Chapter 518
Chapter 518
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 518
Chapter Title: Junior Priest Kim Katt
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I nearly had a heart attack for real.
Stepping out of the church, I realized my back was soaked again. I'd sweated buckets in there. At this rate, I wouldn't even need to hit the sauna.
A saintess, huh... Did I handle that conversation okay?
There were a lot of things that made me uneasy, stuff that hit a little too close to home. But what could they possibly know about me? I was just overthinking it, being paranoid.
From talking to her, she didn't seem like a bad person at all.
Still, pretty and powerful women were dangerous by nature.
I needed to stay cautious.
As long as I filed the report properly, there shouldn't be any issues.
Clutching my still-pounding chest, I slowly made my way home. More than anything, I was terrified Hildegart might show up right now—that bitch scared the hell out of me.
If she even talked to me, it was game over. She had to have the sense to lay low after hearing the saintess had arrived. She was cautious like that. No way a demon like her could stick around with a saintess in town.
Thankfully, Hildegart didn't appear.
On the way home, I figured I'd swing by the market, so I headed into the bustling district.
"Huh."
I spotted a familiar martial artist walking ahead.
"Hey! Mariel!"
"Mm? That voice... No way! Heavenly Demon!"
Mariel turned around and flinched in surprise.
And just like that, I regretted calling out to her.
"What's this? Mariel?"
Another woman walked up from nearby.
Clear sky-blue long straight hair.
A form-fitting sky-blue cheongsam-like martial arts uniform with an open chest and pristine white high heels. But what really stood out was the white fur stole draped over her shoulders—it screamed old money.
The busty woman was none other than Riztina, the Martial Artist Guild Leader.
"You...!"
Both women gasped in unison and pointed at me accusingly.
"Wha! M-Martial Artist Guild Leader!"
Damn it, running into her here!
They said bad luck comes in crowds, and sure enough, I'd bumped into another dangerous woman! Riztina was the pervert who'd demanded to see my dick!
I freaked out too, tearing at my hair.
"D-Don't come near me! Can't you see this armor? I'm a priest now!"
"What? A priest?"
"Yeah! As a priest, you can't demand to see... my dick!!! My cock!!! So back off!"
"You crazy bastard, what the hell are you saying?!"
Riztina bellowed and stormed toward me.
"Aaaah! Don't hit me!"
It looked like she might swing, so I raised my guard and hunched down. A good chance to test the armor, but lives weren't infinite.
"Goddamn it! Who's hitting you, you idiot? Get up already!"
"...You won't hit me?"
"Why the hell would I?!"
She started polite but kept slipping into casual speech, exploding in anger as she stood over me.
If she wasn't gonna hit me, that was a relief.
"Ahem, y-yes, of course. A refined and elegant guild leader like yourself wouldn't resort to senseless violence. Sorry, I overreacted."
"You... talk way too damn much."
Riztina looked down at me and said.
"Can't help it when I'm expressing my sincere apologies!"
"Who are you yelling at?!"
She yelled again!
I shut my mouth and lowered my eyes.
"Guild Leader! There's no need to associate with a guy like this! Let's head back to the guild!"
Mariel rushed over, grabbed her waist, and shouted.
What the—?
"What? 'A guy like this'? Mariel, you little shit! Feeling bold in front of the guild leader, huh?!"
"N-No! That's not what I meant! It's just a figure of speech! We're friends, aren't we?!"
"Friends my ass!"
"Didn't you call me your friend yourself, Heavenly Demon? Why do you keep changing your tune?!"
Come to think of it, yeah, I'd said that once. Maybe she'd let it slide this time. Anyway, might as well say hi now that things were like this.
"Ahem. Anyway, Guild Leader. How have you been? It's been a while since we met at the guild last time."
I hadn't seen her since that martial artist guild dick incident. It had been ages. We'd talked about meeting up again soon back then, but no opportunity arose.
"Ugh..."
She met my eyes, bit her lip, and turned her face away, blushing. Yeah, that whole thing was embarrassing enough that even thinking back made her cringe.
Better to give her space out of courtesy.
No good would come from sticking around.
"Well, I'll be going then."
As I turned to leave with that polite gesture, Riztina spoke up.
"Wait."
"Pardon?"
"..."
I looked back, and she clamped her mouth shut.
Finally, she opened it again.
"Have some tea."
Tea?
"G-Guild Leader?! Tea with this Heavenly Demon guy?!"
Mariel yelped in shock.
Riztina shoved some luggage at her.
"Shut it, Mariel. Take this and head back to the guild first."
"But—!"
"Do as you're told."
Her cold tone shot out as Mariel tried to protest.
"Y-Yes, ma'am..."
Mariel tucked her tail and meekly took the bags. This guild ran on strict hierarchy—it was intimidating. Mariel seemed to spend her days waiting on Riztina hand and foot.
With Mariel gone, Riztina plastered on a stiff smile and stood beside me.
"Let's go. I owe you an apology for last time, so my treat."
"N-No, I'm kinda busy..."
"Busy?"
I tried to decline since I didn't need any apology, but she narrowed her eyes sharply and stared me down. God...! Why were all the pretty women so violent?!
But I wouldn't back down.
"Yeah, I left my wallet back at the shop when I came out earlier. Gotta go find it before it's gone."
"Quit bullshitting and come along. Didn't you pull the same 'lost wallet' crap last time?"
Shit... my wallet excuse...!
Getting anxious over a wallet I hadn't even lost.
"This time it's real..."
"Shut up and follow me. Why don't you ever listen?"
Because I'm not a martial artist, you tenth-dan bitch.
"Yes, ma'am."
She was stronger and had more pull than me, so no choice but to obey. Karin wasn't here to back me up anyway. Riztina walked beside me, fidgeting oddly like she wanted to say something, dragging me to a nearby teahouse.
—An Angel's Day.
A teahouse with a fancy signboard.
It looked pretty upscale.
I wasn't the type to seek out teahouses, but my wives dragged me to them often enough that I didn't mind.
We'd go out as a group of five on days off sometimes.
I sat down familiarly. Riztina took the seat across, ordered for both of us without asking, then glared at me rigidly.
—Zap.
"Wh-Why are you glaring? Did I do something wrong?"
"...Not really."
Her stare was uncomfortable, so I asked. She paused, sighed, and said.
"Nothing wrong."
"Then why keep glaring?"
"Just shut up."
"..."
—Fidget fidget.
"..."
Riztina kept her hands wedged between her thighs, squirming, avoiding my eyes then glancing back, her face flushing.
What the hell...?
Was that incident really that embarrassing?
Karin called her a certified old maid, so yeah, it tracked. She'd created the situation herself, but no need to make it worse now.
"Guild Leader, don't be embarrassed. I've already forgotten all about it. You're worried I'll blab, right? Don't stress—I take secrets like that to the grave."
"..."
"Heh heh heh. No payment needed. Purely my conscience and courtesy. So relax and enjoy your tea."
I grinned like a good guy, and she glared again, muttering softly.
"...That's not it."
"Huh?"
"That's not it."
"Then what?"
"..."
She shut her mouth again, face red, dodging my gaze.
What's wrong with this woman! It was making me more anxious!
"What is it?! Look at me and spit it out!"
"Ugh...!"
I barked like that, and her eyes widened. She bit her lip, mumbling something.
"W-Well... that is..."
"Your tea's here."
The server set down two cups right then.
Riztina, mid-sentence, grabbed her cup and elegantly sampled the tea with ingrained manners.
What the...
Well, might as well drink mine too.
I didn't know the name, but I'd had it before. I sipped following the etiquette my wives taught me.
As we drank, Riztina gave me a weird look and spoke.
"You... know how to drink tea?"
"What, you think I can't swallow liquid?"
"...No. Makes sense. Is it good?"
"Tastes better since you bought it. Wow, this is some delicacy. Delicious."
Nothing beats free food.
"So, what did you want to talk about?"
"...Nothing, really."
She still seemed hesitant.
"Just wanted to chat. That a problem?"
"...No problem."
"Good."
Her tension eased; the flush faded as she stared at me.
Was she thinking about my dick right now?
It felt mortifying.
God, this is awkward.
"So, how've you been?"
Better than silent sipping. I broke the ice.
"Fine. You?"
"Some headaches, but overall good."
"Headaches?"
"Got roped into church stuff lately, and demons started showing up. Real pain in the ass. You heard? The demon swarm."
"...Yeah, it's all over lately."
Nothing to do but talk over tea.
To kill time, I gave her a rundown of recent events.
She listened intently, reacting—probably bored.
Apparently, martial artists formed parties of their best to hunt demons. Plenty failed, but they overwhelmed with numbers. Killed demons, harvested blood, sold to alchemists for dojo fees.
What idiots.
"...Why do you talk so damn well?"
Time flew as we chatted.
"Nomad trait. Good talker."
"What?"
"Nah, just happens sometimes."
"Did you sweet-talk Karin with that mouth?"
She mentioned Karin with a sharp glare. Sweet-talk? She sweet-talked me.
"Opposite."
"..."
—Sigh.
Riztina sighed.
"That old maid Karin..."
"Hey, no badmouthing Karin."
"You really treasure your wife, huh."
"Damn right. She's my treasure."
"...You're one weird guy."
"Heh heh, all men are."
Nothing more precious than my women. The mood lightened a bit. —Clink. Riztina set her cup down first and spoke.
"About last time... that thing."
"What?"
"Asking to see your dick... sorry. I must've been crazy."
"Wh-What? That blunt?!"
"You... shut up for once. I'm mustering courage here."
"Yes'm."
Her face burned like a tomato. Seemed she'd been stewing on apologizing since then.
As I prepped to accept, she yelled again.
"Haa. So... ugh! Fuck! Why am I agonizing over this shit?!"
Damn it all.
"...Dunno what it is, but if it's bothering you, just say it. Sometimes venting helps."
"Yeah, maybe... Wait, are you a counselor? Why do I keep getting sucked in when you talk?"
"Kinda. Junior priest."
"Haa... tch. Where do guys like you come from... Anyway, tell me about that. Junior priest?"
When's she gonna let me go?