Chapter 6

Even if it were the language of the Demon Realm, there was a tone and atmosphere to it, so the Saintess didn’t miss the flicker of emotion Lilith momentarily revealed.

“So, you two knew each other originally?”

“None of your business.”

“I would like a response to my question.”

“Must I answer?”

“It’s my wish. It’s not that difficult, is it?”

“Ugh, you’re such a bother.”

The Saintess kept pressing relentlessly. She’s quite persistent, isn’t she?

…Was I asking whether Lilith had any conscience in her heart?

No, I asked if goodness could bloom from demons too. Essentially, it was a question seeking my agreement.

“Humans vary individually, just as demons do.”

“Is that so?”

“There are despicable bastards like the Duke of the East and also dimwits like her who feel something resembling a conscience. Demon by demon, ya know.”

“So you’re saying hasty generalizations shouldn’t be made?”

This one isn’t dumb when it comes to understanding stuff like this.

Still, should I really be talking about high-ranking demons of the Demon Realm so casually? She might figure out my true identity…

…If I get caught, who cares? There’s only about four days left until the guillotine anyway.

“Still, if you want confirmation, ask her. I don’t know anything.”

“That’s what I’ll do.”

Having finished speaking with me, the Saintess turned her body back toward Lilith.

The curve on her pale lips was as gentle as ever today. I wonder if she was born with a smiling face?

“A-ah, no… J-Ju, am I dying…?”

Whether or not she realized the Saintess was watching her, Lilith clutched her head and muttered confusedly.

She was drowning in a tumultuous river of panic. Why? Could it be because she owed her life to the Saintess but ended up sentencing herself to death instead? Is that really it?

I can’t empathize, but as I said before, demons are all different. Just let it be. She’s only a little pitiful.

“Yeeek…! Ju, why should I care if you die or not…!”

A moan escaped Lilith’s red lips. It was a rough, disordered groan.

“Spare me already! Your mistake was letting me go when I was being an idiot!”

Suddenly, Lilith shouted loudly. A menacing demonic energy surged ominously behind her back.

“For heaven’s sake, get out of my mind! Why do you keep making me feel uneasy! Why does my heart feel so constricted!”

To me, it looked like flailing.

“I’ve simply done my duty! It’s natural for a Duke of the Demon Realm to attack a saintess! The weird one is you for letting me go!”

It was flailing to hide what she probably considers a blemish – though it doesn’t look like much of one to me.

However, it seems the Saintess saw something different entirely.

“You’re suffering from inner turmoil.”

“…! Wh-What are you doing right now!”

“Just stay still.”

“What kind of trickery are you trying to pull…!”

The Saintess extended her hand. Her approaching touch reached Lilith’s hand. Lilith flinched in surprise.

“Holy Lord.”

“…!”

“Please bestow the blessing of peace upon this poor lamb wandering in the dark.”

“Don’t do anything strange, I said…!”

“For love arises from a stable mind and spirit…”

Light began to emanate from the Saintess’s hand. At this point, I’m too tired to say anything.

She’s at it again, cutting into her own lifespan for this nonsense. Even though she’s going to die anyway, what does she gain from helping others?

Besides, isn’t she helping a demon who betrayed her? I’ll never understand her odd behavior, even if I died and came back to life.

Woooom…

A bright beam of light seeped into Lilith. The light that slipped between her collar and clothes targeted her chest.

Lilith’s face went blank. Her previously chaotic breathing had already calmed down.

At the same time, the Saintess’s complexion became paler. Tch, whatever, it’s her choice. I refuse to use my telekinesis to help her struggle anymore.

Woooom…

Ssss…

The light show didn’t last long. The intense light illuminating Tartarus quickly disappeared, signifying the end of the Saintess’s divine power.

“What did you do?”

Did you notice the change within yourself?

“How… Are you even slightly more at ease…?”

“What did you do! Tell me! Why does my oppressive feeling suddenly feel relieved? What kind of trick did you use!”

“I merely fulfilled my duty as an apostle of the Lord…”

“You, you fool…!”

Looks like even Lilith thinks the Saintess is an idiot. To me, they’re both dumbasses.

“Haa… Is it really true that you’re going to die? By execution?”

“Yes, there are only four days left.”

“Where will the execution take place?”

“They say it will be in the Empire’s square. Still, His Majesty the Demon King has shown mercy by allowing us to face the direction of the Lord while being beheaded.”

Oh, I’m also scheduled for the guillotine in the Empire’s square. Though we may not die at the exact same moment, it seems the Saintess and I will die on the same day, at the same place.

“Gyeh.”

Lilith bit her lower lip. She must have healed her wandering mind using the Saintess’s lifespan as fuel, yet she seems troubled again by the fact that the Saintess is going to die.

“Alright.”

However, this time was different. Lilith neither screamed nor got angry.

Instead, she quietly closed her mouth and turned to leave.

“Whether you die or not has nothing to do with me.”

Leaving those words behind, Lilith tried to leave Tartarus without looking back. It seemed like she had more to say but was forcefully suppressing it.

Clomp, clomp…

What stopped Lilith’s ankle was the fading voice of the Saintess reaching her ears.

“I forgive you.”

Lilith narrowed her eyebrows and curtly asked.

“What?”

“I said I forgive you.”

“You crazy bitch… You’re about to die soon, what are you talking about? What exactly are you forgiving?”

“I shall forgive you for all the guilt, karma, and sins that torment you.”

“…!”

“Now, please, relax.”

The Saintess smiled. Unlike my trademark wide grin, a fundamentally different smile formed on her lips.

“No life is inherently evil. The conscience residing in your heart proves this.”

“Bullshit.”

“Relax. And please continue walking the path I have walked.”

“Get lost, Orcs make more logical statements.”

“The world ruled by the Demon King’s Army will be very dark in the future. In such a world, even a tiny bit of light can brightly illuminate the surroundings.”

“What are you asking from me, a demon?”

“Start with small acts of kindness. Acts of kindness are like cotton candy – once you start, they grow like a snowball.”

That line, she said it to me too. Back then, the subject was “love.”

“Crazy bitch. Go away.”

After hearing the Saintess’s persuasion, Lilith sharply turned her head and stormed out of Tartarus with heavy steps.

The Saintess, looking abandoned like a stray puppy.

I sarcastically spoke to her.

“What to do? Seems like your persuasion didn’t work at all, huh?”

“Haha.”

“She felt guilty, which surprised even me… But Lilith is a demon, so there’s no way she’d do acts of kindness, right?”

“We’ll see.”

The Saintess smiled faintly and countered.

“Isn’t it obvious what’s visible right in front of us?”

“Lord Demon, may I share some news I heard outside?”

“Is it special? Did the Demon King die?”

“Not that… It’s about how the Four Dukes of the Demon Realm treat their prisoners.”

“Prisoners? Sounds interesting, tell me.”

With my permission, the Saintess immediately began speaking. I realize today that these things require my permission and excessive formality is truly annoying.

“Let’s set aside the Duke of the North who went missing three months ago. The Duke of the East apparently turns all prisoners into slaves. They’re assigned arduous or dirty tasks, like satisfying the desires of monsters.”

“Eww, disgusting. Proper display of demonic virtues.”

“The Duke of the South uses prisoners as tools for art. Apparently, he even melts people down to use them as paint.”

“Such a demon. I admire his style since it resonates with mine. My art is explosions, though.”

At the word “explosion,” the Saintess burst into laughter and continued speaking. An endlessly pure laugh.

“The Duke of the West, however, does not touch prisoners who do not resist.”

“…Really? That woman Lilith?”

“Would I lie to you? She strictly ordered even the Demon King’s Army not to touch them.”

“That’s absurd.”

“Thus, refugees moving to the western continent have been reported since the day after I sent Lilith back.”

I think I understand the point the Saintess wants to convey to me.

Though it’s inevitably suspicious talk from my perspective.

Lilith is a cruel demon. Second to none in the Demon Realm.

And yet, she doesn’t touch the prisoners she captured? She even prevents the Demon King’s Army from touching them?

This information is hard to swallow as is, but considering Lilith’s state earlier, I can’t completely disbelieve it.

In the curses Lilith spat out at the end, I sensed unmistakable trembling and confusion.

While I enjoy chaos, it was a different kind of mental confusion from the root.

Suddenly, a flash of delusion sparkled in my mind.

An absurd delusion. Yet for some reason, my reason tilted toward the side of delusion.

I asked the Saintess who had approached me without realizing.

“One question.”

“Speak.”

“Releasing Lilith after painstakingly capturing her long ago… Was that done with foresight to this extent?”

“…”

I know. This suspicion has no basis.

Back then, could she have foreseen the present? It’s a thoughtless delusion. After all, the Saintess is stupid, foolish, and dull, isn’t she?

Yet, my heart keeps pointing that way. Especially since the Saintess only smiles without answering.

“To begin with, once the hero surrendered, it was a war with a predictable outcome.”

“…”

“Even if Lilith were destroyed, appointing a new Western Duke would suffice.”

“…”

“So you were bestowing a favor on Lilith, provoking guilt, and giving hope to the continentals who would become prisoners. Right?”

My continuous words made the Saintess smile faintly. I’m not unaware that this is silent affirmation.

“Strange human.”

“Does it seem that way to you?”

“You’re usually incredibly stupid but somehow clever in strange areas, aren’t you?”

“I’m just focused on immediate acts of kindness. Where’s the calculation in kindness?”

“Yeah, I guess that could be true.”

It’s not entirely wrong. As she says, she might have only had the single-minded intention to release Lilith back then.

Her claim that the effects rippled like a butterfly’s wings to create the current situation doesn’t contradict logic either.

Just…

“Kelt mentioned this. The Saintess has the wisest white eyes in the continent.”

Speaking of which, rumors about the Saintess are quite famous. Didn’t they say she was the most wise woman in the continent alongside the great sage Merlin?

“Flattery.”

“Saintess, that’s deception. Not humility. Morons would be sad to hear that.”

“…”

The Saintess didn’t refute my words. Instead, she silently approached and rested my back of the head on her knee.

Our faces almost touched. As usual, she cradled my head in her arms.

In the stifling heat of Tartarus, where it’s already unbearably hot, getting hugged like this…

“Is it uncomfortable?”

“You obviously know how disgustingly uncomfortable it is.”

“Shall I stop?”

“…Never mind, it’s bothersome. You shouldn’t have started in the first place.”

Have I gotten used to the Saintess after spending just a few days together?

It’s truly perplexing.

“Eat.”

The Saintess offered me a bread she had been saving.

“Aaah~.”

“Listening to you eat makes my stomach full too.”

“Full? What’s full about you? Eat some yourself.”

I tapped her stomach a few times with my head. It was a skinny, flat belly with no fat at all.

Gurgle…

Ah, damn. My whole body feels like my bones are shattering. I shouldn’t have done that.

“I’m fine with just one piece.”

“While you gave me three?”

Each person is supposed to receive two pieces of bread. However, there’s a difference in quality between the Saintess’s and mine.

It’s because Kelt always switches them. The Saintess’s bread is always soft and sweet.

She always gives all of that bread to me. Even when I say it’s unnecessary, she forces me to eat it.

“You are a demon, aren’t you? I’ve heard demons have three times the appetite of humans.”

“…That’s true. But…”

“But?”

I playfully moved my lips. My mischievous instinct to tease her purity kicked in.

“Demon’s sexual desire is seven times that of humans, do you know?”

“…?”

“Rather than just satisfying hunger, satisfy this too while you’re at it.”

Of course, my current physical condition makes it impossible. This is purely a joke to tease her.

“…Sexual desire, you mean?”

The Saintess shyly glanced at my lower half through her bandaged eyes. Not that it was particularly swollen or anything given her lack of energy.

“I apologize.”

“Kick!”

“Priests serving the gods are taught to remain chaste. Please understand.”

The Saintess’s face turned red. She slightly lowered her head. I can sense her intentionally avoiding my gaze.

She’s always been noble with her smiles. Yet seeing her react like this to a simple lewd joke makes me want to tease her even more.

“You seemed smart, but you’re surprisingly dull, Saintess.”

“Maintaining chastity is an obligation priests must naturally fulfill.”

“What? Wisdom? Puhahaha! When talk of nighttime activities makes you tremble like that!”

“Tremble… Please don’t view me as such a naive woman.”

Rarely seeing the Saintess cut off her words mid-sentence during our banter, the day passed quickly by my standards. There’s no way to confirm since neither light nor wind reaches Tartarus.

And the next day arrived. As it did yesterday and the day before, a visitor came today.

However, the identity of this visitor was somewhat extraordinary.

The girl who was once the continent’s hope and despair.

The girl destined to oppose the Demon King but ended up surrendering to him.

Once celebrated as the indomitable hero during the Cold War era, now reduced to the ignoble hero.

Hero, Frey Dr. Siegfried.

The identity of the fourth most famous visitor in the continent, alongside the Demon King.

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