Why in the world would the saintess, known to be purer than anyone else, end up in the worst dungeon? The question didn’t last long. After all, the continent is now under the Demon King’s heel. Naturally, the saintess, the Demon King’s army’s biggest adversary, became a traitor of the highest order.
When Kelt mentioned “the same day of execution,” it must mean her life also has about a week left.
“Hey… Saintess.”
“What do you require?”
The saintess’s voice sounded calm and detached. Is she not afraid of me? Well, considering this is the saintess who stood against the Demon King, some random prisoner like me wouldn’t faze her.
Still, I’d like to at least project some seniority here, but given my current state, all I can manage is…
“Could you pick up that bread over there?”
“…”
“Just take seven steps to the right. The warden threw it around there earlier.”
That’s all I can muster.
Can’t help it. Whether senior or whatever, I’m basically paralyzed, unable to move any of my limbs.
After receiving the request, the saintess moved without hesitation, though with an expression hinting slight surprise. One… two… three… four… where is she going?
Despite her composed voice, her steps were awkward, almost as if she were in pain, like someone ill.
It didn’t take long to figure out why. She was the last hero of the continent, but the Demon King’s army ultimately won the war. There’s no way the key figures from the defeated nation would remain unscathed.
“You can’t see, sure, but your balance seems off too?”
“Please wait a moment. I’ll find it soon.”
“Both, huh. Tch, how did someone as exalted as you end up like this?”
Teasing her like this didn’t seem to bother the saintess. Her face remained expressionless, devoid of any hostility.
Whether this is genuine indifference or a mask hiding her emotions, I have no way of knowing.
“It’s because my love was insufficient.”
And with that, she felt around the stone floor. Soon after, her emotion-laden voice reached my ears.
Her first revealed emotion was…
“The bread you wanted seems to have turned to ash.”
Regret.
…Why?
Why does the saintess regret that my bread turned to ashes?
Did she say she’d get it for me but secretly plan to eat it herself? That’s plausible. I can’t do anything even if she steals my food.
I realized the futility of my suspicion when the saintess approached me.
“…What are you trying to do?”
“I’m unsure if I’ve come to the right place by sound alone. Are you in front of me? Please respond if so.”
“It’s me alright… What are you trying to do?”
The saintess bent down. Her once pristine black nun’s habit gracefully settled. Though now, it’s covered in grime and torn in places.
Without a word, she pulled out bread from her robe and placed it in my mouth. It was far superior to the usual rations I receive. Even sweet cream was inside its soft layers.
“This came from Kelt. It shouldn’t taste bad.”
There wasn’t time to question it. The exquisite food enveloped my senses. My tongue and teeth ignored my brain’s commands, greedily devouring the bread.
“How is it? Does it suit your palate?”
The saintess casually asked.
A modest yet pure smile adorned her face. It was innocent, yet its intent remained mysterious. As a villain, I don’t trust purity. In a world where everyone wears masks, such things only exist in fairy tales.
“It’s delicious. Why are you smiling, Saintess?”
“To be able to give something to someone even in a place like this, how could I not be happy?”
“Huh, what’s so great about that?”
“Love swells like cotton candy. What I gave you is also a form of love. Before long, this dark place called Tartarus will surely be filled with love.”
“You really know how to talk nonsense.”
She’s incomprehensible. Moreover, there’s no need to understand her.
I reached this conclusion within five minutes of being in the same space as her.
Regardless, the saintess sat beside me with a gentle smile.
“So, what is your identity?”
“Why ask when there’s no money involved?”
For some reason, I don’t like the saintess. A deep-seated rejection wells up inside me.
Her enigmatic smile, her talk of love and giving—none of it feels familiar. Maybe that’s why. Instinctively, demons repel the unfamiliar.
That’s why I respond to her with sarcasm.
“Do you feel ashamed of your name?”
“…I can’t deny that. Honestly, if I reveal myself here, you might kill me.”
“Such violent words. I don’t take lives unnecessarily.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Though I verbally denied it, I unconsciously nodded in agreement.
During the war between the Demon King’s army and the Continental Alliance, the saintess never committed unnecessary killings with her own hands.
I vaguely recall hearing rumors of her treating and releasing the captured Duke of the Demon Realm.
…But a few hours ago, Kelt said the saintess had been defeated by the demon dukes except for me. So did the Western Duke, whom she spared, repay her with blood?
What a despicable demon. That makes him a fine example of a proper demon.
“Why did such a noble saintess end up here?”
“I sinned.”
“This place is for the worst criminals. Did you commit a crime that bad?”
“They called it sacrilege.”
“Hahahaha! A saintess who worships gods committing sacrilege? That’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard!”
“Sacrilege against the Demon God. Technically, they’re not wrong.”
“You’re incredibly optimistic.”
The saintess was grinning ear to ear, though she maintained her stoic demeanor until we met.
“Still, maybe you should stop smiling? Not that I care.”
“Smiling brings blessings.”
“Are you smiling to receive blessings? But you weren’t smiling just a while ago.”
“That… The current situation itself can be seen as a great blessing. That’s how I view it.”
Why is it that despite her cracked and fading voice, it’s filled with bright hope?
Truly, she’s made entirely of incomprehensible elements from head to toe. This existence called a saintess.
“How is being locked in the Inferno a blessing?”
“It would’ve been lonely if I were alone, but you’re here beside me.”
“We just met today. Besides, I wasn’t exactly on good terms with you.”
“It doesn’t matter. Since we’re both prisoners in Tartarus, we’re all equal sinners. Why carry old grudges from outside?”
Not a trace of pretense tainted the saintess’s words. Could human sincerity really be this positive?
At least, I’ve never seen it among the humans I’ve killed.
“I can’t even describe how happy I am just sitting here talking to you.”
“Well, I agree with that. Being alone gets boring.”
“True. By the way, why are you imprisoned here?”
“Why do you keep asking questions since earlier?”
“In case my humble prayers can alleviate your sins.”
The saintess chattered away while sitting demurely next to me. Her knees touched the hot stone floor.
Why does she want to absolve sins I never asked for? Such a baffling woman.
“Who asked you to absolve anything?”
“It’s the duty of God’s apostle to bestow grace.”
“…”
What a stubborn person.
Ultimately, her being brought here is due to the grace she bestowed upon the Western Duke. Does she not realize that? Or is she deliberately ignoring it?
Whatever the case, I call her naive. If the former, she’s foolish; if the latter, she’s overly obstinate.
“So please, tell me freely. Confession in church isn’t meaningless.”
“This isn’t a church, more like hell.”
“If your heart is sincere, then wherever you are is a church, isn’t it?”
“You really like spouting nonsense.”
“For how long will you continue to evade?”
The saintess lifted her head toward me. Though her eyes are bandaged, I felt as if she saw through my very soul.
“What avoidance? What are you talking about?”
Instantly, I flinched and dodged the question.
Judging from her expression, it was probably a bad move—a seriously bad one.
“Are you afraid to confront your own sins?”
“Where in the world is there a living being who isn’t afraid of that? Even demons.”
“Were you a demon?”
“You didn’t know? With your eyes damaged, has your perception also failed? Who am I talking about? The Demon King? The Demon God? The Western Duke of the Demon Realm?”
“You’re changing the subject again.”
If I let this slide, she’ll likely keep pestering me.
Talking with the saintess is the only entertainment in Tartarus, so it’s not that I mind. Still, I’d rather avoid the hassle.
“Haa, fine. Since you’re so earnest, I’ll tell you. My sin… well…”
As I was about to continue, excruciating pain gripped my throat.
Ughhhn-!
Crack-!
It’s because I’ve talked too much since meeting the saintess. Plus, I’ve been suppressing the urge to cough to keep the conversation going, and now it’s catching up to me.
“Hack! Cough, cough…!”
Violent breathing and harsh coughs erupted simultaneously. It felt like coughing up my intestines.
My whole body convulsed violently. The sensation of my limbs being torn off returned.
Will I never be able to speak again? How will I endure the remaining week when the saintess can’t even see my expression?
What a ridiculous worry. It’s not like talking to the saintess is necessary. And anyway, I’m just waiting out my meaningless fate of having my neck chopped off in a week.
Right then, the saintess leaned toward me.
She quickly untied my chest and placed her hand on it. Her small yet rough hand felt warm and comforting against my bare skin despite having weathered countless battles.
What is she planning to do?
“Dear Lord, who is kind, merciful, holy, and noble, we pray to you.”
Her voice deepened. Just a change in tone, yet her presence transformed completely.
“Please bestow mercy upon this pitiful and wretched lamb. Heal this lamb with your boundless compassion. Restore his voice so he may sing clear songs once more…”
With every word the saintess spoke, white light began to emanate from her palms. It was divine power, the exclusive ability of clerics, shining brilliantly.
…Divine power?
Isn’t that the exact opposite of what I embody?
“Wait, stop…!”
Piiing-!
Is this woman insane? Trying to heal a demon like me with divine power?
Injecting holy energy into a demon is far more dangerous than infusing black magic into a Holy Knight. Unless she’s determined to kill me, this idea should never cross her mind.
“I-I’m a demon… Cough! Cough!”
Even after clearly hearing I’m a demon, the saintess didn’t stop channeling divine power.
Did she already forget? No, that’s unlikely. She must be mocking me.
Lulling me into a false sense of security with kindness before snuffing out all hope—behavior fitting of a witch.
Damn it, I’m the fool for letting my guard down.
“Though this lamb strayed due to misguided upbringing, all life is your child. Embrace this young lamb with your vast compassion. We beseech our protective, nurturing, and loving Lord…”
Woooom-!
Wrong. Her divine power is already flooding into my chest. With no means to resist, I’m doomed.
Ah, what a pointless end! I wanted to die dramatically on the guillotine in the imperial square in a week!
What a cursed woman, this saintess.
“…This lowly servant humbly prays.”
Hwaak-!
“…”
Crack-!
Yet…
Why can I still hear convulsions if I’m dead?
I’ve never heard of being able to hear after death.
“You.”
Where did the throat pain go?
I thought it would never leave during the remaining week.
“Are you feeling… alright physically?”
Why does she look at me with such pure innocence?
Given her blindness, there’s no doubt she’s visually impaired, yet why does she smile so joyfully despite that?
I’ve never seen such a smile. Even during the happiest moment of my life—when I avenged my sister—I couldn’t produce such purity. Instead, I remember sobbing uncontrollably.
Does she truly believe smiling brings blessings? If so, she’s truly naïve.
Naïve yet innocent and pure.
“Then will you tell me now?”
Such a foolish, reckless, stubborn, and stupid woman.
How else could she knowingly use her dwindling divine power on me, her enemy, a demon?
A sucker. Perfectly ripe for exploitation. Those who call women like her wise must have orc eyes.
“I refuse to talk about my sins. The thought gives me chills.”
Too repulsive. Goosebumps-inducing.
Her naivety, her stupidity, her stubbornness, her foolishness.
Her purity, her innocence, her positivity, her righteousness.
I utterly detest it. As a demon, I cannot—and do not wish to—understand her.
“…Let me ask one thing first.”
Anyway, what exactly did the saintess do? What trick healed my vocal cords so perfectly?
With curiosity laced in her response, the saintess smiled purely and answered. Words completely alien to me flowed from her cracked lips.
“It’s love.”
![[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come](https://i3.wp.com/darkmtl.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1737407792-8993-TS-The-end-of-magical-girls-has-come.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come")
