Let the Game Begin
"Body. I want your body, Goddess."
The words slipped clearly from between my lips. In an instant, the air inside the carriage froze solid. Lumina's eyes widened in disbelief, then twisted into an expression of indescribable shock and contempt.
"You... filthy cur...!"
Boom! The divine power she'd been suppressing erupted from her entire body. The narrow carriage interior vibrated as if it might tear apart at any moment.
"You dare... try to defile me, the noble Goddess of Purity? You must truly have a death wish!"
"Whoa, whoa, calm down. You'll break the carriage."
"Shut your mouth! Rather than let you lay a finger on my body, I'd sooner tear you limb from limb right here and reveal my true identity to Lucian! Do you think I'd submit to the likes of a filthy scum like you, even if it tarnishes my honor?!"
Her eyes burned with genuine intent. The killing intent was thicker than anything I'd felt on the northern battlefields.
A resolute will: she'd sooner be hated by Lucian and cast out by the world than spread her legs for me.
Even amid the divine power surging toward me like it meant to choke the life out of my throat, I calmly raised both hands.
"Ah, looks like there's a big misunderstanding here."
"Misunderstanding? Are you saying my ears deceive me?"
"Yes. When I said 'body,' I didn't mean I was after your precious virginity."
"...What?"
Lumina's raised hand froze in midair. Doubt clouded her golden eyes, which had been gleaming with murderous rage.
"I'm no blasphemer. I have zero intention of taking your cherished maidenhood. You should save that for Lucian, your beloved captain, whom you treasure so much. Right?"
I leaned back deeply into my seat, fixing her with a sticky, serpentine gaze that slithered over her entire form, as if undressing her with my eyes alone.
"What I want is 'service.'"
"Service...?"
"Yes. You serve me, and sometimes I serve you. We just enjoy the peripheral pleasures that come from it. We keep a clear line, though. As long as there's no penetration, your purity stays intact, doesn't it?"
"Sophistry...!"
Lumina's face flushed crimson with shame. But it wasn't the unconditional killing intent from before.
The premise of 'preserving her purity.' It was a sweet poison that slyly bypassed her final line of defense.
"What do you say? Pretty acceptable terms, aren't they? If you win this bet, I vanish quietly. You protect Lucian, shoo away the annoying fly. Nothing to lose—a total win for you."
I whispered low, driving the wedge home.
"Or... do you lack confidence? Afraid the man you chose, Lucian, might fall to a temptation like mine?"
In one word: 'chicken?'
It struck right at the goddess's arrogance. Lumina bit her lip until blood welled up, her mind racing with calculations.
Lucian is noble. He's the soul I chose. He won't fall.
Then I can't lose. This gives me justification to crush this insolent fool.
Arrogant gods never contemplate their own defeat. That was her fatal flaw.
After a long silence, she haughtily lifted her chin.
"...Fine."
"Oh ho."
"I'll accept your filthy game. You'll pay for doubting my holy knight's faith. But I have conditions."
She glared at me with icy eyes.
"The game starts when we reach the next village."
"Agreed. But until then, behave. Play the perfect, benevolent saintess. So the knights don't get suspicious."
"Hmph, that's easier than breathing."
Lumina snorted and turned to stare out the window. The deal was sealed.
And with time, we set off again.
Two days later, we emerged from the forest and arrived at Rein Village, a fairly large settlement near the border. It was civilization at last.
To the knights, caked in dirt from endless camping, the distant village lights shining in the gloom were like salvation.
"Woooah!"
"A village! Finally, beds!"
"Bath! Hot bath first thing!"
As we entered the village gates, the stern holy knights erupted in childlike cheers. It spoke volumes about their hardships.
I smiled warmly and headed for the inn. The quick-moving holy knights had already rented out the best one, Moonlight Haven, in its entirety.
"Hey, Sigurd! Hurry up and join us."
The inn's first floor was already a full-blown drinking party. A well-earned rest after escaping the forest safely.
That sweet time got them drunk fast.
"Have a drink here!"
The knights gathered around me in droves. My standing in the order now rivaled even Captain Lucian's.
"Haha, thanks."
I accepted the drink a knight poured and took a sip. Then, casually glanced toward the stairs to the second floor.
There stood Lumina. True to her word, she wore her pristine white priestess robes neatly, beaming the saintess's signature gentle smile. But deep in those eyes as they met mine lurked a razor-sharp blade.
When do we start?
Her gaze demanded.
I curled my lips slightly and locked eyes with her.
Then silently mouthed the words.
Lumina's brow furrowed ever so slightly.
I gave her a light nod and headed toward the kitchen. As night deepened, the inn's first-floor dining hall transformed into a massive booze fest. Rowdy noise, the greasy aroma of roasting whole pigs, the sharp tang of ale. It was a night that stirred the knights' pent-up desires.
"Captain, have one! It's a night like this—get a little buzzed!"
"Ah, I'm fine... We've got plans tomorrow..."
"Aw, tomorrow's just maintenance day! Sigurd's footing the bill—don't make us sad!"
Lucian was surrounded by knights, looking troubled. He'd shed his armor for a shirt, but his expression remained as rigid as if he were still plated up. The recent discord with the saintess and his self-loathing over his own powerlessness clearly weighed on him.
Yeah, must be tough. He needs some comfort.
From a hidden nook in the kitchen, I pulled out a small vial I'd stashed deep in my bosom. Inside the thumb-sized glass bottle, a shimmering purple liquid swirled.
This wasn't some potent aphrodisiac or deadly poison. Called Purple Mist.
It dulled the mind just a touch upon drinking. Loosened the reins on deep-buried instincts... ever so slightly.
That's what I'd heard. A drug from Succubus Queen Brynhildr.
I'd summoned her after Lumina accepted the game proposal to get it. A catalyst that reduced ironclad endurance from 10 to 5. For a noble holy knight like Lucian, what he needed wasn't a drug forcing his body into heat. Just a tiny crack for him to crumble on his own. An 'opportunity' to widen that crack.
I'd prepared a fine bottle of grape wine for Lucian. I uncorked it and carefully dripped in one drop of the purple liquid. Watching it blend seamlessly, I swallowed a laugh.
"Your top-shelf wine order is up."
I took a tray from the waiter and carried it straight to Lucian's table.
"Sigurd!"
"Oh, Sigurd brought it himself?"
The knights parted for me. I sat across from Lucian, flashing a soft smile.
"Captain, your face is too gloomy. The knights are worried."
"...Ah, Sigurd. I'm ashamed. Seems I'm killing the vibe."
"No way. They're doing it out of respect for you. Here, this wine's one I saved specially. Have a glass."
I poured naturally. The dark red liquid filled Lucian's glass. Amid the rich grape aroma wafted a faint, sweet scent. But in this rowdy, booze-fueled chaos, no one would notice.
"...Thank you."
Lucian stared at the glass a moment, then slowly lifted it. He was exhausted. The saintess's cold shoulder, the knights' expectations, an inexplicable emptiness. Believing this one drink would let him forget it all, if only for a while.
Gulp.
His throat bobbed. Watching, I slowly raised my head.
Second-floor railing. Lumina overlooked the scene from there.
Watching the knight she'd chosen drink the poisoned chalice from the devil.
Well, Goddess.
Lucian set down his empty glass, exhaling with a flushed face.
"Hoo..."
His eyes began to glaze ever so faintly.
I looked up toward Lumina on the second floor.
Watch the man you trust so much crumble.
Our eyes met. I gave her a cheeky grin.
Enjoy the show from this premium seat.
I raised my glass to her in a mock toast. Her face drained of color.
The die was cast.