episode_0119

118.

“Ah. Before that. Kira-ssi. Please restrain Hanna-ssi. Um. Keep her from leaving the room. At least while Levi-ssi and Aries-ssi are sleeping.”

“Understood. May I ask the reason?”

She’s been a victim of the demon’s machinations, and Hanna clearly isn’t aware of it. She seems to barely remember the attack, but we can’t rule out the possibility that she’s still under its influence. That sexual desire she showed…I could only accept it because it was Erina. If it had been someone else, she probably would have collapsed from exhaustion midway and we’d have another victim.

‘Hmm… But other than the intense sexual desire, it didn’t seem like she was significantly affected mentally.’

Certainly, she was physically exhausted, but her symptoms are completely different from these people lying here. Perhaps Hanna simply lacks proficiency in magic, or maybe, since she arrived first, she’s an untested experimental subject. I can’t forgive using a healthy person for experiments.

Even if it’s a remote possibility, my body feels feverish. It’s not sexual arousal; it’s a different kind of heat, rising from deep within.

Kira quickly goes to find Hanna. She fully understands this isn’t a situation for leisure. To live up to Erina’s expectations and for the sake of their home, she runs hard, her short hair flying behind her.

Erina doesn’t run, but she walks quickly, searching for the culprits. She doesn’t even have time to politely acknowledge the greetings of the parishioners.

“Excuse me, have you seen anyone?”

Instead of greetings, she conducts inquiries, tracking the three individuals. Considering the time, there’s a high probability they are inside the church.

“Th-that way…a nun…just went past…?”

She seems to have found the nun, but if they’re acting individually, things will get complicated. Barely suppressing a sigh, she gives a perfunctory thank you and hurries after the nun.

‘A nun…a nun being manipulated by demons, there’s a limit…The punishment Hanna mentioned… I only thought about the punishment… I should create a system for punishment as well.’

I can think about that later. The punishment might be something I should receive for my negligence. I’ve been too complacent and arrogant for too long.

Around the time Erina is lost in such regret, a faint light appears ahead. A glow that spurs Erina’s quick pace into a run. The room where the statue is kept. Even within the church, it’s an irreplaceable location of utmost importance.

‘I completely overlooked it…! Removing the statue, that’s what the demons want…!’

The agreement that during the complete retrieval of the statue, the demon succubus and they will not harm each other. It seems the statue is suppressing the demons, so wanting its complete removal is natural. Conversely, for Erina, it is an extremely important item for communication with the goddess, and it was ultimately the root cause of her current fight with the Freed Church.

“Stop right now!”

“Ah, Erina-nim. Hello.”

“Bina, what are you doing here?”

It’s definitely the nun who was moving separately with Hanna. The casual greeting makes it seem like everything was just a figment of my imagination. However, the statue in her hands shatters that expectation.

“Put that down. And let’s talk slowly.”

“What’s this about? Bishop, your eyes are a little scary…?”

I want to shout back that I’m the one who should be scared, but I have to hold back. I don’t know how, but the statue in her hand is glowing, and that’s terrifying. The reason the nun is here, not the two orcs, is because she can use divine power. The answer gave me the answer.

“Calm down, and listen carefully. You are currently being controlled…by a demon.”

“What? Th-that’s impossible! I am a nun too…Even if I were controlled, I could not possibly be this unconcerned…”

Since I don’t know about demonic techniques, I can’t understand how she was mentally interfered with. The only thing I know is that she isn’t someone I can carelessly underestimate after simply being “taken.”

“……Alright. Then tell me why you’re holding that.”

“It’s my job. Why are you asking so suddenly? You’re being strange today…”

“I never ordered Bina-ssi to go to this room, nor did I instruct you about the statue. Whose orders are you following?”

Bina has a truly unfazed expression. And her calm demeanor, even as she speaks, pushed me to prepare a divine technique, despite knowing it would likely be useless.

“It goes without saying, my master, the succubus.”

“……!!!!”

I immediately use purification, but it’s useless. She remains a nun, so divine techniques are ineffective. My options for subjugation are now limited to physical actions. In terms of strength, there are very few people inside this church that are stronger. Besides, she probably doesn’t have any experience in hand-to-hand combat, meaning there is not enough difference in combat ability to overpower her.

The best course of action would be to go call for help, but I can’t leave her unattended. In the end, Erina can only choose what she’s always done.

It will definitely work. The answer is clearly indicating that it’s possible.

Slowly, Erina touches her collar with more care than usual.

“……Where are the other two?”

But first, I must find the other two orcs. If Bina’s role is to stall for time, the situation will become uncontrollable.

Another answer to the answer. Everything needs to be considered. Having taken on the position of leading the organization, the burdens on my shoulder have increased.

“Uum. Well? I suppose they’re taking their pleasure. As the Bishop…no, as the Goddess desires.”

“That much is true. But I will not permit such a brutal method. Are these two also acting under the succubus’s orders?”

Bina nods with a complex expression.

“……I neither desired nor wanted to use such harsh methods. Moreover, between fellow nuns. Is it too late to say this now?”

At this point of facing Freed Church nuns, the fact that two nuns fought doesn’t change. But strictly speaking this is not a fight; rather it should be treated as a simple bet. A bet regarding the statue Bina is holding. So Erina can’t help but feel complacent.

This is, however, truly a state of hostility. I’m sorry, they should be treated on the same level as demons.

“Bina-ssi. I will punish you in the name of the Goddess, as the Mother Superior. Right now. Put down the statue.”

“B-Bishop?!”

She protests with a face full of question, but the forcefully delivered order overwhelms Bina’s mind.

Since it’s an order given with a divine power skill, it was effective even though she was being mentally controlled by the succubus. However, I can feel her trying to resist.

‘This is why…even the Goddess couldn’t completely exterminate the demons. I must be careful…!’

With a swish, swish, Erina finishes unfastening her collar and completely removes her clothing. Even saying her body is superb wouldn’t be an overstatement; its beautiful curves captivate the eye, and her ample breasts sway, stealing attention once more. It’s a dazzling display that would enthrall men and women alike.

And beneath that is a member that would corrupt any woman into a she-beast; one that overwhelms even the most dominant male. It stirs Bina’s instincts even without an erection.

She intends to use the same strategy used when dealing with the succubus. With that thought, she takes a step towards Bina.

“…Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.”

Bina suddenly bursts into insane laughter. A chilling high-pitched sound. Erina hesitates as she laughs hysterically, clutching her stomach.

“Th-that voice… could it be, could it be?”

“Hello, nun♡ Long time no see? Or not, heh heh. I’m not quite sure about human concepts of time.”

“Succubus!!”

Upon ceasing her laughter and opening her eyes, her black pupils send a shiver down my spine. Her eerie, pale yellow pupils, something unmistakably inhuman, twist into a laughing grimace.

“You, just what have you done to our parishioners?!?!?!”

“Good, good. I wanted to see this♡ You getting angry♡ Hahahahah♡ Good, good, this is it♡ Oh, this is thrilling♡♡♡”

“This isn’t a joke. What did you do? How is it possible to move without any magical energy being sensed?!”

“I guess not many people in this day and age know about us. Such good luck♡♡”

Erina bites her lip. Then, steeling her resolve, she takes a step forward. Then another. And another. She gets close enough to feel her body heat.

“You should ask this body, I understand.”

“Heehee. My darling little lackey? I wonder if you can break this doll without breaking it? Kkkkkk.”

With those words, Bina’s eyes return to normal, and she collapses, as if falling into Erina’s arms.

“……Don’t worry. I’ll win no matter what. In the name of the Goddess, I cannot lose to such a demon.”

Holding the warm Bina, she strokes her chest where she breathes evenly.