episode_0070

*

After a long conversation with Sola, I quietly returned to my room.

I taught her about the dangers of devils and their methods, just like I had told the other nuns, and explained in detail how much I feared devils.

Monsters at best only take human lives, but devils target human souls.

Sola had difficulty understanding the difference.

Because her life on Earth had been spent in such a limited space, the vast and grand world awaiting her after death must have felt vague and distant.

I didn’t force her to understand.

Partly because I didn’t like forcing discipline and rules in an oppressive manner, but also because I didn’t think that method would work on Sola.

She had a very free-spirited nature for someone who had been locked up.

It was obvious that trying to restrict Sola would only make her fall into the clutches of a devil even faster.

“Ha… damn it.”

I plopped down on the bed and ran my hands over my face.

An indescribable stuffiness filled my heart, leaving me with complicated feelings.

In fact, as I spoke to Sola, I realized that I was just as confused as she was.

“What… am I doing? Here…”

I sighed.

Having survived in this chaotic world, and having received direct revelations through dreams, it was clear that the Goddess wanted something from me.

However, I couldn’t grasp what Her intention was at all.

At first, I thought it was my duty to keep them safe in this destruction.

I thought that was why I had received such a sudden and almost demotion-like transfer.

But that had already failed miserably.

All the nuns had fallen into the clutches of devils.

“…”

The second thought that came to mind was that my duty was to return this world to the hands of humanity.

To return this world, where monsters and devils frolic, to a human world once more.

This was clearly a glorious mission worth sacrificing my life for.

However, I am at best just an ordinary human.

Just an ordinary Priest who’s a little good at defeating devils.

The area that my hands can reach is at best this village and its surroundings.

Of course, I worked hard to cultivate the village, and I rescued survivors through exploration, but that wouldn’t have any impact on this world.

Dropping a drop of water into the mud will only result in mud.

“I know I have no choice but to do my best every day, but…”

I know, but I can’t help but wonder if I’m going in the right direction.

Life is originally about direction.

Most people who live wrong lives suffer miserably not because they didn’t live hard, but because they went in the wrong direction.

The reason I had devoted myself so much to demon hunting since I entered religion was also because this religion gave me the confidence that I was going in the right direction.

But now, I felt like I was drifting on the sea with the compass that guides me gone.

“It’s complicated…”

Once confusion starts to build up in your head, your judgment also starts to waver.

Sola’s opinion of possessing Elena with a devil was unacceptable, but Sola’s concern for Elena herself was definitely worth considering.

“Elena… should I hold on to her, or… should I let her go as is?”

Since she wanted to leave, I thought it was right not to hold on to her.

But, as Sola said, she would likely die if she went outside.

Is it right to leave her to die?

Or is it right to hold on to her against her will?

I didn’t know.

“Looks complicated.”

“…”

Kunat, in the form of a jet-black cat, slowly emerged from the shadows in the dark room.

I frowned and sighed.

“I don’t want to talk to you today.”

“Are you still angry?”

“Talking to you makes me tired.”

“Hmm,”

Kunat jumped onto the chair.

At the same time as the small cat’s body floated into the air, it transformed into the form of a bright red woman, naturally sitting down on the chair and crossing her legs.

“You seem to have a lot on your mind.”

“… You’re not listening to me at all.”

“Billy, if you want, I’ll help you.”

“Get lost.”

“Listen to me.”

Kunat opened her mouth with a serious attitude.

She looked somehow different from her usual playful self.

She even seemed to be keeping a slight distance from me.

“If you’re worried about that slut nun, I’ll escort her until she meets another human.”

“… What trick are you trying to pull now?”

“A trick? This is just goodwill, you think devils don’t have goodwill, but.”

Kunat repeated what I had said verbatim, sneering.

She must have been listening to all the conversations I had with Sola after all.

“You want to possess Elena’s body with a devil, don’t you?”

“Not at all, didn’t I say before, her body is too sacred for a devil to enter. Like you.”

What is she talking about when her body is already so dirty?

No, in the first place, there is no need to listen to the devil’s tricks.

I lay down on the bed with my back to Kunat.

“Goodwill, my ass.”

“… Okay, to be honest, it’s true that I have an intention that I’m aiming for.”

“Of course, you would.”

“And what I want is your favor.”

“…”

Kunat continued in a low voice.

“I want you, Billy, to trust me a little more. I want you to think of me as a friend,”

“…”

“That’s all I want.”

Kunat sighed and said.

“You treat me a little more kindly, if just asking for that much in return goes against the conditions of goodwill, then I have nothing more to say.”

“…”

“I’m a devil, I can’t work without getting anything in return. But, isn’t it enough goodwill to reduce the price at my discretion?”

I don’t know.

In fact, it was difficult to find perfect goodwill even in people.

Sharing food is to receive help when you are in a difficult situation, and lords donating a large sum of money is to receive tax deductions.

Even providing the church as a place to sleep for the homeless or workers in the cold winter was an action that included the calculation of increasing the number of believers.

Perhaps, asking for a small price compared to what you’ve done can also be seen as goodwill.

Maybe, humans never treat others with perfect goodwill.

“… Fucking devil.”

This is it.

When I talk to devils, my common sense gradually crumbles.

The standards of right and wrong are shaken, and good and evil gradually mix.

They dissect my simple thoughts with difficult problems armed with logic, and try to infiltrate my heart through the gaps.

The driving force in my heart that denies Kunat’s words is not my ideology or philosophy, but only the primal hatred of the opponent being a devil.

Are Kunat’s words really wrong?

I don’t know.

But, I can’t just let it go, can I?

Because the opponent is a devil.

“Just… don’t say anything.”

“You know it, don’t you? That I didn’t say anything wrong. All you have to do is ask me. Ask me to help Elena, and then I’ll only ask for your relaxed attitude in return.”

“… Yeah, I know. But no.”

“I understand your hatred and animosity towards devils, but… think about why I’m doing this too.”

How would I know what’s inside a devil?

I had no choice but to ask.

“Why,”

“…”

“Why do you want to gain my favor?”

“Because I like you.”

“… I’ll kill you.”

“Really, don’t you think so? Haven’t you ever thought that I love you, even once?”

“Disgusting.”

Kunat smiled slightly and continued.

“To be honest, it’s because I’m being targeted by other devils.”

“…”

“You remember the day the devils invaded the monastery, right?”

Yeah,

The monastery collapsed due to the invasion of devils.

And those devils were there to stop Kunat, who was trying to succeed in her scheme by putting me in the forefront.

“Now you’re all I have left.”

“…”

“In order for me to live, the only way is to make you my ally.”

Kunat’s voice was almost like a desperate plea.

Is it genuine, or is it just acting?

I didn’t want to judge hastily.

“You should have surrendered and gone back to the devils then.”

“That would have solved it. You and the nuns would have all died,”

“…”

“But I decided to choose to be with you by gaining your favor.”

“Isn’t betting on the side with the low odds just a stupid thing to do?”

When I retorted bluntly, Kunat chuckled and replied.

“It wasn’t an impulsive choice, I just judged that being with you was better than being with any devil.”

“…”

“You can see it as betting my life on the side where the odds are lower, but the gains are greater when you win.”

Kunat slowly approached me.

Even though I had my back turned, I could clearly hear the sound of her approaching footsteps.

Kunat sat gently on my bed and placed her hand on my shoulder.

“It doesn’t matter to you whether I’m sincere or not. What you need to know is that I need you.”

“…”

“To be more precise, I can’t avoid a terrible end without your help.”

“…”

“In other words, my life is in your hands.”

Kunat came closer and closer to me.

She stuck to my back, which was turned away, and lay down next to me.

“So, I’m going to help you, so that you’ll be willing to help me.”

“…”

“This is what I call ‘goodwill’.”

I slowly sighed.

I couldn’t be sure whether Kunat’s words were true or not, but at least if that was the case, I could understand why she suddenly kissed me.

She had to get my favor somehow.

Whether it was friendship or love.

Even lust.

In order to survive, to win, she had to make me want her.

“Okay, if what you say is true, I can trust you too.”

“It’s definitely true.”

“But,”

I slowly turned around and faced her.

Her face was closer than I thought.

I stared into her eyes, which shone like flames in the darkness, and said in a firm voice.

“My thoughts haven’t changed. There’s no way I’ll ask you for anything.”

“… Why?”

“…”

Kunat tempting me to buy her favor is essentially no different from Elena prostituting herself.

Paying for one’s body as a price for a purpose.

Of course, according to Elena, human affection can arise even in relationships that start with the body, but the fact that it is a wrong relationship remains unchanged.

“That’s not how you get favor.”

“As expected of a Priest, you only say stiff things,”

“And, I still don’t trust you.”

“… Ha,”

Kunat squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head.

“You ate the meat that Lucia hunted deliciously, and you ate the food that Anna cooked without any suspicion, Lucia hunted wild boars with the power of the Ebony Wolf, and Anna took out her wings and flew around to collect spices.”

“…”

“You accept the favor of those devils so naturally, you allow them to help without any hesitation, why do you reject only me so much? Because I’m a devil?”

“You know it well.”

“They’re devils too.”

I shook my head.

“Do you think Lucia or Anna would demand a price for everything like you?”

“… Ha.”

Kunat laughed as if it were ridiculous.

“What’s so funny.”

“Well, it’s ridiculous.”

“What is.”

Kunat grabbed my cheeks and said.

“Do you really think they won’t ask for a price?”

“… What?”

That was the moment.

Knock knock,

Someone knocked on my room door.

“Priest…”

“Lucia?”

“Um… um, I… I have something to tell you… If you could… open the door…”

I looked at Kunat.

Kunat gave a triumphant smirk and slowly disappeared as if melting into the darkness.

“…”

I carefully got out of bed and approached the door.

When I opened the door, Lucia was standing there in thin pajamas.

“… Lucia, what’s wrong.”

“Um…”

As a cold wind blew, Lucia squirmed, shivering all over.

Her clothes were too thin, she might catch a cold if left like this.

I decided to let her in for now.

“Why are you wearing such thin clothes… Come on in. It must be cold outside.”

After letting Lucia into the room, I quickly closed the door.

Lucia walked into the room trembling, and then sat down on my bed so naturally.

Then, she wrapped the blanket around herself like a cape, and continued to fidget.

I knelt down in front of the bed and made eye contact with Lucia.

“What’s wrong?”

“Um… Priest… you know.”

“Yeah. I’m listening.”

“Earlier… Were you angry because of me?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Earlier, when I went out with Sola… back then, maybe I… made a mistake…”

“Ah…”

I shook my head.

“No, no. I just left the room because I had to talk to Sola about devils. Don’t worry.”

“Ah… is that so.”

“Yeah, why would I be angry with Lucia. Lucia is a good girl, isn’t she.”

“…”

Lucia was obviously in a strange state.

Her face was red, her breathing was heavy, and her body was trembling slightly.

It was like that day.

“Priest… I’m not a good girl.”

“… What do you mean?”

Lucia hesitated for a moment.

For some reason, that hesitation felt very scary.

Before she made up her mind, my instinct warned me to send her back.

But I didn’t stop her.

Whether it was because of my trust in Lucia, or because my reaction was dulled by my complicated feelings,

Lucia slowly began to open her trembling lips.

“I… today… I hunted a huge wild boar…”

“…”

“A huge… wild boar…”

“Yeah, I saw it. It was huge.”

“So… ha… uh… I… used a lot of strength…”

Lucia slowly said, gasping for breath.

“I… again… my body…”

“Ah.”

“This time too… can I… ask you…”

‘Do you really think they won’t ask for a price?’

Kunat.

Is this what she meant.

“Please… okay?”

Lucia looked up at me with teary eyes, then slowly unwrapped the blanket that was wrapped around her body, revealing the fair skin that was hidden inside.

Both shoulder straps of the pajamas were completely down.

The thin piece of cloth, having lost its support, went down to her lower body and barely hung on her buttocks.

The pure white chest that was fully revealed came into my eyes before I could even react.

Lucia whispered softly in a trembling voice.

“… Touch me.”