episode_0097

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Tap, tap.

Bang.

The sound of an ax striking a tree and the roar of a large tree trunk breaking and falling echoed loudly across the cold winter sky.

Having felled three large trees, I shouldered the ax and raised my stinging palm, shaking off the snow piled on my head.

“Cold.”

The snow perched on the branches clung to my body.

I rubbed my numb palms together and looked up.

Through the puffs of white vapor escaping from my lips and nostrils, I surveyed my surroundings, but saw nothing but dense trees and our village in the distance.

“Not showing up, huh.”

Even with such a loud noise echoing, no monsters appeared.

This meant it was safe to assume there were no monsters near the village.

In fact, monsters avoiding demons would hardly dare to invade a village inhabited by the Ebony Wolf, Succubus, Demon King, and Kunat,

And Lucia, who goes hunting almost every day without making a fuss, was killing monsters whenever she saw them.

Probably, unless I went exploring like before, or as far as where I found Paolo and Elena, I wouldn’t see any monsters.

“Good.”

I felt a spark of hope flickering in my heart.

If there were other places besides our village that had survived by using demons, the age of humanity might not be over forever.

Of course, compared to the glorious past, it might only be clinging to life, and the fact that we have to rely on demons is unsettling.

Monsters are a more direct threat than demons, but I still believe that demons are more dangerous than monsters.

Monsters can kill me, but demons eventually made me succumb to temptation.

“…Lucia.”

I don’t know.

Have I opened my heart to Lucia’s affection, or have I fallen for the demon’s temptation?

Of course, the biggest reason Lucia’s devoted affection for me broke me down is definitely a fact.

But the moment Kunat pointed out my corruption a little while ago, I impulsively used violence.

Because her words were true: my corruption was a fact.

Kunat, as well as Anna in the Succubus, had gradually broken down my defenses, so I could never say that the demon had no influence on my ending up embracing Lucia.

Of course, there are other minor reasons as well.

Elena’s words about the situation outside the village, and Sola’s condition, which stole my time to reflect on my inner self even during prayer.

Even Paolo, whose light warning aroused my male aggressiveness.

Everyone and every demon around me has influenced me.

For the past few months, I had kept Kunat almost by my side to protect the nuns from Kunat’s cunning rhetoric.

Even if I, a mere human, stubbornly refused, I couldn’t help but be affected.

“…Haa,”

I find myself thinking that Kunat’s words are becoming more and more convincing as the days go by.

The fact that the skin of that demon, which used to seem so repulsive, is gradually becoming attractive is also a clear fact.

“I must endure.”

The reason I embraced Lucia was because I knew I couldn’t endure this temptation forever.

It was an inevitable problem, and something I had to face.

But, as Kunat said, I can’t become so corrupted that I even see demons as objects of sexual desire.

“I have to… keep waiting.”

Kunat must be laughing at me.

Believing that I would eventually succumb to her temptation and become corrupted.

But I know.

There is an end to all these nightmares.

If we wait until the Goddess, who has lost her power for some reason, recovers her authority and strength, all these adversities will end.

Humanity will flourish again.

Even if not on this earth, humanity can live forever in her heaven.

In other words, demons are merely tools that humanity uses to survive the monsters on this earth.

Of course, they are dangerous tools, but aren’t kitchen knives used for cooking and hot molten iron used in blacksmiths dangerous as well?

Of course, I will go to Hell.

Perhaps the nuns who were caught by demons, and other humans who borrowed the power of demons, will all be dragged to Hell.

But, as Sandalphon’s Army, I will protect them in Hell.

I am clearly aware that this is my role, and the reason I accepted corruption was also for that reason.

Since I and they will all go to Hell anyway, I will protect them even in Hell.

“…After all.”

After all.

What easy words.

After all, we’re going to Hell.

After all, God will save us.

After all, I have decided to dedicate myself to the fight against demons forever, for the rest of my life.

So, it’s okay to be this corrupted…?

Isn’t that too convenient of an excuse?

“…Ha, damn it. I don’t know.”

At this moment, the thought that all of this was just a comfortable rationalization flashed through my mind.

Was I just wanting to hold them?

Was I just waiting for a good reason to take their bodies as I pleased?

“…No, let’s not think about it anymore. I have to believe.”

I forcibly shook off the rising doubts and gripped the ax handle tightly. After all, it’s too late.

We, or rather… I, have already crossed the line.

I have to bear the consequences, whatever they may be.

However, all I have to do is not be swayed by Kunat’s schemes anymore.

And, I have already embraced Lucia.

I tasted the intense bubbles of pleasure that seemed to melt my whole body, mind, and even soul.

What more temptation could there be?

Even if I can’t stop myself from embracing Anna, I will never embrace Kunat, and touching young Sola is even more absurd.

There will be no more temptations for me to endure.

I steeled myself once again.

Then I started chopping up the fallen log on the ground.

＊

Anna, who was hammering steel in the blacksmith, suddenly heard a loud roar echoing over the village sky.

It was the sound of the priest chopping wood.

Even if the sound was loud, it should have been drowned out by the sound of hammering steel, but she noticed it thanks to the rhythm that penetrated between Anna’s hammering sounds.

Anna wiped away sweat and looked in the direction of the sound.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard that kind of sound when Paolo was chopping wood.”

“That’s because the strength is different.”

Lilith, who peeked out of the furnace, replied to Anna’s words.

“To use strength so mindlessly without getting tired, that priest is really…”

“Well, the physique is different.”

“Paolo doesn’t have such a bad body either. He’s a bit thin, though.”

“I hate him because he looks like a thug.”

“Anna, is the priest handsome?”

“…He’s manly.”

Lilith shook her head and slowly rose into the air.

She said, supporting the back of her head with both hands as if lying on her back in the air.

“Well, since this is such a world, I can’t tell you to pick and choose men, but even so, you have really low standards. Well, what’s between his legs is great, but I can’t do it while looking at his face. I’d have to ask him to fuck me from behind.”

“…”

“What? Are you angry? You lived in the city, so you know. Haven’t you ever seen a handsome man? Ah, is it because you’re a blacksmith that you like burly men?”

Anna frowned slightly and said.

“Then, what kind of man does Lilith like?”

“Young pretty boy.”

“…How young?”

“Just starting to grow hair?”

“…”

“Why, what, why…”

Anna shook her head.

“I sometimes forget. That I shouldn’t expect Lilith-ssi to have the same tastes as ordinary people.”

“You’re the same. A woman with your level of sexual desire would usually be mobbed and killed as a witch.”

“Wasn’t the last witch hunt 50 years ago?”

“No, they still do it these days. Why. When the world goes to shit, humans always do stupid things.”

“…”

Anna nodded silently and continued working.

She shared a body with Lilith, and they communicated well, and they even caressed each other’s bodies when they got hot, but that didn’t mean she always agreed with Lilith’s opinions.

Their tastes were very different, and even though she was corrupted, Lilith’s stories were sometimes uncomfortable and awkward for Anna, who had a worldview based on religion.

Whenever that happened, Anna would just let it go in one ear and focus on other things.

Lilith was quite perceptive, so if Anna acted like she wasn’t interested, she wouldn’t drag the story out any further.

Anna hammered in time with the priest’s ax chopping sound.

Before long, the day began to darken, and the ax chopping sound that had filled the village disappeared in the afternoon, so Anna slowly put down her tools and began to assemble the pieces of steel on the workbench.

She held a large crossbow in her hands.

It was the crossbow that Father Theodore had asked her to repair.

Lilith rested her chin on Anna’s shoulder and said.

“…All done?”

“Yes.”

“Is it over once you test the power?”

“I can’t do that. I can’t restore the device with my skills, and the limit was removing the device. Only the Priest-nim will be able to pull this, probably.”

“Hmph.”

The device that wound the string of the crossbow was completely broken.

Instead of fixing the device, Anna completely removed the device and hammered the bore of the crossbow to widen it by the remaining space.

She used a thumb-sized pad in the center of the string to increase stability.

Anna turned the crossbow into a kind of slingshot.

She could fire steel balls made of scrap iron, or when she was in a hurry, she could shoot stones or pebbles from around her as ammunition.

Having a crossbow was useless without bolts, and Anna, who lacked the skills and materials to make bolts, it was the best choice.

Lilith snorted and sighed.

“That priest is going to shoot monsters to death with this?”

“If I did a good job, yes.”

“Ha, Kunat would hate that.”

Lilith shrugged.

“Okay, I don’t need to look out for that bitch. More important is you, Anna.”

“…Yes?”

“That crossbow, isn’t it a ticket to have sex with the priest?”

Anna blushed and smiled.

“That’s right.”

“Okay, I’ll have to use some strength to make him forget the body of that wolf bitch.”

“Lucia isn’t an enemy. Together…”

“Ah, shut up. Anna. Don’t say things you don’t mean.”

Lilith grabbed Anna’s chest and said.

“You actually want to monopolize the priest, don’t you.”

“…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll use my strength. Today and tomorrow. I’ll make him get hard just by looking at you. Enjoy it to your heart’s content.”

Lilith raised her head slightly.

In her reddish-pink eyes, she could see Paolo secretly peeking at Anna and moving his hands busily.

He was hidden behind the window of the accommodation he was staying in, indulging in masturbation, but he couldn’t hide from the Succubus’s gaze.

Lilith deliberately hid the fact from Anna and muttered.

“Everyone will get very horny when they see you. That priest too… everyone.”