Reversal (4)

“So, what exactly are you planning to do?”

Yona, who was combing Rubina’s hair while holding her in her arms, paused for a moment at Kayak’s words.

Then she started combing Rubina’s hair diligently again, and Kayak was staring at her blankly.

“I’m asking what you’re going to do.”

“…About what.”

The determination to kill Ceres.

That determination was easy enough, but putting it into action was another matter.

Yona had some difficulty making that decision, and in the end, she was unable to take action and was caught up in some hesitation.

Killing Ceres is a simple matter.

But what comes after was the problem.

Yona understood her current position and knew that it wasn’t something she could act on easily like when she killed the Azramis.

If she kills Ceres, the next step is the church territory.

If she can’t gather and present perfect evidence enough to convince the Celestine Church headquarters in the church territory — or at least evidence that could silence the Celestine Church, things would become even more complicated.

“Our Rubina needs to start speaking soon.”

Without answering Kayak’s question, Yona finished combing Rubina’s hair and tied it with a string.

Yona’s skill at tying hair had improved considerably by now.

She was already tying her own hair beyond just tightly pulling it back, to the point where it looked quite stylish, and her skill at tying Rubina’s hair was also quite remarkable.

Rubina, who hadn’t had anyone properly groom her.

Even Alevian only groomed his own hair and didn’t have the leisure to groom others’, and Bigrand didn’t have the mental capacity for it either. As a result, Rubina had been walking around with hair close to a mess during what should have been her cutest period, and only now was it starting to look presentable under Yona’s hands.

“I wonder if the day will come when Rubina can speak again…”

Yona hugged Rubina, who was sitting on her lap, tightly as if hugging a teddy bear, and rubbed her face against Rubina’s head.

The rough hair brushing against her cheek made her keenly feel the lack of attention she had given to Rubina.

She should have given her more attention, but the circumstances surrounding Yona hadn’t allowed it.

But that couldn’t be an excuse, so Yona’s heart ached.

“Yona, why don’t you answer the question I’m asking?”

Kayak’s patience was also at its limit.

It had already been two days like this.

Kayak was frustrated with Yona, who was just wasting time without saying anything.

“…Rubina is listening. This isn’t the time to talk about it.”

At those words, Kayak closed his mouth again.

And at that moment, Rubina jumped off Yona’s lap.

Rubina, who had patted Yona’s knees loudly, thumped her own chest a few times and then pointed at the door with her finger.

Yona nodded slightly at Rubina’s gesture indicating she would go outside, and at Yona’s response, Rubina ran to the door, opened it, and went out.

“…I really only do terrible things to Rubina, don’t I.”

At Yona’s self-deprecating voice, Kayak looked at her with sympathetic eyes.

Alec, who had been wondering if he should intervene in the strange atmosphere between the two and how to do so, was beaten to it by James, who stepped in more quickly.

“It’s not Miss Yona’s fault. Rubina is at least protected here. She wouldn’t be safer anywhere else than here.”

As James said, she wouldn’t be safer anywhere else than by Yona’s side.

Rubina was already recognized as someone associated with Yona due to the commotion in the church territory, and moreover, her distinctive appearance with black hair and black eyes made it even more so. As long as she was involved with Yona, Rubina couldn’t guarantee her safety anywhere.

Even knowing this fact, Yona was not at all at ease.

Her head, which was about to droop, was held up stiffly as someone grabbed her shoulder and started kneading it firmly.

“Come on, don’t blame yourself like that. Rubina will surely get better, so let’s not worry too much. Okay?”

That voice that always sounded comforting.

At Alec’s voice, Yona felt her tense feelings quickly melting away.

But that was only for a moment, suddenly Yona felt something sweet and tingling rising up within her.

“Uh, uhh—?!”

And that finally became a voice.

“…Ah, why don’t you do that kind of thing when you’re alone?”

Along with Kayak’s voice, a clearly flustered look appeared on Yona’s face.

Her gestures, lost for where to go, were oddly mismatched, and her eyes, unable to focus on one spot, were shaking in bewilderment.

James, who was keenly observing this scene, grinned.

“It looks like Alec has finally succeeded.”

“I thought so. It’s rather more surprising that it took so long, beyond expectations. You kept saying it wasn’t like that, but in the end, it turned out this way.”

“Wh-what are you talking about?”

“What do you mean, what? We’re talking about you and Alec. It seems Alec has finally reaped the fruits of his labor after chasing you around so obviously.”

“N-no…”

“No? Alec, it seems Yona is saying it’s not true.”

It was a question with a very clear intention to tease them thoroughly, but Alec didn’t answer.

Instead, he kneaded Yona’s shoulders, which he had been massaging, even more firmly, and Yona’s face was turning even redder at his touch.

“Ah, youth.”

“That’s right, they’re young.”

It was a good time.

Just the time when seeing each other’s face makes you happy, and when you’re together, you just want to do sweet things.

Everyone has such a time.

Just wait a bit — James laughed inwardly.

*

Alevian, who didn’t have much problem even if he didn’t sleep, was staying in the guesthouse hall.

It was enough to just go to his room to change clothes when Yona occasionally came down.

So Alevian had no complaints about staying in the hall.

Rather, the hall at night was so quiet that it was an excellent time to organize his thoughts.

‘If she sent a letter, how will the Celestine Church respond?’

The worst-case scenario would be denouncing even Bigrand, the Saintess, as having fallen.

The appointment of the Saintess was done directly by the Celestial Deity, so it couldn’t be denied. However, it didn’t guarantee the Saintess’s infallibility afterward, so it was entirely possible to claim that she had fallen due to her close association with Yona.

‘It would be best if the Celestial Deity could descend directly and testify about Bigrand… and Ceres. But that would be unreasonable.’

The fact that the demon realm was no longer collapsing and maintaining its current state was proof that the Celestial Deity, and Yona, were playing their roles. But if things continue like this, even the human realm would collapse without the Celestial Deity’s protection. In the end, the False Celestial Deity must be resurrected.

Dealing with the Celestine Church’s intervention due to Bigrand’s hasty action, and constructing a body for the False Celestial Deity’s resurrection.

The thought of having to deal with these two things simultaneously made Alevian’s head throb.

‘The priority should be the body construction…’

The False Celestial Deity is clearly a god.

A god on par with the Celestial Deity — so, its presence must be immense.

Yona, who carries that consciousness in her body, must be gradually being eroded by the False Celestial Deity’s consciousness even at this moment.

The longer it takes, the more Yona will be overwritten by the False Celestial Deity.

If that happens, it will end up as Ceres intended.

‘That’s probably why she didn’t tell Ceres. She needs to hurry…’

It was then.

A lightning-like intuition struck directly down his spine.

Alevian felt cold sweat running down unconsciously.

Her intuition, which spread to a very distant place, came back as an enormous shockwave due to a presence that far exceeded her capacity to handle.

‘Th-this is…’

Hot liquid flowed from Alevian’s nose.

Bright red blood smeared on his fingertips that he had unconsciously brought to his nose.

Looking at that blood, Alevian blinked.

‘— It moved…? How…?’

It was approaching.

The Grand Duke boasting the most powerful presence in both the Southern and Northern continents was approaching.

It was coming straight to this Katus Empire.

*

“Stop teasing, you damn—!”

“I’m not teasing. I’m just congratulating you.”

“That’s right, I’m just stating the facts.”

Yona was growling, baring her teeth.

It had become certain that Alec had finally made Yona his lover, and although she had expected this to happen when it became known, this was far beyond her expectations.

She was embarrassed to the point of going crazy.

Her face felt like it was burning, and she couldn’t understand how Alec could be so confident — yet Yona remained sitting close to Alec’s side without distancing herself.

“Still, Alec finally managed to do it after chasing you around so much. It’s a bit sad to see Evian’s specialty disappear like this.”

Evian Adventurers’ Guild’s specialty, the weird-headed healer.

A healer who couldn’t live up to her looks, insisting she was a man and acting like one, but whose skills were undeniable.

But now that she’s finally become Alec’s lover, her mental illness must have been cured — it could be seen that way.

“Well, anyway, it’s a good thing. It’s worth congratulating.”

Saying that, Alec’s hand wrapped around her waist.

Yona startled and straightened her back but didn’t push his hand away — she just blushed even more.

“The important thing would be family planning. Have you thought about it?”

At James’s words, spoken with a snicker, Yona suddenly remembered the intense times of that night.

Alec’s beast-like appearance as he pounced on Yona, seemingly tireless even as they spent the whole night—

“…Ah, stop it—!”

Finally, Yona shouted angrily and stood up abruptly.

Even though she was angry with a red face, it wasn’t threatening, but everyone closed their mouths feeling that if they continued, Yona would truly get angry. At that moment.

The door burst open.

In front of the door stood Alevian — with a face turned pale blue.