Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: The Red-Haired Saintess of the Slums - 3
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A knight I once met in the borderlands had said something like that long ago. He told me that gazing up at the night sky sometimes brought thoughts of his hometown. Counting the stars one by one, the constellations rising over his homeland would form in his mind, and on days when sentimentality deepened, he could even hear his mother's laughter echoing within them.
I wondered if such thoughts might come to me now, too. But when I lifted my head, all that seeped into my heart from the pitch-black sky after the rain was nothing but the biting chill of the wind.
Of course. No matter how much I urged my empty heart onward, there was no path to run toward, so there was nothing to see. Dreams. Fate. Companions. Hometown. As I emptied out one by one the things that once filled my heart to the brim, I could no longer even remember what my old self had been like. Yet still, I kept emptying. Until my memories were scraped bare, until the bottom was exposed.
And in the void left by those emptied memories, her image always surfaced.
It was like rubbing salt in the wound. Memories of my hometown faded away, yet Eli's face kept appearing. No matter how I tried to dredge up happy recollections from the barren floor of my heart, all that emerged before my eyes was her crying.
...
A fair amount of time had passed since the petrification wore off, but thinking of all I'd lost still made time crawl by slowly.
"...I'm the one who's nervous, so why is Luca meditating up here?"
"Rachel."
To chase away the thoughts swirling in my mind, I deliberately called her name aloud. Rachel extended her hand toward me as I perched precariously on the corner of the rickety shack's roof.
"Help me up, too."
"It might collapse."
"Come on. Just say no if you don't want to."
"Fine."
"Eek."
Instead of taking her hand, I grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and hoisted her up. Rachel let out a choked yelp before collapsing onto the roof and voicing her complaint.
"You could have lifted me more gently."
"I thought grabbing your hand like that would be rude."
"I said treating me like a pet was fine, but this is too much..."
Rachel stretched languidly and let out a big yawn. Listening to her strangely steady breathing, I tossed out a question.
"Where's Vanessa?"
"Putting the kids to sleep. Or putting them out cold, more like. Even that's tricky without Bella around right now."
"That girl's always causing trouble."
"Well... the real troublemaker is someone else."
I could tell who she meant just from the way she shrugged in exasperation. I mentioned the name anyway.
"What about Sera?"
"The sleep spell's wearing off, so she's mumbling Luca's name in her sleep. Or rather, screaming it. The kids are terrified. I barely talked Vanessa out of pulling out a few teeth."
"Even without teeth, she'd still make noise."
"That's not the issue right now."
Rachel chuckled and gave my shoulder a light punch. A ticklish sensation spread across my shoulder, like playful teasing after so long. I let out a deep breath and bowed my head slightly.
"Rachel. Can I ask you something?"
"I can guess what it is, but go ahead. What?"
"Why are you helping me this much?"
"Because you'll repay me someday."
She started to lie back on the roof but jolted upright when she felt the cold dampness. I shook my head at the sight.
"Only parents can give favors expecting repayment. To you, I'm a total stranger. So why go this far?"
"Surface reason or the honest one?"
"Both."
"On the surface, you said you'd find another way if I didn't help, and it'd probably be way more dangerous. I have to keep you alive to bring you before that girl."
"Now the honest reason."
"Because it'll be fun."
"Be honest."
"Well..."
As I shot her an irritated glare, Rachel met my eyes for a moment before looking toward my shoulder. A tiny star twinkled where her gaze landed.
"When I look into your eyes, that girl comes to mind."
"..."
I regretted asking. But she kept going.
"It was the same back then. I felt like I had to take the request. I said it was because she was pretty, but honestly, she had eyes that made it impossible to refuse. You do, too."
"That's really all?"
"The world doesn't need more reason than that. Really."
Rachel stared straight ahead, scratched her head vigorously, and sighed.
"And damn it, you said you had no one else to trust but me. What choice did I have? The world where a bum detective like me is the only one you can trust."
"You're not that bad."
"Such a joker. But I'll take the compliment."
She gave me a gentle smile. But I, unable to even force one, could only bow my head in shame.
"...Sorry."
"I told you not to apologize to me..."
Her voice carried a weary familiarity. Rachel shuddered, then snapped in anger.
"You're too soft-hearted for someone who kills for a living. It's making me anxious just watching."
"Am I?"
"Sure, you don't go wasting mercy or hesitating... Wait, then maybe you're not soft-hearted."
"So what do you want me to do?"
"Uwak!"
A cute yelp came from behind. I turned to see Bella trembling, covered head to toe in filth.
"Argh, you scared me... Why are you up here!"
"Hey, Bella. Vanessa was looking for you earlier."
"Shh! Be quiet, please. I'll get in huge trouble if she finds out."
"How did you even get up here?"
"Easy. First, make a hole in the roof..."
"What? The leaks are your fault?"
"Bella!"
A sharp voice rang out from below. Bella squeezed her eyes shut, while Rachel waved cheerfully.
"Vanessa! Found Bella!"
"Bring her down. I've told her a million times not to climb the roof. I don't care if she breaks her neck falling, but if the roof collapses, I'll kill her for real."
"Still as ruthless as ever..."
As we climbed down, Vanessa grabbed Bella by the scruff and shoved her inside like she was tossing trash. She let out a heavy sigh and looked at Rachel.
"Rachel. Get ready. Kids are asleep, so let's start."
"Ugh... Already?"
"Where?"
I asked, and Vanessa dusted off her hands.
"Basement. But we'll need to keep the kids up here. Luca, can you watch them?"
"Won't you need me?"
"She's already tied up tight in the basement."
Her calm tone spoke of experience. I nodded and glanced back at Rachel.
"You sure you're okay?"
"Of course. I'm even a little excited. Don't worry, just watch the kids."
"...Alright."
She flashed another bright smile and headed inside. The house, where she'd extinguished the last lamp to put the children to sleep, was filled only with darkness.
"How long will it take?"
"Might be an all-nighter. Relax and get some sleep. It'll be done by morning."
In the darkness, Vanessa and Rachel's eyes gleamed. As I sat down, watching them, Emily gave a light wink.
"See you in the morning, Luca. I'll return as the saintess."
"...Got it."
They exchanged final words and vanished into the basement. With the door's click, silence settled like dust.
...
As quiet enveloped the surroundings, stray thoughts crept in like nightmares once more. Again? Just as I sighed inwardly, a small voice piped up.
"Killer bro. The priest lady left?"
It might have annoyed me normally, but it felt like a relief. I slowly opened my mouth to reply to Bella.
"Phew. Honestly, I'm nervous, Vanessa. Thinking about gaining a beautiful voice like never before."
It was meant to lighten the tension, but she didn't laugh and instead tossed back a cruel joke.
"Yeah. Say as much as you can while you still have that voice."
"You're no fun."
"Bad attitude. I might mess up if you piss me off."
"It was hilarious, actually."
"Too late. Detective girl."
Vanessa lit the candle on the table. A subtle, soft fragrance spread through the wood-scented basement, and dim light seeped into the black space.
And the saintess's face, hidden in the shadows, was revealed.
The sleep spell had fully worn off; she glared at us with fierce eyes. Though bound tight, her piercing gaze seemed laced with the resentful screams of the girl within. But Vanessa approached without a care.
"Alright, saintess. Surgery time."
"..."
The saintess kept glaring murderously at Vanessa. When those chilling eyes turned to me, I quickly looked away toward Vanessa.
"Um... how exactly does this work?"
"Can you handle the gory details?"
"N-no. Then I won't listen."
"Lie down there, then."
She pointed right beside the saintess. No way it'd happen, but I half-feared she'd bite, so I lay down a bit farther away. Vanessa scolded immediately.
"Closer."
"Ugh... Scary."
"She might've killed two today at most, but I just killed three. Fear me more."
"At least you're my friend."
"Should I be touched?"
She smirked and began pulling tools from the corner: a bucket of water, cleanish cloths. When the sharp knife appeared last, I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Ugh. Does this hurt?"
"Relax. I'll anesthetize you."
"That anesthesia... it's not like smashing the kids' heads, right?"
"If the spell doesn't take, yeah. Ever checked your magic resistance?"
"Probably low. I trained a bit in magic once."
"Huh? Your mana doesn't feel that high."
"...Talent was trash."
I gave a faint smile, but as Vanessa set the tools beside me, any levity evaporated. My lips parted in unease again.
"Um... anesthesia now?"
"So chatty. Soon. Don't worry."
"Can't you just knock me out now? My heart's pounding. Isn't that bad?"
"Quit babbling and scoot closer. Or it'll be harder."
"Eek..."
Tension prickled my skin with goosebumps. I turned my head to move a bit, only to lock eyes with the saintess.
In any other situation, I'd have thought her adorable. Cat-like upturned eyes, delicate features clustered neatly, doll-like tiny lips. But she scowled at me with that pretty face. Hatred dripped from eyes that could have smiled so charmingly. I looked back at the ceiling.
Pretty girls usually get jealousy from other women. An unremarkable one like me drawing so much hate from women meant I must have a lot of sins.
As I muttered that unfunny inner monologue and shifted toward her, the saintess finally spoke her first words to me.
"Don't come closer."
"Ah... Okay."
"What's with the 'okay'? Hurry up and get over there."
"Don't let that woman near me. She stinks."
Her casual remark cut deep. But Vanessa chuckled and chided her.
"Who are you to order me around?"
"You're an Ennesic Order priestess. Obey me."
"You still see me as a priestess? With eyes in your head and all."
"And you? Eyes gone, but nose works fine. Can't you smell her?"
"Do I really stink that bad...?"
I sniffed myself unwittingly. It had been a while since I bathed, so yeah, a bit of sweat. The saintess turned toward me and spoke in an unbelievably cold tone.
"It's not your body. Your attitude reeks so annoyingly. Seeing some gutter rat who rolled in the dirt fawning over Luca makes my skin crawl."
"Me...?"
"Yeah. Acting all innocent and clueless while throwing yourself at him—it's genuinely irritating."
Hatred laced her voice now. I tried to ignore her, but she kept pouring it out.
"You were happy when he said he'd take my voice, right? So you'd get more love from Luca. Isn't that it? But don't delude yourself. Luca loves me as a person. Not some shell. Luca and I have been together over ten years. You think stealing a voice puts you above me?"
"God, so chatty. Shut it already, saintess. It's annoying just listening."
"If you plan to touch my body, forget it. I won't allow even a part of it to go to that woman."
"Why not say that to Luca?"
"If I tell him the truth, he might change his mind."
The saintess suddenly smiled cruelly at me. She sniffed again and wrinkled her nose.
"Yeah. Up close, I get it now. Why you smell so foul. And why it feels familiar."
I said nothing, staring at the ceiling instead.
"As the Ennesic Order's saintess, sniffing you gives me chills. Yeah. Definitely. This smell..."
...
"It's the smell from demon territory."
...
...
...
The saintess stared at me intently. One eye flickered with past memories, the other with the saintess's. When I avoided her gaze, she turned to Vanessa.
"You felt it too, right? That this woman's from demon lands. Why pretend? Or did you not notice?"
"..."
"Why no answer? Didn't know? I'll tell you. She's a demon. I'm sure. Though she can enter holy ground, so not heavy on demonic energy. Not even worth calling a demon. Just a bug that lived there?"
"Be quiet, saintess."
"Embarrassed you didn't know? Fair. But now you do, no more pretending. Right?"
"From the start."
Vanessa spoke slowly. She fixed one eye on the saintess firmly.
"I knew from the start."
The saintess frowned at her firm tone. Vanessa arranged the tools while eyeing her.
"Long before you became saintess, I was in the Order. Of course I knew when the request came."
"A priestess colluding with demons?"
"Happened often on dispatch."
I looked up at Vanessa in mild surprise. But she continued calmly.
"War's funny. It drags on, and enemies you see daily feel more familiar than family back home. Doesn't matter the race. I worried more about an ogre whose eyes I pierced yesterday than my family left with the Order."
"Crazy bitch... And you call yourself a priestess?"
"I wasn't the only one fond of demons. Even knights were. Some even had sex with them. Reminds me of a knight who fell for a slime. Believed that corny 'love knows no borders' crap. Liked him for it. So when his legs got cut off, I cut mine to match without thinking."
Vanessa raised the knife, lost in memory. Her reflection gleamed on the sharp edge.
"By the time I'd gone numb to my body and lost a third of my weight, high command sent me home. Not because I was useless, but the war ended—thanks to you lot. Guess I should say thanks now."
But her face showed no gratitude. Only hate.
"Not really thankful, though. Expected hero's welcome back at the Order, but got contempt instead. A priestess full of holes like bug-eaten trash didn't fit Archbishop Bobby's new image. Didn't mind much. As long as they cared for my sister, I didn't care how they saw me."
"You... had a sister?"
"Yeah. Ten years younger pain in the ass. Only family, but such a brat I aimed to dump her at the Order. Luckily, unlike me, she was normal-looking, so Bobby took her for 'priestess training' with the other kids. Best time of my life. Sister parked at the Order, planning to skim donations from an orphanage. Everything perfect."
The last words always heralded doom. I wanted to plug my ears, but she didn't stop.
"Half a year into her training, I was relegated to incinerator duty for seeing too much. Handled all trash: devotees' food scraps, ash, spit. Priests' used condoms, too. Bastards used a pack a day."
"Vanessa..."
"One day, a prim high priest came to the incinerator. Gave me good money to dispose of 'trash' without questions. I agreed. He dumped little girls' corpses on me."
"You can stop..."
"And among them, naturally, my sister."
I shut my mouth. Vanessa's expression remained utterly calm.
"Didn't recognize her at first. Half her face smashed. But those eyes. Couldn't miss those ugly peepers. Even with one gone. Wondered where it went—found it."
She approached the saintess and pressed her right eye gently.
"Faint semen smell from the gaping socket."
Even the saintess fell silent. Vanessa stared her down.
"Get it? Those bodies were girls raped and murdered by the great Archbishop Bobby of the Ennesic Order. Bored with normal holes, he tried her eye socket. Don't know if he liked it, but probably the last sight she saw: his filthy dick shoved in her eye."
She removed her finger from the saintess's eye and reached for the tools.
"That day, I killed six priests and fled the Order. Easy kills, but with my bum leg, couldn't recover her body. Took what was left."
Suddenly, Vanessa's blue eyes flashed cruelly. Those eyes, her last asset from good deeds, were actually her sister's final keepsake. She looked at the saintess through them.
"Got a goal after that, saintess. Nothing big—just hated that her last view was that bastard's dirty cock. Decided to show her something else. Hired a detective for it. Demon stench didn't bother me. Perfect chance, even. More reliable than some half-assed human—letting a demon who infiltrated holy ground do it."
A knife gleamed in her hand now. The saintess's face reflected on its edge.
"How can a priestess ally with demons? Does the archbishop shoving his dick in kids' eyesockets make sense? For that bastard dying at my feet, I'd do anything, saintess. Even team up with demons."
She pressed the knife to the saintess's eye. They locked eyes for a long moment before she turned to me.
"No grudge against you, detective girl. Actually like you. Could call you a friend."
"...Thanks."
"Anesthesia will be thorough. But my mana might fall short. No spell for you, saintess."
"What? You can't...!"
"You're not Bobby, but it'll be fun anyway. No good feelings for you, honestly."
"If Luca hears my voice!"
"He won't care. And this place is soundproof. More bunker for kids than basement."
"You...!"
Eh...
As they talked, my vision blurred. Vanessa's spell was kicking in. In fading consciousness, her words echoed softly.
"Well then. Let's have some fun, saintess."