episode_0201

“Hoo, hoo….”

“…From here on, the magic is twice as potent. Support staff, you may return.”

The two knights accompanying them shake their heads. Their poor complexions are evident, but they cannot leave Erina in danger. Erina casts a protective barrier of divine power once more.

“I can’t hold it for long. It’s embarrassing, but my divine power isn’t particularly strong.”

“Thank you.”

“…….”

Sonia quietly stays close to Erina. While she still feels the oppressive aura of the magic, it doesn’t feel as intensely crushing as it does to the knights. It’s unlikely she adapted to the magic in this short time, but she suspects she received a small measure of the goddess’s grace. When she places her hand on her lower abdomen, she still feels the warm presence of semen.

Thinking about it makes her heart flutter slightly.

“Please worry about the nun’s well-being more than ours. The path ahead will be even more difficult.”

“This is fine. There are a lot of rocks, but… I’m not physically weak.”

Her activity level has increased so much that, while she lacks muscle, her stamina has greatly improved. She was only in terrible shape around the time she received the goddess’s blessing, a condition worrying enough for the knights. Now, she’s only slightly sweaty; her worry is more about her divine power than her physical stamina. This is the first time she’s encountered a demon with such vast magic. She understands that they create monsters, but she didn’t expect them to be produced so quickly. The demon doesn’t even need to actively attack.

Erina’s group cautiously moves forward. The occasional mountain breeze cools their sweat, but it also carries the magic.

“Monster, nearby! You’ll see it if you turn right from here!”

“I’ll take care of it. Stand by for a moment.”

With swift, trained movements, they navigate the mountain path effortlessly. Their return is just as fast, and thanks to Erina’s divine power buff, they easily dispose of the monster. Even so, prolonged exposure to the magic makes them feel the strain on their bodies. They’re holding on thanks to Erina’s buff, but they can see a future where they’ll become burdens once it ends.

It’s too late to apologize and turn back now. Instead, the fact that she’s an untrained nun shakes off her feelings of weakness. Her training partner seems to be thinking similarly, wearing slightly dark expression.

“You did well. Are you injured?”

“No. We dealt with it swiftly with a surprise attack. …But I have a question, may I ask?”

“Ask away. It’s good to feel like friends, right?”

“No, no. I couldn’t dare to be so disrespectful to a guest, especially since the nun is being so polite. How could I do something so irreverent?”

The knight with short silver hair replies. His name is Todd. His lack of memorable features is his most notable characteristic.

“Oh, come on. So, what’s your question?”

“The maid… accompanying you. It’s the first time I’ve seen a nun employ a maid.”

The question comes from Jess, a knight with lighter hair than Todd and considerably taller.

“I…”

Sonia hesitates. She’s overloaded thinking about her role. The queen’s position for her was as a supervisor. But she only realized now. The queen’s assessment was completely wrong. Surveillance is unnecessary. If surveillance is unnecessary, why is she here? This question overwhelms her.

“I am… that is, I am… I came to serve my mistress…”

“Oh my, oh my.”

She said it. She said it. She feels a sense of depravity, her spine tingling. Her only mistress should have been the queen, yet she’s acknowledged her master as her sexual partner. She feels like the semen filling her belly is about to spill out. Her face burns and her womb feels hot.

Even though she told the knight captain she is a supervisor, even the captain said it is an unbelievable story, so there is no need to force the narrative to match.

“Jess, that’s prejudice.”

“…I’m truly sorry.”

It was a question based on the fact that she didn’t look like an ordinary nun. Among the people she’d seen, there was something special about her, something that felt different. From her appearance to her every movement, she didn’t seem like someone who would be a nun. The prejudice was strong that those who received nun’s training were relatively impoverished girls whose last resort was becoming a priestess or holy knight. If she had a maid, she would be a noble young lady at minimum, and her story intrigues him. Moreover, judging from the maid’s demeanor, she is also far from ordinary. A maid from an ordinary family wouldn’t have such an overbearing attitude.

If you look at her attentively, you naturally keep on looking at her.

“You have the right to ask♡ But it’s not urgent now, so shall we postpone it?”

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

In fact, it’s not important right now. In a life-or-death situation, what does a person’s background matter? Somehow, she feels like she can do anything with this nun by her side. She’s been with many clergy members before, but she’s never felt so secure as she does now.

A strange exhilaration stirs her mood. Though unspoken, Todd’s atmosphere is also different from usual. His excitement as a training partner is visible. She feels the reason the captain trusts her, is always considering her with her, finally coming to understanding.

“…….”

Afterward, they silently climb the harsh rock terrain. Only once they reach a place with a relatively clear view, after catching their breath, do they speak again.

“The magic has become considerably stronger. It’s so potent that detecting monsters is difficult. We need to rely on the knights’ senses.”

“Understood.”

It’s strangely quiet. Todd and Jess listen intently, sharpening their senses, but it’s unnaturally silent. The sounds of birds, animals, and the wind are natural sounds, yet none are heard. Of course, they only feel the presence of their own group.

Not even the rustling of leaves. The sun will set soon; when it gets dark, even walking will be tense.

“…I have a suggestion.”

“What suggestion? Do it before sunset.”

Erina’s movements falter at Todd’s words, and her eyes widen. Her innocent expression, like a child who accidentally broke a bowl, is captivating. Without time to dwell on the sudden fluttering in her chest, Erina speaks.

“What do you mean…? The sun already set, didn’t it?”

“What?!”

It’s clearly not a joke.

“Jess, isn’t the sun still up? Don’t you see the sunset sky?”

“I see the setting sun.”

Jess also sees the fiery sunset.

“What nonsense are you talking about? It’s been half an hour since the stars came out?”

Sonia sees the same scene as Erina. Before they can discuss this strange discrepancy, the incident occurs. It happened in an utterly short span, leaving no room for reaction.

`”Cough?!”`

The two knights instantly collapse to the ground.

“Everyone?!”

“……They’re dead.”

Sonia quickly checks their pulses, but their breaths have already ceased. The sudden deaths make the cool night air feel icy. While there’s a resurrection technique passed down in holy arts, very few existing clergy members can use it. It’s not a technique that can be used simply by having high faith or divine power. To be precise, it’s a power that requires dozens, even hundreds, of processes; it’s more like an ability than a skill. While she could revive these knights if she focused and carefully performed it step by step; it is not the best solution now.

“Don’t come….”

A somber and ghastly voice, like air itself, quietly whispers, chilling their skin. It’s a different chill than the magic, an eerie coldness enveloping their surroundings. The atmosphere is so heavy it feels like they are under a dark blue light.

“Demon… are you? In the name of the Goddess, I shall vanquish you.”

“Annoying… don’t come…. I just want to live here…”

The slow, ghostly voice resonated languidly.

“I can’t allow that. Your mere presence threatens people with monsters.”

“Ah… that… that was intentional…. People… annoying…”

Erina clenches her teeth. She wants to doubt her hearing, but she’s not mistaken. Without time to mourn the knights’ deaths, her anger…

“Show yourself immediately. I cannot forgive your actions.”

“What if I do…? Just the two of you…?”

“B-but, is that really possible…? This kind of thing… this has n-never happened before…”

Sonia’s face is completely pale. It’s a natural reaction after witnessing death.

“Sonia, don’t be alone. Stay close behind me.”

She repeatedly nods, practically hugging Erina from behind.

“…Still not dead…? Annoying… Fine.”

A visible chill gathers in the air. The chill coalesces into a humanoid shape before sinking into the ground. The ground where the chill has seeped then rises, revealing a demon from the earth.

“Hello…”

A corpse-like pale complexion. Her beauty is evident, but it’s only apparent if we consider her past self, the ghostly remnants of a formerly pleasant, beautiful person. With a blank expression, she waves. Covered in dirt, she appears ghastly, like a specter. Her eyes emit a faintly blue light, intensifying the eerie feeling.

“I… am Draug…”

“…I can’t say hello. Let me purify you.”

Erina clenches her fists.