Chapter 28: Don’t have any other women beside me

“A beautiful woman.”

That’s what she looked like to me, so I answered honestly.

She truly was beautiful in the hot spring, especially with the pink tint from the Secret Powder.

It was the “Enjoying the Hot Spring with Belladriel” Ver. 2 CG, after all.

Ver. 2 wasn’t much different from the first version.

She was still covered with towels.

The main difference was… bathing with Isabel.

But the key point was the experience!

In 4D!

I was experiencing this luxurious scene in 4D!

Bathing with a CG character, face to face…

It was so moving, I almost cried.

“…D-Do I… look beautiful?”
“Of course! Haha. You look especially beautiful today, Belladriel!”
“Th-Thank you…”

Was she embarrassed by my compliment?

She submerged her face in the water, as if hiding.

I sat beside her.

“The moonlight is beautiful, isn’t it?”
“…It is.”
“So, why did you want to bathe with me?”
“…Oh, that’s because…”

Belladriel looked away and murmured, “If… if we do that together…”
“That? What’s ‘that’? With this powder… between a man and a woman…”
“You… do you know what this is?!”

Belladriel’s eyes widened in surprise.

I feigned ignorance, shaking my head.

“No, I don’t know.”
“Really…?”

I shrugged at her question, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

I knew what the item did, but I never imagined she’d actually use it.

“I don’t know.”
“Really…? You’re the Black Hound. How can you not know?”
“I don’t know everything, even if I am the Black Hound. Haha.”

Belladriel shook her head.

“No, you must know… you probably used an item to get in here… you definitely know.”
“Huh?”
“Tch… so you were lying about me being beautiful.”

Belladriel puffed out her cheeks and turned away.

She clearly wanted the bath salts to affect me.

‘I should play along.’

“No, you’re beautiful.”

Belladriel glanced at me sideways.

“Where am I beautiful?”
“Your hair, your face. Especially today, during your sermon. You’re becoming more and more beautiful, Belladriel.”
“…Really?”
“Of course.”

Belladriel smiled, her mood seemingly improved.

“I see… that’s good.”
“What’s so good about it? You’re always beautiful.”
“No… I’m not.”

Her voice suddenly turned somber.

“I think… I’ve acted… unladylike in front of you. Drinking, eating… Don’t you think I’m vulgar? That’s why… that Rebecca, that vixen…”

‘Vixen?’

I chuckled.

“Can I ask you something? Are you upset about me talking to Rebecca?”
“…”

Belladriel didn’t respond.

I sighed.

“That’s part of your charm, you know.”
“…Huh?”
“Being yourself, without pretense. That’s what makes you, you, Belladriel.”
“Then…”

“I’m not interested in Rebecca. I’m only interested in… you.”

Belladriel blushed.

“R-Really?”
“Yes. I’m not interested in anyone else. Even with these bath salts, my affection for you is already maxed out.”

I gently stroked her hair.

She flinched.

“…I-Isabel?!”
“Don’t misunderstand. I wasn’t with Rebecca because I liked her or anything.”
“I-I… I didn’t misunderstand.”
“What?”
“I didn’t misunderstand! I wasn’t jealous! I didn’t think you two were doing anything together!”

Belladriel suddenly became flustered and defensive.

I looked at her calmly.

She blushed and parted her lips.

“It’s just… the rules of our Order…”

She murmured softly.

“Rules? What rules?”
“Yes! Rules! Doctrine! Religious doctrine! Remember this! Priests are forbidden from getting close to other women! Understand!?”

She seemed to be making this up as she went along.

I nodded, playing along.

“O-Okay… I’ll be careful…”
“Honestly! You… a priest…!”
“When was this rule established…?”
“D-Didn’t you know?! I was going to tell you! Be careful from now on!”

‘Making up rules as she goes…’

I didn’t trust this sudden rule, but I had to play along.

So, I shouldn’t get close to other women like Rebecca.

Fine by me.

I nodded readily.

“Understood.”
“Behave yourself. Alright?”
“Yes, yes, I understand.”
“You’d be lost without me!”

Belladriel leaned against me.

“Belladriel?”
“What…? Is something wrong?”
“Oh, no.”
“Haha, this is nice…! You’re so… firm… and the moon is beautiful…”

We were now cuddling in the hot spring.

Not a bad situation, but…

‘Didn’t she just say…?’

“You said I shouldn’t be close to women…”
“I’m an exception…!”
“…”

‘That’s not how it works.’

I thought to myself.

“Are you thinking, ‘that’s not how it works’?”
“…?!”

‘How did she know?’

‘Telepathy? Or is there another effect to the Secret Powder…?’

“…I knew it.”

Belladriel’s eyes were half-closed.

“N-No, I wasn’t.”

I chuckled nervously.

“Don’t lie. I’m a saint.”
“Haha, I can’t lie to a saint.”
“Shouldn’t we head back soon?”
“Back where?”
“Shine City.”

‘Hmm.’

We’d completed all the events here.

All that was left was…

More sermons and good deeds to reduce her Malice Gauge to 0%.

Then, when we returned to Shine City…

The final event would trigger.

“Let’s stay a little longer.”
“Why?”
“The Bubble Gang hasn’t fully repented. You should preach to them some more.”
“You’re right… that’s necessary.”

Belladriel nodded in agreement.

“This hot spring is so nice, I could stay here forever. Don’t you think, Isabel?”
“I agree.”

We stayed in the hot spring a little longer.

Until the effects of the Secret Powder wore off.

[Malice Gauge has been reduced to 0%!]
[Belladriel Dresia has fulfilled the requirements for redemption!]

The sermons were complete.

The healing miracles were performed.

The villagers had found faith.

It was Belladriel’s turn to be redeemed.

“Are you leaving already?”

Margathia, the Bubble Gang leader.

She still looked frail, but her eyes were filled with life.

Belladriel’s prayer seemed to be working.

“Yes. My work here is done. God will watch over Aria Village.”
“If that’s what the saint says… I believe you. But…”

Margathia smiled wryly.

“It’s… sad to see you go so soon. I wish we could meet more often.”

She sounded genuinely disappointed.

Belladriel smiled warmly.

“We’ll meet again someday. We believe in the same God, so we’re sisters. We’re bound to meet again.”
“I believe it will be as you say, Saint.”

While Margathia and Belladriel exchanged pleasantries, Rebecca approached me quietly.

“You seem awfully close to that criminal.”
“What do you mean? She’s being a saint.”
“I still don’t like her.”

Rebecca bit her lip, glaring at Margathia.

I chuckled.

“Redeeming villains is the Shine Order’s role. Don’t be so judgmental.”
“Do you… understand how I feel as a knight-captain?”

Rebecca crossed her arms and turned away, pouting.

“Try to understand.”

I murmured, glancing at Belladriel.

She glared at me.

“!”

That look meant ‘stay away from Rebecca.’

Rebecca seemed to understand and coughed awkwardly, then walked away.

“Saint, accept our gratitude.”
“Huh?”

Margathia called out to her gang members.

“Everyone, the saint is leaving. Show your respect!”

They all knelt, bowing their heads.

Margathia also knelt.

“This is… please, stand up.”
“No, Saint. Thank you for saving us sinners.”

The villagers also knelt, chanting, “Saint!”

Belladriel looked at me, unsure of what to do.

I chuckled.

She sighed and smiled faintly.

“…May good fortune follow you all.”
“Long live the Saint!”

–Long live the Saint!

“Long live the Saint!”

–Long live the Saint!

The villagers cheered and clapped.

As Belladriel turned to leave, the villagers and knights followed, escorting her to the village gates.

As we left the village, surrounded by cheers, we saw a group of horsemen waiting outside.

‘Who are they?’

Soldiers from Luminous Garden.

Their attire had changed.

Instead of silver armor, they now wore black.

Their presence meant an event was about to trigger.

“Who are you?!”

Rebecca stepped forward, drawing her sword.

A soldier on a black horse rode forward.

“Belladriel Dresia. The… Shine Order. Is that you?”
“How dare you address the Shine Order so casually…!”

Rebecca was about to attack when I stepped forward.

“What’s this about?”
“…Saint Echeveria has summoned you.”

‘The final act.’

I grinned, looking at Belladriel.