#2-16 The Threatening Saintess (Saintess Saria - Bikini Underwear Illustration) (2)
[After the sun sets, please visit through the church's back door.]
[I will prepare a child to guide you.]
As the letter instructed, Gaon didn't arrive at the church until evening. Perhaps due to the rumors of the serial killer, the streets were unusually quiet even though it wasn't that late yet.
Before leaving home, he'd worried someone might spot him visiting the saintess, but that concern seemed unfounded now.
...Once I'm inside, the holy knights will probably swarm me anyway.
Whether anyone saw him or not, he couldn't hide the fact that he'd come here. He'd visited this church before—as Hilton Mera, to meet with Saintess Sharon. Since then, all his meetings with her had been outside, so this was only his second time at the church. And the first time coming as Gaon.
"Are you here to see the saintess?"
As the letter directed, he reached the back door. A priestess standing motionless there immediately spoke up.
"I'll guide you. Follow me."
Without asking any questions, she led them straight inside.
They passed through the garden and into the depths of the massive church, grand as a palace. Holy knights were scattered about both in the outer garden and inside, eyeing Gaon—unfamiliar in the church—and his suspicious hooded companions warily. But when the leading priestess explained, "These are the saintess's guests," they relaxed at once.
In these times, with a murderer on the loose and intrusion attempts on the church, dropping their guard against such a shady group after just a few words? It must mean this guide priestess enjoyed immense trust.
"Hey, sister. Mind telling me your name?"
"I won't answer. I was only ordered to guide you."
"C'mon, a name's no big deal. It's just awkward with all this silence."
She didn't respond. If she wouldn't talk, fine. Gaon activated his Hypnosis skill.
The priestess halted.
"......"
"Good girl. Mind turning around for a sec? I won't do anything bad."
She turned.
"You listen well. Now, your name—"
"Don't make me laugh, you trash."
Contempt hit him instead.
"Huh?"
"Trying to defile me with your vile hypnosis? Don't make me laugh."
She continued, her voice thick with firm anger.
"I've already heard about your despicable nature and powers from the saintess. Countermeasures are in place, so I will never fall for your tricks."
"So don't try anything stupid."
She glared for a moment longer, then spun on her heel and strode ahead.
No way was she under hypnosis. It wasn't raw mental resistance like Noa or Sharon's, either. Gaon stood blankly for a second before following, raising a hand to stop Noa—who was ready to lunge at the priestess.
Noa, face hidden by her hood, radiated fury from her entire body. At max loyalty, she couldn't let such insolence toward her master slide.
"It's fine, really."
As he soothed Noa, another hooded figure approached—Succubus Melissa.
"Gaon, um... it wasn't us."
"What?"
"If you're suspecting our girls know about you... no. We're not defending friends or anything—we really haven't breathed a word about you. Not even under torture."
Melissa insisted firmly. Gaon didn't reply, just silently followed the priestess.
......
It didn't take long to reach their destination—the Prayer Room.
"Go inside."
The priestess opened the door, and Gaon stepped through. She followed, closing it behind them.
The Prayer Room felt more opulent and majestic than humble, despite being in a church. Lavish holy relics and jewelry adorned it, with a gem-encrusted goddess statue presiding.
In one corner, the captured succubi were bound just as in the photo Saria sent—restrained with various devices, blindfolded, gagged, and occasionally crackling with white lightning arcing over their bodies.
"Girls?!"
Melissa rushed toward them, but a bolt of white lightning struck vertically at her feet, blocking her.
She froze in shock.
—Mind not moving without permission? I might accidentally kill you.
"...Kuh...!? Saintess...!!"
The voice came next. In the room's center was a curtained space; a silhouette showed behind it.
—...Hehe, just kidding. I wouldn't really.
A small giggle. Then someone emerged—clack clack of heels.
A golden-haired woman, eyes covered by white cloth. Her nun's robes hinted at pronounced feminine curves beneath.
The First Saintess, Saria, lightly bowed to Gaon and his group.
"Pleased to meet you, King Gaon. I am the First Saintess, Saria."
"I've long awaited this day to meet you."
* * *
"Girls~ Waaahhh~~!!"
Melissa's tearful wail echoed from the Prayer Room corner. The guide priestess frowned at the noise.
The succubi were freed. Saria had drained their power with her holy magic, but not too harshly, she claimed. The elaborate restraints and bizarre blue lightning scorching them seemed overkill, but when Saria stuck out her tongue with a "It's just staging, hehe," further questions died.
"Staying cooped up in the church leaves me starved for stimulation."
"...And?"
"Then toys like you roll in, so I played a bit to ease the boredom—just a tiny bit. Like playing with a cute cat I met in the courtyard. Forgive me?"
Cat-level play? The succubi kept glancing nervously, though. Still, no major wounds, and she released them without demanding anything. No point pressing further.
That aside.
"Honestly, I thought it was a trap. Like holy knights swarming us the moment we arrived."
"And getting shredded by their swords?"
Saria chuckled softly.
"Fair enough. It should've been. After all, you're the man who toyed with two saintesses. Even took their virginities—"
The First Saintess dropped a bombshell. The biggest reaction came from the guide priestess, standing off to the side.
"W-Wait! What did you just say...? Is that true?!"
Saria just giggled in response. The priestess glanced between her and Gaon, then charged at him without warning.
"Ugh...!?"
Her rush was futile. Noa intercepted faster than anyone, pinning her.
Thud!
"Don't move. I'll break you if you try anything."
The unassuming priestess hit the floor hard, joints locked by Noa—now Lv.4. She thrashed to escape but couldn't budge those arms. Her hood slipped off, revealing Noa's face.
The priestess knew it—froze solid.
"Y-You... Holy Knight Noa...?"
"I said stay still."
"Ugh...!"
Noa tightened her grip; the priestess groaned in pain. But the mental shock hit harder—betrayal, disappointment, grief flooded her eyes and face.
Gaon glanced at her boredly, then turned back to Saria.
"You knew all along but didn't tell her?"
"How could I? That saintesses—who must be purest of all—fell for a man who doesn't even believe in the goddess, offered their virginities willingly, got thoroughly trained into sluts, and spent last night indulging in lust till dawn."
—It hurt my heart too much to say it.
Saria added, smiling like it was all hilarious.
A pained "Eut..." came from behind Gaon. Guilt-struck, probably. The gentlemanly Gaon pretended not to hear.
Anyway. He liked this Saria a lot. She hit all his tastes in so many ways.
"Joking aside, I really didn't know how to break it. Better if you hadn't come in, but you insisted on staying for 'safety'... Sorry for the painful truth, Kana."
Her name was Kana, apparently. Saria glanced at the dazed priestess, then back to Gaon. Her blindfold hid her eyes, but they seemed to pinpoint him perfectly.
"Enough light banter. Shall we get to the main point?"
Not light at all, but he let it slide. Saria removed her blindfold. Her beautiful face emerged—but her eyes remained closed.
Blind? She bowed deeply to Gaon before her—like prostrating over the table.
"Lord Gaon. I pledge my submission to you. Please make me yours."
Her confession sent an invisible shockwave through the Prayer Room.
