Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: The Saint's Inner Thoughts
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After Victoria and I shared a bit of small talk and returned, Kyle was explaining the upcoming operation.
"The territory ruled by the Dullahan is called a place where one cannot die by any means."
Forsaken Hollow.
Because of this, it is said that battles there continue until one side completely disappears or their form is reduced to a bloody pulp.
"Due to this singularity, the Dullahan opens an arena every year and enjoys the entertainment of selecting the strongest warrior with the people of his territory."
"...That bastard is a madman who enjoys despising and trampling the weak."
I chimed in, thinking of the atrocities that occurred in my hometown. The sight of him tearing off people's heads or cruelly ripping out entrails while reveling in slaughter was still vivid in my memory.
Moreover, the words that all of this was my fault still lingered as an unerasable sense of guilt.
"Right. So we'll use that point. Infiltrating the arena as a warrior and assassinating the Dullahan is... probably the best method."
Kyle nodded at my words and continued explaining the plan he had devised.
"The Dullahan would never even imagine that we would be warriors fighting in his own arena."
He said it was like hiding a tree in a forest; the enemy would never think we'd willingly walk into the arena he operated.
"There's one problem, Kyle. My Perception Hindrance Magic isn't that omnipotent. Last time, I was detected by the Succubus Queen, Bellamora."
I tapped the table with my finger, pointing out a flaw in Kyle's proposed operation. If the Dullahan's magical attainment is equal to or greater than mine, deceiving him would be impossible.
Moreover, he has the instincts of a warrior who has survived countless battlefields. There are madmen who can see through Perception Hindrance Magic by intuition alone, so we couldn't let our guard down.
This was the enemy who killed my parents, of all people. For this matter, I wanted to proceed more cautiously than ever before.
"So we could get caught by the Dullahan and be counter-attacked?"
"Yeah. That's exactly what happened in Bellamora's territory. I was tricked by the temptation of seeing my parents again."
I sighed deeply as I spoke. Just recalling the nightmare I had back then sent a chill through my entire body, and my hands trembled uncontrollably.
I feared continuing that dream, so I couldn't sleep properly and hadn't been able to swallow food or water down my throat normally.
"...You couldn't help it back then. I think it was better than being left with regrets about your parents."
Kyle looked at me with pitying eyes. This guy was sharp and capable, so he seemed to have sensed the past surrounding me.
"Thanks to that, I became even more determined to kill that damn Demon King's spawn."
I said while fiddling with the ring on my ring finger. Every time I saw the cosmos pattern engraved on it, I vowed never to forgive demons or monsters.
"...I think the most ideal method would be to assassinate them one by one and lure the Dullahan outside."
I looked at Taryon's bow standing beside me and spoke. His arrows, which earned him the epithet Flora Divine Archer, were famous for being able to hit targets from hundreds of meters away.
"I agree. It's awkward to face a Dullahan, classified as an undead Death Knight, in a territory with such an advantage."
Taryon nodded while stroking his green hair. Unless purified by Victoria's holy magic or physically obliterated completely, undead keep reviving.
The Lich we faced in the Holy Kingdom's underground last time was of that type. Unless its phylactery was destroyed, it would never truly die.
"Then, Astal and I could use magic and spirits to create a loud noise or explosion to draw attention! That could also be a method!"
Following her lover Taryon's words, Anima also shared her idea and sought the others' agreement.
But then, a chilling sensation crept up from beside me.
"Astal-nim must move with me. Even if it's you, Anima, I will not tolerate you acting together with another woman."
"Victoria...?"
The protagonist sending a cold, dagger-like glare towards Anima was none other than Victoria, the Saint renowned for being more compassionate and warm than anyone.
As if determined not to let Anima take me away, she tightly wrapped her arms around mine, puffing out her cheeks. The soft, plush sensation pressed firmly against my arm.
"Since you rejected my confession, I can't leave even a single opening for you to meet other women. What if feelings develop...?" In fact, Victoria's obsession with me seemed to be growing, to the point where she even suggested we use the bathroom together.
"Or maybe you're into girls with animal ears? Should I prepare a cat ear headband and tail too? If I tempt you as your personal catgirl, maybe you'll fall for it..." As Victoria's inner thoughts flowed into me unfiltered, I instinctively knew that if I didn't clear up this misunderstanding, big trouble was coming.
"...Victoria, this is just part of the operation. Nothing you're worried about will happen. Besides, Anima is dating Taryon!"
"That's right, Victoria. Why would I mess with Astal when I have someone like you?"
Anima and I waved our hands in denial. Suspecting that feelings would develop from a couple with existing partners just helping each other out briefly was a huge leap in logic.
"You never know. Astal-nim's preference might be stealing women who already have someone and dragging them into a pit of depravity."
"What kind of crazy talk is that...?"
"I've read about it in forbidden books. There are men who recklessly wield their lower bodies against women who have lovers or are already married, corrupting them."
"......"
I couldn't say anything and just pressed my fingers hard against my forehead, trying to suppress the dizziness washing over me.
Her thoughts were so vulgar and sinister that I wondered, 'Is this really a Saint?'
"Do you really think I'm that kind of man?"
"Yes. Your actions towards me last night closely resembled the man from that book. Saying things like I'm a genius at making men aroused by looking at my body, or that my breasts are pretty and cute while you... mmmph, mmph...!"
Before she could say anything more bizarre, I covered Victoria's mouth with my hand. The atmosphere had instantly turned icy, and I was sweating coldly, unsure how to salvage the situation.
The problem was that I had deliberately used harsh words and insults to make Victoria lose interest in me.
"If I spread rumors about you like this, eventually, the only woman left who will accept Astal-nim will be me." A shiver ran down my spine.
Victoria's inner thoughts were so extreme they made goosebumps rise on my back. How could she think of socially isolating the person she likes just to claim them?
"Astal, did you do something to Victoria? Did you blackmail her or find some weakness?"
Anima seemed to have sensed the strange undercurrent between us and asked me. Suspicion dripped from her eyes.
After all, a normal couple wouldn't engage in forced fondling like she saw this morning, or spew vulgar suspicions like this.
"...We had a bit of a fight."
I deliberately diverted the conversation towards the other comrades, mixing in a bit of truth. Lies are like snowballs; they grow bigger the more you roll them.
Our current contract relationship was like that too.
At first, we clearly agreed to ask for permission for physical contact, but that rule had long since been disregarded.
"What on earth did you fight about that made Victoria suspect you to this extent? She's not usually like this..."
"...I'm trash. Sorry."
I had kicked away the confession of a woman who had had a crush on me for over a year. I had coldly pushed away the sincere feelings of the Saint who sacrificed everything to save me.
No better explanation or sentence existed.
"If you know you're trash, then from today, wake me up every day with a kiss. Of course, you must say 'I love you' with your tongue in my mouth and suckle me thoroughly. Then I'll forgive you just this once."
"......"
As if she had been waiting for this moment, Victoria used her strength to free her mouth from my hand and stated her demand right after I called myself trash.
"Sh-shameless..."
"Just how much did Astal-nim torment Victoria-nim...?"
Taryon and Anima blushed and wore expressions of confusion upon hearing her and my words.
Even if they were a couple, it seemed they had no immunity to hearing such sensitive topics discussed openly.
"Normally, interfering in a couple's affairs is overstepping, but if Victoria is speaking up this much, you must have really done something trashy."
Even Kyle took Victoria's side instead of defending me. She had built up an image as the most devout Saint revered by everyone.
"I can't say it's not true..."
Looking at Kyle's expression, I had to swallow my words and admit my guilt. Thinking about it the other way, it was only natural that you couldn't easily get over feelings you'd held for over a year.
'Ultimately, since facing the Death Knight Dullahan is the priority, and Victoria's cooperation is most crucial, I need to keep her in a good mood...'
I began thinking as rationally as possible in my head. Since the Dullahan, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, is stronger than the Lich we faced last time, the cooperation of the Saint, Victoria, was paramount.
"I'll let this slide for now...?!"
Like last time, I tried to press my thumb against my lips and then touch hers.
"Hek, huup... Chuuuup...♡ Jjokk... Chuk."
As if she had anticipated this, Victoria snatched my hand and began greedily, lewdly sucking on my index finger.
"...I won't put up with childish games like this anymore."
As if last night's actions hadn't been enough to satisfy her.