episode_0031

As soon as Yuria entered the room, she demanded to be held in my arms.

“…Master.”

“What is it?”

“Are you thinking about the saint again?”

…Now it’s the saint after Rachel. As I inwardly chuckled at the awkwardness of it all, Yuria’s grip on my hand tightened.

Just when I thought there was some leeway, here we go again. Those J-cups… Well, Ian already knew. He knew how appealing and vulgar a saint’s body could feel to a man. But her gaze was so cold, it didn’t matter right now to Yuria.

“You’ve done something terrible to Ian.”

“And what does that amount to?”

“Normally, taking someone to the underground and torturing them for a week would be fitting for such a serious offense. …But she’s from the Holy Kingdom. If they sent her to be healed and we kidnapped her, torturing her for a week? That’s a one-way ticket to being labeled a heretic. Well, if my plan goes wrong, that might just happen anyway.

“Still, I prefer having a Yuria who can act on her own accord. Last time, she stopped… Well, that’s not the topic for discussion here.”

“…Do you still want to touch me?”

When Yuria asked that, without a moment’s hesitation, I nodded.

“Yes.”

“…Is mine, even more beautiful to look at? More attractive as a woman… right?”

Yuria repeated the same question without waiting for an answer.

Well, isn’t it common sense?

It’s no longer satisfying to just look at those breasts I sucked on last night. And above all…

“Yuria, you’re mine and we’re close. In a broad sense, you’re like family to me, while the saint is someone else. I don’t easily give my heart away.”

Ultimately, Yuria is anxious because of the saint. At least to keep from dying, I have to keep Yuria by my side. As I pondered quietly, smoke suddenly rose from Yuria’s forehead.

Her usually pale face had turned noticeably red.

It stood out even more since Yuria typically projected a sarcastic image.

“…Yuria?”

I called her name for a moment and touched her chin to make her look at me.

She wasn’t this fragile before.

“…Is she embarrassed?”

At the touch of his chin and the curl of his lips, Yuria’s eyes snapped open.

His face. So close.

Incredibly close.

Yuria’s heart pounded as if it would burst.

Breath caught, a strange sensation of suffocating love overwhelmed her.

– Thump thump thump thump.

“Quiet… Quiet… Please, it’s too… Your sweet voice… I can’t hear… because of it.”

For some reason, Yuria, whose gaze seemed to focus on my lips, averted her eyes.

Her own heart thumping wildly.

Ian, who had been watching this, looked dumbfounded.

“Scared?”

Showing a slightly shocked reaction, Yuria quickly waved her hands in denial, almost as if she were about to cry.

“Ma-Master Ian’s words… that is… um…”

Even among the Yurias I’ve seen so far, it was difficult for her to continue speaking.

“To truly be family… and to continue to be precious… to stay by my side until the end… means, that…”

With that, she bowed deeply.

“…You’re being too, presumptuous. If you suddenly act like this, how am I supposed to rea— react? Please consider my heart’s position a little… just a little.”

“…”

Now, do I have to talk about this while even considering her heart’s feelings?

…

She was still a novice saint.

Her first alias, not the grand saint of justice, but one derived from a bright flower language, was a reminder of her humble origins as a commoner who had shivered in the cold.

She couldn’t quite recall the name of that flower now.

What she did remember was that she was different back then.

She had reached beyond her limits and done her utmost.

Those who had benefited from her grace praised her almost as if she were devout.

But the deeds of a remarkable and influential saint were not as pure as those fairy tales.

Well… In the current village, she continued to exert herself until she became a burden, and people began to fear her, and even disciplinary measures were taken, so there was no way to help.

The saint was also human. She didn’t show it, but her mental state was already worn down in many ways.

‘…Anyway, I suppose there’s no chance for me to taste the emotion called love.’

She was a woman who had dirtied her hands with the blood of countless individuals. It was contradictory in itself that she, now, was forcing herself to stand firm in the village, posing as a fool and neglecting the threat she posed. If she had descended to the level of expecting rewards for becoming a saint and adopting the disgusting mindset of “I’ve done so much~ I deserve to be treated this way,” then she would have truly recognized the need to step down from her position.

“In reality… I can feel myself gradually going insane.”

She didn’t take pleasure in humiliating or making someone self-conscious. Even if the person was a sinner, there was no need to take them to the training grounds just because their actions towards those who had shown kindness were deemed impolite.

-This… is unacceptable.

That was the saint’s reaction when Ian cleanly brought down a single guard among the security personnel. No, at least, if he had simply defeated them using magic or some trickery, she wouldn’t have minded. But to use a blade against a guard? To swiftly draw his sword and overcome a real blade that was approaching his neck?

“…What kind of person is he, really?”

He didn’t seem to have a well-trained body on a regular basis. However, just this once, it felt like he had become someone else. A presence that overwhelmed the room and could easily make the atmosphere turn cold was not something one could acquire easily. If the fool’s entire external image was his true form…

“At least he’s not just a fool, right?”

As she pondered this, a knock echoed.

“…At this late hour, who could it be?”

Without waiting for any response, the door opened.

There stood Ian confidently, along with the suspicious maid who had visited today.

“Though my greeting may be a bit belated, I formally extend my greetings. Isabel, the Saint of Justice.”

“…Yes, it’s truly a pleasure to meet you. Sir Ian Brighton.”

The saint smiled outwardly and nodded her head. It was easy to understand the reason for their visit at this time without thinking too deeply about it.

Just as she was about to say more…

-Swish.

The sharp gaze of the silver-haired maid, which had turned away, returned. Unlike the impression she had during the day,

In the palace, the atmosphere was even more ruthless than that of someone who possessed a killing machine, making it all the more uncomfortable.

“You’ve come as expected.”

It was clear from every skilled movement and step that this person was likely an elite figure who could be selected for any assassination squad. Undoubtedly, they were a direct subordinate of a high-ranking individual. It was almost unheard of for a mere maid to effortlessly subdue dozens of guards with just one “null” without using magic.

What the saint was truly wary of, however, was Yuria. The presence of her seasoned knights exuded a chilling charisma, serving as evidence enough.

“…I had anticipated you would come today.”

Given Ian Gongja’s knack for foreseeing things, it was highly probable that this visit was intentional. Initially, she had expected him to come with the mindset of a mere ruffian, intending to intimidate or something of that sort. However, the fact that he was well-versed in Aura Blade and had been maintaining an image of being a “ruffian” even within his own family without revealing this fact externally…

“The probability of a hidden trump card like Blytna is quite high. To think they were raising such a hunting dog there as well.”

Well, in any case, the saint was now halfway inclined to push Ian away.

From the start, it had been an unreasonable stubbornness akin to that of a young child.

She had persisted in seeking alternative solutions simply because she disliked surrendering herself to a ruffian.

The saint was aware of how much negative influence her behavior was having on those around her.

This had led her to give up several times. After all, there was no man who would love a woman burdened with so much sin, nor did she consider herself charming.

While she possessed a female form that might be attractive to men, her emotionless tone and hardened gaze made meeting men uncomfortable.

The reasons behind the contract she had made with the devil were irrelevant now.

The Kingdom would handle that. At least a three-day grace period would be given, so if her relationship with Ian ended and something happened, she would find a way to convey that information.

Therefore, the saint’s attitude towards Ian had changed.

“…I apologize for today’s rudeness. If you came to see me because you wanted to quickly conclude the request… Yes, alright, let’s head to the bedroom.”

It was a casual suggestion with the word “bedroom.”

The saint’s actions were driven by a desire to quickly dispel the curse and a sense of responsibility.

Revealing her sturdy collarbone, she slowly rose from her seat.

However, the atmosphere emanating from the maid behind her felt strange.

A primal instinct in her mind rang like a mad alarm.

Danger.

It was unsettling.

Even when facing the seasoned Imperial knights’ presence, she had never felt this way before.

Perhaps speaking further might have been suffocating, but she had to continue speaking until the end.

“Men are said to be aroused by first looking at a woman’s body, yes. Alright. I will show things that I have never revealed to anyone until now…”

“Stop.”

She deliberately used language to provoke men, but all that came back was emotionless words.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but…”

Uriah interjected.

What is she planning to do?

At best, outwardly, she was a maid, nothing more than a woman.

…!

Simultaneously, as her shoulder was grasped, an intense pain filled her mouth.

“Please maintain your boundaries.”

Danger.

Uriah. It was Uriah who tore apart the ‘aura’ surrounding the saint with an overwhelming force as she fell backward.

“What are you doing? This is… right away-”

Her words were cut off again.

As Uriah nervously half-raised the woman’s hand and gently guided her back into the chair.

“Uriah, it’s not yet time for interrogation.”

“…Compared to the demons, I merely touched her slightly.”

Slightly?

Tearing through an aura with bare hands even after being struck by a knight’s sword…?

If there had been no aura, the thought alone would have been dreadful.

“It’s because I disgraced Ian. With my filthy body.”

“You’re not a demon yet, Saint.”

“That’s why I showed you just a little.”

…

Tinged with fear, the saint slightly, slightly retreated, preparing to call the knight.

It seems like I’ve gone insane, there’s no doubt about it. However, the sight beneath the window… “…” Everything went black. The knights who should have been outside. Clearly subdued at least 20 or more skilled knights, even though the window was left open, not a single sound was heard. “I’ll fix your hand again.” The maid who walked in grabbed her hair roughly and met her gaze. “Your hand, I will mend it again.” A sticky, filthy magic akin to witchcraft enveloped her hand once. And then again, with a crunch. “Ughhh…..” “Do it more gently.” “It’s already gentle. This woman’s body is more delicate than a lesser demon’s. I will be more careful from now on.” “…That was definitely intentional. If someone could handle that level of power, they could easily control the force.” It’s just releasing pent-up emotions towards the saint right now. “In the books, torture is fundamentally about fixing the victim to a wooden chair with thin nails and slowly cutting the flesh to inflict as much pain as possible over a long period.” “Y-You… sent by the Holy Kingdom as a request?!” “Please be quiet. If you interrupt the master one more time, I will cut off your legs.” Nonchalantly delivering harsh words, she seemed far from being a normal maid. The saint, unaccustomed to pain above all else, trembled and shed tears. “….” However, she did not resist. It meant she was somewhat resigned to death. Contrary to expectations, she simply remained silent on the ground with dead eyes, rather than wailing. Ian, squatting on the floor, locked eyes with the saint and spoke. “I know what kind of contract you made with the demon.” “…” “Can you still hear the demon’s voice?” “It’s been quite some time since I stopped hearing the demon’s voice. And-” She denied it in the original work as well. What comes next is mostly just reciting the original description. “Passing on his skills, he has continued this war with consecutive victories, right?” How could you…

“Of course, it would naturally be forbidden to speak of such a high-level demon contract.”

“…Please don’t fabricate words.”

“How could someone like you, a former orphan who has never experienced the battlefield, come up with such a perfect plan? Yes, it’s as if you could boast a 100% success rate like a seasoned strategist, isn’t it?”

“…”

It was an audacious statement that could lead to blasphemy and even heresy interrogation.

But Ian’s words didn’t stop there.

“Perhaps you want to die?”

For a moment, Isabella’s gaze turned into one that looked at a madman. But as the conversation about the contract continued, her expression hardened rapidly.

“…”

People, after all, tend to waver internally when their psyche is continuously pierced.

Even now.

Unlike her chirpy morning demeanor, the saint remained silent, lips pursed.

“And you are prohibited from showing it to anyone, speaking of it, or even achieving that dream yourself. That’s what the contract entails.”

Followed by silence. In other words, my assumption was correct.

Having already been sensitive to the saint, Isabella was now turning her into a convert of the devil’s whisper, having inflicted harm upon her.

From the moment she realized the harm done to the saint, the line had been crossed firmly.

The saint, lifting her head abruptly, sensed the ominousness.

“When this fact was revealed, what kind of trick did the demon pull off? That’s why you tried to kill yourself. If you were to give up everything and choose a method like suicide, it might cause even bigger trouble. So, instead of canceling the contract midway, you chose a safe release through death.”

Here, the difference between cancellation and release lies in the timing.

In the case of canceling a demon’s contract, it means severing the forcibly connected contract from now on. Therefore, measures can be taken in response to that. However, if it is forcibly released through death, then in terms of the contract, it becomes as if it never existed, and the demon’s efforts vanish.

“…Uh, ah.”

It seems she wants to say something, but it’s impossible.

She slowly shakes her head.

Originally, it would have been impossible to answer. So this isn’t a different kind of negation… As if proving the prediction, Yuria, who had been gazing into the distance outside the window, urgently turned her head and said, “Master, as expected, a horde of demons that were lurking in the vicinity is advancing toward this village. The approximate number is… around 300.”

From day one, a demon attack? Seriously intense. Of course, that’s not the end. According to the original story, we haven’t even met the demon inside the saint yet.