episode_0004

After spending the most terrible night of my life in the arms of a saint, it was impossible to check the time, so the next day I measured it with my navel clock.

There is nothing special about the next day. I just felt a bit down knowing that the execution ceremony was one day away. It’s a very trivial thing.

“Saint, I have come to visit you.”

Saying so, Celt opened the iron cage of Tartarus and entered. Next to him, a huge, muscular man stood as strong as a stone statue.

Ogre? troll? No, the man next to Celt was clearly human. It just doesn’t look human at all. He was as big as Frankenstein, who was raised by the Grand Duke of the Southern Demon World.

Damn it, I’m visiting again. During the 104 days I spent in Tartarus, I have not been able to visit even once. For some reason, I feel like I lost to the saint, and my pride is severely hurt.

“It’s been a while.”

There was a hint of happiness in the saint’s voice. In fact, there is a strong feeling that the man is shaking from his standing posture.

“Holy Emperor Julius.”

“Saint, how are you?”

“Thanks to the grace of the Lord, I always do well.”

“Umm… This place is too… .”

“Is the environment important? It depends on how you decide. Just as we happily chew on stones for food given by the Lord, if we think of Tartarus as heaven, it is no different from heaven.”

That woman started again. Spreading nonsense that doesn’t even work. When I hear this, I feel embarrassed and want to come forward and cover my mouth right away. This would probably have been the case even if only his arms and legs had not been tied.

By the way, what did you just say?

Of course, it was called ‘Julius the Holy Emperor’.

“Okay then, I’ll just leave. You two, please talk.”

“Celt, is that okay?”

“Visiting time is unlimited. In fact, it’s really rare for a prisoner in Tartarus to be visited… If a problem arises later, I will cover it with my authority.”

“… Thank you as always, Kelt. You are still the same as when you were a white knight.”

Holy Emperor Julius raised his arm and tapped Kelt on the shoulder. Not with your hands, but with your arms. The area below his elbows was bare and empty.

“Yes, old!”

Celt let out a proud cry and hurried out. Cancer, that’s how it should be.

It is said that the Pope and a saint of the Holy Kingdom will visit, not anyone else. How dare some prisoner fool around with him?

Holy Emperor Julius, the Pope of the Holy Kingdom and the highest dignity.

Also known as the Emperor of Fist, he is without a doubt one of the best warriors on the current continent. It is not for nothing that it is said that Seonghwang’s left fist cuts through the air, and his right fist tears through dimensions.

The fact that the arm of such a saint was numb… Ah, the Celts said it. It is said that the Demon King demanded the arms of the Holy Emperor as a condition for accepting the surrender of the Holy Kingdom.

Wait a minute, then doesn’t the saint and the saint have a difficult relationship?

The Holy Emperor, who had been resisting the Demon King’s army for a long time, eventually surrendered to the Demon King by cutting off his own arm, and the Saint became a one-man army and struggled until the last moment, but was defeated by the demonic agents and became a death row inmate.

“Umm… Holy woman, what should I say first? .”

“Speak comfortably. Why is the leader of the church hesitating?”

“I’m sorry. No, sorry.”

Ah, I guess that’s why he was shrinking from earlier. Because of stabbing yourself.

Honestly, I don’t understand. The end of the war was the devil’s victory anyway. I, who had been watching the Demon King for a long time, knew from the beginning, but when the indomitable hero became the indomitable hero, the hope of the continent was almost extinguished.

Then, from Seongguk’s perspective, wasn’t Seonghwang’s choice the right one? Isn’t it foolish for the saint to have resisted to the end and ended up on death row in vain?

… As expected, I cannot understand the saint.

“What are you saying? How can the noble Holy Emperor Julius apologize to me?”

“Saint, I will try my best. Please just a little… Please hold on just a little longer.”

“What is there to do other than just face the trials the Lord gives you and endure them?”

“… We will make sure that execution does not occur. If necessary, even against the devil.”

Seonghwang hid his severed arms behind his back, showing his strong will. It is an action that shows how much he cares for the saint.

But, he probably doesn’t know, right?

‘Execution’ clearly refers to the saint’s execution. Because only death row inmates come here to Tartarus.

And, to sentence a person as big as a saint to death, the judge would have to be at the level of a demon king.

How can a weak human being who cut off his arm because he was afraid of the devil stand against the devil?

These are just superficial words. Because she knows that, the saintess also has that bitter smile on her face.

“Don’t do anything pointless.”

“But, saint… .”

“Isn’t this peace achieved in exchange for the Holy Emperor’s precious arms?”

The saint stretched out her hand and grabbed the saint’s severed arm. Even though I had no eyes, I managed to catch it.

“When the lives of millions of people are at stake, how can you be swayed by emotions?”

Ugh-.

A cluster of pure white light arose from the saint’s small, rough hands. The rays of light in the darkness illuminated the side of the bars that were a little further away from me.

A halo of light seeped into Seonghwang’s bandaged arms. New shoots began to sprout from Seonghwang’s arm that came in contact with the light.

The day before yesterday I healed my throat… That unidentifiable halo of light. I used to package it as love.

“If the Lord takes you, you just have to accept it with a joyful attitude. That’s just it.”

The Emperor’s aged face was colored with astonishment. His abundant beard fluttered.

“Saint! Everyone, quit now! How can someone like that give the saint’s precious lifespan to someone like that? !”

“The Lord gave me life to show love to a humble person, so now I am doing my duty. Don’t reject it.”

Bones, muscles, blood vessels, flesh, etc. grew suddenly. After blinking for a moment, Seonghwang’s arms were already healthy.

The original forearm and the newly grown arm were a little different, but whatever.

“Saint… .”

“I tried to make it as similar to the previous one as possible. I hope you like it… … Whoop!”

“Saint! Why are you doing this! Celt, Celt! Is it outside?”

Suddenly, the saint vomited blood from her mouth.

Hemoptysis, which looked unusual at first glance, was flowing down the iron bars. The saint’s nun’s clothes were stained with blood.

The Holy Emperor urgently called Celt outside. When he still didn’t get an answer, he went out directly, pounding his huge body.

“Wow, they’re making a fuss.”

“Uuuuup… Cough, Clock-.”

The saint sank down on the hot stone floor, leaning her head against the iron bars. Red blood was still gushing out of her mouth.

Frequent coughing followed. As I looked at him quietly, I hinted at him.

“The secret to that almost omnipotent healing power is longevity.”

“Haha… .”

“What? love? It’s funny. On the subject of writing life.”

“My humble body… It was created by the grace of the Lord… .”

“What are you saying while everyone is dying?”

“My short lifespan is… Because it is filled with the love of the Lord… It is love… .”

After spitting out those words, the saintess sank her face into the stone floor. Looks like he’s half fainted.

He probably won’t be able to get up on his own for a while.

Lifespan, lifespan. Healing my wounded throat and healing Vincent’s gunshot wound all took a lifetime.

The fact that he collapsed today after becoming a little emaciated the first two times means that he had to spend a lot of his life to regenerate the Holy Emperor’s arm.

under.

Her blood boils as it touches the stone floor. That’s right, I forgot, but this is Tartarus.

Oh my, if I were to stay like that without even being able to use solar power, the saint’s face would be cooked like burnt meat.

… Whether it ripens or not, what does it have to do with me? The saint is not even my ally. It’s going to fall apart in 5 days anyway, so I’m sure it’ll fall apart now.

“Collok.”

“What, you’re not dead?”

I wish the saint would die. Because it’s disgusting.

I wish she, like the goddess’s alter ego, would disappear forever. This is because it is unpleasant to even touch it.

Heo Heo Heon I hope that her mouth that says horrible things will be shut forever. Because it is extremely painful to listen to.

“Cough, Clock.”

The saintess coughs softly. The blood that spurted out gradually oxidized into the air.

Okay, just die like that. I’m starting to get tired of talking to you.

but.

“Your face is worth looking at.”

If you’re going to die, why not die properly… ?

“… Ha, I edited it so that it came out clearly once I said it. How foolish you were to spend your life on me… … .”

“Collock… !”

The saintess let out a loud cough. I barely managed to use my fingers to show my telekinesis and added words to make sure she wasn’t mistaken.

Ugh-.

“Don’t misunderstand hastily. Even though the average human looks pretty shit, I just don’t want the few pretty features to be ruined. I absolutely do not want that person to live. I’m artistic.”

It’s true. I like artistic things. I also like pretty things.

That’s all. I can swear that I’m not doing this because I like her.

Ugh-.

“Keuuu… !”

“Collok.”

He uses his telekinetic powers by snapping his fingers. The saint’s upper body automatically rose and lay down on the iron bars.

Pain hit me as if every bone in my body was breaking. I feel like my stomach is twisting. This is because he used telekinesis forcefully.

My vision became blurred. My mind went blank. The seizure, which had been quiet the entire time, flared up again and made a ‘clunking’ noise.

Am I going to lose my mind like this?

“Still, I’m glad… .”

In my fading mind, I muttered as I looked at the saintess leaning gracefully against the bars.

“Because the face won’t be cooked… .”

The next moment, my consciousness went out as I saw Seonghwang and Celt coming in panting.

Damn you guys. Come quickly. What are you going to do if you become a saint? … .

*****

When I opened my eyes with difficulty, I saw a sitting saint and a saint kneeling in front of her. Celt was fidgeting next to them.

Seonghwang was profusely apologizing for something. The saintess was nodding her head with a gentle smile as usual.

“Then let’s go. Holy woman, please take good care of yourself.”

“Yes, Seonghwang. I would like to ask you not to feel unnecessarily guilty. Because Seonghwang did his best.”

“… Thank you.”

After answering calmly, the Holy Emperor got up and left Tartarus. His steps were as heavy as those of most ogres.

Kelt handed the saint two breads through the bars and followed the saint.

Seonghwang, who seemed to be leaving like that, turned around for a moment.

“It’s dark inside, so I don’t know who the deceased lying there is… Please take good care of the saint.”

After leaving those words to me, he completely disappeared. How would you react if you found out that I was your enemy next to the Demon Lord?

Since he’s already gone, I’ll never know.

“Such a precious thing… .”

The saint looked at the bread that Celt had given her with warm eyes, and then came to me. For some reason, I feel like I know her next move.

“What is it.”

“Please eat.”

“I don’t like bread.”

“You enjoyed it the other day.”

“That’s because I was so hungry.”

“Do you think you are still hungry?”

The saintess placed her hand on my stomach as if teasing me. It was a rather simple gesture, but it was absolutely disgusting to me.

“Well, what are you doing!”

Of course, I protested strongly, but the saint did not stop and groped my stomach. An unpleasant touch tickled my lower abdomen.

“Isn’t the belly skin sticking to your back?”

“This perverted girl… !”

“Just eat it, my benefactor.”

“Benefactor? no way… Did you remember that when everyone was dying?”

“I am not such a spoiled woman that I do not recognize the benefactor who saved my humble life.”

“Damn it! I did something pointless!”

Whether I got angry or not, the saint put bread into my mouth with a smile on her face. Ha, I guess they’ll save me again.

“Ubung… !”

“Did you get hit in the mouth?”

“Fuck you! Even troll meat tastes better than this!”

Damn, it’s so fucking delicious.

First, it’s true that I hate bread. I have been a bread hater for a long time.

Even in the middle of the battlefield against the empire, when I went to the northern polar region, when I got lost in the hell forest of monsters, when I slaughtered the white knights of the Holy Kingdom, and even when I got hungry while cutting down the world tree.

I hate bread to the point where I’m always looking for bread.

“Well… well… .”

“I am relieved to hear that you are eating well.”

The bread was savory and soft. There seemed to be a strange scent. Regardless of those things, I didn’t like what I didn’t like.

I chewed it thoroughly and swallowed it. The saint tried to put me on her lap again.

I tried to resist by shaking my head, but because my limbs were tied, I ended up falling into her arms again. Damn it, if these chains come off, I’ll have to kill the saint first. Although it is unclear whether that day will come.

“You say you feel safe, but why are you hugging me again?”

“When the baby angel in your heart raises its head, you should spur further enlightenment.”

“That rosary keeps stabbing my head and it hurts. Can you please clean it up?”

“… Oops, I was rude.”

The saint hurriedly took out the rosary she had been putting in her bosom to the side. When I see things like that, I don’t think her purpose is to make me suffer, but she really is an unpredictable woman.

“… There is one thing I want to ask.”

“Please feel free to ask questions.”

I asked her a vague question. The saintess responded with joy. Are you so happy that I spoke to you?

“Conversation with Seonghwang… I can guess. They also told him not to feel guilty.”

“Is that so?”

“Either die or surrender to the Demon King, or these are the only two endings that any race on the continent faced during the last war.”

“That’s right.”

“Seongguk resisted until the end, but in the end, Seonghwang surrendered to the Demon King. In exchange for cutting off his own arm, on the condition that the subjects of the Holy Kingdom be guaranteed.”

The saintess’s expression suddenly darkened. She had a gloomy smile.

“And they resisted until the end. I heard that you fought alone against 100,000 monsters in the valley that swallows the sun. In the end, he was defeated by the devil’s agents and imprisoned here.”

“That’s right.”

“Why is it like that? What?”

Seonghwang was wise.

The saint was foolish.

It is a war that cannot be won. Now that you realize that, it is right to surrender unconditionally. This must be done in order to sustain minimal damage.

“Seonghwang made the right choice. We cannot risk the lives of our subjects in a war.”

“No, that one. Saint, why did you foolishly fight to the end?”

It doesn’t seem like he doesn’t know that when he says it’s right even from his own mouth.

“You’re not trying to say you didn’t know you would lose, right? No matter how powerful you are, even if you were called a one-man army, there are some things you can do alone and some things you can’t do.”

“I also have eyes. I did not know the outcome of the war.”

“What are you saying, you idiot? If you really knew like you said, why didn’t you step down? Will the world change because you resist?”

“… … .”

Instead of answering immediately, the saint bowed her head towards me. The rough bandages touched the texture of my skin.

Oh my, is my head your son’s son? Why are you protecting me like your own child? If you want to have something like that, just catch a human male and make a child.

“Demon.”

“Why.”

In the midst of the stuffiness, the saint’s voice penetrated my ears.

“Evil is so powerful that resistance is impossible, even if everyone succumbs to it. It’s not that people’s hearts have given in. A spark of resistance remains in everyone’s hearts. But if everyone gives up and stays still… That fire goes out quickly. That’s why someone has to save them without giving up. A spark of justice and hope.”

For some reason, the saint’s words were filled with firm determination. As if in contrast, the saintess’s small back was sobbing lightly.

I don’t understand how they treat someone being killed like that.

“In the end, it’s a dog’s death.”

“Is that so.”

“Am I wrong? You’ve been caught, and you’re about to go to the guillotine. The fire has already gone out. Whether you struggle or not, it will go out anyway. If that’s not dog death, what is?”

Why am I questioning the saint? I don’t know why she’s angry when it has nothing to do with what kind of life she’s led.

Whether the saint dies or not has nothing to do with me, but she was my enemy, so I should like her.

I don’t know why I feel uncomfortable or why Idaji is also angry.

Maybe it was because he knew that the saint had sacrificed her own life to help me.

Even if that were the case, there was no way I, a demon, would feel grateful.

“… Even if we die like a dog, shouldn’t we protect it?”

“Keeping means protecting something.”

“Not compromising with injustice, for any reason.”

I am.

“I kept the medical association.”

You don’t understand me.