episode_0106

Wookshin.

“Ugh…”

Slowly opening my eyes, I feel a sharp pain in my lower abdomen.

“Are you up?”

“Y-yeah…”

Awakening from sleep, I was greeted by Karl, looking worried like an accident-prone puppy.

I wanted to reassure him with a smile but –

“Ah…!”

A thrilling muscle ache strikes my body so fiercely it’s terrifying to move.

I collapse, finding myself embraced tightly by him.

“You’re not okay at all. Ugh, after being so intense, there’s no way you’d be fine…”

“…Sorry.”

“No need to apologize; it’s partly my fault too.”

It was me who initiated things before him, like tempting a hungry beast with meat – what creature could resist that?

If one thrusts their head into a tiger’s mouth and gets bitten, it’s clearly the fault of the one who did so.

Nestled in his unexpectedly warm embrace, I jokingly muttered with a weak voice.

“…Still, I wanted the first time to be a bit more romantic.”

“…”

“That was really bad. No matter how much you like it, if you forget what was asked of you, what then?”

Asking teasingly with a deliberately rough expression, his face fills with intense guilt.

He seems genuinely sorry.

I wanted to tease him a bit more for his reaction, but it seemed like it might cause trouble later on.

Deciding to stop here, I lightly kissed his lips with a playful smile.

Peck.

“I can make it more romantic next time, alright?”

“…Yes.”

“Okay, that’s enough then.”

After securing the promise, I lay back on the bed.

In reality, I couldn’t even move a finger right now.

With a tired body from the intense battle, it felt like I was fighting another fierce battle in bed.

There were many things to handle, but with this feeble body, I couldn’t move around.

Deciding to laze around for a while, I surrendered to sleep on the bed.

“I love you, Beatrice.”

Drifting off to the sweet whisper in my ear.

—–

When I opened my eyes again, it was dusk, the sun slowly setting.

Though still in pain from muscle soreness, I could move my body somewhat.

After cleaning myself with warm water, I prepared to leave the room for tasks ahead.

As I stepped out, Alain appeared as if waiting.

Bandages wrapped around various parts, she yawned tiredly and approached me.

“Are you up now?”

“Alain? What are you doing here?”

“Well, Karshian asked me to come. Hmm, looks like you had quite the intense time yesterday, judging by your trembling legs?”

“…Quiet.”

Shh!

As a signal to be quiet, I gave her a gentle tap, and Alain chuckled, using healing magic to ease my pain.

The warmth spreading through my body quickly alleviated the pain.

Feeling a bit better now, I looked at her bandaged arms and asked a question.

“Why are you bandaged up? Wouldn’t healing magic suffice?”

“Well, the areas hit by Lorian apparently don’t respond well to healing magic. The High Priest said until the evil energy dissipates, natural healing is the only option…”

“I’ll have to be careful for a while. Oh, thanks for the healing magic. It feels like it helped me recover a bit.”

“Don’t mention it. By the way, where are you going at this late hour? Looking for your missing husband, perhaps?”

“No, I have something to ask Lorian. I was going to get permission from the High Priest.”

Specifically, not Lorian but the Agathon embedded in her body.

Even if it hurts like hell, there were things I needed to ask.

The true reason why I was possessed by the witch’s body.

And why did the original content change so much.

Although losing my heart to Karl was no longer important, it was a matter of curiosity.

Still, what I was curious about was what I wanted to hear right now.

Moreover.

“I wouldn’t mind resting for one more day, but wouldn’t it be better to rest in a more comfortable place than this uncomfortable one?”

Resting at the Pascal family mansion would be much nicer than in this shabby and uncomfortable place, wouldn’t it?

Of course, once I return, there will be other busy matters waiting for me.

“You’re right. Okay, I’ll guide you to where the High Priestess is.”

Agreeing with my thoughts, Aleine nodded and guided me to where the High Priestess resided.

Thus, we arrived at the shabby lodging.

After bidding farewell to the Paladin who had been waiting, an elderly High Priest who welcomed us was somewhat hospitable.

“Why have you come to see this old man at such a late hour, savior?”

“I want to meet Lorian. Can you allow it?”

“It’s possible. But may I know the reason for wanting to meet her?”

“It’s personal.”

“…I understand. Let me guide you.”

Having judged that I wouldn’t do anything futile after receiving him as if he were dead until yesterday, the elderly High Priest obediently led me to where Lorian was imprisoned and entrusted me with a message in front of the prison door.

“If you wish to go outside, knock on the door twice, and I will open it immediately.”

“I’m sorry for being suspicious, but you won’t refuse to open it even if I knock, will you? I would be really disappointed then.”

“I’m not that petty. Even if you are an unrighteous witch, you are a savior, aren’t you? Don’t worry and feel free to come and go.”

Suppressing my unease with his quite trustworthy warm smile, I stepped into the prison.

As I entered, I could see Lorian, who had fallen apart in just one day, beyond repair.

…If I had been defeated, wouldn’t it have been me, not Lorian, in this state?

With a complex gaze, Lorian, who was panting, spoke to me with a tired voice, chuckling.

“Hehe… Why have you come to see me, Witch? Or have you come to mock the loser?”

“I have no intention of that; I think it would be a waste of time. Shall we call Agathon now?”

“And if I don’t want to?”

“It doesn’t matter; since I came for something not so important anyway. If you don’t call him, I’ll go handle something else.”

I repeat, it was truly not an important matter.

It was fine not to receive an answer from the giver.

Now, the reason for becoming ‘Beatrice’ was not important at all.

As I spoke with a nonchalant attitude, Lorian, whose enthusiasm seemed to have waned, complained with a disappointed expression.

“Oh, I didn’t expect it to be this boring. Hmph! Well, it must be quite pathetic for a loser to act like this. Fine, I’ll switch with Agathon.”

“I look forward to it, in many ways. Hehe!”

As the mad laughter subsided, the atmosphere inside the prison changed in an instant.

Even though an unknown power pervaded the prison, emanating a warm yet sacred aura, she exuded a comforting presence.

Even a three-year-old child would recognize it.

This being was truly the true master of this world.

It was none other than the goddess Agathon, whom fanatics praised so fervently.

Gulp.

Swallowing saliva under the oppressive pressure enveloping my entire body, Agathon, borrowing Lorian’s body, slowly opened her eyes.

“Welcome, Beatrice.”

She bowed her head politely and greeted me warmly.

“No, should I call you ‘WitchLover’ reader?”

With a meaningful smile, she shook my emotions from the start.

—–

I had anticipated this for a long time.

Thrown into this insane world, could it possibly be Agathon?

Isn’t it the typical cliché of most possession stories?

If you leave a displeasing comment, the god of that world might challenge you to try it yourself by possessing someone.

Since I also left such a comment before being possessed, I thought the chances were high.

It was either Agathon or Poneria who pulled off this damn stunt, one of the two.

Initially, I suspected Poneria of turning me into Beatrice.

After experiencing several incidents over half a year, I could conclude that it wasn’t Poneria’s doing.

Why would some idiotic god summon an obstructer to ruin their grand plan?

While Poneria may be an idiot, I didn’t think she would summon me.

Remember when the apostle got NTR’d or when the Northern Winter forces collapsed, causing great anger?

So, only one person remains.

The one who possessed me must be Agathon, the deity.

Yes, I vaguely knew that she had possessed me, but accepting it so easily left me with a sense of emptiness and complexity.

Starting with the anger of going through unnecessary suffering because of that bitch in front of me.

From the frustration of walking all this way to hear such a response to the emptiness of it all.

Staring at her blankly for a moment, Agathon chuckles happily.

“I never expected such a reaction! Hehe! How did you like the surprise gift I prepared, dear reader?”

How was the surprise gift?

Obviously.

“It sucked, you bitch.”

Bam!

Simultaneously with my response, I slap her cheek hard.

How many times have I narrowly escaped death because of her?

What? How was the surprise gift?

You’re asking me that now?

Whack –

Despite the searing pain, I still want to kill her as she continues to laugh.

Choking back the boiling rage, I grab her neck tightly and demand an answer.

“Just one question, why did you do this to me?”

Struggling to contain the rising fury, I press for an answer.

The mastermind behind everything slowly opens their mouth to respond.

“Cough… Cough…! That was…”