Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: The Church's Black Widow
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After the visitation ended, I walked back to the dorm with both hands full of stuff.
"It nearly turned into a huge disaster in the middle there... but still, it's a bit disappointing that the visitation is over."
When Marianne Big Sister and Violet took turns relentlessly grilling me about Olga, it sent chills down my spine.
But who am I? A body that's endured the torture of the Inquisition's heresy interrogators.
I dodged dangerous questions like their ideal types by deflecting to things like "kind personality" instead of looks, escaping peril time and again.
'No way I'd tell them. If they knew I described Agnes—my favorite character—because I couldn't think of an ideal type for the letter, Shaomei and Violet would be devastated.'
I patted myself on the back for navigating that minefield.
After breezing through those minor hazards, I'd spent three enjoyable hours, passed the exam Priest Thomas brought as a gift, and now my hands were weighed down too.
'One more bucket list item checked off.'
In the military, I'd watch seniors get heaps of food from their families or buddies beaming over girlfriend letters, and I'd dream of getting my own visitation or mail someday.
Of course, after discharge, the only visitations I could get were in prison, so it was a dream I'd given up on in reality.
'Letters with homemade bento boxes and snacks! Wonder if I can eat it all?'
A happy dilemma brings a grin to my face. Hehe.
—Rattle!
"Ah... Arthin, you're back?"
I opened the dorm door to find Kaiyen sitting at the table, eating cake.
That guy doesn't even like sweets much, does he?
"What's this? Sudden cake? You usually won't touch sweets."
"Well, Claire came for a visitation too."
Ah, got it. Cake from Claire.
No wonder he didn't barge in to interrupt Violet's visit—I figured he was tied up with Claire.
"She prepared it for me, so it'd be rude not to eat it. I'm just powering through..."
Kaiyen said that with a pained expression before silently shoveling more cake.
"...Want help?"
"No, it's fine. It's for me, so sharing feels off... How was your visitation, Arthin?"
Instead of answering, I showed him my armful of loot and sat across from him, unpacking.
'...Wait, did I just naturally sit face-to-face with the kid?'
The odd thought hit me; before I could slam my head into the wall, I hurriedly opened the bag Violet had passed me.
Inside were the expected treats and personal items from the girls. No—way too much.
"...I could live off this till breakfast tomorrow."
"...Need help?"
I shook my head at that.
No sharing. Can't give away the fruits of my bucket list.
I stuffed Agnes's sandwich in my mouth, munching while holding her letter in one hand to read.
"Hehe, Agnes too... It's not like we're apart for a month..."
The letter was a romantic one from Agnes, missing me. Her beautiful, neat handwriting dripped with sweetness, filling me with satisfaction.
"...That happy? Your face looks super dumb right now."
"...Of course I'm happy. What, gonna interrupt my reading again?"
I caught Kaiyen glancing at me sharply while eating cake and shielded the letter with my body.
I still vividly remember his vicious interruptions every time Agnes and I exchanged letters in the 4th round.
'When he tried spilling his coffee on it, I thought that bastard was the devil...'
Thanks to blocking with my arm, the letter stayed dry—no burns since it was iced—but I really wanted to beat him then.
If he tries it again? I've got Shaomei-taught acupuncture to shatter three front teeth, then Thomas can fix him.
"What...? I'm not a kid; why would I do that?"
"...? Since when are you like this? Normally you'd glare murderously and find some way to mess with me."
"...What the hell do you think I am, Arthin?"
...Normally I'd think jealous shithead dying to punch me, but weirdly, no bad vibes toward him now.
'Am I really losing it? Maybe get some mental counseling from Priest Thomas later?'
The Goddess forbids homosexuality too, so Thomas should guide me back to straight and narrow...?
And Kaiyen's reaction was off too—no usual bristling, just light glances, no further moves.
"Don't worry. I've decided to chill out. No more petty crap."
"...For real? You've grown up, Kaiyen."
I pulled out the hidden letter again, sneaking peeks at him as I resumed reading.
"...Should I make some coffee?"
"Coffee?! So you are gonna mess with me!"
"Wh-what? The cake's too sweet; just wanted coffee... Calm down, Arthin."
...For real? Looks queasy from the cake, so maybe...
'Can't let my guard down. Who knows when he'll strike.'
For the next 30 minutes, I ate the lovers' snacks while reading, staying vigilant against Kaiyen.
But he just peeked occasionally, no spilling threats. Focused on his cake like my suspicion amused him, even smiling sometimes.
...What's up? Why ditch his obsession overnight?
——Click.
"Everyone resting well? Time for evening schedule!"
As suspicion deepened, Priest Thomas burst in.
"Was gonna prepare dinner, but looks like visitation grub filled you up!"
"...Haha, yeah."
Kaiyen gave a wry smile at Thomas's words.
Undeterred, Thomas beamed, pulling out a notepad to call the schedule.
"Kaiyen, follow me for theology lecture as planned... Arthin, your schedule changed."
"Huh? Mine?"
Originally, evening was practical training with Teacher Sergei—physical conditioning.
"Yes, 1:1 with Hero's proxy. Sir Sergei had urgent business, so advancing tomorrow's to now."
Thomas apologized profusely for the change, leading us out.
"Kaiyen follows here; Arthin, straight ahead to the red door room."
"Time to split. See you after evening schedule."
Kaiyen grinned happily, waving as he followed Thomas.
'...Something huge happening without me?'
Suicidal Shaomei, Olga bolting from visitation, less jealous Kaiyen, me not hating him.
Everything shifting inexplicably soured my mood; I hurried to the red door.
Along the hall, a large red door appeared.
Knock knock.
"Hero's proxy candidate, Arthin Ludwig. Entering."
I knocked slowly, announced, and opened.
"Oh, come in, hubby! Was waiting!"
"...Olga? You're the interview?"
The room held Olga.
Unlike her frantic exit earlier, her flushed face—better color?—beamed as she sipped something.
'...That smell, wine? Olga drinking before visitation?'
Seeing my puzzled look, she poured wine into the glass across and smiled.
"We're not the type for stiff interviews, right? Goddess overlooks moderate drinking."
"Er... yeah, we're not awkward."
I closed the door and sat naturally opposite her wine glass.
Olga, acting like nothing happened—or enjoying?—sipped flirtatiously.
"Olga, earlier... what happened? You looked awful."
"Ah... nothing. Prepared ritual last night, pulled an all-nighter, overdid it."
"Overdid? You okay? Ritual prep that tough?"
As Goddess's Saintess, Olga's potential at least Awakened.
Unlike unawakened me, superhuman physique—yet she's strained? Must be grueling.
"Don't worry. Short nap restored my color, see?"
She patted her cheeks demonstratively, but hard to tell if flushed from booze or real glow.
"Anyway~ Want casual drink and chat with hubby."
"...Really okay? Seem a bit drunk."
"Hehe, know divine power detoxes if really wasted? Or make me drunken damsel alone?"
"Hubby's so mean!" she puffed cheeks, staring.
True, she could heal alcoholic's rotten liver instantly—probably overworrying.
"Fine, cheers then—one bottle and detox?"
"Hehe, hubby's so gentlemanly, unlike church fossils."
She raised her glass happily; I sighed, clinked.
'Come to think, first drink this round.'
I love booze, but elixirs and girls kept me busy—no alcohol in ages.
Last round, year beyond walls in Demon King's turf—nearly two years.
'Hehe, Olga's wine must be top-shelf. Living luxury thanks to her!'
Thrilled, I downed and savored.
Definitely premium—flavor worlds from cheap wine.
"Wow, great stuff. Which wi—"
Huh, head spinning.
What? Aftertaste too bitter...
*
Thud.
As Arthin collapsed, Olga's boozy expression vanished, replaced by cold stare.
"Hehe, hubby. Can't chug stranger's drink so carelessly."
Whoosh.
Light enveloped her, banishing alcohol scent.
Left: woman with red-glowing eyes, predator eyeing prey.
"Hehe... Agnes started it, provoking me. Can't stay quiet."
She rose slowly, locked the door.
Evening schedule: three hours. No interruptions.
"So... what to do with our hubby?"