episode_0046

*

“Uh…”

“What’s wrong with him?”

Kunat suddenly stiffened his body and started acting strangely.

I shrugged once and ignored Kunat, returning to examining the map.

Kunat, who had been frozen in place for a while, approached me and cautiously asked in a hesitant voice.

“What does that mean…”

“Huh? What?”

“Why is it my fault that you won’t accept their hearts?”

“…”

Why is he asking something so obvious?

Annoyed, I glared at Kunat and replied.

“If I betray my vows of chastity and defile them, my divinity will disappear, so who will stop you, the demon, from running wild?”

“Ah… I see, that’s what it meant.”

“Of course, what else did you think it meant?”

“No, it’s nothing. I was just thinking about something else for a moment… Whew, that was quite a scare.”

“What the hell,”

“I told you it’s nothing. Don’t ask.”

Kunat jumped down from the desk and hid.

That unreliable demon is acting strangely, so I’m very nervous.

But I soon shook my head and focused on the map work again.

As long as he’s not plotting something, I’m not particularly curious about what the demon is thinking.

“Hmm… Even if I think as conservatively as possible… I can consider this area to be a safe zone…”

I carefully examined the frequency of monster appearances that I had written down in my notebook.

Considering various variables and possibilities, leaving only the safest places, I carefully marked them on the map.

It was a task with a lot to think about, but thankfully, Kunat didn’t approach me again to disturb me.

How much time had passed?

It was late at night when I finished the work, and I nodded as I looked at the map with various markings.

“It’s almost certain. Mora Village and the surrounding coastline are free of monsters… With the condition of having defensive facilities, it could be used as a base.”

I was slowly falling into the thought that I had to leave the island with the nuns.

Of course, it wasn’t an easy decision, but it was something I had to do.

There will be no more supplies coming to us in the future, and the small garden on the island has a limit to providing enough food.

Of course, Lucia and I are going out to explore and somehow getting food now, but when winter comes, both the exploration and the garden will obviously not be able to provide enough food.

In addition, in order to find more supplies or discover any possible survivors, we had to have a base on the land.

The fire bricks that Anna had asked me to bring to make a furnace for the blacksmith could also be easily solved by simply using the blacksmith outside the island.

However, even if there are no monsters around Mora Village, there was still a big problem left.

“… Is it possible to build defensive facilities?”

Right now, all the monsters around here have disappeared, but the noise that humans make when they resume their lives might attract their attention.

The problem is that they can pass through walls.

No matter how big a fence you build, it won’t be much different from a wall or a wide-open door for them.

Perhaps, it may be impossible to escape from such monsters and live a safe life.

Maybe… we’re the only humans left…

“No, no. Let’s not be afraid.”

I shook my head and quickly shook off the negative thoughts that were trying to spread their wings and fly up in my head.

Even if we can’t settle down, we have to go outside.

If we stay stuck on this island, we’ll only starve to death.

Besides, there’s also the problem of the devils aiming for this world.

If Kunat… no, if the devils weren’t aiming for this world, I might have considered accepting the destruction and living with the nuns, sharing love.

But now that I know that the devil is aiming for this world and that there are still survivors left outside the island, I had to move to punish evil and help those who are suffering.

That was the professional ethics and duty that a priest should have.

“If only we were ready, I’d leave right away… I don’t even know what to prepare…”

There are many empty houses and various intact facilities in Mora Village.

The village’s well is also fine, and although it hasn’t been harvested yet, various grains are growing roughly in the unmanaged fields.

But, even so, the move is a problem that cannot be easily decided.

In fact, moving isn’t the only option.

You can also consider the option of taking three nuns on a journey to find survivors, camping and sleeping outdoors.

Of course, it would be a very difficult road, but it was just as dangerous no matter which one you chose.

Besides, no matter which one you choose, a lot of preparation is needed.

“I should get the nuns’ opinions too.”

I rolled up the map and put it away, then got up from the desk.

Only after locking the doors and windows tightly did I lie down on the bed.

*

The next day,

After finishing breakfast, I explained the situation to the nuns and asked everyone to give their opinions.

Anna, Lucia, and even Sola seemed surprised by my suggestion to leave the island.

All three of them were lost in thought, and I didn’t rush them.

I waited for them to think enough, and Anna opened her mouth first.

“I’m against both. I think it’s too dangerous to leave the island.”

“… I see.”

“Yes, the sight of you being carried onto the ship covered in blood still comes to me in my dreams.”

“…”

“Leaving the island… I’m honestly too scared.”

Anna insisted strongly, but at the same time, she avoided my gaze and tightly closed her eyes.

Then she muttered softly.

“I’m sorry. But, I really… don’t think I can.”

After saying that, Anna slowly bowed her head to me.

I was a little surprised.

To think that an answer would come out that directly contradicted my opinion, completely deviating from the options.

To be honest, it was an answer I hadn’t even thought of.

But, if you think about it a little, it was an answer that could definitely come out.

Especially if the other person is Anna, who is just a powerless ordinary woman.

I understood Anna and nodded.

“It’s okay. Thank you for being honest.”

“Yes, I’m sorry again. Father…”

“No, what do you have to be sorry for?”

Anna smiled at those words and slowly made eye contact with me.

“Instead, I’ll work hard on the food problem. I’ve been collecting seeds while cooking anyway. I’ll also increase the size of the garden… and save and dry the food little by little.”

“Hmm, you’re diligent as always.”

“No… all I can do is this.”

“All you can do! Anna, if it weren’t for you, we would have all starved to death already.”

“Hehe, don’t be silly…”

At that time, Sola muttered softly.

“At least we would have eaten less watered-down eggplant soup.”

“…”

“…”

“Eung!”

Anna punched Sola in the head.

Sola huffed and grabbed her head.

I ignored Sola and looked at Anna, saying.

“Sometimes you seem more like the monastery head than me.”

Anna seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, raising her head, and soon narrowed her eyes and said.

“It’s me and Father… running it together… Hehe, I like that kind of monastery so much.”

“Yeah, I like it too.”

“Hehe, Father is really…”

“…?”

Next to speak was Lucia.

Lucia held onto her sleeve tightly and said.

“I… I’ll do whatever… Father… chooses…”

“Lucia, this isn’t a forced thing. I want to hear your thoughts.”

“I just want to… help with what Father… wants to do… That’s all… my opinion is…”

Lucia said that and bowed her head.

I was a little surprised this time as well.

I gave her options, but she entrusted the right to choose entirely to me.

The only good thing was that she didn’t seem to have any reluctance to leave the island.

Lucia’s answer was also plausible enough.

Lucia is younger than Anna, has been shy for a very long time, and also harbors good feelings towards me.

She relies on me to the point where she thinks everything I say is right.

Besides, she’s gone out on explorations with me several times,

So, to Lucia, who is already somewhat accustomed to the dangers outside, it might not matter which one she chooses.

“Are you really okay with anything?”

“Yes… I’ll do whatever… Father… wants…”

“Ha… okay, I understand.”

I turned my gaze to Sola, who was caressing the top of her head, which Anna had hit.

Sola glanced up at me and smiled brightly, saying.

“Father, ask me later.”

“Hmm?”

“I forgot everything I was thinking because I got hit by Anna. Hehe…”

Anna clenched her fist and shouted.

“When did I hit you that hard!”

“Aah! She’s hitting me again!”

“No! Father, no.”

“I know…”

I sighed and answered.

“Ha, okay, take your time to think about it, and answer when you’re comfortable. It’s not so urgent that we have to decide right away.”

“Okay!”

I slowly cleared the dishes, trying to get up from the table.

Then something popped up onto the table.

“Weren’t you going to ask my opinion?”

It was Kunat.

I answered without even turning my head.

“Yeah, I’m not going to ask your opinion.”

“Ah, why? I have a very wonderful idea.”

“Ha, please… don’t butt in anywhere. For example, monastery meetings.”

“Aren’t I a member of the monastery too?”

“Do you sometimes forget that you’re a demon? Do demons get dementia?”

Anna quietly said while clearing the dishes next to me.

“Mr. Kunat, please get off the table. Cat hair is flying around.”

At those words, Kunat protested to me as if he was dumbfounded.

“No, where in the world is there a demon who is treated like this?”

“Ah, shut up.”

“Humanly speaking, aren’t you not even treating me like a demon anyway! Please listen to my opinion too.”

“Ha… okay. What are you thinking, Mr. Kunat, the great demon with twenty-three names?”

“Hehe,”

Kunat sat quietly next to me and wagged his tail, saying.

“If you connect all the nuns to demons, it will be easier to live outside the island…”

“Anna, bring me some water. I need to wash my ears because I heard nonsense.”

“Yes. Please wait a moment.”

I pushed Kunat off the table.

Kunat grumbled and crawled under the table.

“Father.”

At that time, Sola tapped my shoulder and said.

“I’ve decided.”

“… Already? You can think about it slowly, not just Sola, but Anna and Lucia too. It’s not like we’re leaving tomorrow anyway.”

“Yeah, but I’ve already decided.”

Sola clenched her fist and said.

“I want to go outside the island!”