Ch.302302. The ‘Former’ Saint Stella

It might seem ridiculous, but we decided to stay in Fosville tonight.

I didn’t grant peace or destroy the souls ruined by drugs.

I simply dispelled the magic so the villagers couldn’t see them anymore. Their souls were still wandering around this village.

“Is it really okay to sleep here? It seems dangerous.”

“That’s right, we don’t know what the villagers might do. It would be better if I revealed my identity.”

Aria and Elenoa, who were sharing a room, asked worriedly, but I shook my head.

“There’s no need to worry.”

Finding this meaningless, the two looked at each other and asked if they understood, but naturally received no answer.

We got one room from the village chief’s house.

I deliberately suggested we all sleep together in one room rather than separate rooms. Aria and Elenoa agreed quite enthusiastically.

Though there was only one bed.

“You two use the bed. I’ll sleep on the chair.”

“What? Professor, sleep with us!”

“That’s right! Deus, come lie down with us!”

The bed itself was small, just the right size for two female students. I naturally refused.

“No matter what, that’s not appropriate. Both of you, don’t cross the line.”

“Oh my, Deus. This is a princess’s order.”

Elenoa immediately lay on the bed, patting the covers. We had agreed to speak informally to hide her identity, but this was different.

“Princess, I’m sorry, but I cannot accept that order.”

“Y-you’re disobeying?!”

“It’s for your own good, Princess.”

“If it’s for my sake, then you should…!”

About to say something, Elenoa’s face turned red and she pressed her lips shut in embarrassment.

Seeing this, Aria smirked and added:

“You should strip naked and pose like a nude model here, right?”

“Y-you crazy bitch!”

“What! I just said what you wanted to say! And isn’t it true? Be honest! Isn’t it?!”

As Aria pressed aggressively, Elenoa’s face flushed bright red, and unable to control herself, she finally buried her face in the pillow and shouted:

“I don’t know! I’m going to sleep!”

She had already changed into the pajamas we brought and washed up, so there was no problem with her sleeping like that.

I gestured with my chin toward the bed and said to Aria:

“You sleep next to her too.”

“Are you really going to sleep on the chair, Professor? If it’s a problem, I can sleep on the floor…”

“No, go to sleep.”

“…Okay.”

Aria lay down next to Elenoa. They silently hit each other for a while, bickering, but when I turned off the light, they finally quieted down.

I sat on the chair, crossed my arms, and quietly lowered my head.

Ready to wake up immediately if anything happened.

I slowly closed my eyes.

“…!”

I opened my eyes because I sensed a presence.

I expected someone would come after the commotion we caused in the village today.

Bishop Hareis and Uliana would surely know this was the perfect time for an attack.

My return hadn’t been reported to the kingdom yet, and officially I was still missing.

In other words, if they dealt with me here, all talk of drugs and future punishment would disappear.

An opportunity they couldn’t miss.

I was deliberately staying at the village chief’s house, with whom relations were terrible, to give them this opportunity.

And I had the two girls sleeping in front of me to prevent any unexpected variables.

Anyway.

As I slowly opened my eyes to greet the uninvited guest.

[Are you awake?]

There stood Stella, no, Vellica, who hadn’t been visible until now.

“What’s the matter?”

Horns protruding from her head and vertical pupils were Vellica’s characteristics.

Wondering about her sudden appearance, I asked, and Vellica casually sat on my thigh.

[Stella was worried. She thought you were hiding something.]

“…”

[I had similar thoughts. I bet those little ones thought the same? You’ve been pushing things too mindlessly.]

“It was necessary.”

I knew as well.

This was quite different from my usual approach.

But it was necessary.

It was a kind of preliminary work to cleanly finish many upcoming incidents.

[Care to explain what your intention is?]

I expected her to ask, but I exhaled softly and shook my head.

“Sorry, but there’s no need for you to know.”

[You always clam up when you’re doing something suspicious. As if you have some rational reason.]

“…”

[Actually, everyone knows you just don’t want to burden the kids.]

“I’m sorry, Vellica.”

I subtly charged mana into my hand as a warning.

Even though it was Stella’s body.

“Don’t touch me carelessly.”

I pushed her off my thigh, feeling somewhat uncomfortable with Vellica, not Stella, touching my body.

[Hmm? You’re picky. Isn’t this my chance to do various things while I’m in control of this body?]

“While you’re in control of that body.”

I needed to draw a clear line.

“I have absolutely no such thoughts.”

Even though they shared the same body, Stella and Vellica were clearly different beings.

And the one I was attracted to as a member of the opposite sex was Stella, not Vellica.

[Wow, when you put it that way, I don’t like you either. But Stella likes you.]

Pushed away from me, Vellica removed the Saintess robe Stella had been wearing without any hesitation.

This was a first.

It was surprising that a soul could remove clothes. Thinking about it, since it was just an appearance created through mental energy, were the removed clothes also part of her soul?

It was fascinating.

“Can those clothes also be considered a type of soul?”

[You’re really crazy. There’s a woman in front of you wearing only underwear, and that’s what’s important to you?]

“Interesting. I thought some level of control was possible while existing as a soul, but even such detailed aspects are possible?”

Vellica slapped her forehead and sighed at my reaction.

[Stella isn’t just a simple soul since she gained divine attributes. She’s almost half a god now.]

“You say that as a great demon?”

[There are many such stories. Like fallen angels. Couldn’t I fit into that category too? I’m a deformed great demon after all.]

She calls herself deformed but seems to use it quite conveniently in various ways.

[Hey, don’t you have any reaction to me undressing?]

White, fair skin with only white underwear, a nearly naked appearance.

Certainly, physically it was quite attractive, but.

“You are not Stella.”

There was nothing to react to.

“Put them back on. Not for your sake, but for Stella’s.”

[Wow, how can you have exactly the same thoughts?]

Suddenly.

Vellica came forward and sat on my thigh again. Then she grabbed my mana-charged hand and placed it on her chest.

“What are you…”

[Ah?! Damn, Stella’s body is super sensitive.]

“Vellica!”

[Be quiet. You’ll wake the kids.]

Vellica warned in a whisper.

Unconsciously, I glanced sideways to check on Aria and Elenoa.

The two were sleeping peacefully, having tossed and turned before ending up embracing each other.

“Move away. This is unpleasant.”

The soft sensation wrapping around my hand felt so real that I angrily pulled my hand away.

I tried to push Vellica away too, but she instead stretched out both hands and placed them on my shoulders.

[I just confirmed something. When you touch me, there’s sensation.]

“It’s disgusting to hear.”

[I don’t like it either. I don’t want to tremble at a man’s touch that I have no feelings for just because of Stella. But you’re the only one.]

“What do you mean?”

[Unlike other spiritmasters, you’re the only one in this continent who can have a relationship with Stella because you don’t treat souls as tools, but can touch and feel them.]

“Sigh, that’s information I really didn’t want to know.”

[But now you know. You’re the only one who can give something to our virgin Stella.]

“Vellica, I’m starting to get angry.”

[Ah, I don’t like this either.]

Slowly.

The horns protruding from Vellica’s forehead began to disappear like a mirage. The vertical pupils of a beast gradually began to return to their original form.

[Ah…]

And before me appeared the Saintess wearing only underwear.

[Ve-Vellica? Y-you’re switching here? A-at this timing?!]

Stella appeared, blushing furiously in embarrassment, and the moment I took in her changed appearance.

“Turn on the light.”

I felt my heart sink. Why was it that despite the similar appearance, I felt no attraction when it was Vellica, but now charm was emanating from her?

[Ah, yes…]

Stella, covering her body with her hands in embarrassment and about to stand up as if to flee, suddenly paused. Then she stared at me and gave a faint smile.

[Deus.]

“What is it?”

[Do you know your face is red right now?]

“…”

I immediately put my hand to my cheek.

Despite it being late at night, my skin, which was usually cold, was burning hot today.

[Ah.]

As I turned my gaze away from Stella in embarrassment, she gently settled back in her seat and smiled.

[That’s cute.]

“Don’t joke around.”

[I’m sorry. But… it’s a side of you we don’t usually see.]

“Huh, don’t be swayed by Vellica. You are a Saintess.”

[I ‘was’ a Saintess. Now I’m just Stella.]

I was about to push Stella away, but her hands were already holding both my cheeks.

[Deus, can I… kiss you?]

“Get a hold of your—!”

My answer was cut off. It seems her words were not a question but a notification.

It lasted longer than I expected, making me open my eyes wide. I carefully pushed away the increasingly unrestrained Stella and said:

“The kids are sleeping over there. Stella, don’t get carried away by Vellica and do something unnecessary.”

[B-but this is my first experience like this.]

It’s my first time too.

Deus might be familiar with this, but I’m not.

“Damn it.”

I wanted to get some fresh air, but showing the villagers I was awake would ruin the plan.

I was stuck in the room, but being in the room was also dangerous because of Stella.

[Hey, Deus.]

“What is it?”

[Could you lend me your hand just once…]

Bang bang bang bang!

[They’re coming! They’re coming! The villagers are coming with torches and sharp farming tools…!]

The Dark Spiritmaster burst in, making a fuss.

Seeing the torches flickering in the darkness outside the window, I immediately pushed Stella aside and stood up.

The timing was excellent.

[What the hell?!]

Perhaps sensing the strange atmosphere, the Dark Spiritmaster who entered the room looked back and forth between me and Stella before letting out a bizarre exclamation.

“I’ll be back. Make sure the kids don’t wake up, and put out any fires if they start.”

The cold wind blowing in from outside immediately brought me back to my senses, but.

[What the hell?!]

The Dark Spiritmaster just kept repeating the same phrase.

[What the heeeell?!]