or “stale” food for the Holy Light, prompting her to keep them moving through repeated prodding 372.
• Despite her cosmic-scale strength and papal authority, she still seeks Li Ming’s praise and enjoys his affectionate head pats 166 383.

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