Confession (4)

,Rel… Relationship, you mean…”

Seraphin’s face turned bright red. Her blushing face contrasted with her pure white saintess robes.

,A man and a woman… you know…”

Her hands tightly gripped the hem of her saintess robes. Beneath her white eyelashes, her violet eyes trembled anxiously.

In the plaza bathed in moonlight, the saintess’s face, standing before the bonfire, grew increasingly red. Even her earlobes were dyed crimson.

,But if it’s Hero-nim… it might be okay…”

Seraphin, with her reddened face, pressed her fingers together.

In that instant, a different light flickered in her eyes than usual. It was a strange gaze, as if sensuality had taken root within her purity.

,Saintess-nim.”

,Yes…?”

I made my voice as serious as possible.

,Breaking the saintess’s purity… isn’t that disregarding the Goddess-nim’s authority?”

Seraphin’s eyes wavered.

,I like Saintess-nim too, but there’s no helping it, right?”

Her white face turned even redder. Could it be that she reacted to the words ‘I like you’?

,Th… That’s… true, but.”

She must have understood by now.

Seraphin, who went from ‘Saintess of Calamity’ to ‘Pure White Saintess’.

She had been practicing the Goddess’s teachings since she was young. She never once violated the arduous training or strict precepts.

She was the one who started her day with prayers to the Goddess every dawn and transcribed the Bible every night.

What’s more, wasn’t she the ‘Pure White Saintess’, renowned as the most devout?

She should be able to overcome love or desire with her faith in the Goddess. After all, she had already rejected countless suitors in the name of the Goddess.

Yes, this is enough. By tomorrow, she’ll be back to her usual saintess self. She’ll compose herself with prayer…

,Th, according to the Order’s Bible…”

…Huh?

Seraphin suddenly opened her mouth. Her violet eyes sparkled beneath the moonlight.

,The Hero and Saintess’s first night… if they perform a ritual with sacred prayers… the Goddess-nim will allow it, they say.”

,Prayers?”

Her voice grew softer and softer. Her white cheeks turned even redder.

,Yes! The Pope-nim and the archbishops gather and ask the Goddess-nim.”

My mind went blank for a moment. What did she just say?

,Wait a minute. So… what are they asking for? For permission to do *that*?”

My throat went dry.

,So, a bunch of people gather and pray during our first night?”

No, that’s a bit… What is this, some Joseon Dynasty royalty shit…? To spend our first night like that…

Seeing my troubled expression, Seraphin frantically waved her hands.

,Ah, don’t worry! We’ll be in a separate private room…”

Her face turned even redder as she imagined the scene.

,So… you won’t be able to see us! Besides, it’s a sacred ritual… no one would dare listen or peek!”

This is a setting I didn’t even know about in the game?

Seraphin’s violet eyes were filled with anticipation as she looked at me.

No, this isn’t the time to be flustered. I need to get out of this situation somehow.

There’s no helping it. I can’t accept her feelings.

I’m leaving soon. And more than anything, the other girls won’t stand for it.

It’s hard to say harsh words to the devout Saintess-nim, but there’s no helping it.

,But if I marry Saintess-nim, I’ll have to follow the Goddess Order’s doctrines… and attend prayer meetings every day, right?”

The Goddess Order’s doctrines… just thinking about it made me feel suffocated.

I’d have to attend prayer meetings every dawn, and alcohol is forbidden, of course. No smoking either… and even a single lewd joke would require three hours of repentance prayer.

,But listening to the Goddess-nim’s words is important… Ah, I understand! I’ll try to reduce it as much as possible!”

Seraphin pondered for a moment, then raised her head as if she had made up her mind.

,Our Order has become much more flexible now! Prayer meetings… um… three times a week… no, about twice…”

To think she’d show this side of herself. She, who always strictly adhered to the doctrines, was desperately trying to find a compromise, seemingly flustered by my rejection.

,Alcohol… I can… overlook it sometimes. Because, you’re the Hero who saved the world! The Goddess-nim will surely understand. Probably…”

The last words were so soft they were almost inaudible.

,If only Hero-nim would stay by my side… I’d do anything…!”

I felt sorry for her as she tried to compromise, even bending her own beliefs.

,Did you know? A saintess can only marry a hero.”

Tears welled up in Seraphin’s eyes, glistening.

,If you’re not the Hero… I… I…”

Her voice grew louder and louder.

,…I’ll have to grow old and die a spinster in the monastery for the rest of my life!”

The holy light descending from the heavens quietly faded.

,I don’t… I don’t want that. I want to… I want to experience love too. Our fate was decided by the Goddess-nim!”

,Saintess-nim, I understand for now.”

Her eyes sparkled with hope.

,But right now… we have a battle tomorrow. Let’s sleep for now.”

,Ah…”

Seraphin’s expression was tinged with regret.

,Yes… Hero-nim is right. Tomorrow is an important day.”

Her pure white wings slowly folded. White feathers fell to the ground one by one.

,After defeating the Demon King… I definitely want to have the best happy ending. With Hero-nim.”

She hesitated for a moment, then added in a small voice.

,Then… good night, my Hero.”

***

I finally lay down in bed. So much happened today.

Today was a really long day. Starting with the Golden Dragon’s confession under the moonlight…

Aris’s golden eyes came to mind. That gaze that looked at me as ‘Dragon’s Treasure’. The obsession of a dragon who has lived for thousands of years…

Silvia’s cold green eyes also flashed by. That ominous energy that made it feel like the entire forest was watching me. It was said that elves only love one person for life.

And just now, the saintess’s pure heart. The tears that welled up in Seraphin’s violet eyes still weighed heavily on my heart.

,What is all this…”

I tossed and turned in bed. The creaking sound of the old bed echoed through the room.

I’ve finally made it to the Demon King’s castle, but how many people have confessed to me?

If I reject them all like this… won’t the party fall apart from the pain of unrequited love?

Then who will defeat the Demon King?

The worst-case scenario was painted in my head.

‘Hero’s party disbanded due to relationship problems.’

I absolutely refuse this kind of ending.

,If only there was a save point like in the game. Sigh.”

I pulled up the blanket. Let’s just defeat the Demon King and think about it. I need to sleep for tomorrow anyway.

…It was just when I was about to fall asleep.

,Haru-nyang…”

Something warm and soft came up on my chest.

,Eumnya…”

I unconsciously reached out and stroked it. The soft texture felt good.

,Geureureung…”

A light vibration was transmitted. It was like a cat purring…

Wait a minute, a cat?

I abruptly opened my eyes. A girl with black cat ears was on top of me.

,Nia?”

,Haru-nyang, did you sleep well-nyang?”

Her golden cat eyes sparkled in the moonlight. Black ears perked up between her short black hair.

,I need to sleep now, unlike someone who’s nocturnal!”

I frowned as I spoke, but Nia’s black tail playfully wagged in front of my face.

,Stop… it’s ticklish.”

,Haru-nyang is ticklish-nyang?”

,What are you doing, at this hour?”

,Nia wants you to play with her-nya.”

Her voice came out in a spoiled tone.

,I have to sleep now. Tomorrow is an important day.”

,Eung… Nia is sad that you won’t play with her-nyang… You’re a bad owner-nya.”

Nia drooped her ears as if disappointed. But soon, her golden eyes sparkled and came back to life.

,I understand-nyang! If Haru-nyang is tired… kind Nia will sleep next to Haru-nyang-nyang! You don’t have to pay-nya.”

She grinned and plopped down on my chest. Her soft hair tickled my chin.

,No, that’s not what I mean…”

I was slightly annoyed. Nia was always so headstrong. It was the shamelessness unique to thieves, or rather, cats.

Come to think of it, the weakness of the cat Nia is…

I gently reached out and grabbed her tail.

,Hieek?!”

Nia’s body stiffened for a moment.

The tail is the most sensitive part of the cat tribe. If you touch it…

,Ah… Ha, Haru-nyang… not there-nyang…”

Nia, drained of strength, slumped to the side. Her cat ears twitched.

,Okay, now go back and sleep.”

,…That’s cheating-nyang!”

Nia puffed out her cheeks and got up. Her golden eyes sparkled with anger.

,Nia came to tell Haru-nyang something important-nyang!”

,No, I don’t want to. Stop!”

But Nia, like a cat, didn’t listen to me at all. Rather, she came even closer.

Her golden eyes sparkled like moonlight.

,Do you remember-nyang? When we first met…”

That day came to mind. The day I saved the master thief Nia, who had been sentenced to death at the city’s execution ground.

,You said the reason Haru-nyang saved me back then… was because you needed the information I had, but…”

,No, that’s the reason.”

,Don’t lie-nyang!”

Nia puffed out her cheeks.

,It’s because I’m cute, isn’t it-nyang! Tell me honestly-nyang!”

,That’s not it…”

,And that day! When we were surrounded by orcs…”

Nia’s voice suddenly became serious.

,Everyone else was trying to abandon me and run away… but only Haru-nyang…”

At that time, Nia was injured in the leg.

,Carried me on your back and ran away… treated me… and even stroked my head…”

Nia’s tail wagged gently.

,From then on… Haru-nyang is my master-nyang!”

The deep feelings hidden within her playful tone. The sincerity contained in her voice pierced my heart.

,I’m sorry, Nia. But…”

,Why-nyang?!”

,Well… you’re a cat.”

,So what?”

,You’re nocturnal… you shed fur… and I’m allergic to cats.”

,Th, that’s…!”

Nia stammered, seemingly flustered.

,The allergy can be cured… and if you clean the fur every day… I’ll be quiet at night too!”

Wait a minute. Something’s wrong.

,Nia… your way of speaking right now…”

,Ah!”

Nia gasped and covered her mouth in surprise. Her black ears perked up.

,No, why the sudden change in your way of speaking? You could always talk like that?”

,Th… that is…”

Nia’s face turned bright red.

,Of course! Nya-nyang is just… a concept for cuteness…”

,You’ve been maintaining that concept for years?”

,Geee… but this is more comfortable now-nyang!”

She returned to her nya-nyang way of speaking.

,Anyway! Haru-nyang has to take responsibility-nyang!”

,Why?”

,You touched my ears and tail… how can you do this-nyang! Give me back my maiden’s heart-nyang!”

,Ah, if we’re going to talk like that, I also touched Aris’s horns and tail?”

,What-nyang?!”

Nia’s fur stood on end in an instant. Her ears perked up and her tail puffed up like a broom.

,You’re shameless-nya! This is cheating-nyang!”

Nia jumped up and shouted.

,Haru-nyang is a philandering, bastard hero-nya! Why are you touching other females’ tails-nyang!”

Flames of jealousy blazed in her golden eyes. This is… dangerous.

The room became noisy. If I leave it like this, the other party members will wake up.

What if they come running and see Nia clinging to me? Wow, just imagining it gives me the creeps.

I gently reached out and stroked Nia’s head. My hand touched her soft ears through her black hair.

,Geureureung…”

The rampaging Nia instantly calmed down.

,But… I won’t give up-nyang.”

Nia looked straight into my eyes.

,Nia… always gets what she wants-nyang.”

Her voice turned cold. Her cute nya-nyang tone was still there, but there was a chilling aura mixed in.

,Haru-nyang is… mine-nyang.”

Her voice grew softer and softer, and soon I heard snoring. Nia was curled up and asleep on my chest.

,No, she was just making threats and fell asleep so quickly.”

,Geureureung… Haru-nyang is mine-nyang…”

I laughed at her cute muttering as she slept. Where did that threatening gaze go?

Her black tail gently wrapped around my wrist. As if saying ‘Don’t run away’.

Looking at her like this, she really just looks like a big cat…

,Kuhool… Kuhool…”

She looks peaceful as she sleeps, even snoring. But she could scratch me with those claws at any time, right?

,Haa…”

If I sleep like this, an even bigger commotion will break out tomorrow morning… Should I wake her up and send her back?

Suddenly, Nia’s ears twitched. Did she read my thoughts even unconsciously? Her tail wrapped around my wrist even tighter.

,Kuhool… After defeating the Demon King… Haru-nyang and I will be a couple of thieves… no-nyang… a couple of adventurers… We’ll wash our hands and live honestly-nyang… Because that’s what Haru-nyang will like…”

Well, let’s just leave her like this for today. You shouldn’t wake a cat anyway.

……And the next morning dawned.