6.
By the time the warm morning sunlight squeezed through the window, a pained moan leaked softly from the bed.
"Ugh... my head..."
Lina, who had poured down strong wines of every variety at the royal palace banquet last night, was rolling around on the bed with both hands wrapped around her head.
She had fallen asleep dead drunk without even taking off her dress.
"Oh dear, oh dear... I'm dying."
Her usual lively and spirited demeanor was nowhere to be found, and she was groaning in pain, her whole body aching from the hangover.
"Louis... Louis, please save me. It feels like someone is smashing my skull with a hammer."
Lina's cheeks, as she whined pitifully calling for me, were still flushed from the aftereffects of her excessive drinking.
"Who told you to gobble down every glass people handed you? Your eyes were practically sparkling every time someone refilled your glass."
"Hic...! My head is throbbing, I feel like I'm dying. Louis, save me."
"Hmph... serves you right. Why don't you go drink again tonight?"
"Hic... I never want to see alcohol again. I'm never drinking for the rest of my life. I swear!"
Lina whined, swearing she would never touch a drop of alcohol again.
"Louis. It hurts, I said it hurts...! Your lovely wife is dying right now..!!"
Completely different from the lewd temptress in the delusions, the childlike, immature Lina was stamping her feet.
"Tsk tsk. I knew this would happen. Here, the High Priest grandpa told me to feed you this."
I chuckled at Lina's adorable appearance and held out the detox potion I had prepared in advance on the bedside table.
The moment Lina received the potion, she gulped it down.
Then, as if her insides had instantly cleared, she let out a "Kyaah—" of relief.
The detox potion's effects appeared immediately.
'Of course they would...
A supremely precious top-grade detox potion that neutralizes every poison in this world.
To use it for a hangover...
To enjoy such luxury, one would have to be a 'Guardian'...!
Really, this clueless Lina.'
"Wow, it's really amazing...!!"
Before I knew it, Lina had bolted upright.
"Indeed... the High Priest grandpa is the greatest healer."
"Ha... making him use that holy power just to cure your hangover..."
"Y-you... how dare the fool Louis nag me! We're 21 now too. Proper adults need to drink too, you know."
"You said you'd never drink again..!!"
"Hehe. I should go get a bunch of potions from Grandpa later. With these, tonight too, hehehehe."
"Stop joking!!"
We were bickering and rolling around the room from early morning.
The palace had a separate room prepared for us.
The Queen had told us to come stay at least once a week, but with how hectic the inn work was, it had been a long time since we'd visited.
We lounged around late into the morning in that cozy place where Queen Irene's warm consideration could be felt.
It was then that a quiet knock echoed through the room.
Knock, knock—.
"Who is it?"
"Hahaha. You two really do get along well, even from the morning."
The High Priest let out a hearty laugh as he entered the room.
"Lina, is your head not hurting?"
"No, no!! Really, Grandpa, you're the best."
"Hahaha. That's a relief."
"Grandpa, your adorable Lina has a request...~~"
Lina, who had been about to excitedly pester him for more potions, froze for a moment at the sight of the High Priest's expression.
His face was haggard and worn, as if he had been up all night. Though he smiled kindly, the deep eyes of the High Priest were wet with glistening sorrow.
"Grandpa, why are you crying."
"..........."
Facing the commendable Lina who was worried about him, the High Priest approached without a word.
Then, with a deep sigh, he bowed his head low.
"I'm sorry."
His voice trembled.
The highest-ranking priest who served the Goddess, the spiritual pillar of this kingdom, was bowing his head toward us.
"I tried mobilizing all my knowledge, my abilities, and every bit of this old man's holy power...
I tried to delay the manifestation of that immense demonic energy dwelling within Louis, even a little...
But it was beyond the capability of this incompetent old man.
And...
The Goddess... has bestowed a divine oracle..."
"What!? What did she say?"
The High Priest stared at the floor and continued in a voice that was barely audible.
"The thing is... ha...
There is only one way.
The only way to prevent that rampage... is to directly fulfill the twisted desires that the demonic energy demands.
It seems there is not much time left."
The moment his words ended, Lina's face flushed bright red.
The High Priest, unable to look Lina straight in the eyes, bowed his head deeply once again.
"I truly have no face to show you, Lina."
"No... it's okay, Grandpa."
"The only thing this old grandpa can do for you...
is to hand you a few lowly magic tools that will protect your safety."
The High Priest carefully opened a velvet box engraved with magic circles.
Inside were magic tools emanating strange spiritual energy.
Contraceptive Ring: A ring that thoroughly protects Lina's womb and restrains her eggs so she can never become pregnant.
Earrings of Cleanliness: Earrings that perfectly purify and protect Lina's body from filthy venereal diseases or physical corruption, even amidst promiscuous relations.
Necklace of Voyeurism: Records the humiliating moments of her being violated by other men. Real-time transmission is also possible.
Voyeur's Mirror: A receiving magic tool that allows real-time viewing of the shameful moments of Lina's promiscuous and wanton corruption, or the playing of recorded footage at any time.
False Mask Bracelet Set: A magic tool that leaves the wearer's outward appearance unchanged, but strangely distorts others' perception so that no one can recognize who she is.
As we listened to the High Priest explain the magic tools, the air in the room was freezing over with heavy tension.
The cruel reality: for my soul, and to save the world, I had to hand my wife over to other men.
The magic tools for a safe netorase ritual emitted a cold, faint light, speaking of that reality.
Weighed down by guilt for forcing such a lewd and harsh burden upon her, the High Priest and I bowed our heads side by side.
As if trying to comfort us,
Lina began to chatter in a deliberately bright and spirited voice.
"Wow, Louis look at this! The jewels and craftsmanship are truly top-tier!
I've always wanted a radiant jewel set like this... it's really so pretty.
I think it'll suit me perfectly. Right, Louis?"
Though her voice was trembling faintly, she was trying hard to brighten the mood, even if forced.
"Thank you, Grandpa!"
Smack—
Lina stood on her tiptoes and planted a light kiss on the High Priest's wrinkled cheek.
"Don't worry! With these magic tools, it won't be that hard."
At that moment, my right eye flared with unbearable heat and a sharp stinging.
No—
Now the demonic energy was beginning to creep into my left eye as well.
Crackle...
My vision was dyed red, and the reality before my eyes began to distort hideously once more.
The innocent action of Lina lightly kissing the High Priest's cheek appeared, to my eyes being devoured by demonic energy, as a completely obscene scene.
The High Priest grandpa's rough hands had at some point wrapped around Lina's slender waist.
And their tongues were tangling stickily, exchanging saliva with each other.
Slurp, slrrrp—.
Held in the old priest's arms, sharing a dirty kiss, Lina whispered seductively.
Slurp, slrrrp—.
"Louis... how about it? Do you like watching your wife kiss another man?"
Slurp, slrrp.
Lick, lick—
.
'Ha... haah....'
My mouth went completely dry, and my lower abdomen throbbed with a heat that felt like it would burst.
"Louis...."
The High Priest's warm, rough hand firmly grasped my trembling hand.
That warmth brought me back to my senses in an instant.
Now even my left eye had begun to be eroded.
The High Priest let out a low sigh and spoke in a heavy voice.
"Louis... there is not much time left now. The first 'ritual' must be carried out within a few days."
At those words, I gulped dryly and carefully opened my mouth, my voice trembling.
"Um... couldn't... the High Priest grandpa or King Alen... do it, perhaps? If it's someone I trust... I'd rather it be that."
At the absurd suggestion that came out of my mouth,
Lina, as if startled, flushed bright red and covered her face with both hands.
The High Priest briefly showed a flustered look,
but soon smiled kindly like a grandfather and said.
"Someday, your desire will become twisted to a level that ordinary relations can no longer satisfy you...
But not now.
If possible, it would be best to start with a handsome young man of her age, someone Lina can accept as happily as possible."
The High Priest paused for a moment, then murmured quietly with a bitter expression.
"As time passes and the desire swells like a snowball, ordinary relations will no longer satisfy you.
It will demand a much larger, deeper sense of depravity..."
The next words that continued from the High Priest's mouth pressed down heavily on the air of the room.
"Perhaps... there will come a day...
when a twisted relationship with this old man, or with His Majesty Alen, may become necessary for that sense of depravity.
But...
I will try my hardest to prevent it from reaching that point.
Even if I must search through every ancient text in the whole world, I will find a way to alleviate your symptoms.
Until then, endure as best you can."
The cruel and heavy truth that the High Priest uttered so plainly.
The moment she heard those words, Lina trembled all over and flushed bright red.
Someday...
The horrifying and obscene possibility that she might have to join bodies with the man she regarded and followed like her own grandfather.
Just imagining it made Lina's ears burn bright red,
and in the extreme shame that made her mind feel like it was blazing white, a faint pleasure began to creep up and bloom.
'Haah, haah...
What is this? Did Louis's perverted illness rub off on me too?
Why am I throbbing like this...!
Don't tell me Lina is becoming a pervert too?
No, I said no...!!'
Lina could only tremble, unable to believe the lewd reactions of her own body.
The High Priest's gaze as he looked at that Lina was tinged with sorrowful regret.
He gently wrapped her trembling hand in his warm grasp and spoke.
"Lina..."
"Yes... Grandpa."
"That physical reaction your body is experiencing right now. Don't be too ashamed of it, and don't blame yourself."
".........!!!"
Lina, having been caught in the state of her body gradually turning lewd, flinched in surprise and hunched her shoulders.
Gazing at her benevolently, the High Priest soothed her gently.
"Chosen as the Hero's Guardian, you...
are very firmly connected to Louis from the deepest place in your soul.
Because of that, you are now being gradually influenced by it as well."
The High Priest paused to choose his words, then added in a sincere voice.
"It is by no means because you were originally a lewd and promiscuous woman.
Let us think of it as a grace bestowed by the Goddess, to help you accept this harsh ritual with even a little more ease."
At the High Priest's warm reassurance, Lina quietly answered with her head bowed low on her flushed face.
"Yes... Grandpa."
The High Priest comforted Lina's heart once more with a gentle smile, but this time, he emphasized sternly, as if admonishing her.
"Never, ever!! despise the version of yourself that is gradually becoming lewd.
The hero who saved the world through the journey of pilgrimage in the past was Louis,
and the mission to protect the world from now on is yours to bear, Lina."
The High Priest knelt down entirely before Lina, and with thick tears streaming down, pleaded earnestly with her.
"Why are you doing this... Grandpa...!"
"Lina. Will you make a promise with this old grandpa?"
"Ah... really, I said please get up."
"Promise me that you will engrave my words deep in your soul."
"... Yes, I will."
The High Priest's eyes were already so clouded with bursting tears that his pupils couldn't even be seen properly.
He barely suppressed his surging sorrow and continued.
"Lina, please... love yourself.
No matter what shameful things happen from now on, promise me that you will not despise yourself as dirty, but love yourself to the end."
".... Yes, Grandpa."
"Even if you become intoxicated by lewdness and blinded by pleasure... even if you end up committing filthy and promiscuous acts that you cannot even bear to imagine right now..."
The High Priest's voice trembled minutely.
"Later, when you come back to your senses...
Never, ever...
blame yourself or feel guilt for having done such things.
On behalf of all humanity...
To save the world...
Think of it as having fought bravely on a battlefield."
Even after that, the High Priest grandpa could not stop wailing before Lina for a long while.
"Hah-heuk... our poor child..."
Perhaps he had spent the entire night offering earnest prayers to the Goddess, and had already foreseen the dreadful and obscene future that would unfold before us.
We didn't know at the time.
Just why...
the High Priest cried so sorrowfully—we couldn't understand that grief.
But much later...
Only after the demonic energy within me grew beyond control,
and in proportion, Lina's body and mind became endlessly dyed in lewdness, could we finally realize.
The meaning contained in those tears...
If it hadn't been for the High Priest's tearful plea, Lina might not have been able to survive with her sanity intact.
Fortunately, Lina never forgot the tears the High Priest shed that day.
Even amidst that terrible shame and corruption...
Without ever letting go of herself...
She loved herself to the end.
And I too, with all my heart, loved her as she was.