Chapter 98: The New Year's Party That's Supposed to Happen Around This Time
The Holy Bishura Empire.
More commonly known as the Holy Empire.
It was the hegemon of the northern continent, one of only three empires on the continent, and enjoyed the status of one of the four great powers—a formidable nation.
The Glazer Empire might have been larger in overall scale and packed with elite forces, but the Holy Empire's top-tier powerhouses were no less than the strongest nation's.
At the pinnacle of such a mighty empire stood the Pope, a title befitting the name Holy Empire. But the Pope's authority didn't rival that of foreign royalty. The Holy Empire's Pope was elected by the cardinals, after all.
In that sense, the four saintesses of the Church of the Goddess—the state religion and foundation of the Holy Empire—held an extraordinarily special position. They were among the rare few chosen not by humans, but by the goddess they served. It was a role that could be bestowed anywhere, on any race.
The 1st Saintess, Saintess of Harmony.
The 2nd Saintess, Saintess of Judgment.
The 3rd Saintess, Saintess of Blessing.
The 4th Saintess, Saintess of Healing.
"All four are beautiful and lewd, but in my eyes, I'm still the best."
Elaine tilted her chin up with a triumphant expression.
"Thanks to our strong holy power, we're all pink and pretty, but I'm the one who matches the goddess the most with this pink—call it Goddess Pink, maybe? And my age is just right! The 1st Saintess is too old, the 2nd... well... let's skip that, and the 4th is a bit young."
Siu stared blankly at the chatty, cute pink saintess Elaine of today.
She flinched as she sensed his gaze while rambling on.
"W-Why are you looking at me like that...?"
"Nah, just thinking even you get nervous sometimes."
"Y-Yes?! Me, nervous...? No way...!"
"Really?"
"......A little, yeah."
The saintess finally admitted it. It couldn't be helped.
Siu was the man she loved, the party's hero, her master. Add in all the other titles, and he was half—no, more than half—of her life.
They were on their way back from meeting the priest who was her benefactor. Not on the way to meet him, but coming back after already having done so.
Even Elaine, who ran wild doing whatever she pleased to the point that the entire Holy Empire had half-given up on her, had someone she feared and couldn't treat lightly. That priest checked all those boxes.
In short, it was like introducing her man to her parents.
"Jeez. We just had a nice, casual chat with no issues, and you're still tense? You were fine before we even went in."
"Yeah... I don't know. Something about it... weird, I guess."
Elaine grinned sheepishly and stuck out her tongue a bit.
"Just... felt off. Seeing you and the priest chatting so amiably made my tension spike...? And it hasn't gone down yet."
She trailed off in excuses, drawing out her words.
Even in Siu's eyes, she'd started tensing up midway through. Especially when the priest got excited and began sharing stories from her childhood—she'd fidgeted and panicked adorably.
"That flustered side of you was a first... Might have to visit him more often."
"Huh?! Why...?"
The saintess blinked in genuine confusion.
Today's priest was like a parent to Elaine, but their personalities didn't mesh. If anything, they were opposites.
Elaine lived openly by the church's doctrines, unhesitant in revealing her sexual desires. But her parental priest practiced moderation and scolded novice nuns harshly if they crossed lines.
"I got scolded a lot because of that... Honestly, there were way more promiscuous girls than me. Even before becoming a saintess, I'd only been waiting for that one person who'd show up in my future."
Her lewd gaze and excited expression turned toward Siu.
He knew that was her signature signal for night fun, but sadly, he couldn't indulge right now. The Holy Empire's New Year's party was still in full swing on day two.
"Elaine. Hate to say it, but that'll have to wait for tonight..."
"I know a great spot."
"...Huh?"
"I'm a bit of a troublemaker, right? I wander the Vatican all the time, so I know the layout inside out. There's a perfect place nearby. Great for sneaking around...♥"
"......"
Siu was at a loss for words.
Not from disbelief, but intrigue.
Unlike the first day in the Glazer Empire, this was day two in the Holy Empire. Far more nobles and heroes attended. He hadn't met them yet, but the Holy Empire's SS-grade heroine and S-grade male hero were there, along with three of the four saintesses.
Still, he'd exchanged greetings with pretty much everyone who mattered. He hadn't seen the two heroes it'd be good to befriend or the 2nd Saintess, but he'd had a private audience with the Pope. And met the 1st Saintess. Both were women, but in their seventies—way older.
The 4th didn't come, haven't seen the 2nd, but she's with the SS-grade. Both are busy, so greetings might be tough for a while.
The Holy Empire's banquet hall had a different vibe from yesterday's.
Unlike the first day, where low-status attendees kept their distance and Helena's presence warded people off, today no one paid Siu much mind.
It wasn't hostility. More like the spotlight had shifted. The Holy Empire's two top heroes—naturally popular—drew all attention, even in such a massive event, letting people slip in quietly or leave early.
For Siu, it was a relief.
Easier to move around, and I've greeted who I need to.
His private audience with the Pope was largely thanks to those two.
"Siu? What do you think?"
The pink saintess tempted him with her sultry voice.
His deliberation didn't last long.
"...Let's go."
"Hehe. Yes~♥"
Following Elaine's lead out of the hall, Siu turned to glance at Hildear.
"Hilde. Sorry."
"It's fine. Didn't I basically monopolize you last night? So yielding this little event to Elaine is no issue."
"That's my Hilde. Thanks~."
Elaine flashed a playful wink at Hildear in thanks.
They'd grown close, but Siu had never seen her thank someone so openly. Hildear seemed surprised too—her eyes widened before she blushed shyly and murmured a response.
Best way for women to bond is sharing a man, huh... Wait, no, that's not it?
Hildear was always by Siu's side as his guard knight—practically glued to him. She doubled as a voluntary maid, was part of the harem cartel, and a party member.
It'd be weirder if she weren't around. But Siu didn't know every detail of her private life. He gave her days off and sent her on separate tasks when needed.
So he was glad they'd bonded, but wondered when it'd happened.
"Here."
"Hooh."
Siu let out an impressed whistle.
The spot Elaine led him to was perfectly secluded.
Thick bushes hid it well—leaning against the pillar, you'd only be spotted without mana sense. A decent distance from the banquet hall: quiet, but faint laughter drifted over occasionally.
"Not bad."
"Right? I'd hide here a lot when I skipped studies or service duties."
"Alone?"
"Sometimes with company, sometimes solo~?"
She winked at him—similar to the one for Hildear, but far lewder. Just a day apart, and she clung to him like she was pent-up, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Haa... Siu...♡"
"That pent up?"
"So much...♡ Too many annoying people here. Stress builds up. And when I'm stressed... hehe."
Grinning mischievously as she buried her face in his chest, Siu wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her tight.
Her plump breasts pressed firmly against him. The Church of the Goddess had plenty of lewd rules, but religious elements too. Even at the banquet, she wore her usual church attire.
Elaine's saintess robes, based on a nun's habit.
And as always, no underwear today.
"Elaine. Quick question."
"Ask away."
"There's a doctrine against wearing unblessed underwear, right? And blessings aren't handed out easily."
"Yep."
"But a saintess like you must have a few blessed pairs. So not wearing any means..."
"Hehe, exactly. Just... feels better for playing with you like this~."
"And before me?"
"...Hehe♥"
She answered with a laugh instead of words.
Siu chuckled and spun her around, pinning her against the pillar. She yelped cutely—kyaa♥—as her back hit the cold marble, but stared up at him with eyes full of affection.
"Haa, Siu... I was so turned on, really...?"
His thick hand slid down, pushing aside the fabric between her thighs.
Elaine deftly stripped off his pants and underwear. Familiar and convenient, they came off in seconds, revealing his length. Feeling it, she hooked her thighs around him as he pressed in.
Squish—!!
"Haaang...!"
"Saintess pussy tastes extra special out here."
Siu glued himself to her, thrusting deep inside.
Her tight, chewy pussy was always great, but outdoors—right by the Holy Empire's banquet hall—it clenched even harder. The excitement flushing her face played no small part.
"Haaang...♥ Your cock feels... so good...♥"
"Then let's properly devour this delicious pussy."
"......♥"
Whispering dirty words in her ear, he started snapping his hips in earnest.
Squelch, squelch, squelch, squelch...
"Nngh, haaang...! Ah, Siu, Siu...! Hnng...! Doing it here... feels amazing...♥?"
"Told you. Fucking great."
"Haa, then next time... nngh, how about the Palania palace corridor...?"
"......Deal."
"Haaang, I love you, Siu♥"
"Love you too. For real."
"Yes...♥"
Elaine's face bloomed with happiness.
Pure, unwavering bliss only a beloved partner could provide.