Chapter 22: Do you want me to believe that

A beautiful sight unfolded before me.

Belladriel in a black kimono, her shoulders bare…

“Belladriel Relaxes at the Hot Spring Inn” Ver.

…right before my eyes.

A truly stunning sight.

‘Wow, something I’d have to spend a fortune to see in the game, and here it is in person.’

I was incredibly lucky.

“Ahh… so refreshing. Isn’t it, Isavel?”

Isabel…

She’d used my given name for the first time.

I smiled.

“Yes, Aria Village beer is quite good.”

The honey gave it a sweet, refreshing taste.

“Hahaha… so good.”

Belladriel blushed, hiccuped, and tossed the empty can aside.

She wiped her mouth with her arm and opened another.

If I just looked at her quietly, without context, she’d seem like a beautiful woman who enjoyed a drink.

But then…

“My heart sings~”
“…”

…she’d scratch her butt and sing trot music, like a middle-aged man.

How could such a beautiful face make such sounds and gestures?

Belladriel chewed on some dried squid and grinned at me.

“Hehehe, ready to give up yet? Your face is red, you know.”
“I don’t like losing.”
“Hehehe, you shouldn’t be so stubborn at your age. You should know when to lose. It wasn’t like this in my day~”
“Is that so? Haha. I guess I’m just rude.”

I retorted playfully and set down my empty tankard.

We were tied at 54.

A true battle of titans!

Belladriel seemed determined, lasting longer than I’d expected.

“Shouldn’t you take a break?”
“Huh? You should be the one resting. I’m not stopping. Old soldiers never die!”

‘Yes, yes, of course.’

‘We call that bravado.’

…I wanted to say.

‘But… old soldier?’

Her way of speaking…

‘How old is she, anyway?’

Her age was listed as a question mark in the game settings.

I had to ask.

“How old are you, Belladriel?”
“Hmm…? Why do you ask?”
“You keep calling yourself old, so I got curious.”
“Hee… want to know?”

She pointed a squid leg at me and grinned.

“Beat me in a wager, and I’ll tell you.”

‘How stingy…’

‘Fine, I’ll win for you.’

I had my “Sober Condition” item, so I wouldn’t get drunk.

This item granted immunity to alcohol, no matter how much I drank.

It was a waiting game.

I pretended to be weakening, drinking slowly.

“That’s… unfair. Making me win a wager…”
“What? Can’t win this time?”

My feigned weakness boosted her confidence.

She laughed heartily.

I played along.

“Haha, you’re a strong drinker.”
“Really? I don’t believe you.”
“You shouldn’t believe me, of course.”
“…”

Belladriel chugged her beer and slammed the tankard down.

“No, I shouldn’t believe anyone.”

I tried to lighten the sudden serious mood.

“But you believe in God, don’t you?”
“God…? Haha.”

Belladriel chuckled and took a sip.

“It’s funny, this thing called faith.”

She leaned against the wall, a bitter expression on her face.

“This wonderful faith can make fools of people. They make sacrifices for divine grace, not realizing they might lose everything. Humans are so foolish… God doesn’t help such fools. Makes me wonder if God even exists…”
“Well, you know. You know what you did in the past. And as the Shine Order, you have to believe in God, don’t you?”
“Tell me honestly, Black Hound, do you believe Etherion exists?”

Even though she was drunk and speaking from the heart, agreeing with her would be dangerous.

She was still a villainess.

Her Malice Gauge was high, and I didn’t know the extent of her affection for me.

Best to remain neutral.

I murmured, “I don’t know.”

Belladriel narrowed her eyes, displeased with my answer.

“What’s that answer? So lukewarm. I’m being honest with you.”
“You really don’t believe?”
“No. I don’t believe in Etherion. You think I believe in a god I created?”
“Haha, I see. But as a saint, as its creator, wouldn’t you consider it a god?”
“A saint… don’t make me laugh.”

Belladriel raised her tankard.

She looked at me intently.

“Black Hound.”
“Yes?”
“If I turned this beer into oil, would you believe?”

A serious question.

I smiled and nodded.

“Of course. I believe you can do it, Belladriel.”
“Hah… you sound like a cult member. Even I can’t do that. Even if I am a saint.”
“Haha, is that so? I’m a little disappointed… I thought saints could do anything.”
“Really…?”

Belladriel set down her drink, a wistful smile on her face.

“The followers who followed God’s words… they wanted that too.”

She continued, her face expressionless, as if recalling the past.

“Everyone wants miracles. They rely on those who perform them. And when they receive grace through these miracles, they believe. But… that’s not faith. It’s not seeking God’s grace. It’s…”

She paused, then looked at me and whispered, “…a cult.”
“…”

Was she sharing her past with me in a moment of drunken honesty?

I gazed at her silently.

Belladriel chuckled.

“What? Do I look pathetic? The Shine Order denying the existence of God… must seem strange…”
“No. You don’t look pathetic. I just know you’re a great saint.”
“…”

Belladriel’s eyes widened.

I looked at her sincerely.

“So, Belladriel, how about starting over as a saint? Not as the Shine Order, but as a true messenger of God.”
“A true messenger of God? Don’t make me laugh. That holy God abandoned me. That’s why I became a cult leader. Am I wrong?”
“Haha, maybe it was just a brief detour.”

‘A detour involving some serious crimes…’

But she could change.

I smiled, knowing this.

“You’re a strange one. Since you’re a priest too… will you grant me a favor?”
“What kind of favor?”

Belladriel stood up and walked towards me.

She sat down, crossed her arms, and leaned against my shoulder.

“B-Belladriel…?”
“I want to feel… peace. Even if it’s with a cult’s assistant priest… I just want to stay like this for a while.”
“…”

Belladriel looked up at me.

“Do you… mind?”

‘Not at all, but…’

‘The way you’re looking at me is making my heart race.’

‘Especially with your cleavage showing…’

‘Ugh…’

‘And now the “Vulnerable Belladriel” Ver…!’

‘Lilith Tycoon is the best!’

“Haha, no. I just… wasn’t sure if this was okay.”
“It’s fine… this much is allowed, right?”

Belladriel leaned against my shoulder and closed her eyes.

“Tch… feeling sleepy again. Looks like I’ll lose the wager…”
“I guess so.”
“I’ll win next time. Just you wait, Isabel…”

With that, she fell asleep.

I smiled faintly, looking straight ahead.

“My, my. Falling asleep so easily.”

‘Did I fall asleep too?’

I heard birds chirping.

I opened my heavy eyelids.

“Sigh. Morning…”

I looked at the woman beside me.

“Mmm…”

My arm was numb.

She’d been hugging it all night.

I gently woke her up.

“Belladriel? Wake up.”
“Mmm… just a little longer…”
“Sigh…”

I had to wake her.

We had to get ready for another day of service.

I tried again.

“You have to wake up.”
“Mmm… sleepy…”

Belladriel rolled over, trying to sleep more.

I sighed and quickly cleared away the empty beer tankards.

The knights would be arriving soon.

As I tidied the room, I heard a knock.

“Yes?” I called out.

“Coming in,” Rebecca replied from outside.

She opened the door and walked in.

“…Belladriel, it’s time to… huh…?”

Rebecca froze, a stunned expression on her face.

I followed her gaze.

“…………!”

Belladriel was lying face down, her upper body exposed. She must have slipped out of her kimono while sleeping.

It looked incredibly compromising.

I quickly said, “R-Rebecca! There’s been a misunderstanding! The Shine Order undressed herself…!”
“…Really? Then why are there kiss marks all over your clothes?”
“W-What…?”

I looked down at my clothes.

My right arm, the one Belladriel had been hugging, was covered in kiss marks.

“Haha, th-this is a misunderstanding…”
“Mmm… Isabel…”
“Hmm…?”

And then her sleep-talking made things worse.

“Mmm… Isabel… that hurts…”
“Haha, R-Rebecca?”

‘What the hell?!’

I raised my arms awkwardly.

“Let’s just calm down…”
“…”

Rebecca glared at me, drawing her sword.

She smiled coldly.

“Summary judgment. You filthy pervert…”

She approached me, raising her sword.

I yelled, “It’s a misunderstanding!”
“Die, pervert!”
“Aaaaagh!”

I ran for my life.

‘This is so unfair!’

Later, when Belladriel woke up, the misunderstanding was cleared.

‘Ugh…
…’