The Sex Cult (3)
The city housing the headquarters of the Sex Cult, Magdalena, sat nestled between fertile plains and a winding river. With its favorable location and good transportation links, it had naturally grown into a major metropolis—as long as it wasn’t governed by some particularly foolish noble. Of course, just as bees are drawn to honey, its prosperity had invited multiple invasions from foreign powers. Each time, it was the independent force known as the Sex Cult that had staunchly defended Magdalena. In recognition of this, the King of Gallia had designated the city of Magdalena as papal territory. A place where the king of a nation had acknowledged autonomous rule. Not governed by a noble receiving the king’s stipend, but ruled under the authority of the Pope. That was the holy city of Magdalena.
As befitting a major city, Magdalena saw a high volume of transient population, and simply entering the city took a considerable amount of time. If they had to undergo inspection as well? The sun, which had just risen, would already be high in the sky by the time they got through.
But exceptions existed everywhere.
“This is the seal of His Eminence Cardinal Mavlof.”
Bishop Ronin wore a gentle smile as he produced a piece of parchment and showed it to the guard at the city gate. After checking the document, the guard snapped to attention with a crisp salute and quickly allowed the Hero’s party to pass.
Aria pressed a hand to her dizzy head and spoke with effort.
“We’ve finally arrived.”
It had truly been a suffocating journey, she thought. The carriage interior had been filled with nothing but silence, with no conversation passing between them. If only she and Ashtain had been alone, they could have shared an intimate chat. All of this was because of that uninvited guest, Bishop Ronin.
“The Saintess seems quite exhausted. Rather than heading straight to the cult, shall we take a stroll around the streets to change the mood?”
At Ronin’s suggestion, Ashtain replied indifferently.
“Is a bishop thinking of slacking off?”
“Rest is also part of the work. Besides, didn’t you leave in a hurry last time, Hero? Magdalena has many sights worth seeing.”
“Not interested.”
Ronin looked genuinely disappointed at the blunt rejection.
“What a shame. I’m sure the Saintess would have enjoyed it.”
Ashtain reacted to the mention of Aria enjoying it.
“Aria would?”
“Yes. The Saintess has never properly toured Magdalena before. She’s had so much ‘penance’ to endure as the Saintess, after all. Isn’t that right, Saintess?”
The attention of both men focused on Aria. Ronin’s gaze was one thing, but unable to withstand Ashtain’s stare, she quietly voiced her opinion.
“………I’m fine with it, Hero.”
Ashtain’s heart softened at the word “fine.” He knew from his sister that when someone said “I’m fine,” it rarely meant they truly were.
“……Let’s take a look around, then.”
Ronin smiled brightly.
“An excellent decision.”
They reached the Sex Cult’s cathedral when a pale crescent moon hung in the sky. The reason for their late arrival was that Ashtain had fallen for Bishop Ronin’s coaxing and wandered through Magdalena’s shopping district. They had lost a fair amount of time, yet Ashtain felt satisfied. Aria’s expression had softened compared to before.
Before opening the cathedral doors, Bishop Ronin spoke quietly.
“Your ears might hurt.”
Ears might hurt? Before Ashtain and Aria could even look puzzled, the cathedral doors swung open. A thunderous roar of cheers crashed over them, deafening.
Caught off guard by the unexpected clamor, Ashtain and Aria clamped their hands over their ears, looking dazed. The sight that greeted them the moment the doors opened was literally a human wave. The crowd was so dense it was hard to imagine where they had all come from.
Ashtain, who disliked crowds, instinctively frowned and fixed his gaze on Ronin. Even beneath that skin-prickling hostile stare, Bishop Ronin spoke with evident delight.
“They rushed here the moment they heard the Hero and Saintess had returned.”
It was an overwhelmingly enthusiastic welcome. Even after the incident the Hero had caused, such a massive crowd had gathered. Ashtain found their mindset incomprehensible.
“You’re doing something improper.”
“I wasn’t the one who organized this, so I hope there’s no misunderstanding.”
Ashtain replied crookedly.
“As if. Just lead the way already.”
“As you wish.”
As the Hero’s party walked forward, the crowd parted on both sides to create a path. They looked exactly like spectators gawking at a rare beast. Ashtain found the situation of being turned into a spectacle quite unpleasant, but throwing a tantrum here would clearly put Aria in a difficult position. So what choice did he have? Suppressing his anger, he followed behind Bishop Ronin.
“If you waved to them, those people would be absolutely delighted.”
At Bishop Ronin’s words, Ashtain gave a cynical smile.
“Playing the clown doesn’t suit my tastes.”
“What a pity.”
While Ashtain ignored them completely, Aria responded to each person with an awkward smile. Ashtain watched her closely. After arriving at the cult, her movements had grown even more awkward and uncomfortable. Anyone could see how agitated she was.
She must have gone through something at the cult after all.
Since they were here anyway, the Hero decided he needed to look into it.
After the mind-numbing welcome ceremony finally ended, they moved to the reception room. Ashtain was gradually growing fed up with Ronin’s blatant time-wasting. How long was he supposed to play along with this man’s tune?
He asked Bishop Ronin somewhat confrontationally.
“So when can I receive the Holy Sword?”
Ronin answered with a benign expression.
“Acquiring the Holy Sword requires a trial.”
“A trial?”
Ashtain’s brow furrowed at the sudden mention of a test.
“Yes, a trial administered by the Holy Sword itself.”
Ashtain snorted. Who did a mere sword think it was to judge anyone? It was incredibly arrogant.
“How many days will it take?”
“It’s impossible to say how many days it will require.”
The answer was as vague as Ronin’s personality. Ashtain hated unclear answers the most.
“Can’t I do it right now?”
“It would be better to rest well for at least a day if possible. The trial isn’t exactly easy.”
Tsk. Ashtain clicked his tongue. Sister Jina, who had been following behind Ronin, seemed displeased with the Hero’s attitude and glared at him with narrowed eyes.
“Open your eyes properly before I gouge them out.”
Ashtain issued the chilling threat as if her glare was ridiculous. Aria watched this and pressed her forehead with her left palm. Gouge out her eyes? Was that something a Hero should say?
“……I’d appreciate it if you could speak more gently, Hero.”
“……….”
At Aria’s earnest request, Ashtain remained silent until they reached the reception room. Ronin thought the sight resembled a trainer taming a wild beast.
When the reception room door opened, the portly Cardinal Mavlof was waiting. He wiped his forehead with a handkerchief and rose from his velvet leather chair.
“So this is the widely rumored Hero.”
Ashtain was genuinely impressed. So monsters could speak. He unconsciously reached for his sword but stopped. Because Aria’s hand was clutching his sleeve. Looking again, the other party was human. Could a person really have such a body? Wasn’t this just a monster in human form? He removed his hand from the sword hilt and cleared his throat.
“………I am called the Hero, yes.”
“I’ve truly wanted to meet you.”
Even the casual speech didn’t seem to bother Mavlof at all. Did all these clergy types train to maintain poker faces? Ashtain felt an inexplicable sense of aversion.
“Saintess, Bishop Ronin, and Sister Jina, you may leave now. I have important matters to discuss with the Hero.”
It was an obvious order to leave. Aria, Ronin, and Jina bowed to Cardinal Mavlof and were about to exit the reception room. However, Ashtain found the situation extremely suspicious. His instincts were screaming. So he raised his hand to stop them.
“Wait. If you send Aria away, I have no intention of talking.”
Cardinal Mavlof’s golden eyes gleamed sharply.
“……What do you mean by that?”
Ashtain crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes.
“Exactly what I said.”
“……?”
“Sending away Bishop Ronin or that nun is understandable, but Aria is different. She’s a comrade who’s been through life and death with me for the past two months. If it’s something I need to know, then it’s something Aria needs to know too.”
At those casual words, Aria’s face flushed red. It seemed Ashtain calling her a “comrade” embarrassed her greatly. Ashtain narrowed his eyes and raised an eyebrow.
“Or are you planning to do something insolent to Aria?”
The mention of “insolent.” Neither Mavlof nor Ronin in the room showed any reaction to those words. Because they showed no reaction, paradoxically, Ashtain became certain. These bastards had been doing something to Aria.
“Haha, you seem quite on edge. I was merely thinking that the Saintess looks tired, so it would be better to send her off early…….”
A pathetic excuse. Sending her off early because she’s tired? If that were the case, they could have just postponed the conversation altogether. With his head burning with rage, Ashtain barely managed to speak in human language.
“This is your first warning.”
Mavlof tilted his triple chin at an angle.
“……What do you mean?”
“If it happens three times, I won’t hold back.”
It was a warning. As sharp as a blade, as fierce as a beast’s claws. The Hero’s ‘warning.’
The Hero left the reception room with the Saintess. What remained were Mavlof, Ronin, and Sister Jina.
“That Hero fellow is quite an insolent brat.”
Cardinal Mavlof’s flesh quivered. Ronin gave an awkward smile as he looked at the enraged man.
“Didn’t I tell you beforehand? It’s best to refrain from overt actions.”
“Hah, no matter what, if he’s an outsider, shouldn’t he have some tact? How can the so-called Hero be so oblivious? What was that about not holding back after three times? What does he think he’ll do if he doesn’t hold back! This is why these Heroes with no social experience and empty heads are problematic. They think they can do whatever they want just because they have power? Calling him a Hero is generous—he’s nothing but a butcher who hunts monsters, yet he acts so arrogantly. I really can’t stand it!”
Ronin watched with cold eyes as Mavlof ranted without pause, a dry smile on his face. Oh dear, His Eminence seems quite angry. But what can I do? I actually like that Hero more than you. He has spirit, doesn’t he? That determination not to let what’s his be taken away. He looks like a fox guarding a luscious bunch of grapes.
“What can we do? He is the Hero.”
The Hero, the Hero. That damned Hero. At Ronin’s half-hearted agreement, Mavlof grew even more furious and raised his voice. If the room hadn’t been excellently soundproofed, it would have been an opportunity for many to see the Cardinal’s vile true nature. Ronin felt a slight regret.
After venting his anger, Mavlof asked in a somewhat calmer state.
“Hoo. So, can we not bring the Saintess tonight?”
His eyes gleamed with lust. Are you already eyeing the now even more beautiful Aria? Haha, you really never change.
“Do you think it’s possible with the Hero watching with those sharp eyes?”
“Ugh.”
Mavlof clicked his tongue in disappointment. Ronin pointed to the purple-haired nun, Jina, who was standing quietly behind him.
“If you’re disappointed, how about embracing this child instead?”
It must have been an attractive offer, as Mavlof beckoned.
“……Come here.”
Jina slowly looked at Ronin. As if asking Is it okay to do this? with her gaze, Ronin gave her a gentle smile.
“I’ll leave it to you, Jina.”
“Yes, Bishop Ronin.”
Jina lifted her habit and approached Mavlof. Mavlof’s thick fingers traced Jina’s waist and moved toward her groin. It seemed he had quite a bit pent up.
“Hoo. Then Ronin, you may leave as well.”
Ronin had no desire to watch the two of them copulate anyway. At Mavlof’s dismissal, Ronin bowed and gladly left the reception room. He felt sorry for what he was making Jina do. But what could he do? It was she who had said she would stay by his side no matter what was done to her. Ronin was not soft enough to refrain from using what could be used. If it needed to be done, he was a man who could discard without hesitation.
More importantly, he had to think about Aria. Quite pleasingly, she was beginning to blossom hope. That fact delighted Ronin more than anything. He was purely, utterly pleased. Hope was the seasoning that made the impending despair more flavorful and refined. When the hope that had swelled plump like a ripe fruit burst like a watermelon with a splat. When she completely collapsed with no room for reprieve. If he could see up close the expression on Aria’s face as it twisted at that moment? Just thinking about it sent shivers down his spine. How could he not be delighted?
To think things would go this smoothly.
At first, when the Hero had kidnapped Aria, he thought everything had gone wrong. Because he had thought the Hero was in bad shape. Because he had judged that the Hero couldn’t give Aria hope. Of course, that had been Ronin’s miscalculation.
It was a pleasant miscalculation.
He recalled the moment just a few hours ago when they had walked through Magdalena’s marketplace. Though Aria probably thought she hadn’t shown it, she had been watching the Hero with lively eyes. To anyone looking, it was clearly a feeling of affection. It might even be beyond affection—perhaps love. Whatever it was, it was fine. The transformation of positive emotions into negative ones happened in an instant, like a move in Othello. Wasn’t it wonderful? The moment that hopeful face would be slammed into the ground. The moment it would spew out despair.
It won’t be long now.
Goddess, do you see? The moment the brilliant wings of your beautiful creation are broken. The sight of her endlessly falling into despair and sorrow. This is the greatest love I can show you. I would be overjoyed if you would look forward to it.
The day Aria would scream and wail. Bishop Ronin could hardly contain his anticipation for that day.
“Well, watch if you wish to watch, Hero.”