It’s Not My Fault, So I Have No Reason to Suffer (1)

“You left your belongings behind. I barely managed to bring this.”

Ceres smiled faintly and threw something to Yona.

As Yona caught the object that flew in a gentle parabola, she saw it was the sling bag she always wore around her waist.

It was the sling bag where she kept things she needed to take out quickly, separate from her backpack.

“Anyway, the church territory is in chaos right now. As you can see.”

Although there were many questions about why Ceres was here and how she came, Ceres didn’t give Yona a chance to ask.

Saying this, Ceres came to Alebiang’s side and shook her head with her eyes closed.

“I don’t know why the demonic energy exploded there of all places, though—”

Even as she said this, Ceres slightly opened her eyes.

There was an undisguisable smile at the corners of her eyes.

However, no one noticed that smile.

“…You.”

Alebiang turned towards Ceres.

Her cold gaze flashed sharply as if she would devour Ceres right away, but Ceres, full of composure, seemed to have no intention of even responding to Alebiang’s gaze, simply brushing it off as if it were nothing.

“Alebiang, it’s been a while. To come here directly, it must have been quite urgent, huh?”

“You, really.”

“I didn’t intend it either. Besides, a much bigger situation has unfolded than I thought, right? Look over there, see if this is an ordinary situation.”

Ceres raised her finger to point behind her.

The church territory, stirred up like a beehive, was brightly lit by light stone lamps as if it were daytime, and under those lamps, cathedral knights could be clearly seen gathering in full armor as if ready to advance at any moment.

“Well, I suppose Alebiang has put up a barrier so it can’t be seen from the outside. And actually, more than that… Miss Yona?”

“…Yes.”

Yona’s lips were trembling.

Her tightly clenched fists were also shaking, clearly showing her current state of mind.

“…Are you curious about what happened to Alec, and what will happen to him?”

“Yes. I’m curious.”

“Do you want to save Alec?”

“…Of course. I have to save Alec. Alec is trapped there, because of me… Because of me. For the reason… of sheltering a cleric who sold their soul to a demon.”

Yona’s voice was low.

Though unknown, the church’s response to demons wasn’t hard to predict. Yona had exploded with demonic energy in the middle of that banquet, a banquet even the Pope attended, and Alec had not only protected such a Yona but also helped her escape.

“Ceres. Stop it.”

Alebiang stepped forward to stop Ceres. Her eyes, which always strangely sparkled, were now deeply sunken, and although Alebiang reached out to stop Ceres, Ceres clearly seemed to be mocking Alebiang.

“Why should I stop? We need to know how firm Miss Yona’s resolve is. Miss Yona, keep talking. Depending on your answer—”

Ceres smiled brightly.

Her gaze growing cold.

Her lips curled up crookedly.

“…I have to go save Alec. Even if they try to stop me, even if their threats make me afraid, I have to go save Alec. To save Alec, I can endure any threat. Just as Alec protected me, whenever Alec is in danger, I will always be by his side. And I should be.”

After listening to Yona’s monologue, Ceres turned to look at Alebiang with a face full of mockery.

Alebiang, still clearly displeased, moved her lips.

“…Yona, my pretty one. I’m saying this for your sake. You should stop here. You, it’s too dangerous now. Let’s stop.”

“What do you mean stop? Alebiang, I don’t understand what you’re trying to say. But stopping, surely— you don’t mean stopping saving Alec, do you?”

Yona’s eyes flashed strangely.

A dull light began to cloud her golden eyes.

Was there any other way to interpret the meaning of stopping saving Alec?

But if that’s what she meant, Alebiang’s words weren’t even worth listening to anymore.

“How could Miss Yona give up on Alec? Alebiang, you’re making an unreasonable request. How can you not understand humans like that— hehe.”

Ceres smiled meaningfully.

Smiling with her eyes curved like a full moon as she looked at Alebiang, Ceres now turned her gaze to Yona.

“You want to save Alec, don’t you?”

“—Yes.”

An immediate answer.

There was not even a hint of hesitation.

She would save Alec. She must save Alec. She would save Alec who stayed behind to protect Yona.

It was now time for Yona to save Alec.

It was time to reclaim Alec from their hands.

Knowing how they might treat Alec, it was now time for Yona to move.

“Good. Then— well, yes. Then. There’s a very, very simple way. Alebiang, you’ll cooperate too, right?”

Alebiang stared at Ceres. Ceres also met Alebiang’s gaze without avoiding it.

The moment of silence was too long. It wasn’t long, but the gazes exchanged between the two during that time were long.

“This wasn’t what I intended.”

“Yes, I didn’t say it was your fault, Alebiang. This all stems from your trivial emotions, you know. Alebiang, this is what you’ve done. You should take responsibility. Right?”

“…I didn’t think things would get this big.”

“But they have. It’s now irreversible. That fragment of guilt you’ve been carrying has led to this result. Anyway, it’s good, isn’t it? It’s good for me, good for you. It’s a result that’s good for everyone. When you think about it, that’s how it is. Isn’t it?”

Ceres grinned.

Alebiang glared at Ceres, her hardened expression not softening.

“Now then, Miss Yona. To save Alec— can you do anything?”

“I can.”

“My, that answer without hesitation. I really like it. It’s just like a young lady in love, I really like it.”

Yona didn’t answer.

She didn’t care about being called a young lady in love or whatever. Right now, Yona’s mind was filled with Alec, and she could only think about how to save him somehow. She could do anything for that. Literally, anything. Anything. To save Alec, truly anything—

“Then first, let’s give up the priesthood.”

At Ceres’s words, Yona’s eyes widened.

The first human Yona met after falling into this world was Eije.

Eije was a priest who had been an adventurer for quite a long time, and he was the kind of cleric who truly treated people as people.

It was Eije who took in Yona when she was confused after falling into a strange world,

And it was Eije who helped her settle in the church orphanage.

Eije was gentle and compassionate.

A truly exemplary figure for a cleric.

Under Eije’s care, Yona naturally grew up with the mindset of a cleric.

Although she didn’t grow up from early childhood, Eije as a compass in life had a truly great influence on Yona, who was entering her late teens.

Thus, the reason Yona clung to the name of cleric even now was largely due to Eije’s influence.

“Then first, let’s give up the priesthood.”

Yona was speechless at Ceres’s words for this reason.

Having lost her gender,

Having lost even her own form,

Having lost everything of her that was him – her hometown, name, everything,

Ceres’s words to give up even the name of cleric.

“Surely being a cleric isn’t more important than Alec, is it?”

There was even a hint of laughter in Ceres’s words.

Yona was speechless, her mouth opening and closing.

“Ah— this, that was—”

“Yes, I’ll give it up.”

At Yona’s answer, Ceres stopped mid-sentence and closed her mouth.

Along with saying she would give up the priesthood, Yona was quietly glaring at Ceres.

“…Well, alright. You should have such resolve. Now then…”

Ceres approached Yona.

A faint purple energy rising from her hand.

And with that energy, Ceres gently caressed Yona’s exposed left arm.

“Now come out, snake.”

At that moment.

As black energy surged from Yona’s left arm, even the soft moonlight shining down was engulfed in darkness.

You’ve done an interesting thing. Truly like you.

Though not massive, its presence was still distinct.

Looking up at the sky, Yona could clearly see a black snake.

Its black body gleaming strangely in this darkness that even obscured the moonlight.

The body that couldn’t stay still as if writhing had nine heads at its end.

A snake with each head bearing a woman’s face.

It ends up like this after all. Woman, you too are inevitable.

As Berbaria, who had slowly descended, touched the ground, it immediately coiled up.

Among those heads, one with particularly flashing eyes raised its head and looked straight down at Yona’s face.

“Miss Yona.”

Ceres walked in front of Berbaria.

Stroking Berbaria’s body with her outstretched hand, Ceres, full of smiles, said to Yona.

“I said to give up the priesthood, but strictly speaking, it’s not about giving up. It would be more appropriate to say change the denomination.”

Yona blankly looked up at Berbaria.

She seemed to roughly know what was going to be said, and that’s why she was even more dumbfounded.

She remembered what Berbaria had said in her dream.

Those ridiculous words about becoming a saint of the demon realm or whatever, which she had dismissed.

She realized it wasn’t just a suggestion.

So she was annoyed.

Anger welled up.

She hadn’t done anything.

She had just moved according to her duty, like a proper cleric, like a proper human.

She couldn’t understand why these things kept happening.

She hadn’t done anything wrong at all.

“Miss Yona, shall we talk straightforwardly?”

So, she had no reason to suffer, right?

Rather, it seemed like they were trying to force her to suffer, weren’t they the bad ones?

Then why should I suffer?

Why should Alec be in danger?

There’s no reason for it to be that way.

Black began to mix into Yona’s pupils.

Those eyes that had sparkled golden began to turn orange.

If they’re going to try to mess with me like this, I’ll play along accordingly.

She had just wanted to live peacefully with Alec.

She had wanted to return to being a man, but now that didn’t matter and anyway, Alec was the most important thing now.

That’s what she had thought.

‘Why are they so desperate to devour me.’

Then she would return as much as she received.

She had cried out so desperately for a chance to explain, but they didn’t even pretend to listen—

Those Celestine Church bastards.

And that’s not all.

She could now see that Ceres, who was smirking as if she knew better, had also been playing with Yona,

And there was no doubt that even that damned Alebiang had a hand in it,

And it was certain that Berbaria, that snake bastard, was also in cahoots with them, messing with her.

So, now she was angry, and also enraged.

Yona’s mind was becoming a tangled mess.

“Become a saint of the demon realm—”

“Yes.”

Before Ceres could finish speaking, Yona nodded.

There had been no room for choice for a long time.

Rather, Ceres was taken aback by Yona, who showed not a moment’s hesitation.

“…Um, Miss Yona? I’m not sure if you understand, but you’re becoming an apostate from being a Celestine Church cleric.”

Yona closed her mouth and glared at Ceres.

Yona had been very attached to the name of cleric.

But that name of cleric wasn’t more important than Alec.

“I don’t care about being an apostate. More than that, more than such priesthood…”

Priesthood.

The last bastion Yona had.

Even adding the modifier ‘such’ to that,

Yona took a small breath.

Now, once she uttered these words, there would be no turning back.

“—Alec is, much more precious.”

“I-Is that so.”

“So— saint of the demon realm or whatever, fine. I’ll do it. I’m saying I’ll do it. But, listen carefully.”

Yona took a small deep breath.

Forcibly suppressing the irritation that seemed to burn her mind white, Yona glared at Ceres.

“So, listen carefully. After I save Alec—”

Yona’s golden eyes, glaring at Ceres and Berbaria, were already gleaming orange,

And her heart, full of anger, had already lost its reason.

“You’re next.”

The orange gleaming eyes turned to Ceres.

With that gaze,

Full of silent anger,

Full of silent hatred.

Yona glared at Ceres with that look.

“I didn’t do anything wrong. The bad ones are you who made me like this. So—”

Yona took a small breath.

The cold winter night air cools her mind.

“Be punished.”