episode_0002

“Over there, Evaaan.”

“Why.”

“If you have time tonight… … . How about hanging out with me?”

I looked down at the woman standing in front of me with cold eyes.

Shiny purple hair and clear, bright eyes.

The name of this woman, who intentionally flutters the hem of her dress and reveals her flesh, is Elijah Reuben, and she is, unlike me, a ‘candidate for sainthood.’

Among them, he is also one of those who knows how to use divine powers quite well.

Her appearance was also very pretty and cute, so it was hard to say that she had an unpleasant face even as a joke… … .

Aside from that, what caused my annoyed expression was what she said.

-How about you come out with me tonight?

What on earth does this word without a subject mean? It was simple, actually.

The gist of this statement, which can be roughly guessed from the context, was that it was an application for playing with fire.

Playing with fire. Of course, I’m not talking about setting fire to the actual Solar Church building or having a simple fireworks display.

That expression is correct, it metaphorically implies sex. It has no other meaning.

I sighed and turned around.

“No thoughts.”

And I gave her a brief refusal. Of course, I had no reason to respond, knowing her purpose.

“Okay, wait. Hey? Evan!”

But Elijah was persistent. He followed me behind, his voice mixed with panic.

For some reason, she looked quite surprised and held on to my sleeve.

“What, are you serious? Are you sure you didn’t understand what I said?”

“No, I understood correctly.”

“Huh? Then why are you rejecting me!?”

She raised her voice with a puzzled expression, as if she couldn’t understand my answer at all.

Since the location was a hallway inside the Solar Bridge, people passing by all turned their heads.

Since I don’t like situations where I am the center of attention, I found myself frowning.

“… … Hey, come on.”

“Ah. Mi, sorry.”

And only then did Elijah let go of my sleeve. He looked slightly discouraged, perhaps not intentionally.

I sighed and started walking again. It was a bit of a stretch to answer the question.

“Do you think I don’t know what you’re thinking, Ruben?”

“… … No, what.”

It was a concise statement. But it seemed as if Elijah understood what I was trying to say, and he played with his hair for no reason and averted his gaze.

“Of course you know that. I didn’t say it because I thought you didn’t know. I don’t have to call you by your last name.”

“If you didn’t say it thinking I wouldn’t know, you should know why I refused, Ruben.”

“… … .”

Elijah’s expression turned slightly dull as he deliberately mentioned his last name twice.

She crossed her arms and glared at me, pretending to be offended.

“But I still don’t understand. Of course, I didn’t say I wanted to sleep with you because I purely liked you… … .”

“Then turn it off quickly.”

“I’m not done talking yet! Has this guy been being really rude since a while ago?”

Elijah blew a gust of wind and lifted his bangs, then quickly controlled his expression. He smiled beautifully once again.

In other words, it was a precursor to showing off.

“Eva, don’t be like that. Huh? Don’t you think I’m pretty cute? It’s not often you get a chance to sleep with me like this.”

“It’s not often that I try to resolve things through friendly conversation.”

“Of course I know about your violent tendencies and bad habits… … !”

But this b*tch? When I glared at Elijah, she shrugged her shoulders and laughed awkwardly.

“Ah, hahaha. So, I was saying that I wanted to sleep with you without caring about those bad rumors. Yeah, yeah. ”

“… … .”

“… … If you look at me like that, Elijah, I’m scared.”

However, when I didn’t take my eyes off her, she started acting cute in a strange way. It was so funny that I couldn’t help but think she was being ridiculous.

I swallowed a sigh and started to wonder why this was happening.

‘… … It really seems like a crazy worldview.’

So, this is… … . It must be said that many things are different in this world from the previous life, and among them, one culture is particularly different.

If we look a little more closely, we could say that it is a unique culture of the Solar Church.

Faith in this world is achieved through the demonstration of divine power.

It is not true that those who cannot handle divine power are considered non-believers, but it is also clear that users of divine power are revered as high-ranking priests.

So how can such divine power be handled and amplified?

This is where the difference between divine power and mana is revealed.

As can be seen from the name of the sect, the symbol of the goddess that the Solar Church worships is the sun. In the case of female clergy, on the contrary, it is the moon.

If we try to explain it in terms of previous life, it can be said that it worships yin and yang… … .

Hundreds of years ago, the priests of old had an idea one day.

[The Goddess values the harmony of yin and yang. If we look at it from that perspective, wouldn’t we be able to find a way to train our divine power?]

→ Aren’t yin and yang ultimately male and female?

[Harmony of yin and yang, unity of the sun and the moon… …? What is this? By any chance? No way??]

→ Let’s mix bodies among the clergy once.

[The total amount of divine power increases… …! The quality also begins to improve!]

→ Wow, this works.

“… … .”

It is regrettable, but this is truly the history of this world. It is such a great boast that it is even written into the doctrine. ‘Unity of man and woman is an act of patriotism, and furthermore, an act of love for God.’

When I first saw it at a young age, so many questions popped into my head.

As I recalled the memory of that time, I clenched my fists and shook my hands.

‘Rather, I wish it was just a fact that the priest couple found out by chance… … .’

If that were the case, I wouldn’t have felt so empty.

Conversely, you would have said, “What a great discovery! Wow, another world! Wow, divine power!”

… … Anyway, the story went off on a strange note, but that was the gist of it. Why was this Elijah Ruben, who could be objectively considered a pretty girl, clinging to me like this and demanding to sleep with me?

Naturally, what she was aiming for was the advancement in level achieved through intercourse.

It’s been quite some time since I’ve been in a slump, but my talent is still there.

If you can put me on the bed regardless of my condition, it may not be impossible for me to absorb some of this blessed divine power.

It was inevitable that I would look at Elijah with contempt.

It’s not like they’re after me, nor is it purely after my body. It’s not like they’re after the capital that I have.

Of course, it couldn’t look pretty.

The purpose is so obvious that it makes my head spin.

I touched my forehead once and then somewhat coolly swatted away Elijah’s finger that was timidly poking my forearm.

“What… … .”

“What is that? What is that?”

I firmly declared to Elijah, who was rolling his eyes as if slightly embarrassed.

“I don’t care about you, so get out of here quickly. I don’t like rubbing shoulders with a rag like you who just rolls around.”

“… … .”

And Elijah Ruben remained silent. This time, she fluttered her eyelashes, as if she was genuinely shocked.

I realized belatedly that I was sorry. But was that too harsh on a twenty-year-old?

“… … uh, uh.”

It was only shortly afterwards that I realized that it was exactly as he said.

Tears welled up in Elijah’s eyes.

“Me, me, man… … .”

Before I could even say sorry, she slapped my arm hard and ran away screaming.

“Everyone else lives like that, ugh, why do you talk so harshly to me! You’re the only one among your peers who doesn’t give up on you, so you’re upset!!”

“… … .”

But until the end, that girl was really.

“Sigh.”

I frowned, racking my brain with complicated emotions.

One candidate for the sainthood who gets on people’s nerves is fine.

-Everyone else lives like that, so why are you talking so harshly to me… …!

For some reason, I felt like those words from a little while ago were still ringing in my ears. From Elijah’s perspective, they were probably just words he said naturally.

As for me, it was something that I couldn’t help but be concerned about.

Even now, after nearly twenty years of adaptation, it is still the most absurd difference that exists between this world and me.

Certainly there was nothing wrong with what she said.

The priests of this world are basically open-minded about sex.

Even my benefactor Israfil’s mind itself is not much different from theirs…

The practice of combining bodies with like-minded partners to practice divine powers was actually encouraged by the Solar Cult.

Perhaps, in this worldview, it would be stranger to try to maintain the mindset of a previous life.

It is a law that cultural differences must be respected.

It may sound like an excuse if I say it now, but I also don’t find it strange that the Solar Cult is rampant with one-night stands due to the influence of divine power.

Anyway, this is the world I have to adapt to as a reborn body.

Putting aside the culture shock of my childhood, I’ve become quite flexible now.

Above all, as a man, I am not without sexual desires… …. If I had to say, I felt quite interested.

If it weren’t for ‘that’ problem, I might have accepted Elijah’s offer a little while ago.

“… … .”

What do you mean? This is what I mean.

The problem was something else.

Not a problem of this world, not an conceptual problem of a past life, just a fucking problem given solely to me, Evan Lane.

I stopped for a moment and looked up at the ceiling of the building.

There were mythological paintings painted there, reminiscent of the stained glass windows of a modern cathedral.

What caught my eye was the appearance of a goddess.

That was it. The object of my faith that had been built up over many years─. The goddess of the Sun Church had certainly bestowed talents on this reincarnated person, but unfortunately, it seemed as if she had taken everything else away.

… … What was taken away from me was none other than ‘the opportunity for yin and yang unity with a female priest.’

Even if I had sex with the women of this solar cult, it wouldn’t have meant much to me, even if it meant something to them.

I was unable to strengthen myself by absorbing divine power through my opponent.

The reason is also very simple. The divine power I was born with was so strong, and the divine nature I originally possessed was so noble.

It was said that women with divine powers lower than mine could ascend to higher levels through me, but the opposite was not possible.

That’s why he coldly threw away Elijah Ruben, who was objectively pretty and cute.

A saint candidate whose natural power is so outstanding that he cannot see beyond it.

Rumors about me being a ‘poor guy’ had already spread throughout the Solar Church, so I couldn’t help but feel offended that he suggested we sleep together even after knowing that.

Why would I hug her? In the end, I’ll gain nothing and just lose my divine power.

‘I guess I can get one night’s pleasure.’

It was a pointless conversation. No matter what, I didn’t want to sell my capital for such a short-lived sexual satisfaction.

“Sigh, fuck.”

As I was about to start walking again, swearing for no reason.

Knock, knock-

“That annoying way of speaking is still there.”

Along with the clear sound of footsteps, a girl’s bright voice was heard.

And it was definitely… …. the voice of someone I knew.

“Lethe Heresia… … ?”

A woman approached me, her hazy, ivory hair flowing and her blue eyes sparkling like jewels.

I frowned slightly, completely taken aback by his unexpected appearance.

Among the fifteen candidates for sainthood, she is the one with the highest ranking and, moreover, she is the only one in this vast solar sect who harbors the same troubles as I do.

The only priest of the same kind.

Lete Heresia. She, like me, was the possessor of the ‘Blessed Divinity’.

We both looked into each other’s eyes for a moment in silence, then opened our mouths at the same time.

“Why did you suddenly show up and start a fight, you son of a bitch.”

“It’s so painful to be in the same room with a low-level person like you.”

Phagec!

A formless spark began to fly between me and Lethe.

That’s right.

The two of us were inherently xenophobic.