Ch.104Faith and Love (5)

# Faith and Love (5)

It was a bit unexpected.

I vaguely sensed the atmosphere, but I never imagined a confession like this.

Well, I suppose confessions happen.

After all, I’m quite the catch. It’s unreasonable to expect people not to fall for me.

But the form it took was definitely different from what I’d imagined.

Eirene Saintess, trembling as if afraid of rejection.

That appearance was so different from how I usually saw her.

“People are free to love whomever they choose. Moreover, if you say you love me, I would be happy. Yes, hearing those words makes me happy right now.”

There’s a saying that one action is better than a thousand words.

But the opposite is also true.

Sometimes, speaking is better than showing through actions.

This is often the case for those who lack confidence in their own actions or in others’ appearances. The same applies to Eirene Saintess.

What she needed right now was probably a single word of assurance.

“Then…”

Eirene flinched at my response but seemed to relax her tension.

The fear of rejection that was present earlier was no longer visible.

Instead, a gentle smile softly appeared on her lips.

Just a few simple words.

That was enough to resolve Eirene’s fear.

What’s simple for one person can solve another’s long-standing worries.

Be your own guiding light.

I’ve lived according to that principle, but I also know that’s not enough to navigate life.

There are moments when you need to find your own answers, but there are also times when you need help from others.

That’s why I try to live honestly in all matters.

“Lug, do you love me?”

“…”

But I also realize that sometimes lies are necessary.

This is something I shouldn’t answer honestly.

No, I shouldn’t, but really…

***

Eirene Saintess knew.

She knew her question was utterly cowardly.

As the representative of the Celestial God Order, she whispered of love, not apology.

A truly cowardly and ugly act.

But even she isn’t without fear. If she were to hear words of rejection from the mouth of the Celestial God she serves, she would have to face that alone.

She still found it difficult to accept the complete downfall of the Celestial God Order.

But Lug, despite seeing through her intentions, affirmed her.

He told her he was happy about her love. Just those few words made Eirene feel her heart unwind.

Her heartbeat intensified, and her feelings grew more poignant.

Eirene smiled, free from the fear of rejection.

And finally, she could acknowledge her feelings as love.

Yes, that’s why.

“Lug, do you love me?”

“…”

She asked such a question.

Honestly, it wasn’t an expected question.

Even Eirene doesn’t believe that just because she loves someone, they will love her back.

This is just the beginning, isn’t it?

Today she confirmed the possibility.

That alone was enough for Eirene.

But Lug broke into a cold sweat and kept his mouth firmly shut.

“…Lug?”

Eirene blinked as she watched Lug’s complexion grow increasingly pale in real-time.

Perhaps the word that would come from Lug’s mouth would be “no.”

Eirene would be hurt if she heard that, but she was prepared to understand. After all, she didn’t intend to end it there.

She wouldn’t give up but would consider this just the beginning.

But Lug was troubled.

Yes, he was troubled.

“Lug…”

Eirene immediately began to tear up. For someone who had been acting her entire life, this was simple.

If Lug felt sorry for her now, there was no reason not to use that emotion.

While her feelings toward Lug might be fresh and innocent, her mind was cunning in pursuing them.

Eirene’s heart was already relieved from the moment Lug gave her permission, but making the atmosphere more sticky wasn’t a problem.

“Is it difficult for you to answer?”

To transform the other’s sympathy into guilt.

She portrayed herself as close to a tragic heroine as possible.

“Why…”

Fortunately, Lug still didn’t know her true nature. Eirene never intended to show her true self anyway.

She had lived telling lies, so she was prepared to act as the ideal woman Lug desired.

And now, through Lug’s appearance, she determined her direction.

To evoke sympathy.

“Well, um…”

“Just… just tell me honestly, Lug.”

“Hmm…”

Drop.

A tear that had formed in Eirene’s eye rolled down her cheek.

And choosing the moment when that tear flowed near her mouth, she smiled.

The perfect performance.

A scheme to evoke sympathy and guilt. The image of a delicate girl.

“…I’ll speak honestly.”

Finally, as if he could no longer bear to see Eirene like this, Lug rubbed his eyes and spoke.

“Saintess… no, Eirene.”

“…”

Lug set the mood intensely.

The sudden use of her name startled Eirene, who had been manipulating the situation.

A situation separate from her acting. A genuinely trembling heart.

Eirene began to feel excitement and anticipation about the changed relationship between them through their recent conversation.

What if? Yes, what if Lug said he loved her?

Should they run away and start a family?

Eastern or Western style wedding?

Since the Celestial God Order began in the east, would that style be better?

Children? Just one, considering the god’s specialness? Or maybe three for a harmonious family?

Or perhaps…

‘Hmm, hmm. I’m getting a bit ahead of myself.’

As Eirene was painting a rosy future through such assumptions.

“…I have viewed Eirene as an object of sexual desire, but I haven’t yet considered her as an object of love.”

“…”

Eirene was speechless.

She was rejected. Honestly, she expected it.

Wasn’t that why she created this situation to leave Lug with guilt?

“Th… that…”

But Eirene could only belatedly notice the emotion boiling deep within her heart.

“What on earth does that mean…?”

She couldn’t bear the words that she was only seen as an object of sexual desire.

No, she knew Lug saw her that way.

But she thought there would be some affection, who would have thought there would ‘only’ be sexual desire?

Eirene had seduced Lug in many ways.

There were times when she unintentionally encouraged that sexual desire.

But basically, her approach was mainly about running away together and setting up a home.

Every time she made such seductions, she dreamed of a newlywed life with Lug.

Wasn’t that the case just a moment ago?

She was, surprisingly, a girl who dreamed of being a devoted wife and mother.

But Lug had only dreamed of sexual desire from those words?

Even if he was stained with the seven emotions and six desires, isn’t that too much?

Doesn’t that mean he’s placing her on the same level as Esmeralda, who has been overtly tormenting Lug?

She could tolerate other things, but not that.

Eirene had a tendency to look down on Esmeralda.

“…”

Her heart, simultaneously expressing anger, love, and love-hate, beats as if it’s about to burst.

She had intended to be satisfied.

Confess her feelings and get some kind of answer from Lug.

Then, whatever the answer, Lug would be conscious of her from now on.

She planned to use that to tilt Lug’s heart toward love.

Yes, that was all.

Originally, Lug had stopped running away and even surrendered himself to join the hero’s party.

Eirene didn’t know the reason, but she knew Lug was sincere about joining.

In such a situation, diverting Lug and deserting the hero’s party would be counterproductive.

So she had intended to be satisfied with just hearing his answer today.

‘No, but.’

Eirene’s mind began to initiate on the current situation.

Her plan had already succeeded.

Lug has been watching Eirene’s reactions since he spoke earlier.

From now on, he’ll think about love in relation to whatever she does.

But is that enough?

Now that it’s been revealed that she’s on the same level as Esmeralda?

She had seduced Lug quite a bit.

She had explicitly expressed her affection.

Yet, to be treated like this is simply unacceptable.

“…”

Her heartbeat gets faster and faster.

Her mind, which had been filled with all sorts of thoughts, suddenly went blank.

When she came to her senses.

“Eirene?”

“…”

Eirene found herself even closer to Lug.

Eirene, who was sticking close as if she might push him down, narrowed the distance while looking into Lug’s eyes.

Slowly, as if seeking permission.

And the moment she realized Lug wasn’t avoiding her and was looking into her eyes.

Eirene gently closed her eyes and kissed Lug.

***

There’s such a thing as atmosphere.

I roughly understand the flow.

That Eirene was disappointed by my answer, that she was angry.

And yet, instead of expressing that, she chose another method.

Eirene kissed me as if wanting me to be conscious of her, even while being angry at my answer.

In a sense, it’s a declaration of war.

She probably wanted to take the lead since she knew I was placing her on the same level as others.

Passionate emotion.

That would be the right way to describe it.

But I got too caught up in the atmosphere. Not Eirene, but me.

For a moment, I was swept away by the atmosphere, and my lower body dominated my brain.

“Why did you stick your tongue in there, you crazy bastard…”

A person who inserted his tongue during a girl’s first kiss.

A person who surprised someone who had shyly confessed their love for him, making them run away.

That was me right now.