Ch.198Side Story 2. The Story After, Irina (1)

# After the Story, Eirene (1)

This escape was doomed from the start.

If I had just given up quietly then, would I have needed to suffer this much?

Come to think of it, one of the biggest reasons for escaping has already been resolved.

I’m talking about my sexual frustration.

Thanks to that, my stress was relieved and my body feels lighter.

So I’m starting to regret escaping. Why do I always do things I’ll regret when I get caught?

Maybe it’s because I’ve never been severely punished until now.

Based on the incident with Millia, I’ve had a harsh experience.

I should never escape again from now on.

So…

“…Please calm down.”

“I haven’t done anything?”

“Ahem!”

Indeed, Eirene was just staring at me while standing in the doorway, not saying anything in particular.

This must be what they mean by a guilty conscience needs no accuser.

No, considering my past experiences, this time won’t be easy either.

I was even kidnapped by Tina, whom I thought would be fine. Moreover, I was imprisoned and abandoned by Garnet, who was supposed to be my collaborator.

Ugh, that cowardly Garnet…

She definitely sold me out.

“Lug?”

“It’s nothing…”

“Anyway, I’m glad you’re safe.”

What kind of person is Saintess Eirene?

She has always been kind and considerate when dealing with me.

Even when she found out I was the celestial deity she served, far from being disappointed, she became even more devoted.

As a believer, Eirene is devout, thoughtful, and the very image of the saintess known to the world.

However, I decided to regard her as a person rather than a believer, and our relationship continued that way.

So, what kind of person is Eirene?

I can say with certainty that she is someone who has worked harder than anyone else. The hero Esmeralda was also a hard worker, but unlike Esmeralda, Eirene looks at the world more broadly.

While Esmeralda only set a single goal of defeating the Demon Lord, Eirene has compromised, sacrificed, and made others sacrifice through all kinds of worldly tribulations.

So where else could you find someone as human as her?

She is a person who feels guilty about her sins, and yet through those actions, she seeks to save more people. Yes, that’s how I evaluate Eirene as a person.

Someone who always accomplishes what she sets out to do, and therefore, the moment she decides what to do in this situation…

“Would you like to go back now? Or do you want to continue your outing a bit more? Since we’ve given you trouble, Lug, I’ll turn a blind eye to whatever choice you make.”

She doesn’t discriminate in her methods.

Eirene smiled brightly. That smile looked as pure and mischievous as a child caught playing a prank.

However…

“…I’ll go back.”

If only she weren’t backed by countless people.

The behavior pattern of Saintess Eirene was distinctly different from others, whether it should be called expected or unexpected.

Unlike those who came alone to kidnap me out of a desire to monopolize me, she came leading an entire brigade.

This shows how meticulously she searched for me.

Well, she’s not physically strong like Tina or Esmeralda, nor can she use sinister magic to find me like Millia, so this was probably her only option.

However, the situation of being watched by knights and priests standing in formation was terrifying beyond imagination.

If the fear Millia showed me was fear of the unknown, the fear Eirene shows has a clearly visible form.

“Shall we go then, Lug?”

Eirene giggled as if she found my appearance amusing.

That appearance was just cute, like a girl playing a mischievous prank, as I mentioned earlier. Yes, even in this situation, the fact that I found her cute made me feel strangely uncomfortable.

***

The return journey was comfortable.

I’m riding in a plush carriage, escorted by knights and priests.

Where else could one find such luxury?

Of course, with my current state of mind, it feels more like being taken into custody.

While my mind is uncomfortable, my body is indeed comfortable. I must have been quite tired, as I quickly fell asleep despite sitting restlessly.

And when I woke up, I felt a chill down my spine.

What did I think she might do while I was sleeping?

But…

“Are you awake? Would you like to eat this for now? It’s a light sandwich made by one of the priests.”

“I’ll eat it with gratitude.”

Eirene didn’t do anything.

She even provided her lap as a pillow so I could sleep comfortably.

My lips loosened for a moment at the beautiful face I saw as soon as I opened my eyes.

Isn’t this what married life is like?

Though it’s sad that I’ve never experienced such a life since getting married.

Anyway, from waking up to having a light meal.

Nothing has happened yet.

“…”

Now, what should I do?

How will Eirene act?

The return journey itself is not a problem. At first, I wondered where she was taking me, but as we moved, the terrain gradually became familiar.

It’s the road to the Demon Lord’s castle.

Of course, like Tina, she could change course on the way to the Demon Lord’s castle, but considering she brought such a large group, she could have just taken me there from the beginning without needing to deceive me.

At least, I don’t think the meticulous Eirene would have a hideout near the Demon Lord’s castle.

I’m starting to fear what she’s planning to do.

“Lug.”

“Yes?”

As I was cautiously observing Eirene, she closed the book she was reading and spoke to me.

I was startled as if caught peeking, but looking closely, it didn’t seem like I was caught.

“Is the content of this book true?”

“…Pardon?”

“This.”

What Eirene showed me as she spoke was a Bible.

Since the deity she serves is the celestial deity, and that deity is me, the Bible inevitably contains content about me.

I haven’t written any books myself, but I’ve confirmed that there is content about me in it.

“Since it’s been passed down orally for centuries, there must be exaggerations and falsehoods.”

Swish.

Eirene stuck close to my side and showed me the Bible.

Honestly, I was more conscious of the proximity to Eirene, who naturally sat close to me, than the content of the book.

Although I’ve already been intimate with Millia and Tina, how should I put it? A sense of sacrilege?

There was something like that in skinship with Eirene. It could be because of the skinship with a believer who worships me.

Or it could be because of the definite presence felt through the soft, thin fabric.

Compared to Millia, they’re smaller, but that’s why when we’re this close, I become acutely aware of their size.

“Here.”

“What? Where?”

Is she talking about her chest?

“This passage.”

“Ah, that’s what you meant.”

Despite doing it all night, I still have worldly desires remaining.

Perhaps it’s because I gave up my position as a deity and became a complete human. I must be expressing what I’ve been suppressing all this time.

Is that why?

The passage Eirene showed me was also about that topic.

“The evil deity sent three daughters to tempt the celestial deity into worldly desires, and the names of those daughters were Tanha, Raga, and Arati.”

“Ah, that…”

Is it because Tanha is a real person and is living with me now?

I seemed to understand why Eirene asked such a question.

The Bible states that I rejected them all with a single stroke.

Unfortunately, that’s not true.

I was swayed back and forth, but still chose to set out on my path.

I was not a transcendent being, but merely a human who strived.

In that sense, I am different from the celestial deity Eirene desires.

She desperately wanted miracles, but even the miracles she envisioned were just aspects of me being able to do much more than others.

Was it a conversation about miracles?

I still remember. Both what happened because of it and how much she suffered because of it.

“There are exaggerations, but it’s definitely a true story.”

“So it’s true that Lug left women behind and departed?”

“I must look like someone who’s obsessed with women.”

“Of course not.”

Really?

Honestly, I think it’s understandable if I appear that way.

There’s evidence, isn’t there?

My pathetic appearance, losing my divine position and being swayed by human emotions, still seems shameful when I think about it now. Though I’m not much different now.

“Just…”

It seems my reaction appeared as if I was angry that she doubted me.

Eirene scratched her cheek with an expression that was somewhat embarrassed and tinged with guilt as she asked.

“I was thinking about the current Lady Tanha. You said you loved Lady Tanha, right? But if you could leave even someone you love like this… Just, well…”

Fear, guilt, and trailing off.

Once again, Eirene showed me a pattern I hadn’t expected.