Chapter 13: Welcoming the Guest (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 13: Welcoming the Guest (2)
Seri was certain of one thing.
If Sihyeon hadn't been by her side, it wouldn't have ended with just a single slap.
She might not have gone as far as she did in her reckless younger days—when she used to hunt down the bullies who picked on the frail Aris, knocking them down one by one and swinging her fists until their faces were swollen purple—but she was confident.
At the very least, she would have screamed at that woman in the lewd outfit, Elina, until she got down on her knees and begged for forgiveness.
"Elina. Both of us lost sleep because of you, and we even came all this way to get you. Just hurry up and follow us."
"Sure, sure~ I’ll do that~ I was starting to feel like lying down in a bed anyway, so I’ll do as you say, Oppa."
Seri ground her teeth as she watched Elina glance back at her with a smirk.
She felt a sudden urge to leave a giant lump on that woman's forehead.
However, the conversation that followed between the two didn't include a single mention of Seri, and naturally, her anger toward Elina began to subside, replaced by a different kind of unease.
"But how did you end up being chased?"
"Ah, that. Well, there was this chair sitting inside the wagon I hitched a ride on, so I sat in it for a bit. Turns out, it was absolutely soaked in demonic energy. As soon as I got near your place, I slipped out with it, and suddenly everyone started chasing me."
"So you got caught stealing a chair?"
"Yeah. But I couldn't help it. I can't use a single bit of magic when I'm hungry, so I didn't have the strength to burn the chair. And if I’d left it in the wagon, someone with sharp instincts might have noticed right away."
"I suppose. Since you hitched a ride by giving them our home address, it might have turned out exactly as you said."
"Right, right? But those people were seriously too much. I mean, sure, I was leaking demonic energy because I was running around in such a hurry, but they just saw that and started screaming 'Witch!' and charging at me. Seriously... as if a witch this cute and pretty could even exist in this world."
"...I don't know about that. Just looking at your outfit, I'd say you've earned the 'witch' label and then some."
"Hmm? I dressed exactly to your taste, Oppa. You don't like it?"
"No, I like it. It’s just that it’s not exactly normal for an ordinary woman to walk around in such revealing clothes."
Seri, walking right behind them, didn't appreciate this situation where she couldn't get a single word in.
She didn't dare let out a sigh for fear that Sihyeon might hear her.
But as she watched the two of them walking so closely that they were practically glued together, keeping her pouting lips tucked in was an impossible task.
As time passed, her heart grew heavier.
Because Elina showed no intention of moving away from Sihyeon’s side.
Because seeing them talk so comfortably made it clear they were quite close.
Because she couldn't erase the thought from her mind that, until just a moment ago, that spot beside him had been hers.
And finally, because Sihyeon wasn't paying her any attention at all.
Listening to their conversation alongside the endless thumping of her own heart, dark thoughts began to cloud her mind.
So what if her clothes are lewd? Her tits and her height are both smaller than mine...
Surely Sihyeon-nim doesn't have feelings for that Elina woman, does he?
If he does... he might try to relieve his arousal with her body instead of mine...
W-what should I do... What am I supposed to do...?
"..."
Seri quietly brought her hands together and pressed them against her chest.
To be this worried over things that hadn't even happened yet—she must be incredibly insecure.
Right. That's it. She said with her own mouth that she uses demonic energy. He must have brought her as a guest because of that. They seem close, but I doubt she'll stay long. Let's not worry too much, just like Sihyeon-nim said.
Having steadied her heart, Seri followed behind them with a much lighter feeling.
It was then that they reached Sihyeon’s mansion.
Elina turned her head and looked at Seri.
"By the way. You're a priestess, yet you don't seem surprised at all to see me?"
"...Pardon? Why should I be surprised?"
"Huh? Didn't you hear my name?"
"I heard it. Elina."
Elina let go of Sihyeon and slowly turned around, her brow furrowing slightly.
"Aren't you on the same side as those who believe in Elysia?"
"I am, but is there a problem...?"
"Ha? You remember the name of the Goddess you worship well enough, but you don't know the great Elina?"
"......Eek?!"
Seri reflexively backed away, clamping her hand over her mouth.
Could it be... the Goddess Elina...?
The thought had crossed her mind, but she had dismissed it as impossible.
The fallen goddess who had not only utterly betrayed her sister goddess, Elysia, but had even sided with the Demon Race.
Although the current Demon King's rebellion meant that, by now, almost no one worshipped her except for the succubi under her command...
Elina was the type who enjoyed acting arbitrarily, trusting only in her own power. Her mere existence was a significant threat.
Why on earth is that goddess acting so close to Sihyeon-nim...?
Aside from that, there were several other strange points.
Since she had been completely banished from the human realm by the Goddess Elysia, she shouldn't be able to set foot on this earth without her permission.
Seri swallowed hard.
If permission had been granted, it meant Elysia had been completely deceived. If not, it meant something terrible had happened to Elysia.
Either way, the situation was dangerous.
Taking advantage of the moment Sihyeon grabbed the doorknob, Seri quickly offered a prayer in her heart.
It would be less powerful than a proper ritual prayer, but if Elina was currently weak enough to be chased by mere human guards and forced to ask Sihyeon for help, Seri should be able to suppress her.
In the next instant, Seri’s entire body was enveloped in a flash of light.
The brilliant light that swept over her body compressed into a small sphere and then sank into her right hand.
Seri felt the sensation of a dagger's hilt in her palm and took her first step.
If she gathered the rest of her strength to accelerate her movement now, she felt she could cut Elina down before the goddess could even react.
However, Sihyeon’s reaction was far faster.
"Seri. That's enough."
Seri stood with her mouth agape, staring at the massive frame blocking her path.
She hadn't seen Sihyeon move at all.
He hadn't even tried to block the dagger she intended to swing openly from the front.
Yet, simply by him standing there before her, Seri found herself frozen, unable to even twitch a finger.
"I understand you're confused. It can't be easy for you to accept this situation. But I won't allow the two of you to hurt each other."
Sihyeon gently took Seri’s arm and pulled it down.
As her powerless hand reached her waist, the dagger she had been holding vanished in an instant.
"Elina. You keep that in mind, too."
"Don't worry. I'll never do anything you dislike, Oppa."
"...Seri. Let's go inside."
"......Yes."
Seri gave a small nod to Sihyeon, who patted her on the back, and walked into the house.
*
"Seri. You must be tired, so go wash up right away."
"Pardon...? W-what about you, Sihyeon-nim? Aren't you going to wash with me...?"
"No. I have something to discuss with Elina separately. You can use the bed in my room, so get some rest. Oh, if you look through my drawer, you'll find some stockings and underwear. Wear those for tonight."
"......Understood."
That was it.
After that conversation two hours ago, Sihyeon had headed upstairs with Elina and hadn't looked for Seri since.
Seri entered the bathroom with a heavy heart.
When she bathed with Sihyeon, they would be in there for over two hours, but washing alone didn't even take thirty minutes.
Afterward, just as Sihyeon had said, she found a pair of snow-white stockings and matching underwear and put them on.
Surprisingly, they fit perfectly. It was as if they had been prepared specifically for her; the fit was incredibly comfortable.
"..."
But even as she lay in bed, sleep wouldn't come.
This was the largest room on the first floor.
The fact that she had been here with Sihyeon just a few hours ago felt like a passing dream.
The bed where she had fallen asleep in his arms felt cavernous and empty, and her heart felt just as hollow.
Furthermore...
"Elina... What if that Demon Goddess tries to claim Sihyeon-nim for herself...?"
She couldn't push that terrifying thought out of her head.
Sihyeon was a man, after all.
Even if he had seemed obsessed with her body all day, it would be difficult for any man to resist if a goddess set her mind on seducing him.
What man would refuse to take a goddess who was lewdly stroking his cock and thrusting her pussy at him?
If it had been an ordinary woman, her heart wouldn't be this heavy.
But of all people, it had to be the fallen goddess worshipped by the Demon Race.
If such a goddess saw through Sihyeon’s inner thoughts and tried to extinguish what little goodness remained in him, it was obvious that the worst-case scenario would unfold.
She had to find a way to keep Elina away from him, but there was nothing she could do.
Seri let out a deep sigh and tossed and turned.
She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head.
But the image of that slutty goddess claiming Sihyeon wouldn't disappear.
"Ugh... hng... what do I do... Si-Sihyeon-nim... he's been taken from me... hng, hic..."