Chapter 217
Chapter 217
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 217
Chapter Title: Chapter 5-2. Rest
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The building was as large as a village hall. Inside, the wounded were being carried in one after another, and through the windows, several elves could be seen bustling about.
As he tried to enter, he bumped into elves coming out from inside. They flinched at the sight of Judah.
"Go ahead first."
He gave them a light smile and stepped aside. They nodded awkwardly, expressing their thanks as they passed. As they brushed by, their eyes lingered on Judah's ears, and they tilted their heads in confusion. He looked human from the front, and human from the back too. But since there was already a human priest treating elves inside the hall, they passed by with puzzled expressions.
It was no different once he stepped inside. Every elf who saw Judah reacted the same way. It was only natural, so he paid it no mind. Unnecessary furniture had been pushed against the walls, and clean cloths had been laid out in their place for the patients. Groans of pain echoed from here and there.
There was a saying that even rolling in a field of dung was better than the afterlife, but seeing them in such agony, it might have been better if they'd died quickly. Then Bell-Terza's power could have revived them.
Judah scanned the hall, gazing sympathetically at those drenched in blood and those gasping ragged breaths. It wasn't hard to spot Arhil in her nun's habit. Her outfit stood out from the other elves', and the black color made it especially eye-catching.
She was diligently treating patients, unconcerned even as blood stained her clothes.
Perhaps because she'd become a saint, her divine power seemed plentiful, and she cast holy spells without hesitation. Yet her flushed face and slightly labored breathing made her look somehow unwell.
"...Are you okay?"
She steadfastly healed with holy magic, then uncorked a small glass vial held by an assisting elf and fed it to the patient.
It looked like a familiar vial, and upon closer inspection, it was one of the World Tree sap bottles he'd received from Via.
'What, is this stuff that common?'
He'd thought it was pretty rare.
Or maybe they were using it generously for the wounded. He'd planned to watch until her treatment was done, but Arhil showed no signs of stopping. When she staggered rising after treating a patient, Judah couldn't wait any longer and strode over to her.
"Ah... Judah?"
"I'll make you rest a bit. That's okay for now, right?"
The elves standing behind her nodded and moved on to the next patient. Judah supported Arhil.
"Outside... somewhere with no one around, please. I want to rest."
Arhil spoke, exhaling wearily. Being near her seemed to bring a sweet fragrance from somewhere. Judah led her outside to the back of the hall. That side saw fewer elves, making it relatively quiet.
He pulled out a chair from his bag and had her sit, then handed her some cold water from inside.
She took the water and gave a bright smile. Even covered in blood, her flushed, smiling face was beautiful.
"Thank you. I'll drink it well."
Arhil took a sip, then gulped down the rest of the bottle, letting out a sigh of relief like a groan of satisfaction. It was like her expression said she felt alive again.
Hoo— Haa—
She closed her eyes, repeatedly inhaling and exhaling deeply as she looked at Judah.
"...Judah, you're not hurt anywhere, right?"
"Me? I'm tough, so I'm fine."
"That's a relief. Honestly, even if you were hurt, I don't think I could heal you anymore."
"Why? Are you hurt?"
"No, it's not that..."
Arhil's lips moved as if to answer Judah's question, but she soon bowed her head deeply. She couldn't say it.
'How could I say something so embarrassing.'
Her already burning face felt even hotter. Strangely, the more she used holy magic, the more her body heated up. The first few times were fine. No, even when she depleted her divine power completely and used holy magic until it was gone, there'd been no issue. But after resting and recovering, her body grew hot.
It was nothing like the fever from illness.
And it hadn't taken long to realize it was lust.
Lust? She'd never been with anyone, but when no one was watching, she'd occasionally masturbate to relieve it. Of course, lately there'd been no chance... But for lust to surge just from fully depleting her divine power?
It had never happened before, leaving her all the more flustered.
No, it hadn't been like this in the past. Before teaming up with Judah, even fully expending her divine power caused no problems. Just exhaustion and a desire to rest. Even during the spirit attacks on Calypso.
So something recent must have affected her.
And she had a vague idea what it was.
The Seven Deadly Sins, Asmodeus.
Perhaps it was the influence from forcibly becoming its apostle.
Asmodeus symbolized lust among the Seven Deadly Sins, so this made sense.
Saint King Gabriel had personally purified her body, but maybe Asmodeus's magic mixed with her divine power, causing this anomaly.
Probably... fully expending her divine power triggered a backlash of lust.
Fortunately, it wasn't overwhelming enough to lose reason, and cooling off in the breeze and drinking cold water helped. It was bearable.
She didn't want to burden Judah with this, so Arhil clamped her mouth shut and shook her head firmly.
"It's nothing."
"Doesn't look like nothing to me."
At his insistent tone, Arhil furrowed her brow and puffed her cheeks.
"Ugh! At times like this, you just let it go. You're still too young; you really don't understand women at all."
"Haha..."
Arhil smiled seeing Judah laugh helplessly. But as she'd thought earlier, she probably couldn't use holy magic anymore today.
The lust grew stronger each time she fully used her divine power.
And afterward, as it recovered and she used more holy magic, it intensified further. Any more, and she'd really go into heat like an animal. Vulgar as it sounded, that's how it felt, which was troubling.
"Hmm—!"
"?"
Arhil took a deep breath, then stood from the chair with a beaming expression and climbed onto it. He'd always looked down at her, but now she looked down at him. She spread her arms wide atop the chair, smiling contentedly.
"What's that mean?"
"You'll see. It means hug me?"
"No, I mean, why all of a sudden?"
Arhil tilted her head.
"I've been inside praying the whole time, so I don't know what happened... but you worked hard, right? No one's thanking you, so I'll do it instead."
"...Well, from what I see, you're the one who worked hard, Arhil. And you'll have to keep doing it."
"Ah! Really, I know that without you saying. So, I'm encouraging you for once since you worked hard—gonna refuse?"
One more word, and she'd really get mad, so Judah approached her pretending to give in.
"You could've done this sooner."
Pleased, she pulled Judah into an embrace and stroked his hair. As if she'd wanted to do it all along, she gently ran her fingers through his locks.
"You worked hard. And thank you for coming back safe. I was so worried. If the elves lost, we'd be dead for sure, right? Even if not killed, it wouldn't have ended well. Must've been stressful..."
"......"
"...Anyway, that's it. What I wanted to say."
She said nothing about the tens of thousands of humans killed. Since humans had attacked out of greed against the thriving elves, they probably thought they deserved it. Above all, she didn't know Judah had sacrificed those tens of thousands to the demon lord. Not wanting to confess that, Judah held his tongue.
Being held in her arms like this, that sweet scent filled his nose.
'......'
Not being impotent, and with her mature body embracing him, unwanted desire stirred. Judah slowly pushed her away so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable. Then they returned inside the hall to help treat patients.
Late into the evening, Via arrived.
She looked thoroughly exhausted, receiving individual greetings from nearby elves as she approached Judah and Arhil. Without preamble, she bowed deeply.
"Ah?"
Arhil, who was bandaging a patient, and Judah, watching beside her to assist, were both startled. The other nearby elves were too. Of course, some who'd heard about Judah from others watched impassively, but most were shocked.
"Thank you. Judah, thanks to you..."
"No, it's fine. The elders told me already. It was a promise, my choice, so no need to thank me."
He cut her off with a gentle smile.
"...I see. I came to give thanks, but maybe it was pointless?"
"No, not at all. Good thing you came; saves me from having to find you."
"?"
"You must be busy with postwar cleanup, but actually, Arhil and I need a place to rest. Bodies are tired, but sticking around here means we can't just sit idly—we have to keep helping. Could you arrange lodging? You wouldn't make the elves' benefactor sleep on the street, right?"
"Don't worry. Even if I disliked and distrusted you, the immense favor is undeniable. I'll show you a quiet, comfortable place."
Via gestured for them to follow and walked out of the hall. Judah grabbed the hesitating Arhil's wrist as she eyed the patients. Staying longer would trap them like ants in quicksand, treating patients all night. They needed rest.
Practically dragging Arhil, they followed Via, soon meeting someone who lent them an empty house. They were free to stay there during their time in Loengrim. Thanks to that, Judah and Arhil rested in their respective rooms.
The moment he sank into the soft bed, Judah let out a hollow laugh and promptly face-planted into it, falling asleep. He heard Arhil from behind telling him to change clothes first, but he ignored her. Sleepiness was truly powerful.