” My whole body is a mess.”
After sharing the tears and reunion, the Lady Virgin Saint declared this to me.
I repeatedly clenched and then opened the hand that had just been holding the Lady Virgin Saint. It felt unsatisfactory, lacking the resilient touch to quench this thirst.
But it was after I had almost died.
No matter how clueless I was, I could read the atmosphere. Faced with the Lady Virgin Saint, who was still wiping her tears from the corners of her eyes with her sleeves, I bowed my head like a criminal.
“No, well. It’s okay since I’m alive now, right…?”
“Okay, you say?”
At my nonchalant answer, the corners of the Lady Virgin Saint’s eyes slightly lifted.
As if to prove that she was angry, the Lady Virgin Saint placed her hands on her hips and scoffed.
The exaggerated way she turned her face was quite adorable.
Perhaps she would call it charm.
A faint smile naturally formed at the corners of my mouth.
“Do you know how hard I worked to save you? You suddenly collapsed, and even pouring my holy power showed no signs of improvement… I had to grunt and carry that muscular body all the way down the mountain!”
Hmm, and I swallowed my saliva, imagining the Lady Virgin Saint grunting as she moved me.
Fortunately, it was because she had learned martial arts; otherwise, it would have been impossible. A trained swordsman’s body was made of muscle, making it heavier too.
She must have had quite a hard time.
But somehow, it felt more amusing than pitiful. Was it because the Lady Virgin Saint, who must have blushed while dragging me, felt cute?
If I voiced my honest feelings, I might get into trouble.
So I decided to quickly change the subject.
“By the way, where is this place? It looks like a hospital room…”
“It’s a temporary residence we’ve secured in the Holy Kingdom.”
The Lady Virgin Saint’s answer came smoothly, as if she had been waiting to say it.
Her graceful voice glided through the void.
“Your condition was so serious that we sought support from the Holy Kingdom to find a suitable place. Now that you’ve woken up, it’s about time for us to be on our way.”
“What about the other comrades?”
At my worried tone, the Lady Virgin Saint let out a shallow laugh.
She had an attitude that suggested she knew that I would ask.
“Don’t worry. With support from the nearby temple, I heard they’ve already taken care of the Dark Cult’s hideout. They are probably waiting for Ian back at the Academy.”
Phew, I let out my second sigh of relief for the day.
It was a relief that it seemed no one had sustained serious injuries.
Surely, Senior Elsi must have dealt with Mr. Reynolds’s corpse well. And with no news of any attacks afterward, it seemed Ria and Celin had safely returned to the Academy as well.
I had been uneasy about having left those three behind by themselves.
I was on the verge of regaining my smile when I suddenly felt the Lady Virgin Saint’s wistful gaze.
The serene smile on the Lady Virgin Saint’s face was as beautiful as ever. She was a woman whose beauty alone could have brought her fame throughout the continent.
To think I was having a conversation alone with such a woman in a private room.
It was an extravagant tête-à-tête, yet my heart was not at ease.
I wondered how the Lady Virgin Saint felt.
After a moment of hesitation, careful greetings slipped from my lips.
“…How about you, Lady Virgin Saint?”
“Yes?”
“How are you, Lady Virgin Saint?”
At first, the Lady Virgin Saint tilted her head as if she didn’t understand, but she couldn’t ignore the repeated question.
Momentarily, flustered, the Lady Virgin Saint’s shoulders drooped.
It was clear to anyone that her heart was troubled.
“Do I look that obvious?”
“A little, but not to the point I wouldn’t notice.”
At my teasing remark, the Lady Virgin Saint gave a bitter smile.
She had been betrayed by someone she considered family.
I could not even begin to imagine how that felt.
“I’m okay now. I still have nightmares at night, but…”
“Should I sleep with you?”
With a smack, the Lady Virgin Saint’s palm struck my forearm.
Still healing, I barely managed to suppress a scream. Despite shooting me a sideways glance, she could not hide her flushed face.
“You really can’t be helped, can you… Anyway, I’m better than a few days ago. You don’t have to worry too much.”
“But…”
“Worry about your own body first, Ian.”
As I still couldn’t shake off my concerns, the Lady Virgin Saint spoke suddenly with a serious expression.
Her eyes were steadfast, as if refusing to accept any objections.
“Absolutely, no matter what happens, I want you to take care of yourself. Don’t let some useless sense of justice lead you to poke around places recklessly.”
“Hey, what do you mean ‘useless sense of justice’…?”
“Promise me.”
The Lady Virgin Saint had an unusually stern expression.
Her determination to extract a pledge from me was palpable in her gaze.
“Absolutely, no matter what happens, take care of yourself.”
“Well, I might end up with unforeseen situations later…”
“Promise.”
How could I possibly win against the Lady Virgin Saint?
In the end, I sighed and extended my pinky finger. The Lady Virgin Saint smiled in satisfaction after verifying the gesture.
A dazed voice involuntarily escaped my lips.
“Are you leaving already?”
“Yes, since the treatment isn’t finished yet. And we can’t stay in this place for long…”
Saying so, the Lady Virgin Saint cast a sly smile.
It was a message telling me not to worry.
“Then I’ll see you later, Ian.”
Her retreating figure seemed strangely lingering.
In that instant, my brow furrowed. Just before I was about to reach out for the departing Lady Virgin Saint.
Suddenly, the Lady Virgin Saint’s steps halted.
Even after that, she remained silent for quite a while.
The silence broke just as I was about to say something in my fluster.
“…Ian.”
Her lowered voice carried a weight.
I was left at a loss for words and could only remain silent.
The Lady Virgin Saint continued with her confession.
“I’m going to do something very selfish from now on. And it’s something I shouldn’t do as the Lady Virgin Saint.”
“What exactly are you planning to do…?”
My question wasn’t even fully formed.
The Lady Virgin Saint turned her back, walking toward me without hesitation, and suddenly seized my collar.
And then, in the blink of an eye.
The lips of the two of us met.
There was no sticky caress or exchange of drool. It was a very short, pure yet straightforward kiss.
Thus, I couldn’t say a word.
I simply wished for this moment to last forever. But unfortunately, time is equal to everyone.
Eventually, the Lady Virgin Saint’s face pulled away from mine. The sweet breath, her flushed cheeks, and the pink eyes that gazed at me affectionately.
My world was suddenly filled with a woman.
“I like you.”
The woman revealed her feelings with a purity in her smile like never before.
“I love you, Ian.”
It was unequivocally certain.
The Lady Virgin Saint didn’t even wait for my response. She turned around and hurried away, leaving me behind.
I was left staring blankly at her retreating figure.
That was the last moment.
The next day, the Lady Virgin Saint was summoned for a religious trial and imprisoned in the underground dungeon of the Papacy.
On the charge of betraying humanity.
It was a crime that could only be repaid with her life.
*
The Academy was filled with a grim atmosphere due to the ominous rumors.
The Lady Virgin Saint had betrayed humanity.
The downfall of one of the rising heroes who was subjugating the Dark Cult sparked countless stories. The rumors of the Lady Virgin Saint spread throughout the continent, without a single place untouched.
Even in my dazed state, I could hear them ringing in my ears.
However, the woman chattering next to me had a more malicious side, intentionally mocking and turning things against me.
A woman with striking silver hair and silver eyes.
She was Shiene Alphenhausen, one of the sun and moon of the Alphenhausen Clan. And beside her was Senior Luna, with bangs long enough to cover her eyes.
As identical twins, they shared similar appearances, but their attitudes were worlds apart.
Senior Shiene incessantly jabbered, grating on my nerves, while Luna was sweating profusely, trying to gesture for Shiene to stop.
It was wise of her. I was just about to pick up my hand axe.
“Heh, didn’t I tell you? You should have sold out the Lady Virgin Saint earlier! You were so proud then, waving your hand axe, and now look at you! You came back all broken! You were dead anyway, so pffft…”
“…It’s not confirmed yet.”
Reeling with anger, I spoke with fierce eyes.
“The trial hasn’t even started. There’s still a possibility of acquittal…”
“Such naive words.”
Meanwhile, Senior Shiene wore a faint smile.
It was a bewitching smile that I had never seen before.
“Do you still not understand? The trial is merely a formality. The hideout of the Dark Cult has been revealed, and it was filled with horrific evidence of crimes and betrayals… The people’s trust in the Papacy is wavering. No, it’s about time we questioned this. Does God truly exist?”
Striking a theatrical pose, Senior Shiene continued her explanation with enthusiasm.
“A scapegoat is needed to regain that shaken faith. Conveniently, the closest figure who held the highest position and was involved with the Dark Cult…”
“Are you saying that’s the Lady Virgin Saint?”
“How stimulating is that?”
Senior Shiene shot back at me. I was momentarily at a loss for words.
“The maiden most loved by the Heavenly Deity! The Lady Virgin Saint, renowned for her beauty forged by God, suffers on the cross… There aren’t many materials more stimulating than this, Ria Percus.”
“Um, sister… It’s on the younger sister’s side…”
“This is human nature.”
Ignoring Senior Luna’s correction, Senior Shiene continued with a meaningful smile.
“If you see a person who falls while walking, wouldn’t you want to kick them? When a hawk that soars through the skies falls to the ground, the most cruel species is surely human. Everyone wishes for a downfall.”
“To satisfy such vulgar desires…!”
“Is that a problem?”
She had a genuinely questioning demeanor.
I found myself hesitating once more. There was nowhere to unleash the burning flames in my heart.
“Not just humans, but all creatures live to satisfy their desires. Only humans can become more cruel and malicious due to their intellect… The Lady Virgin Saint has become the target of that appetite. Historically, tormented flesh has provided pleasure.”
“Surprisingly, you’re a cynic. Do you really hate humanity that much?”
“On the contrary. I love it immensely.”
With a smile, Senior Shiene placed her hand on her chest and declared.
“I love the ugliness of humanity. That’s what every merchant feels… I hope you come to realize this someday, Roan Berias.”
“Sister, I must reiterate, this person is Sir Ian Fercurus…”
“Is there no way?”
It was a sudden question.
Senior Shiene and Senior Luna widened their eyes, looking at me. They clearly weren’t expecting me to directly seek advice like this.
In truth, anyone would have sufficed.
I desperately wanted to save the Lady Virgin Saint. If the Alphenhausen twins weren’t here, I would have grabbed anyone on the street and asked this very question.
Is there no way to save the Lady Virgin Saint?
“There must be at least one way to save the Lady Virgin Saint…”
“Why are clergy so sensitive to the claim that God does not exist?”
With a mixture of mockery and tragedy in her smile, Senior Shiene spoke.
“Because deep down, they think there might not be one. Hence, they act ferociously like a cat caught by its weakness… Faith is that fragile.”
The sweet whispers of a merchant continued.
“Do you possess a miracle that could restore that flawed faith?”
Giggling, the woman’s voice drifted away. Senior Shiene was still wearing an excited expression.
“Do well. I hear the trial of the Lady Virgin Saint is attended by the Pope and the Holy One. Heh, that’s how it should be justified. Otherwise, you might get to see the Lady Virgin Saint’s body sizzling away… Kyaaah! Can you please put that hand axe down?!”
In the end, after testing the limits of my patience, they were forced to witness my hand axe.
And days later.
“…Have you gone mad?”
Senior Shiene expressed her shock, and the more she did, the bolder my expression became.
“I will take down the Holy One.”
The trial was scheduled for the very next day.
I decided to borrow the strength of the Alphenhausen Clan.
Just recently, I had mediated the transaction of monster corpses in exchange.
Senior Shiene slapped her palm over her forehead.
The look on her face suggested she had no idea what had transpired in the last few days.
