Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Can You Do It Again?
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Seras Evatrice was on the verge of her soul departing her body.
At first, she had simply been tailing this man. She figured learning a few of his habits would be enough.
That was before she witnessed him collaring two women and dragging them off somewhere.
'Saintess? Scapegoat?'
She knew of their existence.
The homunculus sisters artificially created by the Holy Kingdom.
Hadn't the reason this man had confronted the Pope earlier been precisely to tell him to stop meddling with these sisters?
And yet, what was this scene supposed to be?
He rescues them like that, only to drag them around with this perverse hobby?
'...Ugh.'
What a sinister bastard.
That was her first thought, but even so, Seras continued shadowing him.
It was utterly meaningless behavior, but if he truly had some deviant tendencies like what she'd just seen...
Then the 'palpitation' she'd felt before must have been a mistake on her part.
If she could confirm his ugliness firsthand, she could definitively prove it had all been an illusion.
With that in mind, as Seras tailed the man...
She witnessed Dawood Campbell summoning angels.
"...?"
At first, she thought she'd seen wrong.
Not to mention, every single one of those beings was emanating divine power so intense it could stop your breath.
Those were unmistakably angels.
'...No, wait, hold on.'
The last time angels had appeared in person was during the appointment of the first hero—and at the selection ceremonies of past Popes. There were no other records in history.
It was one of the Pope's greatest claims to legitimacy: the 'sole human to have faced an angel directly.'
So what the hell was this?
'...What... is...'
What?
No.
What the actual fuck?!
She watched the scene with her soul half out of her body.
But then, an even more absurd situation unfolded before her.
The scapegoat who'd seen the angel was spewing white energy everywhere, rampaging out of control.
But.
That man subdued her in an instant—the one emitting that energy.
"..."
The vessel of a demon, just like that?
By what principle?
Anyone with even a scrap of knowledge about demon fragments and their vessels would know how ridiculous the scene she'd just witnessed was.
As someone affiliated with the Church, Seras was intimately aware of the dangers.
Single-handedly.
And afterward, he interacted with those angels as if it were nothing.
She was keeping her distance, so she couldn't hear their words, but their natural, informal demeanor was clear.
Even the Pope couldn't treat them that casually... like 'friends.'
As if he knew their essence from top to bottom.
'...Weird.'
This is weird.
Seras clutched her confused head.
Ever since she'd started her assassinations, every word from the Pope had been truth to her—the right choice to bring light to the world.
Those he ordered her to kill were evil obstacles in that journey.
That's what she'd believed.
"..."
So why was this man...
Intimately consorting with angels like that?
Why could he subdue a demon so effortlessly?
If he was supposed to be an impure obstacle to paradise on earth, shouldn't possessing even one of those qualities be impossible?
If those abilities weren't a trick but real...
Then someone with that power should be her savior.
Only His Holiness the Pope should wield such power.
Why him?
"..."
Seras clutched her head in confusion.
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[System Message]
[ Target 'Seras' receives a deep shock from you. ]
[ Target falls into 'Confusion' status ailment! ]
[ Target will reduce activities aimed at harming you for the time being! ]
I stroke my chin as these messages pop up one after another.
Yeah, after what I just pulled, this makes sense.
This woman's loyalty to the Pope has a hefty religious component.
Sure, there's personal fondness for the man himself, but seeing me hang out with their sacred angels and one-shot their profane demons? She's definitely getting that 'something's off' vibe.
This is straight out of their religion's depictions of the 'savior.'
Of course, a Pope fanatic won't drop their kill order over this alone.
But tying their hands even a little is still a win—
[System Message]
[ Target 'Seras' wants to investigate you more actively! ]
[ Dramatically increases frequency of contact with you! ]
"..."
Well, it's veered a bit off my original intent.
But it says it'll reduce kill attempts, so... profit...?
"...She won't bother reporting this to her superiors."
As I think that...
The Archangel before me, clutching her head, groans it out like a moan.
"Contact with a demon would cause a huge uproar if the other archangels found out, right?"
"..."
Another look that screams she knows way too much, but I chuckle and continue.
"Besides, with all the faction wars up top right now, no need to invite scrutiny. I'll keep quiet too."
"You're quick on the uptake, but how the hell do you even know about—"
"In exchange, keeping quiet comes at a cost."
"...You came here for this from the start, you bastard."
I toss that at the Archangel mid-protest, and a vein bulges on her forehead as she snarls back.
"I'll be doing this... a few more times regularly from now on."
I say that while glancing down at Yuria, who's passed out on the ground.
"I'd appreciate your cooperation a few more times, just like today."
"...What the hell are you planning to pull this crap for multiple rounds?"
"Got work to do."
Gotta stack up that worship meter.
It's for the long-term happy ending, but also insurance in case she ever sees my 'true face' later.
That's a death flag that'll one-shot me if it triggers.
"Oh, and snag me a holy relic while you're at it. Need to upgrade the Ultrim."
"...What grade?"
"Got anything aged by the millennium mark? Not asking for Demon-War era stuff."
"You're a full-on highway robber, aren't you?"
"..."
Hell, even angels are cursing me out now.
With those words, I watch the Archangel depart, taking the murmuring lesser angels with her.
She'll grant everything I asked, judging by her lack of complaints.
"...Um, Dawood."
Meanwhile, Lucien's subdued voice drifts over from the side.
"Yes?"
"...There's something I want to say."
Lucien, who'd been staring down at the quietly closed-eyed Yuria for a long while, finally clears her throat and speaks.
I know what's coming.
Thanks to me just suppressing the demon, the curse eroding Yuria's body has subsided quite a bit.
Probably a thank-you.
"No need for formalities—"
"If you were just gonna reposition us at your whim, did it have to be collars?"
"..."
"You could've tied something around our waists or whatever, and it wouldn't have hindered swapping positions."
"..."
"Why collars specifically?"
"..."
No.
Habit, that's all.
Anywhere I tie anything, she'd freak out anyway, so I went with the collar I'm super familiar with from handling Yuria before.
No deeper reason.
Really.
"...At least you seem in a better mood."
"...Yes."
I awkwardly change the subject, and the saintess glares pettily but plays along.
"Actually, I've started thinking it's ridiculous to feel guilty toward you. Those emotions toward someone who treats me and Yuria like this?"
"..."
"If you're sorry, then help out every time I do this from now on. Isn't that why you brought her here?"
"..."
Hm.
Spot on.
If she's feeling guilty, she can help—that should settle it, right?
"If that's really how you think, I can only say you're incredibly dense."
"...Pardon?"
"I would've done all this if you'd just asked straightforwardly. I already owe you a mountain of debts."
"..."
"...You're such a goody-two-shoes. The gap between when you handle people's hearts well and when you don't is like night and day."
"..."
"It's like some part of you was deliberately cut out. You've had countless once-in-a-lifetime experiences others never get, but normal human relationships? Not so much."
Saintess.
Why hit me all of a sudden.
But.
'...Did it not work?'
She says she's feeling better...
But this feels like she's just saying it to humor me.
Not like she's actually relieved.
The 'guilt' status on her system window is still active.
"..."
What now?
It didn't clear up immediately, that's annoying.
"...Ah, looks like she's coming to."
As that thought crosses my mind, I point to Yuria twitching and snapping her eyes open.
"..."
She blinks a few times, then bolts upright, looking around wildly.
"...Dawood?"
"Yeah. Any spots hurting?"
"..."
Yuria, hearing me, fiddles with her hands, checking her whole body.
"I feel... refreshingly fine. Unusually so."
Good.
Demon vessel durability is no joke. Not a scratch after all that chaos.
"So, any memories left?"
"Pardon?"
I grin at Yuria's blinking confusion.
"You didn't slash me this time."
"..."
"Stopped on your own will."
I ruffle the head of the trembling-eyed Yuria.
"Good job. You're capable of that. Huge progress."
This praise is from the heart.
Halting actions forced by a 'demon' unit, even briefly, with her own will...
Means she really, really, really didn't want to cut me.
"So, I trust you too."
With that, I snap the old collar back around her neck.
The item I gave her as a 'token of promise.'
"You've earned the right to wear this."
Yuria frantically strokes it a few times.
Then.
"...Ah, u... woo..."
Tears well up in her eyes.
She's genuinely relieved to have it back.
She nearly collapses to the ground, clutching it and sniffling.
It's making even me flustered.
Collar and all... the image is kinda...
Uh.
[She gets it, huh...]
"..."
[I'd appreciate if you showed some self-awareness about toying with an innocent girl's heart like this.]
"..."
No need to keep reminding me I'm trash.
I know.
[System Message]
[ Target 'Yuria's 'Apathy' and 'Guilt' improve noticeably. ]
Good. Whatever with Lucien, but at least this one's visibly better.
I dust myself off and stand.
"Feeling better?"
"...Y-Yes..."
"Then let's head in. Sorry for getting rough earlier."
It was to hide the Otherworldly Seal from her, but I did grab her collar violently and slam her down.
Apology's in order.
"..."
Hearing me, Yuria suddenly starts squirming.
"Um, Dawood."
"What."
"If..."
She speaks with an unusually flushed face.
"From now on too..."
Her voice trembles heavily.
She knows it's weird, but can't hold it back.
"C-Can you... keep doing that to me...?"
"..."
"..."
A silence so heavy it's horrifying drags on.
"...What?"
"...J-Just now."
Yuria stammers.
"It felt... s-so good, unusually..."
"..."
"Being handled roughly by you... something you don't do to others... just to me... it felt good..."
Her face beet-red, fully aware she's saying something shameful.
But the words came out firm and clear.
"..."
"..."
Horror dawns on mine and Lucien's faces simultaneously.
'...Hey, no.'
I knew the white demon vessel would love any relationship as long as it 'monopolized' me.
But this is a bit much, isn't it?
"...Y-You... what the hell have you been... teaching her... normally...!"
Lucien points a trembling finger at me.
Innocent.
I really didn't do anything...!
As I think that, a window pops up unexpectedly.
[System Message]
[ Unique meter added to target 'Yuria'! ]
[ In addition to 'Affection,' a separate status 'Masochism' is created for the target! ]
[ Fulfilling conditions fills the meter, causing the target to intensely demand that behavior from you. ]
[ Failing to satisfy the desire incurs penalties! ]
"..."
What?
I just cleared her guilt, and now this penalty-like crap?
Staring incredulously at the window, more text scrolls down.
[ 'Masochism' reacts to your rough physical contact! ]
[ Target's 'Masochism' is currently Level 1! ]
[ Various functions added to target 'Yuria'! ]
[ Contact related to you now massively reduces her 'Corruption' level! ]
"...!"
Jackpot?
Think of the hell I've gone through to drop skyrocketing corruption before—just 'contact' doing it is huge merit.
Of course, gotta check what 'contact' means, but the term doesn't sound life-threatening, so probably not.
[System Message]
[ Calculating detailed scope of qualifying contact! ]
Probably.
That's what I'd think if the windows stopped there.
[System Message]
[ Activity – Collar Walk added! ]
[ Activity – Fulfill Fantasies added! ]
[ Activity – Light Choking added! ]
[ Activity – Forced Service added! ]
[ Activity – ... ]
.
.
.
"..."
Cold sweat as I watch the system windows cascade down.
'Contact,' my ass.
But these additions... what the...
Stuff only a personality-wrecked, trashy pervert would do...!
[System Message]
[ As Masochism level rises, increasingly extreme activities will be added! ]
"..."
Stop.
Stop...!
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