Chapter 14

“Ugh….”

A groan escaped me, still half-draped in the clutches of slumber.

The grip of that dream lingered around my neck, whispering if I couldn’t just sleep a little longer. It was because I’d been having an incredibly happy dream up until just now.

Though… I can’t actually remember what it was about.

“…”

When I lowered my head under the oppressive weight on my chest, I saw the saintess softly breathing in the darkness. Her pale lips, pressed together, caught my eye too.

Ah, right.

I almost kissed her yesterday, didn’t I?

‘…!’

As I recalled last night’s events, shame came rushing at me like a tidal wave. My face felt like it was being engulfed in flames.

There was no way I could look her in the eyes after this.

Not that I’m usually this timid. Guess I’ve been rubbing off on her since we’ve been together.

“Phew… Quite peaceful, aren’t you?”

The saintess was exhaling gentle breaths.

Absentmindedly, I wanted to move my hand and stroke her hair tucked beneath her nun’s habit.

Clink-clink…

“…”

But I couldn’t, because the chain rattled again as another seizure hit me.

Damn it, how much longer is this ‘clink-clink’ gonna torment me? I should’ve finished off that old geezer Merlin properly.

“Mmm… Mr. Joker?”

The saintess stirred awake, mumbling faintly. It seemed to be due to my body convulsing from the seizure.

“Are you fully awake?”

“It seems so. My mind feels as clear as if washed clean with water.”

“That’s good then. Considering your head’s going to roll on the ground soon anyway.”

“It’s all thanks to using Mr. Joker as a pillow.”

Without hesitation, the saintess leaned her face against my chest, rubbing it slightly. Like a newborn baby exploring its mother’s breast.

“Why are you doing such unbecoming coquetry? It’s embarrassing.”

“Please be lenient. As you said earlier, I don’t have much life left, do I?”

“What? You’re saying that as an old maid?”

“Because I’m an old maid, I want to lean on someone even more. You’re the first man I’ve ever leaned on, Mr. Joker.”

“Are you proud of that?”

I snapped at the saintess curtly. She accepted it all with a kind smile.

That’s how our conversations go. They’ve been like this until now, and probably will continue to be… Ah, there won’t be any future, will there?

“Sister Saint.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Actually, I had a sandwich leftover from earlier that I didn’t eat.”

“I see.”

“Do you want it?”

She nodded her head like a puppy without a word.

“It should be where I left the tray earlier.”

I gave verbal directions to where the sandwich was.

The saintess crawled over to where I pointed with great effort.

“…It’s not here?”

Her words were unexpected.

“There’s none? Nothing at all?”

“Yes, only an empty plate remains. There’s nothing here.”

“That’s strange… Did you eat it while I was sleeping?”

As I shot her a suspicious glance, she waved her hands frantically, having read the situation correctly.

“I am not some shameless person who steals others’ food.”

“Then what, does that mean I’m a shameless guy for always eating your rations?”

“Giving and taking are different things.”

“…You’re not wrong.”

Judging by her reaction, it seems the saintess really didn’t eat the sandwich.

So where did the sandwich go? In Tartarus, a sealed room where not even a person can pass through.

“Come on, just close your eyes and spill it. It was for you anyway.”

“Actually…”

Just as I was about to start thinking hard about it, the saintess spoke up.

“You ate it in your sleep, Mr. Joker.”

“What? That’s ridiculous.”

“While you were asleep, your lips moved as if wanting to eat something. So I put the sandwich in your mouth.”

“What, am I really supposed to have eaten it?”

The saintess reached out her hand toward my face. After feeling around my eyes, nose, and cheeks, her fingers finally landed on my lips.

Then she showed me what she wiped off with her finger.

“See?”

Even in the dark, the bread crumbs were clearly recognizable.

Seems like I really did eat it. Can’t argue when there’s evidence like this.

“You were eating quite well. Just hearing the sound made me feel good too.”

“What does my eating well have to do with you?”

“We did almost kiss, didn’t we?”

“Don’t be absurd. If that counts, what about all the female demons I’ve wrestled with day and night?”

“…Purity is a sin.”

The saintess’s smile keeps changing.

Kind smiles, generous smiles, bright smiles, hopeful smiles, happy smiles…

None of those countless smiles ever carried any negative emotions. She has a pure mind like someone born and raised in a field of flowers.

Even when she glared coldly at the Demon King during their encounter, it was because she needed to give him a sharp reprimand.

The saintess is still smiling gently now. A beautiful smile.

“Why are you enjoying talking about me rolling around with other females? Why are you laughing?”

“Haha.”

“Could it be, do you have some perverted preference? I’d be disappointed if that’s true. I don’t have a thing for people who get turned on by losing stuff either.”

“Don’t misunderstand. No matter how many women you’ve embraced, I think it’s funny that ultimately only I remain by your side.”

“…”

What an idiot.

She confessed her love for me just yesterday.

And now that I’m telling her about all these other women, she’s consoling herself by saying that she’ll be the one left in the end anyway.

Actually, it might not even be self-consolation. With her flower-filled mind, she might genuinely believe that.

“Ah, I shouldn’t have started this conversation.”

“Mr. Joker, I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“What kind of dream were you having that made you eat so voraciously even while asleep?”

“I don’t know, I don’t remember. Dreams are usually forgotten once you wake up, aren’t they?”

“Is that so.”

The saintess rested her head on my chest again. She subtly placed her thin legs on my lower abdomen.

With that action, I vaguely remembered something.

The last scene of the dream I saw right before waking up.

It was…

“Ah, that’s right. It was that.”

“Did you remember?”

“Yeah, so it was… like this.”

In a scenic flower field with a gentle breeze blowing.

I was sitting slumped against a neatly trimmed tree stump.

On my lap, the saintess was sitting with her knees drawn up, leaning against me.

We were happily sharing a single piece of bread.

Then, then, we ended up kissing, confirming our feelings for each other, sweating profusely, and exploring each other’s bodies with our mouths, hands, and desires… Shit, what kind of dream was that?!

There’s no way I can say this. My groin, which hasn’t been wet in hundreds of years, is shouting. If I reveal the contents of the dream, I’ll embarrass myself before even reaching the guillotine.

“Haha.”

“Why, why are you splitting it now!”

“Because I could picture the dream just from reading your expression, Mr. Joker.”

“…”

Why does the saintess’ smile seem so sly today, like a thousand-year-old serpent?

Considering she was trembling just moments ago at the mention of nighttime activities…

“Still, I feel good.”

Why is my face burning so much?

Why have the roles between the saintess and me completely reversed?

Truly, it’s laughable.

*****

Clank!

The heavy bars of Tartarus opened.

Since visits and food deliveries are prohibited today, there’s only one reason the door would be opening.

Time to go now.

“Escort them.”

Five people entered through the open door.

Among them was Kelt. Kelt was one of those receiving orders.

Thud, thud…

The person who issued the stern command remained at the back while the four guards, including Kelt, approached us. Two guards each grabbed onto me and the saintess.

“Unlock the chains.”

Clunk-clink…

Kelt took out a golden key from his coat and inserted it into the lock that had restrained my limbs for 101 days.

After a brief metallic sound, the sensation of restraint disappeared from my arms.

As I swung my arms around, something thin passed before my eyes. Damn, how starved has he been that only bones remain?

“Can you walk?”

The warden asked quietly. His tone was perfectly emotionless.

For humans, there should be some goodwill or ill will toward either the saintess or me, but this is truly professional warden behavior.

“I think the saintess will have trouble standing due to lack of strength… But I should be able to walk somehow. Though I’m not entirely sure after being immobile for so long.”

“Stand up and try.”

I obediently placed my feet on the ground and straightened my knees. The sense of stability transmitted through my soles was so welcome that my spine shivered.

“Ah… Yeah, this feeling.”

“Move your feet. You can run or jump if you want.”

Thump-thump!

As I moved my feet, tiny vibrations spread through Tartarus. Though not at my peak strength after being bound for so long, fortunately at least a fraction of my power remains.

For a moment, I thought about knocking these guys out and escaping with the saintess, but immediately dismissed the idea. Beating them with this measly strength would be like smashing a rock with an egg.

Each of the Babel Tower wardens used to be major figures. Just take Kelt – he’s a former White Knight, classified among the top warriors of the Holy Kingdom.

Even if I somehow managed to defeat the wardens, there’s no way I could beat the warden captain standing before me now.

Teseuthes, formerly known as the “God Slayer.” Despite entering Eden Academy as a commoner scholarship student, he came to despise humanity after being ostracized there and became known as one of the “absolute strongest” on the continent who didn’t oppose the Demon King’s army.

Not that he supported the Demon King’s army either. If pressed, Teseuthes probably hated everyone deeply. Likely his traumatic childhood led him to brutally murder Pluto, the God of Wealth and Power.

After the war ended, he became the warden captain here, probably because everyone becomes equal prisoners in this place.

“No issues. Kelt and Bella, grab prisoner 379’s arms. Derio and Luca, carry prisoner 386.”

Look at us being called by our prisoner numbers rather than titles or names.

Truly a rigid, impenetrable man – Teseuthes.

379 is me, 386 is the saintess. The wardens named Derio and Luca approached the saintess.

They grabbed the saintess who couldn’t stand due to lack of strength. Their hands groped her arms and legs.

Crack!

“…”

The roughness of their hands was unexpected, making my head spin momentarily. Showing no consideration for the saintess’ weakened state, their crude hands lacked any trace of kindness.

Seeing the deep furrow form on the saintess’ forehead made it worse.

“Let go.”

Without realizing it, I growled. My voice carried a thick layer of killing intent.

“She’s not someone you can handle casually.”

The atmosphere grew icy. Though I knew I shouldn’t, the words flowed out naturally.

“I’ll carry the saintess. You guys grab me.”

“Sister Saint…?”

“What did you just say…!”

The saintess looked at me with a bewildered expression. The guards were also clearly confused by my sudden outburst.

“Do you dislike it? Want to tussle here? How about I rip off each of your arms?”

I’ve always used honorifics with the guards, but now I’m spewing anger as if I never did. Because they’re still gripping the saintess’ delicate wrists tightly…

After briefly contemplating upon hearing my threatening proposal, Teseuthes nodded briefly.

“Permitted.”

“But Warden Captain, according to regulations execution prisoners must be escorted by guards…”

“If we grab 379, it’s essentially the same, isn’t it? Since he’s volunteering to help, there’s no reason to refuse.”

“T-That’s true…”

As soon as permission was granted, I immediately swatted away the guards holding the saintess. They looked displeased, but with the warden captain’s approval, there was no problem.

I carefully lifted the saintess and gently placed her on my back. She clung to me like a soaking wet puppy. My palms supported her small bottom.

Through her thick nun’s habit, I could tell her buttocks were just bones. I felt strangely sorry for this.

The saintess doesn’t have a small pelvis by nature. It’s just that she lacks muscle mass severely.

While resting her chin on my shoulder, the saintess whispered worriedly in my ear.

“I’m causing you unnecessary trouble…”

“What nonsense. I’m doing this because I want to.”

“Thank you…”

“Stop it, don’t give me that gratitude for something like this. It’s embarrassing.”

I carried the saintess, while the guards grabbed both of my arms. Teseuthes directed us.

“Move.”

Thud.

The long-awaited sound of footsteps filled the space. Though I’ve always walked carelessly and rudely, carrying the frail saintess now makes me step more cautiously than anyone else in the world.

Thud.

As we exited Tartarus, a long stone staircase appeared before us. Designed to spiral circularly, it’s covered with numerous battle scars everywhere.

Thud.

The saintess’ breath brushing against my neck gradually became faint. Since yesterday, her energy has visibly depleted, and her consciousness is slowly fading.

Whenever that happened, I pinched her thigh with my index finger as if scolding her.

Startled, she tried to regain her senses, but soon lost focus again after not long.

It feels like if she falls asleep now, it’ll be like sleeping in the polar regions and never waking up.

“Sister Saint, stay awake. Do you want to die pitifully here?”

“Mmm…”

“Stay alert. I’ll safely escort you to the guillotine. You should live as long as you can, right?”

“Truly, it’s an indescribable favor…”

“What are you talking about? When you burned your own life force to reduce my pain.”

Thud.

The staircase was long.

Of course it’s long, connecting from the lowest level of the Babel Tower underground to the ground floor.

During the ascent, we occasionally spotted prisoners through the bars on various floors.

The Fire Elemental King, a mid-level deity, an imperial princess, the elven elder, infamous murderers… The higher the floor, the exponentially more prisoners there were.

Because the higher up you go, the less severe the crimes of the imprisoned.

Thud.

They all murmured in confusion when they saw us, regardless of the floor.

One of the most famous figures on the continent – the saintess – and me, the one who locked most of them up in Babel Tower, our combination must have been quite fresh for them.

Thud.

“Sister Saint! Sister Saint! Where are you going?”

“Joker! You trash demon! So it’s finally your time to die, huh!”

“Hey, stop! What are you doing taking the daughter of the Sun God!”

“Tsk, both the saintess and Joker dying looks pretty good, doesn’t it?”

Occasionally, cries, shouts, lamentations, and jeers reached our ears. The saintess and I ascended silently without being swayed by them.

Toward the bright, radiant world at the end of this long staircase.

And toward the guillotine square that will sever our necks with a single stroke.

Only, silently, endlessly, we walked on.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud…

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