Chap 123-Sympathy

 

Only the warmth and subtly damp air remained in the room.

Lina, catching her breath, gazed at Yeon lying beside her.

A body so fragile it seemed it would break at any moment, black hair clinging to her forehead with sweat, and a breath that still hadn’t calmed.

Most of all, the tears welling at the tips of her closed eyelashes captured her gaze.

“…Truly, she’s beautiful.”

An exclamation unconsciously escaped her lips.

She looks so lovely when she sleeps.

It was hard to believe that such a cute face could commit such terrible acts.

Lina raised her hand and gently stroked Yeon’s damp hair.

Sniff—

Was she having a nightmare, or was she saddened by her fate of living as a sinner?

Yeon’s eyes trembled slightly, and clear tears streamed down.

Lina inadvertently wiped away the tears with her thumb.

“…No.”

She immediately withdrew her hand and opened her eyes coldly again.

She mustn’t let her heart weaken.

Until Yeon had fully paid for her sins, she couldn’t give her affection or love.

For the sake of the victims she had harmed, she had to treat her more harshly.

She had to, but…

“Umm…”

As Yeon tossed and turned, the thin sheet slipped down, revealing her naked body even more explicitly.

From her white neckline to her slender waist, and the soft curve of her hips.

Above all, on her pure white lower abdomen, the red brand signifying a sinner, which she had personally engraved, was clearly visible.

At that defenseless and lewd sight, desire surged within Lina once more.

‘…Should I wake her up right now?’

Lina slowly traced the brand with her fingertips.

This brand, with its enhanced functionality thanks to the Rapellasia family, could cause vibrations to resonate within her body at any time.

The intensity, as well as the pattern, could be freely adjusted.

The fact that she could easily summon Yeon Bennet, who was cleaning earlier, was also thanks to this function.

Lina imagined it for a moment.

Yeon, who had been deep in sleep, writhing before her eyes and succumbing to pleasure.

Helplessly sobbing, she would inevitably be forced to beg her.

Since she had decided to treat her like an object anyway, no one would say anything even if she pounced on her right now.

However, the tears that had welled up in her eyes a moment ago kept bothering her.

“Haa…”

Lina let out a deep sigh.

After all, considering the sins she had committed, she wouldn’t be able to repay them even if she lived as a sex slave for the rest of her life.

Therefore, she had to keep her by her side until the day she died and make her pay for her sins.

‘…So, I’ll let her off the hook today.’

After hesitating for a moment, Lina slowly reached out and gently covered Yeon’s body with the blanket.

Swish—

Lina picked up the pure white saintess robe she had taken off and left on the floor.

The smooth fabric brushed against her skin, concealing the traces of her chaotic desires one by one.

When she stood in front of the mirror, fully dressed, there stood a Saintess Candidate with the same benevolent and holy smile as always.

But Lina frowned as she looked at her perfect self.

The fact that she had to return to being a Saintess Candidate annoyed her.

No matter how thoroughly she controlled access to this place, and even if only she and Yeon remained inside the vast Tower of Confession, the Holy Theocracy was bound to notice.

Gradually, the Pope, who had sensed the relationship between her and Yeon, had begun to pressure her.

Now, the order was to hand her over to the Rapellasia family to be used as experimental material.

Of course, considering the sins Yeon had committed, such an end might be fitting.

However, Lina had no intention of sending her away like that.

She had finally managed to grasp what she had desired for so long…

However, she also knew that it was not right to use Yeon Bennet’s body, which might save humanity, solely to satisfy her own desires for the rest of her life.

‘I guess… it can’t be helped. I’ll have to negotiate directly with the Rapellasia family…!’

She took out a crystal orb from the drawer and infused it with holy power.

Soon after, the image of a woman with purple eyes and white hair appeared on the crystal orb.

“It’s been a while, Lady Elise.”

…

“It’s been a while, here too.”

A pure white spire that seemed to pierce the sky.

At its peak was a giant wing sculpture symbolizing the already dead god of goodness.

Contrary to its sacred and beautiful appearance, it was a place that struck fear into the hearts of sinners with its very name, the Tower of Confession.

Saintess Aria looked at the tower and recalled when she was first appointed as a Saintess Candidate.

When you become a Saintess Candidate, you are first interrogated here to determine if you are a suitable person for the position.

Of course, it wasn’t as cruel as the torture inflicted on sinners.

However, for a young woman who had just turned twenty, the inquisitors’ sharp and oppressive interrogation was an unbearable pain.

In the end, overwhelmed by their momentum, she tearfully confessed everything from her childhood.

Aria chuckled as she recalled those pure days.

Of course, she was very different now from what she was then.

Although her body had weakened to an incomparable extent.

The experiences she had accumulated by fighting magical beasts on the long battlefields and directly purifying the Contaminated land had made her stronger than anyone else.

So… even if she met Terra’s worst villain, Yeon Bennet, right now, there was no reason for her to be intimidated.

Creak—

Aria took a deep breath and struggled to push open the tower’s heavy door.

As she entered the tower, she could clearly feel Lina’s divine power everywhere.

“Ha.”

Aria let out a dumbfounded laugh.

‘Does that child think this is her own home or something?’

To set up such a dense barrier to prevent outsiders from entering.

Perhaps the rumors that she was really playing around with Yeon Bennet were true.

If she was really going down the wrong path… she had to punish her severely.

That was her duty as a Saintess, which she had little left to fulfill.

Although her body was already so weakened that she was facing death.

She had more than enough ability to break through Lina’s power, who was only a Saintess Candidate, without being detected.

Aria quietly gathered her fingertips and unleashed her remaining holy power.

Unlike Lina’s dazzling and flamboyant power, her holy power was calm and deep, like a tranquil lake.

As that tranquil power seeped into the barrier Lina had set up, the taut barrier melted like snow in water, silently disarming it.

As soon as Lina’s barrier disappeared, Aria immediately strode into the Tower of Confession.

Then, with a light gesture, she spread her holy power like a mist, covering the entire tower.

‘Hmm? Where did Lina go?’

Contrary to her expectations, Lina’s presence could not be felt.

Instead, a faint presence was felt on the top floor of the tower.

‘This is…’

Aria’s eyes narrowed.

Terra’s worst villain, who she had only heard rumors about.

It was definitely Yeon Bennet.

…

Hmm…?

What is this smell…?

I quietly opened my eyes at the pungent smell of herbs that seemed to sting my nose.

The first thing that came into view was a young woman with a calm and gentle impression.

She was standing next to the bed, quietly looking down at me.

‘That outfit is…’

Lina’s saintess robe was plain compared to worldly clothes, but it was more ornate than those of other clerics.

But the clothes the woman in front of me was wearing were much more gorgeous and elegant.

And, strangely enough, that appearance with only one arm aged.

‘Could this person be…?’

“Are you… Yeon Bennet?”

Former Saintess Aria.

In the game, she was just a setting that foreshadowed the tragic future that would come to Lina…

Unlike in the game, she was now alive and breathing in front of my eyes.

A tragic Saintess who dedicated herself more than anyone else to saving people, but in the end, was forgotten and died alone without receiving any reward.

Lina also remembered feeling sorry for her death and shedding tears.

Slap—!

A stinging shock hit my cheek, and my face flushed hotly.

“If someone asks you a question, you should answer properly, right?”

Aria said in an icy voice.

“How dare you, as a criminal, act like this in front of anyone.”

I covered my swollen cheek.

In the past, when I was slapped, the misery was doubled and I could feel considerable pleasure…

But these days, I’ve been slapped so much here and there that I don’t feel much anymore.

“Yes… I am Yeon Bennet…”

As soon as I finished answering, Aria’s gaze swept over my naked body.

“So, the rumor that you seduced your stepfather and became a Lady was true.”

The corners of her lips twitched mockingly.

“Seeing you still acting like a whore here, giving yourself away like that.”

‘I heard that she was quite kind, but she’s merciless to someone like me…’

When I thought about it, it was only natural.

She was also a veteran who had fought Contamination on the front lines for a long time.

I was silent for a moment, then barely parted my lips.

“Do you… have any business with me?”

She seemed displeased with me and began to stare at me for a long time.

And the next moment, her suppressed emotions suddenly burst out.

“Someone sacrificed their entire life to try to protect people…!”

She shouted as if she felt wronged.

“People like you live as you please and ruin everything!”

She raised her hand again.

And she began to slap my cheeks repeatedly.

Slap—!

Slap—!

My face was swung from side to side, and my vision shook white.

My cheeks were burning hot, but I didn’t utter a word.

“Haa…! Haa…!”

On the other hand, the Saintess’s breath became increasingly rough.

Her shoulders heaved as she continued to hit me, and her slender arms trembled and struggled with exhaustion.

The force felt in her wrist was definitely sharp, but it was quickly weakening due to old wounds and a worn-out body.

“Haa…! Huff…!”

Exhausted on her own, she finally collapsed to the floor.

I stared intently at her, feeling slightly sorry for her weakened state.

“…Why.”

The Saintess raised her head and glared at me.

“Is it strange that a Saintess who is known to be kind is like this?”

A bitter smile leaked from the corners of her lips.

“I’m tired of pretending to be kind anymore. I want to live as my true self, even just once, in my remaining life…”

Even with her weakened body, she still tried to protect people.

But the end I know of her is…

A miserable and lonely death that no one recognized or cared about.

‘I guess… she’s pitiful.’

I sincerely felt sorry for her.

I wanted to say a warm word to her, but I was sad that I couldn’t.

“People like you… live as you please like this…!”

Aria gritted her teeth and stood up again.

With a body that seemed like it would break at any moment, she rushed at me as if venting her anger.

Thud— Thud—

Slow punches that seemed easy to avoid if I tried.

There was also the fact that I didn’t feel any particular reason to avoid that weak attack, which had no strength or weight.

Thud— Thud—

But more than that, I guess I didn’t want to see her break down like this.