Chapter 50
Chapter 50
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: 11. Did You Think You Wouldn't Get Caught? (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Outside, devotee Marsha paced restlessly, gnawing at her fingernails. She felt so anxious about this whole situation. It seemed like it was all her fault that they'd been caught red-handed in the act by Bishop Lisa, of all the rotten luck.
If only she'd refused in that moment... No, even if they'd done it somewhere else, things wouldn't have blown up like this... Regretting it now was pointless.
The image of Bishop Lisa's eyes staring at her kept flashing in her mind. Those dark red eyes, drained of all life. The sharp, murderous glare that looked ready to stab right through her wouldn't leave her thoughts.
S-Surely they wouldn't kill Priest Isaiah just for sleeping with her, right?
She was just a lowly devotee, after all. Even if they killed her off quietly, it wouldn't cause much of a stir. That only made her more uneasy deep down.
Overwhelmed by all sorts of terrifying thoughts, devotee Marsha clawed at her hair. What if she heard something from inside? She pressed her ear to the door and started eavesdropping.
"…"
Nothing...
They had to be talking in there, but not a single sound leaked out through the door.
No way—did they cast a soundproofing spell? Even with top-notch soundproofing, she should at least hear some murmurs from inside. But there wasn't even a whisper of wind, let alone voices. It was enough to drive her mad.
On top of that, she'd been waiting for over an hour now. It was pure torture. What on earth could they be discussing that required locking her out here for more than an hour?
Damn it, no peephole or anything to spy through... The longer she waited, the more jittery and anxious she got.
"Um, miss devotee? Devotee!"
"Eek!"
In the midst of her swirling dark thoughts, a woman's voice suddenly came from behind her. Devotee Marsha snapped to attention and, like a kid caught hiding candy, yelped in surprise and toppled backward.
"Whoa? Are you okay, miss devotee?"
Shaking like she'd been ambushed, devotee Marsha looked up. A familiar woman's face came into view.
"D-Deacon Rachel..."
Deacon Rachel tilted her head, peering down at devotee Marsha. She blinked her eyes as if wondering what was wrong.
"Is something the matter? I didn't expect you to be so startled..."
"Oh, n-no... It's nothing. I was just... lost in thought."
"Hmm..."
Playing it cool, she slowly used the wall to pull herself up. She brushed the dust off her pants from the fall, then focused on calming her pounding heart.
"I see? But why here, of all places..."
Deacon Rachel glanced up slightly at Bishop Lisa's office. It was odd seeing her loitering right here, of all spots, and her gaze conveyed quiet curiosity.
"Oh... uh... The bishop asked to see me for a bit."
"Ah, got it... Then why aren't you inside? Perfect timing, actually—I had business with the bishop too. Shall we go in together?"
"Pardon?"
Deacon Rachel raised her hand to knock on the door. In her shock, devotee Marsha rudely grabbed her wrist to stop her.
"Whoa? Miss devotee?"
Her face twisted in a mix of bewilderment and annoyance—not outright anger, but clear surprise.
"Ah... s-sorry... The bishop said not to let anyone in..."
She'd been told to stand guard outside, and on top of that, Bishop Lisa had explicitly instructed devotee Marsha not to let anyone inside.
No need to ask why. With her weakness in their grasp, devotee Marsha had no choice but to obey to the letter.
"Oh, I see. You startled me grabbing my wrist like that. Well, nothing for it then. I'll come back later."
"Y-Yes. Take care."
Unable to get in, Deacon Rachel turned and headed back the way she'd come. Devotee Marsha let out a deep sigh of relief as she vanished from sight.
"Oh, wait!"
Something must've clicked, because Deacon Rachel suddenly turned back and strode right up to devotee Marsha again.
"Deacon?"
"Miss devotee."
"Y-Yes?"
"Have you seen Priest Isaiah by any chance?"
Ah, Priest Isaiah... If it was the priest...
"Gasp...!"
The unexpected name made her flinch. For a split second, devotee Marsha's eyes darted to the door before she caught herself and whipped her head back to face forward.
"Miss devotee?"
"Ah, yes! I don't think I've seen him today. I came straight here after service..."
"Oh, really? Darn... Where could he be?"
Deacon Rachel sighed deeply, as if she'd been searching for Priest Isaiah for a while. Devotee Marsha felt a pang of guilt for lying, but survival came first. With her life in Bishop Lisa's hands, it was best not to stir up more trouble.
"But... why are you looking for the priest all of a sudden?"
"Oh, Priest Isaiah..."
She asked outright, throwing caution to the wind a little.
It wasn't like asking would get her in real trouble, so she figured she'd satisfy her curiosity. It wasn't some forbidden question—just listen and answer casually.
"Well... you see..."
But for some reason, Deacon Rachel fidgeted, unable to answer straight, and suddenly looked away.
What's this? Did I ask something I shouldn't have?
Her reaction sparked a twinge of regret for even bringing it up.
"E-External activities! I had some questions about the external activities this time. That's why I was looking for him."
"Ah, I see."
External activities... She'd worried it was something serious, but it turned out to be nothing much. Deacon Rachel must've been nervous since she was still new to the church. Wait—hold on, were there external activities this month? She didn't recall hearing anything about that...
"Haha... Anyway, if you see Priest Isaiah, let me know. I've got something to take care of, so I'll head out first. See you later."
"Ah, yes..."
Without even a proper goodbye, Deacon Rachel bolted from the spot like she was fleeing. Devotee Marsha stared blankly at the empty space she'd left.
Why was she in such a panic?
Wondering if she'd slipped up somehow, she started replaying the conversation in her head.
"Ahem... Devotee, come in now."
In that brief lapse, Bishop Lisa's voice came from beyond the door. Devotee Marsha realized her moment had finally arrived.
@@@@@
Her head felt light, her heart ready to burst. Had Priest Isaiah managed to talk her around? They'd spoken for nearly an hour, so maybe there was some hope. They had shared their bodies, after all—at the very least, if there was any lingering affection, he'd put in a good word for her. She wanted to believe that.
Sorting her thoughts one last time, devotee Marsha took a deep breath and gripped the doorknob. She steeled her eyes and turned it.
Creeeak—
Agh...! What the hell is that smell...
As soon as she cracked the door, a sour, musty stench assaulted her nose. It was so foul that devotee Marsha wrinkled her face mid-step, freezing and instinctively covering her nose with one hand.
But thoughts of what the smell was took a backseat to the urgency of getting inside, so she braced herself, pushed the door open, stepped over the threshold, and spotted Bishop Lisa seated at the desk right ahead.
"Whew... Kept you waiting. Sorry about that. Ah... You're devotee Marsha, right?"
Bishop Lisa sat with her legs propped up on the desk, a cigar clamped between her teeth. Devotee Marsha opened her mouth to respond but closed it halfway.
Is this... really the bishop?
She could hardly believe her eyes. This brazen behavior was utterly unlike the kind, merciful bishop she knew.
"Devotee Marsha! That's you, right!?"
"Y-Yes! Yes, it is!"
When she didn't answer right away, Bishop Lisa bellowed, apparently at the end of her patience. Startled by the unfamiliar roar, devotee Marsha shouted back loudly.
"Good. But devotee Marsha, you should close the door when you come in. Isn't that right?"
"Ah, sorry. I..."
Bam!—
Before she could finish, the door slammed shut with a deafening crash. It looked like Divine Power had done it, and the thunderous noise let devotee Marsha feel the bishop's fury in full.
Oh, shit. I'm screwed.
Her hands and feet trembled uncontrollably. This was bad—really bad. If she didn't end up dead, she'd count herself lucky.
Devotee Marsha's mind went blank as a fresh sheet of paper; no thoughts came at all. Like a condemned prisoner facing execution, she was gripped by sheer terror.
"Hmm..."
Tap—tap—tap—
Ignoring devotee Marsha's fear, Bishop Lisa let out a long sigh and began drumming on the desk. How should I deal with this bitch? She wore a pensive expression for a moment, then let out a hollow chuckle and looked away. Without a word, she nodded toward something else, as if telling devotee Marsha to look...
Forcing her fear-frozen head to turn, devotee Marsha beheld something horrific that instantly seized her thoughts.
"Heh... Can't take your eyes off for one second without you pulling some dog-like stunt... Hilarious, isn't it, devotee Marsha?"
"Ah..."
What entered devotee Marsha's vision was a man utterly drenched—more like turned into a filthy rag—in semen and fluids. There, sprawled unconscious after who-knows-how-many ejaculations, lay Priest Isaiah.