Saint's Death (Part 1)
Saint's Death (Part 1)
Lili had beaten to death all the Nightmares that swarmed the gate, but the tide of battle had not turned.
This was because the defenses at the other gates had been completely breached, and the demonkin had flooded into the temple.
"The temple is under attack! The Saintess is in danger! All forces, converge on the temple!"
"Everyone! Retreat!"
Melanie's party also began moving toward the temple.
So many corpses were strewn about that the ground was barely visible.
Few bodies were intact; most had their bellies torn open, spilling their entrails.
The unnecessarily mutilated corpses were traces of vented frustration.
Succubus Salome had taken out the fury she felt from being attacked by Melanie on other humans.
Blood had formed a river, making a squelching sound with every step.
[Why didn't you finish that succubus off? You definitely could have killed that bitch.]
'......I was just testing her this time. It's not yet time for Salome to die.'
[Hadn't you decided to change the story to save the Saintess?]
'I did, but not now. Besides her escape ability, there's more I want to confirm.'
Around the temple, holy knights were fighting the Nightmares.
One of them saw Melanie's party and shouted loudly.
"We'll handle things here, please go inside the temple! A succubus went inside! The Saintess is in danger!"
Following his words, the women entered the temple.
The torches that should have illuminated the interior were all extinguished, and the floor was littered with the corpses of devotees who had been mercilessly slaughtered.
Lili gritted her teeth, the tendons in her fists bulging.
"Grrr...! That succubus bitch...! Next time I won't stop punching her gut until her womb is smashed to pieces!"
"Y-your wording is a bit..."
The altar at the center of the temple.
Holy knights were guarding the area where evacuated citizens had gathered.
"Is everyone alright?! Where is the succubus?!"
"......This area is secure."
In response to Pia's shout, Saintess Hilda emerged from the crowd with crisp footsteps.
Her eyes, which looked extremely weary, scanned over Melanie's party.
"You must be... the ones who went to subdue Demon God Avaritia and returned. I've heard much about you. I received a report that you achieved victory at the southern gate as well. Thanks to you, the citizens here were able to buy time to evacuate."
"Did the succubus not attack here?"
"The succubus did invade, but she showed no interest in this area and headed underground. Her target is likely the <Sacred Artifact>."
"The Sacred Artifact?"
Hilda shifted her gaze to the floor.
"This is originally top secret... but a divine weapon bestowed by the Heavenly God is stored beneath the temple. It's an object potent enough to threaten even Demon God Acedia, so the succubus probably aims to secure it in advance."
"Such a thing...! Then we must go stop her immediately!"
"I'm sorry, but I would like you to be the ones to stop that succubus. I will remain here alone to guard the citizens at this altar, so please go with the holy knights stationed here."
"Yes! That should work, right? Melanie?"
"......"
Pia, who had nodded vigorously upon the Saintess's request, turned her head toward Melanie.
Melanie didn't answer and instead met the Saintess's gaze.
Those eyes looked far too clouded for someone said to follow the will of a god.
[......No, you shouldn't divide your forces like that. Whatever that Sacred Artifact is, the Heavenly God's woman is also an important asset. Yet you're leaving the Saintess alone and all going down?]
'You're right.'
Luxuria seemed very dissatisfied with this stupid strategy.
Melanie agreed with Luxuria's thoughts and spoke to the Saintess.
"It's dangerous for you to be alone, Saintess-nim. There's no guarantee the demonkin are only after the Sacred Artifact. This place might be attacked too. We'll go to the basement ourselves; the holy knights should just stay here."
"No. The temple's underground space has a very complex structure. You will definitely need the holy knights who are familiar with that area."
Melanie made the suggestion, but the Saintess slowly shook her head in refusal.
"......Then we'll leave one member of our party here."
"Protecting the Sacred Artifact is the top priority. If, by any chance, the artifact is stolen, we will lose the means to stop the Demon God. Demon God Acedia is an especially dangerous existence even among Demon Gods. To ensure certain victory, it would be best if all of you went."
Even when Melanie made a concession, the Saintess's will remained stubborn.
[What is it? Why is the Heavenly God's woman being so stubborn? Even if there's a possibility the Sacred Artifact could be taken, the Saintess is also a force that shouldn't be lost...]
"Huh, uh... Why does it feel like Melanie's decision is so wrong...? Melanie wouldn't be like this, but...?"
Lili was confused by the strange thought rising in her head again.
For some reason, it felt like Melanie's judgment was mistaken and they should unconditionally follow the Saintess's will.
It was a similar sensation to when she felt compelled to feel attraction toward Lancelot upon seeing him.
[......Is this also that 'forced' thing you mentioned?]
Melanie nodded inwardly.
Like the enemies' absurd escape abilities, this was one of the ways Sephemo forcibly created crises.
'Right... The person commanding the situation occasionally makes incomprehensible judgments, and those around follow without any suspicion. And that judgment leads to great damage.'
[Great damage. So you're saying the Heavenly God's woman dies here?]
'......Yes. Salome pretending to target the Sacred Artifact is a trick. Her real target is the Saintess's life. Without the Saintess, that Sacred Artifact can't be used anyway. So she's waiting for the forces to be divided.'
[Then to save that woman, we must somehow break that stubbornness?]
— Kihihihihihihi!!!!
A great vibration came from the ground, accompanied by a sound like the roar of a monster.
The citizens gathered near the altar shrank in fear or clung to each other.
The Saintess looked at Melanie with an anxious expression.
"The succubus must also be delayed trying to find her way. Please go quickly before it's too late."
"I beg of you! Please comply with the Saintess's words!"
Now even the holy knights, whose clear duty was to protect the Saintess, urged Melanie to go and leave the Saintess alone.
At this unnatural situation, Luxuria let out a hollow laugh inwardly.
"......Understood. Then please guide the way. Let's go, Lili, Pia."
[What? Weren't you planning to save the Heavenly God's woman?]
'......There's just one more thing I want to confirm.'
Melanie's party followed the guidance of the holy knights and headed to the temple basement.
The Saintess, left alone to guard the citizens without any escort, watched their retreating backs and let out a sigh of relief.
"My, isn't it a bit early to feel relieved?"
At the sudden unfamiliar voice, everyone looked up toward where the sound came from.
The succubus who had invaded the temple, Salome, was slowly descending from the ceiling.
>
"Kyaaaaaaah!!!!"
"It's a demonkin!!!!"
"Uhuhu. Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone~"
"Everyone! Come behind me!"
The Saintess stepped forward in front of the panicked citizens to block Salome.
And she raised her hand to use a spell.
"Too slow♥"
"Kahak......?!"
But Salome, who had closed the distance in an instant, drove her fist into the Saintess's abdomen.
The Saintess, whose oxygen was cut off momentarily, vomited gastric juice, unable to use her spell.
"Ugh...... Aaack...!"
"Mmm♥ A charming moan♥"
"Kut......?!"
Salome reached out and grabbed the Saintess by the neck.
Though the succubus was using only one arm, the Saintess couldn't break free from Salome's strength.
The Saintess's elegant feet, not touching the ground, hung limply.
"Kgh...... Why...... aren't you killing me......!"
The Saintess asked Salome in agony.
She knew this demonkin was strong enough to snap her neck in an instant.
But Salome wasn't immediately cutting off her breath, as if toying with the Saintess.
"This unnie has a duty, as the Chosen One of Demon God Acedia-nim, to insult the Heavenly God as much as possible. Just killing you isn't very insulting, is it? So I want to torment you for as long as possible♥"
"Ugh...... Despicable......!"
"Hurry and resist some more. Otherwise, unnie will kill all the people here right in front of you."
"Stop it...... Please......!"
"No! I thought of something better! Hey, old man! Come here!"
Salome pointed at an elderly man cowering in fear in a corner.
The old man naturally had no intention of obeying Salome, but his body moved on its own and he began walking toward her.
"Wh-what is this......! Why is my body......!"
"Old man, do you like the Saintess? Why?"
"O-of course! She cured my curse last time, and she's protecting me even now!"
"Is that really the reason? Be honest."
"Of course that's not the biggest reason, I like her because she's incredibly pretty! In my day, a woman like that! Even if I dragged her home by force and made her cry every night, no one would say a thing......?!"
"......"
The old man covered his mouth as if he couldn't believe what he had just said.
Though being strangled and in agony, the Saintess looked at the old man with emotionless, placid eyes.
Salome hugged her own stomach and cackled, seeming very satisfied.
"Kyahaahahaha! You're hurt, right? You're hurt, right?!"
"......What are you, doing?"
"I wanted to show you how meaningless it is to protect humans at the cost of your life like that! You devoted yourself saying it was the will of God, but this is how humans see you?"
"......I won't fall for your tricks. That person is not speaking the truth. And how they see me is not importa, ugh......!"
Salome tightened her grip on the Saintess's neck, cutting off her words.
"Lies~ Unnie can feel your heart steadily crumbling! Old man! Were you happy because the Saintess cured your curse? Or were you happy because you could touch those soft hands?"
"O-of course, the, the latter! Who knows when the last time I touched the smooth skin of a young woman was......!"
The old man covered his mouth again, trying not to say more.
The Saintess seemed emotionless, but Salome's eyes caught the subtle trembling in her pupils.
"Kyahaahahahaha! A true masterpiece! I picked a perfect person from the very first one?! Mhm. That's enough now."
"Huh?!"
Pwaang!
Salome gripped the old man's head with all her might and crushed it like a watermelon.
Like a water-filled fruit bursting, blood and flesh splattered everywhere, and the citizens screamed.
"What are you doing?! Isn't your target me?! Just kill me! Don't harm innocent people!"
"What is she saying. Didn't I tell you earlier? Unnie wants to torment you. I want to defile and corrupt the Chosen One of the Heavenly God, to drag that pretentiously noble face down into the abyss......♥"
Salome turned her head sharply toward the citizens with a crazed smile.
Just that was enough to make the fear-stricken citizens scream and prostrate themselves on the floor.
"How is it? Watching citizens die helplessly while captured by a filthy demonkin?"
"Kgh......!"
The Saintess shed tears as if unable to contain her frustration, and Salome's face flushed red with the ecstasy of unilaterally toying with the Heavenly God's Chosen One.
"Mmm♥ This is the reaction I wanted♥ Now, shall I call the next person? I'll kill them one by one in front of you until someone comes who truly likes you with a faithful heart♥"