episode_0029

*

I left the fortress alone with a bottle of liquor.

An indescribable stuffiness filled my chest.

The emotions building up to my throat felt like they would explode at any moment, but all that came out was a heavy sigh.

As I pressed the heel of my palm against my throbbing head,

I saw a jet-black cat looking up at me from the ground, quietly wagging its tail from side to side.

“Did you have a good time?”

“…”

“The moment a beautiful maiden’s flower is plucked is always enjoyable to watch, but for the honor of you and Lucia, I discreetly excused myself.”

“…”

Ashes were scattered around Kunat.

It seemed he had taken care of a few approaching monsters.

“It’s a joyous occasion for the two of you to consummate your relationship, so it wouldn’t do to have anyone disturbing you. Ah, you don’t have to thank me.”

“… Ha…”

“I gave you my consideration, so what’s with that look? I misjudged, I guess I should receive at least a thank you…”

I raised my booted foot and brought it down towards Kunat’s head.

He raised his arm to block my foot, then stuck his head out to the side and sneered.

“How rude.”

“…”

“You’re too…”

I poured holy power into my toe and stomped down once more, and his body burst like rotten entrails with a *thwack*.

I walked away, stepping on his scattered skin and flesh on the ground, and sat down roughly on a wooden crate in the fortress courtyard.

The bloodstains clinging to the soles of my boots hadn’t even dried yet, but the cat was sitting next to me as if it had been there from the start.

He stroked his newly grown head with his front paw and continued.

“Violent.”

“…”

I didn’t respond.

Whether it was words or fighting, I didn’t want to give this damn cat any reaction.

I silently chugged the bottle of wine in my hand.

“Hoo.”

Kunat made a small exclamation, then chattered away happily to himself, as if he didn’t expect an answer from me anyway.

“Yes, now you’re more like the Billy I know, this is the Father Theodore we all know.”

“…”

“This is exactly how you were known among the devils, that if the opponent was a devil, you wouldn’t exchange more than two words before throwing a punch.”

“…”

“It wasn’t just devils, didn’t you treat people the same way? The fact that you beat up a prince and swore in front of the king is a pretty famous anecdote even among devils.”

That was because that foolish prince had come up with the crazy plan to summon a devil and use it in the war in the border region, and was actually trying to carry it out.

I had obtained the information in advance and infiltrated the secret space where the evil ritual was taking place, and I barely managed to stop it.

But that prince didn’t even know what he was trying to do, and instead started yelling at me.

I broke all the fingers of the prince who shouted at me for being disrespectful.

Even then, he kept talking about his noble status, so I broke his ribs and let them pierce his intestines, and the idiot prince finally shut his mouth.

The next day, the guards caught me and took me to the king, who claimed he would execute me for using violence against a prince of the nation.

I spat at the king’s feet and said,

‘I thought that moron was stupid because he didn’t have a father, but it turns out he had a stupid father.’

Then, the king even drew his sword, saying he would kill me right away without a trial.

The reason I wasn’t executed was thanks to the persuasion of the religion that had influence beyond the kingdom, and the bishop who was respected in the country.

Ah, of course, my achievements of tirelessly beating up devils for my entire life after becoming a priest also played a part.

… Hmm,

Thinking about it now, maybe I was transferred to the island at the bishop’s request to avoid the king’s wrath.

“We have heard of your reputation… no, your infamy,”

Is it a compliment or an insult when a devil calls it infamy?

I don’t know, but at least I was ready to show him that infamy if he said one more snide remark.

“Don’t get so angry, you’re not a bachelor anymore…”

I struck his body with a hand covered in holy power.

Kunat burst with a *pop*.

*Thud*,

A piece of hot flesh splattered and stuck to my face.

“I don’t die, but it still hurts, and even though I said I enjoy pain, I don’t enjoy wanton violence.”

“… Hoo.”

I put down the bottle of liquor and glared at Kunat.

“You better enjoy it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Because if you don’t, you’ll suffer.”

Kunat shivered and opened his mouth.

“That’s really chilling.”

“You’re making me annoyed. Weren’t you prepared for that?”

Kunat flinched and gave me a friendly smile.

“I give up, I’ll stop teasing you now, so please stop the violence.”

“… You fucking bastard.”

I spat out curses and chugged the bottle of liquor again.

“What did you do with Lucia?”

“I put her to sleep.”

“Strangling her unconscious can’t be called putting her to sleep.”

“Why are you asking when you already know?”

That’s right.

I knocked Lucia unconscious.

Lucia, who was shining with red pupils and breathing roughly, tried to subdue me with the devil’s power.

She forcibly grabbed my arm and tried to shove it between her legs.

But the moment Lucia unleashed the devil’s power, she already had no chance of winning.

I quickly knocked away her arm and wrapped both arms around her neck, knocking her unconscious.

“Ha…”

I sighed and tilted the bottle of liquor.

Just thinking about the situation a moment ago made me involuntarily squeeze my eyes shut.

Even if I conceded a hundred times and said I understood Lucia’s feelings, I could never tolerate that behavior.

There is a huge difference between having feelings of affection and demanding lewd acts.

A woman’s virginity was a very important issue.

They had almost no faith, and they would certainly not live as nuns their entire lives, and they would eventually start families, but an unchaste woman would be severely stigmatized.

It frustrated me that Anna and Lucia seemed to be taking this issue too lightly.

No… Actually, what frustrated me the most was…

“… Crazy bastard.”

Even though I was in the position of a priest and monastery head, I almost gave in to that temptation at that moment.

It was dangerous.

Her intense scent, her hot gaze, her sweet voice.

Everything seemed to exist only to melt a man’s brain.

I almost succumbed to that temptation.

I almost embraced her under the pretense that she wanted it.

Kunat opened his mouth, piercing me sharply.

“Why did you reject her?”

“Would I touch Lucia if I did that?”

“You can touch her, isn’t she a maiden of marriageable age? She’s even beautiful, and even adores you. What’s the reason for rejecting her?”

“I’m a priest, and she’s a nun.”

“What does that mean in this world? Isn’t this a world that’s already been destroyed anyway?”

“No, you devil.”

Kunat chuckled and said.

“I see, Lucia, who gave her body to the devil, might be too dirty for Father Theodore, who beats devils without asking questions, she doesn’t satisfy you, does she?”

“Shut your mouth.”

I lowered my voice like a growl and warned Kunat.

But, that was also a reason.

Of course, I don’t think badly of Lucia because she gave her body to the devil.

I’m just suspecting that her proactive attitude might be because the devil instigated it.

If Lucia was tempted by me under the influence of the devil, and I succumbed to that temptation and embraced her, wouldn’t that be like being played by the devil?

“If you said it was to defeat the monsters, then just catch the monsters. Don’t do anything useless.”

“Ha, do you think Lucia wanting you is the devil’s fault?”

“I know Lucia. She’s not that proactive.”

“Hehehe, you’re such an idiot,”

When I raised my hand, Kunat jumped up and moved away from me, saying.

“Well, alcohol must have given Lucia courage, and of course, the Ebony Wolf must have made her a little more primal,”

“…”

“But, those feelings are definitely hers, Father Theodore.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, there’s no way.”

“Don’t you know even after seeing Anna, who hasn’t been influenced by the devil at all?”

“…”

Kunat sneered, as if barely holding back his laughter, and continued.

“They want you. In a different direction from what you think, from a very long time ago.”

“… Shut up.”

“Oh, Billy… you stupid friend.”

Kunat clicked his tongue.

“What is a priest? What is a Father, and what is a Nun?”

“…”

“In this hell where monsters kill humans and lay their eggs on their corpses, what does religion do!”

Kunat mocked me in his unique theatrical tone.

He pointed out that the only reason I was rejecting their favor was because of my profession and status,

and that my flimsy excuse was just a paper shield that had no meaning in this world that had been destroyed by monsters.

“Besides, you have that great holy power, don’t you? That skill that has instilled fear in countless devils is still going strong!”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying that if the nuns become devils, you can handle them skillfully anyway.”

“…”

Kunat, who had come closer, smiled slightly and said.

“You seem to be burning up inside, drink that liquor in your hand one more time and think about it.”

“Think…”

Think.

Ha, think.

I’ve thought enough.

I silently put down the bottle of liquor and slowly moved my lips.

“Lucia said that to me today.”

“Hmm?”

“Why don’t you say anything.”

I slowly closed my eyes and continued.

“Lucia seems to think I became quiet because of her confession, but no. I was thinking.”

“Thinking.”

“Seeing those people hanging like cocoons on that monster made me think a lot.”

“Hmm, I thought you were already used to terrible sights.”

“I was. The idiots who worship you devils aren’t bad with bloodstains either.”

I opened my eyes wide and fixed my gaze on Kunat.

Kunat flinched slightly, as if sensing something was wrong.

“I thought, a lot.”

“…”

“That thought continued even at the moment you were spouting nonsense.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Thinking about it like that, it seemed strange.”

Kunat quietly looked at me.

Even Kunat, who had always seemed to be reading my mind, didn’t seem to understand what I was about to say now.

“Why are you only targeting our nuns?”

“… What?”

“You said that the devils of hell are targeting the few remaining humans, but why are you following me? You know I’m going to interfere.”

“…”

“Shouldn’t you be looking for humans who can be corrupted even a little faster?”

“…”

Kunat was speechless, like he had eaten honey.

I seized the momentum and pressed him.

“That’s not the only strange thing.”

“…”

“You’re not doing anything to me at all.”

“… Ha,”

Kunat let out a hollow laugh.

“That’s because you have holy power…”

“What’s wrong with that? Do you think it’s rare for a priest to become corrupt? Rather, I know very well that because they come into contact with devils so often, they’re more likely to be fascinated by the devil’s power than ordinary people.”

“…”

Kunat closed his mouth.

It seemed he had realized that it was no use saying anything anymore.

I quietly opened my mouth, as if declaring victory.

“You’re targeting me. Right?”

“…”

“You’re going to corrupt the nuns, and use the fact that I care about them to use me as you please, right?”

“Why would I do such a troublesome thing?”

“It’s because of this.”

I wrapped holy power around my hand.

Kunat quietly smiled and nodded.

“Ah, you’re not just a stupid guy who throws punches.”

Kunat’s words are cleverly mixed with truth and lies, making it difficult to know their true meaning.

The confusion after witnessing the monster,

Lucia who became a devil.

Anna and Lucia’s sudden confessions.

More confusion.

Kunat was trying to use all of that to scatter my judgment.

But, the title of Exorcist Priest is not something you can get just by studying theology a little.

I know the devils.

I know their tricks.

I know their methods of getting what they want by using cunning tricks without ever revealing what they want.

I could perfectly figure out what Kunat was aiming for.

“Someday, when only humans who have given their bodies to devils are left on this earth, then monsters won’t be a problem at all.”

“That’s right.”

“But humans who have given their bodies to devils,”

“Billy, I can’t beat you.”

“Ha, you bastard.”

Kunat judged that this world would soon fall into the hands of the devils.

When that time comes, I will remain as the strongest being in this world that no one can beat.

Kunat slowly shrugged his shoulders and slowly raised his upper body.

“I underestimated you, I sincerely apologize.”

The cat’s skin tore with a *rip*, and red skin popped out from inside.

Then, in the blink of an eye, it grew to the size of a person and slowly wriggled and began to take shape.

A woman with reddish-orange skin slowly raised her upper body.

The dark red rod that sprouted from her waist slowly unfolded its bent joints, and then revealed a huge wing, spreading the membrane that had been stretched out in between.

The blood-colored horn that pierced through her dark green hair grew greatly and curved, almost piercing the crown of her head.

The devil, who had revealed her true form, revealed her sharp teeth and reached out her hand.

“How is it, Billy.”

“…”

“Why don’t we become the masters of the human world together.”