episode_0035

*

Three days after the search, a clear morning without a single cloud.

I was hanging clothes and blankets on a clothesline stretched across the monastery’s yard.

Each time I shook out the fabrics, freshly laundered with cold well water, the tiny droplets that splashed on my face felt refreshing.

When a breeze suddenly brushed past my nose, the remaining droplets on my face cooled and disappeared, making me feel good.

I hummed a little tune and paused, holding the laundry in my hands.

“…Nice.”

Even though the world has gone to hell, the sun still scatters jewel-like sparkles across the beautiful sea surrounding the island,

and the sea breeze, laden with salty air, lifted the blanket hanging on the clothesline.

Sola giggled and ran around under the blanket that soared into the air, Anna glared at Sola, and Lucia, watching the scene from the window in her room, smiled softly when she met my gaze.

This beautiful moment, where everything feels perfect.

At times like this, it feels like the destroyed world isn’t a problem at all, and I don’t care what happens to monsters or devils.

The unbearable silence emanating from the ruined world, and mourning for this world doomed to be ruled by devils.

Even the painful anger that I forcibly swallowed in my chaotic heart seemed to be washed away by the huge waves passing over the island.

The sound of the waves, burying all the noises of the world, was like natural music that made me forget all worries and concerns.

I closed my eyes and savored the peace.

“Father! Anna’s hitting me!”

“When did I ever!”

“Gyaaaa!”

“Huh? I haven’t even touched her yet! Father, it’s not true. I haven’t done anything yet.”

Anna and Sola were making a fuss as usual.

I opened my mouth with a faint smile.

“I know. Sola, don’t make it too hard on Anna, either.”

“Why only me!”

“Anna, there’s nothing particularly dangerous right now, so don’t scold Sola too much.”

“… I understand.”

I shook the laundry in my hand to remove the water, then hung it on an empty spot on the clothesline.

Looking down at the laundry basket, I saw that only one twisted piece of clothing remained.

Without thinking, I picked it up and unfolded it.

“Oh, this is…”

“W-wait a minute! Father!”

Anna, who had been pinching Sola’s cheek, called out to me in a hurried voice and rushed over, snatching the laundry from my hand.

It was a short linen garment.

Originally, it was a dress used as women’s sleepwear, but from a few years ago, it became fashionable among working women to cut off the lower part of the waist and wear it inside their clothes, making it short enough to barely cover the top.

To put it simply, it was a concept like underwear worn to absorb sweat.

“Oh my, how did this get mixed in there.”

“It can happen when you’re doing laundry, why are you like this?”

“Well…. it’s a little embarrassing.”

“…Well, I can understand Anna being embarrassed since she’s a woman, but, well, it’s not like I’ve never seen it before, so it’s making me embarrassed too.”

“Ah, that’s…”

Anna cleared her throat and crumpled the underwear in her hand.

Sola crept up next to Anna and looked at it, then looked up at Anna and said.

“Oh? This. That thing.”

“W-wait. Sola!”

“…?”

Anna looked at Sola, startled.

Sola continued, as if she didn’t know what was going on.

“When Father was out, Anna was cutting the chest part of this dress.”

“Sola, be quiet!”

“When I asked why she was cutting a perfectly good dress, she said it was old and she was going to throw it away? Why did you wash it?”

“…Th-that’s.”

“…Ah,”

I nodded.

It seemed that Anna had modified her underwear to make her chest more visible.

The reason, well, it must be because of me.

Anna’s ears turned bright red and she dropped her head, fiddling with the laundry in her hand.

She seemed to realize that I had figured out the whole situation.

Only Sola didn’t know anything.

“You silly Anna. You already washed it, so you have to wear it one more time because it’s a waste.”

“Be quiet.”

“I don’t make those mistakes! Hehe, Anna is dumb.”

“Sola… stop it.”

Anna was making such a miserable face that it was heartbreaking to watch, so I raised my hand and stopped Sola.

Sola puffed up her face, complaining about why I was always picking on her, and then ran off somewhere.

I carefully approached Anna.

“Anna…”

“…”

“I said it last time, but… I,”

“…It’s not.”

“Huh?”

“It’s not like that.”

“What?”

“Father… I didn’t do it because of you.”

“…”

If you’re going to lie, at least be shameless about it.

Anna avoided my eyes with a bright red face and continued.

“That… That’s right, I was going to throw it away. But when I thought about it… I couldn’t get any clothes… so I just…”

“Um. I see.”

“…What is it.”

I grabbed the back of her neck with my hands, which had become cold from holding the wet laundry.

Anna flinched at the coolness she felt on the back of her neck and arched her back.

“Eep!”

I looked at Anna, who had raised her head, and said.

“Are you going to keep thinking about such lewd things?”

“…It’s not like that.”

“Really?”

“…”

“Surely a Nun wouldn’t lie in front of a Priest?”

I smiled and continued.

“You can’t keep giving in to your desires like that. As I said before, it’s not a sin to have impulses, and it’s not a sin to indulge in those impulses, but if you keep getting swayed by them, you can’t help but get closer to sin.”

“…I know.”

“If you keep doing that, I’ll give you an extra sermon after Evening Mass.”

“…Only me?”

“I guess so. If I make everyone sit down and preach, it’s obvious that Sola will lie down on the floor of the Prayer Room and throw a tantrum.”

Anna stared at me with a bright red face.

I could sense an inexplicable aggressive attitude in her gaze and expression.

“…Father.”

“Yeah?”

“Is this a temptation?”

“…What?”

“Saying you’re only going to give a sermon to me… That’s a temptation, isn’t it.”

“…You really need to hear a sermon.”

“I told you before too.”

Anna slowly wrapped her arms around my waist.

“Father, you’re being *yahan*.”

I flicked Anna’s forehead with my finger and said.

“What are you doing from the morning.”

“Ugh, why are you saying things like that when you’re not going to accept me.”

“…How can the word sermon contain any kind of *eumsim*.”

“The words ‘just the two of us’ are very stimulating.”

“This is a Monastery. The Goddess is always by our side.”

“…Yes.”

Anna seemed to want to say something, but closed her mouth and nodded.

But her expression still seemed full of dissatisfaction.

I understand that Anna, who is a fully mature virgin compared to Lucia and Sola, can’t help but suffer from stronger impulses.

Considering that she even summoned a Succubus once, she might already be enduring it well enough.

But as a Priest, I had no way to calm her impulses.

“As you know, impulse is not love. If a handsome young man appeared and courted you, can you guarantee that you would still be by my side then.”

“Of course.”

“Don’t say it so easily.”

“You’re the one saying it so easily, Father. You said so casually that you would find a prospective husband for me, but in fact, that was just a lie to get out of the situation, wasn’t it.”

“…It’s not.”

“Surely the Father isn’t lying to the Nun?”

“…Ha, you got me there.”

Yes, she’s right.

Finding a boy of a similar age and matching them together would be the best solution for Anna, but in reality, it was close to impossible.

I have never met a survivor while out searching,

and even if there were survivors in this era, it is difficult to expect him to be a good person,

and according to Kunat, most of them were likely to have already fallen into the clutches of a Devil like Lucia.

“…Let’s try to pray hard.”

“Pray?”

“Yeah…”

In the end, the next best thing would be for her to abandon all worldly thoughts and enter the path of a true Nun, but the path of devoting body and mind to religion cannot be achieved through coercion, so I couldn’t rashly try to persuade her.

“Father. I’m…”

“…”

“Um… I have a strange feeling. I want to believe your words, but at the same time, I hope you break the promise you made to me.”

“…Anna.”

Anna draped the laundry in her hand over her shoulder and quietly took my hand.

Then, like that night, she slowly began to interlock her fingers with mine.

“You said you were wavering too, Father. That night.”

“Even the Pope would waver if you came on that strong.”

“What about now?”

“…”

“Father. I don’t just want to sleep with you. I like holding hands like this, too. I want to kiss you, too. I want to lie in a field together and watch the clouds go by. Like ordinary lovers.”

“Anna.”

“Although my body gets heated easily. That’s my desire, and the sin I harbor. But, you know… Father. You’re the first person I’ve ever wanted to act like a lover with.”

“…”

“I know you misunderstand. But please don’t just think of this as desire or impulse. I feel like I’m going to cry if you misinterpret a girl’s affection like that.”

Anna looked at me with a bright red face.

It was the same red color, but the complexion that had been flushed with shame had already turned into the blush of a shy woman.

At that sight, I felt like my heart was sinking.

She was even more seductive than when she was shamelessly spreading her legs.

Suddenly, it felt like a sweet scent was emanating from her.

“No.”

“…Why?”

“Because this isn’t just your problem. Anna.”

“What do you mean?”

“Lucia… and Sola too.”

“…?”

“Those kids will also reach an age when they’re ready for marriage someday, and they’ll crave men someday.”

In fact, Lucia was already halfway there.

Although it was because of the alcohol, the way she looked at me last time was even a little shocking.

“When that time comes, are you going to tell me to hug those two too?”

“…That’s,”

“Anna, I can’t be your partner. What will happen if you and I, the only adults on this island, don’t set an example.”

“…”

“I’ll hold your hand as much as you want. It’s good to lie in a field together and watch the clouds. But, nothing more.”

I said firmly.

Anna slowly nodded, as if she understood, at a very slow pace.

*

“Are you just going to watch?”

Kunat, who was sitting by the window, said to Lucia, who was sitting next to him.

Lucia quietly watched the Father and Anna holding hands and replied.

“Yes,”

“Why?”

“Because Anna… likes Father too.”

“Aren’t you jealous?”

“Jealous… Why would I be?”

“…?”

“After all, Father just has to love us all.”

“…”

“No… No, it’s okay if you don’t love us… That’s overreaching… It’d be nice if you just touched us. It’d be nice if you touched us all…”

Kunat looked at Lucia with surprised eyes and then chuckled.

“You’re a devilish woman. To make such shameless demands of a Cleric.”

Lucia smiled as she looked at the Father’s face, which was staring intently at Anna.

“I think Father is already wavering. Look at that face.”

“So?”

“Now, I should start shaking him too.”