Chapter 372: A Worrisome Event(2)
Chapter 372: A Worrisome Event(2)
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Lately, Kate felt as if she were about to ascend to the heavens in pure bliss.
As a faithful servant of Luminous, she had been content with her life even before she knew the meaning of desire.
But after meeting Isaac, she had awakened to her sexuality and, furthermore, truly realized what love was.
The feeling of wanting to be by his side every single day. The feeling of something swelling in her chest just by being near him.
Especially when they held hands, that feeling didn't just swell; it reached a rolling boil, making her entire body feel as if it were burning with heat.
Only then did Kate realize: this was the love Luminous had spoken of.
While the communion between a god and their believers was also love, the love between a man and a woman was something much more viscous and carnal.
Luminous had described this as desire, explaining that it wasn't strange at all, but rather perfectly normal.
If one is born human, it is only natural for desire to arise; she had simply realized this fact a bit late, and it wasn't a problem at all.
Even the self-consolation she had experienced for the first time in her life had provided a pleasure so intense she couldn't stand up for a while—so how ecstatic would a relationship with Isaac be?
In her heart, she wanted to receive his seed right this moment, but she suppressed her urges as much as possible.
Doing so by force is a crime. This was a concept firmly planted in Kate's mind.
However, even that restraint had begun to falter recently. The words she had heard from Isaac kept echoing in her head.
I wish you would always be by my side. I can't do this without you. If you stay by my side every day, I'll give you my seed.
...It felt like she might have added a few things, but at least that was how it sounded to Kate.
The thought that she had been acknowledged by the person she worshipped as much as Luminous filled her days with happiness.
"How dare they..."
But today, that emotion was on the verge of shattering. It wasn't that her relationship with Isaac had soured.
It was her rage toward the foolish people who had dared to ignore his instructions and cause an incident. Specifically, the fact that there had been innocent victims.
Back when they were extracting the event, Isaac had emphasized it until her ears were ringing: it was far better to let ten demon worshippers escape than to have a single innocent victim.
As someone with a somewhat extreme personality, Kate didn't quite understand his request, but she respected his choice.
She simply didn't understand it; the idea that there should be no innocent victims was fundamentally correct.
Furthermore, since Isaac had emphasized it so much, Kate followed it implicitly. The path Isaac pursued was the path she would walk, and it was her creed.
"...So, I'd like you to go there, Kate. I'd like to go myself, but it might be a trap set by the demon worshippers."
The one Kate worshipped, Isaac, made the request with a somewhat weary expression.
With not one, but two incidents occurring in succession, he was mentally exhausted.
One was somewhat expected, but the other was entirely unforeseen, which naturally took a toll on him.
Of course, Kate believed he was suffering because of the bastards who had acted without listening to him.
"I understand. But if it really is a trap set by those insects..."
"Ahem."
Kate, who was about to use her usual harsh language, had to stop herself at Isaac's gentle reprimand.
This was because Ariel was currently sitting on Isaac's lap.
Her appearance, a perfect mirror of Isaac's, evoked a sense of loveliness, while the sprout atop her head and the wings on her back amplified her charm.
Kate had been shocked to the point of gasping when she first encountered her, but now she was used to it.
Besides, Ariel was a gift given directly to Isaac by Hirt himself, so to Kate, she was practically an object of worship.
"Ah. I-I'm sorry. I misspoke..."
"Papa. Papa. What's an insect?"
"I'll explain later. For now, do you want to get off Papa's lap?"
"No. No."
Despite Isaac's suggestion, Ariel clung to him like a cicada, showing no intention of letting go.
Isaac gave a bitter smile at her stubbornness and stroked her hair.
Normally, he would leave her with Adelia or Mari, but Adelia was currently training with Hawk, and Mari was away at her classes.
Since Kate already knew about Ariel's existence, it was better to just keep her here.
"..."
Kate stared blankly at the tender scene between father and daughter. For some reason, she felt something boiling in her chest.
She wasn't sure if she wanted to act spoiled like Ariel, or if she wanted a child like Ariel.
Regardless, it was certain that this mysterious emotion was deeply connected to the girl.
Me too, someday...
If Ariel had read Kate's inner thoughts, she would have flinched at the sight of such murky emotions.
Fortunately, she was currently too busy burying her face in Isaac's chest.
Isaac chuckled at Ariel's affection and resumed the conversation that had been interrupted.
"Anyway, I'm leaving this matter entirely to you, Kate. If it's a trap set by demon worshippers, handle it as you usually do. Even if it isn't, I'll leave the decision to you."
"Then what about the event? Are we ending it as scheduled?"
"No. I don't intend to end it. I'm just going to issue a warning. Something along the lines of: causing innocent victims is the same as helping the demon worshippers. I think you're the best person to deliver that message, Kate."
Normally, he would have ended the event without a second thought. But the reason he didn't end it immediately was thanks to Musk's persuasion.
As the saying goes, 'patience is a virtue,' and if he ended it like this, the arrows of blame might fly toward the wrong people.
Specifically, the bereaved families or associates of the innocent victims. People feel better when they have someone else to blame.
So, he was giving them a chance to ensure those arrows didn't point toward the victims, and Kate was the perfect person for the job.
If they caught the wrong person, the actual mastermind behind the incident might escape judgment.
"If it wasn't orchestrated by demon worshippers, take measures so they can confess their sins. If it was orchestrated by demon worshippers... well, you know what to do, right?"
"Of course."
"I'm really sorry for giving you such a troublesome task. You're the only person I can trust in a situation like this, Kate."
"Only me..."
Did the words 'the only person I can trust' strike a chord in her heart?
For some reason, Kate felt a sense of lightheadedness and brought her hands together at the center of her chest.
Thump! Thump!
Her heart began to beat faster and faster, and heat slowly rose to her face.
It was a feeling similar to what she had felt before. She stared blankly at Isaac, who was smiling gently at her.
What a great and lovely person he was. It was the first time every word felt like sweet fruit.
If Luminous's oracles were the water of life that quenched her thirst, Isaac's words were like sweet honey.
"...?"
Meanwhile, Ariel, who had peered into Kate's inner thoughts, could only blink her eyes slowly.
It was too bright. What on earth was she thinking that her mind was filled with nothing but light?
While she could easily read other people's thoughts, Kate's were particularly difficult to decipher.
Ariel rubbed her eyes and looked at her again. She saw nothing but a brilliantly shining golden veil.
'What is it?'
She could see it clearly just a moment ago, so why was it like this now?
As she tilted her head in confusion, the sprout on her head tilted along with her.
Isaac, completely unaware of this, spoke his final words in a somewhat tired voice.
"Then, once you're ready, just let me know before you head out. I heard the victim and the perpetrator are coming to the capital's temple, so it shouldn't take long."
"I understand. I shall bring divine punishment upon those who dared to ignore your words, Lord Isaac."
"Divine punishment is a bit much. Just do as you usually do."
"In that case..."
Kate started to speak but then hesitated. Isaac looked at her with a puzzled expression.
While she wavered for a moment, the light seemed to dim slightly, and Ariel spoke up in her characteristically mischievous voice.
"A favor?"
"Huh?"
"Is there a favor you want to ask?"
Ariel's pronunciation had become much clearer lately as she learned more words. Her gaze was fixed directly on Kate.
Isaac made a stern face at her for reading minds as she pleased, but he quickly opened his mouth once he realized what Kate wanted.
"Is there something you'd like to ask?"
"...Yes. There is."
"I'll grant you anything, Kate. Except for asking for my seed."
"It's not that. Actually, calling it a favor is..."
"Kissy."
Ariel's word cut through the air. Her pronunciation was clearer, but not yet perfect.
Anyway, if it's a kissy... Isaac was looking back and forth between Kate and Ariel, wondering if it could be true.
"Yes. That is correct. That is all I need."
"..."
"The process before receiving the seed is a kiss between a man and a woman. I desire that sacred process."
Whether one should call it shameless or bold.
Isaac stared at Kate, who had revealed her desire without a hint of embarrassment, and let out a hollow laugh.
Even though her inner thoughts had been completely exposed by Ariel's mind-reading, she wasn't flustered at all. Instead, she used it as a stepping stone to state what she wanted.
Was this what a truly formidable opponent looked like? He remained silent, unable to figure out how to respond.
"After the kissy... hold hands too?"
"Yes. That is correct."
"And then Papa pats your head?"
"Exactly."
"Do it for me too, Papa."
"..."
Isaac felt his head spinning.
