Extra: Eula and Roel

In a nameless small town, a chase was unfolding on the street. The one being pursued was a little girl with naturally curly hair. Her delicate face was smudged with dust, and her clothes were tattered and torn. She had gathered up the hem of her dress before her belly to form a makeshift pouch, now stuffed with bread and fruit. Her bare feet flew over the ground, leaving the adult behind her far in the distance.

“Stop right there, you little brat!”

The man in an apron, furious and out of breath, watched the gap between himself and Yura widen. Realizing he could never catch up, he simply gave up, standing there huffing. Though she was a troublesome little thief, she was still only ten—a child. The thought of using magic against her never crossed his mind.

“No way! If you’ve got the guts, come catch me, you fool!”

Yura was living up to her reputation as the local troublemaker, not only stealing from others but also turning back to make a face at the infuriated baker, whose whole body trembled with rage.

“Was it Yura again?”

People from the surrounding shops poked their heads out, watching the fleeting shadow vanish into the distance. They shook their heads helplessly, offering the baker silent consolation.

“That little menace will get what’s coming to her one day, mark my words.”

The baker spat on the ground in frustration and muttered curses as he headed back inside. Incidents like this happened every few days. The townsfolk couldn’t be bothered to organize themselves against a little girl, thus allowing a future headache for the world to grow up unchecked.

“Roel, I’m back! Come eat!”

After her successful escape, Yura circled around to the back door of the church. No one would ever suspect a thief would hide behind the church itself—the perfect spot, hidden right in the open.

“Yura, did you steal again? Please stop doing this... I get paid for my work…”

A black-haired boy, Roel, opened the back door and slipped outside at her call. He looked nervously at the food Yura set atop a wooden box.

“Don’t kid yourself. Your wages aren’t enough to fill your own belly—how would you feed two people?”

Yura pouted and tugged at the boy’s shabby clothes. Even a church established by the Holy See in a remote town had no money to spare for an extra mouth. The old priest survived on thin porridge every day, so Roel’s wage was pitiful.

“Thank the God of Light for the food—Ow! Yura, why’d you hit me?”

Honest Roel had just begun his prayer, as any cleric would, when Yura’s small palm landed unceremoniously on his head.

“The God of Light, my foot! I went to a lot of trouble to steal this—what’s it got to do with any god?”

“But…but I’m a servant of the church.”

“You’re just a temporary errand boy at the church—don’t talk so big.”

“Yura, you really are different from everyone else. You know stealing is wrong, but you still do it. You show no respect for God, either.”

Roel looked at Yura in confusion. Both of them were orphans from this little town. Ever since their chance meeting, Yura had stuck with him, helping him survive. Without her mischief, he would have been long gone.

“It’s because I’m smart. In this world, if we want to survive, we have to use extraordinary means. Remember this, Roel: the God of Light doesn’t see orphans like us. We can only rely on ourselves. But you’re lucky, because you can rely on me.”

Yura grabbed a chunk of stolen bread and bit into it fiercely, cheeks bulging as happiness lit her face. She flicked Roel’s forehead.

“So, Yura, what do you want to be when you grow up?”

His face flushed at her seriousness, and he fumbled to change the subject.

“Me? I’ll become a Grand Mage, of course.”

“What?! No one has ever reached that level before—some say it might not even exist.”

“Silly! It’s only fun when you aim for the very top. What about you, Roel?”

“I… I just want to be a priest. That way, I won’t have to go hungry.”

“You idiot! You’re going to be the future Grand Mage’s partner—pull yourself together! At least aim to be Pope. I’ll help you.”

“Wha—me? Pope? No, no, that’s impossible!”

“Don’t say impossible! Repeat after me: ‘I will be Pope!’”

Yura pinched Roel’s cheeks, forcing him onto her boat.

“I…I will be Pope.”

With no other choice, Roel complied in a small voice, glancing over his shoulder to make sure no one had overheard his wild claim.

“Put some spirit into it!”

“I WILL BE POPE!”

Ten years later, Yura had become a renowned thief, having visited nearly every noble in the Holy Empire. Today, she was ready for the biggest heist of all—she slipped alone into the Imperial Palace.

“Should be around here… Ah, found it!”

Dressed in black, Yura crouched most ungracefully before a desk, searching for something. After some fumbling, she found a secret compartment and pulled out a spatial ring brimming with treasure. The little thief grinned in delight, unaware someone else had entered the room.

“Is it the imperial custom to grope a woman’s backside so casually, Your Majesty?”

The tight-fitting suit traced the curve of her hips, and as the newcomer reached out, Yura nimbly dodged his hand, glaring over her shoulder.

“My, my, little thief, your behind is perkier than my empress’s. Care to join my harem?”

The green-haired man, denied his prize, clicked his tongue in disappointment.

“Truly, just as the rumors say, you are shameless, Your Majesty Kaisek the Twelfth.”

Yura was speechless in the face of such frankness. She knew exactly who stood before her, but showed no sign of fear, calmly pocketing the spatial ring of treasures right under the emperor’s nose.

“Do you realize if I give the order, hundreds of mages will surround you?”

Kaisek XII didn’t seem angry that his private stash had been taken, only amused by the thief caught in his trap.

“I know, but they won’t catch me. Instead, why don’t we talk?”

“About what?”

“A new acolyte arrived at the Church’s headquarters today. I think he’d make a good Pope. You should get to know him.”

“You think too much. The royal family never interferes in the selection of the next Pope. And anyone who could be chosen wouldn’t stoop to tricks.”

Kaisek shook his head, refusing. Regardless of the relationship between throne and church, there was no place for corruption in an institution so full of warmth and light.

“I’m just giving you a chance to befriend the future Pope. Take it or leave it.”

Yura was well aware of the situation. She had always believed Roel would become Pope on his own merits—she merely wanted someone to look out for him.

“And what do I get in return? Your body alone isn’t enough.”

“Give me ten years. I’ll become a Saint Magus within that time, then join the Holy Empire.”

“You’re barely twenty—where does your confidence come from?”

“Because my name is Yura. One day, everyone on this continent will know it.”

As she spoke, a magic circle flared beneath her feet and she vanished from the room. Kaisek XII hadn’t expected a thief to master the most mysterious of all magics—space magic. After a moment’s thought, he decided to believe her. Meanwhile, poor Roel could only look on in bewilderment as the emperor himself suddenly took a mysterious interest in him.

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PS: The master’s personal disciple—bold, protective, and adept at charming men.