Ch.105Faith and Love (6)

Faith and Love (6)

She wanted special treatment.

That’s why she decided to engrave an unforgettable moment for Lug.

A kiss for that purpose.

…but things didn’t go according to Eirene’s plan.

‘I, I must be crazy…!’

She thought the atmosphere was somewhat romantic until the kiss.

But what should have been a gentle first kiss turned into a complete mess the moment Lug’s tongue entered.

Was it Lug’s fault?

Of course, one can’t say it’s normal to suddenly stick your tongue into someone during their first kiss.

‘If, if I look like this, then I too…’

However, Eirene couldn’t deny that her current appearance had given him that impression.

In her rush to purify herself, she hadn’t even dried the moisture from her body and clothes.

As a result, her thin clothes clung to her body, revealing her bare skin underneath.

Literally a provocative appearance.

At this point, it wouldn’t be strange if the other party misunderstood her intentions.

‘And, and…’

Eirene tapped her lips with her index finger, recalling the sensation from that moment.

The feeling of her first kiss.

A sensation she had never thought about or anticipated.

Her index finger tapped her lips repeatedly before slowly tracing the shape of her lips as if checking their form.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

Her heartbeat grew louder as her finger slid along her lips.

“…”

Then her paused finger slipped inside her slightly parted lips and gently tapped the tip of her tongue.

“Ah… ugh, eck…”

Trembling as if electrocuted, Eirene soon writhed on the floor in apparent agony like a rain-soaked puppy.

Her body quivering, her head shaking wildly.

Her heart felt like it would burst.

Yes, she remembered now.

The reason why she was suffering like this here.

“I, I…”

Yes, even when Lug made that sudden move, she didn’t immediately push him away.

“What on earth did I do?!”

Rather, she had responded in kind.

Far from being disgusted by Lug’s actions, she had tried to do the same thing.

Although she came to her senses the moment their tongues touched, Eirene couldn’t believe she had done that.

“At this rate, I should be called a harlot rather than a saintess!”

Self-loathing.

That was the biggest reason that made Eirene run away.

She was shocked by Lug’s sudden impulsive action, but her own unexpected side was even more shocking.

An innocent saintess.

Though it was a mask to deceive the public, it wasn’t completely wrong. Eirene was truly pure in that regard.

So thinking that she had such a side to her made her feel utterly miserable.

“Ugh…”

Eirene continued writhing on the floor for a while.

Yes, until Esmeralda came looking for her after everything was over.

***

Tina was watching Esmeralda’s fight while protecting Millia.

She needed to prepare for any contingency.

If Esmeralda were to falter even slightly, she would have to help in some way.

Guarding the surroundings, protecting Millia, and supporting Esmeralda.

Easy to say, but truly difficult to put into practice.

Fortunately, Esmeralda wasn’t being pushed back much.

The way she grasped only the truth amidst numerous illusions.

‘She’s so cool…’

Tina was reminded that Esmeralda was indeed a hero.

Seeing her confidently dispelling all sorts of illusions made Tina realize anew how amazing Esmeralda was.

‘Wow, she’s really incredible.’

But Tina didn’t know.

Third’s ability was to make illusions real if the opponent perceived them as real.

In that sense, the fact that Tina could also distinguish each of Third’s illusions was significant.

If she had judged them as real from her perspective, all the illusions striking Esmeralda would have become real.

Because of Tina, who distinguished all illusions purely by instinct, Third couldn’t even spare a glance elsewhere.

It was hard to imagine there would be another person who could distinguish all illusions like Esmeralda.

This made it much easier for Tina to protect Millia.

It also meant she could turn her thoughts elsewhere.

‘Esmeralda is pushing hard. And considering her usual strength…’

Soon the advantage would completely shift to Esmeralda’s side.

She grows stronger during battle.

The fact that they’re fighting evenly now means she’ll be able to overwhelm the opponent soon.

‘But what is it?’

Esmeralda’s victory over Third was almost certain.

From what she could see, the opponent didn’t seem to be hiding any abilities, so if they continued like this, Esmeralda would claim victory.

‘Why do I feel so uneasy?’

But she felt anxious.

Tina’s instinct was sounding an alarm.

Clearly Esmeralda had the upper hand. Moreover, there wasn’t anything particularly suspicious about Third.

It was a bit strange that he hadn’t shown any impressive performance compared to his first appearance, but the opponent didn’t seem to have any more power to be wary of.

“Then…”

When her thoughts reached that point.

Tina arrived at the answer with an overwhelming sense of unease.

“It means there’s an external factor!”

The moment Tina realized this.

The advantage clearly began to tilt toward Esmeralda.

And from that moment.

“Ugh…?!”

Tina began to stagger, feeling like she might vomit from anxiety.

***

Zzzzip!

Esmeralda’s holy sword grazed Third’s clothes.

It felt more like an accidental catch than a deliberate cut.

But even that was enough to change the flow between the two.

It had to change.

For Third, who had been evading Esmeralda with quick movements, it was impossible not to feel tension.

Wasn’t it natural?

The opponent had been much weaker than him. It was surprising that his ability didn’t work on her, but he could still outmaneuver her.

Third’s purpose this time was merely an outing, with some mischief along the way, but the situation had now changed.

Yes, now Third too had to acknowledge Esmeralda as a clear enemy.

“You…!”

He would fight seriously.

With that thought, Third created illusion clones.

An illusion that could deceive even First.

When one must find the real body among countless copies, it’s simple to make the opponent believe the clones are real.

Third typically creates clones and then hides behind them, using only the clones to pressure the opponent.

Because people believe the real body must be among the many clones.

They think there would be no reason to create clones otherwise.

But…

“Hiyak?! H-how?!”

For Esmeralda, who could see through the opponent’s surface psychology, nothing changed.

Even Third’s supposedly foolproof strategy didn’t work on her.

Third, who had been underestimating Esmeralda, stopped taking her lightly after her attack had connected.

That’s why he had prepared a method for a full-fledged battle rather than a pleasure-oriented fight by creating his clones.

But in the current situation, even a hedonist like him couldn’t help but feel fear.

Despite facing multiple enemies that might include the real body among the clones, she didn’t even glance at them and immediately spotted the hidden real body.

Was that even possible?

Wasn’t it defying common sense?

No, before that…

“Hehehehehehe…”

Apart from that, Third was terrified of Esmeralda herself.

The hero’s smile while her body was pierced by attacks from numerous clones was no different from that of a madwoman.

The aesthetic eye that sees through everything.

That capable mind that even surpasses the opponent’s psychology.

And her deranged character.

Fake madness cowering before true madness.

Third had never met an opponent who could think better than herself.

Of course, that was her misconception, but who would have known that the hero’s most special ability was to see through the opponent’s psychology and abilities?

In that sense, this moment was when Esmeralda’s efforts shone.

After all, she had been trying to hide this ability until now.

‘Yes, that’s it…’

That’s why she felt good.

Until now, it had seemed pointless to hide her ability since her opponents mainly used instinctive techniques.

Attacks wielded as if natural after long training.

Most demons fought that way, so Esmeralda had more than once thought her ability wasn’t helpful.

That’s why she felt good.

‘I’ve finally overcome those countless trials and reached my prime!’

Look! Heavens.

Esmeralda was proud of herself for overcoming all these trials.

Her heart raced at the fact that she could capture a big shot like Legion Commander Third.

“Esmeralda!”

As she was about to bring her sword down on Third, Esmeralda suddenly felt resistance and her body tilted backward.

“Tina?”

Tina, who should have been protecting Millia, was pulling on Esmeralda’s nape.

And at that very moment.

Whoosh!

With a heavy sound of wind, the holy sword Esmeralda was holding shattered and fell to the floor.

Suddenly appearing before her was a man who gave off the impression of an unpleasant thug.

Esmeralda immediately identified the name of this sudden intruder.

[Name: Second]

[Race: Werewolf] [Title: Legion Commander, Warrior, One Who Has Reached the Extreme]

.

.

.

[Overall Estimated Level: 2000]

“Ah… I’m sorry. I won’t show off anymore, so please forgive me…!”

Who was this apology directed at?

At least it wasn’t meant for the man in front of her.

However, it was clear that Esmeralda was now reflecting on her brief past arrogance, when she had thought that the numerous trials blocking her path were nothing, and had regained her humility.