A Mint Candy for the Saint
The demonic hand reaching for the saint. “All you ever think about is using us, isn’t it? You turn us into Evil Valkyries and then act like we don’t exist, only calling when it’s convenient. Looks like I was right.”
Sehwa was pouring out every ounce of her resentment. I listened to her grumbling in silence. Honestly, I had nothing to say. I really had been neglecting her far too much lately.
When her bright red lips finally jutted out in a full pout, I crushed her against me so tightly it felt like she might break.
“Let go.”
She grabbed my waist and tried to push me away, but there wasn’t a trace of strength in her arms. Soon enough she slid them between my sides instead. For all her complaining, it seemed she had missed my embrace.
She sank her teeth into my chest. “I really hate you…”
It had been so long since I last tasted Sehwa’s coquettish side that the feeling was fresh. Even her sharper pout looked adorable.
The corner of my mouth lifted. “Are you serious?”
She raised only her face from my chest, cheeks puffed in a sulk. “…You already know I’m not.”
“Good.”
“Swear it again. I’m your most precious family, right?”
“Of course. That will never change.”
Color returned to Sehwa’s face.
“Then that’s enough… Stop sticking only to the Doctor and look at us sometimes too.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll come find you soon. You erased all the Magi, right?”
“Yes. I took the medicine Marcela gave me.”
I nodded and gently brushed the dust from her knit top. The light purple see-through sweater paired with white slim-fit slacks made Sehwa look stunning. Now that she was a demon with those seductive eyes, mature outfits suited her far better than anything innocent.
I admired her look with open pleasure, then checked my watch and grinned.
“Time’s up. Shall we go?”
“We’re going, but… why only me? What about Sister Yuria?”
“Yuria transformed into a Beast Slayer. Even though she wasn’t an Evil Valkyrie, she still drew on Aether, so the Magi might surface. That won’t end with a simple headache, so we have to be careful.”
“Fine. But what am I supposed to talk about once I’m there?”
“Whatever you want. Think of it as a casual get-together and just get closer. More friends is always better, right?”
Sehwa nodded obediently. “I’ll do that.”
“After the introductions, should I wait in the car? Or head back first?”
“You can go first. I promised to hang out with Sister Yuria.”
Finished speaking, she slipped her arm through mine. I was smiling warmly down at her when she suddenly grabbed my crotch. A sharp gasp escaped me.
She gazed up at my slightly hunched form with sultry eyes. “You definitely said it, didn’t you? That you’d come find me soon. You’ll remember, won’t you?”
“I said I got it. Can you let go…?”
When I leaned in, Sehwa gave a wicked little smile and slid her hand inside my pants. She stroked my steadily hardening length with slow, teasing touches.
“Can’t you put it in right now?”
“I told you, time’s up.”
“Then when will you put it in?”
“I said soon… so let go already… You’re really asking for punishment.”
I glared at her. Her face fell and she withdrew her hand at once.
My head spun for a second. I draped an arm around Sehwa’s shoulders and headed for the café I had rented out in its entirety.
“Hello! I’m Lee Sehwa.”
With a bright, sunny smile and a gentle tone, Sehwa bowed politely to Silvia. She drew on every bit of acting skill she had cultivated to appear warm and approachable.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Silvia Liz.”
Silvia returned the greeting with an awkward smile. Sehwa beamed. “Jihyeok’s told me so much about you. He says you’re incredibly strong…”
“You flatter me.”
“Sister, you can speak comfortably with me. I’m four years younger than you. I’ll make us some coffee. We’ve rented the whole café, so there’s no staff today.”
When Sehwa closed the distance with friendly ease, Silvia’s tension melted away and her expression relaxed. Before long the two of them were chattering and giggling like old friends.
I watched them from a distance until Adele called me over from near the restroom. I tilted my head and walked to her.
“What’s wrong?”
“Jihyeok… I’m so nervous… It feels like my heart is about to burst…”
It showed. Her whole body was trembling. I tried to soothe her with a gentle voice.
“You’ve met plenty of Earthlings before, haven’t you? Don’t be nervous. Sehwa is genuinely kind. She’ll accept you no matter what you do. Go on before she and Silvia get too close.”
“This is my first time meeting the Sword Hero. How can I not be nervous…”
“Sword Hero?”
“It’s the title I heard when I received the oracle. Sehwa, who wields a greatsword, is the Sword Hero.”
I see. So that’s what they called her. I hadn’t known about the nickname. But what now? These days Sehwa uses a scythe, not a sword. Damn you, Rosario. If you’re upset, don’t try to backseat from the heavens.
“I understand. So… are you planning to stay here?”
“No… I have to go, but… Do you have anything like Uwanyangsimwon?”
Uwanyangsimwon? Where on earth had she heard that? I let out a soft laugh and thought for a moment. Then an idea struck me. I turned around, rummaged in my pocket, and secretly pulled out one of the mint candies I had been chewing earlier to pass the time. Turning back, I held it out to her.
“Here.”
Adele stared at the candy in my palm with open curiosity. “What is it…?”
“It’s medicine I take whenever I can’t focus. It relieves tension too, so go ahead and eat it.”
“R-really…?”
She snatched it up with her tiny hand and popped it straight into her mouth. Her eyes widened. The cool sensation spreading across her tongue must have surprised her.
I smiled softly and mimed chewing. Adele’s face lit up with understanding. “Aha!” She chewed the candy thoroughly. When I saw her throat move, I asked, “It’s expensive medicine, so the effect should be immediate. How do you feel?”
“My mouth feels incredibly refreshed…!”
“That’s proof the medicine is working. Your nerves are calming down now, right?”
At that, Adele bounced in place and spun once. Then she nodded, face bright.
“Yes…! The trembling in my heart really has stopped!”
She had fallen for the placebo effect beautifully. For me it was both a successful prank and a point in my favor, but… had she truly never eaten candy like this before? She said she loved snacks. I chuckled inwardly and said, “Now go. Oh, and…”
I quickly peeled the plastic wrapper off the box and pressed it into her hand.
“If you feel nervous while talking, pop one in and chew. Understood?”
“W-wasn’t it expensive?”
“It’s for a special day. Keep them for yourself.”
“Wow…! Thank you so much, Jihyeok…!”
“Now go greet them and talk. Being proactive is important. Got it?”
“Yes! Proactively…!”
Adele clenched both fists, took several deep breaths, then walked briskly toward Sehwa and Silvia. I watched her with a fond smile and couldn’t help laughing when she gave Sehwa a vigorous, full-bodied bow.
I left the three of them alone and stepped out of the café to call the Doctor. After a single ring—
“You picked up on the first ring. Doesn’t look like you’re at yoga class, huh?”
Ever since I caught her with the tracker, the Doctor had stopped questioning my actions and simply followed my will. No—she had begun actively insisting that control needed to be strengthened. She even suggested attaching devices to Sehwa and Yuria’s as well.
Part of it was surely to stay in my good graces, but the bigger reason was the hostility she had developed after witnessing Yuria’s behavior.
“Take it easy. Don’t push yourself.”
“I’m on my way now. You haven’t eaten yet, right?”
“Let’s eat together. I’ll call before I arrive, so be ready to head out.”
I read Adele’s adorably furious messages and chuckled, fingers flying across the screen.
She was referring to my request to hear about the doctrine.
I didn’t reply right away. Instead I glanced at the Doctor lying beside me. She had ridden me for a long time, hips rolling tirelessly, and now—though the sun had not yet set—she was fast asleep, breathing softly.
In her current state she would obediently grant most requests. But there were innate limits. Because I had not injected malice, she could not commit acts such as murder—the very yardstick of successful corruption. Her intense jealousy toward Sehwa and Yuria was another flaw. Of course I had intended it, yet her jealousy burned far hotter than I expected. Even if that could be soothed, the proverb that people cannot simply be replaced held true; changing the Doctor’s fundamental nature without malice would take an extremely long time.
Still, we had laid the groundwork and made considerable progress. It was just a little frustrating. After weighing my options, I made my decision. I would begin preparing the board to capture Adele. If I could only find a way to seal or remove her divine power, bringing the Doctor down would become far easier.
Time to start.
Finished thinking, I sent Adele a reply.